Selected Bffl National a* AND NON- ORIENTAL Sif^ Edwin Arnold univer: Ex Libris ISAAC FOOT POEMS NATIONAL AND NON-ORIENTAL [WITH SOME NEW PIECES] Selected from tbe lUlorks OF SIR EDWIN ARNOLD, M.A., K.C.I. E., C.S.I. AUTHOR OF "THE LIGHT OF ASIA, ETC. ETC. ETC. LONDON TRUBNER & CO., LUDGATE HILL 1888 [All rights reserved] TBaQantgne -press BALLANTYNE, HANSON AND CO. EDINBURGH AND LONDON PREFACE. As it has been sometimes thought and said, — inaccurately, — that the Author is exclu- sively devoted to oriental subjects of verse, and as he may yet recur to those, he has here complied with the desire that a selection should be made from his non-oriental poems. London, May 1888. CONTENTS. THE FOUR CROWNS TO H.R.H. THE PRINCESS OP WALES . THE FIRST DISTRIBUTION OP THE VICTORIA IN MEMORIAM FLORENCE NIGHTINGALE .... CONGRATULATORY ADDRESS THE ORDER OF VALOUR .... ON THE DEATH OP THE PRINCESS ALICE HAVELOCK IN TRAFALGAR SQUARE . ADELAIDE ANNE PROCTER TO AMERICA ARMAGEDDON TO MATTHEW ARNOLD .... SONG OP THE GERMAN SOLDIERS IN ALSACE BERLIN. — THE SIXTEENTH OP MARCH CROSS I 4 8 ii H 16 21 22 26 29 30 34 36 3S HERO AND LEANDER . THE FEAST OF BELSHAZZAR 43 63 vi CONTENTS. PAGE THE THREE EOSES 76 HE AND SHE 84 "ON THE TH INSTANT, DROWNED WHILST BATHING" 89 DREAM-LAND 92 A MA FUTURE 102 LLANGOLLEN I04 THE TWO WREATHS I05 ALMOND BLOSSOM 108 SONNET • . . .IIO ALL SAINTS' DAY Ill SERENADE II4 THE EMIGRANT 115 THE THREE STUDENTS Il6 JAM SATIS Il8 ARISTIPPUS 122 EFFIE 126 TO F. C. II 128 FROM SAPPHO 130 FROM ANACREON 132 NEMESIS I34 LOVE AND LIFE I35 TWO IDYLS OF THEOCRITUS— BY THE FOUNTAIN . 136 THE SPELL I42 LAMENT OF ADONIS 1 55 PRAYER TO THE MUSES 1 64 A DEDICATION 167 CONTENTS. vii PAGE WITH A VOLUME OP TRANSLATIONS l68 DEDICATION OP A BOOK 169 THE EPIC OP THE LION 170 NENCIA 1S9 THE STRATFORD PILGRIMS 212 " STUDENTS' DAY " IN THE NATIONAL GALLERY . . 247 THE KNIGHT'S TOMB AT SWANSCOMBE CHURCH . . 253 ALLA MANO DELLA MIA DONNA ... -257 THE HYMN OF THE PRIESTESS OF DIANA . . . 264 TO A SLEEPING LADY 267 TO STELLA 270 INSCRIBED UPON A SKULL PICKED UP ON THE ACROPOLIS AT ATHENS 271 THE NEW LUCIAN 273 OXFORD REVISITED 274 A DUET 275 THE ALTAR OF PITY 277 THE CHOLERA IN ITALY 278 THE WRECK OF THE "NORTHERN BELLE " . . . 2S5 A HOME SONG 299 FOND FANCIES 3 QI ON A DEAD LADY 3°5 LYDIA 3° 6 THE LOST PLEIAD 3 oS AMADIS OF GAUL TO DON QUIXOTE DE LA MANCHA . 322 THE SHADOW OF THE CROSS 323 CHRIST BLESSING LITTLE CHILDREN .... 330 vi CONTENTS. PAGE THE THREE EOSES 7^ HE AND SHE 84 "ON THE TH INSTANT, DROWNED WHILST BATHING" 89 DREAM-LAND 92 A MA FUTURE 102 LLANGOLLEN IO4 THE TWO WREATHS 105 ALMOND BLOSSOM I08 SONNET . .IIO ALL SAINTS' DAY Ill SERENADE II4 THE EMIGRANT 115 THE THREE STUDENTS Il6 JAM SATIS Il8 ARISTIPPUS 122 EFFIE 126 TO F. C. H 128 FROM SAPPHO 130 FROM ANACREON 132 NEMESIS I34 LOVE AND LIFE 1 35 TWO IDYLS OF THEOCRITUS — BY THE FOUNTAIN 136 THE SPELL 142 LAMENT OF ADONIS 1 55 PRAYER TO THE MUSES 1 64 A DEDICATION 167 CONTENTS. vii PAGE WITH A VOLUME OP TRANSLATIONS 1 68 DEDICATION OF A BOOK 1 69 THE EPIC OP THE LION 170 NENCIA 189 THE STRATFORD PILGRIMS 212 " STUDENTS' DAY " IN THE NATIONAL GALLERY . . 247 THE KNIGHT'S TOMB AT SWANSCOMBE CHURCH . .253 ALLA MANO DELLA MIA DONNA 257 THE HYMN OF THE PRIESTESS OF DIANA . . . 264 TO A SLEEPING LADY 267 TO STELLA 270 INSCRIBED UPON A SKULL PICKED UP ON THE ACROPOLIS AT ATHENS 271 THE NEW LUCIAN 273 OXFORD REVISITED 274 A DUET 275 THE ALTAR OP PITY 277 THE CHOLERA IN ITALY 278 THE WRECK OP THE "NORTHERN BELLE" . . .285 A HOME SONG 299 FOND FANCIES 3 QI ON A DEAD LADY 3°5 LYDIA 3° 6 THE LOST PLEIAD 308 AMADIS OF GAUL TO DON QUIXOTE DE LA MANCHA . 322 THE SHADOW OF THE CROSS 323 CHRIST BLESSING LITTLE CHILDREN .... 330 vni CONTENTS. ON A CYCLAMEN .... THE TWELVE MONTHS IN WESTMINSTER ABBEY . ATALANTA LIFE HADRIAN'S ADDRESS TO HIS SOUL THE DEPTHS OF THE SEA . THE HEAVENLY SECRET AN ADIEU JEANNE A FAREWELL .... A LOVE-SONG OF HENRI QUATRE IN MEMORY OF S. S. . EPITAPH WRITTEN FOR THE SAME OBSCURE MARTYRS WILFRED H. ARNOLD . THE RHINE AND THE MOSELLE PAGE 334 349 353 355 356 357 360 361 362 364 366 368 37o 37i 373 374 TLhc foxw Crowns. [Written upon the death of the Prince Consort.] Throned before the people Queen of land and sea, While from tower and steeple Crashed the clangorous glee ; First of four — enamelled All with kingdoms round — The crown of this our England Upon thy brow was bound. Next, in happiest hours, Came the crown of life ; Love's fair wreath of flowers Diademed thee Wife : Hailed, Princess and Woman, Honoured, Queen and Spouse, THE FOUR CROWNS. Half the golden burden Lightened on thy brows. Yet a crown came after. Waiting thee to wear; Little children's laughter Rippled in thine ear. At thy knee, most Noble ! Learning how to reign, Princes and princesses • rrew — a gracious train. Then, that coronation, Grander than of Queen, Making highest station Higher than had been, Did betide thee ! binding On thy drooping brow Sorrow's thorny circlet, Death hath crowned thee now. our Queen ! our Mother ! Thou, of all, know'st all ; THE FOUR CROWNS. Joy or sorrow — other Cannot hence befall. Sad, imperial Forehead ! Sceptred, weary Hand ! Widowed Heart ! the Greatest And Loneliest in the Land ! 1862. Zo ib.iR.U?. tbe Itosncess of XUales OH HER FIRST ARRIVAL DS ESGLAHD. Fleece, brown-bearded, enclad in the spoils of wolf and of wild-cat. Keener in ravin than wolves, than wild-cats wilder in on; Came, in the days gone by, the Danes to the shore of the Angles. Came on an errand of blood — to beleaguer, to burn, and to ravage. Ploughing up furrows of foam on the grass-green meads of the Xorth Sea Steered the old Vikings their course, one hand on the helm of their gall- One on the helves of their axes : and when from Flam- borough's foreland, Shading his eyes from the glimmer of sunrise, the watcher beheld them TO H.R.H. THE PRINCESS OF WALE-. 5 Holding right on for the coast, with the sioms and the standards of battle, Loud through the wolds rang the crv, ;: The Dane ! the Dane cometh hither ! " Flickered with warning names the crests of the hills. and the cressets. Mothers and maidens fled inland — fast gathered th^ bowmen and billmen. 'Trim the welcome awaiting those strangers ! — such greeting as arrows Carry on wings of wrath, such kisses as edge of sword renders ; — All their room in the land as much as the length of their lances. Nay, or beneath its turf, the length of the Chieftains who bore them. Fair, golden-haired, and glad with the joy of her vouth and her beautv. Daughter herself of a Prince, of a Prince the loved and the chosen. Comes in these happier days the Dane to the shores of the Angles. 6 TO H.R.H. THE PRINCESS OF WALES. Comes on an errand of love, to the music of soft hymenreals. Over the silver-green seas, which kiss the keel of her vessel, Bending their foreheads on this side and that to the Maiden of Norseland (Rightfully Lady of Waves by her Father's right and her Husband's), Speeds the sweet Princess to land ; and all the voices of gladness Tell that she is arrived whose hand the Prince of the English Takes in the sight of God and man for the hand of his consort — Consort in splendours and cares, in the gloom and the glitter of ruling. Warm the welcome awaiting this lovely and winning invader ! Such as men give with the lips when the heart has gone forward before them ; Such as a nation of freemen, not apt to flatter for fashion, Make, when the innocent past is a pledge of the happy to-morrows. TO H.R.H. THE PRINCESS OF WALES. 7 Princess ! weak is one voice in the throng and clamour of voices, Poor one flower in the rain of the roses that shower at thy footsteps, Faint one prayer in the anthem of litanies uttered to bless thee ; Yet to thy young fair face I make an Englishman's greeting, On thy path to the altar I lay this wreath from a singer, I — of the men whose fathers encountered thy fathers with battle, I — of the men whose mothers turned pale at the galleys of Denmark, Heralds of happiness now, sea-birds that bring from the Norland Unto our Prince his Bride — and to England omens of gladness. Uhc first distribution of the Victoria Cross. To-day the people gather from the streets. To-day the soldiers muster near and far ; Peace, with a glad look and a grateful, meets Her rugged brother War. To-day the Queen of all the English land, She who sits high o'er Kaisers and o'er Kings, Gives with her royal hand — th' Imperial hand Whose grasp the earth en-rings — Her Cross of Valour to her worthiest ; — No golden toy with milky pearls besprent, But simple bronze, and for a warrior's breast A fair, fit ornament. And richer than red gold that dull bronze seems, Since it was bought with lavish waste of worth FIRST DISTRIBUTION OF THE VICTORIA CROSS. 9 Whereto the wealth of Earth's gold-sanded streams Were but a lack, and dearth. Muscovite metal makes this English Cross, Won in a rain of blood and wreath of flame ; The guns that thundered for their brave lives' loss Are worn hence, for their fame ! Aye, listen ! all ye maidens laughing-eyed, And all ye English mothers, be aware ! Those who shall pass before ye at noontide Your friends and champions are. The men of all the army and the fleet, The very bravest of the very brave, Linesman and Lord — these fought with equal feet Firm-planted on their grave. The men who, setting light their blood and breath So they might win a victor's haught renown, Held their steel straight against the face of Death, And frowned his frowning down. io FIRST DISTRIBUTION OF THE VICTORIA CROSS. And some that grasped the bomb, all fury-fraught, And hurled it far, to spend its spite away, — Between the rescue and the risk, no thought, — Shall pass our Queen this day ; And some who climbed the deadly glacis-side, For all that steel could stay, or savage shell ; And some, whose blood upon the Colours dried Tells if they bore them well ; Some, too, who, gentle-hearted even in strife, Seeing their fellow or their friend go down, Saved his, at peril of their own dear life, Winning the Civic Crown. Well done for them ; and, fair Isle, well for thee ! While that thy bosom beareth sons like those " The little gem set in the silver sea " Shall never fear her foes ! 1856. 3n flDemorfam. [On the death of Lord Raglan.] Ah ! not because our Soldier died before his field was won ; Ah ! not because life would not last till life's Ions' task were done, Wreathe one less leaf, grieve with less grief; — of all our hosts who led Not least in work and worth approved, — Lord Eaglan lieth dead. His nobleness he had of none, War's Master taught him war, And prouder praise that Master gave than meaner lips can mar ; Gone to his grave, his duty done ; if farther any seek, He left his life to answer them, — a soldier's, — let it speak ! 12 IN MEMORIAM. 'Twas bis to wield a blunted sword, — to fight a fated field, While idle tongues talked victory, to struggle not to yield ; Light task for placeman's ready pen to plan a day for fight, Hard work and hot with steel and shot to win that day aright. Tears have been shed for the brave dead ; mourn him who mourned for all ! Praise hath been given for strife well striven, praise him who strove o'er all, Nor count that conquest little, though no banner flaunt it far, That under him our English hearts with Frost and Plague waged war. And if he held those English hearts too good to pave the path To idle victories, shall we grudge what noble palm he hath ? IN MEMORIAM. 13 Like ancient Chief he fought a-front, and 'mid his soldiers seen, His work was aye as stern as theirs ; oh ! make his grave as green. They know him well, — the Dead who died that Russian wrong should cease ; Where Fortune doth not measure men, — their souls and his have peace ; Aye ! as well spent in sad sick tent as they in bloody strife, For English Homes our English Chief gave what he had, — his life. i8S3- Florence miobtingale. If on this verse of mine Those eyes shall ever shine, Whereto sore-wounded men have looked for life, Think not that for a rhyme, Nor yet to fit the time, I name thy name, — true A 7 ictress in this strife ! But let it serve to say That, when we kneel to pray, Prayers rise for thee thine ear shall never know ; And that thy gallant deed, For God, and for our need, Is in all hearts, as deep as love can go. 'Tis good that thy name springs From two of Earth's fair things — A stately city and a soft-voiced bird ; FLORENCE NIGHTINGALE. 15 "Pis well that in all homes, When thy sweet story comes, And brave eyes fill — that pleasant sounds be heard. Oh voice ! in night of fear, As night's bird, soft to hear, Oh great heart ! raised like city on a hill ; Oh watcher ! worn and pale, Good Florence Nightingale, Thanks, loving thanks, for thy large work and will ! England is glad of thee — Christ, for thy charity, Take thee to joy when hand and heart are still ! 1854- Gonoratulaton? Hfcfcrc35. [Recited in the Sheldonian Theatre at Oxford, on the Installation of the Earl of Derby as Chancellor of the University.] THRICE welcome to the seat thy worth hath won ! Proud in her grief sad Isis hails her son ; Welcome ! but question not the tear that starts Krom the sealed sorrow of a thousand hearts. Welcome ! but ask not why in Sheldon's hall The voice must falter, and the greeting fall ; Greeting as warm, and joy as deep and proud, As though that greeting and that joy were loud, And faith as firm, and love as true we bear, Though Past and Present mingle smile and tear. We weave two wreaths, we twine two garlands now ; One of bright olive for thine honoured brow, And one of cypress for the mighty dust, Who is our memory, as Thou our trust : CONGRATULATORY ADDRESS. 17 And therefore mourn we, therefoi*e vre rejoice, Shaping glad welcomes with a chastened voice, Because to-day great Arthur's seat we see Vacant of him, — held worthily of thee. Sad and remindful task it were to say What hope and gladness graced the festal day, When, diademed with victory's brightest bays, As knight that entereth after herald's praise, Hither he came ; whose fame had come before From Spain's sierras, and the Belgic shore ; When Learning's self, forgetting doubt and dread, Unclasped the helmet from her warrior's head, Ungirt the good steel sword his thigh displayed, And wiped the bloody honour from its blade : Nor held unfitting, nor unworthy thought That gentle work her timid fingers wrought, For holiest is the war that winneth peace, And best the strife that biddeth striving cease. And now, (alas, but for our hopes in thee Too dark and mindful were such memory !) The sword that stayed not till the fight was won, The heart that failed not till the right was done ; B 18 CONGRATULATORY ADDRESS. Firm heart and faithful sword, their work is o'er, And the great Captain resteth evermore. But Peace hath victories of deed and word, Won with a subtler weapon than the sword : And civic wreaths a greener gleam display Than the stained garlands of the finished fray : Peace hath her battle-fields, where they who fight Win more than honour, vanquish more than might, And strive a strife against a fiercer foe Than one who comes with battle-axe and bow. And this was thine ! War's tempest fled away, Leaving thy destinies a fairer day ; The eagles slept, the lion-flags were furled, No battle-thunder shook the weary world, No steel-clad legions, merciless of mood, Stained the sweet meadows with their mowers' blood ; But Peace, yet bleeding from the lance of War, And Trust, and Truth, and Plenty, frighted far, Learning, uplooking from her lettered scroll, And Science, starting at the drum's deep roll, And angry Justice, with white spreading wings, Leaving for ever earth and earthly things ; CONGRATULATORY ADDRESS. 19 These to win back, to comfort, and to calm, Till War's wild posan sank to peaceful psalm, And English homes, untenanted no more, Held hopes, and loves, and laughter, as before ; Senates to sway, and councillors to lead, With earnest eloquence and ready deed, And, sailing o'er a deep and dangerous flood, To watch one guiding-star, thy country's good. To hold to honour, for dear honour's sake, Till Faction envied what it might not shake ; The right to succour, and the wrong subdue ; — This was thy triumph, these thy Waterloo ! Well through that bloodless fight thy virtue bore The Stanley's banner, stainless as of yore, The silver shield that wears no trait'rous blot, The legend of the faith that changes not.* Then once again, glad greeting ! once again Joy dries the tear, and Pleasures banish Pain ; The stream- girt city of the tower and dome Bids thee high welcome to thine early home, — Thou hear'st from tongue to tongue the tributes borne, Where thy first laurel -wreath was won and worn ; * The motto of the Stanley family is " Sans changer." 20 CONGRATULATORY ADDRESS. Here, in an old and well-remembered scene, — Here, where thy verse hath rung, thy voice hath been, Oxford, who sent thee forth, receives in pride, Once her young son, now her grown guard and guide. Bold in thy love, and steadfast in thy strength, Hope hath won Memory to smile at length : — Only, in other days, if need there be To tell our grief for him, our love for thee, Be this the sign : — that when we sorrowed most, Mourning at once our Bulwark and our Boast, To solace best a deep and anxious grief, And best to honour England's buried chief, We chose no meaner name, no lower line To grace his seat, and guard her fame, than thine. 1S54. Ubc ©roer of Dalour. Thus saith the Queen ! " For him who gave His blood as water in the fisrht, So he from Russian wron? niiarht save My crown, my people, and my right ; Let there be made a cross of bronze And grave thereon my queenly crest ; Write VALOUR on its haughty scroll, And hangr it on his breast." Thus saith the Land ! " He who shall bear Victoria's cross upon his breast, In token that he did not fear To die, had need been, for her rest ; For the dear sake of her who gives, And the high deeds of him who wears, Shall, high or low, all honour have From all, through all his years." February 1856. ©n tbe Deatb of tbe princess Hlice. [It will be remembered that Her Royal Highness died of diphtheria, contracted from the caresses of her little son, whom she was nursing.] Tender and true ! whose virtue was thy crown ! Whose royalty was royally to live ! Death, sent to fetch thee, laid his arrow down, And prayed that Love the bitter call would give ; But Love, who could not stop such gentle breath, Whispered thy child to give the Kiss of Death ! Ifoavclocft in XTrafalaar Square. The foot set firm ! the hand upon the hilt ! The warrior-gaze, as innocent of fear As any maid's of shame ! which, past the guilt, And blood and battle, sees the triumph clear ; Stand so in bronze ! large to thy levelled eye, In the supreme imperial peril dawning, " Hoc siyno vinccs" shines upon the sky ; And, calm as one who knows his Master's warning, Stand thou in bronze ! stand, what thou wert, a Rock, Whereon Rebellion's yeasty billows breaking Drove wave on wave — dashed high — and from the shock Fell back in shattered foam ; thyself unshaking : 24 HAVELOCK IN TRAFALGAR SQUARE. So stand ! — the busy feet of men go by thee, Each one to-day the safer for that sword ; Meeanee's just and valiant chief is nigh thee, Palmerston, Beaconsfield, the great Sea-lord, — Well met in some far-off serenest session, The unimpassioned rest of great men gone ; And here together set — love's poor profession ! — In storied effigy and sculptured stone. Ah ! speaking stone and bronze, cunningly graven To show these Champions of the English name, Are men's hearts such, that knave and fool and craven Can pass ye daily, and be still the same ? But, true and faithful servant ! somewhere plaining That labour multiplies and wage is none, Read Havelock's history, and thereby gaining The comfort of his courage, copy one Who all life's chilly spring and summer dreary Wrought in pure patience what he found to do, Possessing his own soul — not once a- weary — Content, because God was contented too. HAVELOCK IN TRAFALGAR SQUARE. 25 W herefrom he hived that honey which is sweetest, The fruit of all the flowers of all a life, A wisdom so perfected, so completest, Great soldiers gave him place to stem the strife : Which never given, Havelock's highest glory Had lacked our knowledge, not his Master's praise, One splendid page been lost from England's story, But not one leaf from his immortal bays. Go to ! and work — God's servant — serving men ; Bethinking how the ranks closed up, and cried, " Way f 07- the General!" and his answer then, — " You have made way, my lads ! " — fair time for pride ! Hoelaioe Banc Procter. "ILICET." In Roman households, when their dear ones died, Thrice by his name the living called the dead ; And, silence only answering as they cried, I licet — " go thou then ! " — the mourners said. I licet ! let her part ! the Poet's child, Herself a mistress of the lyric song : Ilicet ! — to a "world so sad and wild To wish her back were far less love than wrong. Ilicet ! hard the word for those to say Who know what gentleness is gone from earth ; Harder for those whose dwelling, day by day, Shone with her presence — echoed to her mirth : ADELAIDE ANNE PROCTER. 27 Yet, if He wills it — whom she soars to meet, The Lord of this world's vineyard — shall we ask, Who toil on, in the burden and the heat, A later wage for her — a longer task ? Ilicet ! let her go ! though it were brave, — In the hot vintage, where the strongest fail, Weeding God's grapes from thistles — still to have Her silver hymns o'er weariness prevail ! To hear her gentle, certain spirit of ruth Share its great sureties with less happy brothers, And — from eyes bright with Heav'n's light — teach the truth Of " little children pleading for their mothers" Ilicet ! Otherwhere they need those strains, Sounding so true for men — albeit low ; A throne was vacant (though its steps were pains), For a soul, tried, pure, perfect — let her go ! Sigh not " so young ! " — " such promise ! " — " ah ! a flower That longer life had sunned to fruit of gold." 2 S ADELAIDE ANNE PROCTER. Be still and see ! — God's year, and day, and hour, By lapse of mortal minutes is not told. Who go are called — ilicet ! let her go ! Though a sweet harp is silent in the land, A soft voice hushed — and, never more below, Poet and poet's child join song and hand. Ilicet ! ilicet ! nos ibim ?cs ! — To that divinest region of the skies, Whence with clear sight she sees, knows, pities us, We shall attain ! — Vex not the dead with sighs. TLo Hmerica. [Dedication of a Volume of Poems.] Thou new Great Britain ! famous, free, and bright ! West of thy West sleepeth my ancient East ; Our sunsets make thy noons ; Daytime and Night Meet in sweet morning-promise on thy breast. Fulfil the promise, Lady of wide lands ! Where, as thine own, an English singer ranks : I, who found favour at thy sovereign hands, Kiss them ; and at thy feet lay these, for thanks. Hrmaoefcfcon. A WAR SONG OF THE FUTURE. Maeching down to Armageddon — Brothers, stout and strong ! Let us cheer the way we tread on With a soldier's song ! Faint we by the weary road, Or fall we in the rout, Dirge or Paean, Death or Triumph ! — Let the son^ ring out ! We are they who scorn the scorners — Love the lovers — hate None within the world's four corners — All must share one fate ; We are they whose common banner Bears no badge or sign, ARMAGEDDON. 31 Save the Light which dyes it white — The Hope that makes it shine. We are they whose bugle rings, That all the wars may cease ; We are they will pay the Kings Their cruel price for Peace ; We are they whose steadfast watchword Is what Christ did teach, — " Each man for his Brother first — And Heaven, then, for each." We are they who will not falter — Many swords or few — Till we make this Earth the altar Of a worship new ; We are they who will not take From palace, priest, or code, A meaner Law than " Brotherhood " — A lower Lord than God. Marching down to Armageddon — Brothers, stout and strong ! 32 ARMAGEDDON. Ask not why the way we tread on Is so rough and long ! God will tell us when our spirits Grow to grasp His plan ! Let us do our part to-day — And help Him, helping Man ! Shall we even curse the madness, Which for " ends of State " Dooms us to the long, longr sadness Of this human hate ? Let us slay in perfect pity Those that must not live ; Vanquish, and forgive our foes — Or fall — and still forgive ! We are those whose unpaid legions, In free ranks arrayed, Massacred in many regions — Never once were stayed : We are they whose torn battalions, Trained to bleed, not fly, Make our agonies a triumph, — Conquer, while we die ! ARMAGEDDON. 33 Therefore, down to Armageddon — Brothers, bold and strong — Cheer the glorious way we tread on With this soldier's song- ! Let the armies of the old Flags March in silent dread ! Death and Life are one to us, Who fight for Quick and Dead ! Zo /iDattbcw Hrnolfc. ["FROM EDWIN ARNOLD."] Suffer that — as thou takest boat to cross Grim Charon's tide, on voyage, heavy loss To England — but to thee gain manifold — I pluck thee by the shrond, and press thy cold Forgetful hand ; to lay this obolus Into its honoured palm ! Ah ! think on us In thy new walks upon the Asphodel ; Nor quite forsake the sad sphere where we dwell. Fighting thy battle, lending our small stress To " stream which maketh unto Righteousness ! " Now, that thou better knowest friends and foes, Good Friend ! dear Rival ! bear no grudge to those Who had not time, in Life's hard fight, to show How well they liked thee for thy " slashing blow ; " TO MATTHEW ARNOLD. 35 How "sweet" thy "reasonableness" seemed; how right Thy lofty pleading for the long-dimmed "light ! " Thou, that didst bear my Name, and deck it so That — coming thus behind — hardly I know If I shall hold it worthily, and be Meet to be mentioned in one Age with thee — Take, Brother ! to the Land where no strifes are, This praise thou wilt not need ! Before the Star Is kindled for thee let my funeral torch Light thee, great Namesake ! to th' Elysian Porch ! Dead Poet ! let a poet of thy House Lay, unreproved, these bay-leaves on thy brows ! We, that seemed only friends, were lovers : Now Death knows it ! and Love knows ! and I ! and Thou! April 15, 1888. Sono of tbe German Sol&fers in Hlsace. In Alsace, over the Rhine, There lives a Brother of mine ; It grieves my soul to say He hath forgot the day We were one land and line. Dear Brother, torn apart, Is't true that changed thou art ? The French have clapped on thee Eed breeches, as we see ; Have they Frenchified thy heart ? Hark ! that's our Prussian drum, And it tells the time has come. We have made one " Germany," One " Deutchland," firm and free; And our civil strifes are dumb. SONG OF THE GERMAN SOLDIERS IN ALSACE. 37 Thee also, fighting sore, Ankle-deep in German gore, We've won. Ah ! Brother dear, Thou art German — dost thou hear? They shall never part us more. Who made this song of mine ? Two comrades by the llhine ; — A Suabian man began it, And a Pomeranian sang it, In Alsace, over the Rhine. 1S71. Berlin— Ube Sfjteentb of /Ifcarcb. [On the Burial of the Emperor William.] Thunder of Funeral Guns ! Deep, sad Bells ! with your boom ; Sorrowful voices of Soldiers and Folk ! Whom lay ye here in the Tomb ? " Whom ? " the Cannons reply — Baying like Dogs of War Whose Master is gone on a path unknown- " Our Glory, and Lord, and Star ! " " William, Kaiser and King, For him our iron throats yell ; Victor we hailed him on many a field, We make to his soul farewell ! " BERLIN.— THE SIXTEENTH OF MARCH. 39 " Whom ? " say the slow-swinging bells — " William, pious and dear ! Ofttimes he knelt to the King of Kings Where now he lies on his bier ! " " He took from his God alone The Crown of the Fatherland ; And now he hath given it back undimmed To Death's all-masterful hand ! " " Whom ? " shout the serried ranks — Guardsmen and Jagers and all — " The lordliest Lord and the kingliest King That ever raised battle-call ! " " At his word we thronged to the Field, Sure of success to betide ; Sure that the Kaiser would fight for peace, Sure of Heaven on our side ! " "Whom?" sigh women and men, And fair-haired Germany boys, And girls, with eyes of his cornflower's hue, " For our Father we raise our voice ! " 4 o ' BERLIN.— THE SIXTEENTH OF MARCH. " William tlie Emperor dead ! Lo ! tie made us one Land ! Thanks to him and his chosen chiefs, Strong and secure we stand ! " " Steadfast from birth to death, Whatso was Ricrkt he wrought ! Duty he loved, and his people, and home ! Now to dust he is brought ! " Thunder of Funeral Guns ! We hear you with English ears ; ' In English breasts it echoes — sad bells ! This tiding your tolling bears ! Warriors, stalwart and fierce ! We see you are tender and true ; We are come of a kindred blood, we share This sorrow, to-day, with you ! Folk of the Fatherland ! Our hearts for your grief are fain ! God guard your Kaiser Frederick, And give ye good days again ! 1bero an& Xcanfcer, Sing, Muse ! the signal lamp, gleaming above, That lit the nightly swimmer to his Love ; The unseen pathway of the silent tide That bore the bridegroom to his watchful bride ; The salt-soaked marriage robes, the moist embrace Abydos' town, and Sestos, Hero's place ; Longing Leander, on the black waves' crest, Eyeing the light that led to Hero's breast ; Kind light — Love's aster ! — which the mighty Jove Might well have taken to the orbs above, And set it shining in the spangled sky To be Love's star of all Heaven's company ; Seeing it was the planet of their bliss, The glittering summons to the sleepless kiss, Till the hard tempest ended him and this. Help, then, high Muse ! and teach me how to sing Leander's death, and lamp's extinguishing. 