Orpheus

ORPHEUS Child of sweet rain, O fathered of frost! Bitterest pain The birth of thee cost. Passion is slain When wished of thee most. Come forth! I invoke thee, O hail, thou lord of a terrible host! THE HAIL My father was glad of me In places unseen; My mother was sad of me, Where wind came between ; Winter is mad of me, Earth is my queen ; Meadows are clad of me, Nestled in green. As pearls in the cloudland I slept; but I hear the loud call ; I obey it and fall! ORPHEUS Rain’s guerdon and daughter By sunlight’s spies Divided in water, O light-stream, arise! 45