Whenas embracing thee, I stood to pray,

And poured forth wine unto the thirsty earth

To Zeus and to Poseidon, in whose girth

Lie sea and land; to Gaia next, their spouse,

And next to Heré, mistress of my house,

Traitress, and thine, for grace upon my faring:

For thou wert by to hear me, false arm bearing

Upon my shoulder, glowing, lying cheek

Next unto mine. Ay, and thou prayedst, with meek

Fair seeming, prosperous send-off and return.

Tell me what then, tell all, and let me learn

With what pretence that dog-souled slaked his thirst

In thy sweet liquor. Tell me that the first."

Then Helen lifted up her head, and beamed

Clear light upon him from her eyes, which seemed

That blue which, lying on the white sea-bed

[31]

And gazing up, the sunbeam overhead

Would show, with green entinctured, and the warp

Inwoven of golden shafts, blended yet sharp;

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