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 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA 
 AT LOS ANGELES
 
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 THE TRUE CROSS.
 
 THE TRUE CROSS 
 
 % fcflcnlr of il)t Cburcb. 
 
 BY 
 
 G. J. WHYTE-MELVILLE, 
 
 AUTHOR OF "the GLADIATCiKS," " SAKCIIIiUON," &C. 
 
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 LONDON : 
 
 CHAPMAN AND HALL, 193, PICCADILLY.
 
 LONDON : 
 BRADBURY, AGNEW, & CO., PRINTERS, WHITEFRIARS. 
 
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 T76 
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 INTRODUCTION. ' 
 A VISION OF THE NIGHT 
 
 PAGE 
 
 BOOK I.— THE SEED I3 
 
 
 II.— THE ARK 47 
 
 HI.— THE TREE 109 
 
 IV.— THE BEAM '37 
 
 v.-the POOL 199 
 
 VI.— THE CENTURION 221 

 
 THE TRUE CROSS. 
 
 % ^cgcnb of i\n Cfjurdj. 
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 A VISION OF THE NIGHT. 
 
 ^]NCE it befell that in a Great Lone Land 
 I seemed to wander, sleeping while I lay, 
 Nor hope I had at heart, nor help at hand, 
 Nor friend to guide and cheer me on the way. 
 Nor pilgrim's staff my faltering steps to stay : 
 But doubt and fear my spirit to consume, 
 And round me gleams, too pale for light of day, 
 Reflected on the waste, and, in the gloom. 
 Faint, sickening airs, like those that hang about a tomb. 
 
 B 2
 
 2 THE TRUE CROSS. 
 
 II. 
 And through the dusk of wavering shadows, where 
 A dull earth melted in a duller sky, 
 The waft of beating wings, that longed to bear 
 Some vexed, unquiet spirit, fain to fly, 
 But downward urged by pressure from on high, 
 Yet thirsting for the fount where daylight streams, 
 While doomed in outer darkness here to lie. 
 Surely, a land of ghosts — a land of dreams — 
 Where every shifting shape is other than it seems ! 
 
 III. 
 And high above me, threatening from afar, 
 Omen of dire confusion and affright. 
 Burned in the murky skies a blood-red star. 
 Fierce as a beacon, glaring through the night 
 To warn a nation with its baleful light. 
 That Death and Strife shall ride abroad ere noon ; 
 Then, turning from its glow mine aching sight. 
 Behold ! — twin herald of destruction — soon 
 Rose from the level earth a broad and blood-red ]\Ioon.
 
 I NT ROD UC TION. 3 
 
 IV, 
 
 Strange and fantastic objects thus I saw, 
 Called into being by the glare it shed — 
 Visions to bid my heart stand still with awe, 
 Dim, shadowy shapes and phantoms of the Dead. 
 While ever, like a funeral pall outspread, 
 Sad, slow, and solemn, moved from place to place 
 A sable cloud of mourning overhead. 
 And figures passed before me, with the trace 
 Of hopeless doom declared on every stricken face. 
 
 V. 
 
 Then, as the light grew stronger, I beheld 
 Each phase of mortal sorrow and despair. 
 One, by a life's affliction crushed and quelled, 
 Betrayed in livid lip and stony stare, 
 The pangs a broken heart had learned to bear, 
 Too sad to mourn, too humbled to revile ; 
 Another did but traverse here and there, 
 With restless eyes aflame, and reckless smile, 
 Fierce as a wild beast trapped, but all untamed the while.
 
 4 THE TRUE CROSS. 
 
 VI. 
 
 Some, as with burden of their sorrows bowed, 
 Crept through the shadows, crouching lowly down ; 
 Some in defiance walked, erect and proud. 
 With haughty brows, that seemed in scorn to frown 
 Beneath the torture of an iron crown, 
 White-heated, till the brain was scorched and seared ; 
 And some with stealthy gait, and girded gown, 
 Prowled in each other's footsteps, flouted, jeered, 
 Aimed unsubstantial blows, and glared, and disappeared. 
 
 VII. 
 
 But all were silent — silent as the leaf 
 That noiseless Autumn nips from off the tree- 
 Silent as sudden agony of grief. 
 That numbs us ere we struggle to be free, 
 And cry aloud to One we cannot see, 
 Imploring Him who made to spare and save — 
 Silent as Winter on an arctic sea. 
 Hushed to a frozen wind, a fettered wave : 
 As peaceful childhood's sleep — as troubled manhood's 
 grave.
 
 IXTRODUCTION. 5 
 
 VIII. 
 
 And throui^h the tufted herbage, dank and cold, 
 In silence while I passed with silent tread, 
 A chill came curdling o'er me, for, behold, 
 My white and naked feet were dabbled red 
 With ghastly moisture by the grasses shed, 
 That looked and smelt like blood ! And then 1 knc 
 Surely as though 'twere whispered by the Dead, 
 How all the waste was crimson with the dew 
 Of all the murders done, the murderous ages through. 
 
 IX. 
 
 But, faint and feeble, still I stumbled on. 
 Nor dared to hope that I might reach the end 
 Ere courage wholly failed, and strength was gone. 
 Unless the hand of Mercy should extend 
 Some pledge whereon my weakness might depend- 
 A sign, ere light had faded in despair, 
 My steps to guide, my wanderings to befriend. 
 While yet was scarce conceived the unspoken prayer. 
 Behold ! a shadowy Cross loomed through the shadowy 
 air.
 
 6 ■ THE TRUE CROSS. 
 
 X. 
 
 And every phantom, as it flitted past, 
 Bowed in acknowledged homage at the sight ; 
 lis woeful burden earthward while it cast, 
 And hurried on, as though to claim of right 
 A shelter from the brooding storms of night ! 
 Yet none that once had seen it turned again, 
 But seemed impelled, by some resistless might, 
 To find a certain solace for their pain, 
 And seek a soul's salvation, surely not in vain. 
 
 XI. 
 
 Here was a figure, stately in the pride 
 Of manhood's strength and stature, tall and brave, 
 But scowling, haggard-faced, and gloomy-eyed — 
 A rebel, who had thought it scorn to crave 
 Forgiveness on the threshold of the grave ; 
 Yet now, before that holy sign, constrained 
 la meek submission suppliant hands to wave — 
 Hands that from deeds of blood had not refrained, 
 pjy no compunction stayed, by no regard restrained.
 
 INTRO D UCTION. ■ 7 
 
 XH. 
 
 And here a woman, with her hair unbound, 
 And brows of beauty, kistrous, though defiled 
 With shame that bade her grovel on the ground, 
 Clasped in her shapely arms a little child 
 With close embraces, and caresses wild — 
 And thus a mother's lesson fain to teach, 
 Uplifted to the Cross her babe, that smiled. 
 And stretched its tiny hands as though to reach 
 And hold the priceless Truth that creeds are framed to 
 preach. 
 
 XIII. 
 
 Next came a troop of children, clad in w'hitc, 
 Fresh as a bank of flowers in early Spring, 
 With fair young faces, innocent and bright. 
 And voices sweet as woodland birds, to sing 
 A loving carol foj their Lord and King ; 
 Till by the angels echoed, faint and far. 
 Through distant depths of Heaven it seemed to ring — 
 For surely such akin to angels are, 
 13orn of the light itself, pure as the Morning Star.
 
 8 THE TRUE CROSS. 
 
 Too soon they vanished, passing through the gloom, 
 And all the waste was silent as before. 
 Then I beheld three mourners by a tomb : 
 One bent him down, as in afifliction sore, 
 Crushed to the very earth ; another bore 
 His badge of sorrow flaunting ; but the third, 
 Nor tearful mask nor sable garment wore, 
 Nor needed to disclose in sign or word 
 The pain he nursed unseen, the plaint he made unheard. 
 
 XV. 
 
 But, like a wounded creature, high and low 
 Directed helpless glances of despair ; 
 With piteous eyes, that wandered to and fro, 
 As if they fain would plead with earth and air 
 For ease of anguish too intense to bear ; 
 Till, dimly shaped in the uncertain light, 
 The lofty Cross stood out before him there ! 
 And all his sinking spirit at the sight 
 Seemed lifted up to Heaven from gulfs of Death and 
 Night !
 
 INTRODUCTION. 9 
 
 XVI. 
 
 Then I too hastened onward, knowing well, 
 Here was a certain refuge from the blast ; 
 Here was a bulwark from the storms of Hell ; 
 Here was the goal of Life attained at last ! 
 Gladly I seized the Cross and held it fast, 
 While, through the cloud above, a trembling ray 
 Some pale and gentle star of Mercy cast, 
 And in my heart I heard an Angel say, 
 " Poor Child of Sin — behold ! thy Sin is washed away ! ' 
 
 .XVII. 
 
 And lo ! beside me stood an aged man, 
 Wrapped in a palmer's gown of dusky hue ; 
 And down his furrowed cheek a tear-drop ran — 
 A tear-drop, precious as the morning dew, 
 A weary soul to freshen and renew. 
 The while, with reverend arm outstretched, he showed 
 Far on the dim horizon, scarce in view, 
 A distant streak of golden light that glowed : 
 "And there," he said, "is Heaven, and there is thine 
 abode.
 
 lo THE TRUE CROSS. 
 
 XVIII, 
 
 " And when thou askest, how this guilt of thine 
 To such pure realms of glory shall attain ? 
 I answer, none before this Cross divine 
 Who prayed their hearts out, ever prayed in vain ; 
 And He who hung thereon in mortal pain, 
 The pangs of shame and anguish freely bore 
 For such as thee to win immortal gain, 
 The birthright of thy freedom to restore. 
 And take thee to Himself — his own for evermore ! " 
 
 XIX. 
 
 " What shall I give Him in return ? " I cried, 
 "Who stooped from Heaven to give his life for me ? ' 
 " Give Him thine heart ! " the aged man replied ; 
 " One thankful sentence from a bended knee, 
 One mite in loving homage, offered free, 
 One cup of water in His name bestowed. 
 Is all the service He requires from thee. 
 Farewell ! and sometimes think of Him who showed 
 The easy path to Heaven, and set thee on the road ! "
 
 INTRODUCTION. 1 1 
 
 XX. 
 
 He vanished while he spoke, and in his place, 
 Behold ! a shining Spirit, clad in white, 
 With bloom of youth eternal on the face, 
 And in the eyes a lustre calm and bright, 
 Caught from the fountain of eternal light. 
 But even as the Morning's joyous glow 
 Seems tempered by remembrance of the Night, 
 Their glance was softer, deeper, for the woe 
 Of unforgotten tears, that dimmed them long ago. 
 
 XXI. 
 
 While pointing upward to the Cross that stood 
 A grave majestic symbol o'er us there, 
 The growth and history of its sacred wood. 
 Predestined in the birth of time to bear 
 His gracious form, who came to save and spare, 
 That Spirit told. And every hopeful word 
 I drank, as hunted creatures drink the air 
 That brings them life, for all my soul was stirred, 
 And all my heart went up in worship while I heard.
 
 T2 THE TRUE CROSS. 
 
 XXII. 
 
 And though the Vision faded out with day, 
 Though waking to the world it vexed me sore 
 That all my dream should thus have passed away, 
 Yet holy fruit the holy lesson bore. 
 For surely Truth remains for evermore — 
 Nor, sought in earnest, shall be sought in vain, 
 Though oft it lies too deep for human lore. 
 Its sacred purport therefore to explain. 
 Even as I heard the tale I tell it now again.
 
 BOOK I. 
 
 THE SEED.
 
 I>
 
 BOOK I, 
 
 THE SEED. 
 
 TATELY and sad, the radiant being stands, 
 Grief on his brow, but vengeance in his hands: 
 A glorious Angel, vexed by wrath and shame, 
 A sorrowing Angel, with a sword of flame. 
 Abashed to meet those eyes of love and scorn, 
 The sire of countless sinners yet unborn, 
 First unit, first transgressor of his race, 
 Bowed in remorse, and, burning with disgrace. 
 Stoops his imperial head, and veils his stricken face. 
 
 c
 
 i6 THE TRUE CROSS. 
 
 The Garden, gorgeous in its maze 
 
 Of flower and fruit, of wood and wold, 
 A westering sun sets all ablaze, 
 
 In leafy masses tipped with gold ; 
 Where insect, reptile, bird, and beast. 
 In light and warmth, above, below, 
 The greatest couching by the least, 
 
 Are basking in the evening glow — ■ 
 Peaceful, as when their Maker scanned 
 
 His creatures in benignant mood, 
 Surveyed the fabric of his hand. 
 And saw that it was good. 
 While he, but yesterday the lord of all, 
 His lost dominion wincing to recall, 
 Can scarce accept the award that bids him roam, 
 A wanderer, yearning for the gates of home — 
 Can scarce believe his lot is now to stray, 
 A hopeless exile, on an aimless way : 
 No loving hand to guide his steps aright. 
 Nor daily counsel sought at morning light,
 
 THE SEED. 17 
 
 Nor simple, sinless trust, to shelter with by night. 
 
 Bitter the thoughts that rankle as they rise, 
 
 How easy was the task, how rich the prize ! 
 
 To mark, unwearied, undepressed by toil, 
 
 The generous yield of an unfurrowed soil ; 
 
 To lip the ready fruit that ripened free. 
 
 In lavish clusters on the ungrafted tree ; 
 
 The herd to count, the docile flock to tend, 
 
 In kindly rule, a master and a friend. 
 
 No irksome burden this for Man to bear. 
 
 The Maker's honour, and the creatures' care ; 
 
 No grievous impost surely to afford 
 
 Love for his charge, obedience to their Lord ! 
 
 But now, 'tis done ! Naught can the past restore. 
 
 And Eden's gates are shut for evermore. 
 
 The one temptation helpless to forego, 
 
 The one great secret yearning but to know. 
 
 Soiled by the ver}^ dust whence he was sprung. 
 
 Duped by the woman's hand, the serpent's tongue, 
 
 The wrong accepting, while he knew too well 
 
 c 2
 
 i8 THE TRUE CROSS. 
 
 The right — he listened — wavered — ate and fell. 
 Its work of expiation to begin, 
 Already waits the penance on the sin. 
 His mate he blames for her seductive part, 
 Dethrones her image in his troubled heart, 
 And half exults, and sorrows half to know 
 That she who made the trespass, shares the blow. 
 His second self, his love, his life, for him 
 The cup is filled with sorrow to the brim, 
 Too deep to mourn aloud, too keen to own. 
 And thus the Angel speaks in pitying tone, — 
 " Blot on our Master's fair design, 
 Man, fallen Man, believe 
 Sin to record so foul as thine 
 The very sons of Light repine, 
 Though all unused to grieve. 
 Did He not make thee good and great, 
 
 Who raised thee from the dust. 
 But little lower in estate 
 Than those who, at the golden gate.
 
 THE SEED. 19 
 
 In mute obedience watch and wait, 
 
 The servants of His trust ! 
 And shall He not avenge the crime 
 Hereafter, in the depths of time — 
 
 Of time, that but for thee 
 Had glided on, a guiltless dream, 
 Unruffled as a summer stream, 
 
 Into Eternity ? 
 Now, in the round of trouble brought 
 
 By each returning sun, 
 An expiation must be Avrought, 
 
 A daily penance done. 
 Race after race the doom must share 
 
 In travail, grief, and pain — 
 The morning task, the nightly care. 
 
 The labour spent in vain ; 
 The longing for a future yet 
 
 Sublimer, purer, higher; 
 The baffled hope, the weak regret, 
 
 The unfulfilled desire.
 
 20 THE TRUE CROSS. 
 
 The spirit, shrinking back in fear, 
 
 Its homeward path to tread, 
 Though worn and beaten, smooth and clear, 
 
 By footsteps of the dead, 
 Or sick and weary, loth to bear 
 
 Its burden to the end — 
 That, sheltering in a blind despair, 
 Can court eternal sleep, and dare 
 
 To meet it as a friend, — 
 Behold ! Like watches of the night. 
 
 Age after age shall pass away, 
 Until the coming of the light, 
 
 The dawning of the day, 
 When, in a new and wondrous birth, 
 
 Thy race shall be forgiven. 
 That Love and Peace may reign on earth. 
 
 And perfect Joy in heaven. 
 Take comfort then, and lift thy head : 
 
 The seed of Her who wrought the woe 
 Shall bruise the Serpent in his tread.
 
 THE SEED. 21 
 
 Shall heal the sick, and raise the dead, 
 Nor scorn to give the hungry bread, 
 
 And — for our Ruler wills it so — 
 The doom accepting in their stead, 
 Shall ransom all his own below. 
 Thus, when thy fault its bitter fruit hath borne, 
 When teem on earth the thistle and the thorn, 
 When from the tree the leaf must wither sere. 
 When mildews blight the promise of the year. 
 When droughts of summer rack the gaping soil. 
 Or frost of winter robs the fruit of toil. 
 When in the skies the eagle soars amain 
 To strike the kid that frolics on the plain, 
 When o'er the mangled carcase of its dam. 
 The lordly lion mouths the helpless lamb, 
 When from a vexed creation, Peace hath fled. 
 And rest is scarce accorded to the dead — 
 Their glorious end thy children shall attain. 
 And find in sorrow, labour, want, and pain, 
 Mow suffering grows to joy, and earthly loss to gain.
 
 22 • THE TRUE CROSS. 
 
 From dust shall millions rise, 
 
 To dust that shall return, 
 Whose million souls shall win the immortal prize, 
 
 The immortal wages earn ; 
 And, in each effort of self-sacrifice. 
 
 The immortal lesson learn, 
 That teaches universal love. 
 
 Compassion for a brother's woe. 
 Unbounded faith in God above, 
 
 Unshaken trust in man below ; 
 And lowly homage, fain to take 
 
 Example from their Lord and Friend, 
 To follow in His steps, and make 
 Their abnegation for His sake, 
 
 Who loved His people to the end. 
 But for their father's sin. 
 
 The children of thy rescued race 
 Would never seek the better part to win, 
 
 The higher place — 
 Could never learn that, wrung from out the soil.
 
 THE SEED. 23 
 
 The yield is but tlic offspring oftlic toil ; 
 That patience owes her birth to storm of woes, 
 And strength from efforts, oft repeated, grows ; 
 That courage, kindling to a danger near. 
 Sounds but the note of triumph over fear ; 
 And sorrow, training humbled hearts to bear, 
 Reprieves them on the threshold of despair, 
 To bid them cry on God, and save themselves by prayer. 
 Thus in the womb of every ill. 
 
 Obedient to his Maker's plan, 
 A germ of good shall quicken to fulfil 
 
 The destiny of Man. 
 Even as the stir and sap of Spring 
 From icy Winter shall be born ; 
 As deepest shades of Night shall bring 
 
 The gleams of Morn — 
 So, true to this paternal law. 
 
 The better still shall lurk behind the worse. 
 That, smiling up to Mercy, Faith may draw 
 A Blessing from a Curse.
 
 24 THE TRUE CROSS. 
 
 Thy heart is sad and weary now, 
 
 Thy step is weak and slow, 
 Already on thy conscious brow 
 
 Is set the seal of woe. 
 In gathering glooms of fear and doubt. 
 
 Quenched is thy light ; 
 Blind and forlorn, thou goest out 
 Into the night. 
 But we can stoop from perfect bliss to own 
 
 A brother's part in human guilt and shame, 
 The holiest angels round the holy throne 
 
 Can pity, while they blame. 
 For had not we a fallen brother, too ? 
 
 Hurled from his place on high — 
 A brother, beautiful as morning, who 
 To hopeless strife in wild rebellion flew. 
 
 And writhing now in impotence to die, 
 Drowns in the gulf of fire, to which he drew 
 A legion, glorious as our own, while true. 
 The Princes of the sky.
 
 THE SEED. 25 
 
 Woe to the Dragon ! woe to him whose guile 
 
 The banded host of Heaven could thus divide ! 
 Woe to the Serpent ! crawling to defile 
 The woman's heart ! Woe to the woman's smile ! 
 
 Thine erring guide, 
 That bade thee fall in folly, weak and vile, 
 
 As angels fell in pride. 
 And thou art duly punished, and must bear 
 Through many a grievous year thy load of care, 
 Fain to be gone, yet hankering to remain, 
 And half impatient, half inured to pain. 
 Too jealous of thine own degenerate race 
 To yield without a pang the Master's place, 
 While noting, sad and wistful, day by day, 
 Thy pride of manhood wasting to decay, 
 Conscious of blunted senses, dull and dim. 
 The vigour failing with the falling limb, 
 The fainting soul, reluctant to depart. 
 The shrinking stature and the narrowing heart ; 
 Till droops the weary head upon the breast,
 
 26 777^ TRUE CROSS. 
 
 The closing eye-lids ache to be at rest. 
 
 And feeble, fleeting, lost in every breath. 
 
 Life only flickers up to welcome Death. 
 
 Such is thy penance — Man, it must be so ! 
 
 Though guiltless spirits share thy guilty woe, 
 
 And angels, weeping round the immortal shrine, 
 
 Must veil their eyes in grief for thee and thine. 
 
 No prayer of ours a pardon yet can gain. 
 
 Not all the tears we shed can cleanse the stain. 
 
 A holier price thy trespass must recall, 
 
 More sacred drops on thy behalf shall fall ; 
 
 I tremble while I speak, I dare not tell thee all. 
 
 Behold, poor outcast lingering by the gate, 
 
 In memory of repentance found too late, 
 
 In token of the trespass and the tree. 
 
 Seeds of its fatal fruit, I offer, three. 
 
 The gift I charge thee all thy life to save, 
 
 And bid thy children plant it on thy grave. 
 
 So, in the fulness of appointed time. 
 
 When shoots the sacred sapling to its prime,
 
 THE SEED. 27 
 
 That mystic growth shall surely serve to trace, 
 
 Age after age, the story of thy race. 
 
 In all its varying turns of fortune share, 
 
 To chance, and change, a faithful witness bear, 
 
 Remain, itself uninjured by decay, 
 
 While shifting nations fade and pass away, 
 
 To mark how growth of evil, once begun, 
 
 Takes wider scope, bequeathed from sire to son, 
 
 Till Mercy, w^eary of the hopeless strife. 
 
 Unclasps her hands to plead no more for life, 
 
 And darker, deeper, closing deadlier in, 
 
 A waste of waters hides a world of sin. 
 
 Yet shall a chosen few the judgment fly. 
 
 Nor all thy children thus be doomed to die, 
 
 And in the Ark that floats them safe and fair, 
 
 A plank from that strange tree the freight shall bear, 
 
 Preserving and preserved, the gulf to span. 
 
 To bridge the coming history of Man. 
 
 Thereafter, planted in a Southern land, 
 
 With fresher leaf, and growth renewed to stand,
 
 28 THE TRUE CROSS. 
 
 Shall screen a patriarch's tent upon the plains. 
 And shade the angel-guests he entertains. 
 Its task not yet fulfilled, again shall feel 
 The rasping malice of the limber steel. 
 Cut, planed, and deftly fashioned to a board 
 That roofs in pride the Temple of the Lord. 
 Enriched with golden plate and clamp and ring 
 To crown the wisdom of the wisest king; 
 Thence, in a day of vengeance, wrath and woe. 
 Torn down and trampled by a foreign foe, 
 When Judah's warrior turns in shameful flight 
 To mark his Lion, worsted in the fight ; 
 When heathens, raging in their godless ire, 
 The holy places waste with sword and fire, 
 Stripped of its wealth, denuded of its state, 
 Polluting hands shall thrust it from the gate, 
 Hurling the charred and blackened beam to cool 
 And rot, neglected in Bethesda's pool, 
 For ages in those shallows to remain, 
 Half-bare, and half- submerged — but not in vain.
 
 THE SEED. 29 
 
 For soon the troubled waters shall reveal 
 Its virtue, conscious of their power to heal, 
 And soon, distorted figures, warped and wrung, 
 The aching limb, the swoln and palsied tongue. 
 The halt, the maimed, the blind — a suffering band, 
 At stated hours shall round the margin stand. 
 With pale and eager faces, fain to prove 
 The cure, and, watching till the surface move, 
 Await the turn that bids their anguish cease, 
 Wash and be clean — and so depart in peace ! 
 Yet light of day once more to meet. 
 
 In cruel shape the beam shall stand 
 Its expiation to complete, 
 
 Its victim to demand. 
 I see a wild and tossing crowd, 
 I see it break in angry waves 
 Around an eagle-standard, proud 
 
 To flaunt above a race of slaves. 
 I see a priest with garments rent, 
 I see a warrior bright in mail.
 
