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Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la m*thode. 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 MICROCOPY RESOIUTION TEST CHART ■ANSI and ISO TEST CHART No 2) 12.8 2.5 2.0 1.8 ^ APPLIED IIVHGE 1653 EdEi Mom 51reet (716) 482 - 0300 - Ohone (716) 288 - 5989 ~ Fa. ^:< ■\i \ III ,i, K'H-.i:;; |- |;k.)\v.\iv,, ■"■\'-'i i.VM N liv Ml ,m;s. imbi.i.i.,.: ■c Vdim; i\ KVii ^« 1 f \ (> \/(>/\/) /■/)/ /7(>.V ^ ^A POEMS or ROBERT BROWNING roM.MMM. nUAMATIC l.VkUS, DRAMA ri(! KOMANCKS MKN AND WUMKN, DUAMAS, I'AlI.INi;, I'AKACKI.SUS CUKISTMAS-KVI-: AND EASTLk.DAV, AND SOKDELI.o liir >4CAJ HKNKV FROWDK LONDON, EDINHURr.H, GLASGOW NEW YORK AND TORONTO '90:, "XKlRI.; HORACE ll..!if riilNTtR TO THE I'NIVKKSITV I I J NOTE This volume includes (1) the contents of the three- volume edition of Browning's poems published in 1863 ; (2) Pauline, taken from the first edition (1833); (3) two short poems, a Sonriet and Ben Kar shock's Wisdom. not reprinted by Browning in any collected edition of his poems. A few obvious misprints have been corrected, and the 'elucidatory headings' to Sordello, which first appeared in the edition of 1863, have been discarded, in accordance with Browning's own omission of them in the final edition of his poems (1889). No other alterations have been made in the text. I DEDICATE THESE V0LI':MES TO MY OLD FRIEND JOHN FORSTEK, GLAD AND GRATEFUL THAT HE WHO, FROM THE FIRST PIBLICATION OF THE VARIOUS POEMS THEY INCLUDE, HAS BEEN THEIR PROMPTEST AND STAUNCHEST HELPKH, SHOULD SEEM EVEN NEARER TO ME NOW THAN THIRTY YEARS AGO. 11. H. L;)ii(l«»n. April '21, 18ti;$. eOMEM8 FROM Ol LYRIC'S Cavalier Tcnes. I- MAKcurNo Along "*■ n. Give a Roi-.se in. Boot and Saddle Ihe Lost Leader 'How THEV BRonmT THE GoOD Xews F Throloh the MET.D.A TO Abd-e.-Kadr V'.tionalitv in Drinks Garden Fancies. I. The Flower's Xame n. SiBR.NDrs Schaknaburoensis ." The iLf "'°*'"' °' """"^ ^'■^"*'''« ^''^•"TKR ihe IvABORATORV . The Confessional Cristina The Lost Mistress Earth's Immortalities Meeting at Night Parting at Morning SoNti A Woman's Last Word Evelyn Hope Love among the Ruins A Lovers' Quarrel . Up at a Villa— Down in the C A Toccata of Galuppi's Old Pictures in Florence ' De GrsTiBis— ' H'»ME-THOrGHT.S, FROM ABROAD Home-Thoughts, from the Sea Saul Mv Star Bv THE Fire-side lENT TO Aix 'ITV P.tOE 1 1 •> 2 3 4 6 5 G 7 8 !) 10 II 11 12 12 12 12 13 14 17 18 20 25 2". 20 2t! 3:i 3H CU^TE.NTS vu 2 3 4 G 7 8 !) 10 11 11 12 12 12 12 13 14 1.-) 17 18 •20 25 or. Any Wife to Anv Hi sbanu Two IX THK Ca.MI>AIJXA Ml.SCt).VCEPTIO.N.S . A Serenade at the Villa OxE Way ok Love Another Way of Love A PnETTY Woman- Respectability . Love in a Life . Life in a Love . In Three Days . In a Year .... Women and Roses Before .... After The Guardian-Anoel— a Pictire at Fa Memorabilia Popi-larity Master Hioues of Saxe-Gotha ROMAXCES Incident of the French Camp The Patriot.— An Old Story . -— *^^ Last Duchess.— Ferrara Count Gis.mond.— Aix in Provenck The Boy and the Anoei Instans Tyrannus \ Mesmerism . The Glove . Time's Revenues The Italian in Emjlaxu .... The Enolishman ix Italy.-Piano i.i Sorrento In a Gondola .... Waring .... ^ The Twins .... A Light Woman . The Last Ride Together The Pied Piper of Hamelin ; a Child's Story The Fi.ir.HT of the Diciie.ss A Grammarian's Funeral PAGE :«7 4(1 41 41 42 42 4_' 14 44 44 44 4") 4(> 47 48 48 40 4',» 50 53 53 54 55 57 58 5i) <>0 (i3 ('4 (15 (i!» ,() 78 82 (Hi VIII t'UNTKM\S Johannes A.iRrcoi.A r\ Meditvtkin ThR HERF.T,rs Tka.K,.V_A .Mn„„.E-A.Kl.NTEKUUK Hoi.y-Cross Dav Priitis . , The Statie and the Hi st PlIRniVRIAS I,1)VEK 'C'HII.DE KoLANU TO THE DaKK TuWEU CAME' . MEN, AXI) WO.MKX ' Trasscen-dentalism : • a Poem in Twelve I!„oks How it Strikes a Contemporarv Artemis Prolikjizes An Epistle Contaimno the .Stran,;eMei,u ai. Kxperien Karshish, the Arab Physician PiCTOR loSOTIS . . _ ' ' ■ Fl!A LlPPO I^IPI'I ... .\m)rea del Sarto . . _ Saint Praxed's ('HiRfH filSHOP BLor(;RAM's ApOLociV ('leo\ • . . . . RroEL to THE Ladv of Tripoli One Word More . . ' ' ' Sonnet . . ' Ben Karshook's Wisdom t TRAGEDIES AM) OTHER PLAVS PiiTA Passes— A Drama ... KiN.i ViiToa and Kin.: ("harles-a Irauedv The Retirn of the Dri ses-a Tha.ki.v A Blot in the -Scitc heon-a TRA.iEi.v . CoLoMBEs Birthday— A Play LiRiA— A Tracedy . . ' A Sori.'s Tragedy . , In a Balcony — a Scene Strafford — a Tra(;ei>v Pacline Paracei.scs Christmas-Eve and Kaster-Dav Sokdei.lii E OF I'AfiK its KM) I03 104 107 108 ll-i ll.i 11-) 117 1 •_>•.' l-'.{ I. SO I.W l.'ifi ir).{ ir>s 1.j!» 1«3 l»i4 I'M) ■M2 ;{.",!• a74 415 432 499 527 I'Afii; its !(H lo;{ 104 107 I0« 11-2 lir. 117 1 •_>•-' ISA i:«) i;« I3 • " So, onward to Xottingham, fresh for the !B> the Devil that prompts 'em their ' ,^, ^*"*' * ■ • '■ (Chorus) March we along, fifty-score strong, Great-liearted gentlemen, sing, ing this song / treasonous paries ! jivalicrs, up 1 Lips from the cup, ands from the pasty, nor bite take nor 1 sup lill you're— (Chorus) Marching along, fifty-store strong. Great-hearted gentlemen, sing- ing this song. II. Give a Rouse King Cliarles, and who'll do hinj right i now ? «. , . „ „'" ,,. , I King Charles, and who's ripe for fight ■ampden to Hell, and his olwequies' now ? a-.„ ^"'^ I • r.- . ^''^*' " '''*"""^' = ''ere 's, in Hell's despite owve HaMilrig, Fiennes, and young now, Harry as well ! , King Ciiarle.s ! J,,fr'r •"?."" "* 'he in..j»i,ty in tl,i» v.,!,,,,,. (pp. l-MS of tlii. edition] ,.. iffl.t al«t,c, me pm,H,r]v Xo-R B '" '"■'"'■''''•■• •■'"•' '" '"••'"y "ttOTanccs „f s, inaT.v iu.aginary iwr*,ns, not ^ :a B CAVALIER TUNES Whogavenicthegofxlsthatwcnt since? , Who raiijcd mo the house that sank once ? : Who liclpfod nie to Rokl I spent since ? ' Who found me in wino you urank once ? (Chorus) King Charlm, and who'll do him right now /* _ j King Charlei, and who '« ri'fx' for fight now i ; Oivt a rouse ; here 'i in IliWs despite now. King Charles ! Ill To whom used my boy George qiiafTelse, By the old fool's side that begot him ? For whom did he cheer and laugh else, While XoU's damned troopers shot him ? (C/wriM) King Charles, atid who^U do him right now ? King Charles, and who ',« ripe for fight now ? Give a rouse : here 's, in Hell's despite now, King Charles I III. Boot and Saddle Boot, saddle, to horse, and away ! Rescue my Castio, before the hot day Brightens to blue from its silvery grey, (Chorus] Boot, saddle, to horse, and away ! II Ride past the suburbs, asleep as you'd say; Many 's the friend there, will listen and pray , God's luck to gallants that strike up the lay — i (Chorus] Boot, saddle, to horse, and away ! ' | III j Forty miles off. like a roebuck at bay, j Flouts Castle BrancejK'th the Round- heads' array : [ Who laughs, ' Good fellows ere this, by my fay, i (Chorus) Boot, saddle, to horse, and awn;/' ' \ IV Who ? My wife Oertnide ; that, honest and (,'ay. Laugh.'', when you talk of surrendering, ' Nay ! I've better counsellors; what couDiet they? (Chorus) Bool, saddle, to horse, and auxiy/' THE LOST LEADER Just for a handful of silver he left us. Just for a riband to stick in his coat — Found the one gift of which fortune bereft us. Lost all the others she lets us devote ; They, with the gold to give, doled him out silver. So much was theirs who so little alloweti : How all our copper had gone for his service ! Rags — were they purple, his heart had been prouare was of us, Milton was for us. Burns, Shelley, were with us, — they watch from their graves ! He alone breaks from the van and the freemen. He alone sinks to the rear and the slaves ! II We shall march prospering, — not thro' his presence ; Songs may insi>irit us, — not from his lyre ; Deeds will be done, — while he boasts his quies<'encc, iStill bidding crouch whom the rest bade aspire : Blot out his name, then, record one lost soul more, THK LOST LEADER J ( )ne task more (lpclinrain, I Foreed jiraiite on our part — the glimmer of twilight, Never glad contident morning again ! Best light on well, for wc taught him, — strike gallantly, Menaee our heart ere wo master his own ; . Then let him receive the new knowledge and wait us. Pardoned in Heaven, the first by the throne ! HOW THEY BROUGHT THE GOOD NEWS FROM GHENT TO AIX ' [10-] I [ sPRASO to the stirrup, and Joris, and he ; ( galloped, Dirck galloped, we galloped all three ; I "Goo 1 speed ! ' cried the watch, as the gate-bolts undrtw ; 1 "SiH-ed ! ' echcx-d the wall to us galloj)- ' ing through ; i IVhind shut the postern, the lights sank to rest, j And into the midnight we galloped i abreast. Not a word to each other : wo kept the great jiaco Neck by neok, stride by stride, never changing our jilaee ; ;I turned in my saddle and made its I girths tight, jTlien shortened each stirrup, and set the y iii(|ue right, jRcbiickled the cheek-strap, chained I slacker tile bit, |Nor gdlloiied less steadily Roland a i whit. ' I MI 'Twas moonset at starling; but while we drew near Lokeren, the c(K'ks crew and twilight dawned clear ; .\t Hiiom, a great yellow star came o\it to see ; At DiitTeld, 'twas morning as plain as eould Ih' ; And friuu Mecheln church-steeple we heard the half-chime, So Jor's broke silence with, 'Yet there is time !' IV .\t Aerschot, up leai)ed of a sudden the sun. And against him the cattle stooiiif{. .loris aii'l I, I'iimI I^iii/. um Ihii^Iu-iI a pitilrsM laiiKli. "Xeatli our feci J>roki> the ))rittlc bright Ntiilil>l<>likr broken eil^en I Of the hole, where u|> the IxibbleNgliitteii. ■s After my heart I look and liMten. I " I Our laiiKhinK little tla^k, eoniiM-il'd I Thro" ileiith to (le|>th more uleak and I Hhady ; I As when, both arms be>ii(l into death's silent ocean ! ; I'p jumped Tokay on our tabic, I Like a pygmy castlc-wardcr, I Dwartish to see, but stout and able, i Anns and accoutrements all in order ; I And fierce he looked North, then, I wheeling South, ; lUcw with his bugle a challenge to I Drouth, * Cocked his tiap-hat with the tossjiot- fenther, I Twisted his thumb in his red moustache, I .liti!,'led his huge brass sjnirs together, S Tightened his waist with its Huda sash. ' And then, with an impudence nought ^ could abash. Shrugged his hum|>-shoulder, to tell the In-holiler, For twenty such knaves he should laugh but the bolder : And so, with his sword-hilt gallantly jutlinsj. And dexter-jiand on his haunch abut- ting, Went the little man, 8ir Ausbruch, strutting ! 3 Here's to Nelson's memory I 1' ri< the second time that 1. al sea, f— I'i-lit ufl Cape Trafalgar hir. , Have drunk it deep in liritish Heer. ■a Nelson for ever — any time A"! 1 his tocomniandin prose or rhyme! i (Jive me of Nelson only a touch, And I save if, Im- it little or much ; Heri' 's one our ('aiitain gives, unit so Down at the word, fiy (ieorge. shallitgo! He says that at (iriH-nwidi they |K>int the beholder To Nelson's coat, "still with tar on tlm shoidder, I For he used to lean with one shoulder •liKKioj.'. Jigging, as it were, and /ig-zag-iigging Up against the mizen-rigging !' (iARDKN FANCIES I. The Floweu's Name I FTere's the garden she walked a< ross, Arm in my arm, such a short while since : Hark, now I push its wicket, the moss Hinders the hinges and makes them wince ! She must have reaciied this shrub ero she turned. As back with that nuir- iir the wicket swung ; ] For she laid the poor s , my chance foot spurned. To feed and forget it the leaves among. ti Down this side of the gravel-walk She went while her robe's edge brushed the box ; And here she paused in her gracious talk To jKiint me a moth on the milk- white phlox. Ros<-s, ranged in valiant row. I will never think that she passed vou by ! ' ' She loves you noble roses, I know ; But yonder, see, where the rotk- plants lie ! Ill This flower she slop|>e(l al, finger on lip, SliMipcd over, in doubt, ns settling its < Liitji : Till she gave inc. with (iridc Id make no ■lip. Its soft meandering S{ianish name: 6 (iARDKX KANTTES .\Vlm« a niuiic ! wn» it l"«vf. "r |>rHi«- ' Sp«-, or xong IihII- nwiikc ? I iiiiinI IcHni Simnixli, onr "f thow 'Ihv*. Only (it th«t kIhw kwihI naiiH- » imikc. IV Roses, if I live mid iId wf'Hi I iimv l>riii« Ikt. imi- "f tlicHi- ilavf, To fix yoii fiiHt with an tine a hih-1I, Kit voii frtch with liiH Simiii^li |>hraw ; Hut do not ilctHin im- now : f>)r hIic lin«in«t never ! For while thus it |K)uts, her linKers wrestle. Twinkling the audacious leaves l><- twccn. Till roumi they tinn anil down they nest Ic — Is not the dear mark still lo be seen ? VI Where I find her not, beauties vani^^h ; Whither 1 follow her. bea\ities lice; Is there no method to tell her in Spanish June's twice June sinie she breathed it with me V f'ome, bud. show me th"- least of her traies. Treasure my lady's lightest footfall — Ah. you may tiout and turn up your fai'i-s — Hoses, you are not so fair after all ! 11. SlBIlANDl M SdlAFNABincEVSlS Plague take nil your pedants, say I ! He who wToie what I hold in my hand. Centuries back was so [rood as to die. Ix-nvinp this rubbish to eumlnT the land ; This, that was a biMik In its Mmr, Printed on pn|Mr and bound in leather. Ust month in the white o( a matin- prime Ju«t when the birtls sang all together. 11 Int(» the garden I brought it to re««l. And under the arhute an- |iiiigs stagnate ; N'ext a handful of blossoms I plucked To bury him with, my bookshelf's magnate ; Then I went imloors, brought out i loaf, ' Half a cheese, and a bottle of Chablis : Liy on the grass and forgot the oaf Over a jolly chapter of Rabelais. V Xow, thi.s morning, betwixt the moss Anniini.''s sake. And, •■'' jinihrniHt. o.ri-' nlil'H" lii.':li-<. Canliili .' ipioth I, as 1 uot a rake. And up I tish<'li*tfr. An.l Krrat I.Iim' H|«)tH wli.n- th.- ink li«» run, . , ' An.l r«-«l.liHh xtrt-aku that wink an"' iN-aiitifiilly yw : Oh. well havi' t»n' (IroppingH i>li«y<'l i tlH'ir tricks ! i Di.l h<- iiwo* how t.«(l»t*lng, .ft, with wrioiis I (.•atiircH, ' ' Came in, .-ach om-, for his right »f trover ? -When the wate IxH-tle with grea.l hiimi ox. And dancotl ot! the ballet witli trousers and tunic. IX Cine, old martyr! What, torment enout^h is it 1 ]\mV to my room shall you take y >ur sweet self ! (Inivl-hvc. moth'T-bcc-lIc : husbnm.-eft, See the snug ni, a casket, A signet, rt faii-iiioiiiit. n filigree-basket ! THK LAHOHATURV .Soon, at tlK> Kiiifj's, a Jiiore lozenge fo N'ow, take all my jewels, KorL'e Kold to «ivo ' your HII, And Pauline shoul*'> anil l>loo""' *°^''' ""''^'^'^■• I brought lit My own eyes to bear on her so, that I I hau a lover— sliaino avaunt ! r. , ■ **>°"8''t' i I'lis poor wrenched boc not inon ings grew round my sense agai my mask off ! Xny. y-^^^^ ^^ That is a ^itl.' I said : imkI si It kills her, and this in-cvcnts seeing it close : The il.licate ilropK-t, my whole for- tune's fee — I Jf it hurts her, beside, can it ever hurt ' Ha inc ? 1 downcast eyes to church I gi .\nd pass to the confession-chair. And tell the ohi mild father there. l'>ii when 1 f.dtcr Bdlniir blii <|uolh tho father; 'much I ki 10 THE CONFESSIONAL Ihe sin ; yet wherefore idly grieve t lVs|»air not,— strenuously retrieve ! Aay, I will turn this love of thine lo lawful love, almost divine. VI 'ru^ 'l*^ '*• young, and led astrav, Ihis Heltran, and he schen- s, men say, lo change the laws of church and state ; ho, thine siiall be an angel's fate, Who ere tlie thunder breaks, should roll ' Its cloud away and save hi.-" toul. I VII j ->o xieaven with them, no Hell !-and I'm-, when he lies uiwn thv breast, ,. „ '"''■<'' Ihou iiiay'sf demand ami" be possessed ;," ,''*';*''• ""' •"" ">uili S|)aec as iR-ns "f all his plans, and next all bear Owl and Man my erv Lies— lies, again— and still, they lie ! -XII That horri!)le black scaffold drest, lliat stapled block , . . «od sink the rest I That hea'c.' vm That fathers ))eard was long and white, Uith love and truth liis brow seemed bright ; 1 went back, all on tire with joy. And, that same evening, bade the bov, leJl me, as lovers should, heart-free ' .Something to prove his love of me IX He told me what he would not tell tor hope of Heaven or fear of Hell ; I A nil I lay listening in such pride ! -And, soon as he had left my side ' TripiHid to the church by morning-light lo save his soul in his despite I CRISTINA I ■Shk snould never have looked at me If she meant I should not love her ' 1 here arc plenty . . . men, you call such, I suppose ... she may discover AH Iier soul to, if she (.leases. And yet leave much as she found them: But I'm not so, and she knew it When she li.xed me, glancing round them. ° I told the father all his schemes. Who were his comrades, what their y- and-by ; How the minute grey liihens, plate o'er l)late. Have softened down the crisp-cut name i.nd date ! I.OVE So, the year s done with ! {hire mc for cirr .') All March begun witli, April's endeavour ; May-wreaths that bound me •June needs must sever ; Now snows fall round me. Quenching June's fever — {Lore Die for ercr .') MEETIXC AT XIGHT SOXG Xav but you, who do not love her. Is she not pure gold, my mistress ? Holds earth aught — speak truth — above lier ? Aught like this tress, sec, and this tress. And this last fairest tress of all, , So fair, sec, ere I let it fall ? II I Because, you spend your lives in prais- I ^_ ing; ! To praise, you search tho wide world j over : j No, why not 'vitness, calndy gazing. If earth holds aught— siH-'ak truth — I above her t Aliove this tress, and ',' T touch But cannot praise, I lo\c so much! A WOMAN'S LAST WORD The grey sea ami the long black land ; And the yellow half-n\oon large and low ; And the startled little waves that leap In tiery ringlets from their sleep. As I gain the cove with jmshing prow, And quench its speed in tho slushy sand. i[ Then a mile of warm sea-scented beach ; Three lields to cross till a farm ap|>ears : A tap at the pane, the (piick sharj> scratch And blue spurt of a lighted match. And a voice less loud, thro' its joys and fears. Than the two hearts Leating each to each ! PARTIXG AT MOKXIXG Round the cape of a sudden came the sea. And th« :^ in looked over the mountain's rin\ : And straight was a path of gold for him. And the need of a world of men for me. Let's contend no more, Lovo, Strive nor weep : All be as before, Lovo, — Only sleep I II \\'liat so wild as words are ? I and thou In ilelmte, as birils arc. Hawk on bough I III See the creature stalking While we speak ! Hush and hide the talking. Cheek on cheek I IV What .so false as truth is. False to thee ? Where the serpent's tooth is. Shun the tree — Where the apple redilens Xever jtry — Lest wc lose our Edeiia, Eve and 1 1 A WOMAN'S LAST WOHI) 13 VI ]V a gcxl and huUI mo With a churiii ! lit' a mail ami fold mc With thine arm ! VII 'IVach mi", only tcacli, I-ovi* ! As I ought I will spt-ak thy .spjH'ch, Love, Think thy thought — VIII Meet, if thou require it, Hoth demandn, I^ayini; llexh and spirit la thy hands. IX That shall he to-morrow Xot to-nijjht : I must hiiry sorrow Out of sight : — Must a little weep, I^ve, (Foolish mc I) And so fall asleep. Love, Loved hy thee. EVELYX HOPE I BEArxiFn. Evelyn Hope is dead ! Sit and watch by her side an hour. That is her book-shelf, this her IhmI ; .She plucked that piece of gcraniuin- ilower. Beginning to die too, in the glass ; l.ittle has yet l)een changed, I think : The shutters are shut, no light may pass Save two long rays thro' the hinge's chink. II Sixteen years old when she died ! Perhap.s she had scarcely heard my name ; It was not her time to love ; Iksside, Her life had many a hope and aim. Duties enough and little cares, .And now was (piict, now astir, Till (!od"s hand iM'ckoned unawares,— And the sweet white brow is all of her. Ill Is it too late then, Evelyn Hojie T What, your soul was jiure and true. The good stars met in your horosco|M', Made you of spirit, lire and dew— .And, just iM'caiise I was thrice as old .And our paths in the world diverged so wide, Kuch was nought to each, must I Ic tohl •; Wo were fellow mortals, nought beside ? IV Xo, incleed ! for Ood above Is great to grant, as mighty to make. .\nd creates the love to reward the love : I claim you still, for my own love's sake ! Delayed it may be ft)r more lives y»'t. Through worlds I shall traverse, not a few : Much is to learn and much to forget Ere the time be come for taking you. But the time will come, — at last it will. When, Evelyn Ho[>e, what meant, I shall say. In the lower earth, in the years long still, That body an<. soul so jmre and gay ? Why your hair was amber, I shall divine. And your mouth of your own gera- nium's red — And what you would do with me, in fine. In the new life come in the old one's stead. VI I have lived, I shall say, so much since then. Given up myself so many times, Oained me the gains of various men. Ransacked the ages, spoiled the climes ; \'et one thing, one, in my soul's full scojte. Either 1 missed or itself mis.oed me : And I want and tind you, Evelyn Ho|«' ; What is the is^ui- .' Icl us sec ! i! I' It KVKLVN H01>K VII , OVr the luindrnl-jfnlcd vWcmi nf a wall I loved yon. hvclyn. all the while ! Bounding all, My heart M.innl full a.s it eoiild Made of marl.le. men might man h on hold— „(,r Im- |irent. Iliero was plaec and to spare for the Twelve a bresMt. fiank yomij{ smile And the red younp mouth anti tlio v So. uJ£l\ '::ii'i^U u.i. leaf to '"'' ''';x^'''y -•• i-^^-"-- -. "♦ keep— I ,..«''"■'' '■'ham'/" " '""'" *'" "^"'^ '°'^' '^'"■'' '^ ^ariH-t'a,. this summer-time. There, that is onr seeret ! ,o to sleep ; AmuT.iri' !' "" nnderrtii. ''"" """•""*"•• """ I Kv-Y vesti.e of the city, guessed alone. otock or stone — LOVK AMOXG THE RON'S ' " J I Where a multitude of men breathed joy Where the quiet-coloured end of even- ; w'l^^ inc smiles i„„* ^t'^t • ■ i ^i . . Miles and miles i ^'"•'* "[ »!»'y P';"'k«^« tho.r hearts up. n.> ii.. 1-. i . I uread of shamo sheep "^' ''""■"" " """"! Struck them tame; Half-asleep '^"'' *''f P'"'"*' '"'• ^•i** «•'«'"<' a'ike. Tinkle homeward thro' the twilijiht,' tl't'R<>l as the site once of a city great and remains pay. ! On the plains, (So they say) , By the cajHT overrooted, by the gourd Of our country's very capital, its prince Ovcrscorcd, Ajtes since While the patching houseleek's head of Held his court in, gathered councils, blossom winks wieldiiifr far Peace or war. Ill Through the chinks — vnii Now-the country docs not even boast ' ^^'''^'' the basement whence a tower in ,j tri-e i ancient time As you see. ' , Sprang? sublime. To distinuuish slopes of verdure, certain ^hai'!"ots"traccd' ''" '°""''' ^^° FroiiM he hills ' . As they raced, Inters,K>t and give a name to, (else they " L'dames "''"'*'"'' ''"'' Into one) I Viewed the games. •^' I IX Wh.re the domed an.l daring palace An.l I know, while (hu. the ..uiet- shot Its spues ^ .oh.ured eve ' ' I' '''^'' hivs , Smiles (.. leave LOVE AMONG THE KLLNS 15 To their folding, all our nmny-tinkliiig tloet'c III such [K-aco, Arnl thi* i |< H Willi horse |.-ii|.s"l>.tweeii.' VII 'I'ly, will otir table turn ? '"'>' .•);';",'^'"""''< H""' li«l>t. an.l yearn I III the yearninj,' slipn Thro' the lin|ifer-ti|>s In 11 tire wliieh a few iliseern, An.l a very f.-w f.el l.iirli, An.l the rest, they nmy live ami learn ! XII Mil Then we would nji an.l j.ar Snow With his hand's first swcoi, Put the earth to slecn ' Twas a time when the" heart coul.l show .V i^"— '"'**■ ^^'^'^ •''»'■''' '" l;"<>". -Neath fhf mut.- haii.r., lo-an.l-fro r Dearest, Ihr.-e months auo Uh.n welove.l .mh .it her s.). Liv«-d an.l lov.-d the hjiiii,> 'ill an evi-ning came Uheiia slmft fr.mi t|„, ivvic, |,„^ 1 iii.-e,l to .iiir ingle-j/low. •\n,l the frien.ls w.Te frien.l an.l f,M> ! XIII Vot from the h.>art In-neath— Iwasa bubble born of breath, Neither sneer n.>r vaunt, Aor reproach nor taunt. No a wor.l. how it severeth ' Oh. power of life and .h-ath in the tongu.', as the Preacher saith ! XIV Woman, and will you cast I-ora word, (piite off at last ^b', your own. your You,— Sin.e. as truth is true 1 was Vou all the happy Past- \i-.t 1" ''" y"" '™^''' ngl'ast "it.'i tho memories We amassed ? XV I;ove, if you knew the light that your soul easts in my sight How I l thing Varc— Oil, II IS hanl to bear ' A LOVKHS" QIARHKL 17 XVIII Hen-'s (lu- spriii); Imik or dose. When till- iiliiiiiiid-liliissdiii lilnws ; III that iniiior thinl TluTf is none lint the ciickoo klioHs: i Ht"«|i> (if the triccldcr-roM- ! I iiiiHt lirar with it, I Mi|i|M)M'. \p\ CoiiM l)ut Xovi'iiiIht comi'. WtTP the noisy l.inis striK k diiiiili At the warning .slasli Of his (Irivcr's-lash — I wouhl laugh like the valiant Thiiiul. Facin-; the ca.stle glum And the giant's fee-faw-fum ! XX Then, were the world well utript Of the gear wherein icjuipped We ean «tand ajifirt. Heart dispense with heart In the sun, witJi the (lowers unnipiH'd,— Oh, the world's hangings rijijied. We were both in a bare-walled crypt ! XXI Each in the crypt would cry 'Hut one freezes here ! and why ? When a heart as chill At my own would thrill Back to life, ai I its ftres out-«1y ? Heart, sliuil we live or die"? The rest, . . . settle it by and by !' xxn Si), she'd efface the score, And forgive nie as before. It is twelve o'clock: I shall hear her knock 111 the worst of a storm's uproar, I shall pull her through the door, I shall have hor for evermore ! 11' AT A VILLA-DOWN IX THE CITY (As DlSTINOllSHEU BY AN ITALIAN PkRSON of QlAI.ITV) I H.\n I but plenty of nionev, moiiev enough and to spare. I lie house for me. no doubt, were a house in the city-sijuare : All, sucl: a life, such' a life, as one leads a*, the window there ! II .''"iiuthing to see, by Racchu", some- thing to hear, at hast ! VhiTc. the wlioli- day loiitr. one's lifi- 'm a pcrfecl feast ; \\ iiilf ii|i ill .1 villa one lives, I maintain il. Ill) more than a iH-asl. HI Well now, look at onr villa ! stu( k like the horn of a bull Just on a mountain's edge as bare as the creature's skull. Save a mere shag of u bush wiih liardiv a leaf to pull ! —I scrntch my own, sometimes, to see if the hair 'a turned wool. IV Ru< - city, oh the citv— the sijuare with the houses ! Why ? They are stone-faced, white as a (|ii.irc '! I'liiic ', II fountuiii to s|Hjiil anil s|.|,i>,li ! Ill the slmdi. it siiiKs anil N|iiiiij;s ; in till- shine mikIi loaiii-hows tlunh On I ho hoiHCM with citrlinK lixh-taiU, that idiUHf anil |iaililli- and pash ' "' III'' laily ato|> in tin- comh— lifty i{a/.iTs do not uhaNli. Though all that slu- wears is homio wee. In round her waist in a sort of snsh ! VIII All the year Ioiik at the villa. notiiiiiK 's to see thoiijjh vmi linger, Kxoei.t you .ypress that points like Deaths hiM lifted foreliriKer. '■ Nome think liretlies pretty, when they ' mix in the ,,a,-,i„. I'etrarca Saint Jerome, and Cicer). And moreover,' (the sonnet kws rhym- ing',) 'the skirls of .Saint faul'lias reached, IfaviiiK preached us those six l.<-nl h-ctiires more unctuous than ever he preached.' .\'oon strikes,— here swe«'ps the proces- sion ! our l^dy borne smiling and smart With a pink gauze gown all s|«ngUM. and s«'ven swords stuck in her ; heart ! H'liiij, irhantj, wliting goes the drum, Ii»,tli4i-Ux>tl< the fife ; Xo keeping one's haunches still: it's the greatest pleasure in life. X Hut bless yon, it's dear— it 's dear! fowls, wine, at double the rate. They have clap|)ed a new tax \\\m\ salt, and what oil pays |>a«sing the gate It s a horror to think of. And so. the villa for lue, not the i ity ! Fleggars can senitentM dresseil in white I shirts, a-holding the yellow candieH : One, he carries a Hag up straight, and I another a cross with handles. And the Duke's guard brings np the rear, for the k'tter |>revention of scandals : Hang, ulinng, whang goes the drum, liH,lf>'.f,.UM>tle the fife. Oh, a day in the city-sipiare, there is no such pleasure in life ! A TOCCATA OF fJALri'PIS 1 Oh, (ialiippi, Haldassaro, this is very sad to find ! I can hardly misconceive you ; it would l>rove ine deaf and fJlind ; But although I take your meaning, 'tis with such a heavy mind ! Here you come with your old mnsio. and here s all the gooil it brings. y A TOCCATA OF (JALll'I'IVS 1!» '" IX Ay, UvauM. «ho soa s the «tro«.t thoro ;' So an octave Mru.k tho aimw.-r ()l> arul ..s arrlu.l by . . . wha, you | .....y ,.rai...l"v..,,* I .CTv ■ '' Urave (iaIiipiM ! that was niiiNic ! Konleasure when the M»a wan warnj in May ? Balls ami masks be>{un at midnijfhf. IturninK rver to mid-day When they maile up fresh adventures for the morrow, do you say ? alike at jiravc and gav ! I can always leave olT talkinjt. when I hear a master play.' Was a laver si-c> the sun. XI But when I sit down to reason, think to take my stand nor swerve. While I triumph o'er a secret wrung from nature's close reserve. In you come with your cold music, till I creep thro' every nerve. -MI Yes. you, like a ghostly cricket, creak- ing where. a house was burnel niyl ii-l,,.. I' S.I y.iu.rrak It, Oii tlir iin li hIiiti' olivrs omtIhu.I iiiiil I ttiiiil III,, luaii (.1 Mol.l. rriiitllicl.Jm.«kvwillitwiKiui.l|..Hf l).har|)-.iirlfi| |,.,if wlii.li (|,c'v uli.tl > Ih'mii if all till' ).'i.l.| ncviT .-hnl) '-■'''," '"";•-' ;"i-l l-ni>li thr.r I ,s ■; 'TwiM ||„. al-H^s. | ..h.I to |,..u, ,„ I ill I I liillv .Hill i;ri>wii (i|i|. iliirf. Ami mark lliroii^'li tin- winter after- <)M> I'KiriiKS rx FLOKKNCi: .,y„,,,MV..|,n. -le „„wa...l .hen. , I In the iiiilil •leilinc ex thesii|,s her TIk' III III till' piiiiil nivcs a lia|i, they "" "' »ay : " ' V As I leaiii'il anil lii.ikiMJ liver the al I '"'ley iiiinlit eliir|i tinil I'liaf r, ronie ari'li anil ^o Of tlie villa-tjale, this warm March I'"<>r I'ieasiire nr (initit, her men I lay. alive — N'o tla^h -iiajit, no ilumli lliiin.ler -^'y hiisiness was lianlly with Iheni, riilliil 1 trow. In the valli\ heneath where, white "I't with empty eells of the human ami wide hive ; Anil wa^he.lliytliemorning'swater-^ ..I, —With tiie eiiapter-roum, the rlni.ster- Florence lay out on the niuiintain siile. |«»i'eh, I The ihiireh's apsis, nisle or nave, " , Its . rypt, one lin^-ers alonn with a tor. h. River ami hr'-itif and street and si|iinre ' ''" '"'i'- '«' '"" '»"• the si.n to shave. I-ay mine, as mii.h at my lie. k and • all, I ^ VI Throut'h the live transln.ent liatli of air, Wherever a fres.o |H-els and ilrops. .\s the sijfhts in a mani.' erystal hall. Wherever an outline weakens and And of all I .saw and of all I praiHi^l. wanes The most topraiseandthe hest losee, ^''j ''"" li»'<''*< lif<' in the painting stop.'*, V>as the starilinj,' hell-tower (iiotto ■'Stands One whom eaeh fainter pnlse- raiseil : ti.k pains ! Hut why iliii if more thanstarth' mer *•'"'• ""'^liful each s; rap shonhl eliiteh the hri.k, III Ka. h tin>.'e not wholly e.s.ajie the fJiotto. how, with that soul of yours, plaster, t'oul.j y.iu play me false who lovi-.l ~;\ ''"" *'"' •''•'>■ <>' an ass's kiek, you s.i ■; The wron^-ed fjreaf .soul of an ancient .Somn sli^rhts if a firtaiii lieart endures Jhister. Net it feels. I woiilil liavi' vour vii iwait.;Xr^rL,whyf..ou,., '^'''■'';i.:!:r^ To Ck a Mh.,i,... that suits them ' ''"'"-h:! ul ■,;" ''"'"" *'"' "" "' 15ut .i£thin« .rows somewhat l.ar.l .., ''''"' ^HmnL"'"' ""'"*''"• ^■"" '""" When'l'lind . .;i„„„ join ..„. ,,.,. '*""';;|,'!'" ^"^''^ "f- >•"" "f tl'- little Ij OLD PlfTl'RKS IN FLORKNT £1 l»<) thiir ly.N ..mlrmt Id the cHrthx Olll M'n|N-, Now Hint thry «•<■ (i,«l fa,.,. |„ f,„.,., Anrt Vin.in ,|,.riv.' ill pxKl tiiiu' froiil IH'IION. I\ And Iktc Hhtrr your ppii,,- nii^lit vitld returns, AiiilahnndNoiiHHoril,.rtwo),'ivcln"l|i, ■ Htif. after your kind, tlic niustitT KiriiM And th.. pup|.y park of (hxmII.s yelp, i »liiit, not a word for Stefan., ili.re. I Of lirow onre prominent and starry. Culled Nature's A|k- and the worl.ls j d'-spair I'W his |MTrle>« painting? |...,. »u.iari.) ' j \ I'here .stands thi^ Miister. Sl.idv, Inv frieiiils. What a man's w,.rk ( ome.s to ! m» he plans ii, I'erforms it, jM.rf.vts il. makes am.nds J* or the toiling' anil nioijin-;, and then, ■iif trim sit ! Happier the thrifty l.linf|.f„|k lalxmr VNith upturned eye while tiie hand i> hiisy, Not sidlini: a jzlanoe at the eoiii of tlieir neij;lil( |„„,,.t in Iriirtii — The truth of .Man. m l.y {'„A first «|Miken, Whii h the aetiial u'lneratmns -nrlile Was re.ult,re.|, ami Soul (whic h l.imhs hetokell) And l.iinhs (.S,)|,| inf<.rnis) mn.h- new in iiiarlile. Ml S,.. you saw yourself as voi. wislnil y. u Were, As you niiuhl haye I,. en, „s vhi eannot lie : Karth here, ret.nked l.y tllym.,,,., there: " ' An.l Knew eonlent in v.Mir p,,>,r dejifce With yuiir litlle p„«,.r. I,y (|,„^,, statues" i^iidhead. And your hill.- se,>|H.. l.y t|„.jr ,.v, ,• full sway. And y.Mir little yrare. hy tlu-ir ;rrie e enil'iHlied. Ami your litll. date. I,y (|„.|r form, tliat stay. Mil VoK would f.iin !»• kiiivli,.r, ^„y. than I an ': Kyen so. y,,„ will iiol >,| |,|i,. 11,.,, „., >ou d fain !.,• a iikhLI • H,,- Son of I'riam lla» yet the adyanla;.-. j,, arms' ami knees' Use. You're \»roi|,. ,„„ y,,„ ._|,^. ^^^^^^ ' snake like .\poli.i .' ^Ou're t'lieyrd -still \iol„. s H,,, urander ! Vou liy.._ fluTe'sthe Ita.ers' f,i,./.,. t,. follow : ^■.)U die-tliere's the liyim; AK.\. ander. " ^ MV No. te>tii)i_' your weakness hy tliiir strength, Yoiirmea>.'re(|i,iriiisI>y tli.ir roun-l. d iM'auly, M.;;^-.ir-d !.y Ari in yoiii i.i.-,i.i(|, .uid hnclli, Vou h.arncd— to submit is a iiiorl;d'.s duty. , 22 OLD PICTURES IX FLOREXCK ¥ i — Uhcnlsay'yoir'tistlu'coniinonsoiil, nuMollcdivcImcan: tlicraccof Man lliat r.Hoiv«>s hfi- in part.s to live in a uliolc. Anil pow here iuciir.linj; to (iod's clear plan. XV (^iiowtli ranic when, l.Hjkinu voiir last on tlicni all, ^ on tnrncil your oyrs inwanllv one lino (lay AikI trii-( en- deavour, Mair.s face, have no more play and action Than joy which is r r>stallizeoneat^s.r(.kc,wa.ju.((was,(noiy, Thy great CainiMiilie i. Mil] to hni I,. d, W'xked up. knocked out. or white- washed o'er — Xo getting again what the church ha.-* grasjied ! I flic works on the wall must take their ! chance ; i Works never conceded to Knglaiid's J thick dime !' j • ':''iw thcv jiroffr their inheritance '< W a bucketful of Italian quick-lime.) ! x\v ■V. n t;..-y go at length, with such a ■■^''■■li.'.-.p/ '•fhca.is,,-: the ohi delusions, sa.i.v ' •'" "i;i>''i '\w«ythrough the black ■'icicts ;>iking, ■ ■ ''■ H..""l"^' '\, '"'* "•"^'* •"■eathcs though badly— Why don't they bethink them of who lias merited t Why not reveal, while their pictures • Iree ■Wh doom, that a captive's to be out- ferreted ? Why is it they never remember me ? xxvi Xot that I expect (h,. .^jv.n Big,„di -Nor Sandro to hear me, .hivalric, ncllnose ; -\or the wronge.1 Li,,,,ino ; an.l not a word I Nay of a scrap of Kra Angelico's : Hut are you too Hue, 'I'ad.lco (Jad.li. io grant me a taste of your into- naco— "^ Some J..rniue that seeks the Heaven with a sad eve ? ; Xot a churlish saint, Lorenzo .Monaco? xxvii fould not the ghost with the close red cap, My I'ollajolo, the twice a craftsman, ■Nive „„. a sample, give me the hap Of a muscular Christ that shows the (I'-'ughtsinan ? \o Virgin by him. the somewhat i.eftv. Uf finical touch and temmra cruin- bly — Could not Alesso Baldovinetii Contribute so much, I ask him ln:mbly ? XXVIII Marglieri(^- "-Her f.,r ,„...., „., ,,,^,,,J ""\^llM;:;:>- "•'"'- "-t ,,o,>art<.,, "■'V.' yo„ allovu.,,. „s ,|„. , '"'■ ''"l"' ■'""•-'■- -" '■'"'' 'race of (,,o Xav/r... ' "^"■'■''^^i'"°^i5l^-^'^^''«.-- <'l of can '^"'°'*' «''''•• "f fani- ■'"'S'/^ '""■ 'v„i„„.„,.;^' ™;,-s„p; .„„„„ OLJ And turn the Ik-ll-tower-H „lt to ■And fine as the beak of a young bee- ^Z^f ^'»>npanile. the Duonio's Ht ally .Shall soar up ,n roI.J f„|| «fty |,"a,"7' Completmg Florenee. J v'Cnlo, XXXVI I Is broken away, an.I the long-,,ent ' ''Th::r"'^'"''-""""«- Thence^the new tneolour flaps at the ■*Vnd'* ^V"^*-^"*- that glory „f (;i„„o And^Rorcnre together/ the first PICTCRES IN FLORENCE 25 ' DE GrSTIBUS- • VotR ghost will walk, you lover of (If our loves remain) In an PJnglish lane. '%i;'^-'-^thegJ,'f,L Making love, sav,- Ine hajipier they ' ^Zn"" "'• "■"'" "'^ "«''t of the And leathern ,>as.s, as they will too With the JK.anflowers' l„x,n An, the blaekbinPs tune^ ' ^nd May, an.I .June ' (If I get my head from out th<- mouth baX' ""'' '^^ '"y ^Virlv^ swh "•"' •" *'"" ^'"•••■^■'• Where the bkke,l cicalas die of drouth jAndone^^arptree-'tisacypr^:;:!!' Rcul'lf TroJ;' '"T'r' y'"*'-'* '«"l-r..ste,l. ' r look for me. ol.l fdlow of mine. Oh. f,, Ik. in England Now that April's the,,.. An,l wh.Hver wakes in Englan.l ! tJril^'^'-- *"e ,...„- Ro.nvl the .,n.-,rcc ,,.,,.. , . ,. ,.,.^. Wh,lc,iu. chaffinch sings on .he onhanl In England— now ! 2t) HOME-THOrOHTS FROM AFmOAD •wi af,.. ApHi, w,...n M.y follow. '"" t.:*;!:;^:'.!;';^ ^"' "--»"- rw:;;::' '-'■'"* ''""•'^' ■*"'' "" •"" '"""' "-r ';•• "'^'' "■' ''--y »- bright. »-Mi()w>, With the water Im- wpt Hark. wh,.r,> ,ny Moss,,,,,,..! p<>ar-tr..,. For out of the hiaok nml-tent-.s silence, scatters on tin tile l)ent in tlie hcl^je Leans to the liel- strmjfs. as if no wild heat Were now raging to torture the desert '' FROM THE Then I, as was meet. Knelt down to the (ioowd . Hands and knees on the sli|)|XTy gras: Bluish mi.l the burning water full In Ti .''"'".'• 'l" ^'f'"'"'*' ami gone. face Trafalgar lay; ' t'IV.'"'"';' *" *'"' ■"«•""<' i-nclosure. SAIL >!.*ii> A liner. Kre I tell, Kiss iiiy (heel come 'At last thou art ere thou speak, wish me Well!' Then Iwisherlit. aml,li,lkisshi.c k Ami he. Since the King. () u,v fiicud,- tor thy countenam c V here the long grasses stifle the water «'tlnn the stream's iKKl ; .Vn,l now one after one seeks its lo-"'^'^"'i .and ''' *" *="■''"* lu-arts e.v- ' 1 And grow one in the sense of this worhls life—And then, the last When the dead man is praisence again to my plaviiKr piirsue.1 It uiichccked, ' *'' As I .sailir, — vigour ! |ilayiiig, 'Oil. our maiduxxl's prime no s|.irit f.-els waste -Not a mus.- plung.. ,n a p,..,! s living Mat.T -the hunt of the hear -^&t^^^' CoLLETGE SaINT-JeAW — ..vioNTON Alberta 1 i 28 SAUL And till' iiH-al — tlio rirli dates yellowod over with pold ihist divine. And the locust's-fletih .stee|KMl in the pitcher ! the full draught of wine. And the Miecp in the dried river-ehannci where bulrushes tell That the water was wont to jjo warbling so softly and well. How pcxxl is man's life, the mere living ! how tit to employ All the heart and the soul and the senses, for ever in joy ! Hast thou loved the white Kx-ks of thy father, whose :wordthoudiGyhoosoareth the cherubim-chariot — 'Saul !' erierlin<' Over hills whicli. r<'solvef mankind as they live in those fashions I hardly shall know ! S.hemes of life, its best rules and right uses, the courage that gains, .\nd the prudence that keeps what men strive for.' And now these old trains Of vague thought came again ; I grew surer; so. once more the string Of my harp made response to my spirit, us thus — XIII 'Yea, my King.' I began — "thou dost well in rejeciing mere comforts that spring From the mere mortal life heKl in common by man and by brute : In our tlesh grows the branch of this ! life, in our soul it bears fruit. I Thou hast niarkeas.sed the kitl's lip, the stag's I antler ; then safely outburst The fan-branches all round ; and thou mindeil him, though tempests efface. Can find nothing his own deed produced not, must everywhere trace The results of his past sunimei^prime, — so, each ray of thy will. Every flash of thy passion and prowess, lonfr over, sliall thrill 30 SAl'L '"■ ^^il^A^'^,:::::!.^^^^^^^ anloiir. till lli,.y t(«) f;iv.- forrli A like (liter lo their sons, wlio in turn, till the South iirni the North U'ilh the ladiaiiie thy "->'■ "- ""'^rra':rzr.,„v. my Shield and my Sword In that aet where my soul was I'hv MTvant, Thy word was niv woid, ' Mill Ih- with me. who then at"thr siim- mit of liiinian endeavour And scaling the highest, man's thought I'ould, gazed ho|K>letiM a.s ever me— till, mighty to .save, , 1,: 1 ,. I . "" — '"'. "iigniy lo .save. J'^U^'Iir' '-, J-'-'i't "f Thfhandei;«red that (hstanee— (uxI'm throne from man's grave ! I^t me tell out my tale to its ending— my voiee to my heart VNhieh can scaree dare l>elieve in what marvels last night I took jmrt. As this morning I gather the fragments. alone with my sheep. And still fear lest the terrible glorv evanksh like sleep ! No with man b«the.s. s a wave He wi|k's olf with the rob«. ; ami he In (Se. amend, the grove the cedar, s|(end in tablets With .smooth paiK-r-rn-ds grazing each other when prophet-winds rave • the ,«.„ jiives unborn generations their due and their part thy being! Then, tirst of the nnghty, thank Cio'fin8 that front Ami iH-fore it not .seldom hast i^rante,! T ; ' '" •?""• ^''^' '"'' '^^''^'"'' Thyheli. toessav *" ""^'l^" T'"" *•>*' " ""»» ""'-V ^^ste, ; "^'c-ATrate, never ipiite lose. SAl'L 31 No .sank lu- alonu hy tlip t.nt-i.roi. till stHVfil In- lli(. |,i|,. Ot iiis ariiin.ir and wai-i louk and garnicnt,-.. |j,. loan.d th.r.- awliilc. And so Hat out niy sinjtinK,- ,.».• uin. round tin- tpnt-|.ro|.. to ram- Hw Ix'tit lu-ad, anil fh,. otli.T hunu Niack-till 1 tou( lud on tlu- nraisc I foresaw from all men in all times, to tn«> man patient tlure; And thus ended, the liurp falling; foi- ward. Then first I was ware I hat ho sat, as I siiv. with my head just almve his vast knees nhich were thrust out on ea. h sid.- around me, like oak roots whi. h [•lease To encircle a lamh when it slumliors I looked up to know If the best I could do had brought solace : lu- s|H>ke not. but slow Lifted up the hand slack at his si. I would add to that life of the I'usI, both the Future and this ; I would give thee new life altogether as good, ages hence, , As this moment,— had love but the warrant, love's heart to dis|Hii.se !' i XVI Then the truth came upon me. N'o harp I more— no song more ! outbroke— Mis creaficm's approval or censure : I spoke as I saw. I reiK)rt. as a man may of (iods woil. — alls love, vet alls law ' •Now 1 lay down the judgeship Hi lent nie. Kach faculty t.isked lo iH-rceive Him. has gained an abvss where a dewdrnp was asked. * Hiive I knowledge r ronfoumleo I task any faculty highest, to image success f ' I but o|Kn my eyerfect to (Joel's All-t'omplete. As bv each new obeisance in spirit. -wir I have gone the whole round of Crea- iion : I .saw and I spoke ! a woik of (J.hI's hand for that pur- l>o.-e, received in my brain ■\ii'I prouu^irucii ..,. the rest of His handwork— returned Him a-ain 1 l>y each new obeisii J ^ I clind) to His feet ! j Yet with all this abounding e.vpericnce I this Deity known, j I shall dure to discover some provinc c ! ^ .some gift of my own. ' j There '.s a faculty pleasant to exen i.sc, ! hard to hoodwink, I am fain to keep still in abeyance (I laugh as I think) • '(•St, insisting to claim and jiaraih' in it i ^ Wot yi-. I worst K'en the (liver in one gift.- H, hold I I I could love if I durst ! I5ut I sink the |iretcnsion as fearing a man may o'ertake Cod's own s|.ced in the one way of l.)vc : I abstain for love's .sake. " —What, my .soul ? .s,.,. thus far and nu farther •;? when doors great and small. Xine-and-ninety (lew ope at our lou. h should the hundre.lth apfial :■ In the least things, have faitb. yet . to save an. redeen. and rest..^. h'n. nmmtainat the height ll-.s |K,rfe..tion,-s,u.eee,l with life's .laysprm^., deaths n.inufe of nij-htv I"te.,K,s.. at the .lirtienlt „, " u ^ M.a.,„ Saul, the mistake. '"' — nn.i (.1(1 hini awake Tom the dream, the probation the I'"-!"'''-, to find himself M-t' Hear an.l safe in new li«ht and new life.— a new harmony yet 'o be run a.d continued, in,l ended who knows y_or .-ndiire ' ot for the creature to .tand in ' It IS by no breath, • urn of eye. wave of han.l. that salva- . ''"" j"'n» "«ue with pwor. that exists with and for it of being Beloved ! Ho who ( i>fT, Tlioiijjl «'"<•' with lyc si(||inj{ slill Ixasts that Ix.rc O'er a treat "K«', ii'i", siipposo, wise Ixi.ili as liesc-int-tli li averted with wonder and Whilo the' shntt dread in the hirds sti/T and ehill I'ut ms,. heavily, as I api-romhed Audi wind 1)1 er.s lla|> as the eross th lein. niu.le s'tiipiil with a • .. , •••" -iii|>iu wiin awe: i I', en tlie serpiMit thai slid „„av sil.nt Not vel pat't turn the jiat'e. and I turn the lie felt 111,- new I .aw. now, only im.so "e same stared in ll„. while hi '•'•es ii|,i,irned l.v Ihr llowcr- fi same worked in th,. | the I ee.l )owers ; ■r> lieart of Till 1 III '"• youn« onci whisper, fingrr on ar, and moved the vi iie- "Ih, re h le is at it. d,.,.|. in Creek : \'"l the liltl,. l,ror)ks With tl inure.l, persist, nt anil I wilnessiim iiiur- •■■ •" ", ""'"- """<•• , "•': « "I...I.I ;iM.«ol.| from rim to l....s I^iiij to ilnir liiiitt^ iii-ti'i)r| ! Ml Look 111 I hi' riiiiiril <'|iu|H'l iijriiiii lhilf-\»ay up in lli.- .\l|.mr uoiy,. !•< lli^il a lower. I |>ojiit you |i|;nii, <'r 1^ It It iiiill, or nil iron f.n^,. linaki .Ho|itiii||. ill vain? vill An.l lay it f„r >|H'li> liulxcij A turn, an;s ; liaky crew Thf woods are round u-, lit'a|H'l.l.l. ' ,,';;.':;;; ""' """ "• " ^""^" "tinl^'i ravau.. > ■ ,„,,„i„ f, tl... ..|i„,k.| n-a.-liLd l.y ,1... om-an.hH '■ ' l)rjd>{c ''' ^Vluic I he water is sloptHHl in i IJooM It ficd till, iitti,. lake l.,|ow ? sla«nanl pond That .spe. k of wliit.' ju>l on its "i*'""'''! over l.v the iiiidp.. niarp' j Is Pella ; see, in tlie evenin'-dow ' tu i • , ^^ How .sharp the >ilver siu^ii-hevU lii .'.""''''"''"''""'"''''""«• »'^ (hairr "'"'kisli-^rey and mostly wet ; Cut lunii-staiks steep i„ the imrro» dyke. See here ajjain, how tho liehens frel And the roots of the ivy strike ! r. i M u When Alp meets Heaven in snow. On our other si.le is thi- MraiKlit-iip rock ; ! And a path is kept twixt the i;or«e p,.,r |i„i.. .1. ^\' and it '^ "^"^ '""• l''"<'<'. w'KTe Us one prie--- 15y l.oiiMei-stones where lir|„.,|s m,x k <». "."T . Tl- "-ks on a moth, and s.md ;'. ■,-, ^ i::;:'^]l'' '"' 'T " "* ""■ lit ' "n fowler. Thc-c early XovcmUr h^ riie sprej ■ gear on tho ro. k's bare j Uts (ii Hi .Ml HV TllK FIHK-SIDK 3.1 will roHM I'llM', iiii- tiisi r.Ml, IliJ. 1 icI J a 1 k<. Il hits KOiiic pri'tcimi.in ((Mi, thin fronf, With its lijl of frrnco lialf-iiiiHiii-wiM«- Set iinT till' |Mirili, Art's I'iirlv woiit : I'h JoIiii III the |)t«tt, I Hiiiiiiisc, I'.tit liiis home the wrathiT's l>riint — XIX N.if frc.tii the fault of the l.uil.UT. tliitiitrli, Kiir /I |H-iit-li<)ii'«' |ir<)|MTly iirnjci'ti W""' iIt iuvimI liiMiiis iimkf ti ItTtllill sllliw, l>iitiii).'-Kr a lunl siiii,^ thcrr. Ami n stray h1i«-<'|i ilriiik< at tlif ihukI at times ; Tin' plai'i- IS •.ijiiit ami aware ; It liiiM hail lis Miii.-s, iK jovs and eriine;. liiit that I- lis ow :i alfair. xxr My j.e'-fvif wife, my f.ennnr. • Ml. Tiettrt my own, uli. cms, mine to.i. " ^Miii else eoiilil I .Ian liMik liai kwaril for. With whom beside should I due [Miirsiie rile path tirt-y heads alilior '! \ Wll F.ir It Wads to a erau's sheer edire with ilieni : ^o^lth, flowery all tli. way, there stO|is — N"t they; af/f threatens and they onteiiin. I"ill they rcueh the gulf wherein youth drops. ' •ill inch from our life < safe hem ! XXIII With me. youth led ... I will s|Hak now, N'o longer watch yon as yon sit Hiadinir l>y lin-lijrht. that great brow *'"' tlif - [;irii :^::iai; hand propjiiup; it. •Ml., iy, my heart knows how — ! XXIV i When, if I think hut ile«'p enoiigh, Voii are wont to answer, prompt as I rhyme ; I And yoii, Iimi, find without a rehiitf The respoiisi- your soul seeks iiiaiiy a time Pioroing its line Ihsh-stull. • xvv My <)wii, eonlirm me ! If I tread This path lia< k, is ii not in piule To think how lillle I dnaiiied it led To an ajje so hhsl that by its side Voulh seems till- waste instead '.' .wvi .\[y own. see where ilie Mars tonduct ! \t lir^t, 'twas soiinihing our two ^ullls .'Should mi\ as mists do; emh is siM'ki d Jiito .ach now : on, the new stivani rolls. Whatever risks olistruet. wvii Think, when our one soul understands I'll.- irnat Word wliieh makes all things new — Will II earth breaks up and Heavn expand!.— How will thoehange strike me and you j In the House not made with hands'; ! xxviii Oh, I must feel your brain prompt mine, \ our heart antuipate my heart, ^'oll must !><• just before, in tine, See and make me see, for your part, New depths of the Divine \XIX Hut who could have c;;|K'cted this. When we two drew together lirst Just for the obvious human bliss, To .satisfy life's daily thirst With a thing men seidom miss? XXX Come back with me to the lirst of all, I^'t us lean and love it over again — Let lis now forget and now recall, iJieak llie rosary in a pearly rain, And gather what we let fall ! " tm j-jwiw^tvam •TS-'*' '> . 30 BY THE FIRE-SIDE i What ^,1 say'l^hat a small LinJ .Ve two s,ooy each, as each knew well ■ All la long, save when a brown The .ight. w^ saw 'and the souLrl.; nt u I r ,1 , „ heard, "^^ile ;Tn«s"" """' """* """i '"•'^ "Shtr"*! *'>'' '^'^'^^ '-^J- "P ^■')|| loiint the streaks and rings. XXXII But at afternoon or almost eve "lis better; then the silence grows To that degree, j'oii half believe It must get rid of what it knows, Its bosom does so heave. .\XXIII Hither we walkelay, J 'ind life be a proof of this ! XL Hud she willed it. .still had .stood the screen I So slight, so sure, 'twixt my love ami I her : ': I could fi\ her face with a guard between, And find her .soul as when frienr^,e. '" ' '"""""• Xothing'in;.;. ! for fear of ph.n.ler \ ""* ^s^' '" *"*' '"^* ^'^^ "" '"' '' A:'i{';hC::s:':;;;;^"fr'th;;;d;r ''""' I '"'^''' *•"" '»^* ^^^^;"- "- ^'-y"-- We stoop and lookTnVhrough (he .rate '^ T.r±"ri*,v. r'"''?;""'" "V" "'."'''• Ke^Ml;iy'xr.G'i.u:;:ii-:ia.J '^^^Hr-''"^"^ Ti.— ■' .. . .;'"rs.iau. I When nothmg you mar but the ye.ar J A 1 111 'ri.«« /i — 1 ""•"<•. v> nen nothinc V I hen cross the bridge we ..rosseall hand propi.ing it If you join two'^li ve!, fhe^e is oft a seal, i ^ °"*'"' '"^ ^'''' '"'°'^'' '>°^ ' 1 hey are one and one, with a shadowy : uii U,.e nelr'oie is too far. '""• ""n.Z!'' ''" ''"""' ^^ ""^" '""" •^'"' tl>e gain of earth, must be ■^" " i Heavens gain loo, A moment after, and hands unseen . And the whole is well worth thinkin" Were hangnig the night around us j oer " ,, , '*f ; , ^Vhen the autumn comes: which I i>iit we knew that a bar was broken mean to do between I One Jay, as I said before. I^ife and life : we were mixed at last In •'"* ***y' »" thy voice for gootl, breaks to say — Their work was done— we might co '"^''""'''^t love so truly and couldst love I or stay. '"c still They relapsed to their ancient mooil '^ *''"''' '""K ''fe through, had but love I I its will, XLix j Would death that leads me from thee Hmv the world is made for each of us ! I ^^''''^ ''^''">' ' How all we perceive and know in it '' n ! (vt::';:::!:; Tn!^^;^'':\ '^T' u^- \f '- •«• '^y '■-. -ki .hy ..and never let nunc go, nor heart 'itbstand ■I*- i! feu-l ■'lliii- = 38 ANY WIFE TO ANY HUSBAND The beating of my heart to reach its I Although thy love was love in very place. tlecd ' When shoiil.l I look for thee and feel I know that nature! Pass a festive thee gone .' | ,|^y ^^''"■° n7ni"f ^''^ "''' '"'"''"' *"'• ""'' '^"*'°" ''°«* ""t throw its relic-flower away Xor bi L . . i ^'"*t '■* * iwrtrait of me on the wall-- Remember whence it sprang nor be Three lines', my face comes at so shgiit IV afraid While that burns on, though all the rest grow dark. a call : And for ail this, one little hour's t. thank. IX bo, how thou wouldst be i)erfect, white But now. because the hour throui'l. and clean years was fixed, uutsule as inside, soul and soul's Because our inmost beings met aii for thee ! xvii Only, why should it be with slain at all? Why must I, 'twixt the leaves of coronal. Put any ki.- . of pardon on thy brow ? Why need the other women know so much. And talk together, 'Such the look and such The smile he used to love with, then as now !* XIV So must I see, from where I sit and watch. My own self sell myself, my hand attach XVI II Might I die last and show thee ! Should I I tmd Such hardship in the few years left i behind, li: Mi Vf '' I Mil' 11 n 40 ANY WIFE TO A 'Y HUSBAND If frco to take ami light my lamp, and go Into thy tomb, and shut the door and sit Seeing thy faie on those four sides of it The better that tliey are so blank, I know ! XIX Why, time was what I wanted, to turn o'er Within my mind each look, get more and more By heart eaiii word, too much to learn at lirst ; And join thee ail the fitter for the pause 'Neath the low door- way's lintel. That were eauso For lingering, though thou ealledst, if I ilurst ! XX And yet thou art the nobler of us fwo • What dare I dream of, that tiiou canst not do, Outstrip|)ing my ten small steps with one stride ? I'll say then, here 's a trial and a task- Is it to bear ?— if easy, I'll „ot ask : Though love fail, I can trust on in thy pride. II For me, I touched a thought, 1 know. Has tantalized me many times. (Like turns of thread the spiders throw Mwking across our path) for rhymi , io catch at and let go. Help me to hold it ! First it left The yellowing fennel, run to seed Ihere, branching from the brickwork \ cleft. Some old tomb's ruin ; yonder weel ; look up the floating weft, ; _ IV Where one small orange eup amassed Five beetles,— blind and green they groi)o Among the honey-meal : and last. Everywhere on the gras.sy sIoik) I traced it. Hold it fast ! riie t-hainpaign with its endless fleece Of feathery grasses everywhere ! Silence and passion, joy and j)eace. An everlasting wash of air — RouK-'s ghost since her decease. XXI Pride /—when those eyes forestal the life behind The death I have to go through ! when I find. Now that I want thy help most, all of thee ! What did I fear ? Thy love shall hold me fast I'ntil the little minute's sleep is past And I wake saved.— Ancl yet it will hot be ! TWO IN THE CAMPAGXA I I woxDEK do you feel to-day As I have felt, since, hand in hand, \\ e sat down on the grass, to stray In spirit better througli the land This morn of Rome and May ? Such VI tlirou'di such lei'f;. life then ot hours^ Such miracles iH>rforiued in plnv. Such primal naked forms of riowers. Such letting Nature have her way j W liile Heaven looks from its towers ! ! vit How say you ? U-t us, O my dove. Let us be unashamed of soul. As earth lies bare to heaven above ! How is it under our control To love or not to love '! vm I would that you were all lo me, I You that are just so much, no' more •Nor yours, nor mine,— nor slave nm : free ! Where does (he fault lit ? what tlir core j Of the wound, since wound mubt U; '/ Bo In .\< Ca Th Alf ( Sli ( Fi.' Ju: 1 Th 1 Of Tii Eri I ( Wi ! So iTh En ( TWO IN THE CAMPAGNA 41 IX I would I could adopt your will. See with your eyes, and Hct my heart Btatiii}; by yourN, and drink my fill At your soul's Hpringf), — your part, my part III life, for goo«l and ill. X No. I yearn upward, touch you dose, Then stand away. I kiss your check, (.'atch your soul's warmth,— I pluck the rose And love it more than tongue can s|)eak — Then the gootl minute goes. XI All' .:''y how am I so far Out of that minute ? Must I go Still like the thistle ball, nO bar, ( >iiward, whenever lijiht winds blow. Fixed by no frici.lly star "; XII Just when I seemed about to learn ! Where is the thread now t Off again ! The old trick ! Only I discern — IiiKnitc passion, and the pain Of finite hearts that yearn. MLSCOXCEPTIOX.S This is a spray the Bird clung to. Making it blossom with pleasure. Ere the liigh -ee-top she sprung to. Fit for her r.est and her treasure. ()h, what a hope beyond measure Was the poor spray's, which the Hying feet hung to, — So to l>e singleent on ! C A SERENADE AT THE VILLc\ I That was I, you heard last night When there rose no moon at all, Xor, to pierce the strained and tight Tent of heaven, a planet small : Life was dead, and so was light. II Xot a twinkle from the fly, Xot a glimmer from the worm. When the crickets stopped their cry. When the owls forbore a term, You heard music ; that was I. Ill Earth turned in her sleep with pain, Sultrily suspired for proof : In at heaven and out again. Lightning !— where it broke the roof. Bloodlike, some few drops of rain. IV What they could my words expressed, O iny I^ve, my All, my One ! Singing hel|>ed the verses best. And when singing's best was done. To my lute I left the rest. V So wore night ; the East was gray. White the broad-faced hemlock- flowers ; There would be another day ; Ere its first of heavy hours Found me, I hail past away. VI What became ill the hopes. Words and st ^ and lute as well ? Say, this struck you — ' When life gro|)es Feebly for the path where fell Light last on the evening slopes, VII 'One friend in that path shall be To secure my steps fro.n wrong ; One to count night day for me. Patient through the watches long, Serving most with none to see.' VIII Xever say — as something boate liround its teeth to let me pass ! i ONE WAY OF LOVE I I i All June 1 bound the rose iti sheaves. Xow, rose by rose, 1 .strip the leaves And strew them where Pauline may' pa.s.s. I She will not turn aside ? Alas ! I Ut them lie. Suppose they die ? i The chance was they might take her eye. II I How many a month I strove to suit These stubborn fingers to the lute ! 'I'o-day I venture all I know. She will not hear mv music ? So ! Rreak the string ; fold musics wing Sup|)Ose Pauline had bade me sing ! Ill My whole life long I learned to love, This hour my utmost art I prove And speak my pas-sion.— Heaven Hell ? She will not give me Heaven : 'Ti, well ' , Lose who may— I still can .say, | Those who win Heaven, blest arc they ! or; ANOTHER WAV OF LO\'E 1 JcNE was not over. Though past the full, And the best of her roses Had yet to blow. When a man I know (Mut shall not discover, Since ears are dull. And time discloses) Turned him and said with u man's true air. Half sighing a smile in a yawn, as i were, — 'H 1 lire of your June, will she greativ care ?' II Well, Dear, in-doors with you ! I _ _ True, serene deailne.ss I Tries a man's tem|H'r. j What's in the blo.ssom j June wears on her bosom ? I fan it clear scores with you '! Sweetness and redness, A''j'/f HI HI III in r ! I ';". I<'l ini' care for it greativ or slislillv : j If Jiuie mentis her bowers now, your hand left unsightly ! 15y jilucking their roses,— my June will do rightly, III And after, for pastime, I If June be refulgent With flowers in completencs.s. All petals, no prickles, Delicious as trickles Of wine |)oured at mass-lime, And choo.se One indulgent To redness and sweetness : Or if, with experience of man and if s|)ider, June u.se my June-lightning, the slron.' insect-ridder. And stop the fresh spinning,— wli\, June will consider. A PRETTY WO.MAN Ih.\t fawn-skin-, And the blue eye Oear and dewv. And that infantine frosh air of hers ! A PRETTY WOMAN 4:) To think MICH y with Ijcauty, needs there inoiiry And enfold you, '>e — Ay, and hold you, Jahv with liking "/ And so keep you what they make you, <'ru^t liking In- so ^inl|^le-swcet, For a word's ^ake. If love grew there ()r a sword's sake, 'Twoidd uns '.' tj; I r Sing and say for. Watch and jiray for. Keep a secret or go boast of. Sweet : liiit for loving, why, you would not. Sweet, Though we prayed you. Paid you. brayed you In a mortar— for you could not, .Sweet ! VII >>o, we leave the sweet face fondly there : '''' He its beauty Its sole duty ! Let all hope of grace beyonil, lie there ! Shall wc burn up, tread that face at once Into tinder. -And so hinder Sparks from kindling all the place at once ? XV Or else kiss away one's soul on her '! Your love-fancies ! — A sick man sees Truer, when his hot eyes roll on her ! XVI Thus the craftsman thinks to grace the rose, — Plucks a mould-tlower For his gold flower. Uses fine things that efface the rose : XVII Rosy rul»ics make its cup more rose, Precious metals A|>c the i>elals, — Last, some old king locks it up, morose I As.-why must one, for the love for- ' Then, how grace a rose '! I know a gone, y,.^^y , Scout mere liking ? I^ave it, ratlicr. Ilmnder-stnkmg I Must you gather ? i:.aiUi,-the Heaven, we looked above j Smell, kisk wear it— at last, throw for, gone I | away ! vm Ami while the face lies (piict there. Who shall wonder T'hat I ponder A conclusion ? I will try it there. IX •lit hi iil^^,: i i \- ■.am a i'i : 1i'iu:ii , 'If*:" W' 44 RESPECTABILITY '1 RESPECTABILITV Dear, had the world in its cu|iriro l><-ij!nc'lightcd troth, Am s|H)nsor for you : live in [H-aio !'— How many pritious months and years Of youth had passed, that 8i)ecd so fast, ' Hcforc we found it out at last. Til Aurld, and what it fears 1 How much of priceless life were sitent With men that every virtue decks. And women nio I enter. |SiK.'nd my whole day in the quest,- ! who cares '! But 'tis twilight, you .'ice,_with such suites to explore. Such closet-s to search, such alcoves to '. imiwrtune ! Ill I know ! the world jiroscribes not love ; .Allows my finger to caress Your lip's contour and downiness. Provided it supply a glove. The world's good word !— the Institute! (iuizot receives SIontalend)ert ! Eh ? down the court three lampions flare — Put forward your best foot ! LOVE IX A LIFE I TvooM after room, I hunt the house through We inhabit together. Heart, fear nothing, for, heart, thou shalt ti!id her. Xext time, herself !— not the trouble behind her I^'ft ill the curtain, the couch's iht- fiime : ' As she brushed it, the cornice-wreath bjor^siitju-d anew ; Von looking-glass gleamed at the wave of her feather. LIFE I\ A LOVE Escape me '/ Never — Hi-loved ! While I am I, and you are yon. So long as the world containB both, AFe the loving and you the loth. While the one eludes, must the other )>ursue. My life is a fault at last, I fear : It seems t(M» much like a fate, indeed ' Though I do my best I shall scan. succeed. Ibit what if I fail of my purpose here / It IS but to keep the nerves at strain. To dry one's eyes and laugh at a fall. AncI bafflee to see his face As before. Feel, where my life broke oti from thine, | ilow fresh the (i|>linter!) ke(>p and ^^ " B <'"'.V a touch and we combine ! Til > long, this time of year, the days ! Hut nights— at least the nights" are short. A'* night shows where her one nuion is, A hand's- breadth of pure light and bliss, to .So life's night gives my lady birth And my eyes hold her ! what is worth The rest of heaven, the rest of earth V III loadeoke a word. First of all I'p his cheek the colour sprung. Then he heard. IV Sitting by my side. At my feet. So he breathed the air I breathed, SatistitMl ! I, too, at love's brim Touched the swe«'t : I wo\d. you ? . Oh, to |>ossess, and Ih- |>os.ses.sed ! i Hearts that Iwat "iieath each palli.l j breast ! But onee of love, the po<'sy, the pa.ssinn. Drink once and die! — In vain, tin same fashion. They circle their rose on my rose tree, V Dear ro.se, thy joy's nndimmed ; Thy (lip is ruby-riinnutl. Thy cup's heart nectar-brimmed, VI Deep as drops from a statue's plinth ■ The \m' sucked in by the hyacintli, , .So will I bury me while burning, Quench like him at a plunge my yearn- ing, Kyes in your eyes, lips on your lips ! Fold me fast where the cincture slips. Prison all my .soul in eternities of pleasure ! Oirille me once ! But no— in their oM measure They circle their rose on my ro.se tree VII Dear rose without a thorn, 'Hiy l>ud 's the babe imlKirn : First streak of a new morn. VIII Wings, lend wings for the cold, the clear ! What '.s far conquers what is near. Ro S|,i \VI .Vi 1 V Sli Til I.F W St 1,1 W II J s, WOMEN AND ROSES 47 Hcwi's will liloom nor wa-t Ix-holtlcM. I V S|iiiiM}< from tli<- fliiHt wIhtc our own Let him p*c«> »t pleasiirp, past tho walls ttvnh inoiildtTM j o( roso, W'liftt Nhall arrive with the ryclr'n Plurk their fruitK when grape-lrriM channe ? ifTaT.f him as In- umi*. A novel jfraee ami a In^aiity ntranjse. Por he 'jfins to giieMU the piirpoMe of llie I Mill make an Kve, Im> the urtist that U-^an her, Sliape profess oneself .\h, 'forgive' you hid him? While beneath her : (^kI's champion lives, Slill. one must not 1k> too nuuh in Wrong shall lie resist ctl : deail. why. he earnest, either !' forgives. \ But yo\i must not end my friend ere you '^ ! begin him ; Better sin the whole sin, sure that fJod Ryil stands not crowned on earth, while observes, | breath is in him ! riian go live his life out ! life will try his nerves. wn)n;j Vs'i.in I he sky which noticed all, maker no disclosure, last of all. And the earth keeps up her terrible Dare to say -I ,„„ ^,,;.,^ ,^„,, Mnn.l..Mt t...*. m AFTER Takk Ihp cloak from hin farr, an.l at tirNt U't till' ('or|HH' ilo itH wor.Nt, How he lipM in hii* rinlilM of a man ! I><'ath liax (loiu- all death .an. Ami, absorU I in ilu' mw life he leailt, _ He reeks not, he heedx Xor his wnintj nor my v«-ngeanrc— holli strike On liiK senses alike. I —Ami suddenly my head In rovered o. r With those win^is. white abo\e thr < hild who prays \ow on that tomh— and I shall fe. I thee );iiardin^ Me, out of all the worhl ; for me, di" lanlinjj Von Heaven thy home, that wail^ and o|(es its dcKir I III I would not l(H>k up thither past thv head lleeause the diKtr mn'ti, like that ehild. I know. III oil ins senses ailKe, ,, • "■""•. j And are lust in the solemn and stranue "^ should have thy graeioim fare Surprise of the ehan^e. i „„ "•^««'i>raee '.' 1 would we were "boys as (if old In the liehl. by tlie fuM His outrage, (Jod's pal Kim, in.in> scorn Wire M) easily borne. I stand here now, he lie- in his place Cover the face. Ik'HiI me low Lfke him, and lay. like his, my hamU together. And lift them up to pray, and t-entK tether Me, lis thy 1,-iiib there, with tli\ l-'ariiicnt's spread '/ IV THK (ilAHDIW A.\(;KL A I'HTIKK \r KANi) I If this was ever granted, I would rest •My head In-neat h thine, whih' thy healing; hands ' lose-coycnd Uith my eyes la'side thv breast. Pressing the brain, which ten) mm h thought expands. Hack to its pro|Mr size apain, ami Dear and jireat Anf.'el, wouhNt thou ,,. , MiioothinK only leave distortion down till every nerve had That ciiild. when iho.i hast dom- , ,T,"''"*-'-. , witii him. for me I •^"•"dl lay qiiief, happy and siipprest I^t me sit ail the day here, that when v s:l.,.ii' *'i^. It ■ ■ '^'"* ''*'°" "" wrl'llv wrong wouhl b. .Shall hml iK-rforiiied thy sin-cial repaired' ' iiiini.stry j ,,,i„^ ,„,^. j ^, ,^, Ami lime come for departure, thou, ami skies '"*'"• 'ani, susiM^ndini; Thy lliiibt, mayst see another ehild for Ami tend .\noth inff. ^ca, wtK-n oiii bareil e ii^uiii my orow er still, to (piiet and retrieve. After thy healing, with such different 11 eye. I, III) . I" o'l r til,' fr.1 ili- aits tl.v hilt arc ^(111 tills tl.v liv if I'.v hv icli llil THE nUARDIAX ANfJEL 4U 0, world, AM (iod t in I I ron«i'il a uiimr. with a iiauH- of iti ( lucre ino drew thi» nnecl I -aw iiai h ,,^,| (AlfrtHl. d<>Ar fri.tvil !)-ilml litll.- ^,„, ^ „„. |„ ,,„. ^,,,^1,1 „„ ,|„„|,,, (hild to iiray. y,., „ i,„i„r,.|,riiiiltli ..f it i.hin.« aloii,' II, . Ming th.' little hands lip. .aril to. a. Ii .y^^■^^ ,|,^. ,,,^^„,j „„|,.^ fouml oImuiI : rr.'SHod gently, —with lii-< own Ii.miI turmfl away '^ (tv.T the earth where so niii.h lay l,.for.' I'nr tli.-ri> I i>iik.il u|> on tlu- h.ntluT liiiii And ther.' 1 |iiit infill.' my l>ri-a>t Of work to dy the Ik lu h. Ml POPILAIUTV We were at Fano, and three tinieH we went T.)Hitanathos HO magniticent), extcn,l That loving hand of His which hads Stand still, true iKx-t that you are I VIII you. Aii.l since he di.l not work so earnestly y,,, |„;,.^ ;.„„ ^„(,, f,,„„ ,.,,,1 ,„ ,.,„| At all times, ami has else emliire,! ,„■ ,,,j^ ;|,,^,. ^^,„.|,|_ „„,,.^^ U,. ,,,.,.,1^ some wrong— y,„, I t.M.k one thought his i.ietiir.- stru. k j,|^, ^^^.s voiir light to si.«>nd '! from ine, I And spread it out, translating it to "' xong. His clencheil Hand shall unclose nt \lv I^)ve is here. Wher.- are you, .l.-ar last. (.1,1 fiien.l ? I know, and let out all the l).'auty : llnw rolls the Wniroa at your world's My poet holds the Future fast, far end ? Accepts the coming ages' duty. This is Ancona, yoniler is the sea. Their I'rcs.-iit for this Past. All. liid MKMORABILIA I once ••y 1 ilain. That day, the eartl;'s feast-niasti>r's brow shall clear, to ('.od the chalice raising ; tit Ami did he stop and s|H'ak to yon ? 'Other. He best at first, but Thou And did yuu s|H'ak to him again How strange it seems, ami n. Forcv.i- set'st our table ]iruising, Keep'st the good wine till now !' J1 50 POPULARITY Mcantinip, I'll to watch and N'ondiT : l"ll say- a tislior, on the sand J!y Tyro tin- Old, wiih oocan-|(|iinder, A Mftfiil, hroiipht to land. vr Who has not heard how Tyrian shells Knclosed the hliie, that dye of dyes Whereof one drop worked niirac les. And ooloiired like Astarte's eyes Raw silk the merchant sells ? VII And oaeh bystaned in the shade, i ! IX ' One says his say with a difference — "^iirc yon were wishful to s|)cak. ^'"''<' "' e.\iM>un(ling, explaininj; ! Vou. with brow ruled like a score. , •^" """' '" wrangle, abuse and v.icifer- ^ i-i.andeyes buried in pits on each cheek. ance— ^ Like two great breves as they wrote •^"*' ••><*>"e 's a truce, all 's subilueil, them of yore self-restraining— Kioh side that bar, your straight l«>ak ! '^'^**' <'>"'■"?•>. stands out all the sliirei hence. X XVI >^iit<' yon .said — 'f!oons and lengthens. Till one exclaims — 'But where's music, the dickens ? Blot ye the gold, while your s|>ider- web strengthens | — R!ackellows ? XXII Is it your moral of Life ? Such a wb, simple and subtle. Weave we on earth here in imjiotent strife. Backward «n"l forward each tlsmu- ing his shuttle. Death ending all with a knife 1 xxvr Who thinks Hiigues wrote for the deaf. Provwl a mere mountain in labour ' : Better submit— try again— what 's the i ^^^^ • 'Faith, it's no trifle for jiipe and fur tabor — Four flat.s, the minor in F. XX VII Friend, your fugue taxes the finger: Lrarning it onee. who would lose it ? »et all the while a misgiving will linger. Truth's golden o'er us although we refuse it — Nature, thro' dust-clouds we fling her ' xxviii ■ Hugues ! I advise men poena (('ounter|x)int glares like a Oorgon) Hill One, Two, Three, Four, Five, clenr the arena ! Say tht- WDftl, straight I unsiop lli,. Full-Organ, Blare out the nmli Pakitrina. I> Oi w U O F T J? (!" Y I'l MASTER HUGUES OF SAXE-GOTHA 53 XXIX Wliilf in the roof, if I'm right there, ! . . . Lo, you, the wick in the sofket ! Hallo,yoiiiMUTi8tan,showusa light there! , Down it (lips, gone like a rocket ! What, you want, do you, to come i unawares, ' Sweeping the church up for first morn' And ing- prayers, find a poor ilevil has ended his cares At the foot of your rotten-rungcd rat- riddled stairs t Do I carry the moon in my pocket ? ROMANCES INCIDENT OF THE FRENCH CAMP I \i>v know, wc French stormetl Ratis- bon : A mile or so away On a little mound, Na|K)leon Stootl on our »torming-8 he mused 'My plans 'I'liat soar, to earth may fall, Ix't once my army-leader Lanncs Waver at yonder wall,' — Out'twixtthc battery-smokcsthcrc flew A rider, boimd on bound Full-gallo|)ing ; nor bridle drew Until he reached the mound. Ill Then off there flung in smiling joy. And held himself erect J?y just his horse's mane, a boy : You hardly could suspect — (So tight he kept his lips comprrsseror, by God's grace We've got you l'ati.sbon I The .Marshal's in the market-place. And you'll be there anon To see your flag-bird flap his van.'? Where I, to heart's desire. Perched him !' The Chief's eye (lashed ; his plans .Soarerido Touched to the .piick, he said : "I'm killed, Sire ! ' And his Chief beside. Smiling the boy fell dead. THE PATRIOT AN OLD STORY I It was roses, roses, all the way. With myrtle mixed in my jiath like mad : The house-roofs seemed to heave anil sway. The church-spires flamed, such flags they had, A year ago on this very day ! II The air broke into a mist with bells. The old walls rocked with the crowd and cries. Had I said, (.Jocxl folk, mere noiso rc|)els — But give me your sun from yonder skies I' They had answered, 'And afterward, what else 't' i' m- rri THE PATRIOT in Alaik, it was I who l(a|H'(l at th II' .sun Hilt to myself llu-y tiinicl (sin, ,. „. Jiiits by Jogivoit my loving friomis to kerp! The eiirtain I have <> bought mail eoiiM ,!o, have I left Imt ll And undone you see my liarvesf, what I rawn for yi Th *P s very day low a v I'ar IS run. IV An.l secinwl a.s they would ask they durst. How such a glance came tin the lirst Are you to turn and ask tl me, if re ; so. iius. Nir. I There's iiolwly on the hou.se-tops Her 1..YT ""■■ now— n , Her husband s ,)re.sence only, call, . I Just a palsie.1 f.-w at the windows r.f ■ 1 "^V* .set; wiiKi.ws „f joy into the DueluW cheek: |«,. For the best of the si.-ht is, all allow i,' n .''f, . At the Shambles' Oatc-or, In-tt'er ' T**""^'^'' **"*"y '"*"'■ """'"'' ver, '"I'** Hy the" very scaffol.l's foot. I trow : 'VX .'^^'y« wwt tfw much,' ,., Faint , . ., \ ■}!";•;'"":*■•• ''"I't't'.ieprofluee the faint 1 go in tht n. n, and. more than ne<'. , •I'aid by the World.-what .lost thou ' brelf °"'" ' "^ '"""'" **' '" ' McVM^.I might ..ues.ion: now in- '''" '"& "' "" ''''^"^''^ '" »'" 'Tis(;«lljl| repay; I am safer so. '"'" '3" "' ^'"■■''^^ '*""- "•"^'-' >n- L-VST .n-CHF.S I '^"'" inidc*^ °"'"'^" '"' '''' *"^ -'"" FEHRARA ''"*''^' ''"'''' "''t'l round the terrace— iill Ti.vT s^m.vlasl Duchess painted on the Would d'rirfrom her alike the approv- ^^'"''t. .':::?" '''"'"• "■"' *''^™ ^'"^ XVanked""*"*"'"'"--"-^" XN-.II'I piease'you sit aii.l l.x.k at her t "'^'^ ^'nanu- * "'"^-'"'"'''"l-yi^r.s-,.1.1 •Kia I'anXlf • b,desig„. for never rea.l '''''' "bTat'"'^ «'"• '''''"■'' •^'-'' '' 'Z!:::,^' *""' '"■''"'"' ^"""- ''^^ -J5.;'^ •"'""« • Kven had y,. N W M T A (I I Ihe depth and passion of its g.'ilce, skill earnest In siH;eili— (which I ha make y our will ve not)— 1 1 MY LAST DUCHESS Quite ili'ui- to such un one, andsay 'Just tlii.i l>r that in you disgusts nie ; here you miss, Orlhercexceed the mark' — and if shek't Hrrself be lessoned so, nor |)lainly set Hit wits to yours, forsooth, and made excuse, —E'en then would Iw some stooping. and I ehuse Never to stoop. Oh, .Sir, she smiled, no ; fioubt. Whene'er I passed her ; but who passed without Miieh the same smile 1 This grew ; I gave commands ; Tlirn all smiles Ktop[)ed together. There j she stands A.> if alive. Will't please you rise '! We'll meet ! Tile allowcf men Count Gismond who savet My arms to each an arm of theirs, .\nd so descend the castle-staiis — VI .\nd come out on the morning-troop Of merry friends who ki.-^sed uiy check, .\nd calletl me Queen, and made iiic stoop I'nder the canopy — (a streak That pierced it, of the outside mui. Powdered with gold its gloom's >v\i dun) — VII -And they could let me take my state And foolish throne amid applause Of all collie there to celebrate My Qiieen's-day— Oh, I think the can (• Of much was, they forgot no crowd •Makes up for parents in their shroud I Vill Howe'er that l>e. all eyes were bent Cpon me, when my cousins ca.'^l Theirs down; 'twas time 1 should prc- i sent I The victor's crown, but . . . there, i "(will iasl I N'fj long time . . . the old mist again ' lilinds me as then it did. How vain ! I it * i ft; m COUNT r.ISMOND See! (JiKinond'H at thf gaU% in talk With his two boys : 1 can prott'cd. Well, at that nionipnt, who should stalk Forth Ijol.lly (to iiiv face, indwd) liiit (iauthicr, and he thundered 'Stay !• Andallstayed. 'Bring no crowns, I say! Wind the jK-nante- IJring torches sheet About her ! Let her shun the chaste. Or lay herself In-fore their feet ! Shall she, whose iMxIy I embraced A nifiht long, (|ueen it in the day t For Honour's sake no crowns, I say !' XI I ': What I answere event : (;."i look iiiut on Him— I was bid Watch (Jismond for my iwrt : I did. XV l)in the ground : (iisinond Hew at him, used no sleight ()f the sword, but o|x-n-breaste;<)t the elear The man ])ut olT tlie striphng's hue Croat brow; tho' when his brotlier'n 'phe nmii matured and fell away ,, „ , ., ,,. , Into the season of doc-ay : lull eye hIiows seorn, it . . . (Jisniond , , , , '' here ? •»'"' i'^'"'' " '•'' t'"' trade lie Ix-nt, And have you brought my leriel '^'"' •■^'''' ''^■"' "" earth content. ^^^'■'^ ' (He di well as if thy voice t.vday '''""<" '^"''^ "l^" h'"' ilt'^r. Were jnaising God, the Po|r-s great Since when, a boy, he plied his trade, *■«>'• Till on his life the sickness weighed ; riiis Easter Day, the Pope at Ronu- And in his cell, when death drew near, J Praises (iod from Peter's dome' An angel in a dream brought cheer: SaicI The ."'^' »:'*«» .*!"' I'^i^e •'« turned. And Theocrite was gone. p\itli Gwl a day endures alway. 'I bore thee from thy craftsman's cell, A thousaml years are but a day. •^"'' *'^ *'"^''" '"^'■'' ' ^ '''<' "''^ well. And on his sight the angel burned. lee from thy hoc here ; I in Heaven, 'Xor day nor night J'-'ii'Lv I left my angel-sphere, ngs the voice of my delight.' ' "'" ***• ^''y ''ream of many a ye I' iod said i (.Vow brings tne voice ot my t riion (iabriel, like a rainbow's birth, '"''.V voice's praise seemed weak ; it ISpread his wings and sank tc earth ; dropjied— Kntcred in Hesh, the empty cell. t'rcation's chorus stopped ! jl.ivcd there, and played the craftsman c dwelt in Peter's Dome. One vanislied ax the other died: riicy soiij^ht (io fain To j)ut out of its |)ain — Ami, 'no !' I admonishe boar on the woman away, Till I felt my hair turn grey — VI Till I seemed to have and hold. In the vacancy 'Twixt the wall and me. From the hair-plait's chestnut-gold To the foot in its muslin fokl — VII Have and hold, then and there, Iler, from head to foot. Breathing and mute. Passive and yet aware, In the grasp of my steady stare — Vlll Holil and have, there and then, All her boctif>; a tbrall, Hringing flesh and all. Essence and earth-attire. To the source of the tractile lire — ■I , I, "V i 3i ■ W U :.;;i ;ii -I I m MH^SMKKISM \M I ill till' liiMi-c lallcil hiiN, 11(11 iiiiiii., \Villi II v'riiwiiiK Weight Nl'r'lIlK to HIltTlH'lltf If >lir l.rciik not its Iciiijin line And csciiK- from it, (!,,«. tontinu — W II Out nf doors ifilo the nij{ht ! Oil ti) the niiizc Of till' wild wiMMl-wav, Vol turning to left nor rijilil From tiio pntliway, hlind witli .>iglit— .will MrtkinK tliro' rain and wind OVr the lirokcn shniliM, "I'wixt the xtfiiis anil. strong mind, Not A care for the world In-hind— XIX Swifi.-r and still more swift. As the erowdiiig iknuo Doth to joy iiitrease Tn the wide blind ev "s uplift. Thro' the darkness and the drift ! XX While r— to the shajH", I too I'Vil my soul dilate .\ To tile fancied shape; It is, past eseaix'. Herself, now : the dream is (huie , And the shadow and she are one. I XXVI First I will pray. Do Thou That owncNt the soul. Yet wilt grant eontrol to another, nor disallow For a time, restrain me now ! XXVII I ttilmonish me while I may, Xot to Hipiander guilt, Sinec re((uirc Thou wilt At my hand its price one day ! What the price is, who can say r THE (JLOVK (PETEit RoNsAnu fiKjiiiliir.) 'Hek;iieace ; and aghast I' mi 'aught thinking war the true pastime! Is there a reason in metre ? (five us your speech, master Peter! ' 1 who, if mortal dare say so, Xe'er am at loss with my N'aso, 'Sire,' I replied, 'joys prove cloudlet >len arc the merest Ixions' Here the King whistled aloud, 'Let 's ■ . . Heigho ... go look at our lions !' Such are the sorrowful chances If you talk fine to King Francis. And so, to the courtyard proceedinir. Our com|)any, Francis was leading," Increased by new followers tenfold Before he arrived at the iicufold ; 111- i THi': fiLovi: ni I^inlH, lailii'K, like cldiKlH whicli iMiliiti'n At siinKot the wj'Htfrn horizon. Ami Sir I)p l^rg<> iircswil 'iniil the fori'inont With the (lainc h<- )irof(\s!so(l to ailorc most — oil, what a face I Onr i-y III* i-vt^l H"T, anil tin- horrible piiiiilc; Fur the pcnfolil Hiirroiinilnl a holh w Wliifh Itvl whrrc tin- ryv .scarce dainl follow. And xhclvcil to tiic cliainlM-r hccIiiiIciI When- Hluel)eard, the ureal lion, brood PI I. The King hailiMl hia kt>c|)er, an Arab A- t;lo88v and black an t. 'arab. Ami bane him make x|)ort and at once Htir l'|i and out of hi* den the old monster. They openp|N- troubled, Tlie lilacknettH and silence so utter. By the lirework'H .slow sparkling atid i splitter ; TluMi earth in a sudden contortion | <^aw out to our K«izi' her abortion ! ' SiK li a brute ! Were I friend Clement -Marot IWIkh" ex|M'rien('e of nature's but narrow, | Ami whose fiMulties move in no small mist Ulicn lu' ver.silies David the i'salmist) KliDuldstiidvthat brute todescribe you llhiiii Juda Li'oiiiiH dc Tritiu ! Hue's whole blooil grew curdling' and creepy 'I'') >ec the bla<-k mane, vast and heapy. Till' tail in the air still and straining, Thr wide eyes, nor waxing nor waning, A- over the barrier which iKiunded lli^ i>latform, and us who surrounded Till' harrier, they reachesall shivered. The lion at lust was delivered ? \\ . that was the oik-m sky o'erhend I .\nd you saw by the ttash on his fori head. Hy the ho|H' in thoM- eyes wide m d steady. He was leagues in the desert alreudy. Driving the tloeks up the niountaiii. Or catlike couched hard by the fountain 'i'o waylay the date-gathering negress : ,So giiurilcd he entrance or egress. 'How he stain!.!' quoth the King: "we may well >\vear, (.N'o novice, we've won our spurs else- where, Anil so can afford the confession.) We exercise wholesome discretion [n ken, you dethrone her 1 So hIiiiuIiI l!'— rrie<| wolf in nhtf'p'N I'tothinu. Not so, 1 ; (or I eaiiKht an expreHxion In her hrow'N umliHtiirlMMi Nelf-|ioMM-H- >ion Amid the Court '■< Motfing and merri- ment. - A'* if from no pleaNine ex|Kl shift. That his rude lioys niight laugh at tli. gift. —To the page who last lrapeen N'emean (I judge by a certain calm fervour The youth steppc-d with, forward serve her) —He'd have warce thought you li him the worst turn If you whiH|ierec«l anil won . . . how do you call hor ? Till' Ifc-aiity, that ri.ie in the NO(|uel I'll the KiiiK'o lovi-, who lovtil hrr a wiM'k wril. Anil 'twas notirril ho ni'vrr woi'lil honour \h' Lorftc (who looknl ilaggrrN \\\k^ ht-r) With the eauy coiiimi.sMion of strctr Hi-> li'gM in thf wrvlcc, ami fftchu' , Hi" wife, from Iht chanilM-r, • • Ntrayin^j Snd glovpN shi- was nlwnv* ini»la> ■; , Wliilr the Kin^ look the iIom'I to eh in. — Itiit of (oiirsc this ailvrntiirr laiiu- pal in. Ami never the Kinjj told the utory, llmv liringin^' n (ilove brought nikIi Klory, lint the wife Niniled — 'His grown tinner : Mini he hiin^x now and inuriniirr 1 1 »u nti iicciirritr mnrfm ! With which moral I drop my thcoriK). TI.MKl'S HKVENOES I've a Friemi, over the sea ; I like him, but he loven me. It all grew out of the hooks I write ; Tliry find siieh favour in his KJt'ht Thill he nlaujihters you with savage look» ISrcause you don't admire my hooks : III- does himxelf thou>;h, — and if soim vein To Ih> my niifMc in thix |KM>r place, .And make my hroth and waxh my fare .And liyht my tire, ami, all the while, Itear with hift old gixMl-huinoured smile That 1 told him 'Ik-tter iiave kept away Than come and kill me, niKht and dav. With '! , >rNe than fcver'N tlirolm ami . iig of h' < eliimtty iKKJtx.' f ' ' ui ■ > wo lid do, iiii* I li riking Two. i>i!, 'I' ! r 1 I "... wo«' is A. N. I 'It I .■ Iii:ii ' not Kce, : I .t'> il . .t him there , til ■ I ii'i't hair ii-r .• lu' I aches indeed, •H 111 luini nor read !i. ' urpli lingerx hold li , n .it s fn'e'ting cold ! of nerves are utters no A ' I ..ally - I lero lie wakrH, Tl.. •ifi .1 " ' and jirince sii.ikes Within me, at her name, to pray Fate semi home creature in the way Of my love for her, to Ik- down-torn I'jithrust and outward-home .So I mi^lit prove myself that sea Of passion which I neeils must Ik' ! (.'all my thoughts false and my fancies ipiaint .\nd niv style iiitirm and its figures fliiiil." .Ml the critics say, and more blame yet, And not one aiijiry word you get ! Hut, ])h'ase you, wonder 1 would put .My cheek iK-neath that I^ady's f and do. . Were to snap to-night in this heavy 'I'his garn-t, crowned with love's best brain, ; crown, Tii-morrow month, if I lived to try, ; .\nd feasted with love's ]>erfeet feast, I'lMiiiil should 1 just turn ipiietly. To think I kill for her, at least, *>!• •••it of the iH-drl-c-the-i str-'tch my ' P-'^\y and sou! .and ]umf nn'\ fame, hand I .Mike youth'.s end and manhooil's aim. Till I found him, come from his foreign —So is my Hiiirit, as llesh with sin, lanii, L I B R AiR Y^' f® i««t«^"nM E^' '" jur-viorATs OF ST. JOHN THi=: APOSTLE. fi4 TIME'S REVENGES f Witli tlio fare of her, tlip eyes of her. The lips, the little chin, the stir Of slmduw roiinil her mouth ; and she — I'll toll you, — I'almly would decree That I should roast at a slow tire, If that would couipa.Hs her desire And make her ohe wiioiu they invite To the famous ball to-morrow night. There niav be Heaven ; there must be H. Jl ; Meantinu', there is our Earth here — well ! i THE ITALIAN IN ENGLAND | That second time they hu"te(l me From hill to )>lain. from shore to sea. And .\ustria, hounding far and wide Her blood-hounds through the country- side IJreathed hot and instant on my trace, — I n\ade >iix days a hiding-place Of that dry green old a<|ueduct Where I an Chnrlcs was lost : Si\ d lys the soldiers cros.scd and crossed The country in my very sight ; Anil when that yx'ril ceased at niLdit, The sky broke out in rcil dismay With signnl-tires ; well, there I lay (,'losp coveri'd o'er in my recess, I'p to the neck in ferns and cress. Thinking on .Metternich our friend. And ("liarles's miserable end. And much beside, two days ; the third. Hunger o'ercanu' me when I heanl The peasants from the village go To work among the maiz(> ; you know. With us in Ix>mbardy, they bring Provisions packed on mules, a string With little bells that cheer their task. And casks, and boughs on every cask To keep the sun's heat from the wine ; These I let pass in jingling line, And, close on them, dear noisy crew. The |M'asants frnm the village, too; For at the very f'ar would troop Their wives anil sistora in a group To help, I knew ; when these hail iw.ssed, I threw my glove to strike the last. Taking the chance : she did not start, Much less cry out, but stooped apart One instant, rapidly glancea round, .And saw me beckon from the ground : .\ wild bush grows and hides my crypt : .She ])icked my glove up while slir strippeil .V branch off, then rejoined the rest With that ; my glove lay in her breast : Then I drew breath : they di.tappearcil : It was for Italy I feared. An hour, and she returned alone Exactly where my glove was thrown. .Meanwhile came many thoughts ; i ine Rested the hojies of Italy ; I had devised a certain tale Which, when 'twa.s tohl her, cotdd twit fail Persuade a pea.sant of its truth ; I meant to call a freak of youth This hiding, and give hopes of i>ay, .Vnd no temptation to betray. But when I saw that woman's face. Its calm simplicity of grace, Oui' Italy's own attitude In which she walked thus fur, and foot so firm. To crush the snake and spare ll>' worm — .\t first sight of hei eyes, I saiil, ' J am that man upon whose hepd They fix the price, because I hate The Austrians over us : the State Will give you gold — oh, gold so nun li. If yo>i iK'tray me to their clutch And be your death, for aught I know. If once they find you saved their for. Now. you must bring me fcxMl ami drink, .\nd also pa|)er, jH-n and ink, .\nd carry safe what I shall write To Padua, which you'll reach at night Hefore the Duomo shuts; go in. And wait »ill Tenebrae begin: Walk Itctw And Sav i .\'U| From n>- 1 Mv h Then Our I As y( Th lln th ll Villr That) ()fiu I She 1 I She .' jllc Kiitc •Slic Ula'l .\iid Aft CI .\iiot Till- 1 To fi For I lint I 'pot To I I'scs She I I left l{( Colic r.c.i, For ' i IlCl Char Mvi h;)w Heal 1 kn. I wo I f.l THE ITALIAN IN ENGLAND 65 I Walk to the Third Confessional, Itctween the pillar and the wall. And kneeling whisi>er, Whence eames pence f Say it a second time, then eease ; A'ui if the voice inside returns, from Christ and Freidum ; lehul concerns The cause of Peace / — for answer, sli|> My leUer where you placed your lip; Then eome back happy we have done Our mother service — I, tht^ son. As you the daughter of our land !' Three mornings more, she took her stand In the same place, with the same eyes : I was no surer of sun-rise Than of her eomin-; : we conferred Of licr own prospects, and I heard She iiad a U)ver— stout and tall. She said — then let her eyelids fall, ■ He lould do much ' — as if some doubt Kiitcreil her heart, — then, passing out, "Slic could not K|H>ak for others, who Hail other thoughts ; herself she knew : ' And so she brought mo drink and food. After four days, the scouts pursued Another path ; at last arrivwl Till' help my Paduan friends contrived Ti) furnish me : she brought the news. For the first time I could not choose lint kiss her hand, and lay my own I'lK'n her head — ' This faith was shown To Italy, our mother ; she I'scs my hand and blesses thee !' Slic followed down to the sea-shore; I left and never .saw her niore. How very long since I have thoujiht ('onceni'ng — much lcs;j wished for — aught IliMilf the good of Italy, Kiir which I live and mean to die ! i never was in love ; and since diaries prove you tell your heails ; All the I'l.iin spv me ^'ither, I garland — The flowers or the wei'ds. Tiiiie for rain ! fir yoi.r lont,' hot dry Autumn ^ Hail nei-worked with hrown The white skin of each irrape on the iiuiiches. .Marked like ,i iiualTs crown, Tlios<- creatures you make sin li aeeoiint of, Whiwe heads, —s|M'cke(l with white Over brown like a irre;it s|.ider"s back, .\s I told you last ni),'ht, — ^our iTiiither liiles o!f for her sii|i|»t, ■ Med-ripe as (oiild be, ronicLTanales were i hanpin',' and s' lit- tin-.' ' ' ' • In halve-, on th, tne : And betuixt the loose w,ills of jrreat Him -liiiie. Or in the thick dust On the p.ith, or straiiiht .lut of tlie rock- side, WIe-rever .niild thrust !S(Mii" burnt soil .' ..f bold hardy nu k- llowcr It- vell.n. fiice up. '■'or the pii/,,. ..ve,,. preat biitlcrliits h;zhtin;;. Some live for oni' cup. So, I nil -s d, ere 1 K"f up this niorniiv- What cliiiii;.'e v».is in .-.lore, l\v the (piK k rustle-down of the ipiail- nets Which \ ike me liefore I lould ojien my sliiitter, 'uade fast With a boii^di and a stone. And look thro' the t«i>;cd dead \iiie- twivs Sole latliei- ||„u , known. Quick and sharji raiiL; the rings down the net-poles, Whil', busy beneath. Your priest and liii broth. r fuL'gc' at them. The raoi in their teeth. Aiul out njMin all the flat hoii.se-roofs Wlierp split tigs lay dryintr. The, pirls took the frails inujer cover ; .Vor use seemed in trying To get (Mit the Imats and go lisliintr, _ For, under the clitf, Fierce the black water frothed oVr 1 1 blind-nn k, Xo seeing our skiff .\rnve about noon from AmnKi, -Our fisher arrive, .\iid pitch down Ins basket before u~, .Ml trembling alive With pitik and grey jellies, your ^. .,. fruit ; Vou touch the .stran' e bitiips. .\nd mouths ga;.'- 'icir eyes open, " manner <>f horns and . . I iimp., ^ Which only the tislier Nioks grave nt, ; While round him like imps Cliii'.' screaming the ihildren as nak.il And brown as his shrimps ; Himself too as bare to the middle _ — \<>n .see round his neck The string and its brass coin su^;pellll, i. 'I'hat .saves him from wreck. Hut to-day not a boat reaclu-d Salcrtin. So back, to a man. Came our friends, with \ ho.se lielp .-i the vineyards (!ra|»e-liarvest Ix'gan. Ill the vat, halfway up in our hnuse-M.|,. Like blood the juice spins. While your brother all bare-legged ; • laneing Till breathle.ss he grins l)eaIl, I lircc Dvcr one plate) Willi hsi^'iii' ^o trm|iliii;^ to swiillow III >liji|(r!'v rnv hhiek seeils on voiu- ]f\'l- t.-eth. Si I'lieeo is loose ! II 'iL : the (|ui'k, whistlinii [»\l ,,i the olives U liirh, till, k ill oiif's tr.K k, liiii;.' the straneer to p.. k up ;\:v\ hite them. riio' not yet half I.I .■ k ! ll^'v* the oil twisle.j .ili\e trunks slniilder ! Till, medlars \vt fill lli'ir hard fruit, and the hriitle i.Tciit ti't-tlees •■^iiap o(f, lij-s iind all. I "I' here .-omi's the wlif hairy ^old oi >■< : Kill my mule picked his Mire, soher path out. .Inst sloppim; to nei.h UTun h'. recognized ilowii in ih.. valley Mis males (.11 their Wiiy W'itii the fat'ijots, and haiiels of water ; And soon we emi.fi'ed I'ioin the phiiii, whe^c the wi.od^, eoii|. sciirce follow ; And still )is wf ur;;( d Our wav. the wi'ods wnndiricl, am! left lis As up still \ie triidued Thoujili the wihi path -lew wihl.T eiieli insliint. All'! phice wa- e'en ■rrmh^eil 'Mid the rock-.li.i-iis ami pih s of lo<,se stoii, , Like the 'e,,s:. hiokcii t..eth Of some uieii-l,'. wheh (IimiIhiI there lo (lie I'roui the iicc.aii ' i.tieath — I'la. e was L.iudci..! to the silver-j^rey flitlli -W|.(.',l Tl.;!i iliirer to the piith, \od il Ilk ro(.|iKiry e\|.r ii-dvin^ i'liat. ' -I lie the 'Aiiids wrath. So lo-.es ih,. -..dl roik's face to seaward, .\iiii h.nti l,s i;, st.'.inich 'I'll th'. -I..-!,, wie re tliev root and hear i ernes. N'Hi . . . V. hal ■ hi.ws a hranch ( tiii!l-i.oloii|.(.il. ir, ill: pan tit, with eir- (■I..|s Of pile -(.„,., ,;\ |..a\es . Over iill liod iiu moll, with r!ie caution Of f |( ,1 let:. I '(.r .'her. . i;C. 68 THK KXGLISHMAN IX ITALY Still, foot aftor foot like a lady : So. round after rmiiid. He ('liiii>>«'(i to the top i.f Calvano, And (iod'n own ]iriit(.imd Wua aliovc Mil', anil round nic tli( mountains. And undiT. the >•■ t. And within nu; my lu-art lo bear witnc.H. What was and shall be ! Oh, luMven and the tcrril'lc crystal ! No rampart oxiludcs Your vyc from the lift- to lie lived In tlie blue solitudes ! Oh, those mountains, their inlir.iie movement ! Still movin;.' witli you ; For, ever some new head and lireasi of them Thrusts into view To ohservi' the intruder ; you see it If ipiiekly you turn And, before they eseipe you, surnrise them : They >.'rud;;(~ you should learn Howthe (ift pli'insthevlookon,leanov(r And love (they jiretejid) — Cower liene:ah them, the il.it sea- pine erouihes. The wild fruit-trees bend, K"en the myrtle-leaves eurl, shrink and shut. All is silent and jrrave, 'Tis a sensu;d and timorous beiuty. How fair, but a slave ! So, I tiirned to t!ie sea; and Ihiir- slumbered As greenly as ever Those isles of the siren, your tJalli ; Xo ajres i( ic is the waffdld RiL'yt'i' frloriiins to IkiIiI All the fiddlers and lifers and ilriiiiniiers And lriini|ieters hdld, Nnl nfr.iiil of Itellini nor AuImi-, Who, when the prie^ V huarsi'. Will strike \is up Hninetliini; that- brisk I'm' the fe.l-t's serond ii;Mr~e, All I then will the llaxen-wijiU'd Fiiiiii.'e I'll rarried in p.drnp Thill the phiiii, while in ;;all.iii! pri>- ccssiim Ttic priests mean to stomp. .\n'l all round the (.dad ihureli lie old liottles Witii <;un]K)Wan^ ! At all events, eome — to the j;arden, .\> far as the wall ; S. (' ine tup with a Ikk' on the plaster I'ill out there shall fall .\ Morpion with wide anjiry nipii-rs ! ' Siieh trifles ! ' you say ? I'lirl'i, in my Kngland at home. Men meet gravely to-dav .\m I (lehate, if aholisliing Corn-laws He riuhteous and wi.se - If 'twere j>ro|KT, Seiroeeo should vanish 111 hlaek from the skies ! IN' A 0()\IM)LA If, sl'/l'/.l 1 sKsi) my heart up to thee, all my heart 111 this my sin>;inf; Fur tlie stars help me, and the .sea hears part : I 111' very iiijjht is elinj{iiig ('|oHcrto\'pniee'streetstoleaveoiie' paee Above me, wheme thy taie May ii^dit my joyous heart to thee its dwellinji-plaee. iS7(C .v/X.'j/'s' S ly after me, aii; To his couch the |iurcha.sed bride: ^ Past we elide ! II Past we irlici<'. and past, and jiasl ! Why's the l'uc(i Palace llarinj; Like a beacon to the blii-.t '; (Juests by hmidrcils. nut ime caring If the dear host's neck were wried : Past we -lide ! f W to' ' il % il 4 <0 IX A CJOXDOLA 1 , 1 i. I I Tlic Moth's kis<, (irst ! Kis-i nil- ,is it yoii inacli' lii'licvc ViiirM'il In |pilals up ; so. lull' ami tli:i,- ^^||| linisli it. till I yrow a»vai' Wlio wants me, nml wiilc o|,iii liMi--t. 'I'lif rn""s ki-.-i, now ! Ki--s nic as if you nitiicj i;.ty M>' lirart at ..oim> nimnclay. A l)iiil tliat ilaii'^ iMil ills, ill, iw Till' claiiii. so ,ill is ri iidi'ii'd iiji. Anil pas.iMly its sliaitiTcd i up O'.ci' your licid to sleep I Uow. Ill ■•■I'lii/.i t Wliat ail' We two '! I am a .lew. All e.iriy llie.'. faillur liim fliilid^ I'iin jiiirsiie. To a fea.f of our trilie ; Wliere tliey need the,- to liiii.e The ilevil that Masts them lllde-s he imiiilie Thy . . . Sealiir the \i.i,i;i for exer I And now. As of old, I am 1, Thou ail Tlion ! ly aLrnir., what we are '/ 'he sprili- of ,) star. 1 liiri' thee alwive where the de4iliie.; liar My plumes 111, ii- full pl;iv Till a ruddier rav '111 in my pale one ..iinouni c there is withi'riiii.' awav Some . . . Seatler the vision for ever! And now, As of old, I ,uii r. Thill art Thou ! '111, whii-h were lie^t. to roam or re>t ? 'I'he land- lap or ll.i water'.- I.rea-I r To sleep on yeil;)w I'lille, .diea\ es, <>r swiiu in lurid shallow-, ju-t l^ludiii;' waterdily |ea\es, I An inih from Deatli'M Miuk liii>;i r- tlinist 'I'o lock you. whom ri'Icnse he niiist : Wiiii li life wcrf hesf iiii Siininn-r ev. Ill sjMiiku, musing \m' liaek ; roiild tlioiijjht of nun iinprovc you ? Kroin this shoulder let there sprin;; , A will'.'; from this, nnother winn f , Willi;-, ii:it h'^s and feet, shall mi.\, i you ! ' Snow-white must thev sprinfr, to l.leiil '.Vith your tlesh. hut 'l intend They shall deepen to the end, IJroader. into huriiinj; j;"hl, Ijll iHith Willi's ereseeiil-wise enfold your perfeet self, frtmi 'nealh your fid To o'er your head, where, lo, ifiey unit As if a million swonl-hlades hurli'd Deliaiue from you (o tiie world ! Heseiie iiie Thou, the onlv real ! And seare away this mail Ideal 'Hiat eanie, nor motions to depart ! Thanks ! Now, stay ever as thou art ' Slill lie inUM-t I What if the Three should eateli at let 'I'hy serenader t While there 's ea-t l^aiirs ehiak alMuit my head, and fa I <-ian pinions nie. Himself has past His stylet thro' my hack ; I reel ; And ... is it Thoii I feel ? IT the.se three god Tliey trail me, knaves, I'ast every eliureh tliat .sains and sa\. - N'or sto|i till, where the eold sea ra\.- lly Lido's Wet aeeursed jjraves. They .sioop mine. ,o|| me to its l,ri:.'.. And . . . on Thy hreast I sink ! Shi r, /Jii s, tun ling l>ip your arm o'er the hoat-.side, ell., v- deep, • Vs I do: thiisr wiTe death so unhk' sleep, •'aiiLdit this way ? I)<.ath ".s to |. ,.r from tiame, or steel, <»r poixin doublle.ss ; hut from wati r- f.el ! I ■I'ls "■■ Rnv Km Itvi' Wii Dih: .Ml iillt Of I .ViK 111 I .\n O'.l Itel. I. P I'ir.- Till' Ti) Kse Ti. .\ii, In S(i ■ I Til .\li, Thii Till l-'.-l IN A GONDOLA 71 : (hi liiid tli<>' lM)tti)Mi ! Woiilil you Ntay iiic ! TluTr ! N'tiw pliU'k 11 ^rcut blado cif thnt riblion- J >;rass Til plait in wliero tlio fiH>lish ji'Wel was. I lliiii).' nway : ninct- yi'r to Im- clioico in what I wt-ar. Ill xpvitk-i Row homo ? must wi> row homi- ? Too surely Kiuiw I where its front 's deinurely Over the fiiutlecoa piled ; Witiilow just with window niatinjr, DcKir on iloor exaetly waiting'. All 's the set face of a child : Itiit l)ehind it, where 's a traee Of the stainie thi-re was, for conluess' sake 1 Tci let lie curling o'er their liosoms. 