THE LIBRARY 
 
 OF 
 
 THE UNIVERSITY 
 OF CALIFORNIA 
 
 LOS ANGELES
 
 BY THE WAY OF THE GATE 
 
 VOLUME ONE
 
 BY THE WAY OF 
 THE GATE: POEMS 
 AND DRAMAS .' : By 
 CHARLES CAYZER 
 
 IN TWO VOLUMES 
 VOLUME ONE 
 
 LONDON : KEGAN PAUL, TRENCH 
 TRUBNER & CO : DRYDEN HOUSE 
 GERRARD STREET, WEST : MCMXI
 
 Copt/righted in the United States 
 All rights reserved 
 
 TURNBULL AMD SPF.ABS. PRINTERS. BDIKBVBGH
 
 Afterward he brought me to the gate, 
 even the gate that looketk toward the east : 
 
 And, behold, the glory of the God of 
 Israel came, from the way of the east : and 
 his voice was like a noise of many waters : 
 and the earth shined with his glory. 
 * ,,* * 
 
 And the glory of the Lord came into 
 the hov.se by the way of the gate whote 
 prospect is toward the east. 
 
 So the spirit took me up, and brought 
 me into the inner court ; and, behold, th 
 glory of the Lord filled the house. 
 
 And I heard one speaking unto me 
 out of the house ; and the man stood by 
 me. 
 
 EZEKIEL xliii. 1-6. 

 
 TO 
 MY WIFE
 
 CONTENTS 
 
 AD ASTRA . . .... . .1 
 
 THE SKAITH OF GUILLARDUN . . 103 
 
 AMY ROBSART . . . .* ; . .155 
 
 NATURE POEMS : 
 
 Invocation to the Muses ..... 169 
 
 The Spring Minstrels . . 170 
 
 Sunshine and Shower . ' . ' . . 173 
 
 An Equatorial Sunset . . .''' . . 175 
 
 Evening at Sea . . . . , . . 176 
 
 To May . " V * . . ' . .177 
 
 The Ring-Do ve . . . . 178 
 
 The Game-Keeper's Daughter . ' . . 180 
 
 Twilight . *';>* _ f f*-- '--^ ''' J " _ jgQ 
 
 The Cottar's Song . . . ' . ' . .181 
 
 Vicissitude . .'.*. "' . . 183 
 
 Ode to the Swallow . \' ' . . . .184 
 
 lolaire . . . ' . ' . . . 186 
 
 To the Nightjar . . . . . .187 
 
 The Harvest of the Hay . 190 
 
 The Sou' Wester . ' . 191 
 
 Sundown . _, ' . -. . i. . .' " . 193 
 
 A Dull Day in September . . . 193 
 
 LOVE POEMS : 
 
 Love's Golden Pilgrimage . . 197 
 
 The Little Archer . . ' . . 197 
 
 Vii
 
 i CONTENTS 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Love's Sleeplessness ..... 198 
 
 My Ladye ....... 199 
 
 Sorrow's Throne ...... 200 
 
 The Woodland Way . . . . .201 
 
 Circles of Affinity ...... 202 
 
 The Island of Dreams , . ... ' . . 203 
 
 Love's Burden *~, I 204 
 
 The Star of Hope ...... 205 
 
 The White Poppy . . 205 
 
 Love's Rule . ...... 207 
 
 The Jewels of Dawn and of Dusk . . . .208 
 
 lanthe . , '''. 1( '" ! 'i ''' . . .210 
 
 Attar of Roses ...... 211 
 
 Love's Oneness . . . . . . 212 
 
 Love's Bitterness ...... 212 
 
 Tell her, sweet Thrush ! .213 
 
 Thro' the Pass of Llanberis .. . . . 214 
 
 If Love were AU ."."'. . . 215 
 
 Have we not Met ... .216 
 
 My Silver Moon . . . - . .217 
 
 At Parting . 
 
 Into the Shadow . . . . . .218 
 
 Love's Cross and Crown . . . . . 218 
 
 Withered Hopes 
 
 She whom thou Lovest . . 221 
 
 Rejected . . ' . 
 
 Love in Chains ...... 222 
 
 The Wand of Fate ...... 223 
 
 Through the Night ...... 224 
 
 A Spirit hath fled from my Hearth . . . 225 
 
 The Vision . . . ...... . . . 226 
 
 Love is for Evermore ..... 227 
 
 World, thy Creed ... .228 
 
 SACRED POEMS: 
 
 Guard thy Heart ! . ^ .,, ., . . 281 
 
 Forgiveness . . . . . . 232
 
 CONTENTS ix 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Morning Hymn . ....... . 233 
 
 A Hymn of Sleep . . . . . .235 
 
 On Death . . , . . . .' . .236 
 Young Desire ...... 237 
 
 Iconoclasts . . . . . *"> . 237 
 
 Eastertide . . . *,** . 238 
 
 Lord, Teach us how to Pray ! . . . . 239 
 
 Renunciation . . . ; . . 241 
 
 Hymn for Catholic Love . . . . . 241 
 
 Charity . . . w . .243 
 
 Hymn of Praise . . . * . .243 
 
 A Maxim for every Day . . i*tl- . . 245 
 
 LYRICS FROM THREE DRAMAS : 
 
 From ' DAVID AND BATHSHUA ' 
 
 Spring Song . . . . . .249 
 
 A Lullaby -,.. ..' ; * .,. . .250 
 
 Bathshua's Prayer . * 1' . . . 250 
 
 The Witch's Rune . . . . .251 
 
 From ' DONNA MARINA' 
 
 Donna Marina . . . . . 252 
 
 Choric Ode to the Sun . . . . .254 
 
 Without your Love ..... 256 
 
 From ' UNDINK ' 
 
 Song of the Undines ..... 257 
 
 Kiihleborn's Song . . . . . 260 
 
 Undine's Song ...... 261 
 
 Fisherman, Fisherman, why do you Weep ? . . 262 
 
 A Song of Spring ..... 263 
 
 HISTORICAL AND POLITICAL POEMS : 
 
 DeanLiddell ...... 267 
 
 The Fight over the Newman Statue in Oxford . . 268 
 
 Death of Tennyson ...... 269 
 
 To a Victorian Knight ..... 270 
 
 The Abbey of St Mary, in Furness .... 270
 
 x CONTENTS 
 
 PAOB 
 
 Peace ....... 271 
 
 England and the S. A. Republics .... 272 
 
 Victoria ....... 272 
 
 On the Extinction of the Boer Republics . . . 274 
 
 To Chamberlain ...... 275 
 
 England, Queen of the Seas . . . .276 
 
 Sons of the Empire ...... 278 
 
 Till the Day be Done . . . . .280 
 
 Back to the Land ! . . . . . . 282 
 
 The Jack o' the Union . . . . .284 
 
 The God of Ignorance ..... 286 
 
 Hymn of Empire . . . . . .287 
 
 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS : 
 
 The Temple of Art ... 293 
 
 To Winifred ... . . . .294 
 
 To Helen ....... 295 
 
 A Woman's Fall ...... 296 
 
 Her Worst Accusers . . . . 296 
 
 Little Waifs of Sin . . " . .296 
 
 Time to Youth . . . . . .297 
 
 The Tragedy of Beauty . . . . .297 
 
 The Hew Woman ...... 297 
 
 The Armour of the Rose ..... 298 
 
 Ambition and Attainment ..... 298 
 
 The Vision and the Quest ..... 298
 
 AD ASTRA
 
 AD ASTRA 
 
 OE 
 
 THE QUEST OF EDEN 
 
 i 
 THE leaves are falling fast, and Winter drear 
 
 With muffled feet steals on the silent fold ; 
 With marble touch his hoary hand doth sear 
 
 The very heart-strings of the poor and old ; 
 
 The little songsters of the leafy wold 
 Are quiet now, no more to charm the sky 
 With rapture of a love that cannot die. 
 
 All things must die, all things must have an end 
 That tell of a beginning and a birth, 
 
 All things must die, and soon or late must lend 
 Their little meed of dust to swell the earth, 
 But Love came with us in our baby mirth, 
 
 Love grew beside us, taught us how to smile, 
 
 And Love will guide us thro' Death's dark defile.
 
 AD ASTRA 
 
 in 
 
 O gentle Love ! sooth whisperer to mankind, 
 Whom every voice in Nature doth extol, 
 
 Divinest of the mysteries enshrined 
 Within the temple of the human soul, 
 Thy sovran power no mortal may control ! 
 
 Whose mystic arms encircle land and sea, 
 
 Cradling the great deeps of Eternity. 
 
 IV 
 
 Love is an union sweet of eyes and heart, 
 Each bound in willing service to the other, 
 
 The glancing eyes do first their joy impart, 
 
 Then silent tears give answer for their brother ; 
 Bright jewell'd founts wherein we fain would smother 
 
 The weakness and the rapture of our love, 
 
 Forgetful that the gift is from above !
 
 AD ASTRA 
 
 v 
 
 O hallow'd Love ! whose fruits were ever tears- 
 The soft unfolding of the bud in Spring, 
 
 The glittering pageantry which Summer rears, 
 And Autumn's glories trail'd on russet wing 
 To the foregrieving heart the closelier cling, 
 
 Because their loveliness must pass away, 
 
 Because their beauty is but for a day. 
 
 VI 
 
 Thus do we nourish in our breasts the sting 
 Of joys that are too exquisite to last, 
 
 We fain would keep the heart a-sorrowing 
 And wistfully bemoan the sunlit past, 
 Regardless that the hours are fleeting fast. 
 
 While this To-day, in which we fume and fret, 
 
 To-morrow will be part of our regret !
 
 AD ASTRA 
 
 VII 
 
 So thro' the change of days, when Winter hoar 
 Doth wrestle with his brother for the crown, 
 
 When to the clash of elements at war 
 Autumnal dirges are around us blown, 
 What wonder if the heart some sadness own 
 
 Amid the tempest and its bitter mirth, 
 
 The mocking winds that desolate the earth ! 
 
 VIII 
 
 Can Nature still the craving of the Soul ? 
 
 Can Nature quell the tumult of the mind ? 
 Can Nature teach us calm and brave control ? 
 
 Can Nature bring us nearer to our kind ? 
 
 In part she may if in her face we find 
 The smile, long sought for 'mid elusive loves, 
 That stirs the spirit and unto healing moves.
 
 AD ASTRA 
 
 IX 
 
 That answering smile that seems to set at rest 
 Long days of passion and dread nights of pain - 
 
 At last to lay the head against her breast 
 And find security from storm and strain, 
 In close enfoldment like a child again, 
 
 The peace that broods upon the Protean deep 
 
 When the unruly winds are hush'd in sleep. 
 
 x 
 
 Needs must we suffer first to find her fair ! 
 Nature was ever yet a second love ! 
 
 Heart-broken and in deep bondage of despair, 
 Still cherishing the chains which Eros wove, 
 She mutely chides us wheresoe'er we rove 
 
 How tenderly, yet by how sure degrees, 
 
 She lures us to her own most gentle knees.
 
