Hanno

Beyond the ivory altars changed and sold, The silver lavers carved with vine and wheat, The warps of silk made rough with Tyrian gold, The desert lances and the hastening feet, Down by the mean booths where they sell at whiles Strange birds, and bracelets from the northern isles, I saw half-buried, ruined and red with rust, A great ship's anchor fallen in the dust.

Gods! I was blind a little while, nor knew The amorous songs about the watering-places, The emeralds and the soft Egyptian faces, The white blood-horses and the gilded cars. Gods! how the keel cut seaward through the blue When the long galley raced the roving stars!

(Bel from his heaven hath touched thy conquering sword, Ashtar hath lent thee favour, O my lord. Taste the sweet wine and turn again and choose This golden ewer, this delicate ivory dove, This hunting knife, these little silken shoes, Or jewels to hold a very light-of-love?)

Yes, I am old, and bent beneath my yoke,— Dealer in spices, pearls, embroideries, Pale linked amber, coral and chrysoprase, Rubies to set the very world ablaze,— Gods! how they call, the happy sailor-folk Who swing asleep in those unfathomed seas!