1 Hi ir liiory. may hi-i heak retain I \'.\{\- ils (jelicale ro>e stain I \> if the wounded lotiis-lilosvnms I II. Ill marked their thief to know airain ! ! >' ly liini.'er yd, for others' sake TImii mine ! what should your chanilie! do ? With all its rarities that ache In -ilciiie while- day lasts, liut waki- At ni^ht-tin>e and their life renew, Sus|H-nded just to iileasure you That hroujifht against their will together These ohjwts, anie tether That they look dund) : your harp, helieve, N^'ith all the sensitive ti^ht string.^ That dare not speak, now to itself ISreathes slumlHTously as if some elf Went in and out the chords, his win;;s Make murmur wlieres(M 'er they graze, .As an anpel may, between the maze Of midnight palace-pillats, on And on, to sow (iod's ]i|agui s have uone Through guilty glorious Babylon. And while such murmurs How, the nymph ISends o'er the harp-top from her shell .\s the dry lim|)et lor the lymph Come with a tune he knows so well. .And how vour statiu's' hearts must swell* ! .\nd !iow your pictures mtist descend To see each other, friend with friend ! Oh, could you take them by surprise, Voii'd find Sc hidone's eager Duke Doing the (piaintest courtesies To that prim .Siint by Haste-tlu ('Luke ! And, dee|H'r into her rock di'ii, Hold ("astelfranco's Magdalen N'ou'd find retreated from the ken Of that robed cams 'l-keeping Sir — As if the Tizian thinks of lur, .And is not, rather, gravely bent On seeing for hi Mself what toys .\re these, his progeny invent. What litter now the board employs Whereon he signed a den imient That got him luurdored ! Kach enjoys Its niglil so well, you cannot break The sport up, so, indeed must make .More stay with me, for others' sake. Slu .ipiilk-i I To-morrow, if a harp-string, siy. Is used to tie the jasmine buck That overtloods my room with sweets, ('imtrive your /orzi souu-hiiw meets My /an/.e ; if the ribbon "s black, Tlic Three are walclung ; keep away. '4 vi I ... J I ' I 1 7-2 IX A GONDOLA Ydiir ^DDildla -Irt Zi)rzi wri'.xllic A Mi«','*!i of water -wiTi Is mIhxiI Its |iri>w, as if he iin:iwari- II.kI Nirmk sniiu- ijiiay or liridjji^foot sfiiir ; Tlia; I may throw n jia|KT out As yoii ami lii' ^d iiikIitiii alh. Tlicrc 'h Zan/.i-'j* vi.'ii ml ia|>ci- ; safe nn- we ! Oaiy one iiiiniito iiinr.- to-nii;lit witli Ilir ? lU'.siitnc your past s -If of a nionlii ai,'o 1 l|c yon the Itaslifiil fiallatit. I will l>i- The luily with tlic coIiIit hnast than Miow : Xow how you, as hcroiius, nor foucli my hand Mure than I touch yours when I sd-p to lam I, And say, "All tlianks, Siora I ' — Heart to heart. And lips to lips ! Yet once more, ere w,' part. Clasp me. and make uie thine, as mine thou art ! //.' M w/r/ir/sT,/. mill iliMxl It was ordained to he so. Sweet, — and hest f'.)nies now, lieniath thine eyes, atid on thy hreast SlillkUsme : Can" not for (he cowards ! ( 'are Only to pMi a~i le thy heaut s hair My Moo.l will hurt ! The 'riiri'c, I do not scorn To i,ic of Warinir Since he aave ns all the slip, <'iio.se land-trav.'l or seafaring, liiols anil (lies' or statf ami scrip. Rather Ihan pace up and down -Any lonirer London-town ? Who'd lirtve j^uessed it from hi^ lip Or his l>rows andnn. ;\Vilh no work dime, hut great work^ undone. Where scarce twenty knew his name Why not, then, have earlier s|K)ken, Written, hustled ? Who '» to hiame If your silence kept unliroken '! ' IViie. hut there were sundry jottinu'-. Stray-leaves, fia'jments, hlurrs am! hlottinu's. Certain (irst st.'ps were achieved Already which' (is that your meaii- '»'-' ?l ' Mad Well horne out whoe'er helieved In more to come ! ' |!ut who tin,< lU'i\^c-s[,\f ehance-hlailes, while full- sheaved .'it and eornlields hy him ': Pride, o'. r- Weeninii I'ride alone, jmls forth such claims O'er the iii|>aiiV. Hi> i-yeM tliut jii'«t 11 liltic wink \> cli'i'|i I fi» into the niirit Of this Hniiit — ili-i eheekx' raiHetl eolonr, NiMiti to Hink, As h>n>! I ilwcll on Home Htn|M-n)hiur< Ami treineniloiix (lleiivetl tr"- inform'- innens-liiirreni 1-1)11(4 |li'iiiiiniiieo-Hera|ihie I'i'iiiiiiin'M latest |iie«'e of nra|iliii'. N'liv. my very wrist urows wiirni Willi his (Iruifuin;! weijjht of arm ! Kill so, swiMiMiinKly a|)|H'ars, Tliiiiii;!h one's afler-sii|(|HT niiisin'.'s, Siiinr lost l.aily of olil years Willi her lieaiiteoiis vain enili'avoiir All. I jioodness unrepaiil as ever ; The fai'e. aciiistonieil to refiisinj;-;. We, |p|l|i|iie.s that we Were . . . Oh never Surely, nice of conscienee, scrupUil Iti'iii'.' au^lit like false, forsooth, to t Tilling uii^lit liiit honest truth to ? W liiit a sin, hail we eentii|ile{ our reach ; ami in, the llowers Sjuit her unrefrarded hours. Oil. I oiild I have him hack once more, I lii> Wariiiir. hut one half-day more ! link, with the quiet face of yore, s.i liiinury for iicknowled<^ment l.ilv mine ! I'd fool him to his lient ! .' I, should not he, to heart's con- tent ■/ I I say, ' to only have conceived iiiiir jireat works, Ihoiiuh they ne'er make progress, >;ii |.;isses all we've yet achieved I ' I 'I lie so, I should he helieved. i I make Mich liaviK- of the claims ' M tlic day's disliiiyiiislied iiaines I" fciist him with, as feasts an imiess 1) Her nharp - liMilhed golden - crowned ehdd • Or, as one feasts a creature rarely Captured here, unreioiiciK-d To capture; and conipletelv i:ivcs Its |H'ltish riiiiiiiiiirs licence, liarely He')uirinK that it lives. It lialMHJ, Ichaliod, The ^lory is departed ! rriucls Warinir Kast away ? Who, of knowled).'!', liy hearsay, HejHirts a man upstarted .Somewhere as a (iod. Hordes urown Kiiropean-'iearted, Millions of the wild made tame Oil a sudden at his fame '! In Vinhnu-land what .Avatar ? Or who. in .Moscow, tow. ml the Czar, With the demurest of footfall-i Over the Kremlin's pavement, liriyht With serpentine and syenite. .Steps, with live other Oenerals That simultaneously take snulf. For each to have pretext eiiouull To kereliiefwise unfold his sash Which, softness' self, is yet the stull To hold fast wlwre a steel chain sna|)s, .\nd leave thefirand white neck no nash? Warin;j. in .Moscow, to those rounh Cold northern natures home, perhaps, Like the lamliwhite maiden dear From the circle of mule kin>;s I'mdile to repress the tear, Kacli as his sci'ptre down he llinjis, To I)ian's fane at Taurici., Where now a captive priestess, she alway Minples her ti-nder jirave Hellenic s|M'ech With theirs, tuned to the hailsloni- lieatcn heai li. As pours some piiieon. fnuii the myrrhy lands Hapt hy the whii llilast to fierce .Scythiiin strands Where hreed the swallows, her melo- dious crv .\mid their harliaroiis twitter ! In Kussia ? .Never I Spain wen litter I Ay. most likely 'tis in Spain That wo and Waring meet .iji.iiii :t 4 ii If IK a ffl 74 WARINCJ •ol wliin Xkw, wlulc he tiirnn down Ihot narrow hmv Into tlut lilmkni-sM, out of MiKlriil All lire mill hIhiii', iilinipt us tliori- 'h xljij lu NtilT fiiM 1)1 i/.ini^ |iiil| From Hotiu- liliick ('-|iainl : Sonic Kiirrfti* icilinjs, walls and Moor, I'p and down and o'er and o'er H(> H|»liiMlics, us none s|ilaslicd licforc Since ^rcat (aldai.i I'ojidorc. Or Music nicanH this lan-l of ours Sonic favour yet. to tiily won My Purccll from his Hot.y liowcrs, ' (iivc inc my ho-Ioiu! iiiomiscd son, Let Waring end what I 1m->{uii ' ' Then down he creeps and out he steals Only when the nijfht conceal- His face ; in Kent 'tis cherry-linie. Or, hops arc pickini; : or, at prime Of .March, he wanders as, t..mehow run a muck With this old world, for want of Htrifr Sound asleep. Contrive, contrive To rouse us. Waring ! Who s alive ;' Our men .scarce .seem in earnest now. Distinguished names !— hut 'tis, koiih-- how, .V-t if they played at lieing names Still more disti!i.,'iiislieil. like the gaiius Of ehildren. Turn <>■ s|Kirt to earn<^t With a visauc of tlie sternest ! Hring the real limes Imek. eonfesse.l Still In-tter than our very Ix'sl ! II ' When I last saw Waring ..." (How all turned to him who s|Kike~ ^■oll saw Warinit ? Truth or joke ? In land-lra\el. or sea-faring ?) It ' We were sailing Ity Triest. Where a day or twit we harboured : .\ sunset WHS in the West, When, looking over the vessels side, One of our company espied .\ sudden s|K'ck to jarLiiard. And. as a sea-duck (lies and swims At once, so came the light craft up. With its sole lat(H'n sail that trims And turns (the water round its rim- Dancing, as round a sinking cup) And hy us like a lish it curled. .\nil drew i|s,.|f up close iM-side. Its gi. at sail on the instant furled. And u'er its planks, a shrill voice criMl. (.\ neck as hninzed as a La.sear's) " Hiiy v*ine of us, you Knglish Hrig Or fruit, tobacco and cigars ? i WARINO 70 A I'lliil fur yiMi In 'rni-Ht ? Willioiit iitif, liMik yiiii iir'iT NO liit;. Till y'll lU'vtT U't yii ii|i tin- Imy ! \\r imlivrs mIiiimIiI kll'tW lirxt." I liiriicil. unil " jiii.1 llioM- fi'llows' way." Oiir ra|ituiii .s.ihl, ■■ 'rtif '|iin|j;-slii>ri' Arc laii){liinK at uh in tlifir Hlfcvi-!'." Ill 'In tnitli.tlio lioy lt-iiii<'»rk: A[\» tlio weather, i iit Noiniliow tier s|iiirkhM^ path lM>nenth our how ; Anil NO went olT, itn with ii IuiiukI, Into the rosy and ^ohleii half nf the sky, to overtake the sun Ami ri'ieli the sliore. like the sea-calf lu siiijiiiin cave ; yet 1 caujiht one (ilanie ere away the hoat ipiile passeij, Anil neither time nor toil coulil mar Tliu.c fi'atiires: so I saw the last Hf Warinjr ! ' — You ? Oh, never star \V 1-; lost here, hut it rose afar ! I^Hik Kast, where whole new thoiisandN are ! In \°islinu-lanil what Avatar ? THK TWINS '•'ivc' and 'It-shall-lM-'-given-unto-you.' I <;ii\Ni) rough ol«l Martin Luther Mluomed fahlei4 — flowers on fiirzc, riic better the uneoiitlicr : Di) rosea stick like buns ? II A lii>gi;ar asked an alms One day at an abbey-door, S.ii.l Luther; but, seized with i|iialms, riic Abbot replied, ' We're )KM)r ! Ill 'I'oi.i, who had plenty once. When giflH fell (III k as riiin : Kilt they ni\r UN noiiulil, for Ihe nonre. And how Nlioiild we give again 1' IV Then the I legt'ii r, ' See your sins! (If old, unless I eir, \f had brothers fur i'lmatcN, twins, Dale and Dabitiir. ' While Dale w.is in gnod easp Dabitiir lloiiiislicd liio : For ll.ibitiir's lenten du e, ^I'o wonder if Dale rue. VI 'Would ye retrieve Ihe one ? Try and make |>hiiiip llie other I When Dale's penance is done, Dabitiir helps his brother. vn ■ Only, beware relapse '. ' The .Abbot hiinit bis head. This lieguar iiiigbl be, perhaps. An angel, Lu.hei said. A LI(;HT WOMAN' I So far BH our story approai lies tin- end. Which do you pily the most of uh Ihree?"- My friend, or the mistress of my fiieiid With her wanton eyes, or me 1 II My friend was already loo pood to lose. And seemed in the way of improvr- meiil yet. When sh«' ''rosseil his iiulh with lier hiinling-liiMise And over him drew Iier net. Ill When I saw him tanuled in her toils. A shame, said I. if she adds just hint To her nine-and-ninety oilier spoils. The hundredth, for a whim 1 'I' w ^^^Sr ^fSitait MICROCOPY RESOLUTION TEST CHART lANSI and ISO TEST CHART No 2) 1.0 1^ 1 50 M 3.2 I 3-6 1^ \2£ 2.2 ZO 1.8 ^ APPLIED IIV MGE ST'- ^■^^^' fast Main st'eci r^ Rochester. Ne* icrt. '4609 uSA :S: i-''^) '*82 - 030r, - Phone SSS (^16) 288 - 5989 - Fg« A LKiHT WOMAX Allil licfntc liiv I'ifnd lif uliollv licis H<)« lelunds — Ojieshoiilil master o.ii's |i.-.s eat il, that 's the woi-^t 1 Were it Ihrov.ii in tiie road, would the case assivi ■; '.''was (|iienehinj; a dozen iiliie-llies" thirst When 1 gav( it> sialk a twist. What I seem to myself, do you a.-k it me ? Xo hero, I confess. xir "Tis an awkward thing to play will: souls. And matter enoiinh to save fni. '- own. Vet think of my friend, and the burnin: coals Hi> iilayed with for hits of stone I XIII One lik's to show the truth for II;, truth ; That the woman was lij/hl is vi rv . true : ' Hut suppose she says, -Xever miiKl tliat youth — What wroiif? have I done to vou V I XIV Well, any how. here the story stays. So far at least as I umKrstand • And, Robert drowning, you writer if i plays. Here 's a subject made to your han 1 ' TICK LAST RIDE TOCKrHKi: I I SAID — Then, Dearest, since "tis so. Since now at lenjjth my fate I kiiou. Sine" nothinj; all my love avails. Si I all, my life seemed meant i^ r. fails. Since this was written and iicii- inust be — My whole heart ris;>s nj) to bless Vour name in ))ride and thankfulm- - ' Taki' ba<'k the hope you gave, 1 claim Only a memory of llie same, — .\nd this beside, if you will ril blame. M Ti W Fi CI n Ti Iti T Si F :i Your leave f>,r with me. >iie iVturc lu.d i w THE LAST KIDK T()(JI']THKll II Ah (lie world ,si(ll-. slu'd <>y cm cittuT nil in.' Mv inistri'ss bent that brow of lirrs ; Tl'm.sc diH'p (lurk eyes where i^ride I thoti-ht— All hiboiir, yet no less (lemurs Hear up beneath their urisuceess. When pity would be softenini,' throu^di, '^""k '^^ <'".' '■•"' "•' ^^■"••''- contrast Tixed mo a brcathinj;-while or two ' "' l"'t»y '^""'•. ,""' ^ "•''>"<• vast. With life or death in the balance: ""-^ IVesent of theirs with the hopeful rijiht ! ""•"' • Tlic blood replenished me a-ain ; ! I ''"!»'<' '''u' would love me : here we .My last thought was at least net vain : \ ■"'"'"• 1 imd my mistress, side l)y side | vi Sliii II l>e tojjpt her, breathe and ride, What hand and I)rain went ever So ene day more am I deilied — iiaired ? Who knows but the world may end What heart alike conceived and dared ? to-night. . What act jiroved all its thought had j„ I been ? „ , . ., . , , ' What will but felt the fh-shly screen ? I';;- ' , 'f y?" ^'^^ ^"•"'^ western cl-»i.l ^Ve ride and I see her bos,>m heave. All billowy-bosomed, over-b.nved .^.,,^.^^. -^ ^ ^ ^.,.^,^„ j^,. ^,,y ^^^ liv many benethetions — sun s reach And m.xmjs and evening-star-s at .,.^.,^ y^^^^,;^ ^ "statesman's life in each ! . o'"^'*^ , , . II- Tlie tlag stuck on a heap of bones. Ami .so, you, looking and l"vm- _^ ,„,,|i^.,.-^. ,,„i„^ , „.hat atones ? "'^ ' They scratch his name on the Abbey- stones. My riding is better, by their leave. Conscious grew, your jiassion drew Cloml, sun.set, nioonrise, star-shine too. linwn on you, near and yet more near. | Till tlesli must fade for heaven was | vii here !— , What does it all mean, jioet ? well, 1 bus leant .she and lingered— joy ami Yy„r brains licat into rhythm— you fear! i tell Thus lay she a moment on my breast. | ^yhat we felt only ; you expressed 1 Vou hold thing's beautiful tlie best. I And |)ace them in rhyme so, side by Tlicii we began to ride. My siv.il I >ide. Smoothed itself out— a hmg-cramped -pj^ MimethiiiL'. nay "tis much— but scroll ; then. Irc-henrng and lluttering m the wind. |}„vc you yourself what's Iicst for l'a--t hopes already lay behind. |„(,u / What need to strive' with a life awry? A^,.^. v„„_,'„,:,r, sick, old ere your H:id I said that, had I done this, ' tiinc S > iiiiiiht I gain, so might I mi>s. v..arcr one whit your own sublime .MiL-ht she have loved me ? just as well -i-.,,,, „.^. „i,„ ,'„.^.,,,. l^.^,■,. turned a i'^lic iiii;»lit have hated, — who can tell '/ , rhvitie ? Willi;' liacn the kegs of salted sprats, .Made nests inside men's Sunday hats, And even spoiled the women's chats. By drowning their speaking With shrieking and s(jueaking In fifty dillerent sharps and Hats. Ji (\ L N T IS, And yet— siic has not spoke so long ! What if Heaven be that, fair an^ strong At life's best, with our eyes upturned Whither life's tlower is first discerned. We, fi.xed .so, ever should so abide "/ W^hat if we still ride on, we two, With life for ever old yet new. Changed not in kind but in degree. The instatit made eternity, — And Heaven just prove that I and she Kitle, ride togetlur, for ever ride '/ THE PIED PIPER OF HAMELI.X A CiriLO's .STOIIV (WIUTTEX FOi!, .\M> INSCKlItEll TO, W. M. THE VorNHKK) I H.\MEi.r\ Town 's in Brunswick, By famous Hanover city; The river Weser, deep and wide, ; AV'ashes its w.dl ! boards. A thousand guilders! The Mavcir looked blue ; .So did the Corporation too. For council dinners made rare havoc With Claret, .Mo.sell.., Xin-de-Ciravc, Hock ; li. Ami And ,1.. 'rawing the corks of train-oil- flask Anda breaking thehoo|)sof butter-casks; And it seemed as if a voice (.Sweeter far than by harp or by psaltery Is breathed)" called out, Oh rat.s, rejoice ! The world is grown to one vast drv- salterv ! So, munch on, crunch on, take your nuncheon, Ureakfast, supper, dinner, luncheon '. And just as a bulky sugar-puncheon, Ul ready staved, like a great sun shone (Morions scarce an inch before me. Just as niethought it said, Conu>, bore me ! —I fouiid the Weser rolling o'er me.' VI!I V.)u should have heard the Hamelin people Ringing the l.cils till they ro<'ked the .steeple, '(.'o,' cried the .Mayor, 'and get lon<' ' poles ! ^ ; Pokeoutthencsfsind block up thchole.s' ConsMll with cari)enters ami builders, j And lea' e in our town not even a trace I Of the rats ! '—when suddeulv, up the I fact! ' I Of the riper juTked in the market- ' l)lace, ! \\ ith a, ' First, if you please, my thou- sand guilders ! ' Ami half the money would replenish I 1 heir cellar'.s biggest butt with Kheiiis I lo |)ay this sum to a wandering felhnv j V\ Ith a gii)sy coat of red and yellow ' IJeside,' ,,uoth the Mayor with a knowing wink. Our business was done at the riviT'> ! brink ; We saw with our eyes the vermin sink, And what 's dead can't come to hk- I think. So, friend, we're not the folks lu shrink From the duty of giving you soniethin:; for drink. And a matter cf money to put in yunr poke ; Hut a.s for the guilders, what we spoke Of them, as you very well know, was in joke. Beside, our losses have made us thrift v. A thousand guilders! Come, tai^c fifty !' The pi|)cr's face fell, anut how the Mayor was on the rack, Ami the wretched Council's bosoms beat, 1 As the Pi|X!r turned from the High j iStreet To where the Wescr rolled its waters liiL'ht in the way of their sons and daughters ! Ibe.vrvcr he turned from South to West, And to Kopjielberg Hill his steps addressed, pressed ; Great was the joy in every breast. ' He never can cross that mighty top I He 's forced to let the piping drop, And we shall .sec our children sto[i ! ' When, lo, as they reached the moun- tain's side, A wondrous portal opened wide. As if a cavern was suddenly hollowed ; And the Piper advanced and the children followed. And when all were in to the very last. The door in the mountain-side shut fast. Did I say, all ? No ! One was lame, And couhl not ers : whetiier they i>ipe us free, from ruts or fnini mice, 've )iromised them aught, let iis keep our promise. Ami, If we THE FLIGHT OF THE DUCHESS I Yor'iiH my friend : I was the man the Duke spoke to ; I helped the Duchess to cast off iiis yoke, too ; So, here's the tale from beginningto eml, My friend ! II Ours is a great wihl country : If you climb to our castle's top, I don't see where your eye can stop ; For when you've pas.scd the corn-licid ' country. Where vineyards leave off, flocks art' packed, I And sheep-range leads to cattle-tract. And cattle-tract to open-chase, And open-chase to the very base Of the mountain, where, at a funeral pace. Round about, solemn and slow. One by one. row after row, U|) and up the pine-trees go. So, like black priests up, and so Down the other side again To another greater, wilder country. That 's one vast red drear burnt-iip plain. Branched through and through will many a vein Whence iron 'a dug, and copper s dealt ; Look right, look left, look strait'lit before, — Beneath they mine, above they smelt, Copper-ore and iron-ure, And forge and furnace mould and nuit, And so on, more and ever more. Till, at tile last, for a bounding belt. Comes t!ie salt sand !\oar of the gn :U sea-shore, — And the whole is our Duke's country ! THE FLIGHT OF THE DUCHESS 83 ■| III I wiis bom the day this jiresent Duke waH — (And O, says thi" song, cre I wax t.M !) Ill tlio laMtle where tlie otlicr Duke was — iWlii'ii I WU8 liappy and >()unj:, not ohl !) I in tlic Ki-nnt'l, he in the Itowcr : \Vf are of like ajje to an lioiir. My fiitlier was Huntsman in (hat liay ; Will) has not heard my father say Tliat, when a boar was brought to bay, Three times, four times out of five, With his huntsjiear he'd contrive To i;et the kiMinx-jilaee transfixed. Anil pin him true, both eyes betwixt ? And that 's why the ohl Duke would rather He lost a salt-|)it than my father, And loved to iiave him ever in call ; Tliat 's why my father stood in the hall Wiien the old Duke brought his infant out To show the people, and while they j)asseil The wondrous bantling round about. Was first to start at the outside blast As the Kaiser's courier blew his horn, .Inst a month after the babe was born. And,' (pioth the Kaiser's courier, ' since The Duke has got an Heir, our Prince Needs the Duke's self at his side : ' The Duke looked tlown and seemed to wince, lint he thought of wars o'er the world wide, f'.istles a-lirc, men on their march. The t()i)plin<; tower, the crashing arch : And up he looked, and awhile lie eyed Thr row of crests and shields and banners. Of all achievements after all manners. And ' ay.' said the DuUe with a surly pride. i h" more was his comfort when he (lied At next year's end, in a velvet suit, Witli a gilt glove on his hand, and hhi foot In a silken shoe for a leather boot. Petticoated like a herald. In a (diamber next to an ante-room. Where he breathed t!ie breath of page and groom. What he called stink, and they per- fume : — 'i'hey ^,hould Ir'.ve set him on red Herohl. Mad with pride, like lire to manage ! They should have got his cheek fresh tannai^e Such a day as to-day in the merry sun- shine ! Had they stuck oi\ his fist a rough-foot merlin ! (Hark, the wind 's on the heath at its game ! Oh for a noble falcon-lanner To Hap each broad wing like a banner, \ And turn in the wind, and dance like I llaiiie!) Had they broached a cask of white beer j from Berlin ! — Or if you incline to prescribe mere I wine Put to his lips when they saw him pine, A cup of oiu' own Mohlavia fine, i Cotnar, for instance, green as May sorrel, j And ropy with sweet, — we shall not quarrel. IV So, at home, the sick tall yellow Du<'hess Was left with the infant in her clutches, She 1 eing the daughter of Uod knows who : And now was the time to revisit her tribe. So, abroad and afar they went, the two. Anil let our jicoiili- rail and gibe At the euii-ty Hail and extinguished lire. As loud as we liked, but ever in vain. Till after long yeais wc had our desire. And back eaiiie the Duke and his mother again. .\nd he cunie back the }icrte: t little ape That ever alTrontcd human shape ; i Full of his travel, struck at himself. 84 TIIK FLIOMT OK THK DUCHHSS YomM siy. Ih- .lr.M|,is<-,| our l.hill ol.l Hut the D.iko hud ii niiml we .sh„„|.| w.iv< a fiKurp, < III —Not li.' ! For ill I'aris tli.-y toM the And ho wr shw the I^d •If V nrriv«' : Tlmt •M Nortli 1,111(1 our rou/li Nortli land wiim tin l.itid of Lavs, Tlic one Kood tliiiit; left ill cv il days ; Siiiic tin- .Mid-A'.'c was the llCroir 'I'inic, And only in wild nooks lik.- ours Could you tiisti- of it yet u.s in it> priiiif. And .sfc true castles, willi |iio|kt towers, Vouiiff- hearted women, old - iniiKU'd men. And iniinners now ns miinnei.s were then. So, all that the ol>l Dukes had heen, witliout kiiowinj; it, 'I'liis Duke would fnin know lie was, without heinjj it ; "I'was not for the joy's self, hut the joy of his showing; it, Xor for the jiride's self, hut the pride of our sceinjj if, lie revived all usages thoroughly worn- out. The souls of them funied-forth, the hearts of them torn-out : ! Ane chase of iini\ or huffle In winter-tinio when yon need to mil file. e seen a white < r.i My frien. T(M) small, almost, for the life and ^la-i. ' ness That over-lilled her, as some hive Out of the hears' reach on the jiiji trees Is crowded witii its safe merry bees : In truth, she was not hard to please I I'p she hioked, |ilaiisf, iiiciiiit, Atid kt'|il otT tlifolil niotlicr-cat's i laws. I --liiiiilil ever Ix', as I am, ciirilt'iit | IX An.l ^'la.l in Mis sijilit ; tli.T.foiv. ^'ia.l ^„^ „„. ,i^„,. ,^,^,|^. j,^,.^. ^i,,,„( „,„, „,i„^ V*'" '' " • . , i I'aliiiL' ami iv.-V paling', S„. inihn- a., at lirst w.iil slu-. y^ „„. ^^^. -^ ^.j,,, ^^ ,,|,, ^.j^^^^j,, . v,i, I Anil tlic Duke |H-r('fiv('il that mIic Nil,, was n.tivo, stiirinu'. all lire— ' '*''^'* "'''"*■'• I iciilcl not rest, coiihl not tin- — ■ I'll ;i stoiu- she niiyht hav<> jjivcn lif«' ! (I myself lovfd oiici', in my day) --I'cir 11 .ShcplKTil's, .Miiifr's, Hunts- man's wife, 1 1 lii'.d a wife, I know wliat I say) .\i\cT ill all the woild such an one ! And here was plflUy to lie done. And she that eotild do it, ^reat or small, Slic was to do nothing; at all. Anil siiiil in liis 'icart, ' 'Tis done to snite me, Hut I shall lind in my power to ri^ht me ! ' Don't swear, frietul — the Old One, ! many a \ear. Is in Hell, and the |)iike"s M'lf . . . you shall liear. X Well, early in nutuinn, at tirst winter- wurninjr, 'I'licre was already this man in his post. When the stay had to lireak with hi.s i'liis in his Htation, and that in his foot, of a morning, office, : A ilriiikiiin-hole out of the fresh tender Anil the DiikeV plan admitted a wife, : ice, at most, ! Tiiat covered the jiond till the sun. in 'I'll meet his eye, with the other trophies, | a trice, Niiw outside the Hall, now in it, ' Looseiiinji it, let out a ripple of nold, I'd >lt thus, stand thus, see and he seen. And another and another, and faster At the )>ro|ier ]ilace in the jiroper and faster. minute, : Till, diniplin){ to hlindiie^s, tin uide Ami die away tiie life between. I water rolled : And it was nmiisiii^ eiioii;,di, eai li Then it so chanced that the Ji'il^' ■ 'ir infraction master n( rule (l)ut for ufter-sadness that came) Asked himself what were llic pic, -iircs Ici hear the eonsumiuute .self-satis- in seasim, faction And found, since the calendar l-i'!' With which the younjj Duke and the him he hearty, oKI Dame He should do the Middle Ajri no treason Would let her advise, and criticise. In re.solvinj; on a htintinji-pMrty. And. being a fool, instruct the wise, Always provided, old b(M)ks showed the And, child-like, ]>arccl out }>raise or \ way of it ! blame : i What meant old jioet shy their strict iin s'; I'licy bore it all in com|)lacent piii.se, j And when olil poets had said their say .\> tlioti;;li an artilieer, after contrivinf; of it. A wiiccl-work imajje as if it were living. How taujrht old painters in their ■"^lunild find with deliiiht it coulil motion pictures ? to .strike him I We must r(v< rt to the pro).cr channrl.';, >'> found the Duke, and his mother like Workings in tapestry, ]iaiiitings on u h anels 86 THK FLIC.UT OF TlIE DTTIIKSS .Anil jtHllirr ii|> WiMxI. niftH niilln iili< l^t tlu' '"" 'I'V. iK'w. III.' Ill M .Iran (wtT with II fair fowfliii" proprn ,.t .hiinip. L,.t li.r pr.'si.l.- at tli.- .liminlH.w. lin' «>r h.Ni i.raytT i.i.st. IIhImiI di inoiiii,- Now. iiiv fri.ii.l, if v<.ii iuul h.i linl. iiiv'>...ir »'irni|. ri'li^.'ioii Uf of the li.Hisfh,,!,! t.M.k tl..Mi...'lit iMid As to .at.li a hawk, koiiu- fair.,,,. ■"" '''•'•'<''''l to K'vo her an tach sloiicliiMK hcforc and licliind like airing'. the s.;illo|.. v,,„ f,„„„| „!,„ ncMlod a little prpi.ar- And alilf to serve at sea for a sliallo|>. jr,t.,m ? What with our \ enerers, Priekeis, and Vet when the Duko to his lady sit'iii. \ erderers. (ip,| Mi^ht hope for real hunters ...t leuKth. Just a day iK-foro, m he jn.l.H-d in..l and not niiirdeiers, dif.'nified An.loh thel),ike-staih,r-hel.u.laliot In what a pleasure she was to p.r- '""•'"nt! I tieipate.— jji : •^"''' ''>«t«''V(l of lenpinfT wide in flasli. ^ V . 1 ' , . "'■'■ '■>■''" J"^' ''ft<'«Tnint<'*''''' ^''*'* *''*' <>»»t'<»>an hiddinf; Ailiircr of .lacynth, of courtf, wuh v""" iinkcnni'l. HPfvant ; " •^"'' tli»'i'' 'iii'utli his lioiinct the priikcr Ami if nhv had the Imhit to \>w]t ihroii^ih liliislt red, thp caHrnicnt. Willi feather dunk as a hoiifih of wet Hciw rouid 1 keep at any vast dis- ^ fennel ; taneo T '*"'"" *'"' <'<""'t-y»rd's four walls were Ami so, as I say, on the I-i"<>oi> <>t (iipsies on their man h. tj,,,, I \o doubt with the animal gifts to greet In brief, my friend, set all the devils in | ^''"'■ hell free j Xiii Anil turn them out to carouse in a Now. in your land, (Jipsies reach you, Ijclfry. I only And treat the priests to a fifty-part After reaching all lands beside ; canon. North they go. South they go, trooping And then you may guess how that ', or lonely, tongue of hers ran on ! ; And still, as they travel for and wide. Well, somehow or other it ended at t'atch they and keep now a trace here, last a traic tntrc. And, licking her whiskers, out she That puts you in mind of a place here, [>asse tl.e troop, which ,M.r IJjrii, no (iouht, hke insects whieli breed Duke saw sally .,,, "" , .. ,, , Towards his castle from out of ih. Ww very fruit they are meant to feed valley, V ,, "''■ ,, -^'<"" ftixl women, like new-hatclml >or the .Mi-th— not a use to which th.'y spiders, '""(mhi ,,,, <>"""t tun. it. Come out with the mornin- to .-let I ho ore that >;rows in the inountaiirs our riders. Or the sand in the j.its like a honey- the dit< li, Ti . ■h"^\ c. •. . . ■ . ■ \Vliereat all stopped save one, a wit, li riiey s.ft and soften It, bake It and luirn That 1 knew, as she hobbled from il,; Whether they w.-l,l you. for instance, l{y her*"Kai"!'',ii,.,,.tiv. and h.r stoop. .i-.i '^7' 1 ' . ^' ^''""" •'acynlh was used to iiiuiui- \\itli siile-bars never a brute can I tune Or a lock that s a puzzle of wards ! fortune within war,ls: I The ohlest Cipsy then abov uroumi ; Or, If joui colts fore-foot inclines to And, so sure as the autumn seaM,,, curve inwards, | ,.a„„. ^oiind. Horseshoes they 1 hammer which :urn ' She pai.l us a visit for profit or pastim,. on a swivel And won't allow the hoof to .shrivel And every time, as she swore, for tin last time. Th.-n they Mst bells like the shell of the And ami let Wh.-n their ditties they go grin.ling \i '"^i , ,, , , ., I'P i'lid down with nobody mindin" ' nd i'l^^t r;f ''""'r' r.'""'""'-^' = ■ ■^"•'- *'■"" "■^ "f "><'' •»* the end olVlH. And that other sort, then- crowning humming U';»l, i'"„''"'i-. .1 I .■ ■ Her usual presents were fort hcomiiiLr U.th h.ng white threa.ls .hstinct in- -A .log-whistle blowing the fiercest nf TI .T '■', , n trebles. J.ike the lake-flower's fibrous roots (Just a sea-.sh' re st.me hol.linc a • ' Witl The Her An.l I ,0 .\iiil I As \Vh: * i THE FLIGHT OF THE DUCHESS 89 A word in rrply ; and in vain she felt With twitrliin^ tinjicrs at Imt Im'H For the purse of sleek |)ine-iiiarliti pelt. Heady to put what he gave in lier jioucli safe, — Till, either to quieken his .ip])rehension, (Ir possibly with an after-intention, Slic was eonie, she saioken : They went in both to tlie presence toiiether, Whik- I in tlie balcony watched the weather. XV And now, what took place at the very first of all, I cannot tell, as I never could learn it : Jacvnth constantly wished a curse to fall On that little head of hers and burn it. If she knew how she came to drop so soundly Asleep of a sudden and there continue The whole time sleeping as ])rofoundly As one of the boars my father would j)in you 'Twixt the eyes where the life holds garrison, — Jacyntli forgive me the comparison ! liut where I In-gin my own narration Is a little after I took my station To lircathe the fresh air from the balcony. And, having in those leasure the i)lay of either pu]>ll , — Very like, by her hand.s, slow taii- ' ning, ! As up and dov.ii like ^ flappers They moved to me;v clappers. I said, is it blessing, is it banning. Do they applaud you or burlcsijiic i you — Those hands and fingers with no lioh on ? But, just as I thought to spring in In the rescue. At once I was stopped by the LailyV i expression : For it was life her eyes were drinkiiL' From the crone's wide jiair above un- winking, — Life's ])ure fire received witliniit shrinking. Into the heart and breast whose hca\ in: Told j'ou no single drop they \\ prize he dug fron! its mountain tomb, — Let once the vindicating ray Leap out amid the an.xious gloom, .And steel and tire have done their part .\nd the prize falls on its finder's i.vart ; So, trial after trial j)ast. Wilt thou fall at the very last Breathless, half in trance With the thrill of the great deliverance. Into oiu' iirms for evi'rmore ; .And thou shalt know, those arms once curled .About tlac, what we knew before. How love is the only good in the world. Henceforth be loved as heart can love. Or brain devise, or hand approve ! Stand up, look below. It is our life at thy feet we throw To step with into light and joy ; Not a power of life but we'll employ To satisfy thy nature's want ; .Art thou the tree that props the jdant. Or the c|ind)ing plant that seeks the tree— ''anst thou help lis. must we help thee ? If any two creaturts grew into one, i They would do more than the world ! has done ; Though each ajuirt were never so I v.eak, ' Vet vaitdy through the world .should ! ye seek \ For the knowledge and the might i Which in such union giew their right : So. to approach, at least, that end. j .And blend. — as much as may !«', blend I Thee with us or us with thee, I .As climbing-|ilant or prop))ing-trcc. I Shall s(une one deck thee, over and i down. I'p and about, with blossoms and I leaves V 92 THE FLir.HT OP THE DUCHESS If Fix liis lipait's fruit for tiiy garland- crown. Clin;,' with iiis ,:,)ul as tlic goiinl-vim (■li"avcs, Die on tliy boughs and (lis;i|i|HMr While not a leaf of thine is sere ? Or is the other fate in .'■fore. And art thou fitted to adore. To give thy wondrous self aw.iy. And take a stronger natun "s swtiy ? I foresee and I eouM foretell Thy future poitio,!, sure and well — Hut those passionate eyes s()ealv true, speak true. And let them say what thou .shalt do ! () \\v, be sm-e thy .hiily life, In its |)eaee. or in its .strife, Never sliall be unobserved ; We pursue thy whole eareer. And hope for it. or doidit, or fe:;r, — Lo. hast thou kept thy path or swerved. We are l)eside thee, in all thy wavs, With our blatue. with our iir,\isr, ' Our shame to feel, our pri.le to show, 01a sweetest. The jicace most deep and the ehaim completest. There came, shall I .say, a snap— .\nd the charm vanish'ed ! .Vnd ip.y sen.se returned, .so stransrclv banished. .And. starting as from a nap, I knew the crone was bewitciiini' inv lady. ^ ■ With Jacynth asleep; and but one spring maalfrey bounded,— and so we lost lier. i\ ■ 'I ii I i t 91 THi«: fli(;ht of the duchess XVI '*"' *"''' •''•''" they're folks the |)ii!,, iiM ,1 I- . ... •'"" t want here. When the h.|U..r s uut, why < link the And bn.le them make ha.ste and en,-. T I- . ..'•"1""'"'.' "• . . the frontier. Idi: Ami the old one was in the vounpo,,,-- And what was the i.iich of his mothers stead, H,»v. >''''"""7"'- , , Aii.l took, in her i-hue. the household. How s!ie turned as a shark to snaj) the head, ri,..„ •■^I'j*""''''' , , And a Messed time the hoiisehol.l In I (-lean olT. sudors say. from a pearl- of it ' Wl..„ ''/^'"^ ^ "V"'- ■ , „ , , Ami were I not, as a man may s.v. When she heard, what she called, the eauiious tliKht of the feloness How I treneh. m-re than needs, on ll» -Hut It s,-ems s.ieh dd favour you with sun.lry touel:, - \,.,i . "V*^ ■ 1 ...*'' ""■ P'li'it-smiitehes with whieh tli, And to danc" on, when we ve lost the Duehess .■„.,."""*",'• , , , Meifjhtened the mellowness of hrr AUa>s made me-aml no doid.t makes ,.h„.k-s yellowness \-,v ,^'""— *'"■'■. , ., ,,. , (To -et on fasti-r) tmtil at last her NaN. to mv n„nd. the worlds faee Cheek frrew to be one nmster-plasier . ,,.'■' f" <" , , , •'f •""^■"^ ■•*"•' f'""-* f'-«"' ""'^i- "^<' "> As that sweet form (hsapix-ared throu'jh eeru^e • Mu that kept It in eonstant ^'ood Just the ohjeet to make you shrnhj. r humour. It oUL'ht to have sto|i|)ed ; there seemed xvii nothinf; to do more. Vo„-r(. ,„y fHen.l- Hut the worhl thought otherwise and What a tlmii. friendship is, wo,l 1 , , ^*-7-t "'V without' end! And my head s one that its spite was How it j-ives the heart and so„l a . Mt'Of "" : , stir-up Ihirty^years are fle.l sinee that mora- As if .somehcly broached you a ;;h>ri...- \or .lid 'jhe'lTl 11:7 '"T""' "!""r"- ■^'"' l«'''^"'l '-^'t- "1> '"v=lily, sparklin.lv. .Nor (IKI the oil Duchess die outright, sunlit Th/T.'f ''■"''.'■'■'■ r^ ;"l'l""ssed spite, ()„r ^r,.een .Mohlavia. the streakv svnr. \o s. r '.■'" "^ '"''?■ ""'"■ t'otnarasol.lasthetimeof the Dru d '' l£ I , ""''^' "■■' I"""'"- t''i^-"''^!'i|' '"ay match with tint "^"'''■' = monarch of fluids ; :J Hut she and her That no one should touch on the story son a-rce,l. I take it. Kach supples a dry brain, fills to wake it. For the wound in the Duke ranklcil fii'iy. .So, they made n in(|iiiry — And when fresh ( ins-and-out> you pride (oves your life's hour-jilass a si when the thin sand doubts search and small Whetlier to run on or st a yisi t. I' iipsies hav( paid us Ag, guarantees Dji short, s'e is not all made of stark sloth Noticed the couple w •ere never arrant ea.se I have seen my iitlie Lud V once more, inquisi |Jacynth, the Gipsy, Befold, ami ' rest of it. the THE FLIGHT OF THE DUCHESS 95 i 7 •1 I'or to me npoko the Duke, as I toltl you Ix'fore ; I iilwayN wanted to iniike a dean breast 'of it : .\iiil ni'w it is nindc — why. my lieart's- i)l()i)(i, that went trickle, Tririiie, hut anon, in sueh nnidfly (hil)hlets. Is i)iiin|H'd up hrisk now, through the iiiain ventricle. Ami penially floats nie about the jjiblets. I'll tell you w hat I intend to tlo : I must see this fellow his sad life throuf^h — He is our Duke, after all. vtnl I, as he savs, but a serf and tl all. My father was born here, and I inherit His fame, a chain he bound his son with : Could I ])ay in a lump I should j)refer it, r.iit there 's no n\ine to blow up and net done with. So. I must stay till the end of the chapter. For, as to our ndddle-age-nianners- alunip who but I, Taking some Cotnar, a skinfull, I shall go journeying, pleasantly ! Sorrow is vain and despondency sinful. What 's a man's age ? He must hurry more, that 's all ; Cram in a day, what his youth took a year to hold : When we mind labour, then only, we're too old — What age had Methusalem when he begat Saul ? And at last, as its haven some buffeted j shiij sees, ' (Come all the way from the north- parts with s])erm oil) ! I hope to get safely out of the turmoil And arrive one day at the land of the ! (Jii)sics, I And find my I.ady, or hear the last I news of her From some old thief and son of Lucifer, His forehead chapletcd green with wreathy hop, Simburned all over like an .Ethiop. And when my Cotnar begins to operate And the tongue of the rogue to run at a projxT rate. And our wine-skin, tight once, .show.s each ffaccid dent, I shall dro[) in with — as if by accident — ' You never knew then, how it all ended. What fortunes good or bar.l ! xloep, darkling Under a hrdgo, like Orson the wkkI- lliisiMour nia.sU'r, famoiw, calm.andtkml, knight, j Horni' on our Hlioultk'fd. Turn iny-;lit : Andsleepa.s()und.sK'ei> till the truni|K't'M ■ th [r/m<— Shortly after the revival of «""*"' them. Amen ! A ORAMMARIAWS Fr\ER\L learning in Europe] (Vamped and diminished, , 1 . , -Moaned he, ' New measures, other fut Let us begm ami carry up this corpse, anon ! Singing together. j My ,ia„i.i. is finished ? ' Leave we the common crofts, the Xo, that 's the world's way ! (keep I lii. vulgar thorpes, | mountain-side, Euh lii Its tether ! M;ik,. for the city,) SIcepnig safe on the bosom of the lU- knew the signal, and stopped i,n I'l^'". i with i)ri(le Cared-for till coek-erow : | Ovo,- men's |)ity ; Look out if yonder be not day again Uh play for work, and grappled with Rimninig the roek-row ! j tlie world That "s the ai)propriate country ; there, i ]^^^ut on escaiiing ■ man's thought. j • What s in the scroll,' .p.oth he, ' xhm o „ ir*"- '''^•l"''^''"' , I keepest f.>rled ? bdf-gathered for an outbreak, as it ^ Show me their shaping. ought, I Theirs, who most studied man, the bard t-hafes in the censer ! nml s.cr,. Leave we the unlettered jilain its herd (ijvc ! '-So he gowned him and crop: Straight -ot by heart that hook to is Seek we sepulture I last i>a"e • On a tall mountain, citied to the top, ! U^arncl". we" found him • Crowded with culture ! y,..,, ),ut we foun.l him bald too-ev.. like lead. Accents uncertain All the peaks soar, but one the rest excels ; Clouds overcome it ; No, yonder sparkle is the citadel's Circling its sumtnit ! Thitiier our path lies ; wind we u]) the heights : Wait ye the warning ? ' Tiir.e to taste life,' another woulii have said, ' Up with the curtain ! ' — This man said rather, 'Actual life coims next '! Patience a moment ! Our low hfe was th- level s and the (irant I have mastered learnini.- „"!S'i*''; I crabbed text. He s for the mornin- ! | Still, there 's the comment. btep to a tunc, .s.p.arc cncsts, cied tlie U-l me know all ! Prate not of most ,„r '. , , or least. ■ Ware the beholders ! | Painful or easy • A GRAMMARIAN'S nTNERAL 97 Fvin to tlip rninibs I'd fain cat up tho ' Was it not great ? did not ho throw on ft'iist. I ei)cr drooiK'd perjilext his head : ('iilnilii'i racked him : I,raii iieforc. iiis eves grew dross of lead : '/'(/.•(.•.IS' attacked iiiiii. ■ .\(iw. Master, take i> little rest I '—not lie! (Caiitiim re(l( iiiiled ! Sicp two a-1'reast, the way winils narrowly) Not a whit trouliled. r.ack to his studies, fresher tlnn at first. Fierce as a dragon lie (soul-hvdroptie with a saered thirst') Sucked at the flagon. Oh. if we draw a circle premature. Heedless of far gain. Greedy for quick returns of profit, sure. I 'ad is our bargain ! Seeking shall find Him. So, with the throttling hands of Death at strife, (Iround he at grammar ; Still, thro' the rattle, jiarfs of speech were rife : While he could staniiuer He settleil Iloti'.i business — let it be!— ProiHM'ly based Oiin — Cave us the" doctrine of the enclitic Ih , Dead from the waist down. Well, here s the ])latform, here 's the liroiH^r ]>laee. Hail to your )nirlieus, .All ye hightliers of the feathered race. Swallows and curlews I Here's itie to; -iieak I ihe multitude below Live, for they can, there. 08 A tJKAMMARIAN'S FUNERAL ThiM mail decided not to Live but Know — Bury thiM man then* 1 Here — hvrv "h hi-n nlac*-, whoru meteorn hIiooI, clouds form, LightninKM are iuoMcned, NtarH come and go ! let joy break with the storm, Peace let the dew send ! Lofty (lexigns muHt cIomj in like eflfects : Loftily lyii»j{. Leave him— Htill loftier than the world MUtt|icetN, Living and dying. JOHANNES AGRICOLA IN MEDI- TATION Theuk 's heaven above, and night by night, I look right through itH gorgeouH roof ; No KUHH and moons though e'er so bright Avnil to stop me ; splendour-proof I keep the brooy tlu> refraition from Fifiiiiitli l.r.im to hrnin, during llu' courM! o( u ,llll|nl, wf look to onrt- for nil. CHORLH Is till' Lit! wi- .xhoiihl look ut, till at ^|^^^ . OIKI ■ W)' iiK'an ho uhould roa»it in thi- sight of all. IV (■(knI Na|i|iy l*avins that kindle* forth- Mitli : Diili'ti that lilazi' Hiilmtantial and ., , ""'"'• , , .IV. I'int'-stnmp split dffliy. dry as pith : 11,. know, not t., vuiy. saith Saint j^^rrji-luurt that . luirs to a ihnlk- I Hill, wl'itt* ulow ' \,« till- shadow of t.irninji. for tho .^,^^^^ ^^^^ \^^^,y ,,^i^^ ,,,j, j^^^^ j„ ^ ^.h^f^, nonie. „ . , Sling bini fast like a hog to ncorch, S,. Mini no otlu-r than an He is ! ^ -^ -^ ,,i^ ,^^.,. „,j.„ ,,., 1^^,,,^ ,^fp lis, Loth the Iiifimtudtstluir due— ^^.^^^^ • Uudes ' and bid clap-to the liitinili' iiieri'y, hut, I win, As inlinite a justice tin). \(>rRIH Imii.h Dio — who hids clai)-to the tor<'h. V lohn of the Temple, whose fame so hragged. Is hurning alive in Paris square ! Willi he hoiight of Km|HTor Al.h'l d, How can he curse, if his mouth is II,. sold it to Sultan Saladin: gagged? I ill, (iiuKlit hy rojK- Clement, u-Im ug Or wriggh- \m neck, with a lollar there, i on Jesus linn liim irhit siiii/itli ' t hnst. , , ■ n \\\- l.iin- John now to he hiirned [Ihn on, ero^mth hmmlf. alive. I VI III .lesus Christ— John had bought anllr S.i, a^Jdl • I -Suitli, i( III ( alli'il n.iM, tlir)iii<:h ihr i,i amain. I more means what il On llif N'/mr, lie had < lirHcl will priHlaiint, Tm»ii a ihim.scl'.M thrcit to htr wantxii liinl ? - riui' a r.p- •, t\(T a ro-i>, lie N.iiih. I llillK s (», John sh.ill y>t liml a ro;,'. he Kaitli ! VIII .\l;i(k, there Ix- roses ail'l roses, .luhu '. Some, honied of taste lii<|. \,,iir lemaii s tonjiue : Some, hitter— for whv ': (loa: t jjailv on !) 'I'lu'ir tree Ntriiek ro it in devil'.s diin',{ ! When I'aul omc re is meil of ri^ihti.Mis- ness And of teni|ieranee and of jiid^'iiient to eoine, (lood Felix tremhh'il, he eoiihi no hss .lo!in, sniekeriiiL', i rook'd liis unked tinimli. ( imiii s Whit eonieth to John of the uii ked thiinih ? l\ Hi hi. .lolin plMiketh now at his ri' <■ To rill himself of a sorrow at heart ! Lo. [lelal on pit d. tierce ra> ^ iin- clnse ; Anther on ant hi r. ■ !iar|i sjiikes oiitstart ; And with hlood for lUw, the hosoiii boils ; And a t'lsst nf -i!!l).hiir I-- ■■■■]] if- ;.n<-ll ; And lo, he is horribly in tiie toils (.)f , eriiM.laek giant flower of Hell ! linently reward 1 his life - 'I'o the riiMiii. he bought and -nM a;iain - For the Fare, with ills daily Imlhl. rife - Feature by feature It took its |>laie' And his voiie. like a mad i|<.. I'hokiii^; bark. At the steady Whole of the JmL, . Faee — hied. Forth iluhn's soul flared lui r the dark. SIHIUISKTU THK AlllluT KKdUVKT ' (ioil hel|i all |H)or souls lost i iIm J dark ! IIOLV-CHOSS DAY ON Wliri II HIE .IKWS WKUE KllRCEH T' ATIKM) A\ .\N.MAI. (lIRIsm:, SKHMiiV I.N HOME. f N'ow was eome about Holy-Ciii- Day, and now must my lord preai h l;i- liist sermon to the .lews: as it w.i- <■( old eared for in the niereiful biwil- of the ('hurili. that, so to speak. .; crumli at least from her eoiispiii - table here in Home, should be, thoii:.li but oiiee yearly, east to the faii.isliiii- dojis, under-trampled and bespilln- iipon iH'neath the feet of the gii. -I- .\nd a moving sij;ht in truth, tiii-. d so many of the besotted, blind, re>ti\t and ready-lo-perish Hebrews! ih'W maternally brou hI. >Kflh)'r tli<- );lt>rv.' \A»tk hI llif |iiir>i- willi th<- liixMt'l ami ^ i;.ii Ihnrif III/ till Hixhti/iM Sirrit'iri/, ItMNI. | 'I'liwiijili what tin- ■!«•»» ri'.illy »tiii|, <>ii tliu'- In'III); ilrivi'ii to rliiinh, wai nithci kiioli, III) till' iin^'f'l an)l III tliH I'Hi'ct : r Vr.r., faw, fniii ! Imltlili- uini M|iit'iik ! Itli>^ ilur rinnic (;i\r^ ii'i lilt' r H Snlonion Liixtlin^ too .' >li,iiiir, man ! ^;rt nly U'vonil yoni- years I'd liinil.-cl till' l)islio|i'M sliaviii;,'- xlicart* '.' r.iii plav "x a jewel I lea\e frieinU in I he lurch '! ^t.uiil on a line ere you start for the ehnreh. Ill llll."_'liily I'iimleily. parkeil we lie, l!iii> in a hain|M'r, swine in a -t\e, \\a>|is in a hot tie, frous in a >-ie\e. Worms in a larca-e. Ileas in a sleevi'. Ili-I I si|Mare shouliler.-, Mtlle yi'iir' thiiniliM All'! liii/./ for the l>iiho|i — hire lie eoines. IV liiiw, wow, wow — a 1)0111' for the il.tj; ! I liken his (Jniee to an aeorneil ]ui.t ? VI See to our ' on\erls you iliMinieil lilai k i|o/.en No slealiii;; away -nor i ou nor eo/.eii I Noil live (hat Were thieves, ileserve it fairly ; Noil seven that were liejinnrs, will live less s|mrel' ; You timk your turn aivl ili|>|iei| in the hat." (lot fortune Huil fortune i^ets you; iiiinil that I VII (iive your first groHn— eoin|iunetioi) 's at work : Ami soft ! from a -few yiui mount to a , Turk. liO, Mieali, llie slaced. .jial| I blame. When the slaves enslave, the opprcssi.] ones o'er The oppressor triumph for evermore ; I .\v '(Jod spoke, and gave us the won! |„ keep : Bade never fold the hanli With fear— () Thou, if that martyr--ii>li Fell on Thee coming to take' Thin,' own. Anil we gave the Cross, when we owed the Throne — XVII ' Thou art the Judge. We are brui-..l thus. But, the judgment over, join >iilts with us ! Thine too is the cause ; and not more Thine Than oius, is the work of these dog> :m\ swine. Whose life laughs through and spiN at their cn-ed. Who iiuiintain Thee in word, and ikfv 'J'hee in deed ! xviii 'We withstood Christ then '/ beniui.lfiil how At hast we withstand Barabbas m.« ! Was our outrage sore V but the \vn|.( We spared. To have called these— Christ jaii^ had we daretl ! ■ I -1 HOLY-CROSS DAY 103 ' li Let (Icfianco to them pay mistrust of A fame that he was missing, spread Thee, ' ! afar— \n -- The Past was a sleep, and her life )H-an. Xow, love so ordered for both tlicir sakes, \ feast was .eld that selfsame night In the pil which the mighty shadow makes. THK st.vti'f: axd thk nr.sT There 's a palace in Florence, flu world knows well, .And a statue watche-; it from the s.|uare. And this story of both do our townsmen tell. Ages ago, a lady there. -At the farthest "window facing the East Asked, 'Whorides by with the royal air?" The bri les-maids' prattle aroun.l iicr ceased ; She leaned forth, one on cither hand • They saw how the blush of the bride increased— They felt by its beats her lieartexpand — As one at each ear and both in a breath Whispered, 'The (ireat-Duke Ferdi nand.' That self.same instant. unath. tiay he rode, with a friend as gay. Till he threw his head back— ^ Who is she 7 ' — • A Kride the I?i Miire that t-acli rt'iicwt-d the vow. No morrow's sun slioiilil arist- and sot And k-avo tlwin tlu-n as it left them now. Uiit next (lay passed, and next day yet, Witli still fresh eause to wait one day more Ere eaeh lea|H-d over the parajK't. And still, as love's l>rief niorninj; wore, Witli a gentle start, half smile, half siuli. 'riiej- found love not as it seemed iM'fore. They thought it would work infallihiy. But not in despite of heaven and earth — The rose would blow when the storm passed hy. Meantime they eould profit in winters dearth By winter's fruits that supplant the rose : The world and its ways have a t liii worth ! And to nre-;s a point while these oppose Were a simple polity ; lu'tter wait : We lose no friends and we gain no fo(w. Meantime, worse fates than a lover's fate. Who daily may ride and pass and look Wheie his !idy watehes Iwhind the grate ! And slie— she watched the s(iuare like a book Holding one picture and oidy one. Which daily to (ind she undertook : When the picture was reached the book was done. And she turned from the picture at night to scheme Of tearing it out for herself next sun. So weeks grew months, years — gleam by gleam The glory dropped from their youth and love, And both iHi-ceived they had dreamed a dream ; Which hovered as dreams do, still above. — l$ut wiio can tiike a dream for a truth '! Oil, hide our i.-^-n from the next re- move ! One day as the lady saw her youth : Depart, and the .silver thread tliiit j streaked j Her hair, and, worn by the serpeiil\ tooth. The brow so )«uckered, the chin mi I )K'aked, — .\nd wondered who the woman was. Hollow-eyed and haggard-eheekeil, Fronting her silent in the glass^ ' Summon here,' she suddenly said. * I'.efore the rest of my old self jiass, ' Him. the Carver, a hand to aid. Who fashions the clay no love will ehanu'e, ' And lixes a beauty never to fade. ■ Jx't Robbia's craft so apt and straii;;i> .\rrest the remains of young and fair, And rivet them while the seasons raiiL'c ' Make nu' a face on the window there, Waiting as ever, mule the while. My love to p-i:-s below in the .^(piarc I "And let me tiiink that it may beguile Dre iry days which the dead must spi nil Down in their darkness under the iu>W. "To say, " What matters it at the end ; I did no more while my heart was Wiiiiii Than docs that image, my jtale-fai cd i friend." ■ Where is the use of the lip's red chiuiii. The heaven of hair, the pride of tlic brow, .'md the l)lood that blues the in^'k ' arm — ' I'nlcss we turn, as the soul knows hnw, The earthly gift to an end divine / A lady of day is as good, I (row.' I5ut long ere Itobbia'.s corni(c. line With flowers and fruits which Iciivc- eiilice. Was set where now is the empty shiinr— (.And, leaning out of a l)right blue s|«ii c. .\s a irhost might lean from a chink cf sky. The )iassionate ]iale lady's face — Kyeing ever with earnest eye Anii iniif-k-turne'l neck at its l-realhlc- stretch. Some one who ever is passing by— 1 THK ST ATI' K AND THK BUST 107 llic Diiko half ■; Where a hutlon goes, 'twere an e\>i- gram To od'er the stamp of the very (Juelph. The title has no \,due lieyond the sham : .\s well the counter as coin, I .suhniit, When your table's a hat, and your prize, a dram. Stake your counter as boldly every whit, X'eiitiire as truly, use the same skill, Do your best, whether winning or hising it. If you choose to play ! — is my prin- ciple. Let a man contend to the uttermost For his life's set prize, be it what it will ! The counter our lovers staked was lost As surely as if it were lawful coin : .\nd the sin I impute to each frustrate ghost Is, the unlit lamp an en- And all her yellow hair (lis|i|iU'('(ir And, btoojiinfr. nuulf my chi-f-k thcri'. And spread o'er all ht-r yellow hair, Muriniiriii^ how she loveil ine — sIm* Too weak, for all her heart's deavour. To set its str:igj!liiij» ])asmon free From i>ri(ie, and vainer ties dissever. And give herself to me for ever. But ))assion sometimes would ])revail, Xor could to-night's gay feast re- strain A sudden thought of one so pale For love of her, and all in vain ; No, she was eome through wind and rain. He sure I looked uj) at her eyes Happy and ))roud ; at last I kiU'W Porphyria worshipi>ed me ; surprise ^la(^e my heart swell, and still it grew While I debated what to do. That moment she was mine, mine, fair. Perfectly pure and good : I found A thing to do, and all her hair In one long yellow string I wound Three times her li.tic throat around. And strangled her. No pain felt she ; I am (piite sure .she felt no ])ain. As a .>ihut hud that holds a hee. I warily o|X'd her lids ; again Laughetl the Mue eyes without a stain. And I imtightened next the tress About her neck ; her cheek vmv more Blushed bright iK-neath my burning kiss : I prop|>ed her heaoro Her head, which droops upon it still : The smiling rosy little head. So glad it hiis its utmost will. That all it srorned at dikt is (led, .\ne heard. And thus we sit together now. And all night long wc have not stirred. And yet God has not said a word I CHILDK ROLAND TO TMK DAItK TOWKK CAME' (See E;lee that jiurscd iiii'l scored Its edge at one more victim gaiiicl I thereby. What el.se shoidd he be .set for, with In- statF •/ What, .save to waylay with his lie-, ensnare .Ml travellers that might find lilin posted there, .\ud ask tlie road ? I guessed wliiit skull-like laujrli Woidd break, what crutch "gin wiili' my epitaph For pastime in the dusty thoroii^li- fare, Ml If ;il Ms counsel I should turn .isiile Into that luuinous tract whieh, ,ili agree. Hides the Dark Towci-. Yet u- ipiiescingly I did turn as he pointed : neither |iiili Xor hope rekindling at the end dcsr iinl. So much as gladness that .sonu- cinl might be. IV For, what with my whole world-ui'li wandering. What with my search drawn out tliiu years, my hope Dwindled into a ghost not fit to i "|.. With that obstre|ierous joy sue. e- woidd bring, — I hardly trird now to reV>Hkc the spvMiL' My heart made, finding failure in it; scope. (HILDK ROLAND TO THE DARK TOWER CAME' 109 111- lll- t" I ■i V I IX A< wlipn a siok man very m-ar to ileath For mark ! no sooner was I fairly Siciiis (lead indoed, and fwls bojiin found and end Plcdued to the jiluin, after a pace or Tlie tears and takes the farewell of I two, eaeh friend. j Than, i)ausing to throw baekward a Ani hears one hid tlie otlier po, draw , last view breath To the safe road, 'twas f^nne ; prey Frit lier outside, (' sinee all is o'er," he plain all ro\n»d : saith, Nothing but plain to the horizon's bound. I might go on ; nought else remained to do. X And the blow fallen no grieving ean amend ;') vt Wiiilf some discuss if near the other uraves So, on I went. I think I never saw ]'.( room enough for this, and when; Such starved ignoble nature ; nothing a day j throve : Suits best for carrying the corpse : For flowers — as well expect a etdar away, ' '[ grove ! With care about the banners, scarves But cockle, spurge, according to their and staves, — law Ami still the man hears all, and only Might propagate their kind, with none craves to awe, lie may not shame siicli tender love You'll think ; a burr had been a and stav. treusure-trove. VII XI Tims. I had so long suffered in this y^ ! penury, inertness and grimace. (|uest, lliard failure ])rophcsied so oft, In-en writ Si) many times among ' The Band ' — to wit. Till' knights who to the Dark Tower's search addresseortii)n. ' See Or shut your eyes.' • .id Nature jieevishly. It nothing skills : I cannot help my case : Tis the Last Judgment's fire must cure this jilaee. Calcine its eloiliiil, hiiwcvti hci aiiic there : I'.illcr llii.s Prrscnl tlinn a Past jik, |l *' 'I'hriisl Diit pas! sciviir from Ihc (h'viTs stiiil ! XIV Alive ? }io niiirlit he ilcad f.jr aii;,'lit I know. With that r.'il, naiiiit and (ollopcil in'ck a-stiaiii. And .sliiit cyfs iiiKh'nicatii the nisi y inane : Seldom went such u'lMlesipieiies- with snch Woe ; I never saw a hrnte I hated so ; He nii'st l)e wicked to deserve such pain. XV I shut iiiV eves and turiiel tiieni on niv heart. As a man calls for wine liefore I.e ll;4hls. I asked one draujiht of e.irlier, ha|>picr sights, Kre fitly 1 could Iio|k' to play my part. 'I'hink first, lijrht afterwards—the sol- dier's art : One ta.ste of the oM time sets all to rijihts ! XVI Not it ! I fancied Cuthliert's redden- in>; face Beneath its jiarnitnre of curly L'old, Dear fellow, till I almost felt him fold An arm in mine to tix me to the place. That way he used. .Mas, one ni<;ht"s dissiraee ! Out went my heart "s new fire and left it cold. xvii (iiles, then, the soul of 1- nour — there he stands Frank as ten years af unite despair, a suicidal (lironir: The river which had done them all tin wrouf.', AVIiate"er that was, rolled liy. .1,. terreil lu) whit. XXI Which, while I forent training? for the sight ! XXXI What in the midst lay but the Tower itself ? ' The round squat turret, blind as the fool's heart. Built of brown stone, without a counterpart In the whole world. The tem|X'«t's niockinj; elf Points to the shii)nian thus the unseen shelf I He strikes on, only when the timbers .start. I XXXII , Xot see ? l)ecau(te of night perhaps ?_ Why, day I f'amebackagainforthat ! l)eforeit lift, The dying sunset kindleon liand,foseeth»'ganM'at bav.— ' Now stab and end the creature- to the heft ! ' XXXIII N'ot hear ? when noise was everywhere ' it tolled Increasing like a l)ell. N'amesinmycar«, Of all the lost advcUurers my j>«'i'r^. How such a one was strong, and sm h was bold. And such was fort\inate, yet each of oM Lost, lost ! one moment knelled ilu' woe of years. XXXIV There they stood, ranged along the hill- sides, nu't To view the last of me, a living friinif For one more picture ! in a shed nf flame I saw them and I knew them all. Anil yet Dauntless the slug-horn to my lips I >it, And blew. 'ChUiic Roland ti> th, Dark- Tower cnmr.' MEN, AND WOMEN • TRAXSCEXDFA'TAUSM ' A POEM IN- TWELVE BOOKS Stop jdaying, \Ktft '. may a brother s|H'ak ? 'Tis you s|->eak, that 's your error. Song 's our art : Whereas you please to sjieak thesi- nakein's Quite otherwise! ObjectH thronR our „nuL'lit youth. 'tis true : i .p,^^ ,^.^^ ^^j ^,i ^.^,, ,,;,, ,^.f„^, j^.,;,.^.,.^ \\.. see and hoar and do not won.h-r ^ ^y^^ own U.yV-fa. e ..Vr the finer mufh : I •' ,.,, ^ If you eoul.1 tell m what thoy mean. ,j^.,^j f„ii"„v,.in„ ,h.- eheruh at the top '"""'/'''■ , , ,, 'I'hat iM)ints tot ;<)d with his pnireose. and the rulT. signiticanco. \\>' shut the clasjis and find life's He walked and tapiH-d the pavement summer imst. ! with his cane, . . ,, . Tlion. who helps more. ])ray. to repair Scenting the world, looking it full in our loss — face. Another Boehme with a tougher book An old dog, bald and blindish. at his And subtler meanings of what roses heels. , „ , . say.— They turned up, now. the alley by the t)i some stout Mage hke him of HalU-r- church, stadt, , That leads no whither ; now, they .lohn. who made things Boehme wrote breathed themselves thoughts about ? On the main promenade just at the lit- with a ' look you ! ' vents a brace of wrong time : rhymes. You'd come upon his scrutinizing hat, .\n(l in there breaks the sudden rose ; Making a jieaked sha|i ii-liiiililiiiir, Fririi li !«• IHWC iiiiil liiiiv Mr hti)4H| iir)rirlil U. iliHii|i|N'ari'<| IIIIUI ulli) -lin .. Ii'llioii . iiili) iliiiik, >IT< \inl yiMiiiji ('. >.'iii hi-* |||i:ltrl■^>l, Mir frii-ml. ''"" i"ii'l IIh l.ii.r to llii' Kin>:. tlint ilid it ' voliiiiir.r to liil|i hliii iiii'ii iH Wli.it paiil till- lil.HMJI. M. »'ss IIIIUI fi,r !• >.'liiiuflalls uilli half i\- 'vc, Ami llv-lr lallails nil thr viii(|(ir's Mlriiii.'. Ami linmij-rcl^;.' l*o|<|.|>riiit iio^ltrs l>v th- wall. llf took Miuli 1 ofinisaiiri' of iiH-ii iiMil tllilius. If any In-at a liorMc, •■,„! f,.|t |„. ,„^. . If any ciiimciI a wonuiii. Uv took note ; Vet Ntand at iioImhIv, -llii-y staicil at him. Ami foiiiil. l(..»s til ihcii- pltasiin- than Miiri.risc, He simmiikI to know Ihtiii ami cxiKit as much. S«), next time that a iii-i^'hlioiir'.s loii;ruc was loosed. It marked the shameful ami notorious fa.f. We ha|iroval c.f thoMe letlir- connetl The last thinndiilyal the dead of !ii:.lil Did the man love his ollicc .' frownoj our Lord, ' Kxhoitin); when none heanl— • 1;.- seech Me not ! Too far aliove .Mv IK-ople, — iK-malh .Me ! [ set the watch, -how shoiihl (he |ho|.|, know '! I'niini thci,i. keep .Me all the more in mind ! Was some spivh uiider-.tandin;; twiM the Two '! I found no truth in one repori ,it h i.st- That if you tracked him to his honic, down lanes Reyond the .lewry, and as ch-an to |.,i, i , N'ou found he ate his su|i|K'r in a roMin Hlazini; with lijihts, four Titians on tlic wall. .\ntl twenty nake*,"fi>c he , was. WiMilil |Miiiit him lint to mi' n (iiii- with lannuTcil l>r<'«Tli«'s, hi-*- troiis Ix'lt. Ami fi-iitluTM liki- II fiiri'st in hi-< liat. Who lilcw a lriim|H't ami jiroi laimctl the nvw. Annimnri-t the Inill-lijihts, j;avr (acli ( iiiinh itM turn. \ii(| m«iii()ri/.ci.'ue! , llr liail rt ^'reat observance from iis Imivm ; \Vi- Wire in error ; that was not the iiuin. Ill like now, yet ha ame to ilie. Ami seen who lined the clean iiiiy pirret's sides Ami stood alnnit the neat low truckle- lied, I Willi the heavenly manner of relievinjf ".'iiard. Here liad lw«'n, mark, the p-neral-in- ehief. 'I'liru' a whole campai^'n of the worlil's life and death. Uiiiii;_' the Kiufj's work all the dim tlay lollk!. Ill his I, Id eoat and up to his knees in iiiiid, ."^iiioked likt' n herriiif.', diniiij; on a crust, — \imI. now the day was woi', relieved at once ! '\i. fiilihir slmw >ir need fnl t old cat. Voii Hre niire, for one I hint/ ! Itless ii«, nil the whde liow sprili riv We are dresMil .11.1, VoU and I'! A second, and the unj^elt alter thai. Well, I could never write a \erse. — could yidi •; Ia-I 's to the I'rado and make the most of time. i m Ain'EMIS PROLC^ilZES I AM a (iiMldesN of the anihrosial courts, And save hy Here. (Jueen of Pride, sur- passed Ity none whose temples whiten this the world. Through Heaven I mil my Imid moon iilon;< ; 1 shed in Hell o'er my pale |K-ople jK'Uce ; On Kurth I. caring for the creatiireH, ^imrd Kacli iir»-)jnnnt yellow wolf nml fox- hitch sh'ek. And every feathered mother's callow liriKHJ, Anil all that love ^reeii liaunts and loneliness. t)f men. the chaste adore me, haii^'iii); crowns Of |Hippies red to lilackness, Ih'II and stem, I'lKiil my imat'e at Athenni here ; And this dead Youth, Asclepios I emls ahove, Was dearest to me. He, my huskined stwp 'I'o follow throii^di I. ;• wili'-wtod leafy ways. Anil chtt.se the panting stajr, i r sw'ft with darts Stop the swift oiinci-, oi lay tiie leopard low, Xeijlected homafie to another (iod : Whence Ai>hrodit«', hy no midni^'ht smoke Of taiKTs lulU'd, in jeah.u.sy dispatched A noisome lust that, as the gadhee stm^s, I'osscs.sed his stepdame I'haidra for himself ni I ■ I * if, < t s no ARTEMIS PROLOGIZES 'Iho son of Thospus lior great absent Which pithor hand dircotocl ; nor lluv spouse. I quenched Hip|)oliit()s exf hiiniinp in his rarje j The frenzy of their flight before e.K h Apainst the fury of the Queen, slie fraee, J'"'?''" Wheel-s[)oke and sphnter of the v iffiil T.ife insup|Mirtal)h' ; and, i>rifked at cur, hi'iirt Kach boiilder-stone, slinrp -iii!> fin! An Airia/iiuian strani/er's rare should spiny shell, 'I'l''' Ifuijre tish-bone wrecked am w -.Uh,] To scorn her, |)erislK-'d by the murderous amid the sands fonl ■■ On that detested In-ach, was bnghi w,;. \ et, ere she i>(>rislieeed „.ai|s. Along the rock ! and shingles of the So I, who ne'er forsake my vofanc-s. shore, I^st in the cross-way none tii«; hoiicv- Wlien from the gaping wave a monster cake Ti- . **""^ ■ ■ , Should tender, nor jwiir out the do"'- His obscene liody in th" coursers' jiath. hot life ; These, mad with terror, as the sea-bull Fx'st at my fane the priests diseonsolalc sprawled Shoidd dress my image with .some fa.ldl Wallowing about their feet, lost care of jKwr „,, ^ *'"" , , , Few crowns, made favours of, nor daic that reared them; and the master- object chariot-jiole , Such slaekne.ss to my worshippers who Snapping lieneath tht ir plunges hke a turn /""''• ■ , '^^*' trusting heart and loaded hnml Hipfioliitos. whose feet were trammeleo|)uhue Divine presenter of the healing rod. Stood with tierce lii^ht on their black : Thy snake, with ardent throat and robes to blind ■ lulling eye. Each sobbing head, while yet their hair Twines his lithe spire-s around ! I sav, they dipiK-d much cheer ! »cr the dead botly of their withered Proceed thou with thy wisest phar- prince, inacies ! And. in his palace, Theseus prostrate* the sage directs, these buds and "{'was bruised on, groaned away the leaves heavy grief— That strew the turf around the twain ! .\> the pyre fell, and down the cross logs While I f'a^lif'I Await, in fitting silence, the event. Sending a crowd of sparkles through the night, i .\i\d the gay fire, elute with mastery, ' AN EPISTLE lowered like a seritent o'er the clotted ■^ ' CONTAINING THE STRANOE MEDICAL Of wine, dissolving oils and frankin- experience ok karshish, the cense ARAB physician \iid splendid gums like gold, — my Karshish, the picker-up of learning's |)f)tency cnnnbs, Coiiveyed the ]K'rished man to my The not-incurious in GckI's handiwork retreat (This nian's-llesh He hath admirably III the thrice-venerable forest here. made. Ami this white-bearded sage who Blown like a bubble, kneaded like a s(|ueezes now paste, Tlic berried i>lant, is Phoibos' son of To coop up and keep down on earth a fame, space Asdepios, whom n)y radiant brother Thiit i)ulT of vaitour from His mouth, taught num's soul) Till doctrine of each herb and tiower — To Abib, all-sagacious in our art, and root. Hrceder in me of what jHwr skill I boast. To know their sccret'st virtue ami Like me inciuisitive how pricks and express cracks The saving soul of all : who so has Befall the flesh through too much stress soothed and strain. With lavers the torn brow and murdered Whereby the wily vajwur fain would cheeks, slip • nniposed the hair and brought its gloss Back and rejoin its source before the again, term, — All! called the rcil bloom to the jiale And aptest in contrivance, under (J<"I, skin back, To bafHe it by deftly stopj)ing such : — And laid the strips and jagged ends of The vagrant .Scholar to his Sage at flc.--h i home l!\cii once more, and slacked the sinew's Sends greeting (health and knowledge, knot [ fame with jn-ace) Of every tortured limb — that, now he lies I Three samples (>f true snake-stone — As if !i»Te sleep pwscsscd him under- | rnrer still, neath I One of the other sort, the melon-shai>ed, 118 AN EPISTLE ' f ■ I i 'I I (Milt httcr, ,K.im.U",l nn.', for iharins Hlown up his nose t. l.elp the ailin.'evr than.ln.gs) Host wait : I reach k-rusah-m at morn' Ami writ4th now the twenty-seeon.l There set in onler my exiK-rienees *'"""• (Jather what most (leserves, and' -iv. My jotniuyings were hrought to (»r I „,i!!l,t"ad7|, Ju.laea's L'nm-trM.a- .Jeric'io: ,,,,„, |, Thus I resunu. Wlio stu.lio.iH in our art S.ales off in purer (lakes, shines elearer- Shall count a httle lalxiur iuire[)ai(l •/ grained I have shed sweat enough, left llesh and Cracks 'Iwixt'the iKstl.- an.l the „„r """•■ i)hvrv On many a flinty furkmg of this lan.l. In lim- exce'eds our j.r.Kluce. Seal,.. Also, the country-side is all on fire disease With rumours of a marching hither- Confounds me, crossing so with Ic|. ward: p„jj^. — SoiiK- say Vespasian cometh, some, his Thou hadk admired one sort I rrain.,! son. 3t jjyg^ " " A black lynx snarled ami pricked a Hut zeni outruns discretion Here 1 tinted ear ; ,.,„| ' Lust of my blood inflamed his vellow balls: ■ Vet stay: my Syrian blinkefh griid- I cried and threw my staff and he was '"">• gone. Protesteth his devotion is my jtrice— Twice have the robbers strip|H'd and ''*'"PI'«''<' I write what harms ii,,i. though he .steal V I half resolve to tell thee, vet 1 bhisli. What set me off a-writing first of all. .\n itch 1 had, a sting to write, a taii; For, be it this town's barrenness— nr els Ijcaten me. .\nd once a town declared me for a spy. Hut at the end, I rea( h Jerusalem, Since this poor covert where I pass the night. This Hethany, lies scarce the distanre- j^ft the man whole and sound of body niise, indeed, — • IamI in their frieii I. obedient as a she- |i, r>iil, dinging, so to s|H'ak. life's gates too 'I'l' lM>ar my in<|uisition. While they wide, spoke. Making a elear house of too suddenly, Xow sharply, now with sorrow, — told Till' iirst conceit that entered might the case. — inscrilx' He listened not except I spoke to him, Wlialever it was mindol on the wall Hut folded his two hands and let them S(i plainly at that vantage, as it were. talk, (First come, (irst served) that nothing Watching tlie ilii's that buzzed: and subseipient yet no fool. Atlaineth to erase those fancy-scrawls And that 's a sample how his years Tlic just-returned a'-d new-established must go. soul l/)ok if a beggar, in ti.xed middle-life. Huth gotten now .so thoroughly liy Should find a treasure, can he use the heart same That henceforth she will read or these With straitened habits and with tastes or none. starved small. .\nil iirst — the man's own lirm convic- .'vnd take at once to his inij)overishcd tion rests brain That he was dead (in fact they buried The sudden element that changes him) things, -That he was dead and then restored That sets the umlreamed-of rapture at to life his hanussing of a mule with i gourds — 120 AN EPIcTLE I! if n ll I f • . I- is oiif I I tako it on the other Which, side, : yet .S|K"ak of soiu. inllin-fact— he will gaze The spiri rapt ' Witli .stii|)or at Its verv littleness, (Far as I see)— as if in that indeed life The law onscious of, he must not enter B around the cartl is known to him ilv 1, ~, ' "\ ...^.ivM I this — He eaunht ,,r<«ligious iniix.rt, whole ^ His heart and brain move there, his f.rt resut!,; I stay here. And so will tt.rn to us the bystanders So is the man jH-rplext with impulse- in exer the same stujwr (note this Sudden to start off crosswise „„t ,,,, , I"""' ' ' straight on, that we too see not with his o|.ened ProelaiminK what is Right and WnMi- \v I '■•^^'•''■, , , ' across. Womlei- and doubt come wrongly into And not along, this black thread throirh „ l''">- , ! the blaze— I re|K)ste.ouslv at cross pur,)oses. ' It sho-ild be ' balked by ' here it Should his cluld sicken unto death,— [ cannot be ' why, look I And oft the man's soul springs into \ui lor scarce abatement of his cheerful- i face rw . , f"*''**'' • r u- . •. , ' '^*' '^ '''■ **** "K"'" an"' h^n"' again Or pretermission of his daily craft- His sage that bade him ' Rise 'and lir While a word, gesture, glance, from that did rise. samechild Something, a word, a tick of the bl I At play or in the school or laid asleep, I within Will startle him to an agony of fear. Admonishes— then back he sinks at fc.xasperation, just as like ! tlemand once The reason why-- tis but a woril,' To ashes, that was very lire before, objert— III sedulous recurrence 'to his trade u\fliv''l\7 "■"»["'*''"*'"' r^ '"■■'' ^^''''■'■''''y ''" *'''••"«*'» hi'" the .lailv Who lived there in the pyramid alone, bread • Looked at us, dost thou mind ?-when Ami .studiously the humbler for that being young i ^^■^^^^, lornl^?!. ,7.',?' ;'"«''^"':'^'''".V Z^-' it^- , I'rofes.se.lly 'the faultier that he kn,.« . Some harms iH-g.nnmg. from that Cod's .secret, while he holds the threat! l)ook of Ins, ,,f ijfp Able to bid the sun throb wide ami Imleed the es,K.cial marking of the man Ml i„K!"!i".. I . ^'^ •"■°"*' submission to the Heavenly All into stars, as suns grown old are will Ti *TVi 11., , Seeing it. what it is, and why it is. rhou and the child have each a veil 'Sayetli, he will wait ))atient to the la>t TK " • 1 . , For that same death which mu.st restore thrown o j-r your heads, from under his being Str..t,.l7 v1',''m''"*i'' 1 1 , . T" t-Mi'ilibrium. bo I'i"' to live He holds on hrmly to some threa.l of So long as tJod please, and just how ,, . "*'r7 Goil please, (It IS the life to l,.ad inrforcedly) He even seekefh not to please CM Winch runs across some vast distract- mon^ ing orb (Which meaneth, otherwise) than a. Ut giury on cither oido ihttl meagre j God please. ^^'^*"^' I Hence I jwrceive not he af!ects to preach AN EPISTLE 121 Tiic doctrine of liis mxt whattV-r it he, Confc Make |irosc'lyti'.s as inadinen thirst to do: rriii;; wiili the frankness that l)elits ■! Alas ! it >:rieveth me, the h-arned leec li How can he >;ive his neiglihoiir the real Perished in a tumult man 1. grounc His own conviction ? ardent as he is- y years a>;o, Accused, — our learning's fate, — cf wizardry, Call his great truth a lie, why, still the Hehdlion. to the scttinjr ui> a rule old And creed jirodigious as descrilud to , ' lie it as (!o(l ])lease ' reassurcth him. me. I jirobed the sore as thy disciple His death which happened when the should— earthquake fell •Hvraniid alone) '""''(■h Was wrought liv the inad people — To stamp out like a little sjiark thy that 's their wont t"^*'"' On vain recourse, as 1 conjecture it, Tliy tribe, thy crazy tale and tlice at To his tried virtue, for miraculous once V ' help- He merely looked with his large eyes How could he stop the earth(iuakc ? "n">f- That "s their way ! Thr man is ajiathetic, you deduce ? The other imputations"niust he lies : Contrariwise he loves both old and But take one— though I loathe to give voung. it thee. Able and weak— aflfects the very brutes ; In mere respect lo any good nuin's And l)irds— how say I V ilowers of the fame ! *it'l*' — (And after all, our patient bizarus Is stark mad ; should we count on what he says '! Perhaiis not : though in writ in.' to a leech "Tis well to keep back notliin;r ot a case.) .\> rt wise workman recognises tooN In a master's workshop, loving what they make. : TJHH is the man as harndess as a lamb ; 1 flnly impatient, let him do bis best, At iunorance and carelessness ami sin — Ari indismation which is promptly This man so cured regards the curei curlH'd : ' I then. As when in certain travels I have As— (Jod forgive me— who but (!od feigned i himself, To be an ignoramus in our art Creator and Sustaincr of the worll, Atrording to some preconceived desijfn. That came and dwelt in Ib^h on it And hapjied to hear the land's pra< - awhilv I titioners — 'Sayeth that sm li an One Wii> btrn Stcei)ed in conceit sublimed by ignor- " and lived, anco, ■ Taught, healed the sick, l)roke bread at Prattle fantastically on disea.ie. his own house. Its cause and cure— and I must hokl , Then died, with Lazarus bv, for aught my jH-ace ! ! I know, I And yet was . . . what I said nor choose I liou wilt object— why have I not ere ; rejK-at. "''••< ■ And must have so avouched hinue'f. in Sought out the sage himself, tlie : fact, Nazarene In heating <'f this v* rv I.^/MH- Uho wrought this cure, inquiring at the Who saith— but why all this of what he source, i saith ? Si' 122 AX EPISTLE Why write of trivial matters, tliin;;s of I5ut love I gave thee, with Myself tu price ' love. Calling at every moment for remark ? Anil thou must love Me who have didl I notired on the niaryin of a ]m)i)1 for thee ! ' Blue-flowering borage, the Aleppo sort. The madman saitli He said so: it in Ahoundeth, very nitrous. It is strange ! Thy ])ard(>ii for this long and tedious ease, Whieh, now that I review it, needs must seem Unduly dwelt on. iirolixly set forth ! Nor I myself discern in what is writ (lood cause for the |N>culiar interot And awe indeed this inan has touched me with. Perhaps the journeys end, the weari- ness Had wrought u|M)n v\r tirst. I met him thus : I crossed a ridtre of short sharp hrokcn hills Like an ohl licms cheek-teeth. Out there came A moon made like a faie with certain s]iots Multiform, manifold and menacing: Then a wind rose behind me. So we met In this old slee|>y town at unaware. The man and I." I send thee what is writ. Regard it as a chance, a matter risked To this and)iguous Syrian — he may lose. Or steal, or give it thee with e«pial good. Jerusalem's rp|»ose shall make amends For time this letter wastes, thy time and mine ; Till when, (>n< e more thy pardon and farewell ! strange. PKTOR ICXOTrS |ki.i>kkn(k, I.'i— ] I con. I) have paintol pictures like iliai youth's ^'e ))raise s<». How niy soul spriiiL'- u|i ! .\o bar Slayeil lue - id), thought which saildm. while it soothes ! Never did fate forbiil me, star l^y star. To outburst on your night with all mv gift (»f tires fnuii Cod: nor would mv flesh have shrunk From seconding my soul, with cyi> u|>lift Anil wide to heaven, or, straight iiki' thunder, sunk To the centre, of an instant ; or amuii'l Turned eahnly and inipiisitive, tn scan The lii'ence and the limit, space ami boiHid, .MIowed to Truth made visible m Man. And, like that j'outh je praise so, all I .saw. Over the canvas emdd my hand havi- (lung, Kach face ol)ora. . . S( the -All-Creat, were the AII-lA)ving ;' Or Rapture drooix-d the eyes, as wliiri ♦"o — her brood So, through the thunder comes a human Pull down the nesting dove'.s heart to ■^■<>i

? Thou hast no ])ower nor may'sc con- What did yc give me that I have tint ceivc of Mine, . savetl ? f nCTOR IGKOTUS 123 Nor will 1 nay I have not dreamed (how And Hce their faces, listen to their prate, well !) Partakers of their daily jiettiness. Of goinj! — I, in each new picture, — Disciisse«l of. — 'This I love, or this I forth, hate, A^. making new hearts beat and l>osoms This likes me more, and this affects swell, me less ! ' 'i"o PojK' or Kaiser, Kast, West, South Wherefore I chose my fiortion. If at or North, whiles Hmind for the calmly ."atislica»tiful from its event, regard. Till it reached home, where learned Age , At least no merchant trallics in my should greet heart ; My face, and Youth, the star not yet The sanctuary's gl(M)m at least shallward distinct j Vain tongues from where my pictures AIhivc his hair, lie learning at my fci't ! — stand apart : Oh, thus to live, I and my ]>icture. Only j>rayer breaks the silence of the linked shrine Willi lr)ve about, and i)raiKe, till life: While, blackening in the daily candle- should end, I smoke. And then not go to heaven, but linger They moulder on the damp waU'a here. I travertine, Ili'ic on my earth, earth 's every man "Mid echoes the light ftMitstep never my friend, — ! woke. Ttic thought grew frightful, 'twas so So l-l- ' I I, 'I I: •24 KRA LIPPO LIPPI And nip .•adi softlinn of « ».•<• whito A w.mi.I-.ohI or Ihr like ? i.r y..ii sIi.-mM mouse, .s,.,. ! Wikr, irrh, thai '.s iR|.t to kicp liiiii Vcs, Iin the |>iiintcr. .-ituc you -\\\r comimny ! m,- so. Aim. you know your Ix-ttir / Tli.n, Whiit. hrollicr Lii)iM)".s doinjis, up itu.\ you'll taki- flown, Your hand away that "s liddliuf; on my You know them and tli.y laki- yon ' •liroat. lik,. (.ii<)ii>;li ! And please to know nie likewise. Who I saw the pro|Mi- twinkle in your eve "'" 1 ' "IVIl you, I liked your looks at "v.iv Why, one, sir, who is lod^'inj; with a first. f"''"'' l'<'t 's sit «n\\ Iliree streets otf—li,. V a certain . . . hip to haniieh. how d'ye call / Here 's spring' eonie, and the nights .mi, Master— a . . . Cosirno of the .Medici, makes up hands In the house that caps the corner. To roam the town and sin;; out (arni\,il Hoh ! you were Ik-sI ! .\n,l I've U-i-n three weeks shut wilhiii HememlHT and tell me, the day you're my mew, hanped, .\-paintinr; for the preat man, saints mimI How you atfected such a pullet's- saints pri|K' . And saints npain. I could not paini ill nut you, sir, it concerns you that yoiu- nipht — knaves ' ()„f i I leaned out of win(h)w for fn-h I ick up a manner nr)r discredit you. air. Zooks, are we pilchards, that they There came a hurry of feet and IH'I. sweep the streets ' f,.et. And count fair pri/.e what comes into A sweep (".f lute-strinps laii-dis iii.l _ their net ? ^^.|,if,^ „f ^„„„^__ '' ' He s Judas to a tittle, that man is ! F(>,ir,r o' l/>t Immw. Just su.h a face! vhy. sir, you make Tok, „,m,/ /„>; . „„<} „„r u,,lh is „ t„„>l. ' fti"<'"'i*<- Fhunr o' Ih, ,,,n„c Lord, I'm not anpry ! lii.l y„ur hanp- / l,t l.is,, ,,,,. .,i,d what ,,n,^r., „/ /■/. dopspo ,v/»r, .' Drink out this .pmrter-f'orin to the F/o„Yr„'tf,rtlnfw.~»,\,]^„,m HoiiihI health they went. Of the munihcent Hous,- that harbours Scarce had they turnen ,),e corner wlini , . , ""' a titter ' (Ami many more Ix-si.le, lads I more Like the skipping of rahhits hv mo,„.- . , ,r"l''!) li«ht,-threeslimsha,H.s- And nl s come s.|uare apain. I d like And a face that looked up . . . zooks mi hisfa.e— flesh and l)loo«rd by S,;i,t Laurence, hail fc!lo«. It s not your chance to have a bit of ; well met,— '^h*l''» i Flviar V the rum , FKA L1I»P0 LIPPI 125 // I'tr I'll II mirfi/, ir/ial maUvr who Have jjivoii tlwir luMirtu to — nil nl ri^'lit kiiowi f I years olil. Anil so IIS I Wits sIfiiliiiK liack n^aiii Well, sir, I foiiiul in time, yon niuy l>e I'll ;^'i-t til Ih'(I and have a hit of sleep j sure. Ki'i' I rise ii|i tiLinorrow ami >;ii work 'Twas not hir nothing — the {rood helly- llii Jeriiiiie knockiiij,; ut liis |io(ir old till, hreast Tiie warm serpo and the rojK' that goes Witii his jiroat round Ntone to siiImIuc all round. tile tiesh. And day-lung hlessed idleness heside ! Villi snap me of the sudden. Ah. I see I ' Ix't 's see what the un hin 's fit for '— Tliiiujjh your eye twinkles still, you that ranie next. shake your head — Not overiiiu hriilo t.H)k Krnwlinn. pniv.d. ..i,.| II » *"•■"' tlu'ii w.H Konf. lUUixt till- ins ami outs of virl) and I iminti.l all. tli.n ,ri..d • lis ask ..i„l noun, havt — On the wall, (he In-nih. liio d.H.r. The ('lio,isc. for nion- 's nady ! '—laid il,. ^ monks I.K)k.'.n,la(k. ladd.-rliat. Nay. ouoth thf Prior. ' turn liiui out, And showed mv tov.T.-d hit of ,h.i>i, ,- •ly.-suyv ^j^ii In no wise. l,oM- a « row and ratdi a I'hr monks ( losod in a .inK- an Larmohtfs. hke thoso ('amaldolcsc not to soe. And rrt-achinj,' Friars, to do our church Hcinx simple IxMlicH,— ' that '« the vmv , , "I' hn«' man ! And put the front on it that ought to rxK)k at the hoy who stamps to i«t tl„ ■ doj; I And hereu|)on they bade me , t Signing himself with the .)ther iM-.ause men— iwu,. °^^'l";''*^ ,, -'^'""'•■' '*<>•''• a'"' it ■* 1 'in-. **ni<>h.' • ■ . (Whose sa,l fa.i' on the cross s. es only • n.j it 's not . . . if..... ii.'l"! „ • » .1 , : !• '■< vapour done up like a new-l„.iu .Altei tlie passion of a thou.sand years) liaU Till some poor girl, her apmii oVr her (In that sha|,e when vou .lie it h.u,. ii-u- I . . vour m.-utl!) W huh the intense .^y.s lo.,k,-l through. It V . . . well, what matters talking. ,i \ came at eve On tip-toe. said a word, drop|K'il in a ( l.af, the ;-or,! 1 ive us no more of l.,«ly lliaii sli,,n- soiil ! FRA UI»I»() l.IIM'l 127 Hen' 's (tiottu, with his Saint o-praiNing If you j{ft Hiiii|ilf iH-auty niul nought That .'I'lM you |trai.>tinjf,— why not stop You get uImmiI the Inst tiling ut all thoughts of prHine i, nnd what Within yoiuM If wluii you return Him not •/ thanks. Paint the soul, never mind the hgs and ' Kuh all out ! Well, well, there '« my arms ! life, in short. Hub all out. try at it a second time. And so the thing has gone on ever sinee. Oh, that white Bmallish female with the I'm grown a man no douht, I've liroken hreaHts, lH)in»ls— .She's just my niece . . . Herodias, I You shouhl not take a fellow eight years would say, — old Who went and daneeainters, great Lcfl foot and right foot, go a doulilc and old ; step. Brother Angelico 's the man, you'll Make his tiesh liker and his soul more tind ; like, Brother Lorenzo stands liis single |)cer : Until ill their order ? Take the pret- Kag on ut tIesh, you'll never make the tiest face, third ! ' Till' I'rior's niece . . . patron-saint — is it Flourr piik-* my |irnrtii'i< ii|i — lic'll puiii ••.lllll- - .l|>ilri', A l.niiili, a I ly. tin- liiiimix nf llic [ Iiii|h' i -tlioiiu'i I ni'ViT livi- so Iciri-, wiiilil - I know *lial 'h Miin- to fnttow. Von !..■ ( Finns f .>' Ihi /» /<■/<, jlhliii- ! //'(/// /.wer, Au'l I {(<, sur|'riu;:h the lulljer iIo'M not preueh to hue, hiiii Till' mount lin rouml it iml the The only u'lioil of v'rass is to make ilialV. alio\e. What woulil men have ? Do they like Much more the li^'uns of m m, woii m, f;rassorno-- i liiM. May they or m lyn'l they 7 all I want 's These are llie fr une |o ■.' \\ Ii il ^ 1' | the thin;; ahieit .' Settleil for ever one way: as it is. To !■ imss.-.l over. 'spisi'i! ■; or il.i- Voii tell ti«) many lies ami hurt yourself. u|ioii. You don't like what you oiily like Iim. Wonderedal .' oi:, this lasl of eoui-. liHieh, you sav. You do like what, if ^iven you at your I .it why not do as well as sa;-,— pun' word, the-e You find ahiimlantly deti-tahlc. .Fust as they are. . areless what eoiiic- m| For me, I think I s|H'ak as I vvas t.i'iuhi it'? 1 always see the (Jarden and (e ■ tlun Cds works — paint air -e. and ... int A-makin;; man's wife —and, iiiv i sson il crime learned, I',, let a truth slip, Don'l ohjei 1, II The value and .siiinilii-anie of ll.-^li. work- I lairi unlearn ten miiiuti - atterwanls. Are here already —nature is eompiel. : Stip|M).se you repriMluee her — (whiili \ 1 You understand ,■• : In ,1 U^ast. I can't) know. There "s no advantaije ! you must 1.. ii IJut see, now— vvh\, I see as eenaiuly he'-, then,' .\s that the iiioriiui'j-star '- alHuif to i or. don t you mark, we're made ,1 shine, that we love Wiiat will hip some lav. We've a Fir-t when we see them |iainted, tlun youniister heic we havi' I'lissed Comes tooiirconveir tiidh's what Idu. Pcrlia;- a hundred times nor care! ; Slouches and stares and !■ (s no atom see; drop — .Vnd so they are better, jwinted— hi tt. 1 His name is (it.idi— hell iMt mind the tons. monks — W.iicli is the s.iino thim;. Ar! >^ '- They eall him HiiUuni l\ them talk- Ill, he lets liiven for that — I Jod uses Us to hel|) each other so. KHA Ul'PO LHMU 129 liihliir; our iiiimK nut. Iluvr you Fur |iity iiiiil r<'li),'iiin ^'tnw i' tluTrnwil' ur |uiiiillii^ ni-ivio ill. |iui'|Hi«c ! Ilttlii'ol, tliiw, Viiiir rullion'n huii;{iii^ fair '.' A lul i>f rhiilk, I Aii'l IruHl lut' Itut you nhoulil, Ihuu^'li I — That i> — ynu II not nii^tiiki' uii iilU lllllj; tlir fimls ! II iiw iuui'ti luun-i • I ll 1 ilii'W liixlitT tilings Mitli till- siihii' S|Hiki' III a liull li\ a \iuitr inniik. ("..I tiutli wot. rii.ii Will' to lake till' rriui'-. |iul|iit- T.i liii;; the air llu> wpiry iiijiiit wliiili |ilui'<', I turiin liil('r|>i'('l liiul to all of you ! oil, oil, , 'I'lit' UDai'iuxtoiiii-il lunil like ( liiaiili ll niakt's nil- iiukI to svr hIuiI null "hall | viiit' ! till I Oil, till' cliun ll kiiitHx ! ilon't llli^^l■|lOlt Aiiil wf iti our irrnvr>i ! 'I'hi.i vorlil '.■> | inr, now ! no Mot for u^. j It 's natural a |M>ur monk out of IiouihIn N'ur lilaiik — It iiifans iiitonccly. ami Slioiilit liuvi- liis a|>t woril to i'\ru.-f iiiraii.-. ^ooil : liiliiM'lf : T>i liiiil it> iiii'aiiiii^' U my iiir.it uml Anil licarkm how I plot to iiuikf drink. aiiK-iuls. '.\\, l.'iit yuii ilon't Ml iii->tii!Mti' to i liavi' ln'thouuht nu' : I >liall paint a pruyiT '. ' I pifn- Miikf'- in till- I'rior ; ' w Inn your iiiraii- ' . . . 'I'lifrc 's for you! (iivc nu- >i.\ iii^ ^ plain inonth.s, then )n>. Mi- ll cliHs not .-ay to folk-* — rfim-inhfr Soincthin;; in Sunt" .\inl)rojjio"> I lili >.«« iiiatin.M, { till- nuns ! Ilr. tiiiiiil you fast tn-\l Friilay.' Why. They want a cast of my uHiir. I shall fortius I paint U'iuii nri'il of art at all V .\ .skull anil (Uxi hi thr iniilst, Mudonna ami hrr ImiIICS, j I)UI«', Twi) hits of stiik iiailril rross-wisi-, or, i Hingcil liy a Ijowcry, llowrry ani;rl- wliat 's Im-sI, lirooil, .\ Ih'II to I'liimi' the hour with, iIch-s as I Lilies ami vestiiieiits and white fares, ; well. sweet 1 iKiiiited a Saint Laiireiue six months As put) on putT of ^rat»'il orris-root .sinee i When ladies crowd to ehut'eh ut niid- .\l I'liito, sjilaslied the freseo in line | summer. -.tyle : j And then in the front, of ioiir.se a saint ■ lluw looks my paintiiii;, now the! or two — scafTold 's down 1 ' Saint .John, beiause he saves the I I :e*k a hrot'er : 'Hugely," he re- Florentines, I turns — Saint .Vmliro.se, who puts down in blai k i| '.Mnadv not ..ne phiz of your three and white I >la\\'s • The convent's friends and gives theni I Tli.ii turn the Deacon i If his toasted ' a lonj; day, >iile. And Job, I must have him there pa^t Dut "s .scratchiHJ and prodded to our i mistake, heart's content. The man of I'/., (an I's without the /. ill!' pious iH'ople have so eased their Painters who need his patience.) Well, own j all these U'iien coininj; to .say j>rayers there in a Secured at their devotions, np shall rajjf : i uine We get on fast to see liie bricks U'neath. ' Out of a corner when you least ex|H'ct, K.\|M( t another job this time next year. As one by a ilark stair into n great light, 130 FRA LIPPO LIPPI I t ? ANDREA DEL SARTO MiiMJo and talking, who btit Lip|)o ! I ! — j Mazed, motionless and nioon-stniek — I'm the man ! i r.ack I hhrink— what is this I see and (called the FAri.Ti.F,.ss paintkr ) hear ? ; Brx do not let us quarrel any more, I, eaught up with my monk's things by No, my Lucrezia ; bear with me for mistake, I once : My ol!»■ nick, I curls inside. Like the Prior's niece . . . Saint Lucy, Uon't count the time lost, either ; vmi I would say. | unisc .serve -And so all 's saved for me, and for the For each of the five i>ictures we n- church I quire — A )iretty picture gained. (!o, six It saves a model. .So! keep lookiiiL' months hence ! | so — Your hand, sir. and good-bye : no My sirix-ntining 1mm. ity. rouiul- on lights, no iiritk llmv own w-ay ba« k, j perfect ear-. Pori't fear me! ^Tiiere "- tlu- "n y !'vn t'> j.sit tin jK>ar! there! --h lie'iinning. Zooks ! vveet — ANDREA DEL SARTO 131 I My fare, my moon, my everybody's What I see, what at bottom of my heart moon, I wish for, if I ever wisli so deep — Which I'verylMxly looks on and calls his, Do easily, too — when I say perfectly And. I s»ipjx)se, is looked on by in turn, I do not boast, perhaps : yourself arc Wiiile she looks — no one's : very dear, j"'lge no less ! Who listened to the Legate's talk last You smile ? why, there 's my pietun- week, ready made. And just as much they used to say in There 's what we painters call our I France. harmony ! At any rate 'tis easy, all of it, A common greyness silvers everj'- No sketches first, no studies, that 's thing, — long past — All in a twilight, you and I alike I do what many dream of all their lives —You. at the point of your first pride in me (That 's gone you know), — but I, nt every point ; My youth, my hope, my art, being all tone and do, A twilight-piece. Love, we are in (Jod's hand. How strange now, looks the life He makes us lead ! So free we seem, so fetterc. Know what I do, am unmoved by men's But had you— oh, with the same in-rftM t blame j brow. Or their praise either. Somebody ' And jterfect eyes, and mors than ix-rfict remarks j mouth, Morello's oiithne there is wrongly Antl the low voice my soul hears, a>^ a traced, | hjrd His hue mistaken— what of that ? or The fowler's pijie, and follows to the I'lsi". I snare — Rightly traced and well or.lered— what Had you, with these the Bame, l)iit of that ■! • hiought a mind ! .Speak a:< they please, what does th;- Some women do so. Had the mouth mountain care ? there urged Ah, but a man's reach should exceed his •(}o^'. s'^e by side with Angclo— i'lacid and |K?rfect with my ait— the Rafael is waiting. Up to Gotl all worse ! three ! ' I know both what I want and what I might have done it for you. So it might gain— seems— And yet how profitless to know, to sigh Perhai)s not. All is as Gml over-rules. ' Had I been two, another and myself. Beside, incentives come from the .souls Our head would have o'erlooked the self; worhl ! ' No doubt. The rest avail not. Why do I nc m1 \ onder s a work, now, of that f2'""iis you 1 Ti i^-r*"*'* i ^^'''*'^ *'^*' •>*'' Rafael, or has Angclo ? llie L rbinate who died five years ago. In this world, who can do a thing will ( lis copied, George V'asari sent it me.) not Well, I can fancy how he did it all. And who would do it, cannot, I ikt- Pouring his soul, with kings and poi>es ceive : to see, , Yet the will 's somewhat— somewhat, Reaching, that Heaven might so re- j too, the jwwer— plenishhim, ! And thus we half-men struggle. At the Above and through his art— for it gives | end, **y '■ : Ood, I conclude, eomijensates, punishes. Ihat arm is wrongly put— and there ; 'Tis safer for me, if the award be striet. again — ■ That I am something underrateil licie. A fault to pardon in the drawing's lines, I Poor this long while, despised, to sinak Its botly, so to s[)eak : its soul is right, the truth. He means right— that, a child may I dared not, do you know, leave home understand. j all day. Still, what an arm I and I could alter it. For fear of chancing on the Paris lords. But all the play, the insight and the i The best is when they pass and look stretch— j aside; Out of me ! out of ine ! And wherefore ' But they speak sometimes ; I must Ixar „ , ""t 1 i it all. Had you enjoined them on iiic, given Well may they speak ! That Franeis, me .soul, I that first time, \Ve might have risen to Rafa«'l, I and And that long festal year at Fontaine- >'""• • bleau! Nay. I^ive, you did give all I aske<,l, I I :,uri-ly then could sometimes leave tiio tl»ink— 1 ground, ANDREA DEL SARTO 133 Put OH the glory, Rafat'ln daily wear, ^ My better fortune, I resolve to think. In that humane great monarch's golden For, do you know, Lucrczia, as (ioil look, — j lives. One finger in his beard or twiste*! curl Said one day Angelo, his very self, Over his mouth's goost of all, this, this, this face Would bring the sweat into that brow lieyond, | of yours ! ' Tliis in th'' background, waiting on luy To Rafael's ! — And indeed the arm is work, WTong. Til irown ♦he issue with a lust reward I I hardly dare — yet, only you to .see, A good tiiiie, was it not, my kingly (Jive the chalk' here — quick, thus the ild it end in any other way '! more pleaseo(ii picture.s ill your presence ; ' in. at last. t Icarer grow- Inside the iiielaiuholv little hou.H' 134 ANDREA DEL SARTO El-' r \ ) i • ■■■ > II III We F'lilt to be so gay with. God in just. I I am grown i^ateful a» old age t.v Kinj, i\hcn I look up from i«mtmg. eyes ; Since there my past life lies why alt.r tired out, it ? ' J " The walls become illumined, brick from { The very "wrong to Francis !— it is (rw ni..;„ ,-. , , . ^ , . , I ^ ^^^ •*»* ^o'"» w»« tempted and com- Uistmor they died • M .r '^'^•'''' 'I'lT ; ■ . ' '^"'' ^ ''«^'' laboured somewhat in n,v More gaming debts to pay ? you smiled time UMi i^.""^"'!"*? . . ' '^"'' ""* '^■^" I"*'"' profusely. Somr ^^ ell, let smiles buy me ! have you more .^ycA son >' ^ \ri 1 I" **'"'"''/ , ,. Paint my two hundred pictures— Nt While hand and eye and something of him try! 4 „ ,„?''*'*'■* ,. J No doubt, there 's .something strik".- a Are left me, work s my ware, ami balance. Vcs T-ll .^T \* '^ "^'""r!'.- w I '^'*'" '«^''"1 •»« *l'"te' enough, it sccns I II i>ay my fancy. Onlv let me sit I to-night The grey remainder of the evening out . This must suffice mc here. What wouM Idle, you call it, and muse jK-rfectlv | one have •> """^ ^l^t)r'"'' """" ' """^ '•*''' '" ^" "•^*^'«^"' »'^r»>*P^ '"-w chances, .,„,. n y*"';. I more chance- One pict^ure, just one more-the \ irgi- Yoyxx great walls in the New JerusHl, ,„ Not your's this time ! I want you at side To hear them— tli>it is. Mi( liael Angelo— Judge all I do ami tell you of its worth. Will you r TcvmorroW, satisfy your friend. 1 take the sul>jc< (s for lii> coniddr. ' Finish the |Kirtr«it out of haiul— tlicrc. ' tlieie. And throw him in anotiicr thinp or two " *"'■ ""ro'V '^' "*""'' ^''''"'^' '"""' f"*' «I'^HOP ORDERS HLS 1„MB To pay for%his same Cousin-s freak. "^'^ ''''^^'^ PRAXED'S CHURCH fii'sule, [ROME, 1.-)—.] What -s better and what V all I care ^ Vamtv, saith the preacher, vanitv ' ., , *.?',., . , ! Drawroundmybed: isAnselmkeclnl" •■■'fimKeii m. Ixjve, .Iocs that please you ? Ah, but Nephews-sons mine . . . ah G.hI I .... ^"*l *'"«« "e. know not ! Wdl- 1 he C ou.Mi ! what docs he to i lca»c you She, men would have to be your mutiur more . once. .Meted on each si.v.-..-j oiv>w. Anil as she die^i»;- "k" .vo..r .notherV for ,„y -;n.atT!,^ I'::: • .V epitaph ari.l.t. ''' '' ^1 "^'^"*''" '"^ ""'•«-^'^'"" ' "ev'rv wo.':. ■'"' '''""'' ''"""^"•^ , ^''"'^ ""'^ "^'•^^-^-' <'-'><«. and iill ,nv '^"SJT""' '"*" ^'""'^"'^■'' socon,. Wit., ^,;a,K.s. and add a vi.or a.nl a Tully. n|y jnasters r Ulpian serves ..is And toVilo'/ripod ye wonld tie a l^ nv And t.,e,. how I s..al. lie th.o.-.h "'""';,,'^;^»^"*JK'*' throws the thy.s,. ' '^^i!;^^'^'-.' ..>-.t.e.. of t..e S;.r;rra:;:r.::!^i;;"itS'^. And see (iod ...ade and eate., all d,,v " ^ InT tZ!- '"""'' '' ' '^'''"''' '""" An.. £n;e su.a..y eand.e-Ha.n.., a.,., ^ ^t^^^^^St^!^^^^ . Goo,. ^n.j,,l.i..k st„,H.fyin, i.,..e..s,.. (:,.itst.;;l"a-..r..n..,le ! C.an..nv s,,u„„. I- as ^I ,ie ..ere. h...... ,.f .,.e ,„.., As if ,^'::!;;rly ke.,. w.-.e ,„.i,. Jt;r~->ir;i--S:; i^ An.. st.e..l.',„y f,.,.| f,„tl. s..ai,l,t as '"..a.-LT ^ ""''' ^'""'"' '""' >'"" sto.ie can p,>i.i(, «,. i-.,, ', ,. ,^ ■' V!:;: "'"^■'"'"- ^- ^ " ■-" ^'^^-^ :' i:;;:;^.^!:;^:;:;';^^];::;, i. Into pvaMaps a..,| f...... of ...Ipto.-.. •,,,,, , ^Zr:2u a. l..is,.re if he ...., . - Andas^y,„,,ap,....|„i,.,|l,,a...lM.a..;.e' '"Xl"'!' "' ""'' ^''""' ''"^ '""""• (;.o.v. Sh"!;'^„,,ain .„.„..,..„. i,. .„v ! "^' '*'" '"" "'""''^ '""• ^° '^''- '^''^ ^'- ■ <'ars. ' I About the life b,.f„r,. I liv,,| this lif,. ' HISHOP HLOlTJRAJrS APOUH.Y A>.d this lif,. t,.,., I-oiHs. Canhnals a*..,. X,. ,nore win.