44 HERO AND LEANDER. Sestos and white Abydos — cities twain — Fronted each other over Helle's main ; And there God Eros, setting notch to string, Wounded two bosoms with one shaft-shooting, A maiden's arid a youth's — Leander he, And lovely Hero, Sestos' sweetest, she ; She of her town, and he of his, the boast ; A noble pair ! If ever to that coast Thou wendest, ask for Hero's tower, and come Where she Love's lighthouse nightly did illume ; Inquire for white Abydos, too, and muse Whei'e young Leander life and love did lose ; But now to tell how he fair Hero loved, And how the maid to dote on him was moved. Honey-sweet Hero, of a princely race, Was priestess to Queen Venus in that place ; And at her father's tower, by the sea set — Herself a Queen of Love, though maiden yet — Dwelt ; yet, for modesty and gracious shame, She never to the city markets came ; Nor mingled at the vintage in the dance, Lest envious eyes upon her path should glance : — HERO AND LEANDER. 45 For evil ones will flout at fairer faces, '1 But ever, in the holy temple-spaces, She worshipped foam-born Venus, Queen above, And Eros eke, the tiny Lord of Love, Beseeching that she might unscathed go ; Yet none the more 'scaped she delicious woe. It was the time of the great offering Made with high pomp at Sestos in the spring To Venus and Adonis, and each year A merry crowd did come from far and near To keep this feast : all they that have their home Upon the rounded islets ringed with foam In Marmora and westward ; — Hoemony, And Cyprus, sent them, and the Cretan sea ; Cythera, Phrygia, Libanus ; — with these The nigher towns and cities swarmed like bees To see the show ; but most of all the youth : — Ever they throng where feasts are ! — to tell truth, 'Tis not, methinks, the shrine which draws them so,- To see the maidens those light pilgrims go ! And Hero, eke, went up unto the shrine, Her face of alabaster all a-shine 46 HERO AND LEANDER. Like the pure moon when first it swims the sky ; Nathless her cheek was touched with tender dye Such as new rose-buds have — not white nor red, But sunlit-snow : in sooth you would have said She was ail made of rose-leaves, she did show So fair and fine under her thin gown's flow, Such rose-leaf arms ! such roseate shoulders ! — see ! Of old, they said, the Graces were but three ; Yet each sweet charm of Hero, as it seemed, With love-spells of a hundred Graces gleamed. Well was she worthy to be Venus' maid ! And even as she walked — stately and staid, Liker a goddess than a priestess, fair Beyond the fairest — Hero, unaware, Took all eyes after her : no youth that day But his heart beat as Hero passed that way, Wishing such heavenly beauty his might be. Thus, up the steps to the great Temple, she Drew still the looks, the thoughts, the sighs of men; And one among the strangers whispered then : — HERO AND LEANDER. 47 " Gods ! — Helen's town I've seen, and Sparta's dames, Whose charms make wars and give the world to flames ; But never saw I one that could compare With form so goddess-like and face so rare ; — Queen Venus sure hath made the youngest Grace Her minister this morn ! oh, happy place Which owns her ! I could gaze until I die ! Would Zeus but grant me Hero, not his sky Could tempt me to a wish ! I would not be A God, so Hero were but wife to me ! Since she is sacred and past mortal prayer, Heaven send me soon a woman half so fair." Thus he, and others passioned otherwise, Heart-stricken by the light of Hero's eyes. But thou, Leander ! when those bright eyes shone One instant on thee, of the youths alone, — Beyond wild words, beyond fond wishes — felt The heart within thee by love's magic melt. Others to win her wafted many a sigh, He alone knew that he must have or die. 48 HERO AND LEANDER. In one brief glance love's lightning-flash did smite All senses senseless with strange deep delight Left thrilling, when her silken lashes sank, And veiled the perilous glory his eyes drank. What lightning strikes, ir sooth, like a fair face ? What arrow pierces like a woman's grace ? "lis the eyes slay, thence fly the subtle darts Which deal swift wounds and hurt unguarded hearts. So with Leander ; in his bosom strove Passion with shame, and fear with forward love : He trembled, and then blushed to tremble so ; And vexed at blushing, straight did venturous grow ; Eros at his heart's ear whispering amain To lay shame by and speak : so was he fain To steal a little closer, till he stood Foot to foot with her : then in daring mood Sidelong he glanced and murmured half a word, And checked it to a sigh, itself half heard : Glance, word, and sigh so tender-timid were, Their silent speaking could not anger her ; Nay, but it pleased ! that gentle stratagem To tell the love which burned so plain in him ; And seeming to see naught, she saw, and bent Her sweet head from him — not in discontent : HERO AND LEANDER. 49 And seeming not to hear, she heard, and sighed A little silver sigh of pleasured pride ; By signs unwitting giving him to know It was not anger set her cheeks a-glow ; Then turned, ashamed of nothing ; — but the boy Knew that she knew, and all his heart was joy. So, while he lingered, one slight word to win, Day — nigh to setting — drew his glories in ; And shadow-loving Hesperus shone high, A speck of splendour on the violet sky : Whereat, — the merry crowd thickening for home — With desperate courage closer hath he come ; So close, he touched her rosy opened hand, Heaving a deep breath, plain to understand ; And she, as one an angered, drew it in, But so that he might see 'twas no great sin ; Then, bolder, by her stole he took the maid, And drew imploring towards the Temple's shade ; Whereat, with pretty frown and faltering feet, She followed, while she said, in chiding sweet, " Sir, are you mad ? how dare you hold me so ? Leave plucking at my gown, and let me go ! D 5 o HERO AND LEANDER. If those who loved me saw, 'twould cost you dear ; Besides, I am a holy priestess here, Vowed to Qneen Venus ! are you not afraid To stay me so, and I, an honest maid ? " Thus, as the manner of all maidens is, Her soft lips rated, though her heart was his ; And he by love's quick instinct knew it so, And let her dear delicious accents flow In anger musical, for when maids scold, With looks that pardon, lovers may be bold : But when she ceased and stood, he bent his head Close to her pearly fragrant nape, and said, With lips which trembled like his trembling heart, " Oh, Maid !— oh, Marvel !— if of earth thou art And not a goddess, not divine — to me Pallas or Cytherasa thou might'st be ! Art thou not sprung indeed of heavenly birth ? Scarce dare I deem thee denizen of earth ! But if of earth, ah, me ! how godlike then He who begot thee, of all mortal men ! How happy beyond happy mothers she Who bore and nursed thee, sweet one, on her knee ; HERO AND LEANDER. 51 And if of earth — oh ! be of earth, and hear My pleading lips, my earnest humble prayer ! Since thou art Venus' priestess, then take heed Thou vex her not by cruel word and deed ; Be what thou seem'st by reverencing this shrine, The glory of thy Goddess should be thine ; She liketh not a votary cold and coy — Love is her worship, and her service joy : If thou would'st keep her tender, high decree, My earnest passion should not anger thee, Being so born for worship : therefore thou, If thou lov'sfc Venus, listen to me now. Dear servant of this temple — I am thine ! As thou dost pray, I pray ; ah ! then, incline — As thou dost ask thy goddess — pitying ears Unto this suppliant sad with hopes and fears, Wounded by love, and captive at thy feet, As when, with wand of gold, Hermes the fleet Brought Hercules — the strongest that could be — Meek to the footstool of Queen Omphale. Me Aphrodite, and not Hermes, sent ; Think how thy goddess made that one repent, Arcadian Atalanta, she who vowed To die a maid, rejecting — cold and proud — 52 HERO AND LEANDER. Hippomenes ; and yet it did befall She grew to love him — heart, soul, mind, and all ; Yea ! even to frenzy — whom she did not love : Oh, Sweet ! be wise, nor Venus' anger move." So, with soft flood of loving argument, From coy reserve to yielding thoughts he bent The maiden's mind ; but she, as maidens will, Albeit convinced at heart, stood speechless still ; Her lustrous eyes upon the ground fast set, And hot face turned to hide the blush on it. Now with one sandal-tip the grass she beat, Now drew it back, close-wrapped from head to feet, Nought answering ; yet all these were signs to bless, And silence — well he knew — is woman's yes ; She, too, was hurt with Eros' fatal dart ; His soft flame flickered in her virgin heart ; Spite of herself it fluttered with delight To mark how fair he was — how bold — how bright ; And, while her eyes stole from the ground to his And back again, he stood 'tween woe and bliss, Devouring still, with gaze she did not check, The flower-bright flushing of her face and neck ; HERO AND LEANDER. 53 Till at the last she found some breath to speak, While, pearl by pearl, tears glimmered down her cheek. " Friend ! were I marble, I must answer thee. Who taught thee such deep eloquence ? Ah. me ! Who brought thee hither, and procured us pain ? For all these sweet things said are said in vain. How should a stranger — never seen or known — Win me in marriasre — if I would be won ? Thou could'st not ask me openly for wife, My parents would not give me ; and 'twere rife With untold dangers if you lingered here To meet me secretly ; for all is ear, All eye in Sestos ! Things in silence done Are said next morning at the market-stone. But tell me — and tell true — what town is thine, And whence thy birth and name? Thou knowest mine, Hero of Sestos ; yonder is my home, In that tall tower whose foot stands in the foam ; And there I dwell alone — but for one slave — Outside the walls, over the breaking wave ; 54 HERO AND LEANDER. Having no neighbour but the rolling sea ! No song but his rude music ! none to be Friend or companion ! all the seasons there The thunder of the mournful main I hear." So much she said — then stayed herself, and drew The gown before her cheek to hide its hue, And chid herself for speaking, sore ashamed : But he — rejoiced because her words proclaimed Hope of the prize — went meditating hard How he should run to win the dear reward. For Love hath many wiles to heal the heart Of those that bleed with his unshunncd dart ; And, of himself, will counsel oft afford To those of whom th' Almighty Boy is Lord : So to Leander's heart he whispered low A way to bliss, albeit the end was woe. " Sweet ! for thy love," he cried, " the sea I'd cleave, Though foam were fire, and waves with flame did heave ; I fear not billows if they bear to thee ; Nor tremble at the hissing- of the sea ! HERO AND LEANDER. 55 And I will come — oh ! let me come — each night, Swimming the swift flood to my dear delight : For white Abydos, where I live, doth front Thy city here, across our Hellespont. Do but this thing, set thine own lamp on high, To shine at evening through the dark'ling sky, And I will be Love's ship — my pilot-star That beam, whereto, oaring my way afar, I shall not see Bootes, nor his wain, And bright Orion will be bright in vain. Only take heed, Dear, of the winds, and shield The light, that when I toil, by waves concealed, It be not quenched by any envious blast, Lest I go down — a ship and venture lost : Sweetheart ! do this : my name if thou dost sue, I am Leander, Hero's lover true." Nothing she answered, save by one soft kiss, Which sealed the contract of their sudden bliss ; Then lip to lip they plighted faith for life, He to be husband leal, she loving wife, Albeit unwed ; and also did agree That she should light the lamp, he swim the sea. 56 HERO AND LEANDER. All which deep bargain being got by heart, With lingering words and looks they tore apart, — She to her tower ; he through the gathering gloom, Noting the landmarks, joyfully is come Down to the beach, and snips with th' others there For white Abydos, with its ramparts fair ; Then waits till night gives him his new-won bride, And Hero watches on the other side. Soon o'er the sky Eve's purple curtains creep, To all but young Leander bringing sleep : He, when the darkness deepened, eager stood Beside the white marge of the rolling flood, His eyes quick-searching through the hollow night, To see the first flash of his lady's light ; Far-shining light, that gleams to make him blest ! Dear light, that guides to Hero's beating breast ! She, when the darkness covered land and sea, Kindled her lamp, and set it. Instantly Love with that spark lighted Leander's soul ; Eager he hailed the beam ; yet loud did roll The thundering breakers on the shingly shore ; — The first wave something chilled ; — but love is more HERO AND LEANDER. 57 Than fear ; he laid his outer garb aside, And spake unto himself by the cold tide : " Awful is love, and dreadful is the sea, But fire is more than water unto me ; And this that burns is stronger than much brine : Think most of Eros, foolish heart of mine ! Care not for tumbling billows ; let us go Straight over them to Hero ; why shrink so ? Hast thou forgotten that Queen Venus came Forth from the floods, and ever rules the same ? ' : Then with both hands from off his fair, smooth skin He stripped his cloth, and tied his long locks in ; And ran upon the reef, and sprang, and clove The keen salt waves. So, swimming to his love, He steered with face set hard where that ray shone, Ship — pilot — rower — merchant, all in one. Hero, the while, upon her turret-stair, Guarded the beacon-lamp from every air ; Spreading her gown that side and this, to keep The breezes off; but when, up from the deep, 58 HERO AND LEANDER. Leander, breathless, came safe to the strand, Down flew she to the sea-gate — caught his hand — In gladness past all words, her white arms flung Round him, and on his heaving bosom hung ; And led him from the cold and foamy beach Up to her tower ; and when her room they reach, She wiped his ivory body clean of brine, And took the salt smell off with unguents fine, Stained with rose-essences and scented rare, And then she clothed him in her long dark hair, Yet panting from his voyage ; while in his ear She poured these dulcet accents : — " Husband dear ! Sore thou hast toiled, as never none save thee, Battling the horrid deep, to come to me ; Forget upon my lips the wave's harsh taste, The fierce sea-monsters and the roaring waste ; The port is reached ! Anchor, dear ship ! and have The goods you sailed for in your Hero's love." With that soft leave he loosed her virgin zone, And took her — pure and perfect — for his own. HERO AND LEANDER. 59 No marriage-rite, no festal-dance was there, None raised the hymn to Here for the pair ; No nuptial-torches blazed around the bed, The merry long procession was not led ; No sire the hymenseal blessing spoke, No tender mother " Hymen " did invoke ; But Silence spread their wedding-couch ; and she Drew the close curtains of their ecstasy ; The Night wore all her starry gems of pride, To be bridesmaiden to that peerless bride ; Hesper kept watch, and lingered over long, Lest Dawn should find him there, and do them wrong. Dawn never saw Leander ! ere 'twas grey To still Abydos' walls he made his way, Full of love's comfort, but insatiate yet ; While Hero in her turret did forget All things save him — in that one day of life Changed soul and body, grown from maid to wife ; And mightily did each on either shore Pray dusk to come and daylight to be o'er. Thus many a summer night they met unseen, And had great bliss of love from Venus queen : 60 HERO AND LEANDER. But no joy long endureth, and not long Lived theirs, the gentle lovers of my song ; For Winter came apace, with snow and frost, And wild storms whistling up and down the coast : Lashed to its depths the tortured ocean shrank, While the wind drove its billows, rank on rank, Scourging their crests milk-white ; all sailors then Drew up their ships upon the shore, for men Fear the fierce winter and the furious sea ; But no fear, young Leander, hindered thee ! As oft as Hero showed the guiding light So oft, through storm, and foam, and murky night, Swam he with steadfast passion to that guide, Daring the dangers of the sweeping tide. Ah ! Hero, wherefore call o'er such a sea ? Too fond thou wert ; too bold and faithful he ! Thou should'st have left unlit thy lamp of love, And waited till kind spring made green the grove ; But love and fate compelled her ! so, o'ercome, She set her light, and lured him to his doom. There came one night, the wildest of the year, When the wind smote like edge of hissing spear, HERO AND LEANDER. 61 And the pale breakers thundered on the beach ; While in mid-sea Leander toiled to reach The far off haven of his Hero's breast. Sore-tossed he was from raging crest to crest ; Billow on billow rolled, the great seas roared Furiously leaping to the clouds, which poured Sleet and brine back, with scream of winds that met Midway from all the quarters : — Eurus set His blast against the West Wind ; Notus blew His cheeks to bursting, Boreas to subdue. Ceaseless the tumult of the tempest was, And young Leander in its midst, alas ! Battling th' inexorable bitter sea, Called on the gods in his calamity. To foam-born Venus many a prayer he made, And oft the name of great Poseidon said ; And oft grim Boreas he did implore For Orithyia's sake to help him o'er. Nothing he gained ! Fate was too strong for Love ! The chill spray-laden storm beat him above ; Below, the monstrous buffets of the sea Struck the strength from him ; till, all helplessly, His feet dropped down, relincmishing the strife, Though his poor hands kept feebly on for life. 62 HERO AND LEANDER. O'er lip and nostril now the salt waves clomb ; Gasping for breath, he breathed but choking foam ; Yet gleamed that light, and still he strove for shore : Sudden — a cruel gust blew ! — all was o'er ! The gust extinguished Hero's lamp ; the sea Hid young Leander and his agony. Hero, when that he came not, watched all night, Into the darkness straining hard her sight ; And morning breaking — and no sign of him — With aching heart she scanned the sea-face dim, Fearing to look, because that lamp went out. He was not there ! but, casting still about, Lo ! — at the turret's foot his body lay, Rolled on the stones, and soaked with breaking spray ! She rent her robe upon her, and leaped down Headlong, distracted, from the turret's crown. There on his corpse she breathed her dying breath ; And, linked in life, those two were one in death. Zbe feast of SSelsba33Hr. (This poem gained the Newdigate Prize in the University of Oxford in 1S53.) Not by one portal, or one path alone God's holy messages to men are known ; Waiting the glances of his awful eyes Silver- winged Seraphs do him embassies ; And stars interpreting his high behest Guide the lone feet and glad the failing breast The rolling thunder and the raging sea Speak the stern purpose of the Deity, And storms beneath and rainbow hues above Herald his anger or proclaim his love : The still small voices of the summer day, The red Sirocco and the breath of May, The lingering harmony in Ocean shells, The fairy music of the meadow bells, 64 THE FEAST OF BELSHAZZAR. Earth, and void Air — Water and wasting Flame Have words to whisper, tongues to tell his name. Once — with no cloak of careful mystery Himself was herald of Lis own decree ; The hand that edicts on the marble drew Graved the stern sentence of their scorner too. Listen and learn ! Tyrants have heard the tale, And turned from hearing terror-struck and pale ; Spiritless captives sinking with the chain Have read this page and taken heart again. — From sunlight unto starlight trumpets told Her King's command in Babylon the old, From sunlight unto starlight, west and east, A thousand satraps girt them for the feast, And reined their chargers to the palace hall Where King Belshazzar held high festival : A pleasant palace under pleasant skies With cloistered courts and gilded galleries, And gay kiosk and painted balustrade For winter terraces and summer shade ; By court and terrace, minaret and dome, Euphrates, rushing from his mountain home, THE FEAST OF BELSHAZZAR. 65 Bested his rage, and curbed his crested pride To belt that palace with his bluest tide ; Broad-fronted bulls with chiselled feathers barred In silent vigil keeping watch and ward, G iants of granite wrought by cunning hand Guard in the gate and frown upon the land : Nor summer's glow nor yellow autumn's glare Pierced the broad tamarisks that blossomed there ; The moonbeam darting through their leafy screen Lost half its silver in the softened green, And fell with lessened lustre, broken light, Tracing faint arabesque of dark and white ; Or dimly tinting on the graven stones The pictured annals of Chaldean thrones. — There, from the rising to the setting day Birds of bright feather sang the light away, And fountain waters on the palace-floor Made even answer to the river's roar, Rising in silver from the crystal well And breaking into spangles as they fell ; Though now ye heard them not — for far along Rang the broad chorus of the banquet song, And sounds as gentle, echoes soft as these Died out of hearing from the revelries. E 66 THE FEAST OF BELSHAZZAR. High on a throne of ivory and gold, From crown to footstool clad in purple fold, Lord of the east from sea to distant sea The king Belshazzar feasteth royally : — And not that dreamer in the desert cave Peopled his paradise with pomp as brave. Vessels of silver, cups of crusted gold Blush with a brighter red than all they hold ; Pendulous lamps like planets of the night Flung on the diadems a fragrant light, Or slowly swinging in the midnight sky Gilded the ripples as they glided by : — And sweet and sweeter rang the cittern-string Soft as the beating of a Seraph's wing, And swift and swifter in the measured dance The tresses gather and the sandals glance, And bright and brighter at the festal board The flagons bubble and the wines are poured. No lack of goodly company was there, No lack of laughing eyes to light the cheer ; From Dara trooped they, from Daremma's grove The suns of battle and the moons of love ; From where Arsissa's silver waters sleep To Imla's marshes and the inland deep ; THE FEAST OF BELSHAZZAR. 67 From pleasant Calah and from Sittacene The horseman's captain and the Harem's queen. It seemed no summer-cloud of passing woe Could fling its shadow on so fair a show : It seemed the gallant forms that feasted there Were all too high for woe, too great for care : Whence came the anxious eye, the altered tone, The dull presentiment no heart would own, That ever changed the smiling to a sigh Sudden as sea-bird flashing from the sky : — It is not that they know the spoiler waits Harnessed for battle at the brazen gates, It is not that they hear the watchman's call Mark the slow minutes on the leaguered wall ; The clash of quivers and the ring of spears Make pleasant music in a soldier's ears, And not a scabbard hideth sword to-night That hath not glimmered in the front of fio-ht : — May not the blood in every beating vein Have quick foreknowledge of the coming pain ? Even as the prisoned silver,* dead and dumb Shrinks at cold Winter's footfall ere he come. * The quicksilver in the tube of the thermometer. 68 THE FEAST OF BELSHAZZAR. The king hath felt it and the heart's unrest Heaved the broad purple of his belted breast ; Sudden he speaks — " What ! doth the beaded juice Savour like hyssop that ye scorn its use ? "Wear ye so pitiful and sad a soul That tramp of foeman scares ye from the bowl ? Think ye the gods on yonder starry floor Tremble for terror, when the thunders roar ? Are we not gods ? have we not fought with God? And shall we shiver at a robber's nod ? No — let them batter till the brazen bars Ring merry mocking of their idle wars ; Their fall is fated for to-morrow's sun, The lion rouses when his feast is done : Crown me a cup — and fill the bowls we brought From Judah's temple when the fight was fought — Drink, till the merry madness fill the soul To Salem's conqueror in Salem's bowl — Each from the goblet of a God shall sip And Judah's gold tread heavy on the lip." * * " He never drinks But Timon's silver treads upon bis lip." — Shak. Tit. Andr. THE FEAST OF BELSHAZZAR. 69 The last loud answer dies along the line, The last light bubble bursts upon the wine ; His eager lips are on the jewelled brink, Hath the cup poison that he doubts to drink ? Is there a spell upon the sparkling gold, That so his fevered fingers quit their hold ? Whom sees he where he gazes ? what is there Freezing his vision into fearful stare ? Follow his lifted arm and lighted eye And watch with them the wondrous mystery. — There cometh forth a hand — upon the stone, Graving the symbols of a speech unknown ; Fingers like mortal fingers — leaving there The blank wall flashing characters of fear; — And still it glideth silently and slow, And still beneath the spectral letters grow — Now the scroll endeth — now the seal is set — The hand is gone — the record tarries yet. As one who waits the warrant of his death, With pale lips parted and with bridled breath — They watch the sign, and dare not turn to seek Their fear reflected in their fellows' cheek — 70 THE FEAST OF BELSHAZZAR. But stand as statues where the life is none, Half the jest uttered — half the laughter done — Half the flask empty — half the flagon poured, — Each where the phantom found him at the board Struck into silence — as December's moon Curbs the quick ripples into crystal swoon. With wand of ebony and sable stole Chaldeea's wisest scan the spectral scroll : Strong in the lessons of a lying art Each comes to gaze, but gazes to depart : And still for mystic sign and muttered spell The graven letters guard their secret well : Gleam they for warning — glare they to condemn — God speaketh, — but he speaketh not for them. — Oh ! ever, when the happy laugh is dumb, All the joy gone, and all the anguish come — When strong adversity and subtle pain Wring the sad soul and rack the throbbing brain — When friends once faithful, hearts once all our own Leave us to weep, to bleed and die alone — When fears and cares the lonely thought employ And clouds of sorrow hide the sun of joy ; THE FEAST OF BELSHAZZAR. 71 When weary life, breathing reluctant breath Hath no hope sweeter than the hope of death ; — Then the best counsel and the last relief To cheer the spirit or to cheat the grief, The only calm, the only comfort heard Comes in the music of a woman's word. Like beacon-bell on some wild island-shore, Silverly ringing in the tempest's roar, "Whose sound borne shipward through the midnight gloom Tells of the path, and turns her from her doom. So in the silence of that awful hour W r hen baffled magic mourned its parted power — When kings were pale and satraps shook for fear, A woman speaketh — and the wisest hear. She — the hi^h daughter of a thousand thrones Telling with trembling lip and timid tones Of him the Captive, in the feast forgot, Who readeth visions — him, whose wondrous lot Sends him to lighten doubt and lessen gloom, And gaze undazzled on the days to come — Daniel the Hebrew, such his name and race, Held by a monarch highest in his grace, 72 THE FEAST OF BELSHAZZAR. He may declare— Oh !— bid them quickly send, So may the mystery have happy end ! Calmly and silent as the fair full moon Comes sailing upward in the sky of June— Fearfully as the troubled clouds of night Shrink from before the coming of its light- So through the hall the Prophet passed along, So from before him fell the festal throng. By broken wassail-cup, and wine o'erthrown Pressed he still onward for the monarch's throne : His spirit failed him not— his quiet eye Lost not its light for earthly majesty ; His lip was steady and his accent clear, " The king hath needed me, and I am here." — "Art thou the Prophet? read me yonder scroll Whose undeciphered horror daunts my soul — There shall be guerdon for the grateful task, Fitted for me to give, for thee to ask — A chain to deck thee — and a robe to grace, Thine the third throne and thou the third in place." THE FEAST OF BELSHAZZAR. 73 He heard — and turned him where the lighted wall Dimmed the red torches of the festival, Gazed on the sign with steady gaze and set, And he who quailed not at a kingly threat Bent the true knee and bowed the silver hair, For that he knew the King of kings was there : Then nerved his soul the sentence to unfold, While his tongue trembled at the tale it told — And never tongue shall echo tale as strange Till that change cometh which must never change. " Keep for thyself the guerdon and the gold — What God hath graved, God's prophet must unfold ; Could not thy father's crime, thy father's fate Teach thee the terror thou hast learnt too late — Hast thou not read the lesson of his life, Who wars with God shall strive a losing strife ? His was a kingdom mighty as thine own, The sword his sceptre and the earth his throne — The nations trembled when his awful eye Gave to them leave to live or doom to die — The Lord of Life — the Keeper of the grave, His frown could wither and his smile could save — 74 THE FEAST OF BELSHAZZAR. Yet when his heart was hard, his spirit high, God drave him from his kingly majesty, Far from the brotherhood of fellow men To seek for dwelling in the desert den ; Where the wild asses feed and oxen roam He sought his pasture and he made his home, And bitter-biting frost and dews of night Schooled him in sorrow till he knew the right, That God is ruler of the rulers still And setteth up the sovereign that He will. Oh ! hadst thou treasured in repentant breast His pride and fall, his penitence and rest, And bowed submissive to Jehovah's will, Then had thy sceptre been a sceptre still. But thou hast mocked the majesty of heaven, And shamed the vessels to its service given ; And thou hast fashioned idols of thine own — Idols of gold, of silver, and of stone ; To them hast bowed the knee, and breathed the breath, And they must help thee in the hour of death. Woe for the sign unseen, the sin forgot, God was among ye, and ye knew it not ! Hear what He sayeth thus, ' Thy race is run, The years are numbered and the days are done, THE FEAST OF BELSHAZZAR. 