Edmund Clarence Stedman, ed. (1833–1908). A Victorian Anthology, 1837–1895. 1895.
William Morris 183496From The Earthly Paradise. II. Atalantas Victory
Morris-WmThrough thick Arcadian woods a hunter went,
Following the beasts up, on a fresh spring day;
But since his horn-tipp’d bow but seldom bent,
Now at the noontide nought had happ’d to slay,
Within a vale he call’d his hounds away,
Hearkening the echoes of his lone voice cling
About the cliffs, and through the beech-trees ring.
And but the sweet familiar thrush could hear,
And all the day-long noises of the wood,
And o’er the dry leaves of the vanish’d year
His hounds’ feet pattering as they drew anear,
And heavy breathing from their heads low hung,
To see the mighty cornel bow unstrung.
But with his first step some new fleeting thought
A shadow cast across his sun-burn’d face;
I think the golden net that April brought
From some warm world his wavering soul had caught;
For, sunk in vague, sweet longing, did he go
Betwixt the trees with doubtful steps and slow.
The trees grew sparser, and the wood was done;
Whereon one farewell, backward look he cast,
Then, turning round to see what place was won,
With shaded eyes look’d underneath the sun,
And o’er green meads and new-turn’d furrows brown
Beheld the gleaming of King Schœneus’ town.
The folk were busy on the teeming land,
And man and maid from the brown furrows cried,
Or ’midst the newly blossom’d vines did stand,
And, as the rustic weapon press’d the hand,
Thought of the nodding of the well-fill’d ear,
Or how the knife the heavy bunch should shear.
The spring flowers bloom’d along the firm, dry road,
The sleek-skinn’d mothers of the sharphorn’d herds
Now for the barefoot milking-maidens low’d;
While from the freshness of his blue abode,
Glad his death-bearing arrows to forget,
The broad sun blaz’d, nor scatter’d plagues as yet.
And found them open, as though peace were there;
Wherethrough, unquestion’d of his race or name,
He enter’d, and along the streets ’gan fare,
Which at the first of folk were well-nigh bare;
But pressing on, and going more hastily,
Men hurrying, too, he ’gan at last to see.
Until an open space he came unto,
Where wreaths of fame had oft been lost and won,
For feats of strength folk there were wont to do.
And now our hunter look’d for something new,
Because the whole wide space was bare, and still’d
The high seats were, with eager people fill’d.
Whence he beheld a broider’d canopy,
’Neath which in fair array King Schœneus sat
Upon his throne with councillors thereby;
And underneath this well-wrought seat and high
He saw a golden image of the sun,
A silver image of the Fleet-foot One.
Whereon a thin flame flicker’d in the wind;
Nigh this a herald clad in raiment meet
Made ready even now his horn to wind,
By whom a huge man held a sword, entwin’d
With yellow flowers; these stood a little space
From off the altar, nigh the starting place.
Foot set to foot,—a young man slim and fair,
Crisp-hair’d, well knit, with firm limbs often tried
In places where no man his strength may spare:
Dainty his thin coat was, and on his hair
A golden circlet of renown he wore,
And in his hand an olive garland bore.
A maid stood by him like Diana clad
When in the woods she lists her bow to bend,
Too fair for one to look on and be glad,
Who scarcely yet has thirty summers had,
If he must still behold her from afar;
Too fair to let the world live free from war.
Of all tormenting lines her face was clear;
Her wide gray eyes upon the goal were set
Calm and unmov’d as though no soul were near.
But her foe trembled as a man in fear,
Nor from her loveliness one moment turn’d
His anxious face with fierce desire that burn’d.
Just as the setting sun made eventide.
Then from light feet a spurt of dust there sprang,
And swiftly were they running side by side;
But silent did the thronging folk abide
Until the turning-post was reach’d at last,
And round about it still abreast they past.
When half-way to the starting-point they were,
A cry of joy broke forth, whereat the man
Headed the white-foot runner, and drew near
Unto the very end of all his fear;
And scarce his straining feet the ground could feel,
And bliss unhop’d for o’er his heart ’gan steal.
Her footsteps drawing nearer, and the sound
Of fluttering raiment, and thereat afeard
His flush’d and eager face he turn’d around,
And even then he felt her past him bound
Fleet as the wind, but scarcely saw her there
Till on the goal she laid her fingers fair.
Amid some warlike clamor laid asleep,
For no victorious joy her red lips smil’d,
Her cheek its wonted freshness did but keep;
No glance lit up her clear gray eyes and deep,
Though some divine thought soften’d all her face
As once more rang the trumpet through the place.
One moment gaz’d upon her piteously,
Then with a groan his lingering feet did force
To leave the spot whence he her eyes could see;
And, changed like one who knows his time must be
But short and bitter, without any word
He knelt before the bearer of the sword;
Bar’d of its flowers, and through the crowded place
Was silence now, and midst of it the maid
Went by the poor wretch at a gentle pace,
And he to hers upturn’d his sad white face;
Nor did his eyes behold another sight
Ere on his soul there fell eternal night.