No song could charm him, and no histories Of men's misdoings could avail him now-- Nay, scarcely seaward had he turned his eyes If men had said, "The fierce Tyrrhenians row Up through the bay; rise up and strike a blow For life and goods"; for naught to him seemed dear But to his well-loved work to be anear. Then vexed he grew, and, knowing not his heart, Unto himself he said, "Ah, what is this That I who oft was happy to depart And wander where the boughs each other kiss 'Neath the west wind, now have no other bliss But in vain smoothing of this marble maid, Whose chips this month a drachma had outweighed? "Lo! I will get me to the woods and try If I my woodcraft have forgotten quite, And then, returning, lay this folly by, And eat my fill, and sleep my sleep anight, And 'gin to carve a Hercules aright Upon the morrow, and perchance indeed The Theban will be good to me at need." With that he took his quiver and his bow, And through the gates of Amathus he went, And towards the mountain slopes began to go, Within the woods to work out his intent. Fair was the day, the honied bean-field's scent The west wind bore unto him; o'er the way The glittering, noisy poplar leaves did play. All things were moving; as his hurried feet Passed by, within the flowery swath he heard The sweeping of the scythe, the swallow fleet Rose over him, the sitting partridge stirred On the field's edge; the brown bee by him whirred, Or murmured in the clover flowers below; But he with bowed-down head failed not to go. At last he stopped, and, looking round, he said, "Like one whose thirtieth year is well gone by, The day is getting ready to be dead; No rest, and on the border of the sky Already the great banks of dark haze lie; No rest--what do I midst this stir and noise?-- What part have I in these unthinking joys?" With that he turned, and towards the city gate Through the sweet fields went swifter than he came, And cast his heart into the hands of fate; Nor strove with it, when higher 'gan to flame That strange and strong desire without a name; Till panting, thinking of naught else, once more His hand was on the latch of his own door. One moment there he lingered, as he said, "Alas! what should I do if she were gone?" But even with that word his brow waxed red To hear his own lips name a thing of stone, As though the gods some marvel there had done, And made his work alive; and therewithal, In turn, great pallor on his face did fall. But with a sigh he passed into the house; Yet even then his chamber door must hold, And listen there, half blind and timorous, Until his heart should wax a little bold; Then, entering, motionless and white and cold, He saw the image stand amidst the floor That whitened was by labor done before. _The Heart Desires_ [Illustration]