Swift as the Spring where the South has brightened Earth with bloom in one passionate night, Swift as the violet heavens had lightened Swift to perfection, blinding, white, Dian arose: and Actaeon saw her, Only he since the world began! Only in dreams could Endymion draw her Down to the heart of man. XI Fair as the dawn upon Himalaya Anger flashed from her cheek's pure rose, Alpine peaks at the passage of Maia Flushed not fair as her breasts' white snows. Ah, fair form of the heaven's completeness, Who shall sing thee or who shall say Whence that "high perfection of sweetness," Perfect to save or slay? XII _Perfect in beauty, beauty the portal Here on earth to the world's deep shrine, Beauty hidden in all things mortal, Who shall mingle his eyes with thine? Thou, to whom Life and Death surrender All earth's forms as to heaven's deep care, Who shall pierce to thy naked splendour, Bind his brows with thy hair?_ XIII _Beauty, perfect in blinding whiteness, Softly suffused thro' the world's dark shrouds, Kindling them all as they pass by her brightness,-- Hills, men, cities,--a pageant of clouds, She, the unchanging, shepherds their changes, Bids them mingle and form and flow, Flowers and flocks and the great hill-ranges Follow her cry and go._ XIV Swift as the sweet June lightning flashes, Down she stoops to the purpling pool, Sudden and swift her white hand dashes Rainbow mists in his eyes! "Ah, fool! Hunter," she cries to the young Actaeon, "Change to the hunted, rise and fly, Swift ere the wild pack utter its paean, Swift for thy hounds draw nigh!" XV Lo, as he trembles, the greenwood branches Dusk his brows with their antlered pride! Lo, as a stag thrown back on its haunches Quivers, with velvet nostrils wide, Lo, he changes! The soft fur darkens Down to the fetlock's lifted fear!-- Hounds are baying!--he snuffs and hearkens, "Fly, for the stag is here!" XVI Swift as he leapt thro' the ferns, Actaeon, Young Actaeon, the lordly stag, Full and mellow the deep-mouthed paean Swelled behind him from crag to crag: Well he remembered that sweet throat leading, Wild with terror he raced and strained, On thro' the darkness, thorn-swept, bleeding: Ever they gained and gained! XVII Death, like a darkling huntsman holloed-- Swift, Actaeon!--desire and shame Leading the pack of the passions followed. Red jaws frothing with white-hot flame, Volleying out of the glen, they leapt up, Snapped and fell short of the foam-flecked thighs ... Inch by terrible inch they crept up, Shadows with blood-shot eyes. XVIII