75 Thy soul hath mounted in the scale of fate, The Lord hath weighed thee and thou lackest weight ; Now in thy palace porch the spoilers stand, To seize thy sceptre, to divide thy land.' ' He ended — and his passing foot was heard, But none made answer, not a lip was stirred — Mute the free tongue and Lent the fearless brow, — The mystic letters had their meaning now ! Soon came there other sound — the clash of steel, The heavy ringing of the iron heel — The curse in dying, and the cry for life, The storming voices of the battle strife. — That night they slew him on his father's throne, The deed unnoticed and the hand unknown ; Crownless and sceptreless Belshazzar lay, A robe of purple, round a form of clay. XTbe TLhicc IRoses. Three roses, wan as moonlight, and weighed down Each with its loveliness as with a crown, Drooped in a florist's window in a town. The first a lover bought. It lay at rest, Like flower on flower that night, on beauty's breast. The second rose, as virginal and fair, Shrank in the tangles of a harlot's hair. The third a widow, with new grief made wild, Shut in the icy palm of her dead child. Aldrich, Flower and Thorn. These Roses (in the world we do not see) Strove for the palm. Thus spake the beauteous Three : THE MAIDEN'S ROSE. I am the happiest flower. I lay Dying, as suits sweet blossoms best ; It was not pain to pass away Upon her warm and fragrant breast. THE THREE ROSES. 77 Blossom on blossoms, so we slept ; My odours richer with, her breath, My white leaves whitest where I crept Closer, to die delightful death. I heard her secrets, pure and soft ; She kissed me, prayed for him, and laid His gift where, since, his cheek full oft Nestles ; he knows what words she said, And how, when morn oped the bright eyes, She locked me in a casket close ; Nothing can take away my prize, The kiss she gave her faded Rose. The crown, fair sisters, I must hold ; I died upon that heavenly bed ; She buried me in silk and gold ; I made them lovers, being dead. THE WIDOW'S ROSE. I am the wisest Rose : there lay A dew-drop on me when she shut The little ice-cold palm, and put My blossom there to fade away. 78 THE THREE ROSES. It was a tear for her and me That she should grieve, and I should go Clasped in a hand that did not know, And set to eyes that could not see. Torn from my garden green and bright, As he too ; first-born of her spring, Once flower-fair, now a lost, dead thing, Hidden with me in graveyard night. But lo ! it was not thus at all ! I did not think that flowers could see The wonder of the worlds to be When the poor leaves of this life fall. For while they wept, and sadly threw The black earth on our coffin-lid, A light came there where we were hid, A wind breathed softer than I knew. There shine no sunbeams so on earth, There is no air blows in such wise As this that swept from Paradise, And turned grave-gloom to grace and mirth. THE THREE ROSES. 79 I saw liim rise unspeakably ; I saw how subtle Life receives New gifts from Death. It was but leaves — Dead leaves — we left there, I and he. And clasped in that small hand I came- A spirit-Rose as he was spirit — The further marvels to inherit Of Life, which is for all the same. Crown me, white sisters ! When she bent- That tender mother by his grave — 'Twas I who, with a rose-waft gave The thought that filled her with content. THE HARLOT'S ROSE. I was the blessed flower ! Give back The crown, dear sisters ! for you lack My joy — you ! that her bosom bore; You they entombed ! — my deeper lore. So THE THREE ROSES. 'Twas sweet in lovely death, to fade, Bose-blossom on rose-bosom laid ; 'Twas rare in grasp of Death, to see The flower of Life blow changelessly. But I, most happy of all three, Rejoice for what he did to me ; Binding my bud on locks that rolled Their wasted wealth in rippled gold. For loveless love he set me there ; AVith thankless thanks she found me fair ; Laughed with sad eyes to hear him tell The gold, with white and green, " went well." We did our kind : she to bestow God's grace in her rich beauty so That good grew evil ; I to scent Her steps and be Sin's ornament. Yet 'twas my duty to seem sweet, She had such, bitter bread to eat ! She put me at her breast — I heard Her heart-beats speaking, without word. THE THREE ROSES. 81 " Each spring I plucked such long ago," She said — " Ah, God ! if we could grow Clean like spring-roses — white again — Forgetting last year's rain and stain ! " She said, " Ah, God ! ah, mother ! — some Are blooming so about my home, The home-breath makes me dream — let be ! I have no lover that loves me." " What was it that we read in class ? ' And she supposing Him ' — alas ! ' The gardener ' — Fool ! as if God's Son Cares for the flowers that are done ! " Thereat our lips and leaves did kiss — I was as sweet and soft in this To her as any Rose could be — " God's flowers forgive," she sighed, — " Doth He ? " And fondling me, as though she felt Her mother's kisses on her melt, The tear-drops from her painted lids Ran on the rouge. " What eye forbids," g2 THE THREE ROSES. She said, " to try if any hear ? " Mocking herself she sighed this prayer : " Oh, Christ ! I am Thy wilted Rose, Renew me ! Thou renewest those ! " Then laughed, — but did not see, as I, The angels gather at her cry, Their fine plots weaving out of sight To help this soul that strove aright. She did not feel the great wings fold Thenceforward o'er her locks of gold ; Nor know thenceforward that the place Was sentinelled by Shapes of grace. But when again she bound her hair, And set me in its tresses fair, I did not " shrink/' (as he has said :) I was too proud ! for we were led By holy hands through lane and street, Past things to speak of is not meet ; Till when the tender plot had place, God's mercy met her face to face. THE THREE ROSES. 83 In all this earth there is not one So desolate and so undone, Who hath not rescue if hearts knew A heart-cry goes the whole world through. Of thousands cruel one was kind ; We found the hand she could not find ; The fragrance of me brought her cry — We saved her : those Wise Ones and I, I and her angels ! She hath rest ! Of all Rose-service mine was best. Oh, sisters sweet ! no longer boast ; Give me the crown ! My joy was most ! ibe ai^ Sbe. " She is dead ! " they said to him. " Come away ; Kiss her ! and leave her !— thy love is clay ! " They smoothed her tresses of dark brown hair ; On her forehead of marble they laid it fair : Over her eyes, which gazed too much, They drew the lids with a gentle touch ; With a tender touch they closed up well The sweet thin lips that had secrets to tell ; About her brows, and her dear, pale face They tied her veil and her marriage-lace ; And drew on her white feet her white silk shoes ;— Which were the whiter no eye could choose ! HE AND SHE. 85 And over her bosom they crossed her hands ; " Come away," they said, — " God understands ! " And then there was Silence ; — and nothing there But the Silence — and scents of eglantere, And jasmine, and roses, and rosemary ; For they said, " As a lady should lie, lies she ! " And they held their breath as they left the room, With a shudder to glance at its stillness and gloom. But he — who loved her too well to dread The sweet, the stately, the beautiful dead, — He lit his lamp, and took the key, And turn'd it ! — Alone again — he and she ! "a"- He and she ; but she would not speak, Though he kiss'd, in the old place, the quiet cheek ; He and she ; yet she would not smile, Though he call'd her the name that was fondest erewhile : 86 HE AND SHE. He and she ; and she did not move To any one passionate whisper of love ! Then he said, " Cold lips ! and breast without breath Is there no voice— no language of death " Dumb to the ear and still to the sense, But to heart and to soul distinct, — intense ? " See, now, — I listen with soul, not ear — What was the secret of dying, Dear ? " Was it the infinite wonder of all, How the spirit could let life's flower fall ? " Or was it a greater marvel to feel The perfect calm o'er the agony steal ? " Was the miracle greatest to find how deep, Beyond all dreams, sank downward that sleep ? " Did fife roll backward its record, Dear, And show, as they say it does, past things clear ? HE AND SHE. 87 " And was it the innermost heart of the bliss To find out so what a wisdom love is ? " Oh, perfect Dead ! oh, Dead most dear, I hold the breath of my soul to hear ; " I listen — as deep as to horrible hell, As high as glad heaven ! — and you do not tell ! " There must be pleasures in dying, Sweet, To make you so placid from head to feet ! " I would tell you, Darling, if I were dead, And 'twere your hot tears upon my brow shed. " I would say, though the Angel of death had laid His sword on my lips to keep it unsaid. " You should not ask, vainly, with streaming eyes, Which in Death's touch was the chiefest surprise ; " The very strangest and suddenest thing Of all the surprises that dying must bring." 88 HE AND SHE. All ! foolish world ! Oh ! most kind Dead ! Though he told me, who will believe it was said ? Who will believe that he heard her say, With the soft rich voice, in the dear old way : — " The utmost wonder is this, — I hear, And see you, and love you, and kiss you, Dear ; " I can speak, now you listen with soul alone ; If your soul could see, it would all be shown " What a strange delicious amazement is Death, To be without body and breathe without breath. " I should laugh for joy if you did not cry ; Oh, listen ! Love lasts ! — Love never will die ! " I am only your Angel who was your Bride ; And I know, that though dead, I have never died." "<§m tbe — tb instant, H>rownefc> wbilst Batbfna." Ho ! ho ! do ye tempt me so, Pale dwellers upon the land; Seem I to come for love to your home, Skirting the yellow sand ? When I doff my might and slumber in light Under the summer skies, Do ye dream I unfold my purple and gold To pleasure your dainty eyes ? I mind the day when my dancing spray Clean over your hills was thrown ; And my waves evermore lash madly the shore While the great Sea seeketh its own. Blithely ye play on the edge of my spray, And dabble your feet in my fords, But little ye think how the Ocean's brink Is athirst for its mortal lords. 9 o " ON THE th INSTANT, DROWNED Ho ! ho ! liow well he could row ! The youth ye sent me to-day ; How bravely his oar drove the shallop from shore As he came to me out of the bay. — I watched him come from his cottage-home Under the high green hill, I foamed and dashed as the quick stroke splashed, And he worked his eager will. But ho ! ho ! 1 looked for it so ! He leapt to my green great arm, And felt how cold was my deep sea fold, And chilled with a strange alarm, Did he deem me mild when the blue sky smiled, Fierce only in stormy strife ? A boat ye sent — and a life ye lent — But I kept the warm young life ! Ho ! ho ! fond fools would ye know How I staid the panting breath, And weighed on the breast of the one ye loved best And dragged him down to his death : — Down in the green where no sun could be seen To a death in the sea- weed and shells : — WHILST BATHING." 91 Down out of sight of the sweet sunlight, Out of sound of the clear town bells ? Ho ! he struggled sore for the fading shore, And fought with his failing strength ; But I swore he should die, and I smothered his cry, And the life was mine at length. Ho ! take the bark back without rent or wrack, Pale mourners along the strand ! A boatman and boat to the sea came out, But only a boat to land I 1855- Dream*£anfc. Wonderful Life ! So sad with partings, and so sweet with meetings, Made up of wild farewells, and wistful greetings ; Oh word, with wonder rife ! What do we here ? Whence come we with this longing, loving breast ? Why do we live to die ? we fear our rest ; And are afraid to fear ! Ah ! tell us why, Why are our pleasures dead within the day, While pains make nest-homes of our hearts and stay ; Wherefore comes misery ? DREAM-LAND. 93 And wherefore Pain ? And why on our lone Planet, else so fair, Dwell Hate, and Cowardice, and pale Despair, And the hot rage for gain ? Moon and sweet Stars ! Hath God cursed us of all His orbs in Heaven ? Drive we alone, rayless and unforgiven, Bloody with brother-wars ? Speak if ye know ! Why lose we what we love longest and best ? Shine, Sisters ! shine upon our dark unrest, Saying, it is not so ! I miss a face, A friend, whose love was to my life its heart ; Why are our eyes and hands riven apart ? Why — even for a space ? Sorrow and Pain ! Hope's tender lip is silenced when ye speak, Go to ! the settled colour of my cheek Stirs not for her again : 94 DREAM-LAND. A cheat Life seems ! We'll laugh it off, Brothers : though we have wept ! Therewith, aweary of my thoughts I slept, And took them to my dreams : — Ah, mystery ! Nay then ! believe it for the sweet dream's sake, Whether I dreamed asleep, or mused awake, An Angel spake with me ! Spake from above, — I knew her though she floated from the skies, The noble presence, and the large deep eyes Of her I loved, and love : Spake low and clear ; " Arise ! I have an errand unto thee ! The heart that dares to beat as thine does, free, Heareth, what thou shalt hear." Thereat I rose, Wondering to see her balanced pennons spread ; And keeping their white shadow overhead, Followed her flying close, DREAM-LAND. 95 Far, far away ; Till sound of mortal grief, and mortal mirth, Died from the sky, and — far below — the Earth A quiet, bright globe lay : And I was 'ware Of solemn breath breathed in that stilly spot ; And that the heart spake, though the lips moved not ; As though its home were there ; As though its home Were high among the Angels of God's sky, Where the wild lights were wandering ; — and I Waited for what should come ; Nor waited long : For still wherever She and I went winging, Two voices ever in one key were singing The measure of one song, Song without word ; Whereto the soft fan of the silver feather, Made music as her great wings beat together, And the blue ether stirred : 9 6 DREAM-LAND. Then I—" Oh ! whither ? " And She — " Far past the farthest ken of mortal, To where the Star-Queen guards the Star- World's portal, Thither, Love mine ! — aye ! thither ! " So when her plumes, Heretofore high above me gleaming white, Wore the rich tint of Cassiopeia's light's In crimson- coloured blooms, Then from above Came down the breath of an entrancing pleasure ; Came round the burden of a boundless measure, A seraph-chaunt of Love, High love — whose strain Her heart and mine, in solemn symphony, Beating beyond our wills harmoniously, Answered, answered again. How did I bear The gracious glory of my Lady's eyes ? Save that the bright love in them calmed surprise And dazzled off mv fear ; DREAM-LAND. 97 Nor only eyes ; Her sweet lips touched me once upon the brow, And whispered, " Love of mine, thou knowest now The secret of the skies ! — " This land of Wings Hath rest for thee and me for aye and aye." Then I — " Sweet Saint, for my full comfort say All that its music sings, "All — all it sings: — Know'st thou on Earth the earnest love I have, Know'st thou that I could love thee in thy grave, Better than living things ? " " Not there " — she said, " Into this Dream-Land I have leave to come, To cheer thee with the sight of our high Home When Thou and I are dead ; " But there the veil Is over souls : — I know not if I know That thou and I shall e'er be tellinsr so On Earth, our true-love tale." G 98 DREAM-LAND. " Sweet ! I shall seem Graceless," I said ! " but must there never be Home-fires — home-faces — aud home-loves ? — ah me ! Nought of my earthly dream ? " The star-light shone The brighter for a smile that filled her face : — No answer ! but a quick and kind embrace : Save her kiss, — answer none ! Then I, " Ah me ! The brow should wear a crown that wears thy kiss ; Though I love patiently, I shall lack this, Not beiug worthy thee." She raised her hand, And my glance followed it — and I was 'ware Of a fine spirit floating down the air, Whose forehead's thought was strand . Fast, fast and free He smote a lyre's strings into magic measures, Whereto a Lady listed, tranced in pleasures, Lo ! it was I and She ! DREAM-LAND. 99 And all the throng Of all fair things I thought of day by day, The words I would have said and could not say, Came up into his song ! " Shall I be thus, And thou with me ? " — She said " Be true and brave, Follow thy Life out, e'en to thy Life's grave, And such shall be thy bliss." " Dear Saint " — I said, " Lest I shall faint living a life so lone, Tell me that absence cannot change the gone, Nor death estrange the dead, " They, first and last, The comfort of whose spirits was to mine Like Rain to Summer ; ah ! my heart will pine. Its friendships seeming past. " Say !— is it thus ? Are our hearts lower, weaker than our thinking, Can death divide the subtle spirit-linking Whose fine chain fettered us ? ioo DREAM-LAND. " Can they ? oli Life ! Why at the first or last of thy brief day Loose we the hand we clung to by the way, And strive alone in the strife ? " Thereat I wept : — But she — she touched me with a touch as mild As a fond mother might her frightened child Who sighed, and sighing slept. Saying, " Eash one ! Love's strength is perfect in love's utter weakness, Love's nobleness is noblest in love's meekness, Love ever ! none are gone ! " None go ! none ever ! Know ! when two hearts are set to one true time, Always they make one music, chime one chime, Look up ! and doubt it never ! " Our starry torch Died in a bright white flood of brilliant flame, Wherein a myriad happy Angels came Thronging an entrance- Porch DREAM-LAND. 101 With sunbeams groined; Whence passed a voice that said, " Soul ! cease thy wonder ! Not Death is strong enough to part asunder, Whom Life and Love have joined ! " For which word's sake, Seeing no stars, no Angels but mine own, I turned to kiss her hands : lo ! She was flown ! And I — I was awake ! Sept. 1854. H ma future. Where waitest thou, Lady I am to love ? thou comest not ! Thou knowest of my sad and lonely lot ; I looked for thee ere now ! It is the May, And each fair sister-soul hath found its brother, Only we two seek fondly each the other, And seeking, still delay. Where art thou, sweet ? I long for thee, as thirsty lips for streams ! Oh, gentle promised Angel of my dreams. Why do we never meet ? A MA FUTURE. 103 Thou art as I, — Thy soul doth wait for mine, as mine for thee ; We cannot live apart ; must meeting be Never before we die ? Dear soul, not so ! That time doth keep for us some happy years, That God hath portioned us our smiles and tears, Thou knowest, and I know. Yes, we shall meet ! And therefore let our searching be the stronger, Dark ways of life shall not divide us longer, Nor doubt, nor danger, sweet ! Hence 'tis I bear This winter-tide as bravely as I may, Patiently waiting for the bright spring-day That cometh with thee, dear. 'Tis the May-light That crimsons all the quiet college gloom ; May it shine softly in thy sleeping-room : And so, dear wife, good night ! 1S53- Xlanaollcn. Green fields and grey, corn-lands and mountain- lands, Beautiful Valley, thou art fair as ever ! On the same hill the same old abbey stands, And singing the same song goes down Dee river. I swear I love thee with mine old warm love ; My vision is not dimmed, nor my heart cold ; Wherefore then, sunny Slopes, can ye not move My heart to gladness as ye did of old ? I know it, Dear ! — these winds that fly for home Take my heart with them to thy tender arms, And, nestled there, it leaves me here to roam, Half of myself, amid these wild Welsh farms. October 1855. Ube Uwo Mreatbs. When the silver stars were throwing Soft lines on the silver sea, Like a shade in the twilight showing, Came my life unto me. Two garlands daintily bearing, Unto me came my life, When the daylight was disappearing, Save that in thine eyes, dear wife. Glittered her cymar and kirtle, Her garlands glimmered and shone ; One twined with the laurel and myrtle, And one with the rose alone. i 6 THE TWO WREATHS. " Which crown," she said, " shall I leave thee, The green or the crimson wreath ? Of the chaplets thy fortune weaves thee, Choose one to deck thee till death. " Love comes if the rose-crown rings thee, — Love tender and ever the same ; And the bright leaf of laurel brings thee The minstrel's favour and fame. " But the rose hath an angry briar, That wound eth wherever 'tis worn, And, with laurel to lift thee higher, There are poisonous berries of scorn." In the silence solemnly speaking, In the darkness sombre to see, Answer to asking seeking, Waited my life by me. Then, with ready fingers upstarted Beside her, mine own wise wife, The leaves from the berries parted, And the thorn from the rose of life. THE TWO WREATHS. 107 And twined them, with gentle laughter, In a new and unharniful wreath : And the roses and laurels hereafter Have crowned me for life and death. 1857. Hlmono Blossom. Blossom of the almond-trees, April's gift to April's bees, Birthday ornament of spring, Flora's fairest daughterling ; — Coming when no flow'rets dare Trust the cruel outer air ; When the royal king-cup bold Will not don his coat of gold ; And the sturdy blackthorn spray Keeps his silver for the May ; — Coming when no flow'rets would, Save thy lowly sisterhood Early violets, blue and white, Dying for their love of light. Almond blossom, sent to teach us That the spring-days soon will reach us, ALMOND BLOSSOM. 109 Lest, with longing over tried, We die as the violets died. Blossom, clouding all the tree With thy crimson broidery, Long before a leaf of green On the bravest bough is seen ; Ah ! when winter winds are swinsfinsr All thy red bells into ringing, With a bee in every bell, Almond bloom, we greet thee well ! 1855- Sonnet. Like one, who in the stormy crash of battle, With sword and shield too heavy for his hold, Bleeding, and weak, and deafened with the rattle, Feels his limbs sinking- and his heart a-cold, Sudden a gentle eye, quiet and bold, — A friendly look falls on him through the fight, And once again his tired fingers fold About the hilt, and strike a stroke aright. — So has thy gracious glance, lady, to-night Nerved me with courage more than may be told ; So stand and strike I, fighting in thy sight, Backward or forward be life's battle rolled ; And so I grasp my purpose, and I swear To win the name that I am sent to wear. 1S5; m\ Saints' H>ap. Up from earth to heaven's wide regions Send your prayer and praise to-day, For the glorious martyr-legions Hence triumphant passed away. Sigh of doubt or shade of sorrow 111 beseemeth heart or brow ; Theirs like ours seemed sad to-morrow, Who smile at our sadness now. Let it go, a song of gladness, Unto brother-angels there : — We alive in sin and sadness, They " dead in His faith and fear." H2 ALL SAINTS' DAY. Dead, but on dead foreheads wearing Crowns that make their death a birth, Won by hope that scorned despairing, Worn in heaven for wars on earth. Nay ! and name not crowned ones, only Noblv known for death and life, — Hero souls, unmoved and lonely, Fighting in the front of strife : But those, too, who freely, gladly, Uncomplaining fought to die ; Striving, striking all too madly To find time for battle-cry : Those, the silent ones, who near them Planted foot, and fought, and fell, With no clarion praise to cheer them, No voice crying ill or well ; These we owned not for God's angels, Shall not own before we die, Though their lives were men's evangels, And their deaths our victory. ALL SAINTS' DAY. n Those whose lives, unknown to others, Silent went to silent ends ; Some to some of us own brothers, All to all of us high friends ; All saints now, all now abiding In glad homes beyond the sky, Wearing, where salt tears were tiding, Smiles of set felicity ; Smiles that call us to sky portals, Saying, " On ! brave heart and brow ; Fail not, faint not, we were mortals That are tranquil spirits now." Thank God for them meekly bending, That such soldiers lived and died, Ask that thine be such an ending, Such a death on such a side. 1854. H Serenafce. Lute ! breathe thy lowest in my Lady's ear, Sing while she sleeps, " Ah ! belle dame, aimez- vous r Till dreaming still, she dream that I am here, And wake to find it, as my love is, true ; Then, when she listens in her warm white nest, Say in slow measure, — softer, stiller, yet, That lute-strings quiver when their tone's at rest, And my heart trembles when my lips are set. Stars ! if my sweet love still a-dreaming lies, Shine through the roses for a lover's sake, And send your silver to her lidded eyes ; Kissing them very gently till she wake : Then while she wonders at the lay and light, Tell her, though morning endeth star and song, That ye live still, when no star glitters bright, And my love lasteth, though it finds no tongue. TTbe Emigrant. It may be that the savage sea is foaming, And wild winds roaming, where thy ship goes free ; Yet still as dearly, brother, and sincerely, As if more nearly, we will cling to thee. The white sails wing thee fast through Biscay billows, Past English willows we are whirling on ; Though wider never did drear waste dissever, Better than ever we will love thee gone. We shall not know by what fair isles of blossom, Thy bark's broad bosom ploughs the rippled blue ; What storms are chiding, what soft winds are gliding, No longed-for tiding — yet our hearts are true : For seeking still to know where thou art, Rover, We but discover that our love is there ; Far, far behind thee we are strong to find thee, Oh then remind thee of the love left here. August 1854. TLhc TIbree Students. [From the German.] There came three students from over the Rhine, To a certain good hostel they turned them for wine. " Ho ! Landlady, have you strong wine and beer ? How fareth the Fraulein, your daughter dear ? " " My beer is fresh, and my wine is bright ; My child will be shrouded and buried to-night." They drew the door of her death-room back, There she slept in her coffin black : — The first he lifted the veil from the dead, And bared his curls, and bended, and said, THE THREE STUDENTS. 117 " All ! could'st thou but live again, maiden, here From this day forth I would love thee dear ! " The second spread softly the face-cloth again, And his tears fell fast as the midsummer rain : " Dead ! art thou, Lisbeth ? cold, lip and brow ? Ah God ! I learn how I loved thee now ! " But the third in his hand did the little hand take, And kissed the white forehead, and smiled and spake, " I love thee to-day as I loved thee before, I shall love thee as truly for evermore." 3am Satis. His mother was a Prince's child, His father was a King ; There wanted not to his high lot, What rank and riches bring : Proud nobles served him on the knee, Strong captains did his will ; Rare fortune ! — yet it wearied him ! His spirit was not still. For him the glorious music rolled Of singers silent long ; Great Scribes did write, on scrolls of might, The strife of Eight with Wrong : For him Philosophy unveiled Athenian Plato's lore, Might that not serve to stead a life ? Not that ! — he sighed for more ! JAM SATIS. 119 He loved ; the newest, truest lip That ever lover pressed, The queenliest mouth in all the South, Long love for him confessed : Round him his children's joyousuess Rang silverly and shrill ; Soft life ! — sweet sounds ! yet something lacked : His spirit thirsted still ! To battle all his spears he brought In streams of winding steel ; On breast and head of foemen dead, His war-horse set its heel : The jewelled chevron on its flank Was red with blood of kings : Yet Victory's laurel seemed but rank For bitterness it brings ! The splendid passion seized him then To break, with statutes sage, The chains that bind our hapless kind, And social griefs assuage : 120 JAM SATIS. And dear the people's blessing seemed, The praises of the Poor ; Yet Evil stronger is than kings And Hate no codes can cure. He laid aside the sword, book, pen, And lit his lamp to wrest From Nature's range the wonders strange The secrets of her breast : And wisdom deep his guerdon was, And mighty things he knew ; Yet from each unlocked mystery Some harder marvel grew. No pause — no standing-spot — no place To stay the spirit's quest ; In all around not one thing found So good as to be — " best " : Not even Love proved quite divine ; Therefore his search did cease — Lord of all gifts that life could bring, Saved the one chief gift — Peace. JAM SATIS. 