- ? then well p„s.. ..,,. k S^in, Ir ; . .• e.,ai.s and fa.l<. mo'mn ''■'■'""" "" ""■ •^""■'U;|H-form,-, t..o„sh: . ,.ol. .' Vour t.dl pah- .uoth.r u,lh S,,-. (.,ik..,;. We ou;:!!!' to have our Abbey ..a.k, v,.,, ■ "' .see. BISHOP BLOUGRAM'S APOUMJY 137 It 'n ilitTi-rent, prcaihinfi; in baMilieas, And doing (iuty in wonic mastoriuocf Likf this of brother Pugin's, bless his ! heart ! I iluubt if they're half baked, those ; thalk rosettes, Ci|ilu'rs and stucco-twiddlings every- wliere ; U'k just like breathing in a lime-kiln : i eh ? ih('>c hot long eerenionips of our ehuifh Cost M.-i a little — oh, they [wy the price, Vuti tiiko me — amply pay it ! Now, we'll talk. S(i, you ilespise ine, Mr. Gigadibs. No deprecation, — nay, 1 beg you, sir ! Boide "tis our engagement : don't ytm know, 1 |iriimirs I (tvcrthe glass'sedge whendinner's done. And l)ody gets its sop and hold its noise Anil loaves soul free a little. Now "s the time — "In l)reak of day ! You do despise me i then. And if I say, ' despise me,' — never fear — I know you do not in a certain sense — , •Not ill my arm-chair for example : here, I well imagine you resi)ect my i)lace (Status, entourage, worUlly circum- stance) (I'liilc to its value — very much indeed —Arc up to the protesting eyes of you 111 pride at being seated here for once — ^ ou'll turn it to such capital account I When somelxKly, through years and years to come. Hints of the bishop, — names me — that 's enough — ■ Bioimram '! I knew him ' — (into it you slide) ' Dined with him once, a Corpus Christi Day, All rtlonc, we two — he "s a clever man — .\ni after dinner, — why, the wine you know. — Oil, tiicre was wine, and i;ood I — what with the wine . . . F 'Faith, we b^gan upon all sorts of talk ! He 's no bad fellow, Blougram — he had seen Something of mine ho relished — some review — He 's ipiite above their humbug in his heart. Half-said as much, indeed — the thing 's his trade — I warrant, Blougram 's sceptical at times — How otherwise 't I liked him, I con- fess ! ' ('fit rlit, my dear sir, as we say at Rome, Don't you protest now 1 It 's fair give and take ; N'oii have haci your turn and spoken your home-truths : The hand 's mine now, and here you follow suit. Thus much conceded, still the first fact stays — You do despise me ; your ideal of life Is not the bishon's — voii would not be I— You would like better to be C!oethe,now, Or Buonaparte — or, bless me, lower still. Count D'Orsay, — so you did what you l>referred. Spoke as you thought, and, as you cannot hel|>. Believed or tlisbelievetoric-^ nur^c- tell. Of how some actor played Death on a stage 3 VM BIISHOP BLOLXIIIAMIS Al'OUXiV f! r 1 With |.ii.-*te)oanl irown, »lmm orb ami The Ih-hI s i.ol biu. t|u- woi>t M,|,k Imst. led dart. cllxiw-rooin. Aii.l ialle.l iiiiLsolf the inonarth of tlie Now for our nix inonlh«- voyagt— l,o« world, prt'pare t I lien, jroing m the tire-rooin afterwanl Voii coi.u- on nhiplwrd with a I...1.I" Heiaiisf the play was ilone, to shift man's lint «•,.» . ''Ti'^' ... , ■ <'f '<>'"«« he calls convenit-nt-H. tkv (.ot touched .ij.on the hIccvc familiarly are ' The .no.nent he had shut the clos.t play ty|H' just now Best Ix' yourself, iniiK-rial, plain and tru( They jjet up well at U'i|«* self,— the marvellous Mod. m Vet 'twas not on your list Inf. jK-rhaps. — Alas! friend, here's the the re. No, friend, youdonot beat me,— hearken why. common j.roblem, yours, mine. The every one s. Th i't the name agent Is not to fane y what were fair in lift le captain, or whoever here — s IlM>trr Provided it could be,— but, finding first What l-p t N'ou see him screw his face up ; what may In-, then find how to make it j.;. fair o our means— a very iliflcrent if th"-' " his cry you set foot on shipboard feet sipiare you won't understand what six Uvt No abstract int.llcctual plan of life tiuite irrcs|H-ctive of life's plainest la mean, Compute and inirehase store J5ut one, a man, who is ma more, nand nothing: \,„| jj ingly — in pi.iue because he ovcrli. nil- May leail within a world which (I Is J{ your leave) (by )me or London— not Fool's- paradise. Kiiib(llj>h Home, idealize iiwa3-. Make Paradise of Loii,|„ii jf y,,,, ,..,„ ^our J.rome, j.iano and bat I come on board liare — why. you cut a li^ While symi^thetic land; Dt! ,'ur.' at (Ik hi t nun sec Mill .\ot afterwards, when, long ere hall \ on re welcome. na\-. \ W Jvich ou re wise, -iinii'- Y jMcp Up from vour utterly n.iki c mortal., cro-^ ihe onan of tiii. worM Im in ll It average cabin of a life— I) o sonic s berth. •uug and wcU-apfioiiiUi BLSilUP HLOUCJUAM'S Al'ULOCiY i:i]) Ukc mine, for inttiante (try the cooler A>Muiutv uiul exclusivt-, an you Miy. jiig— (Vou're wrong— I mean to prove it in Put liai'k tlie other, but don't jog the due time.) iits enjoying his sea-furniture— (To you, and over the wine). Our "lis stout and projier, and there 's ntore dogmas then of it. With both of UH, though in unlike ihouuli I've the better notion, all degree, agriH-, Missing full credence— overboard with Of titling rooms up! hang thecar|)enter, them! Niat shi|)-Mha|)e fixings and contriv- I mean to meet yuu on your own iinces — premise — 1 would have brought my Jerome, Goo■• You'll guarantee me that t Not so, 1 Now come, let "s backward to the think ! starting-place. In no-wise ! all we've gained is, that See my way : we're two college friends, I belief, siip|H)se — i .\s unlx'lief before, shakes us by fits. I'ri'liaro together for our voyage, then, Confoun uiine, a bishop's outfit ; criti- i In-lief, (ize ! I .Make it bear fruit to us / — the problem What 's wTong? why won't you be a i here. l)ishop too 1 -fust when we are safest, there 's a smi- ,.-, o . 1 •, 1 1- ' set-touch, Wliv. hrst, you d mU, 1,,,, ,,. i'l •! 1 . To rap and knoav so, like the honest man you •r„L.. i, .„i .„ i ■ .i t , . :.. ., '' iake hands an, 1 to(>, not a fool, voii please to .„.;., .11 *■ again. — Milt i;.. I i.,'i; ■ 1 ■. 1 I ' '"' grand Perhaps I \\v look on hcli- Mii-I tind iH'heving every wlul as hard, |.s|-_ Aii'l if I do not frankly say as iuik li, •... . .[.'"''•Vi • • • • • ll,,. ,,,,1,, , ., . •• 1 1 I licre tlie old misgivings, crooked (inc. - iiie ii;;ly conseiiucnce is clear enongii. ,• „ „. " .Now, waif, my friend : well, I do not This good (lod,— what He (oiild do, if 'hIIcxc He would. If vuu II accept no faith that is not Would, if He could— then must have 'i-'ked, < done long >ince : 110 i i I t ; MISIIOI* JtLOl't;UAM'S AroUMJV If i»o. wh.ii. whm-. ttud huw 1 Hoinc ConbiUt our »hi|... ioiulition» hh.I v,,,. way iiiii.st bf, fcfl alK)ut,uii(l M(X)ii or iHd-you hit Nome MMw, ill whiili it might be, after all. Why not. • The W«y. tlie Truth. Die J.ife 1 ' llrul Om- and Imt one i hoiie xiiitable t.> ,ill. The !h yon .i l'l> g the line there. |ilaiti from l)a.se nought eJKe. to brow. I I know the MKvial kind of life 1 hk. . Not vague, mistakeabU- ! what s a i ^^ ''"''*"'''*•"«■ ""O"! mv idiiwyiK i,i,. break or two j Bring« out the \K'>i of nie amrUiir- \m Seen from the unbroken tlesert either i '"'uit Ni'li" * I In IHJwer, iieaee, |>le«Kan(neHM and I. ii;;ili And then (to bring in freNh philoMophy) ' «>f •'a.V'*. What if the breaks themselves shoulil • *'"'' •hat |>oHitive Inlief dM lilt-, uiKi iiiiiteiiei. no will! of llii The most (onstimmate of eontrivanees — f'or you. it (Uhs, however ?- iImi To train a mans eye, teaeh him what is ., ,. »f'll try ! faith ? j "Tis clear. I eannot leail inv liti . ai And so we stumble at truth's very test ! Itast, All we have gained then by our unN'lief , I'«l"i«" the world to let me |ieai ""' thislK-ingso. ' i , , '""kMnends ; An.l lH,th things even.-faith and •^"'' ^fl'" ""S'" overtakes me. .lo«„ unlH'lief ' Ufttoa nmn's choice.-we'll proceed '^''''''' ;'•;?"; * '''•''"• '"'^ «" ''""' ■ " The sooner the lietter, to begin afn-Ii. What '8 midnight's doubt befor. the And my provision 's for life's w.ikiii.' part. Returning to our image, which I like. A man's choice, yes— but a cabin- (Mssenger's — ■J'lic man made for the .special life of the world — J>J you forget kjiii ■/ I remember though t dayspring's faith t You, the ])hilo.sopher, that disbch. u. That recognize the night, give (ii..iiii- thcir weight — To be consiotent you should keep \our bed. ' BISHOP BLOITJRAM'S APOLOfJY 141 Alxtiin from healthy artu that prove yon a man. For (i-ar you drowso p«>rha|» at un- awarcN ! And oirtainly at night you'll Mlwp and (Irram, I.ivr through the ilay ann,— anil itH ^immI tliinps lomr to m<>. Ill t'stimation, which Im half the liKht. That '•< the Krxt calnn-comfort I secure— The next . . . but you |H'rceive with half an eye ! Come, come, it 'h Itest iH'lievini:, if wc may— YiMi onn't hut own that ! N'ext, concede a){ain — If once we choose In-lief, on all accouiitn \Vr can't \h' too decisive in our faith. ConduNive and exclusive in its terms. To Miit the world which gives us the ^oihI things. In every man's career arc certain i>oint» WliiTcon he dares not U- inditTerent ; The world dete<'ts him clearly, if he dares. A» l>att{«'d at the game, and losing life. He may care little or he may care much F(ir riches, honour, pleasure, work, re|ios«'. Since various theo'-'i-s of life and life's Sill cess are extant which might easily CorniHjrt with either estimate of these ; Ani once a man has arhitrated on, Wc ,ay he must suc.eed there or iio hang. Tiui-i. lie should wed the woman he loves most Or nst and readiest means of living by ; The same on examination l)eing provetl The most pronoun<'ei .eover, fixed, precise .And absolute form o' faith in the whole world — Accordingly, most iwtent of all forms For working on the world. Obwrve, my friend. Such as you know me, I am free to say. In these hard latter n or ll.n i.,u-stve. I ^l..,„| . IMtHi.. lo.liK.'^l Ihrsodainiir. en..!.'. Nirivi- Thr tiMk.-.! Iif.. IS irro,H 1,11 , lotlu.l ii,n.ii To make what me of oarh wrr,- i«i-,M. I must Irtk.- what inni i,;.,,. with n Ami «m this ral.in K.t. upholstrrv. A. .1. *''^?"i II . ..»L, I'l'at hnt«h should nistl.' with iiili„ni As thoii^'h I woiihl Dot, niiihl I hcl|i it, straw trtki' ! An iiiiiforiii f wear Ihoiijjh oviT-rii h— *• '•■'•''••'• I dorit m km.wl, ,|.,. S(»iiiithill>j itll|HMi-(| (III iiic, llorhoirr of , ., '•""''' "" *""' iiiiiif ; '/"'I «»' '•11 your iiianhocxl's hifty i >-i.. .No faiicy-dri'ss worn for pure fuiu y'" •''"""'•''■•'•••'I '•o fonuilatcntly, xakf **" •*"' ""'•■•■ KFounfl that you for-iMith And (h-s|ii('al)h> therefore! now men kniH-l And ean find Kiiei-i !•> ••li" particular life I ehootte to Nail kisM niv li'ind— of eourxe the •'^''><'' pr^viMion for them, fan von ii,,i Chun h's hand. \^^y .V""- "'.v fault is I address iiinmIi Thus I am iiia(h-, thus life is liost for mr, '" KroNser estimators than I need ,' Anil thus that it shouhl In- I have |iri»- •^"'' "'"' J" "" ^^^ "' holding u|. t I ured ; And thus it could not Ih> another way, 1 venture to imagine. You'll reply — HOllt — Which, nohler, ne«MlN ;iien's praise im- haps, yet knows One wis*' man's verdict outwei^ih- all - -'-- •• •« i'"j tilt'* i(M)In — — S.I' w.'r^' r' m'.'? "Vl""!"' '" * "'"■'■••'"' ■' WoMhilikethet^o. but, forcnl to cl,.«,.., u were I made of In-tter eh-ments. , ,ak,.s that ? With n.^.r instincts, purer tastes, like I ,,i„e amonK my million imWcilc. I h«r,fly 'wouhl account the ,,,i„^ | < ^ "" ^ly^'Jj «*""' «"'•'<• «l™<'» mm n .,f Though'u'dM all for me I say. | '^^" t-li!^' ^""* ""' ^'"■""' ' But, friend, '" V"' '""' *'"'''"« Virgin, as I vn«. We s|H'ak of what is— not of what tuiuUi '•"" *'" * '""'• "•■ ''islx-lieve in li. i Ih', ! •^"•1 ""• a knave,— approve in nnilur And how 'twere U-tter if 'twere other- ' ,,.. , , ''.*;*''•, wise. uithhohl their voices though I liM.k I am the man vou see here plain , ., Jl'tir way : enoujih— " L.''"" »»"rdi when, at his worst o|'.r,i- tlrant I'm a lieast, whv. beasts must „,, ''"'' lead iM-asts' lives"! ''he thing they gave at P'loreii...- Suppose I own at once to tail and ,,., ., \"'"" •" 't-*-"*'!"' ') claw.-— Uliile tile mad hoiiseful's jilandii- iiimf The tailless man e.ueeds me ; but beiiiK „. o"'-l>niig taileu-iner- is nwt to n-makc niysilf, '> I"'"' •''it« HaH-tini jmtienf in hi^ -' ;!! Hut make the absolute In-st of what .\ay, friend, I meet -on with an an- {.olmade. swerhere- BISHOI' HF.(»r(;KA.M'S Ai'OUKJY 14.1 I'li.H fvi-n '••>iir |irii.ii' nifii wliii .T|i)iriii«f Ifnw cun In- All cvt" (urn Willi II Ari' iiH'ii I lllllT<-l. all li a wliri'l williit WIk Mlfp (ilT llic line mt i-itlxr kllCfl, iiorc ill a liiilh llinn tin- Iriilli' N'mi, fur cNHiiiidt', iIcvit Io a f.iiill. iiiiiilr ff\f. ( iJlUllsf IIH'IIIHllVI-* I he Htntt Ykii ■<('<■ laiU walli >i\tytli<>niiiiiilf: wlial 'rl<-iii llial \iiil -.ii' Dllc lail o'rivtiiilc a iliiiniirv 'I'Ik' rniiiili ami nailv man lliat miiIc n|>Uri>, Ht'ail >mi'ulial -<< lilnmi r, lliiiik | < r- Vi a|w cviii l.-< 11 •.im-l iin v<><> III ili--aml-Mi— lii>< «'ilr(>|il willi vH MtaiulM ! Our intPri'Nf '« on the dangerous o(l({r "f All IN-tcr';* i Imiiis uhoul liin wai-f. Iii- thiii)(K. Iiark The honot thiof, the tondiT niiinlcrrr. Hravt- with tlu- iu-i'»'ri«titioiiM ath*-ist, tlciiiirc|is | dom, Th.it lovf and savf their kouIs in new Ik-liivec ! A>jain. wiio wondtrH and Krcnrh IxMtks — | who carfw '! We wutch while IheM- in ei|iiilil)riiiin ' But I, the iiiuii of M-nse nnil lenriiiii« keep ! too. The fjiddy line niiilway : one Mte|> The alile to think yet ni t, the this, the aHide, i that, i'luv'ie rloHwd and done with. I, then, I, to helieve at thif late time of day ! keep the line Knoiigh ; yon nee. I need not fear i on- |{ifi)re your saj;ef*,— jiint the men to | tempt. Niirink Friiiii the nros« weinhts. coarse st-ales, I —Except it 'h yours ! admire ine a* and lalx'ls broad the>e may. Villi otTer their retinement. Fool or Voii dcml. Hut whom at least do you knave t admire ? Wliv needs a hishop In- a fool or knave Present your own [nTfections, your Uliiii there 's a thousand diamond ideal, wei)ihts Ix'tween ? Yoiir pattern man for a minute— oh. Sip I ciiliMt them. Your picked Twflve, make haste ? you'll find. Is it Napoleon you would have us ^jrow ? Profess themselves iiidiKnant, scanda- Concede the means ; allow iiis head and lized hand. At thus lH>in« hehl uiiahle to explain (.\ laru'c concession, clever as you are) How a suiH-rior num who dishelieves (looil !— In our common primal eU-- Mav not iM'lieve as well : that "s ment Sihellinif's way ! < 'f unl>elief (wc can't believe, you II 's through my coining in the tail of know — time. We're still at that admission, reco., .t) Xii'kinc the minute with a happy lact. Where do you find- a|)art from, towei- Had I t««en horn three hundred yc:\r> ing o'er ago The secondary temporary aims They'd say, ' What "s strange ? Hlou- Which satisfy the gross tastes you )?rain of course believes ; ' despise — • And, seventy years since, ' dislx-lieves Where do you tind his star ?— his crazy of course." trusi r.iit now. ' He may Wieve ; and yet. (!oellos-make the world o. \\T IT ■ VVithout a risk to run of either sort ' We neither o, us see it ! we ,lo sev , I can't !-to put the strongest re son The blown-up millions— sjwtter of their Hrst And wriuirn'g of their .-owels and so ' ''"* Scf" '"'*'' ' ^'" ^'""^'"^ ^''^" In that'twildering entanglement , '""^ " The'lir.'""' " ""'• '""''•"■■' ^'"'" Of horrible eventualities Trv to lie .ShnlfAt -« i - *i Past calculation to the end of time ! ' ^ £,.."'' •'*^' '"°^*' *»'«' ^''^' '° Can I mistake for some clear word of Spare my self-knowle-''">"ewhat. I ,.>- chance u i i /i" • Doubt may be wronir »l,,r. • • i "'' 'f' *'"' """K'nation ; stick to thai I „. , nienf. lif'e ,ri7;'"" ^ '"''■ '"" ""^^^Iji^: ' '" «"- '•- "f '".V ^.'"1^ ' K.Co;;'r;:g;;, ! ""^^ ""\^' -;-'*. worthless and i i,. BISHOP BLOrr.RAM'S APOLOflY 145 J^'si 1 should wrong them " — I'll with- draw my pU-a. Unt (loos he say so ? look upon his life ! Hiiiistlf, who only ran, gives jiulf;- ment thert-. Hf loaves liis towers anst can Im> but the earth's best ! Dill Shakesj)eare live, he coidd but sit at home Anil get himself in dreams the Vatican, ' (Jreck hn^ts, Venetian paintings, Roman walls. Ami English Iwioks, none etpial to his own, ' Wliiih I read, 1>o\md in gold, (he never did). — Tcrni and Naples' hay and Oothard'i; top — I'll, friend ? I could not fancy one of these — Rill, as I pour this claret, there th«'y are — I Vf gained them — crossed St. (lothard last July With ten mules to (he carriage and a l>erts up (lods rule again by simple! exists. moans '■ The more of doubt, the stroncer f.iith Ht'-opens a shut book, and all is done. I say. He flared out in (he llarinj,' of iiiin- If fait h o'eroomes doubt. How I knew •<'»•' : it does t Such Luther's luek was— how shall sueh Hy life and man's free will. Ood .'avc 'x' "»'np t for that ! If he suceee«le .Strauss as swing twixt Paul 'What think ye of C'hri.st,' frienl ? I. • . '.'• . . *•"*" «" '" e a man like ns. love What nioriifie■ middle-age these noodles here or there, ]>raise. I. » vlu*- 1 1 » i How you'd exult if I could put you Pure faith mdeed— you know not back Six hundred years, blot out cosmogony, ' \ak.^l belief in (Jo i j. ♦^,i:„\ . , I hat signines some faith s about to die) I. iu"*' • u- a 1. u 11 Ami set you square with (ienesis It were the seeing Hun, no flesh shall , ••' ' f /u*T /. .• ' i * 1 When such a traveller told you his last Some think. Creation s meant to show i ■' H' f ih news, nim lorin : He saw the ark a-top of Ararat I say. It s meant io hide Hini all It can. „ ^ i- , * r i »i, ; „ ',..,„ 4 ill. 1' u * 11 .u 11 1 t^ 1 ' But did not climb there since twas Awl that 8 what all the bles.se(l Lvil s **■ i i , i getting dusk T, . *,p. ... And robber-bands infest the mountain s Its use m fime is to environ us. , ft' (*ur breath, our drop of tlew, with .shield „ i°°ii' / i t„i • . „i, „„ enoiish should you feel, I ask, in such an .Amiinst that sight till we can bear its ' „ "?^'' , ., i * u .,.,,1 . '^ 1 How act ? As other jx-ople felt and stress, did ; 1 ndcr a vertical sun, the exiKjsed brain I ,.., , 111*1 u ■ „-., A...I rii „ - .. I 1: .. . -: ... 1 1. ...» With soul more b ank than this < ?can- Au(i li'lless eye ami disemprisonetl heart I t ' L- I Ixss certainly wouhl wither up at once ^ ,. '»*«" s »»no». t.^i^t.. Than miml, confrontes ! Tho sum of all is-yes. my .loul.. i. o er his head, art^ai j"^ . "',v i k Satan looks^up between his feot-both! My faith's' still greater-th-n mv H. Ill** I- 1/^1. ... . ' faith 's enough, ^ ^oulwaicen • '" "'"''"'" *'" , ^ '"'"x "Hene" 1 * *''°"«*" """''• An.I.'..,w.s. Pmlongthatbattlethrouph Yet wSTie'rather'than avow ,„v lUH lilt I ft'ar Never leave growi..., till the lif. to The Naples' liquefaction may be fal-v u.. • ■ . .. ... "hen set to ha|»i)en bv the nala. ,' Here, we ve got rullous to the Virviii's! ,lcKk paia.,- Th.t .y't"* 1 ... •^''•'O'"'''"*? to the elon«Is or dinner-! inip "oilv ^ ''^'''" *''"''ri'""'*.'y«'''--«"H"»-n,I.I„,ighratl.':.t .luiimj, Miminate, (lecrassifv niv faith Men have outgrown the .ha,„e of l.ing .Si nee I adopt it ; kl^S/'tt I nn.t What are'the laws of Nature, not to f'"' 'ZIU^"' ' '^""-«"^'> »*-"^ If the' alureh bid then> ^-brother ^ ' """away '' '"' ' ''"''' ''"°" ^^•"" Up wi^7ri.n:.tula.e Conception, '"'^''tV'"" '^ "'^ ^"'^"^ '" *'"" ' n., .^^fk" - I -.1 / •.. . . •^''out the need of trials to man's fail li advice * ' ^"*'''~" '"'" ^till, when you bid me purify the sa,,' I.; w:u „ * Vi Vl . ^" '^"''" * process I discern no end , Who am Mhe worm, to argue with my That meet.!f\he knife-I cut and n„ ^"* '^SsoTort'r' "" '''^'' *'''"^'' ' ' i ^'^^* 7£the' Liquefaction, what co.n.s '''''"* "'ico*'' '•""""''•'"'"'"« *'''^'*"'' 'J»t Fi^hle's clever cut at Oo,l Mi,,,- * I self » '"Ts pro;;'r "' '' *'"'"'~"° '""•"•' ^^''P""">-ntali^e on sacr..l things - Philosophy is lenient-He may go ! i *"'"* brain*"""' '"'' "^^ "°' ^"^'^ ""^ You'll say-the old system 's not so I ^" ''^Tlifc"'"" ' '^'^ "" «"' ''"'"'' obsolete 'pi,„ »;.»»■» • But men believe still : ay, but who and *"''' ^'"" ""'''*" "°* *° <"'^^' King BoSrba'! laz.aroni foster yet ^'"" yLrTLl^" '•">»'»«-pro'"'- "> The sacre*! flame, so Antonelli writes ; As muVh as leaving growths of li.. B. t even of these, what raga. uftin-saint unprunwi. ^ ^ Behevrs Cod watches Inn. continually. Nor see ..lore danger in it vo,. retort ■^ i:.^ ^K;S ^ir^ fc ; -r ta.. s ^t^ _ / ^^1' .^ .. Sin agai,?st\:in: although the ,,enalty ^^''"" hd.l'"'""*'' '^"^ ""' ^^''"'^'^^ "' ^"•''.!...'!i;:sr "' '"''""'• •'■'"• *" '*" •'"fafth '■-""' ""' "' "'" '•''•''" '^ ^''"" ihe.usZ.l""^ '""' '"" '"^"'■••'^ '■'^•*-^ ?'"'♦'"• "''vantage, makes ,i,e ' ilitference, BISHOP BLOUGRAM'S APOLOGY 149 With the roiifih purblind maun wc Kcek to rule. Wc art' their lords, or they are free of us ,Iii>t as we tighten or relax that hold. So. other matters e(nial. we'll revert I'd the first ])roblein — which, if solve]H>ct the creature-comforts, care to r>ilc Tiic ma.Nses. and rejiard complacently ■ 'I'lic cabin,' in our old phrase I Well, I do. 1 act for. talk for, live for this world now, .\> tliis world calls for action, life and talk— \o jirejudice to what next world may ))rove. Whose new laws and requirements, my ! best i)lcdj;e Tc) observe then, is that I observe these now. Shall do hereafter what I do mean- while. Ix't us concela>otij with torres]Hjuding fooler.v Halfway into the next still, on and oR ! As when a traveller, boimd from North to South, Scouts fur in Russia — what 's its use in France t In France spurns flannel — where s its need in Spain 1 In Spain drops cloth — too cumbrous for Algiers ! liinen goes next, and last the skin itself, .\ suiKrfluity at Timbuctoo. When, through his journey, was the fool at ease 1 I'm at ease now, friend — worldly in this world I take and like its way of life ; I think My brothers who administer the means Live Ix-tter for my comfort — that 's good too ; And (erceived However feebly. Do then, — act away I "Pis there I'm on the watch for y(>u ! How oiu' acts Is, both of us agree, our chief comcni : .\nd how you'll act is what 1 fain woulers "• >' '"mni I read this in a Hench book t'other The ri^ht, by on.. lab..rious pro..f il„. ,. , *'*>• , , more, Does law so analyseuurar. tin thread begins, S..,nething we mav sc.- all we c ..„„ i You II soon cut that !-which means s,^._ ' ">^ " ' "" ^« '•'""" you can, but wont What nee.l of Jvin^r ? I ,s«v I s,-,. ,11 Ihrough certam .nstmcts. blind, un- An.l swear to'each .letail' the ni rerts•' «''«t Ami leaving ,,uiet what no strength, an Who want am ma.le for, an.l nnot huv.- An.l whi.h. wh.. bi.ls you move r wl,u V T . . . has the right ? nH.ren'a,.H;" ' "'"'" ' "" ^ ''''' ^"" = '"'^ >'"" ^^'^ <'«'"-^ ■-<"-T. »v . 1 V r. V . . ""* mil'.'— Want, but the tru.^ Ihui- with what 'hislnr i,t l,n lh,mi„„s' You find lowl.arelat.,jnfr..mthatth,„.l„ Much you may ,at without ho I. . "'•u.hing from h.ad I., f-mt —whi.h ..tTcn.c " wiinoui nio i. ,. t \nd wlirit llkc',1.. r ... If , •^'"' '' >■"" ''""'' ••''^ '^■^■""^•^' y»"' I" '- .\w\ witti 11 take tli. r.>t, tins life .if obie.ls. T 1 "'"^i^; , , Much you w.)uld cat but thai \'Mii I live my life here ; y.jurs you dare not | fellow-flock '^*'' I "l"'" Kieat eyes at v.mi aii'l even Imn. V,.,,. I , , •, , , , And tIiereii|K)n you' like your mat. -n — A.tt a^ I -tatc it, who (y.iu plc.i-.- ^vcll Dishgurc such a lilc and ..ill it name... ■ thum-. -^"'"^^t"- ""< '"""- BISHOP JILOUGRAM'S APOLOGY 151 J'hoiigh when they nvem ixurbitantly »ut motioned to the velvet of the sward l>y those obsequious wethers' very selves. I/Kjk at me, sir ; my age is double yours : .\t yours, I knew beforehand, so enjoye both have minds and bo (oiKcive ■; ! t!h ill, ^iil'lwM- m- die to-uifc'ht : well, here , Their drugget "s worlii m\ jiurpk, tlicv a'" I. i beat me. l.Vi HISHOP HL0L'C;RAM'8 APOLOtiY But you,— vou"re just ah little thoM- It's tliaiij{«'(l to by Dur novol In.,- nsl— i unhv) YiMi. (Jijiailihs, who, thirty yi-arn of huc With (.lijjadihM the literary inaii Write statedly for Blaikwrnxl's Maga- Who played with M|HK)nM, explJred lii> ■""*"• plates design, Believe you see two |K)ints in Hamlets And ranged the olive-stones alwut ii~ soul I e'«'•«"•. lie bi'lieved. .av. I,,,l( Ih.it lively lightsttine artu le we took he s|>oke. Almost for the true Diekens,— what 's riie other |K)rtioM. as he shaped it llni its name '.' Kor aiguineiilatory ]iur|M)ses, • I he Shun and Cellar— or \Vhitetha|Hl Me felt his Uh- was foolish to di.spui. -. '/f'; , . ,. ^"m«- arbitrary a. (Miental thoughts Limned after dark ! it made me laugh, That erossed his mind, amusing be( an i 1 know, new, And pleased a month and brought you He chose to represent as fixturis tin i< in ten pounds. Invariable eonviitions (sueh tlm — .Sii((e,ss I reeogiiize and compliment, seemed And therefore give you, if you choose, Ik-side his intorlcHutor's loose cards three wonis Flung daily down, ami not the sa ( I he card and |)cncil-scratch is (piite way twice) „.,.,'•"""«*>> . ,, ,,. ,. While certain Hell-deep iustiml-. \\ tnc h whetlier here, m Dublin or New man's weak tongue ,1. II ^ "'^''' ^'^ '"'^'" ''^''' *o '"**■'■ '» ('tis an n|.| brow s wink, mistake StRh terms as never you aspired to get To place Hell at the bottom of the eai I h ) In all our own reviews and some not He ignored these,— not havin" in rcadi- ours. np„j, (Jo write yourlivelysketches-bothefirst Their nomenclature and i.hilosoi.hv Blougram, or Ihe Eccentric ("ofi- He said true things, but called then. I.v fidence — wrong names. Or Ix-tter simply .say. 'The Outward- 'On the whole,' he thought, 'I iu>titv ,,., •'"""''• myself \\ by. i.u-n as soon would throw it in my On every |H)int where .avilU-rs like tin \ '*" \ < ,1 , ■ .. ■ *M'P>"fJ" m.V life: he tries one kiml nf .\s copy and (|uotc the infamy chalked fence— VI .'"■"*"' ,, , , , ^ riose— he's worsted, that's cikhiiiIi Aliout me on the church-door op|Mjsite.. for him • \ou will not wait for that exiH-rienee He 's on the ground ! if the imiI J , "'""«''' , , I should break away I fancy, howsoever you de.i.le, ! I take my stand on. there 's a firnui \. t I o d,,seontinuc-not .letestmg, not ; Beneath it, both of us may sink .hmI Uefaming, but at least— despising me ! reach. ,, ,. ., , His ground was over mine and bukc Over his wine so smiled and ( ilk(d the iirst : ^ , ,'''\'l','"'' , , «o let him sit with me this many a v., tr' .S\|vcs(er Blo!!;.'raiii. slylcd <» /«,,-'^'---- " A'/n.>C(>/>M.-. ,Kf «o«— (the deuce know.- He did not sit Ww miiiutts. Jii i d what ,veek lUSHOP BLOUCRAMS APOLOCiY 15.1 Siillui'il his Miiddcn healthy vchi'incrK r. For so shall men remark, in such an art (Soinething had striuk him in the Of love for him whose son^ xive: fe itii ' Oiitwanl-bounil ' | joy. Another way than Rlou^am'it |>iir|>OH0 Thy recoKnitiim of the use of lii • ; wtt") Nor tall thy spirit harely a.'lequai'e Ami havinjf iKiuRht. not crthin-fiirnitiire To help on" life in straijjht ways, broad Hilt settler's-implements (enough for enough ♦'"■"') For vulgar souls, l.v ruling and the rest. Ami started for Australia— there, I Thou, in the daily ixiilding of thy tower, •>"!'<'• Whether in fieree any this time he has testcii his first toil. 1'1""R|>. Or through dim lulls of unapparent And studie*''' — I work's sake — ( i.Eox the ))Oct, (from the sprinkled Hadst over in thy heart the luring hope isles. Of some eventual rest a-top of it, Lily on lily, that o'erlaee the sea. i Whenee. all the tunudt of the building Anil laugh their pride when the light hushed, wiive lisjis • (Jreece ) — Thou first of men mightst look out to To Protos in his Tyranny: mueh ] the East : health ! ' Tlie vulgar saw thy tower, thou sawt.st ''"'noT' *''•'■ '"'*"■ *" ""• '■"■" J-''"- ♦his'Ypron.ise on thv festival I nad and seen, as if I heard thee s,K-ak, T;: J^^ir.li !'"'!"" ' ^'^^"\*^ T l^'', '""' The Master of thy galley still unlades •^'"'""P \ '*'"'*' "'""^«*^ ♦''^ fortunes. (iift after^gift ; they block n,y eourt at .,.,,y ^,,,Tt wonls. and .lescrilx- thy royal Ane tilings .NOW coverec with t ns settle-down of -vi i • i i ^ . ^ I ,_. i .^nii i^i I hou wondermgly dost enumerate. fi,,. I,..- 1 .1 That epos on thv hundred plates of gold I mt lync woman, m her crocus vest i., „,:„! „„,i „i :.. 4i. i-..i i . W,, ,...,, ,« ,„. 1 -.L t . ui Is mine, — and al.so mine the little chant, » oven of sea-wools, with her two white c * • / .; i • i i Ijjj 1^ So sure to rise from every hshing-bark (■,„,,„„„ I , .1 . • 1 ^1 I When, lights at prow, the .seamen haul (Miimends to me the strainer and the; tht-ir nets 11,,. i;' I ,1 1 4. I ■, 1 1 The image of the sun-god on the phare iii> lip hath bettered ere it b esses ..„„ , ,„ ,. .„ ,, ^. ir . ' ' • .Men turn from the sun s self to .see. it; ! mine ; WrlUounselled. kiiij:. ill (liy luunili- The Pociile. o'er-storied il.-^ whole teiKc ! ' I length. 154 CLEON .\» thou (li.lHt hear, with |»aintinK. !« But hiiil them on a IcvH in his work, inmo Uw. Making at laxt a piitiirr ; thcro it lir 1 know the true proiiortir-.M of ii man So. first the |KTfctt seiwrate forms «,ri' And wonittii also, not ol)Mer>-e(l before ; made, Anrtions of mankind— ami afi.r «oul, H„, 1 rovniK absurd all written hitherto, O.Turml the inmbination <.f the mir And puttrng m to ninorance aaain. Or where hud iKcn a progress, .>tli,i- tor miiMie,— why, 1 have combined the wi^c i mood-, Mankind, mad. up of ail the Hiid.' Inventmj? one. In brief, all arts are men,— ,,,, "'''}•■ '\ , In such a syntliesis the lalwur end-, thus much the iK „ne mint We of these latter days, with greater The outsi.lc v— gc that roumis .mr nnnd faculty; Ihiui our forertmners, since more com- And where they reached, who diu do !""*'*''• nu)re than reach 1 Look not so great, beside their simple It takes but little water just to toiu li „, .^'fy* , , At some one jwint the inside of a lo a judge who only sees one way at sphere, ,, •?"•;•'• . . Ami, as we turn the sphere, touch all the One mind-|x)mf, and no other at a rest time.— In due succession : but the finer air ( onipares the small part of a man of us Which not so paljwbly nor obviou-lv Uith some whole man of the heroic age. Though no less imiversally, can tondi (.reat m his way— not ours, nor meant The whole circumference of that enipti..! for ours ; I sphere. And ours IS greater, had we skill to Fills it more fully than the water .li.l; ,, f""^'- „ , . Holds thrice the weight of wale r in lor. wh'it we call this life of men on itself ,,, •Mfth, Hesolved into ii subtler element. I In. scpieme of the soul's ai hieve- Ami yet I lie vulgar call the si.hcr- tiK nieiifs lure, f,,|| ' licin.'. iis I find muili reason to con- I'p to the visible heighl-and .ifirr "■•^'•. void; Intended to KxHwedcN. 1,1 ually .Not knowing airV more hi.ldcii ..r- As a great whoh, not aiiaiy td to part -. t» :tic.-,. Hut each part having ivf. iV„. r to all,- And thiisour'soul, misknown, cri. - • How iliail ii c( rtain part. pronouiKcil to Zeus compl, te. I,, vindicate hi., puri-os.- in our lit. K.iliire ena.rment by ano.h.r part ? Whystaywcon Ihrrarth unles- toti,.>« Was the thing done .'—Then, what s Long .since, I imaged, wrote tjic |„ tioii to do again '! out .See, in the chc-iucred pavement opiw- [ That he or other Ood. descends li.n «. **'.', .. , , '^"*'' ""^'« ^or all, showed siimillain- ftuppose the artist made a |)erfect ; ously rhomb. What, in its nature, never can be -iMmn .\nd next a l../.eii^c. li„ n ., tra|K-zoid— , Piecemeal or in succession ;-sh(.«, ■!. I lie did not overlay them, su|Hrjni|K).se I .sav. The new uiKin the old and blot it out, , The worth both absolute and rtlatiu CLEON 155 of all his (hildren from tho birth of j I NtamI, iiiyMplf. Krfrr tluM to the krovc Zeu»t' wlf, the latent, every- It might have fallen to another's hand- where ! what then r This in a dream. Hut no dream, let us I imns too surely : let at least truth hojic, I «tay ! Th;it yi'ars and ilnys, (he summers and the springs i And next, of what thou followest on Foll"H each other with unwaning ^ to ask. jiowers ; This lieiri- with me ns I declare. () king. Til' f:ra|>es which dye (hy win*-, are My works, in all these varicoloured richer far , ' kind.s, Thnnigh culture, liiiin the wild wealth So done by nu", accepted so by nun — of the roer end of life. Kwt'ft ; Inipiiring thence how, now life closeth The flowers turn double, and the leaves up, turn flowers ; I face deal I: with success in my right That young and tend, r crescent-moon, hand : thy slave. Whether I fear death less than dost Sleeping u|H)n her rol)e as if on clouds, thyself Uitines ujion the women of my youth. The fortunate of men. ' For ' (writest What, and the sdul alone tleterinrates ? ! thou) Iha\c not chantetl verse like Homer's. 'Thou leavest much behind, while I "" — leave nought : Nor swept string like Terpander. no— Thy life stays in the ikkims nun .shall nor carved suig. .\ii(i painted nuMi like Phidias and his The pit tures men shall >tudv ; while friend : ,„y life, I am not great a^ (hey ar<'. j-oint by Complete and whole now in its [Kiwcr ix'iiit ; and joy, I'lii 1 have entered into sy padiy Dies alt(>^eth'er with my brain and arm. With tiuse four, riuming thcNC into one Is lost indeed; since, what .survive Hiul. mvself ? Wli" separate, ignored eaih othei:,' The brazen s(a(ue (hat o'eilooks my arts. grave. Say, is it nothing t' it I know them all ? .Set on the promontory which I named, riir wild Hi.wer wis the larger— I have .\nd that— .som.- supple courtier of my dashe ' I l.Vt CLEON Xn.v. I ho., Hit worthy ,f li.a,i„>r ,„y An.l ho »m- happy.' Man niicht hv. .t wholo niinil. iirKt Ih thih nppMr.'nl. whon thou tiirHHt to T|„. animal lif.- : hut i« thi-rr notlni, iimso ,„„„., I i»on thi« Mwnli(..MadaptabilifirH. I hat iniixTfiHtion nirans iwrfiH tion hid. Ih,. more joy-^ivinK will hiH lifr U-, o,nr Ktscrvcd m ptiit. to ura.t- tlii> after- Tho man who hath this .luaiitv i- I" i time? ' ■" If. in thf morning of philosophy. H.d thou, kinff. hd.Ut mor ,, Krc aii^jht Intd lH.«'n ri<«ir

  • d, an;;ht ahjy Hnid : IKTct'ivfd. ' Ix't prop CSS rnd at once, 'u.r '.. Ihoii, with the liuht now in Ihcr. no step «oul(lsf have l(K)k«d I{«'Vond the n.itiiral nv, ,. ,^, <»n all earth's tenantry, from worm to iM'asI, '•''■''• I 'j^ing his senses, not f i,i i hre man had yet ap|>«>ared n|Mm (he In man there 's failiiiv. >' I n .• hta^'e— The lower and ineons fen ■ i Ihoii woiildst have seen them |K'rfeet, We ealled it an advf . :l.,- . and d(Nliieenee'f<-. tl"" pleasnr,- I hoii woiildst hav(. answere, ,f (•row eonseioiis in himself— hy that the soul. .,, . "'""*'• Which whole surrotindin'' Hats .f All s |)erfeet else: the shell Micks fast natural life .,,, ,.*,'"' '■'*?;''' , ."deemed only (it to vicid sul.sis|<.|i,, In; Ih.. hsh strikes lhr..u-li the sea. the A tower that (Towns a coiinlrv liul fiiakc Ijoth swims alas ' And slides, the birds take (lij-hl. forth The soul now .limi.s it i„st to ,« ri-li ranue the lieasts, o,,,,.,. ' Till life's me.hanics can no further ;:o- F„r thence we |u,vc di.scovere.1 (I i • im Ami all this joy in natural life, is nut. dream — Like Hre froin off Thy fin;:er into .-a. h. We know this, whi.h we had nnt ,1-, .So e.\i(uisitely |K'rfect is the same. |KTceiv.;lorv to the scheme) all That a third thin« shmild stand a|mrt An.l still the (lesh replies. ' Take noint fnuii l>oih, .\ fpiality arise within tlie soul. Which. !ntr')-uc!!ve. •i...ii|<- to x!i|H--rvi-f Ami feci the f.ipc if ha mav view itself. Than ere thou clindK-dst the town ii look ;v!)rn,id ! Nay. so much le>:-. as that fatij.'uc lia brought I CLEOX IW IKihulion to it.' We Ntrii)r((l)-— fain i Willi ariixt-gifiN — to «mh n man ui« I— tofnlar)!i* j Who Ifuvi- iM-hind nif living wtirkw Our iNXinilfd |ihyMical nM'i|ii«-n('y, ! in u|Hin a, Iti'iNiii' thf wa> know- Tlu'V |>ruiHi> a fountain in my t{ard)-n in^ how lnri' And showing how to live (my fnrully) U'linin a N'aiad wnd-* tin- wali-r-lwiw With actually living ?— OthiTwim' in h'T tuln-; sin- Mmilts to hcc WIutc is the artist's vantage o'er the '•iw. , king ? <' I I .: toid her. it is just a thread liecause in my great ejios I display rr . 1)' great river which the hills How divers men young, strong, fair, U|i, wise, can act — ui i I • her with my leave to take [s this as though I actwl ? if I itaint, . .'same r Carve the young PIkkSus, am I there- . ■■ .ipilicer has given her one .■•inall fore young ? I ht' Methinks I'm older that I l)owed my- ■ .i-t _ iwer to widen or •■xchange — , s«'lf what ')oots The many years of pain that taught me I • :, )w she might s|)out oi'eans if she art ! could ? Ind«f>(l, to know is something, ami to Nit (aniiot lift U-yond her first thin pnive thread. How all this beauty might U- cnjtiyed. Anil so a man can use but a man's joy | is more : While he sees (JcmI's. Is it, for Zeus to Hut, knowing nought, to enjoy is some- boast I thing too. 'See. man, how happy I I've, and Von rower with the moulded mus( Us des|>air — there That I may be still happier — for thy Ixiwering the sail, is nearer it than I. use ! ' I can write love-odes — thy fair slave 's If this were to, we could not thank our an ode. Lord, I get to singof love, when grown too grey .Vs hearts beat on to doing: 'tis not For being belovwl : she turns to that so — young man, Miihcc it is not. Is it carelessness t The muscles all a-ripple on his back. Still, no. If care — where is the sign, I I know the joy of kingship: well — ask — thou art king ! And jict no ar wer : and agrw in sum. king, with y profound discourage- , . ' Hut," saycst thou — (and I marvel, I inent, reju-at. Who s(H'st the wilier but to sigh the To find thee tripping on a mere wonl) more. ' what Most jTogress is most failure I thou Thou writest, |>aintest, stays : that sayest well. I do«'s not die : .Sappho survives, because wc sing her The last jxjint now : — thou do>t songs, except a case — ; .And Aeschylus, because we read hi.s Holding joy not imjiossible to one i plays ! ' 158 CLKOX I • : J 1^ Why, if tlicy livo still, let fheni come I cannot tell thy inpssonger aright ai» is ent still to moubility leaves For joy, as this is in desire for joy. The world; and, vainly favoiu.d. li --To seek which, the joy-hunjier forces repays ,,<"*: The day-long glory of his steadfu-l j i/r That, stung by straitne.ss of o\ir life, Hy no ihange of its large calm fnmi .f Huidi- str.iit snow. On pur|>ose to make sweet (he life at And trndemeath the .Mount, a Fhiw, r 1 large— | know. Freed by the throbbing impuU- we call He cannot have perceiveil, that t Ii.uil'i- death ever Wi- burst there as the worm into the ! .\t his approach; and, in tlw l.-i ".V. i endeavour Who, while a worm still, wants his To live his life, has |)arte«l, one bv en. . wings. But. no ! . With all a llower's true gra<.-^. (•■< ili. Zeus has ruit yet rcvcali-d it ; and, al.is. ; gra. e He iinisi havethmeso. were it p9 Calm front ot snow like n triiiiii|ihnl Tako them, Ixivc. tlir hook and nip targo togothor : Where tlio heart lies, h-t the hrain lie also. I-i reartnl, and still with oM nnmeR, fresh ones vie. Each to its |)ro|HT praise anats of '•♦'<'« . , , , Rafajiivre But to the East-the East ! Co, say ^^.^.^ j „,, „„,] „ii ,|„. ^.o^i,] ;„ ,.ir,,ip this. Pilgrim i jili mhir, IH.i.i loved it I (liiido Keiii dying, all Hologun Imfrk they are. my lifly men and died, and the world (rinltoo. " Oiir^ — women the tic.i^iire ! " \aii.iiin me Ihi- lifly |M»enis lim-lit I ! Suddenly, as r;iii- ihingswill. it \;mi-lieil. I t I in:ill.v :iiii»-i..Im1 lull Ih u >"li..n- . I GO OXE WORD MORK d M If ^ Haiitc (iiicc ]>ri'|)ari'il |iairil an aiiL'fl : Wlioiii to pli-asf '! Null \i|iis|H'r ' IJcalriic' Wliilf lie iiiu>cil and tr.iicd it uml ntraix'il it. I Pcrailventuiv with a |h-ii .diidiIimI ^till by tliops ol that liot ink ho ili|)|i(row ati.l iiiickc.l il Mti^nia. liit into the live man's llcsli for pan li- iiu-nt, l.<'0|i|e of iiiipor- laiiie : We and IJiie l)ear the loss for ever. VIII What of IJafael ■ sonnets, DaiiteV )iilture ',' 'I'iiis : no artist lives ami loves, ii,,.; lon>;s not Once, and only oneo, and for Om iv. (Ah, the prize!) to lind his lu\, ,. lan).'uage Fit and fair and .Him|)le and sutli( ieui Tsing nature that '.s an art to othn , .Not, this one lime, art that's tiun,,; his nature. Ay, of all the artists hvintr, lo. iiiL', .None hut would forego his prn|.,r dowry,— Does lie paint .' he fain would wnit - p-ieiii. — Does he write ? he fain would p,.iKt a pii lure, I'lit to proof art alien to the artisi s. ')n iiiiain iIiom- |.lialaiis.(l sim.i' .., finj-ly tini. hwl, lovf^ s.-nM- ***" "• .llUnt seizi' il. H. ar-, yet oil.- tunc iiK.rc.lh.Viistomed'i'aise these lines, hu.k lovingly and prehule- ,„,,jr|v, • H"w shoulclsi thou, ot all men, srtiite. |,i,„.s I write the first tinw and the last and save us?' ,,„„. (i.Hsses what I- Ilk.' I.) prove the He who works in fresco, steals h haii- ^'»>»''— brush. • F-dvpt X llesh-|K)ts— nay, the droujfht ('„rhf the hberal han.l, subservient waslwter.' , proudly. ('ram|>s his spirit, crowds its all in ^ little. Oh. the crowd must have emphatic Makes u strange art ot an art familiar. warrant ' Fills his lady's missal-marge with Tlicirn the Siiuii-forehea(r-i c lovi'li fh)werets. brilliance. He wlu« blows thro' bronze, may breathe Rij,'ht-armsrod-swe«'p.tonguesim|nTiul thro silver, hat. Fitly serenaile a slumbrous princess. Nivci (lares the man put off the prophet. He "who writes, may write for once, as I do. M ! .\iy Dill he love one fare from out the Iene me ; ^o it Ncenis : I staiul oi my attain- ment. lius of verse alone, one life allows mc ; Verse and nothing else have I to give you. |)erson. Not as Lip|)o, Roland or .Andrea. Though the fruit of sjieech Ix- just this sentence — Pray you, look on these my nu-n and women. Take and keep my fifty poems finished , Where my heart lies, let my brain lie also ! Poor the s|H'eeh : l>e how I sjK-ak. for all things. XV 0" . r heights in nlher lives, \c '. Here in London, yonder late in Florence. I»i-' ONK \V()KI> MonK ii. :l 111 .Still Wf tiiid her lair. Ill* lliiiit-traiis- StHtiil ii|Nm tiu- |wvi-<|.wurk of a li)/uml. ^apiihiie. Ciirviiig uii a bky imbrued with I'uloiir, Like the Wlied lit-avfii in Jiis , |,.,,r- Drifteil o\ir Fitsole by twilight, iuhh Caino she, our iitw crfMeiit of a liair's- .Shone the stone, the sa|)|iliire o( ilui bieadth. |>ave(Uwork, Full she Jlareil it, lamping I^««>"i>»u- , When they ate and drank aiul saw (JiM iato, alw") ! Rounder "twixl the ey|)resiH»'K and rounder. XMI What were seen ? .None know>. m.np Perfeet till the nightingaleN aitiilaude- ever shall know. verished, ''"'>' "'"* "* sure— the si^ht wtri' Hani til street, orn luir m Hurries with unhandsome thrift of Florence, silver. l^y'"J< now iniiHiveri.shed here inl^nicjim. (Joes dispiritedly, glad to linish. i '''**' ^' 'banked, the meanest ' uf 1„- 1 creatures j Boasts two soul-sides, one to fair ili. ''^' I world with. What, there's nothing in the moon '^'"' '"'*'>"*" ^^o"'*"*'"'" he lov,- lur note-worthy ? j Nay — for if that moon could love a win mortal. This I say of me, hut think of vmi, Ise, to charm him (so to (it a fancy) Ix)ve ' All her magic ('tis the old .iwect my- This to you-vourscif my mr„m „i thos) iHX-U\ ■ She woul.l turn a new side to her Ah, but that 's the world's side, tin tv - ^,. , •""••<«'• ^ thewomler, Si.le uns:( }.■' I riu- two following iweiiiH were not reprintwl by Browning in any collecte- li,lu.| ill n, MonlMif R^pu^itury, 1834. ttn Karahook'x »» i^o/« was writt.ii iii A|.iil. IS.'>4, aiilu-(l in Tht KevpMke, 1850.] BEN KARtsHOOK'S WIfSDOM I ' Wotilil a man "scapt- the ro«l t ' Rabbi Ben Kar.sDook saith. ' See that he turn to (JimI The day liefore his death.' ' Ay, couki a man imiuin- When it shall come ! ' 1 say. The Rabbi's eye shoots fire — ' Then let him turn to- irrepressible homage which doth glow On every lip but mine : if in thine ears IVir accents linger — and thou d«ist rtH'all Mtas I .stoo that one oi.lv; Ladv, could'st Taught hal)es in grace their grammar, ihou know ' I And ilrmk the simple. «olemii. 1U4 TkAGKDTES AND OTTTEII PLAYS VIVVX I'ASSKS A DRAMA I nEmCATE MV BEST INTESTIOMS, IV Tins POEM. ADMIKINdl.Y To THE AI'TIIOK OF ' loN," — AKFECTIONATEI.V TO MK. SERJEANT TAI.FOl Rl>. Loiidiin, 1841. 1M:. Xew Year's Day at Asoi.o i\ the Tkevisav. .1 liinji, iiifiiii, tiirii rhdmhir. A girl, Ptl-l'A. froni t/ii MiU--mill^, Mpringiii'j nut of /«« at last ; Koils,|iiiivK<)lil,it'i'rthorloii(Urii|>'Nbriin \Vh»'ri' s|iurtiiiK «'••' siippn'st it lay — For not a froth-flake toiuhctl tin- rim Of yonder Kap in the solid jjray Of the eastern eloiul. an hoiir'away ; Hut forth one waveU-t, then another. eiirled. Till the whole sunrise, not to lH'MU|)|»rest. Ko.s«', reddened, and its seethinjr breast Flickered in bounds, grew gold, then overflow«sl the world. Oh, |)ay. if I s(|uander a wavelet of thee. .\ mite of my twelve-hours" treasure. The least of thy gazes or glances. {IJ«' thi-y grants thou art lM)und to, or gifts alMJve measure) One of thy choi. es,or oneof thy chances, (Be they tasks (J(xl im|)osed the*', or freaks at thy pleaNun) — My Day, if I siiuander sue li labour or leisure, Thenshanu-fallon.Vsolo, mist hiefonme! Thy long blue soh-mn hours serenely flowing. Whence earth, we feel, gets steady help and g(M)d — Thy fitful sunshine-minutes, coming, .\s if earth turntsl from work in game- some mhhmI— , .Ml shall Ih< mine ! But thou must ir.ai WW not Aslliepros|)erousaretreatew whoiild kHc mind tin- Htonii ? And. iiiornin){ |iant. if iniri(l»' and Kr<><>ni Save for tli»'ir di-ar m-Ivi-s ? "I'iH tlitir inarrian<-day ; Aiiil whiU- thi-y U-ave i Ihim li. mid >n> hoim- tlifir way. Hiiml claNpiii); hand,-- williin lai h l>rcai'l would In- SiiiilH'anix and pIcaKanI wchiIht spiti- of thff : riii'ii. for anothrr trial, oI>m iirr thy cvf With mist, — will Liiigi and lii> niotluT Kricv.- - Till- l^dy and her child, uDinatclu-d. forMK)th. Sill' ill her a^e, as Liii^i in hi" youth. Kiir true < ontent ? The cheerful town, warm, i'low. And safe, the Nooner that thou nit moroHe. Hcitives them ! And yet once n>;ain. oiithreak In -lorni at ni^^ht on Monsijjnor, they make Siidi stir alHint,— whom they e\|K'ct from Rome I'h visit Asolo, his brothers" home, \nil siiy h«'re masses pro|KT to release A -dill from |>ain, — wliat storm dares hurt his jH-aci- '! (aim wouhl hi- prny. with his own thoujihts to ward Tliy thunder otf, nor wiiiil the aiijicl-'" miaril I Hill I'ippa — just one -iic h mischani-e would H|Niil till day that li ^Miiijiii;; and I oiilileivshcclllli;. Kccjiii;:, liroki-n iH-yond heidini: Xmv low toiretlier on the telling I That will taMk voiir witx ! Whoever ipienehwl fire first, ho|if \» merrily, as giddily . . . Meantime, what lifthts my siinlM-am on. When- settles hy degrees the radiant cripple '! Oh, is it surely hlown, my martagon ? New-lilown and ruddy as St. Agnes' nippK-, I'liiiiip as the tlesh-hiineh on some Turk bird's j¥)ll ! \W sure if corals, branching "neath the ripple Of (Mean, bud there, — fairies watch unroll Such tiirban-tlowers ; 1 say, such lamps disperse Thick red (lame through that dusk green universe I I am i|uwn of thee, floweret ; And each fleshy blossom Preserve 1 not— (safer Than leaves that embower it. Or shells that emlM)som) - FVoin weevil and chafer 1 Liiigh through my |>ane, then ; solicit the bee ; (iibe him, Ix' sure; and, in midst of thy glee, l\i\ niulil liow s|H'nd my day .' Ti.-morrow 1 must 1m> I'ippa who wim's silk. The whole year round, to cam jii-l bread and milk : Milt, this one day. 1 have leave to go. .\nd play out my fain y > fiillc-l game-- ; I may fumy all day- and it --h.iil I IC so rliat I ta-lc ot llic pica iilc . atn rallc>l b\ llic name- (•I tin llappic-t Four 11! .Ill \ 'o ' Sic! I pthc Hill->lde VuluUl , ' iuuiigll the iiioriiiiig, 16A IMPPA PARSES SoiiH- (ino xliall lovr nir. sm IIm- world i-bIIh Iovp : I am no Iphh than Ottiiiia. take warning ! Tlio ganlenM. ao(i the great utone hoiiMe above. And other hoiim' for NhriilM. all glaHM in front. Arc mine ; where Sebaltl Mtealx, m he !« wont. To i-oiirt n)e. while old Luta vet re|KjM's ; An my next love to defy the dtoffer : For ilo not our Bride and Bridegroom sally f the jiale. snow-pur* . heek and b|a< k bright tresses. Blai ker than all except the black eve- lash ; I wonder she contrives tlios«- Ijds no dresses I So sirici was slu. the vc il Should cover clos«- her |w|c- I'ure ciMM'ks— -a Itricle to |cM>k at Hiid scHrcc loiicli. Ij«'t thoM' ankles never swerve' Froui their extpiisite reH«Tve. Vet have to trip along the sir.c u like me. All but nakparfingswertint tende«l. (lower-like fc. What wa s mv iiiother'sfu ICMI '•e — mv fii'lii r. Nay, if you come to that. Iiest love cf ill feafi A'^ if one's breati a c rc-aturc 'VC/\ Is CtMl then wliv not have (i I woiil.i fray the lily of Myself V;^off and easy life these ladies lea.l Mon? love Isfall in the- I'aluce bv the D.i Whit «'iuss III us v..-r.. wcmclerful in.|.-,d. Of t,is .lead l.rofi,, ignor •.'- who lo-nij.'iif \nll IL- the hi Oh save (lint lifow its \ U-p tllrtl (•",( Il |^.|\ j! irum ilmi- m t„rn riial h"»"' -. \d''t jiiipf:il.^, I)(mI mid iiyirKi, .In iir : thin i.i no hisl hot /irit. Sini not ' a JininU irnit .' ' II /'.'/ ■ siii'ill .' ■ {'imtA it iiinn fmiii Ihini thin, i/i >ill I ■ ijnal I Vint,' nhonld ronu to /*/«.<. Thiin that .' t'niirini nn from lln miti" ofditdt irhirh niitki iifilifi,oiii dud I'oiiir "hull jiill xhort in, or rxrvtd .' Aii'l more of it. and more of it I~oli. yes - - I will (iass by. iind see their lm|i|'ine.-». Aixl •nvy none — Ining jnst as jjreat, no doubt, \'-vM to men, and dear toath crty with dew. I'nder the pine-wood. Mind with Iwughs, Where the swallow never flew As yet, nor eieala daree your Khine-land niithlM, |icriia|iN ; Dut IhiK bloo*l-red lieam through the shutter'H chink, —We call Hult catches. — Well, are you content. Or must I tind you iiomething else to spoil 7 Kiss and U' frienils, my Sebald ! U it full morning ? Oh, don't speak then ! Seh. \y, thus It used to he ! Ever your house was, I remember, shut Till mid-day — I olwerve*! that, aH I ! strolle hills. Hut no, your house was mute, would ope no eye ! And wim'ly — you were plotting one thing there. Nature, another outside : I looketl up — Rough white wi)or.- xfrr-hnPHH? That ,hurt-h ' bruiiMMi |iUnt, I briiiMpd C'lotie umlpr (h« .t^n. -,111. .l In getting throi'gh the l.tti.e v...t,.reve. i "n,7y " *"" ^^ '^'' """"' i;^ Let .e^ ::.'^v:i::^-; > xo:;rhn;:r;.a; 5 - ! — Foul . 'S'moTn ,..ay U-. | ' '•^''- jf «'"'' -^-""t th.- , la.,, n. How ..o yo.. J:Si::!;'?,t\^;;.r'^K ■ iei^^- - •'•'"^ •'- *• -^• The wo;i7«„.l «1| „„,Hi.h.! I.., „H ^'-Jf"-""' *»'*«'• *i'"-tl..«l„... throw otf U'l.ii M« ■" ' ^'"^'ip - \^'r:^i::^ru, ^iS) "" "' '' ' N"r .l.*"^t Hm. : ,„„r on • T„ v „! it. ''■*' "*""" *"'' ^''^ **'''" "^' y"". "•'."••■"'»'•■•■ lH«t .lanm,.l .\,.» '^'''*"-Hi:'lZ,r'""'"'"'''""''"'"'^^ '^r/.. '^ ' Vou * t ght ,h..H,. f..n,.n •'"'' "ttrnor"- ^""•■•'' '■" "-^ ■'''•KHhinX,nth..«re. No.hin. •HisMoo^l. ' „. "^ynR •SVV.. R,M-ntr wh.,.hoMl.ln,*nt.or ^"s'lr' '^''""'"' ' y,:,. , ■ whvr .|. , „ . ,••»»'»". h«' !»> not ,iln. What ,M.t; that in yo,.r lu,,l r Di.l I '"i;"'"*' '''"" ''^'""* '">' ^•'" " = once SHV I' It' . ''" ^"" That 1 rf|*ntca«.ionH fruit -the .levil take n^? l" """[' "«»'"^'- ^^'" Hu.h .ant : ' *"'*'^ Mn^^r .T"**" "r'' Say. on.e a.i.l alwavs. |.„. a was « wittol P««?l f "♦''"-'''at is.not make ,„n„ I am his . „t-throHt. ar,^ '""'' -rrn " rV""'- '*'*',""'' ""^''""^ ' '"'• , ;""• , • Her" s, he wine: """ ^1 ''""'^ "' '*"-• ' ^'" " ' " alle *'"•" ^" '"^' ""• '"'•'- 'WfuUn proof was n...h..l now.,,.. '"" *'».:; r^h^n;:: v'""" ^"^•^ •'■-»">i;ji-y<'-y.-.i,..ove>.,„ '\;t,r :•::! "'^ ""■'"^'""^ in^,...-.. ,:;::,.. ,,„,,. ,. ""'.There. truW.es .,n h.s .....n... ~ '".hlSMr ^*"' '"'^ '" "" from the Duonio vii,,« . ■ , , HcK t thelaiMKhin. withh... brown hootl In ;''""'' "'*' ^^1"""^'''"' '"- ",1 I'iPl'A PAS8K8 160 \Vf II cvi'ti iiiiarrci, Lovi-, nt tiiiuH, •■« if \V>' "till <'(Hili| lofc earh other, wrrt' not li)N| By ihix— fon<'t'ivr you 7 ntii. f»v«> ' N '' Not li«'n, I HVf Hiriick Mi< iiiMolcncr back into liiiii- ain I V) tiiit'ly yoiin* 7— tlnT<-forc, fun-vi-r VOIlfM 7 iMti. Ixivr, to \h' wiw, (one coiinm-l juiyx nnotluT) Slicmld we have— uiontliH H^to— when liritt we loved, Fur iiiKtancu that May niorninK we two Htolo rndcr the preen awci-nt of xyeaniorex - If we had eonio n|Nin n thinp like that Siiildenly . . , Sih. "A thing '— there a^'ain — 'a thinK ! ' otii. Then, Venn.-.' ImmIv. had we come u|Hm .My liiisltand Lnca (iaddi'n nninlered corjife Williin there, at his com h-fool, c much ttH there in the dcM-rted hou.-e : Null cannot rid your eyes of it. For me, \ack and liold IIU two dead liaiuU, un•'>. OtT, off; fake your lianflw off mine ! Ti- ilic hot evening— olT ! oh, morning, is it 7 ""'. There 's one thin;: must U- done; you know what thin^'. ( ciinc in and iiel|i to curry. We may sleep .Vnywiiere in th** whole wide hoiisi- to- iiiuht. ■'^•'i. What would ( omc. think you. if we let him lie 'hi^l ,\<, he is 7 l..et him lie there until Tho an^elit take him : he in turned hv thia Off from hix facr, liesidr, bm you will n c. iHli. Thia duMty |)anc might Mcrve for hwkingglaHN. Thre**. four— four grey hairs ! fs it ^o you sail I .\ plait of hair Nhould wave acro»H my neck 7 No - thiM way I .S'riM' that I returned at eve to snp. When all the morning I was loitering here — Hill me dispatch my bnsinessandlK'gone. I would . . . (Wi. .S-e ! St ft. X(<, I'll finish ! Do you think I fear to s|><-ak the bare truth once for alt 7 All we have talked of is, at hottom, tine Tosiiffer— there "s a reiPPLIED IIVHGE I65J East Mam Street Rochester, New York t4609 USA (716) 482 - 0300 - Phone (716) 288 - 5989 - Fa, 170 inPPA PASSES ConUI hS 1 **"Vi!"^ • , I '1'° * y*-""* haze ? •Ti« not for the .ri.ne-. sake-IM com- ! '"«'*'"^;^'''' ^^ -'«^ «^ y- chctn...- init ten cri UK'S ' Vinf hv fiw. «,^» /. * ..ate.^ W t.. eH.e wi,., o..t, ^ ^^'^^Ston. a.wa,. ...,. Ami you-0. how feel you r feel you | %rl = ^ ''"'' '" *'*''"''' '''''•" Om-. * Weir, 'then, I love you better ' '^Z^ """^^tL. ■ ■ . now than ever, ^ i e' ' ti.„ T i " "!"• t-r^^nmR nij;ht! A..„ ,.,.« .. „.; .„„„ , .„., .„: 1^: ^'"•"fc«on..,.„«.^M: ».-. tor .h. ori„„ , „„ „„ , ,Heve. i„ , "''™ tS'S'hS!!" """""' °''- Thi. nmk. ,'hi. ,i,„„l.tal ignorance, ; "" "'*';'"'' '■'°°'''' '""'"' '" Sisrir-r ;"a';i'£<, ^^ „, i "~ «-;'»•"• '° "'*" ^»- "•" "• """"bili^*'""' l.„.,heio,.i.| ^- B„Hcl ,n .oo.,."^;:^™; P.y.he.vornoi,.pri<., <,-„,„e. ,„e.v:».;ft ^'E'i.r.hin, ,e„„.,. „>,,. """■ uT.'JiL''-'' "■"'"' ^'■" "'- '*»i "f r' '°" »"» '■"«'" »"■" "ethe^'v '''""" '"" ^"'"^ to. Burnt thro' the pine-tree roof. he,.. CHve np^that noon I owne<, n,y love for ' As if £? ^^^^ ,Uro' .he elo. The ,a«Ien's «i,ence ! even the ^in^elm^n.^T^llr^^,^, „,, ,,,,,.. „, pfe£l;:a;s^»:sJ^-""{x-^^ *- -' -- -- By Hon.^^a„.panuW. ehalice «et «- ; The thunci;Hike a whole «ea overhea.l- Wh<^«tan.„.ere■ Ih>ss vehemently ! Lov I usek hero. W'h lie ! take not wonis i|. nenth the siirul>-house Your l>reath words, to heart ! nieir < worse t hii n wine. Bre:; I ! i sio'.v, s|)cak slow ! PIPPA PASSKS 171 Do iiol lean nii nn- ! Slic dots not lii-ar : mil you o'll loudrr ! DUi. .S'liald, as we lay, 'S'(''. loave inr ! Hisinfj and fallin<; only with our pants, V>o, t't death conic now ! 'tis ! shoulders ! right to die ! ' Otfi. Sebald ? Hijiht to be punished! nought conipk'tes i ^eh. Wipe otf that paint. I hate sueh hiiss you ! lint woe ! ' Who said that ? | (Mli. Miseral.le ! Sih. How did wcever-risr ? Sib. My (i"ilk-iuills row Ix'lonu to voiie you. Has i indited all again. Though 1 If •Slic stoops lo pick my double hearts- lost, case . . . Sh ! I know which is the lictter, never fear, Jill ^ 3 (f 172 PIPPA I'ASSES ')( vi(c or virtiic. jiiirity or his), \h» iire.or trick ! I sw what 1 liavc tloiu-. Kiitirely now ! Oh. 1 am proud to fwl Sinli tonnonts— let the world take iredit thente — I, haviiij; done my (leeay too its price ! I Iiate, hate— curse you ! (iod '.sin His heaven ! Me ! no, no, St^bald, not yourself— kill me ! Mine is the whole crime— do hut kill me — then Yourself— then— presently— first hear me s|ieak — I always meant to kill myself— wait. you : Lean on my breast— not as a breast ; •lon't love me The more because you lean on me. my own Heart's Scbald ! There— there— both deaths presently ! Svb. My brain is drowned now— <|uite drowned : all I feel Ik . . . is, at swift-recurring intervals. A hurrying-down within me, as of waters T^oosened to smotherupsomeghastly pit: There they go— whirls from a black,' fiery sea ! Otti. Not to me. Ciod— to him be merciful '. Talk- Itf/ the Hill/, irhili PiPi'A it /jti^tthig froii, th> Hill-Hid, to Ihram. Foriigi, Kliidfi,)t/i of Painting and Srulfitiirr. from Vrniri. axsiwblid op/x^iitt tin I'oim of JfLEs. a young French Slnlnar;/. Firft Sfiidrnt. Attention! myown post is beneath this window, but the pome- granate clump yonder will hide three or four of you with a little s((ucezing. and Schramm and his piiH- must lie flat in the balcony. Four, five- who 's a defaulter ? We want everybody, for •'ules must not l)e suffered to hurt his bride when the jest 's found out. i •'ii| a fair prosjjeet of thriving in his stiit. s.. unnioleate«l was it.— when suddenly a woman falls in love with him, t.x, ; and out of i)ure jealousy he takes him- self off to Trieste, immortal poem and all —whereto is this prophetical epitai.li appendetl already, as Bluphocks assure^ me—' Hereamammoth-pofmlies,Fo>did to death by butterflies: His own fault. the simpleton ! Instead of cramp ( <>u. plets, each like a knife in your entrain he should write, says Bluphocks. I...1I; (lassicallyandintelligibly.— .4Mr«/r//»//v an Epic. Catalog ve of the drugs : 11, In ' , platstcr—One strip Cools your /,',,. Phoebus' emulsion— One bottle Cl,,tr< your throttle. Mercury's bolus— One h„x Cures . . . Third ,Slud.- Subside, my fine fellow : If the marriage was over by ten o'clm k. Jules will certainly be here in a minute with his bride. Second Stud. CJood !— Only, so shotiid the poet's muse have been "u ni versa I Iv acceptable, says Bluphocks, et canih,',.^ nostris . . . and Delia not better known to our literary dogs than the boy— Giova. - chino ! first Stud. To the fwint, now. VVhere s (Jottlieb, the new-comer ? Oli. —listen. (Jottlieb. to what has callol down this piece of friendly vengeance witness the winding-up. We arc all agreed, all in a tale, observe, wlun Jules shall burst out on us in a fury In- and-by : I am s|)okesman— the vcrM- that are to undeceive Jules bi-ar iin name of Lutwyehe— but each profes,-( > hini-self alike insulted by this struttlDi; stone-squarer, who came singly from Paris to Munich, and thence with a crowd of us to \'enice and Pos.sagiio here, but proceeds in a day or two alone again— oh. alone, indubitably !— in Rome and Florence. He, forsooth, ta ki m) his jwtion with these dissolnir. brutalized, heartless bunglers ! — So Ik was heard tocallusall: now, is SchraiiPM. briitalize«l. I should like to know ? Ani I heartless V (iott. Why, somewhat heartless : fur. Si- PIPPA PARSES 173 -ii|(|iow Jules a foxcoinb as much as you I , hoose, still, for this mere roxcoiubry, yuii will have hriisheil off — what do iiilks style it ? — the bloom of his life. Is it t»>o late to alter 1 These love-letters, now, you eall his— I cant laujih at them. Fourth Stud. Keeaiise you never read the sham letters of our inditing which drew forth these. ' 0(>tt. His discovery of the truth will Ih' frightful. Fourth Stud. That 's the joke. But you .should have joined us at the hejjin- iiinfj : there 's no doubt he loves the ^irl -loves a momen 1 — There follow men. deail and alive, to wonder at. Has he done wondering at men 1 — There 's God to wonder at : and the faculty of wonder may be, at the same time, old and tired enough with rts[)ect to its first object, and yet young and fresh sufficiently, so far as concerns its novel one. Thus . . . Firtt Stud. Put S«hramni's pipe into his mouth again I There, you see ! Well, this .Jules ... a wretche«l fribble— oh, I watehe with the Psichi-finmulUi. Now I hapjienetl to hear of a young CJreek — real tireek girl at Malamocco ; a true Islander, do you see, with Alciphron's ' hair hke sea- moss ' — Schramm knows ! — white and (juiet as an ap|)«rition, and fourteen years olil at farthest,— a daughter of Natalia, so she swears — that hag Natalia, who helps us to motlels at three lire an hour. We selected this girl for , the heroine of our jest. So, first, Jules ' received a scentetl letter— someboicture was iiothiitji to it — a pro- found admirer bade him i*>rsevere— 174 PIPPA PASSES f I t: i V ! would nmkf lu-r.s.|f known I,. |,j,„ ,.rv loii';-(|',ioliiiu, my liUli- fiitnd of Hit- /■una, liaiiMrib«s divinely). And in diM' tunc, the niyxtiiious lorrfsiMHidtiil Kav.' cortain hinls of her [Hvuliar charms — the pale eheeks, the hiack hair- whatever, in short, hail striu k iis in our -Malaniom) nuxlel : we retained her name, too— I'hene. whieh is hy inter- prets loii sea-eagle. Now. think of .lnle.s hndrnn himself distingui.shed from the herd of us hy sneh a creature! In his very first an.swer he promsed marrymj; his nionitres.s .- and fancy us over these letters, two. three times a day, to receive and dispatch ! I eoncoctt^l t he main of it : relations were in the way —secrecy must lie ol).served— in fine would he wwl her on trust, and only s|K-ak to her when they were imiissc",. Iiilj^y un,teily_pity! Stud. They go in— now. silence ! Fimt V 41 J e" ■■■ — ""w. silence: ^ou three.-not nearer the window, inin.l, than that jwmegranate— just where the little jjirl. who .a few minufts ago pa.ssed us singing, is seated ! U. — \,Min. Onr thraiia. Tl„ /I,,ih, of JiLKs, irho ffuM^,-.! Hx I/,,, ,/,„/,/ with P}lK.NK : .•.//, /, .yd,, It. ,.„ „!,;,■/, ■Iri.Es ItiifiiiM — Do not die, Phene! lamyouisnow \,,m Are mine no v ; ht fate Veiu h mr 1,,,^, she like... If youll not die— so, never die ! ,Sit here — .My work-room's single .seat. I o^r- lean This length of hair ami lustrous fmin ; they turn Like an entire (lower upward : eves- lips — last Your chin— no last your throat turn- 'tis their scent Pulls down my face u|)on you ! .\mv. Iix)k ever This one way till I change, grow yon I could Change into you. Beloved ! Am 1 «yyou; this isyour hami in iiiiiir And side by side we sit: all s tni, Thank (Jix" ! I have s|»oken : sjieak. you ! ,, ,„ , <>, my life to conic : My Jydeusmii.st he carvi>il. that 'siImiv ' in clay ; Yet how be carved, with you almut tlic chambiM- 1 Where must I place vou ? When I think that once This room-full of rough block-work seemed my heaven Without you ! Shall I ever work again ( .et fairly into my old ways again, Hid each conception stand while, trait by trait, -My hand transfers its lineaments t,, stone ? Will my mere fancies live near you iiiv truth — The live truth, [mssingand repassing inc. Sitting beside nie ? Now .s|K,'ak ! r, ,, , Only, first. See, all your letters ! Was't iii)! w, II contrived ? Their hiding-place is Psyche's rOU- ; sin- keeps PIPPA PASSES nr. ^'our lettiTs next her skin : whicli ' ningtr'i myUh (X all my room hola..h th. whol. ""' -^--^hat are you v_if , ,,„ „„. ButofK;teva„he.„a...rof. Sitcj^ ^ar^^t'i^'r;- How I divined their capabilities ! ' ,„ysp|f ' ' " "* *° •*" 1' ' '■'"" 'Salf ■""'■"' '""°«'henin« fa.ile Where your voice lifte'- »«« - """• L • Down to the crisp imperious steel, so Themusic's life.andmealongwithtlml- To cut its one confined thought clean out •'"• "' ^r'arT' ""' ' ^''"■"" •'*''*^' '^""^ '^ Of all the world. But marble !— neath Alwve the world. More pK t'han Jelly as i, were If I could loiuc^Tve'^pt'tiSer"^ ' "■ f^orndSr'''^' '■"■''""' •'"*■' •^r"-y-'»««tme.-Ii:e'li™,i;,n. In the ;rL?C where itself bree.ls '" '"'",3"' ""'"*^' """^ °' ^"""^"'^' An 1 wSe all baser .substance n,ay be ^^'"''*';^™r> «'«-". '- «n.l lower, to ,|... u^fi„„;7.^ff'f !li . Whence all that 's low comes, and i li.iv Refineitoff toair.you may.-condease it touch and stay ' theJe'' ""' '■"" ""* '"'■*"' -^'•'^«''" ♦" overtake the rest of ,,„• When oWthe sudden s,.cks my chisel i^l^^ i.rtC^y^rr'K S^ l -^'^^a^jtoa'cl''**'*' '"^ «•"'*' '•-''^' '^'"' -"^-4"- a-l suffering: ... Lay bare thc^e bluish veins of bloo ">•••• .SJn.:taT"- '•*•'•• .■'.'ctn-^:;:';,',;'.!::."™;:?;'/, dilating eyes ! .„ ■ i •, ■ ''"^"tay— I *•» •"fal Ah, you will die-I knew that you wouhl "'^''••'^X;;^;^ «''*» eontentsyou! Onlv. No more, and I shall find it jwesently Pheve begins, on his haeing long ~^*'' ^^^^ ^^^^> '" <•"« »>rain yoursi If remained silent. ' .. ""•^ "P- Now the end 's coming ; to be sure, it *^**"'"iT'"'^ """ *»»«* »>"•" ^°"''' HaveeXLmetime : Tu,h, .by need , SZin'l^m^t tl^gHt^ ^i, ■ not voii. PIPPA PASSES I 4 i Vour fiiemlx, — Natalia said they wort' vour friendH \ncl iiipant you well,— iK-iaiiKf, I (loubtcnl it, Observing (what wax vt-ry strunp- to sco) On every face, ho ditTorent in nil elsi-. The name Hinile ({irlM like «ih are used tn bear, Butnever men, men cannot stoop no low; Vet your fricn(ln, speaking of you, used that smile, That hateful smirk of l>oundless self- ronceit Which seems to take possession of I Ills world And make of ()o«l their tame eonfcderale. Purveyor to their apiK'tites . . . ymi know ! But no — Nntalia said they were your friends. And they assi'nteil while they smiletl the more. And all eanu- rouml me, — that tliin Knglishman | With light, lank hair seenu-*! leailer of ^ tlu- rest ; ' tieheldu itajK-r— ' What wewant.'said he. Knding some exjOanationtohis frient if f>y men hate I could hate in- teniely ! But now I am wiser, knoir better the fashion Hmc passion seeks aid from its opposite passion. And if I see cause to lore more, or hate more Than erer man loved, ever hated, befort — l! I Ml I Hi i.r ij \^^' 17K PIPPA PASSKS I *J ' i ■ i. 1 if I .!«'/ "ffk in Ihf Vtitliif of Imi;; 'J'h^ mimjI, o, I/i, .^fHtl ii, Hali'i (iritvf, Whin iiiji .«««/ iniiif Ihi tiitiHiil rnirh 'Phi iiufHfi', nought Iimm, of mrh, Thi Hall' of nil Hatit, or Ihr Uwr (tfiill Lntvt, in iU lull) if or (Iron ,— J find thftn Ihr nry uttrdiri Karh of the olhi r'/i hordrrt. I lore moMt, when Um in disguimd In Halt ; and whin Hull i.i nnr- prined In Loir, IhiH I halt mo/il : aik How Love umilii Ihrough Jliili'x iron raxque. Hale grin» through Ia)ii\ roxr- hrnidi'd mail; — And how, having hated thee, J nought long and painfully i To wound thee, and not nrirk The »kin, hut pierce to the quirk— Aitk lhi.i, my Jiilen, and be aniwered straight % tfiy bride— how the i>ainl,r Lutwyrhe can hate ! Iliee hir bill a teiist eiriiie to l„ii „„ ■ II hen — lehi ri — lliiir eiin Ihii urni i ^lu'itiih hi i iil„„, nil , If fortune fixid her ax my lady thn. . There already, to elernally rvproi; ,„, (' Hixl '—said Kale the queen ; Hut • Oh —friid the maiden, bimi;,,., her tretxex, yrix only a page that caroln uiisi,,, < 'rumUing your hounds their mexxi .,,•■) Jl'Lls interposes. Lutwyrhe! who elw ? But all of them, no doubt. HatiMl nif : they at Venice— j)ri.sently J heir turn, however ! Vou I shall mi meet If I dreamed, saying this would wake me ! ,,,, , , , , . Keei) \V hat 8 here, this gold— we cannot meet again. Consider— and the money was but iieant For two years' travel, which is over now. All chance, or ho|)e, or care, or nted of it ! This— and what comes from selling these, my casts .^nd books, and medals, except . . let them go Together, so the protluce kee|)s you safe. Out of Natalia's clutches !— If by cliance (For all 's chance here) I should sjirvive the gang At Venice, root out all fifteen of tliem. We might meet somewhere, since the worltl is wide. [Fruni wilhoul ('.y heard the voice of Pii-j'a singing— ' ; Is sfi,- uronged?~To the rescue of l„, honour. My heart ! Is she poor .'— What costs it to he sl,,l, d a donor ? Merely an earth 's to cleave, a sea '.i l„ part ! Hut that fortune should have Ihrnxl „ll this upon her / (' Xay, list,'—lMide Kale the qnei ii . And still cried the maiden, hindinq )„ r tresses, "T**' "'liy It page that cards unsem i ritting your hawks their jesses ! ') ! [PtPPA />f/v«,v, Ji'LKH resumes. What name was that the little girl sanir forth ? Kate ? The Cornaro. doubtless, wli.. renounceage. Why shouhl we always choose the imL'.'s I>art * Here is a, woman with utter need nf nic. PIPPA PA8SES 179 I linil iiiysflf ((iH'fii liori', it mviiih ! Look at tilt- woiiiiiii lii-ic with (In in w ^olll, i.ikf my "wii l''*yrhi-'.s. — fn-sli ii|kiii Ihi li|w Alit. till- vi»ioimry Imttcrtly, WuitiiiK my wui'tl to fiili'i' (iiiil miiki- Itritjhl, Or lliittcr utT aiil. 'I'liin iKxIy had no houI iM-fon-, Init Klt|it Or wtirrMl, wan iH-auteoiw or imjjniiily, frt'o From taint or foul with stain, bh outwani thinffH Fantencil thi'ir ima)20 on itH iiansivciuMj* : N'ow, it will wake, feel, live— or form out of unHhn|H-(l Htutf Mf Art — antl. furtlu-r. to evoki- a soul From form. !)«■ nothing ? This new soul is mine I N'ow, to kill Lutwyche, what wouhl that tl — sa\t' A wr«'t(h«(l (laulK>r, nu-n will hoot to tirath Without me, from their laughter ! Oh, to hear (IfHrs voiee plain as I heard it first. Itofore 'I'liey broke in with that laughter I I heard them Henceforth, not (!od. To Ancona — Greeee — some isle ! I wanted silence only : there is clay Kvery where. One may do whatever one like« In Art : tlie only thing is, to make sure That one does like it — which takes jmins to know. Scatter all this, my Phene — this uuid dream ! Who, what is Lutwyche, what Natalia's friends. What the whole world excci)t our lov» — my own. Own Phene t But I toUl you, did I not, Krc night we travel for your land — some ir>le ' ' lie iiiiiketli liia sun tu rise on tlie evil niiil on till' nniiitit.' With the sea's silence on it ? Miinil aside—- I ill) hut lirciik these |ialtry luodcU u|> To lH').'in .\rl afro-li, .shall 1 luecl LulHyi'he, .\nd save hiui from iiiy statue's nu'eliuL' him ? ,Souu- unsus|HM'ted isle in the far seas ! Like a <:o unsus|H-cted isle in far-olT seas ! Tiilk hy III! muj, whili Pici'A in jHiMimj from Orcnmi l<> the Tumi. Tu\> or Ihni of tht Aiiilriini I'olicr loilrriiKj irilli HLfPHOCKS, «)( Kngliih rngii- hond, just in ricir of thi' Tumi, hhiphiifki '. So, that w your Pi|)|>a, the little girl who |>asHed us singing t Well, your Hishoj/s Intendant's money shall he honestly enrneil : — now, don't make nu- that scinr face because I bring the Bishop's name into the busim>ss — we know he can have nothini: to do with such horrors — we know that he is a saint and all that a Bishop should Ih>, who is a great man besides. Ohf urre hut ( 11 ri/ irorni a maggot, Enrtj fly a grig, Kviru hough a ChriMmas foijgof. Every liiii) II jig .' In fact, 1 have abjured all religions ; but the last I inclined to, was the .Armenian — for I have travelled, do you see, and at Koenigsberg, Prussia Improper (so styh'd because there's a sort of bleak hungry sun there.) you might remark over a venerable house- jiorch, a certain Chaldce inscriiition ; and brief as it is. a mere glance at it used absolutely to diange the mood of every bearded passenger. In they turned, one an morning prt^xcntcil mywlf ^.(MllinK-lNwk in hand. a. I), i.— I |»n k<al instriK 1 you to w»trh him no narrowly ? There r whot 's there b«>Hide a simple signature r (That Knglish fool 's busy watching.) Second P(J. Flourish all round- Put all |)ossibl<> ohMtaclcM in his way : ' oblong dot at the end—' IX'tain him ti!! further advices reach you ; ' scratch al iMjttom- • Send him back on pretenic of some informality in the alH)vc : ink-spirt on right-hand side, (whiih !■. ll'V '■*"*' here)—' Arrest him at on. . . Why and wherefore, 1 don't concern myself, but my instructions amount to this: if Si^nor Luigi leaves home I.h , night for Vienna, well and goo«l— ihr fMssport de|iosed with us for our (•(■.,) IS really for his own use, they have niisinforme. 1. the accounts of his corres|ionding ami holding intelligence with the Carlionaii are iorrei ' I hiii hiracliiil liHJr rich, WholeMioiit of tbi'lr t. And liHtcning, mountain nion, tl^ what Mori* than it troubU>M IheiH' ? ' Hut il wc My, I dut-M trouble ! HitntlH under chin of each grave earthy N'o — troul>h-'Ha baet il. my And earth iteemH in a truce with me, hikI Luigi — do not (io to hii) City ! putting crime awide, Half of theHe ilia of Italy are feigned : Your Pellicoa and writerii for effect Write for effect. heaven AccordM with me, all things MUH|ienil their xtrife. The very cicale laugh 'There govn lie, and there I Lnigi. HiiHh ! nay A. writeH, and B. FeaHt him, the time Ih uliort ; he Im on Mother. Thene A.'» and M.'h write for hit< way efftH-t, I (tay. For the world's fia'e : feast him thi> Then, evil Ih in itM nature loud, while i once, our friend ! ' good And in return for all this, I can trip Im hilent ; you hear each petty injury. Cheerfully up the ncaffold-NtcpM. 1 go None of his daily virtues ; he im old. This evening, mother ! Quiet, and kind, and densely stupiil. Mother. But mistrust yourself- - Why '■ Mistriot the judgment you jironoume 1)(> A. and B. not kill him themselves ? on him. huigi. They tea< h Luigi. Oh, thtre I feel — am sure that Others to kill him — me — and, if I fail, 1 am right ! Others to succeed ; now, ii A. tried and Mother. Mistrust your judgment, failed, then, of the mere means I could not teach that : mine °s the Of this wild enterprise : say, you arc lesser task. •■'gl><. — .Mother, they visit night by night . . . How shouhl one in your state e'er bring .\lvthir. — You, Luigi ': to pass All. will you let mo tell you what you What would reipiire a tool head, a cnM are ? heart, Luigi. Why not ? Oh, the one thing | And a calm hand 1 You never will you fear to hint. escajM.-. ^ oil may assure yourself I say and say ; Luigi. Escape — to even wish that, Kver to myself ; at times — nay, even would siwil all ! a« now ' The dying is best part of it. Too much Wc sit, I think my mind is touched — '. Have I enjoyeil these fifteen years of suspect ! mine. All is not sound: butisnotknowingtliat, . To leave myself excuse for longer life — What constitutes one sane or otherwise 1 Was not life pressed down, running o'er I know I am thus — so all is right again ! with joy, I laugh at myself as through the town , That I might finish with it ere my fellow -- I walk, ! Who, sparelicr feasted, make a longer And see men merry as if no Italy 1 stay ? i;1 11 M I 182 PIPPA PASSES I was \,\\f at tlio board-liead, 1ioI|k,mI to all At first; 1 risf up liai»|ty and eontfiit. (Jod must bo K'ad one loves His worlij so much ! I (-an -^ivf news of oaitli lo all the dead Who ask iiic :— |a>.t year's sunsets, and jjreat stars I'hat had a right to eonie tirstan.li;'-il liap|H-Ms The wry spoilt branch "s a natural perfect Ixjw ! Fancy the thrice-sage, thricc-precau- tioned man Arriving at the palace on my errand ! No, no ! I have a handsome dre>^ packed up — White satin here, to set o(! my black hair. In I shall march— for you may watdi your life out Behind thick walls, make frienils tliciv to l)etray you ; .More than one man spoils everythin.'. March straight — Only, no clumsy knife to fumble for. Take the great gate, and walk (not saunter) on Thro' guards and guards 1 have rehearsed it all Inside the Turret hjre a hundred times! Don't ask the way of whom y,! meet, observe ! Hut where they cluster thiekliest is tii<' door Of doors ; they'll let you pass— theyll never blab Fach to the other, be knou - not the favom-ite, Whence he is boimd and what "s his business now. Walk in— straight up to him ; vou have no knife : He prompt, how should he scream r Then, out with you ! Italy. Italy, my Italy ! You're free, you're free ! Oh mother. I could dream They got about me— Aixirea from hi evilc, I'icr from his dungeon, (Jualtier from his grave ! M,J/i,r. Well, you shall go. Yd .seems this patriotism Tlie easiest vTtue for a seiti.sh man To ac(piire! He loves him.self— and ne.xt. the world — If he must love beyonort of nie 't How ttrst the AustriauH };ot these provinces . . . (If that is all, I'll satisfy you soon) - Never by conquest but by cunning, for That treaty whereby . . . Miilhcr. Well ? lAiigi. (Sure he 's arrived. The tell-tale cuckoo : spring 's his con- fidant. And he lets out her April pur|K)scs I) Or . . . better go at once to mo iiH "i\ n if i I ill i r 11 < 1 1 f ■ i ■ il ' i'- ' i '■ " ■ 1 ! 1 184 PIPPA PASSES .1^ lant then by the nry il. Who cvtr in the dnrkiitMn sinxli Hackwardattdfortmrd, ketpiiig irutch O'er hill brazen bnii'l'i, eurh rogius to catch ! And the«e, nil and every one. The king judged, sitting in the nun. Litigi. That king Mhouid still judge Hitting in the sun ! His eouncillorti, on left and right, looked anjcioun up, — but no nur prise LHnturbed the king'n old smiling eyes. Where the very blue had turned to white. 'Tin mid, a Python scared one day The breatldess city, till he came. With forky tongue and eyes on flame, ' Where the old king sat to judge altvay; But when he saw the sweepy hair. Girt with a crown of berries rare Which the God tvill hardly give to wear To the maiden who singeth, dancing bare In the altar-smoke by the pine-torch lights. At his wondrous forest rites, — Beholding this, he did tint dare Approach that threshold in the sun, .issatdt the old king smiling there. Such grace had kings when the world begun ! [Pippa passes. Luigi. And such grace have they, now that the world endH ! The Python in the city, on the throne, And hrave men, (Jod woidd crown for slaying him, hurkin bye-corners Icsttlieyfall his prey. Arc crowns yet to be won, in this late time. Which weakness makes me liesitate to reach t Tis God's voice calls, how could I stay ': Farewell ! Talk by the way. while Pippa is panning from the Turret to the Bishop's l>n>thers Ilousi-, r/oxe to the Duomo S. Maria. Poor (J iris sitting on the ' iroes a >ualluw to Venice — the stout seafarer ! Se -ing those birds fly, makes one wij-li for wings. Let us all wish ; you, wish first ! Second Girl. I / This sunset I To finish. i Third Girl. That old— soniebo'«eee, Imt, may Ix', like I You'll liMik at least on love's I'eniain'-, A grave's one violet: Vour l.«ikr— that )mys a ihousand pain.-. U'liat's ileatli !— You'll love nie yet ! Third Girl. [To Pipi-a uhouiiprixirhi .J Oh, you may tome closer— we shall not eat you! Whyij-you seem flic very How Xor are yoM young, that "s fr^k j^>er^JhiH( itKi* Sj|ff»';if ri. h li(in>m<- your plump arms* t|y(^fl^^^i^^^T^•|■EnihisfllllJ^n has fallen so violently in tlropiKd away ! V»««- . ..ilwV^wkh^ ;a"ll tell you all about it. OF ST^^ THi* f i. 186 PIPPA PASSES K i i iJ i- y H f :|l ^^'•— A'(V/A/. Till Palttfe by tht Duomo. MoNsiONOR, dismissing his Atten- dants. MoH. Thanks, friends, many thanks. I thiefly desire life now, that I may recompense every one of you. Jlos't I know something of already. What, a repast y)rei)ared Y Hrnrdi'rto henvdi- riitiir . . . ugh . . . ngh ! Where was I 1 Oh, as you were reinarkin};, I'go, the weather is nuld, very unlike winter- weather,— but 1 am ' a .Sicilian, you know, and shiver in your Julys here. To be sure, when 'twas full summer at .Messina, as we priests used to cross in procession the great square on Assumj)- tion Day, you mifiht sec our thickest yellov tai)ers twist suddenly in two, «'ach like a falling star, or sink down on themselves in a gore of wax. But go, my friends, but go ! [To the Intendant) N'ot you, I'go! [Thr others Imir (h, iiparliiuHt] I have long wanted to con- verse with you, I'go ! fnten. I'guccio — Mo)i. .^ . . 'guccio Stefani, man ! of Ascoli. Fermo, anri Fossomhruno : - what I do need instructing about, are these accotmts of your administration of my poor brother's affairs. I'gh ! I shall never get through a third part of your accounts : fake some of these dainties before wr attempt it. however. Arc you bashful to that degree •;' For me, a crust and water suftice. Inttn. Do you choose this cs|k>< ial night to question me 1 Moil. This night, I'go. Vou have managed my late brothers affairs since the death of our elder brother : fourteen years and a mo-':., all but three days. On the ;}rd of ' • ber, I fin ^ve so intimate an ac(|uaintance with your brothers atfairs, ' you will b<> tender of turning so far back: they will hardly Ijear hniking into, so far back. Man. Ay. ay, ugh, ugh,— nothuig but disappointments here below ! I remark a considerable payment made to your- self on this 3rd of IXcciiibcr. Talk of disappointments ! Th'T'' was a young fellow here, Jules, a foreign sculptor. I dul my utmost to advance, that th.. Church might be a gainer by us both : he was going on hopefully enough, ami of a sudden he notifies to me some niarvellous change that has happened in his notions of Art ; here 's his letter,- ' He never had a clearly conceived Ideal within his brain till to-day. Yet since his hand could manage a chisel, he lla^ practi.sed expressing other men's Ideals : and, in the very |)erfection he has at- tained to, he foresees an ultimate faihin : his unconscious hand will pursue its prescribetl course of old years, ano ' hittii. .Sir, I can submit no longer to t Ins course of yours : first, you select tli" group of which I formed one,— next von thin It gradually,- always retaining iim with your smile,— and so do you proceed till you have fairly got me alone with you between four stone walls. And now then ? U-t this farce, this chatter end now : what is it you want with mc .' Mo,i. Ugo! /«/<«. From the iii.stant you arrive I. I felt your smile on me as you (iiiestion. I me about this and the other article iji those paj)ers!— why your brother should have given me this villa, that Dodtn.- aiid your nod at the end meant.— what M'». Possibly that I wished for i>r PIPPA PASSES 187 loud talk liere : if once you »et me coughing, Ugo ! — Inlen. I have your brother's hand and Heal to all I poHseHs : now ask me what for ! what service I did him — ask rae ! Mon. I woidd better not— I should rip tip old disgraces, let out my poor brother's weaknesses. By the wif : for when I inurdereiluce the poor and ignorant, by sppro- priating a pomp these will b«' gurc to think lessens tlie abominations so unac- countably and exclusively a.ssociuted with it r Must I let villas and podiri go to you, a murderer and thief, that you may beget by means of them other murderers and thieves ? No — if my cough would but allow me to s))eak ! Inteii. What am I to expect ? you are going to punish nie r Mon. — Must ]>unish you. Maffeo. I cannot afford to cast away a chan<'e. I have whole centuries of sin to redeem, and only a month or two of life to do it in ! How should I dare to say . . . Iitkn. ' Forgive us our trespasses ' V Mon. My friend, it is because I avow myself a very worm, sinful beyonti measure, tliat I reject a line of conduct you would applaud. ])erhaps. Shall 1 i)roc'?ed, as it were, a-])ardoning t — If — who have no symptom of reason to assume that aught less than my strenuousest efforts will keep myself out of mortal sin, much less, keep others out. No ; I do trespass, but will not double that by allowing you to trespass. Inhn. And suppose the villas are not your brother's to give, nor yours trecisely on the ground there menti(>ned, of the . susj)icion 1 have that a certain cliilil of my late elder brother, who would have succeeded to his estates, was nnirdered in infancy by you, .Maffeo, at the insti- gation of my late brother — that the Pontiff enjoins on nie not merely the bringing that .Maffeo to condign punish- nient, but the talking ali pains, as guardian of that infant's heritage for the Church, to recover it parcel by parcel, howsoever, whensoever, and whereso- I ever. While you are now gnawing those fingers, the police are engaged in ; sealing u]) your pajiers, Maffeo, and the ' mere raising my voice brings my people from the next room to dispose of your- self. Hut I WHUt VOM *" I'linfess icc, Why, I man, do I n<->t know tht old st-jrv? i. I8S PIPPA PASSES I? riic heir between the Kucpppding heir, and that heir's ruffianly instriinu-nt, and their comnlot's effect, and the life of fear and bribes, and ominous smiling Hilence ? Did you throttle or stab my brother's infant ? Come, now ! Inten. So old a story, and tell it no better ? When did such an instrument ever produce such an effect ? Hither the child smiles in his face, or, most likely, he is not fool enough to put himself in the employer's ixjwer so thoroughly : the child is always ready to j)roduce— as you say— howsoever, wheresoever, and whensoever. Man. Liar ! Inten. .Strike me ? Ah. so might n father chastise ! I shall sleep soundly to-night at least, though the gallows await me to-morrow ; for what a life did I lead ! Carld of Cesena reminds me of his connivance, every time I pay his annuity ; which happens commonly thrice a year. If I remonstrate, he will confess all to the goo \'o unfamiliar face might overlook m- — Suddenly Ood took me ! {PlFH.V /*»v' . Mon. {Springing up.\ My jieoplc- one and all— all— within there ! (Jh- this villain— tic him hand and foot : H' dares ... I know not half he dares— but remove him— tpiick ! Miserere wd, Domine ! <|uick, I .say ! I'ipi'a'.s Chamber again. She inters il. The bi-e with his cninb, The numsc at liii dray, The grub in its tomb. Wile winter away ; Hut the tir'-Hy'.iiid litdgt.-ijhrcw aii.i lob-worni, 1 [uay, How fare they '.' lai'l'A 1»AS»SKS 189 Ha, ha, best thankR for your roiinsel. my Zanzc — ' Feast ii|M)ii lainprrys, -Hy, hed^e-shrew, lol)-worm, pray. How fare they ? \o bidding mV then to . . . what did she Hay? ' Pare your nails ])earlwise, get your small feet shoes More like . . . (what said she ?)— and less like canoes ' — How pert that girl was !— woidd I b«' those i>ert Impudent staring women ! it had done me, However, surely no such mighty hurt To learn his name who passed that jest upon me : N'o foreigner, that I can recollect, fame, as she says, a month since, to insjiect Our silk-mills — none with blue eyes and thick rings Of English-coloured hair, at all events. Well, if old Luca keeps his goos, next year ! Hlujih. . . . something! I had caught the uncouth name Hut for Monsignor's peoples sudden clatter Al)ove us — bound to spoil such idle chatter As ours; it were, indeerov( d now ! Suppose there 's a king of the flowers -And a girl-show held in his bowers— ' I.rf)ok ye, buds, this growth of otus." Says he, ' Zanze from the Brenta, I have made her gorge polenta Till both cheeks are near as bouncing As her . . . name there's no pronouncing! ! See this heighteneiH(it>ii8('art huIi them, Tbismorning'shymnhalf promised whi'ii I roue ! True in some sense or other, I suppose, Though I i)asse«l by them all, and f.li no sign. [As she lies duuii. (io. night. No doubt, some way or other, hyimis .say right. .1// serrire is the stime with (Jod — With (,'nd, whose puppets, best and ««»>/, Ai> «v .• thrrr is no fast nor first. [She -I,,!.. KING VICTOR AND KING CHARLES i 'I A TRAGEDY So far as I know, this Tragedy is the tirst artistical consequence of what \'olti'iiv termed 'a terrible event without consequences; ' and although it profes-scs t.. be historical, I have taken more pains to arrive at the history than most readcr.H would thank me for particularizing : since acquainted, as I will hoiie them to l« . with the chief circumstances of Victor's remarkable Eurojiean career— nor unit. Ignorant of the sad and suriirising facta I am about to reproduce (tolerable a. - . oiints of which are to be found, for instance, in Abbe Roman's Refit, or cvm the fifth of iMtd Orrery's Letters from Italy)— I cannot exjiect them to be versed. nor desirous of becoming so, in all the details of the memoirs, corre8|)ondeiKc. and relations of the time. From these only may l>e obtained a knowledge of tin- dery and audacious temper, unscrupulous selfishness, profound dissimulation, and singular fertility in resources, of Victor— the extreme and painful sen.si- Ijility, prolonged immaturity of jiowers, earnest good purpose and vacillating will, of Charles— the noble and right woman's-manliness of his wife— and th.- ill-considered rascality and subsequent lietter-advised rectitude of U'Oruua. When 1 say, therefore, that I cannot but believe n>y statement (combining as it does what appears correct in Voltaire and plausible in Condorcet) more true to lierson and thing than any it has hitherto been mv fortune to meet with, ua «loubt my wortl will lie taken, and my evidence spared as readily.—^, b, London, 1842. 191 KING VICTOR AND KING CUAKLES l-EKSONS. Vu'TiiR Amauei's, Fimt Kin^ ot .Sardinia. C*HAHi.Es flMMAM-EL, hi« Son, Prime i)f Pit'iliiiuat. PoLYXENA, Wife of Charts. D'Ormea, MiniNtcr. Scim. — The Council Chamber of Rivoh Palace, near Turin, communicating with a Hall at the back, an Apartment to the left and another to the right of the Htage. Time, 17:W)-I. FIRST YEAR 17.30.— KIXO VKTOR Part 1 Charles, Polyxena. Cha. You think so 1 Well, I do not. Young was I, quite neglected, nor con- cerned By the world':* business that engrossed so much My father and my brother : if I {leered -•-----• From out my privacy,— amid the crash .,f "• , , . My Beloved, AntI blaze of nations, domineered thos«- All must clear up ; we shall be happy ' two. ,„. . y^* • , . , . i "I'was war, jwace- France our foe, now Ihis cannot last for ever— oh, may —England, friend— change , I„ jove with Spain— at feud with 1 0-day, or any day ! \ Austria! Well— Cha. —May change ? Ah yes— I wondered, laughed a moment's laugh May change! j for pride P(^. Endure it, ihtn. I In the chivalrous couple, then let drop , ,f "": . . -No «'o»bt. a hfe My curtain—' I am out of it." I said— lAkv this drags on, ikiw In'tter and now , When . . . worse. Ptj, You have told me. Charles. My father may . . . nmy take tt. loving Cha. Polyxena— . ,, "'*'• , , .„ , . I When suddenly,— a warm March day, .And he may take I) Ormea closer yet , just that ! T.) counsel hi ni ;— may even east off her Just so much sunshine as the cottager'.^* -That bad Sebastian ; but he also may ... Or, no, Polyxena, my only friend. He may not force you from me ? child Ba.sks in delighted, while the cottager Takes off his bonnet, as he cea.ses work. , , ^"^- Nfw. f^tue me ' To catch the more of'it— andk must7a1i 1 mm you !— nje, close by you as if there Heavily on my brother ... had you .xeen gloomeil N'"i D'Ormeas. no Sebastians on our |iath — •\t Rivoli or Turin, still at hanil. .^ifh-coun.sellor, prime confidant . . . force me ! I'fia. Because I felt as sure, as I feel .sure Wc clasp hands now, of Uing happy iinte. Philii Pol. I know — the lion-featureil ! not "like me ! Cha. And Philip's mouth yet fast to mine. His deatl cheek on my cheek, his arm still round My neck,— they bade me ri.se, ' for T was heir To the Duke,' they .said. ' the right hand ot the i)uke ; ' i-' » >. Si :i':i| V.i-2 K1N{} VlCrOK AND KlN(i t'HAKLKS I : ■ ' i i Till then he wax myfather.not the Duke! Chn. Btit, once that rrown ohtnin,.! So . . . IctnieHniNh . . . the whole intritute then wan't not like WorldM-busineNH their ileuil Iniy whs Our lot would alter 1 * When he n-t horn to, I MuHt conijuer,— ay, the brilliant thin^ he wax, I, of a Hiulden, miiNt In> : my faultx, my follieM, — All bitter truth** were told me, all at onre. To enortion and submit. us both ! And then the wear and worry, blame on Pronoiinee what I shouhl do, Polyxeiia ' blame! p,J. Kndiire. endure, Belove(l! Sav — I* or, spring-sounds in my ears, spring- you not smells about. That he 's your Father ? All 's so in. i- How could 1 but grow diz7.y in their dent j»«*n^ I To novel sway ! Beside, our life niibl Dim palace-rooms at first ? My mother's | change : . , '""H I Or you'll acipiire his kingcraft, or li.H As they discusseound fully ! : To silence for my sake, are perishing; But Victor was my father spite of that, i Piecemeal beside me ? and how othcr- ' Duke Victor's entire life has been,' I wise ? "*'''• —When every creephole from I In Innumerable efforts to one end ; hideous Court And, on the point now of that end's Isstopt; the Minister to dog me, hen — success. The .Mistress jwsteil to entrap vmi. Our Ducal turning to a Kingly crown, there ! Where 'a time to be reminded 'tis his And thus shall we grow old in such a ehild ^ life- He spurns ? ' And so I suffered— yet Not careless,— never estrangetl,- but scarce suffered, old : to alter Since I had you at length ! Our life, there is so much to alter ! P"f- —To sf-rvf in place Pol. (\tuu — Of monarch, minister and mistress, , Is it agreed that we forego complaints Charles J Even at Turin, yet complain we here KINf} VICTOR AND KINO CHARLES I9n At Kivoli ? "lwrr.'wiM.ryouannoimcei)t For mc, why troin so fattt Huccoedrd train On the high-road, each gayor Htill than each ; I noticed your ArchbiBhop's pnrHiiivant, Tiie flable cloak and silver cronH ; Much pomp Bodes , . . what now, Charles ? Can j-ou conceive t My note u|)on the .Sftanish Claims ! You've mastered The fief-speech thoroughly : this other, mind, Is an opinion you deliver,— stay, Best read it slowly over once to me ; Read— there 's bare time ; you read it firmly— loud —Rather loud— looking in his face,— dun't sink Your eye onee— av, thus ! ' If Spain claims . . .' Wgin — Just as you look at iiie ! PA xr , i ^*"- ^' >"" ' <^''' truly, o. » .. . >iot I. I \ on have I seen, say, marshalling vour rui. A matter of some moment— troops um^l' , X. Tl"''"*' '* '""■ '''^' ' Dismissing councils— or, through doors >\luoh of the gronp of loiterers that ajar, stami Head sunk on hand, devoureil by slow from the hmc-avenue, divines that I— chagrins AI)out to figure presently, he thinks. | —Then radiant, for a crown had all at In face of all assembled -am the one ! once Who knows precisely least about it ? , Seemed iwssiblo again ' ' an behold -..f.'^*- , '''•"<•> ! Him, whose least whi cs my spirit J) Ormea 8 contrivance ! fast, ^S^'}\ ,. Ay— how otherwise In this sweet brow, nougut could divert .Should the young Prince serve for the ; me from, old King's foil ? Save objects like Sebastian's shameless —>o that the simplest courtier may I lip, remark, Or, worse, the dipt grey hair and dead Iwerc idle raising parties for a Prince j white face. Content to linger D'Ormea's laughing- And dwindling eye as if it ached with stock! g„il,.. Something, 'tis like, about that weary ' D'Ormea wears business [Pointing to papcr-i hr h(ui laid down, and vhich Poi.vxena examines. [Aa^ he kinMf her, enter from the Ktno's apartment D'Ormka. I said he would divert My kisses from your brow ! -Not that I comprehend three words, DO. [Amde.] Here ! So, King Victor u, °/,'"""''>'P', , , Spoke truth for once ; and who 's or- After all last night s study. | dained, but I, {"'• Tlie faint heart ! j To make that memorable ? Both in >> liy, as we rode anftr» t'lp King'x h'O. jhAk A«« npprmirhfd Ihrm. onr- comnmiMl. iio doubl. looki Ihi i4l,4r fMprr I'haUI.Ks ,,.„. //O. (.4erha|Mi r My jwojcot for the Fiefn ! A» I fiu|>. Well, thin at leaRt in |>uniHhment enough! iMweil ! Men ti»e.c «'0"»P- ineaHureN Cha. Deliver the King's ine»i»«ge, —For thin in mine, and that I npird of Manjiii* ! Spain, n'0.[.i>iidr.] Ah— Mine too! So nnxiouji for Im fate? [Aloud. \ A Cha. Releaio» At any time, the pleasure of the King, slave Before hift minister ?— Polyxena, In his Sardinia,— Europe's s|)ertarle. Stay here till I eomlude my task : I feel And the worlds bye-word! Wliai? >our presenre — (smile not) — throujih The Prince aggrieved the walls, and take That I excluded him our ronnscU ? Fresh heart. The Kind's within that Here ,.//;*if™^'' •, ,, . [Toufhing the pap>, in U U. I rattling trie Uiltli ivhinoii a /*• xr ("harlk.s'.« hand, lif^, eTfUtlmM, ,(H h> yl,t„r,.'ii, ,1, Accept a method of extorting gold _ , '"JP?!" ' ' From Savoy's nolihs. who must wiiti2 Pal.[AiitdetoVHA.] Tarry awhile: itM w'nrth r>-/^» ^h"* "''" ''"' '"'"'"''''■ • I" N'lver first from tillers of the soil. DO. Madam, I do not often trouble Whose hinds again have to rontiil)iii( .vou. brass The Prince loathes, and you loathe mc— To make up the amount— then "- let that pass ! counsel, sir ! But smce it touches him and you. not Mv counsel, one year old ; and the fruit. n»P' ' this— ' Bid the Prinoe listen ! Savoy 's l)ecome a mas.s of misery ^ol. [to ( HA 1 Surely you will listen ! And wrath, which one man has to im vi — Deceit ?— Those fingers crumpling up —the King : his vest ? You're not th.. Kina ! Another .-■ou!!-. !. ( ha. Deceitful to the very fingers' t.\v ! '""" ' Sj)ain entertains a project (here it ii> -) KIX(! VKTOR AND KINYJ CHARLES 195 Whirh, Kii«""'>l< iHokpH AiiHlria oflffr Cho. Prrfrrllv. thot Mine Kinft I FurJhir. D'OrmM. voii li«%e nhoMii Thii* nuirh to baffl<> N|iain; he |iroiiiiMrii ; | youmH/, Thrn comwi NMin. brrathlMn lent hIip im \ For the firot time theae many weeks and foreHtalleH ... DiMiKwed to ilo my bidding T rAfl.-— Promiie*. sir, when he before O'O. From the heart ! ajjreed Cha. Acquaint my father, finit. I wait To Austria ■ offer T hi* pleaHure : D'O. That '• a counwl, Prince ! Next ... or. III tell you at a fitter time. But past our foresight, Spain and Austria Accjuaint the King t (choosing D'O. [Anidf.] If I'soapo Victor yet ! To make their quarrel up between them- Firnt, to prevent this stroke at me— if selves not,— Without the intervention of a frienajn to >*o/. How derides ? tight against. Chi. You would be free fronl .And what sustains the King but Savoy D'Ormea's eye and hers 1 . h*"". —Could fly the court with me and live A miserable people mad with wrongs "! ; content ? You're not the King ! So— this it is for which the knights 'M. Polyxena, you said , assemble ! All would clear up : all does dear up to The whispers and the closeting of late. me ^ The savageness and insolence of old. ■"•*- * ■ ■■!. nn V a^L 111 n." l>'0. Clears un ? 'Tis no such thing —For this ! to envy, then ? Pal. What mean vou ? You see the King's state in its length Chn. How? you fail to catch and breadth ? ' Their devc plot ? I missed it— but You blame me, now, for keeping you , could you ? oloot These last two months of care to inciil- From counsels and the fruit of counsels ? cate — Wait HowduUIam, — D'Ormea's present visit Till I explain this morning's business ! To prove that, being dull, I might be Cha. [Aside.] Xo— \ worse Stoop to my father, yes,— D'Ormea, no ; ' Were I a king— as wretched as now —The King's son, not to the King's < dull — counsellor ! . You n>cognize in it no winding up I will do something,- but at least retain Of a long plot ? The credit of my on now expressly rome to tr!! mr ? | should .«ihanie the crown— '' ''• I'Ih* An old compl.iiul : the point is, how to lotcll! You apprehend me ? j gain d.. I' .' n 0' ril 1, 196 KING VICTOR AND KING CHARLES I :£ A ■I ■i MyplaceforonemorefitinVictor'seyes, i— I have not breathed, I think, th( His mistress', the Sebastian's child Pol. In truth ? Cha. They dare not quite dethrone Sardinia':) Prince : But they may descant on my dulness till They sting nie into even praying them For leave to hide my head, resign my state. And end the coil. Not see now ? In a word, They'd have me tender them myself my rights As one incapable : — some cause for that. Since I delayed thus long to see their drift ! many years ! Pol. Why— it may be !