Suggested by a Head of Achilles in Sir William Gell’s Pompeii

The swift Pelides from a Goddess’ loins, Like lightning from a summer cloud was born; Ambrosial youth incarnadined his limbs With roseal lustre and Hebean bloom; Yet in their marble smoothness lay enshrined A Titan’s energy—and his large eyes, That dreamed and languished like Endymion’s, When, vine-like, round his neck the lucent arms Of Lycomedes’ daughter were entwined, Glowed like a pard’s in fight. A glossy wealth Of sunny Apollonian tresses loosely rolled Adown his ivory shoulders. In his breast A fiery-blooded heart throbbed fiercely—now In sorrow unappeased venting itself Above his fallen friend; and now in ire Unquenchable, that withered all his foes, When vengeance called him to the ensanguined field. The hero’s sword not only he could wield; The heroic lyre he also strung, and oft At eve, in his pavilion by the sea, His melancholy spirit soothed with song.