Archibald Lampman (Арчибальд Лемпман)
The Moon-path
The full, clear moon uprose and spread Her cold, pale splendor o'er the sea; A light-strewn path that seemed to lead Outward into eternity. Between the darkness and the gleam An old-world spell encompassed me: Methought that in a godlike dream I trod upon the sea. And lo! upon that glimmering road, In shining companies unfurled, The trains of many a primal god, The monsters of the elder world; Strange creatures that, with silver wings, Scarce touched the ocean's thronging floor, The phantoms of old tales, and things Whose shapes are known no more. Giants and demi-gods who once Were dwellers of the earth and sea, And they who from Deucalion's stones, Rose men without an infancy; Beings on whose majestic lids Time's solemn secrets seemed to dwell, Tritons and pale-limbed Nereids, And forms of heaven and hell. Some who were heroes long of yore, When the great world was hale and young; And some whose marble lips yet pour The murmur of an antique tongue; Sad queens, whose names are like soft moans, Whose griefs were written up in gold; And some who on their silver thrones Were goddesses of old. As if I had been dead indeed, And come into some after-land, I saw them pass me, and take heed, And touch me with each mighty hand; And evermore a murmurous stream, So beautiful they seemed to me, Not less than in a godlike dream I trod the shining sea.
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