 AD ASTRA 
 
 XI 
 
 Ah, lightning interchange of soul and sense ! 
 Divine communion with a kindred frame 
 
 When spirit voices call from out the immense, 
 Unfathomable Silence whence we came, 
 And Man's immortal destiny proclaim 
 
 What time we breathe a far serener air 
 
 And reach at joys that are beyond our sphere. 
 
 XII 
 
 She weaves around us widening sympathies, 
 Knowledge to measure all her variant moods 
 
 If we but love her for herself, we rise 
 To higher levels in her solitudes 
 Amid the healing silence of the woods 
 
 We can forgive the pettiness, the wrong, 
 
 The coward spite of many an evil tongue.
 
 AD ASTRA 
 
 XIII 
 
 A many temples hath she set apart 
 
 That all her children may in freedom share 
 
 The exultation and uplift of heart 
 
 Of her vast sanctuaries of light and air, 
 
 Of her lone peaks of silence and of prayer, 
 
 Of life, so rarely wrought in great or small, 
 
 Of Love, supreme High Priest and Lord of all. 
 
 XIV 
 
 But have we never found her kinship vain, 
 
 Ere yet the struggling will hath been resign'd ? 
 
 Her cold indifference to mortal pain ! 
 
 The riddle of her heart, how hard to find ! 
 Capricious, and to fitful moods inclined ! 
 
 She smiles, she seems to mock us in our sorrow, 
 
 And just as lightly will she weep to-morrow !
 
 10 AD ASTRA 
 
 xv 
 When Life seems valueless, the future void, 
 
 Her garish contrasts are too harsh to bear 
 Nature in field and forest is o'erjoy'd, 
 
 While we, poor outcasts, unbefriended fare. 
 
 What doth our unregardant Mother care ? 
 Like some proud dame, whom social pleasures crown, 
 She scants her offspring for her latest gown ! 
 
 XVI 
 
 Nature is like a woman greatly loved, 
 
 Robed in the glint and glamour of Romance ; 
 
 So long as all her charms are yet unproved, 
 She holds the soul enwrapt in starry trance 
 Her beauty deals the death-wound at a glance ! 
 
 Dare we but gaze deep in those splendent eyes, 
 
 No answering love-light to our own replies !
 
 AD ASTRA tl 
 
 XVII 
 
 Our love it was that gave the mystic grace, 
 And robed her in the splendour of the sun ; 
 
 Our love it was that carved upon her face 
 
 The witching lines whereby we were undone ; 
 That set her on her interstellar throne ! 
 
 But soon or late our love must wake, and then 
 
 Love unrequited makes us faithless men ! 
 
 XVIII 
 
 While she looks on with cold indifference 
 Behind the granite of her rugged brows, 
 
 Our little loves to her are but pretence, 
 And held as light as are all lovers' vows 
 She hoods herself in her eternal snows, 
 
 A stately Presence, with an icy mien. 
 
 Ah, bold his heart who crowns her deathless Queen !
 
 12 AD ASTRA 
 
 XIX 
 
 Love, at the highest, asks for no reward, 
 For perfect Love rejects all recompense ; 
 
 So that of his own fires he may keep guard, 
 To fuller vantage makes he no pretence, 
 His altars breathe of myrrh and frankincense, 
 
 Fill'd with the joy of such high sacrifice, 
 
 He swings his burning thurible of spice. 
 
 xx 
 
 And so our love for Nature is not vain, 
 
 But doth return to enrich our hearts the more : 
 
 Whate'er we give, she gives us back again 
 
 With swift unfoldings from her golden store 
 With larger knowledge of ourselves we pore 
 
 Upon the book her Mother-heart makes known 
 
 To find her chastenings are with love o'erstrewn.
 
 AD ASTRA 13 
 
 XXI 
 
 And of her grace she bids us worthy be, 
 Our portion of the wide earth-sorrow bear. 
 
 While she doth heighten Love's affinity 
 
 With bonds the sweetest that the stars declare. 
 Whom she hath join'd the Quest of Eden share, 
 
 Their friendship grows with each accrescent moon, 
 
 And silvern Death o'ertakes them all too soon. 
 
 XXII 
 
 O beauteous World of Wonder and Romance ! 
 
 God's Light behind thin veils of mystery ! 
 Some moments of our lives thou dost enhance, 
 
 Oft as the trammell'd soul thou settest free. 
 
 We feel so conscious of our part in thee, 
 The spirit leaps toward her native skies, 
 Doubt and Despair fall from her as she flies.
 
 14 AD ASTRA 
 
 XXIII 
 
 Nature ! thy grandeur awes the ignoblest mind, 
 But half thy charms were inarticulate, 
 
 Soulless, till Woman's grace thy grace enshrined. 
 She first in Man soft pity did create 
 And tenderness for all things, small and great. 
 
 Through her awakening, Man hath learnt to share 
 
 The bright perceptions which first dwelt in her ! 
 
 XXIV 
 
 The day of Chivalry can never die 
 
 So long as Woman seeks her rightful reign ! 
 By far the loveliest thing beneath the sky, 
 
 The sceptre of the heart she wields amain ! 
 
 Then let her never of her lot complain ! 
 She so can sanction, in her time and place, 
 That with her rests the future of the race.
 
 AD ASTRA 15 
 
 XXV 
 
 And nowhere shines her presence so supreme 
 As in the halls by Nature deck'd for her 
 
 'Mid mountain scenery and forest gleam 
 
 She stands confest the Queen of all things there. 
 How delicately fashion'd, and how fair ! 
 
 With gentle lustre beaming from her eye 
 
 She fills with radiance earth and sea and sky. 
 
 XXVI 
 
 Nature and Love are sisters that allied 
 
 Each shows the other still more wondrous fair. 
 
 If thou wouldst learn of Love, look on thy bride 
 When moonlight steeps her lips and lustrous hair, 
 And chiming Ocean doth her sweet heart stir, 
 
 Or 'neath the shadow of some piny steep 
 
 When the great sun dies out upon the deep.
 
 16 AD ASTRA 
 
 XXVII 
 
 For what is Nature with no comrade by 
 To share the fervour of the heart's excess, 
 
 To show with ministry of hand and eye 
 That joy is doubled by a like impress ? 
 Beloved Companionship ! which grows not less 
 
 By mutual service, sympathy divine, 
 
 The worship of twin souls at Nature's shrine.
 
 AD ASTRA 17 
 
 XXVIII 
 
 O Nature, lovely charmer, gentle bride ! 
 Thy golden days draw to a tragic end ! 
 
 The encroaching millions whelm thee like a tide 
 A desecration and a doom impend 
 Where sylvan vales now fold on fold extend 
 
 In widening prospect 'neath the unsullied sky 
 
 Until in dreamy tracts of blue they die. 
 
 XXIX 
 
 O heavy day for all who follow after, 
 
 To think what our dear England may become ! 
 
 Where Peace now reigns shall flow discordant laughter, 
 And witless mirth where nightingales are dumb ! 
 No more for us the beetle's drowsy hum 
 
 Shall break the stillness of the Summer night 
 
 And to the scents of eve add new delight.
 
 18 AD ASTRA 
 
 XXX 
 
 No more, yet have we not divine amends ? 
 
 Wider horizons for the human mind ? 
 Woman, no more the slave for meaner ends ? 
 
 But as companion of the soul design'd ! 
 
 Her influence breathing, like a gentle wind, 
 Health and a quiet calm to stormy seas 
 Peace after tempest, after turmoil ease. 
 
 XXXI 
 
 And Man to what achievements doth he move ? 
 
 Who shall his god ward march or end descry ? 
 Out of the earth what untold treasure-trove ? 
 
 What realms await him in the trackless sky ? 
 
 The stored lightnings at his bidding fly, 
 The circuits of the World their bounds decrease 
 Before the smile of Universal Peace.
 
 AD ASTRA 19 
 
 XXXII 
 
 Tho' factory smoke and film of whirring loom 
 Becloud the scene and Man's far vision foil, 
 
 Time will obliterate, and deep entomb 
 These pristine methods of primeval toil. 
 His latter day shall yield him richer spoil, 
 
 Bought with a lesser strain of eye and nerve, 
 
 And Nature's harness'd powers his will subserve. 
 
 XXXIII 
 
 Then Cities shall arise, both sweet and fair, 
 In purer regions of the untrammell'd sky, 
 
 No murky fumes pollute the healing air 
 
 Where sunny streets in widening prospect vie. 
 Of sickness and disease shall no man die ! 
 
 A happier race in happier climes will prove 
 
 Health the handmaid of Peace and child of Love.
 
 20 AD ASTRA 
 
 XXXIV 
 
 Then let the Future cradle what it may, 
 
 It cannot so the Mind invalidate 
 That Man would let her Queendom pass away, 
 
 And Nature's beauty be determinate. 
 
 She who reveals with mother-heart elate 
 The daily need of this our little life 
 Who lives for God, feareth no wind of strife.
 
 AD ASTRA 21 
 
 O Nature, tho' thy beauty never wanes, 
 And every hour sets forth some new device 
 
 To captivate Man's heart, and hold in chains 
 His fond imagination still thou art ice 
 To his affection, like a maid's caprice ! 
 
 But never, like a maid, dost give thy love, 
 
 And all the stings of doubt at last remove. 
 
 XXXVI 
 
 In Love's great heights and depths thou canst not 
 
 share ! 
 Love's widening coil of reciprocity ! 
 
 In that brief moment when two lives declare 
 That Life is richer than all dreams can be, 
 What time the mellow'd fruit falls from the tree, 
 
 Reaping the harvest of the heart's desire 
 
 In one all-perfect joy, too soon to expire !
 
 22 AD ASTRA 
 
 XXXVII 
 
 ' O little hands and feet ! O Heart of mine ! 
 
 Why linger listless in thy father's hall ? 
 Why tarriest thou in that far home of thine, 
 
 Unwitting that I love thee all in all ? 
 
 Hast never on the midnight heard my call ? 
 What tho' mine eyes have never own'd thee fair, 
 Thy heart is mine, and Beauty dwelleth there ! 
 
 XXXVIII 
 
 ' O Ladye mine, I seek thee thro' the World, 
 In every forest depth I feel thee stir, 
 
 In flush of sunsets, or in clouds upcurl'd, 
 In every sigh susurrant on the air. 
 For thee Dame Nature doth her magic wear, 
 
 The tender flowers their yearly grace renew, 
 
 The lark soars, choiring in the uncharted blue.
 
 AD ASTRA 25 
 
 XXXIX 
 
 ' O Ihou, who somewhere braidest billowy gold, 
 Looking upon thyself with lowly eyes, 
 
 When in thy glass thy dawning charms unfold 
 At morn and eve their maiden mysteries, 
 As half unconscious where thy sweetness lies ! 
 
 Like some white, slender lily of the wood, 
 
 That never knew how graciously she stood ! 
 
 XL 
 
 ' Judge from thy heart, how much I long for thee ! 
 Here hate breeds strife and wrong, and wrong- 
 despair. 
 
 The World, more pitiless than Death can be, 
 Breaks on the rack all those who greatly dare, 
 Who fearlessly have striven to keep life fair. 
 
 Fain would my spirit fold tired wings and rest, 
 
 Pillow'd upon the surge of thy soft breast.
 
 24 AD ASTRA 
 
 XLI 
 
 * What hope have 1, if Love light not the way ? 
 
