Long trains of tremulous mist began to creep, The forests and the floods, and all around Darkness more dread than night was poured upon the ground. III. Hark! 'tis the rushing of a wind that sweeps One mighty stream, whirlwind and waves upthrown, IV. For, where the irresistible storm had cloven Quivered like burning emerald: calm was spread Earth and the upper air, the vast clouds fled, Countless and swift as leaves on autumn's tempest shed. V. For ever, as the war became more fierce Between the whirlwinds and the rack on high, That spot grew more serene; blue light did pierce Past1 on, in slow and moving majesty; Its upper horn arrayed in mists, which soon But slowly fled, like dew beneath the beams of noon. VI. I could not choose but gaze; a fascination Dwelt in that moon, and sky, and clouds, which drew Of what I knew not, I remained :-the hue VII. Even like a bark, which from a chasm of mountains, Dark, vast, and overhanging, on a river Which there collects the strength of all its fountains, Comes forth, whilst with the speed its frame doth quiver, Sails, oars, and stream, tending to one endeavour; So, from that chasm of light a winged Form On all the winds of heaven approaching ever Floated, dilating as it came: the storm Pursued it with fierce blasts, and lightnings swift and warm. 1 This is another of the words which Shelley seems to have chosen to spell phonetically at this period, and which his editors have generally chosen to alter. VIII. A course precipitous, of dizzy speed, Suspending thought and breath; a monstrous sight! An Eagle and a Serpent wreathed in fight:- The Eagle, hovering, wheeled to left and right, IX. A shaft of light upon its wings descended, The Serpent's mailed and many-coloured skin Shifted and glanced before the Eagle's stedfast eye. X. Around, around, in ceaseless circles wheeling Its lessening orbs, sometimes as if it failed, 1 I suspect the period at the end of this line and the pause at the end of the preceding one should change places. I leave matters as Shelley left them, because there may have been no oversight, the present construction being possible; but it would be more clearly sequent to read the passage thus: "A shaft of light descended on the eagle's wings, and every golden feather in them gleamed. Feather and scale being blended inextricably, the serpent's mailed and many-coloured skin shone through the plumes," &c. And casting back its eager head, with beak And talon unremittingly assailed The wreathed Serpent, who did ever seek Upon his enemy's heart a mortal wound to wreak. XI. What life, what power, was kindled and arose Floated the shattered plumes; bright scales did leap, XII. Swift chances in that combat-many a check, His adversary, who then reared on high XIII. Then on the white edge of the bursting surge, The wind with his wild writhings; for to break 1 No commas at life and power, in Shelley's edition. 2 Wond'rous in Shelley's edition; but I take the apostrophe to be a printer's freak. I That chain of torment, the vast bird would shake As in despair, and with his sinewy neck, Then soar as swift as smoke from a volcano springs. XIV. Wile baffled wile, and strength encountered strength, It had endured, when lifeless,1 stark, and rent, With clang of wings and scream the Eagle past, XV. And with it fled the tempest, so that ocean Calm as a cradled child in dreamless slumber bound. XVI. There was a Woman, beautiful as morning, 1 Lifeless is either an oversight or meant to imply exhausted merely, as we learn further on that the snake was still alive. |