121 Then came it ! — crown — lance — scroll — lamp — grew Each a discarded tiling : The funeral-gold did bravely hold The body of the king. And strange ! — love, learning, statecraft, sway, Looked always on before ; But those pale happy lips of clay Asked nothing — nothing more ! Hristippus. Let be, — let be ! These idle follies are not for the wise, A scholar's loves are fair philosophies ; I prithee leave me free ! Nay, Lady, nay ! I read Greek legends sweeter than thy song,- Uncourteous ! thou tarriest overlong ; I marvel at thy stay. What ! the tears glisten ? Indeed I would not wound thy little heart ; We'll be good friends, and kiss ; but we must part, In sooth, — I may not listen. ARISTIPPUS. 123 Once then, and twice, — Ai, Cytherea ! are lips like to these ? Get thee away ! thy month hath witcheries Strange for what is not wise. Well, — yet again ; By Pan, it hath a soft and coral curl, I sorrow that I angered at thee, girl ! Dis pardon me thy pain ! But thou'lt go now, — Take hence the tresses of thy hyacinth hair. — Nay, nay ! unbind them not, — 'tis over fair, — Keep the band on thy brow ; I like it well ! Its jewels, making quaint and equal strife With red and blue, mock lips and eyes to life ; There let them ever dwell, Shamed of their glow ; — Now, by Athene ! but I trifle long, If thou must stay, sweet lady, sing a song, — Doric, and grave, and slow ; 124 ARISTIPPUS. One melody, — Soft music to sage musing lends relief. — Nay, draw not near, thou wilt not turn the leaf Of old philosophy ! Well, an' thou'lt learn, See how it saith, " That in the ancient date Priam of Troy " Ah ! but thou must not wait To kiss before we turn. Thy broad braids fell, Sweeping the page, Madonna ! let me lay On this white neck the glossy veil away, Now we shall study well ! Oh me ! thou'rt ill,— The vermeil of thy cheek is fever-warm, Dear one, thy heart beats ever on my arm, And mine is never still. What aileth me ? They fade,— the dim dull characters of Greek, My lips lack all but kisses, if I speak 'Twill be to worship thee ! ARISTIPPUS. 125 Unlock thine arms, — Thy touch, — ai, ai ! thy sweet breath is a spell, Hide, Circe ! hide thy deep breasts' ivory swell ! Oh, white witch, spare thy charms ! Nay, spare not now ! Hence, grey-beard sage ! I love thee, Life of mine ; Kiss freer, faster, — I am all, all thine, Kiss me on lip and brow. Effte. Wearie, wearie, the lang hours wear, They stap to keek at me, and winna gae ; I count ilk ane o' their ticks wi' a tear, Twalve o' the night, an' t waive o' the day. Aince I kenned na which was the fairest, The shimmer o' moonlight or morning's ray ; Noo I wist na which hours be the sairest, Twalve o' the night, or twalve o' the day. He's aff, wha's "ever" was months twa three, Wi' his false fair mou', an' his steed o' the grey ; He's left me to wale what time I'll dee, Twalve o' the night, or twalve o' the day. EFFIE. 127 Bonnie he was whan he fleeched my heart, — I hadna the heart to gi'e him the nay ; There wasna an hour then that saw us apart, Twalve o' the night, or twalve o' the day. I'd love him again an' it were to do, Aiblins I greet that I lo'ed him sae ; There wasna time to love him enoo, Twalve o' the night, an' twalve o' the day. They tauld me the bee wi' his braw gold coat Flits fair to the flower, but he winna stay : I've muckle room noo to remind me o't, Twalve 0' the night, an' twalve o' the day. Whisht ! puir bairnie ! thou'lt madden thy mammie If thou'rt life-weary, why I am sae ; We'se gang to the grey sea, an' sleep there, my lammie, Twalve o' the night, an' twalve o' the day. Zo tf. G. 1b. We stood at the white gate and looked o'er the lea In September, Fred ! We saw the great river grow broad into sea ; Dost remember, Fred ? We watched grey sails while they faded away In the grey weather, Fred ; And we asked to see whither went that seaway, Close together, Fred ! Half was heard as it rose from the spot With the blue smoke, Fred ; Half the Collector of Clouds heard not That we then spoke, Fred ; By Necessity, fisher of men, caught now Like a halibut, Fred ; Christians I teach here, and Mussulmans thou, Close by Calicut, Fred ! TO F. C. H. 129 Come back, and take the things that are thine In the old land, Fred : A warm corner, welcome, some rare Rhine wine, And a true hand, Fred ; And, in token that these await thee, Fred, Ere we ferry the Styx, I give thee, — 'tis paper currency, — Fred, Page two-sixty-six. Birmingham, 1855. Ah, lightly writ was that loving verse In the old time, Fred ! That page was a leaf I let fall on thy hearse, A flower to the Dead ! By Jumna thou sleepest, forgotten of men, Except in this line, For I give thee — for days of our boyhood — again Page one-twenty-nine. London, 1888. from Sappbo. Splendour-throned Queen ! immortal Aphrodite ! Daughter of Jove — Enchantress ! I implore thee Vex not my soul with agonies and anguish ; Slay me not, Goddess ! Come in thy pity — come, if I have prayed thee ; Come at the cry of my sorrow ; in the old times Oft thou hast heard and left thy father's heaven, Left the gold houses, Yoking thy chariot. Swiftly did the doves fly, Swiftly they brought thee, waving plumes of wonder — Waving their pale plumes all across the sether, All down the azure ! Very soon they lighted. Then didst thou, Divine one, Laugh a bright laugh from lips and eyes eternal, Ask me, " What ailed me — wherefore out of heaven Thus I had called thee ? FROM SAPPHO. 131 What it was made me madden in my heart so ? " Question me, smiling — say to me, " My Sappho, Who is it wrongs thee ? tell me who refuses Thee, vainly sighing?" " Be it who it may be, he that flies shall follow ; He that rejects gifts, he shall bring thee many ; He that hates now shall love thee dearly, madly — Ay, though thou wouldst not." So once again come, Mistress : and, releasing Me from my sadness, give me what I sue for, Grant me my prayer, and be as heretofore now Friend and protectress ! Hesperus brings all things back Which the day-light made us lack ; Brings the sheep and goats to rest, Brings the baby to the breast. jfrom Bnacreon. Love once among the roses Perceived a bee reposing, And wondered what the beast was, And touched it, so it stung him. Sorely his finger smarted, And bitterly he greeted, And wrung his hands together ; And half he ran, half fluttered Unto Cythera's bosom, Unto his fair, sweet mother. Loud sobbed he, " Ai ! ai! mother! Olola ! I am murdered ! Olola ! it has killed me ! A small brown snake with winglets, Which men the bumble-bee call, Has bit me." But Cythera FROM ANACREON. 133 Said, laughing, " Ah, my baby, If bees' stings hurt so sorely, Bethink thee what the smart is Of those, Love, that thou piercest." Bemesis. Daughter of Justice, winged Nemesis ; Thou of the awful eyes, Whose silent sentence judgeth mortal life ! Thou with thy curb of steel, Which proudest jaws must feel, Stayest the snort and champ of human strife ; And, hating miserable pride of men, Dost tame fierce hearts, and turn them meek agen. Under thy wheel, unresting, trackless, all Our joys and griefs befall ; In thy full sight our secret things go on ; Step after step thy wrath Follows the caitiff's path, And at his triumph breaks his vile neck-bone. To all alike thou metest out their due, Cubit for cubit, inch for inch — stern — true. From Mesomedes. %ovc anD Xite. Life without golden love — what bliss is this ? Oh, let me die when love is dead with me ! The stolen words, the honeyed gifts, the kiss, These are the blossoms of youth's glorious tree. FliOM MlMNEllMUS. TWO IDYLS OF THEOCRITUS. Bp tbe ^fountain. -M- Thyrsis. Softly the sway of the pine-branches murmurs a melody, Shepherd ! Down by the rim of the fountain, and softly dost thou, on the Pan-pipes, Pipe to the pines : nest to Pan thou bearest the bell for rare music. Say that he wins a great-hom'd goat, then thine is a she-goat ; Say that the she-goat is his, but thine is the kid, then ; and tender Savours the meat of a kid — till she comes to the bearing and milking. BY THE FOUNTAIN. 137 Goatherd. Sweeter I call thy strain than the tinkle of water that trickles, Tinkling, and trickling, and rippling adown the green shelves of the mountain. If we must grant the high Muses their prize from the pick of the wethers, Certainly thine is a ewe : or if a ewe pleases their fancy, Then at the least a lamb comes to thee — to drive to thy sheep-folds. Thyrsis. Sit thee adown, good friend — sit down, and pipe to us, Shepherd ! Here where the side of the hill slopes fair, and the myrtles are thickest, Blow the fine melodies out : the yearlings can pasture around us ! Goatherd. Nay ! 'twere a sin, 'twere a sin — the sun's at his highest, my Thyrsis ; 138 BY THE FOUNTAIN. Pan would be anger'd to hear me — just now, he breaks off from hunting, Stretches his hairy limbs in the shade, and puffs his great nostrils, Panting, and surly for lack of breath, and longing for slumber. You now, Thyrsis, might sing ! you know the ballad of Daphnis : None of our woodside singers have half such a trick at the measure. Couch we here under these elms, on the grass at the foot of the stone-god, Facing the fountain, and looking right on to the mountains and meadows, Over the tops of the oaks; and if you sing only so deftly As you did once on that day when Chromis the African dared you, Look ! I'll give you yon she-goat ; the dam of a couplet of weanlings ; Udder she carries for both, and then to fill two of thy milk-bowls. Her, and a cup cut in beech, two-handled and polished with beeswax, BY THE FOUNTAIN. 139 Clean and new, with the smell of the chisel and fresh wood about it ; All round its rim, on the top, there creeps a string of ground ivy Twisted and tangled with woodbine, while here and there, in the circle, Tendrils curl and clasp — with bunches of berries among them. Outside a damsel is carved — so fair the gods might have wrought her ! Neat and trim, with her mantle and net — and — this hand and that hand — Two youths — both long-hair'd — both comely — con- tend for her favours Angrily — never a jot cares my pretty jade for their anger ! Sometimes she flings a smile to one, and frowns to his fellow, Sometimes she softens to t'other ; and there they stand in the beechwood, Laugh'd at, but mad with love — half-teased, half- pleased at the wanton. Nest a fisherman comes, cut out on a rock, and its ledges i 4 o BY THE FOUNTAIN. Jut up rough and stark ; — the old boy, done to a marvel, Staggers and sweats at his work — just like a fisher- man hauling ; Looking upon it you'd swear the work was alive, and no picture, So do the veins knot up and swell in his neck and his shoulders, For, though he's wrinkled and grey, there's stuff left yet in my ancient. Next to this old sea-dog you see a vine — all its branches Heavy with globing grapes — a little lad sits by a thicket, Guarding the grapes, but close at hand two foxes come creeping, One in the vineyard munches the clusters — one's after the wallet : Gods ! you can see his scheme — he'll keep his eye on the youngster, Till that he finds a chance, and leaves him dinner- less. Blind one ! Why do you sit there weaving with grasses a cage for your crickets, BY THE FOUNTAIN. 141 Plaiting the grasses, and wholly forgetting your wallet and dinner, Wholly forgetting your grapes — wrapped up in those grasshopper-engines ? All the work in this cup's filled in with leaves of acanthus ; 'Tis an ^Eolic thing — and sooth, of a wonderful fancy, Sirs ! it cost me to buy, of the Calydon sailor, a big cheese Made of snow-white curds, and a she-goat into the bargain ; Yet it has touch'd no lip, but lies this while in my cottage. Look now ! I mean it for you ! 'tis yours, if you sing us that ditty Half so well as you sang it before to the Himera shepherds. No thanks ! do but sing ! — there's no more sunshine or singing Under the grass — in the realm of the dead — where all is forgotten ! XLhc Spell. Thestylts! where are the laurel-leaves? Quick, girl ! bring me the love-spells ! Fasten the scarlet thread in and out round the brim of the beaker ! Quick ! for I mean to charm my lover, my false- hearted lover. Twelve long days are passed, and he never has once come to see me, Knows not if I be living or dead — never sends me a message, No ! not even a word at my door ! Has he gone to some new love, Light as the wings of Eros, and fleeting as Queen Aphrodite ? Down to the town I will hasten to-morrow, and see him, and ask him THE SPELL. 143 Face to face, why he treats me so coldly : but Thestylis ! thou now Help me to try him with charms, and oh Moon ! glitter thy brightest ! Shine, pale Moon ! for thee I invoke, and thy sister and shadow Hecat — the under-world Moon, whom even the little dogs howl at When she goes forth o'er the graves, and all her footmarks are bloody : Make my magic to-night as strong as ever was Circe's, Potent as white Perimede's, and mighty as Colchian Medea's ! Little bird ! whirl and scream, and whirl, and bring me my lover ! Turn wheel, turn ! and burn, cake, burn ! Ah ! Thestylis, sprinkle ! What are you doing to tremble so ? sprinkle the salt on the brazier ! Where are your wits gone, girl ? or is it that you too must vex me ? Sprinkle the salt, and say, "Flesh and blood of Delphis I scatter ! " 144 THE SPELL. Little bird! scream, and whirl, and scream, and bring me my lover ! Delphis grieves me — in my turn I will grieve liim. Laurel, bum ! As thy bright leaves curl and crack, Smoke and blaze and vanish black, Leaving not a leaf to see : May his heart love-scorched be ! Little bird ! whirl, and scream, little bird ! and bring me my lover ! As I melt this waxen ball May the great gods hear me call, And Delphis melt with love for me ! And as this wheel turns rapidly So may Queen Yenus speed the charms And bring him quickly to my arms ! Little bird, whirl, whirl, whirl ! scream ! scream ! and bring me my lover ! THE SPELL. 145 Now I scatter on the flame Bran. Oh ! Artemis ! thy name Moves the Judge of Hell to fear, Rhadamanth himself ! Then hear ! Hear ! oh, hear me ! Thestylis, Did the dogs bark ? Yes, it is ! Tis the goddess in the street ! Beat the cymbals ! quick, girl ! beat ! Little bird, scream ! — scream louder ! and bring me my false-hearted lover ! Look ! the restless sea is sleeping, Milk-white ripples curling, creeping ; Listen ! all the winds are quiet, Folded up from rage and riot ; Only in my heart the pain Wakes, and will not sleep again ! Bitter pain the sport to be Of him who hath unmaidened me. Little bird, whirl — whirl fast ! scream sharp — scream call me my lover ! 146 THE SPELL. Thrice libations due I pay, Thrice, great goddess ! this I say, Whom he now loves I know not, But let her come to be forgot ! Clean forgot from head to feet As Ariadne was of Crete. Scream, little wretch! cry more! and whirl, and fetch me my lover ! In Arcady there grows a flower, Stings the herds with subtle power, Drives them mad on vale and height : Would I had that flower to-night ! Delphis should come quick to me, Come, whate'er his company ! Scream for me still, little bird ! scream once, and call me my lover ! Delphis left this gift with me : In the fire I fling it. See ! Burn it red and burn it black, Angry hissing flames ! Alack ! THE SPELL. 147 It leaps away — he'll not return ! It only burnetii as I burn, And now 'tis ashes, pale and grey, As pale as I grow day by day. Scream ere you die, little bird ! one cry to call me my lover ! Lizards green and gold I take (Mighty magic this will make), Slit them down from chin to tail, Squeeze their cold blood, cold and pale. Thestylis, take this to-morrow (It can work him bliss or sorrow), Lay it on his threshold stone, Spit to the left, and say alone, " She whose heart you tread on here Charms you, Delphis ! Love or fear ! " Dead are you, poor little fool ? and you could not bring me my lover ! Ah, me ! what shall I do ? Alone, alone ! — I'll think the story over of my love, 148 THE SPELL. How it began — what made the sweet pain come. It was the day Anaxo was to walk Bearing the basket for great Artemis, With striped and spotted beasts in the procession. Oh ' — and you recollect — a lioness ! Lady Moon ! listen and pity ! and help me, bringing my lover ! And my old Thracian nurse, Theucharila, Came — you remember — teasing, tempting me To go and see them pass, and so I went. fool ! I went wearing the yellow bodice, And Clearista's purple train from Tyre. Lady Moon ! listen and pity, and say where tarries my lover ! And when we came hard by where Lycon lives Upon the paved way, there I saw him first, Delphis, with Eudamippus — oh, you know ! His hair danced back from off his brow, like sprays Of bright amaracus, when west winds blow, THE SPELL. 149 And all his neck, Hushed with the heat of the games, Shone as thou shinest, Moon ! but rosier pearl ! Lady Moon ! Lady Moon, listen, and pity, and bring me my lover ! I saw him — looked ! loved ! oh, my foolish eyes ! Oh me ! the coward colour of my cheeks ! Oh, heart that straight went mad ! I did not mark Those tame beasts any more ; how I came home I cannot call to mind ; you know I lay Ten days and nights indoors, and never rose. Lady Moon ! sweet pale Moon ! have mercy, and bring me this lover ! I grew as pale — as white as thapsus-wood ! Say if I braided up my hair, or sang ! Say if I grew not to a ghost, with thinking ! When was the day you sought not who he was ? Where was the crone we did not plague for charms To bring him ? All in vain ; he never came ! 150 THE SPELL. Oh, Moon ! hide not thy face. Oh, white Moon ! listen and pity ! So I grew sick with waiting, and I said, " Ah, Thestylis, help ! — heal me, or I die ! This Greek boy hath bewitched me. Go, my friend ! Watch at the gateway of the wrestling-school ; He cometh there, I think, to play or sit, Silver-faced Queen of the Stars, thou know'st we are not as immortals ! " And when he is alone, whisper full soft And say, ' Simcetha bids thee come,' and then, If he will, bring him ! " So you went and came Bringing my love to me. But when I heard His sandals on the step, and saw his face — Lady Moon ! hear this now, and pity, and shine while I tell you ! And saw his face, I turned as cold as snow, And tears — I wot not why — sprang to my lids, THE SPELL. 151 And how to speak I knew not ; not so much As little children startled in the nio-ht, That sob, and know it is all well — but sob, And will not stint even for their mother's voice. I was as dumb as dead things, Thestylis. Queen of the planets and stars ! forgive, and listen, and pity ! For he with a bright gladness — not too bold — Entered; and once looked hard, and then looked down, And sat against my feet ; and sitting, said, " Only so little, sweet Simoetha ! thou Hast been the first to speak — as I was first Against Philinus in the race to-day, — White-sandalled Mistress of Night ! have patience, and hear me and help me. " I should have come, I swear it by my head ! To-morrow at the dusk. I meant to bring Some choice rose-apples in my breast.Mayhap You love them ; and a crown of poplar leaves Twisted with myrtle-buds and tied with red ; 152 THE SPELL. Lady Moon, where is he now ? so soft, so gentle, so fickle ! " And if you had seemed kind I should have spoke. I was not hopeless, for T won the prize At running, and the maidens call me fair. The one prize I have longed for since the feast Was once to touch the goal of those dear lips ; Then I could rest — not else ! But had you frowned, And bade me go, and barred your door on me, Oh, Sweet ! I think I should have come with lamps And axes, and have stolen vou like gold ! " Lady Moon, where is he now ? so gentle, so earnest, so winning ! " How shall I," he went on, "thank the gods first, And nest you — you ! the queen and life of me ! My kindest love — who badst me hither come When I did burn for leave — yea ! for I think Hephtestus lights no flame as Eros doth ! " Lady Moon, look out of heaven, and find him, and bring him for pity. THE SPELL. 153 So he spake, low and fair, and I, alas ! What could I do, but reach my hand to him, And let him take it, and take me, and have The kiss he sued for, and another such ? My cheeks were white no more, nor my heart sad, Nor any trouble left ; but we sat close, And the soft talk bubbled from lip to lip Like fountains in the roses. All that time, And many a time we sat so : never once Failed he to keep his word, and never once Left, save with lingering foot. But one ill dav He did not come, and then it was I heard Stories, that vexed me, of another love : Melixa's mother, and the harp-player Told me— and both are friends — he'd come no more, And that his house was loud with pipes and songs, And gay with crowns, not woven now for me. Oh, Thestylis ! twelve days ago this was, And never have I seen him since that day, And never shall, unless my magic works : Therefore blow up the flame, and whirl the wheel ! Lady Moon ! speed this spell ; and fetch me my false-hearted lover. 154 THE SPELL. Speed this spell ! if it brings you, Delphis, love shall live anew : If in vain I watch and wait, Delphis, love will turn to hate ! Subtle drugs I treasure here, Drugs of awful force and fear : A Syrian witch culled these for me In lonely caverns by the sea. Delphis, if I brew this drink It will send you, as I think, Down to Hades' gate, to seek A sweeter lip, a fairer cheek. Oh, Moon ! spare me this at last ! Oh, Moon ! speed it — if I must. And now farewell ! for one day more I wait, and love him as before ! Farewell, pale Moon, and planets bright, Watchers with me this silent night ! Xament ot HCjoiib, Woe is me for Adonis ! gone dead is the comely Adonis ! Dead is the god-like Adonis ! the young Loves wail for him, ai ! ai ! Sleep no more, wrapped in thy mantles of Tyrian, lady of Cyprus t Rise, don thy raiment of azure, pale mourner, and beat on thy bosom ! Tell out thy sorrow to all — he is dead, thy darling Adonis. Ai ! ai ! wail for Adonis ! — the young Loves wail for him, ai ! ai ! Hurt on the hill lies Adonis the beautiful ; torn with the boar's tusk, Torn on the ivory thigh with the ivory tusk, his low gasping 156 LAMENT OF ADONIS. Anguishes Cypris' soul : the dark blood trickles in £3 rivers Down from his snowy side — his eyes are dreamily dimming Under their lids ; and the rose leaves his lip, and the kisses upon it Fade, and wax fainter, and faintest, and die, before Cypris can snatch them ; Dear to the Goddess his kiss, though it be not the kiss of the living ; Dear — but Adonis wists nought of the mouth that kissed him a-dying. Ai ! ai ! wail for Adonis ! — ai ! ai ! say the Loves for Adonis. Cruel ! ah, cruel the wound on the thigdi of the hunter Adonis, Yet in her innermost heart a deeper wears Queen Cytheraea. Round the fair dead boy his hounds pace, dismally howling ; Round him the hill-spirits weep ; but chiefest of all Aphrodite, LAMENT OF ADONIS. 157 Letting her bright hair loose, goes wild through the depths of the forest Passionate, panting, unkempt ; with feet unsandalled, whose beauty Thorn-bushes tear as she passes, and drip with the blood of the Goddess. Bitterly bitterly wailing, down all the long hollows she hurries, Calling him Husband and Love — her Boy — her Syrian Hunter. Meantime dead in his gore lieth he — from groin unto shoulder Bloody ; from breast to thigh ; the fair young flank of Adonis, Heretofore white as the snow, dull now, and dabbled with purple. Ai ! ai ! woe for Adonis ! the Loves say, " woe for Adonis ! " That which hath killed her sweet lover hath killed a grace which was god-like ! Perfect the grace seemed of Cypris so long as Adonis was living ; 158 LAMENT OF ADONIS. Gone is her beauty now— ai ! ai ! gone dead with Adonis : All the hills echo it — all the oaks whisper it, " Ah, for Adonis ! " Even the river-waves ripple the sorrows of sad Aphrodite, Even the springs on the hills drop tears for the hunter Adonis ; Yea, and the rose-leaves are redder for grief; for the grief Cytherrea Tells in the hollow dells, and utters to townland and woodland. Ai ! ai ! Lady of Cyprus, " Lo ! dead is my darling Adonis ! " Echo answers thee back, " Oh ! dead is thy darling Adonis." Who, good sooth, but would say, Ai ! ai ! for her passionate story ? When that she saw and knew the wound of Adonis — the death-wound — Saw the blood come red from the gash, and the white thigh a-waning, LAMENT OF ADONIS. 159 Wide outraugkt she her arms, and cried, " Ah ! stay, my Adonis ! Stay for me, ill-starred love ! — stay ! stay ! till I take thee the last time, Hold thee and fold thee, and lips meet lips, and mino-le together. Rouse thee — a little, Adonis ! kiss back for the last time beloved ! Kiss me — kiss me — only so long as the life of a kiss is ! So I may suck from thy mouth to my mouth, to my innermost heart-beat, All the breath of thy life, and take the last of its love-spell Unto the uttermost end — one kiss ! I will tenderly keep it As I did thee, my Adonis, sith thou dost leave me, Adonis ! Far thou dost go and for long — thou goest to the region of shadows, Unto a hateful and pitiless Power, and I, the unhappy, Live ! and alack ! am a goddess, and cannot die and go after. i6o LAMENT OF ADONIS. Take thou my spouse, dark Queen! have here my husband, as thou art Stronger by far than I, and to thee goeth all that is goodly. Utterly hapless my fate, and utterly hopeless my grief is, Weeping my love who is dead, and hating the Fate that hath slain him. Fled is my joy, like a dream ; thou art dead, thrice lovely and longed for ! Queen Cythenea is widowed — the Loves in my bowers are idle — Gone my charmed girdle with thee ; why, rash one, went'st thou a-hunting ? Mad wert thou, being so fair, to match thee with beasts of the forest." So grieved the Lady of Cyprus — the young Loves wept for her sorrow, Saying " Ai ! ai ! Cythercea ! gone dead is her darling Adonis." Drop by drop as the hunter bleeds, the tears of the Goddess LAMENT OF ADONIS. 161 Fall and blend with the blood, and both on the ground become flowers ; Eose-blossoms grow from the blood, and wind-lilies out of the tear-drops. Ai ! ai ! comely Adonis — gone dead is the god-like Adonis ; Wander no longer bewailing in glade and in thicket, sad lady ! Fair is his bed of leaves, and fragrant the couch where thy love lies, Dead, but as lovely as life — yea, dead — but as lovely as sleep is ; Lap him in mantles of silk — such robes as he once took delight in When by thy side he passed in caresses the season of starbeams, Lulled on a couch of gold — though dead, the raiments become him ; Heap on him garlands and blossoms and buds, entomb them together; When that Adonis died, the flowers died too, and were withered ! 1 62 LAMENT OF ADONIS. Kain on him perfumes and odours, shed myrtle and spices upon him ; Let all delightful things die and go with him, for dead is the dearest. So lies he lovely, in death-shroud of purple, the fair young Adonis ; Round about his couch the Loves go piteously wailing, Tearing their hair for Adonis ; and one has charge of his arrows, One of his polished bow, and one of his well-feathered quiver ; One unclasps his sandal, and one in a water-pot golden Brings bright water to lave his limbs ; and one, at the bier-head, Fans with her pinions the forehead and eyes of the sleeping Adonis. Ah ! but for Cypris herself the young Loves sorrow the sorest ; Quenched are the marriage-lamps in the halls of the God Hymenasus, Scattered his marriage crowns ; no more he sings, " Hymen, oh ! Hymen," LAMENT OF ADONIS. 163 " Hymen ! " no more is the song he goes singing, but evermore ai ! ai ! " Ah, for Adonis," he cries, and " Ah ! " say the Graces, " Adonis ! " ]\lore than the marriage-god even, they weep for the Syrian huntsman, One to the other still saying, " Dead — dead is the lovely Adonis ! " All the high Muses bewail — but he hears no more music and sin gin g, Nay, not if that he would : Fate holds him fast and for ever. Cease, Cytherasa, thy sobs ; a little while rest from thine anguish, Soon must thy tears flow again, and again come the season of sorrow. From Bion. draper to tbc /Iftuses. Gloey and praise to those sweet Lamps of earth, The nine fair Daughters of Almighty Jove, Who, all the passage dark to death from birth, Lead wandering souls with their bright beams of love. Through cares of mortal life, through pain and woe, The tender solace of their counsel saves ; The healing secrets of their songs forego Despair; and when we tremble at the waves On life's wild sea of murk incertitude, Their gentle touch upon the helm is pressed, Their hand points out the beacon-star of good, Where we shall make our harbour, and have rest — PRAYER TO THE MUSES. 