 O whither should my weary footsteps bend ? 
 How few there are to whom a man may say 
 
 All that he feels, as fellow unto friend ! 
 
 How little may the mask of smiles portend ! 
 " Give of thy best, give even unto thy last " 
 I gave and scorn remembrance of the past ! 
 
 XLII 
 * Yet who so poor he may not boast of friends ? 
 
 Who hath not in his heart some radiance stored ? 
 E'en tho' we know how lightly friendship ends, 
 
 When but a breath can make the name abhorr'd ! 
 
 E'en tho' the parting cleaveth like a sword, 
 We are fain to love, and be again bereaven, 
 Perchance to find at last the peace of even !
 
 AD ASTRA 25 
 
 XL1II 
 
 ' And oft, at evening, passing thro' the town, 
 Ere yet the ruddy lights their lantern'd play 
 
 Have half begun, when every little frown 
 Is faintly mirror'd in the dying day, 
 And maidens' eyes with that fair light of May 
 
 Are crystal-clear, as to their homes repair 
 
 The dainty almoners of dainty fare, 
 
 XLIV 
 
 1 How have I sigh'd, to think of my return ! 
 No eye will light with kindlier fire for me, 
 
 No heart will bide my coming, till it burn 
 At every sound of Love's expectancy, 
 No ear alert Love's Messenger to be. 
 
 All desolate and drear my lonely room ; 
 
 Deepens my grief amid the enshrouding gloom.
 
 26 AD ASTRA 
 
 XLV 
 
 ' And shall I cry for ever, and in vain ? 
 
 The night- winds mock me with their hollow sighs, 
 
 And daylight chills me by her cold disdain 
 The daughters of the Morn with dew-wash'd eyes 
 As unresponsive as the silent skies ! 
 
 On every hand I see that Love is fair, 
 
 And every gleam augmenteth my despair ! 
 
 ' How I could love, if loved in like degree ! 
 
 What service can to this rich quest compare ? 
 To sail beyond the sunsets, and to see 
 
 Those Western Isles that all have deem'd so fair, 
 
 To breathe awhile in that diviner air, 
 Love's coronal upon the brow of life, 
 Love's kingdom won, Love's throne secure from strife !
 
 AD ASTRA 27 
 
 XLVU 
 
 ' O Love ! that sitt'st upon thy deathless throne, 
 Controlling all by thine Omnipotence 
 
 O Heart ! that deem'st thou canst not love, since none 
 Can give thee back thy heart's full recompense 
 O Love for Love ! divinest Affluence ! 
 
 To read thy longing in another's eyes 
 
 Ah ! once like this did Dawn in Eden rise ! '
 
 28 AD ASTRA 
 
 XLVHI 
 ' One have I met O radiant memory ! 
 
 For whose dear friendship not in vain I sued, 
 Whose spirit's mute appeal first spoke to me 
 Of Woman's sweet, enduring fortitude, 
 Of sorrow never sanction'd to intrude, 
 With every breath her gentle spirit drew 
 Man reverenced all womankind anew. 
 
 XLIX 
 
 ' The tender, wistful smile that spoke of life 
 Nursing a hope nourish'd upon despair ; 
 
 The struggle of a soul whose inward strife 
 
 Seem'd hourly more than its frail shell could bear- 
 O what a treasury of love was there ! 
 
 A richer mine man never found on earth, 
 
 Yet stored for one unconscious of its worth !
 
 AD ASTRA 29 
 
 ' So now I wait, if haply I may find 
 
 A maid that shall some fleet resemblance bear 
 
 To Her, who all unconsciously did bind 
 Me to herself with many a silken snare 
 Have I not seen her smile when none was near ? 
 
 Those sorrowing lips, what could they tell of love ? 
 
 They told of depths / would have died to prove ! 
 
 LI 
 
 ' Blooms there for me a white and petal'd flower 
 Wherein my soul might fold its wings and rest ? 
 
 Heart-weariness doth hold me every hour, 
 I cannot quell the tumult of my breast ! 
 Yet in the silence stands thy love confest 
 
 I feel thy winnowing wings about my soul, 
 
 I dare not go beyond their mute control.
 
 30 AD ASTRA 
 
 LII 
 
 * No outward sign I ask of Love's awaking, 
 Love needs no tongue to syllable his plea ; 
 
 When once our eyes have met, all else forsaking, 
 Not death itself shall set our spirits free ! 
 For each one hope, one language, there will be 
 
 Our souls will meet in silence, and none hear 
 
 The swift response that maketh all things clear. 
 
 LIII 
 ' Thou Star ! that shone upon me from a height 
 
 As wide and boundless as the spacious Heaven, 
 Filling my lonely soul with thy pure light 
 
 And that sweet peace that doth all passion leaven. 
 
 Bright beacon to my bark in tempest driven 
 Too nigh the perilous quicksands of Despair, 
 Which else had founder'd in the midnight bare !
 
 AD ASTRA 31 
 
 LIV 
 
 * Be thou the guide and compass of my way ! 
 
 Let thy true needle point me to the sky, 
 Where shines the light of never-ending day, 
 
 And passion's surges roll unheeded by. 
 
 Dwell thou within my bosom till I die ! 
 Purge and refine each thought unhallow'd there, 
 And make my heart a habitation fair. 
 
 LV 
 
 * Come to me, O my soul's diviner soul ! 
 
 Come, breathing balm as from celestial spheres, 
 
 Sweet woman, loved beyond my heart's control ! 
 For in thy bosom Love itself uprears 
 A City of Refuge from the ruthless years, 
 
 A Sanctuary of Rest for heart and brain, 
 
 A Shrine of Peace, close chancell'd from all pain.
 
 32 AD ASTRA 
 
 LVI 
 
 ' While in the mirror of thine own pure mind, 
 And in the foretaste of thy perfect love, 
 
 A nobler manhood I am fain to find, 
 
 A worthier steward I am sworn to prove, 
 Believing that our trials are from above, 
 
 Scorning revolt as treason to the race, 
 
 A patriot of the world by gift of grace. 
 
 LVH 
 
 ' How long, dear Heart, how long must we repine ? 
 How many a day goes idly, vacant by, 
 
 Which should have link'd our souls in bonds divine, 
 Which should complete the life for which we sigh ' 
 For what were all the bliss beneath the sky 
 
 If we might never, heart on heart, bestow 
 
 The impassion'd peace that only lovers know ?
 
 AD ASTRA 
 
 LVHI 
 
 ( Tis with the evening that I feel thy want, 
 For with the light my sun of life goes down 
 
 How cold the Moon's pale fire ! how grim and gaunt 
 The spectral arms about my casement blown ! 
 How wofully the winds of midnight moan ! 
 
 And I tho' Love is hospiced everywhere 
 
 Have no sweet Love to comfort my despair ! '
 
 34 AD ASTRA 
 
 LIX 
 
 ' I will away, into the light of day ! 
 
 For herald morn blows on the hills afar, 
 
 I will away, and somewhere will I pray 
 
 For strength and guidance, that I may not mar 
 The life that still is left my evil Star 
 
 Hath set ; another day dawns bright and clear, 
 
 The brighter for the clouds that hung so near. 
 
 ' Awake, my Love, the morn is newly drest ! 
 
 Awake, and meet thy lover on the lea ! 
 How cold and drear, till thou dost leave thy nest ! 
 
 How bright the sunshine that awakes with thee ! 
 
 For when thou goest abroad 'tis told to me 
 The very winds are richer for thy sighs, 
 As from thy lips they take their sweet supplies.'
 
 AD ASTRA 35 
 
 LXI 
 
 Such the first cry of Youth before it learns 
 That not for love alone was life assign' d, 
 
 Till painfully the growing Man discerns 
 
 That Youth is to Love's deeper meaning blind, 
 For passion oft betrays the unguarded mind, 
 
 And like the spangle of a lesser star 
 
 Dazzles, while Love glows steadfast from afar ! 
 
 LXII 
 O Woman, with what soul-alluring charms 
 
 Thou dost constrain our wills to worship thee ! 
 How may we fight against those fateful arms ? 
 
 How fly Love's all-apperilous archery ? 
 
 O had Man true discernment he might see 
 Thy love is but the mirage of a dream 
 Which mocks him with the magic of its gleam !
 
 36 AD ASTRA 
 
 LXIII 
 
 When will he learn to look on thee aright, 
 Not make of thee an idol for a day r 
 
 Enthrone thee on a far serener height, 
 
 Where spirits touch, yet mingle not with clay ? 
 Thy beauty then will meet a purer ray, 
 
 And in the light of never-ending Love 
 
 A true heart-union and espousal prove. 
 
 LXIV 
 O Soul, which ever whisperest of thy wants, 
 
 In God alone canst thou be satisfied ! 
 Insatiably man's earth-born nature pants 
 
 For Love, that never woman yet supplied ! 
 
 For Love, that is to mortal years denied ! 
 O heart of man ! why strive eternally 
 Against the Love which can alone set free ?
 
 AD ASTRA 37 
 
 LXV 
 
 How brief, how frail, the highest human love ! 
 Yet constancy in love each mortal craves. 
 
 Unless thy trust in God knows no remove, 
 This life is but a sleep on summer waves 
 Rough winds will toss thee to their ocean caves, 
 
 Thro* which the bellowing sea with thundrous roar 
 
 Doth break the chilly silence evermore.
 
 38 AD ASTRA 
 
 LXVI 
 
 Unto the naked Heavens we cry aloud, 
 
 ' O Father, give us back our Childhood's faith 
 
 That Faith which sought Thee in the brightening cloud, 
 And deem'd it but the mirror of Thy breath 
 O give us that assurance which in Death 
 
 Men have, whom lifelong fears and doubts assail'd 
 
 Yet at the last Thy glorious Light have hail'd ! 
 
 LXVI I 
 
 ' Oh, when our passionate hearts have ceased to beat, 
 Then only may we feel ourselves secure ! 
 
 We are not fit to lay us at Thy feet, 
 Our wills relapse, our frailties endure. 
 O Lord, unless we felt Thy pardon sure, 
 
 Conscious of guilt, of charity denied, 
 
 How might we in Thy clemency confide ?
 
 LXVHI 
 
 ' In sole reliance on Thy saving grace, 
 
 The Cross of Sacrifice which cleanseth sin, 
 
 Thy mercy and love as suppliants we embrace 
 Here, at Thine altar, seek we peace within 
 Lord, now in us Thy silent work begin ! 
 
 O grant us true repentance of the past, 
 
 And Faith that shall not doubt Thee at the last ! 
 
 LXIX 
 
 ' O give us Love strong, steadfast, undefined ! 
 A heart to sanctify our own heart's need, 
 
 An eye that is not by new sights beguiled, 
 A mind ennobled by its human creed, 
 A soul that is from sensual slavery freed 
 
 Or, if we may no true heart-union prove, 
 
 Grant us to know Thy Greater Heart of Love !
 
 40 AD ASTRA 
 
 'Mid Nature's solitudes we needs must feel 
 How great the debt of happiness we owe 
 
 To those who share our lives, and seek our weal- 
 Companionship none lightly may forgo ! 
 For such as on themselves their love bestow 
 
 Carry, like all who hoard illiberal gold, 
 
 Burdens more sad than human hearts may hold. 
 