 30 THE TRUE CROSS. 
 
 I see, with pain and labour bent, 
 A patient figure, worn and spent, 
 
 A face resigned and pale, — 
 A scarlet robe in mocking state, 
 
 In savage jest a crown of thorn. 
 And up the street, and by the gate. 
 Through all that malice can create, 
 ■ Of scoff and jeer, and stormy hate. 
 While Manhood sinks beneath the weight, 
 
 God's Cross of Ransom borne. 
 Enough ! I veil mine eyes in awe. 
 In horror, wrath, and shame. 
 Nor dare I question his decree, whose law 
 Forbids the Legions of his Host to draw 
 
 Their swords of flame. 
 And flying earthward, urged by holy ire. 
 To cleanse in blood, and purify with fire, 
 
 The honour of his name. 
 But He who drives the wanderer out to-day, 
 Whose will to save, exceeds his power to slay ;
 
 THE SEED. 31 
 
 Whose mercy ever leans to pardon first, 
 
 Who sufiers long the vilest and the worst, 
 
 For thee and thine hath store of pity still, 
 
 And bids thee trust him yet through good and ill : 
 
 Else had his angel never dared to trace 
 
 The wondrous future of thine erring race. 
 
 Predestined in the pangs of mortal strife 
 
 To win their heir-ship of immortal life. 
 
 And now the doom is read, the tale is told, 
 
 The volume of the mighty plan unrolled : 
 
 A crime — a curse — a forfeit and a loss — 
 
 A gain — a hope — a ransom and a cross. 
 
 For thee the lines are drawn, the lot is cast. 
 
 Before thee lies the Future — on the Past, 
 
 Poor child of sorrow, turn, and look thy loving last ! " 
 
 The words were yet upon his tongue 
 
 When back the flashing portals swung, 
 The gates of fire and gold. 
 
 On this our earth hath never been 
 
 So fair a sight as lay between, 
 
 D
 
 THE TRUE CROSS. 
 
 Nor eye of man hath ever seen, 
 
 Nor speech of man hath told, 
 Nor mind of man conceived in all its lore, 
 Such marvels as one glimpse of Eden bore. 
 The world without was dark and bare, 
 
 A shadowy waste of gloom and sin. 
 But streams of lustre filled the air, 
 
 A flood of glory shone within — 
 It came direct from Him, whose might 
 
 Had wisely planned and fashioned all. 
 It knew no change of day and night. 
 
 It could not cease, nor fade, nor pall. 
 It bathed the sward in dazzling white. 
 It hung the tree with jewels bright. 
 Its very dews were drops of light 
 
 From heaven that seemed to fall. 
 And in the midst, with silver spray 
 
 That, like a living thing at play, 
 Shot upward in the face of day, 
 
 A fountain, crystal-clear.
 
 THE SEED. 33 
 
 Leapt, laughed, and sparkled in its mirth 
 To four great streams while giving birth, 
 That watered all the bounds of earth, 
 And took their rise from here. 
 Beside it stood a mighty tree and tall, 
 Stripped of its bark, with foliage in the fall. 
 For round its trunk, in many a writhing fold, 
 A Serpent clung — that Serpent wise and old, 
 Who, gathering venom through the peaceful time, 
 Had spotted God's own garden with his slime. 
 About him, shrunk the leaf, and paled the fruit, 
 Below, the unpoisoned tree struck healthier root, 
 In pointed fibres, sharpening as they grew. 
 To pierce his coils, and stab him through and through. 
 Yet, while he curled in anguish well concealed, 
 His sleek and subtle head no sign of pain revealed. 
 Bewildered, horror struck, to gaze 
 On sight so awful, thus unrolled, 
 The exile stood in blank amaze, 
 Till now the Angel bade him raise 
 
 D 2
 
 34 THE TRUE CROSS. 
 
 His eyes yet greater marvels to behold, 
 And looking upward see, 
 With branches spreading wide and free, 
 The stately summit of that mystic tree 
 
 Its leaves in Heaven unfold. 
 With richer growth expanding in the air. 
 Bud, fruit and flower uniting, fresh and fair. 
 As though in lavish yield rejoiced to fling 
 Its wealth of Autumn o'er its hopes of Spring. 
 While through the bowers of green, with blossoms 
 
 graced, 
 With twining shoot and tendril interlaced, 
 Soft, pure and white as flakes of falling snow, 
 Seven gentle doves were flitting to and fro ; 
 A simple music murmuring, sad and sweet, 
 In strains they never wearied to repeat. 
 On restless pinion wheeling, fain to bring 
 Unceasing homage to their Infant-King. 
 For on that tree so good and fair. 
 So garnished in a wealth untold,
 
 THE SEED, 35 
 
 Of all it promised, all it bare, 
 
 The I'ichest fruit behold ! 
 Brighter than dawn, and undefiled 
 
 As morning's opening ray, 
 A living babe — a holy child. 
 
 More beautiful than day ! 
 And while the seven doves were winging 
 
 Seven circles round its head. 
 Seven stars, their lustre flinging, 
 Seven spirits, praises singing, 
 
 Watched about the bed 
 Whereon that Infant lay reclining, 
 
 Cradled in the arms of One, 
 Pure as gold beyond refining, 
 Clad in raiment white and shining. 
 
 Dazzling like the sun — 
 A Woman of a gracious port and eye. 
 Kind as the earth, and comely as the sky. 
 She stooped her brow, serene and fair. 
 
 To look upon the Child,
 
 36 THE TRUE CROSS. 
 
 And wound her arms about him there 
 With all a mother's helpful care, 
 And half in pride, and half in prayer, 
 
 She blessed him when he smiled. 
 The love between that holy twain 
 
 Was more of heaven than earth ; 
 A mother's love conceived in pain, 
 By faith sublimed, to entertain 
 Belief in His eternal reign 
 
 To whom its pangs gave birth, 
 Nor yet in earthly sorrows to forego 
 Its earthly part of suffering, fear, and woe. 
 Enraptured in a trance of mute delight, 
 Long gazed the outcast on that goodly sight, 
 While tears of grateful hope and sweet surprise 
 Swelled at his heart, and mounted to his eyes. 
 In sullen mood, he had but thought as yet 
 The forfeit, not the trespass, to regret. 
 Till now, a true repentance to begin, 
 The sense of pardon taught the shame of sin ;
 
 THE SEED. yj 
 
 Roused a remorse, existent, though it slept, 
 
 And thus his conscience smote him — and he wept. 
 
 The Angel marked that mien so altered now, 
 
 And brighter shone the star upon his brow, 
 
 For well the gentle, pitying spirit knew 
 
 That watered thus, the plant of Mercy grew, 
 
 And man unfriended, faltering on the way. 
 
 Must learn to weep before he learns to pray. 
 
 With hands out-stretched, his glorious head he bent, 
 
 And smiled a brother's love, and blessed him as he went. 
 
 In part consoled, though loth to leave the place, 
 
 Our erring father, with dejected face, 
 
 Turned from his home behind those gates of light, 
 
 And journeyed forth a wanderer through the night ; 
 
 To learn, like all his race, that in the strife 
 
 Of good with evil, called by mortals, life, 
 
 These, for a future destined, must forego 
 
 Their share in all they prize the most below. 
 
 Each human heart must bear the human test, 
 
 And yield to God the love it loves the best.
 
 38 THE TRUE' CROSS. 
 
 So shall it rise, the better part to own, 
 
 And anchoring earthly hope on heaven alone, 
 
 Shall purge immortal ore from mortal dross, 
 
 To win a priceless gain in paltry loss. 
 
 Nor yet shall common kindly joys forego. 
 
 But greet them lightly as they come and go, 
 
 With placid trust accepting smile and frown, 
 
 Exalted not by this, nor yet by that cast down. 
 
 As one to welcome Summer's golden hours, 
 
 Who sows a cultured plot with garden flowers, 
 
 Can laugh if early frost destroy the shoots, 
 
 Or brutal malice pluck them by the roots, 
 
 Because, though now the space be spoiled and clear, 
 
 Well doth he know that in the coming year 
 
 His hands can raise a coming crop ; but he 
 
 Who on his ground elects to plant a tree, 
 
 Had need preserve its deeper growth with care. 
 
 For lo ! the earth uptorn, the place laid bare. 
 
 Must henceforth mock the toil he plies in vain, 
 
 And on that spot the flowers shall never bloom again !
 
 THE SEED. 39 
 
 Thus human love that strikes too deep a root, 
 In human lives shall bear a poisoned fruit, 
 And when, the laws of Wisdom to obey, 
 Those plants of Folly must be plucked away, 
 So tangled is the growth, so keen the smart, 
 To rend the fibres surely breaks the heart. 
 But man, in darkest hour of need and pain, 
 Shall never seek for aid and ease in vain ; 
 A gentle balm, a soothing salve shall find 
 In deeds of mercy offered to his kind ; 
 With sweet compassion lifting those that fall, 
 Excusing, pitying, helping, loving all. 
 Thus to absorb in other's woes his own, 
 Thus for another's errors to atone, 
 And — since to trip in trespass is to live — 
 Learn from his God the lesson — to forgive. 
 So Adam, half unmindful of his fate. 
 Turned in relenting mood to seek his mate, 
 Marked the dim shape that followed in the gloom, 
 And loved her better for their common doom.
 
 40 THE TRUE CROSS. 
 
 He stretched a clinging hand to meet 
 
 A chnging hand that met his own, 
 Nor ceased, nor weaned to repeat 
 The tender words of solace sweet. 
 
 She answered with a moan ; 
 For, sharper than a thrust of steel, 
 It stabs a woman's heart to feel 
 
 In self-reproachful pain, 
 How from the head she loves the best — 
 The head that shelters in her breast — 
 
 She strives to ward in vain 
 Storm.s that her own great error has brought down, 
 Yet finds a smile where she had feared a frown. 
 He drew her closer, closer yet, 
 
 To comfort and to cheer. 
 Her touch was cold, her cheek was wet, 
 
 She never seemed so dear. 
 And, like a child that shrinks from harm, 
 She wrapped her in his circling arm, 
 And silent, pleaded all the charm
 
 THE SEED. 41 
 
 Of weakness and of fear. 
 Thus side by side, and hand in hand, 
 
 They passed toijcthcr through the night — 
 Before them loomed a shadowy land, 
 
 Behind them waned a sinking light, 
 Yet calm and hopeful, though subdued, 
 
 They journeyed on the uncertain way. 
 Each in the other's altered mood 
 Saw love renewing and renewed, 
 
 While each was fain to say, 
 " Though dark the hour, the labour rude. 
 For hearts with mutual hopes imbued. 
 There smiles a future to be wooed, 
 
 There dawns a coming day ! 
 Then reunited, trusting as at first, 
 Shall we not share the best, as we can dare the worst ! " 
 And so their burden, each for each 
 
 They lightened, while they bore 
 The loveliest lesson, thus to teach 
 
 Of all our human lore.
 
 42 THE TRUE CROSS. 
 
 For he who thinks to stand alone, 
 
 Alone shall surely fall — 
 Our very woes are not our own, 
 
 But held in trust for all. 
 The bitter tears that secret flow, 
 
 In solitary pain, 
 May freshen other lives, although 
 Our barren hopes can never know 
 
 Their fertilizing rain ; 
 And we who work, and we who weep, 
 
 Nor weep nor work in vain. 
 If other hands our harvest reap. 
 And other hearts with joy shall leap 
 
 To garner up our grain. 
 
 The wanderers journeyed many an hour, 
 Nor staid for rest by brake nor bower — 
 It seemed as though some hidden power. 
 
 Or instinct at the least. 
 Born of their own imperious need,
 
 THE SEED. 43 
 
 That yearned for light their steps to lead, 
 Impelled them onward to proceed, 
 
 And drove them to the East. 
 Till, for his mate, with labour spent, 
 He paused a little space, and bent 
 His stately head to her, who leant 
 
 Her own upon his breast, 
 And turned, and bade her mark how fair 
 The Garden slept behind them, there : 
 How still the tree — how soft the air 
 
 In calm and hush of rest, 
 And how, retiring, pale, and proud. 
 The Moon, as in a silver shroud, 
 Dimmed by a streak of dappled cloud. 
 
 Went down into the west. 
 
 She marked it all, and marked beside 
 
 On that beloved brow, 
 The bitter shame it strove to hide, 
 The scorn of self, the wounded pride
 
 44 THE TRUE CROSS. 
 
 That marred its grandeur now, 
 And drew him to their destined way, 
 
 And urged him not in vain. 
 And pointed where before them lay 
 The promise of approaching day, 
 A pale and narrow seam of grey. 
 
 Yet level with the plain ; 
 A scanty rift that widened fast. 
 In token night was surely past, 
 And joyous morning come at last 
 
 To gladden earth again. 
 He found a comfort in the thought, 
 A comfort by the Woman brought. 
 
 Yet little had availed 
 Without that hopeful, helpful guide. 
 Strength, wisdom, fortitude, and pride, 
 
 When all the Man had failed ! 
 Now, like the children of his race, 
 God's future he was armed to face, 
 
 With Life prepared to cope ;
 
 THE SEED. 45 
 
 For, broken, baffled, and bereft, 
 Those are not wholly lost whose hearts have 
 left 
 A Memory and a Hope.
 
 BOOK II. 
 
 THE ARK.
 
 BOOK IL 
 
 THE ARK. 
 
 CANTO I. 
 
 I. 
 EHOLD the mountain towering in its pride, 
 With russet robe, and crown of ruddy gold, 
 And shaggy fringe of copses crimson-dyed 
 Beneath the glows of sunset, and behold 
 The great primeval landscape all unrolled 
 In grandeur of design, though wild and rude. 
 The gorgeous hues, the outline free and bold, 
 Unbridled torrent, and impervious wood, 
 The wilderness untamed. The world before the Flood ! 
 
 £ 2
 
 so THE TRUE CROSS. 
 
 II. 
 
 Where mighty monsters roamed, that have to-day 
 Nor Hke nor kindred here. The enormous bear. 
 In deep recess of rocky cave that lay. 
 Yet made in deep recess a shallow lair. 
 The ungainly mammoth, coarse with matted hair, 
 A bulky mass, but half informed with life ; 
 Yet from his torpor roused, should hunters dare 
 Provoke his sloth, a foe with fury rife, 
 No unresisting prey in that gigantic strife. 
 
 III. 
 And wingless birds that grovelled on the earth, 
 Half-bird, half-reptile. Such as it would seem 
 To freak of nature owed abortive birth. 
 And creatures mis-begotten of the stream, 
 In hideous shapes, fantastic as a dream. 
 When in a trance the sleeper's fears prevail, 
 And shadowy horror quenches reason's gleam. 
 Formed but a lewd and loathsome length to trail, 
 And score the yielding slime with armour-plated scale.
 
 THE ARK. 51 
 
 IV. 
 
 And there was beauty, such as not since then 
 Math slione on earth to dazzle earthly eye. 
 Beauty ! that worn by daughters but of men, 
 Could yet disturb the councils of the sky, 
 And draw God's very children down to die. 
 And there was strength colossal, such as reared 
 A race of Giants, stubborn, proud, and high — 
 A daring race, that neither hoped nor feared, 
 Regarded naught on earth, nor aught in heaven revered. 
 
 V. 
 
 For wild the dreams of passion that had been 
 In those wild mountains, when the world was young. 
 When sons of God, their nature to demean, 
 Consumed with longing, yet with anguish wrung. 
 Their starry crowns to earthly idols flung, 
 Their snowy robes in earthly mire defiled, 
 Duped by the loving glance, the flattering tongue. 
 Exulting, even thus betrayed, beguiled — 
 Lured from their high estate because a woman smiled.
 
 52 THE TRUE CROSS. 
 
 VI. 
 
 Sweet were the tortures of the summer night, 
 The rapture of suspense, and more than sweet 
 The agony of joy and fierce dehght. 
 That bade her wind about the Vision's feet. 
 And upward writhe his scorching clasp to meet. 
 But bitter was the end, and keen the smart 
 (Such oft-told tale it boots not to repeat). 
 For still the doom is shared when lovers part — 
 One bears a broken faith, and one a broken heart. 
 
 VII. 
 
 Then were there stricken faces, vexed and pale, 
 That through the waste went flitting here and there. 
 Like phantoms seeking rest without avail, 
 And haggard eyes, and backward-streaming hair, 
 And hands outstretched to heaven in wild despair. 
 While ever swelled and sank and swelled asrain, 
 A piteous wail that quivered in the air, 
 A woeful music set to fitful strain, 
 The dirge of buried hopes, and love that loved in vain.
 
 THE ARK. 
 
 VIII. 
 
 Yet hence arose a fierce imperious race, 
 Of glorious beauty and gigantic frame, 
 Who owed tlicir demon-strength, their angel-face, 
 To link of heavenly guilt and earthly shame, 
 With holier natures kindred who could claim, 
 But felt for holier natures haughty scorn ; 
 Inviting evil, courting hate and shame — 
 Stern with the proud, yet trampling the forlorn, 
 And still inflicting wrong on all of Woman born. 
 
 IX. 
 
 Insatiate in a mad desire of strife, 
 A thirst for danger, and a wild delight 
 To take at every turn, or peril — life. 
 Exulting in the triumph of their might, 
 Yet loving less the victory than the fight. 
 To fear unable, and untaught to spare. 
 Rejoicing to pursue, by day and night. 
 Huge beasts of chase, the mammoth or the bear. 
 And track the monster home, and slay him in his lair. 
 
 53
 
 54 THE TRUE CROSS. 
 
 X. 
 
 Bathed in a crimson glow of eventide, 
 The crimson glow that flooded all the west, 
 There stood a figure on the mountain-side, 
 In scanty garments of the hunter dressed, 
 With sinewy limbs and mighty bulk of chest, 
 Tall, strong, and fair, a comely child of sin, 
 Yet of his race the gentlest and the best, 
 And at his feet there lay a monster's skin. 
 Well was that hunter formed, such dangerous spoil to win. 
 
 XL 
 
 For in the combat he was fierce and strong, 
 Though kind and courteous when the strife was done. 
 Wassail and wine he loved, and mirth and song. 
 Nor smile of woman scorned, though lightly won 
 In sumptuous banquet, spread at set of sun. 
 A nature prone to pleasure, prompt to ire, 
 Impatient of the curb, not suffering long 
 Restraint, reproof, nor check to its desire. 
 For through that earthly mould there coursed unearthly fire.
 
 THE ARK. 55 
 
 XII. 
 
 Brief was his pause of contemplation there, 
 For soon, to rouse his keen and practised car, 
 Broke on the stillness of the summer air 
 A ring of tools, repeated quick and clear. 
 Plank-tearing plane and hammer he could hear, 
 And rasping saw that grated in and out, 
 As when some wooden fabric workmen rear 
 With toil and craft. Not long he stood in doubt, 
 But gathered up his spoil, and went to seek it out. 
 
 XIII, 
 
 Descending swift the mountain's rugged side, 
 He bounded down, the wished-for spot to gain. 
 With light and airy tread, but sweeping stride, 
 Like some good courser scouring o'er the plain, 
 That meets in managed leap the mastering rein. 
 With such good courser's strength and speed endowed, 
 Like him he halted — short, as in disdain. 
 And flung his head aloft with gesture proud, 
 And stood at gaze, and laughed, in laughter long and loud.
 
 56 THE TRUE CROSS. 
 
 XIV. 
 
 For lo ! the framework of a vast desicfn, 
 Now verging- on completion, met his eye. 
 Adjusted well with plummet, scale, and line. 
 Lest bulwark, beam, or joist should fit awry, 
 Warped from the seemly level, fair and high, 
 Of timbers, cornered, each in other's niche. 
 And, though the wood was seasoned now, and dry. 
 Its porous grain to strengthen and enrich 
 By wise preventive care, pitched in and out with pitch. 
 
 XV. 
 
 One thoughtful head the great device had planned. 
 Eight brawny arms the unceasing labour plied ; 
 For, clothed in strength of willing heart and hand, 
 Four goodly men were working side by side : 
 Three in the comely prime of manhood's pride, 
 The fourth with reverend brows and beard of grey. 
 Whose wisdom all the master-craft supplied, 
 Instructing these his sons, each piece to lay. 
 Behests of such a sire, well might such sons obey !
 
 THE ARK. 57 
 
 XVI. 
 
 The youngest-born was comely, tall, and spare, 
 Or tool or weapon deftly formed to ply. 
 With ruddy cheek, and wealth of golden hair. 
 And gentle mien, and features calm and high ; 
 The next seemed swarthier tanned, by sunnier sky. 
 With bulky limbs, and chest more squarely made ; 
 The third, whose keener face and narrower eye 
 A fine and subtle sense of skill conveyed, 
 The shrewd constructive power in every glance betrayed. 
 
 XVII. 
 
 Ceaseless had been their toil from break of day, 
 Nor ceased their toil when day was nearly done, 
 For dark prophetic fear forbade delay. 
 And coming need of work long since begun, 
 Impelled to ceaseless effort sire and son — 
 That coming need though all the world ignored, 
 Persistent its unbridled course to run, 
 Provoking vengeance, soon to be out-poured, 
 And still devisin"- sins of heaven and earth abhorred.
 
 58 THE TRUE CROSS. 
 
 XVIII. 
 
 For this, the skies were heavy with a curse, 
 Ere long to wash poUution from the land. 
 Man's thought was evil now, his action worse, 
 Black was the heart, and red the ruthless hand, 
 And foul the fires by guilt and passion fanned. 
 Untamed their wild rebellion, who could dare 
 The Maker's laws to challenge and withstand. 
 Of pardon unconcerned, unblessed by prayer, 
 The doom to turn aside, that trembled in the air. 
 
 XIX. 
 
 Yet could eternal Mercy set apart 
 One righteous nature from the unrighteous crew. 
 A man of blameless life, and spotless heart. 
 With pious precepts stored. A man who knew. 
 And practised, godly ways, and taught them too. 
 For him and his the judgment could suspend, 
 In purpose to preserve that chosen few, 
 Their needs to help, their weakness to defend, 
 Bestow them in its care, and keep them to the end.
 
 THE ARK. 59 
 
 XX. 
 
 So, while his erring brethren ate and drank, 
 Married and gave in marriage, as they would ; 
 Their souls in vile pollution steeped and sank. 
 And chose the evil while they saw the good — 
 The tide of life's corruption he withstood, 
 Sought the deep silence of the forest-glade, 
 To commune with himself in solitude. 
 And on behalf of friends and kindred made 
 Oblation to his God, and wept, and knelt, and prayed. 
 
 XXI. 
 
 Nor did his God forget him, in the gloom 
 And stillness of the woods, but stooped to lend 
 A gracious ear, and warned him of the doom. 
 And spoke, as speaks a mortal with his friend. 
 Vouchsafing partial pardon to extend, 
 Nor scorned to teach him how to plan and make 
 An ark, his charge to shelter and defend, 
 For of each living thing he bade him take 
 A sample to survive, and spared them for his sake.
 
 6o THE TRUE CROSS. 
 
 XXII. 
 
 Thus while the wise directions he obeyed, 
 And searched the forest dih'gently through, 
 He found a goodly giant of the glade — 
 So vast of girth, so stately, that he knew 
 (For old tradition pointed where it grew,) 
 How Seth had seen those budding branches wave; 
 And Enos spared the growth, himself should hew. 
 For that great tree, up-towering fair and brave, 
 Struck deep its ancient root in Adam's ancient grave. 
 
 XXIII. 
 
 With brandished axe he brought it to the ground, 
 And carved a mighty beam from out its heart — 
 A mighty beam, hereafter to be found 
 The strength sustaining of its strongest part. 
 In all the floating fabric of his art ; 
 And girded it with iron, to afford 
 Supporting power, lest it should strain or start, 
 And in its veins the seething resin poured, 
 And proved it firm and sound by smiting on the board.
 
 THE ARK. 6 1 
 
 XXIV. 
 
 As at his forge in red relief and glow, 
 A smith, with salient muscles, shoulder-bare, 
 Completes his hearty labour, blow by blow — 
 So, tinged with crimson of the evening air. 
 This master-workman, striking just and fair. 
 His master-strokes repeated on the wood, 
 Nor trouble seemed to grudge, nor toil to spare, 
 But spent his strength, and laboured all he could ; 
 Therefore the giant laughed in no ungentle mood. 
 
 XXV. 
 
 " Old man ! " said he, " what boots it thus to slave ? 
 Were it not wise the fruitless task to leave. 
 And join with us, the idle, gay, and brave. 
 Who love the chase at noon, the feast at eve. 
 Who in our weapons and ourselves believe .-* 
 Thine seems a long endurance, little worth, 
 An endless labour, hopeless of reprieve. 
 Come then, and cheer thy heart with wine and mirth ; 
 These are the gifts of heaven, and these the joys of earth.
 
 62 THE TRUE CROSS. 
 
 XXVI. 
 
