Endymion

“ ENDYMION: You know, fair Tellus, that the sweet remembrance of your love is the only companion of my life, and thy presence my paradise, so that I am not alone when nobody is with me and in heaven itself when thou art with me.
TELLUS: Then you love me, Endymion?
ENDYMION: [Scoffed with a cold shoulder.] Or else I live not, Tellus.
TELLUS: Is it not possible for you, Endymion, to dissemble?
ENDYMION: Not, Tellus, unless I could make me a woman.
TELLUS: Why, is dissembling joined to their sex inseparable, as heat to fire, heaviness to earth, moisture to water, and thinness to air? ”

“ Woe! Woe to that Endymion! Where is he?—-
Even these words went echoing dismally
Through the wide forest—-a most fearful tone,
Like one repenting in his latest moan;
And while it died away a shade pass’d by,
As of a thunder cloud. When arrows fly
Through the thick branches, poor ring-doves sleek forth
Their timid necks and tremble; so these both
Leant to each other trembling, and sat so
Waiting for some destruction—-when lo,
Foot-feather’d Mercury appear’d sublime
Beyond the tall tree tops; and in less time
Than shoots the slanted hail-storm, down he dropt
Towards the ground ”

“ Accursed girl, what hope hast thou to see Endymion, on whose head already are grown gray hairs, and whose life must yield to nature before Cynthia end her displeasure? Wicked Dipsas, and most devilish Tellus, the one for cunning too exquisite, the other for hate too intolerable! Thou wast commanded to weave the stories and poetries wherein were showed both examples and punishments of tattling tongues, and thou hast only embroidered the sweet face of Endymion, devices of love, melancholy imaginations, and what not out of thy work, that thou shouldst study to pick out of thy mind. ”

“ CYNTHIA: Well, Endymion, nothing resteth now but that we depart. Thou has my favor, Tellus her friend, Eumenides in paradise with his Semele, Geron contented with Dipsas.
TOPHAS: Nay, soft. I cannot handsomely go to bed without Bagoa.
CYNTHIA: Well, Sir Tophas, it may be there are more virtues in me than myself knoweth of, for Endymion I awaked, and at my words he waxed young. I will try whether I can turn this tree again to thy true love.
TOPHAS: Turn her to a true love or false, so she be a wench I care not. ”

“ Endymion was calm'd to life again.
Opening his eyelids with a healthier brain,
He said: "I feel this thine endearing love
All through my bosom: thou art as a dove
Trembling its closed eyes and sleeked wings
About me; and the pearliest dew not brings
Such morning incense from the fields of May,470
As do those brighter drops that twinkling stray
From those kind eyes,–the very home and haunt
Of sisterly affection. Can I want
Aught else, aught nearer heaven, than such tears? ”

“ Poor Endymion, who loved her passionately, over whom she exercised the influence of a divinity, who would do nothing without consulting her, and who was moulded, and who wished to be moulded, by her inspiring will, was also a shrewd man of the world, and did not permit his sentiment to cloud his perception of life and its doings. He felt that Lady Montfort had fallen from a lofty position, and she was not of a temperament that would quietly brook her fate. ”

“ With all these individuals, and with all their circles, Endymion was a favourite. No doubt his good looks, his mien—which was both cheerful and pensive—his graceful and quiet manners, all told in his favour, and gave him a good start, but further acquaintance always sustained the first impression. He was intelligent and well-informed, without any alarming originality, or too positive convictions. He listened not only with patience but with interest to all, and ever avoided controversy. Here are some of the elements of a man’s popularity. ”

“ Where there are crowned heads, there are always some charming women. Endymion found himself in a delightful circle. Long days and early hours, and a beautiful country, renovate the spirit as well as the physical frame. Excursions to romantic forests, and visits to picturesque ruins, in the noon of summer, are enchanting, especially with princesses for your companions, bright and accomplished. Yet, notwithstanding some distractions, Endymion never omitted writing to Lady Montfort every day. ”

“ O Endymion, Tellus was fair! But what availeth beauty without wisdom? Nay, Endymion, she was wise. But what availeth wisdom without honor? She was honorable, Endymion, belie her not. Ay, but how obscure is honor without fortune? Was she not fortunate whom so many followed? Yes, yes, but base is fortune without majesty. Thy majesty, Cynthia, all the world knoweth and wondereth at, but not one in the world that can imitate it or comprehend it. No more, Endymion. Sleep or die. Nay, die, for to sleep it is impossible ”