165 The planet of our home wherefrom we fell, Allured by this poor show of lower things, Tempted among earth's dull deceits to dwell : But oh ! great Sisters, hear his prayer who sings, And calm the restless flutter of his breast, And fill him with the thirst for wisdom's stream ; Nor ever suffer earthly sights unblest To turn his vision from the eternal beam. Ever and ever higher, from the throng Lawless and witless, lead his feet aright Life's perils and perplexities among, To the white centre of the sacred Light. Feed him with food of that rich fruit which grows On stems of splendid learning — dower him still With gifts of eloquence to vanquish those Who err ; — let soft persuasion change their will. Hear, heavenly Sisters, hear ! oh, ye who know The winds of wisdom's sea, the course to steer ; Who light the flame that lightens all below, And bring the spirits of the perfect there 1 66 PRAYER TO THE MUSES. Where the immortals are, when this life's fever Is left behind as a dread gulf o'erpassed ; And souls, like mariners, escaped for ever, Throng on the happy foreland, saved at last. So bring, high Muses ! open me the scroll Where Truth is writ in characters of fire ; Roll from my eyes the mists of life — oh! roll, That I may have my spirit's deep desire, Discerning the divine in undivine, The god in man — the life of us in death ; Nor let dire powers pluck this soul of mine From its most precious hope — to merge beneath Deep floods of black oblivion, far from bliss, From light, from wisdom — never let dark doom Shut my lost soul in such despair as this, My soul that is so weary of the gloom ! But hear and help, ye wise and shining Nine ! I yearn and strive towards your heavenly side ; Teach me the secret of the mystic sign, Give me the lore that guards, the words that guide. From Proclus. H H)et)ication. TO MY DAUGHTER. Because I know my verse shall henceforth live On lips to be, in hearts as yet unbeating ; Because the East and West will some day give — When Faith and Doubt are friends, at some far meeting — Late praise to him who dreamed it, — therefore, here, As one that carves upon a growing willow The word it is to keep for many a year ; As one that paints, before she breasts the billow, A dear name on his vessel's prow ; as one Who, finishing a fane, makes dedication With golden letters on the polished stone, Crowning his toil by loving celebration, — Here, while these last, our love I celebrate, For thy sake and thy Mother's, — writing " Kate." Christmas, 1884. TKHttb a Dolume of translations. Flowers from Greek gardens, Fannie ! old turned new; Doric, iEolic, Attic gathered here : You made the pleasant sunshine where they grew ; Such as the growth is, have the blossoms, Dear ! Dedication of a Book. [From the Sanskrit.] Sweet ! on the daisies of your English grave I lay this little wreath of Indian flowers, Fragrant for me, because the scent they have Breathes of the memory of our wedded hours ; For others scentless ! and for you, in Heaven, Too pale and faded, dear dead wife ! to wear Save that they say, which makes all fault forgiven, That he who biings them lays his heart too there. 1866. ZTbe Epic of tbe Xion. [From the French of Victor Hugo's " L'Art d'etre Grandpere."] I. A Lion in his jaws caught up a child — Not harming it — and to the woodland, wild With secret streams and lairs, bore off his prey ; The beast, as one might cull a flower in May, Had plucked this bud, not thinking wrong or right, Mumbling its stalk, too proud or kind to bite, — A lion's way, roughly compassionate ! Yet truly dismal was the victim's fate ; Thrust in a cave which rumbled with each roar, His food wild herbs, his bed the earthy floor, He lived, half-dead with daily frightening. It was a rosy boy, son of a king ; A ten-year lad, with bright eyes shining wide ; And, save this son, his Majesty beside THE EPIC OF THE LION. 171 Had but one girl — two years of age — and so The monarch suffered, being old, much woe, His heir the monster's prey, while the whole land In dread both of the beast and king did stand ; Sore terrified were all. By came a Knight That road, who halted, asking, " What's the fright ? " They told him, and he spurred straight for the den. Oh, such a place ! the sunlight entering in Grew pale — and crept, so grim a sight was shown Where that gaunt Lion on the rock lay prone : The wood, at this part thick of growth and wet, Barred out the sky with black trunks closely set ; Forest and forester matched wondrous well ! Great stones stood near, with ancient tales to tell — Such as make moorlands weird in Brittany, — And at its edge a mountain you might see, One of those iron walls which shut off heaven ; The Lion's den was a deep cavern driven Into this granite ridge, fenced round with oaks. Cities and caverns are discordant folks, 172 THE EPIC OF THE LION. They bear each other grudges ! this did wave A rustling threat to trespasser, — " Hence, knave ! Or meet my Lion ! " In the champion went ! The den had all the sombre sentiment Which palaces display — deaths — murderings — Terrors ! — you felt " here dwells one of the kings : " Bones strewn around showed that this mighty lord Denied himself nought which his woods afford. A rock-rift, pierced by stroke of lightning, gave Such misty glimmer as a den need have : What eagles might think dawn, and owls the dusk, Makes day enough for kings of claw and tusk. All else was regal, though ! you understood Why the majestic brute slept, as he should, On leaves, with no lace curtains to his bed ; And how his wine was blood — nay, or instead. Spring- water lapped sans napkin, spoon, or cup, Or lackeys. Being from spur to crest mailed up, The champion enters. In the den he spies Truly a Mighty One ! Crowned to the eyes THE EPIC OF THE LION. 173 With shaggy golden fell — the Beast ! — It muses With look infallible ; for, if he chooses, The master of a wood may play at Pope, And this one showed such claws, there was small hope To argue with him on a point of creed ! The Knight approached — yet not too fast, indeed ! His footfall clanged, flaunted his rose-red feather ; None the more notice took the beast of either, Still in his own reflections plunged profound. Theseus a-marching upon that black ground Of Sisyphus, Ixion, and dire hell, Saw such a scene, murk and implacable. But duty whispered, " Forward ! " so the Knight Drew forth his sword : the Lion at that sight Lifted his head in slow wise, grim to see. The Knight said : " Greeting, monstrous brute, to thee ! In this foul hole thou hast a child in keeping, — I search its noisome nooks with glances sweeping, But spy him not. That child I must reclaim ; Friends are we if thou renderest up the same ; If not — I too am lion, thou wilt find ; The king his lost son in his arms shall bind ; 174 THE EPIC OF THE LION. While here thy wicked blood runs, smoking-hot, Before another dawn." " I fancy not ! " Pensive, the Lion said. The Knight strode near, Brandished his blade and cried : " Sire ! have a care ! " The Beast was seen to smile — ominous sight ! — Never make lions smile ! Then joined they fight, The man and monster, in most desperate duel Like warring giants, angry, huge, and cruel ; Like tigers crimsoning an Indian wood, The man with steel, the beast with claws as good ; Lang matching blade, hide mail, that sylvan lord Hurled himself foaming on the flashing sword : Stout though the Knight, the Lion stronger was, And tore his brave breast under its cuirass ; And, striking blow on blow with ponderous paw, Forced plate and rivet off, until you saw Through all the armour's cracks the bright blood spirt, As when clenched fingers make a mulberry squirt ; And piece by piece he stripped the iron sheath, Helm, armlets, greaves — gnawed bare the bones be- neath, THE EPIC OF THE LION. 175 Scrunching that hero ; till he sprawled — alas ! Beneath his shield, all blood, and mud, and mess, Whereat the Lion feasted : then it went Back to its rocky couch and slept content. II. Next came a hermit. He found out the cave ; With girdle, gown, and cross — trembling and grave — He entered. There that Knight lay, out of shape, Mere pulp : the Lion, waking up, did gape, Opened his yellow orbs, heard some one grope, And — seeing the woollen coat bound with a rope, A black peaked cowl, and inside that a man — He finished yawning and to growl began : Then, with a voice like prison-gates which creak, Koared, " What wouldst thou ? " " My King ! " " King ? " " May I speak ? " "Of whom?" " The Prince." "Is that what makes a King?" i 7 6 THE EPIC OF THE LION. The monk bowed reverence : " Majesty ! I bring A message — wherefore keep this child ? " " For that Whene'er it rains I've some one here to chat." " Return him ! " " Not so ! " " What then wilt thou do ? Wouldst eat him ? " " Ay — if I have nought to chew ! " " Sire ! think upon his Majesty in woe ! " " They killed my dam," the Beast said, " long ago." " Bethink thee, sire, a king implores a king." " Nonsense — he talks — he's man ! when my notes ring, A Monarch's heard." " His only boy !" " Well, well ! He hath a daughter." " She's no heir." " / dwell Alone in this my home, 'mid wood and rock, Thunder my music, and the lightning-shock My lamp ; — let his content him ! " THE EPIC OF THE LION. 177 " Ah ! show pity." " What means that word ? is't current in your city ? " " Lion, thou'dst wish to go to heaven — see here ! I offer thee indulgence, and, writ clear, God's passport to His paradise — " " Get hence, Thou holy rogue ! " bellowed the Beast immense. The hermit disappeared ! III. Thereat left free, Full of a lion's vast serenity He slept again, letting the still night pass : The moon rose, starting spectres on the grass, Shrouding the marsh with mist, blotting the ways, And melting the black woodland to gray maze ; No stir was seen below, above, no motion Save of the white stars trooping to the ocean : And while the mole and cricket in the brake Kept watch, the Lion's measured breath did make Slow symphony which held all creatures calm. Sudden — loud cries and clamours, striking qualm Into the heart o' the quiet ! horn and shout M i 7 8 THE EPIC OF THE LION. Causing the solemn wood to reel with rout, And all the nymphs to tremble in their trees ! The uproars of a midnight chase are these, Which shake the shades, the marsh, mountain and stream, And spoil the silence of their sombre dream. The thicket flashed with many a lurid spark Of torches borne 'mid wild cries through the dark ; Hounds, nose to earth, ran yelping through the wood, And armed groups, gathering in the alleys, stood. Terrific was the noise that rolled before ; It seemed a squadron ; nay, 'twas something more — A whole battalion, sent by that sad king With force of arms his little Prince to bring, Together with the Lion's bleeding hide. Which here was right or wrong ? who can decide ? Have beasts or men most claim to live ? God wots ! He is the unit, we the cipher-dots. Well warmed with meat and drink those soldiers were, Good hearts they bore — and many a bow and spear ; Their number large, and by a captain led Valiant, whilst some in foreign wars had bled, THE EPIC OF THE LION. 179 And all were men approved and firm in fight. The Lion heard their cries, affronting;' night, For by this time his awful lids were lifted ; But from the rock his chin he never shifted, And only his great tail wagged to and fro. Meantime, outside the cavern, startled so, Came close the uproar of this shouting crowd. As round a web flies buzzing in a cloud, Or hive-bees swarming o'er a bear ensnared, This hunter-legion buzzed, and swarmed, and flared. In battle order all their ranks were set : 'Twas understood the Beast they came to get, Fierce as a tiger's cunning — strong to seize — Could munch up heroes as an ape cracks fleas, Could with one glance make Jove's own bird look down ; Wherefore they laid him siege as to a town. The pioneers with axes cleared the way, The spearmen followed in a close array, The archers held their arrows on the string • Silence was bid, lest any chattering Should mask the Lion's footstep in the wood ; The dogs — who know the moment when 'tis good i So THE EPIC OF THE LION. To hold their peace — went first, nose to the ground, Giving 1 no tongue ; the torches all around Hither and thither flickered, their long beams Through sighing foliage sending ruddy gleams ; — Such is the order a great hunt should have. And soon between the trunks they spy the cave, A black, dim-outlined hole, deep in the gloom, Gaping, but blank and silent as the tomb, Wide open to the night, as though it feared As little all that clamour as it heard. There's smoke where fire smoulders, and a town, When men lay siege, rings tocsin up and down ; Nothing so here ! therefore with vague dismay Each stood, and grasp on bow or blade did lay, Watching the horrid stillness of that chasm : The dogs among themselves whimpered : a spasm From the horror lurking in such voiceless places — Worse than the rage of tempests — blanched all faces Yet they were there to find and fight this Thing, So they advance, each bush examining, Dreading full sore the very prey they sought ; The pioneers held high the lamps they brought : " There ! that is it ! the very mouth of the den ! " The trees all round it muttered, warning men : THE EPIC OF THE LION. 1S1 Still they kept step and neared it — look you now, Company's pleasant ! and there were a thou — Good Lord ! — all in a moment, there's its face ! Frightful ! — they saw the Lion ! Not one pace Further stirred any man ; the very trees Grew blacker with his presence, and the breeze Blew shudders into all hearts present there : Yet, whether 'twas from valour or wild fear, The archers drew — and arrow, bolt, and dart Made target of the Beast. He, on his part — As calm as Pelion in the rain or hail — ■ Bristled majestic from the nose to tail, And shook full fifty missiles from his hide ; Yet any meaner brute had found beside Enough still sticking fast to make him yell Or fly ; the blood was trickling down his fell, But no heed took he, glaring steadfastly; And all those men of war, amazed to be Thus met by such stupendous might and pride, Thought him no beast, but some god brutified. The hounds, tail down, slunk back behind the spears ; And then the Liou, 'mid the silence, rears His awful face, and over wood and marsh i82 THE EPIC OF THE LION. Roared a vast roar, hoarse, vibrant, vengeful, harsh, — A rolling, raging peal of wrath, which spread From the quaking earth to the echoing vault o'erhead, Making the half-awakened thunder cry, " Who thunders there ? " from its black bed of sky. This ended all ! — sheer horror cleared the coast ! As fogs are driven by wind, that valorous host Melted, dispersed to all the quarters four, Clean panic-stricken by his monstrous roar ; Each with one impulse — leaders, rank and file, Deeming it haunted ground, where Earth somewhile Is wont to breed marvels of lawless might — They scampered, mad, blind, reckless, wild with fright. Then quoth the Lion, "Woods and mountains ! see, A thousand men enslaved fear one Beast free ! " As lava to volcanoes, so a roar Is to these creatures; and, the eruption o'er In heaven- shaking wrath, they mostly calm. The gods themselves to lions yield the palm For magnanimity. When Jove was king, Hercules said, " Let's finish off the thing:, THE EPIC OF THE LION. 183 Not the Nemrean merely ; every one We'll strangle — all the lions." Whereupon The lions yawned a " much obliged ! " his way. But this Beast, being whelped by night, not day — Offspring of glooms — was sterner ; one of those Who go down slowly when their storm's at close ; His anger had a savage ground-swell in it : He loved to take his naps, too, to the minute, And to be roused up thus with horn and hound, — To find an ambush sprung — to be hemmed round — Targetted — 'twas an insult to his grove ! He paced towards the hill, climbed high above, Lifted his voice, and, as the sowers sow The seeds down wind, thus did that Lion throw His message far enough the town to reach. " King ! your behaviour really passes speech ! Thus far no harm I've wrought to him your son ; But now I give you notice — when night's done I will make entry at your city-gate, Bringing the Prince alive ; and those that wait To see him in my jaws — your lackey-crew — Shall see me eat him in your palace too ! " ^4 THE EPIC OF THE LION. Quiet the night passed, while the streamlets bubbled, And the clouds sailed across the vault untroubled. Next morning this is what was viewed in town : Dawn coming ! — people going ! — some adown Praying, some crying ; pallid cheeks, swift feet, And a huge Lion stalking through the street ! IV. The quaking townsmen in the cellars hid ; How make resistance ? briefly, no one did ; The soldiers left their posts, the gates stood wide ; 'Twas felt the Lion had upon his side A majesty so godlike, such an air — That den, too, was so dark and grim a lair — It seemed scarce short of rash impiety To cross its path as the fierce Beast went by. So to the palace and its gilded dome With stately steps unchallenged did he roam, Iu many a spot with those vile darts scarred still, As you may note an oak scored with the bill, Yet nothing recks that giant-trunk ; so here Paced this proud wounded Lion, free of fear, THE EPIC OF THE LION. 185 While all the people held aloof in dread, Seeing the scarlet jaws of that great head Hold up the princely boy — aswoon. Is't true Princes are flesh and blood ? Ah, yes ! and you Had wept with sacred pity, seeing him Swing in the Lion's mouth, body and limb : ' The tender captive gripped by those grim fangs, On either side the jowl helplessly hangs, Deathlike, albeit he bore no wound of tooth. And for the brute thus gagged it was, in sooth, A grievous thing to wish to roar, yet be Muzzled and dumb, so he walked savagely, His pent heart blazing through his burning eyes, While not one bow is stretched, no arrow flies ; They dreaded, peradventure, lest some shaft Shot with a trembling hand and faltering craft Might miss the Beast and pierce the Prince : So, still As he had promised, roaring from his hill, This Lion, scorning town and townsfolk, sick To view such terror, goes on straight and quick To the King's house, hoping to meet there one Who dares to speak with him : — outside is none ! 1 86 THE EPIC OF THE LION. The door's ajar, and flaps with every blast ; He enters it — within those walls at last ! — No man ! For, certes, though he raged and wept, His Majesty, like all, clos^ shelter kept, Solicitous to live, holding his breath Specially precious to the realm. Now, death Is not thus viewed by honest beasts of prey, And when the Lion found him fled away, Ashamed to be so grand, man being so base, He muttered to himself in that dark place Where lions keep their thoughts : " This wretched Kin g ! 'Tis well, I'll eat his boy ! " Then, wandering, Lordly he traversed courts and corridors, Paced beneath vaults of gold on shining floors, Glanced at the throne deserted, stalked from hall To hall — green, yellow, crimson — empty all ! Rich couches void, soft seats unoccupied ! And as he walked he looked from side to side To find some pleasant nook for his repast, Since appetite was come to munch at last The princely morsel. Ah ! what sight astounds That grisly lounger? THE EPIC OF THE LION. 187 In the palace-grounds An alcove on a garden gives, and there A tiny thing — forgot in the general fear, Lulled in the flower-sweet dreams of infancy, Bathed with soft sunlight falling brokenly Through leaf and lattice — was that moment waking ; A little lovely maid, most dear and taking, The Prince's sister ; all alone — undressed — She sate up singing : children sing so best ! A voice of joy, than silver lute-string softer ! A mouth all rosebud, blossoming in laughter ! A baby-angel hard at play ! a dream Of Bethlehem's cradle, or what nests would seem If girls were hatched ! — all these ! Eyes, too, so blue That sea and sky might own their sapphire new ! Neck bare, arms bare, pink legs and stomach bare ! Nought hid the roseate satin skin, save where A little white-laced shift was fastened free ; She looked as fresh, singing thus peacefully, As stars at twilight, or as April's heaven ; A floweret — you had said — divinely given, To show on earth how God's own lilies grow ; xSS THE EPIC OF THE LION. Such was this beauteous baby-maid ; and so The Beast caught sight of her, and stopped— And then Entered ; the joists creaked as he stalked straight in ! Above the playthings by the little bed The Lion thrust his shaggy massive head, Dreadful with savage might and lordly scorn, More dreadful with that princely prey so borne ; Which she quick spying, " Brother ! brother ! " cried, " Oh ! my own brother ! " and, unterrified — Looking a living rose that made the place Brighter and warmer with its fearless grace — She gazed upon that monster of the wood, Whose yellow balls not Typhon had withstood ; ^ n( J — well! who knows what thoughts these small heads hold ? She rose up in her cot — full height, and bold, And shook her pink fist angrily at him. Whereon — close to the little bed's white rim, All dainty silk and laces — this huge Brute Set down her brother gently at her foot, Just as a mother might, and said to her, — " Don't be put out, now ! there he is, Dear ! there ! " IRencta. A PASTORAL POEM. By Lorenzo de' Medici, surnamed "The Magnificent." Translated for the first time, and in the original mitre, from the Italian. [This pastoral by the great Florentine Ruler, Lorenzo the Magnificent, is taken from the Italian text, printed at Bergamo in 1763 A.D. The Bergamese editor remarks, of the fifty stanzas composing it, " Sono nel loro generc incomparabili ; " and all may certainly admire the dramatic force with which the illustrious Medicean has, as it were, entered into the very heart and soul of his peasant, to depict a rural passion. The " Nencia" was probably written about A.D. 1480 — the dawn of the golden age of Italian art — when the " Magnificent" Lorenzo was chief of all the scholars and poets, as well as of his citizens of Florence, and gathered at his table such men as Michael Angelo, Luca Signorelli, Ghirlandajo, Filij^ino Lippi, Botticelli, Pulci, Poliziano, and Pico de Mirandola.] I. I BURN with love ; — love makes me bold to sing Praise of the damsel who undoes my heart ; Each time I think a little tender thing About her, 'tis as if my breath would part : igo NENCIA. The world her match for beauty cannot bring, No other eyes such lovely lightnings dart ; In town and tower and city have I been, But seen none nowhere like my country-queen. ir. To Monticelli, every market-day, To Prato, Empoli, and San Casciano, To Poggibonsi, and to Colle gay, By San Donato down to Dicamano ; To Castelfranco, all Figline-way ; San Pier', Montagna, Borgo, Gagliano, Ofttimes I wend, — a-buying and a-selling — And Barberin, where my Nenciozza's dwelling. in. But never once — saving at Barberin — See I a girl so dear, discreet, and taking, With cheek, and neck, and nape, and dimpled chin So smooth and white ; or of such perfect making. Her eyes ! 'tis like torch-light, when feasts begin, To feel their lids lift, and their glance awaking Joyance ; and 'twixt them comes the winsome nose With proud pink nostrils, like the pits in a rose. NENCIA. 191 IV. Of pink sea-coral are her dear lips clight, With, underneath, two strings of sea-pearls plenty ; A Tuscan foal's milk-row is not so white ! (To judge thereby my Nencia's come to twenty.) Her stainless cheeks have all the softened light Of misted marble, chiselled smooth and dainty ; Amid the blooms of Beautv she is Rose : The wide world no such lovely wonder shows ! Beyond all noble fortunes fortunate He'll be, who takes her to his happy bosom ; Well might he call his star glorious and great Whose lot it is to wear this heavenly blossom : Well may he make his peace thenceforth with Fate, And lightly bear whatever ills should cross him, Who clasps fair Nencia as his wedded wife, White as wild wax, and with love's honey rife ! VI. I'll liken thee to fairy cloudland gleams Which mix the welkin and the world together ; I92 NENCIA. I will compare thee unto Dian's beams Who round poor cabins sheds her silver weather ; Spring-water none so fresh and sparkling seems, Nor late-trod wine so luscious. Sweet one! whether Early or late we see thee, 'tis as neat And fair and wholesome as new-bolted wheat ! VII. Her eyes can steal a shepherd's soul away Through wall of flesh, whenever she doth look ; You see her, and you love, the selfsame day, Albeit the story goes her heart is rock ; Troops of tamed lovers her behests obey, And live upon her will, a patient flock : 'Tis little she can lose giving one glance, But, whoso wins it, how his heart doth dance ! VIII. La Ncncia mia ! Ah, the pearl she seems Going afoot, on Saints' Days, to hear matins ! She wears a bodice which right bravely gleams Of damask, and a skirt of brightest satins, A golden girdle clasps her waist, and streams Down to the knee with jewelled pins and patines ; NENCIA. 193 When she hath heard the Mass, and paceth home, How like a heavenly angel she doth come ! IX. She hath no fellow at the sheaf-tying, She works and laughs when all the rest are sped ; Or else at home her merry wheel, fast-flying, Spins ducats for her with its dancing thread : For whatso's deft and rich she will be trying, Woollen or silk ; and all the while her head Droops like a snow-drop when the neighbours, mustered, Praise her. She is as sweet as millet-custard ! x. Thou hast so witched me with thy braided brow I cannot ply my mattock as before ; For meat and drink I have no stomach now ; No morsel can I swallow any more : I grow so thin, the withered winter-bough Lets the blast through it with a sigh less sore : Nor day nor night repose or comfort bring*, I am so tied to thee by twenty strings. N i 94 NENCIA. XI. I am so wild with utter love of thee, All night I toss and groan and start and sigh ; The kindly gossips say, to comfort me, " Shepherd ! take heart ! thou'lt win her by- and-by." The village damsels jest because they see I go with cornamuse, where thou dost lie, At eve, and sing for love some little trifle, But thou dost sleep, or with hushed laughter stifle. XII. Last night I could not sleep a single wink, It seemed a thousand years ere dawn would break, Bethinking thou wouldst take thy flock to drink At daytime, and wouldst wend down to the lake ; So, not to miss one passing blessed blink Of those black eyes, I, for their sweet light's sake, Waited two hours against the bake-house close Till the full moon set and my Nencia rose. xm. My Nencia's beauty hath not any blot, She's stately, straight, and tall as wench can be ; NENCIA. 195 A dimple in her chin my love hath got, Which makes her bright laugh lovelier to see. There is no single charm she boasteth not ; I think dame Nature framed her purposely So fair, so fine, so noble, and so tender, That all the world might homage to her render. XIV. I culled a posy of snow-blossomed spray, With buds and berries gathered here and there, — It was for thee ; but thou didst turn away So grand ! not deigning answer, foul or fair. Then spake I to myself, " My love doth play The high and mighty ; I will match her here ! " And ofttimes since, albeit I turn mine eye, The folks may see how proud I pass them by. xv. Yesterday, all day long, I watched for thee Hard by the mill : I said : "If she comes now It cannot happen but my chance will be ; The beasts are safe, grazing upon the brow : We'll loiter by the kiln, Nencia and me ; We'll stroll together to the fountain, — thou 196 NENCIA. And thy Vallera, — under th' hiding vine ; I will tend thy flock and thou shalt herd mine ! " XVI. And when at last from your cot-door you came, Holding the hound from hurrying the sheep, My heart swelled in my breast, and shook my frame, While tears of joy down either cheek did creep : I started for the cross roads, all aflame, Quickening my calves and heifers up the steep : And waited on the knoll where thou shouldst pass, But at the by-path thou didst turn — alas ! XVII. When next thou comest with thy water-pot, Wend, I beseech thee, hither to our well ! I'll draw for thee, and make all toil forgot : Who knows but there will be something to tell ? Ofttimes I had a mind to hide it not When thou wert by, but fear always befell ; Yet, if this is to hap, why linger longer ? The chestnut's on the bough, the grapes grow stronger ! NENCIA. 197 XVIII. It was in April that my heart was caught, The day I saw thee plucking herbs and cresses ; I spake thee fair, but thou didst answer nought And frowned, because folks passed, tossing thy tresses ; To know thy name and house I vainly sought, Lest love be lost for what one word expresses ; And from that hour I was no more the same : I grew thy thrall ; thou hadst me, meek and tame. XIX. Nenciozza mice ! I have a mind to go — Now that my beasts are in the will to drink — Down to the pool, where thou must come, I know, And there to sit me still upon the brink, Till I shall spy thee cross. To loiter so Were pleasant, if it happen as I think. I'll stay like stone until my sweet hath passed ; Ah ! do not make my watching vain at last ! xx. Nenciozza mia! I go a' Saturday To sell two loads of wood in Florence-town ; I9 8 NENCIA. While the sleek heifers cropped the flowers away I set me yesterday to cut it down. Ah ! if thou'dst come, Dear !— But at least I may Bring- fardels for thee, buttons for thy gown, Powder, pomander, — not to beautify thee ! — Or pins, or needles : something let me buy thee ! XXI. ! Jove ! when she dances, what a step and skill What lightness ! like a kid's her quick feet fly ! She turns as swiftly as the sails of a mill, And marks the music, hand and foot and eye : And, when all's ended, courtesy low she will And take two backward steps, so gracefully ! She makes the very prettiest salute, There's not in Florence any dame could do't ! XXII. Ask me, Dear ! some small trifle from the fair ! What shall I fetch thee, what slight dainty thing ? A brooch of carved shell for my love to wear ? Or hooks and eyes, or buckles, or silk strings ? A broidered gipsire for thy kirtle, Dear ! Or lace to tie thy lappets, shall I bring ? NENCIA. 199 Or wilt thou choose, to bind thy bodice close, A cord of sky-blue silk ? or none of those XXIII. But a long necklace for thy milky throat, Strung with round coral beads of rosy pink, All with a cross to swing midway ; and, note, They make them great and small ! which dost thou think The prettier ? if my blood could drop, God wot ! Round ruddy beads to please thee, 'twould not shrink ! So, if I find thy fancy, hold it thine, Though I should pawn this jacket, Nencia mine ! XXIV. If thou shouldst say, when Sieve rolls at flood, " Fling thyself in ! " I'd headlong leap straightway ! If thou shouldst bid so end my life, I would Dash head against a rock, and die that way ! Command me any deed that seemeth good In those dear eyes and I shall straight obey. I know some promise thus abundantly Who would not spoil a pair of shoes for thee. 200 NENCIA. XXV. Yea ! and I know — my ISTencia ! my heart's treasure ! There's some one whispers thee in my despite : Let him beware ! I'll give him market measure ; Six inches in his midriff, sharp and bright ! Thou'st seen the knife I wear ! Dio ! 