 " Nor are they far to seek. For now behold 
 The ready banquet, set in order fair 
 With dainty meats and brimming cups of gold. 
 Laughter and song, and joyous hearts are there, 
 And smiling women with their sun-bright hair ; 
 Nor these brave youths shall linger here the while. 
 I welcome all ! Then nothing stint nor spare. 
 For thee the cup ; for them bright woman's smile 
 The lagging hours of night shall sweeten and beguile. 
 
 XXVII. 
 
 " Such are the gods that heaven and earth subdue, 
 Such are the gods we worship, for we know 
 Their rites the strength and courage shall renew 
 That scorn to shrink from aught above, below. 
 Nor yield to mortal nor immortal foe. 
 Rouse then thy failing heart with mirth and wine ; 
 So shall the mounting pulses leap and glow. 
 While manhood all its forces shall combine 
 To trample human might and beard the power divine!
 
 THE ARK. 63 
 
 xxviir. 
 "To-morrow in the flush of morning's pride, 
 Together will we fare, a laughing band, 
 Our joyous measure treading side by side, 
 Our voices blending — linking hand in hand, 
 To fire these goodly timbers where they stand ; 
 Sweet incense then shall pitch and resin raise, 
 Homage from him who worked to him who planned — 
 Forsooth, a pious offering all a-blaze ! 
 Said I not well ? Old man, thou shrinkest in amaze ! " 
 
 XXIX. 
 
 But he whom thus the haughty youth addressed, 
 Across laborious brows his garment drew. 
 And paused a space of no unwelcome rest, 
 Though vexed and sad his thoughtful visage grew, 
 As one who feared the future he fore-knew, 
 Its gathering cloud of evil loth to scan. 
 So many that should compass, spare so few ; 
 When, in accordance with its Maker's plan, [man. 
 
 The Earth should sink engulphed, borne down by sins of 
 
 F
 
 64 THE TRUE CROSS. 
 
 XXX. 
 
 " These are the gods ye worship ! " he repeated ; 
 " False gods ! false worship ! falsest trick of all, 
 By such delusive idols to be cheated ! 
 How shall ye look when on your gods ye call 
 In stress of need, the bravest to appal ? 
 When upward still the avenging waters glide, 
 And downward still the avenging waters fall. 
 And woman's pliant grace, man's stalwart pride, 
 Are borne like wisps of weed, waifs on the mounting tide. 
 
 XXXI. 
 
 " When, blinded by the green encircling wave, 
 The baffled mother, choking in despair, 
 Shall toss her arms aloft, her babe to save, 
 Launched to the dwindling peak of granite, where 
 The tigress licks her cubs, with famished glare. 
 And grating claws that cling in slippery hold. 
 Yet couches to await the prey ; but ere 
 That reeking breath the living child enfold, 
 Lo ! the dead woman sinks through waters deep and cold !
 
 THE ARK. 65 
 
 XXXII. 
 
 " While all around with bloated corpses rife, 
 A wrecked creation spots the heaving deep : 
 Some lifted upward, dance, as mocking life, 
 Some through the veiling surface loathsome peep, 
 And still the cruel waters laugh and leap. 
 How fare your brethren now, the strong, the brave ? 
 Call on your gods aloud ! and bid them keep 
 Their children from the rolling ruthless wave — 
 Call on your gods, I say ! Your gods that cannot save ! 
 
 XXXIII. 
 
 " On my God will I call. On him rely 
 Whose laws I love, and in his truth confide. 
 To safety shall he waft me fair and high ; 
 Nor counsel shall withhold my course to guide, 
 Borne on the flow of that resistless tide. 
 Which shall not ebb, nor dwindle, nor abate, 
 Till you and yours have foundered in )'our pride — 
 Swamp'd, with the brutes to perish small and great. 
 Will ye not turn in time } It is not }'et too late ! " 
 
 F 2
 
 66 THE TRUE CROSS. 
 
 XXXIV. 
 
 Loud laughed the giant. " Dotard ! fool ! " he said ; 
 " But that it rouses mirth such tales to hear, 
 My wrath had sure descended on his head 
 Who in my presence dares to mention fear, 
 Or hint I value danger, far or near. 
 The deeps may rise — I'll bale them in my shield ! 
 The skies may fall — I'll prop them on my spear ! 
 Worse can I dare than thou hast thus revealed. 
 Yet scorn from Fate to flinch — to God refuse to yield ! 
 
 XXXV. 
 
 " And if it come to pass, these words of thine 
 Hereafter are fulfilled, remember thou 
 No whit I shrank from power nor wrath divine, 
 Nor 'bated aught of what I tell thee now. 
 While planted firm on solid earth, I vow. 
 That if but one square inch of standing-room 
 This curse of spreading waters shall allow, 
 Engulfed and sinking in that yielding tomb. 
 Thy God will I abjure, and dare his instant doom ! "
 
 THE ARK. 67 
 
 XXXVI. 
 
 Once more he laughed, and scornful strode away, 
 Nor paused for that concerned and sorrowing face, 
 So fain to bid him ponder yet and stay, 
 As though already, ere he left the place, 
 In sad prophetic instinct it could trace 
 Pale fires of doom about the comely head, 
 So comely, yet so proud, like all his race ; 
 Could mark the faded e}-es, their lustre fled. 
 The gallant beauty marred, for ever lost and dead, 
 
 XXXVII. 
 
 Grieving, one ceased from toil with fall of night ; 
 The while to eat the fat, and drink the strong, 
 Gay with his boast, exulting in his might, 
 The other sped those forest-glades along, 
 Guided by clash of cups and burst of song. 
 That bade him to the joyous feast repair. 
 With notes of mirth that to such scenes belong, 
 High rose the tide of revel, free and fair. 
 And torches flashed and streamed, to redden all the air.
 
 •68 THE TRUE CROSS. 
 
 xxxvni. 
 There were the cups that glow, the gems that gleam, 
 And glorious women with their hair unbound, 
 And lovely faces, lustrous as a dream, 
 And snowy, shapely arms, gold-girded round. 
 Bright were their looks and smiles, and sweet the sound 
 Of those soft voices rippling round the board ; 
 And each had lost a heart, and each had found 
 The loss supplied a master and a lord. 
 Whom for a space she loved, and while she loved, adored. 
 
 XXXIX. 
 
 For Woman then was fond, as Woman now, 
 When Man is less heroic than of yore. 
 Deep was her wit, though calm and smooth her brow ; 
 Deep was her heart, and tender to the core. 
 Ungrudging all its treasure to out-pour 
 At those dear feet she worshipped for a while. 
 Yet, changing once, she changed for evermore, 
 And, fain to lure fresh captives in her smile. 
 Still a fresh triumph found, fresh lovers to beguile.
 
 THE ARK. 69 
 
 XL. 
 By that proud youth, of all the women there 
 The proudest and the loveliest sat her down ; 
 Bright were her glances, on her forehead fair 
 The glory of her tresses wreathed a crown, 
 And jewels looped her hair and looped her gown. 
 Yet when he spoke she scarcely bent to hear, 
 Nor much she seemed to heed with smile or frown, 
 But in her eyes there came the lovelight clear, 
 That shone for him alone — the loved one, whispering near. 
 
 XLI. 
 
 And now she blushed and trembled with delight, 
 And now she stumbled in her speech, and sighed, 
 And longed, in coolness of the outer night. 
 On that broad breast her burning brow to hide. 
 Alone with Jiivi, her treasure and her pride. 
 For here were noise and glare, and laughter rang, 
 Till gaily on her name some reveller cried. 
 Then ceased the tongues to wag, the cups to clang, 
 And sank the din of mirth to silence while she sang.
 
 70 THE TRUE CROSS. 
 
 " I weep and watch — I Aveep and wait, 
 He Cometh not — he cometh late — 
 My lord, my love, mine angel-mate, 
 
 Thou tarriest long ! 
 My heart is humble now and meek, 
 My heart is full, I needs must speak, 
 My heart is sad and sore and weak. 
 
 But love is strong. 
 And ringeth in my brain its knell, 
 
 Farewell ! Farewell ! 
 Thy kiss yet burneth on my brow. 
 The burning kiss that sealed thy vow — 
 My lord hath ceased to love me now — 
 
 I make my moan. 
 Oh ! joy when heart on heart could beat ! 
 Oh ! madness when our lips could meet ! 
 Come back, and I will kiss thy feet ! 
 
 My King ! my own ! 
 Come back ! I pray — beseech — implore ! 
 
 Once more — once more ! 
 Will he not hear me ? Yes — behold
 
 THE ARK. 71 
 
 The mist of stars — the shine of gold ! 
 His wings arc round me as of old. 
 
 Oh ! vision vain ! 
 To mock my longing, loving sight, 
 One instant with its flood of light, 
 Then fade in deepest dark of night. 
 
 Nor rise again. 
 How hard to bear, tongue cannot tell ! 
 
 Farewell — Farewell — • 
 Farewell ! " 
 
 XLII. 
 
 Died the sweet voice away in trembling tone, 
 Yet lingered in the hearts of those who heard, 
 And bade them know its sadness for their own ; 
 While each, with choking throat and vision blurred, 
 Felt all the finer chords of nature stirred. 
 Though one alone she valued o'er the rest 
 Nor look of iove betrayed, nor uttered word, 
 But stole a seeking hand to hers, and pressed 
 The kind and clinging hand, that answered, thus caressed.
 
 72 THE TRUE CROSS. 
 
 XLIII. 
 
 And so they passed in cruel joys the day, 
 So drank and shouted through the calm of night, 
 In scorn of that just man, who bade them stay 
 Their reddened hands, their ruthless, reckl ess might, 
 Although his work was daily in their sight — 
 Accomplished now through toil of many a year. 
 Exulting all his warning to requite 
 With unbelieving jest, and flout, and jeer. 
 And thus they lived and laughed, and thus the end drew 
 near, 
 
 XLIV. 
 
 Till one still night there stole upon the breeze 
 A mournful whisper, troubling all the air. 
 As though a spirit moaned among the trees. 
 And prayed for rest with piteous pleading prayer. 
 Reproachful of the boisterous revellers there. 
 Each looked enquiring in the other's eyes, 
 And each returned the other's wistful stare, 
 Or smiled, a grim foreboding to disguise, 
 And set the goblet down and listened in surprise.
 
 THE ARK. 73 
 
 XLV. 
 
 Soon was the riddle read, and broke the spell, 
 For Hke a pelt of stones by sh'ngers cast, 
 Drop following drop, that widened as they fell, 
 Each larger, heavier, angrier than the last, 
 The hissing storm descended, thick and fast. 
 On night's dark brow there came a darker frown, 
 Rose the wild whisper to a wilder blast. 
 While insect, flower, and fruit, to drench and drown, 
 Poured from the blackening skies great sheets of water 
 down. 
 
 XLVI. 
 
 Then Woman's eye dilated, paled her cheek. 
 And Man his brow uplifted, bold and high, 
 As fain in heaven or earth his foe to seek — 
 The foe in heaven or earth he would defy. 
 Whom shall he dread who drcadcth not to die .'' 
 And wrung by fear, again and yet again 
 There broke from gentle hearts a stifled cry. 
 While these in horror, those in fierce disdain, 
 Laughed — shouted — whispered — scoffed — " Behold ! 
 The rain ! The rain ! "
 
 CANTO II. 
 
 I. 
 ]HE rain — the rain. In ceaseless, silent fall 
 It varied not nor stinted day by day, 
 Wove o'er the soaking earth its misty pall, 
 And blurred the landscape in a shroud of grey, 
 Uncheered, unbroken by a rift or ray. 
 Loomed in the haze gigantic, rock and tree, 
 On wood and hill thick folds of vapour lay, 
 Bubbled the spring, the fountain spouted free, 
 And streams to rivers swelled, and rivers to a sea.
 
 THE ARK. 
 
 /> 
 
 II. 
 
 A dim grey sea, that covered all the plain, 
 Vty peak and islet studded here and there, 
 Thronged with a swarm of living creatures, fain 
 On each dry spot for refuge to repair. 
 Great beasts of field and forest, birds of air, 
 Scared by a watery world, a watery sky, 
 That looked to heaven in silent pleading prayer. 
 And turned on earth a solemn, seeking eye ; 
 And flocked, and roamed, and roared, and shivered, loth 
 to die. 
 
 III. 
 
 For while the narrowing island dwindled fast, 
 And while the widening waters swelled and rose, 
 By press of common need together cast. 
 Tamed by a common danger, crowded those 
 Whose habits in their freedom made them foes. 
 Yet did the stronger push the weak aside, 
 While inward still the remnant sought to close. 
 Till came the mastering flood o'er all to glide. 
 And bore the conqueror off, and swamped him in its tide.
 
 76 THE TRUE CROSS. 
 
 IV. 
 
 Some wrestled hard, ere yielding thus to die, 
 And some without an effort sank outright ; 
 Some drowned with angry snort and bubbling cry. 
 And some struck out and swam with all their might, 
 By nature's instinct urged, for life to fight. 
 In dumb and dogged hope that sought to gain 
 The distant upland, hidden from their sight, 
 Their failing strength to rack, their limbs to strain, 
 And struggle blindly on, but struggle on in vain. 
 
 V. 
 
 Each higher mountain pass ere now was thronged 
 With mighty moving creatures from below, 
 Whose short sharp cry, or dismal howl prolonged. 
 The fierce suspicion of a lurking foe, 
 And sense of coming danger, seemed to show. 
 While, undetected yet of eye or ear, 
 With stealthy gait they traversed to and fro, 
 Or thundering up and down in wild career, 
 Pushed, worried, fought, and gored, in anger and in fear.
 
 THE ARK. 77 
 
 VI. 
 
 For while destruction threatened from afar, 
 Destruction none the less was close at hand. 
 In every thicket lurked the insidious war, 
 By man called sport, that man's device had planned 
 To sweep his game, God's creatures, from the land. 
 Nor wanton w^ounds nor death he spared to deal, 
 Nor size nor strength his cunning could withstand, 
 That bade the mammoth in its death-pang reel, 
 And to the cave-bear's heart drove home the quivering 
 steel. 
 
 VII. 
 
 The lordly race that slaughter loved so well, 
 Because the waters covered all below, 
 On loftier mountains now were fain to dwell, 
 Exulting in vain-glorious boast to know 
 What gallant herds those wooded heights could show — 
 Great monsters, worthy of the days of yore. 
 Such as their fathers hunted long ago. 
 And since the rain had fall'n, they laughed and swore 
 The chase was nobler, livelier, deadlier than before.
 
 78 THE TRUE CROSS. 
 
 viir. 
 At peaceful morning-tide they rose to slay, 
 With noisy revel scared the hush of night ; 
 Man's fiercer instincts prompted to obey, 
 In wine and wassail took a wild delight. 
 Great human hearts rejoicing in their might, 
 Yet conscious of a calm resistless power, 
 That still refused to spare and scorned to fight ; 
 That, day by day, caused darker skies to lower, 
 And bade the creeping flood gain on them, hour by 
 hour. 
 
 IX. 
 
 But yet they took nor heed nor warning, knew 
 No worship but their own unholy will. 
 A fearless, ruthless, reckless, godless crew. 
 In time of wrath predestined to fulfil 
 The award of Him who did but threaten still. 
 Whose vengeance in each cloud although they saw. 
 Heard in each breeze that moaned about the hill, 
 Nor shame nor fear they owned, nor shrank in awe, 
 God's precepts to ignore, and break man's sterner law.
 
 THE ARK. 79 
 
 X. 
 
 And now behold, as heretofore revealed 
 By one inspired who preached to all the rest, 
 The fountains of the mighty deep unsealed, 
 Great tidal waves that mounted unrepressed, 
 Dark— shining— edged with white and ragged crest. 
 That wrapped the hills in their embraces cold — 
 Hills, that should sink and perish thus caressed, 
 That drove each living thing from hold to hold, 
 And upward seethed and surged, and onward roared and 
 rolled. 
 
 XI. 
 
 Thus for each cubit's breadth of standing-room, 
 Imperious Man was now compelled to strive 
 With brutes, the dumb companions of his doom; 
 Fain from their nook the monster-cubs to drive. 
 And save his own weak shivering babes alive. 
 Till some fierce mother that he thought to slay 
 Would rise in her despair to rend and rive. 
 When, grappling in the base inglorious fray. 
 The impartial waters came and swept them both away.
 
 8o THE TRUE CROSS. 
 
 XII. 
 
 Yet, like the autumn fruit in mellow skies, 
 That drops mature and noiseless from the tree, 
 These lordly natures, with defiant eyes, 
 Sank stern and silent in the silent sea. 
 While earth remained, they laughed and revelled free, 
 When earth was gone, they wrapped them in their pride. 
 Untamed in this the last extremity ; 
 Looked scornful up to heaven, then turned aside, 
 And set their dogged teeth, and cursed their God, and 
 died. 
 
 XIII. 
 
 While, if some lowlier spirit seemed to cower, 
 And shrank to meet the phantom, face to face, 
 That scared its senses in this darker hour, 
 Tradition and inherent pride of race 
 Taught such a late repentance was disgrace. 
 Who but a coward would recall the past ? 
 Or hope in death, life's journey to retrace } 
 Behold ! the sin was sinned, the lot was cast ! 
 Together would they sink, together drown at last !
 
 THE ARK. 8 1 
 
 XIV. 
 
 J*'cnccd in a cleft of rock, remote and hicjh, 
 Like sea-birds sheltering from the stormy air, 
 Perched on some ledge of granite, smooth and dry, 
 Behold ensconced aloft a lonely pair ! 
 One who had heard the prophet's pleading prayer, 
 Yet scorned the voice prophetic to obey, 
 And one who lured him here in tender care, 
 And scarce acknowledged hope that for a day 
 The doom she might susjDcnd — the judgment thus delay. 
 
 XV. 
 
 And these had loved each other with a love. 
 Though born of earth, and earthly in its kind, 
 Yet tinged with holier lustre from above. 
 The fair and chastened ray of heaven, designed 
 To lead us up to light, however blind. 
 For those who, in their lives, one single grain 
 Of pure and true affection have refined 
 And wrung from viler dross through grief and pain, 
 Their labour have not lost, nor lived, nor lo\cd in vain. 
 
 G 2
 
 82 THE TRUE CROSS. 
 
 XVI. 
 
 And it was thus with Adza, she whose song" 
 Made plaintive music but a while ago, 
 (How short a while it seemed !) when Man was strong, 
 The yet unquestioned lord of all below. 
 Now, after forty days of judgment, lo ! 
 Together on this bleak and barren place 
 They sheltered them in stress of fear and woe, 
 And each looked blankly in the other's face, 
 The sole surviving pair of all their impious race. 
 
 XVII, 
 
 She nestled closer to his side, and said, 
 " Ithor ! my lord and love, were it not well 
 To make submission now, and bow the head ? 
 How long in safety here we have to dwell, 
 It needeth sure no prophet to foretell. 
 Cubit by cubit, still the waters rise, 
 Still, wave by wave, they roll in longer swell. 
 Behold them round us level with the skies ! 
 Soon must we part in death — I read it in thine eyes.
 
 THE ARK. 83 
 
 XVITI. 
 
 " And we have been so happy ! Oh ! my own ! 
 That happy past, my heart can yet retrace ; 
 I see thee at the feast, about thee thrown 
 The robe my skill devised thy form to grace. 
 I see thee rushing god-hkc in the chase, 
 Through toil or danger, joyous, proud, and high, 
 While ever shines a light about thy face, 
 Caught from the beams of an adoring eye. 
 My lord, my love, my king ! And must I see thee die ? 
 
 XIX. 
 
 " I owe my birth to sires of lordly line ! 
 Mine is the blood of princes, but, behold. 
 That princely blood can boast a strain divine, 
 Left by those Sons of Light, of whom 'tis told, 
 How on the mountains they came down of old. 
 And pledged to earthly love a heavenly vow. 
 Their earthly brides in heavenly wings to fold. 
 Ah ! surely these were fairer then than now ! 
 Wilt thou not hear me plead ? Nay, never bend thy brow,
 
 84 THE TRUE CROSS. 
 
 XX. 
 
 " Nor in displeasure turn away thy face — 
 The face that day and night I long to greet. 
 Hast thou not known and proved me of their race 
 Who grudged no cost their spirit-lords to meet, 
 And poured their lives out at an angel's feet ? 
 Yet which of these a tale of love could tell 
 So true as mine ? That tale should I repeat ? 
 Hast thou not found, though good or ill befel, 
 In every turn of fate I loved thee more than well ? 
 
 XXI. 
 
 " Then hear me now ! In this last refuge placed, 
 When of our perished kindred, thou and I, 
 Two living atoms on the watery waste. 
 Are left alone, and left, it seems, to die ! 
 Yet not without vague hope of safety nigh. 
 For, while my weary eyes are strained to gaze 
 Where meet the misty sea and misty sky, 
 Unless our grievous plight their senses daze, 
 Behold, a dim dark shape glides slowly through the haze !
 
 THE ARK. 85 
 
 xxir. 
 " 'Tis surely that strange fabric, long ago 
 Buik in the mountains wc shall see no more, 
 By him, whose wisdom for the time of woe, 
 A safe and cunning shelter planned, before 
 The angry skies their floods began to pour. 
 His aid, our only hope, I bid thee crave. 
 It cannot shame thee, Ithor, to implore 
 Man's succour now, th}- life and mme to save. 
 See, love, it lips our feet, the cruel creeping wave." 
 
 XXIII. 
 
 " It cannot shame me ! " he repeated, while 
 There came a woful lustre in his eye, 
 Though round his lip was set the changeless smile 
 Of proud despair, the worst that can defy, 
 " Is there no shame then, love, when death is nigh. 
 In fear of death, submission thus to make } 
 Thus like a frightened child for help to cry ? 
 Would I could find it in my heart to take 
 The coward's part, and bow my pride for thy dear sake !
 
 86 THE TRUE CROSS. 
 
 XXIV. 
 
 " But when I scoffed at him, who, scoffing- now. 
 Rides on in safety, yonder throug'h the gloom. 
 No fooHsh boast was mine, no empty vow. 
 That while on earth it left me standing-room. 
 Unmoved I would confront this watery doom. 
 Betray no symptom of remorse nor fear, 
 My right of Man assert, my rule assume. 
 While that one spot was left me dry and clear. 
 And bear me like its lord and king, as I do here ! 
 
 XXV. 
 
 " Yet would I not that thou should'st perish too. 
 So much thy life is dearer than mine own, 
 That scarce these rising waters should I rue, 
 Could I but battle here with death alone ! 
 How dear thou art, too surely hast thou known, 
 Yet dearer still than thee, I needs must hold 
 The word I passed, and for that word atone. 
 What though the boast were somewhat free and bold, 
 This is no time to flinch, and wish the talc untold.
 
 THE ARK. 87 
 
 XXVI. 
 
 " But thou art not to suffer thus, because 
 This stubborn pride of mine can now defy 
 Our Maker's wrath, as once our Maker's laws. 
 It needeth but a single suppliant cry 
 To gain that roomy refuge floating by. 
 I would not have one precious hair be wet 
 On that dear head ! Then, leave me here to die. 
 Look to thyself, beloved one — and yet, 
 Adza ! in time to come thou wilt not quite forget ! " 
 
 XXVII. 
 
 " Forget ! " she murmured low, and turned her eyes 
 On his, and laid her hand within his own. 
 But that her bosom heaved in fall and rise, 
 But that each breath came choking through a moan, 
 She seemed a soul-less woman, carved in stone. 
 Then, roused to sense of all she felt and feared, 
 She woke, and with her arms about him thrown, 
 Wept on his breast, till brows and brain were cleared, 
 And while she wept the Ark passed on and disappeared.
 
 88 THE TRUE CROSS. 
 
 XXVIII. 
 
 Not till its outline faded into space, 
 Cleared from her eyes the cloud of fear and pain ; 
 But now the courage mounted to her face, 
 And while she raised her head in sweet disdain, 
 The light of life beamed in her looks again. 
 For though she was but woman, worn and weak, 
 Though the devouring waters rose amain, 
 And though she laid to his a death-cold cheek, 
 In that fond breast there swelled a love that bade her 
 speak. 
 
 XXIX. 
 
 " And now," she sobbed, exulting, "heart to heart, 
 Lip glued to lip, together will we drown ! 
 Locked in a last embrace, ere yet we part, 
 A loving life in loving death to crown, 
 Cling each to each, and so sink calmly down. 
 Laugh, cruel waves, your laughter we defy ! 
 Frown, angry heavens, we scorn and mock your frown ! 
 What can we lose or gain, my love and I, 
 Who hide nor hope to live, nor own a fear to die ?
 
 THE ARK. 89 
 
 XXX. 
 
 " One jot thou hast not 'bated of thy pride, 
 The pride on wliicli I seem to build mine own, 
 For I am prouder, shivering by thy side, 
 Here on our scanty ledge of dripping stone, 
 Than reigning safe, without thee, on a throne. 
 Nor would I seek a fairer end than this. 
 To meet the worst at last with thee alone. 
 To baffle doom of death in dream of bliss. 
 And spend my parting breath in one long clinging 
 kiss ! " 
 
 XXXI. 
 
