LIBER PRIMUS VEL CARMINUM 135
Black heavens that hover, Light gathered in sheaves
Blind air that obeys, Of tenderest fears
I come to thee over ' As dayspring enweaves
The mountainous ways My soul into spheres—
As a bride to the bridegroom: I blush, but] I hear, and I nestle upon thee, O lyrist
I come supreme,
And bow to thee dumb. Light loves in a dream.
ORPHEUS. ORPHEUS.
O blacker than hell, Child of sweet rain,
© bluer than heaven, O fathered of frost !
O green as the dell Bitterest pain
Lit of sunlight at even ! The birth of thee cost.
© strong as a spell! Passion is slain
O bright as the levin: When wished of thee most.
Come forth! I invoke thee, O ice, by their |Come forth! I invoke thee, O hail, thou lord
anguish, the rocks thou hast riven ! of a terrible host!
THE ICE. THE HAIL.
My steep-lying masses, My father was glad of me
Mine innermost sheen, In places unseen ;
My soundless crevasses,
My rivers unseen,
My glow that surpasses
In azure and green
The rocks and the grasses.
My mother was sad of me,
Where wind came between ;
Winter is mad of me,
Earth is my queen ;
Meadows are clad of me,
Above, I am queen. Nestled in green.
These know thee; I know thee, O master, As pearls in the cloudland I slept; but I hear
I hear and obey. | the loud call ;
I follow thy lyrical sway. I obey it and fall!
ORPHEUS. : ORPHEUS.
O tenderest child Rain’s guerdon and daughter
And phantom of day ! : By sunlight’s spies
Gleam fitful and wild . Divided in water,
On the flowery way ! O light-stream, arise !
Blue skies reconciled Seven petals that slaughter
To the kisses of clay ! The menace of Dis,
Come forth! I invoke thee, O dew! The Come forth! ITinvoke thee, O rainbow ! thou
maiden must hear and obey. maid of the myriad eyes !
THE DEw. | THE RaINBow.
Life trembling on leaves, In multiple measure
Sunrise shed in tears, The flowers of us fold
Love's arrow that cleaves The scarlet and azure
The veil of the years, And olive and gold,