'tis pleasure To mark it do its work at feast or fight ! If in my quarters it finds any man, By God ! the steel shall make him skip a span ! XXVI. Oh, me ! a lass like this white maid of mine, So honey-sweet and winning, ne'er was seen ! She's lusty, large, and fresh ; and still so fine, So fair and graceful, — of all feasts the queen. But yet that mirth and modesty combine To keep her ever all she should have been ; And how her singing all the feast enhances ! And, dancing, how all dancers she outdances ! XX VII. I too know something ! — with the best I'd vie If, Xencia ! I dared open all my heart : NENCIA. 201 There is no better judge porklings to buy ; I shine at plough and harrow, spade and cart : When, stripped, I tie my seed-bag on, or ply The axe, they say, " What a stout wight thou art ! " The mattock and the pick I wield like thunder, And blow the horn and cow-pipes till you wonder. xxvm. But Thou, but thou ! Ah, none is like to thee ! A well-scrubbed kneading-trough is not so white ! As syrup draws the flies thou drawest me ; As figs tempt wasps so art thou my delight ; Richer than rape-blooms, sweet as what the bee Sucks from their gold thou art ! Oh, if I might One kiss of honey from that red mouth rifle, New goat's cheese after such would seem a trifle. XXIX. I've waited all this while for thee to pass, Musing my love where the quick waters shine ; My beasts have grazed off every bite of grass, I must not tarry, or the fools will pine : What doest, Nencia ! not to come ? Alas ! I looked to see thy wandering charge and mine 202 NENCIA. Mix in the willows, then 'twere one hour's gain To let them seem one flock, though we be twain ! xxx. Ncnciozza mia ! 'tis time for me to go ! My yearlings must be tethered in the stall, God be with thee ! I send fond farewell so — Far off; for Mona Masa loud doth call. My heart stays here ! have pity ! let me know Thou giv'st me back some tittle, if not all, Of thine. Good-bye ! Good-night ! la huona sera ! Sleep soft, and think kind things of thy Vallera ! XXXI. Ncncia ! Ncnciozza ! one day say you will Climb the hill with me through the willows here! Promise ! say, " Yes, I'll come ! " and fear no ill, Ncnciozza mia ! I'll deserve thee, Dear ! Ncncia ! I love thee so ; my love is still So great and true, I'd die to bring thee cheer ! If thou wert stung by some beast fell and frightful, I'd suck the poison, and think death delightful ! NENCIA. 203 XXXII. Or we might meet farther away, where yonder The sun's eye doth not shine in the green gloom ; Don't say " you could not answer ! " do not ponder If we should hear them when they called from home : But come, and lift thy hood, and let the wonder Of thy dark lovely eyes gleam on me ! Come ! Eyes which befit thy beauteous breast and brow Being angelic, and an angel thou. XXXIII. Cava Nenciozza mice ! I hear the bleating One of thv flock makes in the close below, Some wolf, maybe, is there — killing and eating, With deadly jaws, thy lambkin. Nay, 'tis so ! Wilt thou not take thy staff — wilt thou not? sweeting ! And with me in the lonely valley go, To strike the caitiff dead ? I'll be with thee ! But all the folk shall say : " She killed him ! She ! " xxxiv. Ah, come ! I know a nest of speckled thrushes Ready to fly ; the prettiest feathered thing ! 204 NENCIA. Tis hid away in a thick clump of bushes, There are no caged birds that so sweetly sing ! To-morrow I will show you, for time pushes, If thou'dst rear one ; and then, Dear ! I will bring An oaten cake ; while — for a good excuse — I shall pass, playing on my cornamuse. xxxv. Nenciozza mia ! I shall not seem a clown AVhen I get home my broidered vest to wear, And lace my shoes, and tie my long hair down, You'll take me for a sleek, rich townsman, Dear ! Just now I know I'm rough about the crown, The barber asks too much my locks to shear And curl, but if my marketing goes fairly I will be barbered properly and rarely. XXXVI. Farewell ! my Lily with the lovely bloom ! I see the beasts are breaking for the wheat ; To-morrow, Nencia ! when again I come, I'll bring you wild wood strawberries — if they're sweet — NENCIA. 205 So, when you hear my cornamusa boom, Trip to the spot we wot, where the roads meet, At corner of the orchard. I can find Dittany there for thee, if thou'st a mind ! xxxvn. I asked thee of thy father — dost thou know ? Old Beco droned me out some doubtful word, And, taking counsel of thy mother so, Gave me to understand I'm not preferred ; Yet look for me to come — ('less thou say'st " no" — ) With such a band some day to catch my bird That none shall let. I've told father and mother Thee I will have for wife, and never other ! XXXVIII. Oh, when I see thee compassed round with folk, Something inside me seems to boil and swim ; But if one makes thee eyes, ah, I could choke, My heart leaps up my throat to come at him ! Alas ! poor heart ! by this 'twere burst and broke, So full of thee it is ; full to the brim ! But that its thousand sighs, each one an anguish, Fly all day long to thee, saying " I languish ! " 206 NENCIA. XXXIX. Ncnciozza ! Come at dinner-time ! we'll eat Salads together, and, it may be, cheese : Be sure you keep your word to come, my sweet ! But so that no accursed gossip sees. I bear my weapons, Dear ! if we did meet Some of old Beco's crew under the trees There'd be wild words — I know — and blood, mav be : — The Devil flay them, if they flout at me ! XL. I talk too fierce ! Ah, Nencia ! — when she goes, On feast-days, what a pearl of grace she seems ! Smooth, white, and clean, and neat from top to toes : A little ring on each midfinger gleams. For she hath store of trinkets, and bestows So trimly here and there her beauty's beams. Pearls too — fine pearls — my love wears ! Not the best Can anywhere compare with Nencia dressed ! XLI. Ah, Nencia ! didst thou know the love immense, The burning love I bear for those bright eyes, NENCIA. 207 The tears I pour, the grievous woe intense That seems to crack and rend me with deep sighs ; If thou knewedst this, and all — thy gentle sense Would melt — thou wouldst all lesser love despise, And cry, " My poor Vallera ! thou art he That lov'st me most, thou shalt not woful be ! " XLII. I marked thee, Nencia ! tripping home that day From Santo — oh, so splendid ! I was dazed. Thou hadst a mind to take the meadow way And slipped adown where Beco's asses grazed. I hid myself; quoth I, " Meet now we may ! " Then while you singing tripped, I, breathless, gazed ; And so drew closer; but ere this could pass You spied me, and you turned aside, alas ! XLIII. Nenciozza mia ! it made me dumb with pleasure To see thy rose-fair face even thus near : If I could once more come so nigh my treasure I'd live upon such joy a whole long year ! 2oS NENCIA. If I could speak thee forth my love's full measure Meseems my life's luck would be perfect, Dear ! If iu my grasp that dear hand I could hold, I'd not unclasp, to get mine filled with gold ! XLIV. I'm here ! but Nencia does not come, nor wake : Nencia ! why art thou such a slug-a-bed ? Thou hearest me ; thou know'st that for thy sake I blow this cornamuse ; why art thou hid ? Thou wert not wont such heavy sleep to take ! Pleaseth no more the music, as it did ? All day I conned this gentle strain to sing thee, I meant it for a charm would surely bring thee. XLV. heart too hard ! what maiden would not render Love to a lover loving her like me ? Who else would melt not, and wax honey- tender Seeing me suffer thus ? Ah, Xencia ! see ! Thou knowest I am so faithful ; must it end here The pain which should be crowned with joy by thee? NENCIA. 209 All, yield a little ! one kind thought discover, Then deal with me as pitchforks do with clover ! XL VI. Nay, when one speaks of forks, how deft she is ! There's no such nimble worker in the land ; She weaves a hat of straw that way and this, "With knots and ends so dexterously planned, You never saw such skill ! the neighbours press, To see the plaits obey her cunning hand. She can make osier-pots, and baskets, too, And what the best doth, that will Nencia do. XLVII. Nencia ! ah, Nencia ! I do love thee so ! As the poor moth the flame which crisps his wings ; Ah mice Nenciozza ! seeking thee I go As flies to honey, when the sweetness brings Death. Must I die ? Then shine, dear Lantern ! oh, Shed sweet death, Honey ! But if better things Await me, then, kind Love ! be this now said Before the chestnuts fall and grapes grow red. o 2IO NENCIA. XLVIII. Peace, poor Vallera ! peace, thou foolish youth ! Wasted thy song is, and thy sorrow vain ! It seemed she liked me once, but now, in sooth, She likes me not, I see : therefore sharp pain Rives me and drives me, sobbing : for no ruth My love will show, and these hot tears again Tell to what anguish I am led, alas ! Who shake with passion, if she only pass. XL1X. Nencia ! Ncnciozza ! thou wilt be my death ! Yet so to see me die can please thee not. Ah, would to God that I could keep my breath Whilst I drew forth my heart, and laid it hot Upon thy hand, to hear how its beat saith, " Nencia ! Ncnciozza!" — and to witness what A load it bears ! But, if thou didst so take My heart in hand, 'twould sigh, "Keep me! "and break ! L. Good-bye ! Ncnciozza ! Heaven have guard of thee ! The weary beasts are to their homestead near ; NENCIA. 211 I must not have, for anv fault of me, Some heifer left lowing outside her lair ; The last one now will o'er the river be. (Yea ! yea ! Madonna Masa ! I can hear ! I come !) Farewell, cold Love ! She calls again, There's Nanni bustling, and the wine to strain ! Zbc Stratforfc flMlortms. " All ! the troop at the Tabard Inn, Manciple, Miller, and Frankelyn, Tightening the girths, and draining the ale, And away on their wild ride by river and dale ! Gone, Dan Chaucer ! gone, but for thee Is the clatter of that gay companie, The rattle and ring of stirrup and spur, Floating of plume, and folding of fur, With the round of tales that held from town To the sweet green slopes of the broad South Down. Certes ! with such it were pleasant indeed To patter an Ave, or finger a bead, And forth each dawn by the cock to wend From shrine to shrine unto Albion's end ; But their day is done, and their course is run, None goeth forth on a pilgrimage — none ! " THE STRATFORD PILGRIMS. 213 " Well ! but the woods are as green as then, And the sunshine as splendid on grey rock and glen; The linnet and missel-thrush sing, I trow, With as rich a trill in their little throats now ; Rivers will ripple, and beech-boughs wave, And the meadows be decked in a dress as brave, And the great glad sky build a roof as blue, Tho' it overarch only pilgrims two. Sweetheart, come ! let us do as they Did in old time on as fair a day : We lack but a chapel whereunto to wend, A shrine and a saint for our journey's end ; And of that gay ride — the shrine, God wot, Is the dusty goal that I envy them not." " Nay, pardie ! " quoth she that I love, " Fit for thy mood as the hand for the glove, Or the hilt of his sword for the soldier's fist, Or a poet to be praised, or a lip to be kissed, Far on yon path, by the emerald lea, Fair Avon glideth adown to the sea ; By the walls of a church, beneath whose stones Sleeps dust sacred as saintly bones, — His whom thou lovest." 214 TH E STRATFORD PILGRIM?. " Right good ! " I said, And forth a foot to the lea I led, With staff and scrip and a spirit in tune To the merry noise of a midsummer noon : — Two we were of one heart and age Going a pious pilgrimage. Sooth ! I doubt if palmers as gay Ever set forth on so fair a way. Sooth ! I doubt if a day so rare Ever made pilgrimage half so fair. But, certes ! never did palmers go To holier shrine than where he lies low, Who miracles wrought for heart and eye : The wonder of Imogen's constancv, The airy marvels of Prospero's isle, The magic of Queen Cleopatra's smile; Her barge that burned on the glowing water, The patience and faith of Lear's leal daughter, The Roman Portia's fond, firm heart, And the Veronese lovers death did not part. Something I laughed, Heav'n 'ield it me, At Beckett and Benedict saints, — not he ! So came we on where the wayfarer sees VERNIER. 215 Red Warwick fading behind the trees, And Guy's great castle beside the town, That " setter up," and that " puller down." For " Stratford — ho ! " our green road lay, And I spake, with my heart in the ancient day ; " Sweet ! thou art fair for a prioresse, And I am an ' Osenforde clerke,' no less ; Tell out some fable of olden time ! I rede you to prove by line or rhyme, That woman was true ! " — ■" Benedicite ! " " Hearken my story and judge," quoth she. VERNIER. If ever thou shalt follow silver Seine Through his French vineyards and French villages, For love of love and pity turn aside At Vernier, and bear to linger there ! The gentle river doth so — lingering long- Round the dark marshland, and the pool Grand'mer, And then with slower ripple steals away Down from his merry Paris. Do thou this ; 'Tis kind to keep a memory of the dead, — The bygone, silent dead ; and these lie there, Buried a twenty fathoms in the pool, 2i6 THE STRATFORD PILGRIMS. Whose rough cold wave is closed above their grave, Like the black cover of an ancient book Over a tearful story. Very lovely Was Julie de Montargis : even now — After six hundred years are dead with her, Her village name — the name a stranger hears — Is, " La plus belle des belles; " — they tell him yet. The glossy night-black pansies of the land Lost depth in her dark hair ; and that she owned The noble Norman eye — the violet eye, Almost — so far and fine its lashes drooped — Darkened to purple : All the country-folk Went lightly to their work at sight of her ; And all their children learned a grace by heart, And said it with small lips when she went by, The Lady of the Castle. Dear past words Was all this beauty and this gentleness Unto her first love and her playfellow, Roland le Vavasour. Too dear to leave. Save that his knightly vow to pluck a palm. VERNIER. 217 And bear the cross broidered above Lis heart, To where upon the cross Christ died for him, Led him away from loving. But a year, And they shall meet — alas ! to those who joy, It is a pleasant season, all too short, Made of white winter and of golden spring, With autumn fruitage after summer-nights : CD O But parted lovers count the minutes up, And see no sunshine. Julie heeded none, When she had belted on her Roland's sword, Buckled his breastplate, and upon her lip Taken his last long kisses. Listen now ! She was no light-o'-love, to change and change, And, deeply written on her heart, she kept The night and hour the star of Love should see A true love-meeting. Walking by the pool, Many a time she longed to wear a wing, As fleet and white as the swift sea-bird spread, That she might hover over Roland's sails, Follow him to the field, and in the battle Shield the hot Syrian sun from dazing him : 2 i8 THE STRATFORD PILGRIMS. Higli on the turret many an autumn eve, When the wise, wandering swallow tried his plumes For foreign flight, she gave him messages, — Fond messages of love, for Palestine, Unto her knight. What wonder, loving so, She greeted well the brother that he sent From Ascalon with spoils — Claude Vavasour ? Could she do less ? — he had so deft a hand Upon the mandolin, and sang so well What Roland did so bravely ; nay, in sooth, She had not heart to frown upon his songs, When they sang other love and other deeds Than Roland's, being brother to her lord. Yet sometimes was she grave and sad of eye, For knowledge of the spell her glance could work Upon its watcher. Ah ! he came to serve, And stayed to love her ; and she knew it soon, Past all concealment. Oftentimes his eyes, Fastened upon her face, fell suddenly, For brother-love and shame ; but, once and twice, Julie had seen them, through her tender tears, Fixed on some messenger from Holy Land With wild significance, the drawn white lips Working for grief, because she smiled again. VERNIER. 219 He spake no love— lie breathed no passionate tale, Till there came one who told how Roland's sword, From heel to point, dripped with the Paynim blood ; How Ascalon had watched, and Joppa's lists, And Gaza, and Nicsea's noble fight, His chivalry : and how, with palm-branch won, Brinsrinsr his honours and his wounds a-front, His prow was cleaving Genoa's sapphire sea, Bound homewards. Then, the last day of the year, Claude brought his unused charger to the gate, Sprang to the broad strong back, and reined its rage Into a marble stillness. Yet more still, Young Claude le Vavasour, thy visage was, More marble- white. She stood to see him pass, And their eyes met ; and, full of tears were hers To mark his suffering ; and she called bis name, And came below the gate ; but he bowed low, And thrust the vizor close over his face, So riding on. Before St. Ouen's shrine That night the lady watched — a sombre night, With fleeting beams of fitful moonlight sent 'Twixt driving clouds ; the grey stone statues gleamed 220 THE STRATFORD PILGRIMS. Through the gloom ghost-like ; the still effigies Of knight and abbess had a show of life, Lit by pale crimsons and faint amethysts That fell along them from the oriels ; And if she broke the silence with a step, It seemed the echo lent them speech again To speak in ghostly whispers ; while, o'er all, With a weird paleness midnight might not hide, Straight from the wall St. Ouen looked upon her, Knitting his granite brows, bidding her hope No lover's kiss that night — no loving kiss — None — though there came the whisper of her name, And a chill sleety blast of wintry wind Moaning about the tombs, and striking her, For fear, down to her knees. That opened porch Brought more than wind and whisper; there were steps, And the dim wave of a white gaberdine — Horribly dim; and then the voice again, As though the dead called Julie. Was it dead, That form which, at the holy altar foot, Stood spectral in the flickering window-lights ? It does not turn, nor speak, nor seek for her, VERNIER. 221 But passes thro' the chancel, grim and still ! Ah, Holy Mother ! dead — and in its hand The pennon of Sir Roland, and the palm, Both laid so stilly on the altar front ; A presence like a knight, clad in close mail From spur to crest, yet from his armed heel No footfall ; a white face, white as the stones, Lit by the moonlight long enough to know How the dead kept his tryst ; and It was gone, Leaving the lady on the flags, ice-cold. Oh, gentle River ! thou that knowest all, Tell them how for a while she mourned her Knight ; How her grief withered all the rose-bloom off, And wrote its record on her fading cheek ; And say, bright River ! lest they do her wrong, All the sad story of those twenty moons, The true-love dead — the true-love that lived on — Her clinging memories, and Claude's generous praise, Claude's silent service, and her tearful thanks ; And ask them, River, for Saint Charity, To think not too much wrong, that so she gave, 222 THE STRATFORD PILGRIMS. Her heart being given and gone, her hand to him, The Brother of her Lord. — Now banish care ! Soothe it with flutings, startle it with drums ! Trick it with gold and velvets, till it glow Into a seeming pleasure. Ah, vain! vain ! When the bride weeps, what wedding-gear is gay? And since the dawn she weeps — at orisons She wept — and while her women clasped the zone, Among its jewels fell her mocking tears. Now at the altar all her answers siu - h : Wilt thou ? — Ah ! fearful altar-memories — Ah ! spirit-lover — if he saw me now ! Wilt thou ? — " Oh me ! if that he saw me now ! " He doth, he doth ! beneath St. Ouen there, As white and still — yon monk whose cowl is back ! Wilt thou? — "Ah, dear love, listen and look up." He doth — ah God ! with hollow eyes a-fire. Wilt thou ? — pale quivering lips, pale bloodless lips— " I will not — never — never — Roland — never ! " So went the bride a-swoon to Vernier ; So doffed each guest his silken braveries ; So followed Claude, heart-stricken and amazed, VERNIER. 22; And left the Chapel. But the monk left last, And down the hill-side, swift and straight and lone, Sandals and brown serge brushed the yellow broom, Till to the lake he came and loosed his skiff, And paddled to the lonely island-cell Midway over the wavelets. Long ago The people of the lonely water knew He came alone to dwell there — 'twas the night Of Lady Julie's vigil ; ever since The simple fishers left their silver tithe Of lake-fish for him on the wave- worn flags, Wherefrom he wandered not, save when that day He went unasked, and marred the bridal show, — Wherefore none knew, nor how, — save two alone, A lady swooning — and a monk at prayers. And now not Castle-gates, nor cell, nor swoon, Nor splashing waters, nor the flooded marsh, Can keep these two apart. The Chapel-bells King Angelus and Even-song, and then Sleep, like her waiting maidens — only Blanche, Her foster-sister, lying at the gate, Dreaming of roving spirits — starts at one, And marvels at the night-gear, scantly hid, 2 2 4 THE STRATFORD PILGRIMS. And, overdone with pity at her plaint, Lets her dear Lady forth, and watches her Gleaming from crag to crag — but lost at last, A white speck on the night. More watchful eyes Follow her flying ; — down the water-path, Mad at his broken bridals, sore amazed With fear and pain, Claude tracks the wanderer — Waits, while the wild white fingers loose the cord- But when she drove the shallop through the lake Straight for the island-cell, he brooked no stay, But doffed his steel-coat on the reedy rim, And gave himself to the quick-plashing pool, And swimming in the foam her fleetness made, Strove after — sometimes losing his white guide, Down-sinking in the dark wash of the waves. Together to the island-cell they come, The shallop and the swimmer — she alone Thrusts at the wicket, — enters wet and wild. What sees he there under the crucifix ? What holds his eyesight to the ivied loop ? Oh, Claude ! — oh furious heart ! be still, or break ! The Monk and Julie kneeling, not at prayer ! VERNIER. 225 She kisses him with warm, wild, eager lips — Weeps on his heart — that woman, nearly wived, And "Sweetest love," she saith, "I thought thee dead." And he — who is he that he fondles so In his her shaking hands, and bends adown, Crying, " Ah, my lost love ! it was no ghost That left the palm-branch ; but I saw thee not In the dim moonlight of the midnight aisle ; And heard their talk of Claude, and held thee false, These many erring days." Now, gaze no more, Claude, Claude, for thy soul's peace ! She binds the brand About his gaberdine, with close caress ; She fondles the thin neck, and clasps thereon The gorget ! then the breast-piece and the helm Her quick touch fastens. " Come away," she cries, " Thou Knight, and take me from them all for thine. Come, true-love ! come." The pebbles, water-washed, Grate with the gliding of the shallop's keel, Scarce bearing up those twain. Frail boat, be strong ! Three lives are thine to keep — ah, Lady pale, Choose of two lovers — for the other comes With a wild bound that shakes the rotten plank. 226 THE STRATFORD PILGRIMS. Moon ! shine out clear for Claude's avenging blow ! She glitters on a quiet face and form That shuns it not, — yet stays the lifted death. " My brother Roland ! " — " Claude, ah, brother mine ! " — " I thought thee dead ! " — " I would that I had died Ere this had come!" — "Just God ! but she is thine V" — " He wills her not for either ! look, we fill. The current drifts us, and the oars are gone, I will leap forth ! " — " Now by the breast we sucked, So shalt thou not : let the black waters break Over a broken heart ! " — " Nay, tell him no ; Bid him to save thee, Julie— I will leap ! " So strove they sinking, sinking — Julie bending Between them ; and those brothers over her With knees and arms close locked for leave to die Each for the other ; — while the Moon shone down, Silvering their far-off home, and the black wave That struck, and rose, and floated over them, Hushing their death-cries, hiding their kind strife, Ending the love of those great troubled hearts With silence, save for lapping of the lake. KING SALADIN. 227 " Verily ! " spake I, " a troubled clarne ! Sweet ! grand' merci for this same ! Tender arid sad is the chronicle That Vernier taught thee featly to tell ! Tenderer, fairer its lessons seem From lips which speak and eyes which beam So true a truth, and so fast a faith, Oh Love, whom I love for life and for death ! — But thou in thy turn have heed to me; I know a story of constancy Where woman was changeful, and man was true : Peradventure, Kate ! I shall tell it through Before we come where Shakespeare's bones Make holy walking of Stratford stones ! " Nay, but recount ! " she softly said, Doubtfully tossing a wilful head : And hand in hand, in the shade of the limes, I told this tale of the Saracen times. KING SALADIN. Long years ago — so writes Boccaccio In such Italian gentleness of speech As finds no echo in this northern air 228 THE STRATFORD PILGRIMS. To counterpart its music — long ago, When Saladin was Solclan of the East, The kings let cry a general crusade ; And to the trysting-plains of Lombardy The idle lances of the North and West Rode all that spring, as all the spring runs down Into a lake, from all its hano'insf hills, The clash and glitter of a hundred streams. Whereof the rumour reached to Saladin ; And that swart king — as royal in his heart As any crowned champion of the Cross — That he might fully, of his knowledge, learn The purjDose of the lords of Christendom, And when their war and what their armament, Took thought to cross the seas to Lombardy. Wherefore, with wise and trustful Amirs twain, All habited in garbs that merchants use, With trader's band and gipsire on the breasts Which best loved mail and dagger, Saladin Set forth upon his journey perilous. In that day, lordly land was Lombardy ! A sea of country-plenty, islanded With cities rich ; nor richer one than thou, Marble Milano ! from whose gate at dawn — KING SALADIN. 229 With ear that little recked the matin-bell, l 3 But a keen eye to measure wall and fosse — The Sold an rode ; and all day long he rode For Pavia ; passing basilic, and shrine, And gaze of vineyard-workers, wotting not Yon trader was the Lord of Heathenesse. All day he rode ; yet at the wane of day No gleam of gate, or ramp, or rising spire, Nor Tessin's sparkle underneath the stars Promised him Pavia ; but he was 'ware Of a gay company upon the way, Ladies and lords, with horses, hawks, and hounds ; Cap-plumes and tresses fluttered by the wind Of merry race for home. " Go !" said the king To one that rode upon his better hand, " And pray these gentles of their courtesy How many leagues to Pavia, and the gates What hour they close them ? ' : Then the Saracen Set spur, and being joined to him that seemed First of the hunt, he told the message — they Checking their jangling bits, and chiding down The unfinished laugh, to listen — but by this Came up the king, his bonnet in his hand, Theirs doffed to him : " Sir Trader," Torel said 230 THE STRATFORD PILGRIMS. (Messer Torello 'twas, of Istria), " They shut the Pavian gate at even- song, And even-song is sung." Then, turning half, Muttered, " Pardie, the man is worshipful, A stranger too !" " Fair lord !" quoth Saladin, " Please you to stead some weary travellers, Saying where we may lodge, the town so far And night so near." " Of my heart, willingly," Made answer Torel, " I did think but now To send my knave an errand — he shall ride And bring you into lodgment — oh ! no thanks, Our Lady keep you ! " then with whispered hest He called their guide and sped them. Being gone, Torello told his purpose, and the band, With ready zeal and loosened bridle chains, Rode for his hunting-palace, where they set A goodly banquet underneath the planes, And hung the house with gnest-lights, and anon Welcomed those wondering strangers, thereto led Unwitting, by a world of winding paths ; Messer Torello, at the inner gate, Waiting to take them in — a winsome host, Stamped current with God's image for a man Chief among men, truthful, and just, and free. KING SALADIN. 