— if he desire to wed That woman and legitimate her child— C/ia. You see as much ? Oh, let his will have way ! You'll not repent confiding in me, Love ? There 's many a brighter spot in Pied- mont, far. Than Rivoli. I'll seek him— or, .su|>- pose You hear first how I mean to 8|x>ak my mind ? —Loudly and firmly both, this time be sure ! I shall apprise the King he may resume 1 1 yet may see your Rhine-land -who My rights this moment. i can tell ? Pol. Pause! I dare not think Once away, ever then away ! I breathe. So ill of Victor, Cha. Think no ill of him ! Po/.— Nor think him, then, so shallow as to .suffer His purpo.se be divined thus easily. And yet — you are the last of a great line; There 's a great heritage at stake ; new days Seemed to await this newest of the realms Of Europe : — Charles, you must with- stand this ! Cha. Ah— You dare not then renounce the splendid court For one whom all the world despises ? Speak ! Pol. My gentle husband, speak I will, and truth. ^ye^e this as you believe, and I once sure Your duty lay in so renouncing rule, I could . . . could ? Oh, what happiness it were — To live, my Charles, and die, alone with you ! Cha. I grieve I asked you. To the presence, then ! By this, D'Ormea acquaints the King, no doubt. He fears I am too simple for mere hints. And that no less will serve than Victor's mouth Teaching mc in full council what I urn. Pol. And I too breathe ! Cha. Come, my Polyxena ! KING VICTOR: Part II Enter Kino Victor, bearing the regalia on a cushion, from his apartment. He calls loudly. D'Ormea !— for patience fails me, treacl- ing thus Among the trains that I have laid,— my knights. Safe in the hall here— in that anteroom. .My son,— D'Ormea, where ? Of this one touch — [Laying down the croun. This fireball to the.se mute, black, cold trains — then ! Outbreak enough ! [Contemplating it.] To lose all, after all ! Thi,s— glancing o'er my house for ages- shaped. Brave meteor, like the crown of Cyprus now — Jerusalem, Spain, England— every change The braver,— and when I have clutched a prize My ancestry died wan with watchiiii; for. To lose it !— by a slip— a fault— a trick Learnt to advantage once, and not un- learnt KING VICTOR AND KING CHARLES 197 When past the use,— 'just tliis once First, you read the Annulment of the more' (I thought) | Oaths; ' Use it with Spain and Austria happily, Del Borgo follows ... no, the Prince And then away with trick ! ' An over- sli '' sign ; s'gl»t Then let Jel Borgo read the Instr- I'd have repaired thrice over, any time nicnt ; These fif.y years, must happen now ! On which, I enter. There 'a iK>acc i IfO. sire, this mav be truth ; At length ; and I, to make the most of You, sire, may do as you aflect may l>cace, ' break Your engine, me, to pieces : try at lea.st If not a spring remains worth saving ! Take Ventured my project on our jieople here, As needing not their help — which Europe knows. And means, cold-blootlcd, to dispose \ My counsel as I've counselled many herself | times ! (Apart from plausibilities of war) What if the Spaniard and the Austrian To crush the new-made King — who] threat? ne'er till now .There's England, Holland, Venice- Feared her. As Duke, I lost each foot which ally of earth I Select you ? Ai.d laughed at her : my name was left, lie. Aha ! Come, D'Ormea,— ' truth ' , , my sword Was on your lip a minute since. Allies? Left, all was left ! But she can take, slu I've broken faith with Venice, Holland, knows, England. This crown, herself conceded ... —As who knows if not you ? That 's to try. DO. But why with mo Kind I^urope ! My career 's not closed ; Break faith— with one ally, your best, as yet ! ! break faith ? This boy was ever subject to my will- Timid and tame — the fitter ! D'Ormea, too — What if the sovereign 's also rid of thee His prime of parasites ? — Yet I delay ! D'Ormea ! {As D'Okmea enters, thr King seats himself. Vic. When first I stumbled on you. Marquis — 'twas At Mondovi— a little lawyer's-clerk . . . D'O. Therefore your 'souls ally ! — who brought you through Your quarrel with the Poi>e, at pains enough — My son, the Prince— attends he ? Who simplyechoed you inthese affairs ^''^- Sire, On whom you cannot, therefore, visit Ho does attend. The crown prepared ! ; these —it seems Affairs' ill fortune— whom you'll trust That you persist in your resolve. to guide '"'■ Who 's come ? You .safe (yes, on my soul) in these Ine chancellor and the chamberlain ? ' affairs ! My knights ? J-,V. I was about to notice, had you O. The whole Annunziata. — If, my not liege. Prevented me, that since that great lour fortunes had not tottered worse town kept ... tb-inn„w... With its chicane D'Ormea's satchel 1 (f. Del Borgo has drawn up the ! stuffed, schedules ? mine— { And D'Ormea's self sufticicntly recluse, .My son s, too ? Excellent ! Only, : He missed a sight,— tny naval arma- beware | ,„pnt "f the least blunder, or wc look but ; When I burnt Toulon. How the skiff fools. ^-sults . S m m- ti 1{>8 KL\(J VKTOJl AND KING CHAHLKS I'lMjii the galliofs wave !-risfs its height, O'ertops it even ; but the great wave bursts — Aiui kell-ilcep in the horrible profound Buries itself the galliot : shall the skiff Think to escajH- the sea's l)lac-k trough I in turn 1 | Apply this : you have been my minister | — Next me — above me, possibly ; — sad ' jxist, ' I Huge care, abundant lack of iK-ace uf mind ; Who would desiderate the eminence ? j You gave your soul to get it — you'd i yet give Your soul to keep it, as I mean you shall, D'Ormea ! What if :\-.i wave ebbed with me 1 Whereas it cants you to another crest — ; I toss you to my son ; ride out your ride! D^O. Ah, you so much despise me then 1 j r«>- You, DOrmea 1 Nowise : and Til inform you why. i A king j Must in his time have many ministers. ! And I've been rash enough to part with j mine I When I thought proi^r. Of the tribe. ! not one (. . . Or wait, did Pianezze ? . . . ah, just the same !) Not one of them, ere his remonstrance reached The length of yours, but has assured me (commonly, Standing much as you stand,— or nearer. say- The door to make his exit on his si)eech) — I should reiHjnt of what I did : D'Ormea, Be candid— you approached it when I bade you Prepare the schedules ! But you stopi)ed in time — You have not so assured me : how should I Despise you, then 'I Enkr Charles. 1 ;'r. \fhangniii liis luiic] Arc you instructed 1 Do My order, jioint by point ! About i( . mi : 1>'0. You so despise me ! [.Itf/rfc.J Oni' last stay reniains — The boy's discretion there. \To Chari.es. I For your sake, Prin. . . I pleaded— wholly in your interest- To save you from this fate ! ('ha. \.Uidv.] .Must I be (n|.| The Prince was supjilicated for- liv him '! Vir.\toT>'0.\ Apprise Del I!or-o, Spava. and the rest. Our son attends them ; then return. l^'O- One wfir.l ; Vila, \.\vidi:] .\ moment's pause iin"0. |,4«»rff.] Let but the boy be lii m I Vie. You disobey ? Cha. \to D'O.] You do not ilisn\>v\ Me, at least 1 Did you promise that lir no ? D'O. Sir. I am yours -what w«iiil. the son ! My wits ! My wits ! |^^., -, Vic. [Seated.] And you, what meant you, pray. By speaking thus to D'Ormea ? Cm. Let tis Milt Weary ourselves with D'Ormea ! Those few words Have half unsettled what I came to say. His presence vexes to my very soul. lie One called to manage kinfidoiiis. Charles, needs heart To War up under worse annoyann Than D'Ormea ^ccin.-)— to mcl^ at ka t. 1^ KING VICTOR AND KING CHARLES 199 Ckti. [Anidc] All, gotxl ! I i'liH. —Do ami ever diil He keeps me to the jwint ! Then be it so. So take it : lis the methmi you pursue [Aloud.] Last night, sire, brought me ' That grieves . . . certain jMiiiers — thei^c — lie. These words I Let iiic expros, To bt; rejwrted on, — your way of late. my friend, Is it last night's result that you demand? Your thought. You i)cuetratc what Vic. For God's sake, what has night i I sup[)o«e. You were not sole contriver of the ' I/O. Sire, for the last time, i)auM. ' M t ff , • ' *''■• *''v«" minutes lony.r aiy lainer • \l am your sovereign, Man . Hisi- V ic. Aow observe me, sir ! I jest ', tpte Seldom— on these points, never. Here, And I'll so turn those mini les to ae- ,„, , I fay, eount i he knights assemble to see me concede, | That . . . Ay, you recollect me ! [Anlcli I And you acce[)t, Sardinia's crown. | Could I bring "r*^*"' • . . Farewell ! , .My foolish mind to undergo the readinsr fwere vam to hope to change this— 1 1 That Act of Abdication ■ can end it. ■ • ^. Not that I cease frnm being yours, when sunk Into obscurity. I'll die for you, But not annoy you with my presence. Sire, Farewell ! Farewell ! Enter D'Ormea. D'O. [Aiidc] Ha, sure he *s changed again — Means not to fall into the cunning trap ! Then, Victor, I shall yet escaiH) you, Victor ! Vic. [vuddcnly placing the crown upon the head of Chakle.s. D'Ormea, your King ! [To Charles.] My son, obey me ! Charles, Your father, cle cr-sighted than your- self, Decides it must be so. 'Faith, this looks real ! My reasons after — reason upon reason After— but now, obey me ! Trust in me ! [.Iv Charles motions D'Or.mea to j''iccdc him. Thanks, dear Charlo ! [Cmakles and D'Ormea rcHn. I 'c. A novel feature in the bov,— indeed Just what I feared he wanted mo.st. Quite right. This earnest tone— your truth, now, tor effect ! It answers every purjxise : with that look. That voice,— I hear him : ' I began no treaty,' ( He sjieaks to Spain,) ' nor ever dreaund of this You show me ; this I from my soul regret ; But if my father signed it, bid not iii. Dishonour him— who gave me all, beside : ' And, ' truth,' says Spain, ' 'twere luu li to visit that Cpon the Prince.' Then come tlio nobles trooping : KING VICTOR AND KINO CHAULES 'Jul • 1 grieve at these exactions— I had cut To your imbecile son— who, well you Thia hand off ere impose them ; but know, "ball I Must— (when the iwoplo here, and Undo my father's deed ? '- And they ' nations there, f^ontcT : Clamour for you, the main dclimiuent, ' Doubtless he was no party, after all ; sljpt (.live the Prince time ! ' FroniKinj; to— Count of any little plair) Ay, give us time— but time ! —Surrender me, all left within his ( 'Illy, he must not, w hen the dark day reach, — comes, 1, sir, forgive vou : for I sec the end — Refer our friends to me and frustrate all. See you on your return — (you will We'll have no child's play, no des- return) — ponding-lits, 'i'o him you trust in for the moment . . . No Charles at each cross turn entreating Vic. How .' *''''or Trust in him ? nierely a prime-minister To take his crown again. Guard against This D'Ormea ! How trust in him ? tbat! 1)0. Jn his fear— iHislove, — but pray discover for yourself hiikr D Uu.MEA. , What you are weakest, trusting in ! Long live King Charles ! j Vic. Aha, No— Charles's counsellor ! D'Ormea, not a shrewder schenic than Well, is it over. Marquis ? Did I je.st ? | this DV. ' King Charles ! ' What then In your repertory ? You know old may you be ? i ' \ictor— I '<•• Anything! Vain, choleric, inconstant, rash— (I've A country gentleman that 's cured of heard bustle. Talkers who httle thought tiie King so .\iid beats a quick retreat toward close) Chambery Felicitous, now, weret not, to provoke To hunt and hawk, and leave you noisy 1 him folk I To clean forget, one minute afterward, To drive your trade without him. I'm His solemn act, and call the nobles back Count Remont — And pray them give again the very Count Tendc — any little place's Count ! |)ower D'O. Then, Victor, Captain against He has abjured !— for the dear sake of — Catinat, j what t At Staffarde, where the French beat you; Vengeance on you 1 Xo, D'Ormea: such and Duke { am I, At Turin, where you beat the French; 'Count Tendc or Count anything you King, late, please, Uf Savoy, Piedmont, Montfcrrat, Sar- j — Only, the same that did the things you dinia, say, —Now, 'any little j)lacc's Count " — And, among other things you say not, • "•• Proceed ! used J>'0. Breaker of vows to (!od, who Vjur finest fibre, meanest muscle,— you crowned you first ; 1 used,and now, since you will have it so. r>icaker of vows to Man, who kc[>t you Leave to your fate — mere lumber in the since ; midst, Mo^t j)rofligate to me, who outrajjed You and your works. Why, what on Cod earth beside M\<1 Man to serve you, aiui am mailc jmy ' Are you made for. yuti surt ui' mliiistcro "' crimes ' i i»"0.— Not left, though, to my fate I 1 was but privy to, by passing IhuK ! Y'our witless son II d k ■ 202 KING VICTOR AND KING CHARLES li i< Has more wit than to load himself with lumber : He foils you that way, and I follow you. Vic. Stay with my son — protect the weaker 8ide ! I}'0. Ay, be tossetl to the ])eoi>ie like a rag, And flung by them to Spain and Austria — so Abolishing the record of your part In all this iierfidy ! I If. Prevent, beside. My own return ! lyo. That 's half prevented now ! 'Twill go haril but you find a wondrous charm In exile, to discredit me. The Alps — Silk-mills to watch — vines asking vigi- lance — Hounds open for the stag — your hawk's a-wing — Brave days that wait the Louis of the South, Italy's Janus ! Vic. So, the lawyer's clerk Won't tell me that I shall repent ! DO. You give me Full lea%-e to ask if you repent Vic. Whene'er, Sufficient time 's elapsed for that, you judge ! {Shouts innidc, ' King Charles.' />'0. Do you repent ? Vic. [after adight pause.] . . . I've kept Ihem waiting t Yes ! Come in — complete the Abdication, sir ! [They go out. Enter POLYXENA. Pol. A shout ? The sycophants are free of Charles ! Oh, is not this like Italy t No fruit Of his or my distempered fancy, this — But just an ordinary fact ! Beside, Here they've set forms for such proceed- ings—Victor Imprisonetl his own mother — he should know. If any, how a son 's to be deprived Of a son's right. Our duty 's palpable. Xe'er was my husband for the wily ' king ' ^ And the unworthy subjects — be it so ! ■ Come you safe out of them, my Charlo I Our life Grows not the broad and dazzling life, I dreamed Might prove your lot — for strength was shut in you None guesseil but I — strength wiiieli, untrammeled once. Had little shamed your vaunted an- cestry — Patience and stlf-devotion, fortitude. Simplicity and utter truthfulness — All which, they shout to lose ! So, now my work Begins — to save him from regret. Save Charles Regret t — the noble nature ! He 's not made Like the Italians : 'tis a Oerman soul. Charles enters crowned. Oh, where 's the King's heir ? (Jone :— the Crown-prince ? (ione — Where 's Savoy ? Gone : — Sardinia 'i (Jone ! But Charles Is left ! And when my Rhine-laml bowers arrive. If he looked almost handsome yestcr- twilight As his grey eyes seemed widening into black Because I praised him, then how will lie look t Farewell, you stripi)ed and whitcd iiiiil- berry trees Bound each to each by lazyropesof vine! Now I'll teach you my language — I'm not forced To sj)eak Italian now, Charles ? [iSA« sees the crown.] What is this ? Answer me — who has done this ; Answer ! Cha. He ! I am King now. Pd. Oh worst, worst, worst of nil ! Tell me — what, Victor ? He has iiiade you King ? What 's he then Y What "s to follcw this ? You, King 't Vint. Have I done v.Tong ? Yes— |nr you were not by ! Pd. Tell me from first (o lasl. Cha. Hush — a new woiM KING VICTOR AND KING CHARLES 2(>;i KrightenH before nie ; ho in niuved away —The (lark form that ccliimed it, he subsides Into a Hha[>e Hii|>i>orting ine like you. And I, alone, tend upward, more and more Tend upward : I am grown Sardinia's King. Pol. Now stop : was not this Vitior, Duke of Savoy At ten years old t Chti. He waf. I'li. And the Duke spent Since then, just four-and-fifty years in toil To be— what ? Cha. King. Pd. Then why unking hiniself ? Cha. Those years are cause eno\igh. Pol. The only cause 't Chn. Some new jwrplexities. Pd. Which you can solve-. Although he cannot t Chn. He assures me so. Pd. And this he means shall last — how long V <'h». How long ? Think you I fear the j)cril8 I confront t He 's praising me before the iwople's face — My |)eople ! Pd. Then he 's ^'hanged — grown kind, the King t Where can the trap bt ". Cha. Heart anoiit the iwonle ! 1 tooktcrlHm rrcsh foen aMnailed you, either side; meaHures Hiai* thcHe. Some short time «inie . . . Oil, Ini And reach your place of refuge— e'en aware you know if.i ••'/'"' «^'''", , , , Butlittleof my meamire.s-the«can.M If the gate oin-ned iinU-HN breath enough Thenobles— we'veresumed wmcKranl^ Was left in you to make its lord a NiRH'vh. iin|josed Oh.v-ouwill.ee! A tax or two; prepare yourself. ,n t*(/. No : straight on shall I go. short. Truth helping ; win with it or die with For clamour on that score : mark m. ; , . '.U . , vou yield I ic. Faith. C'harles, you're not made No jot of what 's entrusted you ' Kuro|)e 8 «ghting-man ! Pol. x„ ,„, Us barrier-guarder, if you please. Vou You yield ! V. Ji"'''* .J. .. C'Art. Myfather,whenItooktheo,.ll,, .>ot take— consolidate; with envious Although my eve might stray in scan li ,,.. . French I „f y„;„.„; Ihis side, with Austrians that, these I heard it, underHto.xl it. piomi.scd (;.»l territoriea VVhat you re(|uirc. Till from tlu- I held— ay, and will hol*"•><''<' He moves me, here 1 keep, nor ^in. II Despite the - ouplc ! Hut Ivc surely loncede earnwl '|'|,^. meanest of my rights, h.xemption from these weary iwlitics, r,>. [A«idc. | The boy 's a f(H.l ' — Ihepriviegetoprattlewithmyson -Or rather, Im a fool: for, what ^ And daughter here, tho' Europe wait ' wron<' here •* the while ] To-day the "sweets of ieigni„g_lct tu- fol. ^ay, sire,— at Chambery, away ' morrow forever. Be ready with its bitters. As soon you II be, lis a farewell we bill you ! I Enter D'Ormea. Juin these few fleeting moments to There V bcMd.' ,.,.. . account! Somewhat to j.ress uiKin vour notirr lis just as though It were a death. first. lij'rj J 1 r .. . , I"''ccr> [To ('HA. I I wax the ininiMer and niiich beMide — Of the late monarch ; to say little, him I served : on you I have, to say e'en less, Xo riaini. This caw rontainM those pa[iers : with thorn I tender you my otHce. Vie. [haalUy.] Keep him, Charles ! There 'sreason for it — many reanonn: you Distrust him, nor are so far wrong there, —but He 's mixe'0. I did not offer you My services — woidd I could serve you. sire ! As for the Spanish matter . . . •'»>. But dispatch A( least the deaenditure. <'ha. [reading.] A miserable (ifty thousand crowns ! Vif. Oh, quite enough for country gciitlciiicn I Reside the e.\che«tuer hap^iens . . . but find out All that, yourself ! Cha. [ulill reading.] ' Count Tende " — what moans this ? Vie. Me : you were but an infant when I burst Through the ilefileof Tendeupon France. Had only my allies kept true to me ! Xo matter. Tende 's, then, a name I take Just as . , . lyf^. — The Marchioness Sebastian takes The name of Spigno. Cha. How, sir ? lie. [to D'Okmka.I Fool ! All that Was for my own detailinj!.| To ( 'h arles. ] That anon ! Cha. \to D'Okmea.] Explain what you have said, sir ! ri'(). I sup|)OMed Themarriageof the Kingto her I nametl. ProfoundlvKept a secret thesefew weeks. Was not to be one, now he 's Count. Pol. [Aside.] With us The minister — with him the mistress ! C/m. [to Victor.] Xo— Tell me you have not taken her— that woman To live with, past recall ! lie. And where 's the crime . . . Pol. [to CHARLE.S.] True, sir, this is a matter past recall. And past your cognizance. A day before. And you had been com[)elled to note this — now Why note it ? The King saved his House from shiame : Wiiat the Count does, is no concern of yours. Cha. [ajter a pause] The Spanish business. D'Ormea ! Vic Why. my son. I I'lok some ill-advised . . . one'^t aee. in fact. Spoils everything : though I was ovci- reachc-l, A younger brain, we'll trust, may extricate Sardinia readily. To-morrow. l)"Ormca, Inform the King ! JyCf. j inlhoul rvijiudimj ViciuK, and li- it I fell/.] Thus >:tands the ca«c with Spain : Hi m ft'l I 4' 2<)fl KINO VICTOR AND KINO CHARLES When tirMt the Infant C'arlott < lainutl \m proiKT Siio('<>!«Mion to the throne of TuMcnny . . . \'if. I t«'ll you that standH over ! Let that reHt ! Tliero JM the |K>hpy ! (%i. \l() D'Ormka-I Thim nimh I know. Ami more — too nuiili : the remedy ? ^ Jt'O. Of poiirse ! No glim|)«e of one. I'i>. Xo remetly at all ! It makes the remedy itHolf— time makes it. //O. [lo CHARLX8.] But if . . . Vir. [hIUI more hantily.] In tine, I shall take eare of that — And.wlthanother project that I have. . . jyo.[i timing on him.] Oh, since Count Tende meanw to take again King Victor's crown ! — /v. [tlirowing hersdf at Victor's /((/.] E'en now retake it, sire ! Oh, Hjieak ! We are your subjects both, once more ! Say it— a word elTects it ! Vou meant not, Nor do mean now, to take it — but you must ! "lis in you — in your nature — ond the shame 's Not half the shame 'twould grow to afterward ! Chfi. Polyxcna ! P(J. A word recalls the knights — j Say it ! — What 's i)romising and what 's the Past ? Say you are still King Victor ! i>'0- Better say The ('o)int repents, in brief ! [Victor ri.ii/i. f^fia. With such a ciinu- I have not charged you, sire ! ^"'. Charles turns from nu' ! SECOND YEAR 1731.- KING CHARLES P.\RT I Enhr Queen Polyxena and D'Ormea. — .1 pause. Pill. And now, sir, what have you to say ■' i^'fJ- Count 'I'cnde . . . J'tJ. Aflirm not I betraye*! you ; y^u resolve On uttering this strange intelligence — Nay, jKmt yourself to find me vn I reH'(). Ix-t 's think. Home-matters settletl — Victor 's coinini; now ; Let foreign matters settle — Victor s here : Unless I stop him ; as I will, this wav. P(jI. [rending the papers he pn^tnt-.] If this should prove a plot 'twi.sl you and Victor ? KING VICTOR AND KINO CHARLES 207 You Mvk annoysnrc>H to give pretext For what you nay you fear 1 D'O. Oh. po8«ibly ! I go for nothing. Unly tthow King I'harleH That thuK Count Ten — the Prince's voice ! ira. ' I know ! Eiilfr Charles — D'Ormea retiring a lilll,: Cha. Now wish me joy, Polyxena ! Wish it me The old way ! [She emhrarex him. There was t much caus«> for that ! But I have found myself again ! What news .\t Turin ? Oh, if you but felt the load Fm free of — free ! I said this year would end Or it, or me — but I am free, thank Ciod ! Pol. How, Charles ? Cha. You do not guess ? The day I found Sardinia's hideous coil, at homo, abroad, And how my father was involved m it, — Of course, I vowetl to rest or smile no more Until I freeeased the iustly-angered Powers, destroye'0.[6'o/ni;i[//oruYird.] He knows that? Chn. What, in heaven's name, means this ? Ji'O. He knows that matters Are settle'••? H«n he that Treaty ?— He i* M>ltin r HiH hrort, mrit ; you may not be uiwl to forward M..„i. 'T' u .i. . .1 '^''■•"•''y- Are your guard* hero ? Niiohoviilenco.howpvfT: therefore road (%,. Well for vm. . ! ''"''""'' '« P<"-vxENA'.s papTM. ^ They are not ! [To Pol.) Him I knew of Myevidenr... j old. but you- rAa. [/olV.iYXiNA.l Oh. worthy thiKJ To he/.r that pirkthank, further his . , />'y«"' . , ' V«Kn«! ITohn And of your speeeh I never have for- (inort.. -were they here, I'.l bi.j thein jjotten. , , , , _ for your trouble. I hough I profeHMHl forgetfulnenn; which Arrettt you UHX^lTJ!^T I /. » '*'*■ f'""'!" yo" «hall not want Am If I did not know how falne it wan ; I lived Which ma«le me toil uneonwiouHly thus The wvant of your rhoire, not of your That there might l)e no leaMt oeraMon ^ Vou never greatly nee.le, . When r might ventr to forget (I TA,,. (/^*,„j, ,y.| The papern aUo ! I».. Tl, . '"'t'" I ■ ,. . y"" 'hink I hat spewh ami recognize Poly-rena— i I '0. Kven sav niaml)crv • Uhat that wise pa,H>r show-. an,l easily. Tis vacant. I surmise? .7ihis • Since when ? ^7,,, ' ., />'a The when, and wherP, and how. Your wonls or |>ov their forfei(,"ir'"^7;n belong tjjpfp , ■ • """'sMc'}^" ""' '*"'''• '"'* ^ ''*'"' '" P^'y^*-"*. <»"«> 'I'ance to rend the v. il v„.. «»»!• ., T. . Thickening and blackeninjj "tuixt 11- ^ ou ofttimes .serve yourself— r.l serve two! Uo say. i-u- .«^'b" *'"'' ■ . . , ^'"""" "*■♦■ ^'x" fol^«-hoo<| of the clmi-.o I se makes me not so S(|neamish. In proved! c|_„. .tJ^fi'^; K 1 r« •'" >*ay. at least, you wish to see tlH'iu Since the first hour he went to Cham- proved f\t u '^' n , f'alsecharges-mv heart's love of 01 il. I Of his seven servants, five have I times' suborned. p,j Ah f -Imri,-. . father I>o. Oh, just as vou will ! If a a. [In D'Okmea.] Pr.frd ic nir, sii \Liioliiig at Pdi.v And I'm at lentil XENA. A martyr for the truth! XoemLfl lev«HV. KlXf! VICTOR AND KINO CHARLES 2fH» \H mirarU'H, .My ronMrioiiN innorcnrt- ! The HKking : all thi> army 'n miiip — I've [A* Ihrfi yo iiiit, rnlrr — hff thf middlf ' witnMMHl doiir, at u'hirk he pt) ■ f« — Vutok. KiLch |>riv«te light beneath me ; all »ho I'lV. Surr I hoanl \o«o(i ? No! court 'n WVII, I do bent Mine too; ami, he«' i xtill the |)lace. Kin D'Ornica ; no ! There 'h Komo The old Tonm ! N'othing rhanged !— >So | srare clinginii yet. near my N4>at, i Had I decidctep to riHi> I want that nii-eting over Krnt. R.xhauHtH me ! Here am I arrived : the I know not why. 'I'lixh, D'Orincu won't reHt l»e xlow .Mut*( l»e done for me. Would I rould To hearten me, the su|i|il«> knnvi> ! That xit here hurNt .\nd let thingH right themxelve'*, tlic of spile so eased him ! He'll inform masque uninaH<|ue me ... Of the olil King, erownless, grey hnir-, Whot r and hot hlood, — Why fome I hither ? .\ll 's in rough — The young King, irowned. luit ibIiii let all before his lime, Remain rough ; there 's full liuu> to 'I'hey say, — the eager mistreum with her draw Wk — nay, | tauntx, — There 'h nought to draw bai k frou), as And the sad earnest wife who motions yet ; whereas, 1 me If reason should l»e, to arrest a c'ourse .Away — ay, there she knelt to me ! K'en Of error — reason go«j, but silent as the grave. This kind of step is pitiful — not due That disconcerts me ! There the change To rharles, this stealing back — hither, must strike ! I>eca\is«' \o silence last year ! some one flung lit- 's from his capital ! Oh, Victor ! ^ iloors wide Victor ! (Those two great doors which scrutini/e Hut thus it is. The age of crafty men me now) Is loathsome ; youth contrives to carry And out I went "mid crowds of nu'U — otf men talking. Dissimulation : we may in(ers|>ersc Men watching if my lip fell or brow knit : Kxtenuating ]>assageH of strength. Men saw me .'^afe forth — put me on my .Vrdour, vivacity, and wit — nmy turn road : K'en guile into a voluntary grace : — That makeH the misery of this return ! Hill one's old age, when graces drop Oh. had a battle done it ! Had I dropped, away Haling some battle, three entire days •Anil leave guile the jnirc staple of our i old, lives — Hither and thiOier !)y t)'" forehead — All, loathsome ! j dropiM-d Xot .lio— or why pause I r Ttirin In Sp;iin, in .\iistri.i. i of .ill, in Is mine to have, were I so mimled, for , i ■i- . r ■ nil t9! ranee — 210 KINfJ VICTOR AND KINO CHARLES Spurne|l on its liorns or undcrnoath its | Vir. [after a pf,,,,,.] Not at Evian liooves, Chark's ' ' When the spent monster went upon its What 's this ? Why do yon run to close knees To pad and pash the jirostrate wretoh — I, Victor, the doors ? No weleonie for your father ? Vfia. [Ande.] Xot his voice ! 1 i. 1 .1 ., "'• L'^""*t-j A>oi nis voice .Sole to liave stood up against France, What would 1 give for one iinneriou neat down (opp ' By inches, brayed to pieces finally j Of the old sort ! That "s cone for ev.r In soir.e vast uniii aginabic charge, ! Vic. ^i,.^i A Hying hell of horse and foot and I ask once more ... n , *''""'' 111-1.* , .. ' '"'• ^"—^ conceiie it, sir ! User iiie, and all s lost, for ever lost, \ on are returned for . . . true your J here s no more Victor when the world health declines ' wakes up! , . „ . '• ><■« .ChamlH-ry -sabieakunkindly spot: hen silence, as of a raw battle-field, Voud <.|,oose on.- fitter for your tiiia! 1 liroughout the world. Then after (as lodge— whole days i Veneria-or .Moncaglier-av, tlial\ .After, you catch at intervals faint noise close, Throiighthe.stifT crust of frozen blood)— And I concede it. there creeps Vir. ' I receive«l advices A rumour forth, so faint, no noise at all. Of the conclusion of the Spanish matter I hat a strange old man, with face out- Dated from Kvian baths worn for woumis Cha. And you forbo,,. Is stiiiubling on from frontier town to | To visit me at Evian. satisfied town. Begging a pittance that may help him find His Turin out ; wJiat scorn and laughter follow The work I had to do would fully task The little wit I have, and that yoiii presence Would only disconcert me — '■'■'•• Charles ? The coin you fling into his cap ! and Cfi/i. .Me— set o \^^^', ^ , , i ^**'" *'^'*''" '" ^ ^"reign course to vouis. .Some bright morn, how men crowd And nf .1 '""''""t^^ .'"'''•'* 1 ., . .Sir, this way of wile were goo, I Of the market-place, where takes the i to catch old king breath I R„t I have not the sleight of it. The Ere with his crutch he strike the palace- j truth ! ,..• I ^^^? I ''"''otigh I sink under it ! What briiiL:^ Wi.leope! j you here ? lo liirin, yes or no — or no ? Ef-rntrr Charles with jniptrx. Chit. Just as I thought ! A miserable falsehood Of hirelings discontented with their pay I Ir. Not hope of this reception, certainly. From one who'd scarce assume ;i stranger mode Of speech, did I return to bring about .Some awfulest calamity ! And longing for enfranchisement 1 A \ Cha. ' —You mean. r,, .„/'"* . , ,, ,,,,., . I^"' you require your crown again ! Oli lesty expressions of old age that thinks | yes. To keej^ alive its dignity o'er slaves , I should si^eak otherwise ! But turn not liy means that suit their natures ! | that „ , .\T<(ni„gth,,„.\ Thus they shake: To jesting- -ir, the truth ! Your health -uy taith in V ictor ! ,j.,, . v [Tiirnli.ij, }„: ili^mn-r-i Vutor. j Is aught ■ .cient in your ecpiipage V KING VICTOR AND KINO CHARLES 211 Wisely you seek inyiself to make coin- ])laint, And foil the malice of the world which laughs At |x»tty discontents ; ')ut I shall care That not a soul Ur. i. ■ if tliis visit. Speak ! Vif. [Aside] 'iTc IS th< i;r.-.'i. inl, much-prof , sii •; son Prepared to worsM > iie, fo" v-ho- sole sake I think to waive my plansof public good! lAlond.] Nay, Charles, if I did seek to take once more My crown, were so disposed to plague myself — What would lx> warrant for this bitter- ness ? I pave it — grant, I would resunu- it- well y Cha. I should say simi)ly — leaving out the why And how — you made me swear to keep that crown : And as you then intended . . . Vic. Fool ! What way Could I intend or not intend ? As man. With a man's will, when I say ' I in- tend,' I can intend up to a certain |K)int, No further. I intended to j)reserve The crown of Savoy and Sardinia whole : And if events arise demonstrating The vay, I hoped shoulil guard it, rather lik.! To lose it . . . Cha. Keep witiiin your sphere and mine ! It is God's province we usurp on, else. Here, blindfold through t'.ie ma/.e of things we walk Hy a slight clue of false, true, right and wrong ; .Ml else is rumbling and presumption. I Have sworn to keep this kingdom : there 's my truth. Vie. Truth, boy, is here — within my breast ; and in Your recognition of it, truth is, too ; And in the effect of all this tortuous dealing With fal.si-hooii, used to carry out the truth, — In it.s succes.s, this falsehood turns, again. Truth for the world ! But you are right : the.se themes Are over-subtle. I should rather say In stich a ca.se, frankly, — it fails, my scheme : I hoped to see vou bring about, your- self, What I must bring about : I interpose On your behalf — with my son's goofl in sight — To hold what he is nearly letting go — t'cmtirm his title — add a grace, i>erliaps. There "s Sicily, for instance, — granted me And taken back, some years since — till I give That island with the rest, my work "s half done. For his sake, therefore, as of tho.se he rules . . . Cha. Our sakes are one — and that, you could not say, Becau.se my answer would j)resent itself Forthwith ; — a year has wrought an age's change : This j>eopie 's not the people now, you once Could benefit ; nor is my j)olicy Your i)olicy. Vic. [with an onthurM.] I know it ! You undo .Ml I have done — my life of toil and care ! I left you this the absolutest rule In Europe — tlo you think I will sit still And see you throw all |)ower off to the people — Soo my Sardinia, that has stood ajmrt. Join in the mad and democratic whirl Whereto I see all Europe haste full-tide ? England casts off her kings ; France mimics England : This realm I ho])ed was safe ! Yet here I talk, When I can save it, not by force alone. But bidding plagues, which follow sons like you. Fasten upon my disobedient . . . [Ricotlecting hiinsdf.] Surely I could say this — if minded so — my son? Chd. Yiiil iiMild mil ! nitterer cur.-es than vour cursu 212 KINYJ VICTOR AND KTXG CHARLES tl ii I ml Have I long sinop denoun. od upon So swlulously guard from all rouoli ,,- .'nyselt truths If I misused my ,)ower. In fear of these That else would break upon the dotacr ' I entered on those measures— will abide —You— By them : so, I should say. Count Whom now I see pieventing my oi.l ... iPnde ... shame — Rnl'^^i n * •« i-.!- , ^°' I tf" not, point by cruel poin-,mv tale— But no ! But if. my Charles, your- For is't not in your breast my brow is more than old — ]^^,\ » j " i> Half-foolish father urged these argu- Is not your hand extende (*HARLEs_/„ Victor.] J-ail him. had thought at savag. , ..i?m- In this oonjun.ture. even, he wouKI "•''"y say — loo much of brilliant Turin. Rivoli here. (Though with a moistened eye an.l And S.isa. ami \eneria. and Su|x'rga— .,uivering lip) Pined for the pleasant ])laees he had The suppliant is my father-I must saw .... , "" / . . , -^ ^'■*'** •"«» f™'" him.self, nor see him When he was fortunate and young— tlinS!f»„ f iru ^'y/«t'><'^! H'«well-earned the palpitating heart say... Imleed ()■ the realm, to mould as voii DO. Do you reiient sir '■' may choose! I/''. [n-W,/,,,, /hW//.|' D'Ormea .' — If I must totter up and down the This is well ! streets „, . Worthily done. King Charle.<», craftiK My sires built, where myself have intro- done! i I t 'l'""**'! 1 > . Judiciously you |>ost the.se. to o'er-hcar And fostered laws and letters, sciences. The little your importunate futh,, Ihe civil and the military arts ! thrusts Stay, Charles— I see you letting me Himself on von to say' \v thcvll „. ,. !"•*''<'"<] corre.t " ^' ' lo live iny former self once more— The amiable bliml fa.ility King \ ictor. y,,,, showed in answeriiig his i>eevis]i The venturous yet politic^they style suit. A,',ain.tlie Father of the Prince-fricmls DOrmeu. "hv.i.n. ,-. ..^'"'^ ,, ■ ,, . Have yau fiillili,-.i y„ui otli.c : but |,,i r.ood-liumoiircdly al the dcluMoli v'0. {liiitiirtli/.] Your minister has lost your conlidence. Asserting late, for his own purposes. Count Teiule would . . . Clia. [fiiitgliig hii badgi bvri In. hai bien v.ra mining. This at the last effects it : now, hiu;,' Charles Or else King Victor — that "s a balance : but now For D'Ormea tlu arch-culprit, either turn O" the scale. — that "s sure enough. A point to solve. .My masters — moralists — whate'er voui style ! When you discover why I push myself Into a pitfall you'd i)as.s safely by. Impart to m- among the rest ! No matter. Prompt arc the righteous ever with their rede To us the wicked — lessonthem this on< el For safe among the wicked are you set, D'Ormea. We lament life's brevity. Yet quarter e'en the threescore years and ten. Nor stick to t -dl the — to surely get lopped down. And boiuid up for the l)urning. Now for it ! Enkr Ch.\ri.es «« O. Because, sire, as I said. I Vour father is resolved to have his ' crown At any risk ; and. as I judge, calls in j The foreigner to aid him. ' ^ Ctui- And your reasmi I For saying this ? DO. [A.iidv.] Ay, just his fat hoi ^ way ! [To Ch.1 the Count wrote yesterday l.i your forces' Chief, Rhebinder— made demand of help— Cha. 'po trv Rhebmder— he 's of alien blood : auglit else 't l>'(>. Receiving a refusal,— some hours after, ^rhe Count callerl on Del Borgo to deliver The Act of Ab'(>. Tellit you— with tlii^ Aloreover, of my own : if, an hour lieinc, \ou have not interposed, the Count will be ,1 KING VICTOR AND KING CHARLES 216 I'pon his road to France for sucrour. C/ui. Good ! You do your duty, now, to nie your monarch Fully, I warrantr r— have, that is, your project For «avinj( both of \\n ili.sgraee, jiast doubt ? D'O. I give my counsel,— and the only one. A month sine e,l besought you to employ Restraints which had prevented many a pang : But now the harsher course must be pursued. 'I'he.se pajHTs, made for the emergency. Will pain you to subscribe : this is a list Of those susiHJcted merely — men to watch ; This — of the few of the Counts very household. Vou must, however rclu( taiitly, arrest; While here 's a method of remonstrance — sure Not stronger than the case demands — to take With the Count's self. Cha. Deliver those three pajwrs. Pol. \ while Charles iiusfKCln them — to D'Or.mea.] Your measures are not over-harsh, sir : France Will hardly be deterred from coming hither l>y these. /yO. What goiKl of my projMjsing measures Without a chance of their success ? E'en these, Hear what he'll say at my ))resenting. Cha. [who hax signal them. | There ! About the warrants ! You've my signature. What turn.s you pale ? I do my duty by you In acting boldly thus on your advice. /''('. [readiiKj Ihon m imrntcli/.] Arrest the peo|)le I sus|)ected merely ? ('h)i. Did you sus|)ect them ? lyo. Doubtless : but— but— sire, This Forijiiieri 's !.'ov<'rii()r of Turin ; .\Tni Kivarol and he have intiueiu c over Half of the capital.— Rabclla, too .' Why, sire — Cha. Oh, leave the fear to me ! jyO. [xtill reading]. You bid me ; Incarcerate the people on this list ? (Sire — Cha. Why, you never bade arrest I those men, j So close related to my father too, On trifling grounds ? DO. Oh, as for that, fSt. George, I President of Chamlx-ry's senators, j Is hatching treason ! but — 1 1 'S7(W wore /roHWtrf.] Sire, CotmtCumiane ' Is brother to your father's wife! What's I here ? ' Arrest the wife lurself ? (^''«- You seem to think it A venial crime to plot against me. Well ? t 1>'0. \who han read the last fmper.] I Wherefore am I thus ruined '! I Why not take ; .My life at once V This poor formality . Is, let me sav, unworthy you ! PrevVnt I '*• I You, madam ! I have served you, am prepared j For all disgraces— only, let disgrace j He plain. l)e projter— jiroper for the world i To pass its judgment on twixt you and I me ! Take back your warrant— I will none of it. Cha. Here is a man to talk of fickle- ness ! He stakes his life upon my father's falsehood ; I bid him . . . DO. Xot you ! Were he trebly false. You do not bid me .... Cha. Is't not written there '! I thought so : give — I'll set it right. D'O. Is it there ? Oh, yes — and plain— arrest him — now — I drag here j Y'our father ! x\nd were all si.\ times as plain. Do you suppose I trust it ? Cha. Just one wind ! , You bring him, taken in the act of I'iglit, Or else your life is forfeit. DO. ' Ay. to Turin , I bring him '/ Anil to-morrow ? 210 KIi\(J VICTOR AND KING CHARLES ' ''"'• Here and now ! The wliolc thing is a lie— a hateful lie- As I l)elievpicrablo sower of such discord fwixt sire and son, is in the toils at last ! Oh, I see ! you arrive— this plan of yours. Weak as it is, torments sufficiently A sick, old, jiecvish man — wrings hasty sfieech And ill-considered threats from him ; that 's noted ; Then out you ferret |)a|)ers, his amuse- ment In lonely hours of lassitude — examine The day-by-day report of your paid creatures — And back you come— all was not ri|M', you find. And, as you ho|>e, inay keep from ripening yet — But you were in bare time ! Only, 'twere best 1 never saw niy father— these old men Are potent in excuses — and, meanwhile, D'Ormea 's the man I cannot do with- out ! Pii/. Charles — (■'fia. ^ ^ All, no ((uestion ! Vou're for D'Ormea too ! Vou'd have nic eat and drink, and sleep, live, die With this lie coiled about nic, cliokin"' me ! No, ncj- he 's caught! \lo D'Ok.mea.J N'ou venture life, you say, I por my father's perfidy ; and I Have, on the whole, no'right to disre- gard The chains of festimonv vou thus wind About mc; thoigh I do— do from my soul Discredit them : still I must authorize These mci.sures— and I will. Perugia ! I Mil III/ Officers / liter. \ Count ■Sou and SoIhi-. with all the force vou i llHVC, " ! Are.iUlicMar(jui^' orders: whathebid.-. ! Implicitly i)orform ! You arc to bring A traitor here— the man that 's likost one At present, fronts me ; you arc at In beck For a full hour ; he undertakes to show you Afoulerthanhiiiiself,—but, failing that. Return with him, and, as my father live. He dies this night ! The clemency yon blame Sooft,shall be revoked— rightsexercisc! That I've abjured. I To D'Ormea.] Now. sir, about the work: To save your king and country ! Takf the warrant ! />'(>. You hear the Sovereign's man- date. Count Perugia 1 Obey me ! As your diligence, exjiec t Reward ! All follow to .Montcaglier ! Cha. [in great anguiDfi.] D'Ormea ! LD'Or.mea gill -: , He goes, lit up with that apiwllin- smile ! ( To P()i,v XENA aflir n fxtu^' At least you understand all this '. /'"/• These iiican- Of our defence — these measures of pi< - caution t Villi. It must be the l)est way. 1 should have else I Withered beneath his scorn. Pol. What would you say .' Vha. Why, you don't think I mean t'l keep the crown, Polyxena t Pd. You then believe the stoi y In spite of all — that Victor 's coming .' CIki- Believe it .' I know that he is coming — feel lln' strength That has upheld me leave me at hi- coming ! 'Twas mine, and now he takes his own again. Some kinds of strength arc well ciioii-li to have ; But who 's to have that Mrength '.' \.i i my crown go ! I meant to keep it— but I cannot - cannot ! Only, he shall not taunt me— he, tiu first . . . KING VICTOR AND KING CHAKLES 217 See if Iw would not be the lirst to taunt i The best in, that I knew it in my luart nio I BVoni the beginning, and expected this, With having left his kingtiont at a And hated you, Polyxena, because woril — With letting it be conquered without stroke — With . . . no — no — 'tis no worse than when he left it. I've just to bid him take it, and, that my brow, ovc, i I saw — You saw thro' him, though I too saw thro' him, .Saw that he meant this while he crownctl me, while He prayed for nie, — nay, while he kissed We'll Hy away — fly — for I loathe this Turin, This Rivoli, all titles loathe, and state. We'd best go to your country — unless God .Send I die now ! Pol. Charles, hear me ! Chn. — And again .Shall you be my Polyxena — you'll take me Pol. But if your measures take effect, And D'Ormea 's true to you 1 Cha. Then worst of all ! I shall have loosed that callous WTctch on him' Well may the woman taunt him with his child — I, eating here his bread, clothed in his clothes, .Seated upon his seat, give D'Ormea leave Out of this woe ! Yes, do si)eak — and To outrage him ! We talk — perchance keep speaking ! ! they tear I would not let you speak just now, for My father from his bed — the old hands fear feel You'd counsel me against him : but For one who is not, but who should bo talk, now. As wc two used to talk in blessed times : HI<1 me endure all his caprices ; take me From this mad jtost above him ! Pd. I believe We are undone, but from a different cause. there — And he finds D'Ormea I D'Ormea, too, finds him ! % The crowded chamber when the lights go out — Closed doors — the horrid scuffle in the dark — .\11 your resourtes, down to the least 1 The accursed promptings of the minute ! guard, I My guards ! Are now at D'Ormea's beck. What if, , To horse — and after, with me — and the while, I prevent ! He act in concert with your father? We i Pol. [aeizitig his hand.] King Charles ! Indeed were lost. This lonely Rivoli — I Pause here upon this strip of time Where find a better place for them ? | Allotted you out of eternity ! Cha. [pacing the room.] And why Crowns are from God — in His name you Does Victor come ? To undo all that 's hold yours. done ! Your life 's no least thing, were it fit Hcstore the Past — prevent the Future ! Seat His mistress in your seat, and place in mine . . . Oh, my own people, whom will you find there. To ask of, to consult with, to care for, To hold up with your hands ? Whom ? One that 's false — False — from the head's crown to the foot's sole, false ! your life .Should be abjured along with rule ; but now, Keej) both ! Your duty is to live and rule — You, who would vulgarly look tine enough In the world's eye, deserting your soul's charge, — Ay, you would have men's praise — this Rivoli .;■ -i .' ■I i I $.' 4*' tl ft, • $\4 '218 KL\(; VRT(»«l AND KIN(J CHAKLKS Would X- ilhiiiiincd ! while, m •(is, no Or, I'll not a^k who "» Kini<, but Minplv. floubf, ^|,o Something of Ktain will ever rcui on VVithhoUlH the crown I ilaini ? DcJivtr you ; it ! No one will rightly know why you I have no fricn.l in the wi.l world : rmr refused France lo ttbdiuatc ; they'll talk of deeds you Nor England earcs for me : you see the eculd .^,„n Have done, no doubt,— nor do 1 much Of what I ean avail. Deliver it ! f>^\*^\-^ Chn. Take it, my father ! luturc aehicvcmentu will blot out the And now say in turn. _, . ^*''.*' . , I Was it done well, my father— sure nol £nvelo{>e it in haze— nor shall we two well. Be happy any more. 'Twill be, I feel, To try me thus ! I might have >cr\\ Only in moments that the duty 's seen much cause As palpably as now— the months, the For keeping it— too easily seen cause ! .„ . y*'*'"." ,. . \ But, from that moment, e'en more wik - Of pamful Mulistmctness are to come, fully While daily must we tread these palace- My life had pineuty ! I here s«mans one moment— not? **)]'? ''^ .yours ! A crown 's unhke a sword to give away — iFiM%ng the crown on hi.s head, and That, let a strong hand to a weak hkwi the sceptre in hit hand, nhe placet give ! himonhinteat: along patme and But crowns should slip from pai.sici silence. Enter D'Orme.1 and Victor. Vic. At last I speak ; but once— that once, to you ! "I'is you I ask, not these your varletry. Who 's King of us ? Cha. [from his seat.] Con it Tende . . . ' "'• What your spies Assert I jionder in my soul, I say — Here to your face, amid your guards ! I choose To rake again the crown whose shadow I gave — For Mtill its potnu y >urrouiuI« the weak White locks their felon hantls ha\c discomposed. brows to heads Young as this head : yet mine is weak enough. E'en weaker than I knew. I seek fur phrases To vindicate my right. 'Tis of a piece ! All is a'ike gone by with me— who beat Once D'Orleans in his lines — his very lines ! To have been Eugene's comrade, Louis rival. And now . . . Cha. [putting the crown on him, to tht rrtt.} The King speaks, yet noin' kneels, I think ! Vic. I am then King ! As I bccann a King KIN(J VKTOH AND KIN(i ( HAULK.S 21 » l)cs|>ilc llif imtioii!* — kept inyM-lf u King — So I <]ic King, with KingNliiii dying too Vround nir ! I have lasted KuroiH''H time ! What wants my story of completion ? Where Mubt nccdM the danming break show ! Who niiMtruNtft My children here— tell they of any break 'Twixt my day'H hunrixe and its Hery fall? And who were l»y me when I died hut they t Who ? — U'Ormea there ! ( 'ha. What means he t Vif. Kver there ! Charles — how to save your story ? Mine must go ! Say — say that you refused the crown to lue — ( 'harles, yours shall la- my story I You immured .Me. say, at Kivoli. A single year 1 spend without a sight of you, then die — That will serve every purpose — tell that talc The world ! Clui. Mistrust me ■'. Help I I If. Past help, |)ast ruaeh ! "i'is in the heart — you cannot reach the heart : This broke mine, that I did believe, you, Charles. Would have d lied and so disgraced me. Pd. Charles Has never ceased tobeyour subject, sire! He reigned at first through setting up yourself -Vs pattern : if he e'er seemed harsh to you, ."{'was from a loo inlciise iipptoiation Of vour own character : he acted you ~ I Ne er for an instant did I think it real, j Nor look for any other than thi.-. end. I hold him worlds the worse on that I account ; But so it was. j ('Art. \tn Poi.YX.J I lovr you, now, ' indeelicy a- gowl .\s guile. Is this my daughteis fore- head ? Yes — I've made it titter now to Ik" a i|ii«'en"s I Than formerly — I've |)!oughed the deep lines there Which keep too well a crown from slip- i ping oiT ! Xo matter. Ouile has made me King again. Loui* — liriix in Kititj Viclor'-ilina — lninj .iiiiri. When Louis reigned — anil, ul»ii, \'irlir reigned — How the world talks already of us two I (!o, Admiral'H Force. Time. 11—. Place, An Islet of the Sontliern Sixjrades, coloniseE Dreix, Knight-Novice. Initiated Druses — Djabal. ., „ Khai.il. „ „ Anael. ACT I h! ,lcr ikiiltliilij Karshook, Raghib, Ayoob, ntid other iniliakd Druses. inrh (IS he untirn ca/tliiig off a rof}<: (hot ronccnU hit distinctive black vest and lehile turban ; then, as giving a loose to cxidtation, — Kar. The moon is carried olT in purple lire : Day brcak.s at last ! Break glory, with the day. On Djabal's dread incarnate mystery Now ready to resume its pristine shft|)e Of Hakeem, as the Khalif vanished erst In what seemed death to uninstructed eyes. On red Alokattam's verge— «ur Founder's tlcsh. As he resumes our Founder's function ! Ragh. —Death Swee|) to the Christian Prefect that en.-t ! As from our forms this hateful garl) wc strip. Lose every tongue its glozing accent ton, Di.scard each limb the ignoble gesturi 1 Cr.y. 'Tis the Druse Nation, warders on our mount Of the world's secret, since the birth of time, — No kimlred slips, no olTsets from thy stock. No spawn of Christians are we, Prefect. we Who rise . . . -ly. Who shout . . . Raijh. Who seize, a first-fruits, hn — S[K)il of the s()oiler ! Brave ! {They begin to tear down, and i>i dispute for, the decorations vf tin hall. Kar. Hold ! Aij. — Mine, I say ; And mine shall it continue I ACT l] THE RETURN OF THE DRUSES 221 A'cir. JiiHt Ihittfrin^rp! Turned IlakM-iii ; nnil iMfun- us, Tako anythin){ licxidc ! \jt, Npin- on I^-liaiion ! , "I'''**' , Vii'ldM the |K)rch T Si>are not ! Thi-re Curl BrriifntwiMP wreathe ouih ! inysteriouHly Ayoob ! Thy son.to Koothe the Prefect's Among the twinkling lights and darks pride, that haunt Bent o'er that task, the death-sweat on Yon cornice 1 Where the huge veil, they suspend Before the Prefect's chamber of delight, Floats wide, then falls again as if its slave, Thescented air, took heart now, and anon Lost heart, to buoy its breadths of gorgcousness his brow. Carving the spice-tree's heart in scroll- work there ! Onward in Djalml's name ! As Ihc lumult in at hciijlil, eiilir Khalil. A pause nnd sihncv. . _ , A'Art. Was it for this. Above the gloom they droop in— all the Djabal hath summoneorch i you thus I.f jewelled o'er with frostwork ( hiirnc- A |)ortion in to-day's event ? What, tery; I here— And see yon eight-point cross of white | When most behoves your feet fall soft, flame, winking | your eyes Hoar-silvery like some fresh-broke Sink low, yi.iir tongues lie still,— at marble-stone: j Djabal's side. Raze out the Rhohi THK HKITHN OK THK DRl'SKS (Ar-i • I ""•/''■ Sianil otl ! riic Wliiie-i roMx Kni)(htMt I, the (li-l«*Kiil<- of Ujalml, draw Kar. Ami why eluo r««n. rare out T K«'turii ? jThw" KniKhtH of RhcNlcH we thus (Hhir Priimn. VVrenclj from thrir | HolicitPil UroHj) tlH' fringe ! Hound ! muRt For help, lieNtoweil on un a fiercer [h-i the earth j Than nught wo fled— their Prefect ; whi> Vomit her plagues on \i>i thro' thee ? — liegan and thi-e ? i His promised mere (latemal governam •'. Phigue nic not. Khalil, for their fault ! ^ Kv a prompt niaiMatreof all our8heikli> A'*ed. In thin dim ixlet's virgin solitude Must yet rei eive one degradation luor. , Tend we our faith, the ftpurk. till The Knights at last throw off the nia-k happier lime — transfer, Kan it to Hrc ; till Hakeem rise again. As tributary now, and appanage. According to his wonl that, in the flesh This islet they are but protectors (,f. Which faded on Mokattam ages >ince. To their own ever-craving lord. H' Me. at our extreme ni'ed, would inter- Church, I'ose, Which licenses all crimes that puv i And, reinstating all in (lower and bliss, thus. Lead us himself to [..ebanon on! . .,^'*"**' Djabal, the man, ii sembl«n« . but om Assimilate ounselves in outword rites (iod With strangers fortune makes our lords. Confessed by sign*! and isjrten*-. Vc and live saw fire As Christian with the Christian. .Tew Bicker round Ujabal. heard strati'i with Jew, music flit Druse only with the Druses)— did you Bird-like about his brt)w ' *■*" ! Pru)ie.4| no. riif \m[ of villaiiy coiiiplfte, thcri' Khliftee of the Mother- meet. mount. Now, IhaveMuetlwithearneHt iirayerN.. . hroedinen returning there 'neath Ven- Kar. For wliui ice' flaK ; Shall the Bride's brother vainly r»ue ? I hnt \ enioe which, the Ho»|)italler»f(M'. Kha. That mine— (IrantM us from Candia escort home at Avenpinn in one blow a myriad wrongs I"';''" , ^'"Kl't ••<• tl"- band to slay the Prefect Uf our rclin«iuisbc(! ,.|c. Hhislci (oiuils there! Iierown- I >i"bal rc..Tv<- tliiit nftiee for himself. \cniee, whose |iriiMii<.Mii i« il imw ibal you, -Searce more enliKhtemrl than your- "" I a|)proacb him. nearer as I trusi Hie biirfheii lit llie Klialit - secret, Sion to approadi our Master, he reveals fi'i^'ber Only the (JtHl's power, not the iilory yet. T<>-.|ay - evt III. entitled by yi irwionjjs. Therefore I reasoned with vou :" now, \iid witness in the I'refect ^ hall his hk servant b'lc To Djabal, bearin>r his aiilhoritv, Ihat y»)ii (hire dull li these gaiids .' Ay. Hear me apiioint vour several posts! drop them ! Till noon '^'"■- True, None see him save myself and Anael — Most true, all l' • ami yet, niay one once dare hint. The deed achicverbidden such or such an liononr, — Isle; say, \or in bis train a single guard beyond Would silence serve so amply r Ihe few he sailed with hence : so" have A'*«. Karshook thinks we learned ! rovri honour.s ? 'RVil, n..r idiv ihinks : i'luiu Lo^s. Honours ? I have demandeite thy wariness ! Will Loy^ stand Hail to thee, Khalil ! Venice looms afar ; And see his comrade slaughtered ♦ i he argosies of Venice, Hke a cloud, Jx>i/s. [Aside.] How they shrink «.'.-ir up from Candia in the dist.incc !" ; And wliisiier. with tho^c rapid facir ! A''«. Joy ! I What ? ittl ACT I] THE RETURN OF THE DRUSES 225 The sight of me in their oppressors' garb Strikes terror to the simple tribe ? Go. ' Intercourse With few or none t ' — (.\h, Khalil, when you spoke I saw not your smooth face ! All health ! — and health To Anael ! He 'v fares .\nael ?) — ' Inter- course With few or none ? ' Forget you, I've been friendly With Djabal long ere you or any Druse ? — Knough of him at Kcnnes, 1 think. beneath i The Duke my father's roof ! He' [Turning abruptly to Khalil. You are a Druse too, Khalil ; you were nourished Like Anael with our mysteries : if she Could vow, so nourishetl, to love only one Who should revenge the Druses, whence j)roceeds Your silence ? Wherefore made you no essay. Who thus implicitly can execute My bidding ? What have I done, you could not '1 Who, knowing more than Anael the prostration Of our once lofty trilw-, tlic daily life Of this detested . . . Does he come, you say, This Prefect t All "s in readiness 1 Khu. The sworfl. The sacred robe, the Khidif's mystic tiar. Laid up so long, are all disjHjseil beside The Prefect's chamber, Their private passions, brings their wills to one ! Dja. You think so ? K/ia. Even now — when they have witnessed Thy miracles — had I not threatened them With Hakeem's vengeance, they would mar the whole. And couch ere this, each with his s[>ecial prize, >Safe in his dwelling, leaving our main hope To jierish ! Xo ! When these have kissed thy feet At Lebanon, the Past purged off, th« Present Clear, — for the Future, even Hakeem's mission May end, and I perchance, or any youth. Can rule them thus renewed. — I talk to thee! Dja. And wisely. Ho is Anael's brother, pure As Anael's self ! Go say, I come to her. Haste ! I will follow you. [Khalil goes. 01), not confess To these — the blinded multitude — con- fess. Before at least the fortune of my deed Dja. — Why did you des|)air ? Half authorize its means ! Only'to her Kfio. I know our nation's state r Too Let confers my fault, who in my surely know, | fh .\s thou, who s|)eiik'st to prove me ! , Curletl up like incense from a magc- Wrongs like ours | king's tomb Should wake revenge : but when 1 1 When he would have the wayfarer .sought the wronged | descend And spoke,—' The Prefect stabbed your Through the earth's rift and take hid son— arise ! | treasure u|). Your daughter, while you starve, eats When should m / first child's-'areless- shameless bread | ness have'stopped In his pavilion— then, arise ! '—my ^ H not when I, whose lone youth hurried speech I past Fell idly — 'twas, ' Be silent, or worse ' Letting each joy 'scape for the Druses' fare ! | sake. Endure, till time's slow cycle prove At length recovered in one Druse all complete ji)\> i •■■>■ If. I; ;.ii- si? m ■0^ !| Who may'st thou be that takest on thee , Were her brow brighter, her eyes richer, to thrust i still 230 THE RETURN OF THE DRUSES [act m 11 Would I confesH ! On the gulf's verge | In that enfoned, still fashion, word mi I pause. ! word ! How could I slay the Prefect, thus and j 'Tis the old current which must swell thus ? Anael, be mine to guard me, not destroy ! [Gws. Enter Ay AVL, and Maasi, wfto in aviating to array hvr in the ancient dress of the Druses. An. Those satTron vestures of the tabret-jiirls ! Comes Djabal, think you ? Maa. Doubtless Djabal comes. An. Dost thou snow-swathe thee kinglier, Lebanon, Than in my dreams ?.— Xay, all the tresses off My forehead ! look I lovely so ''. He says That I am lovely. Man. Lovely : nay, that hangs Awry. An, You tell me how a khandjar hangs ? The sharp side, thus, along the heart, see. marks The maiden of our class. Are you con- tent For Djabal as for nie ? Maa. (."ontent, my child, j An. Oh, mother, tell mc more of him ! ; He comes | How he hail gone from land to Ian. I Im Even now— tell more, till up my scud save w'*h him ! Our trilM-— allies were sure, nor foes to Maa. .And did I not . . . yes, surely ... dread ; tell you all >. And much he mused, days, nights, ajom An. What will be changed in Djabal he luuscd : when the Change Hut never till that ilay when, j.alc aii'l -Arrives? Which feature? Not his eyes! worn Maa. ■ "Tis writ, .As by a pcrseverinj: woe. he cried Our Hakeem's eyes rolled lire and dove ' Is there not one Druse left nu- '. '—and the dark j I showed ^"Iit-rWy. j The way to Khaiils and your hidiiiL- .In. Is'othiseyes! His voice jH-rhaps? ; jilacc Vet that's no change; for a grave ' From the abhorred eve of the i'nfct current lived , lure, — (Jrandly beneath the surface ever So that he saw you, heard vou s|>< ak lived, till then. Ihat, scattering, broke as in live i-ilver Never did he announce— (how the iii<"ii spray sc.-turd While . . . all, the bliss . . . he would \ To oik- and shut, the while, above ii- discourse to me both !) thro' that. For what least tone, .Maani, could I lo.xc? 'Tis surely not his voice will change ! — If Hakccrii Only stood by ! If Djabal, somehow, jiassed Out of the radiance as from out a rolic ; Possessed, but was not it ! He lived with you ? Well — and that morning Djabal saw inc first And heard my vow never to wed but one Who saved uiy People— on that day . . . proceed ! Maa. Once more, then: from Ww time of his return In secret, changed so since he left tlic Isle That I, who screened our Emir') last of sons. This Djabal, from the Prefect's massaiTc — Who bade him ne'er forget the child he was, — Who dreamed so long the youth lie miglit become — • I knew not in the man that child ; tlir man Who spoke alone of ho|K's to save eat her angel wings ! My people, let nie more rejoice, oh, more ! For you than for myself ! Did I but watch Afar the pageant, feel our Khalif pass, One of the throng, how proud were I — tho' ne'er Singled by Djabal's glance ! But to be chosen Never a God to me ! 'Tis tho Man's hand. Eye, voice ! Oh, do you veil these to our peoi)le, Or but to me 1 To them, I think, to them ! And brightness is their veil, shadow — my truth ! You mean that I should never kneel to you — So I will kneel ! Dju. [preventing her.] No — no ! [Feeling the khandjnr as he raises her. Ha, have you chosen . . . .I»i. The khandjar with our ancient garb. But, Djabal, Change not, be not exalted yet ! give time His own from all, the most his own of That I may plan more, perfect more. all. My blood To be exalted with him, side by side. Beats — beats ! [Aside] Oh must I then — since Loys leaves us Xevcr to come again, renew in me These doubts so near effaced already — must I needs confess them now to Djabal ? Own That when I saw that stranger — heard his voice, My faith fell, and the woeful thought Hashed first Lead the exulting Druses, meet . . . ali, how Worthily meet the maidens who await Ever beneath the cedars — how deserve This honour, in their eyes ? So bright are they That saffron-vestured sound the tabrets there — The girls who throng there in my dreams ! One hour And all is over : how shall I do aught That may deserve next hour's exalting ? I That each effect of Djabal's presence, —How ?— I taken [Suddenly to .Maani. i For proof of more than human attributes Mother, I am not worthy of hini ! I In him, by nic whose heart at his ap- read it j proach .Still in his eyes ! He stands as if to tell I Beat fast, whose brain while he was by me I swam round, I am not, yet forbears ! Why else revert \ Whose soul at his departure died away. To one theme ever ?— how mere human ; — That every such effect might have gifts I been wrought Suffice him in myself — whose worship In others' frames, tho' not in mine, by fades, Whose awe goes ever off at his approach, A-; now, that when he comes . . . Or any merely mortal presence ? Doubt Is fading fast ; shall I reveal it now ? if i. ' 232 THE RETURN OF THE DRUSES [act ii How can I be rewarded preiicntly. With doubt unespiated, undiMcloiiod ? Dja. [Aside.] Avow the truth ? I cannot ! In what words Avow that all she loves in me is false ? —Which yet has served that flower-like love of hers To climb by, like the clinging gourd, and clasp With its divinest wealth of leaf and bloom. Could I take down the proi»-work, in it- self So vile, yet interlaced and overlaid \^''th painted cups and fruitage— might these still Bask in the sun, unconscious their own strength Of matted stalk and tendril had replaced The old support thus silently with- drawn ! But no; thebeauteousfabriccrushestoo. 'Tis not for my sake but for Anael's sake ' leave her soul this Hakeem where it leans ! Oh, could I vanish from them— ciuit the Isle ! And yet— a thought comes: here uiy work is done At every iwint; the Druses Jiuist return — Have convoy to their birth-place back, whoe er The leader be, myself or any Druse- Venice is pledged to that : 'tis for mv- self, •' For my own vengeance in the Prefect's death, I stay now, not for them— to slay or spare The Prefect, whom imiwrts it save niv- self ? ' He cannot bar their passage from the Isle ; What would his death be but my own reward '1 Then, mine I will forego. It is foregone ! Let him escape with all my House's blood ! Ere he can reach land, Djabal disap- pears, I And Hakpcni, Anad loved, shall, fresh i as lirst. Live in her memory, keeping her sub- lime Above the world. She cannot toiuh that worhl By ever knowing what I truly am. Since Loys,— of mankind the only one Able to link my Present with my Past, My life in Euroiic with my Island life. Thence, able to unmask me, — I've ilis- |K)seil Safely at last at Rhodes, and . . . Ettter Khaul. A'/fa. Loys greets thee I J>ja. Loys ? To drag me back ? It cannot be ! An. [.liidv.] l^ys ! Ah, doubt inav iif)t U' stifled so ! Kha. fan I have erreil that thou ,mi gazcst ? Vcs, told thee not, in the glad press of tidings Of higher iin|>ort, Loys is returned Before the Prefect, with, if j^ssible. Twice the light-heartcducss of old. A^ though On some inauguration he e\|r( ts. To-day, the world's fate Inii.'^ ! •^/«- — And asks for iiic ? Kha. Thou knowest all things ! Thic in thief he greets. But every Druse of us is to be happy At his arrival, he declares : were Lov^ Thou, Master, he could have no wider soul To take us in with. How I love that Loys ! Dja. [Anidi.] (Shaiiic winds me with her tether round and round ! Ah. [Aside.] Loys •> I take the trial ! it is meet. The little I can do, be done; that faith. All I can offer, want no i)erfecting Which my own act may compass. A v. this way All may go well, nor that ignoble doiilit Be chased by other aid than mine. Advance Close to my fear, weigh Loys with iiiv l><>rd, The moital'swilhthe more than mortal'^ gifts ! .1 'i ACT II] THE RETURN OF THE DRUSES 233 ■I Dja. [Atidf.] Before, there were so few deceived ! and now There '» doubtleHo not one least Druso in the Isle But, having learnele's eyes ! Could I but keep him longer yet awhile From them, amuse him here until I plan riow he and I at once may leave the Isle? Khalil I cannot part with from myside — My only help in this emergency : There 's Anael ! Ati. Please you ? D)'i- Anael— none but she ! [To Ajjael.1 I pass some minutes in the chamber there. Ere I see Loys : you shall speak with him Until I join you. Khalil follows me. An. [Aside.] As I divined : he bids me save myself. Offers me a probation — I accept ! Let me see Loys ! Loyg. [HiMoM/.J Djabal! An. [Aitidt.] 'Tis his voice. The smooth Frank triHer with our people's wrongs. The self-complacent boy-incpiircr, loud On this and that inflicted tyranny, —Aught serving to parade an ignor- ance Of how wrong feels, inflicted ! Let me close I With what I viewed at distance ! let myself j Probe this delusion to the core ! I i^ja. He comes ! | Khalil, along with me ; while Anael j waits i Till I return onco more — and but once more I I 1£ ACT III AsAtLand Luys. A H. Here leave me ! Here I wait another. 'Twas For no mad protestation of a love Like this you say jK)s.«esses you, I came. Loy«. Love— how protest a love I dare not feel ? Mad words n>ay doubtless have escafwd n»e — you Are here— I only feel you here ! -^"- No more ! Lfiyn. But once again, whom could you love ? I dare, Alas, say nothing of myself, who am A Knight now, for when Knighthoovak tu lue ! Djabal ! Ati. Svt'k Djabal by the rrt'dtt'ii ihaiubtT At noon ! [Shi /mrii thr rmnn. Loy». [Anidv.] And am I not the Preset now ? Ih it my fate to Im; the only one Abie to win her love, the only one Unable to accept her love t The Pa«t Breakt) up beneath my footing : came I here ThiM morn an to a Hiave, to net her free And take her thankt*, and then N(>end day by day Content beitide her in the Isle r What workti This knowledge in me now! Her eye hai» broken The faint disguise away : for Anael's sake I left the Isle, for her es|>oiised the laiiKe Of the Druses, all for her I thought, till now. To live without ! — As I must live ! To-day Ordains me Knight, forbids mu . . . never shall Forbid me to profess myself, heart, arm. Thy soldier ! An. Djabal you demanded, comes ! Loys. [Anide.] What wouldst thou, Loys t Sec him 't Nought beside Is wanting : I have felt his voice a h|r>11 Troiu lirs^t to last. He brought me here, made known The Druses to me, drove me hence to seek Redress for them ; and shall I meet him now. When nought is wanting but a word of his. To — what t — induce me to spurn \\o\k, '. faith, pride, | Honour away,— to cast my lot among His tribe, l>ecomc a proverb in mens mouths. Breaking my high pact of companion- ship With those who graciou»;ly lx>stowed ou WW The very opportunities 1 turn Against them ! Let mu nut see Djalml I now ! I . I «. The Prefect also comes ! Iaxju. [Anidi.) Him let me set. Not Djabal ! Him, degraded at a wonl. To soothe me,— to attest belief in me— Anil, after, Djabal ! Yes, ere I return I To her, the Nuncio's vow shall havf destroyed This heart's rebellion, and coerced tlii^ will : For ever. Anael, not before the vows ' Irrevocably hx me . . . Let me fly ! The Prefect, or I lose myself for ever I [(.'o<.>. An. Yes, I am calm now ; just one way remains — One, to attest my faith in him : for, sit , I were (|uite lost else : Loys, Djabu!, stanti On either side— two men ! I balunn' looks And words, give Djabal a man's pn - fercn«'e. No more. In Djabal, Hakeem is ab- sorbed ! An«l for a love Uke this, the God who saves My race, selects me for his bride ! One way !— Enter Djabal. Dja. \io himsdi.] No moment is to waste, then ; 'tis resolvetl ! If Khalil may be trusted to lead back The Druses, and if Loys can be lured Out of the Isle— if I procure his silence, Or promise never to return at least,— All 's over! Even now my bark awaits— I reach the ne.\t wild islet and the nexi. And lose myself beneaththesunforevci : And now, to Anael ! -^"- Djabal, I am thine ' Vja. Mine? Djabal's?— As if Hakeem had not been '.' An. Not Djabal's ? (Say lirst, do you read my thoujihts ? Why need I s|)eak, if you can read uiy Ihotiglits ■' Dja. I do not, I have saiil a thousmiil timc-i. i 'X ACT III] THE RETURN OF THE DRUSES 235 .^M. (Mywiret BHaff, lHlittlUuri>riM' l'|., out, then HhatttM the wholo hull y»'t !) i l>ul)hle-Hhi-ll Djabal, I knew yMh, |M>rchani'u ! IV 1 i***^"!'" .... . .... '^'*"' !— wi«nc«H. I woul«r«» to (lie \ou U-ant, and |iriHKtMl the tinkling veil For Khnlil— for .Maani— what for thins 1 . . ***>■' ,,,,.., . . ^^y '"'^ ••""brae e mv, Djabal, in mmit. Anu one fringe full iK-himl your netk— I «nii> , ""'*' '> , -^'y vow will not be broken, for I inuHt ... 1 knew you were not human, for I lk> HoniethinK to attent my faith in you, ""'•l U«' wort hy of you ! ' ThiH (liiii netliicled hou^e where the sea J)jn. [moidtny h,r.] I tome for that— beats to Hay U Heaven to me— my iK«)|>le'8 hutH are Such an occasion in at hand : "tin like •I' .1 .1 ./ ,. , M i l«?ave you— that we |)art, my Anael,— lothein; this augUNt form Will follow ; j)art me, I for ever ! •Mix with the waves his voice will,— I i Ah. \Vc nart ? Just so ! I have havchini; KiiccumlMMl,— And they, the Prefect ; Oh, my happi- I am, he thinks, unworthy— and nought uess I,.„^ ^ * Roundstothefullwhetherlchooworno! Will serve than such approval of my His eyes met mine, he was about to faith ! H|)cak, 'I'licn, we part not ! Hcmains there r. j His hand grew damp— surely he meant way short „ , t"»ay Of that? Oh. not that ! He let me love liim : in that moment's Death !— Yet a hurt bird , , „ I"'""* . . , Oit-*' in my hands— its eyes tilnied— I shall forget my iieople i)ine for home— ' Say, it sleeps,' They pass an.l they repasK with pallid I said, ' will wake to-morrow well '— ^ •^■yi'* ' ' 'twas dea«l ! I vowed at once a certain vow; this Dj,,. I „tand here and time flect.s. ^°*'~ Anael — I comi! -Not to embrace you till my tribe was To bid a last farewell to you : i>erhapH »avc«l. We ne%cr nu t again. But, ere the Luibraceme! Prefect />;«. [.^/*/^^] And she loved me! Nought remained But that ! Nay, Anael, is the Prefect dead ? An. Ah, you reproach niB ! True, his death crowns all, I know— or should know : and I would j do much, ik'lieve ! but, death— Oh, you, who I have known death, I Would never doom the Prefect, were I death fearful As we report ! Death I — a lire curl.'^ within uo Arrive . . . Enkr Khai il, hnuthhuidy. Kha. He 's uere ! The Prefect ! Twenty guards, Xo more — no sign he dreams of danger. Awaits thee only— Ayoob, Karshook, keep Their posts — wait but the deed's accom- plishment To join us with thy Druses to a man ! >>,,. K..r Khalil. tumnian(le/(!. Then I keep Anael,— him then. Here, I Nhn'll find the Prefe< t ha»teniii" past recall. In the I'avilion to receive lini— here " I »la>— tiH fore««e ! Ah I U'naw I May thi- l»refe( t ; meanwhile M,',u\, I niUNt conclude— HO Ik- it ! leiidN „ ^*'i' *«•■ the rent. , The Nuncio with his jrnnrdM within: un. ( ."Save Loyn, our Iih- m Molitary Hword, tluMc All in HO safe that ... I will iieVr entreat Se( ure/<». Ah glory, I would yield the deed l^t him throw o|m' the n,i|«ce deh»!d their tyrant ere I keep, |.^«lf/.. I All things conspire to We leave for ever thi.- detested si«)t hound me (m! Co, Khalil, hurry all! no pause, no Aot now. my soul, o»scssed licr with . . . I>}ii. [Ill A.N.] Whom s|K'ak you to y What is it you behold there r .Nay. this He faithful ? T, , "'"''*' ^., ,, „„ '!«• M""7 //'(/•/»,/.] I would fain In Turns stranger. .Shudder you ? Ihe worthy of you ' man must .lie, ■..,,,! ' [Tnunprl „Moi,t. Aathousandsof our race have died thro Klia. He comes ! n , , '''"'• , t .• , , ■ . • ^*>"- '^"•' I too come ! One Wow and I di.scharge his weary soul .1 „. One w..r.l. but one ! Jrom the flesh that iKillutes it ; let him .Say, shall you be exalted ut the deed .' ,.^ . ."J'' Then ? On the instant ? straight some new expiatory form, of Dja. I rx;il»t:l ? What ? A. ''fi^^ .1 . . ^^^' there— we, thus— our wrongs i.- Ur sea, tho reptile, or some aery thing : ; vengcd— our tribe pause ! Whlrlonlhek for her. Anael ! not that way ! Tis the Prefc( t ^ chamber .Anael, keep you the ring— give you tin sign ! {It holds her safe amid the stir.) Vou wil' .\('T III] THK KKTl'KN OK THK DKl'SKS 237 Sf« ttve 1 Oh, then Mhall I. iiMniri- Pr,t y<>«r»olf, ; Bio- Tn(i«> in th«« flear Dtuwh ? , ,, , , ' HWP-it traftip '! S|)»n> what .shall you, •thnll <>a< li >vx, ()„ having a |>artaker in my rule ? r/i. /'r»/.f/. 1^) (JunnlH.I Hack. I Miiy. Why in(f this Knijiht will l.,„fH. peHl ? have it... Pr.f. Hark von ! Ala« me! t ouhl you Imv,- tin- heart. IM love you if youM let me— thi« for my Loys ? reason, [To (I (Juard irl,,, «■///■leaded, Loys, I iliitched mine on the spot, when it was For my dismissal from the |M)st 1 — .-Vh, sweet, „,. , ""'«k And I had taste for it. I felt these With cause enough, consult the Xuni io wizards .'''*''■ ' Alive — was sure they were not on me, .\nd wish him the like meekness— for so only >**"""<■•' i When I was on them: but with age A servant of the church can scarce have comes raution : bought And stinging pleasures |)lease less and His share in thi- Isle, and paid for it, sting more. hard pieces ! ! Year by year, fear bv fear ' l he cirls lou ve my successor to condole with, [ were brighter Xuneio! i Than ever ('faith, there 's yet one Anael I shall be .safe by then i the galley, j left. W" '■ i I set my heart upon— Oh, prithee, let Lotj.f. \ ou make as you woiil.i te!i nu- Tlmt brave new sword lie still !)— The.se you rejoice joys looked brighter, lo leave your .«>oene of . , . Rut silenter the town, too, as I pa.ssed. i.ii m- ,j5j,.. 238 THE K.:TUKN of the druses [act 111 Asyou recounted; felt he not aggrieved ? Well might Ik — I allow«l for his half- share m With this alcove's .tolicioiis memories liegan to mingle visions of gannt fathers, .„.„. . Quick-eyed sons, fnjritives from the ' Merely one hundred ! To Sir mine, the oar. \ Loyo. See ! you dare Steaimg to catch me: brief, when I ; Inculpate the whole Order ; yet should l)«}ian I I, To quak ' with fear— (I think I hear the A youth, a sole voice, hav<- the iwwcr to ("hii|t?r ' change Solicited to let me leave, now all Their evil way, had they been firm in it ' Worth staying for was gained and gone !) Answer me ! —I say, pref. Oh, the son of Bretagn.-> Just when for the remainder of my life Duke, All inethol 1 herefore, I say, I d love you ! as if I liftfnl ^ 'fy»- t'an it 1h> ■'. The lid up of mv tomb ! I play into your hands then ? Oh, no, no ! Loys. ' They share his crime ' The \cnerable Chapter, the (;reat Order V.mW ininishment Will overtake vmi Sunk o the sudden into fiends of the yet ! „ ^ . 1'.',* ^ , ... ^'•f/. Thank you it does not ! Pardon nut i will back— will vet unveil you ! this last flash : °'"^/- Mc ? I bear a sober visage presently lo whom ?— i)erhaps Sir Galeas, who in With the disinterested Xuncio here— ['I'^P^'''' His purchase-money safe at Murcia, too! .>hook his white head thrice— and some I^t me rejieat— for the first time no dozen tim.-s draught My hand next morning shook, for value Coming as from a sepulchre salutes mk . _, , ra«' ; When we next meet, this folly may ha\ e lo that Italian Saint, Sir Cosimo ? — passetl. Indignant at my wringing year by yep.r We'll ho|)e— Ha, ha ! A thousand bezants from the coral [(Jofs through the arm •^. «''Vfi"'*i I Loys. Assure me but . . . he 's gone ! I ACT 11 1 J THK KKTUUN OF THK DRl'SKS 2»() He could not lie ! Then what have I pspaiioi changuig her wMe tnaniKr "^""•i'l'SpT"' "" " •"■*'" "•■ 'tS'SJ'^ ""-""■" "" *""'' 'sin"'! Srl°'" "■" '"""' ' "'•' ">"■ W<»— ~ ! A. il the D„„„ „, am, i Kiiuw, — ^ijg Mount On his"Tbreast-is here! 'tis the ''^""^onlj^hend™" «^'-«-«»»-"'' small groan ; The subtle lore of Euroi)e ! Afew secrets llfe^henT" ' ^^^^'^'^ *''^ "^* ^ That woHd not easily aVeet the meanoM Too swift'it cannot be, too strange, sur- i ""' *'Yu"aTe' ''"'' ^°"" "'""'^ ^"''■ ^ /)/«. [SVA°^ *„..] Thus ! Set'.' " *'" ^'^^^'^ ^"" *" "" ''*no"b[v '''?"!! ' ^'°" *"'^' •'°"" ^'*»y' ^i*''*'-' ^'''^ y«" »»"'"»« only,- ■luui^ , X . j think * An Can Hakeem kneel ? [ Maani is but human. Khalil human. and scarce Diabal • "' ^ ^^•'' T h^n^an eyen-.lid their words T K. *"" ?<'*'^«' ^Jaoa' ! Haunt me, ther looks inirsuo me « I have spoken falsely, and this woe is Shame on you " No-her?„"e ere scorn blasts me! Once «« *° ^^^ »"«»«- ' Rather, shame on The de^rtee ! Oh think upon the ''^ **^ Teflcf'"^ ' ^'""'^ '' ^'^'^ ♦''^" -4.. iThLm Did I strike once, or ^""^ '^l^T^' there-could I see only n}a't^:!lT^J:ri^^ .her. j -"niS.r'' "-^ - ^'"« ^"" "^ Doth B^Slhteovator sleep: ' •''^^^^r'^A" '^^eak. Djabal I ' Be there a miracle ! '-for I slw you ' ' him ^ ""'^ ^''""' An H.S head lies south the portal! Hakeem would save me! Thou art TiT ^ 1 , r^*''8*»^'' *'t»' <»"•" Diabal ! Crouch • 'TowlT'' '"" ''^"'^ ' '-'—iBowtotLdust.thoutsestof our kind: wuo* "v "w" ' ; The pdeof thee, I reared uptothecloiiil— """In™".''' '""'" "" '" '" '""'"■• i ""'•■' ;■". ""''i''»S '°'l'. ''"-oi.r«f n.a ACT IV J THK RETURN OF THE DRUSES 241 The unat.;!;!;- desert's jaws of sand, — falls prone ! Fire, music, quenched : and now thou liest there A ruin, obscene creatures will moan through ! — Let us come, Djabal ! J>jn. Whither come ? An. At once — Lest so it grow intolerable. Come ! Will I not share it with thee ? Best at once ! So, feel less pain ! Let them deride — thy tribe Now trusting in thee, — Loys shall deride ! Come to them, hand in hand, with me ! J)j(i. Where come ? An. Whe/e ? — to the Druses thoti hast wronged ! Confess, Now that the end is gained— (1 love thee now — ) That thou hast so deceived them — (perchance love thee Better than ever !) Come, receive their doom Of infamy ! Oh, best of all I love thee ! Shame with the man, no triumjih with the C!oowor'es3 — call him, dead — Ho is no longer Prefect — you ore Pre- fect ! Oh, shrink not ! I do nothing in the dark, Xothingunwort'yUrcton blood, believe! I \mderstoof| at once your urgency That I should leave this isle for Rhodes ; I felt What you were loath to s|)eak— your need of help. I have fulfilleart in this — Surely no part— but slay him not I The Nuncio Of old to me— I spoke, too, of your | Commanded, Slay him not ! gooflness, I Your pit ience— brief, I hold henceforth tho Isle In charge, am nominally Prefect. — but you. You are associ;itpe ; D.I ABAh flingf doirn the khnndjar. lAtyt. [after a jiau/ie.] Thou hast received some insult worse than all— ^^^^ ' i Some outrage not to be endured — You gaze at rc i ! Hear greater wonders [To the Guards.] Staml back y?* He is my friend — more than my frienil I throw down all this fabric I have built ! These Knights, I was prepared to worship . . . but Thou hast Slain him upon that provocation ! Guard. Xo ' Of that, another time ; what 's now to Xo provocation ! 'Tis a long devised say. Is — I shall never be a Knight ! Oh, Djabal, Here first I throw all prejudice a.side. And cal' you brother ! I am Druse like vo\i ! ong Conspiracy : the whole tribe is involveil. He is their Khalif — 'tis on that pre- tence — Their mighty Khalif who dietl loiii; ago. And now is come to life and light again— H ACT IVj TMK KKTIUN OF THK DKUSKS 24.] All IS just now revealed, I know not Anael, who loves thee ? Khalil, fast thy •>ow. friend ? By one of his Ponfe. And she retains her land glorious eyes ! Even now in our l)ehalf. Ixjys, we part She, with tho.xe* eves, has shared this •»<''""^ ! ini.screants guilt ! Thou, serving much, wouldst fain have Ah— who but she directed me to find serve lists. I rise, and tlioii My poop s anger. By their Khalif'.s .\rt cruslu'd ! Hordes of tliy Onnes „. ""'••• . . ! flock without ; Thou art secure and may st depart : so, Here thou hast me. who represent the *^°'"t' ' Crows, L<>y.i. Thy side ?— I take protection Honour and* Faith, Vainst Hell. Ma- at thy hand ? houmi, ami thee ! A"«/frf)//(rr Guards i ^^''' ' IL)'abal nmainn rnlm.] Implore /-. J VI -.If . ., ,. , '"y nH'rey. Hakeem, that mv 6'«flrrf,<. Hy with him ! fly. Sir I>)ys ! scorn 'tis too true! ' May help me ! \ay, I cannot ply thy .\ndonly by his sidn thou may st escape! t.ade; t j ^ The whole tribe is in full revolt— they I am no Druse, no stabber : and thine flock ,.y(,_ About the palace— will be here- on Thy form,'are too much as they were— thee ,„y fripnd And there are twenty of us. we. the Had such! Speak! B,-.' for mercy at Guards Of the Nuncio, to withstand them ! Even we Had stayed to meet our death in ignorance. But that one Druse, a single faithful Druse, •Made known the horror to the Xuncio. my foot ! [D.JABAL slill silent. Heaven could not ask so much of me— not. sure. So much ! I cannot kill him so ! Thou art Strong in thy cause, then ! Dost out- brave us, then ! Ti,„xT^'^'t 1 . . . . . Heardst thou tiiat one of tliine accom- IheNunciostandsaghast, Atleastletus plices Escape their WTath, () Hakeem ! We Thy very i^ople, has accused thee " are nought Meet In thy tribe's persecution ! [To LoYs.] His charge ! Thou hast not even slain ,„. .^fP'^yhim , the Prefect ihey hail him Hakeem, their dead As thy own vile creed warrants. Meet „ . P"-!"*;^' ••ftij'-npd : I thatDru.se- He IS their (.otl. they shout, and at his Come with me and disprove him-be "^^'^ i thou tried Are life and death ! By him, nor .seek appeal-promi.se me Loy.9. [Mpriugtng at thf kluindjar this— i ■•' e Djabal had thrown down, .«,(:,., Or I will do GodVs office ! What, shalt film by thf throat.] fi,m, ,p, T ^^T •'^. '\'*' **".'•' "'" ' ' ^°*'*' "^ as.sassins at thy beck, yet Truth Thus I re.sume my knighthood and its Want even an executioner ? Consent warfare! Or I will strike-look in my face-I will ! Thus end thee, mi.screant. in thy pride Dja. (Jive me again my khamljar, if of place! thou dare.st ! ■" Thus art thou caught ! Without, thy \LoYs oiir-s it J-riends aid thee, foes avoid thee,— plunge thou art Hakeem, This home. A Druse betray me ? Let How say they ?— God art thou! but us go ' T- fh/'r'r"' * . [-f^'fi^.] Who has betrayed me ? (himhcX"^ youngest the IShmits without. Her servant, and his single arm avails .Vo plainer than lon^T yeaVs'^aTo'l helrd ACT IV] THE RETURN OF THE DRUSES 245 M That Kliuiit— but in no dream now ! They Kutiirn ! Wilt thou he Jeatler with n)e, J^ovs ? Well ! ACT V The Viiiiiitiahd Firnsos, rorrriiig thv etagv luinulluouslif, atid .sjHidiiKj logvilur. Here Hock we, oln-ying the summon!*. I^, Hakeem hath apix-ared, and the Prefect is dead, and we return to | Ix'banon ! My manufacture (f goafs' j fleece miixt, Idouht,Hoonfallaway there. ' Come, old N'asif — link thine arm in mine ' — we Hfjht, if needs l)e. Come, what j is a great tight-word 1 — ' Jx^banon ' (My daughter— my daughter !) — But is I Khalil to have the office of Hamza t — | Xay, rather, if he he wise, the niono|K)ly of henna and cloves. Where is Hakeem t j — The only ]iro|)het I ever saw, pro- ''■ phesied at Cairo once, in my youth : • a, little black Copht, dres.sed all in black too, with a great stripe of yellow cloth I Happing down behind hint like the back- 1 i\n of a water-ser|)ent. Is this he ? Biamrallah ! liiamreh ! Hakeem ! EtiUr the XtNdo with (iuards. yuiirio. |^)/u'•(Af tenflants.] Hold both, the sorcerer and this accomplice I Ve talk of, that accuseth him ! And tell I Sir Loys he is mine, (he Church's ho|K' : ; Bid him ap|»rove himself our Knight j indeed ! Lo, this black disemboguing of the Isle ! ' [To None V The wizards stop each avenue ? Keep close !) [To the Druses.] As if one came to a sou's house, I say. So did I come — no guard with mc — to find . . . Alas — Alas ! A Drum. Who is the old man ? Another. Oh, ye are to shout ! Children, he styles you. Prim .1. Ay, the Prefect 's slain ! Cilory to the Khalif, our Father ! Sinirio. Kvcn so ! I Hnd, (ye prompt aright) your Father slain ; While most he plotted for your good, that Father (Alas, how kind, ye never knew)— lies slain ! [.luide.] (And hell's worm gnaw the glozing knave— with me. For being duped by his cajoleries ! Are these the Christians r These the docile crew My bezants went to make me Bishop o'er ?) [To liin Attendants, who whii/nr.] What say ye does this wizard style himself ? Hakeem ? Biamrallah ? The third Fatemite ? What is this jargon ? He— the insane Khalif, Dead near three hundred years ago, come back In Hesh and bloo-fetter Called their arch-wizard by? \T}n:)j irhiupcr.] Oh, Djabal was "t t }>ruHi. But how a sorcerer ? false wherein ? Xiineio. (Av, Djabal !) How false ? Yo know not, *Djabul has confessed . . , \ay, that by tokens founy Uhodeit I I had said, pardon them for inc— for Oh, to be duficd thiu way ! | Anael — A'*«. Ere ho appearx | For our Hakex pardon th»-«e besotted To lead you gloriously, re()ent, I say t Xuneio. [Aaide.] Nor any way to stretch the areh-wizard stark Ere the Venetians tome ? Be he cut oir, The rest were easily tamed. [To the Druses.] He ? Bring him forth ! Since so yt j neeils will have it, I as- sent ! You'd judge him, say you, on the siwt 1 Confound The sorcerer in his very circle t Where V Our short black-bearded sallow friend who said He'd earn the Patriarch's guerdon by one stab t Bring Djabal forth at once ! DrHHvu. Ay, bring him forth ! The Patriarch drives a trade in oil and silk: And we're the Patriarch's children- true men, we ! Where is the glory 1 .Show us all the glory! A««. \ou dare not so insult him! What, not see . . . (I tell thee. Nuncio, these are unin- structetl, Untrustetl— they know nothing of our Khalif !) —Not see that if he lets a doubt arise men- Ay— for thine own— they hurt not thee I Yet now One thought swells in me and keeps down all else. This Nuncio couples shame with thee, has called Imi)OBture thy whole course, all bitter things Has said— he is but an old fretful man ! Hakeem— nay, I must call thee Hakeem now — Reveal thyself ! .See ! Where is Anael t —See ! Liiyit. [lu Dja.J Here are thy People I Keep thy word to me ! JJja. Who of my People hath accused me r XnHcio. So ! So, this is Djabal, Hakeem, and what not r A lit deed, Loys, for thy first Knight's day! May it be augury of thy after-life ! Ever j)rove truncheon of the Church as now That, Nuncio of the Patriarch, having charge Of the Isle here, I claim thee [Turning to Dja.] as these bid me. lis but to give yourselves the chance of Forfeit for murder on thy lawful prince au<>niii,>r 'I'l : AL_i _ . I seemuig To have some intiuencc in your own Return ! That all may say they would have trusted him Without the all-convincing glor/ — ay. And did! Embrace the occasion, friends ! For, think — What merit when hischange takes place ? But now For your sake.-, he should not reveal himself ! No— could I ask and have, I would not ask The change yit 1 Thou conjurer that i)eepest and mut- terest ! Why should I hold thee from their hands ? (Sjiells, children r ' But hear how I dispose of all his sjiells !) : Thou art a Prophet ?— wouldst entice j thy tribe [ Away ?— thou workest miracles 1 (At- ' tend ! , Let him but move nie with his spells !) I I, Nuncio . . . i Dja. . . . Which how thou earnest to W\ 1 my not now. < Though I have also been at Stamboul, I Luke ! if . -it mi f»'- 248 THE RETURN OF THE DRUSES [act V —Ply thff wjtli hiwIIh. forsootli ! VVliat J)j„. Let who iiiovi-h iK-riwIi .tt nn-d of MwlU r I ,„y foot ! If \enKi-. in her Ao : the renowned Republic was and is i Loys, none The Patriarch's friend: 'tis not for Of my own People, as thou saidst, have ,,,. /utirting Venice raised that I— that these implore thy bloo«l of ; A voice against me. T.. ..„"Ik' 1. 1 ... I yinirio. \.lmdt.] Venice to cornel LM ye, the subtle miscreuiit ! Ha, so Death ! subtle? : />y„. [roHtinuhig.] Confess and l'o Ve. Druses, hear him ! Will ye be .le- ' ims.athe«l. however false " H„w i."^*^ "i , ,... . . ^ '*^*'*"* *''"" '"y ^""*''' ^"k*- 1 I would How he eva That were a miracle ! One miracle I , u-hUpir. | Ah. ye counsel so ? fcnoughoftrifling.foritchnfesmyycnrs. \MoHd.\ Bring in the witness, then. 1 am the Nuncio, Dru-es ! 1 stand forth who. first of all. To save you from the goo you tear him Joint after joint— well then, one docs ,,,,,» , . , s|)eak ! One. 1.1 1 the Druses lumtatc, />,■■< Atten- I Hefooleil by Djabal. even as vourselvo. dants wAm/mt. i But wi) hath voluntarily proposed Ah, well suggested ! W hy. we hold the To e.xpiate. by confessing thus, the wmic fmilt One, who. his clo.se confederate till now. Of having trusted him. Confesses Djabal at the last a cheat. [They bring i„ „ rrUcd Druse. And every miracle a cheat ! Who throws Loy,. Xow, Djabal, now • „• . "'f, T 1 .1 „ yiiiicio. Frieml, Djabal fronts Hue: His head .' I make tlirce olfei.s. once Make a rinc, sops •— .S}»!ak ! 1 oUer,— E.\i>ose this Djabal ; what he wa.-, ami and twice ... I \^^^y, . inoned here To aid the mummeries of a knave like thi.<, ! ACT Vj THK RETURN OF THE DRUSES 240 Ihe wiles \iv iiNtU.lhcannii heiln ruhwh Thin wilt thou i«|iit on, thin degrade, thia •"• I trampU* Lx|)licitly an late 'twas it|ioken to these To earth T My servants: labsolve and |>ardon thee. Loi/ii. Thou hast the dauuir ready. Djalml ? l>h- S|>eak, Keereant ! Ihriinin. Stanil liack. foot ! farther ! Suddenly You shall see soin huitv sfr|ient glide from under The empty vest, or down will thunder erash ! Baek, Khalil ! Klui. I { o hack ? Thus jjo I l)at my way, the long True way — left thee each by-jiath, lx)ldly lived Without the lies and blood,— or tin mi, or thou t I ! Love nie. An 1 ! Leave the blood and him nay 'tis mine — Anael, —Not mine 7— Who offer thcr before all these My heart, my sword, my name— so thou wilt say That Djabai, who affirms thou art his bride. Lies ! say but that he lies ! Dja. Ifjn. [tit An.] And was it thou Le- trayudst me r 'Tis well ! I have deserved this of thee, and submit. Xor 'tis much evil thou inflictest : life Ends here. The cedars shall not wave for us : For there was crime, and must be |>unishmcnt. Thou, Anad 1 \ See fate ! Hy thee I was seduced ; l>y Loyii. Nay, Djabai, nay, one chance | thee for me— the last ! : I (K-rish : yet i>ething :— nuw, eiich hai dentroyfd The other — and behold, fruin out their rraxh, A third an. I U-tter nature riHeit ui> — .My mere Man'x-nature ! And I yielfl to it : I love thee — I — who did not love before! All. Djabal ! Hjii. It (M>eined love, but true love it wan not — How could I love while thou adorey Ihi-c ! taught. • 1«. My Ujabal ! See, I kisM— how I kixM thy garment's Dju. Doxt hesitate r I force thee, ! hem then! Approach, For her ! She kisses it— Oh, take her deed UrusfM ! for I am out of reaih of fate ; In mine ! Thou dost believe now, Xo further evil waits me. S|)eak the Anael 7— See, ••■uth ! j She smiles ! Were her lips open o'er the Hear, Druses, and hear. Nuncio, and ; teeth hear, I..oys I I Thus, wlu-n I sjHjke first 7 She believes .1)1. Hakeem ! Ac falti dead. ! in thee ! [The Druses ncnani, groicUhiij bijore (!o not without her to the {'e\y^vio,, t^, and hU Guards. Loys fliugs ^ I*"" "'y ',">»»''' «'"' y«'t thou s|.^-akost himmlf h/xiii thv bodif tif Anael, not 7 on which Djabai. continiia to gaze ai stiiptfiid. Xitncio. Caitivcs ! Have ye eyes 7 Whips, racks, should teach you'! What, his fot)ls 7 his du|K's 7 Li'ave me ! unhanr<>|)linK the ulil MolitudcM,— thruuglt l)ruM-N ! In tlmt (tii'o thee, (hnI Hakeem's ? Wlicrr it* triumph— My Khalil ! 'rhnii art full ii( nir-I li" wlitTr \n . . . whm Thee full— my hanilx thiw (ill t' Said he of exaltatiiin — liath lie promixeH YeMlereve, So miK'h tivilay 7 Why then, exalt — Xay. '>iit tliin iiiurn, I ■ ''■ ■•< ' I All ^iftn cotni- chiNtiTitiK to that ! (io, 1 ' ./I vou! Icail lieeome, for that,ii Dru The ItriivM. Kxull 'In thyself, () Hal i, />/«. [admiiriM.] I i from fir^l ♦■ . ■ There is no longe . '■ i • *•:^ l*eo|!e Inline whiitc'er lietide ! I Tiirniii;/ Io the l)ruses. ) Ye take I I [lit nth, V, , ,. n ■• Ihi Drui- v' ; 1 .,,, „i.~ the ixftri -/ . / nnd, iif th, 1 ' >// 1 i'-if, ' , 1 hf tM aijitin ro i^ti >,' 1 iKii.:, '. — Am I not }lakeem t .^i ' ,■ "(M.IC have 'Tawled Hut yesterday within tl. IMJMIIC I'ourls W'here now ye stand ere< t I - Not uranil 1 - 'ihalil for my dele;{«te r To him ■ n \ H to me l* He leafls to Ix-lmnon — ^ I iw 7 .' ■ c as you, again ! Than a mere man 7 — A man among such Justice, no less— (iod's justice und no licjisls more. Was miracle enough — yel him you For those 1 leuve!— to s»'ckiiiii thi>, doiil)!, devott! Him you forsuke, him fain would you Some few days out of thy Knight's destroy — hrilliant life : With the V«-netiaii8 ul your gate, the Anil, this obtained theip, leave their Nuncio Leiianon, Thus — (see the battled hyiiocrilc !) und, My Druses' blessing in thine ears - (they Itest, si. "I The Prefect there ! HIess tht ath blessing sure to have its y>rM.«.y. No. Hakeeiii, »'ver thine I w. Xuiirio. He lies— and twice he lies — — One cedar-blossom in thy Ducal and thrice he lies ! ca|). Exult thyself. Mahouiid ! Kxult thyself ! One thought of Aiiacl in thy heart — Djfi. Druses ! we shall henceforth be iH-rchance. far uw.iy ! One thought of him who thu-, to bid Out vi iiicn; niuttul ken — ubuve the thcr s|k'C(1. t'edais — His lust word to the living speaks 1 This But we shall see ye go. hear ye return, done, ■ i?' Mi ('a 1 n m ifi 252 THE RETURN OF THE DRUSES [act V Ri'suinc thy course, and, Hrst amid the tirst In Euro|>c, take my heart along with thw ! ( !o boldly, go serenely, go augustly — What shall withstand thee then r [He binds ocer Anaei,.] And last to thee ! Ah, did I dreanj I was to have, this day. Exalted tlioe r A vain dream— hast thou not Won greater exaltation ? What remains But [iress to thee, exalt myself to thee t Thus I exalt myself, set fn-e my so>il ! [He ulubn hiiimclf—as he falls, suf)- ported by Khaml and Lovs, llu Venetians enter : the Admiral adeaii- ,. Admira'. God and St. Mark for V^enice I Plant the Lion ! [At the cUiah of the planted standard, the Druses slwut, and tnon tumiUliiously forward, hovsdrair- imj his siford. Dj't. [Imding them a few steps betwein KHxuhand Lovs.] On to the Mountain ! At the Mountain Drus<;s ! ^Di^^' A BLOT IX THE SCUTCHEOX Mildred Tre.sham. (JlENDOLEN TnESHAM. Thoroli), Karl Tresliam. Austin Tresiiam. TRAGEDY 1843 Persons. , IIenrv, Karl .Mertoun. j Cerari), and other Rclaincra of Lorn j Tresham. Tl.ME, 17—. ACT I Scene I. The interior of a Lodije in Lord Tkesha.m's Park: Mnny Retainers eroicded at the windun; tfupii'Mid to rommand a view of the enlnnire to his MiinsioH. Cekard. the W'arreiier, sittinif alone, his Inirt: to II Inhl, iin which are ffaijons, a-r. First lilt. Ay, do ! jnish, friends, am! then you'll push down me. — What for t Does any hear a runner's foot. Or a steed's tram|)le, or a coaoh-wheers cry ■>. Is the Karl couje or his least |)oursuivant 1 Hut there 's no breeding in a man of you Save Oerard yonder : here 's a half- place yet. Old Gerard ! Ver. Save your courtesies, my friend. Here is my place. Srrond Hit. Now,' ..;rard,out with it! What makes you sidlen, this of all the days r the vear 1 To-day that young, rich, bountiful. Handsome Earl Mertoun, whom alone they match With our Lord Tresham thiough the country-side. Is coming here in utmost braverv To ask our Master's Sister's h,inr man, I hope ! Why, Ralph, no falcon, Pole or Swede, Has got a starrier eye. Third Ret. His eyes are blue — But leave my hawks alone ! Fourth Ret. fSo young, and yet So tall and shapely ! Fifth Ret. Here 's I^rd Tresham's self! There now— there 's whet x nobleman should be ! He 's {)lder, graver, loftier, he 's more like A House's Head ! Second Ret. But you'd not have a boy — And what 's the Earl beside ? — possess too soon That stateliness * First Ret. Our Master takes his hand — Richard and his white staff are on the move- m my right hand a cast of Swedish , Back fall our people— (tsh !— there 's hawks, I Timothy A leash of greyhounds in my left ?— : v-re to get tangled in his ribbon-ties— _,"^f' —With Hugh And Peter's cursed roscite s a-cominc the logman for supporter— in his right off !) The bill-hook— in his left the brush- ' —At last I see our Lord's back and his woo' I-or'i Trksham, Lord Mertoiv, ffouse ! ArsTiN, awdGuENDOLEN. Sixth Ret. My father drove his father TrcHh. I welcome you. Lord Mcrtoiin. first to Court. | yet once more, After his marriage-day — ay, eaker I | nvcrs, Gcr. Drink, my hoys : New jirioe antl lustre, — (as that gem you Don't mind me— all "s not ri>{ht about war, me — drink ! Transmitted from a humlred knightly Second Hel. [Axidc] He 's vexed, now, l)reasts, that he let the show escajie ! ^ Fresh (•haseosal tor uniting: both To care about tin |iiiilidlest thing Our Houses even closer than resjM-ct That tou'hed the Hou.se's himour, not Unites them now — add these, and you an eye must grant But his could see wherein : and on a One favour more, nor that the least, — cau.se to think Of scarce a (juarter this iiuiwrtance. The welcome I should 'ive ; — 'tis given! (ierard My lord. Fairly had fretted iltsh and bone away .\|y only i)r()ther, Austin — he's the In cares that thi- wa^- right, nor that was King's. wrong. Our cousin, Ladytiuendolen — betrothed fiueh a |M)mt decorous, and such s([iiare To Austin : all are yours. by rule— Mir. I thank you — less He knew such niceties, no herak* more : For the expres.«ed commendings which .And n to say Were all this fear anfl trembling needed. .May be saiil briefly. She has never Ann. Hush I known He retldens A mother's care ; I staiul for father too. Guen. -Mark him, .\usfin ; that "s Her beauty is not Strang' to you, it true love ! seems — Ours must begin again. You cannot know the good and tender Trrsh. We'll sit. my lord. heart. Ever with best desert giM's diftidence. Its girl's trust, and its woman's con- I may s|ieak plainly nor l>e miscon- stancy, ceived. How \n\re yet {Mtssionate. how calm yet That I am wholly .satisfied with you kind. On this occasion, when a falcon's eye How grave yet joyous, how re,serveleased : herself .After my stricken game : the heron creates roused The want she means to satisfy. My Deep in my woods, ha"-, trailed its heart iiiokiii wniL' Prefers v.nir suit to her as 'twere its own. 2o() A BLOT IN THE 'SCUTCHEON [act I Can I say moro ? ^ / should have prayed thi" brother, .