“ Suffer then Endymion to follow his affections, though to obtain her be impossible, and let him flatter himself in his own imaginations, because they are immortal.
TELLUS: Loath I am, Endymion, that thou shouldst die, because I love thee well, and that thou shouldst live it grieveth me, because thou lovest Cynthia too well. In these extremities what shall I do? Floscula, no more words. I am resolved: he shall neither live nor die. ”

“ Though if thou wilt,
Methinks 'twould be a guilt–a very guilt–
Not to companion thee, and sigh away
The light–the dusk–the dark–till break of day!"
"Dear lady," said Endymion, "'tis past:
I love thee! and my days can never last.140
That I may pass in patience still speak:
Let me have music dying, and I seek
No more delight–I bid adieu to all.
Didst thou not after other climates call,
And murmur about Indian streams?"–Then she,
Sitting beneath the midmost forest tree,
For pity sang this roundelay—
"O Sorrow,
Why dost borrow
The natural hue of health, from vermeil lips? ”

“ Endymion dreamed such beautiful dreams as come only to happy poets. Even when he woke, life held no care for him, but he seemed to walk in a light that was for him alone. And all this time, just as the Sun-god watched over the sheep of King Admetus, Diana kept the flocks of Endymion, but it was for love's sake. ”

“ I marvel Corsites giveth me so much liberty, all the world knowing his charge to be so high and his nature to be most strange, who hath so ill entreated ladies of great honor that he hath not suffered them to look out of windows, much less to walk abroad. It may be he is in love with me, for, Endymion, hardhearted Endymion excepted, what is he that is not enamored of my beauty? But what respectest thou the love of all the world? Endymion hates thee. Alas, poor Endymion, my malice hath exceeded my love, and thy faith to Cynthia quenched my affections. Quenched, Tellus? ”

“ A scowl is sometimes on his brow, but who
Look full upon it feel anon the blue
Of his fair eyes run liquid through their souls.
Endymion feels it, and no more controls
The burning prayer within him; so, bent low,
He had begun a plaining of his woe.
But Venus, bending forward, said: “My child,
Favour this gentle youth; his days are wild
With love—-he—-but alas! too well I see
Thou know’st the deepness of his misery. ”

“ Thou art the man!” Endymion started back
Dismay’d; and, like a wretch from whom the rack
Tortures hot breath, and speech of agony,
Mutter’d: “What lonely death am I to die
In this cold region? Will he let me freeze,
And float my brittle limbs o’er polar seas?
Or will he touch me with his searing hand,
And leave a black memorial on the sand? ”

“ So we sat down; and pretty soon he heaved a sigh and pulled a book out of his pocket. 'I will read you Endymion.' he said, and he read the first line—‘"A thing of beauty is a joy forever."’ Then he stopped and looked at me—one of those languishing looks."
"I can imagine."
"It got on my nerves at last, so I told him to continue with his reading. But without moving his eyes he repeated: ‘"A thing of beauty is a joy forever." How true! How true!' So then I just turned and let him have my back." ”

“ Endymion rose from his seat and kissed his sister. “So long as you live,” he said, “we shall never be ignominious.”
“Yes, but I am nothing; I am not a man, I am not a Ferrars. The best of me is that I may be a transient help to you. It is you who must do the deed. I am wearied of hearing you described as Lady Roehampton’s brother, or Lord Roehampton’s brother-in-law. I shall never be content till you are greater than we are, and there is but one and only one immediate way of accomplishing it, it is by this marriage—and a marriage with whom? with an angelic being!” ”

“ EUMENIDES: I am going to Thessaly to seek remedy for Endymion, my dearest friend, who hath been cast into a dead sleep almost these twenty years, waxing old and ready for the grave, being almost but newly come forth of the cradle.
GERON: You need not for re-cure travel far, for whoso can clearly see the bottom of this fountain shall have remedy for anything.
EUMENIDES: That, methinketh, is un-possible. Why, what virtue can there be in the water?
GERON: Yes, whosoever can shed the tears of a faithful lover shall obtain anything he would. ”

“ FLOSCULA: Corsites, I would Tellus saw your amiable face.
[Corsites rubs out his spots with lunary from the bank. Semele laughs.]
ZONTES: [Pointing his finger at her.] How spitefully Semele laugheth, that dare not speak!
CYNTHIA: Could you not stir Endymion with that doubled strength of yours?
CORSITES: Not so much as his finger with all my force.
CYNTHIA: Pythagoras and Gyptes, what think you of Endymion? What reason is to be given, what remedy?
PYTHAGORAS: Madam, it is impossible to yield reason for things that happen not in compass of nature. ”

