Excerpt from book: MELUSINA MELUSINA 'TwAS when the loitering eves of idle June Like breezeless barks went slow and drowsy And Vesper kindled, and the mellowing moon Stood out distinct against the deep-blue sky, And the sun's wake, though he had vanished quite, Edged half the sultry heaven with orange light? Then, as a prisoned bird that will not sing Anothersong than erst the woodland taught, Where once she roved with free unfearful wing, So Melusina would not chant of aught But the still rivers, and of what may be Locked in the deep illimitable sea. And so her songs were fair with fairest shapes Of Nixes that in reedy rivers roam, And those that haunt the billow-beaten capes, Flinging white arms around the flashing foam, And those that aim their music and their smiles At seamen shallop-borne past purple isles. She sang of the strange flowers that ever thrust Their blooms up towards the heaven they ne'er behold, And caves where pearls lie prodigal as dust, And spars of veering violet and gold, And constant shells that evermore retain The moody music of the murmuring main. The glowing woof of her bright songs portrayed Great Neptune awful in the majesty Of his vast amber palace, pearl-inlaid, Domed with that mighty emerald, the Or shining on his kingdoms like a star, As brine-born coursers snorted in his car. MELUSINA Also she chanted of the faery pride Of Amphitrite rising on the sea, When moonbeams kiss it, and the mounting Wantons beneath the argent luxury. On dolphins' backs the harping Nymphs are borne, The Tritons swim, and blow upon the horn. Nor did she shun to tell of those who kiss The wandering corpse, and bear it to the caves Lonely and deep, where tempest never is, Nor any passion in the quiet w...