231 There he, " Well met again, fair sirs ! Our knave Hath found you shelter better than the worst : Please you to leave your selles, and being bathed, Grace our poor supper here." Then Saladin, Whose sword had yielded ere his courtesy, Answered, " Great thanks, Sir Knight, and this much blame, You spoil us for our trade ! two bonnets doffed, And travellers' questions holding you afield, For such you give us this." " Sir ! not your meed, Nor worthy of your breeding ; but in sooth That is not out of Pa via." Thereupon He led them to fair chambers decked with all Makes tired men glad ; lights, and the marble bath, And flasks that sparkled, liquid amethyst, And grapes, not dry as yet from evening dew. Thereafter at the supper-board they sat ; Nor lacked it, though its guest was reared a king, Worth provend in crafts of cookery, Pastel, pasticcio — all set forth on gold; And gracious talk and pleasant courtesies, Spoken in stately Latin, cheated time Till there was none but held that stranger-sir, For all his chapman's dress of cramasie, 232 THE STRATFORD PILGRIMS. Goodlier than silks could make him. Presently Talk rose upon the Holy Sepulchre : " I go myself," said Torel, " with a score Of better knights — the flower of Pavia — To try our steel against King Saladin's. Sirs ! ye have seen the countries of the Sun, Know you the Soldan ? " Answer gave the king, " The Soldan we have seen — 'twill push him hard If, which I nothing doubt, you Pavian lords Are valorous as gentle ; — we, alas ! Be Cyprus merchants making trade to France — Dull sons of Peace." " By Mary ! " Torel cried, " But for thy word, I ne'er heard speech so fit To lead the war, nor saw a hand that sat Liker a soldier's where thy sword should be ; But sure I hold ye sleepless ! " Then himself Playing the chamberlain, with torches borne, Led them to restful beds, commending them To sleep and God, Who hears — Allah or God — "When good men do His creatures charities. At dawn the cock, and neigh of saddled steeds, Broke the king's dreams of battle — not their own, But goodly jennets from Torello's stalls, Caparisoned to bear them ; he their host KING SALADIN. 233 Up, with a gracious radiance like the sun, To bid them speed. Beside him in the court Stood Dame Adalieta ; comely she, And of her port as queenly, and serene As if the braided gold about her brows Had been a crown. Mutual good-morrow given, Thanks said and stayed, the lady prayed her guest To take a token of his sojourn there, Marking her good-will, not his worthiness ; " A grown of miniver — these furbelows Are silk I spun — my lord wears ever such — A housewife's thought ! but those ye love are far ; Wear it as given for them." Then Saladin — " A precious gift, Madonna, past my thanks ; And — but thou shalt not hear a ' no ' from me — Past my receiving ; yet I take it ; we Were debtors to your noble courtesy Out of redemption — this but bankrupts us." " Nay, sir, — God shield you ! " said the knight and dame : And Saladin, with phrase of gentilesse Returned, or ever that he rode alone, Swore a great oath in guttural Arabic, An oath by Allah — startling up the ears 234 THE STRATFORD PILGRIMS. Of those three Christian cattle they bestrode- That never yet was princelier-natured man, Nor gentler lady ; — and that time should see For a king's lodging quittance royal repaid. It was the day of the Passaggio : Ashore the war-steeds champed the burnished bits ; Afloat the galleys tugged the mooring chains : The town was out ; the Lombard armourers — Red-hot with riveting the helmets up, And whetting axes for the heathen heads — Cooled in the crowd which filled the squares and streets To speed God's soldiers. At the nones that day Messer Torello to the gate came down, Leading his lady ; — sorrow's hueless rose Grew on her cheek, and thrice the destrier Struck fire, impatient, from the pavement-squares, Or ere she spoke, tears in her lifted eyes, " Goest thou, lord of mine ? " " Madonna, yes ! " Said Torel, " for my soul's weal and the Lord Ride I to-day : my good name and my house KING SALADIN. 235 Reliant I intrust thee, and — because It may be they shall slay me, and because, Being so young, so fair, and so reputed, The noblest will entreat thee — wait for me, Widow or wife, a year, and month, and day ; Then, if thy kinsmen press thee to a choice, And if I be not come, hold me for dead ; Nor link thy blooming beauty with the grave Against thy heart." " Good my lord ! " answered she, " Hardly my heart sustains to let thee go ; Thy memory it can keep, and keep it will, Though my one love, Torel of Istria, Live, or " " Sweet, comfort thee ! San Pietro speed ! I shall come home : if not, and worthy knees Bend for this hand, whereof none worthy lives, Least he who lays his last kiss thus upon it, Look thee, I free it " " Nay ! " she said, " but I, A petulant slave that hugs her golden chain, Give that gift back, and with it this poor ring : Set it upon thy sword-hand, and in fight Be merciful and win, thinking of me." Then she, with pretty action, drawing on 2*6 THE STRATFORD PILGRIMS. j Her ruby, buckled over it his glove — The great steel glove — and through the helmet bars Took her last kiss ; — so let the chafing steed Have its hot will and go. But Saladin, Safe back among his lords at Lebanon, Well wotting of their quest, awaited it, And held the Crescent up against the Cross. In many a doughty fight Ferrara blades Clashed with keen Damasc, many a weary month Wasted afield ; but yet the Christians Won nothing nearer to Christ's sepulchre ; Nay, but gave ground. At last, in Acre pent, On their loose files, enfeebled by the war, Came stronger smiter than the Saracen — The deadly Pest : day after day they died, Pikeman and knight-at-arms ; day after day A thinner line upon the leaguered wall Held off the heathen : — held them off a space ; Then, over-weakened, yielded, and gave up The city and the stricken garrison. So to sad chains and hateful servitude Fell all those purple lords — Christendom's stars, Once high in hope as soaring Lucifer, KING SALADIN. 237 Now low as sinking Hesper: with them fell Messer Torello — never one so poor Of all the hundreds that his bounty fed As he in prison — ill-entreated, bound, Starved of sweet light, and set to shameful tasks ; And that great load at heart to know the days Fast flying, and to live accounted dead. One joy his gaolers left him, — his good hawk ; The brave, gay bird that crossed the seas with him : And often, in the mindful hour of eve, With tameless eye and spirit masterful, In a feigned anger checking at his hand, The good grey falcon made his master cheer. One day it chanced Saladin rode afield With shawled and turban ed Amirs, and his hawks — Lebanon-bred, and mewed as princes lodge — Flew foul, forgot their feather, hung at wrist, And slighted call. The Sol dan, quick in wrath, Bade slay the cravens, scourge the falconer, And seek some wight who knew the heart of hawks, To keep it hot and true. Then spake a Sheikh — " There is a Frank in prison by the sea, Far seen herein." " Give word that he be brought," 238 THE STRATFORD PILGRIMS. Quoth Saladin, " and bid him set a cast : If he hath skill, it shall go well for him." Thus, by the winding path of circumstance, One palace held, as prisoner and prince, Torello and his guest : unwitting each, Nay and unwitting, though they met and spake Of that goshawk and this — signors in serge, And chapmen crowned, who knows ? — till on a time Some trick of face, the manner of some smile, Some gleam of sunset from the glad days gone, Caught the king's eye, and held it. " Nazarene ! What native art thou ? " asked he. " Lombard I, A man of Pavia." " And thy name ? " " Torel, Messer Torello called in happier times, Now best uncalled." " Come hither, Christian ! " The Soldan said, and led the way, by court And hall and fountain, to an inner room llich with king's robes : therefrom he reached a gown, And " Know'st thou this ? " he asked. " High lord ! I might Elsewhere," quoth Torel, " here 'twere mad to say Yon gown my wife unto a trader gave "Who shared our board." " Nay, but that gown is this, KING SALADIN. 239 Aud slie the giver, and the trader I." Quoth Saladiu ; "I ! twice a king to-day. Owing a royal debt and paying it." Then Tore!, sort aa i. " Great lord, I blush, riemeinberini]: how the Master of the East Lodged sorrily." " It's Master's Master thou!" , e answer Saladiu, " come in and see What wares the Cyprus traders keep at home ; Come forth and take thy plact . Saladin's friend ! Therewith into the circle of hi:- I "With gracious mien tut Soldan led his sla> And while the dark eye- _ .red. seated him First of the full divan. " Orient lords," So spake he. — " le: the one who loves his king Honour this Frank, whose house sheltered your kino He is my ] her:" then 1 Lght-black beards Swept the stone floor in ready revt A gas and Amirs welcoming Torel : - was £ . the Soldan's friend rbedj upon the S s hand, Shining, the bright star of the banqueters. 2 4 o THE STRATFORD PILGRIMS. All which, and the abounding grace and love Shown him by Saladin, a little held The heart of Torel from its Lombard home With Dame Adalieta : but it chanced He sat beside the king in audience, And there came one who said, " Oh, Lord of lords, That galley of the Genovese which sailed With Frankish prisoners is gone down at sea." "Gone down!" cried Torel. "Ay! what recks it, friend, To fall thy visage for ? " quoth Saladin ; " One galley less to ship-stuffed Genoa ! " " Good my liege ! " Torel said, " it bore a scroll Inscribed to Pavia, saying that I lived ; For in a year, a month, and day, not come, I bade them hold me dead ; and dead I am, Albeit living, if my lady wed ; Perchance constrained." " Certes," spake Saladin, " A noble dame — the like not won, once lost — How many days remain ? " " Ten days, my prince, And twelvescore leagues between mv heart and me : Alas ! how to be passed ? " Then Saladin — " Lo ! I am loath to lose thee — wilt thou swear To come again if all go well with thee, KING SALADIN. 241 Or come ill speeding ? " " Yea, I swear, my king, Out of true love," quoth Torel, " heartfully." Then Saladin, " Take here my signet-seal ; My admiral will loose his swiftest sail Upon its sight ; and cleave the seas, and go And clip thy dame, and say the Trader sends A gift, remindful of her courtesies." Passed were the year, and month, and day ; and passed Out of all hearts but one Sir Torel's name, Long given for dead by ransomed Pavians : For Pavia, thoughtless of her Eastern graves, A lovely widow, much too gay for grief, Made peals from half a hundred campaniles To ring a wedding in. The seven bells Of Santo Pietro, from the nones to noon, Boomed with bronze throats the happy tidings out ; Till the great tenor, overswelled with sound, Cracked itself dumb. Thereat the sacristan, Leading his swinked ringers down the stairs, Came blinking into sunlight — all his keys Jingling their little peal about his belt — Whom, as he tarried, locking up the porch, A foreign signor, browned with southern suns, Q 244 THE STRATFORD PILGRIMS. But of a truth, Torel Eead the thoughts right that held her eyelids down, And knew her loyal to her memories. Then to a little page who bore the wine, He spake, " Go ! tell thy lady thus from me : In mine own land, if any stranger sit A wedding-guest, the bride, out of her grace, In token that she knows her guest's good-will, In token she repays it, brims a cup, Wherefrom he drinking she in turn doth drink : So is our use." The little page made speed And told the message. Then that lady pale — Ever a gentle and a courteous heart — Lifted her troubled eyes and smiled consent On the swart stranger. By her side, untouched, Stood the brimmed gold ; " Bear this," she said, "and pray He hold a Christian lady apt to learn A kindly lesson." But Sir Torel loosed From off his finger — never loosed before — The ring she gave him on the parting day ; And ere he drank, behind his veil of beard Dropped in the cup the ruby, quaffed, and sent. — So she, with sad smile, set her lips to drink ; KING SALADIN. 245 AucI — something in the Cyprus touching them — Glanced — gazed — the ring ! — her ring ! — Jove ! how- she eyes The wistful eyes of Torel ! — how, heartsure, Under all guise knowing her lord returned, She springs to meet him coming ! — telling all In one great cry of joy. Good Lord ! the rout, The storm of questions ! stilled, when Torel spake His name, and, known of all, claimed the Bride Wife Maugre the wasted feast, and woful groom. All hearts save his were light to see Torel : But Adalieta's lightest, as she plucked The bridal-veil away. Something therein — A lady's dagger — small, and bright, and fine — Clashed out upon the marble. " Wherefore that ? " Asked Torel ; answered she, ' C I knew you true; And I could live, so long as I might wait ; But they — they pressed me hard ! my days of grace Ended to-night — and I had ended too, Faithful to death, if so thou hadst not come." 244 THE STRATFORD PILGRIMS. But of a truth, Torel Bead the thoughts right that held her eyelids down, And knew her loyal to her memories. Then to a little page who bore the wine, He spake, " Go ! tell thy lady thus from me : In mine own land, if any stranger sit A wedding-guest, the bride, out of her grace, In token that she knows her guest's good-will, In token she repays it, brims a cup, Wherefrom he drinking she in turn doth drink : So is our use." The little page made speed And told the message. Then that lady pale — Ever a gentle and a courteous heart — Lifted her troubled eyes and smiled consent On the swart stranger. By her side, untouched, Stood the brimmed gold ; " Bear this," she said, "and pray He hold a Christian lady apt to learn A kindly lesson." But Sir Torel loosed From off his finger — never loosed before — The ring she gave him on the parting day ; And ere he drank, behind his veil of beard Dropped in the cup the ruby, quaffed, and sent. — So she, with sad smile, set her lips to drink ; KING SALADIN. 245 And — something in the Cyprus touching them — Glanced — gazed — the ring ! — her ring ! — Jove ! how she eyes The wistful eyes of Torel ! — how, heartsure, Under all guise knowing her lord returned, She springs to meet him coming ! — telling all In one great cry of joy. Good Lord ! the rout, The storm of questions ! stilled, when Torel spake His name, and, known of all, claimed the Bride Wife Maugre the wasted feast, and woful groom. All hearts save his were light to see Torel ; But Adalieta's lightest, as she plucked The bridal-veil away. Something therein — A lady's dagger — small, and bright, and fine — Clashed out upon the marble. " Wherefore that ? " Asked Torel ; answered she, ' c I knew you true ; And I could live, so long as I might wait ; But they — they pressed me hard ! my days of grace Ended to-night — and I had ended too, Faithful to death, if so thou hadst not come." 246 THE STRATFORD PILGRIMS. " God quit all gentle lovers," sighed she, " And give them grace for their constancy, For, dost thou not, from Boccace, show That true-love ever makes true-love so ? Peace have thev now in that changeless rest Where he is gone, whom thou lovest best, The Master of poets, whose own words prove It l never ran smooth,' the ' course of love ! ' Since this is Stratford, and yonder wave Is lilied Avon's, which girdles his grave ! " So came we, two of one heart and age Making our pious pilgrimage ! 1856. "Students' H>av>" in the IRational Gallery. Out of all the hundred fair Madonnas Seen in many a rich and distant city — Sweet Madonnas, with the mother's bosoms ; Sad Madonnas, with the eyes of anguish ; Rapt Madonnas, caught in clouds to heaven (Clouds of golden, glad, adoring Angels) — She of Florence, in the chair, — so perfect ! She that was the " Grand Duke's " wealth and glory, She that makes the picture " of the Goldfinch," Ghirlandajo's, with the cloak and jewels ; Guido's Queen, whom men and angels worship, Delia Robbia's best ; and that sweet " Perla " — Seville's bright boast — Mary of Murillo (Painted — so they vow — "with milk and roses") ; Guido Reni's Quadro at Bologna, Munich's masterpiece, grim Diirer's Goddess ; Yes ! and thy brave work — Beltraffio mio ! — 248 "STUDENTS' DAY." Many as the lessons are I owe thern, Thanks and wonder ; worship ; grateful memories, Oftenest I shall think of Perngino's. Do you know it ? Either side a triptych Stands an armed Archangel — as to guard her — Glorious — with great wings, and shining armour : lu the middle panel, pure and tender, Clasping close her hands, with adoration (All the Mother's love — the Mortal's worship — In their yearning, in their reverence, painted), Gazes Mary on the Child. A seraph Holds Him, smiling, at her knees ; and, smiling, Looks she down, with spirit humbly-happy, Full — to hearfs brim — of the Peace of Heaven. Reverence mingles with the Mother's passion, But no touch of sadness, or of doubting. Par away a river runneth seaward (Little now — like Truth — like Truth, to widen), Leads the light across a blue dim country, Under peaks — by forests — to the ocean : Soft and warm, a pearly sky broods over Where three Winged-Ones, at the Pather's footstool, Sing the " peace and good-will " song to mortals. "STUDENTS' DAY." 249 If you ask rue why that Perugino Of the rest can never be forgotten, Let this serve : I learned a lesson by it, Watching one whose light and faithful finders — Following touch by touch her lovely labour — Caught the Master's trick, and made him modern. While she bent above her new Madonna, Laid the splendid smalts, and touched the crimsons, Swept the shadows under the gilt tresses, Smoothed the sinless brows, and drooped the eye- lids, — What the Master did, so also doing, — 1 bethought me, " True and good the toil is ! Noble thus to double gifts of beauty ! Yet, alas ! this ' peace and good-will ' anthem, — If the dear Madonna knew what ages — Slowly following ages — would creep o'er us, And those words be still as wind that passes, Breathing fragrance from a land we know not, Sighing music to a tune we catch not, Stirring hearts, as leaves, i' the night, a little Shake, and sleep again, and wait for sunlight (Sweet, glad sunlight ! oh, so long a-coming !), Would she smile so ? I had painted rather 250 "STUDENTS' DAY." (While she listened to those singing Angels) — Mary, with a sword-blade in her bosom (Sword that was to pierce her heart, of all hearts !) ; I had shown her with deep eyes of trouble, Half afraid to credit that Evangel ; I had limned her ' pondering all those sayings,' All our later agonies foreseeing, After all our years have heard ' the tidings.' ' But the Artist, painting bold and largely, Washing soft and clear the broadening colours ; With a liberal brush, at skilful working, Linking lights and shadows on the visage, Dropped by hazard there, one drop of water ! " Lo, a tear ! " I thought ; " that teaches Pietro ! That is wiser than the Master's wisdom ! Now the picture's meaning will be perfect ! For she could not be so calm — Christ's Mother — Could she ? even though Archangels kept her ! Could she ? even though those sang in Heaven ! Knowing how her world would roll beyond them, Twenty centuries past this sacred moment, Out of sound of this angelic singing ; Loaded with the wrongs Christ's justice rights not, "STUDENTS' DAY." 251 Eeddened with the blood Christ's teachings stanch not, Reeking with the tears Christ's pity stays not : Let the tear shine there ! it suits the story ! Tear and smile go wondrous well together ! Seeing that this song was sung by Angels ; Seeing that the foolish world gainsays it. That one lustrous drop completes the picture ! You forgot it ! Peter of Perugia ! " Ah ! I did not know an Artist's wisdom ! I had still to learn my deepest lesson : She I watched, with better thought inspired, Took some tender colour in her pencil (Faint dawn-colour, — blush of rose, — I marked not !), Touched the tear, and melted it to brightness, Spread it in a heavenly smile all over, Magically made it turn to service ; Till that tear, charged with its rosy tintings, Deepened the first sweet smile, and left it lovelier, — Like the Master's work, complete, sufficient ! Then I thought : " Pietro's wise Madonna Was too wise to weep at little sorrows ! 252 "STUDENTS' DAY." Christ, and She, and Heaven, and all the angels Last ; — 'tis sin, and grief, alone which passes ! Eoses grow of dew, and smiles from weeping ! Sweetest smile is made of saddest tear-drop ! She hath not forgotten we shall suffer ! In her heart that sword — to the heft — is planted, But beyond the years, she sees Time over ; Past the Calvary she counts ' the mansions.' Dear Madonna ! — wise to be so happy ! Should you weep, because we have not listened ? We shall listen ! and His Mother knows it ! " This is why — of many rare Madonnas — Most of all I think on Perugino's ; I who know so many more and love them ! This is why I thank my gentle artist, She who taught me that, a student's wisdom ! 1S6S. XTbe IRniobt's Zomb at Swanscombc Cburcb. Where, through western windows, dieth- Gold and rose — the sunset's light, With his dame, in marble, lieth Andrew Weldon, armed Knight : Side by side, the legend sayeth, These two lived and died : Seemeth it most fair and fit To rest so, side by side. Nothing here, above or under, Of fanatic gloom ! No fool's fear of death's deep wonder Spoils their simple tomb : Seemeth the sculptor carved it Only for to show 254 THE KNIGHT'S TOMB. What the Lady and the Knight were Now they are not so. Silvery twitters of swift swallows Keach them, flashing by ; Shadows of the spear-leaved sallows On their foreheads lie, Shadows of the flickering sallows, Of the fragrant limes, Waving to-day as green and gay As in their vanished times. Fair, be sure, was this great lady, Eyes, I guess, whose blue, Cold and calm, but beaming steady, Tender shone and true. Certes ! of a noble presence, Dutiful and staid, Worthinesse was glad before her, Worthlessnesse dismayed. Read beneath, in golden letters Proudly written down, THE KNIGHT'S TOMB. 255 Names of all her " sonnes and daugh teres ! " Each a matron-crown : Deftly carved in ruff and wimple, Kneeling figures show Small heads over smaller, rising In a solemn row. These her triumphs : sterner token Chronicles her Lord ! Hangs above him, grim and broken, Gilded helm, — and sword : Sometimes, when with choir and organ All the still air swings, Red with the rust, and grey with the dust, Low rattles the blade, and rings. Time was, Knight, that tiiiy treble Should have stirred thy soul More than drums and trumpets rebel Braying after Noll : No more fight, now ! — nay, nor flight, now ! The rest which thou hast given In chancel-shade to yon good blade God gives thy soul in Heaven. 256 THE KNIGHT'S TOMB. Somewhere on this summer morning In this English isle, Gleams a cheek whose soft adorning, Lady ! wears thy smile ! Some one in the Eealm, whose fathers Suffered much and long, Owes that sword and its good Lord Thanks for a righted wrong. Therefore for that maiden pray I Dame ! God thee assoil ! Therefore for that freeman say I Knight ! God quit thy toil ! And for all Christian men — and me — Grace from the gracious Lord To write our name with no more shame, And sheathe as clean a sword. June 1857. Hlla /Iftano Bella /IIMa H>onna. Listen ! poets, loving-hearted, Here abiding — hence departed ; Ye who ranged the realms above Seeking symbols of your love ; Provence bards and Persian Saadis Eloquently lauding ladies ; Frauenlob — the Minnesinger Mourned of maidens — and that bringer Of delight to camp and grove, Camoens, the Lord of love ; Praise as proudly as ye list, All the honeyed lips ye kissed ; Vaunt your true loves' violet eyes, Vow them bluer than the skies ; Swear no south-wind ever came Sweet and soft as she you name ; R 25 8 ALLA MANO DELLA MIA DONNA. Nor no lily ever grew White as that which bloomed for you ! Look I fling you down a glove In one dear name that I love — Never hand so fair and fine As my lady's — Katharine. Yes ! I know it — Father Homer ! Too long in thy rolls a roamer Not to know how radiant-mighty Kose the sea-born Aphrodite ; Yes ! I know the pearly splendour Of that hand, whose curvings tender, Silver glinting under gold, Combed away the sea-foam bold. And I worship, bending low, Here's awful arm of snow ; And of mortal boldness shorn Hail the Eosy-fingered Morn ; But those Gods above the thunder Are for fear and reverent wonder ; She whose gentle hand I praise Woman is, with woman's ways, ALLA MANO DELLA MIA DONNA. And I hold this gage of mine None a hand — like Katharine. All the bards that lips have kissed Enter angry on the list, And the legions that appear, Might move any heart to fear. Lo ! Athenian Sophocles — Virgil, too, my fancy sees — And I sink my spear-head bright As beseemeth younger knight ; And I kneel, but not to yield, For I keep the tented field — Vowing no such hand was seen Were Electra twice a Queen, And Lavinia's hue as fair As 'twas bragged in Latin air : Nay, nor falter for Sibylla, Or the careless-eyed Camilla, Though her wounded wrist did shine Likest " ivory, stained with wine ; " Let them go, my noble Masters, With a sigh for Love's disasters, 259 2 6o ALLA MANO DELLA MIA DONNA. And the challenge — none so fine ! None a hand — like Katharine. Dante ! spirit sad and lone ! Laughing love thou hast not known ; Weeping love attends on thee, With its mortal mystery ; And thine Angel, Beatrice, Aweth with her hand of ice. Thou, Petrarca ! dost thou frown ? Lay thy latest sonnet down ! Set thy shining lance in rest ! For I tilt upon thy breast : Say'st thou, " like a curving shell, Where the tender pink does dwell," Gleamed thy Laura's milky hand ? Lo ! I read it ! and I stand Firm of foot to make it seem, Even so my Love's doth gleam ; And this gentle hand of mine Gave a heart — thus did not thine. Ah ! Dan Chaucer ! — art thou he, Morning star of minstrelsy ? ALLA MANO DELLA MIA DONNA. 261 Eldest of the English choir, Highest hill — touched first with fire. Pass ! no bow of mine is bent At the heart where I have leant, And thy dream of Marguerite Was but vision of my Sweet. Next to thee what champions come ? There be valorous poets some — Other some whose steel I scorn In unknightly hands yborne ; At the last a Minstrel proud Bideth high amid the crowd, Knight of Lady Una he, And I do him courtesy ; Yet though " whiter than the snow " Gleamed that noble Dame, I trow, White as snow and therewith warm, Is my Lady's loving arm ; And not golden Oriana, Nor maid Amoret's high manner, Waved a hand as white and fine As the hand of Katharine. 262 ALLA MANO DELLA MIA DONNA. Com'st thou, Tasso, with thy crew, Eastern-aired Armida too ? Oh ! a lustrous lady she, " Beautiful, exceedingly ; " But her Asian soul I doubt, Looking from those large eyes out ; And her white wrist plays a part, Beating not as beats her heart. Hence, Enchantress ! hence, too, thou Mistress of the southern brow ; Though thou be'st Boccaccio's best, " Bocca bacciata " hath no zest ! After thee there floats another Like as sister of one mother, Ariosto's Angelique, — Hide her hand, and hide her cheek ! Let a nobler Dame have life Led by nobler knight to strife — High born, great, and graceful too, All thy loving songs were true ; Swear, Lord Surrey, stoutly swear, Was never woman half so fair ! And I will swear that Geraldine Had no such hand as Katharine. ALLA MANO DELLA MIA DONNA. 263 Nay ! liigh poets, let it be Thine to thee, and mine to me ; For I see th' accepted King Of all earthly minstrelling Crowned with homely Avon lilies, As his regal way and will is. Mighty Master ! hear me speak : Though Queen Cleopatra's cheek Shamed the rosy lotus-dyes, And her hand in Antony's Whiter than dove's milky wing Lay, a plaything for a King ; Yet. an thou shalt pardon yield, Thus I leave the foughten field ; All as fair and yet more true Than was known to one but you, Is that fair frank hand of mine That gave to me Katharine. January 1856. Zhc Ibpmn of tbc fl>ricstess of SDtana. Oh, of all maidens Mistress ! Help at need Of souls unstained and bosoms virginal ! With vervain and with fragrant gums we feed The flame that burned, and burns, and ever shall ; Feed thou the fire that flames with holy thought, And let the world to thy white shrine be brought. The altar-light, mounting to find thy face, Gleams back upon us from the brow divine, Filling with placid splendour all the place : Fill so the earth, supremest Goddess mine ! That men, awaking out of fancied light, May know it, matched with Dian's noon-time — night. brow, where shame can never come to sit ! cheek of snow, which blush can never melt ! HYMN OF THE PRIESTESS OF DIANA. 265 ear, that hears no word or wish unfit ! breast, which thought unsainted never felt ! Show thyself, Dian ! unto other eyes As unto ours, thy deep-sworn votaries. For we, who round about thine altar go, Thou Daughter of the Father of the world ! Know thee divinest ; — if men knew thee so, Then were the false gods from their temples hurled; And mortals, leaving blind and sinful yearning, Should scorn false beauty, beauty true dis- cerning. Queen of the quiet sky ! — the night's full Moon ! Be moon ! and pierce the darkness of this cloud, Whereunder wander, in a dreamful swoon, The fellows of our blood, a witless crowd ; Send thou the silver ray that lightens this ; Show them the path which goes by good to bliss. Huntress of noble harts, — high-purposed Maid ! Whose sandal tied for free and fearless chase Is fairer than the cestus proud, displayed By her of Cyprus, — stand in pride of place 266 HYMN OF THE PRIESTESS OF DIANA. Before the eyes of men, and lead them on To hunt beside thee, turning off for none. Ah, bliss ! beside thee — by thee — in thy spirit — The chase of life along the years to lead, Conquering desire by high desire to merit The joy of joys, the love of loves, the meed Of untold grace, waiting th' unshaken faith Firm held through life, in full repose on death. For Thou, of all the gods, hast these to give, — The kingdom of a calm and equal mind, The kiss — cold, true — bidding the soul's life live To meet caresses, tarrying yet behind, But past hope tender, like the dreams the moon Left on the forehead of Endymion. Ehcu ! we speak of things we cannot know, And knowing, in this presence we were dumb ; But on the winds which round thy portal go Echoes from Aphrodite's revels come, Marring our hymns. High Goddess ! make men see The " Foam-Born's " beauty but a blot to thee. Zo a Slecpino XaD\?. Darling ! as you lie there sleeping, with the holy angels keeping Watch and ward around your pillow, shading it with win^s of g'old ; Sentinels whose happy duty is to guard your grace and beauty ; While you lie there dreaming, seeming all your sweet self, chaste and cold ; Who would think that the true treasure of that casket — beyond measure Rich, and fair, and finished — is not where the lovely casket lies ? That they see the palace-portal set ajar, and the Immortal Gone forth from its rosy gateway, locking satin lids on eyes ? 