MISTRESS of gods and men! I have been thine From boy to man, and many a myrtle rod Have I made grow upon thy sacred sod, Nor ever have I pass'd thy white shafts nine Without some votive offering for the shrine, Carv'd beryl or chas'd bloodstone; -- aid me now, And I will live to fashion for thy brow Heart-breaking priceless things: oh, make her mine." Venus inclin'd her ear, and through the Stone Forthwith slid warmth like spring through sapling-stems, And lo, the eyelid stirr'd, beneath had grown The tremulous light of life, and all the hems Of her zon'd peplos shook. Upon his breast She sank, by two dread gifts at once oppress'd. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THISTLE by WILLIAM CARLOS WILLIAMS ANDREA DEL SARTO (CALLED THE FAULTLESS PAINTER) by ROBERT BROWNING THE LOST LEADER by ROBERT BROWNING THE YELLOW BADGE by RUTH SCHECHTER ALEXANDER THE BATTLE OF QUEENSTOWN by WILLIAM BANKER JR. |