 We cannot live without our fellow-men, 
 Nor hermit-like within the desert roam. 
 
 Thrice vain for Man, that lonely denizen, 
 
 To shrink from those who share his earthly home !- 
 We must perforce to Man's high service come ! 
 
 For we are members all one of another, 
 
 As bone knits bone, brother uniteth brother.
 
 AD ASTRA 41 
 
 LXXII 
 
 And some there be poor, self-deluded souls ! 
 
 Who shackle life i' the Stoics' trammelling bands, 
 
 Believing that so far as each controls 
 
 His bent for pleasure, so the soul expands 
 Such the pale creed Philosophy commands ! 
 
 But those who bow to this inclement god 
 
 May find it break them with an iron rod ! 
 
 LXXIII 
 
 Self is thy basic creed, Philosophy ! 
 
 To make the Will invulnerably whole, 
 To glory in Man, god of the years to be ! 
 
 His Will that would all thought, all power control. 
 
 How frail a superstructure for the Soul ! 
 Can that Intelligence which made the Will 
 No loftier sapience than this instil ?
 
 42 AD ASTRA 
 
 LXXIV 
 
 These are thy first-fruits, O Philosophy ! 
 To shun delight and spurn the threat of pain, 
 
 To let no fear perturb that Faculty 
 
 The Will, that shall advance the way of men, 
 To hold all promptings of the heart as vain. 
 
 Symbol of Symbols ! comes the Cross to prove 
 
 The key that shall unlock all worlds is Love ! 
 
 Only to hearts devoid of human feeling, 
 Only to natures cold as thy cold creed, 
 
 Can thy trite truths, Philosophy ! bring healing, 
 Can thy poor Faith bind up the wounds that bleed- 
 The soul is dead that is from suffering freed 
 
 Philosophy would blunt the edge of pain, 
 
 Yet is more pitiless than wintry rain !
 
 AD ASTRA 
 
 LXXVI 
 
 Why thro' vast aeons was The Light delay'd ? 
 
 Why was the knowledge of The Way denied ? 
 Where was God's Loving-kindness, where His aid 
 
 In those dark ages of adulterous pride ? 
 
 That He could in His peaceful Heaven abide 
 While sorrow and ancient pain on earth made moan, 
 And never a Wind of Grace blew from His throne ! 
 
 We rate our little lives beyond their worth 
 Time hath not taught us true humility. 
 
 What claim hath any child of mortal birth 
 
 That life should be from pain and dolour free ? 
 To Immortality what right have we ? 
 
 Salvation is a favour, not a right, 
 
 For none are justified in God's clear sight.
 
 44 AD ASTRA 
 
 LXXVIII 
 
 From distant aeons was this earth ordain'd 
 For Man his habitation and his throne. 
 
 Guided by Nature, and by Love constrain'd, 
 
 The greatest minds the unransom'd world had known 
 The Pagan creeds had one by one outgrown. 
 
 Light grew apace. Lo ! streaming up the wind, 
 
 The vision of the Saviour of mankind. 
 
 To those exalted sons of Greece and Rome, 
 Whose fearless gaze was nx'd upon the sky, 
 
 Who view'd the mirror'd heavens as Man's far home, 
 Held Death but as a friend that lingereth nigh 
 To still the throbbing brain, the tortured cry, 
 
 We owe the first conception of our God : 
 
 They strew'd with palms the path which Jesus trod.
 
 AD ASTRA 45 
 
 LXXX 
 
 And, if their hope and teaching were in vain 
 Oh, not in vain their brave and eager Faith ! 
 
 A Faith which might the noblest life sustain, 
 Which fail'd them not even with their fleeting 
 
 breath, 
 Calm in that all-attesting hour of Death, 
 
 They follow'd where the Star of Morning led 
 
 Thro' darkling dawns to their immortal dead.
 
 46 AD ASTRA 
 
 LXXXI 
 
 How stem this cry of universal pain 
 
 That wails from chasm and vault adown the years, 
 That moves to madness many a tortured brain, 
 
 That daunts the bravest with abysmal fears ? 
 
 Is God more vengeful, more remote from tears, 
 Than man that is the creature of His breath ? 
 Shall Disobedience merit instant death ? 
 
 We judge from our own standpoint that of sin ! 
 Transgressors, even our weightiest judgments err ; 
 
 Whilst our awards and punishments begin 
 With Justice, which we but too oft defer, 
 With Laws, whose highest aim is to deter. 
 
 We may not judge the criminal intent, 
 
 Nor weigh the mind, its motive or its bent.
 
 AD ASTRA 47 
 
 But God ! can evil live within His sight ? 
 Sinless, how must He view the wrack of sin ? 
 
 Shall God be ruled by measure of our Right, 
 Be judged by that diviner Voice within 
 Whence all our thoughts of Holiness begin ? 
 
 Not of ourselves may we foretoken Heaven 
 
 But only through His grace, so freely given.
 
 48 AD ASTRA 
 
 Why to the Jews ? Why to the Jews alone 
 The Sword of Eden flaming over Wrong ? 
 
 Why should they be so sovranly His own, 
 
 Who made all men alike, both weak, and strong ? 
 Why should His Righteousness to them belong ? 
 
 Why was The Light not unto all ordain'd ? 
 
 Why were the Gentiles in gross darkness chain'd ? 
 
 LXXXV 
 
 If we would fathom His august decree, 
 And so determine His divine intent 
 
 O that the mind of man should strive to see 
 Into that Great, Primaeval Element, 
 The Spirit-force wherewith our lives are blent ! 
 
 Why should we doubt, and why should we despair, 
 
 Because we cannot reason all things clear ?
 
 AD ASTRA 49 
 
 LXXXVI 
 
 Are not our lives girt round with mysteries 
 
 That mock the shadowy substance of our years ? 
 And shall we find our answer in the skies 
 That break as lightly as a maiden's tears ? 
 In Faith alone may we resolve our fears- 
 Infinite Wisdom wrought the Cosmic Whole, 
 And shall It not the least of life control ? 
 
 LXXXVII 
 Tho' sore adread, O wherefore need we doubt 
 
 The wisdom and the justice of God's choice ? 
 His Kingdom was not 'stablisht from without, 
 
 But from within must come the still Small Voice ! 
 
 No trampling legions bade the World rejoice, 
 ' Jehovah hath prevail'd o'er all His foes ! ' 
 No Babylon amid the desert rose !
 
 50 AD ASTRA 
 
 LXXXVIII 
 
 Peace and Goodwill toward men He came to teach- 
 A Universal Brotherhood in Christ 
 
 Of Time when Love shall mitigate war's breach, 
 And nations in leagued amity subsist, 
 Of Law that shall for ever co-exist 
 
 With God and our conceptions of the right 
 
 Be ruled in presence of the Eternal Light ! 
 
 LXXXIX 
 
 How meetly from the poor His Gospel came, 
 
 Those humble dwellers whom The Christ had taught ! 
 
 As man with man the stubborn will to tame, 
 
 Nerved by His glowing zeal, His guileless thought ! 
 Till from such close communion they were wrought 
 
 Into fit instruments to work His will, 
 
 And in men's hearts the Living Truth instil.
 
 AD ASTRA 51 
 
 xc 
 
 His covenant had never been withdrawn. 
 
 So to the Jews, and to the Jews alone, 
 The first faint intimations of the Dawn 
 
 Which should the night of centuries dethrone. 
 
 God's Light of Justice never clearer shone 
 To Abraham, for Faith in worship seal'd, 
 The Covenant of the Promise was reveal'd. 
 
 xci 
 
 Yet even the Chosen of God were not exempt 
 From that same stern, inexorable law 
 
 Of Death for Sin ! how often did they tempt 
 His anger, and upon their children draw 
 The wrath His ever- watchful love foresaw ? 
 
 Warn'd by the mouth of Prophets, Priests, and Kings, 
 
 Still clave they to their vain imaginings !
 
 52 AD ASTRA 
 
 XCII 
 
 Forewarn'd, they had their fate before their eyes 
 Freewill to choose Jehovah for their King, 
 
 To make of self a loving sacrifice, 
 
 And give Him of their heart's best offering, 
 Or freedom to their own blind wills to cling, 
 
 To set up idols of insensate lust 
 
 And drag their generations in the dust. 
 
 xcni 
 Like children, seizing first the glittering bait, 
 
 They snatch'd at Pleasure with its lurid plea, 
 Choosing the certain death that doth await 
 
 All who give rein to sensual vanity. 
 
 Till, wearied out with their Idolatry, 
 God scatter'd them the heathen host among, 
 That they might learn through suffering whence they 
 
 sprung.
 
 AD ASTRA 53 
 
 XCIV 
 
 Even as in later times Imperial Rome, 
 
 Whose virile manhood held the World in fee,- 
 
 When luxury had undermined the home, 
 Gave up her strength to shameless harlotry. 
 Till the Barbaric sword alone could free 
 
 A Nation so debauch'd with lust and wine 
 
 As to forget her great Augustan line.
 
 54 AD ASTRA 
 
 Doth it not seem as tho' His life were vain, 
 
 Since they for whom His Gospel was proclaim'd 
 
 In scornful incredulity remain ? 
 
 While those, whom ' heirs of righteousness ' He named, 
 Press'd pitiless where The Light on Calvary flamed ! 
 
 Who still await a Prince of David's line, 
 
 Tho' David's lineage lies in dust supine ! 
 
 xcvi 
 
 Will they at last their Rock of Refuge find ? 
 Will God regather them from East and West, 
 
 For nigh two thousand years borne down the wind 
 Of pitiless retribution and unrest ? 
 Would they might turn from their belated Quest, 
 
 And recognise in Christ great David's Son, 
 
 In Whom the Future and the Past are One !
 
 AD ASTRA 55 
 
 XCVH 
 
 Are there not signs that God still loveth them ? 
 
 Still guideth them ? still strengthened their hands ? 
 
 While stone by stone the New Jerusalem 
 Is rising 'mid the wreck of other lands- 
 For as their Wealth, so too their Power expands 
 
 From East to West the sky is all aflame 
 
 With dawning greatness of the Jewish name !
 
 56 AD ASTRA 
 
 XCVIII 
 
 O God, if all our thoughts of Thee are vain ! 
 
 How fitfully the Lamp of Faith doth gleam ! 
 Life holds so much of bitterness and pain, 
 
 How may we know Thy power is all-supreme ? 
 
 Life's Tiding Grace ? Ah, like a limpid stream 
 That purls and ripples on its sun-bright way, 
 Too shallow for the needs of every day ! 
 
 xcix 
 ' Fled is my Faith ' how pitiful the cry ! 
 
 Or, ' Daily doth my Faith grow less and less ' 
 On every breeze is borne the pained sigh 
 
 Of men who dare not all their heart confess. 
 
 O shield us from the storm, the strain, the stress ! 
 Uphold us in this Age of greed and gain, 
 And 'stablish in our hearts Thy perfect reign !
 
 AD ASTRA 57 
 
 c 
 
 We doubt of life for who can hope to stand 
 In faint remembrance mid the drifts of Time ? 
 
