The Argonauts

ACTUS QUINTUS The voices fall and fail; The light is lowered. O dim sleep, Over her eyelids creep! The world of dreams is shapen fair Beyond a mortal’s nod: A fragrant and a sunny air Smiles: a man’s kisses vanish there, Grow kisses of a god ; And in dreams’ darkness subtly grows No Earth-flowered bloom of rose. O dreams of love and peace, draw nigh ! Hover with shadowy wings! Let shining shapes of ecstasy Cover the frail blue veil of sky, And speak immortal things ! Dream, lady, dream through summer noon, Lulled by the sleepy tune! The sense is riven, and the soul Goes glimmering to the abode, Where aeons in one moment roll, And one thought shapes to its control Body’s forgotten load. Our lady sleeps! Our lady smiles In far Elysian isles ! FIRST WOMAN. Thrice have I crept towards the bed, and thrice II