268 TO A SLEEPING LADY. Yet so is it ! Fairest woman ! and what's there is but the human Robe and raiment which your spirit wears, to walk with all the rest, Regal raiment ! ah, the silky wavelets of that hair ! the milky Whiteness of the brow ! the neck ! the soft hands folded o'er the breast ! As a Queen's grace seems to linger in the pearl- strings which her finger Loosens — so thy soul leaves glory on that sleeping form of thine ; But the beautiful still body is not that which most I worship, And your soul, my Pride ! my Bride ! — is here, and talking low with mine. All because, at such an hour, Love hath so much charm and power, Life hath so much deeper knowledge of its march and mystery, That — so soon as I invite it — cov no longer, but delighted TO A SLEEPING LADY. 269 Forth thy sweet and stately spirit comes for fellow- ship with me ! And, beside my spirit sitting, thoughts with deep thoughts interknitting, Speaking plainly in a silence, clearer, dearer far than speech, Mine grows all thine inmost being ; and I see thee — more than seeing — I and thou as one together ; blended, ended, each in each. TLo Stella. Sweet Soul ! suddenly met, utterly loved, At the first glance of our unlooked-for meeting ! I gaze back on the ways whereby I moved To this fair fate, my lonely life completing : I did not seek you, Dear ! no vision tender Bade me expect you on my ray less road ! There was no dreamy dawning of the splendour Your white light sheds ! no morning grey that showed Where my Star waited under life's horizon ! — Ah, fair, pure, silvery Star ! set not again ! Better no lamp to fix the sailors' eyes on Than one brief beam cast on the cold dark main ! 1S66. 3nscribeo upon a Sfcull picfceo up on tbe Hcropolis at Htbens. I am the skull of Necljm, a Turk, Who fought at Athens with the Giaour When cannon-balls were hard at work Shattering the Parthenon — that hour A classic fragment took me fair Under the waist-cloth, and so made " Ruins " of me. For long years there My remnants with the rest have laid. Scant burial got we from the Greek — The green fly and the hooded crow Helped the hot sun to leave me sleek, Till, as thou seest, my pate did grow White as new Parian. At the last A Briton spied me, as he passed, Roaming the strewed Acropolis, And lightly fashioned me to this. 272 ON A SKULL. Drink ! if thou wilt ; and, drinking, say- Never did ancient craftsman make Cyathus, Krater, Patera Fitter a miglity thirst to slake. But, call me rot a thing of the clod ! The Parthenon owned no such plan ! Man made that temple for a God, God made these temples for a man ! 1875. Ube IRew Xucian. [To H. D. Traill, Esq., on the Dedication of his book, " The New Lucian."] " At that eternal parting of the ways," Thou say'st, good Friend ! looking to see it come When hands which cling unclasp, arms disembrace, And lips, that murmured love to lips, are dumb. Ay ! it will come, — the bitter hour ! — but bringing- A better life beyond, more subtle-sweet ; A higher road to tread, with happier singing, And no cross- ways to part familiar feet ! Smil'st thou, my later Lucian ! knowing too well Hope's under-ache, Faith's fallacies all sped ? Yet that which gave thee thy fair gift, to tell How in Elysium chat th' unsilenced Dead, Shall some day whisper : "Lo! the Life Immortal ! Enter ! for thee wide stands the golden portal ! " s ©jforfc IRevisitefc. Mother ! mild Mother ! after many years — So many that the head I bow turns grey — Come I once more to thee, thinking to say In what far lands, through what hard hopes and fears, 'Mid how much toil and triumph, joys and tears, I taught thy teaching ; and, withal, to lay At thy kind feet such of my wreaths as may Seem least unworthy. But what grown child dares Offer thee honours, Fair and Queenly One ! Tower-crowned, and girdled with thy silver streams, Mother of ah ! so many a better son ? Let me but list thy solemn voice, which seems Like Christ's, raising my dead : and let me be Back for one hour — a Boy — beside thy knee. May 1883. B Duet. He. " Ah ! — if you knew ! if I dared to discover Half that my heart feels to-day : If there were words for so faithful a lover, Soft enough, fond enough, — say ! Would you be vexed at my passionate pleading ! Would you believe it was true ? How would the beautiful eyes look, — conceding ? Kebuking ? Oh, Sweet ! if you knew ! " She. " How can I know, when a glance of relenting Stays the rash whisper, half-said ? How can I know when, — while I am consenting — ' No ' is the sentence you dread ? 276 A DUET. Sometimes — I think I should never believe you, Sometimes — my thought — is not so ; If you say nothing, no answer can grieve you, Only then — what can I know ? " TZbc Bltar of flMtp. [From the ,; Thebais " of Statius.] In the mid-city — to no mighty God Dedicate — rose an altar. Pity built Her gentle seat there, and the miserable Made all its consecration : never lacked That Altar suppliants ! none are turned away ! Whoso doth ask is heard ; for day and night The shrine stands open, and the offering Of woful wail is free. A frugal faith ! No spice-fed flames burn there ! no costly blood Is shed : with tears — salt tears — the marble reeks. No image soars above, no bronze hath ta'en Stamp of the Deity ! She loves to dwell Deep in the thoughts, — hid in the aching heart ; And ever hath she trembling worshippers, And ever is the spot thick with a throng Sad-faced ; the happy only know it not ! XTbe Cbolera fit 3tal£. [Suggested by a sketch of Sir John Millais, R.A., representing a skeleton shooting an arrow by night into the habitations of a fortified town. ] How did it come to his mind ? the fleshless and horrible dream — Grewsome, cruel, and weird — making the murk more grim; Standing stark-naked in bone, which the starlight sets all a-gleam — Shooting his shot at the town, the little town silent and dim ? Said we not, each to the other, " Death is an Angel of Light ! " While our tears as they rolled gave the lie to our lips ? THE CHOLERA IN ITALY. 279 Here's one paints us the thing awful, authentic, aright — Tells the Truth straight out, from the skull to the spiked toe-tips ! So, if you opened this page an idle moment to soothe, Madam ! or Sir ! — as may be — best close the volume for good ; Here's no matter to flatter flesh and blood in their youth ! Here's an Artist in earnest — Death's picture on worm-eaten wood ! But if you ask what he meant, yonder the Tuscan town lies Under the curtains of midnight, spangled with planet and star, All looking down so calm ! so splendid ! as if the eyes Of numberless Angels were watching our one little world from afar. 28o THE CHOLERA IN ITALY. And I hear on the rampart-stones the heel of the sentinel ring; And I see him halt and count the chimes of the midnight bell, And he listens towards us here ; — " But 'tis only the cicalas sing ! " And he shoulders his musket again, and passes the word, " All's well ! " And away, within those walls, I know there is pleasure and pain ; (Ah me ! the sorrows and joys wherewith one town may be fraught !) There's scented smoke from the censers, where the people pray in vain, And a flare from the pharos-lantern to bring the feluccas to port. And I seem to see in the gleam which hangs all over the town, Cresset lights of a banquet, and merry torch-bearers who go — THE CHOLERA IN ITALY. 281 Their jolly feet false with the wine — in laughter up and down, With rose-crowns awry on their heads — and cornets that cheerily blow. Ah, and I know that, beneath the beautiful roof of the night, Bridal couches are spread, and lovers at last are one, Who say, " If God would will that it never more should be light, Then stay on the other side, and wait till we wish for thee, Sun ! " Laughter, and music, and banquets, and roses, and revelry, And prayers in the churches to please the Keeper of heaven and hell, And the ships with spices and bales ploughing bravely in from the sea, And still that sentinel looks from the wall and cries, " All's well ! " 282 THE CHOLERA IN ITALY. Doth he not mark, close by, this spectre we mark so plain, Who blisters the growing grass with the bones of his clattering feet ? Who makes the still air reek with the fester of live things slain, And turns to corpse-light, on his skull, the starlight holy and sweet ? Cannot he hear the Voice — still — small — that comes with this Thing ? Drives it, striding along; halts it, elbows and knees, Says to the skeleton bowman, "Now fit thy shaft to the string, Shoot me a shot at the town ; for the hour is come to these ! " Cursed Bowman ! who shoot' st with an arrow dipped in the pest ! Maker of all ! Whose will is good, though Thou wiliest we die ! THE CHOLERA IN ITALY. 283 It is changed in that little town from joy at its gayest and best, To cramps that curdle the blood, and tortures that glaze the eye. The sentinel, careless of all, stalks quiet upon the wall ; But the pilot has yielded the helm of his vessel with a scream : At the banquet the guests drop dead ; the wor- shippers — priests, and all, Fly ! ere they chant " Amen ; " — and that sweet bridal dream, Which the lovers dreamed together — but half asleep — while their lips Still kissed, for fear lest a minute from love's brief rapture be took — Is ended in this, that one from the arms of the other slips, And that other — chilled by the corpse — turns corpse herself, at a look. 284 THE CHOLERA IN ITALY. Ah, Thou Lord, Thou God ! Who sendest this pesti- lent wraith ! Giver of life, Who hast given the instinct to love to live, Teach us another lesson — to render it back in faith, When the messenger comes like this, with a ghastly- message to give. Ah, Thou Lord, Thou God ! our hearts are the homes in the town : At the twanging of that black bow, ill fare they who there do dwell ; But help our souls to hear, through the darkness that settles down, Thy sentinel on the wall, crying always to all, " All's well ! " XTbe Mrecfc of tbe "IRortbern Belle." Fair sight ! for a crew Of Englishmen true, When homeward their course they hold, With sails bleached white By the tropic light, And sheathing a-glitter like gold ; Fair sight ! from the rails, — When the Topman hails " Land ho ! on the larboard ! " — to see The green waves leap At the white cliff's steep On the shore of the land of the free :— » Fair music they make together, The cliff and the climbing foam ; And it sounds in the bright blue weather Like the wanderer's welcome home. 286 WRECK OF THE " NORTHERN BELLE." But when the east wind howleth, And the great seas rise and rave, Another sight Is that belt of white, And another sound's on the wave ! Small welcome for wildered vessel, When the billows, giant and grey, Break — sworn on the sand Her keel to strand, And her ribs on the rocks to lay ! Oh ! the silver gates of your island Were liker the gates of hell, In the mist of that winter morning To the crew of the " Northern Belle." We left New York for London, (And the wind left with us too !) We thrashed our way Through Atlantic spray, And ran the Channel through ; 'Twas three on the morning of Monday When we let the anchors go Ten cables, or more, From Kingsgate shore, WRECK OF THE "NORTHERN BELLE." 2S7 To ride out the storm and snow ; Ten cables from where green meadows, And quiet homes could be seen, No greater space From peril to peace — But the savage sea between ! Yet a greater space To us had been grace. For still as we neared the shore, The wild white roll of the waves on the shoal Roared round us more and more ; Eoared out, in a ring around us, You might see them fore and aft, On ragged ledge, And splintered edge, All mad to dash our craft ; While the weltering rocks, With their sea-weed locks Awash in the whirling: froth, Stood up like slaves Of the winds and waves, Waiting to wreak their wrath. 288 WRECK OF THE "NORTHERN BELLE." Not yet, brave ship ! For the anchor's grip Is fast in the ooze and shell ; The gusts may shake, And the great surge break, But the iron holds her well. If a smith could tell, As his sledge-hammer fell, That each little link should hold The craft and the crew, And their lives' hope too, His strokes would be strong and bold ! Ease, ease, mad strain ! Hold, hold, good chain ! We freshened the hawse once more ; 'Twas ten of the day, And the vessel lay Stern on to the snow-dimmed shore. And now from the town They hurry down, For the cry is " A Wreck ! " "A Wreck ! " (Ah ! under their tread Is the firm green mead, WRECK OF THE "NORTHERN BELLE." 289 'Neath ours but the slippery deck). Kind souls ! they shout ! Look ! yonder comes out A lugger from off the land, Brave crew and craft ! — Ready fore and aft ! — She will lend us a helping hand : 'Bout ship ! so, so ! She stays, — yes ! no ! Port, port ! ah Heaven ! that sea — Gone — vessel and men While the heart beats ten ! Gone, — drowned, for their charity ! Rose from each lip On shore, and ship, A cry, a groan, a prayer ; While the nine hearts brave Went under the wave, And their death-cry hung in air ; No seaman but felt His man's heart melt ; — But the masts were down ere now, 290 WRECK OF THE " NORTHERN BELLE. And the raffle and wreck, Scarce clear of the deck, Hung, fouling the larboard bow ; So we shouted at last, " Clear away that mast Or else we are ill bested ! God take those home ! When our turn's come The dead can bury the dead." Thus, all that day, In snow and spray, For dear life still we toiled ; And faint and few The bold words grew As nearer the breakers boiled ; And still, like a steed, Reined back at speed, The ship did plunge and rear ; While the burly main Strove on in vain To crack our cable and gear : Till the twilight gloom, Like the earth on the tomb, WRECK OF THE "NORTHERN BELLE." 291 Came over, and hid tlie town ; And the last we could see, They were busy a-lee Dragging the life-boats down. Ah me ! no boat In that surf could float, No oarsmen cleave a way ; No eye so bright As to pierce the night That on land and water lav : Oh ! leaden dark ! Which left no spark Of star, in the wild wet sky, Not one pale ray To glimmer and say That God and help were nigh. The timbers racked, The cables cracked, Wilder the waters dashed ; Ease her ! — no need ! The ship is freed ! She drove, — she rose, — she crashed ! 292 WRECK OF THE "NORTHERN BELLE. Then settled and fell The " Northern Belle," As one who no more strives ; But the foremast stood, Good Canada wood, With nine and twenty lives : If dreadful the day As none could say, Oh ! the night was terribler far. As each man clung To the shrouds, or hung Ice-cold, on the icy spar ; And hearts beat slow. As the hours did go, Like a lazily-ticking clock ; Till we longed to drop From the dripping top Nor wait for the last sure shock. Then, while she did grind, We called to mind Each one, his own home-place. New Jersey towns, And Connecticut downs, WRECK OF THE "NORTHERN BELLE. 293 And the pleasant meadows of maize : We thought of brothers, And wives and mothers, With whom we should never be ; Of our babies playing, Or perhaps a prayer saying For "daddy," far off at sea ; And we said prayers To mingle with theirs, And held for the daylight still, Which came anon, When hope was gone, As God's best mercies will. For, soon as the clouds, Like great grey shrouds, Let out the Lazarus-light, We looked to land And saw on the sand, Good God ! a cheery sight ; — Seven noble men (Christ save them, then !) That would not see us drown, 294 WRECK OF THE "NORTHERN BELLE." With oars in hand, And the life-boat manned, (The life-boat dragged from the town ;) And they gave us a cheer We could plainly hear, Which we answered with aching throat Ah then ! dear life ! To watch the strife Between the storm and the boat. More strong and steep The waves did leap For every stroke she made ; As they were bound To see us drowned, And would not be gainsayed : " Now, now ! ah now ! Pull bow ! pull bow ! Oh ! yonder swells a sea, She swamps ! — no ! no ! Thank God, not so ! She rounds beneath our lee," — Thrice with a freight Of lives they fight WRECK OF THE "NORTHERN BELLE." 295 Their way — stern down and stem — Then — safe and sound, On the English ground ! Thanks to the Lord, and them. Look ye, mates mine ! There be stories fine Of Greek and Roman deed ; But when all's done There was never one Of better help at need. Which man of our crew, My messmates true, But holds his life a gift From those brave Seven, Henceforward, please Heaven, To be used with thoughtful thrift ! To be held on earth For service of worth, Save when Englishmen cry — and then Come storm, come slaughter, To be spent like water For the sake of the Kingsgate men. 296 WRECK OF THE "NORTHERN BELLE." There are those at home, When the news is come, Will crowd to hear of the ship, With great tears rounding, And glad hearts bounding, And blessings a-pant on the lip. There are girls there, plenty, Not come to twenty, Too shy and demure to speak, Eeal ladies, — would kiss For love of this, Each man of that crew on his cheek : Ay ! count it grand To touch but a hand Of the Seven, who staked their lives, Lost seamen to save From a cold sea-grave, And send them to sisters and wives. I'll say one thing Before I bring This plain sea-song to its end, Such hearts of gold, More than state-craft old, WRECK OF THE "NORTHERN BELLE." 297 Will help all quarrels to mend. America sent, With warm intent, Your ship for a new-year's token, You give her back Our lives from wrack, Shall such friends ever be broken ? No ! no ! they shall stand Hand fast in hand, All sisterly — side by side — And none ever tell Of the " Northern Belle," But with flushes and smiles of pride. Yet more s to do, — That first boat's crew In this verse shall be given, That Yankee boys With a ready voice May say the list of the Seven. The men I write In the " Mary White," George Castle's boat, did go 298 WRECK OF THE "NORTHERN BELLE." John, Castle's brother, George Fox, another, Ned Emptage and Jem Rowe — Those gallant five Did save alive Our crew from the " Northern Belle," With Robert Miller And William Hiller I have no more to tell. Hastings, Jan. 23, 1857. a toornc Soiuj. The swallow is come from his African home To build on the English eaves ; The Sycamore wears all his glistering spears, And the Almond rains roseate leaves ; And — dear Love ! — with thee, as with bird and with tree, 'Tis the time of blossom and nest, Then, what good thing of the bountiful Spring Shall I liken to thee — the best ? Over the streamlet the rose-bushes bend Clouded with tender green, And green the buds grow upon every bough, Though as yet no rose-tint is seen ; Like those, thou art come to thy promise of bloom, Like theirs, thine shunneth the light ; Break, rose-bud ! — and let a longing heart know If the blossom be red or white ! 3 oo A HOME SONG. Up the broad river with swelling sails, A glorious vessel goes, And not more clear in the soft blue air Than in the still water she shows ! Dost thou not go with as brave a show, And, sooth, with as swelling a state ? Oh, come into harbour with that thou bear'st, Dear ship ! — for I eagerly wait. Fair ship ! — ah, Kate ! none beareth a freight As precious and rich as thine, And where's the rose-bush that will burgeon and blush With a blossom like thine and mine ? — Well ! well ! — we do, as the meadow birds too, Since meadows with gold were dyed, The hen sits at rest in the hidden nest, And her mate sings glad at her side. Swanscombe, April 1857. jfonfc fancies. Fond fancies, past the telling, Come o'er me — idly spelling The mystic meanings dwelling In what these Hindoos taught ; So fast they rise — and faster, That I bid them over-master Slow study ; — and far past her Carry my willing thought ! Carry my thoughts, confessing Each dear and separate blessiug, (Ah ! how beyond expressing, Except with eyes, sweet wife !) Each help, from Love's hid heaven, That thy gentle soul has given To a soul else overdriven In the easier race of life. 5 o2 FOND FANCIES. Sweetheart ! how dull beside them Seems all that would outpride them ! How weak, what may betide them To bring to fall or fear This joy to live together In changeless summer weather ! No clouds to gloom or gather ! No seasons in our year ! Past all weak words the pleasure, The luxury, the treasure, Of knowing without measure Our fondness fully-grown : So that love, no more careful, Nor fanciful, nor fearful, Takes — heart, and eye, and ear-full — The love that is its own ! Let go old legends ! sweeter Than fruit of lotus-eater, Diviner and completer, Than Circe's anodyne ; FOND FANCIES. 303 To lessen sadness sent us, And to double gladness lent us, The true, unpressed, nepenthos Is true love's honey-wine ! Let go the pride of learning, The foolishness of spurning Life's life, for large discerning Of vain philosophies ! " The highest truth lies nearest ! " 'Twas a Greek said it, Dearest ! Of sages the sincerest, Grey old Pheidippides ! And let go that wild battle Which tempts us, with its rattle To join — like June-mad cattle, In sinful strife for place ! The sin is not worth sinning ; The end mocks the beginning ; The only prize worth winning Is ours, without the race ! 304 FOND FANCIES. Therefore, when fears do fret me, Whenever wild winds threat me, I fold ruv sails and get me To the harbour of thy breast ; Safe there from outer riot, Like a bird whom fierce hawks fly at, Escaped, and brooding quiet Down in his happy nest ! June i860. ©n a 2>eafc Xafc>£. Non pub far Morle il dolce viso amaro, Ma 7 dolce viso dolce pub far Morte. Death cannot change her face, tender and fair ! Tis she who changes Death, and makes him dear, [From Horace, written' to a Danish air.] He. As long as I was dear to yon, and none — Not one, save I — Dared lock his arms about your neck, the Sun Saw no King happier underneath the sky. She. As long as you loved Lydia more than all, And Chloe's face Had not made Lydia's nought, men might me call The happiest girl of all the Roman race. He. Well ! now, that's past ! and Chloe binds my heart "With lute and voice ; Whom so I love that, if Death's fatal dart, Aimed at her life, struck mine, I should rejoice. LYDIA. 307 She. Ah ! yes — 'tis past ! I love a Thurian boy, Who dotes on me ; And for his dear sake I would die with joy, Nay, or twice over — were the thing to be. He. But — just suppose the old love could come back As good as new ! That Chloe with her golden hair should pack, And my heart open all its gates to you ! She. Supposing that — oh ! well ! — my Thurian's dear, And you — alas ! Are wild as Adria, and more light than air, Yet, Love ! with you life and dark Death I'd pass. Zbc %ost flMetafc. A STORY OF THE STARS. At the noon of a May night, When the stars are all alight, And the white moon wanders through the gray ; While softly over all Sleep's velvet veil doth fall, To shield tired eyes from the day ; — At such a night's noon I watched the stars and moon Till they and I alone did seem to be ; Till, in that silver throng Sorely my soul did long To rove at will, and many wonders see. THE LOST PLEIAD. 309 Wherefore I let it large, And up from Earth's dim marge It bounded like a horse with broken rein ; From the Dragon's flaming crest To Orion's star-bound breast It roamed upon that planet-studded plain. On the broad flank of the Bear, Dubhe flashed fierce and clear, Lighting his glancing eyes and gleaming tusk ; And the Lion shook his mane, And the great star-feathered Crane Was up among his brothers of the dusk. In the Northern Bull's bright van I saw dread Aldebaran, Andromeda's wild hair I saw a-flame ; By the Lyre's glittering strings, Down through the Swan's white wings, Unto a lovely, lonely light I came ; A cloud of splendour sent Out on the firmament As 'twere the breath of each light-laden star: jio THE LOST PLEIAD. A stream of splendour seen Broad in that sea of sheen, Like Indian rivers flowing seaward far. None other orbs did move In such sweet show of love ; Xone shone like those 'mid the sky companies ; 1 knew the Sisters Seven Were the light-bearers of Heaven, Whoni men do name the tearful Pleiades. On each sphere's rolling rim Each held an urn at brim, And poured its molten silver down her world ; In which fair gift of light Its live things took delight, And she in them : — one orb alone was furled In gloom; nor ray did send, Save when the Six did bend Their sister glances on the lonely One ; Whereat I could descry A sad, mild Majesty, Sitting unlighted on a lightless suu. THE LOST PLEIAD. 311 Why she alone of Seven Nor gave nor took in Heaven Heaven's gift and gladness — Heaven-filling light — Why the Almighty wrath Sent her that lampless path, And dimmed her crown among the Queens of Night I longed, and sought to hear; — Oh, gather round and near, — ■ I know that stai'less Angel's story through ; It was not all a dream, It did not wholly seem, — • Listen ! I strike low strings ! and tell it true. Ah ! Sisters Six, lead my dark star and me, For I am Merope — blind Merope, And I go shorn of light, who lighted all. splendent Sister Stars ! gleam on my path, And show me where it winds among the worlds ; Nor turn your glances hence, because I sit And moan upon the story of my sin ; For I am Merope, — blind Merope, — 3 i2 THE LOST PLEIAD. Merope, — light- abandoned Merope, Who stood between God's lowest and God's love. thrice twain Sisters ! lead my world along. In the beginning when none was save He, God flung from both great hands His star-seed forth Over the endless meadows of the void ; Wherein, as in the grain the broad green blade, Life lay, and life's high loves and happy ends ; And unto each He gave fit ministrant And faithful warder. Some were kings of suns, And dipped their cressets in the molten gold That rippled round His throne ; and other some Fed on their borrowed glory, and were glad, Frail spirits, shunning the full glance of God ; Some, with the vaporous wreaths they did bestried, Faded or were illumed ; and some at speed Eode errant angels, singing thorough space, Curbing the comets to their headlong course ; And unto some He gave a gentler gift, To tend the lower worlds, and shine for them ; And unto us, his youngest-born, the Earth, An ever-needing, never-ceasing care : For chief He charged our Seven Sister-lights THE LOST PLEIAD. 313 To wax and wane above her, keeping aye Mid station : and at noon and night, and ever, To listen open-eared, and bear above Unto His feet its children's cries and tears, — For all tears that do fall, fall for God's ear. Ai, ai ! it was our charge — a gracious charge, Ai, ai ! I lost love's task unlovingly ; For I am Merope — blind Merope, Merope, — light-abandoned Merope, Who stood between God's lowest and God's love. Sisters Six ! I follow plainingly, — For I am Merope ; and on my brow God, at the giving of the silver worlds, Laying His hand, left splendour. None of all, Sisters ! not one of all your gleaming band, Wore whiter glory, or stood nearer Him. First of the seven lights I came and went, And unto me Electra bent her beams, And Maia bowed her brightness — and ye three, Alcyone, Celceno, Taygete, And silver Sterope, next me in place, Took fire from me, and tended me with love. I was a perfect Angel of pure ray, 3H THE LOST PLEIAD. Chosen a chief of Planets. Woe is me ! I am a wildered World in well-known paths, For I am Merope, — rash Merope, — She that was great in Heaven become the least, Standing between God's lowest and God's love. o O Sisters ! lead me with the sound of song, Sweep solemn music forth from balanced wings, And leave it cloudlike in the 11 uttered sky, That I may feel and follow. Ah ! my light, My vanished lovely light ! I sate in place With wakeful eyes, and kept the earth in ken ; And ye around me waited for my word. Far down below the cone of shadow crept Whereunder lay Earth's night, and from its gloom Prayers, and the sound of tears, and other sounds Which unto angel ears are strange, came up Like smoke from peaked volcano, and our vans Fanned them fresh breath to take them on to God. Sisters ! amid the myriad cries that rose From lips that Night's nepenthe could not calm, Came a long prayer for mercy, growing loud As it waxed hopeless ; — she who uttered it, A sad, stained woman, with a fair fierce cheek, THE LOST PLEIAD. Kmd le the black rim of a river, vf a black river forth m a great I 3aw her — and ye e • her. ers mine, Plucking the mother' bosom from her ba Ere the waves took them — one starved dead of lov And one of life — both crvincr one heart-c That asked G ity in pains common tongu ; I ye said, :: Sister, let it go above ; :: But I, who, knowing all things, knew her sin, And what deed stained the raiment of her soul, Answered, " It goeth not, her grief is just ; And struck it down the sky. Wc ' her cry Fell, and then rose, and s up from a groan Into a voice, — a voice that struck the Stars And bounded from their brilliant capes, and rolled Louder than thundering crash of orb on orb, Thrilling the Planets, till each Angel ki. The very voice of Lng, :: Thou Star ! Thou, Merope ! go earthward." Ah, my ligl