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pygmalion.
"O, I would have an eye to gaze in mine!
An ear to listen for my coming step,—
A voice of love, with tones like joy's own bells,
To ring their silver changes on mine ear!
A yielding hand to thrill within mine own,
And lips of melting sweetness, full and warm!
Would change this deathless stone to mortal flesh,
And barter immortality for love!
An ear to listen for my coming step,—
A voice of love, with tones like joy's own bells,
To ring their silver changes on mine ear!
A yielding hand to thrill within mine own,
And lips of melting sweetness, full and warm!
Would change this deathless stone to mortal flesh,
And barter immortality for love!
"If voice of earth, in wildest prayer, may reach
To godhood, throned amid the purple clouds,
To animate this cold and pulseless stone
Grant thou one breath of that immortal air
Which feedeth human life from age to age,
And floateth round Olympus!—Hear, O Jove!
To godhood, throned amid the purple clouds,
To animate this cold and pulseless stone
Grant thou one breath of that immortal air
Which feedeth human life from age to age,
And floateth round Olympus!—Hear, O Jove!
"And so this form may shrine a soul of light,
Whose starry radiance shall unseal these eyes,
Send down the sky's blue deeps, O sire divine,
One faintest gleam of that benignant smile
Which glows upon the faces of the gods,
And lights all heaven!—Hear, mighty Jove!"
Whose starry radiance shall unseal these eyes,
Send down the sky's blue deeps, O sire divine,
One faintest gleam of that benignant smile
Which glows upon the faces of the gods,
And lights all heaven!—Hear, mighty Jove!"
He stayed his prayer, and on his statue gazed.
Behold, a gentle heaving stirred its breast!
Behold, a gentle heaving stirred its breast!
