IX

Seaward my forest way I'll take, Of the Faun's

And at a pool's lit quietude slake Journey to the Sea.

My thirst, and feel a dull flame creep

Like the first flux of tidal sleep

Through all my limbs. Yet, when I sink

Sleepward, start wide-eyed up to drink

The sunned wood's wet deliciousness,

Touch flowers, and feel the sun's caress

About my locks, and wander on,

Or pause to smile up at the sun,

Guarding my eyes with glowing hand,

Or, leaned against a beech-trunk, stand

Watching between the branches’ rift,

As they gently wave and lift

To the bland breeze softly blowing,

The noiseless clouds serenely going

Slowly to the hid, low sea

I can hear breathing slumberously.

Till from the woodland I emerge,

Greeted by a louder surge,

And from the bushy cliff-top spy

How the hollow bay doth lie

One quiver and murmur under the sun,

And how the lightsome wind-puffs run

Chasing each other crookedly,

Over the idly heaving sea.

Next I will turn my eyes, perhaps, Of the

To where the languid waters lapse Sea-Horses.

Glittering over a sunburned rock

Round which the shrieking white gulls flock....

Thus browsing in my solitude,

I may remember I've a feud

With the Sea-Horses, once who drave

Me from the sea-light of their cave.

Enough! and, crashing down, I come

To find them drowsing in their home....

So creep I with a crooked stick

To where a blinding pool is quick

With green electric water-snakes.

Sprawling across a rock which bakes

I stir the molten till they boil

And up my hawthorn kick and coil;

Then scamper, rocketing, to the cave,

Hurl the stick in. Hark! how they rave,

And plunge up clattering, kicking, neighing,

Till Triton on his horn‘ gins braying,

And each hasteneth to belabour

With hooves or tear with teeth his neighbour,

And from the cavern's blueness rush

Into the simmering beach's hush,

To stand, with heaving flanks, agaze

At the hot stones and still sea's blaze:

Then stampede, scattering high and wide

A hail of stones and glittering tide.