FullReads

19.
For it was filled with sculptures rarest,
Of forms most beautiful and strange,
Like nothing human, but the fairest
Of winged shapes, whose legions range
Throughout the sleep of those that are, 120
Like this same Lady, good and fair.

20.
And as she looked, still lovelier grew
Those marble forms;–the sculptor sure
Was a strong spirit, and the hue
Of his own mind did there endure 125
After the touch, whose power had braided
Such grace, was in some sad change faded.

21.
She looked, the flames were dim, the flood
Grew tranquil as a woodland river
Winding through hills in solitude; 130
Those marble shapes then seemed to quiver,
And their fair limbs to float in motion,
Like weeds unfolding in the ocean.

22.
And their lips moved; one seemed to speak,
When suddenly the mountains cracked, 135
And through the chasm the flood did break
With an earth-uplifting cataract:
The statues gave a joyous scream,
And on its wings the pale thin Dream
Lifted the Lady from the stream. 140

23.
The dizzy flight of that phantom pale
Waked the fair Lady from her sleep,
And she arose, while from the veil
Of her dark eyes the Dream did creep,
And she walked about as one who knew 145
That sleep has sights as clear and true
As any waking eyes can view.

NOTES:
18 golden 1819; gold 1824, 1839.
28 or 1824; nor 1839.
62 or]a cj. Rossetti.
63 its]their cj. Rossetti.
92 flames cj. Rossetti; waves 1819, 1824, 1839.
101 mountains 1819; mountain 1824, 1839.
106 flood]flames cj. James Thomson (‘B.V.’).
120 that 1819, 1824; who 1839.
135 mountains 1819; mountain 1824, 1839.