“ Dearest Endymion! my entire love!
How have I dwelt in fear of fate: 'tis done–
Immortal bliss for me too hast thou won.
Arise then! for the hen-dove shall not hatch
Her ready eggs, before I'll kissing snatch
Thee into endless heaven. Awake! awake!
The youth at once arose: a placid lake
Came quiet to his eyes ”

“ Me, dear Endymion, were I to weave
With my own fancies garlands of sweet life,
Thou shouldst be one of all. Ah, bitter strife!
I may not be thy love: I am forbidden–
Indeed I am–thwarted, affrighted, chidden,
By things I trembled at, and gorgon wrath.
Twice hast thou ask'd whither I went: henceforth760
Ask me no more! I may not utter it,
Nor may I be thy love. We might commit
Ourselves at once to vengeance; we might die;
We might embrace and die: voluptuous thought! ”

“ Immortal, starry; such alone could thus
Weigh down thy nature. Hast thou sinn’d in aught
Offensive to the heavenly powers? Caught
A Paphian dove upon a message sent?
Thy deathful bow against some deer-herd bent,
Sacred to Dian? Haply, thou hast seen
Her naked limbs among the alders green;
And that, alas! is death. No, I can trace
Something more high perplexing in thy face!”
Endymion look’d at her, and press’d her hand,
And said, “Art thou so pale, who wast so bland
And merry in our meadows? How is this?
Tell me thine ailment: tell me all amiss!—-
Ah! ”

“ Endymion! unhappy! it nigh grieves
Me to behold thee thus in last extreme:
Ensky'd ere this, but truly that I deem
Truth the best music in a first-born song.
Thy lute-voic'd brother will I sing ere long,780
And thou shall aid–hast thou not aided me?
Yes, moonlight Emperor! felicity
Has been thy meed for many thousand years;
Yet often have I, on the brink of tears,
Mourn'd as if yet thou wert a forester ”

“ I like, above all things, to live with good-tempered people.”
“I hope you may not be disappointed. My temper is my own affair, and I am content always to be alone.”
“Why! you are talking nonsense, Endymion.”
“Probably; I do not pretend to be gifted. I am not one of those gentlemen who cannot fail. I am not the man of the future.”
“Well! I never was so surprised in my life,” exclaimed Lady Montfort. “I never will pretend to form an opinion of human character again. Now, my dear Endymion, rouse yourself, and come back with me. ”

“ She had learned that long ago. So she drew up a chair and watched him while he slipped the string over the corners of the package. Paper followed string to the floor; a thin, flat book was revealed, with a paper label on the back.
"Endymion!" cried Mr. Averill.
"The first edition, Mary! And look inside it, will you? Now, won't old Max turn green with envy!"
She took the book and opened it. "Why, the leaves aren't cut!" she said.
"Exactly! It's a treasure—perhaps the only one of its kind in existence."
"But I've heard Max speak of his first edition of Endymion as uncut." ”

“ And now, strange to say, Endymion was speculating on the fate of Imogene, and, as he thought, in a more practical spirit. Six hundred a year, he thought, was not a very large income; but it was an income, and one which a year ago he never contemplated possessing until getting grey in the public service. Why not realise perfect happiness at once? ”

“ Next, on a dolphin, clad in laurel boughs,
Theban Amphion leaning on his lute:
His fingers went across it—-All were mute
To gaze on Amphitrite, queen of pearls,
And Thetis pearly too.—-
The palace whirls
Around giddy Endymion; seeing he
Was there far strayed from mortality.
He could not bear it—-shut his eyes in vain;
Imagination gave a dizzier pain.
“O I shall die! sweet Venus, be my stay!
Where is my lovely mistress? Well-away!
I die—-I hear her voice—-I feel my wing—-”
At Neptune’s feet he sank. ”

“ CYNTHIA: Is it possible, Tellus, that so few years should harbor so many mischiefs? Thy swelling pride have I borne because it is a thing that beauty maketh blameless, which, the more it exceedeth fairness in measure, the more it stretcheth itself in disdain. Thy devices against Corsites I smile at, for that the wits the sharper they are, the shrewder they are. But this unacquainted and most unnatural practice with a vile enchantress against so noble a gentleman as Endymion I abhor as a thing most malicious, and will revenge as a deed most monstrous. [Turning to Dipsas.] ”