But as the wild game from his thicket spies Toward him scornful lip, and eye-glance stern. The more she scorned him, still the more loved he. 'Harsh, cruel girl! Stone-heart and pitiless! The nurseling of some savage lioness, Unworthy love! My latest gift I bring, This noose-no more will I thine anger sting. My last farewell, thereto commit indeed Thy time will come-thou too at last shalt prove, But grant, I pray thee, grant my latest prayer; From the harsh thong unloose thy hapless lover, At thy lip's touch—I cannot live again; Thy kiss, if given in love, were given in vain! And thrice on leaving cry, "Here lie, my friend!" "Here lies my love, my beautiful is dead." And let this epitaph mine end recall, Just at the last I scratch it on thy wall; "Love slew him; stop and say;—Who here is laid He set a stone; he fitted next the noose; Spurning the stone away—and swung there dead. From the bath's marble edge whereon it stood, The statue leapt and slew her; with her blood The water was impurpled, and the sound Of the girl's dying accent swam around :— Love is revengeful; when loved, love again.' IDYL XXIV. THE INFANT HERCULES. ARGUMENT In this Idyl the first contest and victory of Hercules is described While yet an infant he strangles two dragons sent by Hera to destroy him. Alcmena, alarmed at this prodigy, consults the famous seer, Tiresias, who informs her that Hercules is fated in his life-time to obtain the highest renown for extraordinary exploits, and after his death to be numbered among the gods. He desires her to have the dragons burned, and the house purified in the accustomed manner. The poem ends abruptly, and it is thought that the conclusion has been lost. |