 She spoke — and when she paused, across his brow 
 There swept a short sharp agony of pain. 
 That shuddered in his very eyes, for now 
 Each pulse that beat was sounding on his brain 
 The knell of hope, that could not live again. 
 And now the waters coiled about their feet, 
 To pinion wrestling limbs that strove in vain, 
 Yet each to other clung. Ah ! deadly sweet 
 The wild sad kiss of lips that nevermore should meet !
 
 90 THE TRUE CROSS. 
 
 XXXII. 
 
 Lit by a love, unconquered to the last, 
 Shone in his eyes a lustre through despair, 
 And o'er her face a pale sad glory past. 
 While, of that race rebellious none to spare, 
 The waters wrapped their shroud about the pair, 
 Too proud to live, alas ! too fair to die. 
 And thus, their task fulfilled and ended there. 
 Rose over-head, exulting, fathom-high, 
 And smiled in calm expanse, unbroken to the sky.
 
 CANTO III. 
 THE ARK. 
 
 I. 
 
 ET were not all to perish. On the wave 
 (l^ljfrW A wondrous fabric floated, buoyant still, 
 
 A^^^OjK f- r • 1 1 1 1 
 
 borne remnant of creation that should save, 
 Ranged and disposed, its goodly bulk to fill, 
 For He who life bestowed was loth to kill, 
 And in His wisdom shelter thus prepared 
 For brutes to stock and human hands to till, 
 A world renewed, forgiven, cleansed, and spared, 
 As, ere the evil days, His mercy had declared.
 
 92 THE TRUE CROSS, 
 
 11. 
 When of each beast that trod the soHd earth, 
 When of each bird that clove the yielding air, 
 Of creeping things produced in slimy birth. 
 There mounted to the Ark a chosen pair. 
 Each coupled with its mate, in order fair, 
 While food of every kind that should supply 
 Each creature's need was stored and gathered there, 
 Ruled by a master-hand, a master-eye. 
 To guide the motley freight that rode 'twixt sea and sky. 
 
 III. 
 None were neglected. Here in slumber lay, 
 But not beyond that master's ken and care. 
 Fenced in and well secured, the beast of prey, 
 To dream it couched in darkling forest-lair, 
 Screened in the leafy brake from noon-day glare. 
 Or lurked by forest-pools among the trees 
 Whereto its antlered victim should repair — 
 Then rose — with quivering nostril snuffed the breeze — 
 Yawned — stretched its sinewy length, and laid it down 
 at ease.
 
 THE ARK. 93 
 
 IV. 
 
 Here too, majestic In his size and weight, 
 Propped by a beam, the elephant recHned, 
 With tusks, as mightier than his tuskless mate, 
 Like her with lengthened tapering snout, designed 
 In sinuous supple touch to reach and find 
 The food he mumbled, calm, sedate, and slow — 
 A beast that seemed informed with human mind, 
 That reason more than instinct seemed to show — - 
 More than the brute to feel — more than the man to 
 know. 
 
 V. 
 
 l^ut he who placed the towering creature there, 
 Room for the locust and the emmet found, 
 Were none too insignificant to spare ; 
 Bird, insect, beast, nor reptile of the ground. 
 All deftly folded, each within its bound. 
 Yet each had space to breathe and turn at will, 
 Each fed at peace w^ith those that hemmed it round ; 
 And though their ark these creatures seemed to fill, 
 For fodder timely dealt was left a passage still.
 
 94 THE TRUE CROSS, 
 
 VI. 
 
 Because through all their living kingdom, where 
 The patriarch and his sons passed to and fro, 
 On great and small they lavished kindly care, 
 The nature to observe, the needs to know, 
 Of all that perched aloft, or stood below ; 
 Whose wistful looks devoured the passing store, 
 Whose wordless cries arose, their wants to show, 
 The wolf's long howl, the snort of bristled boar, 
 The lamb's unquiet bleat, the lordly lion's roar, 
 
 vii. 
 Here, too, were ranged, by keen judicious eyes, 
 The beasts that went on earth with parted hoof. 
 But did not chew the cud, or otherwise, — 
 Clean and unclean, according to the proof. 
 Each from its converse strictly kept aloof 
 While on a timber, laid across above, 
 'Mong fowls of heaven that roosted in the roof — 
 A bird of omen next a bird of love. 
 The muttering raven croaked, and mourned the murmur- 
 ing dove.
 
 THE ARK. 95 
 
 VI I r. 
 Pining for airy flii^dits in summer skies, 
 Tiic eagle and the o.sprcy mused apart, 
 Reposing, but with shining, eager eyes, 
 And folded pinions, longing to depart 
 And upward bear the roaming, restless heart, 
 That yearned for freedom in its waking dream. 
 And here were birds that wade, and birds that dart 
 In woven circles, flashing down the stream ; 
 And birds that soar and sing, and birds that sit and 
 scream. 
 
 IX. 
 
 Crept from its hole the lizard, changing hue 
 With every change of light the eye to mock. 
 And burrowing things there were, that shrink from view, 
 The delving mole, the coney of the rock, 
 Prolific in its race, its haunts to stock ; 
 And moths and bats, and creatures from the ken 
 Of morning light to cornered nooks that flock ; 
 And beasts of sloth that, in secluded den, 
 Sleep out their drows}- lives, unscared by sight of men. 
 
 H
 
 96 THE TRUE CROSS. 
 
 X. 
 
 Here lowed the kine ; and each with fragrant breath, 
 And full mild eye, was fain her milk to lend. 
 Here fawned the dog — true servant to the death, 
 A master's goods to keep, his life defend — 
 Man's foster-mother, and his firmest friend. 
 Here fed with stamp and snort the generous steed, 
 Strength, courage, mettle, glorying to expend. 
 And through the battle bear his lord at speed, 
 And strain each gallant limb to serve his utmost need. 
 
 XI. 
 
 Here, with his sullen head and wreathing crest, 
 The ungainly camel crouched, morose and strong, 
 Mistrustful of the heaving board he pressed, 
 Fierce when aroused to wrath, though suffering long ; 
 Here pondered too the ass, of daily wrong 
 Forgiving, humble, patient of the rod — 
 Thereafter, in a burst of praise and song, 
 Ennobled, while the sacred palms it trod, 
 And bore, in triumph meek, the Incarnate Son of God.
 
 THE ARK. 97 
 
 XII. 
 
 But in this goodly Ark, of Imman lives 
 Were only these : the builder with his mate, 
 The three fair sons that helped him, and their wives ; 
 Snatched from the common doom remained but eight, 
 Content on their Creator's will to wait. 
 Believing that ere long would cease to lower 
 The skies, ere long the waters would abate. 
 Rejoicing in affliction's darkest hour 
 To lean on endless love, and trust in boundless power. 
 
 XIII. 
 
 While many a cubit high the flood prevailed, 
 One hundred days and fifty now were gond, 
 Nor had those waters yet assuaged nor failed, 
 And o'er their face the Ark moved slowly on, 
 As moves on summer lake a gliding swan. 
 Till, widening strength and lustre while it gained. 
 Streamed through the mist a sunbeam, pale and wan. 
 The fountains of the deep at last restrained. 
 Heaven's windows seemed to close, and now no more it 
 rained. " ~
 
 98 THE TRUE CROSS. 
 
 XIV. 
 
 Then, tearing into shreds a fihny veil 
 Of vapoury wreaths, that floated low and high, 
 Uprose a breeze, and mounted to a gale, 
 And drove the clouds careering through the sky — 
 A mighty wind ere long the earth to dry. 
 P'or, faith and hope at last no more to mock. 
 Drained to the mountain tops the floods drew nigh, 
 Till, all its timbers quivering in the shock, 
 Struck the great Ark and poised aground upon a rock. 
 
 XV. 
 
 Yet still, for forty days, the patriarch chose 
 In patient pious trust to watch and wait, 
 Then stretched his hand the window to unclose, 
 As judging in his wisdom, that of late 
 Began the waters surely to abate, 
 And sent a raven forth, to prove and know 
 If yet there seemed an anchorage for his freight. 
 Flapped his broad wing the raven, loth to go. 
 And circled round the Ark, and flitted to and fro.
 
 THE ARK. 99 
 
 XVI. 
 
 Then did he free a dove, that darted forth, 
 And up and down she flew, and round and round, 
 To traverse west and east, and south and north. 
 And scoured that glassy, watery world, nor found 
 In all its bright expanse one spot of ground. 
 Home to the Ark her failing flight she pressed, 
 And housed her gladly in its sheltering bound. 
 With dainty feet unsoiled, and spotless breast, 
 But weak and weary wing, that knew no pause of rest. 
 
 XVII. 
 
 As holding all creation in his care, 
 The patriarch waited seven days yet, before 
 He loosed his scouts again upon the air, 
 By sea and sky to wander and explore. 
 The raven went his way, and came no more. 
 But, by her instinct warned of its decrease, 
 The dove returned, and in her beak she bore, 
 In token that the flood should sink and cease. 
 An olive-branch — the type of hope and love and peace.
 
 joo THE TRUE CROSS. 
 
 XVIII. 
 
 Another seven days still he waited, then 
 A third time freed the bird with gentle hand. 
 The bird flew swift and noiseless out of ken, 
 To seek and find a home upon the land, 
 For, yeanling on some growth of green to stand, 
 To midmost heights of heaven she seemed to soar, 
 A widening range of upland thence she scanned, 
 Made for a fringe of woods that lined the shore, 
 And to the stranded Ark returned she nevermore ! 
 
 XIX. 
 
 Fond, timid, gentle, shrinking like the dove, 
 That broods and murmurs softly in her nest, 
 Creeps to man's heart a thing that men call Love. 
 Surest when hidden, strongest when suppressed. 
 Of all God's gifts the deadliest or the best — 
 For at its worst, in needless torture rent. 
 With self inflicted pangs it racks the breast, 
 Or, by its own excesses drained and spent. 
 It sleeps itself to death — exhausted in content.
 
 THE ARK. lor 
 
 XX. 
 
 When thus of earthly nature, from the earth, 
 In earthly greed, its viler food it draws, 
 But \\hcn to heaven it owes a heavenly birth, 
 Seeks in a loftier sphere its heavenly cause. 
 And rules its purer growth by heavenly laws ; 
 Then upward to the light it seems to make 
 Its way, unhindered by mistrust or pause, 
 And blesses those who give, and those who take. 
 As each to other yields, each for the other's sake. 
 
 XXI. 
 
 Thus, when our ark that bird of peace pervades — 
 Our human ark of joy and hope and fear, 
 Oh ! drive her not away to distant glades ! 
 For dismal is the blank she leaveth here, 
 — And still the nest is warm, the bird is dear. 
 Once, twice, she flieth homeward as before, 
 Forgiveness bearing, our remorse to cheer. 
 Yet urge her not too often, lest she soar 
 Far out of human sight, returning nevermore !
 
 102 THE TRUE CROSS. 
 
 XXII. 
 
 But now, behold ! the patriarch looked around 
 With careful ken the watery waste to view, 
 And from the watery waste emerging, found 
 Another world, bright, beautiful, and new — 
 Rose peak, and cape, and island, fair of hue, 
 Fell the great flood, as falls an ebbing tide. 
 And while the margin sank, the mountain grew, 
 Its spurs and ridges spreading far and wide. 
 Thus welcome Land appeared, and stretched on every side. 
 
 XXIII. 
 
 Soon from their sea-worn refuge, open now, 
 A long procession filed in order fair ; 
 Teemed with incongruous life the mountain's brow. 
 Rang with incongruous cries the mountain air, 
 While all creation, ranging, pair by pair. 
 In stately measure passed the patriarch's eye : 
 The patriarch's eye, that scanned with jealous care 
 Bird, beast, and reptile, moving slowly by, 
 Creatures that walk, and wade, and bask, and creep, and 
 fly.
 
 THE ARK. 103 
 
 XXIV. 
 
 or shapeless stones, uncouth, untouched by tool, 
 Such as the mountain-fissures could afford, 
 He took enough and piled them up by rule, 
 And built therewith an altar to the Lord, 
 To sacrifice, in thanks for life restored, 
 Of each clean beast and bird a chosen pair ; 
 Then from the shattered Ark he rent a board, 
 The mid-most of its crumbling strength that bare. 
 And set it all aflame to burn his offering there. 
 
 XXV. 
 
 Yet kindling less than kindly, damp and slow, 
 To embers charred and smouldering where it lay, 
 Exuding rather smoke than fire, although 
 But half-consumed, the patriarch cast away 
 Its blackened remnant, on a future day 
 To strike a downward root, and upward tower. 
 In leafy shelter from the blinding ray 
 That heats a southern air to furnace-power. 
 And blisters all the plain in noon's remorseless hour.
 
 I04 THE TRUE CROSS, 
 
 XXVI. 
 
 Thus tossed and tilted down the steep incline, 
 Its use fulfilled, a thing of no esteem, 
 Though once the mystic growth of seed divine, 
 A torrent, plunging headlong, caught the beam, 
 And whirled it, like a leaf, upon its stream, 
 And leaped and laughed, to snatch it from the hill ; 
 Then bore it statelier on, as it would seem. 
 Triumphant such a waif to float, until 
 Constrained to yield it up, God's purpose to fulfil. 
 
 XXVII. 
 
 When shrunk and ebbing from its swollen pride, 
 By rush of mountain floods no longer fed, 
 On distant verge, that marked its fallen tide, 
 Far from the silver track that formed its bed, 
 Where wound the dwindling river like a thread. 
 Its burden it should leave aground and dry, 
 From rich alluvial soil to shoot and spread 
 In growth gigantic, rearing to the sky 
 A leafy crest and arms that tossed and waved on high.
 
 THE ARK. 105 
 
 XXVIII. 
 
 But now in rolling wreaths of smoke, to spend 
 Its goodly fragrance on the freshened air, 
 Began the patriarch's offering to ascend, 
 While rose to reach his God the patriarch's praj-er. 
 Reverent he stood, with feet in homage bare, 
 Direct from their Creator, over all 
 His creatures to receive dominion there, 
 That every moving thing should be his thrall, 
 To quail beneath his eye, and tremble at his call. 
 
 XXIX. 
 
 Thus for the brute creation to obey 
 The rule of Man, subservient to his might, 
 Beasts of the field at need to fell and slay, 
 And use them like the herbs, he gave him right. 
 But warned him in the fratricidal fight, 
 If ruthless hands were stained with guilty red, 
 How life for life such trespass must requite, 
 In just reprisals on the murderer's head : 
 " Who shcddcth blood of Man, Man's law his blood shall 
 shed ! "
 
 io5 THE TRUE CROSS. 
 
 XXX. 
 
 For Man in image of Himself, God made, 
 And with a father s condescending care, 
 To Man's finite conception thus conveyed 
 A sense of Him, to whom he cried in prayer. 
 Nay, in that Hkeness all our sins to bear, 
 And ransom with His blood our erring race, 
 Man's shape corporeal he vouchsafed to wear. 
 Who then shall dare that image to deface, 
 Doth outrage to his God, of whom it beareth trace. 
 
 XXXI. 
 
 Also he gave him pledge, so long as rolled 
 Our earthly ages in their courses here, 
 That summer's heat should wait on winter's cold, 
 That harvest after seed-time should appear. 
 To mark the changes of each passing year. 
 And thus assured him hope, without alloy, 
 Of labouring daily on, unvexed by fear. 
 To eat the fruits of toil, in thankful joy 
 That this, his world, a flood should never more destroy.
 
 THE ARK. 107 
 
 XXXII. 
 
 The token of that promise, firm and true, 
 For coming time estabUshed, then to show. 
 Sun-striped, in bands of each prismatic hue. 
 Behold ! against the cloud he set his bow, 
 That henceforth man should never fail to know 
 How bright a smile could shine behind their frown, 
 And span the skies with glory of its glow — 
 An arch to compass heaven — a radiant crown — 
 A bridge for angel feet to travel up and down. 
 
 XXXIII. 
 
 And thus, the voice of instinct to obey. 
 When from the Ark had trooped an endless train 
 Of creatures, cooped therein for many a day. 
 With life and strength renewed, of freedom fain, 
 (For none seemed willing to return again,) 
 With those stout sons, his mission to fulfil. 
 The patriarch, too, went down into the plain 
 The vine to plant, the soil to cleanse and till, 
 And people many a land, urged by his IMaker's will.
 
 loS THE TRUE CROSS. 
 
 XXXIV. 
 
 For all above was bright and joyous now, 
 And all below was balmy, warm, and dry. 
 Splintered the sunshine on the mountain's brow, 
 Hushed in its heat the valleys seemed to lie. 
 Nor moved the cloud that floated on the sky. 
 Great sheets of wild flowers painted plains untrod : 
 Luxuriant bursts of Nature, low and high, 
 Wove wreaths of verdure o'er a teeming sod, 
 And fertile earth, forgiven, looked smiling up to God.
 
 BOOK III. 
 
 THE TREE.
 
 BOOK III, 
 
 THE TREE. 
 
 ,N midmost heaven the sun was high, 
 Stirred not a breath to cool the sky, 
 And fell, like fiery rain, 
 Sheets of a bright and blinding glare 
 That seemed to scorch the upper air, 
 
 And, pouring down amain, 
 Bathed in a burning glow of gold, 
 Rock, mountain, valley, wood and ^\old. 
 Scarce could the ox his head uphold, 
 Of stream and shelter fain ;
 
 112 THE TRUE CROSS. 
 
 Scarce could the lamb find strength to bleat, 
 So fierce and hard the sun-beam beat, 
 The pasture shrivelled at its feet ; 
 And glimmered through a blaze of heat 
 
 The Cities of the Plain. 
 Pleasant and goodly to the eye, 
 With lordly tower and palace high. 
 And circling rampart crowned. 
 In every level space and bare, 
 By temple, teirace, street and square. 
 The gracious palm was feathering there. 
 And gushed the fountain, free and fair, 
 To slake the stones and cool the air. 
 And spice, and myrrh, and odours rare, 
 And raiment rich, and costly ware. 
 And all that wealth for ease could spare 
 
 Were freely scattered round. 
 While, wasteful in his pomp and pride, 
 Feasted the rich, and at his side 
 The starving beggar moaned and died. 
 Unsheltered on the ground.
 
 THE TREE. 113 
 
 Revelled the stronf,^ in wine and lust, 
 The weak were trampled in the dust ; 
 None were remorseful, none were just, 
 
 And none were righteous found. 
 Though brave and bright those buildings gleamed, 
 But whitcd sepulchres they seemed, 
 
 Corrupt and rank within, 
 And all without a mocking show, 
 A bitter strife of high and low — 
 Oppression, treachery, wrath and woe, 
 A downward stream in endless flow 
 
 Of selfishness and sin. 
 By heaven and earth alike accursed, 
 Cities, the vilest and the worst. 
 In every thought of evil nursed, 
 In deeds of darkness ever first 
 
 Each outrage to begin. 
 So bold in error man had grown, 
 Guilt, that no penance could atone, 
 His wicked heart rejoiced to own. 
 
 And dragged him through the mire, 
 
 I 2
 
 114 THE TRUE CROSS. 
 
 Exulting in its loathsome stain. 
 Each hideous vice to entertain, 
 From no pollution to refrain 
 In foulest of desire. 
 Nor praise he offered to his Lord, nor prayer. 
 Nor pity for his brother felt, nor care, — 
 His only thought, with every passing hour. 
 To {q.q6^ his fancy, or increase his power. 
 Prompted by lust of heart and sense and eye. 
 With boldest sinners in their sins to vie ; 
 From dark excesses drawing mad delight. 
 And breaking Nature's law by day and night. 
 With lies and slander nourished, clothed in guile, 
 Presumptuous, yet disturbed with dread the while- 
 Sleek, pampered coward, vilest of the vile ! 
 
 And Woman, from her nobler self debased, 
 Now for a whim exalted, now disgraced, 
 Each purer, holier feeling to destroy, 
 In turn a dupe, an idol, and a toy, 
 With shameless haste descending from the throne 
 That, while she queened it there, was hers alone,
 
 THE TREE. ii5 
 
 Unsexcd, undone, to gain a worthless end, 
 Her lures, her love, her beauty stooped to lend. 
 No more inciting to heroic deed, 
 The hero she was proud of, proud to lead, 
 His hopes her own, his triumph her reward. 
 Merged wholly in the nature she adored — 
 No more in mutual cares of wedded state, 
 Friend, monitress, and counsellor of her mate, 
 Urgent to claim a wife's unchallenged part, 
 The undivided empire of a heart — 
 J^ut like the robe, that in her dainty pride, 
 For lightest speck or stain she flung aside — 
 A gaudy thing to covet, and to prize — 
 An empty thing — to leave and to despise — 
 Her lawful rights compelled to extort or crave, 
 Alternately a tyrant and a slave. 
 Yet was she fair, in spite of every wile : 
 The painted blush, the false and artful smile, 
 The known device, the too alluring bait. 
 The lisping accent, and the mincing gait.
 
 ii6 THE TRUE CROSS. 
 
 For still, though foul and fallen, there lurked a trace 
 
 Of angel-beauty in her woman's face, 
 
 To show, through haggard eyes and altered mien, 
 
 Not what she was, but what she might have been ; 
 
 Nor seemed she wholly lost, for at her worst, 
 
 Some soft and gentle fancies still she nursed. 
 
 Hid in her inmost heart and kept it fast 
 
 Some sweet remembrance of a happier past ; 
 
 Still, by her subtle woman's instinct taught, 
 
 Preserved, through guilt and shame, some purer thought, 
 
 Fed in maternal love a holier fire. 
 
 And still caressed the babe, though weary of the sire. 
 
 But, like a spreading ulcer, festering sore. 
 
 That wastes the flesh, and eats into the core. 
 
 Throughout the frame-work of the social plan 
 
 A foul corrupting taint of evil ran — 
 
 A taint that seemed imparted in a breath, 
 
 Unerring symptom of a moral death. 
 
 Pervading and infecting high and low. 
 
 Fore-runner of impending wrath and woe.
 
 THE TREE. 117 
 
 For this, the wanton rich in scarlet state 
 
 Swelled high with pride, and scorned his neighbour's 
 
 hate; 
 For this the weary poor, oppressed and ground, 
 In broodings of revenge his comfort found. 
 For hearts of common interest thus bereft, 
 Nor faith, nor truth, nor honour, could be left. 
 Intrigued the feeble, tyrannized the strong. 
 And each to all the rest did foul and shameful wronfj. 
 
 Yet one there was whose spirit grieved 
 Such hideous sinks of vice to know, 
 
 One who in God and man believed. 
 
 And hope of pardon thus conceived 
 
 For sinners at their worst, reprieved, 
 In very doom of instant woe. 
 
 One who in youth had never failed 
 
 To serve his Lord with praise and prayer, 
 
 Whose pious plea had oft availed, 
 
 And oft on Mercy's ear prevailed, 
 His erring fellow-men to spare.
 
 ii8 THE TRUE CROSS. 
 
 For still in sacred rite, and holy test, 
 The son of Terah godliest seemed, and best. 
 Therefore his Lord preserved him as he went, 
 By flood and field, in city, cave, and tent ; 
 Coerced the royal Egyptian to forbear 
 From fraud or force, though Sarah's face was fair ; 
 And led him out of Pharaoh's treacherous land, 
 As leads a sire his youngest by the hand, 
 Increased his substance, gave him store untold 
 Of camels, asses, flocks and herds, and gold. 
 Far as his sight could travel, bade him know. 
 On him and his the earth he would bestow, 
 And brought him, rest and shelter to obtain, 
 Where towered the tree, by Mamre on the plain, 
 Predestined from his wanderings there to cease, 
 And taste a holy calm in sweet repose and 
 peace. 
 
 For ages now had past, 
 
 Since on its margin cast, 
 A sinking river left the mystic beam
 
 THE TREE. 119 
 
 From a shattered ark up-torn, 
 
 By a torrent hither borne 
 And stranded, when it dwindled to a stream, 
 
 To strike its downward root, 
 
 And push its upward shoot. 
 And wave its spreading branches free and fair. 
 
 Like some darkhng forest glade, 
 
 A mass of rippling shade 
 To shelter all the creatures of the air. 
 
 No goodlier it grew, 
 
 When Noah came to hew 
 Its substance, for completion of his plan ; 
 
 Nor threw its shadow round, 
 
 On wider space of ground. 
 In early age of patriarchal man. 
 And he who sat beneath it there. 
 With solemn looks and reverent air. 
 
 No whit less worthy showed 
 Than Lamech, Jared, Cainan, Seth, 
 Or Enoch, who, absolved from death.
 