^ler. N'o more — thanks, thanks ' sjieak this speech, — no moro ! For Heaven's sake urge this on her— Trcuh. This matter then discussed . . , i put in this-- Mer. —We'll waste no breath Forget not, as you'd save me. t'other On auglit less precious. I'm beneath thing, — the roof I Then set down what she says, and how That holds her : while I thought of that, ! she looks, my speech | And if she smiles,' and (in an under To you would wander — as it must not breath) . so shortly. I was your cousin, tamely from the fir>t -'/''■• We ? again ?— Your bride, and ail this" fervour 's run Ah yes, forgive me— wlien shall . , . you tt) waste ! will irown Do you know you speak sensibly to-day Your gooilnc^s by forthwith apprising The Karl 's a fe .-1 11.1. Here s Thorold. Tell him so I When . . . if . . . the lady will appoint TntA. (nyi(rHiH iiiitrk-^. Well ? diiiii. — With lacking wit. Well. Tr -/'. He Im ked wit ? Where mijilit Here I have an advantage of the Karl, he lack wit, so please you ? Confess now ! /'d not think that all was tlmn. \n standing straighter than ^''''f'' the steward's rod Because my lady's brother stool my And making vou the tiresomest ha- friend. ratiguesl Why. he makes sure cf her— 'do you Instead of slipping over to my side say. yes — -Vnd softly whisiiering in niv ear, ' Swt(i Mie II not say. no '—what comes it to , ladv, ***"*'''•' ' Your cousin there will do nu' detrimci, sc. n] A BLOT IN THE 'SCUTCHEON 257 % Ho litHe (Iroain** of : he '« absorbed, I Sckne III. Mildred's Chamber. A see. In my old name and fame — be sure he'll leave My Mildred, when his best account of me 1.4 ended, in full confidence I wear My grandsire's periwig down either cheek. I'm lost unless your gcntlrnesH vouch- safes "... Trcfh. . . . ' To give a best of best accounts, yourself. Of me and my demerits.' You are right ! He should have said what now I say for him. V<»u golden creature, will you help us all ■> Here's Austin uK'ans to vouch for much, but you — You are . . . what Austin only knows ! Come up. All three of us : .she "s in the Library jyihitfd window orerlookn the park. Mildred and Oi'kndolkn. Quen. Now, Mildred, spare those nains. I have not left Our talKcrs in the Library, and climbed The wearisome ascent to this your bower In company with you, — I have not dared . . . Nay, worked such prodigies as sparing you Lord Mertoun's pedigree before the flood, Which Thorold seemeak truth, gcst . . . Malignant tongue ! Detect one fault in Gum. There, there ! him ! Do I not comprehend you'd be alone I challenge you 1 | To throw those testimonies in a heap, Gucn. Witchcraft 's a fault in him, \ Thorolds enlargings, Austin's brevities. For you're bewitched. j With that poor, silly, heartless Guen- Trekh. What 's urgent we obtain I dolen's Is, that she soon receive him— say, to- Ill-timed, misplaced, attempted smart- morrow — I nesses — Ne.vt day at furthest. And sift their sense out ? now, I come Gucn. ' Ne'er instruct me ! to spare you Tresh. Come ! — He 's out of your good graces since, forsooth. He 8too answered I Lack I ears and eyt's ? Am I perplexe, A heart the love of you uplifted— still Uplifts, thro' thi.s protracted agony. To Heaven ! but, Mildred, answer me, — first pace The chamber with me — once again — now, say Calmly the part, the . . . what it is of me You see contempt (for you did say con- tempt) — Contempt for vou in ! I would pluck it off And cast it from me ! — but no — no, you'll not Repeat that ? — will you, Mildred, reiieat that ? Mil. Dear Henry ! Mer. I was scarce a boy — e'en now What am I more ? And you were in- fantine When first I met you — why, yotir hair fell loose On either siile ! — my fool's-chei'k red- dens now Only in the recalling how it burnetl The love, the shame, and the despair— That morn to see the shape of many a with them Round me aghast as men round some cursed fount That should spirt water, and spouts blood. I'll not . . . Henry, you do not wish that I should draw This vengeance down ? I'll not affect a grace That 's gone from me — prone once, and gone for ever ! Mer. Mildred, my honour is your own. I'll shaio Disgrace I cannot suffer by myself. A word informs your brother I retract This morning's offer; time will yet bring forth Some better way of saving both of us. Mil. I'll meet their faces, Henry ! Mer, When? to-morrow? dream — You know we boys are proe i>ard(>n yet : all 's doubt beyond. The Past ! We'll love on— you will love Surely the bitterness of death is iwst { me still ! Mtr. Oh, to love less what one has injured ! l^)ve. Whoso ])iniou I have rashly hurt, my breast — Shall my heart's warmth not uurso thee into strength ? Flower I have crushed, shall I not care for thee ? Bloom o'er my crest, my fight-mark aneak ! or, wait — I'll bid you s|ieak directly. [Snit-i hi Willi. Now repeat 1 shall sleep I Firmly and circumstantially the tale I You just now told me ; it eludes me ; either I did not listen, or the half is gone .Away from me. How long have you lived here ? Here in my house, your father kept our wooss ' to me ! <>ir. He runs Along the wuoeak and bring her hurt ACT II] A BLOT IN THE 'SCUTCHEON 263 For Hoaven'ii compelling. But when I wan tiled To hold ni V |io»ce, each morsel of your £«tcn beneath your roof, ii., birth-pUce too. Choked me. I wiMh I had grown mad in doubta What it behoved lue do. ThiH murn it Beemed Either I must confesn to you, or die Between hii knees to question him : and here, Uerard our grey retainer,— as he sayit, Fed with our fooil, from sire to son, an age, — Has told a story — I am to believe I I'hut Mildred ... oh no, no I both tales are true. Her pure cheek'HHtoryandtheforestcr'Ml Would Hhe, ur cuuld Hho, err — much lesx, confound Now it is done, I seem the vilest worm | All guilts of treachery, of craft, of That crawls, to have betrayed my Lady ! Tnah. No- No — (jicrard ! (kr. Let luc go ! Tnsh. A man, you nay -- What man T Young t Not a vulgar hind 1 What dress ? /.'< r. A slouched hut and u large dark foninn cloak Wraim bin whole form ; even his face is hid : But I shouUI judge him young : no himi, be sure I Tnnh. Why t Ocr. He is ever armed : his sword projects Bcncatli the cloak. Trifih. Gerard,— I will not say ^o word, no breath of this ! Ocr. Thanks, thanks, my loni ! Tre-SHAM paC4:s the room. After a paum. Oh, thought 's absurd !— as with some monstrous fact That, when ill thoughts beset us, seems to give Merciful Uod that made the sun and stars The waters and the green delights of earth. The lie ! I apprehend the monstrous fact- Yet know the Maker of uU worlds is gootl. And yield my reason uj>, inadequate To reconcile what yet I do behold^ Blasting my si-nse ! There 's cheerful day outside — This is my library — and this the chair My father used to sit in carelessly, After his soldier-fashion, while 1 stood Heaven Keep me within Its hand !— I will sit here I'ntil thought settles and I see my I'ourse. Avert, oh (iol>, (!ieni)olen"h roio: in hiurd at Iht door, Ixjrd Tresham ! \Sh, kiwtkti.] Is Lord Trcsham tlure T [Thbmham, hastily turning, puUt doun the first book abuve him and opens it, Treah. Come in I [She enttri. Ah, (Juendolen— goo— and instantly ! Guen. I'll die Piecemeal, record that, if there have not gloomed Some blot i' the 'scutcheon ! Trcih. Oo ! or, Ouendoieu, Be you at call,— with Austin, if you ' choose, — " I In the adjoining gallery ! There, go ! [Gl'ENDOLEN govs. Another lesson to me ! you might bid A child disguise his heart's sore, and conduct .Some sly investigation [loint by point With a smooth brow, as well as bid me catch The in(|uisitorial tlevcrness some praise ! If you had told me yesterday, ' There 's one You needs must circumvent and practise with, Entrap by iwlicics, if you would worm The truth out : and that one is— Mildred ! ' There- There— reasoning is thrown away on it ! Trove Nhe "s imchaste . . . why, you mav after prove That she "s a iwisoner, traitress, what you will ! Where I ean comprclien, And I shall ne'er make cuuut of them ! ' Enter Mildred. , ■'ViV. What book Is It I wanted, Thorold ? Guendolen Thought you were pale— you are not pale ! That book t That 's Latin surely ! Tresh. Mildred, here 's a line— (Don't lean on me— I 'II English it for you) Ix)ve conquers all things.' What love conquers them ? What love should you esteem— best love ■/ '1'''- True love. Tnsh. I mean, and should have said, whose love is best Of all that love or that profess to love ? Mil. The list 's so long— there 's father's, mother's, husband's . . . Tresh. Mildred, I do believe a brother's love For a sole sister must exceed them all ! For see now, only see ! there 's no alloy Of earth that cree|>s into the perfect'st gold Of other loves— no gratitude to claim ; You never gave her life— not even aught That keeps life— never tended her, in- structed. Enriched her— so your love can claim no right O'er hers save pure loves claim : that "a what I call Freedom froiii i.-arthlincss. You'll never h0|H' To be such friends, for instance, she and i yo"i ' As when you hunted cowslips in the ; woods, ■ (^r played together in the meadow hay. ! Oh yes — with age, resj)ect comes, and I your worth Is felt, there "s growing sympatliv ol tastes. There "s riiHjned friendship, there \ I conhriijed esteem, I —Much hearides, my all in all so long. Would scatter every trace of my re- solve ! What were it silently to waste away And see her waste away from this day forth, Two scathed things with leisure to repent. And grow acquainted with the grave, and die. Tired out if not at peace, and be for- gotten ? It were not so ini|)otHible to bear ! But this— that, fresh from last night > pledge renewed Of love with the Kutcessful gallant (here, \o lighter of the .signal-lamp her .,..i.k She .alinly bids me hcl,. her to entic... loul breath near .lucnches i„ hot . Ii.veijile an unconhcious lru.sti„.r vou(l. Tn n 'JtU^T .1 f I . 1 ' ^^*'" ^*^'"'"* ^*"^ "" tl»Ht 's chaste, and loui! with breath a.s foul : no looii-wicr good, and pure. ACT ll] A BLOT IN THE 'SCUTCHEON 267 — Invites me to betray him . . . who so fit As honour's self to cover shame's arch- deed If —That she'll receive Lord Mertoun— (her own phrase) — This, who could bear t Why, you have heard of thieves, Stabbcrs, the earth's disgrace— who yet have laughed, A iw. No, Guendolen ! I echo Thorold's voice ! She ia unworthy to behold . . . Uuen. Us two t If you spoke on reflection, and if I Approved your si)eech — if you (to put the thing At lowest) you, the soldier, bound to make ' Talk not of tortures to me— I'll ; The King's cause yours, and light for it, betray | and throw No comrade I've pledged faith to ! ' — Regard to others of its right or wrong, you have heard j — If with a death-white woman you Of wretched women— all but Mildreds — can help, ' tied j Let alone sister, let alone a Mililred, Hy wild il'icit ties to loscls vile ; You left her — or if I, her cousin, friend You'd tempt them to forsake ; and This morning, playfellow but yesterday, they 11 reply i Who said, or thought at least a thousand ' Gold, friends, repute, I left for him, 1 1 times, have In him, why should I leave him then for gold. ' I'd serve you if I cauld,' should now face round And sav, 'Ah, that 's to only signify llepute, or friends ? '—and you have j I'd serve you while you're tit to servt felt your heart yourself — Respond to such iwor outcasts of the ' So long as fifty eyes await the turn world As to so many friends ; bad as you please. You've felt they were God's men and women still. So, not to bedisowned by you ! But she. That stands there, calmly gives her lover up As means to wed the Earl that she may hide Their intercourse the surelier ! and, for this, I curse her to her face before you all ! Shame hunt her from the earth ! Then Heaven do right To both ! It hears me now — shall judge her then ! [As Mildred fainii and falL<, Tresham runhfi out. Of yours to forestall its yet half-formed wish, I'll proffer my assistance you'll not need — When every tongue is praising you, I'll join The praisers' chorus — when you're hemmed about With lives between you and detraction — lives To be laid down if a rude voice, rash eye, Rough hand should violate the sacred ring Their worship throws about you, — then indeed. Who'll stand up for you stout as I V ' If so Wc taid and so wc did, — not Mildred Aui, Stay, Tresham, we'll accom- 1 there pany you I 1 Would be unworthy to behold us both, Gucn. We .' But we should be unworthy, both of us, What, and leave Mildred ? Wc '! why, To be lieheld by— by— your mcanet-t Which, if that sword were broken m your fate Mildred— one word — only look at nie. i Before a crowd, that badge torn off your then ! i breast, where 's my j)lace But by her side, and where 's yours but by niine '! W 268 A BLOT IN THE 'SCUTCHEON [act II And you cast out with hootings and Has been won many a time, itn lencth coatempt. and breadth, —Would push hiH way thro' all the | By just such a bt^ginning • hooters, gain Your side, go off with you and all your shame To the next ditch you chose to die in ! \ustin. Do you love me ? Here 's Austin, Mildred, — here 's Your brother says he does not believe half- No, nor half that— of all he heard ! He says. Look up and take his hand ! ■^ "w. Look up and take My hand, dear Mildred ! ^t*^- I — I was so young ! Beside, I loved him, Thorold— and I haa No mother— God forgot me— so I fell ! Guen. Mildred ! ^iil- Require no further ! Did I dream That I could palliate what is done ? All 's true. Now, punish me ! A woman takes my hand I Let go my hand ! You do not know, I see — I thought that Thorold told you. „ <''«««• What is this ? Where start you to ? Mil. Oh Austin, loosen me ! You heard the whole of it — your eyes were worse. In their surprise, than Thorold's ! Oh, unless You stay to execute his sentence, loose My hand ! Has Thorold gone, and are you here ? Gucn. Here, Mildred, we two friends of yours will wait Your bidding ; be you silent, sleep or muse ! Only, when you shall want your bidding done. How can we do it if we arc not by ? Here 's Austin waiting patiently your will ! ^^'l- I believe If once I threw my arms about your neck And sunk my head uiwn your breast, that I Should weep again ! <»'»««• Let go her hand now, Austin. Wait for me. Pace the gallery and think On the world's scemings and realities. Until I call you. [Austin goes. ^ Mil. No — I cannot weep ! No more tears from this brain— no sleep — no tears ! Guendolen, I love you ! Gtien. Yes : and ' love ' Is a short word that says so very much ! It says that you confide in mc. ■'Vii. Confide ! Gucn. Your lover's name, then ! I've so much to learn. Ere I can work in your behalf ! „ -"'»'• My friend, 1 ou know I cannot tell his name. „«ow draw ! Mer. Not for my sake. Do I entreat a hearing— for your .sake. And most, for her sake ! Treah. Ha, ha, what should I Know of your ways 1! A miscreant like yourself, . . How must one rouse his ire ?— A blow ? How less than nothing had lK>en givmg —that 's pride | you Xo doubt, to him ! one spurns him. The life you've taken ! But I thought does one not ? my way Or sets the foot \\[)Oi\ his mouth— or The better— only for your sake and That when I die before you _ Tresh, ("an you stay hero till I return with help 1 Mer. Oh, stay by me ! When I was less than boy I did you grievous wrong, and knew it not — Upon my honour, knew it not ! Onre known, I could not find what seemed a better way To right you than I took : my life— you feel spits Into his face ! Come — which, or all of these ? Mer. 'Twixt him, and me, and Mildred, Heaven l)e judge ! {'iin I avoid this ? Have your will, my lonl ! [He drtiir-^, nvit, nftrr n jew )xi.» Mv fathers planted, and I loved so well ! What have I done that, like some fabled crime or yore, lets loose a fury leatling thus Her miserable dance amidst you all T Oh, never more for mo shall winds intone With all your tops a vast antiphony. Demanding and responding in God's praise ! Hers ye are noW'—not mine ! Farewell — Farewell ! Scene II. — Mildred's Chamber. Mil- dred (done. He comes not ! I have heard of those who swmed Resourceless in prosperity, — you thought Sorrow might slay them when she listed —yet Did they so gather up their diffused strength At her first menace, that they bade her strike. And 8toon»t hint of a (h-fenoc ; Itiit no ! Thi» Krdt nhamo over, all thot would might fBJI. No Henry ! Vet I merely nit and think The morn'n deed o'er and o'er. I niiiot have crept Out of myxeif. A Mildred that haH loitt Her lover — oh, 1 dare not look upon Such woe I I I rouch away from it ! 'Tin xhe, Mildreardon ! True ! Mit. You call me kindlier by my You loosed my .soul of ail its cares at name 1 once — ' ST. Ill A BLOT IN THE '8CUTCHE0N 27.% Death mak... nu- .ur. of hi.n («r nv.r ! I A .lopth o( P"H«yJ'"X*;'';,l Tfll mi> hi« laot wonU ? //* ohnll till mo them. And take my annwor— not in words. I>ut reading , , . , Himwlf the heart I hnd to road him late, Which death ... Trf»k. Death ? yon are dymg too? WelUaid Of Ouendolen ! I dare'>"• Trrih. I wish thee joy, Belovespattcrcd, as he bloikcd the ])ath, A thin sour man, not unlike somebody. Adolf. He holds a paiwr in his breast, whereon He glances when his cheeks tlush and his brow At each repuUe — Gau. I noticed he'd a brow. Adolf. So glancing, he grows calmer, leans awhile Over the balustrade, adjusts his dress. And presently turns round, quiet again. With some new pretext for admittance. —Back ! [I'u LIBERT.) — Sir, he has seen you ! Now cross halberts ! Ha — Pascal is prostrate — there lies Fabian too — No passage ! Whither would the mad- man press t Close the doors quick on me ! Gui. Too late — he V here. Enter, hastily, and with dincomposed dress. Valence. Vul. Sir Guibert, will you help me t — Me, that come Charged by your townsmen, all who starve at Cleves, To rei)resent their heights and depths of woe Before our Duchess and obtain relief ! Such errands barricade such doors, it seem.s : But not a common hindrance drives me back On all the sad yet hopeful faces, lit With hope for the first time, which sent 1 le forth ! Cleves, speak for me ! Cleves' men and women, speak — Who followed me — your strongest — many a mile That I might go the fresher from their ranks, —Who sit— your weakest— by the city gates. To take me fuller of what news I bring As I return- for I must needs return ! —Can 1 1 'Twerc hard, no listener for their wrongs, To turn them back ui)ou the old despair — Harder, Sir Guibert, than imploring ! thus— i So, I do — any way you please — i iin))lorc ! If you . . . but how bhoulil you remember Cleves ? Vet they of Cleves remember you so well ! —Ay, comment on each trait of you they keep, Vour words atid deeds caught up at second hand, — Froud, I believe, at bottom of the hearts, Of the very levity and recklessness Which only prove that you forget their wrongs. Cleves, the grand town, whose men and women starve. Is Cleves forgotten ?— Then, remember me ! VoH promised me that you would help nie once 282 COLOMBE'S BIRTHDAY [act I For other purpose : will you keep your word ? Out. And who may you be, friend ? Vol. Valence of Cieves. Oui. Valence of . . . not the Advocate of Cieves, I owed my whole estate to, three yeara back? Ay, well may you keep silence ! Why, my lords. You've heard, I'm sure, how, Pente- cost three years, I was so nearly ousted of my land By some knaves'- pretext, — (eh ? when you refused me Your ugly daughter, Clugnct,) — and you've heard How I recovurctl it by miracle — (When I refused her!) Here's the very friend, — Valence of Cieves, all parties have to thank ! Nay, Valence, this procedure 's vile in ycu— I'm no more grateful than a courtier should. But politic am I — I bear a brain. Can cast about a little, might require Your services a second time ! I tried To tempt you with advancement here to court — ' No ! ' — well, for curiosity at least To view our life here — ' No ! ' — our Duchess, then, — A pretty woman 's worth some pains to see. Nor is she spoiled, I take it, if a crown Completes the forehead pale and tresses pure . . Val. Our city tiustcd me its miseries, And I am come. Gui. So much for taste! But 'come,' — So may you be, for anything I know. To beg the Po|)e's cross, or Sir Clugnet's daughter, And with an equal chance you get all three ! If it was ever worth your while to come. Was not the proper way worth finding too •> Val. Straight to the i>alace-|x)rtal, sir, I came — Oui. — And said ? — V(d. —That I had brought the miseries Of a whole city to relieve. Gui. —Which saying Won your admittance ? You saw me, indeed. And here, no doubt, you stand : as certainly. My intervention, I shall not dispute. Procures you audience ; which, if I procure, — That pai)er 's closely written — by Saint Paul, Here flock the Wrongs, follow the Remedies, Chapter and verse, One, Two, .\, B, and C— Perhaps you'd enter, make a reverence. And launch these ' miseries ' from first to last ? Val. How should they let me pause or turn aside ? Gau. [oints Have weight at court. Will you relieve us all And take it ? Just say, ' I am bidden lay This paper at the Duchess' feet.' Val. No more ? I thank you, sir ! Adolf. Her Grace receives the Court ! Gui. [Anide.] Now, sumum corda, quoth the mass-priest ! Do — Whoever 's my kind saint, do let alone These pushings to and fro, and puUings Dack ; , Peaceably let me hang o' the devils arm The downward path, if you can't pluck me off Completely ! Let me live quite his, or I yours ! [The Courtiers begin to range thim- ■selvcs, and move towards the door. After me. Valence ! So, our famous Cleves Lacks bread ? Yet don't we gallants biiy their lace ? And dear enough — it beggars me, I know. To keep my very gloves fringed pro- perly ! This, Valence, is our Great State Hall you cross ; Yon grey urn 's veritable marcasite. The Pope's gift: and those salvers testify The Emperor. Presently, you'll set your foot I . . , But you don't speak, friend Valence! Val. I shall s^jcak. Gau. [Aside to Guibert.] Guibert— it were no such ungraceful thing If you and I, at first, seemed horror- struck With the bad news. Look here, what vou shall do ! 284 COLOMBE'S BIRTHDAY [act I iStippcme you, Hrst, ilap hand to sword and cry ' Yield Htrangera our allegiance 1 First I'll ])erlHli Bexide your Orace ! '—and ho give me the cue To . . . 6'mi. Clap your hand to note- book and jot down That to regale the Prince with 1 I con- ceive ! [To Valence.] Do, Valence, speak, or I shall half suH|M;ct You're plotting to supplant us, me the first, r the lady's favour : is 't the grand harangue You mean tn make, that thus engrosses you ? — Which of her virtues you'll apostro- phize ? Or is't the fashion you aspire to start. Of that close-curled, not unbecoming hair 1 — Or what else ponder you ? Val. My townsmen's wrongs ! ACT II Noon. — .Scene. The Prcscncc-rhnmbcr. Thi Dlchess nnd Sabyne. Tin I). Announce that I ^m ready for the Court ! ' Hah. 'Tis scarcely audience-hour, I think — your (Jraco May best consult your own relief, no doubt, And shun the crowd ; but few can have arrived . . . Thf I). Let those not yet arrived, then, keep away I ' I'was nie, this day, last year at Rave- stein. You hurried. It has Ijeen full time, beside. This half-hour. Do you hesitate ? Sab, Forgive me ! The D. Stay, Sabyne ; let me hasten to make sure Ofonetructhankcr: here with you begins My audience, claim you first its pri- vilege ! It is my birth*8 event they celebrate : You need not wish me more such happy days, Biit — ask some favour ! Hare you none to ask ? Has Adolf none, then ? this was far from least Of much I tvaited for impatiently, Assure yourself ! It seemed so natural Your gift, beside this bunch of river- bells. Should Ik? the power and leave of doing good To you, and greater pleasure to myself. You ask my leave to-day to marry Adolf ? The rest is my concern. Sah. Your Grace is ever Our Lady of dear Ravestein, — but, for Adolf . . . The D. ' But' ? Y'ou have not, sure, changed in your regard And purpose towards him ? Sab. We change ! The D. Well, then ? Well ? Snb. How could wo two be happy, and, most like. Leave Juliers, when — when . . . but 'tis audience-time ! The n. ' When, if you left mc. I were left indeed ! ' Would you subjoin that ?— Bid tiic Court approach ! — Why sliould we play thus with cacii other, Sabyne ? Do I not know, if courtiers prove remiss. If friends detain me, and get blame for it, There is a cause 1 Of last year's ferviil throng Scarce one half comes now ! Stih. \A«ide.] One half? No, alas! The D. So can the mere suspicion ol a cloud Over my fortunes, strike each loyal heart. They've heard of this Prince Berthold ; and, forsooth. Each foolish arrogant pretence he makes. May grow more foolish and jiiore arrogant. ACT II] COLOMBE'S BIRTHDAY 285 'i'hey ]>leaae to apprehend ! I thank their love ! Admit them ! Nab, [.4*1*'.] How much haw Hhe really learned ? The D. Surely, whoever 'h absent, Tristan waits ? —Or at least Romuald, whom my father raised From nothing— come, he 'a faithful to me, come ! (Sabyne, I should but be the prouder- yes. And fitter to comport myself aright) Not Romuald ? Xavier— what said he to that ? For Xavier hates a parasite, I know ! [Sabyne goex out. The D. Well, sunshine 's everywhere, and summer too. Next year 'tis the old place again, perhaps — The water-breeze again, the birds agam. —It cannot be ! It is too late to be ! What part had I, or choice in all of it t Hither they brought me ; I had not to think . . 1 • Nor care, concern myself with domg good Orill.mytttskwasjust— tolive,— tolive. And, answering ends there was no need explain, . To render Juliers happy— so they said, All could not have been falsehood ! Some was love, And wonder and obedience. I did all They looked for : why then cease to do it now ? Yet this is to be calmly set aside, And— ere next birthday's dawn, for aught I know. Things change, a claimant may arrive, and I . . . It cannot nor it shall not be! His right t Well then, he has the right, and I have not, —But who bade all of you surround my life And close its growth up with your Ducal crown I Whicli, plucked of! rudely, leaves me 1 IHjrishing t ' I could have been like one of you,— loved, ho|)eefore it wish me more such years. 'Twas fortunate that thus, ere youth esra[>ed, I tasted life's pure pleasure— one such, Is worth a thousand, mixetl— and youth 's for pleasure : Mine is receive;«. The D. Wrongs T CIpvps has wrongH - -ap|)arcnt now and thus T I thank you— in that paper ? Give it me ! Val. (Thorp. CIpvph !) In this! (Wliat "a"'l''; A lion rn>*t« him (or o pognisanrf ; ' SrorninK to waver ' — that '» his 'unit- chtHin's word , Hi" office with the new Duke— probttbly The Mtinc in honour a<* with me: or more, By 80 much ns th^x (tnllant turn de- Rcrves ; He V now, I dare sa}', o( a thousand timw The rank and influence that remain with her VVhoBo part you take ! So, lest tor takin); it You Rufler . . . y,il. I may Htrike him then to earth t Giii. [fitlling on hin knee] Great ami liear laer Without a keener pang than I dared meet —And so felt Clugnet here, and Maufroy hero —No one dared meet it. Protestation's cheap, — But, if to die for you did any good, [Tu ff AiCELME.] Would not I die, sir ? JSay your worst of me ! But it does no good, that '8 tht mourn- ful truth. And since the hint of a resistance, cvi , Would just precipitate, on you the first, A speedier ruin— I shall not deny, Saving myself indubitable pain, 1 thought to give you pleasure (who might say ?) By showing that your only subject found To carry the sad notice, was the man Precisely ignorant of its contents ; A nameless, mere provincial advocate ; One whom 'twas like you never saw before. Never would see again. All has gone wrong ; But I meant right. Gotl knows, and you, I trust!' The D. A nameless advocate, this gentleman ? — — (1 pardon you. Sir JJuiln-rt !) (hii. [rising, to \ M.%s. You hear them — no such .source is left . . . Vfil. Hear Cleves ! Whose haggard craftsmen rose to starve this day. Starve now, anil will lie down at night to starve. Sure of a like to-morrow — but as sure Of a most imlike morrow-after-that. Since end things must, end howso«''cr things may. What curbs the brute-force instinct in its hour ? What makes— instead of rising, all as one. And teaching fingers, so expert to wicl.l Their tool, the broadsword's play or carbine's trick, —What makes that there 's an easitr help, they think. For you, whoso name so few of them can spell, Whose face scarce one in every hundred saw. — You simply have to understand their wrongs. And wrongs will vanish — so, still tradf"< are |)lied. And swords lie rusting, and myself stand here ? There is a vision in the heart of each Of justice, mercy, wisilom ; (enderner^s To wrong and pain, and knowledge of its cure ; ACT III COLOMBE'S BIRTHDAY 289 And thcHr, vinbodieil in a woman'M [To Valbnck.] Nir,— for th« half-hour form I till this ncrvirp rned, defying. i t)ur wages discontinue, — then, indeed. Return his missive with its due con- Our zeal and faith, (we hear on every tempt ! [CaMing it away, (lui. [picking it up.]— Which to the Prince I will deliver, I^dy, [Note it down, Gaucelme] — with your message too ! The D. I think the office is a sub- ject's, sir ! —Either . . . how style you him ?— my special guarder side,) Are no» released — having been pledged away I wonder, with what zeal and faith in turn ? Hard money purchased me my place ! No, no — I'm right, sir — but your wrong is better .still. If I had time and skill to argue it. The Marshal's- for who knows but Therefore, I say, I'll serve you, how you violence please — May follow the delivery !— Or, p«'rha])s. If you like, — fight you, as you seem to My Chancellor's — for law may Im- to wish — urge (The kinder of me that, in sober truth. On its receipt ! — Or, even my Chamber- I never dreamed I did you any harm) . . . Iain's— I Gau. —Or, kinder still, you'll intro- For I may violate established form ! ' duce, no doubt, L 290 COLOMBE'S BIRTHDAY [act II His merits to the Prince who 's just at hand. And let no hint drop he 's made Chancellor, And Chamberlain, and Heaven knows what beside ! Cbig. [to Valence.] You stare, young sir, and threaten ! I/et mo say. That at your age, when first I came to court, I was not much above a gentleman ; While now . . . Vol. — You are Head- Lackey ? With your office I have not yet been graced, sir ! Other Courtiers to Clug. Let him talk ! Fidelity, disinterestedness. Excuse so much ! Men claimed my worship ever Who, staunchly and steadfastly . . . Enter Adolf. Adolf. The Prince arrives ! Courtiers. Ha ? How ? Adolf. He leaves his guard a stage behind At Aix, and enters almost by himself. First Court. The Prince ! This foolish business puts all out ! Second Court. Let Gaucelme speak first! Third Court. Better I began About the state of Juliera : should one say All 's prosperous and invitii;g him ? Fourth Court. --Or rather All 's prostrate and imploring him ! Fifth Court. That 's best ! Where 's the Cleves' paper, by the way ? Fourth Court, [to Valekce.] Sir— sir — If you'll but give that paper — trust it me, I'll warrant ... Fifth Court. Softly, sir— the Marshal's duty! Clug. Has not the Chamberlain a hearing first By virtue of his patent ? Gau. Pat4?nts ?— Duties ? All that, my masters, must begin again! One word composes the whole contro- versy : We're simply now — th? Prince s ! Thr Others. Ay— the Prince's ! Enter Sabyne. Sab. Adolf ! Bid . , . Oh, no time for ceremony ! Where 's whom our lady calls her only subject ? She needs him ! Who is here the Duchess's ? Vol. [starting from his reverie.] Most gratefully I follow to her feet ! ACT III Afternoon. Scene. — The. Vestibide. Enter Prince Berthold and Melchior. Berth. A thriving little burgh this Juliers looks. [Half-apart.] Keep Juliers, and as good you kept Cologne : Better try Aix, though ! — Md. Please 't your Highness speak ? Berth.[as before.] Aix, Cologne, Frank- fort, — Milan ; — Rome ! — Mel. —The Grave. — More weary seems your Highness, I remark. Than sundry conquerors whose path I've watched Through fire and blood to any prize they gain. I could well wish you, for your proper sake. Had met some shade of opposition here — Found a bhint seneschal refuse un- lock. Or L scared usher lead your steps astray. You must not look for next achieve- ment's palm So easily : this will hurt your conquer- ing ! Berth. My next ? Ay — as you say, my next and next ! Well, I am tired, that 's truth, and moody too. This quiet entrance-morning; listen why ! Our little burgh, now, .Juliers— 'tis indeed One link, however insignificant. Of tin- Krrat chain by which I reach iii> ho[H-, ACT III] COLOMBE'S BIRTHDAY 291 — A link I must secure ; but otherwise, You'd wonder I esteemed it worth my grasp. Just see what life is, with its shifts and turns ! It happens now— this very nook— to be A place that once . . . but a short while since, neither — When I lived an ambiguous hanger-on Of foreign courts, and bore my claims about. Discarded by one kinsman, and the other A poor priest merely,— then, I say, this place Shone my ambition's object ; to be Duke — Seemed then, what to be Emperor seems now. My rights were far from being judged as plain In those days as of late, I promise you : And 'twas my day-dream. Lady Colombe here Might e'en compound the matter, pity me. Be struck, say, with my chivalry and grace (I was a boy !)— bestow her hand at length. And make me Duke, in her right if not mine. Here am I, Duke confessed, at Juliers now ! Hearken : if ever I be Emperor, Remind me what I felt and said to-day ! Mel. All this consoles a bookish man like me ! — And so will weariness cling to you ! Wrong, Wrong ! Had you sought the Lady's court yourself. — Faced the redoubtables composing it, Flattered this, threatened that man, bribed the other, — Pleaded, by writ and word and deed, your cause, — Conquered a footing inch by painful inch, — Antl, after long years' struggle, pounced at last j Un her for prize,— the right life had b«.'cn i lived, I And justice done to divers faculties Shut in that brow. Yourself were visible As J 1 stood victor, then ! who now — (your pardon !) I am forced narrowly to search and see — So are you hid by helps— this Pope, your uncle — Your cousin, the other King ! You are a mind, — They, body : too much of mere legs- and-arms Obstructs the mind so ! Match these with their like : Match mind with mind ! Berth. And where 's your mind to match ? They show me legs-and-arms to cope withal ! I'd subjugate this city— where 's its mind ? [The Courtiers enter slowly. Mel. Got out of sight when you came troops and all ! And in its stead, here greets you flesh- and-blood — A smug oeconomy of both, this first ! [As Cluonet hows obsequiously. Well done, gout, all considered !— I may go ? Berth. Help me receive them ! Md. Oh, they just will say What yesterday at Aix their fellows said, — At Treves, the day before ! — Sir Prince, my friend. Why do you let your life slip thus ?— Meantime, I have my little Juliers to achieve— The understanding this tough Platonist, Your holy uncle disinterred, Amelius — Lend me a company of horse and foot. To help me through his tractate— gain my Duchy ! Berth. And jimpire, after that is gained, will be — ? Mel. To help me through your uncle's comment. Prince ! [Goes. Berth. Ah ? Well ! he o'er-refines— the scholar's f,aiilt ! How do I let my life slip ? Say, this life. 292 COLOMBE'S BIRTHDAY [act III m I lead now, differs from the common life Of other men in mere degree, not kind. Of joys and griefs, — still there is such degree — Merc largeness in a life is something, sure, — Enough to care about and struggle for. In this world : for this world, the size of things ; The sort of things, for that to come, no doubt ! A great is better than a little aim : And when I w^oed Prisciila's rosy mouth And failed so, tmder that grey convent- wall. Was I more happy th'i I should be now [By this time, the Courtiers are ranged before him. If failing of my Empire ? Not a whit ! — Here comes the mind, it once had tasked me sore To baffle, but for my advantages ! All 's best as 'tis — these scholars talk and talk ! [Scats himself. The Courtiers. Welcome our Prince to Juliers ! — to his Heritage ! Our dutifullest service proffer we ! Clug. I, please your Highness, having exercised The function of Grand Chamberlain at court. With much acceptance, as men testify . . . Berth. I cannot greatly thank 3'ou, gentlemen ! The Pope declares my claim to the Duchy founded On strictest justice ; if you concede it, therefore, I do not wonder : and the kings my friends Protesting they will see such claim enforced. You easily may offer to assist us. ! But there 's a slight discretionary ! power To serve me in the matter, you've had long. i Though late you use it. This is well to say- But could you not have said it months ago ? I'm not denied my own Duke's trun- cheon, true — 'Tis flung me — I stoop down, and from the ground Pick it, with all you placid standers- by— And now I have it, gems and mire at once, Grace go with it to my soiled hands, you say ! Qui. (By Paul, the Advocate our doughty friend Cuts the best figure !) Gau. If our ignorance May have offended, sure our loyalty . . . Berth. Loyalty ? Yours ?— Oh— of yourselves you speak ! — / mean the Duchess all this time, I hope ! And since I have been forced repeat my claims As if they never had been made before, As I began, so must I end, it seems. The formal answer to the grave de- mand ! What says the lady ? Courtiers, [one to another.] First Court. Marshal ! Second Court. Orator ! Gui. A variation of our mistress' way ! Wipe off his boots' dust, Clugnet !— that, he waits ! First Court. Your place ! Second Court. Just now it was your own ! Gui. The devil's ! Berth, [to Glibert.] Come forward, friend — you with the paper, there ! Is Juliers the first city I've obtained ? By this time, I may boast proficiency In each decorum of the circumstance ! Give it me as she gave it — the petition ( Demand, you style it)— what 's re- quired, in brief ? What title's reservation, appanage's .Allowance ? — I heard all at Treves, last week ! Gau. [to GriBERT.] ' Give it him a> she gave it ! ' ACT IIlJ COLOMBE'S BIRTHDAY 293 ClitL And why not ? [To Bekthold.] The lady crushed your HunimonH thus together. And bade me, with the very greatest scorn .So fair a frame could hold, inform you . . . Courtiers. .Stop— Idiot ! ' (Jui. —Inform you she denied your claim, Defied yourself ! (I tread upon his heel, \ The blustering Advocate !) | Berth. By heaven and earth 1 '' Dare you jest, sir ? O'ui. Did they at Treves, last week ? Berth, [starting up. ] Why then, I look much bolder than I knew, And you prove better actors than I : thought, .Since, as I live, I took you as you i entered Forjustso many dearest friends of mine, I Fled from the sinking to the rising jKJwer ' — The sneaking'st crew, in short, I e'er [ despised ! Whereas, I am alone here for the ; moment. With every soldier left behind at Aix ! .Silence ? That means the worst— I thought as much ! What follows next then ? Courtiers. Gracious Prince— ' he raves ! I Gui. He asked the truth and why not get the truth ? ^ Berth. Am I a prisoner t Sjwak, will ' somebotly '! i —But why stand paltering with im- beciles ? I Let nje see her, or . . , Gui. Her. without her leave, Shall no one sec— she 's Duchess yet ! Courtiers. [Footsteps without, as they arc disputi7ig.] Good chance ! She 's here— the Lady rolombe's self ! Berth. 'Tis well ! [Aside.] Array a handful thus against my world ? Not ill done, truly 1 Were not this a mind To match one's mind with 1 Colombe — Let us wait J I failed so, under that grey convent- wall ! .She comes ! Gi'i. The Duchess ! strangers, range yourselves ! [.4s the Dlchess enters in conversa- tion u-ilh Valence, Berthoi.» and the Courtiers fall buck a little. The D. Presagefully it beats, pre- sagefully. My heart : the right is Berthold's and not mine ! Val. Grant that he has the right, dare I mistrust Your power to acquiesce so patiently As you believe, in such a dream-like change Of fortune— change abrupt, profound, co"iplete '! The D. ^ h, the first bitterness is over now i Bitter I may have felt it to confront The truth, and n ■ crtain those natures' value I had 80 counted un — that was a pang- But I did bear it, and the worst is over : Let the Prince take them ! I'j/. — And take Juliers too ? — Your People without crosses, wands, and chains — Only with hearts ? The J). There I feel guilty, sir I I cannot give up what I never had : For these I ruled, not them— these stood between. Shall I confess, sir ? I have heard by stealth Of Bcrthold from the iirst ; more news and more : Closer and closer swam the thunder- cloud. But I was safely housed with these, I knew ! At times, when to the casement I would turn. At a bird's passage or a flower-trail's play, I caught the storm's red glimpses on its edge — Yet I was siiro some one of all these friends Would interpose : I followed the bird's dighf, 294 COLOMBE'S BIRTHDAY [act 111 ■i Ur plucked the flow<.T— some ono would interpose ! Vid. Not one thought on the People — and Cleves there The D. So, sadly conbcioua my real sway was missed. Its shadow goes without so much regret : Else could I not again thus calmly bid you. Answer Princ*. Berthold ! Vol. Then you acquiesce ? The D. Remember over whom it was I ruled ! Gui. [stepping forunrd.] Prince Ber- thold, yonder, craves an audience. Lady! The D. [to Valence.] I only have to turn, and I shall face Prince Berthold ! Oh, my very heart is sick ! It is the daughter of a line of Dukes, This scornful insolent adventurer Will bid depart from my dead father's halls ! I shall not answer him — dispute with him — But, as he bids, depart ! Prevent it, sir ! Sir — but a mere day's respite ! Urge for me —What I shall call to mind I should have urged When time 'a gone by — 'twill all be mine, you urge ! A day — an hour — that I myself may lay My rule down ! 'Tis too sudden — must not bo ! The world 's to hear of it ! Once done — for ever ! How will it read, sir ? How be sung about ? Prevent it ! Berth, [approaching.] Your frank in- dignation, Lady, Cannot esca,, ; me ! Overbold I seem — But somewhat should be pardoned my surprise. At this reception, — this defiance, rather. And if, for their and your sakes, I rejoice Your virtues could inspire a trusty few To make such gallant stand in your behalf, I cannot but be sorry, for my own. Your friends should force me to retrace my steps. Since I no longer am permitted speak After the pleasant peaceful course pre- scribed \o less by courtesy than relationship Which, if you once forgot, I still re- member. But never must attack pass unrepelled. Suffer, that through you, I demand of these. Who controverts my claim to Juliers ? The D. —Me, You say, you do not speak to — Berth. Of your subjects I ask, then : whom do y xccredit ? Where Stand those should answer ' Vol. [adva^icing.] The Lady is alone ! Berth. Alone, and thus ? So weak and yet so bold ? Vol. I said she was alone — Berth. — And weak, I said. Vol. When is man strong until he *eel8 alone ? It was some lonely strength at first, be sure. Created organs, such as those you seek. By which to give its varied purpose shape — And, naming the selected ministrants. Took sword, and shield, and sceptre, — each, a man ! That strength performed its work and passed its way : You see our Lady : there, the old shapes stand ! — A Marshal, Chamberlain, and Chan- cellor — ' Be helped their way, into their death put life And find advantage ! ' — so you counsel us. But let strength feel alone, seek help itself, — And, as the inland-hatched sea-ereatu'e hunts The sea's breast out, — as, littered 'mid the waves, ACT III] COLOMBE'S BIRTHDAY 295 The dcsert-brutc makes for tho desert's joy. So turns our lady to her true resource. Passing o'er hollow fictions, worn-out types, —So, I am first her instinct fastens on ! And prompt I say, as clear as heart can speak, The People will not have you ; nor shall have ! It is not merely I shall go bring Cleves And tight you to the last,— though that dues much, And men and children,— ay, and women too, Fighting for home, are rather to be feared Than mercenaries fighting for their pay — But, say you beat us, since such things have been. And, where this Juliers laughed, you set your foot Upon a steaming bloody plash — what then? Stand you the more our Lord that there you stand t Lord it o'er troops whose force you concentrate, A pillared flame whereto all ardours tend — Lord it 'mid priests whose schemes you amplify, A cloud of smoke 'neath which all shadows brood — But never, in this gentle spot of earth, Can you become our Colombe, our pluy- queen, For whom, to furnish lilies for her hair. We'd pour our veins forth to enrich the soil ! —Our conqueror ? Yes !— Our despot? Yes !— Our Duke ? Know yourself, know us ! Berth, [who has been in thougft.] Know your lady, also ! [Very deferentially.]— To whom I needs must exculpate myself From having made a rash demand, at least. Wherefore to ynu, air, who appear to be Her chief adviser, I submit my claims, [Oiling ijapers. But, this step taken, take no further step. Until the Duchess shall pronounce their worth. Here be our meeting-place ; at night, its time : Till when I humbly take the lady's leave ! [He withdraws. As the Duchess turns to Valence, the Courtiers interchange glances and come for- ward a little. First Court. So, this was their device ! Second Court. No bad device ! Third Court. You'd say they love each other, Guibert s friend From Cleves, and she, the Duchess ! Fourth Court. — And moreover. That all Prince Bcrthokl comes for, is to help Their loves ! Fifth Court. Pray, Guibert, what is next to do ? Gui. [adiducing.] I laid my office at the Duchess' foot — Others. And I— and I— and I ! The D. I took them, sirs ! Oui. [Apart to Valence.] And now, sir, I am simple knight again — Guibert, of the great ancient house, as yet That never bore affront ; whate'er your birth,— As things stand now, I recognize your- self (If you'll accept exiierience of some date) As like to be the leading man o' tho time. Therefore as much above me now. as I Seemed above you this morning. Then, I offered To fight you : will you be as generous And now fight me ? Val. Ask when my life is mine ! Gui. ('Tis hers now !) Clug. [Apart to Valence, ax Guibert turns from him.] You, sir. have insulted me Grossly, — will grant me, too, the self- same favour You've granted him, just now, I m"ke no question V 296 COLOMBE'S BIRTHDAY [act III Vol. I promise you, as him, sir ! Clug. Do you so ? Handsomely said ! I hold you to it, sir ! You'll get me reinstated in my oflice As you will Guilnrt ! The D. I would be alone ! [They begin to retire, slowly : tis Valence in about to follow — Alone, sir— only with my heart,— you stay ! Oatt. You hear that ? Ah, light breaks upon me ! Cleves — It was at Cleves some man harangued us all — With great effect, — so those who listened said. My thoughts being busy elsewhere : was this he 1 Guibert, — your strange, disinterested man ! Your uncorrupted, if uncourtly friend ! The modest worth you mean to patro- nize ! He cares about no Duchesses, not he-^ His sole contest is with the wrongs of Cleves ! What, Guibert ? What, it breaks on you at last ? Gut. Would this hall's floor were a mine's roof ! — I'd back And in her very face , . . Gau. Ai)ply the match That fired the train, — and where would you be, pray ? Gui. With him ! Gau. Stand, rather, safe outside with me ! The mine 's charged— shall I furnish you the match And place you properly ?— To the ante- chamber ! Gui. Can you '! Gau. Try me ! — Your friend 's in fortune ! Gui. Quick— To the antcchanibcr !— He is pale with bliss ! Gau. \o wonder ! Mark her eyes ! Gui. To the antechamber ! [The Courtiers rrtiri^. The D. Sir, could you know all you have done for me You were content ! You s|)oke, and I am saved ! Vol. lie not too sanguine, Lady I Ere you dream, That transient flush of generosity Fades off, i>erchance ! The n>an, be- side, is gone, — Whom we might bend ; but see, the papers here — Inalterabiy his requirement stays. And cold hard words have we to deal with now. In that large eye there seemed a latent j)ride. To self-denial not inrom|)etent. But very like to hold itself dis[>ensed From such a grace : however, let us hope ! He is a noble spirit in noble form. I wish he less had bent that brow to smile As with the fancy how he could sub- ject Himself upon occasicm to — himself ! From rudeness, violence, you rest secure ; But do not think your Duchy rescued yet! The 1). You, — who have o()ened a new world to me. Will never take the faded language ujt Of that I leave ? My Duchy — keeping it. Or losing it — is that my sole worhl now ? Val. Ill have I siwken if you theme despise Juliers ; although the lowest, on true grounds, Be worth more than the highest rule, on false : Aspire to rule, on the true grounds ! , The I). Nay, hear- False, I will never— rash, I would not be! This is indeed my Birthday — soul and body. Its hours have done on me the work of years. You hold the requisition : )>onder it ! If I have right, my duty 'a plain : if he — Say so, nor ever change a tone of voice 1 ACT III] COLOMBE'S BIRTHDAY 297 At night you meet the Prince; meet mo at eve : Till when, farewell I This diHComposeti you 1 Believe in your own nature, and it» force Of renovating mine. I take my stand Unly as under me the earth is firm : >So, prove the first step stable, all will prove ! That first, I choose — [laying her hand on his,] — the next to take, choose you ! [She withdraws. Vol. [after a pause.] What drew down this on me 1 On me, dead once. She thus bids live, — since all I hitherto Thought dead in me, youth's ardours and emprise. Burst into life before her, as she bids Who needs them ! Whither will this reach, where end ? Her hand's print burns on mine . . . Yet she 's above — So very far above me ! All 's too plain : I served her when the others sank away. And she rewards me as such souls reward — The changtvj voice, the suffusion of the cheek, The eye's acceptance, the expressive hand, — Reward, that 's little, in her generous thought. Though all to me . . . I cannot so disclaim Heaven's gift, nor call it other than it is! She loves me ! [Looking at the Prince's papers.] — Which love, these, i)erchance, forbid. Can I decide against myself — pro- nounco She is the Duchess and no mate for me ? — Cleves, help me ! Teach me, — every haggard face, — To sorrow and endure ! I will do right Whatever bo tho issue. Help me, Cleves I ACT IV Evening.— Hczsz. Ah Antechambtr. Enter the Courtiers. Mau, Now then, that we may speak — how spring this mine t Gau. Is Guibert ready for its match ? Ho cools ! Not so friend Valence with the Duchess there ! ' Stay, Valence I are not you my better self ? ' And her cheek mantled — Gut. Well, she loves him, sir : And more, — since you will have it I grow cool, — She 's right : he 's worth it. Gau. For his deeds to-day ? Say so ! Gut. What should I say beside ? Gau. Not this — For friendship's sake leave this for me to say — That we're the dupes of an egregious cheat ! This plain, un])ractised suitor, who found way To the Duchess through the merest die's turn-up — A year ago, had seen her and been seen. Loved and been loved. Gui. Impossible ! Gau. — Nor say. How sly and exquisite a trick, more- over. Was this which — taking not their stand on facts Boldly, for that had been endurable. But, worming on their way by craft, they choose Resort to, rather, — and which you and we. Sheeplike, assist them in the playing off! The Duchess thus parades him as pre- ferred. Not on the hone?*' ground of preference. Seeing first, liking more, and there an end — But as wu all had started equally. And at the close of a fair race he proved The only valiant, sage, and loyal man. I. 3 298 COLOMBE'S BIRTHDAY [act IV I ail ill Herself, too. with the pretty tits and Htarttt, — The carelcHM, winning, candid ignorance Of what the Prince might challenge or forego — She has, For Valence's ennoblement, — would end. If crowned with the success which seems its due. In making him tho very thing he plays. The actual Duke of Juliers 1 All agree That Colombe's title waived or set aside, He is next heir. The Chan. Incontrovertibly. Gau. Guibert, your match, now, to the train ! Out. Enough ! I'm with you : selfishnes.s is best again ! I thought of turning honest — what a dream ! Let 's wake now ! Gau. Selfish, friend, you never were : 'Twas but a series of revenges taken On your unselfishness for pros[)ering ill. But now that you're grown wiser, what 'r our course 1 Gut. — Wait, I suppose, till Valence weds our lady. And then, if we must needs revenge our- selves. Apprise the Prince. Gau. — The Prince, »re then dis- { missetl With thanks for playing his mock part so well If Tell the Prince now, sir ! Ay, this very night — Ere he accepts his dole and goes his way. Explain how such a marriage makes him Duke, Then trust his gratitude for the sur- prise ! Gut. — Our lady wedding Valence all the same ! As if the penalty were undisclosed ! Good ! If she loves, she'll not disown I her love. Throw Valence up. I wonder you sec that. Gau. The shame of it — the sudden- ness and shame ! Within her, the inclining heart — with- . . out, A terrible array of witnesses — Ai.d Valence by, to keep her to her word. With Herthold's indignation or disgust ! We'll try it ! — Not that we can venture much. Her confidence we've lost for ever. — Berthold's Is all to gain ! I Gut. To-night, then, venture we ! I Yet — if lost confidence might be re- j newed ? Gau. Never in noble natures ! With I the base ones, — Twist off the crab's claw, wait a smart- ing-while. And something grows and grows and gets to be A mimic of the lost joint, just so like As keeps in mind it never, never will Replace its predecessor ! Crabs do that: But lop the lion's fo'>t — and . . . Gut. To the Prince ! Gau. [Aside.] Anu come what will to the lion's foot, I pay you. My cat's-paw, as I long have yearned to pay t [Aloud.] footsteps! Himself! 'Tis Valence breaks on us, ACT IV] COLOMBE'S BIRTHDAY 290 .a a I! =1 •J Exulting that their schoiiie HuccccdM. We'll hence — And ]>erfcct ourn ! CouHult the ar- chives, first — Then, fortified with knowledge, Heek the Hall ! dug. [to Gai'cklme aa they rtlirc] You have not Hniiled ho since yout father died ! An they retire, enter Valence with jtapers. Yul, So niubt it be ! I have ex- amined these With scarce a palpitating heart — »>u calm. Keeping her image almost wholly otT, Setting upon myself determined watch, Repelling to the uttermost his claims. And the result is . . . all men would ])ronounce And not I, only, the result to b<' Berthold is heir ; she has no sLu>^.e of right To the distinction which divided us. But, suffered to rule first, I know not why. Her rule connived at by those Kings and Popes, To serve some devil's-puriwse, — now 'tis gained, Wh te'er it was, the rule expires as well. — Valence, this rapture . . . selfish can it be ? Eject it from your heart, her honie ! — It stays ! Ah, the brave world that ojiens on xis both! — Do my poor townsmen so esteem it t Clevcs, — I need not your pale faces ! This, reward For service done to you ? Too horrible " I never served you : 'twas myself I j served ! Xay, served not — rather saved from punishment Which, had I failed you then, would plague me now ! My life continues yours, and your life, mine. But if, to take God'a gift, I swerve no step — Cleves !— if I breathe no prayer for it — if she, [ FinAslepa without. Colombe, that comes now, freely gives herself — Will C'leves require, that, turning thus to her, I... Enter Prince Uebthold. Pardon, sir — I did not look for you Till night, in the Hall ; nor have as yet declared My judgment to the lady. lierth, ,So I ho|)ed. Vol, And yet I scarcely know why that should check The irank disclosure of it flr.st to you — What her right seems, and what, in conseciuence. She will decide on — lierth. That I need not ask. Yal. You need not : I have proved the lady's mind — .\nd, justice being to do, dare act for her. Berth. Doubtless she has a very noble mind. Yal. Oh, never fear but she'll in each conjuncture Bear herself bravely ! she no whit depends On circumstance ; as she adorns a throne. She had adorned . . . lierth. A cottage — in what book Have I read that, of every queen that lived ? A throne ? Y'ou have not been in- structed, sure. To forestall my request ? Yid. 'Tis granteil, sir — My heart instructs me. I have scru- tinized Your claims . . . Berth. Ah — claims, you mean, at first preferred ! I come, before the hour appointed me. To pray you let those claims at present rest. In fa\our of a new and stronger one. Yul. You shall not need a stronger: on the {lart 300 COLOMBES BIRTHDAY [act IV <>{ tht< lady, all you ufTiT I ai'cr|it. Since onu cluar right itutliveit : yuur:* is clear. Propose ! Herth. I olTer her my haiui. I'al. Your hand ? Birlh, A DukeV, yourself aay ; and, at no far tiinc, 'Something hero whinpt-rs mu — the Emporor'H. The lady's mind in noble ; which in- duced This seizure of occasion eru my claims Were — settled, let us amicably say ! Vol. Your hand ! Berth. (He will fall down and kiss it next !) Sir, this astonishment 's too llatterinK. Nor must you hold your mistress' worth so cheap. Enhance it, rather, — urge that blood is blood — The daughter of the Burgraves, Land- graves, Markgraves, Remains their daughter ; I shall scarce gainsay ! P^lsewhere or here, the lady needs must rule : Like the ini()erial crown's great chryso- prase. They talk of— somewhat out of keeping there. And yet no jewel for a meaner cap. ViU. You wed the Duchess ? Berth. Cry you mercy, friend ! Will the match innuence many fortunes here ? A natural solicitude enough ! Be certain, no bad chance it proves for you ! However high you take your present stand. There 's prospect of a higher still remove — For Juliers will not be nty resting-place, And, when I have to choose a sub- stitute To rule the little burgh, I'll think of you. Y'ou need not give your mates a charac- ter ! And yet 1 doubt your fitness to 8up|>lunt The grey smooth Chamlierlain : he'd hc.iitate A doubt his lady could demean herself Su low aa to accept me. Courage, sir I I like your method better : feeling's play Is franker much, and flatters me beside. Vol. I am to say, you love her T Berth. Kay that too I Love has no great concernment, thinks the world. With a Duke's marriage. How go precedents In Juliers' story — how use Juliers' Dukes T I see you have them here in goodly row ; Yon must be Luitpold, — ay, a stalwart sire ! — Say, I have been arrested suddenly In my ambition's course, its rocky course. By this sweet flower : I fain would gather it And then proceed — so say and speelil, fi»r my fAtlit-r°M Naki* ! no hand DpgraHcH me ! I'nl. You aor«-|it tin- prnlTcroil hand ? Thf I). That ln« hIiouUI Iovp mv ! Vid. ' liovcd ' I (lid not nay ! liad that Itt-on— love niinlit no inclm*' the I'rince To the world'x roo*!, the worlii that V at hJH foot, — I do not know, thin moment, I whoiild dare Desire that you refii«ed tlie worhl— and Clcves — The sacrilice he a«k». Thr I). Not love me. KJr t Viil. He Mcaroc affirmed it. The I). May not deeds allirin ? Vdl. What does he ? , . . Yei*. yes. very much he does ! All the shame 8aveeper than we dream. iH-rehanee ! The n. U not this ,ve ? \'nl. So very much he does ! For look, you can «lescen(l now grace- fully : Ail doubts are banished, that the world might have. Or worst, the doubts yourself, in after- time. May call up of your heart's sincereness now. To such, reply, ' I could have kept my rule — Increased it to the utmost of my 1 1 reams — Yet I abjured it I ' This, he does for you : It is munificently much ! Thf IK ' Still 'much!" But why is it not love, sir ? Answer me ! Vol. Because not one of Berthold's words and looks Had gone with love's presentment of a flower To the U'loved : l)eca\iRe boliJ con- fidence. Of)en suf>eriority. free pride^ Love owns not, yet were all that Bertholu owned : i Ikvause where reason, even, tinda no Haw, I'nerringly a lover's Instinrt may. The Ik You reason, then, anil doubt ? I'd/. I love, ami know. The IK You love ? — How atrange '. I never cast a thought On that ! Just s4>i< our selfishness ! you set'nuMl So much my own ... I had no ground — -n«l yet, I ne ilreanu>d another might divide My |K».cr with you, much less exceeil it. Vnl. I^dy, I am yours wholly. The IK Oh, no, no, not mine ! "I'is not the sanie now, never more can Ih'! — Your first love, doubtless ! Well, what 's gone ftom me ? What have I lost in you ? Vnl. My heart repliea — Xo loss «here ! So, to Bert hold back again ! This oiler of his hand, he bids me make — • Its obvious magnitude is well to weigh. The IK She 's . , . yes, she must Im- very fair for you ! Vi'' I am i\ simple Advocate of t'ieves. TA^ IK You ! With the heart and brain that so helped me, I fancied them exclusively my own, Yet find are subject to a stronger sway ! She must Ik* . . . tell me, is she very fair 1 Vcl. .Most fair, beyond conception or iM-lief ! The I). Black eyes ? — no matter ! C'oloml)e. the world leads Its life without you. whom your friends ])rofe8sed The only woman- -see how true they spoke ! One lived this while, who never saw your face, Xor heard your voice — unless ... Is she from C'levcs ? Vtil, Clcves knows her well 1 The Ik Ah— just a fancy, now ! When you ])0Hre Vol. Voii thought of nw l\ ho it turned : The D. 0( whon. A*»1 Only nueh I throw away a* tlroM my heap of sreat caune, 1 thought, i wealth, For Mich effect : nee what true love can And here you iiticklo for a piece or two ! do! elf VCR ia hi* love !— I aIntoHt fear to ask . . . And will not. 'I'liiH Im idling : to our work ! Admit before the Mnce, without reserve. My claims misgroimdeil ; then may follow Iwtter , . . When you poured out Cleves' wrongs impetuouNly, Was she in your mind 1 Vnl. All done was done for her — To humble me ! Firnt — haH nhe wen you T VtU. Yes. Thf /). She loves you, then. Vol. One flash of ho\ie burst { then su''cee. ^ shake of fortune's sand, — My uncle- Vpe choker in i>, •: )Ughing- fit. King Philip) k'-- a fancy 'ol jeeyes, — And wondrc. Ay hot clai.r.s would brighten up ! Forth comes a new gloss on the ancient law, O'cr-looked provisoes, past o'er pre- mises. Follow in plenty. No:' tis the safer step. The hour beneath the convent-wall is lost : Julicra and she, once mine, are ever mine. Mel. Which is to say, you, losing heart already. Elude the adventure ! Berth. Not so — or. if so — Why not confess at once, that I advise None of our kingly craft and guild just now To lay, one moment, down their privilege With the notion they can any time at pleasure Retake it ? that may turn out hazard- ous ! We seem, in Europe, pretty well at end 0' the night, with our great masque : those favoured few Who keep the chamber's top, and honour's chance Of the early evening, may retain their place And figure as they liii till out of breath. But it is growing late ; and I observe A dim grim kind of tipstaves at the doorway Not only bar new-comers entering now. But caution those who left, for any cause. And would return, that morning draws too near ; The ball must die off, shut itself up. We— I think, may dance lights out and sun- shine in, And sleep off het.dache on our frippery : But friend the other, who cunningly stole out. And, after breathing the fresh air out- side. Means to re-enter with a new costume. Will be advised go back to bed, I fear. I stick to privilege, on second thoughts ! Mel. Y 3 — you evade the adventure ! — And, beside. Give yourself out for colder than you are. — King Philip, only, notes the lady's eyes ? Don't they come in for somewhat of the motive With you too ? Herth. Yes — no: I am past that now ! (■one 'tis : I cannot shut my e'ps to fact. Of course, I might by forethought and contrivance Reason myself into a rapture. Gone ! And .something better come instead, no doubt. Mel. So be it ! Yet, all the same, procee. — Such, rather, would some warrior-woman he — | One d,)wcrcd with lands and gold, or i rich in friends — One like yourself ! Berth. ' Lady, I am myself. And have all these : I want what 's not myself, Xor has all these. Why give one hand two swords ? Here 's one already : bt; a friend's next gift A silk glove, if you will— I have a sword ! The D, You love me, then ? Berth. Your lineage I revere. Honour your virtue, in your truth believe. Do homage to your intellect, and bow Before your peerless beauty. The D. But, for love— Berth. A further love I do not under- stand. Our best course is to say these hideous truths. And see them, once said, grow endur- able : Like waters shuddering from their central bed. Black with the midnight bowds of the earth. That, once up-spouted by an earth- quake's throe, A jwrtent and a terror — soon subside. Freshen apace, take gold and rainbow hues In sunshine, sleep in shadow, and, at last, (irow common to the e.rth as hills or trees — .\cccpted by all things they came to scare. The D. You cannot love, then ? Berth. — Charlemagne, perhaps ! .Are vou not over-curious in love-lore 1 The IK I have become so, very recently. It seems, then, I shall best deserve esteem. Respect, and all your candour promises, By jnitting on a calculating mooti — Asking the terms of my becoming yours ? Berth. I^et me not do myself injustice. neither ! Becau.sc I wilt not condescend tu fictions ACT V] COLOMBE'S BIRTHDAY 307 T it promise what my soul can ne'er acquit, It does not follow that my guarded phrase May not include far more of what you seek, Than wide professions of less scrupulous men. You will be Empress, once for all : with me The Pope disputes supremacy— you stand And none gainsays, the earth's first woman ! The D. That— Or simple Lady of Ravestein again ? Berth. The matter 's not in my arbitrement ! Now I have mado my claims — which I regret — Cede one, cede all ! The D. This claim then, yo>i enforce ? Berth. The world looks on. The D. And when must I decide ? Berth. When, Lady ? Have I said thus much so promptly For nothing ? Poured out, with such pains, at once What I might else have suffered to ooze forth Droplet by droplet in a lifetime long. For aught less than as j>rompt an answer, too ? All 's fairly told now : who can teach you more ? The D. I do not sec him. Berth. I shall ne'er deceive. This offer should be made befittingly Would time allow the better setting forth The good of i;, with what is not so good. Advantage, and disparagement as well — But as it is, the sum of both must serve. I am already weary of this place — My thoughts are next stage on to Rome. Decide ! The Empire — or, — not even Julicrs now ! Hail to the Empress — farewell to the Duchess 1 [The Courtiers, who have been draw- ing nearer and nearer, interpose. Courtiers. — ' Farewell,' Prince ? when we bleak in at our risk — Clug. Almost upon cjurt-liccnce tresiassing — Courtiers. — To point out how your claims are valid yet ! You kiiow not, by the Duke her father's will, The lady, if she weds beneath her rank. Forfeits her Duchy in the next heir's favour — So 'tis vxprcssly stipulate. And if It can be shown 'tis her intent to wed A subject, then yourself, next heir, by right Succeed to Juliers. Berth. What ir/ sanity ? — Oui. Sir, there 's one Valence — the I jiale fiery man j You spw and heard, this morning — thought, no doubt, I Was of considerable standing here : I I put it to your | . ?tration. Prince, ; If aught save lov he truest love for her, , Could make him serve the lady as he I did ! : He 's simply a -loi advocate of Cleves ' — (Veejjs hcr(' with difficulty, finds a place ; \Vith danger, gets in by a miracle. And for the first time meets the lady's face — So runs the story ; is that crei(/(. I Ho it her f»fK«l if she accounts it so ! [Ajt r a nntti'il.] For wliat am I bnt hers, to choose as .she ? Who knows iiow fur, Ix'sido, the light from her May rc.icli, and dwell with, what she looks ii|K)n If .1/(7. [/i< llic i'rince.] Xow to liim, yon ! Jtertli. [tu \'alence.| My friend acquaints you, sir, The noise runs . . . Vnl. — Prince, how for- tunate are you. Wedding her as you will, in spite of it, To show belief in love ! Let her but love you. All else you disregard ! What else can be ? You know how love is incompatible With falsehood — purities, assimilates All other passions to itself. ^lel. Ay, sir : But softly ! Where, in the object we select. Such love is, perchance, wanting ? I'o/. Then, indeed. What is it you can take ? -Vt/, Nay- -ask the world ! Youth, beauty, virtue, an illustrious name. An influence o'er mankind. Val. When man perceives . . . — Ah, I can only s{)eak as for myself ! The D. .S|)eak for yourself. Val. May I ? — no, I have sjwken. And time 's gone by ! — Had I seen such an one. As I loved her — weighing thoroughly that word — So should my task be to evolve her love : If for myself !--if for another— well. Berth. Heroic truly ! And your sole reward, — The secret pride in yielding upyour own ? Val. Who thought upon reward if And yet how much Comes after— Oh what amplest reconi- jjcnse ! ' Is the knowledge of her, nought 1 the I memory, nought '! : Lady, should such an one have I looked on you. Ne'er wrong yourself so far as quote ! the world, j .'Vnd say, love can go unrequited here ! I 'N'ou will have blessed him to his whole life's end — Low passions hinderetl, baser cares kept back. All goodness cherished where you dwelt— and dwell. What would he have ? He holds you — you, both form. And mind, in his, — where self-Jove makes such room For love of you, he wou.d not serve you ' now The vulgar way,— repulse your enemies, Win you new realms, or blest, in saving you Die blissfully — that's past so long I ago ! ; He wishes you no need, thought, care of I him— : Your good, by any means, himself imseen. Away, forgotten !— He gives that life's task up, ; As it were . . . but this charge which I return — [Offers the requwilivn, which she takes. Wishing your good ! The I), [having subscribed it.] And opportunely, sir — Since at a birthday's close, like this of mine. Good wishes gentle deeds reciprocate. Most on a wedding day, as mine is too. Should gifts be thought of: yours comes first by right. Ask of me ! Berth. He shall have whate'er he asks, tor your sake and his own ! Vol. [Aside.] V I should ask— The withered bunch of ilowers she wears — perhaps. One last touch of her hau i, I never more Shall see I ACT V] COLOMBE'S BIRTHDAY 311 [After a pause, preaenling bin jiaprr to the Prince, Clevcs' Prince, rcdrcs.s the wrongs of CIcvos ! Berth. I will, sir. The D. [as Valence prepares to retire.] — Nay, do out your duty, tirst ! You bore this );)a|K?r ; I have registered My ciiiswer to it : read it and have done ! [Valence reads it. — I take him — give up Juliers and the world ! This is uiy Birthday. Mel. Berthold, my one hero Of the world she gives up, one friend worth my books. Sole man I think it pays the pains to watch, — .S{)eak, for I know you through your Popes and Kings ! Berth, [after a pause.] Lady, well re- warde BY HIS UOUT : ' — ir A PHRASE ORIUINALLY ADDRESSED, BY >'OT TUB LEAST WORTHY OF HIS CONTEMPORARIES, TO SHAKESPEARE, MAY BE APPUED HERE, BY ONE WHOSE SOLE PRIVILEGE IS IN A GRATEFUL ADMIRATION, TO WALTER SAVAGE LANDOR. London, 1846. Persons LuRiA, a Moor, Commander of the I Braccio, Commissary of tho Republic Florentine Forces. of Florence. HusAiN, a Moor, his friend. I Jacopo (Lapo), his Secretary. Puccio.the old Florentine Commander, ' Tiburzio, Commander of the Pisana. now Luria's Chief Officer. I Domizia, a noblo Florentine Lady. Time, 14—. Scene. — Luria's Camp between Florence and Pisa. ACT I MORNINQ. Braccio, as dictating to his Secretary ; Puccio standing by. Brae, [to Puc] Then, you join battle in an hour ? Puc. Not I ; Luria, the Captain. Brae, [to the Sec] ' In an hour, the battle.' [To Puc] Sir, let your eye run o'er this loose digest. And see if very much of your report Have slipped away through my civilian phrase. Does this instruct tho Signory arly. I and thus. No youngster am I longer, to my cost ; Such points of vantage in our hands and Therefore while Florence gloried in her su.h, it'O''" I Lucca still olT the stage, too,— all 's And vaunted Luria, whom but Luria, ! assured : *•''". Luria must win this battle. Write the As if zeal, courage, prudence, conduct, Court, i^i^K : That Luria's trial end and sentence Had never met in any man before, | pass ! 1 saw no pressing need to swell the cry. Sec. Patron, — But now, this last rejwrt and I have lirar. Ay, I^ajto ? *>one— I See. If you trip, I fall ; So, ere to-night comes with its roar of \ 'Tis in self-interest I speak — I'raixe, ! Jirac. . Xay, nay, Twcre not amiss if some one old i' the Vou overshoot the mark, my Lapo ! trade | Xay ! Subscribed with, ' True, for once rash When did I say pure love 's imi)0s- coupsel 's best. I sibic ? This .Moor of the bad faith and doubtful I make you daily write those red cheeks race. This boy to whose untried .sagacity, Kaw valour, Florence trusts without reserve The cli ige to save her,— justifies her choice ; thin. Load your young brow with what concerns it least. And, when we visit Florence, let you |)ace The Piazza by my side as if we talked. In no iwint has this stranger failed his | Where all your old acquaintances may friends : j see : Now praise ! ' I say this, and it is not \ Vou'il die for me, I should not be here. lirar. [to the Sec] Write, ' Puccio, sui>erseded in the charge, By Luria, bears full witness to his worth, .And no reward our Signory can give Their champion but he'll back it cheer- fully.' Aught more ? Five minutes hence, both messengers ! [Vvxvu^ goes. true, [after a pause, and while he slouiy tears the yayer into nhreds.] surprised Now then ! Sir. Sir, look about and love yourself ! Step after step, the Signory and you Tread gay till this tremendous point 's to pass ; Which, pass not, pass not, ere you ask yourself, — Bears the brain steadily such draughts of hre. Or too delicious may not prove the pride 314 LURIA [act t i Of this long twcTvt Triol you darod j>I«n, Darp c'xiTuU>, vou nolitary liero. With the grey-headed toothlesH fooJH at home. Who think theniMelves your lords, they are such slaves 1 If they pronounce this sentence as you bid. Declare the treason, ciaiii' its jH-naltv,— And sudden out of all tL. blaze of life. On the best minute of his brightest (lay. From that adoring army at his back. Thro' Florence' joyous crowds before his face. Into the dark you beckon Luria . . , JJrac Then- Why, Lapo, when the fighting-jKHjple vaunt, Wc of the other craft anening ; laugh When his horse drops the forage from his t<>cth And neighs to hear him hum his Moorish songs. That man U-lieves in Florence, as the Hiimt Tied to the wheel U'lieves in (J(xl ! lirnr. How strange — You loo have thought that ! >**"■■ l>o but you think tcxi. And all is saved ! I only have to write, ' The man seemed false awhile, proves true at last ; Bury it • ... so I write to the Signory . . . ' Bury this Trial in your breasts for i ver. Blot It from things or done or dreamed about : So Luria shall receive his meed to-day With no suspicion what reverse was near, — As if no meteoric finger hushed The doom- word just on the destroyer's lip, .Motionbd him off, and let life's sun fall straight.' lirae. [looks to the wall of the tent.] Did he draw that ? See. With charcoal, when the watch Made the report at midnight ; Lady Domizia .Sjjoke of the unfinished Duomo, you rememl>er ; That is his fancy how a Moorish front Might join to, and complete, the body, — a sketch, — And again where the cloak hangs, yonder in the shadow. Brae. He loves that woman. "Str. .She is sent the spy Of Florence,— spies on you as you on him : Florence, if only for Domizia's sake. Is surely safe. What shall I write ? Brae. I see — A Moorish front, nor of such ill design ! LajH), there's one thing plain and ]>ositivc ; Man seeks his own good at the whole world's cost. What ? If to lead our troops, stand forth our chiefs. And hold our fate, and sec us at their beck. Yet render up the charge when iH^a( • returned. Have ever proved too much for Floren- tines, ACT l] LURIA 315 y »i Kv«»n for tin* Im-hI and l>rav«'Ht (if jiiir- Ht'lvcs — If in the Htniggle when the soldier's Hword Shouhl Hink iti* [Kiint before the Htatist'n |ieii, And the eaiin head replaee the violent hand. Virtue on virtue Htill have fallen away Before ambition with unvarying fate, Till Florence' m-lf at last in bittcrneHs He forced to own Huch falU the natural end. And, xparing further to exixwc her nonn To a vain Ntrife and protitleHx di.sgrace, Declare, ' The Foreigner, one not my child. Shall henceforth lead my troopn, reach height by height The glory, then dcMcentl into the fihame ; So shall rebellion Ih* less guilt in hiui. And punishment the eaNier task for me : ' —If on the best of us such brand she set. Can I suppose an utter alien here. This Luna, our inevitable foe, ( 'onfessed a mercenary and a Moor, Korn free from any ties that bind the rest Of common faith in Heaven or ho()e on earth, Xo Past with us, no Future, — such a spirit Shall hold the path from which our staunchest broke. Stand firm where every fameo8ted I*y my prwurement here, to spy on me. Lest I one minute lose her front my sight — She who remembering her whole House's fall, That nest of traitors strangled in the birth. Now labours to ntake Luria . . . ]>oor t Inordinate concentions of his worth. Exorbitant belief in its reward. And after, when sure disap[)ointment follows, Pro|K)rtionable rage at such a wrong — Why, all these reasons, while I urge them most, Weigh with me less than least ; as nothing weigh ! I'lton that broad Man's-heart of his, I go! On what I know must be, yet while I live Shall never be, because I live and know ! Brute-force shall not rule Florence ! Intellect May rule her, bad or good as chance I supplies, — Hut Intellect it shall be, pure if bad, I And Intellect's tradition so kept up Till the good comes — 'twas Intellect I that ruler Pisa wan shci r inH|iirution ? WVII tlu-n, to iHTish for ii single fault, Lt't thut Ij«( Niinplf justice !— Tlurf, my l.,a|M( ! A MtHtrish front ill suits our Duorno's iMHiy — Blot it out— and bid Luria'n Mcntcnic ••onir ! ILtKIA, »<7l((, uilh ])()MIZI.«, I11I.S enttrrd HHohmrvtd at the rloat of (ht Intt phrnsv, now mlriiiiciiiij. And Luria, Luria, what of Luria now ? Urar. Ah, you so ilosi-, sir ? J^dy Doniizia too ? I said it neeils must Ik' 11 husy moment For one like you— that you wi-n- now i' the Miick Of your duties, doubtless, while we idleis sat . . . Liir. No — in tiiat iia[>er, — it was in that paper j What you were sayinj; ! ! Brae. Oh— my day's dispatch ! I censure you to Florence : will you sec t I Liir. See your dispatch, your last, | for the Hrsi, time * Well, if I should, now 1 For in truth, j Domizia, ; He would be forcen, of use to no>MNly 1 And I must break my battle up, send j forth. Surround on this side, liold in check on that ^ Then comes to-morrow, we negotiate, Vou make me send for fresh instrue- , tions home, —Incompleteness, incompleteness f Brar. ^\}i_ ^^ sirilM-s ! Why. I had registerep(>arane«*-ath tiic Duorno's shade ! ' No ! you will have to argue luxl e> plain. Persuade them, all is nut so ill in the end. Tease, tire them out ' Arrive, arrive, Lucchese ; Ihm. Well, you will triuuiph for the Past enough. Whatever In- the Present s chance; no service Falls to the groumi with Fkurence : an awaits i . '^ -Jii.1 Xll ACT l] LURIA ni7 I H«r »»vioiir, will riMiive him HUinaly. ' You InwHt, more vivid that it xlopt l.ur. Ah, Itraccio, you know r'lor- awhi'c*. rnoo ! will Hh«\ think you, 'Cainut the gliul heaven, oVr the white Kcrrivc one . . . what nieanM ' tittingly |>alac(^front nieive ' ? The interrupteil Hc-atTold climlw anew ; Ueeeivo lompatriotM, ilouhtlesn— I The walb are iH-opled ».y the paintir'n am none : bruwh ; And yet Domiiia pronuHes so huk h ! The wtatue to its ni( he aitcend^ to Hrnt. Kind women ntill j(ive men a woman's prize. F know not o'er which ^itkU- most iKiiiKhH will arch, \or if the Square will wave red Hag« or hlu." : I Hhould have judged, the fullewt of rewards Our .State gave Luria, when she made him ( Hh f Of her whole force, in her Ix-st captain's place. l.nr. That, my reward ? FInretKc on iiiv account dwell. The Pnsenl's noi.se and trnuhle have retired Aiul left the eternal Fust to rule once nuire ; — NOu s|K'«k its s|)eecli and read it« records plain, (Ireece lives with you, eai h Roman hreathes your friend : — Mut Luria — where will then Ij<> Luria's place ? Ihnii. Hijilu'st in honour, for that Pftst's own sake, . Of which his actions, sealing up the sum l.cheveil Ser I'uccu) .' mark you, my Hy saving all that went More from reward ! | wreck. And I'lic'cu) ■» having all the light's true Will range as |>art, with which lie wor- J'*y — i shipix-d too. • ^H-s here and there, aets dose, may Lur. Then I may walk and watch tight, himself, you in your streets Wlide I must onler, stand alf. I.K'ading the life my rough life helps no o'ersee ' j more, rimt was my calling- there was my So ditferent, so new, so beautiful- true place ! Xor fear that you will tire to see parafle I should hove felt, in some one over me. The club that slew the lion, now that Florence ' oraonate, my visible Heaeace, and the calm st iidious Feeling a soul grow on me that restricts ^^^'i'* The boundlei^s unrest of the savage ' oiiic out again, the penetratmg eyes ; heart ! As if a spell broke, all 's resumed, each ; The sea heaves up, hangs loaded o'er the art land. 318 LURIA [act I Hi Breaks there and buries its tumultuous strength ; Horror, and silenci-, and a pause a^". 'e Lo, inland glides the gulf-stream, mileb away. In rapture of assent, subdued and still, 'Neath those strange banks, those un- imagincd skies ! Well, 'tis not sure the quiet lasts for ever ! Your placid heads still find rough hands new work ; Some minutes' chance — there comes the need of mine — And, all resolved on, I too hear at last. Oh, you must find some use for me, Ser Braccio ! You hold my strength ; 'twere best dispose of it ! What you created, see that you find food for — I shall be dangerous else ! Brae. How dangerous. Sir ? Lur. Oh, there are many ways, Domizia warns me. And one with half the power that I possess. Grows very formidable ! Do you doubt ? Why, first, who holds the army . . . Dom. While we talk. Morn wears ; we keep you from your proper place In the field. Lur. Nay, to the field I move no more : My part is done, and Puccio's may begin. I cannot trench upon his province longer With any face. — You think yourselves so safe ? Why see— in concert with Tiburzio, now — One could . . . Dom. A trumpet ! Lur. My Lucchese at last ! Arrived, as sure as Florence stands ! your leave ! [Springs out. Dom. How plainly is true greatness charactered By such unconsciousness as Luria's here. Strength sharing least the secret of itself ! Be it with head that schemes or hand that acts, Such save the world which none but they could save, Yet think whate'er they did, that world could do. Brae. Yes: and how worthy note, that these same great ones In hand or head, with such uncon- sciousness And all its due entailed humility. Should never shrink, so far as I per- ceive. From taking up whatever offices Involve the whole world's safety or mishap, Into their mild hands as a thing of course ! The statist finds it natural to lead The mob who might as easily lead him — The soldier marshals troops who know as much — Statist and soldier verily believe ! While we poor scribes . . . you catch me thinking, now. That I shall in this very letter write What none of you are able ! To it, Lapo ! [Domizia goes. This last, worst, all-affected childish fit Of Luria'«, this be-^raised unconscious- ness. Convinces me ; the Past was no child's play : It was a man beat Pisa, — not a child. All 's mere dissimulation — to remove The fear, he best knows we shoultl entertain. The utmost danger was at hand. Is 't written ? Now make a duplicate, lest this should fail. And speak your fullest on the other side. Sec. I noticed he was busily repairing My half-effacement of his Duomu sketch. And, while he spoke of Florence, tumcil to it. Am the Mage Xcgro turns to Christ the Babe. — :'!• ACT l] LURIA 310 I judge his childishness the mere re- From the accustomed fate of zeal and lapse To boyhood of a man who has worked lately. And presently will work, so, meantime, plays : Whence more than ever I believe in him. Brae, [after a pause.] The sword ! At best, the soldier, as he says, In Florence — the black face, the bar- barous name. For Italy to boast her show of the age. Her man of men ! — To Florence with each letter ! ACT II NOON. Dom. Well, Florence, shall I reach thee, pierce thy heart Thro' all its safeguards ? Hate is said to help — Quicken the eye, invigorate the arm ; And this my hate, made up of many hates. Might stand in scorn of visible instru- ment. And will thee dead : — yet do I trust it not. Xor Man's devices, nor Heaven's memory Of wickedness forgot on Earth so soon. But thy own nature, — Hell and thee I trust. To keep thee constant in that wicked- ness. Where my revenge may meet thee. Turn aside A single step, for gratitude, or shame, — Orace but this Luria, — this wild mass of rage truth : Thou wilt deny his looked-for recom- pense. And then— I reach thee. Old and trained, my sire Could bow down on his quiet broken heart. Die awe-struck and submissive, when at last The strange blow came for the ex- pected wreath ; And Porzio passed in blind bewilderment To exile, never to return, — they say. Perplexed inhisfranksimple nonest soul, As if some natural law had changed,— ■ how else Could Florence, on plain fact pro- nouncing thus. Judge Porzio's actions worthy such an end ? But Berto, with the ever-passionate pulse, — Oh that long night, its dreadful hour on hour. In which no way of getting his fair fanie From their inexplicable charges free. Was found, save pouring forth the impatient blood To show its colour whether false or no ! My brothers never had a friend like me Close in their need to watch the time, then speak, — Burst with a wakening laughter on their dream. Cry, Florence was all falseness, so, false here, — .\nd show them what a simple task remained — To leave dreams, rise, and punish in God's name The city wedded to its wickedness. That I prepare to launch against thee None stood by them as I by Luria now, — j stand ! With other payment than thy noblest So, when the stranger cheated of his due found, — Turns on thee as his rapid nature bids, (.Jive his desert for once its due re- Then, Florence, think, a hireling at thy ward,- And past thee would my sure destruc- tion roll. i5iit thou, who mad'st our House thy sacrifice. It cannot be thou wilt except this Moor throat For the first outrage, think who bore thy last, Yet mutely in forlorn obedience died ! He comes — his friend — black faces in the camp 320 LURIA [act II Where moveared to learn the worst. Hus. What is the worst ? f.ur. I will forestall them, Husain, face. And s[ieak my destiny, they dare not Lur, Admit him ! Jhis will prove ; speak — the last delay. j Banish niyself before they find the heart. Hus. Ay, friend, go on, and die thou I will be first to say, ' The work re- gomg on : wards ! Thou heardst what the grave woman . I know, for all your praise, my use is said but now : I over. To-night rewards thee. That is well to So may it prove ! — meanwhile 'tis bei^t hear ; j I go. But stop not therefore : hear it, and go , And carry safe my memories of you all To other scenes of action, newer lands.' — Thus leaving them confirmed in their belief They would not easily have tired of mv. You think thi« hard to say ? Hus. Say it or not. So thou hut go, so they but let thee go ' This hating people, that hate each tin' other. And in one blandness to us Moor- unite — Locked each to each hke slippery snakes, I say, on ! Jjur. Oh, their reward and triumph and the rest They round me in the ears with, all day long ? All that, I never take for earnest, friend ! Well would it suit us, — their triumphal arch Or storied pillar, — thee and me, the Moors ! But gratitude in those Italian eyes — That, we shall get 7 Hus. It is too cold an air. ACT II] LURIA 321 Which fltill in all thoir tangles, hissing tongue And threatening tail, ne'er do each other harm ; While any creature of a better blood. They seem to fight for, while they circle safe And never touch it, — pines without a wound. Withers away beside their eyes and breath. Soe thou, if Puccio come not safely out Of Braccio's grasp, this Braccio sworn his foe. As Braccio safely from Domizia's toils Lur. Yon ? 'Tis— yes . . . Tiburzio ! You were the last to keep the ford i' the valley From Puccio, when I threw in succours there ! Why, I was on the heights — through the defile Ten minutes after, when the prey was lost! You wore an open skull-cap with a twist Of water-reeds — the plume being hewn away; I Wliile I drove down my battle from the Who hates him most ! — But thou, the heights, friend of all, i — I saw with my own eyes ! . . . Come out of them ! j Tih. And you are Luria Lur. The Pisan trumpet now ! Who sent my cohort, that laid down its llus. Breathe free — it is an enemy, arms no friend ! [Go€H. ! In error of the battle-signal's sense, Lur. He keeps his instincts, no new Ba^^k safely to me at the critical tinie- x\i One of a hundred deeds — I know you ! Therefore To none but you could I . . . Lur. No truce, Tiburzio ! Tib. Luria, you know the i>eril imminent culture mars Their perfect use in him ; just so the brutes P>eRt not, are anxious without visible cause. When change is in the elements at work, Which man's trained senses fail to On Pisa, — that you have us in the toils, apprehend. j Us her last safeguard, all that intercepts But here, — he takes the distant chariot- The rage of her implacablest of foes wheels I From Pisa, — if we fall to-day, she falls. For thunder, festal fire for lightning's | Tho' Lucca will arrive, yet, 'tis too late. flash. You have so plainly here the best of it, "^"(ic finer traits of cultivated life | That you must feel, brave soldier as you For treachery and malevolence : I see ! j are, „ . ,« How dangerous we grow in this e.x- Lur. Quick, sir, your message ! I but '• How truly formidable by despair. wait yotir message Still, probabilities should have their To sound the charge. You bring not weight — overtures The extremest chance is ours, but, that For truce ? — I would not, for your . chance failing. General's sake. You spoke of truce — a time to fight is come. You win this battle. Wherefore say I this ? To be well apprehended when I add, -Vnd, whatsoe'er the fight's event, he This danger absolutely conies from you keeps Were you, who threaten thus, a Floren- His honest soldier's name to beat me j tine . . . with. Or leaves me all himself to l)eat, I trust ! Tih. I am Tiburzio. Lur. Sir, I am nearer Florence than her sons. I can, and have perhaps obliged the State, M 322 LURIA [act II Nor jiaid a mero son's duty. Til), Even so ! Wore you tho son of Florence, yet endued With all your present nobleness of soul. No (luestion, what I must coniniunicatc Would not detach you from her. Lur. Me, detach ? Tib. Time urges : you will ruin jircscntly Pisa, you nev'er knew, for Florence' sake You think you know. I have from time to time Made prize of certain secret missives sent From Rraccio here, the Commissary, home — And knowing Florence otherwise, I piece The entire chain out, from these its scattered links. Your trial occupies the Signory ; They sit in judgment on your conduct now. When men at home intpiire into the acts Which in the field e'en foes appre- ciate . . . Brief, they are Florentines ! You, .saving them, Will seek the sure destruction saviours find. Litr. Tiburzio — Her own affair ; reward — there 'a no reward ! B\il you are bound by quite another tie ; Nor nature shows, nor reason, why at first A foreigner, born friend to all alike. Should give himself to any sjx-cial State More than another, stand by Florence' side Rather than Pisa's ; 'tis as fair a city You war against, as that you tight for— famed As well as she in story, graced no less With noble heads and patriotic hearts : Nor to a stranger's eye wouhl either cause. Stripped of the cumulative loves and hates Which take importance from familin- view. Stand as the right, and sole to be ui>- held. Therefore, should the preponderatiiiL- gift Of love and trust, Florence was first t«i throw. Which made yoii hers not Pisa's, void the scale, — Old ties dissolving, things resume then place And all begins again. B' seal and read ! At least let Pisa offer for > now ! i And I, as a goo4l Pisan, shall rejoice- Tib. All the wonder is of course. Though for my.self I lose, m gaming yon. I am not here to teach you, nor direct, This last fight and its opiwrtunity ; Only to loyally apprise— scarce that, j The chance it brings of saving Pisa yet. This is the latest kttcr. Kcalid and .safe, | Or in the turn of battle dymg so As it left here an hour ago. One way j That shame should want its extreme Of two thous^ht free to Florence, I com- : bitterness. , , , „. ,„ami. 1 Li/r. Tibur/.io, you that fig.it for Pi>a The dni)lic.'ite is on its road ; but j now this,— I As I for Florence ... say my chan.^ Read it. and then I shall havt> more to ! were yours ! si^V. I Von read this letter, ami you find . . Lur. Florence ! no, no ! Tib. Now, were yourself a Too mad ! Florentine. ' Tih. I reaecial gain as well ! Do you forget there wa.int ]iathy. I When something changes in the friendly There 's none knows like a fellow of the eyes craft, I That love and look on you ... so The all-unestimateoko it well !— Come now — this battle saves you, all 's at end, yet I know it , It was not for a trial— surely, no— I furnished you thoso notes from tinio to time T I held myself aggrieved — I am a man — Your use of mc is o'er, for good, for i And I might speak,- ay, and speak evil, — mere truth, too. Come now, what 's done against me, < And yet not mean at bottom of my while I s|>eak. In Florence ? Come ! I feel it in my blood. My eyes, my hair, a voice is in my ear That spite of all this smiling and kind siK'cch You are bt^traying me ! What is it you dor Have it your way, and think my use is over — That you are saved and may throw oil the mask — heart What should assist a — Trial, do you say ? You should have told me ! pom. Xny, go on, go on f His sentence ! Do they sentence him ? What is it ? The block ? Wheel ? Brar. .Sentence there is none as yet, Xor shall I give my own opinion hero Of what it should be, or is like to be. Have it my way, and think more work , When it is passed, applaud or dis- ren-.ains | ajiprove ! Which I could do,— so, show you fear Up to that point, what is there to me not ! Or prudent be, or generous, as you choose. impugn ? Lur. They are right, then, to try me 't lime. I assert, But tell mc— tell what I refused to Maintain, and justify the absolute right know j Of Florence to do all she can have done At noon, lest heart should fail me I In this procedure, — standing on her Well t That letter '. \ guard. My fate is known at Florence ! What ^ Receiving even services like yours is it ? ! With utmost tit suspicious wariness. lime. .Sir, I shall not conceal what ; Inotherinatters, keepthcmummery up! you divine. | Take all the experiences of the whole It is no novelty for innocence world. To be suspected, but a privilege : , Each knowledge that broke through a Tlic after certain compensation comes. heart to life, Cliarges, I say not whether false or true, , Each reasoning which, to work out, cost Have been preferred against you some a brain. time since. Which Florence was bound, plainly, to receive. And which are therefore undergoing now The due investigation. That is all — In other cases, know these, warrant these. And then disiwuse with them — 'tis very well ! Let friend trust friend, and love de- mand its like. I doubt not but your innocence will .\nd gratitude be claimed for benditf prove •Apparent and illustrious, as to me, To them this evening, when the trial ends. Lur. My trial ? Dom. Florence, Florence to the cud, My whole heart thanks thee ! Puc. [h Bbac.J What is ' Trial,' sir ? There 's grace in that — and when the fresh heart breaks, The new brain proves a mart vr, what of them ? Where is the matter of one moth the more fSinged in the caudle, at a summer's end t 328 LURIA [act III But Floreni-o U no simple John or { Though thoy deserTO it, did she only James ! know ! To have his toy, his fancy, his coiiit-it, ^ — What should sh" do for thews 1 That he 'sthc one exeeptcti man by fatf. Hrur. What does sh« not / And, when fate shows him he 's mis- < >Say, that she gives them but herself to taken there. serve ! Die with all gowl men's praise, and Here 's Luria— what had piotited his yield his place strength, To Paul and tJeorgc intent to try their When half an hour of sober fancying chance ! Had shown him step by stop the usc- Florcncc exists because these pass away ; lessnesa She 's a contrivance to supply a typo Of strength exerted for its proper sake .' Of Man, which men's tfeficiencies But the truth is, she di(l create thai refuse ; strength, .She binds so many, that she grows out Drew to the cnil the corresjionding of them— means. Stands steady o'er their numbers. The world is witle — arc we the only though they change men r And imss away — there 's always what Oh, for the time, the swial purjM)sc upholds, sake. Always enough to fashion the great I'se words agrccil on, bandy epithets, hIiow. Call any man, sole great and wise and As, see, yon hanging city, in the sun, gooil ! Of shai)ely cloud substantially the Hut shall we, therefore, standing by same ! ourselves, A thousand vapours rise and sink again, ; Insult our souls and God with the same Are interfused, and live their life and siicech ? die, — There, swarm the ignoble thousandij Yet ever hangs the steady show i' the air under Him — Under the sun's straight influence ; that W'hat marks us from the hunilreils and is well ! the tens 't That is worth heaven to hold, and God Florence took up, turned all one way to bless ! the soul And so is Florence, — the unseen sun ] Of Luria with its tires, and here he above, j stands ! Which draws and holds sus()cnded all of ; She takes me out of all the world ii^ »s, — I him. Binds transient mists and vapours into one. Differing from each and better than they all. And shall she dare to stake this {tcr- manence On any one man's faith ? Man's heart is weak. Fixing my coldness till like ice it chcck.