The Unknown Sea

ace unalterable, the grea

ried to greet him with the old name Diadyomenos, but it fell imperfect. And his grey eyes addressed her too fo

; earnest, sad, indomitable, the man demanded of her answering integrity. Uncomprehended, t

he panted, 'now I find yo

e tense inquiry of his eyes. Did they demand acknowledgment of her de

of the sea? And have you flung it away,

ce never altered for c

hat rose up to the waves through

he set her eyes

I. I? For

alled

or no man

r will her

an evil dream haunts me, an

vil d

ath came quick as again

es brought terror gathering to her ow

ts me, and your eye

zed, and mutte

you brought it with you out of season? It is li

eyes dilated, her whole face quivered, and for an instant a shadow of vague wistfulness crossed

m it, when, to keep all evil from yo

what you call hell I enter, ever

shall not! Come to me, call me, and what heart of m

ain, within them only

yet to escape it I would give up many

desire my heart now holds; ay, in the dear moment of its fulfilment, I would give up

terrible than yours; though I know my desire cannot be l

er downcast, shy eyes to mislead him. B

, what is y

but an echo of it, and my heart dread. And what remains of it c

king, sighing,

d, and but half heeding she told,

he land, the poor, hard, unsatisfying land, grows some degrees dearer. Ah! but I loathe it after, when my life again beat

e, to watch out th

y. 'Take heed! Wilful, deliberate trespass again

she had startled her prey; ther

en now. Agonistes, were you not of the land

I hear the sea moaning for me, but turn where I will I cannot see nor reach it: it lies beyond a lost path, a

fearful sounds of speech, but not one distinct, articulate word. And in my dream I know that if any one stays, stands, confronts me, to be

rable vision of the magic of

the senses, and they are without, but this is within:

, ah!

rious kindness it seizes my will when my love grows slackest, and d

fied your fear, and kept from

If I did-my dream

in your eyes was-I doub

ll not lo

low and shaken as hers. '

d her breath for speech, ye

n body-tortured with fi

void of speculation. Prone she sank to the edge of the altar rock, for such passions lea

rong, full-grown malice-recovered and stood up triumphant over

s tranquil ease, his quiet breath, flouted her before she saw

ill; her wicked heart laughed, gra

the crea

he sleeper, of serene countenance, of slack limbs, touched her as excelle

s to trample, to smite, to bite her resentful hatred into the piece of flesh that mocked her control.

t must first be crushed and broken and rent, justly to compensate for insolen

mmered to smooth. Lone in these splendid fittings for sepulture l

oke from her slow ascent as a

birth troubled the cold sea nature. Strong they thrust towards the light, as her mind recalled the intolerable speech of his eyes and his alter

hers, and dare all her asking from his eyes. A disloyal hand went out and hovered over his heart. She plucked

had so wanted to handle; ay, graciously-at first-to hold the crispness, to break the crest; and ever because she dared not did fierceness for tearing arise. So slight an inclination, ungratified, extended to vast dimensions, and possess

or she contemplated an amazement to nature: d

up and kissed him awak

o fathoms and more below breath. Yet her laughter and her eyes summoned him down, and he, poor fool, displayed before her derision his deficiency, slow to learn that untiring submissi

nt. Diadyomene gained a barre

great rock saints, spied a figure kneeling devoutly. When the moon rose late the same kept vigil

red the human soul with reproof and exhortation and promise. He woke, and intrepid rose to face th

t hear, at heart fiercely jealous because no such ardent entreaty had all her b

dare! Hear now. There, and there, and there, stand yet your silly inscriptions. Cancel them, f

N

e, shall right of freedom be yours, and welcome. Leave the

ean this,

sume. See, and if those three can deliver

home the best member that he possessed brok

ned a profane desire, a