 We are but units in an unit land, 
 
 With scarce the cadence of a passing chime, 
 And shall the Great Unseen with power sublime 
 
 Review the labour of our little day ? 
 
 Heeds He the many vigils of our way? 
 
 ci 
 What of the suppliant hosts that Time hath seen, 
 
 Gather'd to rest with their devout desire ? 
 The myriad myriads on this verge of green, 
 
 Still looking upward to the central fire ? 
 
 The multitudes the Future shall inspire ? 
 Our utter insignificance of being 
 Makes us despair of all beyond our seeing !
 
 58 AD ASTRA 
 
 Our minds are finite can we measure His ? 
 
 Judge of Infinity by finite laws ? 
 When of all worlds we fail to unravel This, 
 
 How may we solve the Great Primaeval Cause ? 
 
 Our narrow orb of sense its light withdraws, 
 While in the unfathom'd spaces of the sky 
 Worlds yet undreamt of may go wheeling by ! 
 
 cm 
 The thousand questions that come surging in, 
 
 And thunder like the waves upon the beach ; 
 The haven that we ever strive to win, 
 
 And yet, despite our striving, never reach ; 
 
 The doubts that in due season fall to each, 
 Which baffle and leave us fever'd with the dread 
 That all Life's beauty is for ever fled.
 
 AD ASTRA 59 
 
 civ 
 
 And where at last must all our questions end ? 
 Are they not even as futile as we deem 
 
 A child's first questions of his earliest friend ? 
 More futile ! for what folly must it seem 
 To question where we find no answering gleam, 
 
 No guiding hand, no tongue that shall expound 
 
 The mysteries which in our lives abound ?
 
 60 AD ASTRA 
 
 cv 
 
 O breaking hearts ! O smiles that fain would hide 
 Your anguish from the prying gaze of Morn ! 
 
 The bitter tears that Beauty's cheeks have dyed, 
 Only to vanish with the Day new-born ! 
 The biting wounds the cruel gyves have worn ! 
 
 O who would be so fetter'd, so distraught, 
 
 If that far Crown of Thorns availeth naught ? 
 
 cvi 
 
 And would you tear it from their aching sight, 
 And tell them all is dark beyond the veil ? 
 
 That human misery is but a blight 
 
 That falls haphazard where the roses trail ? 
 That fortitude and faith alike must fail, 
 
 For Calvary fades, old landmarks disappear, 
 
 And cometh none with any hope of cheer ?
 
 AD ASTRA 61 
 
 cva 
 Shall Woman's sweet Devotion also pass, 
 
 Her tender trust in all things pure and true ? 
 And with it half the joy she did amass 
 
 While Faith and Hope the Day's bright curtain 
 
 drew? 
 
 No more the mystic bond, uniting two ? 
 Marriage a common mart, Love's altars broken, 
 And Woman's virtue by each wind bespoken ? 
 
 CVIII 
 
 O little lives, brought thro' the starry gloom, 
 Fragrant as early flowers of Paradise ! 
 
 O little Innocents, whose tender bloom 
 Softer than dew upon the violet lies ! 
 Who would not rescue you from sin and vice, 
 
 From the fell canker of corroding chains, 
 
 From joyless life, drawn from degenerate veins ?
 
 62 AD ASTRA 
 
 cix 
 
 Heredity ! thy awful laws reveal 
 
 The clinging, cumulative curse of sin 
 
 The secret faults which men would fain conceal, 
 With all the host of ills they usher in, 
 Now show their vile and noisome origin. 
 
 O let us not, amid our lightest laughter, 
 
 Forget our debt to those who follow after ! 
 
 The Devil's weapon, Evil, we may find 
 
 Turn'd 'gainst himself to advance the sum of 
 Good ; 
 
 For trials and vexations in their kind 
 
 Oft serve as strong incentives in the blood 
 To battle bravely with Life's swelling flood ! 
 
 Had ancient Nilus his full tribute paid, 
 
 The harvest of Man's conquests had been stay'd !
 
 AD ASTRA 63 
 
 CXI 
 
 For mark the savage with his simple wants 
 Content, if in the sunshine he may bask ! 
 
 The torpor of indifference him enchants, 
 And drowsy negligence of any task 
 Save that of blinking at the stars ; the mask 
 
 Of the wide globe 'wilders his childish brain, 
 
 And so a thousand years he will remain.
 
 64 AD ASTRA 
 
 cxn 
 
 What man that hath a weak and ailing child 
 Learns not to love it over all the rest ? 
 
 So may sweet Pity's heart be reconciled, 
 While larger love exalts the parent's breast. 
 The little sufferer is of all most blest, 
 
 For sympathy fails never of its balm, 
 
 Heals every wound, and can all tears becalm. 
 
 cxm 
 Thus every sorrow hides a central joy, 
 
 And with all suffering and pain'd under-song 
 God mingles a bright tempering of alloy 
 
 That more than compensates the seeming wrong ; 
 
 For to the maim'd Life's holiest joys belong 
 A keener sensibility to bliss, 
 A finer insight into all that is.
 
 AD ASTRA 65 
 
 CXIV 
 
 Sorrow and Pain have their love-sanction'd part 
 In the great scheme of universal good 
 
 Without them how refine the human heart, 
 Too soon elated unless these withstood ? 
 So lightly do we flit from mood to mood, 
 
 We seldom see the heart-break of the thing 
 
 Until the Angel, Pity, droops her wing. 
 
 And Sorrow serves not only to refine, 
 
 For Love leaps up with tenfold sympathy 
 
 To mitigate the suffering and the sin 
 That are a part of the divine decree, 
 In that foreshadowing of the life to be 
 
 Where Pity with her love-illumined face 
 
 Shows Grief to have been God's hallowing means of 
 Grace.
 
 66 AD ASTRA 
 
 CXVI 
 
 Twin Angels, Pity and Pain, redeem mankind- 
 For every time we sin we cast abroad 
 
 Seeds which Fate's ever-fructifying wind 
 Will bring to ripeness in some fair abode, 
 Increasing sorrow and the human load 
 
 O who would sin, if first he did review 
 
 The pity of the thing he fain would do ?
 
 AD ASTRA 67 
 
 CXVII 
 
 Cloud not nor scorn the bright faith of the Poor ! 
 
 Revere, thou godless man ! those toil-worn hands- 
 Why should they battle on, why seek to endure 
 The thousand slights foster'd of thy demands, 
 Unless beyond the gloom God's Heaven expands, 
 Where every man shall meet with his reward 
 And their long-suffering voice at last be heard ? 
 
 CXVIII 
 
 How may we reconcile our faith in Man 
 
 With the aimless, homeless host beneath our skies ? 
 The million prostrate, that the few may span 
 
 With covetous pride the wealth the land supplies, 
 
 'Mid luxury of a thousand selfish ties, 
 Heedless of those strong arms to which they owe 
 Immunity from toil and foreign foe.
 
 68 AD ASTRA 
 
 CXIX 
 
 Yet those broad acres that our fathers loved, 
 The stately chase with all its woodland sheen, 
 
 The slender-footed deer, that whilom roved 
 'Mid forest aisles and vales of spangled green, 
 The winding avenues, the distant scene, 
 
 And last the ancestral Manor, ivy-crown'd, 
 
 Still breathing of a feudal peace profound, 
 
 And over all the bearing of the host, 
 
 That perfect blending of good sense and pride,- 
 
 That breed of Barons, once the exalted boast 
 Of Britain, now transmuted in the tide 
 Of noble lineage to mere gold allied, 
 
 Courteous and kind, with that attendant grace 
 
 That is the sure presentment of his race.
 
 AD ASTRA 69 
 
 CXXVI 
 
 O who can view such scenes indifferently ? 
 
 Rather than see those old-world Manors die, 
 Almost one were in love with tyranny, 
 Almost one could ignore the widow's cry, 
 The thousand breaking hearts beneath the sky- 
 Perish the thought ! God gave all life to share 
 The realm of earth, the commonwealth of air.
 
 70 AD ASTRA 
 
 Interminable streets of London Town ! 
 
 Teeming with myriads, myriads yet to come ! 
 How do ye set our poor vain natures down, 
 
 How stultify our every thought of Home ! 
 
 For here, as in the desert, we might roam, 
 Unnoticed, tho' a thousand pass us by, 
 Unloved, tho' many a loving heart be nigh ! 
 
 cxxm 
 Bewilder'd "mid the clash and the recoil 
 
 Of millions battling for the prize of place, 
 Man, blinded by the bigotry of toil, 
 
 O'erthrows the starry ladder of the race. 
 
 The struggle for existence doth efface 
 The self-denying ordinance of life, 
 Since he who would subsist must live by strife !
 
 AD ASTRA 71 
 
 CXXIV 
 
 Each hath a certain calling, each his sphere 
 To each man comes the knowledge of his worth 
 
 Then let him follow with a conscience clear 
 The path mark'd out by Destiny from birth, 
 Walking with fearless step the bounteous Earth, 
 
 Pleased with the daily substance God hath given, 
 
 And living as beneath the eye of Heaven.
 
 72 AD ASTRA 
 
 cxxv 
 Man's conquests over Matter do they move 
 
 From God, or from his own determinate will ? 
 For what do his so-vast achievements prove 
 But that all hazards yield to mortal skill, 
 Indomitable courage, scorn of ill ? 
 How through repeated failures man may rise 
 To heights beyond the heights he did emprise ? 
 
 How else had the Pharaonic Priesthood curb'd 
 The mighty waters of triumphant Nile ? 
 
 How else had the Phrenician prows disturb'd 
 The long, still dream of many a slumbering Isle, 
 Lull'd by the gentle plash of waves erstwhile ? 
 
 Idolaters ! what did High Heaven reveal 
 
 That their own perseverance did not steal ?
 
 AD ASTRA 73 
 
 Grant that in Man may dwell Empyreal Power, 
 What may his legion'd sovereignty control ? 
 
 Man, whose dominion lightens but an hour ! 
 
 Whose lordship fails i' the frontiers of the Soul ! 
 Before this New Omniscience we extol, 
 
 Let it resolve the bounds of Time and Space, 
 
 Allot each World its orbit and its place ! 
 
 CXXVIII 
 
 Faith born of Reverence ever lives and glows 
 He that hath seen God's mystic fingers traced 
 
 Upon the Hills and their eternal snows, 
 
 Will last deny the Presence that hath placed 
 This little Planet in the boundless waste. 
 
 What vails it all our striving and achieving, 
 
 If here the soul its last bright web is weaving ?
 
 74 AD ASTRA 
 
 CXXIX 
 
 Had not the Greeks of old as fine a sense 
 
 Of true discernment betwixt Right and Wrong ? 
 
 An intellectual manhood as intense ? 
 
 A soul that soar'd the highest gods among ? 
 Yet knew they not the song Isaiah sung ! 
 
 To them the Holy Spirit was not given 
 
 In that first sign and sacrament of Heaven. 
 
 cxxx 
 
 If Conscience thro' the world of life doth reign, 
 An instinct born and disciplined of dread 
 
 In man evolved from punishment and pain, 
 Thro' aeons upon aeons perfected, 
 Owning the mighty impress of the dead 
 
 What of the still Small Voice we deem'd divine, 
 
 Whose sanction was Morality in fine !
 