 I30 THE TRUE CROSS. 
 
 With God in heaven abode. 
 For though his strength was waning now, 
 
 Though front and temples bare, 
 And Hnes of thought that scored his brow 
 
 Showed sign of time and care ; 
 Though beard and locks were snowy white, 
 Shone in his glance the steady light 
 Of godly courage, true and bright, 
 That battles calmly for the right, 
 Nor doubts to conquer all in fight, 
 Armed with the undefeated might 
 
 Of sacrifice and prayer. , 
 Grave was his aspect, clear his eye, 
 Serene and open like the sky, 
 Ample his frame, and towering high, 
 
 While free and firm he trod. 
 With kingly gait of conscious worth, 
 As one deputed here on earth. 
 In time of danger or of dearth, 
 
 A viceroy, by his God.
 
 THE TREE. 121 
 
 His tent was pitched upon the plain 
 Of Mam re, near the sacred tree ; 
 
 For there behoved him to remain, 
 
 His angel-guests to entertain, 
 That thus the patriarch might foresee 
 
 The noble future of his line, 
 
 Predestined by the will divine, 
 
 In furtherance of its great design, 
 A chosen race to be. 
 
 A chosen race, preserved to stand 
 
 Before their Lord in many a land, 
 
 Protected by his favouring hand. 
 
 In number like the grains of sand, 
 Uncounted, by the sea. 
 Screened by those branches from the burning ra}', 
 He.sat before his tent at noon of day. 
 And looking outward o'er the plain, espied 
 Three coming travellers faring side by side ; 
 In haste he rose and ran to meet them there, 
 And bowed him to the ground, and spoke them fair,
 
 122 THE TRUE CROSS. 
 
 And prayed them turn aside to do him grace, 
 Abiding in the shade some httle space, 
 Their hmbs to rest, and wash their dusty feet. 
 And cheer their weary hearts with bread to eat. 
 
 Fresh from the herd, the tenderest calf he slew. 
 Hot from the hearth tlie daintiest cake he drew ; 
 A courteous greeting gave each honoured guest, 
 And bade him freely welcome to the best. 
 The simple meal before them thus he set, 
 xA.nd stood at hand to serve them while they ate. 
 Then spoke the men of Sarah as she went. 
 In household cares assiduous, through the tent, 
 Yet woman-like, desirous still to know 
 Their converse, while she flitted to and fro ; 
 Thus did she hear their promise to her lord. 
 That now, though youth w^as passed, she should 
 
 afford 
 An heir for long continuance of his race 
 In many a good and noble name to trace,
 
 THE TREE. 123 
 
 Through prophet, priest, and king, tlic hoi)- h'lic, 
 
 And culminate at last in One divine ! 
 
 Sprung from her babe, hereafter to be born. 
 
 And while she listened, low she laughed in scorn. 
 
 " Who laughed within } " the stranger said. " Not I ! " 
 
 Answered the woman, eager to deny, 
 
 Nor trusting yet the power of Him, whose word, 
 
 By angel-lips declared, she overheard. 
 
 I-^or these, so fair of aspect, so serene 
 
 In dignity of bearing and of mien, 
 
 In looks so gracious, yet so calm and high. 
 
 Were surely God's own angels from the sky, 
 
 And in their eyes a holy lustre shone, 
 
 Reflected from the great eternal throne. 
 
 Their presence, goodlier than of mortal men, 
 
 Yet not devoid of awe to mortal ken, 
 
 Though clothed in shape corporeal, made them seem 
 
 To mortal sense like visions in a dream. 
 
 Even as they spoke, the patriarch's spirit stirred 
 
 With reverent joy, accepting every word,
 
 124 THE TRUE CROSS. 
 
 The hopeful tidings hopefully received ; 
 
 And while the woman sneered, the man believed. 
 
 Not long they tarried : ere the sun was low, 
 
 Though pleaded hard the host, they rose to go ; 
 
 Bound for the godless cities of the plain. 
 
 Through scorching heat to journey forth again. 
 
 They turned their faces from that godly tent, 
 
 But left behind a blessing as they went. 
 
 So to our hearts, with cares of life oppressed, 
 
 There cometh now and then the heavenly guest, 
 
 An unexpected stranger, hither brought, 
 
 In guise of kindly deed, or holy thought. 
 
 Or pitying love, a brother's woe that bears, 
 
 And thus bestowing help and tears and prayers, 
 
 We entertain an angel unawares. 
 
 Not here he makes his home, nor deigns to 
 
 stay, 
 His task fulfilled, too soon he speeds away, 
 To leave us blankly gazing where he shone, 
 For lo ! the tent is void, the guest is gone !
 
 THE TREE. 
 
 Yet still a holy light pervades the place 
 
 Where late he stood, and eyed us face to face. 
 
 Still of his words, that blessed us as they fell, 
 
 Caught in our hearts, an echo seems to dwell. 
 
 And here, where even now his footstep trod, 
 
 We know we held communion with our God. 
 
 Nor righteous tents alone their shelter lend, 
 
 When strangers such as these from heaven descend ; 
 
 By many a rough and weary path they roam, 
 
 In many a wayward heart they find a home, 
 
 O'er many a gloomy nook the lustre shed. 
 
 That leaves a ray reflected when 'tis fled. 
 
 And many a humbled, saddened soul they cheer. 
 
 That longs to aim at hearven, though grovelling 
 
 here, 
 Like some poor bird with broken wing that lies. 
 To cower and pant, and upward at the skies 
 Direct a pleading gaze, with sad and suffering eyes. 
 Gaze on, and upward still, poor wounded bird, 
 Though dumb thy plea, believe it shall be heard. 
 
 1 25
 
 126 THE TRUE CROSS. 
 
 Soiled, stricken, helpless, hopeless, only trust ! 
 A tender hand shall take thee from the dust, 
 The ruffled plumes shall smooth with careful love, 
 And lift thee gently to thy home above. 
 Nor deem too lowly, or too vile thou art. 
 For there the lowliest, vilest, have a part : 
 The good, the bad, the early, and the late, 
 Who kneel and knock, find entrance at the gate. 
 The last are pardoned freely as the first. 
 And He who suffers long hath welcome for the worst. 
 Brief was the hour of respite lent. 
 The strangers turned them from the tent. 
 
 And journeyed forth again. 
 With slow, unwilling steps they went. 
 As though while Mercy might relent, 
 Affording leisure to repent. 
 
 Ere fell the flaming rain — 
 The floods of fire by vengeance sent. 
 When time of grace was past and spent, 
 To seethe and scorch in their descent 
 The Cities of the Plain.
 
 rilE TREE. 127 
 
 Attending on their footsteps, there, 
 
 A holy instinct to obey, 
 With pious zeal, and reverend care. 
 
 The patriarch brought them on their way. 
 And side by side while thus they walked, 
 
 Unfolding the Almighty plan. 
 It seemed that when the angel talked. 
 
 The voice of God conversed with man, 
 And told the doom was hovering nigh. 
 For, vengeance to provoke on high, 
 
 From Sodom and Gomorrha came 
 A daily challenge to the sky. 
 Uprising in its ceaseless cry 
 
 Of grievous sin and shame ! 
 And, therefore, Mercy, suffering long, 
 
 But willing yet to spare, 
 Came down from heaven to sift the throng. 
 And seek amongst the fierce and strong, 
 If any from rebellious wrong 
 
 Had wisdom to forbear, 
 
 K
 
 128 THE TRUE CROSS. 
 
 Before the day of pardon should expire, 
 And holy vengeance fall in streams of fire. 
 
 Passed from the patriarch's sight, 
 Like phantoms of the night, 
 His angel-guests, yet gazed he where they trod, 
 And stood in rapture, there 
 To wrestle hard in prayer, 
 While pleading for the sinners with his God. 
 That if within the bound 
 Of their city might be found 
 A tale of fifty righteous men and true, 
 For the righteous fifty's sake 
 No vengeance would He take, 
 But have mercy on the many for the few. 
 Then promised him the Lord, 
 If Sodom could afford 
 But fifty such within the city Avail, 
 For the fifty that were there, 
 All the others would He spare,
 
 THE TREE. 129 
 
 And the record of His justice would recall. 
 
 But the patriarch, not in vain, 
 
 Made petition yet again, 
 That if five of these were lackinc: from the tale, 
 
 For the forty and the five 
 « He would save the \\hole alive, 
 In His mercy that was never known to fail. 
 
 And abated more and more, 
 
 Till at last, if half-a-score 
 Of the righteous had been found to stand the test, 
 
 Though of good and honest men 
 
 Could be numbered only ten, 
 There was promise of a pardon for the rest. 
 
 Thus having stood before his Maker's face, 
 
 Returned the pious patriarch to his place ; 
 
 And while he pondered on the words of awe, 
 
 His soul deplored the doom his sense foresaw. 
 
 In pity for the madness of his kind, 
 
 And wonder man could be so false and blind ; 
 
 K 2
 
 ISO THE TRUE CROSS. 
 
 Man, who had brain to reason, yet withstood. 
 
 In dogged mood perverse, the obvious good, 
 
 Sunk in the very indolence of sin, 
 
 Because the obvious evil hemmed him in ; 
 
 Because of knaves a few, of fools a throng, 
 
 Confounding every phase of right and wrong. 
 
 Excused a common guilt, a common shame. 
 
 By pleading all the others did the same. 
 
 How strange it seemed laborious lives to spend 
 
 In eager aims at some illusive end ; 
 
 To chase the phantoms bom of foolish thought. 
 
 That proved but empty shadows, lost when caught ; 
 
 To pass their clays in toil, their nights in dread, 
 
 And waste their strength for that which was not bread ; 
 
 The poisoned cup with thirsty lip to meet. 
 
 And find its deadly draught not even sweet ; 
 
 Hope, health, and heaven to lose beyond recall, 
 
 Nor gain a glimpse of pleasure after all ! 
 
 How sad to think that every sinner there 
 
 Was born the rich inheritance to share,
 
 THE TREE. 131 
 
 That, like a child in wanton, wayward play, 
 
 Of wild misguided mood, he flung away ! 
 
 How sad to know that each immortal soul 
 
 Turned with a purpose from the heavenly goal, 
 
 And wandered on with wavering steps to find 
 
 The sure destruction of the wilful blind. 
 
 As when a madman's hand the kerchief ties. 
 
 With cunning smile of madness, round his eyes, 
 
 And thus where yawns a dizzy void, below 
 
 Some ledge of cliff, he saunters to and fro, 
 
 Till straying o'er the verge abrupt and bare, 
 
 His stumbling footstep meets the empty air, 
 
 Roused by the plunge that curdles every vein, 
 
 One flash of reason clears his startled brain, 
 
 And waking to his folly and his fate, 
 
 He tears the bandage down, enlightened all too late ! 
 
 Such troubled thoughts the patriarch's soul oppressed, 
 
 Disturbed his dreams, and vexed him from his rest, 
 
 Pursued him through the watches of the night, 
 
 And drove him from his tent with morning-light ;
 
 132 THE TRUE CROSS. 
 
 Help to his kind though eager to afford, 
 Yet, jealous for the honour of his Lord, 
 To mark the fierce excess of human guile 
 Aroused his wrath, but grieved his heart the while. 
 Foreboding thus some hideous sight to see, 
 He stood at dawn beneath the mystic tree, 
 And sorrowing for the doom so close at hand, 
 Looked forth in sadness on the guilty land. 
 Behold ! the day of wrath and Avoe 
 
 Had risen with the sun ! 
 For rolling upward, thick and slow, 
 In heavy volume from below. 
 Lit by a red and angry glow. 
 
 To lurid hues of dun. 
 The smoke was pouring forth amain. 
 Where seethed the surface of the plain. 
 Where floods of fire had fallen like rain. 
 Where now repentance was in vain, 
 
 And judgment had begun. 
 The shapes of death that veiling cloud 
 Wrapped in its folds, as in a shroud.
 
 THE TREE. 133 
 
 No tongue of man can tell — 
 The anguish, too intense to bear, 
 The wild appeal, the fierce despair, 
 The quivering forms that in the glare, 
 With shriek and shout, and tossing hair, 
 Writhed, leaped, and flitted here and there, 
 
 Like tortured souls in hell. 
 One had been clad in purple vest, 
 
 And feasted on a throne ; 
 In rags and filth had one been drest, 
 
 And mumbled at a bone. 
 But he who sat in royal array. 
 
 To drain a cup of gold, 
 And he, who naked by the way, 
 A scarred and loathsome leper lay, 
 To beg the crust from day to day. 
 
 That scarce could life uphold, 
 Were equal now in equal plight. 
 In panic of a blind affright, 
 In agonies that longed for flight
 
 134 THE TRUE CROSS. 
 
 With impotent desire. 
 The beggar's morsel shrivelled up. 
 On lordly lips the golden cup 
 
 Was turned to molten fire. 
 Man, beast, and building, as it past, 
 Curled in the flame, and withered fast. 
 Like cinders from a furnace cast. 
 Consumed in the consuming blast 
 
 Of God's avenging ire. 
 Lo ! blistering in his harness here, 
 The man of war, aghast with fear, 
 Clutched in a shaking hand the spear. 
 
 Or half unsheathed the sword ; 
 And cursed the arm that thus could fail, 
 And cursed the torture of his mail. 
 The glowing steel of no avail 
 ,^ Resistance to afford ! 
 
 And there the harlot cowered to hide 
 The dainty face, that in her pride 
 To God and man had leered and lied,
 
 THE TREE. 135 
 
 So false and }'ct so fair! 
 The dainty face with shameless brow, 
 In dust and ashes sprinkled now, 
 That muttered many a senseless vow, 
 
 And many a soulless prayer. 
 Yet when the fire-blast scorched her sore, 
 The covering from her neck she tore, 
 And in it wrapped the babe she bore 
 
 To shelter it from harm. 
 She lived, degraded and defiled. 
 She died, with pain and terror wdld, 
 A sinner with a sinless child 
 
 Encircled in her arm ; 
 And when their souls to judgment flew, 
 Mayhap the purer of the two 
 Its scared and shrinking comrade drew. 
 
 The Pardoner to meet. 
 Mayhap, in that atoning day. 
 The Mother's love had wiped away 
 The woman's guilt, whose spirit lay 
 
 Forgiven at His feet !
 
 136 THE TRUE CROSS. 
 
 Again looked forth the patriarch, and again ; 
 
 Still was the smoke ascending from the plain, 
 
 Though quenched the fire, and hushed the roaring blast. 
 
 For now God's purpose was fulfilled at last. 
 
 While, like a pall by mourners' hands outspread. 
 
 Floated that sable curtain o'er the Dead. 
 
 With all his heart the son of Terah grieved, 
 
 Yet steadfastly, with all his soul, believed 
 
 The God he worshipped righteous was, and just, 
 
 And though his Lord should slay, the man could trust. 
 
 When therefore the appointed time was spent, 
 
 He trooped his flocks and herds, and struck his tent 
 
 To journey southward, by Divine command. 
 
 And find in other climes a fairer land. 
 
 His footsteps turning from the sacred tree, 
 
 That stood in all its goodly growth, to be 
 
 A token of the Almighty's mercy still, 
 
 The witness of his truth, and record of His will.
 
 BOOK IV. 
 
 THE BEAM.
 
 BOOK IV. 
 
 THE BEAM. 
 
 PART I. 
 
 SCHAMIR. 
 
 MURMUR on the mountain side, 
 
 A moaning in the breeze, 
 A voice where passing shadows gHde 
 Amongst the forest-trees. 
 A stir of leaves along the brake, 
 
 A rustle in the glade, 
 A ripple moving o'er the lake, 
 
 A whisper through the shade. 
 By wood and wold, by sea and sky, 
 The rush of wings, where spirits fly,
 
 I40 THE TRUE CROSS. 
 
 Of man's untutored ear and eye 
 
 Unheeded and unknown; 
 For these, though lost to mortal ken, 
 Can yet control the fate of men, 
 And trouble all their future, when 
 
 It seemeth most their own. 
 In every human life below, 
 These are the powers that surely know 
 The measure of its weal and woe, 
 
 The sentence of its doom ; 
 And whether leading it astray. 
 Or guiding it along the way, 
 That, step by step, and day by day. 
 
 Attend it to the tomb ; 
 And these the powers at whose desire 
 
 The elements are still. 
 For earth and water, air and fire, 
 
 Are subject to their will, 
 By His decree, who gave them right, 
 In tasks proportioned to their might.
 
 THE BEAM. 141 
 
 As lower than the sons of h'^^ht, 
 
 Such purpose to fulfil. 
 Perverse they are, and boast to trace 
 Descent from the rebellious race, 
 
 As stubborn in their sphere, 
 Wild, wayward, rather fierce than bold. 
 Skilled to elude the captor's hold, 
 And in their cunning, best controlled 
 
 By mastery of fear. 
 They tumble in the ferns at night, 
 
 They dance behind the tree, 
 They gambol in the fading light, 
 They ride the moon-beam, silver-bright, 
 
 Aslant upon the sea. 
 Their revels in the moss they keep 
 
 Around the crystal spring ; 
 Beneath her leaves they peer and peep, 
 And when the lily nods to sleep, 
 About her bending neck they leap, 
 
 And clasp her wliile they swing.
 
 142 THE TRUE CROSS. 
 
 Wherever wealth of nature teems, 
 Where in her daintiest dress she seems 
 More beautiful than morning dreams, 
 By river, rock, and dell, 
 By flowery paths, and pleasant ways. 
 By tangled copse, and leafy maze, 
 Asleep in summer's golden haze, 
 
 These spirits love to dwell. 
 But yet, apart from mortal eye, 
 The rule of man they still defy. 
 Unless he wrests it from on high, 
 
 In store of knowledge strong. 
 And when perforce they bow before 
 Resistless might of human lore, 
 It seems to scourge and vex them sore, 
 
 As galled with grievous wrong. 
 Like prisoned birds their wings that beat 
 
 Against the prison-bars. 
 Now here, now there, they turn and meet. 
 In countless rings their flights repeat.
 
 THE BEAM, 143 
 
 And deem their freedom incomplete 
 
 Amidst the very stars, 
 Because the summons has gone forth, 
 And east and west, and south and north, 
 
 That summons when they liear, 
 Though stands the mighty word alone, 
 A word engraven on a stone. 
 To mortal lips as yet unknown, 
 
 Unheard by mortal ear. 
 When through the depths of space it rings. 
 With cowering and submissive wings 
 
 The spirits, far and near, 
 From all the realms wherein they dwell, 
 The border lands of heaven and hell. 
 Before his face, who spoke the spell, 
 
 Must hasten to appear ! 
 Nor one so wayward nor so bold, 
 
 As that command to disobey. 
 Which bade him to the throne of gold, 
 
 Where sat his lord in royal array —
 
 144 THE TRUE CROSS. 
 
 A king who reigned o'er many a land, 
 Whom other kings must bow before, 
 Whose gold was countless as the sand, 
 
 Whose rule was boundless as the shore — 
 A king on whose behalf were met 
 
 The choicest gifts from Heaven that fall, 
 Wealth, glory, power, success, and yet 
 
 Whose wisdom far exceeded all 
 In knowledge, that had found a key 
 
 To every hoard of human lore, 
 To secrets of the earth and sea. 
 
 The sun, the sky, the stars, and more. 
 To magic power of sign and spell, 
 That viewless beings could compel, 
 From viewless haunts wherein they dwell. 
 
 To do his bidding here. 
 By toil or distance undeterred. 
 In virtue of the awful word 
 That all their subtler nature stirred 
 To agony of fear.
 
 THE BEAM. i45 
 
 With Q.yts, abashed, and drooping wing, 
 Each spirit as it passed the King 
 Did homage to the mystic ring 
 
 That held it thus in thrall. 
 And he who on his finger wore 
 The gem such potent charm that bore, 
 With calm regard that vexed them sore 
 
 Looked steadfastly on all, 
 Till, parting from the spirit band, 
 With but a gesture of his hand. 
 One shadowy form, he bade it stand, 
 
 Selected from the rest ; 
 And though it seemed to quail with fear, 
 It could not choose but venture near. 
 And mark with an attentive ear 
 
 The Wizard-king's behest. 
 'Twas but a phantom, dim and gray, 
 In darkling forest-nooks that lay, 
 And loved to watch the stream at play, 
 
 And with it dance along, 
 
 L 2
 
 146 THE TRUE CROSS. 
 
 To catch the sunbeam as it strayed. 
 To chase the echo through the glade. 
 Or, lurking in the leafy shade, 
 
 To mock the wild-birds' song. 
 And every creature's haunt it knew, 
 And flowers of every scent and hue. 
 And weeds and herbs, and plants that grew 
 
 In every lonely place. 
 But still it shrunk from human sight. 
 At human call it took to flight, 
 And most in hatred and despite 
 
 It held the human face. 
 Thus drawing near the throne. 
 Unwillingly compelled, 
 It dared not writhe nor utter moan, 
 Though all its pride rebelled 
 Subjection by a mortal hand to own, 
 And hear its master speak in calm imperious tone 
 " Because o'er forest things I gave thee power, 
 I send thee back thy forest haunts to scour,
 
 THE BEAM. I47 
 
 Forbidding thcc by glade or lawn to stray, 
 Or cease thine urgent quest from day to day, 
 Until thou find and lay before my throne 
 A substance that can cut the hardest stone. 
 Nor tempered steel, nor iron shall it be, 
 From such polluting contact must be free 
 The mighty virgin blocks that I have stored 
 To build me up the Temple of the Lord. 
 Yet, tempered steel and iron to surpass, 
 Must cut as cuts a diamond into glass, 
 With smooth and easy action gliding through . 
 The rock that steel and iron may not hew. 
 That such a force existeth in the waste 
 Well do I know, and therefore bid thee haste 
 To seek it far and wide through thy domain, 
 Nor hope forgiveness if thy search be vain. 
 Nor dare return until thy task be done. 
 Behold ! thy Lord hath .spoken — now begone ! " 
 
 Obedient to the stern discharge 
 
 Accorded by the imperious King,
 
 1 48 THE TRUE CROSS. 
 
 Rejoiced to be again at large, 
 The Spirit flew on ready wing ; 
 Coerced by that resistless spell, 
 To search in dingle and in dell, 
 Through all the haunts it loved so well, 
 
 From rise to set of sun. 
 And many a mountain, spent and sore, 
 And many a valley traversed o'er. 
 And many a cast it made, before 
 
 The weary chase was done. 
 Till, ranging by the water-side, 
 A low and lonely nook it spied. 
 Wherein the moor-hen thought to hide 
 
 The young ones of her nest. 
 Relieved at last, it flitted round 
 That secret spot, and marked the ground, 
 As deeming it had surely found 
 
 The object of its quest. 
 Then, taking counsel of its craft, 
 
 It brought a slab of granite bare.
 
 THE BEAM. i49 
 
 And laid it on the hole, and laughed, 
 
 And waited — watching there. 
 When back the moor-hen came at length 
 
 To find her portals barred, 
 She smote with all her tiny strength 
 
 That surface smooth and hard ; 
 Then to the wilderness once more 
 
 She fled, for help to seek. 
 And swift returning, lo ! she bore 
 
 A something in her beak, 
 A little worm her need to aid, 
 
 A creature on the granite laid, 
 That soon an easy way had made, 
 
 And bored it through and through. 
 But, ere the task she set about, 
 
 The Spirit with a sudden shout 
 So scared her that she dropped it out, 
 
 And thus away she flew ! 
 Pleased was that cruel, cunning elf, 
 And laughed again within itself,
 
 ISO THE TRUE CROSS. 
 
 As laugfhs the p>'at o'er its pelf. 
 So rich a prize to own. 
 
 And sped rejoicing on the way. 
 
 Its dreaded master to obey, 
 
 Exulting such a gift to lay 
 Before the golden tlirone. 
 Behold \ at last the monarch's purpose gained. 
 The instrument his wisdom sought obtained. 
 Soon in its pride uprose the sacred shrine 
 By human glory reared to power divine. 
 Block laid on block, the weighty work was piled. 
 By kiss of earthly metal undefiled, 
 For edge of earthly metal might not hew 
 The masses whence that stately Temple grew. 
 Thus, towering daily in the people's eyes, 
 Men looked and marvelled at its goodly size, 
 And deemed it strange such mason work should stand, 
 So deftly fitted by the mason's hand, 
 Each comer so exactly squared by rule. 
 Yet still unheard the ring of mason's tool ;
 
 THE BEAM. 151 
 
 The chisel and the graving-point unknown, 
 
 And all untouched by steel the virgin stone. 
 
 None knew the magic force their King had brought 
 
 To bear on labour by the power of Thought ; 
 
 Nor deemed that through the granite day and night 
 
 A little worm was boring out of sight, 
 
 The task-work to fulfil of him who bade 
 
 That little worm, called Schamir, to his aid. 
 
