Her mortal frame could not endure the splendors of the immortal radiance. She was consumed to ashes.[70] Her son was the god Bacchus.[71] Semele, in the blissful seats of Heaven, whither she was transported by the sorrowful Jove, has been represented as recounting thus the story of her doom: What were the garden-bowers of Thebes to me? What cared I for their dances and their feasts, Whose heart awaited an immortal doom? The Greek youths mocked me, since I shunned in scorn Them and their praises of my brows and hair. The light girls pointed after me, who turned Soul-sick from their unending fooleries.... There came a change: a glory fell to me. No more 'twas Semele, the lonely girl, But Jupiter's Beloved, Semele. With human arms the god came clasping me: New life streamed from his presence; and a voice, That scarce could curb itself to the smooth Greek, Now and anon swept forth in those deep nights, Thrilling my flesh with awe; mysterious words-- I knew not what; hints of unearthly things That I had felt on solemn summer noons, When sleeping Earth dreamed music, and the heart Went crooning a low song it could not learn, But wandered over it, as one who gropes For a forgotten chord upon a lyre. Yea, Jupiter! But why this mortal guise, Wooing as if he were a milk-faced boy? Did I lack lovers? Was my beauty dulled, The golden hair turned dross, the lithe limbs shrunk? The deathless longings tamed, that I should seethe My soul in love like any shepherd girl? One night he sware to grant whate'er I asked: And straight I cried, "To know thee as thou art! To hold thee on my heart as Juno does! Come in thy thunder--kill me with one fierce Divine embrace!--Thine oath!--Now, Earth, at last!" The Heavens shot one swift sheet of lurid flame; The world crashed: from a body scathed and torn The soul leapt through, and found his breast, and died. Died?--So the Theban maidens think, and laugh, Saying, "She had her wish, that Semele!" But sitting here upon Olympus' height, I look down, through that oval ring of stars, And see the far-off Earth, a twinkling speck-- Dust-mote whirled up from the Sun's chariot wheel-- And pity their small hearts that hold a man As if he were a god; or know the god-- Or dare to know him--only as a man! O human love! art thou forever blind?[72]