 AD ASTRA 75 
 
 CXXXI 
 
 O baleful lure, to lead our feet astray ! 
 If we deny the God within the breast, 
 
 The God without is but a feeble stay ! 
 
 And where may Man's betravail'd spirit rest, 
 If Conscience is to lower realms deprest ? 
 
 Conscience, whose final judgment all await, 
 
 Strong in whose strength Man may think scorn of Fate ! 
 
 cxxxiu 
 Grant this mute sense stirs in the brute creation 
 
 O what but Conscience makes the Lion cower 
 Before the eye of Man and learn his station, 
 
 Tho' greater far in strength and valorous power,? 
 
 Man's overlordship Conscience doth not lower, 
 And, far from levelling all on Nature's plan, 
 It differentiates the brute from Man !
 
 76 AD ASTRA 
 
 CXXXIII 
 
 To Man pertains a glory that doth force 
 
 E'en from the brute acknowledgment of God ! 
 
 Flowing from that same transcendental Source, 
 
 That hath through Man the teeming world subdued, 
 That makes him fear'd by all the forest brood, 
 
 Since none unshrinkingly his glance receives, 
 
 That glance to which the might of Godhead cleaves ! 
 
 cxxxiv 
 In His own image God created Man, 
 
 And over all things gave him godlike power 
 A mind that may His World- Creation scan, 
 With Conscience as his spiritual dower : 
 A gift that should preserve him, lest he lower 
 His nature to the beast which doth not change 
 But down the ages prowls the selfsame range.
 
 AD ASTRA 77 
 
 cxxxv 
 This Living Voice within the human will 
 
 That would our utmost thoughts and actions frame, 
 This Spiritual Essence that doth fill 
 
 Our minds with mystery and our souls with flame, 
 Still whispering of the Presence whence it came, 
 This hidden Spring, this Fount of all our being, 
 This Element that dwells beyond our seeing ! 
 
 cxxxvi 
 We who are in the world are of the world, 
 
 And worldliness is ever our first care 
 Children of Fate ! whom some strong Hand hath hurl'd 
 
 Into the stellar silence from afar, 
 
 And left us wondering of what world we are 
 Strive as we will to reach the Master Mind, 
 Impenetrable mists before, behind !
 
 78 AD ASTRA 
 
 CXXXVII 
 
 Before our minds may mirror the divine, 
 
 We must bring under sway the stubborn flesh- 
 Not to the body shall our wills incline, 
 But to the spirit bathed in light afresh ! 
 Children of Nature ! taught by her to thresh 
 The grain of life from out the husk of death, 
 And in her solitudes find calmer faith.
 
 AD ASTRA 79 
 
 CXXXVIII 
 
 Bereft of God, is aught worth Man's desire ? 
 Money ? the vulgar tyrant of the crowd ! 
 
 Or, if to higher things he would aspire, 
 With larger mind and faculties endow'd, 
 His life to some ennobling service vow'd, 
 
 Can glory won in the far quest of Truth 
 
 Repay the gold of his ungarner'd youth ? 
 
 CXXX1X 
 
 Is Pleasure more commendable a guide ? 
 
 To snatch the sunbeams as they dance and rise ?- 
 
 A sweet philosophy that few will chide ! 
 
 The madder grows the chase, the more she flies !- 
 The soul looks out at intervals, and sighs 
 
 To think of what we are, and might have been, 
 
 Who look'd to Pleasure as a deathless Queen !
 
 80 AD ASTRA 
 
 CXL 
 
 Life calls to us, ' O seize the fleeting hour, 
 
 For like the leaves Youth's garlands fall away ; 
 
 The Present only lies within thy power 
 Grasp it ! or else for evermore delay. 
 Love's golden harvest hath so brief a day ! 
 
 O lose not for remote, imagined gain 
 
 The precious hours that still to thee remain ! ' 
 
 CXLI 
 
 And when we reap the aftermath of Sin, 
 
 Behold the havoc wrought by rank Desire 
 
 The temple of the Soul laid waste within, 
 Love's sanctuary scorch'd and swept by fire, 
 Love martyr'd for a moment's breathless hire ! 
 
 Oh, think not God and Nature are at strife, 
 
 To rob thy soul of one sweet draught of life !
 
 AD ASTRA 81 
 
 CXLII 
 
 Seek not the unsanction'd joy, the illicit quest ; 
 For, if there be no other Life but THIS, 
 
 Before thou dost thy better self divest 
 To stake thy happiness upon a kiss, 
 Or some such other fleet encircling bliss, 
 
 O be thou sure when Passion's hour hath sped, 
 
 Remorse shall ask no questions of thy dead ! 
 
 For, if there be no Heaven nor Hell but Here 
 How much the greater need that truth endure ! 
 
 That we may make our Earth a heavenly sphere 
 By breaking the long bondage of the Poor, 
 Nor to Life's Pities add one pity more ! 
 
 The many call thee to their higher need, 
 
 Man true to Man, and Earth were Heaven indeed I
 
 82 AD ASTRA 
 
 CXLIV 
 
 O let no momentary joy enslave 
 
 The spirit which thou hast received pure ! 
 
 The fields of dalliance flower but to the grave, 
 Gird swift to flee the fragrance and the lure ! 
 O not to selfish sins thyself inure ! 
 
 " Follow thy pleasures with determined feet " 
 
 Can love and lust in such commingling meet ? 
 
 CXLV 
 O God, if in the spiritual mood 
 
 The heart rejoiceth in its purity 
 When the soft tongue of passion fires the blood, 
 
 How far off the still Voice that speaks of Thee ! 
 
 How mighty the temptation that we flee ! 
 Why hast Thou made the face of Sin so sweet 
 That all our nature yearneth for defeat ?
 
 AD ASTRA 83 
 
 CXLVI 
 
 Answer thou, Age of lethargy and vice ! 
 With stimulants are all our senses fed 
 
 The patient soul is made a sacrifice 
 
 To pay for pleasures of the heart and head, 
 While soft narcotics numb with nervous dread 
 
 No wonder its fair vestal-light is dimm'd, 
 
 And God the further off, Love's lamp untrimm'd ! 
 
 CXLVII 
 
 To lust is not to love Love scorneth lust ! 
 How canst thou say ' I love/ and Love defile ? 
 
 For Love is reverent, tender of its trust, 
 Nor ever could it harbour thought of guile : 
 Love knows no wantonness, no Devil's wile ! 
 
 True love is a perpetual sacrifice, 
 
 Whose smoke in heaven-ascending thoughts doth rise.
 
 84 AD ASTRA 
 
 CXLVHI 
 
 Two Roads present themselves to every man 
 The Way of Christ, beset with thorns and tears, 
 
 The other roof d with many a flowery span,, 
 And redolent of all that life endears 
 In each the smoke of sacrifice appears : 
 
 Two victims are upon Life's altar laid, 
 
 And Soul or Body now must meet the blade !
 
 AD ASTRA 85 
 
 CXLIX 
 
 The Sceptic warns us that the Christian creed 
 Is but the love of Self, in form disguised, 
 
 That could we analyse each noble deed, 
 Some selfish motive ever it avized. 
 Is Virtue by such sophistry chastised ? 
 
 Are not our greatest actions incomplete 
 
 Until we lay them at our Master's feet ? 
 
 ' The infinite conceit,' another cries, 
 
 ' Of fellowship and close commune with God ! 
 
 O look on all the life beneath the skies, 
 
 The unconsecrated hosts that here have trod, 
 The myriads yet unshapen from the clod, 
 
 Then selfwards and what doth thy search reveal ? 
 
 A whirling mote splay'd from Life's glittering wheel !
 
 86 AD ASTRA 
 
 CLI 
 
 ' O would that God had wrought His meaning plain, 
 Not leaving life a riddle, hardly guess'd ! ' 
 
 The cry that lives upon the lips of pain, 
 
 That found an echo in old Khayyam's breast. 
 Let no such diffident murmur break thy rest, 
 
 The attesting Heavens His wondrous works recite, 
 
 The sun by day, the moon and stars by night. 
 
 CLI I 
 
 And still another, ' Only minds diseased 
 The morbid craving after God reveal ; 
 
 For once the Daimon of Death hath been appeased, 
 No longer at the Shrine of Faith we kneel.' 
 O faint of heart ! to whom wouldst thou appeal ? 
 
 The truant body, rebel of unrest ? 
 
 Or the bright soul, its fair and heavenly guest ?
 
 AD ASTRA 87 
 
 CLIII 
 
 But when the body with dread pain is bow'd 
 And our redemption cometh oft through pain 
 
 The spiritual nature cries aloud 
 
 For that strong Arm which can alone sustain. 
 Then turneth home the wanderer again ! 
 
 Happy the man, who needs no chastening Hand 
 
 To discipline his will to God's command ! 
 
 CLIV 
 
 And others, more defiant in their tone, 
 
 Have solved the riddle of the toiling earth 
 
 ' Sport for the Heavenly Huntsman ! ' sayeth one, 
 And yet another, ' Sorrow and joyless mirth 
 His bifold, cynic gift to man at birth ! ' 
 
 What answer unto such wild hearts as these ? 
 
 What answer that can wholly set at ease ?
 
 88 AD ASTRA 
 
 CLV 
 
 Who hath not felt how little here availeth, 
 
 Since all are creatures of the creature Chance ? 
 
 Yet ever in the soul such doubt assaileth 
 
 Glimmers the wonder of this World's Romance, 
 Where all that breathes His Glory doth enhance ! 
 
 Each life a link in the Eternal Chain, 
 
 Unclasp'd by God, to close in Him again. 
 
 'Tis easier to Believe than Disbelieve ! 
 Tho' mortal mind may never apprehend 
 
 Infinite God, nor fixedly conceive 
 
 A Time without beginning, without end, 
 
 Nor where the stars in their bright courses wend. 
 
 With every Spring a deeper reverence grows, 
 
 Lights with the lily, reddens with the rose.
 
 AD ASTRA 89 
 
 cLvn 
 
 Who, that hath scaled the heights, knows not the hour 
 When from the solitude of some lone peak 
 
 The Revelation of The Eternal Power 
 
 First broke in waves upon him, while his cheek 
 Flamed with the Visible Presence? how grown meek 
 
 He knelt with all his spiritual vestments rent 
 
 Before The Throne of Thrones Omnipotent ? 
 
 CLVHI 
 
 Except like little children ye believe, 
 
 Ye shall not see the Kingdom of your God. 
 
 Ever the eternal verities deceive 
 
 The mightiest minds, the brave that upward plod 
 The way so many wilder'd feet have trod, 
 
 While unto little children hath been given 
 
 Faith that shall open wide the gates of Heaven !
 
 90 AD ASTRA 
 
 But live the Christ-like life, and thou shalt know 
 "Whether the doctrine be of God or not " 
 
 What simpler mandate could our Lord bestow ? 
 How doth it lighten our poor human lot ! 
 How soon are all our doubts and fears forgot ! 
 
 For God reveals Himself in many ways, 
 
 Till Disbelief a doubt of Doubt betrays ! 
 