 To whom of all the human race alone 
 
 The creature's mystic properties were known, 
 
 Who in the volumes of a wizard's lore 
 
 Had learned its uses, and the name it bore ; 
 
 Whose wisdom from the desert could compel 
 
 A thousand such, by stress of sign and spell ; 
 
 Who, planning work too hard for human hand, 
 
 Held each resource of nature at command, 
 
 And found a band of slaves the toil to ply. 
 
 In all the powers of earth and sea and sky. 
 
 From dawn of morning thus, to evening's close, 
 
 The people marvelled as the Temple rose,
 
 152 THE TRUE CROSS. 
 
 And held their breath, and stopped upon the way 
 
 To mark its noiseless growth from day to day, 
 
 And wagged their beards, and racked their brains in vain. 
 
 And asked their solemn elders to explain. 
 
 Answered the elders, solemn and sedate, 
 
 " Behold ! The King is wise, and God is great ! " 
 
 But where, though sought beyond the farthest bound 
 
 That girds the King's dominion, can be found 
 
 A beam so huge, and yet so tough of grain, 
 
 As shall the Temple's weighty roof sustain ? 
 
 Behold ! where still an ancient tree remains. 
 
 The goodliest growth of all the Southern plains, 
 
 A faithful record of the past, though dumb, 
 
 And truthful prophet of the time to come. 
 
 Nor in its bulk diminished, nor decayed, 
 
 Since o'er the patriarch's tent it threw a shade. 
 
 When earthly paths the heavenly footstep trod, 
 
 And holy father Abraham spake with God. 
 
 That ancient tree must fall by royal award, 
 
 An offering to the glory of the Lord,
 
 THE BEAM. 153 
 
 While o'er its trunk the woodman's axe must gleam, 
 
 And carve from out its bulky heart a beam 
 
 To prop the noblest building man could raise, 
 
 The house of prayer, and sacrifice, and praise. 
 
 Two goodly columns, towering in their pride, 
 
 Uprose to flank the porch on either side — 
 
 Fit portals for the gate of God's abode, 
 
 And hoi)' names on each the King bestowed 
 
 I n words of mystery and fear, that meant 
 
 The " Guidance " and the " Strength" on which he leant 
 
 In memory of that early penance placed, 
 
 When weary Israel wandered through the waste, 
 
 And looked for God's own sign to lead them right — 
 
 Pillar of cloud by day, of fire by night. 
 
 Connecting each with each, the beam was laid, 
 
 And those who came to worship, or to trade, 
 
 O'erhanging thus, looked down on many a race, 
 
 From many a land, that thronged the sacred place. 
 
 For all the earth had learned the monarch's name, 
 
 And all the earth was greedy of his fame.
 
 154 THE TRUE CROSS. 
 
 Kings, princes, sages, gathered far and near, 
 His wealth to covet, and his words to hear. 
 To mark his wisdom, marvelled e'en the wise. 
 And fools beheld his riches with surprise. 
 But wise and fools alike were fain to own, 
 That when they bowed before the golden throne, 
 A-blaze with flash of gems on every side. 
 And thus beheld the lustre of its pride, 
 For once the voice of Rumour had not lied, 
 And he who sat thereon in matchless state. 
 Was justly called the Rich, the Wise, the Great !
 
 PART II. 
 
 THE QUEEN OF THE SOUTH. 
 
 /\R in a southern land, 
 
 Beneath unclouded skies, 
 Where shoots the palm from tawny sand. 
 To shade the camels as they stand 
 
 Athirst, with sullen eyes, 
 Descending from his drooping beast, 
 Behold ! a merchant of the East, 
 
 Who many a clime had seen. 
 Whose wares in many a mart were sought, 
 Who many a bale had sold and bought. 
 And many a costly present brought 
 In tribute to the Oucen.
 
 156 THE TRUE CROSS. 
 
 For all who travelled far and near, 
 Before her throne she bade appear, 
 Their journeyings and escapes to hear. 
 
 And wondrous tales they told : 
 Of jewelled plains where posies grew, 
 In gems of every shade and hue ; 
 Where diamonds lay, like drops of dew. 
 
 And rivers ran with gold ; 
 Of monstrous birds with scarlet crest 
 And silver wings, and ivory breast, 
 That brooded in a monstrous nest. 
 
 O'er pearls of monstrous size ; 
 Of gardens girt with magic wall, 
 Lest priceless fruits should outward fall, 
 And dragons watching over all. 
 
 With fierce and flaming eyes ; 
 Of mountain path and forest glade, 
 Where every Avinding turn betrayed. 
 At every step the traveller made. 
 Through gleam and gloom of light and shade.
 
 THE QUEEN OF THE SOUTH. 157 
 
 Some new and strange surprise. 
 But none who thus discharged their freight 
 Of marvels at the palace gate, 
 Such talcs of wonder could narrate, 
 As he who had beheld of late 
 
 The greatest King on earth. 
 Had marked o'er all the Eastern land, 
 His sceptre swayed by God's command. 
 His righteous rule, his reaching hand, 
 His riches countless as the sand, 
 
 His w'isdom and his worth. 
 And thus returning homeward, fain 
 The Southern Oueen to entertain 
 With glories of that monarch's reign. 
 
 He bowed him reverend down. 
 And kneeling, from his lowly place. 
 To pray her of her queenly grace 
 For leave to speak a little space, 
 Looked upward in the loveliest face 
 
 That ever wore a crown.
 
 158 THE TRUE CROSS. 
 
 Swarthy she was, but comely in the glows 
 
 That flushed her crimson, like a damask rose, 
 
 With coil of jetty locks a gleam that shed. 
 
 Like shining serpents twisted round her head, 
 
 And arching brows, and tawny cheek, but clear. 
 
 Straight as a palm, and graceful as a deer. 
 
 While in her eyes there shone the tender light 
 
 We see reflected in a summer's night, 
 
 The token of a richer, warmer ray, 
 
 A lustre that shall come with coming day — 
 
 Eyes that had never languished, longed, nor wept, 
 
 For, all untouched, one half her being slept — 
 
 Soft, pleading, shy, unwilling to declare 
 
 The hidden spark that surely smouldered there ; 
 
 Yet waited only till the moment came, 
 
 When answering eyes should rouse the answering flame, 
 
 And soul and sense and instinct should conspire 
 
 To kindle all her nature into fire. 
 
 With pliant limbs, and shape beyond compare, • 
 
 She moved like flowing water, smooth and fair,
 
 THE QUEEN OF THE SOUTH. 159 
 
 In every step and gesture showed the trace 
 
 Of desert freedom, curbed to courtly grace. 
 
 But that her lot forbade in tents to dwell, 
 
 Had laughed the loveliest damsel at the well, 
 
 For beauty crowned her matchless brows, before 
 
 The jewelled crown of royalty she wore. 
 
 And in her every turn of mood and mien 
 
 She bloomed a Woman, while she walked a Queen. 
 
 Thus in a woman's keen desire to learn 
 
 All that her home, herself, can least concern, 
 
 Or by a woman's instinct urged to run 
 
 Direct on danger it were wise to shun, 
 
 That travelled merchant now she drew aside, 
 
 And with unceasing questions shrewdly plied. 
 
 While he, encouraged by the Royal command, 
 
 Detailed the wonders of the Eastern land ; 
 
 Its monarch's glories prompted to relate, 
 
 Dwelt on his power, his riches, and his state. 
 
 But most of all the Southern Queen inclined 
 
 To know the workings of that master-mind, 
 
 M
 
 i6o THE TRUE CROSS. 
 
 Entranced, as though, even here, she heard and hung 
 On every accent of the golden tongue ; 
 And in the casket of her memory stored 
 The precepts from that fount of wisdom poured ; 
 Nor drooped her eye, nor did her patience fail, 
 While thus the Eastern merchant told his tale : 
 " My Queen, there lies a pleasant land 
 
 For those who lead their camels forth 
 To journey o'er the waste of sand 
 
 That bounds us on the east and north. 
 A land where in a fruitful soil 
 
 The olive and the fig-tree grow — 
 A land of corn, and wine, and oil, 
 
 A land where milk and honey flow ; 
 Where every man enjoys his own, 
 
 Nor holds his right by bow and spear — 
 As safe, unguarded, and alone, 
 
 As one begirt with warriors here. 
 For there the strong and mastering hand 
 Is guided by the wise decree,
 
 THE QUEEN OF THE SOUTH. i6i 
 
 And while his law protects the land, 
 
 The King declares his people free, 
 And not with freedom only blessed, 
 
 For stated feasts their labours cheer, 
 And though the toil be easy, lest 
 
 The husbandman should seem oppressed. 
 One day in every seven they rest, 
 
 And all the seventh year. 
 Yet none so poor and naked go. 
 
 But meat and clothes they can bestow 
 According to their state ; 
 
 And, while the righteous work to speed. 
 They help a brother at his need. 
 
 The hungry mouths they gladly feed 
 Of strangers at the gate. 
 
 A steadfast purpose, not in vain, 
 They ever seem to entertain 
 
 In wealth and ease to live ; 
 With busy craft of hand and brain 
 
 They toil their object to attain, 
 
 M 2
 
 1 62 THE TRUE CROSS. 
 
 And if they dearly love to gain, 
 
 They better love to give. 
 Thus while their bounty more and more 
 
 Increases with increasing store, 
 Though keen they are and wise, 
 
 So high their trading profits mount, 
 Silver they deem of no account, 
 
 And gold they scarcely prize. 
 For ships by hundreds, and by scores, 
 
 To furl their sails on foreign shores 
 From every port the nation pours, 
 
 With daring seamen manned ; 
 And thus all curious things and fair, 
 
 Myrrh, spices, gems, and costly ware, 
 Apes, ivory, peacocks, strange and rare, 
 
 Are brought from every land. 
 And where to grace the dazzling throne. 
 That flames with eveiy precious stone, 
 The glorious monarch sits alone 
 In kingly state, behold !
 
 THE QUEEN OF THE SOUTH. 163 
 
 To keep the steps, a guardian band, 
 By six and six on either hand, 
 In living hkcness deftly planned, 
 And large as life, twelve lions stand, 
 
 Of pure and solid gold ! 
 But all these pomps of outward pride, 
 
 And gauds of empty show, 
 Are but as autumn leaves that hide 
 
 The goodly fruit below; 
 For, used by great ones of the earth. 
 Such matters seem of little worth. 
 
 Scarce noticed or required. 
 And that wise King himself hath told, 
 Though neither to be bought nor sold, 
 How wisdom, than the finest gold 
 
 Is more to be desired. 
 But never mortal man has shown 
 
 Such wisdom as the Eastern King, 
 For day by day, before his throne 
 
 Their several suits the people bring.
 
 164 THE TRUE CROSS. 
 
 And while each doubtful case is tried, 
 
 Nor pauses he, nor wavers long ; 
 But sifts the truth on either side, 
 
 Dividing right from wrong. 
 Thus did it chance, these ears of mine 
 
 The immortal sentence heard, 
 Whereof the spirit seemed divine 
 
 That prompted every word. 
 For surely in a plea so fine, 
 Conflicting statements to combine, 
 And equal justice to assign. 
 
 Mere human wit had erred. 
 In truth such tangled question to decide. 
 At man's tribunal never yet was tried ; 
 Nor scroll of man's tribunal can record 
 The doubt unravelled by such fair award. 
 Behold ! when to his judgment-seat 
 
 The King went up at morning light, 
 There came two harlots to his feet, 
 
 Beseeching him to do them right.
 
 THE QUEEN OF THE SOUTH. 165 
 
 One tore her hair, and rent her veil, 
 
 And called on heaven and earth to hear ; 
 And one stood silent, sad and pale, 
 
 And shook in sorrow more than fear. 
 ' Justice ! great King ! ' the first exclaimed, 
 ' For thou and all thy race are shamed 
 
 If justice be not done ! 
 Thy servant and that woman there 
 Dwell in one house, one chamber share, 
 And each fulfilled her time, and bare 
 
 A little living son ; 
 But lately, turning in her rest, 
 Her new-born child to death she pressed, 
 So took the babe from off my breast 
 
 And laid it to her own. 
 But when at dawn I rose to chide : 
 " Nay, thine the infant was that died, 
 And mine the living child ! " she cried ; 
 Now, therefore, let my lord decide 
 
 Between us from the throne ! '
 
 1 66 THE TRUE CROSS. 
 
 The other raised her drooping head, 
 And never word but these she said : 
 ' Nay, mine the living, thine the dead ; ' 
 
 Then seemed her speech to fail. 
 But still the first, with urgent cry, 
 Made loud appeal to earth and sky. 
 To man below and God on high, 
 
 That justice might prevail. 
 And swore by all she most revered, 
 The holy Temple, yonder reared, 
 
 The High Priest's vesture and his beard, 
 The hope she held, the doom she feared, 
 
 Hers was the truthful tale. 
 Pondered the King but little space, 
 Then bade the nearest warrior place 
 
 The child before him there. 
 ' Divide me now the babe,' he said, 
 ' In equal parts from heel to head ; 
 Each claims the living — of the dead 
 
 Let each be given her share ! '
 
 THE QUEEN OF THE SOUTH. 167 
 
 ' The King is just as God above ! ' 
 
 She vowed, who first had made her plea ; 
 The other, stirred with mother's love, 
 
 Could only sob, * Nay, let it be ! 
 The suit is hers. No more I strive, 
 But save my little child alive ! ' 
 Then rose the King, and every word 
 Of his decree, on us who heard, 
 
 Came like a voice divine. 
 Said he to her who spoke the last, 
 ' Take thou the babe, and keep it fast ; 
 
 Surely the babe is thine ! ' 
 And through the place, within, \\-ithout, 
 From all the crowd went up a shout 
 
 That seemed to swell and ring. 
 In lordly streets, and lowly ways, 
 A note of jubilee and praise. 
 The note a joyful nation raise 
 
 In honour of their King. 
 For with the sentence thus made known,
 
 i68 THE TRUE CROSS. 
 
 His people, gathering round the throne, 
 The royal award were fain to own. 
 By wisdom prompted that alone 
 The grace of God could bring ! " 
 
 As though his listener's very soul was stirred, 
 She seemed to hang entranced on every word, 
 With parted lips, and dewy, dreamy eyes. 
 That veiled a deeper feeling than surprise. 
 A sense of woman's thraldom drawing near, 
 A thrill too keen for joy, too sweet for fear, 
 Dashed by a maiden shame unknown till now, 
 That sent the life-blood up from heart to brow, 
 That softened all the outline of her face. 
 And crowned her beauty with its richest 
 
 grace 
 
 Till day by day that beauty lost its glow. 
 The light, free step, unequal fell, and slow. 
 The dusky cheek grew wan, and almost pale, 
 The weary, wistful glances told their tale.
 
 THE QUEEN OF THE SOUTH. 169 
 
 And every change that marked her altered mien 
 Betrayed a wound, unstanched, because unseen. 
 Wild were her dreams, and in her troubled rest 
 So heaved, so panted her unquiet breast. 
 The busy palace-maidens, prone to pry, 
 Declared each breath she drew a love-sick sigh, 
 And vowed that as the fever-fit increased, 
 Their longing Queen looked always to the East. 
 
 But now, from lip to lip the rumour flew 
 That tales conceived in jest were coming true ; 
 And neighbour meeting neighbour in the gate, 
 Asked why the Queen thus journeyed forth in 
 
 state } 
 Why steeds and camels in a long array 
 Were filing from the walls throughout the day ? 
 Why every steed was trapped with gold, and 
 
 more, 
 Why bags of treasure every camel bore .'' 
 And whispered, as he drew his friend aside, 
 That all this pomp and splendour must betide
 
 I70 . THE TRUE CROSS. 
 
 The Queen's departure for the East — the while 
 Gleamed in his lean, dark face a cunning smile. 
 While yet the talk was rife in every mouth, 
 Left her domains that mistress of the South ; 
 And through the trackless desert, day by day, 
 Now hopeful, now depressed, she made her way, 
 Bound for the Holy City, there to fling 
 Herself, her troubles, all she had to bring, 
 Before the footstool of its famous King. 
 Judge for herself the glory and the state 
 Of him whom wondering travellers called the 
 
 Great, 
 In rapture marking, rather than surprise, 
 How fair his person, and his words how wise ; 
 And so, enchained by sense of ear and eye, 
 Sink to a vassal, from a royal ally, 
 Desirous only at his feet to fall, 
 And offer camels, maidens, crown, and all. 
 Thus did she pass where gathered nations trod 
 The threshold of that Temple reared to God ;
 
 THE QUEEN OF THE SOUTH. 17 r 
 
 And standing thus beneath the ancient beam, 
 To learn its history, scared as in a dream, 
 So strange the tales she heard, the sights she saw. 
 Fainted her longing soul with very awe ; 
 And to the kingly presence drawing near, 
 Failed all her woman's heart in reverend love and fear.
 
 PART III. 
 
 THE RAGE OF THE HEATHEN. 
 
 "'TILL, year by year, and day by day. 
 While men and nations passed away, 
 The holy Temple stood, 
 And still, to fence its inner shrine. 
 Fulfilling thus the task divine, 
 Across its porch, in level line. 
 
 Was laid the sacred wood. 
 But, day by day, and year by year. 
 Untouched by love, untaught by fear, 
 The people seemed to persevere
 
 THE RAGE OF THE HEATHEN. 173 
 
 In deeds of wrath and wrong. 
 God's justice seemed to incite and dare, 
 As striving hourly to outwear 
 His mercy, willing to forbear, 
 
 His patience suffering long. 
 For, race by race, transgressing kings 
 Went lusting after evil things, 
 Athirst for those forbidden springs 
 
 Idolatry that poured. 
 The guilt of each succeeding reign. 
 Nor priest, nor elder, could restrain, 
 And prophets thundered, all in vain. 
 
 Threats, flouted or ignored. 
 While round the calf of molten eold. 
 An idol shameful to behold, 
 With rites too hideous to be told. 
 Men danced and worshipped as of old. 
 
 And all forgot the Lord. 
 Thus Egypt, and his countless race, 
 Came up to spoil the holy place.
 
 174 ^^^ TRUE CROSS. 
 
 And with accursed hand 
 Made havoc in the sacred store, 
 The gold from scroll and tablet tore, 
 And took the golden shields, and bore 
 
 The plunder to his land. 
 Nor shamed it Judah's craven king, 
 The dues he owed his God to bring, 
 When to the dark Assyrian's wing 
 
 He crept in abject fear. 
 Vain was the sacrilege, and vain 
 The impious bribe such help to gain ! 
 The dark Assyrian in disdain 
 Took all, but bade his host refrain 
 
 From aid with bow and spear. 
 And thus of gem and golden gleam, 
 Bare as the rock that stems a stream. 
 In rugged strength, that ancient beam 
 
 Remained for many a year. 
 Till came the Heathen in his might 
 Of countless columns, day and night.
 
 THE RAGE OF THE HEATHEN, 175 
 
 And pushed his spears from height to height, 
 
 And w heeled his horsemen left and right, 
 In thousands from the rear. 
 
 Sore on the vexed and weary land 
 
 He laid his heavy mastering hand ; 
 
 So close he knit the iron band, 
 
 None could escape it nor withstand ; 
 And thus the end drew near. 
 For now, with guilty daring, high and low 
 Filled for themselves the cup of wrath and woe, 
 Forgot their parted brethren, and ignored 
 Their rival's judgment, chastened of the Lord — ■ 
 Samaria, but a little bolder grown 
 In sins but little grosser than their own. 
 That like a harlot had defiled her name. 
 Abjured her faith, and crowned herself with shame ; 
 To hanker after gods of stone and wood. 
 And worship each by each in varying mood. 
 To raise in many a grove and open space 
 The standard and the symbol of disgrace ; 
 
 N
 
 176 THE TRUE CROSS. 
 
 On many an altar plighting thus her troth 
 To Nebo, Moloch, Baal, and Ashtaroth ; 
 Bowed impious knees before the planets seven. 
 Kissed impious hands to adore the queen of Heaven, 
 And passed her little children through the flame, 
 In impious praise of Moloch's hateful name. 
 But who, of all she worshipped, foul or fair, 
 Princes, and powers of darkness and the air, 
 Came down to offer succour in her strait 
 When thundered the Assyrian at the gate ? 
 Prone at her feet fell Dagon on his face. 
 Unmoved the lordly Baal kept his place, 
 Sweet Ashtaroth with bright and cruel smile 
 Looked coldly, calmly, out of Heaven the while, 
 And hideous Moloch, of the stony heart. 
 In rigid laughter carven, grinned apart. 
 Fain to her early faith had she returned. 
 Her very soul, in stress of anguish, burned ; 
 Fain had she bared once more the conquering sword, 
 To battle-cry of Gideon and the Lord !
 
 THE RAGE OF THE HEATHEN. 177 
 
 Too late ! The day of grace was past and dead, 
 Her priests were scattered and her people fled, 
 Her mighty ones were fallen, her warriors slain, 
 Her altars soiled and trampled, while in vain 
 She clanked in sullen fear a captive's chain. 
 No hope from Heaven above nor earth below — 
 Woe to Samaria ! and to Israel woe ! 
 
 False gods ! 'Tis ever thus when man abjures 
 The angel's guidance, for the demon's lures ; 
 When from the straight and narrow path he 
 
 strays, 
 To hunt a pleasant sin through pleasant ways. 
 Scarce can he grasp the phantom ere 'tis gone ! 
 To take another shape, and tempt him on. 
 Like Moloch cruel, and like Ashtaroth fair. 
 Melts in its turn that other shape to air. 
 In vain he halts, his footsteps to retrace. 
 Behold ! around him looms a desert place. 
 Seamed with a thousand paths, that in his haste 
 Serve but to plunge him deeper in the waste ; 
 
 N 2
 
 178 THE TRUE CROSS. 
 
 While all those forms that showed by day so bright, 
 Grown dark and hideous in the shade of night, 
 Around him shriek and soar, in mocking rings. 
 Flout with their tongues, and buffet with their wings ; 
 Till blinded, baffled, weary, spent, and sore. 
 He lies as lies the weed upon the shore, 
 That waves have mangled, that the storm hath tossed- 
 And thus a life is gone — a soul is lost ! 
 
 Warned by Samaria's downfall to refrain 
 From Israel's guilt — but warned, alas ! in vain — 
 Her sister Judah followed none the less 
 The example of rebellion and excess ; 
 Chose with the Heathen her unhallowed lot, 
 Her faith dishonoured, and her God forgot. 
 From no enormity of sin forbore, 
 A harlot, like her sister, at the core ; 
 Yet, than her sister less depraved and vile, 
 That, though she cherished she deplored her guile. 
 And when through echoing streets her prophets went, 
 With dust-besprinkled brows and garments rent,
 
 THE RAGE OF THE HEATHEN. 179 
 
 To raise the burden of their threatening cry, 
 In jealous wrath for Him they served on high, 
 Deep in her heart witli each faniih'ar word 
 Some gentler, purer, hoHer memory stirred ; 
 For still the vain false heart that memory kept, 
 And though she scoffed, she sighed, and while she sinned, 
 she wept ! 
 In vain, transgressing all alike — 
 
 Prince, peasant, prophet, priest — 
 The avenger's arm was raised to strike 
 
 The greatest as the least — 
 Was none could keep his impious hand 
 
 From off the accursed thingf. 
 And thus the Curse was on the land, 
 
 The people and the king — 
 The curse, that many a deed had earned 
 
 Of darkness and disgrace ; 
 The curse, repentance might have turned 
 
 From such repentant race — 
 For humbled hearts, and garments rent,
 
 i8o THE TRUE CROSS. 
 
 And faces sad and pale, 
 And strength in prayer and fasting spent. 
 
 With mercy shall prevail 
 Since He who made, is loth to kill, 
 And loves his rebel children still, 
 
 And listens for their cry. 
 Will they but pause one moment's space. 
 Turn but one look to meet his face, 
 Plead but a single word for grace, 
 
 Be sure they shall not die 1 
 For this, glad tidings have been sent. 
 That man need only to repent, 
 And God in mercy will relent, 
 
 Nor count the cancelled sin. 
 For this, do pitying angels wait 
 Expectant at the Golden Gate, 
 Let him but knock, however late. 
 
 To lead the suppliant in. 
 Alas ! that still perverse in mind. 
 To evil courses still inclined. 
 His ears are deaf, his eyes are blind.
 
 THE RAGE OF THE HEATHEN. i8i 
 
 Again, and yet again, 
 The angel whisper falls unheard, 
 Unmarked the angel wings arc stirred, 
 And pleading glance and warning word 
 
 Arc sent from heaven in vain. 
 Till rises the avenging day. 
 The sword is bared to smite and slay ; 
 Fain would he seek the homeward way. 
 
