There I remained, and asked, as merchants are wont, with precision After the form and the weight which thy commission should have. Modest indeed was the price thou didst name! I meanwhile was gazing On thy neck, which deserved ornaments worn but by queens. Loudly now rose the cry from the ship; then kindly thou spakest:— "Take, I entreat thee, some fruit out of the garden, my friend! Take the ripest oranges, figs of the whitest; the ocean Beareth no fruit, and in truth, 'tis not produced by each land." So I entered in. Thou pluckedst the fruit from the branches, And the burden of gold was in thine apron upheld. [Pg 6451]Oft did I cry, Enough! But fairer fruits were still falling Into thy hand as I spake, ever obeying thy touch. Presently didst thou reach the arbor; there lay there a basket, Sweet blooming myrtle-trees waved, as we drew nigh, o'er our heads. Then thou began'st to arrange the fruit with skill and in silence: First the orange, which heavy as though 'twere of gold, Then the yielding fig, by the slightest pressure disfigured, And with myrtle, the gift soon was both covered and graced. But I raised it not up. I stood. Our eyes met together, And my eyesight grew dim, seeming obscured by a film. Soon I felt thy bosom on mine! Mine arm was soon twining Round thy beautiful form; thousand times kissed I thy neck. On my shoulder sank thy head; thy fair arms, encircling, Soon rendered perfect the ring knitting a rapturous pair. Amor's hands I felt; he pressed us together with ardor, And from the firmament clear, thrice did it thunder; then tears Streamed from mine eyes in torrents, thou weptest, I wept, both were weeping, And 'mid our sorrow and bliss, even the world seemed to die. Louder and louder they called from the strand; my feet would no longer Bear my weight, and I cried:—"Dora! and art thou not mine?" "Thine forever!" thou gently didst say. Then the tears we were shedding Seemed to be wiped from our eyes, as by the breath of a god. Nearer was heard the cry "Alexis!" The stripling who sought me Suddenly peeped through the door. How he the basket snatched up! How he urged me away! how pressed I thy hand! Dost thou ask me How the vessel I reached? Drunken I seemed, well I know, Drunken my shipmates believed me, and so had pity upon me; And as the breeze drove us on, distance the town soon obscured. "Thine forever!" thou, Dora, didst murmur; it fell on my senses With the thunder of Zeus! while by the thunderer's throne Stood his daughter, the goddess of Love; the Graces were standing Close by her side! so the bond beareth an impress divine! Oh then hasten, thou ship, with every favoring zephyr! Onward, thou powerful keel, cleaving the waves as they foam! Bring me unto the foreign harbor, so that the goldsmith May in his workshop prepare straightway the heavenly pledge! Ay, of a truth, the chain shall indeed be a chain, O my Dora!