Chapter IV: Statues

The great Greek lovers of gold and ivory things, Austere and perfect things, albeit they wrought Girl-shapes with driven raiment, conquering wings, And smiling queens of Cnidos, turned and sought A more inviolate beauty that should keep Their secret dream. Their grave sweet geniuses Of love and death, of rapture or of sleep, Are delicately severed from all excess.-- Ah! suppliant, honey-white, the languor cleaves About the dolorous weak body He, The Dark Eros, with staunchless spear-thrust grieves; Heavy the seal of that mortality. No wounds disgrace the haughty acolytes Of heavenly sorrows, of divine delights.