Page:Keats - Poetical Works, DeWolfe, 1884.djvu/417

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OTHO THE GREAT.
401
Enter Gersa.
 Gersa. Put on your brightest looks; smile if you can;Behave as all were happy; keep your eyesFrom the least watch upon him; if he speaksTo any one, answer, collectedly,Without surprise, his questions, howe'er strange.Do this to the utmost,—though, alas! with meThe remedy grows hopeless! Here he comes,—Observe what I have said,—show no surprise.
Enter Ludolph, followed by Sigifred and Page.
 Ludolph. A splendid company! rare beauties here!I should have Orphean lips, and Plato's fancy,Amphion's utterance, toned with his lyre,Or the deep key of Jove's sonorous mouth,To give fit salutation. Methought I heard,As I came in, some whispers,—what of that?'Tis natural men should whisper; at the kissOf Psyche given by Love, there was a buzzAmong the gods!—and silence is as natural.These draperies are fine, and, being a mortal,I should desire no better; yet, in truth,There must be some superior costliness,Some wider-domed high magnificence!I would have, as a mortal I may not,Hangings of heaven's clouds, purple and gold,Slung from the spheres; gauzes of silver mist,Loop'd up with cords of twisted light,And tassell'd round with weeping meteors!These pendent lamps and chandeliers are brightAs earthly fires from dull dross can be cleansed;Yet could my eyes drink up intenser beams
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