- The tire ! So, Braccio, Luria, which is best? Lur. Ah, brave me 1 And is this indeed the way To gain your good word and sincere esteem ? Am I the baited tiger that must turn And its temptations many : let her { And tight his baiters to deserve their prove praise ? Each servant to the very uttermost Obedience has no fruit then ? — Be it so I Before she grant him her reward, I say ! Do you indeetl remember I stand here Dom. And as for hearts she chances lu mistake, Wronged hearts, not destined to re- ceive reward, The Captain of the conquering army, — mine — With all your tokens, x>raisc and pro- mise, ready ACT III] LURIA 320 To hIiow for what their imiiu'H were when you gave, Not what you stylo them now you take away t If I t all in my troops to arbitrate. And in their Krst enthumaHtic thrill Of victory, tell them how you menace me — Commending to their plain instinctive nense. He turned, and «too«l on hisi defence, forsooth ! Reward 1 You will not be worth {iiniixhment ! Liir. And Floreni e knew nu- thus ! Thus I have lived, — And thus you, with the dear line intellect, Braccio, the cold acute inNtructrd mind. I My story Hrst, your comment after- ()ut of the stir, so calm and unconfused, I .,..„ , *'»•'''.— ReiKjrted me— how could you other- I Uiil they take, thmk you, |»art with you wise! i 1,1 "•■ '"e ■' I Ay ?— and what dropped from yon, J When I say simply, 1, the man they i j„st now, moreover / I know. Your information, Pmcio /—did your I Kndingniy work, ask payment, and tind skill '''Pf^'"^'j' And umhistanilinK svmpatliy approve Has all thm while provided silently | Such a icisjrt of mV ? Was this the Against the day of pay and proving \ end r words, i Or is even tiiis the end ? Can i stop By what you call my sentence that 's hen — to come — Vou, Ladv, with the womans stan■' Had you a further end, in all you " The need of our precautions ! here *s '• spoke, 'I I'lttn Than profit to ine, in those in^tances , Was far advanced, just louchcil on the Of |H'rlidv from Florence to her chief: — i reward All I remember now for the first , Less subtle cities had accorded him : tinu- ! I lint we were wiser : at the end comes i Doni. 1 am a daughter of the Travcr- I this!' I sari, J And from that minute all your strength Sister of Porzio and of Hirto l>olh. will po. I have foreseen all that has como to I he very stones of Florence cry against ! pass. The all-exacting, unenduring Luria, I knew the Florence that could doubt I Kescntmg her lirst slight probation ! their faith. f . *""■'* 5 Must needs mistrust a stranger's — I As if he. only, shone and cast no shatle, holding back I He, only, walked the earth with privi- Reward from them, must hold back hia I . 'eg« j reward. I Against suspicion, free from cauMug | And I belie-ed, the shame they bore fi^ar : i and died, 00, for the first inciuisitive mother's- 1 He would not bear, but live and light word, I against— :i:ui LUUIA [\ iigninj.t | hrl.l it Utc ! one foreigner ! A iwinful trial, vt-ry M»ri', whh youth : Ami all thin while, where u in the whole All that louUl ilraw out, marshal iii world i «rray To hiH Roo«l (aith a «ingle witm-Hs ? The i»elHhh iMUMtumi 'nam t the |iul»li> Tihnrui). [uhu him inUnd duriiuj ih' noo«l— ^,n f I diiitf dialogue] Her • ! . SlightH. HeornH, negli tn, were hea|>e loHl ' heaasserish in her jHTtidy. } strength Plague-stricken and 8trip|>cil naked to Of the savage— to your neck the proif all eyes, ' must go '. A proverb and a bye-woni in all mouths! You will prove the brute nature T Ah, (»o you to Pisa ! Florence is my place — Ijeave me to tell her of the rectitude, I, from the first, told Pisa, knowing it. To Pisa ! Dom. \\\, my Braccio, are you caught ? Brat. Puccio, good soldier anil selected man. Whom I have ever kept beneath my eye, Ueaassible — He keeps his calm way through insult- ing words, Sarcastic looks, sharp gestures — one <'f which Would stop you, fatal to your timr sense : But if he steadily advances, still Without a mark uinin his callous hidi . Florence, who clear foretold it from the Through the mere l)rusliwooon, AIT II 1 1 LURIA 331 _Vou Iwve lu learn that when the true I wuukl be geacrouH if I might ... Oh, bar cotuM, I yea — Thi' thK'k niiti-(ore»t. the real iib«ta(le, -cmimbcr how t»o u(t yuu xccuicii Which when yuu reach, yuu give the , ^ etl at heart to break the barrier liibonr u|i, i o«erlia|i«. to think the quality evKvisti ^ oil grew HO bol«l on, while you so di>s|iiHed tJiihr Vvvcio and J /lCoto. Tlie .Moor s dull nmtc inap|>rehcnsive I'lir. What Luria iiill do ? Ah, 'tis moo tastes away ! Tiiou livest now, with men art man again ! Those Florentines were eyes to thee of old; But Braccio, but Domizia, gone is each : There lie beneath thee thine own nudtitudes. Saw'st thou ? Lur. I saw. //«". Then, hoUl thy course, my King ! The years return. Ix't thy heart have its way ! Find out God's fault in thee as in tho rest ? Oh, watch but, listen only to these men Once at their occupation! Ere ye know. The free great heaven is shut, their stifling pall Drops till it frets the very tingling hair. So weighs it on our head, — and, for the earth. Our common earth is tethered up and down, Over and across — ' here shalt thou move,' they say ! Lnr. Ay, Husain ? lins. So have they spoiled all beside ! So stands a man girt round with Florentines, Priests, greybeards, Braccios, women, boys and spies, All in one tale, each singing the same song. How thou must house, and live at bed and board. Take pledge and give it, go their every way. Breathe to their measure, make thy blooom. [advancing from the barkground. | No, Luria, I remain ! To ask, before thy very limbs dare Not from the motives these have urged move, on thee, If Florence' welfare be concerned Ignoble, insufficient, incomplete, thereby ! ! And pregnant each with sure seetis of Lur. So clear what Florence nmst decay, expect of me ? | As failing of sustainment from thyself, Hua. Both armies against Florence ! ; — Neither from low revenge. nr now, — all. And after, in remembrance, year by j Shalt thou abolish Florence ! I ])to- year — claim And, with the dear conviction, die at i The angel in thee, and reject tli>' last ! j sprites She lies now at thy pleasure : pleasure Which ineffectual crowd about lii^ have ! i strength, ACT IV] LURIA 335 And mingle with his work and claim a I have done nothing ; ail was thy Bhare ! strong heart. Inconscioufily to the augiisteat end But a bird's weight can break the Thou hast arisen : second not in rank i infant tree So much as time, to him who first Which after holds an aery in its arms. ordaineerfect pilla's of the grove She pulled down in her envy ? Who as I, The light weak parasite born but to twine Round each of them and, measuring them, live ? •My light love keeps the matchless circle safe, My slender life proves what has pass'd away, time. [DoMiziA goe9. Lur. Thus at the last must figure Luria, then ! Doing the various work of all his friends. And answering every purpose save his own. No doubt, 'tis well for them to wish ; but him — After the exploit what were left ? Perchance I live or trust in the forlorn wide world ? How st;ai;-e that Florence should misuke me so ! Whence grew this ? What withdrew her faith from me ? Some cause ! These fretful- blooded And after all, who did the harm ? Xot they ! How could they interpose with those old fools In the council ? Suffer for those old fools' sakes — I They, who made pictures of me, sansr the songs children talk | About my battles ? Ah, we Moors avt Against their mother, — they are blind Out of our jiroiier world where we can see ! The sun that guides is closer to us ! There — There, my own orb ! }fe sinks from out the sky ! wrongeil, they say A'otable wTongs her smile makes up again ! So, taking fire at each supposed of- fence. They may speak rashly, sulTer for their .s^lX''"''' : ' '\\\\\: there! a"^ whole dav lias li. But what could it have l>cen in word or , blessed (he land, ,„, .•'?■'' ! My land, our Florence nil aI>out thr I liat injured me ? Some one word ; hills, siK)ken more | The iields and gardens, vinevards Out of my heart, and all had changed olive-grounds, l)erhaps ! j All liave been blest— and yet w My fault. It must have been,— for, ! Florentines „., *!'"' ,«*'", *''^'y • I With minds intent upon our battle here. >\hy risk the danger ? See, what 1 Found that he rose too soon, or else t<.M> could do And my fault, wherefore visit upon them. My Florentines ? The generous re- venge, I meditate ! To stay here passively, (Jo at their summons, be as they dis- l>ose- late, (ut not a little we ])rovide against — If you see clear on every point. Piir. Most clear, memorialize the Lur. — Nor to Council now, r the easy hour, on those battalions' claim On the other side, by Staggia on the hills, Lur. Then all is said — not much, if \ Who kept the Sienese at check ! you count words. Pur. One word- Yet for an understanding ear enough ; Sir, I must sjieak ! That you submit And all that my brief stay permits, yourself beside. To Florence' bidding, howsoe'er it Xor must you blame me. as I sough* *o ' prove, teach I And give up the command to me — is My elder in command, or threw a doubt , much. 338 LURIA f ACT V Too miirh, porhaps : but what yon tdl inc now, Eren will affect the other course you choose — Poor aa it may bo, jxril even that ! Refuge you seek at Pisa : yet these plans All militate for Florence, all conclude Your formidable work to make her queen Of the country, — which her rivals rose against When you l>egan it,— which to in- terrupt, Pisa would buy you off at any price I Vou cannot mean to sue for Pisa's help. With this made perfect and on record ? I.iir. I— At Pisa, and for refuge, do yon say ? Pur. Where are you going, then ? You must decide On leaving tis, a silent fugitive. Alone, at night — yon, stealing through our lines. Who were this morning's Luria, — you escape To painfully begin the world once more, W^ith such a Past, aa it had never l>een ! Where are you going ? I'^ir. Not so far, my Puccio, But that I hope to hear, enjoy and praise (If you mind praise from your old captain yet) Each happy blow you strike for Flor- ence ! Puf- —Ay, But ere you gain yoiir shelter, what may come ? For see — thoughnothing 's surely known aa yet. Still— truth must out — I apprehend the worst. If mere suspicion stoot the Past sleep now. Ltir. In my own East ... if you would Lnr. I have ed away,— wc nobly there ! said And inasmuch as Feeling, the East's ' On sight of faith like yours, ' so looks gift, ! not faith Is (juick and transient — comes, and lo, is gone — While Northern Thought is slow and fhirable, Siitely a mission was reserved for me, Who, born with a perception of the |)Ower Anil use of the North s thought for us of the East, We understand, describetl and taught before.' But still, the truth was shown ; and though at first It suffer from our haste, yet trace by trace Old memories reapiwar, the likeness grows. Should have stayed there and turned it Our slow Thought does its work, and to account. all s rc-knowu. 342 LURIA [act V Oh, nubic Liiria ! what yuu have ilccTi'fd I Hct- not, but tiM animal revenge, No bruto-like piininhmcnt uf bad by worse— It cannot Ik>, the grosii ami vulgar way Traced for mv by convention and mistake, Ha8 ^aim-'i that calm approving eye and brow ! Sparc Florence, after all! Let Luriat runt To his own soul, and I will trust to him ! Lur. In time ! DoPH. How, Luria ? Lur. It iti midnight now, And they arrive from Florence with my fate. Dom. I hear no Htep. Lur. I feel it, as you say. Liikr HusAiv. liuD. The man returned from Flor- ence ! Lur. As I knew. Hud. He seeks thee. Lur. And I only wait for him. Aught else .' Utts. A movement of the Luccbcuc troopa Southward — Lur. Toward Horcnce ? Have out instantly . . . Ah, old use clings ! Puccio must care henceforth ! In — quick — 'tis nearly midnight ! Hid him come ! Enter TiBiRZio, Bkaccio, and Ptccio. Lur. Tiburzio? — not at Pisa? ^ Tih. I return From Florence : I serve Pisa, and must think 1>> such procedure I havescrved her best. A people is but the attempt of many To rise to the completer life of one ; And those who live as models for the muss Are singly of more value than they all. Such man arc vou, and such a time is this That your sole fate concerns a nation m"rc Than its ap|)areat wulfare; and to prove Your rectitude, and duly crown tin- same, Imports it far beyond t' a day's event, I Its battle's loss or i,A\n : the ma!<> I remains, — Keep but the model safe, new men will I rise To study it, and other days to prove : How great a good was Luria's havinu 1 lived. I might go try my fortune as you bade ! And joining Lucca, helped by your ! disgrace, j Ke[>air our harm — so were to-tlay's I work done ; I But where find Luria for our sons to I see t '[ No, I look farther. I have tcstiHtnl (Declaring my submission to your arui.s) Her full success to Florence, making clear Your probity, as none else couul : I spoke — And it shone clearly ! Lur. Ah — till Braccio M|)oke I Brae. Till Braccio told in just a word the whole— His old great error, and return to knowledge : Which tolil . . . Nay, Luria, / should droop the head, I, whom shame rests with ! yet I dare look u|). Sure of your pardon when I sue for it. Knowing you wholly — so, let midnight end ! Sunrise approaches ! Still you answer not? The shadow of the night is past away ; Our circling faces here 'mid which it grew Are all that felt it : they close round you now To witness its completest vanishing. S|>eak, Luria 1 Here begins your true career : took up to it ! All now is possible, The glory and the grandeur of each dream : And every prophecy shall be fullilletl Save one— (nay, now your word mus-t come at last) — That you wouki j-unisK Florence ! Hui. [pointing to Libia's dead body. I That is done. 343 A 801LS TRAGEDY 1840 I'AKT FIRST, HKINO WHAT WAK CALLED THE I'OETRV OF CHIAPPINO'S LIFE: AND I'ART .SECOND. 11>» PROSE I'AIIT 1 Our iMi'tiiiK ; nuy your wruugH have Intidt LllTDi.ro's how^' at Fmtizn. caut, fur oncv, A ( luud avroHii your upirit ! I'HIAPPINO, El 1.AIM. (•/,. HoWHd0U«l? En. What ix it kiips Luitulfu ? Hu, Nu man nur woman lovca you, N';;ht 'h faf«t falling;, dut you Hay 1 Auaking lies About your friendship, and Luitolfo'n courage. And all our townsfolk's etpianimity, — I Through sheer inconi|)etence to rid njyself Of the old mist, able lying trick Caught from the Uars 1 have hved with, — (!ooke ! j counsel —Counting, you see, as ' nothing ' the i Would di along my coward lip, I i>ermission I kn-jw — To study this peculiar lot of mine | But I tlo turn to Thee ! This craven In silence : well, go silence with the | tongue, rest I These features which refuse the soul its Uf the world's good ! What can I say, | way, shall ocrve ? , Rc<.iaiui Thr, I (iivc iiic trutli — Eu, This, — lest you, even more than i truth, ]>ower to s|)eak needs, embitter I— And after be sole iiresent to approve i should begin to tremble — should not you 1 Why are you silent when so many times 1 turn and siKok to you 1 ( 7/. That 's good ! Kii. You laugh ? Ch. Yes. I had fanc.od nothing that bears price In the whole world was left to call my own ; And, may be, felt a little pride thereat. I'p to a single man's or woman's love, Down to the right in my own ticsh and blootl. 344 A SOITL'S TRAGEDY [part I Uvt-auDo, (urHuutli, lir''l havo to briii« hiiiiM'lf To Hjilc with wuiiml-intlictorM for tlu'ir Kavf ! ' The »«|K»ki'U truth !— or, Mtay, that Njiokcn truth, Who knows but you, too, might approve T A.'"- Ah, wi-ll— —Why do you gaxt-, nor help me t Keen silonef, then, Chiappino ! rejieat '■«■ Voii would liiar. , What eonu-H imj glibly from the lommnn And Mhall now, — why the tiling we're mouth, pleaded to ntyle AImmiI Luitolfo and bin no-hI vied friend .' My gratitude to you ane, much with the same ' 'tis true, circumstanee ' For all the world dws say ji • Say Of rank and wealth ; and both, u() to i your worst ! this night i True, I thank Go( ! ''■■"P , I A'm. If the world outraged you, ilid One from the otl. s tinger, and .so we? ^i"""''~ , . . ., , ' "'■ Whafs'mc' Were of two mooro|)er mc. Friend-making, everywhere friens that ! In silence what the foolish rail against ; But patience under wrong works slovv A man to smooth such natures as jiarade Of opposition must exas|)erate — No general gauntlet-gatherer for the weak Against the strong, yet over-scrupulous At lucky junctures ; one who won't foreiro The aftcr-battic work of binding wounds, and sure. .Must violence still bring |)eacc forth .' He, b«'side. Returns so blandly one's obeisance : nh— Some latent virtue may be lingering yet. Some human sympathy which, on< c excite. And all the lump wcro leaventJ tjuictly — PART Ij A SOUL'S TRAaEDV •Mr> Su, no more talk u( iitriking, (or thin time ! ' Uut I, u one of tbuM) ho rulfit, won't bear riicM) uretty takiugo-uii and Uyingif ilown Utir cauM', juitt vm yuu think ucraitiun DuitM ! Knough of uarncMt. in there ? You'll play, will you ? I'lveritify your tactic 'ive subiuio- Hion, llliKciiuiouitneHM all I mm<',j a tu'i' My voice that greatcns when tlitri- 'm nee < -rt'* content, — My eyeH, the Provo«t, who btar» all inen'a eyex, BaniMhi-a now becauMO ho cannot bear, — Vou knew , . . but you do your |>art!i — my part, I : So be it ! you flourish— I decay. All '» well! A'k. I bear tbiit for the iiritt time. Ch. The fault '>« there ? ■Mi; . I While we die i> deaths r W'v all arc oi'i < tint ! I, fur iiiankn < ainiti . Kaih beck •. ' t«iii' do I >ii , I iiittc ! Ell. Wo uLiif . then. lis well you have i' ' INirt ' . '. I; .I'll The>i, my dayn tiixike not, and my nights of tiro li! Vro voicelcHs ? Then, the very heait may burnt iml I all i>rove nought, lKraii>e no mincing hiierch . -U < III A'IIh IciMurely that thuH it ii* and thuit Y Kulalia ! truce with toying fur tlu.'i once ! • ii-i"n, , A banixhed fool, who troublcN yuu to- i night LuiiiJlu 4 Fur the last time — why, what 's to fear from mo ? .\ur mine to iioint out la the wide You knew I loved you ! nffence. Eu. ^ot no, on my faith ! Vh. Oh, shall I let you so c»ca|>c me. Vou were my now-aflianced lover's Latly 1 I friend- Come, on your own ground. Lady, — i Came in, went uut with him, could from yourself, I s|>cak as he. (Leaving the jjcople's wrung, which All jiraise your ready i>arts and pregnant most in mine,) wit ; Wiiut have I got to be so grateful for ? See how your words come from you in These three last tines, no doubt, one on ' a crowd ! the other ^ Luitolfo 's Krst to place you o'er himself l'i\id liy Luitolfo ? In all that challenges rcs'iect and love : till. Shame, t'hiappino ! I Yet you were silent then, who blame ' '/(. Shame me now. Fall presently on who deserves it most ! I say all this by fascination, sure- — Which is to see. He jwiid my fines- my friend, Vour pros|ierou8 smooth lover presently, Then, scarce your wooer, — soon, your husband : well — I loved you. A«. Hold ! Ch. You knew it, years ago. When my voice faltered and my eyes grew dim because you gave me your silk mask to hold — I am all but wed to one I love, yet 'istcn ! It m bo, you are wronged, and that !ie wrongs Luitolfo pities . . . Ch. — Y'^ou too pity 1 Do ! Uut hear first what my wrongs are ; so began This talk and so shall end this talk. I nay. Was 't not enough that I must strive (I saw) 346 A SOUL'S TRAfJEDY [part 1 i I i To grow so far familiar with your charms As next contrive some way to win them — which To do, an age seemed far too little— for, sec ! We all aspire to Heaven — and there 'i» Heaven Above us— go thi c ! Dara we go? no, surely ! How dare we go without a reverent pause, A growing less until for Heaven ? — Kven so, I (laretl not s|)eak : the greater fool, it seems ! Was 't not enough to struggle with such folly. But I muHt have, beside, the very man Whose slight, free, loose and incapacious soul (!ave his tongue sco|)e to say whate'er he would — Must have him load me with his l>enetits For fortune's (iercest stroke ? A'm. Justice to hiui That "s now entreating, at his risk |icrhaps. Justice far you ! Did he once call those- acts (►f simple friendship) — bounties, benc- tits ? I'll. No — the straight course had iK'en to call them so — Then, 1 had tlung them back, and kept myself rnham|)ered, free as he to win the l>rize Wc both sought — but ' the gold was dross,' he said, ' He loved me, and I loved hint not — to spurn A tritle out of sujierduity : He had for;rotteii he had done us much.' So had not I !— Henceforth, try us I coidd To take him at his word, there stootl by you My l)onefactor — who might sjieak ami laugh And urge bib uuthiugs— cvcu banter mu Before you — but my tongue was tied. A dream I Let 's wp he : your husband . . . how you shako at that ! (Jood — my revenge! Eu. Why shouhl I shake ': I What forced, I Or forces me to be Luitolfo's bride ? Ch. There's my revenge, that nothing forces you. Xo gratitude, no liking of the eye N'or longing of the heart, but the jwnr i bond Of habit — here so many times he came, So much he si)oke, — all these com|Hi>c I the tie That pulls you from me. Well, he paid i my tines, I Xor missed a cloak from wardrobe, dish from table — — He sj)oke a good word to t''e Provost here — I Held me up when my fortunes fell awMv — It had not looked so well to let me drop — Men take pains to preserve a tnc- stump, even. Whose boughs they played ix!neatli— much more a friend. But one grows tire as they excepting j have done. From the witle coudenmation of all | — (!oove his iJlMTty, Loved nie, tho' in the vilest breast House, lanti or life ! and 'twere lodged. I should, I think, be forced to love ajiain : Disc thr,.^ s no right nor reason in the World. {A ktliTkilKJ irillioill. — bless iiiv hero-friend, Luitolfo ! Eu. How he knock ' Ck. The i^ril, Lady I i^SH'itia' 348 A SOULS TRAGEDY [part I ' Chiappinu, I have run a risk ! My Gwl! How wlien I praywl tlic Provost — (he "s my friend)— To grant you a week's re»i)itf of his sentence That confiscates your gootis, ancatl. Here 's a good purse of icudi — off. with you ' Luit. What says he T eh. I'll do justice on liiii Uit. Hi Ch. The Provost. Lui(. I've just killed liim, Eu. Oh, my (!i> II be on mc ! (.'hiappino ! save Eululiu ... I forjzct Lest of'that shrug come what (ioosure at your lil-success 1^ apt to stone you : there, there — only go ! IJoide, Eulali.i here looks sleepily. ihui!i;r>. Well — go — •»> \) '»py ... is Eulalia sal. They're ni me Cn. 'Tis through me tin \ reach you, then ! Friend, seem the man you are ! l.<" k I arms — that 's --ght. Now tell me what you've done ; expl uii .Shake . . . oh, you hurt me, so you how you •^(pieeze my wrist ! ' j That still professed forbearance, >!i — Is It not thus you'll s|)cak, advcn- i preached peace, turous frieml ? j Could bring yoirself . . . [An he opens the door, Liitulfo ! Luit. What was ik m ruahii ill, hin gnrmenti dis- ordered i:». Luitolfu ! Hlood V Lfiit. for, Chiap^ino V I triiMl |ieacc — did that promise, win n |)eace failed. There s more — i Strife should not follow ? All niy and more of it ! Kulalia — take the garment . . . no . . . you, friend ! Von take it ami the blood Irom mc — you dare ! Ell. Oil, who has hurt you t where 's the wound 1 Vh. ' Who,' say you 1 The I 'I with many a touch of virtue yet ! The Provost's friend haa proved too frank of s|K'eeh, And this comes of it. Miserible hound I This comes of teiuiiori/.ing, as I .said ! Here 'a fruit of your smooth s|HT('hes and fair looks ! Now sec my way '. As Goalacc and do j ustice, uucu fur all ! jKjaceful clays Were just the prelude to a day like ti i- I cried 'You call me " friend "->.;\' my true frieml ! Save him, or lose me ! ' Ch. But you never li You meant to tell the Provost i Inl- and thus ! Luit. Why should I say it ? Wlu;t else did I mean t Ch. Well ? He iwrsisted ? Liiit. ' Would so onli' Y'ou should not trouble him too > i again.' I saw a meaning in his eye and lip : I iwured my heart's store of indi^'iinit words Out on him : then — I kuuw not : ile retorted, 171^,- r-'-'sr-'- P\RT l] A SOn;S TRAGEDY 34« <>wtT me ! Do you know the Lu^o j;ate "' All. The north-west gate, over the bridge ! I. II it. i know ! ' h. Well, there— you are not fright- ened .' ail my route K traced in that : at Veni( c yuuTI escape Tluir jwwer. Kulalia, I am master here ! [SfMiitu from u-itlmut. Hi pmh - out LllTol.Kii, iih'i riinifjln^ nil. •hiiniridli/ In time I nay. help me with him —So I — he "s gone. Am. V hat have ycu done r tiiiyoii. j>erchance. all know The Provost's hater, will men's ven- geance fall As our accom|>lice. Ch. Mere accomplice ? See! ( Putting on Lt'lTOLFo's rest. Now. l.Ady. am I true to my profession. Or one of these ? Eu. You take Luiiolfo's place': C/i. Die for him. Kit. Well done ! I Shoiilit incre(ue. Ph. How the (>eople tarry : 1 1 ant t>e silent ... I must speak ... or sing — How natural to sing now ! /;«. Hush and pray ! We are to die ; but even I perceive I 'Tis not a very hard thing so to die. My cousin of the pale-blue tearful I Poor (."esca, suffers more from one day s I life ! With the stern husband : Tislie's heart j goes forth ! Kach evening after that wild son of hers, ; To track his thoughtless footstep i through the streets : How «a.sy for them both to die like this ' I am not sure that I could live as they. Ch. Here they come, crowds ! They pass the gate ? Yes ! — No ! — One torch is in the court-vard. Here tlock all. Eh. At least Luitolfo has escaped. What cries ! \ Ch. If they would drag one to the I markct-i>lacc. One might sjieak there ! Eu. List, list ! Ch. They mount the steps. j Enter the Poi)ulace. I Ch. I killed the Provost ! \\Thi }x>pulaci upeaking ti>githir.] 'Twas Chiappino, friemls ! Our saviour.— The Ih'sI man at last as I tirst I 350 A sout;s tragedy fPART II I I H<' who first iiiaile us soo what ehaitiH wi' wore. Ho also strikes the blow that shatters the in. He at last saves us — our Ix-st citizen ! —0\\, have you only courage to s|H'ak now ? My eldest son was christened a year since ' Cino ' to keep Chiappino's name in mind — Cino, for shortness merely, you observe ! The city "s in our hands. — The guards are fled ; Do you, the cause of all, come down — come down — Come forth to counsel us, our chief, our king, Whate'er rewards you ! Choose your own reward ! The i»ril over, its reward In'gins ! Come and harangue us in the market- place ! Kit. Chiappino ! Ch. Yes ... I understand your eyes ! You think I should have promptlier disowned I This deed with its strange unforeseen ! success, I In favour of Ltiitolfo — but the |>eril, ' So far from ended, hanliy seems begun. To-morrow, rather, when a lalrii succeeds. We easily shall make him full atnen And meantime ... if we save them as they j)ray. i And justify the deed by its cff<' '- '! A'«. You woulil. for worlds, yi'- lipd ilenied at once. Ch. I know my own intention, be assured ! | All 's Well ! Precede Us. fellow-citizens ! PART II Th' Marhl-iJiici . LriToi.Fo in rfi-i- ytii''' niinyliiKj ii-ilh tlu' Populace iixaimblid oii/K)-atron the tyran- nical Provost was loyally suppres,s.<| here, exactly a month ago, by our illustrious fellow-citizen, thrice-noble .saviour, and new Provost that is like to 1k>, this very morning, — Chiappino ! Luit. lit' the new Provot»t ? Sefond H\js. I'p those steps will \w go, and beneath yonder pillar staml. while Ogniljcn, the Pope's Legate from Ravenna, rea title to the jfeople, according to esiiil>- lishe|>ortunitieH in the world, furnislnd by daily converse with our oppre>^or, would not stir a finger to help us : aii- pino was not IJrutus the Elder, ufiif all, only the new Provost — and tli!i« Luitolfo Ih- enabled to watch a fav^ ar- able op|>ortunity for returning — ini;'!it it not itave been so '/ PART II J A SOUL'S TRAGEDY 351 Third liyi. Why, ho may have taken that tare of liiiUHcIf, certainly, for he (II MU' of a cautious stock. I'll tell you how his uncle, just such another gingerly treader on tiptoes with tinger on lip,— how ho met his death in the : great plague-year : dico vobis ! Hear- ing that the seventeenth house in a , rtrtnin street was infected, \w oalculates j to pass it in safety l»y taking plentiful breath, say, when he shall arrive at the eleventh house ; then scouring by, holding that breath, till he be got so fiir on the other side as nuinlx'r twenty- tline, and thus elude the danger. — And so diraynt,— ( onseciuently at tlu- fatal seventeen he inhaled with a viu'our and iH-rsistenre enough to suck you any latent venom out of the heart iif a stone — Ha. ha ! I. lilt. [Asidi.] (If I had not lent that man the money he wanted last spring, I should fear this bitterness was attri- butable to me.) I.uitolfo is dead then, one niav conclude V 77ii>(l lii/x. Why, he had a house here, and a woman to whon\ he was aHiancwl ; and as they both )>ass naturally to the new Proves*, his friend and heir . Liiit. Ah, I sus|K'cteil you of iiniH)sing on nie with your pleasantry I I know Cliiappino In-tter. First Hyx. (Our friend has the bile ! after all. 1 do not dislike finding sonic- Ixxly vary a little this general gajH" of acjniiration at ("hiapjiino's glorious (|ualities.) Pray, how much may you know of what has taken place in Faenza -n\n' that memorable night ? I. nil. It is most to the puriK)se, that I know ("hiappino to have bwn by profession a hater of that very office (it Provost, you now chanie him with |iro|K)sing to accept. h'lrsl %.s'. Sir, I'll tell you. That iii'-'lil was indeed memorable ; up we rose, a mass of us, men, women, children — out fled the guards with the bocly of the tyrant — we were to aring your woundeil Provost — and, having had a little talk with him, I take on myself to conie and try appease the disorderliness, before Rome, hearing of it, resort to another methoosing ditTcreii.es. So, do you umlerstand, yo\i are about to exjKrience this un- heard-of tyranny from me, that there shall be lio heatling nor hanging, no confiscation nor exile— I insist on your simply pleasing yourselves, — and now, pray, what does please you ? To live without any government at all ? Or having decided for one, to see its minister murdered by the first of your lM»dy that cluM>ses to find himself wronged, r disposed for reverting to first principles and a justice anterior to all institutions. -and so will you carry matters, that the rest of the world must at length unite and put down s\ich a den of wild beasts ? As for ven- geance on what has just taken plai e, — once for all. the wounded nuxn assures me he cannot <<)!ijecturf who struck liiiu— and this m) canii'sily. that one may Im- sure \\r know.- |icifceak with him late last evfiiiiifi. I coiiu- not for vengeance therefore, but from pure curioHtty to j hear what you will do next.' — And , thus he ran on, easily and volubly, till : he 8ecmcrais<' of a jnire republic, — And by whom do I desire such a government should Ih> administered, |)erhaps, but by one like yourself ? ' — returns the lA»gate : thereupon s|>caking for a quarter of an hour together, on the natural and only legitimate govern- ment by the In-st and wisest. Anegate, ' this is the death of me, 80 often as I e.x|)ect something is really going to l)e revealed to us by you clearer-.«eers, deejHT-thinkers — this — that your right hand (to R|>eak by a figure) should he found taking up the weajKHi it displayed so ostentatiously, not to destroy any dragon in our (with, as was prophesied, but simply to cut oil its own fellow left-hand : yourself set about attacking yourself — for sic now ! Here are you who. I make sun-, glory exceedingly in knowing the nolili- nature of the soul, its divine impulMt-^, and so forth ; and with such a know- Unlgo you stanc!, as it were, armed to encounter the natural , in the road of life. And when we lo ! Why, what is this |)er|ietual yearning to exceetl, to subdue, to be better than. and a king over, one's fellows, — all that you so disclaim, — but the very tendency yourself are most proud nf. and under another form, wouitl op|Mi«c to it, — only in a lower .stage of niaiu- festation ? You don't want to U' vulgarly su|>erior to your fellows after their |KK)r fashion — to have me huM solemnly up your gown's tail, or ham! you an express of the last importaiirr from the Po|)e, with all thest* bystanch is noticing how unconcerned you look tlif while : but neither does our gapin.' friend, the burgess yonder, want (In- other kind of kingship, that consists in understanding better than his fellows this and similar {mints of human natun-, nor to roll under his tongue this swei-iir morsel still, — the feeling that, throiiL-li immense philosophy, he does not in I. he rather thinks, above you and iiu- ! And so chatting, they glidetl off arm in arm. Luit. And the result is . . . First Byn. Why, that a month having gone by, the indomitnMr Chiappino, marrying as he will l.ni- tolfo's love — at all events succeedini: to Luitolfo's goocagMt&s»T£3!. I'ART llj A SOIL'S TRA(JEDV IMiA l.uit. (u'ilhdmii'iiiij ii liUle.) I iin, thai (iiia|i|iiiiii wa-< in urgent ilan^t-r : wli*-rcf<>i'f, Hi^- ii'iiardiii); licr injunction In lontinnc in my retreat and await the result iif. what she eallcd, some ex|i«'iiinent yet III process — I hastcneinn kept nie away . . . (Mi, no, no! [ iniist ( onfront liiiii and her iM'fore I lH-''eve this of lliciii. And al ilii' wonl. see ! Eiilir ("HiArPiNo (iiid I-'i'i.alia. Kii. We |Hirt here, llu'ii ''. 'I'hc (haiiL'e in your |iriiU'i|iles would M-eiii III he ('Oin|ilete. I'h. Now, why refuse lo see that in Miy present course I chant.'e no prin- ri|il('s, only re-adapl them and more adroitly ; I haaireiirli a deranged machinery as the existing mo«les of goveiiiinent : hut iidw. if I suddenly ose. bring tin- functionary liinl)s once more into iiumeut to bestow on them -ill) you sec ? Why should one desire III invent, as long as it remains possible 111 renew and transform ? When all liirtlier ho|M- of the old organization >liall 1h- extinrt. then, I grant you. it may Im' lime to try anil create another. /.'(. And there In-ing discoverable 'iiiiic ho|>e yet in the hitherto much- aliiisc<| old system of absolute govern- iiK'iit by a Provost here, you mean to take your time al>out endeavouring to realize those visions of a j)erfe>eing belter instructed, will not |K'rsisl in seciiii' all the eoiniH>nenl parts of love in what is only a single part.— nor in tindinu the so many and so various loves, united in the love of a woman.— mani- fold uses in tine iiislrumcnl. as the savage has his sword, sceptre and idol, all in one cliilHslick. Love is a very Kunpound thing. I shall give tlu- intellectual part of my lov<- to Men. the mighty dead, or illustrious living ; and determine to call a mere st-nsual instinct by as few tine names as possible. What do I lose ': Kii. Nay. I only think, what do I lose? ami. one more word— which .shall complete my instruction— does friendship go too ? What of Luitolfo. the author of y«nir present prosperity 'i Ch. How tlie author ?— A". That blow now called yours . . . I'h. Struck without principle or ' purpose, as by a blind natural operation — vet to whiili all niv thought and life ISSf^WmSf- 354 A SOULS TRAr.EDY TpaRT II lrii(k it. ami coiiid not. He M'uiilil liuvt' iloric luK ntniuHt to moid ktrikinv it. y<'t did ho. I diKpiitt' Inn right to tliut d(fd of iiiint- — a linal action with him, from thp lirHt «'iTect of whii'h h«- H(Hi uway — a iiwrv tirfit Htrp with nu>. on which I I)a80 a wholr mighty Mii|MTNtructure of good to follow. Coidd ho got gooorform ! Kitlir ()«j\iiiE\. lilri.ALiA mIiiiiJm iiiMirl. <>y their |ir(>f('s«ions ! For though the bright moment of iiromising is hut a monu-nt liiid cannot U' |>rolonged. yet, if sincere iu its nuiiiient's extravagant gtMMlness, why, trust it and know the man by it, I say — not by his |ierformancc — which is half the world's work, interfere as the world needs must, with its accidents and circumstances, — the profoHsion was jiurely the man's own. I judge |n>o|)U- by what they might In-,— n<(t an-, nor will Ih'. I Ch. But have there not l)een found, too, |>crforming natures, not merely promising t ' \ Ogiii. Plenty. Little Bindo of our ' town, for instance, promised his friend, i groat ugly Masaecio, once, ' I will rojwy | you ! ' — tor a favour doiu- him : so, | when his father came to die, and Bindo 1 .suocoodeforo — on the happy night when .Masaccio priM'ured him that interview in the garden with his pretty cousin Lisa — inntoad of lioing the h<>ggar li>' then was,— I am bound to believe tli.ii in the warm moment of promise In wouKI have given away all the wmi> . kegs, and all the money, and all tin land, and onlv roHorvcd to himHolf sohii- hut on a hill-top hard by, whence In might s|)ond his life in looking ami seeing hiH friemi enjoy himftelf : In- meant fully that nnich, but the world intorforoil. — To our businetw ! Did 1 understand you just now within-athi7.e with, and a))proriate mr. I told you. (hjni. Oh. I rememl>or ! you, tin- greater nature, neotls niust have a lcs-.,i one ( — avowedly lesser— contest witli you on that score would never doll such a nature must comprehend yim, as the phrase is. accom|>any and testifv of your greatness from jwint to |Kiiiit onward. Why. that were l>eing nm nu-rely as great as yourself, but greater considerably ! .Meantiuu-, might not tli< more lH)undegni. Ah, my frieneHt of you to see ; Ik' to her likr the western lands (they bring us mi. Ii strange news of) to the Sjjanish ( 'nnrt - send her only your lumps of gold. fiiii« of feathers, your spirit-like birds, ami fruits and gems— so shall you, what • imseen of you, W> supjHisf'd altogctli.r a Paradise by her.— a» thcsj- wotmi lands by Spain— though I warrant tin r. is tilth, red balwons, ufily reptiles :iihI squalor enough, which they bring S|Miii as few samples of as |H)ssi'blc. Do v.u want your mistress to rcs|H'ct your Im,.Iv ircncrnllv ? Olfcr her vonr mimtli i.. I'\RT II] A SOri;.S TRArjEDY 3r> >ri )>i^> : ildii'l Hlri|> otf your IxMit ami |)iil Mur fiMit to hir li|w ! Vou iindiiNtand iii> limnoiir Ity this limi- r 1 li<'l|t iid-m III cany out tlu-ir own |>rtll('itl|^^• : if iluy I'lcUHi- to nav two aii niukt live, I acMfiit, MO idfy will but (.'o on av'\ "uy. four and four make ten ! < 'h. But th«'8p are my private alTuirN ; uliat I dcxiri* you to (H'('ii|iy y<>»rM-lf alKMit, is my |»ul)lir a|i|M>araiu'i> nnwnt- ly : for when th«> |iroiit«' hear tliat 1 am ii|i|M)intoli('anisni rt'iiiaiuM thoroughly unalti-n'ro|Mising a new one . . . 'tt/iii. Why. you iuunI deal with juMiple broadly. lU-jiin at a distance triiui this matter and say, — new truths. "Id truths ! sirs, there is n(>thinu new jMissible to Im* revealed to us in the moral world— we know all we shall ever know, anil it is for simply remindini; iis. by 'licir various res|>«'ctive ex|N-dients, how v»c till know this and the other nuitter. llial men yret eallej(mkI time. As for aildinir to the original stock of trutlis,— im|N>ssible ! Thus, you sjh- the expres- -ion of them is the ;irand busin«'ss ; — you have jtot a truth in your head about I lie right way of {.'overninn |H'ople, and you took a nuxle of cxpressinir it which MOW you confess to Ik' im|KTfeet — but wliat then 1 There is truth in falsehotnl. laUclioisI in truth. No man ever told "Mc irreal truth, (hat I know, without the help of a poo.— do not conclude that he saw nothing in the sky. because he assuredly did not se«- a llyinu horse there as he says. — so. through tne con- tradictory ' xpression. do you see. men slioidd l(M>k painfully for. and trust to arrive eventually at. what you call the true principle at bolt(uii." .\h. what, an answer is there I to what will it mil prove applicabh* I—' Contrailictions ? " — Of course there were, say you ! Ch. Still, the wiirld at hu.oimcIiow or other still advances— to which result they contribute in eipial proportion.-, those who siK'nt their life in pushing it onward as lliose who gave theirs to the business of pulling it back. Now. if you found the world stand still between the op|Misite forces, and were glad. I siiould conceive you : liut it steadily advances, you rejoice to see ! By the side of such a rejoicer. the man who imly winks as he keeps cunning and (piiet, and says. ■ \A't yonfler hot-heades of the edge of jiarty-animosily with age and e\|K'rience . . . :i:h} A SOUL'S THA(JKI)Y (HAHT II r/r. And iialurMlly time iiiu."! wear otf -III li .i-|N-ritii'N : tlir l)itt(-rr>t mlviT- sjiii- uft to U-lw«i-ii *'»( li othfi, loniinoii •>yiu|>tttliir> — fill llit-y not ? tti/iii. Av. Imil till' yoiiii^ |)a\iN with till'. I'liiJiNtiiii-, lir liiiil !MNiii iliKcovcritl ait abitiiiluiirf III --iK'li niiiiiiitm Mym|>atlii<'.'4. Ill' of i-liT.s likr uiiotlitT man,- tlicy. m> mnri- lliaii tin- miiis of Jcnsi'. wtTc iiscil l«i till carli lit her. Hut, for the naki- of Mil' hiiiiiij aiiti|>athy I hat hati fxiNtfil lioin I he iH'^iiinin^, Uaviil kIiiiik the siont-. rill otf I hi' ^iaiit'n hrail, iiiaiU* a >|M>ilof it, ami after at<- hin chccM'Halom!, with the lii'tti-r a|)|M-titf. for all I tan jiarii. My fricmi, a.-> you, with a i|iiirki'iif(l I'yi'-Hiyht, ^o on discoviTiii^ iiiiirh v'immI on tli«- worNt' side, rt-mciiilHT that till' >amt' jirtH't'Sh should |iru|Hir- iioiialil\ magnify and ih-nionstrat<- to Mill the liillrh lli'ilf iilltA on tllf U-ttcr >idf. And when 1 profess iu>sym|iathy fur the (ioliaths of our time, ami you oliject that a lart(e nature should sym- |iathiy.e with every form of inteili^eme, iiml M-e the uihmI in it, however limited I answer, so I ilo ; hut (iresKTve the |ii'o|iorti()ns of my sym|)athy, however liiielier or widelier I may extend its ai'tiun. I desire to be ahle, with a i|iiiekentHl eye-si^;lit, to ilesery In-auty in I'lirruption where others set^ foulm'ss only, — hut 1 lioiM- 1 shall also continue ' to (tee a redoubleil >H>auty in the higher : forms of matter, where already every- i hixly sees no foulneaH at all. I must ri-tain, t, and intimately s«H's what is good in, the worm. Ohserve, I s|ieak only as you profess to think and so ought to s|)eak : I do jiistici to your own principles, that is all. C/i. But you very well know that the two parties do, on iMcasion, assume each other's charactcristirs. What more diHguNlinn, (or instance, than to see hii» promptly the luwiy eiiianci|Mitcd daw will adopt. Ml his uwii tavoiir, the \ii\ measures of precaution, which pre>» il Mireliest on hiim^elf as institutions of tin tviaiiny he has iiisl eM'a|i4- you !— That is the generoiiM way. t 'rv emanci|>ated slaves, the first excess, mnl III! 1 go ! The first tinu'a (aior devil, ulm lias lM-«>n liastinadiHti steailily his whnlc life long, finds himself let alone and alili- to legislate, so, iM'gins |N-ttishly, wliili' he riihs IiIm soles, " Woe In- to wIhm'mi firings anything in the shaiM' of a sink till- way ! '—you. rather tnan give ii|. the very inmx'ent pleasure of carry in- one to switch Hies with, — you >!o aw.i\. to everylKwIy's sorrow. Yet you »i if ipiite reconciled to staying at hoiii-' while the governors used to [lass, e\i i\ now and then, some such eilict as ' l.<'i no man indulge in owning a stick wlm li Is not thii'k enough to chastise inn slaves, if nee, and a profane vulgar suhjectetl i'< .i different law altogether ; yet I am rather sorry you ahould s*^ it »o clearly ; for, do you know what is to — all but save you at the Day of Judgment, all you men of geniuH T It is thin — that, wink you generally began by pulling duuii God, ami went on to the end of your hi.'. in one effort at ttetting up your mm geniuH in His place, — still, the la-i. bitterest concession wrung with the ui most unwillingnest) from the ex|)ericiiii' of the very loftiest of you, waa invariuMy — would one think it t — that the rest nl mankind, down to the lowest of the ma--. stood not, nor ever could Htand, just mi a level and equality with yourNcKr-. That will be a point in the favour of all such, I ho|)e and believe ! Cfi. Why, men of genius are umi.iIIn charged, I think, with doing just iIh- reverse; and at once acknuwicduini: I'AKT II] A SOUL'S TRACiEDY 357 tilt- natural iii«M|imljty of iiiankiml, by ilifiiiM'lvfM |iarti(i|wtin); ill thi> universal I raviiiK after, and ilfft-rrncr to, thi* civil ilnliiK'tioiitt whi«-li ri'|»ri"<«'nt it. You wDiHJi-r thfy iwv 'Ucli uiihu- rf»<|K'< f to tillf* Rtiil liaiiKfN of NU|HTi(ir rank. Ihjiti. Not I ! (alwavH on youi own ■jniuiiil ami ''liowiiiit, Im-Ii noted!) Who iIoiiIiIm tliat. willi II wea|Min to lirandi-'li, ii iiiiin i-< tlie more forinidHlile r Tit lew .Mill Iwdjien are excn ir«ed an mkIi a Miri|iuti. to wliii'li you and I JiMik u|i wistfully. We could |iin lionn with it iiinreover. while in iln |ireKeiit owner's hands it hardly priMls ratH. Nay, Ix-tter lliaii rt mere wea|Hin of easy iiiaMfery and ithvioiLs use, it IS a mysterious di\ iiiiUK dhI that may serve us in undreamed-of way-. Ik-auty, strength, intellect — iiicii often have none of these, and yet . .-IK I'lve pretty accuratelv what kind of iiilvaiita}{eM they would Wstow on the |Hisscssor, We know at least what it i> we make up our mind tu forego, and Ml iiiii apply the fittest Muhstitute in our l«>»-cr ; wanting l»eauty, we cultivate '.'ixxl humour ; missinif wit, we jjet riches: hut the mystic iinimaKinalile i>|H'ration of that Kold collar and strin^t n| l.iUiii iiaiiieN which suddenly liirneil |">"r stupid little |H'evish ( 'ec<'o of our town into natural 1,ord of the la-st of us —II Duke, he is now ! there indeed is a virtue to U- reverenced ! ell. Ay, by the vulvar: not liy Mcs- M'le Stiatta the jxa-t, who pays more assiduous court to him than anylKMly. (>i)iii. W'hat el.se should Stiatta |)ay I'oiirt to ? He has talent, not honour and riilies : iiifii naturally covet what they have not. Ch. \o — or (.'ecio would covet talent, whiili he has not. whereas he covets nioic riihes, of which he has plenty aire idy. "'/"/. Kcc'tiisc a pur-c added to a I'lirsc iiiakis the hohler twice as rich ; lilt jiist siK h another tah-iil as Stiatta •. "Idcd to «lmt he now |K>sM'-se-, what »"i|ld that pidlil him .' ( Jive Ihr talent I p'list iihImmI, to do somctliiii}; with ! '•II' I", how wc keep th'' j;ooop|c '*aiUu^. 1 only dtsiied tu do ju.liv t" tb« iioblv M-ntlmentM whicli animate you, and which you art* too iuo«lest to iluly enforce, t'oine, to our main business : shall we ascend the steps ? I am going tu pro|H>s«' you for IVo\o«t (o the |ieople ; they know your antecedents, and will ai c*-pi you with a joyful unanimity: whereon 1 conlirni their choice, Kouse up! are you nerving yoiirsi'lf to an effort 1 Beware the disaster of .Messere Stiatta we were talking of; who, determining to keep an e(|ual mind and constant face on whatever miKlit Im- the fortune of his last new |HM-ni with our townsmen,- heard too plainly ' his.s. hiss, hiss,' increase every inonient : till at last the man fell senseless — not ikt- ceiving that the |iortentoiis soends liad all the while la'en issuing from la'twecn Ins own nobly clenched teeth, and nostrils narrowed by resolve. Ch. Do you I'ctjin to throw otf the mask '! — to jest with me, having got me etfectiiahy into your trap ? »/«/. .lust the obvious one — that in the event of the disi'overy of the .ictiial a.s.sailant of the late Frovosl . . . Ch. Ha! '*/«(. Why. he shall suffer the pro|s r |«'nalty.of course; what .lid you c\|iei'l ; Ch. "Who heard of this ■; ' (hl>ii. Hather. who needed to hear of this'.' ch. (an It lie, the (Mipular ruuioiu never reached you . . . fhlin. Many more -ucli ruinnin. ii a' li IMC, fniiid, than 1 rlmo-i- to rciei\e. thoso which wait loic;e-( have 111 «l "hanee. Mas the pic>eni one -uttii-ienth »aiiei| .- \.i\« )~ It, tiuji; f(.ii enirv with MICROCOPY RESOIUTION TEST CHART (ANSI and ISO TEST CHART No. 2| 1^1 2.8 1^ '""= IIIIM 1^1^ IP U 1^ I: lis III 2.0 1.8 ^ >!PPLIED irvVIGE '655 East Ma:n street Roctipster, Ne^ Tork !.»B09 ubA ("6) ',82 030C Phone ('16) 288 - 5989 - fo. im A SOIL'S TRA(JKDY [I'ART '■(twi. Sw Ihf good |K.'o|>lc I I'owtling iiboiil yoiuJiT )>alaic'-^)f|is— wliicli wi' may not liavi' to asi'finl, aitt-r all I My jiootl frit'iuls — (nay, two or tliicc of you will answer fvi-ry piiritosi-) — who was it tell upon anil iirovi'd ni-arly the death of your late Provo.st ': — his .sueeesisor desires to hear, that his day of inaugura- tion may he graced l>y the aetof prompt, bare justice we all anticipate. Who dealt the Mow that night, - pino — we are friends still : I dare say there is some proof of your sujK'rior nature in this starting aside, strange as il seemed at tirst. So. they tell me, my liDrse is of the right stock, because a shadow in the path frightens him into a frenzy, makes him dash my brains out. I understand only the ulfering on occasion a blow or two «ith due patience. A''/. I was delei'mined to ju>tify my choicj'. Cliiappino; to let Kuitolfo's nature vindicate itself. Henceforth wc are unt ten minutes of silence, what have I been doini;. deem you '.' — Putting the linishing stroke to a homily of mine, I have long taken thought to pi'rfect. on the te.\l " Let whoso thinketh he standeth. take heed test he fall." 'I'o your house. Luilolfo I Still silent, my patriotic triend r Well, that i- a u''K>d --iL'n, however. .Vnil \ou will go asiile for a time '.' That i>i iM-ttci still. I uiuier^tand — it would be ea>v for you to die of remor.se here on thr s|«jt anil shoek us all, but you nu-an in live and grow worthy of coming batk to us one day. There, I will tell every- boily ; and you only do right to believ c you must get better as you get older. .Ml men do so, — they are worst in ehilil- hooil, improve in manhooil, and get ready in old age for another world. Youth, with its l)eauty anil grace, would seem bestowed on usforsome .such rea.snii as to make us partly endurable till wc have time for really becoming so of oui- selves. without their aid : when they leave us. The sweetest child we all smile on for his pleasant want of the whole world to break np, or suck in his mouth, seeing no other gmul in it — would be rudely handled by that world's inhabitants, if he retained those angelii' infantine desires when he has grown six feet high, black and Ijearded : but, little by little, he sees fit to forego claim after claim on the world, puts up with a lc» and less share of its goixl as his proper portion,— and when the octogenarian asks bari'ly a sup of gruel and a tire of dry sticks, and thanks you as for hi- full allowance and right in the commini L'ood of life. — hoping nobinly mii\ murder him, — he who lu'gan by askini: and e.\]K'cting the whole of ns to bow down in worship to him, — why, 1 say he isatlvanced. far onward, very far, nciirlv out of sight like our frieiul C'hiappiu" yonder. And now — (Ay, good-bye tc you ! He turns round the north- wc-i gate: going to Lugo again? ii my forehead, liow it throbs ! I'rcss them Iwfore my eyes, the tire eonies througli. Voii erueilest. you dearest in the world, \a'X me ! the Queen must grant wliate'er I ask — How ean I gain you and not ask the Queen ? There she stays waiting for me, here stan'l you. Siiirie time or other this was to Iw asked ; Now is the one time — what 1 ask, I j;ain — Let me ask now, I..ove ! I 'on. Do. and ruin us. .\'or. \a'{ it 1m- now. Ixjve I All my .soul breaks forth. How I do love you I give my love its way ! Who give my hands) to him, my eyes, my hair, Give all that was of me away to him So well, that now, my spirit turned his own, Takes jiart with him against the woman here, Bids him not stumble at so mere a straw A.s caring that the world be cogni.sant How he loves her and how she worships him. You have this woman, not as yet that world. Go on, 1 bid, nor stop to eare for me Bv saving what I eease to eare about. The courtly name and pride of ein uiii- stance — The name- you'll pick uj) and be < um- bered with Just for the |Kx)r |»arade's sake, nothing more ; Just that the world may slip from under you— Just that the world may cry ' So much for him — The man predestined to the heap of r. You pray for — what, in vain '.' away j Con. ' Oh my heart's heart, It (iiMl jilease, with lompletion in my j How 1 do love you, Xorbert ! — that is soul. I right ! C'oi. I am not yours then ? how con- Hut listen, or I take my hands away. > tent this man '! \ ^'ou say. " let it be now ' — you would i."> I I 'iiii not his, who change into hiini'lf. I now -^ ili.vc passed into hi.-) heart and Ixat its .\iid ull ihe Queen, perhaps' si.\ .-Ui- 1 beats, from us, :;»>(» IN A BALCONY \ou love inc — so you tlo, thank (kxl ! Make it your own ease. For e\Hin|>l<' ■Vor. Thank (iod! now. CoH. \\'<, N'oibert,— but you fain I'll say — I let you kiss nu- and hold my would tell your love, hands — And, what succeeds the telling, ask of Why ? do you know why ': III in>truri her you, then — My hand. Now take this rose and look The kiss, Ix-cause you have a name iit at it, court. Listening to nie. You are the minister, Tliis hand and this, that you may siiut The Queen's first favourite, nor without in each a cause. A jewel, if you jilease to pick u|» such. To-night completes your wonderful That's horrible! Apply ittotheQueen— year's-work Su|)iK)se, I am the Queen to whom ymi (This jialace-feast is held to celebrate) si)eak. .Made niemorable by her life's success, ' I was a nameless man ; you needi 'I That junction of two crowns, on her sole me: heail, Why did I proffer you my aid ? tiiciv Herhouse had only dreamedot anciently. stootl That this mere dream is grown a stable .\ certain pretty cousin at your side. f'"th. Why did I make such common caiiM' To-night's feast makes authentic. with you t Who.se the praise ? Access to her had not been easy else. Whose genius, patience, energy, a- You give my labours here abundiini ehieved ])iaise '/ What turned the many heads and broke 'Faith, labour, which she overlooked. the hearts ■; grew j)lay. You are the fate — your minute 's in the How shall your gratitude dischprgc it- heaven, j .self '} Ne.xt comes the Queen's turn. ' Name (Jive me her haml ! ' your own reward ! ' Xor. And still I urge the same \\ ith leave to clench the Past, chain the ' Is the Queen just? just— generous or ii"' To-come, Con. Yes, just. You love a rose ; no Put out an arm and touch and take the harm in that : _ **un I But was it for the rose's .sake or mine And Kx it ever full-faced on your ea.-th, You put it in your besom ? mine, ynu Possess yourself sujtremeiy of her life, — : .said — You choose the single thing she will not Then, mine vou still must say or else U- J,'rant ; false." Xay, very declaration of which choice Nou told the Queen you served her f r Will turn the scale and neutralize your herself : ^'ork. If ,.^o, to serve her was to .serve yours^ It. .\t best she will forgive you. if she can. She thinks, for all your unbelieving fit" : Now think 111 let you choo.sc— her I know her. In the hall, si.\ steps frmn cousin's hand ? ||.;, .\<'/'. Wait. First, do you retain your One sees the twentv pictures ; then- old lKtures nil round her! wliv, she n - they know |||<. world, No tiiore ot wiipuen'- liearts than , . . (an lecogui/A' its ;;i\eii ijijiig- and l.i. 'v l'»ok '..Hi li.rr, ; Tli( ti-lli >( n) f;."i . You that lie jii-i .ina(tK's, flic whole farth's But this tluTiglit-om- : and now. Queen, ie(e, down to Ami life slips hack ; you losv her dt the flowers anil fruit — word : And who shall ({uestion that she knows Vou do not even for amends <;ain iiie. •'"'•" ""• He will not understand ! olC Nnibeit, In Utter seud)laii( e than the thinfj;s N'orln-rt. ""•'*i<''' • Do vou not umU-rstaiid / N ft hrinj? into the silent fjallery .\or. The Queen s the Queen, Some live thinj; to eontrast in hrcath 1 am myself— no picture, hut alive and hlo(Ml, In every nerve an I knew my life's g(>od, mv soul heard lis lio|ies and fears, concerns and sym- one voice^ pathies, ' The woman yonder, there s no use <«'ai>. not this ; Lovers, no lack— a husband in due lime. Only, (djtain her ! —How was it to be / And every one of them alike a lie I Ifoundyo'i were tiie cousinof thcQueen ; tilings jtainted by a Hubens out of I must then serve the Queen to get to nought ! you. liKo what kindness, friendship, love No other way. Suppose there had been should Ix' ; one. All iH'tter, all more grandiose than life. And I, by saying prayers to some white Only no life; mere cloth and surface- star .l'*''"^ With promise of mv bodv ami mv soul, >iiii teel, whdo you admire. How .Might gain you. -should I pray the should she feel ? star or no ■.' Net now that she has st-2 IX A BALCONY In lo\r of |K)wiT, liifrli fame. )iiirc' 'I'lu- wnrld will show tis with otHrioii. loynlty '! liaixl P(t1iii))v slic fancifs men wear out tlioir Otir clianilxT-fntrv and stanr. Yes, the man's tho\ight and Vou might'become impatient. What "s my thought, which is more- conceived One made to love you. let the world take Of Hs without here, liy the folks within '! note ! Where are yo\i now t immersemder death's By .set forms, blinded by forced secrecies! spread hand I >Set free my love, and see what love can What was this thought for, what that do scruple of yours (Shown in my life — what work will Which broke the council up '! — to bring spring from that I alwut The world is used to have its busini'-.s One minute's meeting in the corridor I done .\nlanned chance-meetings, hazards in men's mouth. of a look. So. goo«l : but let my low ground shiinn' ' Does she know r does she not know V their high I saved or lost ; ' Truth is the strong tliii;-;. Ixt mati- .\ year of this compression "s ecstasy life bo true I .\11 goes for nothing ! you would give And love 's the truth of mine. Tmir this up ))rove the rest ! For the old way. the ojh'u way. the I choose to wear yo»i stam|)ed all ovci world's. me, His way who In-ats. anil his who sells Your name ujwn my forehead and my his wife ! ^ breast. What tempts you ': — their notorious You. from the sword's blatle to tin hap|)iness. riblwn's ecst you'll gain That jiale loves may ilic out of llnri Will be. the Queen grants all that you )>retenc«r require. In face of mine, shames thrown on I". ' Conccfics the cousiii. rids herself of you fall o(T. An '".n leave so long I'o live like our live hundred happy >Subdued in i.ic, eating mc Ihroiijih .uj'i fricn-f ho|>e» and foars, surprises and You do not know her, were not horn to delays, if. Tlirtl long endeavour, earnest, patient. To feel what she can see or cannol see. '*'"*• Love, slie is generous, — av, (hspite your Tienihling at last to its assure*! result — smile, Tiii-n think of this revulrtinn ! I resume Oenerous as you are : for, in that I lun Life after death, (it is no less than life, frame After such long unlovely labouring days) Pain-twisted, punctured through and And liln-rate to In-auty life's great need through with cares, i Of the iH-autiful. which, while it There lived a lavish soul until it starved = prompted work. Debarred all healthy footl. Look to Supi>rest itself erewhile. This eve s the so'ul— the time— Pity that, stoop to that, ere vou begin Tliiseveintense with yon first trembling (The true man"s-way) on justice and "'tar your rights. \\V seem to pant and readi ; scarce Exactions and ac«|uittance t)f the Past ! aught between , Begin so— sec what justice s!u- will deal ! • The earth that rises and the heaven that We women hate a debt us men a jjift. iH'iids; (Suppose her some poor kee|Hr of a : All nature self-abandoned, every tree school ; rinug as it will, pursuing its own Whose business is to sit thro" summer- thoughts months And lixed so, every flower and every And ilole out chiUlren leave to go and weed, ! play. No pride, no shame, no victory, no Herself su|>erior to such lightness— she •'*'t«'at ; In the arni-chair.s state anti piitlagogic All under Ood, each measured by itself. |)onip, Tlitse statues round us stand abrupt. To the life, the laughter, sun ami youth distinct, outside— Till' strong in strength, the weak in We wonder such a face looks black on weakness tixe- Wouhl do on greater iiruununl. For i l)laud. mr. { Uur flower of life breaks o|H.n, No I have iio e<|uivalcnt of su( h ( old kind i delay ! To pay her with, but love alone to give 304 IN A BAU;()NY If 1 nh'v aiiythiiij!:. 1 give Iwr low ; [ fcfl 1 oii^ht to lu-lp Ikt, iind 1 will. So. for her .--akt'. ii« yours, 1 ti-ll you twice 'riiat woriion liati- a l ah uu-u a n'xH. If I wt'r«' you, 1 idulfj olitaiii this grnci'— (.'ouhl lay tlio whole 1 did to lov«'"s account. Nor yet he very false as courtiers j^o — Di'clrtring my success was rec<)ui|)ense ; 1( wouUI he so, in fact : what were it else ': And then, once l«K>se her jienerosity. — Oh. how 1 see it ! then, were 1 hut you To turn it, let it seem to move itself. And make it offer what I really take. Accept inj^ just, in the |>uor cousin's hand. Her value as the next Ihinjr to the Que«"n's — Sinci- none loves Queens dire<'tly. none dares that. And a thins.'"s shadow or a name's nu-re echo Suthces those who miss the name and I hill;; ! N \iu i>ick up ju>t a rihlHui she has worn. To keep in proof how near her hreath yt»u came. Say. Tin so near I seem a piece of her — .X-^k for me that wav — (oh. voik under- stand) Noud find the ^ame ;rift yielded with a yrace. Wiiicli. if you maki- the least show to extort . . . — You'll see ! and when you have ruined Injth of us. I>issertate on the Queen's ingratitude ! A'«>/-. riien. if I turn it that way, you consent '! lis not uiv wav : 1 have more lio|>e in truth : Still, if you wont have truth — why. this indeed. " j Wert- scarcely false, as I'd express the ; sense. j Will you remain here •; ' ''""• () best heart of mine. How' 1 have lover conceit and iiinkc it serve ? 1 owe that withered woman every tiling- Life, fortune, you, remeinlK'r ! Take niv part — Help me to pav her ! Stand u|Min voui rights •; You, with my rose, my hands, my hciiil on you ? Your rights are mine — you have nn rights hut mine. Xor. Remain here. How you know lue I '■"". Ah. hut still - I //( hruilcs from her : nfn n ni'iini. Ifiutft-mHxif from within. lliiUr lh< QiEEN. Qui I II. Constance ! — She is here as In said. S|K'ak 1 (piick ! Is it so ■: is it true — or falser One wor.l ! ('"/). True. Qiiiiii. .Mereifullest Motlm. thanks to thee ! <>>«. Madam ; Qiinii. 1 love you. Const a 111 r, from my soul. Now say once more, with anv W(»rds v«>ii will. "Tis t rue. all true, as true as that I s|XMk. Co;/. Why should you doubt it r Quiiii. ' All. why doiiht r why doufil V Dear, ntake iiie see it ! Do you see it -o ; None see themselves ; another mc- theiii U'st. You say ' why douht it '/ " — you see liiin and me. It is l)ecaiise the Mother has such v'li'" That if we had hut faith — wherein \\> fail— Whate'er we yearn for would \h' ^'mnii ■! us : Howbeit we let our whims prexiilK despair. Our very fancies thwart and cramp mir will. And so. accepting life, ahjure oursclvc-. Constanc«sIhadahjure of seeing Kgypt from thai jiul. t'vn. Heaven ! IX A BALCONY \m Qiifrii. Bill it wiiN so, CoiistaiKf. Ami say ' sin- 's olil. slip's ^rown un- it Wits M lovely i|iiitf \(i'H ^ay — or do men say it '! faticifs \Vli(» nefr was lii-antt'oiis : nitii \vai\t say — iH'aiily still." ■ Sli>|i lifif. \itm' liff i. 'ft, you air Will, -o I fcun-il— IIh c mi-i- ! -o I IVIi ^rowii ol — Ho love for you. loo late fof ''«//. Hfraliu. Anil now you lii-l itol lovt' — SUII-. you saj '; Lcavi- lovf to )4ii-|s. \U- <|U(>oil : l«-t (^iinn. t 'onstHiict-, he canif.- tin- Constaiici' lovf ! " routing was not straii^fi-— Due takes the hint — halt' nu>ets it like Do not I stand and see nten icuue and a ('hil|M)se. I turned a half-look from my |K-destal • t)h. love, true, never think of love Where I grow marble — " one younjj man again ! the nuire ! F am a (jucen : I rule, not love, indeetl.' He will love some one, — that is nought So it goes on ; so a faee grows like to me : this. What would he with my marhle slate- Hair like this hair, poor arms as lean as liness ? ' these. Yet this seemed soniewhat worse than Till.— nay, it does not end so. I thank | heretofore; oiut at as preferred to through you. life, 1 took you to my heart to keep it warm j Vet leave for the tirsi bnalhiug When the last chani e of love seemed | woman* iheck. dead in me; First dancer*, gipsy's, or streel biil.i- I thought your fresh youth warmervi', Wliilf not a iimii of tlieiii l>rok<- rank niul >|K>ke. Or WTotc nu- n vulgar letter all of love. Or laiiplit iiiv lianii anworing his halU-rt to xaliite the <|ueen. Had flung it hrutally ami claHixMl my knees, I would have NtooiXHl and kiswd him with my soul. Coil. Who could havepomprohendedv Qiift II. Ay, who — who t Why, no one, Constance, hut this one who did. Not they, not you. not I. Even now jH'rhaps It comes too late — would you hut tell the truth. Ciiii. I wait to tell it. (/ill I II. Well, you see, he came, (Mitfrtrc I the Others, did u work this year Exi-ecd in value all was ever done, Vou know — it is not I who say it — all Say it. .\n stung And foreeil to understand. It seeniid so true, So right, so iM'autiful, so like you ImiiIi. That all this work shoidd have Item done by him Not for the vulg.ir Iio|n> of riH'om|N'n>c. Itut that at last — sup|N>se, some niuhi like this— Borne on to claim his due reward of im . He might say, ' (Jive her hand and \n\: me so. ' .And I (O (k)nstance, you fahall love im now !) 1 1 bought, Nurmoimtingall the bittemc^^. —' .And he shall have it. I will make her blest, .My fiower of youth, my woman's self that was. My happiest woman'i* self that miuht nave been ! These two shall have their joy and leave me here.' Yes — yes — Con. Thanks i Queen. And the word was on my li|*s When he burst in upon me. I looked in hear A mere calm statement of his just dc-ue For payment of his lalniur. When - »i Heaven, How can I tell ynu 1 cloud was on my eyes And thimder in my ears at thai lii"! word Which told 'twas love of me, of me. 'liil all— He loved me — from the first stej) ti> the la.st. ix)vec no mistake ! He had not durcd to hint the love Ik- felt- Yon were m .■ refiex — (how I lutdei- stood !) He said yo\i were the riblMm I had «■■!!!, He kissed my hand, he l(X)kcd inl«i inv eves. IN A BAI/'ONY :iii: i ■a 1 AikI I«ivp, 1ov»' whs iIic eml of every ' All. what a contrast iIo«-h the luoon |ilira»i-. (M'holtl ! |,i>ve is begun — this niucli is come to Hut then I set my hfe u|Hjn one ihatiie. |Miss, Th«' laHt ehunie and the hest — am / nol The re«t is easy. Constanee, I am ' U'ft, yours — i My s«)ul, myself '! All women love ureal I will learn. I will plaee my life on you, | men Kill leach me how to kwp what I have ' If younit or ohl— il is in all the tales — won. Young iM'aiities h>ve old |HH't . who can Am I so old ? thiH hair waM early grey ; love — hut joy ere now has lirought hair brown Why shouhl not he. the |)oems in my again, soul. And joy will bring the ehook's rwl back. The love, the passionate faith, the I feel. sacrifice. I could sing once too; that was in my The cons-Bncy t I throw them at his youtn. fwt. Still, when men paint me, they declare Who cares to see the fountain's very me . . . yes, shajie. B»>autiful— for the last French jminter AndwhetheritbeaTritou'soraXyniphV et us confess the truth. You know, I cannot give him up — ah Horrible though it be — that prejudice. C}od, Prescription . . . curses ! they will love Not up now, even to you ! \ a queen. Con. Then calm yourself. They will— they do. And will nol. Queen. See, I am old — look here, vou does not — he "/ happy girl. Con. How can he ? You are wedded 1 win not play the fool, deceive myself ; ; 'tis a name ri>j all gone — put your chwk tVside We know, but still a Ijond. ^'our rank IHV cheek— remains, •i 'MiH IN A HAMOXV HIh rank rciiiaiiiH. Mnw nui In-, nol>ly How htrrnjf I him ! ((uilil Xorlxil -!.■ KoiiKtl ||„- now ! Am you iHliiv*' mill I iiulinc to fhiiik. inn. IaX iiic i oiixidrr. It i> nil ii„. A-'iiiri' to Ih' your fHvouritt-, «lmMi«' iiikI >tran^<'. •'" ' Qiiiiii. Vou, ('oii>luuir. Iran) of iiii : (Jim II. Iliar lur • lliiTf, then' now — ilo you. like nic ' • oulfl KJu- love liki- nu" r Vou arc youn>r, iNtiutituI my owh, WIml ilirl I sHV of ^nioiilh-i lifckcd iMMt ^irl, youth an(( K'laic ? N ou will Imvf many lov.r-, ami 1..,, Si'(- all it «lo«'.-s or coulil ilo ' -o. youth onr- *"*■•■'*• I^iwiit liair, not Imir like Norlxit >, i„ Oh, till him. Const am c, you loulii never xuit yourK, ♦''• ' And taller than he in, for yourself nir what I will— you, it was not Utrn in ! I tall. Will drive thexc (JittieultieN far and foMt I^)vo him, like me! ti'ivo all away "n Ah yonder niif*tM i urdlini; More the him ; moon. ' Think never of vourHelf : throw liy your I II nse nty light too, uloriouHly retrieve pride. My youth from its enforce*! calamity. Ho|io, fear,— your own pihmI ns v.ni DiHNolve that hateful nmrriane. ana l)r saw it (inci". his, "'"•• /»nse«( h you," . Iianne it into current by all. .oiii. It do«-s so hap|)en (I rejoice for it) Is that worth kisses ? shall I pleas*' Imn This most unho|>(>d-for issue cuts the there ? " knot. .\nd then we'll s|H-ak in turn of yon Ihere s not a In-ttcr way of settling' what else ? claims Your h>ve, accordinjr to your iH'aulv - Ihan this; fJod semis the a cident worth, express: For you shall have sonu' noble love. :i II And were it for my subjects" jiood. no jrold : , r "''"■^' Whom chotjse you '. wc will ji»'t him .i I were best thus ordered. I am thank- your choice. ful now, j — t'oiistanc f, I leave you. Just n Mute, pas.sive, accpiie- ,ent. I receive. minute sime. And bless fio alone "'1'' Fircathinsrmvsoul intoanearlike voiMM Io walk so smoothly to my ends at last. Now. I wouM face the world with mv W hy, how I baffle obstacles, spurn fate ! uew life, IN A HAIAONV .-((Ml With inv lu-w rrowii. I'll walk Hroiiml 'j'liiM \i* your iiii-niix. I >tivv yon ull hi\ • th<> riMMiiM, i-lf. Anil (lien roiiir Ixit k ami tell yon liou Xor. I tak«' von uiul lliaiik tiotl. it UtU I 'on How l/Kik oil thruiiKh yrar« MMiii a Millie of (iiHl ran < liaii^* VVi laiiiiot ki:'», a scconil day likt- thi<< lilt- worjtl ! woritl ll>i« v*i' an- iiiailf fur ha|i|iilli-nK — Iii>w Molk liiiiw-< |>lay. Hiivrivily u MiniiiiiK i\\i\\\ ! IriH'. I have IonI su iiiaiiy y«'ari>. What tlitii ? Many irinaiii : (i nf hJisH, Av tlifs«> Mtoiic statiH's from the Hcsh ami IiIo(mI, 'llir niinfort thon hast <'anN4> iiiinntt- and one word. (nil. I am yonrs, Norln-rt ! A'l'r. NVs, 111 in*'. ''"". Not till now ! Villi were mino. Now I pivi" myself to yon. .Vor. Constanre ! ''•Ill- Vonrown! I know the thriftier way "f tiivinj; — haply, tis the wiser way. Moaning to pive a treasure, I might dole <'iiin after coin out (each, as that were all. With a new largess still at eaiii despair) Ami foreo yon kj-ep in sight the cieed, jireserve Kxhaustless till the end my jiart und yours, My giving and yonr tuking ; both our joys Dying together. Is it the "iser way ? i I hooKe the simpler ; I give all at onie. Know what you have to trust to, trade , n|)on ! l-c it, abnsf it.— anything hut think flireafter.* Had I known she loved me >iO, \iie were this earth, no ei ■S'or. With this day's heat We shall go on through y<-ars of cold. ' '"". So, U'st '. I try to see thone ycais— I think I we. Yon walk ipiiek and new warmth loniex; you lle slow eircle round you I must move. To Ih' just yon. I look to a long life To deeom|>ose this minute, prove its worth. 'Tis the s|>arks' long succession one by one •Shall show you. in the end. what tire was crammed In that mere stone you struck : how could yc.u know. If it lay ever unproved in your sight. As now my heart lies i yonr own warmth wouhl hide Its ccdiiess. were it cold. Coti. But how prove, how ! A'(;r. Prove in my life, you ask ? Con. Quirk, XorWrt— how ? A'«r. That 's easy .old. 1 count life jtist a KfiiflF To try the soul's strength on, educe the man. 370 IN A BALCONY Who kppps one end in view makes nil Tin- oraft my ohiltShood learnt : inv tliingH stTVf. rraft shall .hows Miinine th<'ii Imrron lives, and force th, strength alike. fruit Soks, selves. Paint pietures ! one sits down in I am not bid ereate— they see no star poverty Transfiguring mybrowtowarrantthat — And writes or paints, with pity for the: But bind in one and carry out their will>. fipl'- So I began : to-night see.s how I end. Xor. And loves one's painting and What if it see, too, my first outbreak one's writing, then. here And not one's mistress ! All is l)est. Amid the warmth, surprise and syin- believe, pathy. And we best as no other than we are. And instincts of the heart that teiirli We live, and they experiment on life — the head ? Those poets, painters, all who stand What if the jwople have discerned ai aloof ; length To overlook the farther. Let us Ijc j T'le dawn of the next nature, the m w The thing they look at I T might take j man your face Whose will they venture in the place ni And wri'e of it and paint it — to what theirs, end ? Antl who, they trust, shall find them (nii For whom ? what pale dictatress in the new ways nir . To heights as new which yet he only Feeds, smiling .sadly, her fine ghost-like .sees ? forni I felt it when you kissehall forjjet her in due I . |.s' h< I'Hihrari s In r, lln Qi'EEN i iiti rs. time, ('till. Hist. Miadaiii — so I have )K'r- Her use iK'injj answered now. as reason formed my part. bids, \oii see yonr gratitude's true deeency. \ay as herself bids from her heart of \urbert ? a little slow in seeing it ! hearts, Heain, tt. end the sooner. What "s a Still, she has rights, the first thanks go kiss ■/ ^ to her, Siir. C'onstanre ! j The first good praise goes to the prc« ('(»i. Why, must I teach it perons tool, you again '! And the first — which is the last — re- You want a witness to your dullness, warding kiss.' sir V Xnr. Constance ■:■ it is a dream — ah What was I .saying these ten minutes see, you smile ! '; mg '! Con. So, now his part lx>ing pro]>orly Then I repeat — when some young hand- performed, .some man Madam, I turn to you and finish mine Like yon has acted out a part like j'Ours. As duly ; I do justice in my turn. I> jilea.sed tofall in lovewithone beyonil. Yes, madam, he has loved yo\i — long N) verv far l)cyond him. as he says — and well ; .S(i hart is played : yon stoop When she, he dares not face, has loved half-way him first. And meet us royally and spare our -May I not sav so, inadniii ?-- tops his fears: hoiie, "Tis like yourself. He thanks you, so And overpasses so his wildest ilream. do I. With glad consent of all. and most of her Take him— with my full heart! my Tlif confidant who l>rouglit th<> same work is praise, from the first— I loved von. T sli.dl f(.M)lish child. say: Or did you but aicepl it ? Well— at Stranpe ! but I d«. iimw >tn>njrcr. u,<» least 'tis saitl. Vou lose by il. Your courage helps iiiiue : you did w. !l (^on. Xay, madam, tis your turn ! to s|teak kestrain him still from sjieech a little To-nighl. the nigh) thai crowns yi.ui more. twelvenmnths" toil — And make him happier and more c(m- Hut still I had not waited to discern f'HJont ! Your heart so long, iH-lieve nu-. From Pity him, madam, he is tiniid yet ! ■ the first Mark, Norbert ! do not shrink now ! The source of so much zeal was almo>r Here I yield plain. My whole right in you to the Queen. In absence even of your own wonis jii>t observe ! now With her go put in practice the great Which o|)enerhaps and somewhat rreateinmethe love our* 'on.stan.e do. >, ''olrb with m t ni — May .still Ih» right : I may do well to Invites a certain insect — that "smysclt- '^IH'ak But the small eye-flower nearer to tin- .Anears a groimd. •Iream I take this la^ love. He k too cunning, madam ! It was I. V'*-^ IN A BALCONY M'.l 1. XorbtTt, who ... ! Should mich a step as thiskill low in me ? '*'"■• "^"". was it. Con- , Your jMirt were done : ateovnt to ve cet uii Which gives nie you, I might not pardon ; again. '"■''X" . , . . *^"'' ''■"^'"' ♦" whom ,ou pleaseii to I II ni the Queens : she only know.s my designate, brain— And make you mirth Mt is to(»horrilil.-. Mif may exin-riment therefor*- on my You did not know this, Constance r now ht'*''t i yoj, know And I instruct lu-r t(M) hy the result. That botlv and soul have each one lif.- Itiit you. Sweet, you who know me, who but one : so long Have told my heart-beats over, held mv life III those white hands of yours, — it is not well I <'t>ii. Tush ! i have said it, did 1 not say it all ? riic life, for her— the heart-lx-ats, for her sake I \l she 1 least couhl love in all the world. And here 's my love, here, living, at your feet. I'mi. See the Queen ! Norln-rt— this one more last word — If thus you have taken jest for earnest — thus Loveii>taiiee.l«ouldsay,if it must be said. To try me, and what mv love for Con- lake back the soul you offer— 1 keep stance meant ? V'''I'" .Madam, your royal soul itself approves, bill—- lake the soul still quivering on The first, that I should choose thus ! r'j your hand. one takes III. soul so offered, which I cannot use. .\ lieggar— asks him what wouhl buy And. please you, give it to some playful his child, frienil. And then approves the e.v|>ected laugh li'i— what s the triHe he requites me of scorn *''t'* ' Heturned as something noble from the I. icinpt a woman, to amuse a man. rags. Tliat two may mock her heart if it sue- Sjc-ak, Constance, I'm the Ix-ggar ! Ha, , """'• • what "s this •/ N'>: fearing (J.xl and standing neath You two glare each at each like jianthcrs His heaven. now. 1 would not dare insult a woman so. Constance, the world fades ; only vou »>cic .she the meanest woman in the stand there ! ' ' world. You did not, in to-nights wild whirl of Ami he, I cared to please, ten em|H'rors ! things, < "11. Xorljert ! Sell me — yoursoulof souls, for any price • I love OIK »■ as 1 live \o— no— 'tis easy to believe in you. but on.-.-, \V,,s it your lovc"^ mn'\ fnnl to "oVrt'»p \ liat case IS this to think or talk alHiut -'Mine U'y this vain self-sacritice ; well, "■ ■ ■■ ■ stills Ar„. 'I.'vcyou. Would it mend the case at all I Mi IN A BALCONY 'I'lutnjili I sliould cur«', 1 lovo you. I rtiu love Ami rannot cIihiijjo : love'.s si-lf is nl _yoiir feet. [T/it Qiekv out me an still ACT I Scene I. .1 /W, ,„,„■ Whit. hall.- ^m s,H-ak of him, so much as sav I Ha.mi'!)en. HoLi.is, till younjrer name Vane. H. dvako. Fiennes^ und Till Pynrrejoin us : Kudyard ! H. mm 11111111/ iif thr PiLslifftrriini Piirli/ : \'ane ' l,..,„„N ,n,d ollor'Srols Cmiuiii,. ,)„,. ,,,,i, ..ondusion m^.v decide ,.,„ '"'""■"■■ .<.,„-,. \'ii'<. I say, if he be here - And with it Knjiland's fate— think- Jlitd (.\iid he is here M- Kniflands fate ' ACT I, SC. l] STRAFFORD 'Mr, That strangled ajronv Moofls iiintr to ilt-ath— 1I)iiii|mIcii, for Kiifflund's mkv tlicy How that man lia.>« made tirm the lii kle should Ik; utill ! Kin;; Viiiii. Von say so, Mollis? Well, (Haminlen, I will siK-ak out !)— in auKlit I must Ik- still ! he fearetl li is indeed too hitter that one man, To venture on h<'fore ; taught Tyranny Any one man's mere presenee should Her dismal trade, the use of all her tools sus|H'nd To ply the seourge y« t serew the gag so Knglands eoinbined endeavour : little * close ne<'d ill name him ! //"rivate shi^'r Holli** ! For training infant villanies, new ways ll'twp. Shame on you. Rudyard ! Of wringing treasine out of tears and lime to tell him that. hloof«'«ls • i land iH'ars .1 Puritan. The Philistine strode, England may learn to Inar : how all ( ursing as he went : ; thi., while i:ii( David— five i-mooth (lebbles from i That man has set himself to one deal the brook ! task, U iihin his scrip ... j The bringing Charles to relish more and Hiid. Be you as still as David ! more t'ini. Here's Rudyard not ashamed Power, power without law, jtower and to wag a tongue blood too — Stilf with ten years' disuse of Parlia- —tan I be still ? '»''"<''; Jl'Dii/i. For that you should be still. ^\h^. when the last sat. Wentworlh sat I'ont. Oh, Hampden, then and now : with us ! 'I'lie year he left us. h'li'L lA't 's lio|H> for news of them The People in full Parlianunl could now he returns — wrest He (hat was safe in Ireland, as we The Bill of Rights from the relui laiil thought ! King ; - Hilt I'll abide Pyms c( ming. .\nd now. he'll find in an obscure sniiill I'"". Now. by Heaven room Tlicy may be cool who can, silent who Astealthygatheringof great-hearted men will — That take up England's cau.se : England Some have a gift that way ! Wentworth is here ! is here, Hainp. And who despairs of England ? Hire, and the King 's safe closeted with Rud. That do I. '"'" If Wentworth comes to rule her. 1 am Hn' this. ,\nd when I think on all sick that s past I'o think her WTctched masters. Hamil- NiMic t hat man left us, how his single arm ton. i:'h\ of England The miickworin Cottington. the iiiitniai ''Hf Stotiaml, KnglandV lan-c loud an w»'il ! Butsol«Miinly and aMyouM say H jiraver ! Vane tluTi-, sal inotiuiiU-ss tin- wlinh This King, who treads our England night through. underfoot, \'iini:. Ham|Mlen I Has just so much — it may l»c fear or Fim. Stay. Naur I craft — I.OII. IV just and patient. V'uiic ! As hids him pause at each fresh outrage: I'aiii. Mind how yoti counsel |mtieni • . friends, l>)udon ! you He needs some sterner hand to grasp his Have still a Parliament, and this ycmr own, l^>ague Some voice to ask, ' Why shrink '! — am To hack it ; you are free in Scotlaiicl 1 not hy ? ' still : Now, one whom England loved for While we are brothers. ho|K' 's fur serving her. England yet. Found in his heart to say, ' I know But know you wherefore Wentworth where iK'st conu's 't to i|uench The iron heel shall hruisi> her, for she This last of ho|>es 1 that he brings wni leans with him t I'fion me when you trample.' Witness, Know you the man's self '! what lir you I dares ? So Wentworth hearteneken, many more Vane ! (,!o on ! ! Strong on the jH'ople's side and friciicl- I'lnic. There are .some little signs of of his, late she knows Eliot that 's dcala«e for her I She den here, glances round, But for these Wentworth cari-'l n"i : Wentworth has drop|)ed the hand, is only, Pym gone his way He would .see — Pym aneckons, and Ijcside him To live and die together ; so, they hicious enough, the devil's arguiii- ni .\nd the sanu' gesture. Now shall Lost nothing on his lips; lieM iiiv' England crouch, Pym own Or catch at us and rise r A patriot could not play a purer pint VviriM. The llenegaile ! Than follow in his track ; they two '"in- Haman ! Ahithophel '. bitied Unmp. Centlemen of the Might put down England. Well, Vw' North. heard him out ; It was not thus, the night your claims ; One glance — you know Pym's eye -"im wen- urged, word wii,; all ; And we pronounced the League ajid " Vou leave us, Wentworth ! while y'lu Covenant head is on. so. I] STRAFFORD S77 111 not leave you.' Hd. The rumour '« false, then . . . llnmp. Has he left Went- Pym. Ay, the Court gives out worth, then t His own conecrns have brought him Has England lost him ? Will you let him back : I know »peak. . 'Tis the King calls him: Wentworth Orputyourcrudesurmisesinhis mouth ? su|H'rHe in the stand it makes. Loudon ! j Tells they were long rebellious, and their Vuue. Xo, no ! I lord Silent I can be : not indifferent ! Indulgent, till, all kind exi — it Jlis just dissolved your Parliament. " dawns) Loii. ,iml titlur .SV'rfv. (ireat (Jod ! Who'd giv(> at anv price his h(.|H' away All oath-breaker! Stand by us, Enuland, Of being named 'i.Jom.' with the Great then! Men/ I'ym. The King's too siinMninc ; We would not — no. wc would not uivc doubtless Wentworth s here ; that up ! lull till some httle form mi.L'ht !»> Ho>,>i>. And one wum AmW be dcinr l^l't "P- than all iniin.- Uiiwi). Now sjK-ak, Vane ! Kudyaiil, ; When children, yet unborn, aiu taught xou hail much to say I that name :{78 STRAFFORD [act 1 After tlirir fathers', — taught what | DenouiutHl. luati'hh-hH luuii . . . j Pytii. Too true ! NfvtTUiori'.iifVtr Pym. . . . Savetl Eiiglaiul ? What if ' mure Wentworth's Hhoiihl J>f Htill | Walketl we together! MuHt alone I went. That name 7 I have had friends — all here are fant iiiv Rud. and uthtrn. We have just said it, friends — Pym! His death But I shall never quite forget that friend. Saves her ! We said it— there 's no way And yet it lould not but l)c real in him ' beside ! : You, Vane, — you Kudyard, have ii<> I'll do Coil's bidding, Pym ! They struck , right to trust down Joab i To Wentworth: but ean no one ho|« And purged the land. I with me 1 Vane No villanous striking- the tru.st again the King 1 Of England in her servants— but I'll The People or the King? and that Kiin'. think Charles ! You know me, all of jou. Then, I Ham/t. Pym, all here know yon ; lielieve, you'll n()t set your heart S|)ite of the Past, Wentworth rejoins On any baseless dream. Hut say oik you, frientls ! tleetl Vane and Mcrn. Wentworth 1 ajios- Of W'entworth's, since lie left us . . . tate ! Judas! double-dyinl \Sliv>itimf uillmiii. .\ traitor ! Is it Pym, indeed .. . I'lim. There! he (oint-, Pym. . . . Who says .Vnd they .-^liout for him ! Went wot tli Vane never knew that Wentworth, at Whitehall, loved that man. The King embratinv' him, now. a> w Was used to stroll with him. arm linked s|)eak, •» arm. And he, to Ik- his match in courtesic-. Along the .'(treets to .see the |M>ople pass Taking the whole war's risk U|)on him- And read in every island-countenanct^ self. Fresh argument for (io«l against the Now, while you tell us here how chauL"' I King,— he is ! Never .sat down, say, in the very house Hear you ? Where Eliot's brow grew broad with Pym. .And yet if 'tis a dream, im noble thoughts, more, (You've joined us, Hain|Klcn— Holljs. That Wentworth chose their side, iiiii you as well,) brought the King .\ud then left talking over (Jracchits" To love it as though Ltiud had lo\t'l it death . . . tirst, r««f . To frame, we know it well, the An it, Imd takto off no Tht-y try bnitt-fonf for law, (Iwy, »ir>t «rat«' of all . . . From its sfrt'iieri'gartl. Unly a drt-ani ! Vuin/i. <»ootl ! Talk enough! The llainf/. We nurt lu-re to accomplish ohi true hearts with Vane ! certain gowl Vain. Till we crush Wentworth for By obvious means, and keep tradition her, there 's no act "P .Serves England ! Of free assenjblages. else obsolete. Voife«. Vane for Kngland ! Ill this |)oor chamber: nor without Pym. Pyni should be •"ffpi* . Something to England. I seek Went- Has friend met friend to couniM>l and '< worth, friends. contirni. As. listening to the In-ats of England's Scene II. — Whitehall. heart, \Vc s|)oke its wants u. .Scotland's L.vDY Carli.>ile a«d Wentworth. prompt reply Wml. And the King ? Hy these her dele^fates. Remains ; Lad;/ Car. Wentworth, lean alone on me ! sit then, — That word grow deed, as with (Jotl's I'll tell you all ; this horrible fatigue help it shall- Will kill you. lint with the devil's hindrance, who Went. ' Xo ; or— Lucy, just your doubts too * I arm ; I^Mjkwl we or no that tyranny shouhl I'll not sit till I've cleared this up with turn him : Hit engines of oppression to their use ? After that, rest. The King ? Wlicieof. sup|>ose the worst l>e Went-; Lady Car. Coniides in you. worth here— ! Went. Why ? or, wliy now ?— They Shall we break olf the tactics which sue- have kind throats, the knaves ! ce(Hl Shout for me — they ! In ili'Hwiiig out our formidablesl f(N', Lidy Cor. You come so lit bickering and disunion take their strangely swm : plHsed to let nie l»nr "ow. The fame away from him of these lat» I |i to this moment. jH-aceful strife was deeds 'm"^'- In Ireland / I am vet his iiisiriiinenl U r Knulish had five leave to think ; till Be it for neil or ill ? He trusts me. tim ! "ow- iMHjiCtr. The Kin^'. dear Wenl- U( had a shadow of a Parliament worth, piiriioses. 1 said. In Scotland. But all '.s changed : they To grant you, in the face of all the change the first. Court . . . :im STRAFFORD [act I Willi. All the Court ! KviTinore the /yjrfy Cur. They dii not think your Court about uh ! Irish Guvernincnt Savile and HollamI, Hamilton ami Vane Of that Hurpawting value . . . About UM, — then the King will grant iite Wtnt. The one tiling — what? Ufvalue! The one service that the rruuii That he for once put these axide and May count on! All that kee|Mthe.>'U very Hay — Vanes 'Tell me your whole mind, VVentworth!' In (wwer, to vex me — not that they ilo Ladij Car. You profexwd vex. You woulil becalm. Only it might vex Nonu- to hear tli.il Wiiit. Luev. and I am calm ! service How else shall I do all I come to do, l)ecrie Howshall I serve the King? time wastes Went. Ah 1 well, |)erlia|.- mcanwhile. The only hand held up in my defenc .• You have not told me half. His foot- May be" oUI Laud's ! These HollatiiN. step ! Xo. then, these Savilcs Quick, then, before I meet him,— I am Nibble ? They nibble ?— that 's ilw calm — very word ! Why does the King distrust me r Lidij Car. Your profit in the ('ii- Lady Car. He tloes not toms, Bristol says. Distrust you. E.xceeds the due pro|)ortion : while the Willi. Lticy, you can help me ; you tax . . . Have even seemed to care for me : "one WvnI. Enough! tis too unworthv. - word ! , I am not Is it the Queen 1 \ .So patient as I thought ! What 's Pmh fMdjf Car. No, not the Queen : ' about 1 the |»arty ! iMdy Car. Pyni ? That jwisons the Queens ear, Savile and Wenl. Pvm and the Peoph Holland. Lidi/Car. ' Oh. the Faction : U'i*i/. I know, I know: and Vane, Extinct— of no account : there'll ncvtr too, he 's one t< (■ ? Ixi 00 on— and he 's made Secretary. Well ? Another Parliament. Or leave them out and go straight to the Went. Tell Savile that ' charge; [You may know— (ay, you do— tin The charge ! cre"atures here l/idi/ Car. Oh, there s no charge, no Never forget !) that in my earliest lit' precise charge ; I was not . . . much that lam now ! Ih' Only they sneer, make light of — one may King >**>'. May take my word on |)oints concern in:: Nil>l>ie at what you ilo. Pyni "'"'• I know : Itut Lucy, Before Ix)rd Savilcs. Lucy, or if not. 1 reckoned on you from the Hr»t ! — Oo I bid them ruin their wise selves, not mr. "u ! These Vanes and Hollands ! Ill not I" -Whs sure loiild I once sec this j;entle their tool fri<'"'l Who might be Pyms friend vet. Whi-n I arriviH. she'd throw an hour But there's the Km. away Where is he .' I'o help her . . . wliHl am 1 .' hidtiCar. Just apprised thnl -i l.iidfi iitr. N uii Ihoii^'ht ot iii<'. Hrri\c. P'' ir Wcntwortli .' Wrnl. .\nd why not here to meet w . M '.'('. l?uti:oonI The party here 1 1 I wat told M'. Ilj .STKAF*'UKL» :tKl III- «'nt for inp, nay. longwl for me ! ' And the Hetth failH, now ! ami the time is hidi/i'iir. ReoBUMe. — come, lltisiiow ... I think a Coimcil MHitting AndonefalHestepno wavlolNTe|*uireil! now \lK)ut this ScotM atTair. \i'tnt. A Coiinril siis ? ihev have not takfii u derided ('iiiir.M> Without ine in the matter ? Ixidy Car. I should Hay . . . Wmt. The wiir r Tliey rannot havj- attreeil to that t N'.ii the ScotH' war?— without «on- sultiuff me — Ml', that am here to show how rash it in, lli>w ea.>ty treak.H up He'll see you. Went. Sir. I thank vou. „ ., , . ^'l'"'- Oh.thank fjiud ! I orv'ct It. Lucy ! tares make (Mcvish: Vou know when I.,aud once ){ets on •'»'"«' Church attairs \\ciKhme(hut ■tisasecret)tomyKrave. The case is desperate : he'll not l)e lonji hiilffCar. For life or death I am your To-day: he only means to prove, to-da v. own. dear friend ! | eside at once. While I liave not sjioke Vane and Savile fair. And am not trusted : have but saved the Throne ; Have not picked up the Queen's glove prettily. And am not trusted. But he'll see me now. Weston is dead: the Queen's half English now — More Enj;lish : one decisive word will brush Tlicse in.tects from . . . the step I know so well ! Tlic King ! But now, to tell him ... no — to ask What 's in me he distrusts : — or, best ttegin I5.V proving that this frightful Scots affair h just what I foretold. .So much to sav. Wnil. Sir, keep your jests for tiiose who relish them ! (Doe« he enjoy their confidence ?) 'J'is kind To tell me what the Council does. Pum. You grudge That I sliouid know it had resolved on war Before you came ? no need : you shall have all The credit, trust me. Went. Have the Council dared — They have not dared . . , that is— I know you not. Farewell, sir : times are changed, Pym. — Since we two met .At Greenwich ? Ves : poor patriots though we be, Vou cut a figure, makes some slight return For your exploits in Ireland ! Changed indeed. Could our fiiend Eliot look from out liis grave ! Ah, Wentworth, one thing for acquain- tance' sake. 382 STRAFFORD [act I iliiMl lo )|<><'Mlf a l|lll'^ti^ll : hnv** ynti. now. Krit y«»iir <»lii forMMik iif ? Hr»r Sir ! /'////!. .S|idrf iiif the ){t'Htiirc '. you ii>iHii|>|ir<>lifnil ! Think nut I iiu-an tlii* advantage i^ with MK'. I WM ahoiit to xay that, ftir my |)art, I ncTrr qiiitp hi>la«( ninic then, — Wan quite niysolf siucv then : for HrMi, you see, I lout all ere who recolkKt how Kure I wa8 Went worth would outakinfi : 'tiw a triek I keep. HV»/. How, when, where, Savile, Vane and Holland Hpe«k, Plainly or otherwiw, would have my seorn. All of my Hi'orn, sir . . . Pyiii. . . . Did not my |X)or thoughts Claim Humewhat T tt'mt. Keep your thoufthts ! believe the King Mistrusts' me for their prattle, all these Vanes And Savilen ! make your luiud up, o' (lod's love. That I am disconteiit(>d with the King ! Pym. Why, you may lie : I should be, that I know. Were I like you. WiHt. Like me ? Pyni. I care not much For titles : our friend Eliot «>tl.il, slill «x|m'> i, .\nd may. V«»ur U'iter» were ili< movingest ! < 'onsoh- yourself : I've Uirtii- him prusn just now From Scotland not to Ih' opprexrx'd li\ Lau you m-m. WihI. FaliH*. sir !— Whoshowe*! thim you 1 sup|M)se it so. The King did very well . . . nay, I w.i» glad When it was shown uu> : I refuseil, ilu' I first ! John Pym, you were my friend— for- bear me once ! I Pf/»i- Oh, Went worth, ancient Imitlur I of my soul, ', That all sliould come to this ! i Weill. l..eave me ! ! Pt/m. .My fricml. Why should I leave you t llVn/. Totell Rudyard ii>i>, I An'ader, Knglanci « Chief, ' And Hani|Klen'H friend ! This is the proudest day ! ' Come Went worth ! I>o not even sec ilir King ! The rough old nsuu will seem il~rlt I again ! We'll t>oth go in together: you've nut seen Hampden .so long : come : and there « Fiennes : you'll have To know young Vane. This i.- tin- proudest ^r. ||| STRAFFORD 383 rA„ Airiv..|. ,„v l-..r.l y --ThiH u««»- ' B.. toM nothing a»«iut ii.r ! you r.- ,.<,| \V.vv..uro|.|friH..L j Vo„r ri«h|.h»ml mtv.^ y or vonr 111 , I . ." "*"? " '•*' ""'ormw' . I hihlrin lov.- vou ! W lm( w.. .I...,.rniinr for tlu-ir happincH.. r %,, You lovi- n... WVntworil. ; r.s, - > nu Imv.- n.a.l.. ha.f ,„y ./)r.l. I hav no riffht to hi.l.. tl... tn.lh. Tin I , V rn . . . "■• ' *'" •'"""• • • • ''"n !**v.> you ; only I. Sir. what muxi (%,. To M-». an olil familiar-nay. tin h*. t 11 -.'u" 1 • .. '^*"- ''^'"''•' IjiikI 'n a«sur«l ithi- Ai.l us with hiK ..xiM-rim. .. : thin SootM' ,„i„„„.H .rr wiihin) liCaKuc Anil Covenant Kpn>ailN t head anil front. AUts thoin,— an he iKmstiMl, very liki I^oath aM I ant to Npill my Muhjcctx' •)KhkI ... Hint. That i*. he'll have a war: what "m ilone id done ! f'ha. They haveintriKiiedwith Franee; that 'h clear to I.Aud. Willi. Hai« I^iid RugKC'^ted any way to meet W'lif. Mr. trust n.e ! hut for this The war's exronse ' onre, trust me. sir! Cli„ u m « . i -i » /'). . u'l, t . '• He d not de<'ide so far (f>i,. What ran you mean ? Intil , '■ ine.l us. ''i.^. ,,. . . . ''"•"•• >■"" »»"''• Most .onsiderate ! should trust me sir ! , He's .ertain they intrigue with Ol.-not ..r my sake ! I.ut 'tin sad. so I Frame, these .iots y ,,,,,■. .. „ I The P.><)ple would U. with us. I Imf for distrust in^. me. you siiflfer-you ( 'ha. Py,,, ,,„.„,,, ^^^^ ^^ '""" }. ^t' '"' *" -^'^ •' = '^''•' ''« >'«" »•>'"• '«he People for us- wen "h.. vi„i* 1, 1 . ' IVople for us ! 1 ha I would ,1.,. to s Tve you 1 , Sir. a great thought romes to reward II . i.M »»'| •"*«'. N>«i»t worth! your trust: ' ivKo "*i i." .,'""*'"'•" >"" 1 Summon a Parliament ! in Ireland Hrsi, UhatdiK-sSaviledo Then. here. I" i-riive him . . . Ah, one rant tear out Chu. In truth » (me s heart „>„<. That saves us • And show ,1. how smeere a thing it is ! that puts off /". Have I not trusted you ? j The war. gives time to right th. ir It'"'. Say aught but that!! grievan.es- " I lure is my eomfort, mark you : all will To talk with Pym. I know the Faetion. < I .t . I as NO .l.tWntwlK'n you trust me-as you Laud styles it. tutors .Scotland: nil hi. . , . . I their plans M TS i" •'"'."■ """•-^ *"*/ "^^y- ' '"^"PP"*" n« Parliament : in railing one M.>t.K.k. maligniMl. how was the King ■ You take them by surprise. Pr«lu" . , «"knowy j the proofs ' ' I an. here. now~he means to trust me. Of Scotland's trea,.on ; then bi,l Eng- now — All will go on so well ! ,.'''">■ Ke sure I do— 1 v(. heard that I should trust vou : as land help Even Pym will not refuse. „,^*''' You would l)egin With Ireland ? Your fr^Zr.rV ♦ ,,. i »■'■'"■ Take no r..re for that: that's loiir triend, theCountes.s, told me . . . | Rure "it. Xo.— hear nothing— i To prosper. s 384 STRAFFORD [act I f'hn. You shall rnleme. You were ^ Chri. Xot done with : ho enpa<»t'«^ in best surpass nchuii at once : l)nl take tins ere you All yet iH-rfornied in Ireland. ^o ! ' Queen. I had thou>jlii Now, do I trust you '; Youre an Rarl : Nothing beyond was ever to be dont my Friend ; The war, Charles — will he raise suit|ili.s Of Friends : yes, while . . . You hear ■ enough ? me not" ! i Cha. We've hit on an expedient ; In- \V,nt. Say it all oVr again — hut once j . . . that is. again : I have advised ... we have decided mi The (irst was for the niusii — once again! The calling— in Ireland— of a Pailiu- Chn. Strafford, my friend, there may mcnt. have been rejKjrts, Qiircn. O truly I You agree to th.ii Vain rumours. Henceforth touching Is that Stratford is The first fruit of his counsel ? But 1 Totouchtheappleof inysight: why gaze guessed So earnestly If --'« much. Went. I am grown young again. Cha. This is too idle, Henriette I And foolish. What was it we s|)oke of ? I should know best. He will >traiii Cha. Ireland. every nerve. The Parliament. — And once a precedent established . . . Went. I may go when I will ? Queen. Xuii.,' — Now ''. How sure he is of a long term of fa voui - ' Chit. Are yo\i tired so soon of us ? He'll see the next, and the next iiliii Went. ' -My King ! that : But you will not so utterly abhor Xo end to Parliaments ! .A Parlianu-nt ? I'd serve you any way. Cha. Well, it is dim.' I 'ha. \'ou said just now this was the He talks it smix»thly. doubtless. If. in- only way. I i\coi\, Wml. Sir, I will serve you ! I The Commons here . . . Cha. Strafford, spare yourself — | Queen. Here! you \nll N'ou are so sick, they tell me. i summon them ir. 7. 'Tis my soul \ Here ? Would I were in France again tu That s well and prospers, now ! | see This Parliament — | A King ! We'll summon it, the English one — I'll i Cha. But Henriette . . . eare ! Queen. Oh. the Scots see cUar ' For everything. You shall not neetl Why should they bear your rule ? them much. i Cha. But listen. Swni : Cha. If ihey prove restive ... ■ Queen. I^t Wentworth listeu— you Went. I shall be with you. confide in him ! Cha. Ere they a.ssemble ? ' Cha. Idonot. I^ve — I do not m i ton- Went. I will come, or else , Me ! Deposit this infirm humanity ., The Parliament shall never trouble n-; r the dust. My whole heart stays with . . . Xay, hear me ! I have .schemes. mkIi you, my King ! schemes : we'll buy [..' ' Wentworth goes ortt, the Qi'EEN The leaders off : without that. W.ni- enterfi. worth's counsel Cha. That man must love me ! Had ne'er prevailed on me. Peilm)» Queen. Is it over then 1 I call it Why, he looks yellowei than ever ! well. To have excuse for breaking it for .m r. At least we shall not hear eternally And whose will then the blame l>e ><> Of service — services : he 's paid at least. you not t so. II] STRAFFOHl) 385 Come, Dearest '—look ! the little fairy, Strafford revived our Parliaments ; now. I before. Tii;it cannot reach n>y shoulder! War wits but talked of; there's > Dearest, conie ! aniiy, now : Still, we've a Parliament ! Poor Ireland bears Another wrenc h (she dies the hardest death !) Why. s|K'ak of it in Parliament ! and, lo. ACT 11 Scene I.