KUBLA KHAN.

Evening Star, Issue 12871, 21 July 1906, Page 4

KUBLA KHAN.

[By S. T. CotERfUGE.] In Xanadu did Kubla Khan A stately pleasure-dome decree; Where Aiph, the sacred river, ran Through caverns measureless to man, 'Down to a sunless sea. So twice live miles of fertile ground With walls and towers were girdled round; And there were gardens bright with sinuous rills, Where blossomed many an incense-bearing tree; ‘ And here were forests ancient- as the hills. Enfolding sunny spots of greenery. But, ph! that deep romantic chasm which slanted Down the green -hill athwart a cedam coyer! A savage place; as holy and enchanted As e’er beneath a waning moon was haunted By woman wailing for her demon-loyer! And front this chasm, with ceaseless tunnpij seething, As if this earth in fast thick pants were breathing, A mighty fountain momently was forced; Amid whose swift, half-intermitted burst Huge fragments vaulted like rebounding hail, Or chaffy grain beneath the thresher’s flail; And ’mid these dancing rocks at once and ever It flung up momently the sacred river. Five miles meandering with a mazy motion Trough wood and dale the sacred river ran, Then reached the caverns measureless to man, And sank in tumult to a lifeless ocean; And ’mid this tumult Kubla heard from for Ancestral voices prophesying war! The shadow of the dome of pleasure Floated midway bn tie waves; Where was heard the mingled measure From the fountain and the caves. It was a miracle of rare device, A sunny pleasure-dome with caves of ice! A damsel with a dulcimer In a vision once I saw: It was an Abyssinian maid, And on hex dulcimer she played, Singing of Mount Abora. Could I revive with me Her symphony and son g, To such a deep delight ’twould win me That with music loud and long, I would build that domp in air, That sunny dome! those caves of ice! And all who heard should see them there, And all should cry Beware! Beware! His flashing eyes, his floating’hair! Weave a circle round him thrice, And close your eyes with holy dread, For he on honey-dew hath fed, And drunk the milk of Paradise.