 God gave us of His own Immortal Soul 
 That Gift of Gifts Unfathomable Love ! 
 
 Our kinship is beyond our own control, 
 Our spirits to celestial music move, 
 Our noblest thoughts and aspirations prove 
 
 That we are sons of God, children of Light, 
 
 And born to live for ever in His sight.
 
 AD ASTRA 91 
 
 An old man's judgment in the hour of Death 
 Is testimony worth a young man's ear, 
 
 When thro' the last watch rings the cry of Faith,. 
 "The Lord my refuge is, I have no fear" 
 Doubt vanishes before the Morn of Cheer ! 
 
 Night's closing vigil Light Divine doth leaven, 
 
 And happy Peace, the olive branch of Heaven.
 
 92 AD ASTRA 
 
 His Life and Teaching cannot be in vain, 
 Since no Philosophy the World hath seen 
 
 Can heal and succour, lighten and sustain, 
 Like that of Jesus Christ, the Nazarene, 
 The Guide of Guides when Doubt's dark days convene ! 
 
 And in the lonely passage of the tomb 
 
 What hand like His to lead us thro' the gloom ? 
 
 CLXIH 
 What man would flinch or find it hard to die 
 
 If Christ should meet him in the way to-morrow, 
 And tell him of the Shadow drawing nigh ? 
 
 Dost think that he would look on Death with sorrow ? 
 
 Nay, rather, would he not new comfort borrow 
 To know that Christ doth live, hath power to save, 
 That all we cherish blooms beyond the grave ?
 
 AD ASTRA 93 
 
 CLXIV 
 
 And canst them doubt that Christ doth surely live ? 
 
 That Sun and Moon and Stars hold Him in awe ? 
 What Mind but of The Highest could conceive 
 
 The Cosmic cycle, the Metonic law ? 
 
 This wondrous world from which our life we draw ? 
 We feel the beat of His o'er-shadowing wings, 
 The harmony that links all sentient things. 
 
 Why should we dread the silence of the tomb ? 
 
 For all things to their elements return. 
 Earth, air, fire, water, constitute our home, 
 
 In these alone ourselves we may discern. 
 
 Let none his hour of requiescence mourn 
 The body mingles once again with flame, 
 The soul soars toward the Glory whence it came.
 
 AD ASTRA 
 
 CLXVI 
 
 Yet even in this little World of ours 
 
 That speeds toward dissolution and decay, 
 
 Where Man is arrogant of his vain powers, 
 And Beauty holds her court but for a day, 
 Where Lust and Vice their rival charms display,- 
 
 How few there are would willingly resign 
 
 One single hour to share the Life Divine !
 
 AD ASTRA 95 
 
 CLXVII 
 
 The Church of Christ must heal the world's unrest, 
 In Her alone may sustenance be found ! 
 
 The Centuries renew their sleepless quest, 
 And man is treading upon higher ground : 
 Oh, on the heights may plenteous grace abound !- 
 
 Her gift is Peace, and Love that shall enhance 
 
 The glory and wonder of this world's romance ! 
 
 CLXVIII 
 O who can doubt Her ministering power, 
 
 The spiritual sceptre which She wields ? 
 Deprive Her of Her immemorial dower, 
 
 Blot out Her Light from all our English fields, 
 The virtuous lives Her bright example yields, 
 And in that day when Faith and Reverence go 
 Man will look out upon a world of woe !
 
 AD ASTRA 
 
 CLXIX 
 
 For what avail these conflicts dire of creed, 
 
 When, 'mid divisions that have rent the Church, 
 
 Our Faith is jeopardized in very deed, 
 
 While they are many who God's Word besmirch ? 
 Ignoble strife ! will none redeem the search 
 
 For all that is most beautiful and true, 
 
 And in men's hearts the Lamp of Faith renew ? 
 
 What signifies that Anglican and Greek 
 Have stigmatized the practices of Rome, 
 
 When all may find The Truth who truly seek ? 
 * I am the Way, the Light that leads toward Home.' 
 By the Way of the Gate the Shepherd bids you come ! 
 
 The flocks are many, and scatter'd o'er the wold, 
 
 Yet ever the Crook of Christ would all enfold.
 
 AD ASTRA 97 
 
 CLXXI 
 
 Yea : Unity ! but under God, not man 
 No papal domination for the weak ! 
 
 The arch of Heaven is not too wide a span 
 
 To ensphere the freedom that the soul doth seek, 
 The silence where His Many Voices speak. 
 
 He that is not against, is for the King 
 
 Ah, from this bond may closer union spring ! 
 
 CLXXII 
 Our passionate conflicts have their day and die 
 
 Sons of ONE FATHER, need our paths dispart? 
 O may we not in brotherhood draw nigh, 
 
 And worship Him together, heart to heart ? 
 
 Shall wars of ritual keep for aye apart 
 Those whom God's loving spirit doth possess, 
 Who fervently the selfsame Christ profess ?
 
 AD ASTRA 
 
 CLXXIII 
 
 In Catholicity there breathes a voice 
 Thrilling adown the arches of the Past, 
 
 Whose music still doth bid the World rejoice 
 In One Great Church that shall prevail at last, 
 Linking all creeds in One Communion vast 
 
 In that far time when perfect Love shall reign, 
 
 And all men's hearts be knit in Christ again. 
 
 CLXXIV 
 
 In all religions God hath sacrifice ! 
 
 The pale Mohammedan with eyes eterne 
 
 No worldly lure, no dalliance can entice, 
 
 Taught from his youth all froward pleas to spurn, - 
 To disregard the Prophet's mandate stern, 
 
 ' Ofter thy vow, tho' thou be far or near, 
 
 When from high Mosque Muezzin calls to prayer.'
 
 AD ASTRA 99 
 
 CLXXV 
 
 Lo, too, that City of God in the crimson East ! 
 The sunrise gilding minaret and tower, 
 
 The myriad worshippers, the solemn feast, 
 When Ganges claims his matutinal dower, 
 And man and maid their rich libations pour, 
 
 Scattering upon the river's ample breast 
 
 The cheerful offerings that God loveth best.
 
 100 AD ASTRA 
 
 CLXXVI 
 
 Gather the Nations in one fold again, 
 
 That all may in the Peace of Christ abide ! 
 
 Then shall Thy Church with Evangelic Reign 
 Renew the world from silver tide to tide. 
 An effluence of love from Thy dear side, 
 
 Till all the streams of this our life shall be 
 
 Merged in Thine Ocean of Eternity. 
 
 CLXXVI I 
 
 Arise, O Lord ! and let not man prevail, 
 Let not his arrogance go unreproved ! 
 
 Put him in fear that so he cannot fail 
 To know Thy promises are not removed, 
 That 'neath Wide Wings Thou shelterestThy beloved. 
 
 O teach the Nations that they are but men 
 
 Ere they presume upon Thy Truth again !
 
 AD ASTRA 101 
 
 CLXXVIII 
 
 The Lord shall be the God of the whole Earth ! 
 
 Lo, now His Light illumines every shore ! 
 All sects and creeds acclaim the Saviour's birth., 
 
 And hail Him King of Kings for evermore ! 
 
 The multitude of the Isles shall Him adore ! 
 Till in the fulness of the perfect day 
 The night of doubt and discord pass away. 
 
 CLXXIX 
 
 Then diverse tongues shall in one language meet, 
 And souls estranged move in divine accord, 
 
 While heart to heart and star to star repeat, 
 ' Glory and Honour to the Incarnate Lord ! ' 
 For Day and Night one tribute shall afford 
 
 When Darkness stills the voices of the North, 
 
 The South her herald song shall utter forth ! 
 
 1898.
 
 THE SKAITH OF GUILLARDUN 
 
 103
 
 THE SKAITH OF GUILLARDUN 
 
 O FOR the golden morn of old Romance, 
 
 The world's glad youth now fled forever by ! 
 
 When knights were chivalrous, and lady's glance 
 Could kindle valour in a lover's eye ; 
 
 When greed of gain and worldly circumstance 
 Had not taught men true manhood to decry. 
 
 O souls of lovers, long since passed away, 
 
 Breathe your sweet plainings on this ancient lay ! 
 
 Why should we break the chancel of the dead ? 
 
 Why vex them in their everlasting sleep ? 
 Why idly deem that their bright souls have fled, 
 
 Whose lives in ours perpetual vigil keep ? 
 O why are all our wistful fancies fed 
 
 With thoughts that theyaround us watch and weep ?- 
 Upon the air some fragrance lingereth yet 
 Of loves and passions that long time have set. 
 
 105
 
 106 THE SKAITH OF GUILLARDUN 
 
 in 
 In Brittany there lived a stainless knight, 
 
 In gentleness no maid could tenderer be, 
 Yet mark him moving thro' the press of fight 
 
 And none more terrible in arms than he. 
 The strong are ever sparing of their might 
 
 Mercy the radiant child on Valour's knee. 
 And as in war his courage none assail'd, 
 In peace his counsel more and more prevail'd. 
 
 IV 
 
 So, meriting a higher confidence, 
 
 The knight was made Justiciar of the realm ; 
 And when far lands call'd his loved Monarch thence, 
 
 Into his hands was thrust the state's proud helm. 
 His firm and fearless rule gave wide offence, 
 
 The menace gather'd but could not o'erwhelm. 
 He bent the rebel barons to his will, 
 Enforced the feudal vows each should fulfil.
 
 THE SKAITH OF GUILLARDUN 107 
 
 Look not for gratitude from mortal Prince : 
 Sir Eliduc had served his liege-lord well, 
 
 Like one who would by deeds alone convince, 
 Not by what braggart tongue might lightly tell. 
 
 Rebellion under him did writhe and wince, 
 And for too great a loyalty he fell ! 
 
 Envy hath audience swift of royal ears, 
 
 Suspicion never slumbers, never spares ! 
 
 VI 
 
 In bitterness of soul, Sir Eliduc 
 
 Grieved that his lifelong fealty naught avail'd ; 
 All joy of life his countenance forsook, 
 
 While in his winter'd mind ambition paled ; 
 His banishment unjust he could not brook, 
 
 Tho' mid the storm of lies he never quail'd. 
 With such calm dignity his lot he bore 
 That they who loved him reverenced him the more.
 
 108 THE SKAITH OF GUILLARDUN 
 
 VII 
 
 His Lady leal still tenderer became, 
 
 And in her wifely solace he forgot 
 Much of the bitterness and biting shame, 
 
 Too plenteously commingled in his lot ; 
 The cruel taunts that fann'd his blood to flame 
 
 By her were soothed, until they stung him not. 
 Rose at the last the spirit of the man 
 In fierce revolt at his opprobrious ban. 
 
 VIII 
 
 Then, gathering round him zealous knights and true, 
 He vow'd far vengeance on the rebel throng. 
 
 The harp of David wrought in him anew 
 
 The Anoint of God his hand should not bewrong. 
 
 Let not proud Anger futile griefs review, 
 For so the weak untimely woes prolong. 
 
 His spirit bad him breast the surly seas, 
 
 Nor bend to Fate's untowardly decrees.
 
