many a piece Of sandal wood, rare gums, and cinnamon; Men scarcely know how beautiful fire is—­ Each flame of it is as a precious stone 260 Dissolved in ever-moving light, and this Belongs to each and all who gaze upon.  The Witch beheld it not, for in her hand She held a woof that dimmed the burning brand.

28.  This lady never slept, but lay in trance 265 All night within the fountain—­as in sleep.  Its emerald crags glowed in her beauty’s glance; Through the green splendour of the water deep She saw the constellations reel and dance Like fire-flies—­and withal did ever keep 270 The tenour of her contemplations calm, With open eyes, closed feet, and folded palm.

29.  And when the whirlwinds and the clouds descended From the white pinnacles of that cold hill, She passed at dewfall to a space extended, 275 Where in a lawn of flowering asphodel Amid a wood of pines and cedars blended, There yawned an inextinguishable well Of crimson fire—­full even to the brim, And overflowing all the margin trim. 280

30.  Within the which she lay when the fierce war Of wintry winds shook that innocuous liquor In many a mimic moon and bearded star O’er woods and lawns;—­the serpent heard it flicker In sleep, and dreaming still, he crept afar—­ 285 And when the windless snow descended thicker Than autumn leaves, she watched it as it came Melt on the surface of the level flame.

31.  She had a boat, which some say Vulcan wrought For Venus, as the chariot of her star; 290 But it was found too feeble to be fraught With all the ardours in that sphere which are, And so she sold it, and Apollo bought And gave it to this daughter:  from a car Changed to the fairest and the lightest boat 295 Which ever upon mortal stream did float.

32.  And others say, that, when but three hours old, The first-born Love out of his cradle lept, And clove dun Chaos with his wings of gold, And like a horticultural adept, 300 Stole a strange seed, and wrapped it up in mould, And sowed it in his mother’s star, and kept Watering it all the summer with sweet dew, And with his wings fanning it as it grew.

33.  The plant grew strong and green, the snowy flower 305 Fell, and the long and gourd-like fruit began To turn the light and dew by inward power To its own substance; woven tracery ran Of light firm texture, ribbed and branching, o’er The solid rind, like a leaf’s veined fan—­ 310 Of which Love scooped this boat—­and with soft motion Piloted it round the circumfluous ocean.

34.  This boat she moored upon her fount, and lit A living spirit within all its frame, Breathing the soul of swiftness into it.