Classic Poem

XI.

“His soul devout, his shaping mind,
Had power at last o'er mystic things,
And could the silent charms unbind
That chain the fountain's icy springs.

XII.

“There shone a breezeless autumn morn
When o'er the crystal cell arose
A woman from the waters born,
And fair as aught our fancy knows.

XIII.

“He sought to make the maid his own,
For earthly love a human bride;
Her voice had love's consenting tone,
But still her words the suit denied.

XIV.

“One day of free delight was given
In every month of changing skies,
And 'twas once more the autumnal heaven
That saw the Fountain Spirit rise.

XV.

“Again the youth his fay besought
A mortal's lot with him to share,
For converse all of airy thought
Contents but souls ensphered in air;

XVI.

“And man will ask below the skies
That breast may lean to beating breast,
That mingling hands and answering eyes
May halve the toil and glad the rest.

XVII.

“‘I too,’ she said, and saying darkened,
‘Must speak to thee of certain doom,
To thee for whom my deeps have hearkened,
And oft have felt unwonted gloom.

XVIII.

“‘For thee my heart, so calmly blest,
Has throbbed with keener hopes and joys;
My waves have sparkled unrepressed,
And breathed for thee more vocal noise.

XIX.

“‘Too fond has been our mutual love
To last beneath yon clouded sun;
And fate, that sternly sits above,
Decrees our bliss already done.

XX.

“‘At morn or eve thou must no more
Return for commune sweet with me;
My gaze on mortal eyes is o'er,
Because it may not feed on thee.