Blown from lips that strew the world-wide seas with death.

For the heart was molten within her to hear,

And her knees beneath her were loosened for fear,

And her blood fast bound as a frost-bound water,

And the soft new bloom of the green earth's daughter

Wind-wasted as blossom of a tree;

As the wild God rapt her from earth's breast lifted,

[Pg 35]

On the strength of the stream of his dark breath drifted,

620

From the bosom of earth as a bride from the mother,

With storm for bridesman and wreck for brother,

As a cloud that he sheds upon the sea.

[Epode.

Of this hoary-headed woe

Song made memory long ago;

Now a younger grief to mourn

Needs a new song younger born.

Who shall teach our tongues to reach

What strange height of saddest speech,

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