For as that Bull-god once did stand

And watched the burial-clouds of sand,

Till these at last without a hand

Rose o’er his eyes, another land,

And blinded him with destiny —

So may he stand again; till now,

In ships of unknown sail and prow,

Some tribe of the Australian plough

Bear him afar, — a relic now

Of London, not of Nineveh!

Or it may chance indeed that when

Man’s age is hoary among men,—

His centuries threescore and ten,—

His furthest childhood shall seem then

More clear than later times may be:

Who, finding in this desert place

This form, shall hold us for some race

That walked not in Christ’s lowly ways,

But bowed its pride and vowed its praise

Unto the God of Nineveh.

The smile rose first, — anon drew nigh

The thought:. Those heavy wings spread high,

So sure of flight, which do not fly;

That set gaze never on the sky;

Those scriptured flanks it cannot see;

Its crown, a brow-contracting load;

Its planted feet which trust the sod:.

(So grew the image as I trod

O Nineveh, was this thy God,—

Thine also, mighty Nineveh?

Troy Town

Heavenborn Helen, Sparta’s queen,

(O Troy Town!)

Had two breasts of heavenly sheen,

The sun and moon of the heart’s desire:

All Love’s lordship lay between.

(O Troy’s down,

Tall Troy’s on fire!)

Helen knelt at Venus’ shrine,

(O Troy Town!)

Saying, “A little gift is mine,

A little gift for a heart’s desire.

Hear me speak and make me a sign!

(O Troy’s down,

Tall Troy’s on fire!)

“Look, I bring thee a carven cup;

(O Troy Town!)

See it here as I hold it up,—

Shaped it is to the heart’s desire,

Fit to fill when the gods would sup.

(O Troy’s down,

Tall Troy’s on fire!)

“It was moulded like my breast;

(O Troy Town!)

He that sees it may not rest,

Rest at all for his heart’s desire.

O give ear to my heart’s behest!

(O Troy’s down,

Tall Troy’s on fire!)

“See my breast, how like it is;

(O Troy Town!)

See it bare for the air to kiss!

Is the cup to thy heart’s desire?

O for the breast, O make it his!

(O Troy’s down,

Tall Troy’s on fire!)

“Yea, for my bosom here I sue;

(O Troy Town!)

Thou must give it where ‘tis due,

Give it there to the heart’s desire.

Whom do I give my bosom to?

(O Troy’s down,

Tall Troy’s on fire!)

“Each twin breast is an apple sweet.

(O Troy Town!)

Once an apple stirred the beat

Of thy heart with the heart’s desire: —

Say, who brought it then to thy feet?

(O Troy’s down,

Tall Troy’s on fire!)

“They that claimed it then were three:

(O Troy Town!)

For thy sake two hearts did he

Make forlorn of the heart’s desire.

Do for him as he did for thee!

(O Troy’s down,

Tall Troy’s on fire!)

“Mine are apples grown to the south,

(O Troy Town!)

Grown to taste in the days of drouth,

Taste and waste to the heart’s desire:

Mine are apples meet for his mouth”.

(O Troy’s down,

Tall Troy’s on fire!)

Venus looked on Helen’s gift,

(O Troy Town!)

Looked and smiled with subtle drift,

Saw the work of her heart’s desire —

“There thou kneel’st for Love to lift!”

(O Troy’s down,

Tall Troy’s on fire!)

Venus looked in Helen’s face,

(O Troy Town!)

Knew far off an hour and place,