Then Nina, stooping down, embraced, With tenderness and mild emotion, 140 The Damsel, in that trance embound; And, while she raised her from the ground, And in the pearly shallop placed, Sleep fell upon the air, and stilled the ocean. The turmoil hushed, celestial springs 145 Of music opened, and there came a blending Of fragrance, underived from earth, With gleams that owed not to the sun their birth, And that soft rustling of invisible wings[671] Which Angels make, on works of love descending. 150 And Nina heard a sweeter voice Than if the Goddess of the flower had spoken: "Thou hast achieved, fair Dame! what none Less pure in spirit could have done; Go, in thy enterprise rejoice! 155 Air, earth, sea, sky, and heaven, success betoken." So cheered, she left that Island bleak, A bare rock of the Scilly cluster, And, as they traversed the smooth brine, The self-illumined Brigantine 160 Shed, on the Slumberer's cold wan cheek And pallid brow, a melancholy lustre. Fleet was their course, and when they came To the dim cavern, whence the river Issued into the salt-sea flood, 165 Merlin, as fixed in thought he stood, Was thus accosted by the Dame; "Behold to thee my Charge I now deliver! But where attends thy chariot--where?"-- Quoth Merlin, "Even as I was bidden, 170 So have I done; as trusty as thy barge My vehicle shall prove--O precious Charge! If this be sleep, how soft! if death, how fair! Much have my books disclosed, but the end is hidden." He spake; and gliding into view 175 Forth from the grotto's dimmest chamber Came two mute Swans, whose plumes of dusky white Changed, as the pair approached the light, Drawing an ebon car, their hue (Like clouds of sunset) into lucid amber. 180 Once more did gentle Nina lift The Princess, passive to all changes: The car received her:--then up-went Into the ethereal element The Birds with progress smooth and swift 185 As thought, when through bright regions memory ranges. Sage Merlin, at the Slumberer's side, Instructs the Swans their way to measure; And soon Caerleon's towers appeared, And notes of minstrelsy were heard 190 From rich pavilions spreading wide, For some high day of long-expected pleasure.