— (As in Act I. Scene I.) Till ■■iiiiiic Purl;/ . /(^Y.^■. End. Twelve sid)si Kudyard, do not latigh 'Tis spoken ! ; o console yourselves. At least ! " fini. The jest ! Iliid. True: Slraft'ord called the Wo clamoured, I supjtose. thus long, to I'arliami'iit — win Ti^ he shoidd laugh ! j The jirivilege of laying on our backs .1 Puritan. ()ut of the serpent's root ; A ^orcr binden than the King dares lay ! Coiiies forth a cockiitric <■. Uml. .Mark now : we meet at length, Fun, — A >t inking one, com|)lainls |)our in If that 's the Parlianuiit : iwcKc >\\h- From cvciy county, all the land cries sidies ! out " A stinging one ! but. brother, whcic "> <>i, lo-ius and Icvie-^, cur-es shi|)-money, your word CalU vengeance on the Star-chambu" ; For Stratford's othei- nest-egi:, the Scots' we lend war 't An ear. ' Ay. lend them all the ears you Till PiniUni. His fruit shall be a lieiy have!" flying seriM-nt. " l'ut>- in the KiuL' ; ' mv sidijects, as you /'/'(/. .Shall be ■'. It chips the shell. lind. man ; peeps abroad. .\re fretful, and conceive great things of Twelve subsidies ! — Why. how now, you. Vane? Ju>t listen to them, friends; you'll I! ml. Peac<'. Fietmes ! sanction me Fiin. .\h ? — But he was not more a The measincs they most wince at, make dupe than I. them yours. Or yon. or any here, the day that Pym Instead of mine. I know : and. to begin, Ivcturned with the good news. Look They say my levies piiuh them, — raise up. friend \'ane ! me straight \Vc all believed that Stratford meant us Twehe sid>sidies ! " well /'/(;/. .Ml Kngland cannot furnish III -umiiHUiiiig till' Piuliamcnl. Twelvi' sul:sidies ! I //((/. But Strafford, just returned If ^"^'''''K^' "''"••*• From Ireland— what has he lo do with Viinc. Now. Hamjidcn. that ? Clear me ! I would have leave to sleep How entild he speak his mind ': He left again ; before I'll look the People in the face again : The Parliament assembled. Pym, who Clear me from having, from the tirst, knows ho|)eiI. dreamed .Stratford . . . Better of Strafford ! P,kiI. Woiildl were sure we know Hump. You may grow one day oiii selves ! A steadfast light to Kngland, Henry What is for good. what, bad — who Vane ! " friend, who foe ! I'lid. Meantime, by flashes I make Ilol. Do you count I'arliaments no shift to see gain ': O :}s«) .STRAFFORD [act II Riid. A gain ? : Sinrc nothing but the madnens of tlu' While the King's creatures overbalance , Court, us ? In thus unmasking its designs at oiici', — Tliere 's going on, beside, among our- , Has saved us from betraying Englaml solves .Stay — A (|iiict. slow, but most etiectual course ; This Parliament is Strafford's ; let u- t)f buying over, sapjiiiig, leavening j vote The lump till all is leaven, (ilanville 's Our list of grievances too black by f;ir gone. ' To sutfer talk of subsidies : or bi'st. I'll put a case ; had not the Court de- \ That shiji-money 's disposed of Iohl' a);o olared | Hy England : any vote that "s indad That no sum short of just twelve sub- j enough : sidies I And then let Strafford, for the love of it, Will bi> accepted by the King— our Sup|X)rt his Parliament ! House, i Vdiie. And vote as wi !l I say, would have consented to that offer j Xo war's to be with Scotland! Jliar To let us buy off shij'-inoney ! -. -i, Pym 1 llol. Most like, | We'll vote, no war ! Xo part nor lot in it If, say, si.\ subsidies will buy it off, j For England ! The House ... I Many Voice-i. Vote, no war ! .Stii|i lind. Will grant them ! Hamp den, do you hear ? Congratulate with me ! the King 's the king, And gains his point at last — our own assent To that detested tax ! all 's over, then ! There 's no more taking refuge in this room. Protesting, ' Let the King do what he will. ! the new levies ! Xo Bisho[)'s war ! At once ! When inM we meet ! Pym. .Much more when next we iinct: Friends, which of you Since first the course of Strafford was iii doubt. Has fallen the most away in soul tutni me ? Vane. I sat apart, even now, under God's eye. We, England, are no party to our Pondering the words that should den, and come, Rudyard, As though you had not told nie fifty and come. Vane ! time.s' riiis is no sullen day for Kngland, sirs ! 'Twas a brave jilan ! My army is all Sinitl'ord shall tell you ! raised, ViiiciS!. To Whitehall til ■!> I Come ! I am prepared to join it . . . Chii. Hear me, Strafford ! Scene II.— WhiU hnl'. Slmf. . . . When, for some little thing, ,, , ., my whole design (uAiU-ESrtHrfSrKAr Ki). j^ ^^,^ asiointed, chooses to be sick — S,iliapi)y—(lo Is all we want : we'll make shift yet ! heart Cha. (iood Stratford ! .\nd tind Vane there ! Slnif. But meantime, let the sum [Suddenly taking up a paper, niid Ik- ne'er so small j continuing with a forced calm m^^. They otier, we'll accept it : any sum — ! Northuml>erland is >u\: For the look of it ; the least grant t"lls Well then, I take the army- Wilinot the Scots leads The Parliament is ours — their staunch The Horse, and he with f'onway imiM ally secure Turned ours: that told, there's half The passes of the Tyne : Orniond s\ii>- the blow to strike ! plies What will the grant be? What does My place in Ireland. Here, we'll try the Olanville think ? ' f'ity : Chn. Alas ! If they refuse a loan — debase the coin Straf. My liege ? .\nd seize the bullion ! we've no other ('h(t. Strafford! choice. Straf. But answer me ! Herbert . . . Have they . . . O surely not refused us And this while I am here! half ? with you ! Half the twelve subsidies? We never .And therearehosts such, hosts like Nane! looked I go. For all of them ! How many do they .And, I once gone, they'll close anmnil give ? you, sir, Cha. Vou have not heartl ... , When the least i)ique. pettiest mistni>t. Straf. (What is sure has he done t) — Heard what ? To ruin me — and you along with me' Butsiieakat once.sir, thisgrowsterrible! Do you see that ? And you along with [Thi King continuing xihnt. me ! Vou have (li8solvei<< vv'is never spoken I'pon you. sir ! Vour pleasure, ^'entlemen ? ItamiK The Kin^' dissolved us— 'tis with Till it was entered on ! That loathe tin war ! That say it is the maddest, wickedest. .. l)n you know, sir, I think, within my heart, That you would say 1 did advise the war ; And 'hrough your own weakness, or '.\ iiat 's worse. the Kin^' we seek .\nd not Lord .Strafford. Straf. — .Stralfcrd, guilty too Of eounselling the uunsure. [To Charles.] (Hush . . . you know— Vou have forgotten— sir, I counselled it) .\_heinous niiifter. tndy I Hut the King hid TJHse Ncots. with (!o(l to help them, i Will yet see cause to^hank me for a diive me back, I course Vou will not step between the raging ; Whicli now, perchance . . (Sir tell , , I'^'ople j them .so !)-he bhuncs. Aii.1 me. to say . , Well, ( hoose some titter time to make I knew it ! from the first I your (barge : I knew it ! Never was so cold a lieart ! , I shall be with the .Siots, ycui under- Rcincmk-r that I said it—that I never I stand ? Believed you for a moment ! ' Then yelp at me ! —And. you loved me r i .Meanwhile, your Maj<idiirti ('mari.es In the di,(,r, in .iiicli a iiKiHmr a-i to hide Ins nijildliim from the rtst .- at the Khiij dis- iil)imir<, Ihiji liini o" hi/ rnie impillyi t, rvM. iilin hfix in t rlmiiijid lux uriijinal [Hfliirc of ■xiirpii.xc. Iliinij). Ivcave we this arrogant strong wicked num ! Vtiiic and otlnrx. Hence. Pvm ! IVcause Ieouldnotsharethewhis|K>rin<'s With Vane ? With .Savile ? What, tju' face was masked ? '■ I had the lieart to see, sir ! Face of flesh, j Hilt heart of stone— of smooth, cold, , frightful stone ! Ay, eall them ! .Shall I call for you V The .Scots (ioadcd to madness ? Or the Enage of Ihc Konumce 'J'o learn the Dreadful (liant's fate Indeed. We've the fair Lady here ; but slu- apart, — A jx)or man, rarely having handled lance. And rather old, weary, and far from sure His Squires are not the Giant's friends. All "s one : Let us go forth ! fMdi/ Car. do forth ? Straf. What matters it ? AVe shall die gloriously— as the book s.iys. LaJif Car. To Scotland? not to Scot- land ■: Straf Am 1 -n k Ijke your gooli.ill reach you there. —You do not listen ! Straf. Oil, — I give that up: There 's fate in it : I give all here i|iiiti up. Care not what old \ anc does or Hi'll.ui'l does .Against nu> I 'Tisso idle to withslacil - In no case tell me what they do I lAidy Car. l?ut StrnlTord . . Striif. I want a little strife, bi-iilr: real strife ; This j>etty, j>alace-warfarc doi ^ ni' harm : I shall feel better, fairly out of it. Ijidy Car. VV'iiy InM ' I could havi' torn bis throat at lir>l. I'M Vane's. As he leered at me on his stealtliy way To the Queen's closet. \jov{\, one I'l-i- heart ! I often found it in my heart to say ' Do not trail ucc me to her ! ' Lady Car. Hut the Khil' . . Straf. The King stood there, 'li^ ii"i so long ago, —There ; and the whisper, Lucy. ' I"' my friend Of friends ! ' — My King ! I would lia \ ■ . . Lady Car. . . . Diecd within you, turning blank Lidy Car. Stay, h-t me fasten it. — A rival's. Strafford ? Straf. {■fhou'ing thi: dionjc] He hung it there : twine yours around it, child ! Lady Car. No — no — another time — I trifle .so ! And there 's a masque on foot. Fare- well. The Court Is didl ; do something to enliven us The else imiH-rial brilliance of your \ In Scotland : we expect it at your iiiiniiu- -"wevt face hands. Straf. I shall not fall in Scotland. Lady Car. Prosper — if You'll think of me oometinics ! Straf. How think of him ^ct to create, and meanwhile treasured And not of you ? of you, the lingering thcr treak :}92 STF^AFFORD [act III (A }?ol(lfi»oiie) in my gotxl fortuiu-'Hfvc. Tlmt .swcoiin In-fore im- : with one shir Lttdy Car. fStrafforil . . . WVI, when for miidc. the eve has its h»»t stri-ak Night has its tirst. Niiiirciiu', forsutici Tlie niffht has its Hrst star. \Shv(f 'T-i 1 i 1 • 1 1 I ..t I.; .„, and iilliiri nl till i itntl. He rhoii about his bed, about his imtli ! ' ' His i)ath ! Where's England's jKith ? Sir II. Vain. 'I'lie Commons tlini-l Diverging wi(K> .V''ii out ? And not to join again tlie truck m\ foot S,iii/<. And what kejit ycui Must follow— whither ? -Ml that forlorn From sharing their civility ? way '*>'"■ //• I'"'" ■ Ke|it inc ? Among the tombs! Far--far— till . . . Frosh news from Scotland, sir! vviisr What, they do than the lust. Then join again, these paths '/ For,huge If that may be ! All 's 'ip with Stmllnnl in the dusk, »•>••"' : There 's — Pvni to face ! I Nothing to bar the mad .Scots niaiclini; Why tiien, I have a foe hither Todose with, and a "tight to fight at last .Next Lord's-day morning. That dt- Worthy my soul ! What, do they beard i taineil me, sir ! the King, ' Well now, before they thrust you out.— And shall the King want Stratford at his go on, — neeil '! ' Their S|H'aker — did the fellow Lentlwil Am I not here '! Not in the market- siy place. All we set down for liim '/ Pressed on by the rough rirlisiins, so lliJ, N'of jv \vnr I im id. proud Kre he began, we eiitcn-d, .Savilc, 1 To catch a glance from Wcntworlli ! .Vnd Bristol und some more, with liii|ii They'll lie down to breed Hungry and smile ' Why, it must I'lid .\ wholesome awe in the new ParliaiiiiMil. some day— I'ut such a gang of uracclcss riitliaii-, Is he not watching for our sake V ' \'aiie, — Not there I As <.'lareefore I settled to my mind what ugly brute Was likest Pym just then, they yelled , us out, I Locked the doors aft-.T us, and here arc t we. Viiiif. Eliot's old method ... j Siir. Prithee. Vane, a truce ; To Eliot and his times, and the great i Duke, And how to manage Parliaments ! j 'Tw'is you Advised the Queen to summon this : why, StrntTord (To do him justice) would not hear of it. I'tim. Say. rather, you have done the , Ix'st of turns i To Stratford : he 's at York, we all know why. ^ I would you had not set the Scots on i Strafford j T 1 StralToril put down Fym for iis, my \ lonl ! i S'lr. Was it I altered Strafford's j plans t did I . . . ; .\ Messenger t«/tT^■. ; M:>. The Queen, my lords— she sends ' me : follow me I O At once ; 'tis very urgent ! she re(|uires Your eounsel : something (lerilous ami strange Occasions her command. •SVic. We follow, friend ! Now, Vane ; — your Parliament will plague us all ! I'rt/ic. No Strafford here Ijcside ! Sac. If you ilare hint I had a hand in his Ijetrayal, sir . . . Hoi. Nay, find a fitter time for ((uarrcls — Pym Will overmatch the best of you ; and, think, The Queen ! Vaiii. Come on, then : understand, I loathe Strafford as nnich as any — but his use I To keep off Pym — to screen a friend or two ! I would We had reserveelves with Lady Cur. I'lie policy ' Stralfonl ! Land Ksea|)i"(l him, of tir^t Ntriking I'arlia- j I> talked of, ("ottington and Wimlcliiiik nientx ! t(K>, To earth, then Netting them u|)on their I'ym has not left out tme of them— 1 feet would Andgivingthcntasword: but thisis idle. \ On heard I'yin raging! Did the King .send for Strafford'.' He (Juan. N'ane. go lind the Kiiii; ' will rome. Tell the King. Vane, the People fcllnw QiiLiii. \w\ what am 1 to do ': , I'yni Lady Cur. Whit do'/ Fail, niadam! . To brave us at Whitehall ! He ruined for Iiis sake I what matters llOw, I SaVILE ^»^r■-•. So it but stand on record that you made ; Smi/i . Not to Whiteluill— An effort, only one "/ j 'Tis to the l^)rds they go : they'll Mck Quit II. The King 's away , redress At Theobahls, | On Strafford from his jieers — the li';.il Ij'idy Cur. Send for him at once : hv. way. must They <'all it. Dissolve the House. ; Qintn. (Wait, Vane !) Qui' H. Wait till Vane linds ! Sur. Hut the adage ui\('« the truth I Long life to thn-ateneil men. Strallnnl Of the re|)ort : then ... can save Lady Car. — It will niatter little Himself so readily : at >'ork, remcinlur, What the King does. Strafford that In his own county, what has he to lc;ir .' lends his arm. The Commons oidy mean to fri'_'liuii And breaks his heart for you ! him '. From leaving ^'ork. Siuclv, be will iini Sir H. Vane (H/rw. | cumc. !'««(. The t'ommons. madam. ' (^iinn. Lucy, he will not come ! .\re sitting with closed doors. ,\ huge Lady Car. Once more, the i\iii: debate. Has sent for Stratford. He will i diiic. No lack of noise : but nothing, I slunilil i'aiic Oh, doubtli-^ : guess. .\nd bring destruction with him ; lli.it - Concerning Strafford : Pym has cer- bis way. tainly What but his coming spoilt all Coiniiv- Not spoken yet. plan '/ Qimii. [To Lady Cahi-I-^i.e. ) ^'ou The King must take his counsel. ( hmi-r hear '! his friends. Lady Car. I do not hear ' He wholly ruled by him ! What llii That tile King ">• sent for ! result '! tSir it. Vain. Savile will be able ■ Thi" North tliiil w.is to ri-e, Iic1,m;i| t" To tell you more. i help.- j What came of it '' In mv poor iiiumI. a (Jiirtn. The last news, Holland '.' ' Ls no prodigious punishment. //tV, Pym I Lady Car. A fri^'lit .' SC. IlJ STHAKKOHI) 396 I'vrii will fail woim- than Strafford if In- Tlie King . . . , . thinks siraf. An iirnent mutter thai j.i frighten hmi. | 7v< llu QtEEN.) You ini|w)rts the Kinjj. will not siu-.- him. tlwn ? | '/'.. I..\i.y('aklhi.e.] Why, Lucy, what 's Snr. When xoiucthin^ liko a chiiij^c in ajiitution now is Mia.h-. the Kinj; That all this muttering any the Cur. ' "Pis welcome ! ""'^'•''■' For we are proud of you— happy and The Kinx mny reap advnniane : thiis in proud <|iiestion, To have you with uh, Strafford ! you No ilinning you with shii>.money com- were staunch p'a'';'" ' At Durham : you did well there ! Had Qitim. [Td LaDV ('ARf.lSt.E.] ii wc yon not dissolve them, who will pay the Been stayed, you might have . . . we '*''"'y ' said, even now. Protect MS from the insolent Scots t Our hope 's in you ! l-'i'i !/''<"'■ In truth Sir II. Van,. (To Lvdy Carlisle. 1 I know not, madam. Strafford's fate I The Queen wouhl sjM-ak with you. concerns I .simf. Will one of you, his servants .Mc little : you desired to learn what here, vouchsafe ... ,/'"'"'": 1 To signify my presence to the King ? Wdulrl save him: I obey you. \ S„r. An urgent matter ? •""'■• Notice, too. SIrof. None that touches you, rheic can t Ih> fairer ground for taking l.,ord Savile ! Say, it were some trea- f"'ll cherous. Hcvcnsie — (Strafford 's revengeful) — than he'll have Ayainst his old friend Pym. V"" "• Why, he shall claim \Vii;;ciiiicc on Pym ! Sly, pitiful intriguing with the Scots — You would go free, at least ! (They half divine My i»ur|M)se !) Madam, shall I see the King '! i'liii. And Strafford, who is he The service I would render, much con- In 'sca|H' unscathe ' [To Laiiv Caki.isi.f. I Ni> incnnM of K^'ttinx tlu-in away 1 Anil She— What «I(HM xhf whiM|KT ? Dtx-s mHo know my piir|io«i- ? What (liK's hIu' think of it ? (Jit tlnni away ! QiU(H. [fo],\\>\('\RUHl.K ] Hccoincs to hafth- Pyni— In- thinks the flantrcr Far olf ; tpji him no won! of it ! a tml(• For hel|> will lomo; well not Ik- wantinu then. Keep him in play, l.iicy— yon, st-if- IKJSMeSNfd Anil talm ! [To Stkakfokii | To ximu- yonr I,onlMhip some ijclay I will myself aetpiaint the Kitij;. [Tn Lady CARLisi.ii;.] Ikware ' [Thi Qi EKN. Vane, Hoi.i.am:, «»; 's not yet in- formefl, hut will not dare To interjM).se. Slraf. What nf oon I fell (m them at Durham. Hut V"m II fell I'he KiuK I wailed / All Ihe anlcr Is filled with iny adherents. hidif Car. StralfonI— StrnOiil. What darinj; act is this yon hint '. '*>''■"/• \o. tid : " I'is here, not ilarin:' if von knew ! ,ill here ! [Drnwiii'j imiMr.f fn.ni /u.f hr"i'L I Full iinM)f, see, ample pr(M)f— d()c> I in ! (^leen know I have such dainniiif; proof '/ litdlord and Kssi'x, j Broke, Warwick, Savilc (ijid yon nndu I Savile ? The sim|M'r that I s|Miilt ?), S,i\t, Mandeville — Sold to the Scot.s. hody and .soul, by Pym ! i Ltidi/ i'ar. Cireat heaven ! S. . Ilj STKAI'FOUJ) :m siraf. From Savilc ami Mainwarinii ! help to K^ize the \e*»vt his lorilx, to Pyin ' knnr«"* ; Ainl his \i)HfU, (TiiMhrd !— Fvni ' hull nut Take iiid* tii. ■*> '-< no escaping at htrk- warc, mind mc— not Crew j one ! Ami the Cftlinl — I eruMh them ! I seem revengeful, Lury ? Uiil you I.ikIi/ Car. And yon go— I know SlratTord, — rtnrds to claim turn in now ! thene knuvc*. Keep Mhor|> watch, (Joring. on the Main waring ! citizens ; /,<'.!'~'-.'ng brow ! till the .Scots' war ; my visit 's op|H)r- You seem . . . tune. SIraf. Well— do I not ? I would When all is over, Hryan. you'll proceed he well — To Ireland : these dispatches, mark me, I could not but be well on such a day ! Hryaii, .\n in (ionova ? Ix^iii" .1 Pn^hi/firiiiii. No— nor in IrchMnl; Totalkof iillyoiirlivo-i. Closcaftt r nu'! we haxo loavo to hrrallie. ' Ah iriiMiil of frii-nds ! ' On, uj Slnilldnr^ follmnrs. Tiiilv ; \Sth\vvoh\) /l( linn. Nearer. from nie. A follairu- .i Ah. liave r spared I'm to have St. John Strafford a paui:. and shall I seek In eharae ; was he arnorej the knavi^ reward , iust now l5eyond that nienxiry ? Surely too, , That fdjlowed Pym within tin re ? .someway " i Auothn: ' The izaunt iiiui He is the better for my love. No. no^ ; Talking' with Hudyard. J)id the K.ul He would not look so joyous - IMI e\|ie(t '"•lifve j I'ym al hi- heels so fa>t V I hke it nm. His very < ye would never sjiarkle thus. j M WWKI.I. ' iilir<. Had I not [irayed for him this lou':. iouL: AiihIIki-. Whv. man. liiev ru^h intu while. the nei ! Here s .Ma.vwell- Ha, Ma.xwell .' How the hnthreii II.. k SfENi: IIF.— 77/. Aiit'cl,,!,!.!,,,- ,,j Ih, lldiiii (ij Lord'. iH'ounil Th-feilow! Do you fed the Karl"- hai,.i Mn„i, „/ Ih. Pr,.h„l,n„., P'-rh/. Yh, y ^V.ur should.'r, .Ma.swell ? Adl, n „l.- ,,, MKAIF..KI.. .ir. „„;. (ienlle.iu ,,. .1 <;roiii> „l J'n.sh./l,riai,-: — \. 1 t.'ll Stand haek ! A final thini; pas.ses h. ,, . you liesiru(k .Maxwell: .Ma.\- A Follnin r of Slriitl„riL \T(> niinlh. , \ ■well .souuht The Karl To stay the i:arl : he stru(k him and Is at his work I [To M.) Sav. .Maxu.:: passed on. what peat thin-; ! •1. Fear as you may, keep a ;;.iod Speak out • 1 7'->(/ Presl>vterian. I Fricn.l. eountenanee I'v,. „ kindne.ss for you!' Fricihl. Before I he.e millers. Ive seen von with S(. John: o •'• Stratford here the lirst. stoekishness ! With the irnat army at his hark ! Wear such a nilf, and never eall i.. ■'• Noiloulit. minw ! thiii" ! •2. A (.'oodly fialherini: : ' Where the Attiilhtr." Nav. w.tii ; eareass is The jest will he to wait. There shall the eaelcs '— what "s the First. An.oinc one word — ' Tiaitoi. till he say. eye I lieiulinj; that eye. I)iiinfiill of l)ittcr fire, ' KiiiLt I'ym lia> fallen ! ' I'pon me ? Till Piirltini. Pyin ? Mux. In tlic Commons' name, their .1 Slrnl. Pym ! >i-r\ant .1 I'ri ihi/li rinii. Only I'ym '.' l)ciiuuiil> Lord Strafford's sword. Jliiiii/ . No, Stml. What did you say / lirother, not I'yiucmiy; \'aiie as Mitx. 'I'hc Comnioiis hid nie ask your well. Lordshiiis sword. Ruilyard as well. Ham|iden, St. John Sinij. Let ns <.'o forth : follow me, as well I jientleiuen I .1 ]'inli)/liiiiiii. .My mind mi>j;i\es: Draw your swords too: cut any down can it he true ? that har us. Aiiiilliir. Lo-t I Lii>t : Oil tin- King's service! Maxwell, clear .1 Slniffiinl. Say we true. .Maxwell '.' the way ! Till I'luilini. I'lide \Thi Freshytei ians j/it iJiiri In ,//i Am /«js.<((f/' . .\ haughty spirit goeth liefore a fall. Straf. I stay : tlie King liimself sliall Mniiif iij Stratjord'-i t'lillnni (i. \\\ see \\w here. now ! The very thiiii; ! A word N'our tahhts. fellow ! in season ! f To .Main\\.\kin< . | (iive that to tlie .\ irolden apide in a silver |iictui'e. King I To greet Fym as he )>asse> ; [Till (hmri III lilt hiicl; hiijin Iixijhii. IIdIs, tlllli liljlll l-^'. Now for tin tc\t I He .omes ! Quick ! '/'/'( I'liiilini. How hath the o|i- pressor ceasi'd ! The Lord hath broken the staff of the \\icke(l 1 The sceptre of the rulers, lu' who smote Tlie |)eople in wrath with a continual stroke, riiat ruled the nations in his anger— he K |K'rsecuted and none hiiidereth ! Ye^, Maxwell, for the next half-hour, let he ! Nay. you shall take my sword ! I M wwEi I, iidninci s In tnli it. Or. no — not that ! Their liloiul. perhaps, may wipe out all th'.isfiir. All up to that— not that ! Why, friend, you see. When the King lays your head beneath my foot It will not jiay for thai. (!o, nil of you ' Mii.i. I dare, my lonl, to disobey : none stir ! Stnif. This gentle .Maxwell !— Do not toueli him, lirynn [Tin- diHii-: iijiiii. mill STit.vKriiiti) [Tn tlif Presbyterians.] Wliiehovor ciir /,s'.c,' 111-. litV ■; -too STRAFFORD [act IV Xono ? [Cries from ifithin of ' Strafford.' Slin<;sl)y, I've loved you at least : make haste ! Stab me! Iliavonottime totellyoti why. You then, my Bryan ! ilainwaring. you then !" Is it because I s|iokp .so hastily At Allerton ? The King had vexed me. [ro/Z/f Presbyterian.s.] You! — Xot even you * If I live over this, The King i.s sure to have your heads, you know ! But what if I can't live this minute tlirough ? Pym, who is there with hi.s pursuing smile ! [Louder frie.i of ' .Str.\fford.' The King ! I troubled him, stood in the way Of his negotiations, was the one Great obstacle to peace, the Enemy Of Scotland : and he sciit for me, from York, Mysafety guaranteed— having prepared A Parliament— I see! And at Whitehall The Queen was whispering with Vane — , I see t The trap ! [Tearing off the George. I tread a gewgaw underfoot, And cast a memory from me. One i stroke, now ! ' [///•( own ndherenlf di^itrtn him. ! Renewed rrie.'i of ' Str.\fF()RI).' England! IseeThyarminthis and yield. Pray you now— Pym awaits me— pray ' you now ! [Strafford render the doeir.<< : \ they open wide. Hampden and (1 crowd discorered, and, at the bar, PvM standing ajmrt. As StraF- FORD kneei^, the scene shuts. ACT IV ^c^^y:\.— Whitehall. The KiKo, the Qpeen', Hollis, Lady Caru.sle. (Vane, Holland, ! Savile. in the background.) '• iMdj) Car. Answer them, Hollis, for I his sake ! One word ! | Cha. [Tr. Hollis.] Yi.u ^land, siU-nt i and cold, as though I were | I Deceiving you— my friend, my pl.iy. j fellow I Ofothertimes. What wonder after nil ? .Just so, I dreamed my People loved m... I lot. ;s||. It is yourself that yon deceive, not uw. j You'll (juit me comforted, your miml made up That, since you've talked thus miuh and grieved thus much. All you can do for Strafford has ben done. Queen. If you kill Strafford— (coiiip, we grant '-ou leave, Sup|K)se) — ilol. I may withdraw, sir ? Utdij Car. Hear them out ! 'Tis the last chance for Strafford ! H.ar j them out ! , lid. 'If we kill Strafford'— on llio i eighteenth day Of Strafford's trial—' We ! ' Cha. Pym, my good HolIU— Pym, I should say ! Hoi. Ah, true — sir, pardon me I You witness our i)roccediiig.s every diiy ; But the screened gallery, I might han- giir-ssed. Admits 1.1 such a partial glimpse at us. Pym takes up all the room, shuts mit the vi(>w. Still, on my honcur, sir, the rest of il,,' place Is not unoccupied. The Commons sit —That 's England ; Ireland sends, ami Scotland tfM), Their representatives; *the IVers tl.al judge -Are easily distinguished ; one remark- The People here and there: but tlu close curtain Must hide so much ! Queen. Acrpiaint your insolent crew, This day the curtain shall be dashed aside ! It served a purpose. Hd. Think ! This very dav ? Ere Strafford rises to defend himself ? Cha. I will defend In'm, sir!— sam. tion the Past This (lay : it ever was my purjiriM-. Kage SC-. Ij STRAFFOHI) 401 At me, not Strafford ! I Hoi. Pym never could have proved Lady Car. Nobly! — will ho not | Strafford's design of bringing up the Do nobly ? I troops Hot. Sir, you will do honestly ; To forrc this kingdom to obedience: AikI, f'lr that deed, I too would Im' a \ \'ane — •ing- Your servant, not our friend, has proved elm. Only, to do this now ! — ' deaf ' it. (in your style) Clia. Vane ? • To subjects' prayers,' — I must oppose i Hoi. This day. Did Vane deliver up them now. 1 or no It .seems their will the Trial should j Those notes which, furnished by his son proceed, — to Pym, .So |ialpal>ly their will ! Seal Strafford's fate? //"/• Vou jieril much, ' Cha. Sir, as I live. I know But it were no bright moment save for ! Nothing that Vane has done ! What that. ! treason next ? .Strafford, your prime supi)ort, the sole I wash my hands of it. Vane, speak the roof-tree | trtith ! That props this fpiaking House of Privi- ; Ask Vane himselt ! lege, I H,J. I will not speak to Vane, (Flooe ? j tlemaud TIjIs ineflaceable WTong ! No pity then ? If every hateful act were not set down llfJ. No plague in store for perfidy ? In his commission ? — Whether you ctm- — Farewell ! " j trived You called me.sir— (roLADV CahmsleI Or no, that all the violence slundd seem you, lady, bade mo come His work, the gentle ways — your own, To savo the Earl : I came, thank (;oliovo yoii. Sir, That "s a hiit'lit iiiomciit, sir, you tlimu Hflicvo nil', iti icliirii, that .. . away. [Tiininiij 1,1 \.\i,\ (\\i{i.isi.K. 1 (ifiitio Toar (lown'tho veil ami save him ! '■^''y. I Qiirni. (!o. Cailisl,. I The few wonis 1 wdiilil say, the stones Ladij Cir. (I shall see Strafi'onl — niiiiht hear speak to iiiiii : mv lieart Sooner than these, -I rather spciik to Must never heat so, then ! And it I you, tell You, with the heart ! The ((iiestion. The truth ? What 's gained hy fal>r. trust rue. takes hood ? There they stand Another shape, to-day : not, if the Kinj; Whose trade it is, whose life it is ! Hi.w Or England shall suci iiiiil).— hut, who vain ^'"•'•1 l«y To gild such rottenness ! Strafford shall The torfeit, Strafford or his master. know, •'"''■'■ Thoroughly know them !) Vou |iivei-< out. \ini seem inclined, alone of all tlir Clm. On you and on yoiu- warning: Court, l>i>th :— Carlisle ! To serve jwor Strafford : this hohl iii.iii Ihal paper ! of yours V"" "• Ihit I'onsidcr ' Merits mu( h praise, and yet . . . ,*''"'■ . (iiveitme! hull/ Car. Time presses, madM in. I here, sio. ed^will that content you .' (/ikiii. Yet — mav it not he mi - Do not speak ! thing jiremature ? \o\\ have hetrayed me. Vane! .See' Stratford defends him.self to-\. y""' <'l'a. On our rettirn, CarlisK-. we \iait .^^y Hollis !) say. we plotted long— "t is you 111 mine. The scheme is mine, rc'memher I Say, I cursed Vanes folly in your hearing ! If the Earl' l.aih/Car. I'll bring his answer. >ir. I follow you. (Prove the King faithless, and I IiIm' away All Strafford eares to live for: let it Does rise to do us shame, the fault shall he 1''' "Tis the King's seliome ! With you. Carlisle ! | My Strafford. I can smv. . /.adi/ ( ar. Xay. fear ntU me ! .\'ay. 1 han- saved yon, vet am si nro' hut still • ,.,,ntent. SC. Ij STRAFKORD 40:} npcniiM' my poor name will not cross Fir-^t Spec. Xevor l)olipv(' it man ' your mind. 'llipse notes of Xmu-s Mialloni. how miu h I am unworthy Ruin the Karl. >'*" '* fi/l/i .S'y«r. A liravc end : not a whit Scene 11.-. 1 j.,->.Mir 'id joining W.st- I^<^-'^ 'irm, less Pym all over. Then, the tninnfir J I all. Is Many gn.ni. of i^,^.t.tor. of the Trial. '" ''"^ak Jt;:;;^'''"'^"''' """"^ '" OHi. by I'ym, Pymthatiss|K'ak- Before t he eourt hreak.s up! His brother. inc; now. look.— NO. truly, if you look so high you'll see Vo„M say he deprecated .sonu tieree aet Little enough of either ! I„ StralTonrs mind just now. .S. rnnd S/« r. Stay : I'ym's arm ,) ,, Offinr. Stand back, I .say ! 1 .mits like a prophet s rod. s,rond S,„r. Who 's the veiled woman lliird SfHC. .\y. ay. we ve heard that he talks with ? .Some pretty s|>eaking : yet the Karl M„n,/ SfHCtator.i. Hush— ^Y'^\>*-'x- The Earl ! the Kail ! tonrlh S/iir. I fear it : just a foolish word or two Aliouthischildren— and wosee.forsooth. Sot England's foe in Stratford, but the man Who. sick. Iialf-blind . . . STond Sixr. What's that Pym 's saying now Wliich makes the curtains flutterV look ! .\ haml I /;»/./• STR.\FFor.n, Sr.iNosBV. and olliir Secretaries. Hoi.i.is. Ladv Cakmsi.e. .Maxweli,. Hai.foi h. oscil To call that traitor to account ! Such tricks. Trust me, shall not be played a second time. Say, even against Laud, with iiis urcy hair — Your good work, Hollis ! Peace ! to make amends You, Lucy, shall be there when I im- peach Pym and his fellows. JIfif. Wherefore not )irotest Against our whole jtroceeding, long a^o ? Why feel ini.licnant iiow '/ \Vhy stand this while Enduring patiently 'if i Straf. Child, III tell yo notes of Yane, To close the Trial worthily ! I feared Some spice of nobleness might linger yit .And spoil the character of all the l'a«t. N'ane eased me . . . and I will go back and say .As much — to Pym, to England ! l-'nlldw me ! I have a word to saj' ! Tlicre ! lay defence Is done ! Stay! why be |>rond ? Wbyraiv to own .My gladness, my surprise 't — Xay. luii sur|)rise ! Wherefore insist ui>on the little pride Of doing all myself, and sparing him The pain ? Child, say the triumpli i> my King's ! When Pym grew pale, and tremblcil, and sank down. One image was before me : ( ^eld I fail / ( 'hild, care not for the Past, so indi-^i im i, Obscure — there's nothing toforgivc m ir 'Tis so forgotten ! From this day bcjiib .\ new life, founded on a new belief In Charles. Ilol. In Charles ? Rather, 1h lirvo in Pvm ! SC. JlJ STRAFFORD 405 And here lio comes in proof ! Apfieal to Pyiii ! Say liow unfair . . . ^'w/- 'I'o Pyni ? I would Hay nolliinjr ! I woidd not look U|«)n F'ym's fate aj;ain. L(idy Cur. Stay, let nit- have to tliink I (ucssed your hand ! tSTKAKFOKi) and Iti-s friinda ijo I. Kilter Hampden mid Vane. \'iinc. () Hampden, save that jireat niis^Miided man ! I'liad .Stratford's cause with Pym ! 1 have remarked Me moved no muscle when we all de- claimed .\;.'ainst him : you had but to hreatiu-— he tiu-ned Those kind, calm eyes uimhi you. [/:»<« r PvM, ///( Soli(ilor-(leneral St. Joiiv, //„ Managers „f llii Trial, FiENNEs, Riuyari), ,{r. '''"''■ Horrible ! Iill now all hciirts were will, you: I withdraw For one. T iiur puriK).se, Pym : you cannot snatch away Tlic last spar from the drowninu man. ../''"'■ , He talks With .Sf. .John of it— see. how (piietly ! \rn„ih,r Presbyterians.) You'll join tisV Strafford may ><• man will say the law has hohl of him ' Uii any charge ; and therefore vou ' resolve " ! io take the f;eneral .sense on his desert, As thoufih no law existed, and we met Io found cie. Vou refer to Parliament Jv>lvaK its thought ui)on Una hideous niass Of half-borne out assertions, dubious hints Hereafter to be cleared, distortions— ay, And wild inventions. Every man "is i saved The task of lixing any single charge On Stratford : he has but to .see in him The enemy t)f England. {'.'/"'• A right scruple ! I have heard some called Englai.d's enemy With less consideration. '""<■ Pity me! Indeed you made nie think I was your friend ! I who have murdered Strafford, h )w remove That memory from me ? ^'.'/"'- I alwolve you. Vane. Take you no care for aught that y. u have done ! Vttnc John Hampden, not this Bill ' Reject this Bill ! He staggers through the ordeal : let i bim go. Strew no fresh fire before him ! Plead for us ! When Stratford s|K)ke, your j-yes were thick with tears ! llamp. England speaks louder : who i are we. to play The generous pardoner at her exi)ense, .Magnanimously waive advantages, A.id. if he contpier us, applaud his .xkill ? I Viim. He was your friend. I'!l»i- 1 liave heard that before. I Fini. And England trll^ts you. Hump. Shame 1 ,- 1 ,.-:.'wh" turns The opiiortunity of serving her She trusts him with, to his own mean account — Who would look nobly frank at her expense ! Fioi. I never thought it could have come to this. I'ytii. J?ut I have made myself familiar, Fiennes, With this one thought — have walked, and sat, and sleiit. This thought before me. 1 have done such things, Being the chosen man ;nat should des- troy The traitor. Vou have taken uj) this thought I I! KK) STRAFFORD [act IV * '> I t a I To jiliiy with, for a KOHtlu wtiiinilaiit. And left iiic, for a time . . . "I'is very s.ni ! To give a dijsnity to idler life ; To-morrow we di«'U»» the |>oiiits of hiw Hy the dim |>roN]H'ct of emprise to come, ' With l^iiie — to-morrow '! FJiit ever witii tile softening, sure Ix-lief, I idh. Not before to-morrow— Tlmt ail woidd end some strange way ' So, timi- t-noiigli ! I knew you wonM rigiit at last. | relent ! /'/(». Hadwe made outsomeweightier /'//'"• ''"'»' iK'Nt day, Ifaselrig, yoii eharge ! introlc '! tipon The guilt of Stratford: each shall lay A'/'/- r PvM. his hand Pi/ni. Fear me not, sir : — my mi^^-idn I'pon his breast, and judge. is to save, Vina. I only see ' This time. Stratford, nor |»ass his (orpse for all ('Int. To break thus on me I I ii- beyonr,.v..|,l that IJill, >ir ! All your Ihf IVopli' take: tlu' Trial fails. <<>iirsc m-cihn fair „/'"'• , V.s_v.s-- Till now. Why. inthc.n.l. 'ti.sI-lH.iil.l Wo art' wan-, Mr : for yinir part :i! it si>.'n Means S.U.II Im> fomul t(. thank yoti. Thr warrant for his (hath ! Vo,i have ,,'.'/'"; , , I'rayyoii. read sai;,„,. Listen to me, sir ! Kliot laid sfraiiie.lbyme. If you determine, sir Waste.l an-l white, upon my forehead Ihat Lnjiland s manifested will should omv; .. .«7^''' , . , Wentworth — he "s gone now!— has \our judgment, ere another week such , talked on. whole nights. wi 11 t . , ic rr , i And I besiile him ; Hampden loves nie : Shall manifest Itself. If not,— I east ( sir -UhIc the moasurt^ 1 How ean'l l.reathe an.l not wish Kng- ,„/ '"'• > "" i«" hinder, then, ! land well, 1 he intrtMluetion of this Hill y | .\„,| j^,^ j^j..,, ^.^.n ., />'"•„ . ,. , . I '■';"; ij''"'- l"thank you. sir! who leave '/"/. He IS my friend, sir: I have "1 hat King his servant. Thank- sjr ' wronged him: mark you j P;„„. Let me speak ! Had I not wronged him. this might l.e. ; -Uho may not speak again ; whose \ou think I spirit yearns Ke.aiise you hate the Karl . . . (turn not , For a cool night after this weary day : away, j —Who would not have my soul turn »>!■ know you hate him)— no one else I sicker yet ., ,, '■''"''' '"TV , , I" a '"-w Uixk, more fatal, more august, Mrafford: hut he has saved me, some M, , re full of Knglands utter weal or woe ■n,i 1, fK-"" -1 , » . , , ' ''i<'"fjl't, sir, eouhl I find myself with Hunk of his pride ! And, do voii know you. One frightful thing ? \\i' all lia e used I might say something, warn vou pray the man vou! save— ' - i J As though a drudge of ours, with not .>rark me. King Charles, sav( vou ' Of , " ■'*";'■"" , «"t f;ore nie. sir. if En;.diind •-vnf ^'.yw. Yes — think, my soul — to Eng- land I Draw not' back ! I'o StratVord's death, you will not inter- Ici Or — 408 STRAFFORD f AfT V i'lm. (i(Ml forsaki>!i inc. I am ill H net. I No s iiu-, and the hidcmis show To-dav ... is it to-day ? And all tlic while He 's sure of the 'iing's jtardon. Think, I have To tell this man he is to die. The Kiiij.' May rend his hair, for me ! I'll not m^ Strattord ! tMdy Ciir. t)nly. if I siiceeed, re- member Charles A now ' signed •Stronger than «-ver. ! The warrant for his death : the Qiumu Ha — what, sii, is this '/ \ was sick All is not well ! What parchn. Ml have ■ Of the eternal subject. For the Court,— you there t The Trial was amusing in its way, I'ym. Sir, much is saved us iHjth. | Only too much of it : the Earl withdicw Lndji Car. This liill ! Your lip In time. Hut you, fragile, alone, so Whitens — you could not read one line young. to nu> Your voice would falter so ! /','/"'• X<> recreant yet ! .\mid rude mercenaries — yo;i devise A plan tosave him! Even though it fails. What shall reward you t The great word went from England to l hidy Car. I may go, you think, my st)ul. I To France with him ? And you rewanl And 1 arose. The end is very near. j nu", friend, Lmli/ Car. I am to .save him ! All Who lived with Strafford even from his have shrunk l)es;de — youth 'Tis only I am left I Heaven will make Before he .set his heart on state-affaii> strong And they bent down that noble brow cf The hand now as the heart. Then let his. both die ! I have learned somewhat of his hitler life. ACT V Scene I. — WhiUhdl. HoLLis, Ladv Carli.sle. .\nd all the fut well. Tell me, when he is saved ! Ud. Tell the King, then! Come in ll«l. My gentle frirml, with mo ! He should know all and love you. Iml Lad'j Car. Not so I '(is vnin ! He must not hear till it succceiKs. Lady Car. Ixjve ? no — too late now I Hd. Succeetl ? i Let him love the King ! SC. 1] STRAFFORD 400 "lis tin- King's mlifiiu- ! I hnvc your word, rc'iiU'iiilHT ! Well k.'fp the (till delusion ii|i. Hut, <|iii(k ! Quick ! Kadi of ii«, Ims work to do, iK'HJdc ! <;«) fo the King ! I h()|H- lloilis - 1 1101)0 ! Siy nothing of my Mhcinr ! Miisli. while we speak riiink where he is ! \,,w for my pillanl friends ! II'J. Where he is.' (ajliii-; wihilv iilNiii Charles, (Jiiessinj; his fate, pai inj; the prison- floor. Ut the King tell him ! I'll not hnik on •Straflord. Scene II. -Tin To,,;,: Stkafforu .sitti„ij u-iih /,i.s Chihh,,,. TIki/ siiiij. (> hiir ii,ii Prii,iii,i ni .' W'iUiii,,,. The iKtat "s in the hroad nijonlipht all this wiiiU- - Virxi, 1,1 xirii fh' Prhiiiiriiit ! And the Imat shoots from underneath (he moon Into the shadowy di^tan( e ; only still Yi.ii iiear the dipping' oar — Vifmilit .yi rii. And faint, and fainter, and then all 's t|iiite jrone, .Mu>ic and lisiht and all. like a lost star. All,,!. Hut you sliould sleep, father : you were to sleep. Slriif. I do sleefi, Anne ; or if not— you must know There 's sueh a thing as . . . " '/. You're t(K) tired to sleep t ^Iriif. It will (onie by-and-by and all day lon<.'. In thai old ((uiet house 1 told vou of : " '' ^lepp safe tlirrr. Ah,,,:. Why not in Ii eland .' '"^"/- No ; , Too many dreauis !— That Mong "s for Venice, William : You know how Venice hioks upon the map — Isles that IlKinainiandhnrdlyian l(l«<. ' 11//. You've iH-en to N'enice. father .' '**','7'A 1 was young then. III/. .\ (iiy with no King; that's why I like Kven n song that comes from Venice. '"ilril- William I •> '/. Oh, I know wliy ! .\nne. do you love the King / Hut I'll .see \enice fci myself one day. Striif. Svv many lands, "Ih)v— England last of all.— That way you'll love her In-st. " ''• Why do men say I \ou sought to ruin her, then r ''»'''■"/• • Ah.— they say that. 11//. Why? ^ ' j ''|iose they must liavo words to say, I As yon to sing. j Ami,. Hut they make songs beside : Last niglit I heard one, in the street : iKMieath, That (ailed you . . . Oh, the names ! " ''• Don't mind her. father I , They .s.h.u left off when I cried out to I them. j SIriif. We shall so soon be out of it, my boy ! 'Tis not worthwhile; whoheeds a fo.)|i^h song '! ! ir//. Why, not the King. \^lr'''■"/• For Iichind, Something is done: too little, but enough To show what might have been. " ''• (I have no heart mk u il 41U STKAFFOHD [act V I I To sing now! Aiuu', Imw vrry sail ho To ^<.ultlt(■^ through the Town, noinf looks ! how I'yin, Oh. I HO hnti" tlic Kinx (or all hi- suys 1) Your Tribune. Iikpi* Whitehall, u-«y wriU'. will pause, AndiM' myself ap|Halli ill no (loul)t. .Myself have near forgotten ! Tiirningndeaf ear to lierthousand slavi's //»Ak, nol The curious glosse-*, suhtle notices, now : 1 want just iu>w. Ingenious clcarings-up one faui would To hear the sound of my own toM;.'Mr. see This place Beside that plain inscription of The Is full of ghosts. Name — //"/. Nay, you ti.i>Ht hear iii>-. The Patriot I'yni, or the AjMistut.- SiraJIord ! Stratford I Slruf. Oh, readily ! Only, one rirc [Th( rhildnti rl^llllll lliiir suikj thing more. — timidlij, hut Itrmk iiff.- | The minister! Wiio will advise ilic A'M^r HoLLis ««(/«» Attendant. j King, I Turn hisSejantis, Richelieu and what iwii, Straf. No,— llollis V in gowl time !— ! And yet have health— children, f'lr Who is he 't aught I know - lliil. One My patient pair of traitors ! Ah,— Imt, That must be pn-seiit. William — Strnj. Ah — I niiderstand. Dcm's not his check grow thin ? They will not let me see |MM>r Laud Wil. "I'is you look lliin, alone. j Father ! How politic! They'd use me by flegrees ! SIriif. A scaMi|ier o"er the brn/y To solitude : and just as you canu- in wolds I was solicitous what life to lead Sets all to-rights. When Stratford 's ' not so nnicii as lltj. You cannot sure foruit Nonstable A prison-riMif is o'er you, Stratford ; In the King's service.' Is there any Slnif. N'c, means ' Why, no. I would not touch on liuii, To keep one's self awake 'i What would j the Hrst. you do ' I left you that. Well, Mollis ? S^iy at After this bustle. Hollis, in my place ? once, //«/. Stratford ! The King can find no time U> set iiic atmf. Observe, not but that free! i'ym and you A mask at Theobahfs ? Will find me news enough — lu'ws I .shall lid. Hold : no such allair hear ; Detains him. Under a e sore. \\'< 11 : .My newsman. Or, a better jtroject now — I when he pleases, — What if when all 's eonsuuimated, and (Jniy, I want the air : it ve.xes fie>li the Saint.s To be jH-nt up so long. Reign, and the .Senate'^ work pic-t Hal. The King — I h>'>T swimmingly, — His mes.sage, Strafiord : pray you, kt What if I venture up, some ilay, unseen, me siwak ! S( . Ilj STHAI roiu) 111 Slnil. <;.., William! Anne, liv <..i Siran;^«-lv, tliut m,iiiiv»1i. ir ii Im-. |....kf.| >'•""• •-""•« iij-Min ! on nil- . . . [Till rinli. Ill rihn. \u\ir iuiiiiiik liu^ iiiv |>aiil(iii, imv, iiiv Tin V >liiill Ik' Utyul, llii'inl, Hi all cvnil-. Iliiiiiks. IkimwyiHir iiifs^iiL'"' : ><>ii hiM- nulliiii;; Imm linn- i- One uIki < oinrs not. „•"■* , . //"/. \\li..,„for«iv, 111 tell nil' : front the llrsi | i.'i1(smi| ms .\> mii- 111 illr ! """■''■ Slnif. 'IViir, (iII.Ik. iin.l nil nt...l I kiiiiw, inslcini iif ciriiinK ln'ir Imiiscll Kdnucni-- . I Inruivi' liini fnmi mv Li'.iilini! nic fnrtli in piihli'' liy ilir lianil, m>iiI Tlir Kin« |iiifciH to leave Ihc (|■''' SInil. Nil. il vel me Wiiile llie niol> t,'«|K^ ii|h>ii Nome >li(i\v fnc • "■'P'"'*' 'I'liis luMrlle,-.s je.l mar> mmli. Ila ! On tlie oilier side of llie river ! <;ive al Tear^ in Iriilli .' """' Welleri.l this I See I Ins paper, «anii— His order of release! I've heard, as well. f, . |_wiiriii Of .'rtain |HM.r nmn.envrint:s to a\.iid With lyiny next m\ heart ! Whose hand Tile crantiii)! pardon al his pro|Kr risk . is there .' Iiist, he must prattle somewhat to the W Iiom' pr.imise r Itei.d, and IoikI for l/irds, (Ji-I to hi ir ! Must talkatrillewith thi Coiumons lir-l. •.Strallord ^liidl take no hurl —read lie 'irieMMJlKhoiild aliiise hisciinlident r, it, I sav ! .\iid far from hlannnv tin m. iutil ... i , prison, honoiir. noreslate -- Where "s the i-rder .' //,V. The Kinu' . . . //-/. Spate me! sinif. I i oiild ih ikinu him l.va l.reatli ' •'^'"'/- \'' ' ''i-'i IH'I lia\i \i,{\ sit me steal awa> W lieie Loudon s.il, who lame t.. pro- Willi an old iloiil.|«t (ini a stei pie li.il plii-v l.ik. I'rvnne's .' '.e siiiiii;;:l( d mio I'he eeil.im end, and otlei me I'mus Kraiire |ier ips ' "rai e llnlh. 'lis to, iiiy iiddini ! '{'was for If I'l' •inotini e the KiitL' : atid 1 slniid them .,,,,1 I liist eottsein. Mo stand day l>y "lay On the Kitm l.iith The Kite.' who And ;;i\e your I'm it. iris the lie- I of |i\es ... \\"\iU. 11,,/. I'.' patient. jKvik wliiti idled upon. The warratit fir your death. "'""'^<' •*>■';(//. ■ Tut not your trttsi ' 'ir rules, ani' iioi r>(uiii tliein piompt i,, piime-, neither in the sons of llin'ir lie men. Wliat s in that Iniy i mine tiial he In whom is no sahalion ! ' diordd prove I/, J. -IViist itiCnd. Niii t,, a iMi-uin-hreiiker '1 I shall stay The siadold is pupated : they wait for Ami he'l stay wtth nie. ( 'liarjes you: -li>iuUI know a.s mueh^ He has mtiseiiled. Cast the t.irtli M I'll) his ehildretl ! hehitid ! |/ ■'"//»'/ t„ Hi'i.i.iss cii'iiHiii,,,!,.] Sir.: ('//((. \ou would tint see me, Straf- >"" '•■"■I lor me ! | ford, at your fool : Xii n-id t.. hide that faee '. ThoUL-h it , It was wrunj; from me ! dnlv (ltI^e me ';;.;•, r i.„.k.d not ! IIvl. \Ti) SriiA! Knlili. I .\ ■ you ho| e I o .li'll I j-uii me troin the .; idguitnt-bcat . . . I know grate and pardon in your need. »SP^' 412 STRAFFORD [act V I i i lie lueiciful to tliis most wretchftl man I ' —You never heard the Peoi)le howl Un [Voicci from irilliiii. IixmI, Icr^oluKira Heside ! m Frimafira. ''"'• ^ our Majesty may .'lear tli.m now : SIraf. You'll he j;oo take after one they rarely Hal. There are some hundred tl - '*'>^'' sand of the crowd. 1 had intended that my son should live r/w. Come with me.Strafford ! Yom II A straTi^er to these matters: hut yo" are not fear, at least ! So utterly deprived of friends ! "He too Stnif. Halfour. say n<.thin<; to Ih, Must serve you— will you not In- j^'ood world of this ! to him ? I charge you, as a dying man, forjiit llr, stay, sir, do not promise— «Io not You gazed u|X)n this agony of one . . . ./"'V"'*'" ' Of one . . . or if . . . why you may >av. lou.Hollis— dothelH'st youeanforme! Balfour, I've not a soul to trust to : Wandes- The King was sorry : 'tis no shame in foi'd 's (lead, him ; And you've got Kadcliffe safe. Laud's Yes, vou mav say he even wept, BaifiMii turn eomes next : ^ And "that I'walked the lighter to ili,^ I ve found small time of late for my bloek afTair Beeanse of it. I shall walk lightly. -ir ' hut I trust any of you. Pym himself— Earth fades. Heaven l>reaks on me I \o one could hurt them : there 's an shall stand next infant. t(M)— Before (;o lliese tedrmis cares! Your Majesty close at hand could spare them ! When Man the first, last time, has lenvc Nay— pardon me, my King ! I had for- to lay .. fiotten His whole heart bare before its Makir. \ oureducation,trials, muchteiuptation, ! leave SoMje weakni s : there esca|K'i| a ju'evish To clear up the long error of a life ^"'"''"7 i ■^"*' choose one happiness for cvernion-. lis gone : I bless you at the last. You , With all mortality about me, t'liail, -. know I The smhien wreck, the dregs of viol, nt All ,s l)ctween you and me : what has death— the world What if, despite the o|>ening angel- hil'. lo do with It? Farewell! There |)enetrale one prayer for \oii : (%i.lnttlu d«'i:\ Balfour! Balfour! Be saved f , n I Through me ! Bear witness, no »iw h,Ucr BALFovn. eo.dd prevent I he Par lament !-go to them : I grant My tieath ! Lead on ! ere he awak.- ,. "," .„, i 'oest, now ! Demands. Then- sittings shall be |ht- , All must be ready : did vom -n .,, „ , ""»'H'»t : ( Balfour. lell them to keep their money if they The crowd began to murmur ? Hi. \ 11 be kept will I'll come to them for every coat I wear And every crust I eat : only I choose To pardon .Strafforil. A.s the Quttu ahall cboo»c ! Too late for sermon at St. Anthohii - ' Now ! but tread softly— chil'lrcn nn- at play In thu Uf xt room. Precede ! 1 tolluw — sr. II J STRAFFORD 4i;{ Etitir Ladv Carlisle, uiih want/ Attendants. fMdy Car. y[f. i Follow ine, Strafford, and Ik* saved ' The King ? [To Ihf Kino.] Well— a.s you ordered. they are ranged without. The ronvoy . . . [. Lady Car. Haste ! .VIvance the torches Bryan ! .„,■'*''■«/•„ • I will die. Iticy call me proud : but Englaml had no rijiht. When she encountered mc— her strength to mine — To lind the chosen f.H" a craven, fiirl, i I fought her to the utterance. I fell. ! I am hers now. and I will die. Hesi«/.)/ Car. Strafford ! I ■''■''■"/• I think if you ' could know how much 1 love you. you would be repaid, my friend ! i ^ Ltdy Car. Then, for my sake ! Strul. Even for your sweet sake, I stay. Ilftl. For thrir sake ! Straf. To bequeath a stain ? Leave me ! Girl, humour me and let me j flie ! i Lady Car. Bian— lean on me ! ^/''''f'f- -Mv King ! Oh, had he trusted me— his friend of friends ! — Lady Car. I can sup|)ort him, Hollis ! *'''■''/• Not this way ! This gate— I dreamesed it. I have done Her bidding— iworly, wrongly, — it may be. With ill elTects — for I am weak, a man : Still. I have dime my lM>st. my human best, Not faltering for a moment. It is done. And this said, if I say . . . yes. I will say I never loved but one man — David not More Jonathan ! P^ven thus, I love him now : And look for my chief jwrtion in that world Where great hearts le weak, .\nd loves the Queen, and . . . Oh. inv fate is nothing — Nothing ! Rut not that awful head - not that ! Pym, you help England ! I, that am tn die. What I must see! 'tis here — all here ! My Cod ! Let nie but gasp out, in one word of tiro. My mission over. I shall not livelong.)— ; How Thou wilt plague him, satiuiiii;; Ay. here I know I talk — I dare and must, '• Hell! Of England, and her great reward, as all j What '! England that you help, bcdnu. I look for there ; but in my inmost heart, Believe, I think of stealing quite away To walk once more with Wentworth — my youth's friend Purged from all error, gloriously renewed, And Eliot shall not blame us. Then indeed . . . This is no meeting, Wentworth ! Tears increa.se Too hot. A thin mist— is it blood ?— enwraps The face I loved once. Then, the meet- ing be ! through you .\ green and putrefying charnel, left Our children. . .some of us have chiliinn, Pym- Some who, without that, still must imt wear A darkened brow, an over-serious Icmk. And never properly be young ! N" word ? You will not .say a word — to nic -tn Him ? Pym. England, — I am thine own! Dost thou exact That service ? I obey thee to the end, 415 PAULINE A FRAGMENT OF A CONFESSION PAruXB, mine own, bond o'er me — thy soft breast Shall pant to mine — l)on(i o'er me — thy sweet cyefi. Ami loosened hair, and l)reathing lips. and arms Drawing mo to thee— these build up a screen To shut me in with thee, and from all fear. So that I might unlock the sleepless l)rooe to sing; some woe would light on me ; Nature would (wint at one, whose ipiivering lip Was bathed in her enchantments— whose brow burned Beneath the crown, to which her secrets I knelt ; I Who learned tlie swll which can call up ' the dead, | And then departed, smiling like a fiend 1 \\lio has deceived Cod. If such one should seek Again her altars, and stand robed and crownetl Amid the faithful : sad confession first. Remorse and pardon, and old claims renewed. Ere I can l)e— as I shall be no more. I had been spared this shame, if I had sat By thei! for ever, from the first, in place Ofmywilddreanisof beautyandofgood. Or with them, as an earnest of their truth. Xo thought nor hoiw. having been shut from thee, Xo vague wish unexplained— no w-n- dering aim Sent back to bind on Fancy's wings, and seek Somi' strange fair woild, where it might be a law ; But doubting nothing, had been led bv thee, ■' Thro' youth, and saved, as one at length awaked. Who has slept thro' a iieril. Ah! vain, vain ! Thou lovest me— the past is in its grave, Tho' it.s ghost haunts us— still this much is ours. To cast away restraint, lest a worse thing Wait for us in the darkness. Thou lovest me, .And thou art to receive not lev-, but faith. For which thou wilt be mine, and smile, and take All shapes, and shames, and veil without a fear That form which mu-ic follows like a slave ; And I look to thee, and I trust in thee. As in a Xorthern night one looks alway Unto the Ea.st for morn, and spring and m- Thou seest then my aimless, hopeless state, 41(') PAULINE If ! » 5 And rpstinj; on some fow old feolinjis. Distinct from theirs — that I am sad— ^oi) and fain H.i. 1; liv thy Uaiity. woiiidst tliat I Would give \ip all lo be but whore I \Vii>: ^.^siiv" Not hijili as I had liecn, if faitlilHI The task. Which was to nie what now found— tiiou art : 15«' low anil weak, yet full of ho|K', ami And why should 1 1 onreal on" weakness sure more '! '^f goodness as of life — that I would lose All this pay niasttry of mind, to sit Thou wilt remember one warm morn. Onie more with them, trusting in trutli when Winter and love, CVett aged from the earth, and Springs And with an aim— not being what I am. first breath Blew soft from the moist hills— the Oh, Pauline! lam ruined! whowli'vol blaekthorn Ixjughs, That tht)' my soul had floated from it- So dark in the bare wood; when glis- sphere toning <^f wide dominion into the dim orli In the simslune were white with coming Of self— that it was strong and free iis buds, ever : — Like the bright side of a sorrow — and It has conformed itself to that dim oili. tiie banks Reflecting all its shades and shaj)es, ;iiii| Had violets o|)cning from slee[> like now eyes Must stay where it alone can Ikj adoml. I walked with thee, who knew not a I have felt this in dreams— in dreams in deep shame which Lurked bciieith sMiiles and careless I seemed the fate from which I fled : I words, which sought felt To hide it— till they wandered and were A strange delight in causing my decay ; mute ; I was a fiend, in darkness chained tor As we stocKl listening on a sunny mouml ever To the wind murmuring in the damp Within some ocean-cave; and ajf'> copse. rolled. Like heavy breathings of some hidden Till thro' the cleft rock, like a moivi- thiiitt beam, came Hetrayed by sleep— until the feeling A while swan to remain with me ; iiul rushed ages That I was low indeed, yet not so low Rolled, yet I tirceil ami I felt despair could never live by thee. nundn-d Thou wilt remember :— thou art not With .sleeping ages here; it lannot more dear | leave me. Than song was once to me : and I ne'er For it would seem, in light, beside its sung I kind, But asoneentering bright halls, whereall Withere young again. Like mighty wwks which tell some I will give up all gained as willingly Spirit there .As one gives up a charm which shuts Hathsairegardlessof neglect ami scorn, mm out , Till.its long task completed.it hath risen From hoiie, or part, or care, in human ; And left u.s, never to return : and all s It 1 •. . ., ^^^^ '" *o I^^r and praise when all in .As life wanes, a.l its cares, and strife, and vain toil. Seem strangely va' -ss, while the old trees The air seems bright with thy past presence yet. But thou art still for me, as thou hast Which grew by oi outh's home— the been Of 1 *^,^^'"8,'"»f . . , ,, When I have stood with thee, as on a Of climbing plants, heavy with bloom throne an(l dew- With all thy dim creations gathe. llic morning swallows with their songs I round ii'^e wo"H— ' Like mountains,— and I felt of mould •All these seem clear and only worth our I like them, thoughts. : And creatures of mv own were mixed N« aught connected with my early | with them, " \r. i''^*^ .... . . 1 Like things half-lived, catching and »} Hide songs or my wild imaginings, < giving life Huw I look on them-most distinct amid But thou art still for me, who have llufcver and the stir of after years! adored, I „ , , , . , , , , , T'>o' f^ingle, panting but to hear thy Ineer had venturetl c en to hofw for name, H . ']'"!' , ,,,.,„ . VVhich I believed a spell to me alone, Ha.l not the glow I felt at His award Scarce deeming thou wert as a star to AsMired me all was not extinct within, i men— Him whom all honour— whose renown As one should worship long a sacred Like sunlight which will visit all the ! Scarce 'won h a moth's flitting, which ^"^"^ ' I long grasses cross. 418 PAULINE 11 i^ I ; I I I And one small tree pmhowprs rlroop- : To havo soon thro, for n monipnt, a* ingly, I thou art. iloyinp toscesome wandoring insert won. To live in its few rushes— or some locust And if thou livest — if thon lovest, spirit 1 To pasture on its Iwughs— or some wild Remember n»e, who set this final seal bird ' To wandering thought — that one so Stoop for its freshness from the track- j ptire as thou less air, | Could never die. Rememljer me, who And then shoidd find it but the fountain- flung hea»l. All honour from my soul — yet iwu^cl Long lost, of so?'" ' great river — washing and said, towns ' Thcreisonesjiarkofloveremaininp vri. And towers, and seeing old woods which | For I have nought in common with him will live 1 — shapes But by its banks, untrod of human foot. Which followed him avoid me, and fntil Which, when the great sun sinks, lie ' forms quivering Seek me, which ne'er could fasten on liis In light as some thing lieth half of life mind ; Before fiod's foot, waiting a wondrous And tho' I feel how low I am to him. change ; Vet I aim not even to catc li a tone — Then girt with rocks which seek to Of all the harmonies he called \\\i, turn or stay j Soonegleamstillremains,altho'theljst.' Its course in vain, for it s rolling on, i with tears. Being the pulse of some great coimtry For never more shall I walk calm wiili — so i thee ; Wert thou to me — and art thou to the Thy sweet imaginings are as an aii-, worhl. ' A melo, And I, jierchance, half feel a strange Which, though it haunt men oti in iln- regret, j still eve, That I am not what I have Im-cii to ; They dream not to essay ; yet it no lc>«, thee : j But more is honoured. I was thitu- in Like a girl one has loved long silently. shame. In her first loveliness, in some retreat. An(l now when all thy proud renown i< When first emerged, all gaze anil glow to out, view I am a watcher, whose eyes hove <.'rown Her fresh eyes, and soft hair, and lips dim which bleed With looking for some star— wliiili Like a mountain berry. Doubtless it is breaks on him, sweet Altered, and worn, and weak, and full of To see her thus adored —but there have ; tears. been j Moments, when all the world was in his Autumn has come — like Spring ret uimhI praise, to us. Sweeter than all the pride of after hours. ' Won from her girlishness— like i'l(cr dreams thoughts I am proud to feel I would have thrown Of fading years; whose soft luontli up all i|uivprs yet The wreaths of fame which seemed o'er- With the old smile — but yet so c haiiiifJ hanging me, and still ! I i I PAULINE 410 And hero am I tlie scoffer, who have l>rol)e(i Life's vanity, won by a won! again Into my old life— for one little word Of this sweet friend, who lives in loving me. Lives strangely on ray thoughtH, and looks, and words. As fathoms down some nameless ocean thing Its silent course of quietness and joy. fjcarest, if. indeed, I tell the past, .Miiy'stthouforgetitas a sad sick dream; < Ir if it linger — my lost soul too soon Sinks to itself, and whispers, we shall he But closer linked — two creatures whom the earth Bears singly— with strange feelings, unrevealed But to each other ; or two lonely things Created by some Power, whose reign is done. Having no part in Ootl, or his bright world, 1 am to sing ; whilst ebbing day dies soft. As a lean scholar dies, worn o'erhis book, And in the heaven stars steal out one by one. As hunted men steal to their mnimtain watch. I must not think — lest this new impulse die In which I trust. I have no confidence, Si) I will sing on — fast as fancies come Rudely — the verse being as the mooy it, Not else to be revealed) is as a voire, A low voice calling Fancy, as a fricml, To the green woo w«o imi ^ , at first, "n one, whom praise of mine would not For I scarce knew what I would do. „., oTt-nd, I had I ''"o w«s as calm as beauty— lM?ing stu li Xo wish to paint, no yearning— but I J^"^" "'^nkind as thou to mo, Pauline,— sang. Believing in them, and devoting all \„jfi,„*T II . i His soul's strength to their winning baik -And hrst I sang, as I in dream have seen ; to peace • •Music wait on a lyrist for some thought, Who sent forth'hopes and longings for ^^'t singmg to herself untd it came. \ their sake fe'o '^ 1 turned to those ol.l times and scenes, j flothed in all pa.Uion's melodies, ^^hich where all jj,.jj^ ' "'" 'nmdf ''"' ''*'' '''■■•'' ^"'' ""■' "'"y'li'J^I't me, and set me, as to a sweet liu.le verses on them all ; and then 1 ^ To gathcr'l'verv breathing of his son;;s. ll>„I,wT^.i,;„„ T I.. . . I -^''tl woven with them there were words, la. done nothing, so I sought to know | which seemed W liat .nnid had yet achieve.l. Xo fear , \ key to a new world ; the muttering was mine , , . . I Of angels, of some thing unj'uesi.e» : for I had uft lx>t*n shiI, Mixtnititing my roetolvcb : but now 1 east And amid dullcrtt Higlitut, whu (ihoiild be I Ho|)e juyouHly away— I laughed «"«''<'. ""1 y,ji„ . I mcense rollt* For I must still go on : my mind rests ' ')ro»nd the altar-only (icxl is gone. „„( ' ; And some dark spirit sitteth in lux >c,it ! •Twas in my plan to look on real life, i ^ ' J'"'*"*;'' through the temple ; im.l In Which was all new to me ; inv theories i ""' , , , , , Were lirm. xo I left them, to look ui^.n ; '^"'•" ''".'^'I'': '''.,'•',"?<'"«'' = """' "" ^ Men, ami their care-s and hoiK-.s und ,,. """'''• "ail, king fears and ioys ; >> e serve thee now, and thou shall mim .\nd, as I iK>ndeied on them all, I sought ■ , ,, no i»»ore . ,, , How Ik'H life's end might be attained- V'"."J* "**.•!"■?'!' ""•''"♦ "^worshipli,. , : „„ ,.„,! .And 1 said. Are ye strong — let fiiiny (Vunpiising every joy. I deeply museil. , „ , '•*""'■ '"<^ , . ,, ' * "^ ' •' ' ■' I Far from the jinst.'— And 1 was Ik.iiic .And suddenlv, without lieart-wie( k, I . . f^*^, „ , • . , awoke' ** •^''"'' birds float sleeping in the wiml. As fromadream-I .said, 'twas iR'antiful, <*"'"'" «l«'«frlMowerH, ami forests, I I, m;- Yet but a ilream ; and so adieu to it. , ,,^ .',".',, As some world-wan.lerer sees in a far ;,\"'' * '*«!;'' ^ ''«^«' "'"'^•"^l «'l> p'"'-" • meadow """>' ^"' 1""*'^ "" '"•'• •^"'' " ''•'"'' Strange tower.'^. and walled "aideiis, . , h"|'" '"*', thick with trees, '*'"' '^■'■"■*'« '•■"•'d, we are here, ainl «t Where .>-inging goes on, and delicious . ^J'" '"«'<•■ . , . ,„ir(j, .\ way for thee — in thme ap|)omtc(l lil>' And laughing fairy creatures m-eping <>li look on us ! ' .\ml I said, ' Vc «ill over, ^ •' 11^ worship Ami on the morrow, when he comes to ^^^ ' ''''.f luy heart must worslil|. too/ ]j^.j. They shouted. For ever bv those sprin-s, and trees ' I'livself-'thou art our king ; ' n. I fruit-flushed. , '-•^•"♦' *''^''^ .\nd fairy Ixjwers— all his search is vain, •'^""""t' Well I remember . . . .And buoyant and rejoicing wat iLl Fiibt went my hoiK-s of |>eifectiiig man- | t^pirit liiud, i With which I looked out how to ciil iii> And faith in them — then freedom in days ; itself, I felt once more myself — my )lu\Ml^ And virtue in it.self — and then my ! were mine ; motives' ends, And jwwers and loves ; and human love went larit. I felt this no ilecay, bccau.sc new |)oweib I founil that youth or health solifti'liiu. That, spite of all life's vanity, no liikI Came nigh mc — I mubt ever be ii,hi- hearted ; Kose aa old feeling.- left— wit, mockery. And that Ihi- feeling wa; the oiiK \li u PAULINK 42a H«'t wixt iim and deHpair: no if age rame, I should bti UH a WTe«k linlcMi to a (toul Yet fluttering;, or mind-broken, and awarp Of my decay. So a long Muninier morn Found me ; and -'er noon came, I had renolved NO a){e shouhl come on me, ere youth's l»opt>« went. For I would wear my«elf out— like that morn Wliirh waHte I than hi.s. N.iiic tnisteemed to whis|)er me To ink a-'ain. live •.....? l!n-lilcrforsui h .seclusion- I but ( atcli And then know that tlii>cur>e will come A iiiic. a jilancc of what 1 sing : so pHin on us, I linked with i)]casurc. for 1 lu-cr may To sec our idols perish— we may wither ; *'." I Nor marvel— we are day ; but our lov/ I lie nidianl sights which ila/.zlc me ; ; fate but now Tluy shall be all my own, anil let them fade Should not extend thciii, whom trust- ingly ,. , ,, , , , , We sent Iwforc into Tin:e s yawning I ntold— others shall rise as fair, as fast. I gulf. And when all "s done, the few dim j To face whate'er may lurk in darkness gleams transferred, — i there (For a new thought sprung up— that it I To sec the jminters' glory pass, and feel _ ... , Wfre well .Sweet music move us not as inte, or in leave all shadowy hopes, and weave! worst, -iirh lays To SO' (Itiaving wits cie the fiad body k .\s would encircle me with praise and Decays. Nought luaktb me trust "in ''^^'•' '< love so really 424 PAl'LINK ^ i .f :i 1? An tin* {ht of llio (otitcntcd lownoss Cuiinol <(iiii<> nrai nu" — tliiix it is wnl With wliicli I ({azt> on Hoiili I'd kvv\> for fVlT III In-auty— I'd U- » .- IkwihI the loHn Of what few I retained ; for no rex.in. . AwaifN me— now behoUl the liuiii.'i .if all. I cannot chain my soul, it will not n-i In its day prison ; this most narmw sphere — When I had set myself to live this life, 1, , "I'here— Defying -dl opinion. Ere tlioii earnest " '"*^ «tr.inKe |K)wers. nnd feelings. »,>■ 1 WAS most happy, Hwcet, for old delights ' ,,,, . , ''t^''""'''' Mud eonie like bird-* again ; music mv i ' eannot account for, norex|.l.un. life •' I Hut which I stille nol. king IkmitkI I,. trust I \ I nourished more than ever, and old lore! ,,, , - Loved for itself, n-id nil it shows— the :\" '';*■'"'»''* t<|iinlly— to hear all side - king i ''■' * cannot indulge them, und ilny Treading the purple .aliiily to his death. „ , .''*''• -While round him, like the cloud> of ''•■'•''rmg to some >(ate or life iiii- eve. all dusk. ktiuwii . . . riie giant shades of fate, silently flittiii-. .My seltlsliiic, i. s.niad-.l lu.i, I'llethedimoiitlineof ihecoiuingd.Muii, It wears m..|ik.' a (lame ; mv'hiiiiu. i |,rr -And Iniii Mttini: alone in lilood, while All pleasure. Imv -..e'er minute, i> pun; fnemis j I envy— In. w I . nvy him whose iniii'l ' Aiv Ituntiiig far iii llie suiishme ; nmL Turns with it> energies to some one cihI : .... , *'"■ ''«y. i To elevate a se.t, or a pursuit. With Ills white l.reast and hrow and ^ However mean— somvslilll.attled hoM.^ eusteniig curls Seek out ahstrnctions : 1 woiihl haNc Mreaked with his mother's IiKk)4|, and' but one .'Striving har.l I Delight .. ihi« .till d.THvm- And 1 lanfiuk-riMl wlu-tlur I xhoiild fCame . . . ,„ , >'*■''' , , .. •<"' 1 I""""' nrvrrnricvc while lean t.H>^ \lilu'|K> and fiar.H. to hv.. alone with it. Far from .u. h il.ouKht.,--as now- hiidmj; a iim ..in|i.-nH.- in its wild .y.'s ; Anilron.rda • And whm 1 fuun.l Uwl L.hould iKJii.h And .h.. ih with in.- vais roll, 1 .i,«|| , 1 , '■"' , , 1 hanKf, I iMdo Its wild vyvH ihiM- fioni im- for Unt . hanjjr .an to.ah I n..l-,o I«-hm- An.llanUrftalon..withniy.l..|i«hls.- Wi,|, h.r.lark .v. >, .aiti.-l and Mill, N) It JH-s in nic a chained thin^t— still .i,,,! |„ij,. ■ - * » ,. ' y , , , , , I'ifU'.! an.l spi.url l.y the salt-swe.i.iiiL' li> serve me. if 1 hnwe its slijihte-t breeze; I '*?"i'T I . , ■ •^'"' "'"' "''I-'J*'"!", all the st.Min leaves I .aiiiiDt but Im- i.rou.l of my brijjht j,, heaven. "* *'• , Resting ii|M)n her eyes and fa. e and hair. And thus I know this earth is not my' "^^ "*'" ''*»''-^ ^''t' """ke on the wet sphere, " \ iH-a.'h, I'T I cannot xo narrow me. but that y the dark rock, and the white wave I -III! exceed it ; in their elements .My love would [wss my reason— but since here Lkuc must receive its objects from this earth, Uinle reason will be chainless, the few truth.s just breaking At iier feet ; cpiite naked and alone,— a thin); You €»yi; mi. Ciinght from its wanderings have suf- '/'*^ ''^ |)ass— 1 will call another . lianKc. tice■''''''"■'" "'^'"'* "^y'l'^'l'v. that love ' •^•"' "> ""' wane of life ; yet only so Which, with the object it demands, < *^'* '"'"" "1' their fears, and there shall would (piell ' { •■"'"« H.Hsoii, the' it soared with the sera- •) ^'"'*' ''••'»<•''■'"« youth's best enerui. s ; phim ? No— HJiut I feel may [hiss all human love. An.l straight I flinjr age, sorrow, sickness off. And I rise triumphing over my deoiy. Vet fall fur short of what my love should' . ,•, be ; I And thus it is that 1 supply tlu diann All lyctlscoinmore wari>edinthisthan ' ^^ixt what I am and all that 1 would aucht. i be. I "I here my.-elf stands out more hid- i **"' '''^'" **» •">"* nothing— to hojK' f (ruin a Mian-i "rlilicrty, orloveof mi^htv^.o^l.^. 'i'"'- " . . L.v(, iu-ing them. , lit : loit, U u>iu-lit I',, I 1 u X 1 . remains. >"ii 1 begin to know what thing hale n— 1 1 Ih-it ■I i Mi ' ^ i! i il! ? t 1 f.iii I i f li r 1^ 426 PAULINE There 's some vile juggle with my rcaKon As one !>reathing his weakness to the ( ;ir here — Of pitying angel— dear as a v/intir I feel I but explain to mv own loss flower ; These impulses— they live no less the i A slight flower growing alone, an.l same. | offering Liberty ! what though I despair— mj ' Its frail eup of three leaves to the < oM blood I sun, Rose not at a slave's name ptoudlier j Yet joyous and confiding, like tlit than now, ; triumph And sympathy obscured by sophistries. I Of a child— and why am I not wortliv Why have not I sought refuge in myself. '■ thee '1 But for the woes I saw and could not stay — And love ! — do I not love thee, my Pauline 1 I cherish prejudice, lest I be left Utterly loveless — witness this belief In poets, tho' sad change has come thtre too ; No more I leave myself to follow them : Unconsciously I measure me by them. Let me forget it ; and I ath When it is most alive — where strangest "ftween t' o sidlen river and the w(k«1> fate "'"•" ' "--=- '-" .New .sha|H\s it past surmise — the taL's of men Kit by sonu' curse— or in the grasps of doom Half-visible and still iiu reasing round. Waving and muttering — for the inooii- less night Has sbaiH'd them info images of lift . Like the upraising of the girtnl-gl;i>-i-. Lantiiig Thcc an- wild l.iiuii ■. but I feci, .:Wctt Of thv s"fl brea.-l.-. : no — wc will I'd-.- fricnd. to muruiug- PAULINE 427 Moniinji— thf rotks, ami vallrys, and j One |)onool whose waters li and stone, asleep ^l joins its parent-river with a shout. .\niid the trailing Iroughs turned water- Up for the trlowing day— leave the old plants. j woo : Ati.l tall trees over-arch to keep us in, \ See, they |)art, like a ruined arch, the sky ! Nothing but sky appears, so close the root And grass of the hill-top level with the air — Blue sunny air, where a great cloud floats, lacien With light, like a dead whale that white birds pick. Floating away in the sun in some north sea. Air, air— fresh lifc-blootl- thin and Breaking the sunbeams into emerald shafts. And in the dreamy water one small group 0( two or three strange trees are got together. Wondering at all around— as strange beasts herd Together far from their own land— all wildness — No turf nor moss, for boughs and plants p&ve all. Ami tongues of Iwnk go shelving in 'he \ searching air- .,., waters. .The clear, dear breath of (Jod, that Hlicrotlie pale-throattnl snake reclines | loveth us : his head. i Where small birds reel and winds take Anil old grey stones lie making eddies | their delight. ,,., }}\*^'^^' ' ' Water is beautiful, but not like air. llic wild mice cross them diy-shoil— ; See. where the solid azure waters lie. deeiRT in— , Made as of thickened air, and down Miut thy soft eyes— now look— still below ,,., . ''f<'I»f'" '" : The fern-ranks, like a forest, spread 1 Ills is the very heart of the wihhIs— all themselves, ., •o'lnd. As tho' each |)ore could feci the element : .uouuiaii.-hkc, hcaiK-d above u> ; yet i Where the cpiick glancing seriMint winds even here hj^ wav— 42H PAULINE li II I: ii f I FloHt with me tluTf, Paulino, but not liku air. Down the hill — Ao\) — a clunip of trops, see, !»et (111 a heap of rot'ks, whieh look o'er the far |)lain!s. And envious climbing shrubs would mount to rest, And |H;er from their spread lx)ughs. There they wave, looking At the muleteers, who whistle as they go To the merry chime of their morning Ik-IIs, and all The little smoking eots, and fields, and banks. And copses, bright in the sun ; my spirit wanders. Hedgerows for me — still, living, hedge- rows, where The bushes close, and clasp above, and keep Tiiought in — I am concentratetl — I feel ;— But my soul saddens when it looks Ix'yond ; 1 caiHiot be immortal, nor taste all. tJod ! where does this tend— these struggling aims ! ' What would I have? what is this'sleep,' which seems To bound all '! can there 1^ a ' waking " |)oint Of crowning life 1 The soul would never rule — It would be first in all things— it woiiM have Its utmost pleasure lilled, — but lliat complete Commanding for conunandingbickcn.'- it. The last jwint that I can trace is, rc>t beneath Some better es.sencc than itself in weakness ; This is 'myself — not what I think should Ik-, And what is that I hunger for but (iod ; My (Jod, my (iod ! let me for once lo.ik on thee As tho' nought else existed : we alone, .\nd as creation crumbles, my .'^on^s spark Expands till I can say, ' Even from inv- self I nee For love of thee — or that I feel as one Who cannot tlie — but there is that in mi Which turns to thee, which loves, or which should love.' Why have I girt myself with this hell- dress ? Why have I laboured to put out my lift .• Is it not in my nature to adore. And e'en for all my reason do I not Feel him, and thank him, and pray to him ? — Sow. ! I i • Je crnins bien que iiion jiiiin le ami ne wit pas tuiijoni ^ |nrr,iit«ment coiiiprU dauii ce qui leste A lire de cet I'tianija fiagi.if lit— iii.ii* il est nioins iiro(ne i|iie tuiit niitre a oiluircir co nui dc sa iiatinu lie (loiit jaiiiaiietie qiiu S'>ii','e et toiifiKion. Uailleiiis je ne sais tro|>»i cii clif.rliant ,i iiiiiux iip.iirdi)imoicetfaiiii:4 iwities Inn iicruiiiiait jus Ic ii3<|iie iroi«iiit et puis h'a|Kii^e i«r degivs, ees el,in.t de laiiie.ce retoiirwmdain Biir ; .i. iiiciiie, et, iwr-dessiis tout, la tuuiiniiedVspril toute p.trtirulictv de niim ami, lendeiit lesch ihl'.' iiiena pie:<|ue iiiiliOMible». Le» iai!aluirailleiiii>,etd'autied encore |ilui pui^»,lMtl.-. ont fait tiouver b'l.Uc a mes yeux iiour eet Ociit ipt aiilieiueBt je liii eiig.se couseilltS de iit.r au feu.— Je n'eii iroi.-- iws iiioiiia an giand prinei|ie de toute r'oiu|iositiiiii— ^ ce piiniip<' d. Miakhiieaie.de ItalTaelle, de lleetliuven, dim il huitiiiie laeuiicentr.ition deh iil.Vs estdiie bien |.lll^ i leur coneeption, qua leiir nii»e en execution . , . j ai tout lieu de craindie que la pieinidie d.- n- qualit«'8 uewit eiunre etiangcre u nion ami— et je doiite foitqu'un redoiibleiueat du travail lui fassB ac<|iu'iii- la seconde. Le mieux .^e^ait do bii'ilcr cici ; mais que fail*? Je trois que dans te ipii »uit il fait alluiioii ii iin certain cximen qn'il fit autrefois de I JlTiicnu plutdt de son Hiiic, iHjiir diViun i ii' l.i aiiitc dcs objct.- aUM|Ucl. il lui oerait im«-ible d'attemlf . ' i ilont cliacMU line fnii obtcnu dc\ iit foiiiicr iiuo c^lH;ce ilc pl.itciu dim Ion |Miuv.iit aiK r ■ mi dautus but.-, d.iutics piuiut-, il autu- )i>ui?-,UHc.. qui, a !• ur Imir. (l >,iieiit etic ^uiiiioiil' 1 1 m ii'-iiitait que I'oubli it Ic -iiiiiiiuil il>\ lii'iil I nut tiiuiiui i, C'l.ttc id-i. 'lUc !■: ac ;ai i ) •■ ■ '-!' iailcuicul iui t.t i".m tUt aUi--i lutellui We qii ,i iwjt, -.-..... j . I'Ml.f I. . , PAULINE 429 Can I forgo the trust that he loves 1110 ? j A sorrow moves me, thou ranst not Do I not feel a love which only one . . . | remove, thou pale form, so dimly seen, deep- j Look on this lay I dedicate to thee Tu 7*^'* J .u . . . T j Which thro' thee I began, and which 1 have ^. that e'en 1 ! now. And now. my Pauline, I am thine for < In the dim hush of night-that I have ^ver . donp I feel the spirit which has buoyed me up With fears and sad forebodings : I look l''t whileitslastlightwaits, I wouldsay i still. ,„ I i,™fl*'''T I 1 .. T . With her delicious eyes as clear as Ami chiefly. I am glad that I have said , heaven rhnt love which I have ever felt for thee. ^ When rain in'a quick shower has beat Hilt seldom toUl ; our hearts so l)eat ' down mist, Tl..f ..t^Sfu*'"* 1 1 , u . . ••^""I t'lo"*''* tloat 'white in the sun like 1 hat s|)eeeh is mockery, but when dark i broooking no further than thy swttt -And one isle harboured a sea-beaten ; commands. ship, ' .".nd thou hast chosen where this lilV .And the crew wandered in its bowers, : shall be — and plucked Its fruits, and gave up all their hoi)es for home. .And one dream came to a pale |x>et'.s sleep. -Vnd he said, ' I am singled out by Go Persons. .\rREOLrs PARACELsts, a student. Festps and Michat., his fricmls Aprile, an Italian poet, I. PARACELSUS ASPIRES. Only on moments stirh as these, ami environs. 1512, ways Festi-s, Paracelsus, Michal. j ^''"'^ ^'^^l^^^^ = '^^ ^'"■''«'' ''"'"'' "'"""" Par. (k)me close to me. dear friends ; i Will say, ' this autumn was a ploa>ant still closer ; thus ! j time,' Close to the heart which, though long i For some few sunny days; and over- time roll by look Ere it again beat quicker, presse All fitful, strange and moody waywani- , mute uess ; .\p|H'al to symimthy foi its decay : Which e'er confused my lietter spirit, to : LtH>k up, sweet .Michal, nor e-t<'< m ilu' oke 1 11 1 wuiii' jfiiii t<|ioKe shall vex that ash which overlooks you Of Miolial and her tears, I thought that both. none >o proud it wears its berries ? Ah, at Could willing leave what he so seemed '<'ng">. I to love: The old smde meet for her, the lady of But that last look destroys my dream— <•"« I that look NM|uostered nest !— this kingdom. As if, where'er you gazed, there sloo«J>'itate, nor apprehend I ravelling to see the glossy balls high up Encroaching trouble may have reached Hiingbythecaterpillar. like gold lamps. I them too, Mifh. Intriithwehavelivedcarelessly Nor have recourse to fancy's busy aid and well. And fashion even a wish in their behalf 1 ar. And shall, my jwrfect iwir !— Beyond what they possess already here • each trust me, Iwrii i But, unobstructed, may at once forget hor the other; nay, your very hair, I Itself in them, assured how well they when mixed, i fare. Is of one hue. For where save in this I Beside, this Festus knows he hohls me nook I onp Shall you two walk, when I am far | Whom quiet and its charms arrest in "Wiiy, vain, Mid wish me pros|»erous fortune? Stay: One scarce aware of all the joys I quit that plant Too filletl with airy hoix^s'to make Miall never wave its tangles lightly and account "oftly. .... I Of soft ilelights his owni heart garners Asa .p'wns languid mid imi^rial arm ' up ^ ■» Which scatters crowns among her h.vcrs. Whereas. In-hold how miirl. our sense '"'» yn" i of all If pi 434 PAKACKLSrs That s U'ttutt'oiiH |.rovi's nlikc ! When Have— iit'vtT Wfuriwiyoii, oh, no !-;is I Festim loanis ' Kocall. and nevt-r vividly as now. That I'viTv conimon (ilcasurc of ihc ! Your tnit' atTivtion, born when Kin-i.. world I dclii .\ll'cct^< mo a|ie(ite for joy derived From common things; a stake in life. in short. Kike his ; a stake which rash |mrsiiit of aims That life alTords not, would as stMtn destroy : — He may convince liimself that, this in view. I shall act well advised. And last, because. Though heaven and earth and all things were at stake. Sweet Michal must not weep, our parting eve. F(il. True: and the eve is dee|H>ning, and we sit As little anxious to lx>sin our talk As though to-morrow I could hint of it As we paced arni-in-ann the cheerful town At sun-dawn ; or could wliisper it by fits (Tritheniius busied with his class the white) In that dim cliandier where the noon- streaks i>eer Half frightened by the awful tomes around ; Or in some grassy lane unlMsom all From cvcn-blush to midnight : but, to- ns ; And still iiK rcasinp to this night win. Ii enils My further stay at Wiir/.burg. Oh. mn day Vou shall Im? very proud ! Say on, >l( ,ir friends ! Ffsl. In truth ? 'Tis for my pr.ijHr |>eaee, indeed. Rather than yours; for vain all pro- jects seem To stay your course : I said my iatc-t ho|)c Is fading even now. A story tells Of some far embassy (lis|>atehed to win The favour of an eastern king, anl how The gifts they oflered proved but daz- zling dust Shed from t;i* ore-beds native to Ins clime. Just so, the value of repose and love, I meant should tempt you, belter far than I You seem to comprehend ; and yet dc- sist Xo wliit from projects where rejwsc luir love Have i)art. Par. Once more? Alas! as I foro- iKKle. morrow ! j Fe< A solitary briar the bank nnls Have I full leave to tell my inmost : forth '"'!"' ■ ' ^** ^^^^ '""^ swan's nest floating out to We have been brothers, and henceforth sea. theworhl ' p„r. Dear Fo>tns, hear me. Wliat i< Will rise Ijetwe."!! us: — all my freest mind ? 'Tis the last ni;,'hf, ilcar Aureole ! Par. Oh, say on ! Devise some test of love, some arduous feat To lie i)erformed for you : say . ! If night Be spent the while, the l)etter ! Recall it you Wish ? That I should lay aside my heart's pur- suit. Abandon the sole ends for which I live. Reject Clod's great commission, ami so die ! You bid me listen for your true love's sake : Yet how has grown that love ? Evdi in a loHii how oft My wcmdroiis plans and dioains and And |)atient^cherishing of the sc hoj)es and fears , spirit n PARAf'ELSrS 435 It now would quell; as thonjjh a inoJlicr ,\nril where they most ensure success. Ftsf. Prove that to me — but that ! Prove, you abide \:w PAKAOKLSrs t 11 n II > 'I f t ' ill I! i i 1:1 ; * » I ti Wiiliiii ilu'ir warrniif. nori>r<^xtiin(iiii(in>4 lOf ihn«o «o favniirpil. wlmm yon nm (ioort ; ami, most of all. To grasp all, ami retain all, ami dt^ rvc Provpfhcutrangpooursoyounowalfoot. Hy patient toil a wide renown lik. will load his. To its attainment— and I hid you speed. \ow, this new ardour whirh supplant'" N'ay, count th»' niinutex till you ventur- the old. forth! I watrhetl, too; 'twas significant iinl You smile; but I ha
  • mii'. Why Ktrangc Such a rocesH should lurk \y\v-\ ' i like a half-burnt taper, lit F]rsi at some marriage-feast, then lanl away ' I • " .« Armenian bridegroom's dyiiii- lay, ' I 'i,^ vool wedding-robe. For he r he, ; lie- I of this hearts' blooti of Uun- ' ' .rdy, I If Isr uli! falter now)— for he is Thine : i"(li lo, thy forerunner, Florentine '. A Iter tl(i-star I know thou didst almmli Hcic .ilesN into the consummate orb "i 'i.'i Hcarevl it from its right to roll almiu -flame sinks and rises with lass In John's t iscendent vision,— lauiirli oer r What woman st<)oetwef'n ! Her wise And lulling w.irds are yet al»out the room. Her presence wholly |)oured uisjii the gloum That lustre ? Dante. ))acer of the sIkih- Where glutted hell disgorgeth filthitsi gloom, I'nbitten by its whirring sulplnir- spume — Or wheaoe the grieved and oli:;tnii- waters sIo|M' Into a darkness quiete-lrHiiiiii^ fonlicM'l, -ImiildiiH (iixrHcyi- piirpUil, hair In jtrRtioiw twihghtH whrro IIjm i h«tM'ii Dilltiwl Utwifn, wlm in ii jioal-fikin hf. Ix-ar 1 wouhl *iith'r liKht l>y fits 'tin morahs l|>on a marvel in tin- iiiit. Nuy. Ill winter up to Mantua walls. I'hcre »tiK>p WUH, A iliillish >irry-Htrrakf font, Sdiiie thirty yettrH before this eveningV i* grou|> loil, Koiintl it, eaih nide of it. wluie'er one llneH|H)t reelaimed fronilheHurrotuuliiij.' I'eex, N|K)il, Ipholdw it— ^hrillkin^? ('aryatiileH (Inilo; jiiHt a eantle built amid Of ju^t-tingefi marble like KveV lilicd A few low iiiountainM ; firs and larihe-. flesh hid lieneath her Maker's finger when the Their main ileHles, u.id rings of vineyard fresh Ixjund First pulse of life shot brightening the The rest. Some eaptureil ereature in snow. a |iound, The font's ee-time. Pass to veil within. Their evec, some, propping ehin and .\ maze of eorridon* eontrivwl for sin, elieek so pale. Dusk winding-stai.s, dim galleries got Some, hanging claek an utter helple^^ )>ast, length Vou gain the inmost chambers, gi.in at IVad as a buried vestal whose whole last strength A maple-|)anelicanel. if theie gleams see, A sunbeam over it, will turn to g.-^ld Like priestesses I ei aiise ( f sin impure And in light-gn.ven characters unfold Penanced forever, who resigned endure. The Arab's wisdom everywhere ; what Havint' that once drunk sweetness to shade I" 'Iregs. Miirrelori for them : constant as eve lie flit like a company of palms to prop came The roof, each kissing top entwined 1< it beside each in her turn, the with top, same L"«n!ng tot^thrr ; in the carver's mind A- one of theni, a certain space: and Some knot of bacchanals. Hushed iheek awe combined Made u great indi^^tiuctnes!l till he saw 534 8011DELL0 [book I StiiiMt slant ihet-rfnl through the liiittrrsM-chiiiks, Ciolil seven tinic» hIoUmI ; mirely our nmiilcn shrhiks Antnrn to the warn* air Half-germinating spices ; mere s At eye and ear, while round the re>t i> furled (As though she would not trust tlicni with her world) A veil that shows a sky not near so liliic. And lets b\it half the sun Unjk ftrvnl through. How can such love ^— like souls on ( iu li full-fraught Discovery brooines Thatshutsout Mantua, still in loneliness, A slender boy in a lm)se i)age's dress, Sordello : do but look on hin» aw bile Watching ("tis autumn) with an earnest smile 'I'he noisy Hock of thievish birds at work Among the yellowing vineyards ; see him lurk (■ Tis winter with its siillcnest of storms) IJcside that arras-length of broidered forms. On tiptoe, lifting in iK>th hands a light Which makes yon warrior's visage flutter And separate inten'sts that may cinpl bright — Hcelo, dismal father of the hnxxl. Ami Ecelin, close to the girl he wooed. Auria, and their Child, with all his wives Fro'u Agnes to the Tuscan that survives, l^dy <)f the castle, Adelaiile. His face — liOok, now he turns away! Your- selves shall trace (The delicate nostril swerving wide and fine, A sharp and restlos lip, so well combine With that calm brow) a soul fit to receive Delight at ever;, sense ; you can l>elicve That Iwaufy fitly, for its projicr sake Xor rest they here; fresh birtli> and il"\ui Runs arrowy-tire, while ciuthly fiiu - combine To tliroli the set ret forth; a tnnli divine — And the scaled eyeball owns the iii\-'i< roroyrcb- aii' name::, the stir,- BOOK I J SORDELLO 535 A need to blend witli eaeh external ■ eliarni, [ liury thenibelves, the whole heart wide and warm, In tioincthin}! nut theniiielveM ; they would belong To what they worship — stronger and mure strong i Thus prodigally feast escajH' The votary framed to love ami to submit ; Nor ask, as |)assiunately he kneels to it, Wheme grew the idol's em|)ery. So . runs A legend ; light had birth ere moons and suns, ! Flowing througli spaee a river and alone, Till chaos burst and blank the spheres were strown Mithcr an.s their own ; A dream eouu> true ; the sjiecial exercise • If any s|K'cial fun< lion that impliex Tile iM'iiig fair, or giwd, or wi>e. or st rung. l>ormanf within their nadire all along -- Whose fault ? So, homage, other souls direct Without, turns inward ; ' How should this deject Tiice, soul ? ' thev nuirmur ; " where- fore slrengili 1m' tjuelled lictause, it^ trivial accidents withheld, UrgauH are missed that clog the world, inert. Wanting a will, to (piicken aiul exert, Ijike thine- exist ejice cannot satiate. Cannot surprise '! laugh thou at envious fate. Who, from earth's simplest combination stanipt With individuality — uncrampt iiy living its faint elemental life. Dost soar tu heaven's complexcst essenie, rife With grandetn-s, unatlronted to the last, E(|ual to Iving all ! ' In truth '! Thou hast Life, then — wilt challenge life for us : our race Is vindicated so, obtains its place In thy ascent, the tirst of us ; whom wc May follow, to the nu-anest, tinally. With our nujre l)oundcire |)ossess it to put all That nature forth, forcing our straitened sphere Contain it, — to display completely here The mastery another life shouM learn. Thrusting in time eternity's concern, — So that Sonli-llo . . . F(K)I, who spied the mark Of leprosy M|M)n him. violet-dark .Mrcaciv as he loiters ? Horn jiist now. With tW new century, bc>ide the glow Anainful bittli must !«• Matured ere Saint Eufenua s samsty f^U:mm r,M\ SOKDELLO (B(M»K I Or tr.in.^<'|it )i'*c romul tiiat — ami, i^ay ii.uler a inystcrioun iiitcnlii-t- - i" the iiii'lst. !Slight. junt enough renicmliered !■. riiy si>C(trHl whitcnc*>, Muthcr-tnaid, restrict who didst , His roaming to the corridors, the \,ih ■ I'uisuc the diz'/.y [lainter ! i Where those font-hjearers expiate iluu Woe, then, worth ' fault. Any otHcious babble letting forth The uiHple-chamber. and the little nonk- I'he le|)rosy contirnied an And nests, and breezy j)ara|iet t'l ' To s()irit lodged in a contracted Iioum^ ' looks (io back to the bei;inning. rather ; blend (Her the wood- to Mantua: there li'' It gently with Sordello's life : the end strollee-t, some lid to shut ado ii|K)n liistant a dozen hill-toiis at (he most The goblin ! So they found at Habylon. An'l lirst a simple >ense of life i ii- (Co'lengues, mad Lucius and sau'e grossed (Antonine) Sordello in hi- drowsy Parad;-c : Sacking the city, by A|iol|o's shrine. Theday'sadventuresforthedaysiittiM - In rummagini; among the rarities. lis constant tribute of jH-rcepti": A certain coffer : he who made the pri/i' strange. 0|H'ned it greedily ; and out there curled With sleep and stir m healthy ititc- .Fust such anothet plague, for half the change, world Suffice, anil leave him for the next it Was slung. Crawl in then, hag, and ca-e couch asipiat. Like the srreat palmer-worm that -tiii - Kei'ping tluit blotchy bosom thick in the trees, spot Kats the life out of every hhscious plant. I'ntil yom- lime is ri|H' I The coffcr-lid .\nd, when St-ptember finose Sordello hence name. Selfish enough, without a moral sen^c Kach with an Hs|)ect never twiie the However feeble ; what informed the boy same. Others (lesirec- I«ipping Sordello r Not a circumstance thatch That makes for you. frienil Naddo I Eat Tlic day those archer'^ wound along tlw- fern-seed sines .\noppy felt with him ! Though This world of ours by tacit jiact is he ])le(lged Partook the poppy's red effrontery To laying such a s|>angled fabric K)W Tdl .Autumn spoiled their tleering (piite Whether by gradual b«ush or gallant with rain. blow. .And. turbanless. a coarse brown rattling lint its abundant will was baulked here : crane doubt Lay bare. That s gone I yet why Hose tardily in one so fenced alM)ut renouiuc. for that. From nujsl that nurtures judgment. His (lisenchante(l tributaries — tint care and pain : I'erhaiis, but scari <■ so utteilv forlorn. Judgment, that dull expedient we arc Their simple prc-ctuc mi;:lil not well 1( fain, borne -L*. •-. '- 4^_>J^ -:=^-*9fvr-'.^:'^'v^^ -;;3*-.-jDrj«- mn SORDKLLO [BOOK I WhoHo parli-y was ii trans|K)rt oik <•: j Ami H«y for them their ntiflcerfunies. For this ijinoblc wish to (ircuinscribe Starte "'and Alas, from the bcjiinning love is whole i Alone. Strength, wisdom, grace on And true ; if sure of nought beside. every hand most sure Stum disengaged themselves, and lie Of its own truth at least ; nor may discerne own vrtiii, Peculiar dower of bliss, stand each .il"i • mmmmmmmam mmmHm BOOK 1] SOIIDELLO In MOinc ono [Kiint where something dearest lovee to estimate the other's stcxk Of attributt>s, that on a marshalled flock Of authorizetl enjoyments he may s])en(l Himself, Ik- men, now, as he used to blend With tree and flower— nay more en- tirely, else Twerc mockery ; for in-taiue, ' how excels 539 ' (who apprised My life that chieftain's the youth Kcelin, hen-, becomes this month truth, Im|>erial Vicar 1) ' ' Remissly 1 Be i m Deliciously ami' m What if he stalk- he in his tent y heail is bent s to ^'ec|>. Trei.i iw-f< Tis l)eside Only a dream ; and though I must abide With dreams now, I may find a thorough vent For all myself, a((piire nn instrument For acting what these jHoplc act ; my soul Hunting a IkmIv out. may gain its whole Desire some liay ! ' How else exi>rejs chagrin And resignation, show the hoi)e steal in With which he let sink from an aching wrist The rough-hewn nsh bow '! straight. a gold shaft bisseerbly ! 'Crosses to the breach! (iod's Town Is gained Him back I ' Why 1 rei)arei(| Can it Im' Friedrichof the bowmens talk? Me rag by rag expose how {latchwork lul Surely that graiK'-juicc, bubbling at the The youth—what thefts of every cliiin' stalk, and day Is some grey scorching Saracenic wine Contributed to purfle the array The Kaiser ipiaffs with the Miramolinc — He climbcerts russet-sheathefore him, aye ilo-if. So rarely the sctciu' cloud where he Flittered in the cool some azure (lam ■!- |iell- die. in-ymiii^,iKi:i^m''ylie .She, scorning all bes-ide. deserves the wood most Tric\r the comh-sidc swings feeling fcr would hang I ''"ol a'"". White summer-lightnings ; as it sank Tlif vciii-streaks swoln a richer vmlct andsj)rang I >*•><*«' , , , ., To measure, that whole palpitating The languid blooine-glooius. Kinphati*- ; only nirls are verv slow Time fleets : To disapiiear— his IVIians ! Si\x.t ' By granting him our Palma ! '—The None . ome : our lingering laurdlo sole child, I <|"ii« , ,. . , , ,,., They mean, of Agn.> Este who Ix-guiled Mantua at last, and light our huly Hits 542 SORDELLO [book II lla.ktohpri.loMMlisbiirtlu-nwIofafarp. Our hiirieil yoar, a wit< li, gn-w y..m Strange— to Im' contttant hen- if hf n* tiMTe! IsiUlidtruHt ? Oh. never! for they both (iuad Eielin alikf— Roinano'it growth So daily manifest, that Arzo's iluinb And KichanI wuvim : let but Friedruh eoiiie ! ~Fin«le and ilH young Kaiser'M court To King u(* a MesHina morning up. And, double rillet of a drinking cup. again To {vlaiid incantationfi, and that htuin About were frouj her cauldron, gr»< n Hnioke blent 1 With thoBC black pineH '— »o Eglanmr ' g'»ve vent I To a chance fancy. Whence a ju^i ' rebuke From hist com|)anion; brother Xuddo shook i The Holemnest of brows ; ' Beware,' lie I Haid, ! ' Of netting up conceits in natiin'> Sp"klc ailing to ease the land of drouth, I dead ! ' Xorthwanl to Provence that, and thus Forth wandered our Sordello. Noiipln far south >*o sure The other What a methoti to apprise As that to-day s atlventure wdl kci ui. Xeittlibours of births, esi^usals, obsc I'alnia, the vi>.ione. Then wide Openetl the great morass, shot every >ii If With flashing water through uihI , through ; a-shine. wfience an j Thick-steaming, all ah ve. Whose sliai'' divine Which, breaking on Sordello's mi.xed ' Quivered i' the farthest rainbow-va|HMir. content. ()|>ened, like any flash that cures the bliml. The veritable business of mankind. BOOK THE SECOXn The woods were long austere with snow : at last Pink leaHets budded on the beech, and fast Larches, scattertnl through pine-trt»e solitudes glanced Athwart the Hying herons ? He inl- vanced. But warily ; though Mincio leajHti im more, Each foot-fall burst up in the ninri-li- floor Adiamond jet: and if he stopped t" pK k Rose-lichen, or molest the leeches ipiK k, And circling blood-worms, miiiiKiw, newt or loach, A sudden i>ond would silently encmat li This way and that. On Palma pa^t "I The verge Brigliten«Ml, ' us in the slumbrous heart j Of a new wowl was gained. Sli. will II (lie woods emerge BOOK II] SORDELLO 543 hliiHhfHl, now, and iwnling,— rrowilH to Mw, — will own She luveM him — Bonifaro to hear, to groan. To leave lii« xtiit ! One Roreen of jiinc- trcvH Htill Hollaed the Jongleiini, — ' Eglamor, whotte lay CToneluileH bii iwtron'M Court of Love to- npheHtruck. Sordello'H brain Swam ; for he knew a sometime deed again ; So, could supply each ' olish gap and cliUMm The minstrel left in his enthuhiiiNrn, Mistaking its true version — was tli ' tie Not of Ajiollo ? Only, what avail Luring her down, that Klys an lit- pleased. In truth No prophecy had come to jiass : hia youth In its prime now — and where waa homage (toured Tpon Sordello t — Wvrn to U' aemee explained. It { done, went for nought— Sordello was Iteside him, had begun Tile best of their endowments were ill (Spite of indignant twitchings from his bought I friend With his identity : nay, the conceit, , The Trouvere) the true lay with the true That this day's roving led to Palina's | end, feet : Taking the other'^ nuincM and time and Was not so voin — list ! The word, i place ' Palma ! ' Steal ! For his. On flew the song, .> ^iddv race. Aside, and die, Sordello ; this is real, [ After the (lying story ; word made leap And this — abjure! ! Out worti, rhyme- rhyme ; the lay What next ? The curtains, see, could barely keep Dividing ! She is there ; and presently ; Pace with the action visibly rushing He will be there — the projier You, at i jwst : length— I Both ended. Back fell Naddo more III your own cherished dress of grace and i aghast strength : I Than some Egyptian from the harassed Most like, the very Boniface ! \ bull Not so. I That wheele..„„ k'lvu to nintf Elv«t ?— from eat l> lit Move.1 the arre..e.l magic ; m hm hraj. F;"-" l^^^' ZZnU\l a song of it 1 N..i.es gre*-. ami a light that turne-l to Yfj^r;,;^;^;;^,^ or th- other Heenu.l .,. An.l greller'gUre. until the i.jten.e flare *;";;„rp. helixMl hinm-lf to li-.l KuKulfe.! hi.n. shut the wl«.le h. ene •^'••J. »;/;f;i.'^;;;„,„'. f.,r. kch-. he sou,. .1 A„. .,;::;:Ci:r^a. many « Cur^mg By me.. ;. that m nateh to ...a.. At ho.:^'The sun shining his ru.l.ly i)f f«nri^; aa «ouu. fulling cone ... ...~ *""' ' t • 1 . 1 . l...t his I'he pve" nhmg the tir-treo-si>ire. aloft The customary Im.ls -chirp ; hut '"^ . [.;;', JfJ;;.; ,";». Then, how .livinc tl.r front ironi , , ., , Was erowneil— was rrowne^l! Her Kcentetl scarf urouml His neek! Whose gorgeous vesture heaiw the ground ? A prize 1 He turned, ami i>eeringly on cause . Such a jwrformance might exact .«i.- pluusc ... ■ . , From men. if they ha.l fanci.