file:///F|//(2)/CharmidesandOther.txt[2010-11-3021:27:13]CharmidesandOtherPoemsbyOscarWildeContents:CharmidesRequiescatSanMiniatoRomeUnvisitedHumanitadLouisNapoleonEndymionLeJardinLaMerLePanneauLesBallonsCanzonetLeJardinDesTuileriesPan:DoubleVillanelleInTheForestSymphonyInYellowSonnets:Helas!ToMiltonOnTheMassacreOfTheChristiansInBulgariaHolyWeekAtGenoaUrbsSacraAeternaETenebrisAtVeronaOnTheSaleByAuctionOfKeats'LoveLettersTheNewRemorseCHARMIDESI.HewasaGrecianlad,whocominghomeWithpulpyfigsandwinefromSicilyStoodathisgalley'sprow,andletthefoamBlowthroughhiscrispbrowncurlsunconsciously,Andholdingwaveandwindinboy'sdespitePeeredfromhisfile:///F|//(2)/CharmidesandOther.txt[2010-11-3021:27:13]drippingseatacrossthewetandstormynight.TillwiththedawnhesawaburnishedspearLikeathinthreadofgoldagainstthesky,Andhoistedsail,andstrainedthecreakinggear,AndbadethepilotheadherlustilyAgainstthenor'westgale,andalldaylongHeldonhisway,andmarkedtherowers'timewithmeasuredsong.AndwhenthefaintCorinthianhillswereredDroppedanchorinalittlesandybay,Andwithfreshboughsofolivecrownedhishead,Andbrushedfromcheekandthroatthehoaryspray,Andwashedhislimbswithoil,andfromtheholdBroughtouthislinentunicandhissandalsbrazen-soled,Andarichrobestainedwiththefishers'juiceWhichofsomeswarthytraderhehadboughtUponthesunnyquayatSyracuse,AndwaswithTyrianbroideriesinwrought,AndbythequestioningmerchantsmadehiswayUpthroughthesoftandsilverwoods,andwhenthelabouringdayHadspunitstangledwebofcrimsoncloud,Clombthehighhill,andwithswiftsilentfeetCrepttothefaneunnoticedbythecrowdOfbusypriests,andfromsomedarkretreatWatchedtheyoungswainshisfrolicplaymatesbringThefirstlingoftheirlittleflock,andtheshyshepherdflingThecracklingsaltupontheflame,orhangHisstuddedcrookagainstthetemplewallToHerwhokeepsawaytheravenousfangOfthebasewolffromhomesteadandfromstall;Andthentheclear-voicedmaidens'gantosing,Andtothealtareachmanbroughtsomegoodlyoffering,Abeechencupbrimmingwithmilkyfoam,AfairclothwroughtwithcunningimageryOfhoundsinchase,awaxenhoney-combDrippingwithoozygoldwhichscarcethebeeHadceasedfrombuilding,ablackskinofoilMeetforthewrestlers,agreatboarthefierceandwhite-tuskedspoilStolenfromArtemisthatjealousmaidTopleaseAthena,andthedappledhideOfatallstagwhoinsomemountaingladeHadmettheshaft;andthentheheraldcried,AndfromthepillaredprecinctonebyoneWentthegladGreekswellpleasedthattheytheirsimplevowshaddone.AndtheoldpriestputoutthewaningfiresSavethatonelampwhoserestlessrubyglowedForeverinthecell,andtheshrilllyresCamefainteronthewind,asdowntheroadInjoyousdancethesecountryfolkdidpass,Andwithstouthandsthewarderclosedthegatesofpolishedbrass.Longtimehelayandhardlydaredtobreathe,Andheardthecadenceddripofspilt-outwine,Andtherose-petalsfallingfromthewreathAsthenightbreezeswanderedthroughtheshrine,AndseemedtobeinsomeentrancedswoonTillthroughtheopenroofabovethefullandbrimmingmoonFloodedwithsheenywavesthemarblefloor,Whenfromhisnookupleapttheventurouslad,Andflingingwidethecedar-carvendoorBeheldanawfulimagesaffron-cladAndarmedforbattle!thegauntGriffinglaredFromthehugehelm,andthelonglanceofwreckandruinflaredLikearedrodofflame,stonyandsteeledTheGorgon'sheaditsleadeneyeballsrolled,Andwritheditssnakyhorrorsthroughtheshield,AndgapedaghastwithbloodlesslipsandcoldInpassionimpotent,whilewithblindgazeTheblinkingowlbetweenthefeethootedinshrillamaze.ThelonelyfisherashetrimmedhislampFaroutatseaoffSunium,orcastThenetfortunnies,heardabrazentrampOfhorsessmitethewaves,andawildblastDividethefoldedcurtainsofthenight,Andkneltuponthelittlepoop,andprayedinholyfright.AndguiltyloversintheirveneryForgatalittlewhiletheirstolensweets,DeemingtheyhearddreadDian'sbittercry;AndthegrimwatchmenontheirloftyseatsRantotheirshieldsinhasteprecipitate,Orstrainedblack-beardedthroatsacrosstheduskyparapet.file:///F|//(2)/CharmidesandOther.txt[2010-11-3021:27:13]Forroundthetemplerolledtheclangofarms,AndthetwelveGodsleaptupinmarblefear,AndtheairquakedwithdissonantalarumsTillhugePoseidonshookhismightyspear,Andonthefriezetheprancinghorsesneighed,Andthelowtreadofhurryingfeetrangfromthecavalcade.Readyfordeathwithpartedlipshestood,AndwellcontentatsuchapricetoseeThatcalmwidebrow,thatterriblemaidenhood,Themarvelofthatpitilesschastity,Ah!wellcontentindeed,forneverwightSinceTroy'syoungshepherdprincehadseensowonderfulasight.Readyfordeathhestood,butlo!theairGrewsilent,andthehorsesceasedtoneigh,Andoffhisbrowhetossedtheclusteringhair,Andfromhislimbshethrowthecloakaway;Forwhomwouldnotsuchlovemakedesperate?Andnighercame,andtouchedherthroat,andwithhandsviolateUndidthecuirass,andthecrocusgown,Andbaredthebreastsofpolishedivory,TillfromthewaistthepeplosfallingdownLeftvisiblethesecretmysteryWhichtonoloverwillAthenashow,Thegrandcoolflanks,thecrescentthighs,thebossyhillsofsnow.Thosewhohaveneverknownalover'ssinLetthemnotreadmyditty,itwillbeTotheirdullearssomusiclessandthinThattheywillhavenojoyofit,butyeTowhosewancheeksnowcreepsthelingeringsmile,YewhohavelearnedwhoErosis,-Olistenyetawhile.AlittlespacehelethisgreedyeyesRestontheburnishedimage,tillmeresightHalfswoonedforsurfeitofsuc