Stepping a pace in front of her companions,
    With bashful cheek, but with a kindling eye—­
    “’Tis not for one like me to have a thought
    In thy rare presence, Queen,” KOLONA said,—­
    “Yet I would dare to tell thee what I saw
    Only a moon ago, when a wild freak
    Possessed me to go voyaging alone,
    Across the sea, to find what curious things
    The other shore might hold.  My lily bark,
    Being too frail for such a venturous cruise
    I borrowed GONDOR’s boat of nautilus’ shells,
    Put up my lua-leaf sail and swiftly sped
    Across the ocean, till this level isle
    Grew smaller than a star.  The air grew cold:—­
    I almost shivered in my bird’s-down mantle;
    But when I neared the opposing shore, the sight
    Of all its snowy scenery, repaid me. 
    Coasting along at leisure, on a cliff
    Which overhung the sea, I saw appear
    A being, whom I knew at once as Man.—­
    One of that mortal race which we have kept
    Forever, since our chronicles began,
    With war assiduous, from our inner realms,
    Still undefiled by their invading feet. 
    The choking hurry of my noisy heart
    Told me the truth.  At first I would have fled,
    But, being unperceived by him, I lingered,—­
    Inquisitive and wilful that I am. 
    Thenceforth, sweet Queen, I never can forget
    The face of this one man which I have seen. 
    Triumph was on his brow, and yet not that
    So much as doubt and earnest questioning. 
    Something arose into his eyes and shone
    Which must have been his Soul; it searched the deep,
    The earth, the sky, with bright and troubled gaze;
    And then, glanced forward with so still a look,
    It seemed that it, perforce, would vanish space,
    And bring our secret world within its ken;
    Yet, with no cruelty or wantonness,
    Such as we hear gleamed from the cunning eyes
    Of those fierce hordes who, centuries ago,
    Came in their boats and strove to conquer us. 
    Knowledge was what it craved, with truth it burned;
    A majesty we cannot name, expressed
    Its power within his features.  Then I felt
    That, could I bring him to thy gracious feet
    He would reveal to us that mystery
    The dream of which so oft hath troubled us,
    Breaking upon us, like the light of Heaven,
    Too high for us to fix its source—­that spoke
    Of an eternal, comprehensive Life,
    The thought of which doth haunt us.  In return
    We could bestow the knowledge which he craved,
    And link his name with ours through all the earth,
    Fearless of harm from one who only craves
    The crown of Genius for his soul-lit brow. 
    Almost I rowed my shallop to his feet;
    Almost I offered to convey him hither,
    Yet feared so much, O, Queen, thy just displeasure,
    That I forbore.