-s tuo Could fate "I •,: - n™;'ly,.«-l«'"'J,; B™,w";u. -on,™-..-..., U.„> .n,l I,„W ,«..r »..-h «.■« ^- Nl-*'- „„,/;:•,.,..-. rw ---■'-■ix" ■"•'";";' :";': hoo«l si>ent I „♦ 1 ' <„„.l,lAnohetl the livelong sumiii.i - il In taking, well for him. so l.rave a Vn-nt ^''"-'''^^^''^hVard Since Kglan>or.' they heard, was dead ^hose two rhymes, assented at n.y with spite, • . i . ' wi.rd AI..1 Pal.... '. Our beaten Troubadour had seen hia day. Old wonhippen wereaomething shamed, yet I old friend* lk>neatn tnc, like their ERiamor, have , \'igh weary ; still the death proposed set I amends. An impress on our gift ? So, men believe ' Let us but get them safely through my And worship what they know not, nor song receive .And home again ! ' quoth Naddo. Delight from. Have they fancies— All along, slow, |ierchance. This man (they rest the bier upon the .Sot at their beck, which indistinctly | sand) glance — This calm corpse with the looae flower* I'ntil, uy song, each floating part l>e ' in his hand, linkel)structeened, there was lull agape, As Saint this sinqwrcd past in sanctify, Sinner the other flared iwrtentous by A greedy people. Tlicn why st<)i>, surprised At his success ? The scheme was realized Too suddenly in one respect : a crowd Praisiiig, eyes quick to see, and lips as loud To speak, ilelicious homage to recrivo. The woman's breath to feel ui>on liis sleeve. Who said, ' But Anafest— why asks ho less Than Lucio, in your verses ? how ( re.'-entii.ent — of the whole By parts, the simultaneous and the sole By thesiucessivc and the many. I^^cks The crowd jieneplion '! ]>ainfiilly it tacks Thought to thought, which Sonlello, needing such. Has rent perception into : it 's to clutch And reconstruct — his oflice to diffuse. Destroy : as hard, then, to obtain a Muse As to become Aik)I1o. ' For the rest, E'en if some wondrous vehicle exprest The whole dream, what impertinence in me So to express it, who myself can I e The dream ! nor, on the 1 1! c hand, are those I sing to, over-likely to stipi ■ ^e A higher than the highest 1 present Now, which they i>raiso already : be content Both parties, rather — they with the old verse. And I with the old jiraise — far go, fare worse A few adhering rivets loosed, uj- springs The angel, spt'.rklcs off his mail, and rings Whirled from each dclicate-t limb it warps, As might Aiwllo from the sudden corps 552 SORDELLO [BOOK II I lis! - 1 !h Of Hyatiuth have cast his luckless | quoits. He set to celebrating the exploits } Of Montfort o'er the Mountaineers. i Then came ' Tho world's revenge: their pleasure, now his aim Merely.— what was it 1 ' Not to play the fool I So much as learn our lesson in your school ! ' i Replied the world. He found that, every time He gained ajtplause by any ballad- rhyme, I His auditory recoi^nized no jot i As he intended, ami, mistaking not j Him for his meanest hero, ne'er was | dunce I Sufficient to believe him — all, at once. ; His will . . . conceive it caring for his ' will ! I — Mantuans, the main of them, ad- ' miring still How a mere singer, ugly, stunted, weak. Had Montfort at completely (so to i speak) 1 His fingers' ends ; while past the praise- tide swept To Montfort, either's share distinctly kept : The true meed for true merit ! — his abates Into a sort he most repudiates. And on them angrily he turns. Who were The Mantuans, after all, that he should care About their recognition, ay or no ? In spite of the convention months ago, (Why blink the truth ?) was not he forctd to help This same ungratefid audience, every whelp Of Xaddo's litter, make them pass for peers With the bright band of old Goito years. As erst he toiled for flower or tree Y Why, there Sat Palma ! Adelaide's funereal hair Ennobled the next corner. Ay, he strewed - A fairy dust x^wn that multitude, Although he feigned to take them by themselves ; His giants dignified those puny elves, Sublimed their faint applause. In short, he found Himself still footing a delusive round, Remote as ever from the self-display He meant to compass, hamiiered every way By what he ho|)ed assistance. Whtn - fore then Continue, make beheve to find in nun A use he found not ? Weeks, months, years went t.y ; And, lo, Sordello vanished utterly. Sundered in twain ; each sjiectral pait at strife With each ; one jarred against anotlur life : The P(H>t thwarting hojHjlessly the .Man Who, fooletl no longer, free in fancy ran Here, there ; let slip no oi)j>ort\mitif.s As pitiful, forsut utl With self-refiectings by the Potts scheme. Though ne'er so bright ; that sauntiiid forth in dream, Drest any how. nor waite«l mystie frames. Immeasurable gifts, astounding claims. But just his sorry self — who yet might l»i- Sorrier for aught he in reality Achieved,80 pinioned ThatthePoet-pait, Fondling,inturnof fancy, verse; the .\rt Developing his soul a thousand ways- Potent, by its assistance, to amaze The multitude with majesties, convinir Each sort of nature, that same natiins prince Accosted it. Language, the makeslntl. grew Into a bravest of ex|)edients, too ; .Apollo, seemed it now, perverse I'.nl thrown Quiver and bow away, the lyre alone ere(l him the Man-part, thrust to jud^o Between the Imril and the banl's audience, grudpe A minute's toil that missed its due reward ! But the complete Sordello, Man ami Bard, John's cloud-Rirt angel, this foot on the land. That on the sea, with open in his liand A bittiT-sweetling of a lKM)k — was ;;on('. And if internal striigjiles to lie one Thatfrittcred him incessantly piecemeal. Referred, ne'er so ohliipiely, to the real Mantuans ! intnuhng ever witii some call To action while he pondered, once tor all. Which l(X)ke Let Vidal change, or any other fool. His murrey-coloured robe for ]>liilam()t, i\nd crop his hair ; too skin-tleep, is it not. Such vigour ? Then, a sorrow to the heart. His talk ! Whatever topics they might start, T Had to •)e gro|ied for in his consciousness Straight, and as straight delivered tiictu by guess. Only obliged tonsk himself,' What v is,' A s|>eedy answer followed : but, alu , One of (Jod's large ones, tardy to ( on- denst- Itself into a jK-riod ; answers vlierue A tangle of conclusions must be stripped At any risk ere, trim to pattern clipped. They matched rare s|)ecimens the Mantuan flock Regaled him with, each talker from his stock Of sorfed-o'cr opinions, every stage, .luicy in youth or desiccate with age. Fruits like the fig-tree's, rathe-ripe, rotten-rich. Sweet-sour, all tastes to take: a prac- tice which He too haruisi' iind blame Of what he Haiti grew pretty well the Hainc —Meantime awarclH to meantime acts : hlH Houl, rnei)ual to the compaHsinK a whole, Saw, in a tenth i«rt, Iohh antl less to strive I About. Anith Pricked for gum, wry thenc, and crinkh-d worse Than pursfed eyeliils of a river-horse Sunning himseff o' the slime when whirrs the breeze ' — (lad-fly, that is. He might comi»ete with these ! But— but— * Observe a j)ompion-twine afloat ; Pluck me one cup from off the castle- moat ! Along with cup you raise leaf, stalk and root. The entire surface of the pool to boot. So could I pluck a cup, put in one song A single sight, did not my hand, too strong. Twitch in the least the root-strings of the whole. How should externals satisfy my soul ? ' ' Why that "s precise the error Squar- eialupe ' (Hazarded Naddo) ' finds ; " the man can't stoo|> To sing us (Hit," quoth he, " a iim. romuncc ; He'd fain do better than the best, en- hance The subjects' rarity, work problems mil Therewith : " now, you're a bard, a l)ar(l ]>ast doubt, And no philosopher ; why introduce Crotchets like these ? tine, surely, but no use In |KH'try — which still must b*-, to striki . Hased u|>on common sense ; thcif s nothing like .\n|H>aling to our nature ! what Ixsidi' Was vour first jKH-try t No tricks ui n ' tried In that, no hollow thrills, affedtil thr(M's ! " The man,' said we, " tells his own joys and wih's — We'll trust him." Wouhl you liavi your songs endure t Build on the human heart !— Why, to Ix 1 sure Yours is one sort of heart — but I intun theirs. Ours, every one's, the healthy heart (l Out of a host of warriors, statesmen . . . did I tell you ? Very like ! As well you liiil That sense of jwwer, you have ! True bards believe All able to achieve what they achie\i - BOOK II] SORDELLO 55fl That JH, jiixt iiotliing — in uiu- |K)int abiilc Thf inlrriii*-iliiit*- will, lli<- ciuiitf of I'rofoiiiMtcr Hiinplcloiis thuii all tM-.tidc. iiu'aiis. Oh, ay! The knowiciige that you an* , He luxt the art of drvHiiiinx : Maiituaii a ban! I MtfiMs Must constitute your jirinio, nay soU*, ' Su|i|ilie(i a baron, say, hv nutift liefore, reward t ' Handsomely reckless, full tt running u'er So prattle|iarel o'er ; that countenance Rchold the monarch of mankind sue- i Cathereil his shattereeak their 8i>eech, From Adelaide. Missing the mother- secure to slink bee, Back ex|>editiously to his safe place, .\nd chew the cud — what he and what his race Were really, each of them. Yet even this Conformity was partial. He would miss Some {xiint, brought into contact with them ere Her mountain-hive Romano swarmed ; at once A rustle-forth of daughters and of sons Blackened the valley. ' I am sick too, old. Half crazecl I think ; what gooars that double brea.st plate on, Whence blunders — falsehoo6 SOKDKLU) [buok II To im-iMory, A7,w)'m nistor IVntrix Anil RichPTd'H (iiKlift nrv my AUmtu'h And Ecolin'n Ix-trothiMl ; the Count hiiiiHclf Muot n«"t "'y Pal'"*: rial style. The gardens raise, the statues there en- shrine, She never lived to see)- although his line Was an< ient in her archives and she took A pride in him, that city, nor forsook Her chikl when he forsook himself ami H|)ent A prowewi on Romano surely meant For his own growth— whither he ne'« r resorts If wholly satisfleent. On a blind hill-top : down the gory"- i". 1 wcut, BOOK II] SORDELLO 657 YieUlinx hininplf up an to an eml>rac«. The iiiuon caiuv out ; liki* fi>atun-M of ii face A (lueruloua fraternity of (NneH, Sail blackthorn cluin|iH, ltoito'8mountain-cu|i And caHtle. Ho had dropixHi througli one defile Ho never eollo now they lapped, ThoHe mountains, not a |)ettiith minHtrel meant To wear bin mouI away in ilixcontent, Hrooding on fortunes malice. Heart and brain Swelleil : h<. expande,TH!s ? Worn now with ga|>8 so large, there blew colli streams Of air quite from the dungeon ; lay your ear Close and'tis tike, oneafterone, you beor In the blind darkne^N water drop. The nests And nooks retaineil their long ranged vesture-chests p4mpty and smelling of the iris-root The Tuscan grateil o'er then; to recruit Her wasted wits. I'alnia was gone that day. Said the remaining women. I^ist, he lay liesidetheCariangroupreservedandstill. The Ikxly, the Machine for Acting Will, Had been at the commencement proved unfit : That for Reflecting, Demonstrating it. Mankind — no fitter : wus the Will Itsi-lf In fault r His forehead presKeii the moonlit shelf Reside the youngest marble maid awhile; Then, raising it, he thought, wit'i a long smile, ' I shall be king again ! ' as he with- drew The envied scarf ; into the font he threw His crown. Next day, no poet ! ' Where- fore 1 ' asked Taurello, when the dance of Jongleurs, masked As devils, endeil ; ' ilon't a sung come next ? • The master of the pageant lookeii per- plex t Till Xaddo's whis()er came to bis relief. ■ His Highness knew what jwets were : in brief. Had not thetetchy race prescriptive right To |)eevishness, caprire? or, call it spite. One must receive their nature in its length And breadth, cx|)ect the weaknci-s with the strength ! ' — .So phrasing, till, his stock of phrases spent. The easy-natured soldier smiled assent, .Settled his |>ortly person, smoothed his <*iin. And nouded that the bull-bait might begin. 558 80RDELL() [book 111 HOOK THE THIRD It ebbe from to its source, a fountain sealed AN-n the font took them: let our laurels Forever. Better sure be unrevealed lie I t Than part-revealed : Sordello well or il! Braid moonfern now with mystic tiifoly ^ Is finished : then what further use of Because once more (ioito gets, once more, Will, ... . i- , Sordello to itself ! A dream is o'er, I A pomt in the prime idea not realmd. And the susix-nded life begins anew ; j An oversight ? inordinately prizeil Quiet those throbbing temples, then, No less, and pampered with enough ..f subdue I , ^a'^^h .u u i i That cheek's distortion ! Nature's strict ; Delight to prove the whole above ,<< cnibrftcc rpftcn. Putting aside the Past, shall soon efface ' ' To nee- Ik.iukIs ; "t'^" BOOK III] SORDELLO 559 Unact Erst with the overhanging oatarart To deafen him, yet still distinguished slow ! His own blooaugheouips and gauds t fivi' blades of grass Sullici' him. News '! Wliy, where your marish was. On its mud-banks smoke fast rises after smoke r the valley, like a spout of hell new- broke. Oh, the world's tidings ! small your thanks, I guess. For them. The father of our Patroness, Which hazard, use and blindness could Has jilayed Taurclio an astounding im}>ose i trick. In their relation to myself.' Parts l)etween Ecelin and Alberic He rose. His wealth and goes into a convent: The level wind carried above the tirs l)oth Clouds, the irrevocable travellers. Wed CJuelfs : the Count and Palma Onward. | plighted troth ' Pushed thus into a drowsy copse, A week since at Verona : and they Arms twine about my neck, each eyelid ; want droi)s ■ You doubtless to contrive the marriage- I'nder a humid finger ; while there chant fleets, ; Ere Richard storms Ferrara.' Here Outside the screen, a pageant time j was told rejieats i The tale from the beginning — how. Never again ! To Ijc de])osed — imniured 1 made Iwld Clandestinely — still |K'tted, still assured By .S ilinguerra's absence, Ouelfs had To govern were fatiguing work — the burned Sight And pillaged till he unawares returned Fleeting meanwhile ! 'Tis noontit>tl believe. Ho prompt an aciiuie>cence. Have jou You cannot more reluctantly receive i groped 562 SORDELLO [book III Out wisdom in the wilds here ? — Thoughts may ho. Over-poetical for poetry. ^ Poarl-white, you poets liken Palmas neck ; And yet what spoils an orient like some Of genuine white, turning its own white grey '' , You take me ? Curse the cicale ! One more day. One eve— appears Verona ! Many a group, (You mind) instructed of the osprey s 8WOOJI On lynx and ounce, was gathering- Christendom Sure to receive, whatc'er the end was, from The evening's purpose cheer or detri- ment. Since Fricdrich only waited some event Like this, of Ghibellins establishing Thein.selves within Ferrara, ere, as King Of '/jmbardy, he'd glad descend there, wage i 0. : ' irfare with the Pontiff, ^tei) astray A gain so much. Romano, every way Stable, a Ix)mbard House now — why start back Into the very outset of its track ? This patching-])rinciple which late atiieil In Lombaniy ? " .And afterward I knew I Our House with other Houses— what The meaning of his promise to undo ' beside BOOK 111] SOKDELLO 565 ConccrncMl tho apiwrition, tlio firHt Knight Who followed Conrad hither in siirli plight His iitmoHt wealth was summed in his one steed 1 For Ecelo, that prowler, was tlerreod A task, in tho beginning hazardous To him as ever task can b«i to us ; Hut did the weather-beaten thief (les|)air When first our crystal rincture of warm air, — That binds the Trevisan, — as its snife- belt (Crusaders say) tho tract where Jesus dwelt, — Furtive he picrcc<', and Este was to face — Despaired Saponinn strength of Lom- bard grace ? Triec enjoyed Mankind, a varied and divine array Incapable of homage, the first way, Xor fit to render incidentally Tribute connived at, taken by the by. In joys. If thus with warrant to rescimi The ignominious exile of mankind— Whose proper service, ascertained iiilin t As yet, (to be by him themselves uuuU- act, Xot watch Sordello acting each of tluiii) Was to secure — if the true diadem Seemed imminent while our Sordilhi drank The wisdom of that golden Palnia, - thank Verona's Lady in her Citatlel Founded by Gaulish Brennus, lej-'tmls tell: And truly when she left him, the ~m\ reareti A head like the first damberers tliat jjeereU BOOK III] BORDELLO 567 A-tup the Caiiitol, hiH faco on flaiiio With triuiiipn, triuiiiphing till Maiiliu.' came. Nor slight too much my rhymes — that spring, (lispread. Dispart, disperse, lingering overhead Like an escape of angels ! Rather say. My transcendental platan ! mounting gay (An archimage so courts a novice-queen) With tremulous silvered trunk, whence branches sheen Laugh out, thick-foliaged next, a-shiver soon With coloured buds, then glowing like the moon One mild flame, — last a pause, a burst, and all Her ivory limbs are smothererdello's dream-performances that will Be never more than dreamed) cscajn-.s there still Some proof, the singer's pro|<*'r life wus I 'iieatli I The life his song exhibits, this a Hheath To that; a [Mission and a knowledge far Transcending these, majestic as they are. Smouldered ; his lay was but an episode In the bard's life : which evii'vnce you owwl To some slight weariness, some looking- ofT Or start-away. The childish skit or scoff In "Charlemagne," (his ]Mu-ni, dreamed divine In every jwint except one silly line About the restitf daughters !) — what may lurk In that? "My life commenced before that work," (Thus I interpret the significance Of the bard's start aside and look askance) " My life continues after : on I fare With no more stopping, |iossibly, no care To note the undercurrent, the why and how. Where, when, of the deejier life, as thus just now. But, silent, shall I cease to live? Alas For you ! who sigh, ' When shall it come to i>as8 We read that story? How will he com- press The future gains, his life's true business. Into the better lay which — that one flout, ! Howe'er inopiwrtune it be, lets out — Engrosses him already, though pro- fessed To meditate with us eternal rest. And i>artnershi|> in all his life has found ? ' 'Tis but a sailor's promise, weather- bound : ' Strike sail, slip cable, here the bark be moored For once, the awning stretched, the )x)le8 assured ! Noontide above ; exce{)t the wave's crisp dash, Or buzz of colibri, or tortoise' splash, 568 SOKDKLLO [bOUK III The nmrKiirH .'iU-nl ; out with .-vrry ' Kn.luron a .noi.th-a half month- if I The h«nk.rS'l. II m,r hWnry 1 1.. Iho I'.'l U.ck (iiu.kec. |.r.,.c. • S^^yS:Stz:X^!:Z '"'"^'^^^ "»" "- ' ,,iU. ,& ™,U„„,, .„•««, .0 ..U.-.. S„v,. 3 ]'£-' ,-"l-'. >«'-'""• What .nountains yawncl. fores.H ♦" , 1'"^ »^"'"'"'*- Yo., sa.l .lishovrle.1 ,h... Openoorcst tent-ix,lc : wc ami ! Shook oX'as misht a lily its gold soil iwwn lo inc iKjuii. I i.,.,.„. „„,.f. n. f(Ki sh cem or two, u I'omp, save a foolish gem or two, and free In tlrcam, eaiiie join the iieasants n . r the sea.) I^ok they twi happy, too tricke Not prettier, hind Juno hlirs into, rights— ,i:„,,.i,;„i sheaves For.these in cvulenre.youclearlier I'lm To deck the bridge-side chapel, dropping A like garb for the rest.-grace all. tlu- leaves ! same Soiled bv tiieir own loose gold-meal ? j As these my peasants I ask ynntii Vh beneath j **"" ^ir^np*" The cool' arch stoops she, brownest- And health for each of you, not more- cheek 1 Her wreath ' at length BOOK III] SORDELLO rm (iruwn wixr, wlio aHknl at huiiic that Supremely, and I love you iiiDrr, far the whulc rat'f iiKirc Might add the spirit'it to the bo|)arcl — To spare me the Piazza's slipi)crv stone. grudge Or keep me totheunchoke to me for alms 1 An. framed then For happiness, its |)ortion might have The luxury to hesitate, feign do claimed Some \mexampled grace! — when, whom As well, and so, obtaining it, had but you stalked Dare I bestow your own iijton? And hear Fatuous as any ! — such my project. Further before you say, it is to sneer baulked I call you ravishing ; fi>r I regret Already ; I hardly venture to adjust ^ Little that she, whose early foot was set The first rags, when you find me. To ' Forth as she'd plant it on a |)edestal, mistrust Now, i' the silent city, seems to fall Me ! — nor unreasonably. You, no Toward me — no wreath, only ix lip's doubt, unrest Have the true knack of tiring suitors 'i'o quiet, surchargetl eyelids to Ik- pressed out Dry of their tears uj>on my bosom. With those thin lips on tremble, lashless Strange eyes Such sad chance should produce in thee Inveterately tear-shot — there, be wise | such change. Mistress of mine, there, there, as if I My love ! warjKjd souls and bodies ! yet meant j Cod sjKike Vou insult! Shall your friend (not slave) i Of right-hand, foot ami eye — selects be shent j our yoke. For sj^aking home ? Beside, care-bit, Sordello, as your |»ott>liip may liml ! erased. So, sleep u])on my shoulder, child, nor Hroken-up beauties ever took my taste mind 570 sdrdello [book II Tht-ir fiMilioli Ulk ; wt'll iiiuiiam' n- inntatr Your olil worth ; axk iiion-ovfr, wlirti thfv l>rnt«> Of evil nit-n \M>^t ho\n\ ' don't <•«< h contrive. I)OM|>it«' the evil von nhiiHe, lo live ? — Koepinu, eaeh hmel, throiinh a nm/.e of lies, . . , 1 fliM own eonieit of truth ? to whieh he hies Hy oWnre wimlingH, tortuous, if you will. Hut to himself not inmiessilde ; He sees truth, ami hii* li»s are fjir the crowil Who cannot see ; some fnncied right aNowell- a tongue, K.nrh camel churns a sick and fri)iliy chap. And you. twixt tales of Potipliar > mishap. And sonnets on the earliest ass tli;il S|.<>ke, — Heinark. you wonder any one n I choke With founts alKUit ! Potsherd liiiii. (lilM'onites ! While awkwardly encuigh your M<» , and Figure as Metaphysic Poet ... ah Mark ye the dim first oozings? Merilulil Then, c|uafting at the fount my i'otirii:;f gaine«l. Recall— not that I prompt ye— wlio explained ... ' I'rcsumptuous ! ' interrupts one. Vmi, not I Ignorance. . ""*; ' . ^ i •/ Good labours to exist.' A slight a "'*'*'*' '■ ' «"'<'<'. fpiotha? can wc ^;( t Merely to tinside ! but if one can't Kach on vhe other's power and its intent eschew One's portion in the common lot, at least One can avoid an ignorance increased Tenfold by dealing out hint after hint How nought were like disjiensing with- out stint The water of life— .'*o easy to disix-nse Beside, when one has proln-d the centre whence Commotion 's l)orn — could tell you of it all! ' —Meantime. just meditate my madrigal When elsewhere tasked, — if this of inim were trucked For yours to cither's good, — wc waii li construct. In short, an engine : with a finished tnic What it can do, is all,— nought, how tis done. Rut this of ours yet in jirobation. dii.-k \ kernel of strange wheclwoik thnMijili its husk (irows into shape by (piarters ami I'V halves ; Remark this tooth's spring, womlcr what that valve's BOOK 111] 80HDKLL() 571 Fall bo(irii,|>rrNuinppa('h farulty'Milevai', ; Thy nwtft », Ztiiuf ! tlunforc Make out (>«ch other inure or leiw |ire- utoop cixe — That 'm truth The MOiHS o( the whole engine 'h to \>v (Adjudge you) " the incancraled youlh |irovegin i Whotte eramped ill-featund Mrreln A taak indeed, but with a clearer clinu- ' huddled about Thantbcmurk lodgmentof our building- , The minnter for protection, never out time. I Of itH blacV U-lfryV dhade and iU K-IIh' And then, 1 grant you, it U-hoveH forget roar. How 'tis done — all that mu»t amuHc um The brighter xhone the xuburb,— all the yet I n)ore So long : and, whiU- you turn u|)on your I'gly and nbHolute that xhadeV reproof hwl. Of any chance eHca|)C of joy, — honic Pray that I b« not buny Hiitting Meel j roof, Or ithredding brawi, cani|ied on nonie Taller than they, allowed the rent detect virgin Hhorc Before the 8ole |x>rmittcd laugh (KUN|)ect I'ndcr a cluster of frpNh HtarH, liefore Who could, 'twas meant for laughter, I name a tithe o'thc whcelM I truHt to do! { that ploughed clieekV So oceupie^tter, what it was they saw ; The minster minded that ! in heaps the the best j hs, sadness here ! means defeat : " Stoop, else the strings of blossom, ' Lu.'-t trium]>hs and is gay, I.ove 's where the nuts triuinohed o'er O'erarch, will blind thee ! saiti I not ? And sad: but Lucio 's .sad. 1 said she shuts before, Tk)th eyes this time, so close the hazels Love 's sad, not Lucio ; one who loves meet ! may be- Thus, pri.ioneil in the Pionibi, 1 repeat As gay his love has leave to 1io|k-. iss lie Events one rove occasioned, o'er and Downcast that lusts' desire I'.scajK's the o'er, I springe ; Putting 'twixt me and mutlne.ss ever- : 'Tis of the mood itself I siwak, what more i tiuj^c 572 SORDELLO [book hi ^1 Determines it, else colourless,— or mirth, Or melaiuholy, us from heaven or earth." ,, •• Ay, that 's the variation's gist ! Indeetl If Thus far advanced in safety then, pro- ceed ! And having seen too what I saw, be bold And next encounter what I do behold (That 's sure) but bid you take on trust ! Attack The use and puri)ose of such sights . Alack Not so unwisely does the crowd disjK'nse On Salinguerras praise in preference To the Sordellos : men of action, these ! Who, seeing just as little as you please. Yet turn that little to account,— engage With, do not gaze at,— carry o.i, a stage. The work o' the world, not n twined His forehead long enough, and he began Slaying the slayers, nor escaped a nui... Take not affront, my gentle audiem <• ! whom No Hercules shall make his hecatoiiili. Believe, nor from his brows your chapi i hedge. Nor let a glowworm sjwt the riMi- edge At home, and may the summer sliowi rs gush Without a warning from the im -ti thrush I BOOK 111] SORDELLO 573 So, to our business, now — thefateof such As find our common nature — overmuch Despised because restricted antl unfit To bear the burthen they impose on it — Cling when they would discard it ; craving strength To leap from the allotted world, at length They do leap, — flounder on without a term, Each a god's germ, doomed to remain a germ In unex[)anded infancy, unless . . . Hut that 's the story — dull enough, confess ! There might be fitter subjects to allure ; Still, neither misconceive my portiaiture NVr undervalue its adornments quaint : What seemsafiend |K?rchance may prove a saint. Ponder a story ancient |)ens transmit. Then say if you condemn me or acquit. John the Beloved, banished Antioch For Patmos, bade collectively his flock Farewell, but set apart the closing eve To comfort those his exile most would grieve. He knew : a touching spectacle, that house In motion to receive him ! Xanthus' spouse You missed, made panther's meat a month since ; but Xanthus himself (his nephew 'twas, they shut 'Twixt boards and sawed asunder) Poly- carp, Soft Charicie, next year no wheel could warp Tos wear by Caesar's fortune, with the rest Were ranged ; thro' whom the grey disciple prest, Busily blessing right and left, just stopt To pat one infant's curls, the hangman cropt Soon after, reached the jiortal — on its hinge The door turns and he enters — what quick twinge Ruins the smiling mouth, those wide eyes fix Whereon, why like some si)ectral can- dlestick's Branch the disciple's arms ? Dead swooned he, woke Anon, heaved sigh, made shift to gasp, heart-broke, ' (Jet thee behind me, i'atan ! have I toiled To no more purpose ? is the gospel foiled Here too, and o'er my son's, my Xan- thus' hearth. Portrayed with sooty garb and features swarth — Ah Xanthus, am I to thy roof be- guiled To see the — the — the Devil domiciled ? ' Whereto sobbed Xanthus, ' Father, 'tis yourself Installed, a limning which our utmost pelf Went to procure against to-morrow's loss ; And that 's no twy-prong, but a pas- toral cross. You're painted with ! ' His puckered brows unfold — And you sliall hear bordello's story told. j BOOK THE FOURTH I Meantime Ferrara lay in rueful case ; 1 The lady-city, for whose sole embrace : Her jwiir of suitors struggled, felt their I arms A brawny mischief to the fragile charms , They tugged for — one discovering that to twist \ Her tresses twice or thrice about his I wrist j Secured a point of vantage — one, how ! Ijest j He'd parry that by planting in her : breast His elbow-spike — each party too intent I For noticing, howe'er the battle went. The conqueror would but have a corpse to kiss. ' May Boniface l)e duly damned for thi.s ! ' — Howled some old tihibcllin, as up he turned, : From the wet heap of rubbish where the} burned SORDELLO [book IV "'^ma 1 Hi HI H ■■Ml 574 tei'th : „ ,. I --iu ' A boon, sweet Christ-let Sahnguerra seethe ,, In hell for ever, Christ, an.l let myself Be there to laugh at him ! -moan.' At their bed-foot stood up a sol.lur- ankance ^P"*'' BOOK IV] SORDELLO 575 To stretch u|)on the truth; as well avoid Further disclosures ; leave them thus employed. Our dro|)|)ing Autumn morning clears apace. And pour Feirara jmts a softened face First fresh, pale by-and-by without a wound, And, when it came with eyes filmed as in swound. They knew the place was taken. Ominous That Ghibellins should get what caute- On her inisfortimes. Let us scale this lous I tall Old Redbeard sought from Azzo's sire Huge foursquare line of red brick to wrench j garden-wall Vainly ; Kaint George contrived his I Bastioned within by trees of every sort town a trench j On three sides, slender, spreading, long O' the marshes, an imfjermeable bar. ] and short. Young Ecelin is meant the tutelar Of Padua, rather; veins embrace ujwn His hand like Brenta and Bacchiglion. What now 1 The founts ! God's bread, touch not a plank ! A crawling hcU of carrion — every tank Choke full!— amd out just now to Cino's cost — The same who gave Taurello up for lost, And, making no account of fortune's freaks, Refused to budge from Padua then, but sneaks Back now with Concorezzi — 'faith ! they drag Their carroch to San Vital, plant the flag On his own palace so adroitly razed — Kach grew as it contrived, the poplar ram[)ed. The fig-tree reared itself, — but stark and cramped. Made fools of, like tamed lions ; whence, on the edge. Running 'twixt trunk and trunk to smooth one ledge Of shade, were shrubs inserted, warp and woof. Which smotheied up th , variance. Scale the roof Of solid tops, and o'er the slope you slide Down to a grassy space level and wide. Here and there dotted with a tn but trees Of rai er leaf, each foreigner at ease. Set by itself ; and in the centre spreads. Born upon three uneasy leopartls' heac'.s. He knew it ncit ; a sort of Guelf folk .\ laver, broad and shallow, one bright gazed I spirt \nd laughed apart ; Cino disliked their j Of water bubbles in. The walls begirt air — j With trees leave off on either hand ; Must pluck up spirit, show he dees not care — Scats himself on the tank's edge— will begin To hum, crt, Z(t, Cavtthr Knlin— A silence ; he gets wanner, dinks to chime. Now both feet plough the ground, deeiwr each time. At last, za, ztt, and up with a fierce kick Comes his own mother's face caught by the thick (irey hair about his spur ! ' Which lueans, they lift The covering, Salingueira nuxde a shift pursue Your path along a woniincipal. What booted scattered units '.'—here a mind .\nd there, which might repay his ov.n to find, And stamp, and use? — a few, howe'er august, If all the rest were groveling in the dust ? \o : first a mighty equilibrium, sure. Should he e.sfablish, jirivilcge procure For all. the few had long iKJssessed ! he felt .\n error, an exceeding error melt — While he w; s < rcupicd with Maiituan chants, I>chovc r('|)eat Their poor exiHjriences V His hand that shook Was twice to be deplored. ' The Legate, look ! With eyes, like fresh-blown thrush-eggs on a thread. Faint-blue and loosely floating in his head. Large tongue, moist o|>en mouth ; and this long while That owner of the idiotic smile Serves them ! ' He fortunately saw in time His fault however, and since the office prime Includes the secondary — best accept Both offices ; Taurello, its adept. Could teach him the preparatory one. And how to do what he had fancied done Of Parailise — or, on the other hand, The Pontilf, as the Kaisers understuml. One snake-like cursed of God to love tlif ground. Whose heavy length breaks in the nooa profound Some saving tree — which needs I lie Kaiser, drest As the disloring Of the contest! which of the two Powers shall bring Men good — |H'rchance the most gooil- ay, it may Be that ! the ciuestion, which lu-t knows the way.' .Vnil hereupon Count Mainard struttt ^1 past Out of San Pietro ; never seemed llu' last Of archers, slingers : and o\ir friend be>,'an To recollect strange modes of serviii;.' man — Arbalist, catapult, brake, i-anganc), .\nd more. ' This way of theirs nu' v.— who can tell ? — ^ong i)revioualy, ere take the greater , .\eed perfecting,' said he : ' let nil l.' task. solved low render first these iieople happy ?' At once! Taurello 'tis, the task devolvnl ask '' On late — confront Taurello ! ' rhe i)eople's friends : for there must be | Ami at la-t one good. He did confront him. Scarcely an hour One way to it— the Cause !— he under- past stood I When forth Sordello came, older by The meaning now of Paliua ; why the jar | years Else, t lie ado, the trouble witle ami far I Than at his entry. Unexampled fears Of Guelfs and Ghibellins, the Lombard's hope And Rome's despair ?— 'twixt Emperor and Pope The confused shifting sort of Etlen tale — Still hardihood recurring, still to fail — That foreign interloping tiend, this free And native overbrooding deity — Yet a dire fascination o'er the palms The Kaiser ruined, troubling even the calms Oppressetl hini, and he staggercil oil, blind, mute And deaf, like some fresh-mutilatid brute. Into Ferrara — not the empty town That morning "witnessed : he went up and down Streets whencetheveil had been stripixd shred by shred. So that, in place of huddling with tiieir dead •^aiisi BOOK IV] SOUDELLO ')79 Indoors, to answer Salinguerra's cmls, j Of fjifts, ho ownod, l)o certain ! At tin- Its folk nia«U- sliift to crawl forth, sit like friends Willi any one. A woman pave him choice Of her two daughters, the infantile voice Or the dimpled knee, for half a chain, his throat Was clasped with ; but an archer knew the coat — Its blue cross and eight lilies, — bade beware One dogging hiui in concert with the pair Though thrumming on the sleeve that hid his knife. Night set in early, autumn agupr's niass Began at every carroch — he must pass Between the kneeling jieople. Presently The carroch of Verona caught his eye ' With purple trappings ; silently he bent Over its fire, when voices violent Began, ' Affirm not whom the youth was like That, striking from the porch, I did not strike Again ; I too have chestnut hair ; my kin Hate Azzo and stand up for Llcelin. Here, minstrel, drive bad thoughts away ! sing ! take My glove for guerdon ! ' and for that man's sake He turned : ' A song of Eglamor's ! ' — scarce named. When, ' Our Sordello's, rather ! ' all exclaimed ; ' Is not Sordello famoui^est for rhyme ?' closc- ' I nuid(> tliul,' said he to a youth who ro>c As if to hear : 'twas Palma througli the band Conducted him in silence by her hand. Hack now for Salinguerra. Tilo r( Trent (iave ]''ace to Palma and her friend ; who went In turn at Montelungo's visit — one After the other were they come and gone,— These spokesmen for the Kaiser and the Pope, This incarnation of the People's hope. Sordello, — all the say of each was .said. And Salinguerra sat, himself instead Of thesetotalk with, lingered musing yet. 'Twas a diear vast presence-chaml.. r roughly set In order for the uiorning's tise ; full face. The Kaiser's ominous sign-mark had first place. The crowned grim twy-necked eagle, coarsely blacked With ochre on the naked wall ; nor lacked Romano's green and yellow either side : But the new token Tito brought had tried The Legate's patience — nay, if Palma knew What Salinguerra almost meant to do Until the sight of her restored his lip A certain half-smile, three months' chief- tainship Had banished ! Afterward, the Legate found No change in him, nor asked what badge he wound He had been happy to deny, this time, — ' And unwound carelcf^sly. Now sat the Profess as heretofore the aching head j Chief And failing heart, — suspect that in his Silent as when our cotiple left, whoso stead j brief Some true Apollo had the charge of ' Encounter wrought so oi)|X)rtune effect them. In thoughts he summoned not , nor would Was champion to reward or to condemn, reject. So his intolerable risk might shift Though time 'twas now if ever, to pause Or share itself ; but Naddo's precious j — fix gift On any sort of ending : wiles and tricks .-)S«) SOKDKLU) [book IV E.\liiiiHi.il,jiiilj{<'! his charpiP, the crazy Of steel, thiit hcml Itt lircii'ii' the (own. , iitiiifly liniwn Jii-t I nan 11 '.'I'll ti> Ix- liindfreil cnishinf! F,;ii;.'o mussive Icm Us (li-((iloiiiTo frayed the ha.-iK I oltserveil to post j where His lH',st of the mainuMl soldiers inner- A sharp white line ;h, l)iit some- (ilossy alxjve, glossy below, it swept how struck <'iirlin}{ and tine about a brow thus kept Him not before. And now with this t'alni, lain coat, marble ami stranjre luck } sound : Of Tito's news, rewarding his address This was the mystic mark the Tuscan So well, what thoujjht he of '.'—how the found, siu'cess Mused of, tinned over books abonl. With Frieilricirs res lipt there, would Sipiare-fUced. either hush N'o lion more ; two vivid eyes, enchascij Old Eeelin's scruples, brina; the manly In hollows tilled with many a shade and Hush streak To his young son's white cheek, or, last, Settlin},' from the l)olort, one morning, over the gicin As his, few names in Mantua half so old ; grass But at Ferrara, where his sires enrolled A mile or so. He sauntered through It latterly, the Adelardi s|iared the plain. Xo pains to rival them : both fat tions Was restless, fell to thinking, turntd sh'ired again Ferrara, so that, (ounted out, 'twould In time for .Xzzo's entry with the bride ; yield Count lionifaee rude smirking at their A product very liki' the city's shield, side : Half black and while, er (ihibellin and ' She brings him half Ferrara,' whisiors (luelf, (lew. As after Salinguerra styled himself ' And all Ancona! If the stripling knew !' And Kste who, till Marchesalla (id the other. So it fi'll. be reconciled One Spri-.^ when Azzo, thoroughly at And young 'i'aurello w<e .\nd swav l'> a s(>le ^M'a.-p. Kaih treat.s de!:r«'< s by ;-tealth He crept at /ii:t to „ui h a downy ^cat. Already: when the (iuelf>, the Itaven- The Count trudi;cd over in a special licit 'iiese To bid him of (ioii's Inve disloflge from Arrive, assault the F'ietro (piarter, seize each Linguetta, and are gone! .Mens first Of Salinguerras palates. — a lireadi disnuiy .Might yawn else, not so read'ly to Abated somewhat, hi,.;ies down, to lay .shut. The after indignation, ISoniface, For who was just arrived at Mantua but This Richard's father. ' L wife of Hcinrichs very blood : a .\y, Azzo's — who, not privy to, abhors [ band Our step — but we were zealous.' Azzo's ; Of foreigners assend)lc. understantl then I (iarden-constructinjt.level and surround. To do with ! Straight a meeting of old i Build up and I. ••> in. .V last i;ews uicn : I crowned ' Old Sali'iguerra dead, his heir a boy. The consternation : since his infant's What if we change our ruler arul de( oy birth. The Ivondiartl Kayle of the azure spliere. He only waits tliey end tii> wxmdiciis With Italy to build in. tix liiui here, jMith .Settle the City's troubles in a trice ': Of trees that link San I'ittro with Tonia. Forpiivate wrong, let publitgoodsutKcel' To visit Mantua. When the Podesta 582 SOHDKLLO HOOK IV Kcelin. at Viccnzs, callcil IiIm {rifninl But to restore the UhibeUinH' late Head, The Kaiser helping ? He with raoDt to dread From vengeance and repriiial, Azzo,therc With Boniface beforehand, bh aware Of plots in progretH, gave alarm, ex- pelled Both plotters : but the Cuelfs in triumph yelled Too hastily. The burning and the flight, And how Taurello, ocoupieSalinguerra sen-ens Himself behind Romano? — him we budi Enjoy our shine i' the front, not seek the shade ! ' — Asket remain OI)scure. And Otho, free to juflgc nl both, — Kcelin the luiready, harsh and lolli. And this more plausible and facile wi^'lit With every jKiint a-s|Nirkle — chose the right, Aed By outsides ! ' Carelesslv, meanwliile, his life Sufferet because Your Greek eludes you, leave the le:i>t of flaws In contracts with him ; while, siiii e Arab lore Holds the stars' secret — take one troulih' more And mat-ter it ! 'Tis done, and now deter Who may the Tuscan, once Jove trincl for her. BOOK IV] S()RDP]LLO A83 From Fricdrich'n jmth '.— Frietlricli, whoHC {lilgrimage The Hame man putH aniilr, whom he'll engage To leave next year John Brienne in the lureh. Come to BasHano, nee Saint FrantiH' «hurc'h I Ansc>. Displayed himself so far as displayol t hese : While our Sordello only cured to know About lucn as n lueans whereby he'd show Himself, and men had much or little worl h According as they kept in or drew forth That self ; Taurello s choicest instru- ments Surmised him shallow. Meantime, malcontents Dropjietl olT.town after town grew wiser. ' How Change the worlds face V ' asked jieoplc ; ' as 'tis now It has been, will be ever : very tine Subjecting things profane to things divine. In talk ! this contumacy II fatigue The vigilance of Kste an — but, three years after, citiii-r '^ pair Lost Guglielm and Aldobrand its heir : Axzo remainero|>er mould For new appliances — his old |ialm-Ntock Kndured no influx of strange strengths. He'd rook As ip a drunkenness, or chuckle low Ah proud of the completeness of his woe. Then weep real tears ; — now make Home mad onslaught On Este, heedless of the less(m taught So ))ainfully, — now cringe for jH-ace, sue jx'ace At price of past gain, — much more, fresh increase To the fortunes of Romano. Up at last Rose Este, down Romano sank as fast. And men remarked these freaks of peace and war Hap])ened while Salinguerra was afar : Whence every friend besought him, all in vain. To use his old adherent's wits again. Xot he ! — ' who had advisers in hi.s sons, Couhl plot himself, nor needed any one's Advice.' 'Twas Adelaides remaining stanch 1 Prevented his destruction root and branch Forthwith ; but when she died, doom fell, for gay : He hiade alliances, gave lands away To whom it (ileased accept them, and withdrew For ever from the world. Taurello, who Wiis sumnumed to the convent, then I refused A word at the wicket, ]>atience thus abused, Promi>tly threw otT alike his imbecile Ally's yoke, antl his own frank, foolish I smile. Soon afew movement soft he happier sort Changed matteis, put himself in nun's ■ report i As heretofore : be hail to fight, beside, ' And that b{ came him ever. So, in pride ri84 S()I!I)KLL() [UOOK |\ Aii hiiro to Kuto — how it woiihl out- And now lie sitx nif,riir|il> At liiiif-^ >|iili' of di.sgiiiso, like ill) cm th- fool (jiiake llcniiiiilx'd yant aching with thr ah^n [ii Miiniiy Wfiitlu'r — us that noted day ^h»b— When with lii» hiindrt-d frieiidn he tri< d Will no vein throh the'e when suhk t'> >lay monk shall lilah Azzo lit'fore tiie Kaixer'n face : and how, Sjiitefiilly to the eirele o. aid »eal| >. On A//.o°N culiii refiiHul to allow I " Fried riih 'h iithrnied to Ih' our .side thr A lieueiiian's chulleiiue, strai>rht lie too' Alps " was talined : i — Kh, hrother l^^ii'tant'e, luclln i As if iiis hate could liiMr to lie einhaliiicd, Anaclet 'I lirickcd up, the iiiooily I'iiiiraoh, and Svtorn to alijiire the world, its funic aiil -survive ' frcl. All inlcriiiedi.itc criinililin^^. and arrive ( tod'sownnow? Dropthedoriuitory l< n. At curth's latastroplie^ Iwas Kstes Kiifold the Miinly urev s» r;/c scapular crash ! I'wice o'er tiic cowl to iiiiinic luciiioin Not A/,/.o's he dciiianded, so, no rash j out — I'roiM'iluie ! jv^le's true antn.'oni-t Sol hut the midnight whisjitT tuin,-- .1 |{(i-c omI <«i I'll din : iiil Miiics whit, shout. All eves were shar|K'iicd. wit prcdiited. Acs wink, iiioiilhs open, piil:":. h>ek the pile That we siiould slick loiicllicr. all the nolillu- year. Can pass — keep hack. y>iit . . . why. nu-it gate — " how now ? iniict twino You MIX had charge of hn 1 " Ami then Somehow uith Nomrthing ! Hrrlin V a the vow tine Coini'!*, anil the foam itpirtN, hair 'h fearnnme ! 'TwereNinipIrr, 'loiibtlefs, pliickeil, till oni- Nhrick twine with nie (I hear it) and you Hing — you cannot. At onc-e ; ourcloiHtereacity MiH'ak — W'l'n of a Hort ! I had to Hliare nivxelf Your goltl-llowered haiinet to a man who In fifty iHirtionx, like an o'crtai«ted elf haled That 'h forcefl illume in fifty |>()intH the 'I'ho Adelaide he dareil ncarce view un- veile.l Thin morn, naked ncroMH the fire : how crown The archer that exhauHted lay« you ilown Your infant, Hniiling at the llanu>, and dies 1 While on«', while mine . . . BacchuM ! I think there lieH More than one eorjwe there ' (and he |)acey. At laHt My Htrengthft, though Horely frittered, e'en converge And crown . . . no, Hacchu»<, they have yet to urne The nuin Ik- crowned ! That alfM', nn he ilnrHt, Would clintl) ! jiiNt xiich a bloated nprawler firnt I noted in MenninaV cn»fle-court ' — Another cinder somewhere — 'twas i The ilay I came, when Heinrich nskcd in nty doom I M]K)rt Ik'side, my doom ! If Adelaide in dead j If I would ;>leack Marauders," he continued. " in my stead You rule, Taurello ! " aiul ujion this head Our Friedrich's pur|>cse, if this chain I^i8'>'■ ^"I.'"* „ . 1 , Who lahoured overthrow n.v work-a My line laiirellol jro you, pronuil-al, ^i,„ ■ Friedricirs decree, ami here s sliiill Hatching' with A/.zosiiperl) treachery, aiiurandi/.e ,,,..,, . To roof my pines up ami then iK)isim me. Vounji Ivehn-vour 1 reieet ;^ l.aduc . Suppose— 'twere worth while frustrate a prize that ' Ik'side I'oo ])recious, ceitainly. Another life -s ordained ine : the world's H<.w now? ('ompci, tj,l,. With my old comrade"; shultle trom Rolls, and what hope of partinji from the their seat , ,. , ,, ,,r,.ss His children? Paltry ileahn^; ! I)ed. aii I'losper. when your entlnisiastic ort ,i,„„,„.. Kail : while these last arc ever stolipnii: Like this poor minstrel with the foolish short — j;„„\,^„^ (So muchthey -hoiild— sohttletJiey cin To whicii, despite our hustle, he is do!) |i„|jj,,lv Tilt, ciireh-ss trihe see iiotliiii'.' to pur>nc —Flowers one luav tease, that never If they ul iiMimdial. .i--^ : .,11 vain ' . If he could pacify the ague withoui IJOOK IV I SORDKLLO 5S7 O.iucliiK' Ki.luir.l; just to tliis was I5y 1r-«|. tlu- watih-lins i.unil.loml, an.l Tluit interval of vain disciiisiv.- thought! Tlu- hla.kcst spoke Sor.lello ancl rcplicl As. shall I say. sonic Kthiop. I'a^^t Palina with none lo listen. • lis your Of ail enshu'eis, dips a shaekle.l f(K)t What makes a (Jhiliellin ? There should I'lurnt to the Mood, into the drowsy he laws— \,\in.\i (l^eiiieinher how my youth e.-( aped 1 Knorinoiis watercouise whitl ■:u,-'.-- 1 trust , ,. , , ,, . . liiii, ^,.^^.^^ 1.. ^. ■ ir manhood. I'alma: tell nie just To his own tril..-auain. where h ;- I in;; . A: a- , .Inldl-the.e mus l,e laws at And lauirhs U'eause he L'liess , 'iin- 'Vork |„.,.i„„ !;\pl..i:iinj; this. .Assure me, i;oo(l may The yellower poison-wattle rh ( )f the first lizanl w re-ted from its < out the lurk rnder the had,— my nuiltitude has part h In votir (lesions, their welfare i> at heart I'nder the slime {wh(;se lie strii kin, the while, With Salinguerra, to their intertst Refer the deeds he dwelt (jn,— so divest Toeure his nostril with, and feste;c lli;:ht the tru'ud The likelihood of winniii'.' mere amenos .\s tliou;:h it liore up, helped some half- Krc Ion'' ; thinks that, takes (im ifc rt ■rled llauii 111 sih'iitly. from the 1 iver" and he, i|i;cui hevnice. ilose to their heait-. Why vaunt s.i much my iinincumhcicd llu'.'iiintr rcven>4c ail' soon ' Otf-slriding for the .Mountains of the Makiiitr .Moon. Midnicht his s| feat's facilities enhance A': Hut I front Taiirello. one the watcher nodded on Of happier fate, and all I shoiihl have It^ >ear Since clouds dispel siiiL' left a passiiiie He done. th: mount 1" le s liooii hem;; paia- l'"or anv meai're ami disco )lom ed miMin To venture forth ; and such was peering With him, their progress may perhaps account For his aliiding still : whereas you heard .\hove the har- ,|, .j(v_li,r close tail. 'S The talk with Tito— the excuse \m Closer, n it half so taperinc her fan ferrefl \s though she r-hriink into herself to For l.urning tho.^e live li.rta ee). What lis tic life V. Heap c r.ave d, li!"re afclv. I5y wa Iroa'hed V of l,!i..!.!. \'.m a!i< I 1 pr oaelie hed, 588 SORDELLO [book IV i I do belifvc' Consul of Koiiif — tliat "s lonj; ajjo for n>. Shc'sjiokc : tlu-n lie. ' My thou};ht Minstrels ami l>ownu'n, idly s(|nalil)linj; riainlior oxi>ressfd ! All to your i)rotit— thus no\ipl»t I" "'*^ world's corner — but too late, no Meantiuie of these, of eon(iucsts to doubt, a,,|,it.vc For the brave time he so\ight to brin;: For them, of WTetchcdncss he might about. jplipv,. I — Xot know t'reseentiu.s Xomentanus .' While |)rotitino>' : a slave The Ciielf, the (Ihibellin may be to Of Homes. Pope .John, King Otho,-- ,.(irsi' — fort unc y:ave I have done nothing, but both sides do The ,ule there : so, Crescentius, haply worse drest Than nothing. Nay, to nu-, forgotten, In white, calle pcltv ■ |iiini( , Roinc ! Yot Ix't'oro they t|uit(' dishaiul — a whim — Stiit-\vork a si a fie, — I'Aaits an arehiteel, exacts an aue ; No tahles of the Manrilainan tree l''or nu'ii whose ina|ile-|i>L' s ihni luxury ! That way was Konu- liuilt. " Hetti i (say you) ' inerjre At onee all workmen iti the demiMri.'c-. (!row, hear the larks siii'iV DiMd art All e|Kielis in a lifetime, every la- U thou, alas, Inonel' So should thesudilen lity Im I. And I am dead! Hut here's our son I'theday — while those wed tea-I I In i., exci-ls waul the knack At huidle-weaviiif.' any Scylhian, fells \)\ k<lt conceive was rougli. Home on a sudden, nor shall fate hereax !■ I»ut that descendant's fiarl) suits well .Me of that credit : for the re~t. her enough spite A portico-contriver. Spi'ed the years— Is an old story— serves my folly riL'hl What "s time to us? at last, a city lears Hy addinj; yet another to the dull Itself! nay. enter— what 's the j.'rave List of abortions— things jToved heauti- to us ■; f„l Lo, our forlorn ac(pmiiitance carry thus CouUl they be done, Sordello cannot do.' The head ! Successively sewer, forum. He sat u|H.n the terrace, plucked am! cinpie— threw Last age, an atpie liict wascounted work. The jx)wdery aloe-cusps away, saw slnli Hut now they tire the artificer upon Home's waifs, and drop arch after an h, HIank alabaster, black obsidian, and drift —Careful, .Jove's face be iluly fiilgurant, .Mist-like afar those pillars of all sti i| ( . And mother Venus' kiss-creaseil nipples Mouiuls of all maj.stv. 'Thou anh.- pant type, Hick into jiristine pulpiness, ere lixed Lastof inydream.snnd loveliest. depart '.' Above the baths. Wliat dill'ereiK c be- .\nd tlu-n a low voice wound into \\i- twi.xt heart : This Home and ours— resemblance what, ' Sordello ! " (low as some old Fythoiicss between (.'(.needing to a Lydian King's disln-s That scurvy duiub-show and this 'i'he cause of his long error — otie mi-- l>ageant sheen — take These Romans and our rabble? I'se thy Of her past oracle) ' Sordello, wake ! wit ! (iiu! has conceded t <.vo siglifs (o a ni;".li 'J'he work marched ; step by step.— a One, of men's whole work, time's corn- workman fit i pleted plan, BOOK Vj SOHDELLO o9l TluM.tn .. ofllu- minut.-V work, mans In f-ivniir of yuur lyartnl innoran. .• ,.,.;, Th.- thousand pliania-nis eagtr to Stpi) U) the plan's coinipl.'tt'ni'ss : i advance, wlu.l s.lisiHTs.'d I And iM)int.voulMit totliosc- willnuyoui Save lioiK- (if tliat suiiioinc step wliicli, ; ica.li)— , , , ,, ,-, Earliest, was meant still to remain ; ■modern speeeh) untried The Multitude to be malermli/ed ? (Jnlv to fiive you heart to take your own That loose eternal ""■'•f 7;^!;; '';™' iStei. ami there slav-l.avin>; the rest An appantum 1 the nn. Is .' Iheiout aloi.e' ^^'"-^ eheeke.l, a Ineathless rnig was Where is the vanitvMVhv count as one forme,et rouml at any Exoept^Hon.e^*^lelT nuifinitieen. e. The aold-rou^h pointel, silver-blazing That last step voud take lirst'.'— an disk ■. , i> ■ „ evi.len.e ' •>' '•"■ '''y ' .S«">''~ «''"^" " ' '^'''-" You were t;od: be n those glances fall! : Ami serve thy frolic service. ( hai le- The basis, till- beginninu sleji of all. 1 magne ! Which pr .ves vou just a man-is that , -The very child of over- joyousness. gonet,,.'.' Unfeeling then. e. strong therefore: PitVt.. disconcert one versed as you | Strength by stress , In fate's ill-nature ! but its full extent Of Strength comes of that f..iehead Kludes SoideUo, even : the veil rent. i e.mlldent. ,.„„„•< Kea.l the black writing-that eolle.tise lliose widened eyes expecting heart s man content. t)utstrips the individual ! Who began A ,alm as out of just-quelled noise; The acknowled.-ed greatnesses'.' Ay, nor swerves yova own art ! I''<"' -1""''^ «'"' '""I'll' ''''^''-k '» g'r"f'0'>^ Shall serve us : put the poet's mimes curves , ,. i- ,' art— ' Abutting on the ui'thrust nether lip : Close with the poet's self, and lo, a dim He wills, how should he doubt then '! Yet too lilain form divides itself from Ages slip : hi ' ^^'"-^ '* •'^"'•'''■"" l"'^'*' '"*" *'"' "^'""^^ Alcamo's song enmeshes the lulled Isle. Sofar aceoiuplishedand discovere.l lurk Woven into the echoes left erewhile ' A company amid t le other clans Nin one soft web of s.mg: m, Duly distinct ,n lu-.ests for . aste lans more And po|H-s for suzerains (their rule con- Turning'his nan.e, then, .lower-like o'er ^^^ J.>^^^ ._^^^ _^^^ .^^ .^^^^ ^^^^_ Anehler'p.-tintlieyounger'splace- | Living f.n- .aUe of living-there an Miia's the strength —but Alcaiiui s the end,— ./rue ' ^^'■•'M't '» 'I-'"'- '"' ^'"'''f^y '" ^1'*""'' Each neiitralizes ea.h then! Search ! In making a.lv.-rsaries or allies).- vour till • "'^»''l V«»' ">'<'> "^ capabilities Y.,ugefnowh..h.aml perfect I%,et-still;.WI.larc.lcrea.csout.,f. hat s^^^^^^^ New Ninas. Akamos, till time's mid- Shouhl turn the multitu.le. ali.a.ly nioht whole. Shrouds all-or better say, the shutting Into it-^J;o''y? S,K.ak plainer! Is t so Of a forStten yester.lay. 1)i>.e. t j C-d's chm.-h live^ Ky a Kin.-'s inve-ti- Everv i'leal workman— (to y.'je.t tuie,' 592 SORDELLO [BOOK V Look to last step ! a staggt-rinjj— a ; On that, each Papal key— but. link on shock— link. What s mere sand is dcmolishcfl, while Why is it neither chain »)Ctrays a rhink? the rock How coalesce the small and great'; Endures : a column of black fiery dust Alack, iJiots hoayen—that help was premat- For one thrust forward, fifty such fall urely thrust Aside, perchance ! — but the air clears, n(>u<^ht 's eraseart By Knowledge! Then, indeed, pcr- chance may start Sordelloon his race— woidd timeocr leikless Meanwhile, if your half-dozen years of ; soldiery, „• i i jifp 1 With their ignoble rhynus on Ridinrd, In store, dispose you to forego the strife. how Who takes exception ? Only bear in " Polt-foot," sang they. • was in a i.it- mind ^*" ""*• Ferrara 's reaehe..^,— •^ desist ' 'I'l'at crippled spawling idiot who re- — The warrior-part of yo\i may. an it counts list, How. lopt of limbs, he lay, stupid as Finding realfaulchionsdiiticult to iwise, stone. Fling them afar and taste the cream of Till the pains crejit from out him one hy iovs oni f Bv wielding such in fancy,— what is And wriggles round the arclicrs m his bard ' head Of you. may spurn the vehicle that To earn a morsel of their cliestnut marred bread.— . , ,, , Elv.=; ?o much, and in free fancv glut And Cino, always m the self-saii.e place His sense, yet write no verses— "you have Weeping; l)eside thjit other wictch s but ' ' la^'f' 594 SOUDKLLO [book V Eyf'pit '. ti) car, ono franiironr niiiro he Thus hrip ! ' (H«» shook the ffH>li>-h uli»- ilicil hai:hn Till" cnjiinc in his coat of raw sii(i|i's Out of his (loiihlct, iiaiisod, inoreciiiil hi(i( tint A (loul)li' watch iit tin- noon sun; aniH)int«'lacked in A Iwelvemoitth f^one, ami, now |ioor earth Tiso 's ilead. Opposite, —outlined sudden, spur to Deliverint been | and reach — You, plucking purples in (Joito's Through his youth's daybreak of tm- moss I profit, ipiite Tiike edges of a trabea (not to cross To his noon's lalHiiir, so jirocei'd till ^'onr consul-humour) or dry aloe-sliafts night For fasres, at Ferrara— he. fate wafts. licismely ! The great argument In This very age, her whole inheritance bind Of ojiportunitics? Vet you atlvance TaineUo with the (iuelf Cause, body and I'pon the last ! .Since talking is your mind, trade, — Came the consummate rhetoric to There 's Salinguerra left you to jwr- that ? suade : Yet most Sordello's arijument dropiied Fail! then'— i flat ' Xo— no — which latest Ti.rough his aceiistomed fault of break- chance secure ! ' i ing yoke, L-apt up and criwi Sor.lello : ' this Disjoining him who felt fron\ him who made sure, spoke. The Hast were yet redeemable ; its work Was "t nut a touching incident — mi VVa«— help the (iuelfs, whom I, howe'er , prontpt it irk, i .\ renderini.' the world iisjtisl accompl, BOOK Vj SOHDELLO :mo OniH' im)V<(l its dibtor t Who'il sii|>- |M>M'. iM'fore This proof, tlint he, f loito's f!0ly, dwinillo to a (Jiitlf r B('siirP.insii(lidi'li(ionN(latt«'rystcoin-(l, His inmost self at tlie o»it-|X)rtion |M'('|I('(1 Tims on iipiid : lliiii t-tol"' i» (iliiiHi' at (hosf Ai>|Hal«;h his speech was worthy scoif. flwd-hmuotired Salinfiiierra, famed ft)r tact And tongue, who, careless of his i)hrase, ne'er lacked The right phrase,* and harangued Honorius dumh At his accession,— looked as all ft-ll plumb To ptirjKJse and himself found interest In every ix)int his new instructor pressed —Left playing with the rescript's white wax seal To scrutinize Sordello head and heel. Then means he yield assent sure '1 No, alas ! , All he rei)lied was, ' Wli t. it comes to |NISS That iKK'sy, s(M>ner than iK)liti(s, Makes fade young hair? ' To think such speech could lix Taurello ! Then a ilash of bitter truth : So fantasies could break and fritter vo\ith That he haaw H>kan< e I'rotracl the ignominious years leyond To dreum in— time to hope and time ilespond, H( mend)er and fm^ct. be sad. rejoice A:, saved a trouble; he might, at his choice. One way or other, idle life out. drop No few smooth verses by the way— fiir proji. A thyrsus, these sad people, all tlicsanu'. Should pii k up. and set store by.— far fmui blame. Plant oer his hearse. ((invin(ed his better pait Survived him. ' Hather tear men out the heart Of the truth ! '—Sordello nnitteied, ami renewed His proixsitions for the Midtituile. But Salinguerra, who at this attack Had thrown great buast ami ruflling corslet back To hear the better, smilingly resumed His task; leneath, the st, When siidden he looked \ii>, laughingly almost. To Palma : ' This opinion of your friend's — For instance, woultl it answer Palma's ; ends ? ' Best, were it not, turn Cuelf, submit our i Strength ' — (Here he drew out his bahlric to its length) — ' To the Pope's Knowledge— let our captive slip. Wide to the walls throw ope o\ir gates, ecpiip r>9({ SORDELLO [book V Azzo with . . . what I hold hen-? Who'll I SIlhsiTilK- Ti) A trite < i-nsiiH' of the ininstrrl trilM- H nicforwanl? or pronoiincf, as H^in- i rich ns«'(l, " Spcur-hi-ads for battle, burr-hoadH for the joust ! " —When CoriHtanre, for his eouplets, ; would promote Alcaiiio, from a parli-coloiireeecli : But was Sordello fitted thus for each Conjecture ? Nowise ; since, within his soul. Perception brooded unexpressed and whole. A healthy spirit like a healthy franu' Craves aliment in plenty— all the same. Changes, assimilates its aliment. Perceived Sordello, on a truth intent ? Next clay no formularies more you saw Than tigs or olives in a sated maw. 'Tis Knowledge, whither such percep- tions teml ; They lose themselves in that, means Id an end. The many old nrcxlucing sonu' oiu- lu-w, A I xt unUke the tirst. If lies are true. The ('aliph's whe«-l-work man of l)ra>>- receives A meal, munched millet grains and lettuce leaves Together in his stomach rattle loose — You find them |>erfect next day to prort ' ThuH 1 lay From SalinKucrra only io extort t On thim- n.y spirit an.l .on. ,k-1 oU-y 'So was I ' (. lo..-.l h.- hi. i";;"'' "!"'*■'• HiH lonl.-my licgemHn.-in.|K,tent to A |Kx..t n.UHt kn- .arth « f«. ntu 1 king) l,„j|,l •' "^ 'So W8H I. roval »o, and if 1 fail. Another Homo, l.iit hardly ho nnHkillotl 'TiH not th.- royalty, y witm^n .|na.l. In what Huch luiihlrr shoul.l have »K-«-n. H.it one .lci««) win.. .arinK not .-xnl HM hrook '•** P"""!"''" «'!«*•'"<<'• 'nfliMl nialai/t-rt One Hhanio »H-yoi..l the .harKo that I Witl, a<*t' new years to put forth „l " Never the inmost all-sur|.nsi.in>i worth Mlow ea.h' .han.e. nor fruitlessly. That eonstitutes him Kinj? preeisely reeur- "'"''', Measure the.- with tlu- Minstrel, then, As yet no other spin may ev.n. .■ ,|^.,„„r Its like : the jKiwer he took m..st pride At any erown he elaims ! That I must [ to test, .wle i Whereby all forms of life ha- sprung. The sad walls of the presence-chamber Now. wheth.-r lu- .ame near m kept aloof The several forms he longed to imitat.-. N.)t there the kingship lay, h.- sees too late. ,|jj,,| Th.is.- forms, unalterable lirst as la>l. Into the .listanc.-. .)r .-mlxjwering vie.l ! IVove.l him her copier, not the pr.jto- Withfar-awaydoito's vine-frontier; |>l«st Ami crowds of faces-(only keeping Of nature: what wuld come of being <•'••«'• ; ^"''" II.. , . The rose-light in the midst, his vantage- Hy a. ti.in to .-xl ib.t tr.-.- f.-r tree, j^ro,,n,l Bird, beast, for Ix-ast an.l bir.l, .ir prove To tight their battle from)— deep clus- earth bore tere.l roun.l ' <^"<' veritable man or woman more .' Sordello. with goo.l wish.'s no mere M.-ans to an emi, such proofs are : what br.'a'h the end '/ Kin.l pravers'for him no vajiour, since, Let essence, whatsoe'er it be. extend- .ome .leath Never contract ! Already you include Come life, he was' fresh-sinewed every The nniltitude : then let the multitu.le j„i,;t_ Iiidu.lc yourself; and the result were Each bone new-marrowed as whom, new: f!os ^:-tt SOKOKLLO [book V Von hIiomIiI truiHiiiit (iMiaiiw no .yrlr 'riic wi>rlhiT<' in w.inc, Ihi- A-.HisininK them the sinipliT tawkH it mm ■! world o'criniil To iniiinlly |icrform till Son>{ prodnc "I lionn -"iiK !• w.di you. "Iml! Imve in turn Art-, liy lliouKlit« only, for the iiuiid ,,W,.y.Ml " lllVCSt Soini- orl> Hiill |iroiiiliT. Hoino vr ii'* '. All tlicn i-< to wm AikI HOiiii'ii.w Kini.'di'iM>sc till- old. Of Suvc fliiit ! Ilow iiiinli for iiii\ tli.n' sii -li wliiTf liryin Am I -wiioiii prilr of tins cliiliM |(mi My work? Alxuit iiii', fans I and tli. y iiiui'li ? Hock. Sifi", ratliir sny. "mid troo|w of yrvra I'lic earnest fiieeN ! What shall I uiilc" k airaiii ; ' r.y soil'.;? U'liold nie proni|it. wliale'i i I, with my words, jnije I hrother of the it Ix-. train 'l'<> minister : how iiiiieh ean mortals sir D'cds onee Hiitliied ; for, let the world Of Life? No more than ho? I take tin roll Imi'k, task Who fiils, throii'_'h de "Is howe'er Aud marshal you l.ifes elenienli' diverse, re-track iimsi|ue. My purpisc s'ill, my task? A teeiuiii!; Show Men. on evil or on «iM>d lay stres , crust - This li'.;hf, this shade make piominiiii. Air. Hime. eirtll. w.ive at conflict ! suppress Thi'ii. nei-ls must All idiniry hue. tlwit soffeniii',' lilciwl KmiM'.'c s imc CiImi emlmdic I. these Sii. It natures with the level. .\ppii • refer helld The liiawl t 1 ; — ve'low-l>e inlel .liipiter? Which sinner is, which saint, if I allot No I S;ilur;i; some e\is|ence like a Hell, I'lirnalory, Heaven, a hla/.e or lil"l . na.'l, To those you doulit colicei iiill'./ I I cii- .Viid protest au'iin.t Cliao-, soni^' tirsl wotiih fact ■ Some wietched Kriedrich «ith his rcil- r th" flint of time. My ije'p of life. hot tomh ; I kii'iw, .Some diiliioiis spirit, I^unliard .V^'iliilplt Is iiiiiivailiii'.' e'en t-i poorly show" . . . With the hhuk chasleiiiiiv river I • ii- (For h"ie the Chief immeasurahly v'lilph ; yawned) .Some imapproached Matilda 1 eiishrim . . . ' Deeds in tli.il du' ;,'radation till With laimuors of the planet of decline Sony dawned These, fail io r«"cof;nize, to arhilrate The fu!lest"efHuen e of the tiiiest mind. Uetween henceforth, to rightly e.stiieal. All in de^'iec, no way diverse in kind Thus marshalled in the inasiiue ! .My- Froiii minis ahoiit it, minds which. self, the while, more or less .\s one of you, am witness, shrink <«' ]j'}tt\ or low, m'>ve sei'kiiiLi to impres.s smile Themselves on somowhat ; hut one At my own showiii!;! Ne.vtaue — what s mind has climhed to do ? Step after stej*. hy just ascent sulilimed. The men and women stationed hitheit'i Thoui;ht is the soul of act, and, stage by Will I iin.statiim. good and bad, condin' sta',"'. Kach nature to its farthest, or ol'stru' t Is soul tioni body si ill to disengage At sooui-st, in the Wolid : ligni. As tending to a freedom which rejects thwarted, bre.iks Such lielp and incoriwrcally affects ' A limpiil purity to rainbow Hakes, %K^: BOOK V] SORDKLLO Or sluulow, ii>asM-r rcion 509 •Inn I wlial htainl.H ulnmly. How (tilth, with lit ans Kiulf JHtam-P to unfold. Accoinpli^ird t. . to imaiiH ; my art Or uli^tiuli-M to > rusli thtiu, iliKcnuaj:) 'I'lu'ir foriii'*, lovi-. Iiatf, Iiojk', f«ar, |>i'a(»' N w make-, wii wa^i itcmlM ■.triKliirc from the aiuiiiit til ihuiiK<'y tlie platform'^Hidi I bade tliem lio and wulTer,— won' ' ' ciime a ,t Vi nil <•, riu>^r<'< Id laMt I The horned nnd nnouted Lihyan ^^^^\ rontetit iipr ■inht The world n< ( irciimvenl I- that 'h too far ! I A'' in hi> de^ert. l)y H>me simple l>ri^dil (lav I inerary pitcher A few, my masipie en these Oiler unveil the Inst of mysteries Man's iniuosl life shall have yet play iitented, and lo Alliens us Hy/.aut rilled, till then ThelK'sas Hoiiii Donii ire I east external things away. It Once m< And natures < omiHisite. so decomi l-'rom earths reputed e»insnminations ' razed freer A seal, the all-transmutin« Tria• . ij^^^ J ^^^j. j^.,,^.,.^ Hum.ient : hut his work is still And how have you a.lvan. . d ! "ime For fa.es lik.- the fa. es that select evermore T'"' "'"«''" •"•'•^'O' ' '"" ''^'"""' *"""' '• Yourselves ctfe. t what I was fain l..f..re An.l tml mc ._ast asi.le s„. li fancus. how K It wha 1 supphe.1 vMiisehes, TaureUot.. the (inelf cause -hsallow s '''."t I The Kaiser s.<.miii)z will, h With heart. What i have "hare vouis.lvcs I. ill now soul. slien>;lh. "i'sl ■ I h'l'oiir for, Ihiseve. who fed at !.li;.th flow we'airain I., talk as l-rolh-is talk. My past . are.r-s .,utra,;e..u. vanity. luiU-words, .all things l.y half-names. Ami vj.ml.l, as ,1s auM.i.ls, .lie. even .lie halk ^'"* ' '""^ .sliMial.- the ho.ui of life, Kn.m .lis...mtinuin^' ol.l ai.ls. T..-.lay H death mij-ht win con.phan. e-sure. Takes in a.. •mint tlu- w..rk of VcMci- this slrif.^ ""*' Is,i..|,|f,ir<.ii..-llMl*eophiuysup|K.rt. Hasnot'heworhlal'aslnow.itsa.hpl My ,"....■ Sor.l.lh. ! what may ue Consults ere hi" .lisiK-nse with or ac. pi , 'V" i , i. i • ni.. .l,v. NVw ai.lsr a single touch -re may liy this. I woii-hr ' I'alma s li«hlc. h>. s enhan..'. Tuine.l t.. I'aurello who, h.ii- past siii- \ touch less turn lo i.isinnili. am .' '■ prise. • i .. Those Itructur.s- symmetry the IVst , rK^gan. '^ Wove hini-what you .1 .^ay The w.',^uVlath!"on. V so l.uie. Uavc Ix-t me" say laielly. First, your father's the mer.- rude { <•"'"'•'-'; . , , ^, . Explicit .letails! 'tis hut hrother's To me. h.s fr.eml. ivrm ■ . Ipu^xd speech 1 indee.l We need, speech where an ucc.-nt's 1 You were n.. stran-er to .he course TheothiSsmd-noslK-e^^^ He bi.ls' mV leave his chil.lren I., the By former audience : nee.l was then to, saints: y I As for A .ertain |ir. |-i I. he a. .(MHinls Expati,.^'-haV.lly were wo hrothcrs ! The I'o,..- will. that, ami olie.s Inm tho Nor llaiueaTmy small remove from you, i Of your iHjssc-sions to i*rmit the le.t ()0() BORDELLO [book V « ^ (io pt-aceably — to Eui-lin, a striiK) Of fsoil the cursed Vicentines will gripe, — To A 1 boric, a patch the Trevisan Clutches already ; extricate, who can, Trcville, Villarazzi, Puis-solo, Cartiglione, Loria ! — all go. And with them go my hopes. 'Tis lost, then ! Lost This evo.ourerisis, and some pains it cost Procuring ; thirty years — as gootl I'tl spent Like our admonisher! Hut each his Ijent Pursues : no ([uestion, one niight live absurd >Shc should ... or might one bear it for her 1 .Stay— I have not been so Hattcrcd many a day As by your pale friend — Bacchus ! The lea't ;>f'p Woidd lick the hind's fawn to a lion's whelp — His neck is broad enough — a reacjy tongue Beside — too writhled — but, the main thing, young — I could . . . why, look ye ! ' And the badge was thrown ()ne I once, .^iiy there's a prize in prospect, must With power: the thing was done, and disgrace he. aware Betide competitors, unle-is they style The thing was done, procce.-cd \nd ini'ditie'^l Taurellos cry outbroke. s|)(ar- ,,,,,, , , ,, . lV,. fke a tongue of lire that cl.-aves Till, as they rea.hcM.o.to. a tew t r. the smoke. ' =^^''1'^ '" ♦'"" ^""^^'^ ''""" '"'' '""" Midmost to cheer his Mantuans onward lash, < . f .^ ,1,.. ,, lion _,l^y^^.„ And she was gone. N) tar tin aaion His colleague Ecelin's clamour, up ami Z"'^''— , ,,„t,.„,i„ ;„ .Iw- ,l„^.„ No crime. I hey laiil Ketiude in lui The disarray • failed .\delaide see then tout, Wlo^^stlfe natural chief, the man of Taurello-s very gift, her child was wont nu n -^ '''<• **'« beneath-constant as eve he came Outstrippiu.' time, h.T infant there ! To sit by its attendant girls the same l.urst"svvathc. ; As f.ne of them. For I'alma. she would Stood uo with eves hanagnilic spnit to tlu- en.l From wandering alter his heritage i That ruled her first - but scarcely ha.l '^'' 'Tlnt';^?'^' "■■ "'^'""' ""':rodis.:;:;nK;'Adelai.le who scared That de,;ecating glance V A new shape , Her into vojung^nc^cMo d^^^^^ ^^^^^^ On a fa'mliar sha.K-gloatinglv Wut H>s blood at half re.ital she .onlmed o'er ht 1 Joi.iH ture ; 'leid wreath.- it To hide from him Ta.rello s mtaut bved wuie I''-*- ^V ••I'vealing that, himself should Still one "ut'llamcd the IT -t—!icr child'.- umi- i . r,,.... ,,t ,r before Konmiio s torluiics. And. a crime si. tai. 002 SORDELLO [book V Palma received that acticn: shewastoUl ^ Thiswhile Sordello was becoming fluslud Of Salingiierra's nature, of his cold Out of his whiteness ; thoughts rusiied. Calm acquiescence in his lot ! But free | fancies rushed ; To impift the secret to Romano, she He pressetl his hand upon his head and Engaged to repossess Sordello of , signed His heritage, and hers, and that way j Both should forbear him. ' Nay, the doff best 's behind ! ' The ma^k, but after years, long years ! — Taurello laughed — not quite with the while now, ' same laugh : Was not Romano's sign-mark on that ; ' The truth is, thus we scatter, ay, like brow ? ' i <'hatf Across Taurello's heart his arms were These (Juelfs, a despicable monk recoils locked : ; From : nor expect a fickle Kaiser spoils And when he did siieak 'twas as if he | Our triumph !— Frie Till now. anfl never idly met till now ; ' less — Then. in the same breath, told. Sordello j With instinct at my heart ; I else liid how swerved. All intimations of this eve's event While now— look round! My cunniiu; Were lie<. for Friedrich must advance to has preserved Trent. : Samminiato — that 's a central place Thenc(- to Verona, then to Rome, there Secures us Florence, boy,— in I'isa s slop, ! <'ase. Tumble the Chunhdown.institutea-top Ky land as she by sea ; v.ith Pisa our-. The Alp-s a Prefecture of Lombardy : And Florence, and Pistoia, one devoni — ' That 's now ! — no propnesying what The land at leisure ! Gloriously di>- iiiay be j pcrsed — Anon, witii a new monarch of the clime, i Brescia, observe, Milan, Piaeenza first Native of (iesi, passing his youth's ! That flanked us (ah, you know not I) in prime I the March ; .\t Naples. Tito bids my choice decide On these we pile, as keystone of ourareli. On whom . . .' Romagna and Bologna, whose first span ' Embrace him, madman !' \ Covered the Trentine and the Valsugaii : Paliiia cried. j .Sofia's Egna by Bolgiano 's sure ! ' . . . Who tliroujfh the laugh saw sweatdrops j So he proceeded : half of all this, pure burst iii>a(e. ! Delusion, doubtless, nor the rest tun Anil his lips" blanching: he did not j true, embrace ' But what was undone he felt sure to il". Sordello. but he laid Snrdello's hand As ring by ring he WTung off. flung a^i v On his own eyes, mouth, forehead. The pauldron-rings to give his swunl- L'nderstand, \ arm play — BOOK V] SORDELLO (■-03 Need of the sword now ! That would ' For sin-aking, some jwor rhyme of ' Klys' soon fl.(iiii^t; nttir Alight wrong at present ; to the sword , And heail that 's sharp and iK-rfcit likt- intrust ' * pear, Sordello's whiteness, undersize : 'twas So smooth and close are laid the few tine plain locks Ho hardly rendered right to his own Stained like pale honey oozed from top- bfain I most rocks Like a brave hound, men educate to Sun-blanched the livelong Summer '— pride I ^■■"'" ^^^ worst Himself on six-cd or scent nor aught Performance, the (Joito, as his first : bj.j,i,l,. Andthatatcnd,conceivmgfromthobrow As though he could not. gift by gift. ; And oiH-n mouth no silence would serve iii&,t('Ii iiipii ' no " » Palma had listeneuk- grate showed the ItciV One of Sordello's poems, a pretence West, 00 1 SORDELLO [l5»M»K V As sliows its i()iii-f tlic world's onlcnt. Who hearten each the other against heart — Ho;isting there 's nought to care for, when, apart I'hc i>i»astcr, all "s to care tor. He, licside Some shape not vi-ilile, in power and pride Appioarlieil. out of the dark, ginglingly near. Ncircr. iiasM'cl dose in the broad light. his ear Crim-oii, eycl)alls suffused, temples full- fraught. Just a snatch of the rapid speech you caught. And on he strode into the opposite dark Till presently the harsh heel's turn, a spark r the stone, and whirl of some loose eniliosscd thotig Tiiat Clashed against the angle aye so long After the last, punctual to an amount Of mailed great paces you could not but count, — • Prepared you for the pacing back again. .Xnil l)y the snatches you miulit ascertain That, Fricdricir.i Prefecture sur- iii--illted, lut. Salinguerra's prophecy at height lie voluble with a rai.sed arm and stil), I .\ blaring voice, a blazing eye. as if ' lie had «)ur very Italy to keep I Or cast away, or gather in a heap 1 To garri .on the l>etter — ay. his word I Was, ' nn» the cucumber into a gourd. Drive Trent upon Apulia ' — at tliiii j pitch 1 Who spied the continenta and island.. I which (!rew mulberry leaves and siikles. iii the map — i (Strange that three such confession.^ n ! should hap : To Palma, Dante sfxikc with in the ch mi Amorous silence of the SwooniiiLi- spliere, — f'iDiizzii, as he called her ! Never ask Of Palma more! She sat. knowini.' Inr task Wa-^donc, the lalMiurof it — for, succ c . ' {';)n- 'I'aiirello. bids , With large involuntary asking lids, Palma inteipret. " "Tis his own fint ^ -tamp— : Your hand I His -umnion> I Nay, t!:i- i iille ilaaip BOOK V] SORDELLO ))(»;■) Rplits not !' Out they two reeled dizzily. 'Viseonti'sstron};at Milan,' resumed he. In theold.Homewhat insignificant way— (Wiis Palma wont, years nfterwani, to say) As though the spirit's flight, sustained thus far. Dropped at that very instant. (Jone they are — Palina, Taurello ; Eglamor anon, Ecelin,— only Xaddo 's never gone ! — I^abours, this moonrise, what the Master meant ' Is Squarcialupo speckled ?— purulent, I'd say, but wlien was Providence put ! out ! \ He carries somehow hanxcept wherein it checked. Some other— which Ci these could he suspect. Prying into them by the sudden blaze ? The real way seemed made up of all the ways — Mood after mood of the one mind in him : Tokens of the existence, bright or dim. Of a transcendent all-embracing sense IJemanding only outward influence, A soul, in Palma's phrase, above his soul. Power to uplift his jK>wer, — this moon's [ control. GIH) SORDELLU tuOOK V I ()s-(>r the sea-depths,— and their mass had swept Onward from the beginningand still kepi Its course : but years and years the sky above Held none, and so, nntasked of any love, His sensitiveness idled, now amort. Alive now. and to suUenness or sixirt (liven wholly up, disi)oseome love, hate even, take their phii i-. the same, i .\nd may Iw served— all this they do not ! I»)se, ! Waiting for death to live, nor idly ' choose ; What must be Hell — a progress thus pursued Through all existence, still above the fi m m I That 's otfercfl them, still toweiiiiu' ! beyond j The widenctl range, in virtue of their I bond Of sovereignty. Not that a Palma"^ I Love, A Salinguerra's Hate, would equal prove To swaying all Sordello: whercloi. I doubt. That Lovcmi'«>t for such Strength, soihc I moon without i Would match his sea ?— or fear, (!(kmI manifest, j Only the Best breaks faith ?— Ah, but the Best Somehow eludes us ever, still might be .\nd is not ! crave we gems ? no i)eiuiry Of their material round us ! pliant earth, The plastic flame — what balks the ma^'c his birth — Jacynth in balls, or loy Its kin of twiio tho |ilump— which he. in Its ultimate olfiH t. but many Haws t„,.„_ Of vision blur each intervening cause. If he shall live as many lives, may learn Were the day's fraction clear as the life's How to secure — not else. Then Mantua sum called Of .service, Now as filled as the To-roiiic Bark to his mind how certain bards were With evidence of goout ym bloom : j have to school Some in.sune rose that burnt h-^art out I Your ved , , , . , (Jrown liestial, dreaming how lieoome i Xow, for the Then's sake, — hatmi;\vliut divine. | y"" loved, ' Vet to surmoimt this obstacle, com- T^oving old hatreds ! nor if one man liiv inence j Brand \\\^m temples while his Idlnw With the r- imencement, merits wore crowning ! Hence ] The aureole, would it ta.'ik you to dciilc- Mu.st truth be casual tr\ith, elicited But, i>ortioned duly out, the Future vied In sparks so mean, at intervals dispread j Never with the unparcelled Present I So rarely, that 'tis like at no one time ] Smite Of the worhl's story has not truth, the ; Or s[)are so much on warrant all so prime I slight ? Of truth, the very truth which, loosed, | The Present's eomi)lete sympathies to had hurled ! break. The world's course right, lx?en really in Aversions bear with, for a Future s sake the world So feeble ? Tito ruined through one — Content the while with some mean s|)eck, spark by dint The Legate saved by his sole lighlisli Of some chance-blow, the solitary hint fleck '1 Of buried lire, which, ri]) its breast, \ This were work, true— but work | u r- wouM stream Sky-ward ! ' Sordello's miserable gleam formed at cost Of other work — aught gained here, elsi - where lost. Was looked for at the moment: he I Foranewsegmentspoilanorbhalf-dom r would dash Rise with the People one step, ami sink This badge, and all it brought, to earth, —one ? —abash Were it but one step — less than tiic Taurello thus, perhaps persuade him whole face wrest I Of things, your novel duty bids erase I The Kaiser from his purpose,— would Harms to abolish ! what ? the proiilitt attest 1 saith. His own lielief, in any case. Before j The minstrel singeth vauily then ? Olil He dashes it, however, think once more! faith. BOOK Vl] SORDELLO 600 Old lourage, only twrn because of j What was jwculiar — by siirh act deRtroy liariiiH, '. Itself ; a partial death is every joy ; Were not, from highest to the lowest, The Hensil)le eseajie, enfrHixhi.xenient ehams ? j Of a sphere's essenee : onie the vexetl — Flaiiie may [jersist but is not glare as , content, staunch ? The cramw-d — at large, the growing Where the salt marshes stagnate, | circle— round, crystals branch — All 's to l)egin again — some novel bound Blooildriesto crimson — Evil's beautiHcre.ss I found that Whole, Of miseries / — the fool's who passed a Could they revert, enjoy jiast gains ? gibe The s|)ace '•On thee." je;'red he, "so weilded to Of time you ju;»>.'»ant-ni/.fn, l>rii-f ? Art niith.T vili'ly lobart are clay '^'l""' *'"'* ^'*'*' *"'i'" •"'"" '""y 'i'"*"" To all sive thee.— wouhl clay remain. out , ,■. though (pienched , As mischiefs, far from benelits, i... Tuy purging-tire ; who 's robbed then ? e with the many. Them. Why should sympathy com- i still : m-inil you (piit i So much of sand as. iiuiet. makes n iiia» The course that makes your jov, nor I'nable to produce three tufts of gias>. vviii remit ' ; Shall, troubled by the whirlwind, render Their woe ? Would all arrive at joy 1 i void Ki-verse i I'he whole calm gleU- s endeavour : i>c The order (time instructs you) nor coerce employed! Ivich unit till, some pre letermined And e'en though somewhat smart llif mode. Crowd for this. The total be emancipate ; men's road Contribute each his pang to make yom Is one. men's times of travel many ; bli.ss. , , , , thwart "n^ '»<• o"*" pang— one blood-e ,,.,,. ^ The brakes at balm-shed, asi.hwlels in Before, avails forthwith to ( isentran. .• l,low. '1'1'e rwtent— soon to leail a mystir While thev were landlocked ? Speed «lance , -. , thei'r Then, but how Among you ! For, who sits alone m This badge would suffer you improve Rome '/ , . , , , your Now ! ' Have those great hands indeed hewn out Histimeof action for, against, or with a home. Our world (I labour to extract the pith And set me there to live ? Oh Iitc, lilc- Of this his problem) grew, that even- tide, (ligantic with its jiower of joy, beside breath. Life-blood,— ere sleep, come travail, lil> ere death ! BOOK Vl] SORDELLO 611 This lifi- Mtivam on my homI. direct, Here is thf Crowd, whom I with fr««-».t ol>h>|iic. ' hnirt But alwiiy Nlrfumiiig ! Iliti.s 1 j OtFir to Hirvi-, coiitcntiHl tor my jiurt Tlu-y |ii<|Uf — j 'I'o givf Mr u\> in Mi-rvirf,— «)nly jtrant Htl|w? such . . . but why re|HMf, my Timt 1 it so ! shall I assume Penhanct — mi facile was the deed, she —My foot the courtly gait, my tongue chci|ued ! the tro|K', The void with these materials to atfect .My mouth the smirk, liefore the diMirs My soul diversely — these consigned anew tly o|H' To nought by death, what marvel if she One moment 1 What— with guartlers threw ! row on row, A second and su|)erl)er sjiectacle ! (Jay swarms of varletry that come and Before it ? What niay serve for sun — ' go, what still Pages to dice with, waiting-girls unlace Wander a moon alwve me— what else The plackets of, jiert claimants help wind } displace, AlKiut me like the pleasures left In-himl, Heart-heavy suitors get a rank for, — And how shall some newtlesh that is not laugh llesh At yon sleek ))arasite. break his own Clin},' to me? what's new laughter — I staff soothes the fresh j 'Cross Beetle-brows the Usher's Sleep like sleep? Fate's exhaustless for, shouUler, — why, my sake [ Admitted to the presence by and by. In brave resource, but whether bitis she Should thought of having lost these slake make me grieve My thirst at this lirst rivulet, or count Among new joys I reach, for joys I No draught worth lip save from the leave? rocky fount — Cool citrine-crystals, tierce pyropus- Above i' the clouds, while here she 's stone. provident Are floor-work here ! — But «lid I let Of pure locpiacious (learl, the soft tree- alone tent I That black-eyed i)easant in the vestibule (luards. with its face ot reate and sedge, j Once and for ever ?— Floor- work ? Xo nor fail j such fool ! The silver globules and gold-siwrkhng Rather, were heaven to forestall earth, grail I'<1 say At bottom. Oh, 'twere too absurd to I, is it. must be blessed? Then, my own slight I way For the hereafter the tiwday's delight ! Bless me ! give firmer arm and fleeter QiU-mli thirnt at tlli^<, then seek next ! foot. well-spring— wear | I'll thank you : but to no mail wings Honu-lilics ere strange lotus in my hair ! , transmute 012 SOIIDKLLO [BOOK \ I TIh'hi' liiiiJm «»( mino — our urci-iixwHnl was HO mifl '. Kuch to In- (Iwfit at fiiNf in : wIkm-. Iu hWilV wu-t »«' nun ■ ' I I I- ■ I Nor lainp 1 on the tinin.ler-. loii.l aloft ; Mim.lut.. witli tin- ka. .r. or oli.y We fe.'l the bh-.-. ! tiodx. to Knuinen sulwervient, not niixetl up with xtart „^ I l'l>, UrutiiMinthenresenee. theoKOHhout Hotter move palnahly through heaven— j That noine shoul.l pi( k th. unHtrung nor. frewl I , j'-wl", «'»"— Of He*h, formwth. from Hiwce to Npa«e K;uh, well ! . ., proceed •^"''' *" '•• '"oinentu when tlif •Mid living nyntMU of worhU ! Xo I In I'axt lieaven'H marge ' ''ft^'' l>ttrlially eufnuu his«inent, lie targe | '*<"t'^';' , , , , Solid with Htarn— the tVntaur at hiH Of his soul « esseme. little h)v«s nn.l game, i hates. Made tremulously out in hoary flame ! into the iiixl deep yearnings overlaid Life! Yet the very eupwhiise extreme Hy these; as who should pierce lull. dull j plain, grove, glade, UregH, even, I would (luaff, was d8sh«Hl. And on int.. the very nu< lens prol)e gj f„ll^ j That lirst determined there exist a Aside HO oft ;' the death I fly, revealwl ' glol>e. , ,. , , , i So oft a better life this life concealed. As that were easiest, half th<- gU.lM- fact ? I K'''t Why must a sinjile of the -ides be right? With circumstance, next change behold- What bier law and mode of j In place of Hesh may stop their llight life, 1 lieyond HOOK \ 1 1 SOllDKhhO (ii:t It"* iu'W«|ihfif, HH that r(Mirsf(l(>r>« hHrm I S<«ric the dih- miniilc fur I'tijoying or ^immI here, 'I'd its arriiii){i'iiu'ntH. Oinc thin iiikUt- TJn- koiiI must im'wIk infitrurt her weak MtotMl, cniiUM'rr. Ax MiMlilctily li<> felt hiiiiNcIf aloni', Hun o'tT itx (aiMilii ui rrinK yiiiti- out of Tinu- aiic — \VhiUina Thr iiiiniitf jjone, the l)o«ly'H power let go Of hi-t own Kelf-Hutticii-ncy ; macle mail That '■« |iortionp ex|Min{ on sneh a morning's duster- ployed, , ehord Fit to the finite his inlinity. And .he whole nuisie it was fran ed And thus proceed for ever, in dc j^ree ] aiTord, — Changeil hut in kind the sanu>. still The chord's might half discovered, what limited ' shiuild pluck Totheap|s)intedcircuinstanceanil dead One t-tring, his finj^er, was founody was to l)e so long \'ain-gloiiot sly were fain, fj r recom- Youthful, no Kmger— hut, since no ' )K'nse, control To stem the ruin even yet. protract Tied to that IhmIv's pur|K)ses his soul. The l)ody"s term, supply the jtower it She chose to understand the Inxly's lacked trade From her infinity. comjH>l it Iciirn More than the l)oerinaneiil, the Inidy Advance the same, vantpiished — oldaiii not, — re wan I, 614 SOKDKLLO [book VI Roa)) joy wluTc sorrow was intendeil j»row. Of Wrong make Right, anr, and the Small Now, yet be save says Old fable', the two eagles went two wiiv> .\l)out the world : where, in the midst. tlicy m<'t. Though on it .shifting Viaste of sand, men set •loves tciu|>le. Quick, what has Sor- dello fiiiMid ? l''or they approai h--a)>proach— that loot's reU.und . . . Bf>OK Vll SORDELLO (515 I'alnm? N.., SrtlinK.urnv thonphin mail; ' With foe an.l friend fur an out.st,i,,,,ing Tliey mount, have reached the thres- | "oiil, ^ hold, dash the veil N'nc days at least Ihen.-fairly Aside— anrplexe, whom l.)st , , . , v Anon thev lai.l within that ..Ul f.>nt- Egna last year, an.l who takes hgna s t,„i",l)_- 1 l>t>st — Ar..l, vet again, alas ! ' OiH-ns the Lombar.l gate if Friedrich And now is 't worth knock ■ ) , , , , ., o i Our while bring ba.k to min.l, much less Himself esjiouse.l the I.ady of the Kock ^^., f„rth I" V»rv necessity, and so destroyed How Salinguerra extri.ates himself His slen.ler last of chan.es, .piite made Without S.)rdello? (Ihil^lhn and Ouelf void May tight their Her. .^st out? IfRiehar.l Old prophe.y, an.l spite of all the " sulked schemes In.luranccorthcMar.p.ispai.ihismulct, Overt an.l covert, youth's deeds, ages Who .are^. Sor.lellog.meV The upshot. .Ireams. ^,„,,. Was siukc.1 into R.miano. An.l so Was peace : onr chief mad.' .some frank hushed , , . i ' ovcrtui.- H»' "P ^l''-* ''venings work that, when That prosiM'r.'.l ; compliment fell thick 'twas brushc.l . ' a,„| fa^t S.)mehow against by a blinil chronicle On its .lisjHjser, ami Taurello passe.l i Whi. h, chronicling whatever woe befell 610 S()IM)KLL() [book Ferrara, noted Uiis tho obscurf woe Of ' SalingniTra's sole son (Jiaconio Deceased, fatuous ami doting, ere his >*''■''•' . . .1 The townsfolk rubbed their eyes, could but admire Whiih of Sofia's live was meant. The chaps Of earth's dead hoixi were tardy to collapse, Obliterated not the Iwautiful Distinctive features at a crash— Init (lull And duller, next year, as (Juelf chiefs , withdrew | Each to his stnmghold. Then (sei-urcly . too { Eeelin at ('amiK>se slept— close by. Who likes may see him in Solagna lie With cushioned head and glovc. none found it in his heart To Ik' much angry with Taurelloj- gained Their galleys with the prize, and whiil reiuainetl BOOK Vl] SORDKLLO 617 But carry him Ui Venice for a show 1 ^ —Set him, as 'twere, flown gently— free | His nait, ms|)ect our square, pretend I observe | The swallows soaring their eternal curve 'Twixt The His gait among them now—' it took, ' indeed, ] Fully this Eeclin to supersede That man,' remarkeainful .sense Of the inferior nat ure'sclinging— whence Slight starting tears easily wi)M'd away. Fine jealousies soon stifled in the play Of irrepressible aduiirati(m — not Aspiring, all considered, to their lot CIS SOIIDELLO [UOOK VI "tVliD cvci. just as tlicv prcpurc nscfiu (I AH In was anxious ti) a|)|>car, liiit scani Siiiral on sjiira 1, wish tiu-c well. iiniH'ixl Solicitous to Ik-. A sorry fan I traik. He lived for sonu- one better tluiiji.' this Tiiat iiptiii.-.M! fervi.l facean.l hair put way.- i,.„.|. . I^., on a heath V hrown an«l nameUss hill Is thrir n.. more to sav ? He of th.- Hy si.arklin>; Asolo, in mist ami eh.ll. ,1, vines— ' Morninir just upjiigher and hinher runs M.my a Inle. of this retreat l)Otin.e-.. A .hild barefoot and rosy. See ! tlu Was'borii : Sordellodieat oneeformeii'.' sun's TheChn.ni.l.-rsof Mantua tired their'M-n On the s.iuare ea.stle s niner-eourt s low 'rellin" how Sorilillo Princ, Vi ■■nil wall .• ^ i •'.,;.,.,l Like tlie eliine of some extinet animal Mantua! ami elsewhere notably be- Half turned to earth ami (lowers ; ami |,,v,.d— through the haze Who thiis.bvf.utune-soiderin- events. (Save where some sicmler pat.hes of |',is<.. I with'no'^t-ritv. to all intents. jin-.v 'uaize •• r just the .'od he mver .o.d.l lM>,.ome. Are to \n- oyer eap-d) that U.y has .Tost .\s Knisht. IWd. (Jallant. men were The wi.ole hill-s.de of dew ami powder- In praise of'him" while what lu- should Mattuig the balm and mountain eamo- h'lve Ihmmi mile. Could W. an.l was m.t -the or..' s^.-p too Vy ami up goes he. sinpnR all the whil,. ,„,. ,„ Some unintelh}iible words to beat For him t . take.-we suffer at this .lay ■rhelark.rld"s sike ■ that 's left H.Mti,: murh -but Sor.Hl..sehame was Of the (ioito lay ! .-^'V' "'I'V'^''";;''', „,„„, Sleep an.l forjiet. Sor.lello ! In elteet Thu. h7t.lS<'.rdellodanvl that stepah.ne. He sleeps, the feverish iK.et-I sus,HMt Ap..lloha.lUvn.'..m|.as-.e.l-twasatit \.)t utterly .■ompanionless ; but. lie wishelshoul.l<.'.)tohim.n..t het.)it friends „ , ,1., - \s.MUM H.-^i..ri Ml fruit An after-f-ust -but that were overbol.l. And, piais.UK' that, just thrown him in Who wo.il.l has hear.l Sordello s st.-ry to b.)Ot ♦"'''■ (il«.) NOTE TO PARACELSUS Tub lilM-.tics I httvp taken with my snhject are very trifling ; nn.l thr rc-a.l.r mav HJip tiic foroRoing srcnos b<-twoon the loaves of any memoir of ParacelMis he pleases. I>v way of eomn.entary. To ])rove this. I subjoin a j>o|.ular iucount. translate. I" fronl the liu^r„i>hu VmrarxM,. Paris. IS-2-2, whieh I select, not as the iM'st lertainlv, hut as lu'lna at hand, and suftieiently concise for my piir|K)se. 1 also ap(K-n.f a few notes, in order to correct those 5)arts which do not In-ar out my own view of the chi'racter of Paracelsus ; and have incori>orated with them anoticeortwo, illustrative of the i-oem itself. „ , , u « i u • . ' PvuACEUsis (Philijipus Aureolus Iheophrastus Bombastus ah Holienheim) was born in U'tSat ■i:insiedeln (1), a little town in the canton of Stat. iiiilHMl-in ilhiiii iinilionii.M|M.' , ,,,„ fni^s,-.' .\ staiiilin- HikIi-HhI. ti ,i..k.- in lli.h..-.l,i\s .it tli(M-xi«-ii-.' cf .-i i.ni,il..i ..f ).arM.-.l iiifii i-; m.tv Iv .S.-.I1 l.v i.ft-iriii;; t.. .sn. Ii nilibisl. as .M.-laii.ler's .l..,;,»,, the rriivcr.Mty of Basil. TIutp Paracclwiis began by theatre the works of Avicenna and (Jalen, assuring of his shoes were more instructetl than those two physicians; that all Universities, all writers put together, were less gifted than the hairs of his beard and of the crown of his head ; and that, in a word, he was to bo regarde31 ; at Pfeffers in 1535 ; and at Augsburg in 1536 : he next made some stay in Moravia, where he still further compromised his reputation by the loss of many distinguished patients, which compelle wondrrful neither, if we believe what another atlvemary ' h.id lie.iitl Hon'iewhere,'— that all Paracelsus' nystem oanie of hi« pillaging 'Anglum iiuendam, Rogerinm Baechonein.' „ . , ■ jt ,. l- .r .i - .See his works im<»ii». I ninst give one specimen:— Somebody had been xtyling him Lulliii alter;' 'and why notY' (ho asks, as he well might,) ' I.iither i» abundantly learned, thcrefop von hate liini and m-; but we .ire at leant a match for you.— Nam et contra vos ct vcKtrc|s 'univer!H>8 princiiie.s Avicennani, O.ilennm, Aristotefcm, etc, me siitis 8ui)erf|ue mnnitum epw novi. Et vertex i«te menu c;ilvu8 ac depilis niulto plura et sublimiora novit quaiii vester vel Aviccnn.| vel universa< acadciiiia'. Proilite, et nignnni date, qui viri siti-s iinid roborin haheatis ? qUMl aiitem nitisV Doctores et magistri, |iedicnlo8 jiectenteB et fricantes iKxliccni.' (Krag. Meii.) ' ' So migratory a life could afford I'aracelsus but little leisure for application to iHKikR, ancl ai'coiiiin^ly he informs us tlmt for the «i«ce of ten years he never opened a single volum.-, and that his wiiole medical library wa>< not oomiM)tied Of six sheets; in effect, the inventory drawn up aft.r his death HfUes that the oiilv bk8 which he left were the Hiblc, the New Tc»t.amcnt, the romment^iries of .St. Jerome on the GosikU, a printeut this time arose out of Luther's school one CEcolampadius. like a mightv and fierce giant ; who as his master had gone beyond the Church, went beyond his master (or e se it had been impossible he could have been reputeok« wore oxcommunirato..|no. i, s-dih I .ap ;») •()mnii.ota.«.>M.....ltath.-ol..KMa.n.'jUH(lemMript.Ki>lanf IthoiHn .« olen : a • .li.n..H...,le nonant in auribuK v.-re n«rtur.m sacram Hcni*.8«-n . hivc- veterV s?^' recentioren, qien.i«a.n Ktri,.tur« n..rle..in recte eru.HMe. Ke.l cnu rortUe.;. et quani membranam tantum haerere ' {Th. />«*<«-. Ih>>H'». d, Ved \om) The.se ami niinilar notion- had their .h.e effect on OiH,rinus. who. „aVH Z. S'r,,H in hi. Th.,UrHm. ' lon«un. vaU- .iixit ei (Para.el.o) ne ob ,.ne...- Iliori. ahoq.!! amieiKHimi.horrendaH bla«,,hemiaH ipne .,..o.,ue ah.„.amlo pu^^nas |)(K> Opt. Max. lueret.' , ., . a,) HiH defenders allow the drunkennenH. Take a -ample of the.r exnines: ' ( e, tishoo. non viri vitiolun. e-t, a Taeiti -eculo ad no8tr..r.. ..Hq.ie non .nterr..plo »i o .lev.. .H, .". -inceritati forte (;erman« co^v..ni. et ne«c.o an ali.p.o eo„H..„j(...- n ta L v i^o lo i. ...ctum' (Bitiskiu-). The other charge- were chieHy tru.«,K.t ..p nf-i St." a. e^Icanl sua aocesHit, atque in meclio eontlav. ad column.... r rX los a.l-iHtens. apprehen-o n.anib..- cap..lo e..-.-. c,i„.m «o.A«.^a hos- r, ti^i ur*bu it it ;iuAt -piritui familiari, imaginationes a«t concepta nua ot ." t --aS ill. Id quod in capulo habuit. ab ip-o Azoth appe latum n.e.l.c.na... Ee i.r«Htan i-Hiniam aut ikpideni Philo-ophicum put.nt ' (Melch. Ac a.n) Th If. no,r"word waa no laughing-matter in tho-e day-, an< la now a mater... feaf.reTn The popular idea of l>ar^el8U8. I recollect a couple of allusions to .t ill our own literature, at the moment. tie hftd t>«!«n known tlie DanUli (Joiuwdrt, OrPanw«Uu»«ithhUloiigHWord. . ^ ,, „ Voliinitt, Act 11. Swne ». Bnijihiuitn* kept a Devil'it .liiil Stmt In the puiiiiiiel cif liiii »woi-<« o* ^f ';, ; SgoWen ngots. wire'confided to his keeping. ^F-'V'l^^i*'"!?"*/ ^'inr m ffiwlnrnotice vouch among many others :- Degel«t Iheophrastus Nori.- W Jfod tus a medentibus illius urbis. et vani oquus deceptorque P'o^>a™« ' ,n.i ut laboranti fam« subveniat, viros ..uosdam authoritatis sumnas m R.- mblica lU X et infami« amoliend*. u.t.q..e sua- .sserend« specimen e,..s Sicetur eclit. r im. nullo stii,endio vel .ccepto pretio. horum f.ciles prKbent.u.n lurestrssrele Wntiw-os .liquot, . communlone hominum c«terorum segreg.tos oiTn vXtudEim detrusc,s, alieno arbitrio eliguntur, quoa v.rtute singular, reined or.nns\"or^ Theophrastus a fceda Gr«corum lepra mundat, pnst.n«q...; IIL^^t? re^tituit • conservat illustre harum curationum urbs m archiv.s su.s nimon[um' ;B;."iu«)'. It i^ to be remarked that Oporinus afterward NOTE TO PARACELSUS 623 rci»cnt«l of his treachery : ' Se«l reHipuit tnnruliod,nl.it,J>.(>iM>r'; forthe reinorHe. Mie Toxita in prvf. 7'«Ht..r \ eKeruH ^ Whatever the nioe eonHiilercd the father of modem duniistry in indwputaMe. (JerarduH VoHsiun, Ih PhUo>f' it I'hilm"" xfClix, thus prefaeen tlie ninth section of can H ' Ue Chymia '— ' XobiU'in hanc inedicinu' iMirtem, diu se|niUain avonim letate (luatii ah orco revwavit Th. ParaceJHUH.' IsupiKihe many hints he scat- tered in Ids neglected Ijooks, which clever appropriators have since (levc- h)i^-d with applause. Thus, it ap|K.'aiH from his treatise Ih PhhUitowiit, ai\i\ elsewhere, that he had discovered the circulation of the hlood anil the sanguihca- tion of the heart ; as did after liiin Realdo Colombo, anassttge in the third part of the I'oem. He was. aK I have said, unwilling to Dublish his works, but in effect did publish a vast number. \ alentius (in / mjat. in Parnmyr.) declares ' cpiotl aoHt notable. IJ'" f™^' /.f^t" Medicini. 1571.; M.c. Toxetis, 0«om««-' Comitcnduun cum schdtiH auctorv Lioiw (Suai 10, Paris. (This last a gooilljook.) (G) A disgraceful affair. One Liechtenfcls. a canon, having been rescued tn extremis by the 'laudanum' of Paracelsus, refused the stipulate.l fee and was sUDuortetl in his meanness by the authorities, whose interfirence Paracelsus wouW not Wk. His own liberality was allowef the i.iuiierty of tlie Tiiiutm-e not i«k\ilate>l on by its vi.laii.^ :— i.liv«iL«« • vitie niniiniiii abbreviatioiieiii fortaiise talibiis aicidere jKUite, < 1> Timtiirai. tiuiueiiimi. );cCgToVe d^i »"."t!.u.. dun. a M.u.iue efHcaci et i*netrabili l...j«» virtute calor .....at... .,""»' Hiitfuoat...'.' OiabrieliBCIan.Ieri ScliediasiiiB.) .,■ .. . „ i/ . .i , 'For a goJxl defen« of l>an.cel,..» 1 refer tlie .eader t.. ..la..H Ho...el,...»' f'^-*-- ;,"''" It,: ti„,,i.Jiia rin.limi;, 1674. Or. if l.o \o r... ii.o.e learned tlian ...j*lf ... M..1. ...atte.s 1 iiientio.. »iii.l>ly that raiiucl»u» iutiotluced the uee of Meixii.y a..d l.amlai.n.ii. I r*/ '' '. ta-, , t ( .->/ «• OZroRD i IIOBAOI HART PRIMTKR TO TUX UMircRttny ,. J-^ h / r:'. / '^'•'W-v/?! <-< *■■ .■ f • *, >• !i KKx y, ■ 7 . -. , .■ /' / ,'■