 But lo ! a lion there. 
 Like one entangled in a net, 
 By helpless doubt and vain regret, 
 And foes and fears, he stands beset. 
 To perish in despair. 
 Such was the fate of Judah, such the fate 
 Of men and nations who repent too late. 
 Yet not unwarned do men and nations fall. 
 Rang in the people's ears a prophet's call ; 
 A prophet sent by Mercy from on high, 
 Charged but to ask in vain, "Why will ye 
 die ? "
 
 1 82 THE TRUE CROSS. 
 
 Scorned, disbelieved by rulers clothed in sin, 
 Though now the dark Assyrian hemmed them in, 
 Though, roaming aimless on uncertain feet, 
 Pale Famine gasped and glared in every street ; 
 Though bank on bank against the city cast 
 Foretold the assault that must prevail at last ; 
 Though broken as a reed, on which depends 
 The weak and trusting hand it only rends, 
 False Egypt marching, succour to bestow, 
 Fled like the wind before her ancient foe. 
 Nor halted till she reached her watery plain. 
 Nor sent a single horseman forth again ; 
 Though treachery lurked within, and fear and doubt, 
 While drew the siege its iron girth without ; 
 Though hideous tales, at every corner told. 
 Of lust and rapine made the blood run cold ; 
 Though women, all unsexed, with bosoms bare. 
 And hollow wolfish eyes and matted hair. 
 Raved through the barren market, calling down 
 God's vengeance on their own beleaguered town,
 
 THE RAGE OE THE HE ATI I EX. 1S3 
 
 And plucked their infants from the breast, and swore 
 There, in His face, to slay the babes they bore, 
 While hurling curses on the monarch's head, 
 Who heard his people cry in vain for bread : — 
 Yet none believed but Peace would be restored, 
 Nor deemed their prophet prompted by the Lord, 
 Nor stirred a hand to save him from his fate, 
 When angry elders hauled him to the gate. 
 And bade their cowering King confirm the doom 
 That plunged him guiltless in a living tomb. 
 By all but God forgotten, many a day 
 In mire and filth and darkness there he lay ; 
 While, fainter grown at every trumpet call, 
 Weak hearts were mustering on a crumbling wall ; 
 While War, with brawny arm, and lusty shout, 
 Unfurled his blood-red banner from without; 
 Though failing voices told, amidst the din. 
 How the pale flag of sickness hung within, 
 And gaunt-eyed Hunger warned his brother Fear, 
 In ghostly whispers, how the end was near !
 
 1 84 THE TRUE CROSS. 
 
 Then came a tawny eunuch to the King, 
 
 And pleaded hard for leave that he might bring 
 
 The prophet out, and spoke his master fair, 
 
 And urged him, lest the man should perish there ; 
 
 For all the town was pinched for want, he said, 
 
 And who would think to give a captive bread ? 
 
 Yielded his lord, and to the prisoner's den 
 
 He bade him lead a guard of thirty men : 
 
 And " Take me out this prophet ! " was his cry, 
 
 " Go, take me out the prophet, ere he die ! " 
 
 The Ethiop heard— to hear was to obey — • 
 And gladly to the dungeon made his way, 
 And bade its fainting inmate nothing fear. 
 Confiding in his friendly succour near ; 
 And looped beneath his arms a padded cord 
 To draw him forth, who trusted in the Lord ! 
 And thus restored him from the loathsome place 
 To stand before the monarch, face to face. 
 
 Inflamed with zeal, with holy ardour fired. 
 The prophet raised his voice as one inspired,
 
 THE RAGE OF THE HEATHEN. 185 
 
 Nor deigned, at such a time, to speak a lie, 
 
 Nor quenched, in such a pHght, his warning cry. 
 
 " Thus hath the God of hosts," he said, " revealed : 
 
 If to the dark Assyrian thou shalt yield, 
 
 And go before him, shorn of all thy state. 
 
 To lead him in a conqueror through the gate — 
 
 Because my word thou seekest to obey, 
 
 Th>' life will I restore thee for a prey, 
 
 And spare thine house, and all that with thee take 
 
 The captive's bitter portion, for thy sake. 
 
 Nor to avenging flames thy city give ; 
 
 Thus art thou safe, and thus thy soul shall live. 
 
 But if thou wilt not leave thy fenced town. 
 
 Nor bow to Babylonian princes down. 
 
 Thyself, thine house, thy people and thy land, 
 
 Will I deliver in the Assyrian's hand. 
 
 To grind beneath his heel, to burn and slay, 
 
 And into hopeless bondage lead away." 
 
 Loth was the trembling monarch to refuse, 
 
 But said — " Alas ! I fear the captive Jews,
 
 1 86 THE TRUE CROSS. 
 
 Whom in his camp the Assyrian holds in thrall, 
 Lest these deceive and mock me in my fall ! " 
 Answered the prophet — " Fear them not ! " he said, 
 " They shall not harm one hair upon thy head ; 
 But thou, the Lord's commandment to obey, 
 Do as His servant bids thee — go thy way ; 
 Or else, — behold ! He shows me His design^ 
 Thus shall He deal in wrath with thee and thine ! 
 The women of thine house shall eunuchs bring 
 To stand unveiled before the Assyrian king ; 
 These shall not fail to mock thy fate and say, 
 Behold ! thy faithless friends have fled away. 
 And those who thus beguiled thee to conspire, 
 Have turned their backs and left thee in the mire ! 
 Then shalt thou see thy wives and children stand 
 The captives of the strong Chaldaean's hand, 
 Led forth to heathen exile, iron-bound, 
 While heathens burn thy city to the ground. 
 And thou the cause ! Behold the sentence read ! 
 The burden now must rest upon thy head."
 
 THE RAGE OF THE HEATHEN. 1S7 
 
 Trembled the kinc^, and bade the seer disclose 
 These words of doom to neither friends nor foes ; 
 And if the Princes questioned, to declare 
 He had but left the prison with a prayer 
 That he might not return to perish there : 
 And thus he held his peace, and went his way. 
 And thus drew near the great avenging day. 
 Watchman, what of the night ? 
 
 The night is dark, the stars are dim, 
 The early moon, her crescent rim 
 
 A crescent pale and bright, 
 Is resting on the foeman's mound 
 That girdles all the city round, 
 While trumpets, answering sound for sound, 
 Are pealing o'er the foeman's ground. 
 Where camps the foeman's might. 
 Watchman, keep watch and ward 
 With eager eye and listening ear ! — 
 The heathens gather far and near, 
 And put their trust in bow and spear,
 
 1 88 THE TRUE CROSS. 
 
 Habergeon, shield, and sword. 
 But, while they muster fierce and strong, 
 To vex her with a grievous wrong, 
 Let Judah raise her battle-song, 
 Assured the issue shall belong, 
 
 In battle, to the Lord ! 
 Again ! What of the night ? 
 
 A muffled stir the watchman hears, 
 
 And, where the moon-beams strike, appears 
 
 A dancing gleam of distant spears, 
 
 That moves from height to height. 
 The signal flash of coming harm, 
 Sound, watchman, sound the shrill alarm ! 
 Rise ! men of Judah ! rise and arm ! 
 
 Make ready for the fight ! 
 Be strong ! be brave ! your missiles bring, — 
 The burning brand to smear and fling, — 
 The rock to heave — the stone to sling — 
 Stand fast — for country, home, and King ! 
 
 God shall defend the Right !
 
 THE RAGE OF THE HEATHEN. 189 
 
 But how may those who took no heed 
 Of God in thought, and word, and deed, 
 Deserve his succour at their need, 
 
 Whom, prosperous, they ignored ? 
 Though Judah's banner flaunts on high, 
 Though rises Judah's battle-cry, 
 While to the wall her warriors fly, 
 The flag shall fall, the men shall die, 
 
 Forsaken of the Lord ! 
 Lo ! girded in unseemly haste. 
 With garments rent and brow defaced, 
 A prophet, naked to the waist, 
 
 Is striding up and down, 
 To raise the sad foreboding wail 
 That warns the mightiest men in mail, 
 How bow and spear shall not avail. 
 How hearts shall sink and courage fail, 
 When curses fall from heaven like hail 
 
 On this devoted town ! 
 Then flits a voice from ear to ear
 
 I90 THE TRUE CROSS. 
 
 That whispers of destruction near, 
 And mastery of a nameless fear 
 
 Unnerves the strong man's hand ; 
 While shrieks of women fill the air, 
 Some beat their breasts and pluck their hair. 
 And some, in frenzy of despair. 
 Can only gasp a frantic prayer 
 
 To perish where they stand. 
 And still the crescent moon on high 
 Moves through a calm untroubled sky ; 
 
 And still on earth below. 
 Like waves that with a sullen roar 
 Break ceaseless on a troubled shore, 
 Higher and higher, more and more, 
 Swells the advancing tide of war, 
 
 The onset of the foe. 
 For, one by one, to storm and hold 
 
 The outworks, till it gained them all, 
 The assailing force had onward rolled 
 
 Its columns to the city wall.
 
 THE RAGE OF THE HEATHEN. 191 
 
 Like locusts on a field of green, 
 
 Like spread of a devouring flame, 
 Without a pause or space between, 
 
 Those swarrns of heathen horsemen came ; 
 And comrade with his comrade vied. 
 For each was fain the assault to guide, 
 
 To rive and rend and slay ; 
 And all were thirsting spoil to win. 
 And all were panting to begin — 
 Like forest wolves that gather in 
 
 To tear a forest prey. 
 But now there rose a warning cry 
 From post to post, that rang on high, 
 
 And seemed to mount and swell, 
 Till, reaching up to heaven, it made 
 . Its wild appeal for heavenly aid, — 
 
 Though answered by a yell 
 That mocked the anguish of its prayer, 
 That mocked the voice of its despair, — 
 For shapes in armour flashing, where
 
 192 THE TRUE CROSS. 
 
 The fire-brand reddened all the air, 
 Came leaping in athwart the glare 
 
 Like very fiends from hell ! 
 As sweeps a torrent o'er its fall, 
 They swept across the battered wall, 
 
 And through the breaches poured 
 In countless thousands, band by band, 
 The warriors of a warlike land. 
 And all who fell into their hand 
 
 They put them to the sword. 
 Behold, throughout that blood-stained ni;^iit 
 Of slaughter rather than of fight, 
 The heathen revelled in his might, 
 While turned and broke in shameful 
 flight 
 
 The people of the Lord. 
 Laughed grim Sharezer in his beard ; 
 And Nergal smiled, and Nebo jeered; 
 While pointed Rabsaris, where appeared 
 
 To flush the morning sky
 
 THE RAGE OF THE HEATHEN. 193 
 
 A dawn of paler, weaker red, 
 
 Than those dark streams his horsemen 
 
 shed, 
 Whose rage the Assyrian urged and led, 
 That Judah where she fell and bled, 
 
 Beneath his heel might lie. 
 And fiercer than the Eastern flame 
 That scorched the deserts whence he came, 
 To wage and win his hideous game, 
 
 The blaze he kindled here. 
 Already was the town aglow, 
 The fires were raging high and low, 
 While ravaged that remorseless foe 
 With levelled shaft and bended bow, — 
 
 With faggot, sword, and spear. 
 The mother shrieked, with bosom gashed. 
 The babe against the stones was dashed. 
 With brains and blood bestrewn and splashed, 
 And Force was into Fury lashed 
 
 By helplessness of Fear. 
 
 o 2
 
 194 THE TRUE CROSS. 
 
 Alas ! ere noon in heaven was high, 
 
 Seemed little left to burn or slay ; 
 Thick rolled the smoke towards the sky, 
 
 Thick on the earth the corpses lay ; 
 While, headlong through the farthest gate, 
 
 Scared by the foeman's tramp and shout, 
 Stripped of a monarch's arms and state. 
 
 The King of Judah galloped out. 
 In vain ! those horses of the East, 
 
 Not Egypt's famous race surpassed, 
 And soon, as the pursuit increased, 
 
 They took the king, and bound him fast. 
 Before the Lord of all the Earth 
 
 He stood in fetters, face to face 
 To plead the right of princely birth. 
 
 Yet failed to win a prince's grace. 
 The Lord of all the Earth looked down 
 
 In scorn and anger on his prize; 
 With fierce reproach and ruthless frown, 
 
 He bade pluck out the captive's eyes.
 
 THE RAGE OF THE HEATHEN. 195 
 
 Thus (.lid those prophecies agree, 
 
 That each a different tale foretold, 
 How Babylon he should never see, 
 
 Yet surely should its king behold. 
 And thus the righteous judgment came 
 
 On him who feared to draw the sword, 
 To call on the yllniighty name, 
 
 And trust in battle to the Lord. 
 Thus lost he, blinded and forlorn, 
 
 His sight, his kingdom at a blow ; 
 Thus from his side his wives were torn. 
 
 Unveiled before a foreign foe; 
 And thus to heathen hands a prey, 
 
 By heathen feet defiled and trod, 
 His fair and holy city lay 
 A smouldering heap of ashes grey. 
 While on that great avenging day. 
 In robes of flame had passed away 
 
 The Temple of his God ! 
 But, ere the fire had done its worst.
 
 196 THE TRUE CROSS. 
 
 Those very heathen hands accursed 
 
 Had spoiled the sacred shnne : 
 The holy veil they plucked and tore, 
 The holy vessels outward bore. 
 And trampled all the holy floor 
 To smite the holy servants sore, 
 
 And spill their blood like wine. 
 It seemed that for a house of prayer 
 They entertained nor fear nor care, 
 Rejoicing every crime to dare, 
 From no pollution to forbear. 
 Nor aught to reverence, aught to spare, 
 
 Of human or divine. 
 Thus, leaping to the Temple's height, 
 The flames in their resistless mieht. 
 
 Engulphed it at a bound ; 
 When, blazing like a kindled torch. 
 The goodly beam that spanned the porch, 
 
 Came crashing to the ground ; 
 Till, downward by the assailants rolled,
 
 THE RAGE OF THE HEATHEN. 197 
 
 Who lauglied, yet cursed it to behold 
 Tlie showers it shed of molten gold, 
 
 A resting-place it found 
 Low in the pool, where day by day 
 Men washed the sheep they brought to slay, 
 Imbedded in the yielding clay, 
 Like some exhausted thing that lay 
 
 Part stranded, partly drowned. 
 Abandoned now by friends and foes, 
 The conquerors these, the captives those, 
 While morning after morning rose, 
 About the city seemed to close, 
 
 Unbroken by a sound, 
 Such horror as our fancies spread 
 About the stillness of the Dead, 
 The horror of a nameless dread, 
 
 Where Silence reigns around !
 
 BOOK V. 
 
 THE POOL.
 
 BOOK V. 
 
 THE POOL. 
 
 EAR after year, as day succeeded day, 
 
 Age after age, as year succeeded year, 
 Still in this turbid pool neglected lay 
 The beam by heathen malice grounded here. 
 Another race from bondage had returned; 
 
 A warlike king sat firm upon the throne ; 
 Smiled from the ashes of a city burned 
 A fairer pile of marble and of stone. 
 A second Temple on the holy site 
 
 Reared to the Syrian skies its roof of gold ; 
 Bright shone the gilded capitals, and bright 
 Flashed the tall gilded columns as of old.
 
 202 THE TRUE CROSS. 
 
 Through many a year did Judah gnaw the chain 
 
 Of bitter thraldom in a foreign land, 
 And looked for a deliverer in vain, 
 
 To break the mastery of her tyrant's hand : 
 A coming king of more than mortal birth, 
 
 Invested with the sceptre and the sword, 
 A ruler over all the bounds of earth, 
 
 A conquering captain, an imperious lord: 
 Small heed she took of His celestial sway. 
 
 From heaven who bids the dews of Mercy fall, 
 Whom angels in their holy home obey, 
 
 Whose reign is Peace, goodwill, and hope for all. 
 Surely for this, from day-break till its close, 
 
 True to their Master, jealous for his name. 
 Through every street the prophet's warning rose, 
 
 Through every street its burden was the same : 
 "Repent, my people, ere the time be past ! 
 
 Repent, and turn ye from the evil thing ! 
 The Lord of Hosts, He shall prevail at last ! 
 
 The God of Jacob, He shall be your king !
 
 THE POOL. 203 
 
 Will ye not know Him when He cometh down ? 
 
 Will ye deny the Man of Sorrows here ? 
 Plait for his gracious brows the martyr's crown, 
 
 Scoff at his cruel pangs with mock and jeer ? 
 Ye fools, and blind ! Come back unto the Lord, 
 
 And turn ye to the light, while yet 'tis day ! 
 Nor spurn the Prince by Heaven and Earth adored, 
 
 Nor scorn the power that Heaven and Earth obey!" 
 Such was the voice inspired, and such the cry 
 
 That fell unmarked on Judah's graceless ear; 
 Such was the pledge of Ilim who cannot lie, 
 
 Redeemed through many a long forbearing year 
 Of sins repeated, and of grace renewed, 
 
 Of merciful reprieve from time to time, 
 That cleansed the guilty hands with blood imbrued ; 
 
 That salved in guilty hearts the wounds of crime. 
 And he whom King of kings the nations called, 
 
 Was led to favour thus the captive race; 
 Freed from the bonds in which they lay enthralled, 
 
 Once more to flourish in their ancient place;
 
 204 THE TRUE CROSS. 
 
 Once more to build a house unto the Lord, 
 
 The rites their early faith required to hold, 
 Once more the Daily Sacrifice restored 
 
 In homage to Jehovah, as of old : 
 The creatures, lent for use of man to slay, 
 
 Prefiguring thus by man to slaughter led 
 The Lamb of God, who in a coming day 
 
 Should bear a world's transgressions on his head. 
 But ere these victims to the steel were brought, 
 
 As ordered by the priest's appointed rule, 
 The priestly servants in their course were taught 
 
 To drive them forth and wash them in a pool, — 
 Hereafter, for the virtues it revealed, 
 
 " Bethesda" or "the House of Mercy " named : 
 The halt, the sick, the maimed, its waters healed ; 
 
 Halt, sick, and maimed its kindly powers proclaimed. 
 Lo ! here forgotten and imbedded lay 
 
 The beam that once sustained so rich a freight. 
 And bore a silent witness, day by day, 
 
 To all the changing turns of Judah's fate.
 
 THE POOL. 205 
 
 For Judah, like a fair and regal dame, 
 
 Drew many a dread admirer to her court ; 
 And some with smile and flattering whisper came, 
 
 And some declared their suit with threatening port : 
 From him, insatiate, with ambition fired, 
 
 The Macedonian, of prophetic birth, 
 Who, other worlds to subjugate desired, 
 
 And chafed, restricted by the bounds of earth, 
 Down to the haughty Roman, who appeared 
 
 Girt with a host that conquered where they trod, 
 The offerings of her worship, who revered, 
 
 Nor dared, to spoil the Temple of her God. 
 Thus did she stand again in rich array, 
 
 A queen, enthroned by force of shield and sword 
 Beneath that crafty ruler's iron sway, 
 
 Who served the Ca:sar while he praised the Lord ! 
 Who fenced her in with many a warlike line. 
 
 And crowned her walls with many a stately tower, 
 And held his peace, and nursed his own design. 
 
 Nor grudged the tribute that confirmed his power.
 
 2o6 THE TRUE CROSS. 
 
 A man by nature moulded to command, 
 
 In dark intrigue to bear the darker part, 
 A man of reckless will, and ruthless hand, 
 
 Resistless courage and remorseless heart. 
 For this, ere yet his aims he had attained. 
 
 Submission to imperial Rome he made ; 
 Thus from imperial Rome dominion gained, 
 
 And kept the throne she gave him, with the blade. 
 For this, he spared not servant, son, nor friend 
 
 Who crossed his purpose, or his secrets knew ; 
 But, (used alone for furtherance of his end,) 
 
 The man whom most he trusted, him he slew, 
 And doomed the wife, — who lay upon his breast, 
 
 The wife he loved, — with fierce and cruel pain, 
 To death, unpardoned, even as the rest, 
 
 Nor felt one moment's ease of mind again ! 
 How oft the glorious beauty he recalled, 
 
 The loving, lustrous glance, the queenly brow, 
 The woman's smile, that all the man enthralled 
 
 The woman's tender graces, perished now
 
 THE POOL. 207 
 
 For blccdint,^ Love avenged its injured right, 
 
 And phantoms passed before his sleepless eye, 
 While, in the silent watches of the night. 
 
 Rose to the echoing roof a raging cry, — 
 The echoing roof gave back that fatal word, 
 
 And " Mariamne ! " rang through all the air, 
 Till those who woke, to tremble as they heard. 
 
 Believed a soul from hell was shrieking there 
 Woe to the heart that mercy never knew ! 
 
 That beat for lust of power and pride alone, 
 With each succeeding crime that fiercer grew, 
 
 And hardened in impunity to stone. 
 Woe to the hand, those infants' blood that shed ! 
 
 The guiltless blood, that ere the babes were cold 
 Cried out to heaven for vengeance on his head 
 
 Who feared the new-born King his seers foretold. 
 But Woe and Vengeance seemed to tarry long. 
 
 As careless of a people's fear and hate ; 
 And still the monarch prospered and was strong, 
 
 And Judah's Ilerod still was called the Great ! 
 
 p
 
 2o8 THE TRUE CROSS. 
 
 For laws of God and man while he defied, 
 
 Hers was his highest thought, his deepest scheme, 
 He decked her as a tyrant decks his bride, 
 
 And Judah's Glory still was Herod's dream. 
 Thus for his own and for his country's good 
 
 The splendid monarch robed her fair and fine, 
 Re-built the ancient Temple where it stood, 
 
 And hung with offerings all its holy shrine. 
 For this it may be Heaven looked down to spare, 
 
 And granted leisure to repent in time. 
 Lest haply force of fasting and of prayer 
 
 Might win a pardon for that life of crime. 
 Yet paused he not upon the downward way, 
 
 To work of lust and murder seasoned now ; 
 His blood ran fiercer as his locks turned grey. 
 
 And years engraved their sins upon his brow ; 
 Till, at the last, in anguish racked and torn, 
 
 A living, loathsome mass, with death to cope, 
 He laid him down, and gnashed his teeth in scorn. 
 
 And died, as dies a dog — without a hope.
 
 THE POOL. 209 
 
 Not his the trust that stifles earthly fear, 
 
 Not his the faith that in affliction's hour 
 Beholds the Good Physician drawing near, 
 
 And leaves its wounds to Mercy's healing power : 
 Like theirs, the sick and maimed, with scars and sores. 
 
 With festering limbs corrupt, and bones laid bare, 
 Who thronged about Bethesda's pool by scores 
 
 To wait the troubling of the waters there, — 
 Some in the porches calmly lay at rest, 
 
 The porches five, about the place that stood, — 
 And some with weak, impatient gestures, pressed 
 
 And pushed their like aside in fretful mood. 
 For ever and anon, they passed the word 
 
 From lip to lip throughout the ghastly band, 
 That now to healing power the pool was stirred 
 
 By virtue of the expected angel's hand ; 
 And those who hastened down to bathe them first. 
 
 For every ill that vexed them, solace found, 
 And, cured of all the woes disease had nursed. 
 
 Stepped from the troubled surface whole and sound, 
 
 V 2
 
 2IO THE TRUE CROSS. 
 
 With life and strength renewed, to go their wa}". 
 
 Pain, sorrow, sickness vanished like a dream, 
 Nor guessed the secret of their welfare lay- 
 Wrapped in the worth of that half-sunken beani' 
 Which peered above the lapping, shallow wave, 
 
 To yield its balm for every human ill — 
 Type of the godlike power that came to save. 
 
 The godlike mercy, unexhausted still. 
 \V^arped were the wasted forms that gathered here 
 
 With shaking limbs and faces drawn and wan. 
 And dry, white lips agape, but not with fear, — 
 
 For fear finds little room when hope is gone, — 
 Pointed with palsied arm the uncertain hand. 
 
 Wagged with a palsied roll the shaking head, 
 The palsied feet could scarce make shift to stand. 
 
 Through palsied veins the blood ran numbed and 
 dead. 
 Each form of suffering helplessness could wear 
 
 Expressed itself in wail and gasp and moan, 
 Yet grudged for others' pangs one sigh to spare. 
 
 Nor seemed to credit aught except its own !
 
 THE POOL. 211 
 
 Eut those about the pond who thronged and pressed, 
 
 Their helpless brethren trampled where they lay, 
 Soon as the water heaved its troubled breast 
 
 The stronger pushed the weaker wretch away : 
 Was none would move a finger for the aid 
 
 Of crippled fellow-sufifercr far or near, 
 And care of self at every turn betrayed 
 
 That self, however loathsome, still was dear ! 
 While peevish spite seemed powerless to refrain 
 
 From angry curse and cuff when jibed or crossed. 
 Thus was the task affliction set, in vain, 
 
 And thus the teaching of their trials lost. 
 Yet still like precious dews from heaven that fall 
 
 On good and bad, impartial, soft and mild. 
 Those gracious waters healed the plagues of all, 
 
 And cleansed the leper, even as the child ; 
 For Mercy takes no thought of rank or state, 
 
 The poorest and the weakest, and the worst 
 Of weary souls are welcome at her gate ; 
 
 And those who stoop the lowliest, enter first.
 
