Part 9 (1/2)

IV

Away! My rapping footfalls drown _And of the All but the sobbing of the wind Manner of Within my ears and loud behind the Running._ The thunder of the Centaur's hooves Where, like a hailstorm, down he moves.

Past me the spun pines rock and hiss, Behind my feet stones pelted whizz, Hills rise before me, backward flow, The bare downs, bright'ning, mount below....

On. On. Down. Down. But, ah, no more!

My breath comes keener than the frore Indraught of age-long mountain frost; My head turns dizzy, feet are lost.

Yet scamper feet! A rock--a mound: Rap! Rap! I soar it at a bound.

On. On. Down. Down. A sudden brook, And now--in mid-air--lo! there look Laughingly up at me the eyes Of Hyads, and their fading cries Ring in my ears. Can they have seen The Centaur hurtle by between Them and the clouds? The downs up-fly.

Now earth's bowl rocks and reels the sky And through my chilly flaming tears The molten sun swoops, bursts, and veers....

Still rap my hoofs, though but the sound Tells me they yet rocket the ground.

The uproar loudens more behind.

My crook'd legs cross, my eyes go blind.

I claw the sky: for, O! I can Scarce lurch. I feel the sudden fan Of the great Centaur's galey breath Upon my nape, and like chill death His hand descends. But, ah! he laughs Even as Bacchus when he quaffs In jest or taunt a double bowl.

I, choking, reel, and, tripping, roll _The Faun Wildly aside. See! as I fall falls._ A rampant shape majestical Storms vehement by, and, storming, swings Hand across rus.h.i.+ng lyre, which rings To strains, like rolling breakers tossed High o'er an adamantine coast, In praise of elemental Mirth, Strength, Beauty and the Golden Earth!

V

Beyond the rocks, below the trees, _Of Downs The great downs lie; nought but the breeze beloved Is heard upon them. All day long by Pan._ The shadows of the great clouds throng Across their sides: a noiseless rout.

Sometimes a peewit, blown about By airy surge, cries a lone cry Ere hurtled down the clarid sky; Sometimes is heard a shepherd's voice Shouting, and after it the noise Of many-pattering crowded sheep Herded within the gay dog's keep, Who also, barking, shouts. Save these Nought breaks the breezy silences Of the green sun-swept, cloud-swept s.p.a.ces....

Such downs Pan loves, and ofttime places His lonely altars on them.

I One of such now behold. A high Mound bears it, and its nakedness Of festal fruit and fragrant dress Hints 'tis new-built.

Up, then, and sound A rally to the sacred ground:

_Faun._ Come ye, merry shepherds all, Hulli-lulli-li-lo! FAUN'S RALLY.

Listen to my piping call: Hulli-li-lo!

Hasten to Pan's festival; Leave your sheep.

Cannot Pan a shrewd watch keep O'er his own?

Safe are they as pent in stall; Safe are they, for Pan has thrown Fear about them like a wall.

Wherefore, shepherds, hither run.

I have set my pipes to lip; Now they cry despondingly As mid shaken locks I dip.

Now shrill--as hark!--I lift them high To swirl the tune about the sky!

Up and down and round the sky Till want I further force to blow....

Wherefore, shepherds, hither run, Dance behind me as I skip; Strike the tossed tambours in unison, Dance, dance and make to dance the sun To your Hulli-li-lo!

_Shepherds._ Faun, I come. I hear. We hear--

_Faun._ This my Hulli-li-lo: Now afar and now anear.

_Shepherds._ Never sped the midnight deer Half so fast 'Fore Diana's star-ringed spear As now haste we to appear At thy Hulli-li-lo!

_Faun._ Joy, O shepherds, at the sound: Hulli-lulli-li-lo!

Pan's new altar I have found: Hulli-li-lo!

Cowslips prank its holy mound, With ivy have I wreathed it round-- But not yet Is the altar's dress complete Till with flowers its horns are bound.