PANTING for breath, towards her parent brook, Like the tir'd deer before an eager chase, Fair Daphne ran, nor durst behind her look: With winged feet, and with a blubb'red face. The beardless God, who, taken with her charms, Had long pursu'd, by his hot passion led, Straight saw her stop, and upward stretch her arms On Peneus' banks, where she for aid had fled. He saw her nimble feet take root and grow, And a rough bark her tender limbs enclose; Her hair, which once like curls of gold did show, Chang'd green, and in a shade of boughs arose. To the resistless tree he courtship makes, And with vain kisses his fond love deceives; Then of her bays by force a chaplet takes: So 'stead of fruit, he only gathers leaves. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE DEATH OF THE FLOWERS by WILLIAM CULLEN BRYANT THE HOUSE OF LIFE: 52. WILLOWWOOD (4) by DANTE GABRIEL ROSSETTI OUR WEAKNESS by JOHANNA AMBROSIUS THE STORY OF ZERBIN AND ISABELLA, FR. ORLANDO FURIOSO by LUDOVICO (LODOVICO) ARIOSTO LULLABY IN BETHLEHEM by HENRY HOWARTH BASHFORD THE PARTING OF LAUNCELOT AND GUENEVERE; A FRAGMENT by EDWARD ROBERT BULWER-LYTTON |