Bliss Carman, et al., eds. The World’s Best Poetry.
Volume VI. Fancy. 1904. | | | | Poems of Fancy: III. Mythical: Mystical: Legendary | | The Cave of Sleep | | Edmund Spenser (1552?–1599) |
| | From “The Faërie Queene,” Book I. Canto I.
HE, making speedy way through spersèd ayre, | |
| And through the world of waters wide and deepe, | |
| To Morpheus house doth hastily repaire, | |
| Amid the bowels of the earth full steepe, | |
| And low, where dawning day doth never peepe, | 5 |
| His dwelling is; there Tethys his wet bed | |
| Doth ever wash, and Cynthia still doth steepe | |
| In silver deaw his ever-drouping hed, | |
| Whiles sad Night over him her mantle black doth spred. * * * * * | |
| And, more to lulle him in his slumber soft, | 10 |
| A trickling streame from high rock tumbling downe, | |
| And ever-drizling raine upon the loft, | |
| Mixt with a murmuring winde, much like the sowne | |
| Of swarming bees, did cast him in a swowne. | |
| No other noyse, nor peoples troublous cryes, | 15 |
| As still are wont t’ annoy the wallèd towne, | |
| Might there be heard; but carelesse Quiet lyes | |
| Wrapt in eternall silence, farre from enimyes. | | | | |
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