There passed they in At portals of the high, celestial House, And on beyond the starry-golden court, Through amorous hidden ways, and winding paths Set round with splendors, to the spangled hall Of secret audience for noble guests. Here Charis labored, so Hêphæstos bade, Moulding the room’s adornments; here she built Low couches, framed in ivory, overlain With skins of pard and panther, and the fleece Of sheep which graze the low Hesperian isles; And in the midst a cedarn table spread, Whereon the loves of all the elder Gods Were wrought in gold and silver; and the light Of quenchless rubies sparkled over all. Thus far came Arês and Alectryôn, First leaving shield and falchion at the door, That naught of violence should haunt that air Serene, but laughter-loving peace, and joys The meed of Gods, once given men to know. Then, from her daïs in the utmost hall, Shone toward them Aphroditê, not by firm, Imperial footfalls, but in measureless Procession, even as, wafted by her doves, She kissed the faces of the yearning waves From Cyprus to the high Thessalian mount, Claiming her throne in Heaven; so light she stept, Untended by her Graces; only he, Erôs, th’ eternal child, with welcomings Sprang forward to Arês, like a beam of light Flashed from a coming brightness, ere it comes; And the ambrosial mother to his glee Joined her own joy, coy as she glided near Arês, till Arês closed her in his arms An instant, with the perfect love of Gods. And the wide chamber gleamed with their delight, And infinite tinkling laughters rippled through Far halls, wherefrom no boding echoes came.