VII. Nor shame, nor pride of borrow'd substance wrought Her gay embroidery and ornament: But she who gave the gilded insect's coat Spun the soft silk, and spread the various teint : To those which nature for this fairy wove. Charm'd our great Sires, and warm'd our frozen clime to love. VIII. On either side, and all adown her back, With shades of green, quick changing as she pass'd; The green still deep'd the heben ore it lac'd; The gold, that peep'd atween and then withdrew, Gave lustre to them both, and charm'd the wond'ring view. IX. It seem'd like arras, wrought with cunning skill, Where kindly meddle colors, light, and shade: Here flows the flood; there rising wood or hill Breaks off its course; gay verdure dies the mead. The stream, depeinten by the glitt❜rand braid, Emong the hills now winding seems to hide ; Now shines unlook'd for through the op'ning glade, Now in full torrent pours its golden tyde; Hills, woods, and meads refresh'd, rejoicing by its side. X. Her Cupid lov'd, whom Psyche lov'd again. These walks and lawnds; thine all these buskets are; Thine every shrub, thine every fruite and flower: But oh! I charge thee, love, the rose forbear; For prickles sharp do arm the dang'rous rosiere. XI. "Prickles will pain, and pain will banish love: N'ote thy weak sense conceive, should I declare; Their labor'd balm, and well-concocted juice, New life, new forms, new thews, new joys, new worlds produce. XII. "Thy term of tryal past with constancy, Together wander through the fields of air, XIII. "How sweet thy words to my enchanted ear!" (With grateful, modest confidence she said) "If Cupid speak, I could for ever hear; Trust me, my love, thou shalt be well obey'd. What rich purveyance for me hast thou made, The prickly rose alone denied! the rest In full indulgence giv'n! 'twere to upbraid To doubt compliance with this one request : How small, and yet how kind, Cupid, is thy beheast! XIV. "And is that kindness made an argument Trust me, my love, thou shalt be well obey'd: XV. Withouten counterfesaunce thus she spoke : Unweeting of her frailty. Light uprose Cupid on easy wing: yet tender look, And oft reverted eye on her bestows; Fearful, but not distrustful of her vows. And mild regards she back reflects on him: With aching eye pursues him as he goes: With aching heart marks each diminish'd limb; 'Till indistinct, diffus'd, and lost in air he seem. XVI. He went to set the watches of the east, From fleshly ferm to loosen Psyche's mind, And her eftsoons transmew. She forlore pin'd; And mov'd for solace to the glassy lake, To view the charms that had his heart entwin'd. She saw, and blush'd, and smil’d; then inly spake: "These charms I cannot chuse but love, for Cupid's sake." XVII. But sea-born Venus 'gan with envy stir At bruite of their great happiness; and sought The liefest purpose of her darling Boy, Or urge them both their minion Psyche to destroy. XVIII. Eros recul'd, and noul'd the work atchieve. If Spight inspires I dare all dangers prove: When hurlen angry forth from Jove's avenging hond." |