PR. Ay, fairer far: for nature's varied pleasaunce Without man's life is but a desert wild, Which most, where most she mocks him, needs his aid. She knows her silence sweeter when it girds His murmurous cities, her wide wasteful curves Larger beside his economic line; Or what can add a mystery to the dark, As doth his measured music when it moves 750 With rhythmic sweetness through the void of night? Nay, all her loveliest places are but grounds Of vantage, where with geometric hand, True square and careful compass he may come To plan and plant and spread abroad his towers, His gardens, temples, palaces and tombs. And yet not all thou seest, with trancèd eye Looking upon the beauty that shall be, The temple-crownèd heights, the wallèd towns, Farms and cool summer seats, nor the broad ways 760 That bridge the rivers and subdue the mountains, Nor all that travels on them, pomp or war Or needful merchandise, nor all the sails Piloting over the wind-dappled blue Of the summer-soothed Ægean, to thy mind Can picture what shall be: these are the face And form of beauty, but her heart and life Shall they be who shall see it, born to shield A happier birthright with intrepid arms, To tread down tyranny and fashion forth 770 A virgin wisdom to subdue the world, To build for passion an eternal song, To shape her dreams in marble, and so sweet Their speech, that envious Time hearkening shall stay In fear to snatch, and hide his rugged hand. Now is the birthday of thy conquering youth, O man, and lo! Thy priest and prophet stand Beside the altar and have blessed the day. IN. Ay, blessed be this day. Where is thy fire? Or is aught else to do, ere I may take? 780 PR. This was my message, speak and there is fire. IN. There shall be fire. Await me here awhile. I go to acquaint my house, and bring them forth. [_Exit._ CHORUS. Hearken, O Argos, hearken! There will be fire. And thou, O Earth, give ear! There will be fire. SEM. (_maidens_). Who shall be sent to fetch this fire for the king? SEM. (_youths_). Shall we put forth in boats to reap, And shall the waves for harvest yield 790 The rootless flames that nimbly leap Upon their ever-shifting field? SEM. (_maidens_). Or we in olive-groves go shake And beat the fruiting sprays, till all The silv'ry glitter which they make Beneath into our baskets fall? SEM. (_youths_). To bind in sheaves and bear away The white unshafted darts of day? SEM. (_maidens_). And from the shadow one by one Pick up the playful oes of sun? 800