"Criticism" - читать интересную книгу автора (Poe Edgar Allan)

From this rainbow our Ouphe succeeds in catching, by means of his
colen bell cup, a "droplet of the sparkling dew." One half of his task
is accordingly done-

His wings are pure, for the gem is won.

On his return to land, the ripples divide before him, while the
water-spirits, so rancorous before, are obsequiously attentive to
his comfort. Having tarried a moment on the beach to breathe a prayer,
he "spreads his wings of gilded blue" and takes his way to the elfin
court- there resting until the cricket, at two in the morning,
rouses him up for the second portion of his penance.
His equipments are now an "acorn-helmet," a "thistle-down plume,"
a corslet of the "wild-bee's" skin, a cloak of the "wings of
butterflies," a shield of the "shell of the lady-bug," for lance
"the sting of a wasp," for sword a "blade of grass," for horse "a
fire-fly," and for spurs a couple of "cockle seed." Thus accoutred,

Away like a glance of thought he flies
To skim the heavens and follow far
The fiery trail of the rocket-star.

In the Heavens he has new dangers to encounter. The "shapes of
air" have begun their work- a "drizzly mist" is cast around him-
"storm, darkness, sleet and shade" assail him- "shadowy hands"
twitch at his bridle-rein- "flame-shot tongues" play around him-
"fiendish eyes" glare upon him- and

Yells of rage and shrieks of fear
Come screaming on his startled ear.

Still our adventurer is nothing daunted.

He thrusts before, and he strikes behind,
Till he pierces the cloudy bodies through
And gashes the shadowy limbs of mind.

and the Elfin makes no stop, until he reaches the "bank of the milky
way." He there checks his courser, and watches "for the glimpse of the
planet shoot." While thus engaged, however, an unexpected adventure
befalls him. He is approached by a company of the "sylphs of Heaven
attired in sunset's crimson pall." They dance around him, and "skip
before him on the plain." One receiving his "wasp-sting lance," and
another taking his bridle-rein,

With warblings wild they lead him on,
To where, through clouds of amber seen,
Studded with stars resplendent shone
The palace of the sylphid queen.