 212 THE TRUE CROSS. 
 
 Surely it seems not much that she requires — 
 
 A homeless hopeless heart, a humble cry, 
 A spirit mourning for its dead desires, 
 
 Yet in its desolation, loth to die. 
 Not much of frail mortality to ask, 
 
 A few weak steps along the path of right ; 
 Nor seems the Lord severe, nor hard the task, 
 
 His yoke is easy, and his burden light. 
 Yet man will choose the yoke that galls him sore. 
 
 The burden he can find no strength to bear ; 
 These drag him down to rise again no more, 
 
 Though both would vanish with a single prayer. 
 And rather will he labour, heart and hand. 
 To serve a mocking master day by day, 
 Who laughs to see him spinning ropes of sand. 
 
 The devil's agent, for the devil's pay, 
 Than earn, in easy toil, the rich reward 
 Awaiting all who will but persevere. 
 Who weave the strands of Faith into a cord 
 
 That holds them fast to heaven when sinking here.
 
 THE POOL. 213 
 
 Not till each earthly hope hath passed away, 
 
 Till things of earth are fading from our sight, 
 Wc learn that those who thus misuse the day, 
 
 Have lost their shelter from the fall of night. 
 Then, daunted by the Horror drawing near, 
 
 Its vague and boundless gloom we quail to marl:, 
 Numbed by the palsy of a nameless fear, 
 
 Like children waking helpless in the dark. 
 Yet is there help if we will only seek 
 
 The ear that listens for our faintest cry, 
 The hand that loves to raise the fall'n and weak. 
 
 The voice that bids us turn before we die. 
 Needs but to lie, the scorn of trampling feet, 
 
 An outcast from the flock, forlorn, alone. 
 Though scarce the poor lost lamb has strength to bleat. 
 
 The Shepherd stoops to claim it for his own. 
 And lifts it with a kind and gentle hand, 
 
 And heals it with a touch from shame and sin. 
 And bears it homeward to the happy land, 
 
 Where pain and sorrow shall not enter in.
 
 214 THE TRUE CROSS. 
 
 Thus, when the world has crushed him to the dust, 
 
 When all he asks is death to make an end. 
 Pierced by the reed whereon he leaned in trust, 
 
 Behold the sinner's refuge and his Friend ! 
 Now when the angel to Bethesda came 
 
 And moved the water, round its margin drew 
 Their trailing limbs the impotent and lame, 
 
 With rags and filth defiled, a hideous crew. 
 And in the loathsome pressure, one of these. 
 
 Without a friendly hand his steps to stay, 
 By torture urged, while hindered by disease, 
 
 Sank to the earth, exhausted where he lay — 
 While those who should have held a brother dear, 
 
 Scourged by a like affliction of their own, 
 Turned from his sufferings with a brutal jeer. 
 
 And mocked the very pangs themselves had known : 
 And those whose manhood might have served his need, 
 
 A neighbour or a kinsman, had in care 
 Plight so forlorn, why should they help or heed ? 
 
 They knew him not — so let him perish there.
 
 THE POOL. 215 
 
 Consumed and sapped by many a year of pain, 
 
 Thus from the pool he turned a hopeless eye, 
 And looked to heaven and earth for aid in vain, 
 
 And wept, because it seemed so hard to die 
 .\ lonely sufferer, in a suffering band, 
 
 A friendless waif, where friends were thronging round, 
 A helpless wretch, though help was close at hand, 
 
 Wy God and man forsaken, on the ground. 
 But ere his reeling senses failed him quite, 
 
 Behold ! he knew a gracious Presence near : 
 A gracious vision passed before his sight, 
 
 A gracious form bent down to soothe and cheer. 
 Thrilled to his heart the accents all divine, 
 
 " Would'st thou not fain be healed and ^\•hole, my 
 son } " 
 " Master," he said, " for trouble such as mine, 
 
 Friend, hope or succour, surely can be none 1 
 Lo ! when the pool is stirred, and I would lave 
 
 My tortured limbs, will no man draw me nigh.'' 
 Kind hands are stretched by scores the rest to save, 
 
 I>ut I am left, uncarcd for, here to die !"
 
 2i6 THE TRUE CROSS. 
 
 Answered in gracious words the gracious voice, 
 
 Words that a balm and cordial seemed to shed. 
 That bade his strength return, his heart rejoice : 
 
 " Rise up, and take thy bed and walk," it said. 
 Then rose he, in an instant, whole and sound. 
 
 And, lifting up the bed whereon he lay. 
 Regardless of the Jews who murmured round 
 
 That thus he broke the Sabbath, went his way. 
 For life came glowing back while yet he heard 
 
 The godlike tones that life and hope conveyed. 
 Healed by the virtue of a single word — 
 
 " Take up thy bed and walk ! " — the man obeyed. 
 Enough for him the glad result to feel ; 
 
 The Master's will he little cared to learn, 
 Nor asked why here he came on earth to heal. 
 
 Nor sought to give him worship in return. 
 Though in the Temple, when he saw again 
 
 That face divine, he could not but recall 
 His holy name, who eased the throb of pain, 
 
 Who bade him " Sin no more, lest worse befall ! "
 
 THE POOL. 217 
 
 Who flings a starving dog one scrap of meat, 
 
 Or binds a rag about its wounded limb, 
 Beholds the creature crawling to his feet 
 
 And lifting grateful eyes alone to him. 
 For lower instincts loftier aims attain. 
 
 The poorer nature yields the richer fruit, 
 And Reason, in her proudest mood, may gain 
 
 A true and touching lesson from the brute. 
 We find no love for One who loves us best ; 
 
 We learn no trust, where most we should depend ; 
 But lock our fealty in rebellious breast. 
 
 And scorn to own a master in a friend. 
 The dog will fawn on him who helped its need, 
 
 And lick the kindly hand that gave the bone, 
 Bound to its lord by one such gracious deed. 
 
 Ingratitude belongs to man alone ; — 
 Ingratitude ! that springs a plant accursed, 
 
 From favoured fields where showers of mercy fall, 
 To bear a poisoned fruit — if not the worst. 
 
 The vilest, basest sin among them all !
 
 2i8 THE TRUE CROSS. 
 
 Of man's transgression, first and instant cause, 
 
 That doomed his race eternally to die 
 Till Justice set aside her primal laws, 
 
 And Mercy gave redemption from on high. 
 Redemption, man's defiance can refuse 
 
 In wilful folly when he turns away, 
 The darker paths of sin and shame to choose 
 
 That lead him downward from the light of day. 
 To sink at length in everlasting deeps, 
 
 Through everlasting regions of despair, 
 Where memory ceases not, nor conscience sleeps, — 
 
 The fire unquenched, the worm undying there ! 
 An upward path he takes no thought to find. 
 
 The stream he scorns that runs to cleanse his guile. 
 And man is lost because his eyes are blind, 
 
 And man is lost because his heart is vile. 
 Oh ! for the loving instinct, that would seek 
 
 Its shelter in the home that gave it birth ; 
 Oh ! for the lowly wisdom of the meek. 
 
 Blessed by their Master as the heirs of earth.
 
 THE POOL. 219 
 
 Oh ! for the faith that Master to receive, 
 
 On Him to lay our load and cast our care ; 
 The faith that bids us act as we believe, 
 
 Removing mountains by the force of prayer. 
 Alas ! that like the Jews, on outward form 
 
 We hope to rear the stronghold of our trust, 
 And when the winds arise, and beats the storm, 
 
 Behold ! our fabric crumbles into dust. 
 Alas ! that when we strive to thread again 
 
 The sinful maze wherein we loved to stray, 
 A hand to guide us forth we seek in vain, 
 
 The Saviour has " conveyed himself away." 
 Not even thus our hearts should wholly fail — 
 
 None so forlorn but He will heed their prayer. 
 We need but plead in earnest to prevail, 
 
 And seek the Temple — we shall find Him there. 
 This is the gracious promise that He gave, 
 
 The faithful pledge of Him who cannot lie, 
 Whose mission here was not to slay, but save : 
 
 " Where two or three are gathered — there am I " —
 
 220 THE TRUE CROSS. 
 
 Linked in the human bond of brother's love, 
 
 When two or three shall pray with one accord, 
 Borne straightway to the Mercy Seat above, 
 
 That prayer shall find acceptance with the Lord. 
 And angels day by day from heaven descend 
 
 To watch the pool of succour here below. 
 Are none, for lack of kinsman or of friend, 
 
 Need perish by the margin where they flow ; 
 These ministers shall prompt the saving word, 
 
 And where the healing waters lap and toss, 
 Shall bid him mark how through the surface stirred. 
 
 Appears the sacred figure of the Cross. 
 Then sinking, yielding to the oppressor's might, 
 
 Though heaven itself seem loth its aid to give. 
 Needs but on this to fix his failing sight. 
 
 The man is saved — For he who looks shall live.
 
 BOOK VI. 
 
 THE CENTURION.
 
 n> ^f 
 
 ^.^m^BxSB 
 
 ^^0:pk 
 
 BOOK VI. 
 
 THE CENTURION. 
 
 i;^ HE level rift that dawn reveals, 
 Is widening, cold and clear, 
 And through the sedge a whisper steals, 
 And in the camp a trumpet peals, 
 
 To tell that day is near. 
 Though fenced be that encampment round. 
 With ditch and rampart, bank and mound, 
 The Legion, holding conquered ground, 
 
 Has pushed an outpost here. 
 Where, from the West, the Danube flows, 
 
 To find his Euxine home, 
 
 Q
 
 224 THE TRUE CROSS. 
 
 Where from the North, the tempest blows, 
 To bend the woods, and drive the snows, 
 Where swarm the fierce and rugged foes. 
 
 Who hate the name of Rome, 
 For every foot has cost her dear, 
 
 And every foot she holds in ward, 
 Won by the might of sword and spear. 
 
 Kept by the right of spear and sword : 
 With even foot and measured pace. 
 
 Advance her columns, sure and slow, 
 From clime to clime, from place to place. 
 
 Absorbing nations as they go. 
 Subduing, quelling all alike. 
 
 Of those \\\\o yield, or turn at bay : 
 Where once the cruel talons strike, 
 
 Her eagles never loose their prey. 
 To plant her eagles far and wide, 
 
 Expending wisdom, valour, worth. 
 She sees the warriors die, with pride, 
 
 Who make her mistress of the earth.
 
 THE CENTURION. 2:5 
 
 For this, the Roman trumpets sound, 
 
 Wherever livint^ thing draws brcatli. 
 For this, the Legion takes its ground, 
 
 For this, defends it to the death. 
 For tliis, a forward out-post placed, 
 
 The Legion's movements checks and guides. 
 Where through the broad and stagnant waste, 
 
 The broad and sluggish river glides. 
 And here, in garments soiled and torn, 
 And arms that many a dint have borne, 
 
 Roused from his lair of slush and mire, 
 A soldier, scarred and battle-worn. 
 Is musing in the chilly morn 
 
 Before a dying fire. 
 
 His watch is over ; ear and e3^e 
 May rest them for a space, 
 
 And sadly from the brightening sky 
 He turns a darkened face ;
 
 226 THE TRUE CROSS. 
 
 And stretches numbed and stiffened hands 
 
 Such faihng warmth to meet 
 As linrers in the smouldering; brands 
 
 That whiten at his feet. 
 Of moaning wind, and bending reed, 
 
 And cheerless gleam of early day, 
 His senses take but little heed, 
 
 And all his thoughts are far a"\\'ay. 
 For where the flame has sunken low, 
 
 Ere yet his limbs are scarcely warmed,. 
 The embers, in their parting glow, 
 
 The figure of a Cross have formed. 
 And, like a vision of the night. 
 
 That holds the haunted sleeper fast. 
 Arise to scare his troubled sight, 
 
 The phantoms of an awful Past. 
 Again, with shield and spear, he stands,. 
 
 A rock amidst a raging sea 
 Of scowling brows and tossing hands, 
 
 That point the way to Calvary,
 
 THE CEXTURION. 
 
 Again he hears the tempest swell, 
 
 Of hungry hate, in howl and groan, 
 The savage laugh, the hideous yell 
 
 Of murder, slaked by blood alone. 
 And if the tumult waxes high, 
 
 Disdains to notice, calm and proud, 
 Ikit with a soldier's scornful eye 
 
 Reviews the loose disordered crowd, 
 And thinks how masterly and well 
 
 With spears and bow-men twenty score. 
 The rising he could crush and quell. 
 
 Nor ask a single helmet more ! 
 Yet wonders in his heart, that he 
 
 Who governs in the conquered town 
 Endures this brawling rout to see. 
 
 Nor stirs to put the riot down ; 
 Although, but now, at break of day. 
 
 His judgment when the accusers sought, 
 Himself had heard t'.iat Ruler say. 
 
 No fault he found in Ilim they brought,
 
 J28 THE TRUE CROSS. 
 
 But held Him innocent and just, 
 
 A blameless man, devoid of guile. 
 Yet pandered to a people's lust 
 
 By sending Him to death, the while. 
 Though chief of but a hundred men, 
 
 A mere Centurion, then as now, 
 The flush of anger, now as then, 
 
 Is rising in his swarthy brow. 
 For hate of that presumptuous race 
 
 Who dared assume judicial power. 
 Soon had they fled before the face 
 So pure qjiid princely in its grace. 
 Could he have filled the Praetor's place, 
 
 If only for an hour ! 
 Of Rabbi, Scribe, and written law, 
 
 But little did he know or care. 
 Believed alone in things he saw. 
 
 And trusted harness more than prayer 
 Had lively faith in proven steel. 
 
 When wielded by a practised hand,
 
 THE CEXTURION. 229 
 
 But moral force could scarcely feel, 
 
 Nor moral doubts could understand, 
 Nor patience found for those, nor ruth, 
 
 Who loved on dogmas to refine, 
 And to the question, — " What is truth ? " — 
 Had learned to answer from his youth, 
 
 " A thousand men in line ! " 
 But now, while that tumultuous press 
 
 Was surging round a single form. 
 In candour could not but confess 
 
 That He, who faced so wild a storm 
 With gracious and forgiving mien, 
 
 That rather seemed to grieve than fear, 
 Displayed a courage too serene 
 
 And god-like, to be earth-born here. 
 And when they sought Betliesda's pool, 
 
 And drew the beam from out its wave. 
 To shape it by the ghastly rule 
 
 That forms a gibbet for a slave. 
 And bade the scared Cyrenian bear
 
 230 THE TRUE CROSS. 
 
 His hideous burden in the van, 
 To guide the grim procession there 
 
 That led to death the Son of Man — 
 Lo ! while the slave, his shoulders brown, 
 
 That awful emblem to up-rcar. 
 Stripped to the waist, and girt his gown. 
 
 Dark ^vas the stern centurion's frown. 
 Fain had he struck the caitiff down 
 
 With handle of his spear ! 
 But meekly, solemnly, and slow, 
 
 The while He passed along. 
 There peered from every nook a foe, 
 And threatened every hand a blow. 
 On every side from high and low 
 
 Poured insult, wrath, and wrong ; 
 Derisive shouts and brutal cries, 
 On Him, who walked in gentle guise. 
 With placid brow, and patient eyes. 
 Where Love eternal seemed to rise. 
 
 Through that blaspheming throng.
 
 THE CRXrURIOX. 231 
 
 What could he do but turn aside, 
 The scorn and shame he felt to hide ? 
 His conscience pricked, his heart rebelled, 
 The soldier's pride within him swelled, 
 And half in pit}-, half in ire, 
 He thirsted with a fierce desire 
 To see the Praetor lift his hand. 
 In sign he might advance his band. 
 And sweep this Jewish rabble clear 
 With pointed shaft, and levelled spear. 
 How humbly in that open space, 
 Then had he sought the gracious face, 
 And craved permission but to fall 
 And worship in the sight of all ! 
 Not so — the instincts of his trade. 
 The very hilt that crossed his blade. 
 The eagle on his golden crest, 
 Were but as symbols to attest 
 That soul and body, life and limb, 
 Belonged to Caesar, not to him ;
 
 232 THE TRUE CROSS. 
 
 And right or Avrong, at best or vrorst, 
 His duty was to Caesar first. 
 
 Have we not each a Caesar of our own, 
 
 Whose rule can brook no rival near the throne ?' 
 
 A despot claiming undivided sway, 
 
 Whom reason, heart, and conscience must obe}-; 
 
 Who draws his tribute to the utmost mite. 
 
 Nor bates a jot of his accustomed right ? 
 
 Who day by day a heavier burden lays. 
 
 And plies us harder as our strength decays, 
 
 Till crushed and sore beneath the hopeless- strain./ 
 
 We sink without a wish to rise again ? 
 
 In every shape the tyrant works his will, 
 
 In every shape he reigns, a tyrant still : 
 
 Now like a monarch, brave in royal attire, 
 
 His lust, ambition, power his sole desire ; 
 
 Not for its uses valued, but its fame. 
 
 Truth, honour, justice, bartering for a name.
 
 77/A- CENTURION. 233 
 
 Now in the mask that beauty joys to wear, 
 Of bkishing smiles bewildering, false and fair, 
 A wreath of roses wearing, to conceal 
 The torturing pressure of a band of steel, 
 A coiling serpent, cooing like a dove. 
 The wild idolatry that men call love. 
 Anon, with rage of hunger uncontrolled, 
 Insatiate, starving for the greed of gold. 
 Privation, pain, accepting, but to earn 
 Some yellow earth, by morsels, in return. 
 Of all that rule us, none so base and vile 
 As avarice — none so absolute the while. 
 Or sleek and torpid, on a cushioned throne 
 He cares to seek indulgence, ease, alone ; 
 Each nobler feeling stifled in its birth. 
 By joys of sense, that chain him to the earth ; 
 Clogged with a sloth no effort can control, 
 Sunk in a hopeless slumber of the soul, 
 Yet fain to govern, unrestrained of Avill, 
 And jealous of supreme dominion still ;
 
 234 THE TRUE CROSS. 
 
 Nor stern rebuke he has, nor angry frown, 
 
 But with a leaden hand, remorseless bears us down. 
 
 Imperious masters these ! and yet of all 
 
 The powers of evil holding him in thrall, 
 
 Ambition, pleasure, sloth, desire of pelf, 
 
 None press so hard on man as love of self ; 
 
 For though at first his higher instincts spurn 
 
 The yoke that frets and galls at every turn, 
 
 Too soon, debased in mind, in heart depraved. 
 
 His very nature so becomes enslaved, 
 
 The spirit hath not even a desire 
 
 To rise from where it \\allows in the mire ; 
 
 But sunk, degraded to the last degree, 
 
 Foregoes the very longing to be free ! 
 
 And this is Caesar's service ! To enrol 
 
 The mortal body, and the immortal soul. 
 
 Without a hope be)'ond ; for Caesar's pay. 
 
 The worthless pittance doled from day to day, 
 
 The leave to do his work, his badge to wear, 
 
 His eagles in the weary march to bear,
 
 THE CENTURIOX. 235, 
 
 Wade anklc-dcep in blood through fields of strife, 
 To forfeit in his cause a soldier's life, 
 And offer all to an ungracious lord 
 Who grudges even thanks for a reward. — 
 Such is the fate of those who choose to bring 
 Their sole allegiance to an earthly king, 
 Who lay their lives before an cartlil}' throne, 
 And put their trust in earthly power alone, 
 By fear or interest blinded, who obey 
 The hand that cannot reach beyond to-day. 
 And render Cn^sar, at the imperial nod, 
 
 A tribute that is only due to God ! 
 
 ***** 
 
 Behold ! 'tis done ! 
 Quenched is the light of heaven, and veiled the sun,. 
 
 While earthward, like a pall, 
 A horror of great darkness seems to fall 
 About a dead creation, shrouding all ; 
 
 The plain is heaving, wave on wave, 
 
 And dead men, risen from the grave,
 
 236 THE TRUE CROSS. 
 
 Are gliding to and fro. 
 Great God ! It scares the bravest of the brave 
 
 To see them come and go, 
 With white sepulchral faces, calm and clear, 
 
 Untouched by weal or woe. 
 
 Unmoved by hope or fear. 
 And sad far-seeing eyes that knovv^ 
 The secrets of another world, and glow 
 With sad and solemn light that was not kindled here : 
 
 For it is finished novv, — 
 And heaven once more has triumphed over hell— 
 The devils quake, remembering how they fell, 
 And holy angels, where with God they dwell. 
 
 In adoration bow. 
 Though through the realms of bliss there rings a cry 
 Forced from His human half that needs must die, 
 To trouble all the Seraphim on high, 
 And stamp the brand of shame and agony 
 
 On each immortal brow. 
 While ransomed man below
 
 THE CENTURION. lyj 
 
 : Scoffs at his Saviour on the Cross, 
 And, rescued from eternal loss, 
 Denies Him yet. Although 
 The sternest mood of earthly pride, 
 Taught by the thief, who at His side 
 Found grace and pardon ere he died. 
 Might learn to love its Friend and Guide, 
 
 Its Lord and God to know. 
 Thus, as a cloud before the gales 
 
 That freshen morning skies, 
 As darkness, pealing off like scales 
 
 To clear a blind man's eyes, 
 The stern Centurion, watching how, 
 
 With one expiring groan, 
 Death on the pure and precious brow 
 
 Is set as on a throne, 
 Knows that his doubts have passed away 
 
 Before a dawn of light, 
 Bewildered by the dazzling day 
 
 His soul receives her sight ;
 
 238 THE TRUE CROSS. 
 
 Thrills a conviction at his heart, 
 
 Shoots through his brain a gleam. 
 And like a sleeper, with a start, 
 
 Awaking from a dream, 
 In fear and awe he bows his head, 
 
 As cowers a slave beneath the rod, 
 And cries aloud, for very dread, 
 In presence of the Holy dead, 
 
 " This was the Son of God ! " 
 
 * 
 
 Like hoary dust the embers lie 
 
 To smear the oozing clay, 
 The flame but flickers up to die, 
 
 The vision fleets away. 
 Yet for an instant, charged with light, 
 
 That streams through heart and brain, 
 Pervading memory, sense, and sight, 
 
 It flashes out again, 
 And seems to rise, and heave, and swim,
 
 THE CENTURION. 239 
 
 And sink, and disappear. 
 For who is this ? the stranger grim, 
 That lays his grasp on every limb, 
 
 To hold him helpless here ; 
 With failing hand, with fading eye. 
 Forbid to fight, forbid to fly, 
 Pinned like a log on earth to lie, 
 
 Across a useless spear. 
 His senses droop, he pants for breath, 
 — Surely the end is near, 
 It is not sleep, it is not fear, 
 It must be Death ! — 
 Lithe is the arm that bends the bow. 
 Where swoops the Scythian on his foe, 
 And ere the singing arrow's point 
 Has cloven through the harness joint, 
 With bending form and tightened rein, 
 The mounted archer scours the plain, 
 To join a wild careering host, 
 And tell with savage laugh and boast,
 
 140 
 
 THE TRUE CROSS. 
 
 That yonder, in the sedges, where 
 Last night a watch-fire shed its glare, 
 This morning, ere the dawn was red, 
 He left a Roman soldier dead ! 
 
 Soon of his swift and shaggy steed 
 Each hardy warrior taxed the speed, 
 
 To spoil that fallen prey, 
 Like ruffled falcons, wheeling round ; 
 But ere a rider touched the ground 
 
 The Roman's soul had passed away, 
 Uprising in desire of light. 
 And swifter than their arrow's flight, 
 Had pierced inevitable night 
 
 To find eternal day. 
 
 Down-struck, by an extinguished fire, 
 His armour soiled, with blood and mire, 
 
 His eagle-rcrest defiled, 
 Ere yet they bent to strip him bare,
 
 THE CENTURION. 241 
 
 While round the dead they gathered there, 
 
 It seemed to them he smiled. 
 And though he lay on Scythian soil 
 For Scythian foes to spurn and spoil, 
 
 And gave his life to Rome, 
 Yet surely One to whom he raised 
 The dying thought that prayed and praised, 
 Stooped from the Heaven on which he gazed, 
 
 And led his spirit Home. 
 
 THE END. 
 
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 THE FOETNIGHTLY EEYIEW. 
 
 Edited by JOHN MORLEY. 
 
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 Professor Henry Morlky. 
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 Professor 1>ain. 
 Professor Fawcett. 
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