 THE SKAITH OF GUILLARDUN 109 
 
 IX 
 
 With staunch farewell, as friend took leave of friend. 
 And straining to his breast his voiceless mate, 
 
 He vow'd his love would stead her to life's end, 
 Who was his star, the fair elect of fate, 
 
 That evermore his thoughts would her attend, 
 Who might, heart-confident, his coming wait, 
 
 Then with sore longing, and of cheer bereft, 
 
 Launch'd forth, and soon the sounding furrows cleft. 
 
 Blow soft, ye winds, to soothe a hero's pillow, 
 
 Speak low, ye waves, that plash against his prow, 
 
 Yet, if ye rage, let not the rolling billow 
 Its stormy crests too mightily endow ; 
 
 Scourge not that head which like the wind-bent willow 
 The Acerbity of Fate did oft avow. 
 
 Blow high, blow low, your buffeting is kind 
 
 Compared with that which in man's world we find !
 
 110 THE SKAITH OF GUILLARDUN 
 
 XI 
 
 And many a sunset drew into the west, 
 
 And many a sunrise leapt the barrier'd main, 
 
 And many a morning woke his deep unrest, 
 And many a night wore by in sleepless pain, 
 
 Ai\d bitter waters well'd within his breast 
 For her he nevermore might see again. 
 
 Till the white cliffs of Albion uprear'd 
 
 Thro' the soft mist, in pearly pink ensphered. 
 
 XII 
 
 So bearing far along that pleasant shore, 
 The white gull calling ever in their wake, 
 
 With stout arms resting on the ready oar, 
 Toward Totenois they drew as day did^break. 
 
 There disembark'd, all eager to explore 
 
 The champaign fair, and find if hearts did ache 
 
 Under a thraldom ruthless as their own, 
 
 Or what new quest might to their lord be shown.
 
 THE SKAITH OF GUILLARDUN 111 
 
 XIII 
 
 Ah, little wot he of the war and strife 
 
 With which that fertile Province was distraught ! 
 Ah, little wot he that his troubled life 
 
 With greater evil would eftsoons be fraught ! 
 The Angel of dark Fate with gleaming knife 
 
 The skein of his wild destiny had caught, 
 Its warp and weft in other lives to weave 
 Thrice vain from those fell hands to expect reprieve ! 
 
 At Excester, a few short leagues removed, 
 Dwelt a hoar-winter'd King, whose only child 
 
 Of all fair ladies was the best beloved, 
 Nathyet had any lover's tongue beguiled. 
 
 Of many suitors, none had she approved, 
 
 Tho' some were gentle, others rough and wild ; 
 
 And last and worst of these a border Prince, 
 
 Who, loveward foil'd, by force would her convince.
 
 112 THE SKAITH OF GUILLARDUN 
 
 xv 
 
 Her beauty deepen'd, like a cobalt sky 
 
 When of an autumn eve the moon breaks through 
 And cleaving the piled cloudrack racing by 
 
 Suffuses all the heavens with lustre new ; 
 And, like the Queen of Night enthroned on high, 
 
 All lesser beauties waned before her view ; 
 While the thick coils of her dark braided hair 
 Show'd her pale face more delicately fair. 
 
 XVI 
 
 Sith nowise could he gain her sire's consent, 
 
 Nor win the maid to favour of his suit, 
 That pride-vext lover, balk'd of his intent, 
 
 Averr'd that he would seize the tempting fruit 
 Nor guard nor let his passion should prevent, 
 
 Fair Guillardun should bend, tho' pale and mute- 
 So laid the country waste with fire and sword, 
 By maid and childing wife alike abhorr'd.
 
 THE SKAITH OF GUILLARDUN 113 
 
 XVII 
 
 Now when Sir Eliduc learnt how it fared 
 
 With the frail king, and that he suffer'd much 
 
 At those remorseless hands, which neither spared 
 Woman nor babe caught up in their fell clutch, 
 
 Like true knight-errant, he his arms prepared 
 For Excester, where his address was such 
 
 That he received a gracious welcoming 
 
 From that begirt and venerable king. 
 
 XVIII 
 
 Thus was he bound in service for a year, 
 And straight devised expedients to entrap 
 
 The prince whose ruffian passion wrought such fear, 
 And left in many a home a parlous gap. 
 
 No longer should that raider domineer, 
 
 And wreak his miscreant wrath without mishap ! 
 
 And oft he turn'd it in his labouring mind 
 
 How he might now that prince of spoilers bind.
 
 114 THE SKAITH OF GUILLARDUN 
 
 So bode his hour, and soon the chance he sought 
 Came, like the breath of summer, to his soul ; 
 
 For flying child and matron tidings brought 
 That the arch-ravisher was levying toll, 
 
 With gonfalons advanced, all flame-enwrought, 
 Their beauteous city, Excester, his goal ; 
 
 And with him came a press of armed knights, 
 
 Whose glittering plumes the sun of May bedights. 
 
 xx 
 
 To the hoar king thus counsell'd Eliduc 
 ' If your stout carls can hold the city walls, 
 
 My liegemen true for ambushment shall look 
 In the swarth forest that to southward falls. 
 
 Then, when the Reaver's force is spent and shook, 
 Or when his bugle from the fight recalls, 
 
 I and my Breton knights will fall on him, 
 
 And battle shall he have both stark and grim ! '
 
 THE SKAITH OF GUILLARDUN 115 
 
 XXI 
 
 The fire which smoulder'd in those aged eyes 
 Leapt flamelike o'er that kingly countenance, 
 
 With ruddier lights than frore antarctic skies 
 Take on at sunset, and his burning glance 
 
 The wintry years did swiftly exorcise. 
 And as a boy, in youth's exuberance, 
 
 Sniffs with keen zest the breeze of coming war, 
 
 So courted he the conflict from afar. 
 
 XXII 
 
 Defeat a brave man will not contemplate, 
 
 Tho' more than life may on his sword depend. 
 
 Let peril knock but at a loved one's gate, 
 
 He first knows fear whose courage none might bend. 
 
 So with the king at this new turn of Fate, 
 
 Heart-fear, heart-love, now in his breast contend. 
 
 Once more the witchery of one small face 
 
 Urged host on host God's coinage to debase.
 
 116 THE SKAITH OF GUILLARDUN 
 
 XXIII 
 
 Now happen'd it as Eliduc foresaw 
 
 The assault was press'd with never-wavering zeal. 
 Nathless in that defence nor breach nor flaw 
 
 Could the besieger find, nor lodgment steal. 
 While they, with burning pitch, did overawe 
 
 The foe that thro' the blinding smoke-rift reel : 
 Wave upon wave with backward hiss withdrew, 
 Yet higher still the next its storm-crests threw ! 
 
 XXIV 
 
 Hard put was Eliduc to hold in check 
 
 Hour by long hour the temper of his band. 
 
 Yet, that no stain their after-glory fleck, 
 
 On straining leash they listed his command, 
 
 Not doubting of the vengeance they would wreak 
 When he should bid them forth with leaping brand. 
 
 Then, as slow day to swifter evening wore, 
 
 His voice rang out above the battle's roar.
 
 THE SKAITH OF GUILLARDUN 117 
 
 XXV 
 
 Surprised, out-flank'd by this new-breathed force, 
 The invaders an unequal combat wage ; 
 
 Sir Eliduc spurr'd at their cluster'd horse, 
 And thrust upon the Prince his battle-gage. 
 
 Now, both unsaddled, each hath swift recourse 
 To shorter weapons, husbanding his rage. 
 
 No sweeter sound the warrior's life affords 
 
 Than the soft clash and chime of closing swords ! 
 
 XXVI 
 
 Sir Eliduc's bright blade is at his throat, 
 Sir Eliduc's mail'd foot is on his breast, 
 
 The misty meadows round about him float, 
 
 Yet his unconquer'd soul takes up the quest 
 
 1 Love, Guillardun ! tho' now thou art far remote, 
 My spirit shall wait thee in the glowing West.' 
 
 So saying closed his eyes on mortal pain, 
 
 To dwell with those lost souls in battle slain.
 
 118 THE SKAITH OF GUILLARDUN 
 
 Thus Eliduc won honour of the king, 
 
 And many a doughty deed thereafter wrought. 
 
 Yet in his mind did no soft impulse spring 
 To view this later Helen all men sought, 
 
 As tho' fate wam'd him of sweet communing 
 
 With one whose beauty with such ills was fraught. 
 
 And much she marvell'd that he never came, 
 
 Who in her cause had Avon undying fame. 
 
 And maiden pique and womanly constraint 
 For long a bitter war within her waged ; 
 
 Until his chill neglect she did attaint, 
 
 And her high pride noway could be assuaged ; 
 
 And of her will how she might him acquaint, 
 She turn'd it in her mind, so much outraged. 
 
 His courtesy she might in sooth command 
 
 Who had relieved her from that ruthless hand.
 
 THE SKAITH OF GUILLARDUN 119 
 
 So, pleading interest in the Prince's death, 
 A gracious missive sent she by her squire ; 
 
 And quickly came and went her tender breath, 
 Till she the answer had to her desire ; 
 
 And much she question'd of his knightly faith, 
 Oft wondering if herself he would admire. 
 
 Then 'gan she robe herself with quiet haste, 
 
 Lest he her blithe expectancy outpaced. 
 
 And she hath placed a red rose in her hair 
 O not more balmy than her fragrant tresses ! 
 
 And roses three from her bright girdle peer, 
 
 Of that dark tint that Love's true heart confesses ! 
 
 And she is all a rose, as sweet and fair 
 As any that June's gentle sun caresses ! 
 
 O cruel Love ! to pluck from such a stem 
 
 The freshest, fairest flower the dews begem.
 
 120 THE SKAITH OF GUILLARDUN 
 
 XXJCl 
 
 With fluttering heart she hears his courser's tread, 
 And peeps beyond the lattice fearfully ; 
 
 With colouring cheek she notes his noble steed, 
 Rein'd in with all the grace of chivalry. 
 
 Stand back, fair Guillardun ! the moments speed, 
 Thy woman's fate thou may'st no longer flee ! 
 
 A few short breaths and he will kiss thy hand. 
 
 No more thy peace shall be at thy command ! 
 
 XXXII 
 
 The knight hath ta'en her stilly hand in his : 
 She sways like a wind-stirr'd lily of the wood, 
 
 For now she feels the tingling of his kiss 
 
 Convey'd by that mute trespass to her blood. 
 
 The secret that she hopes his eyes may miss 
 Mantles her cheeks in an encrimson'd flood. 
 
 With chaste reserve her gentle hand she frees, 
 
 On silken couch she stays her trembling knees.
 
 THE SKAITH OF GUILLARDUN 121 
 
 XXXIII 
 
 And much she ponders on his troubled mien, 
 Which wakes a sweet uncertainty the more ; 
 
 And much she wonders if his smile may screen 
 A grief on which he hath but swung the door ; 
 
 With covert glance and lashes droop'd between, 
 His unplumb'd depths next peers she to explore. 
 
 For women, since the first fair Eve began, 
 
 Are fondly fain to read the heart of man ! 
 
 XXXIV 
 
 He takes his leave, and all her sun of life 
 Sinks with his courser in the crimson west ; 
 
 And maiden hopes and fears in fitful strife 
 
 Now wage tempestuous war in her fair breast ; 
 
 Her deep-drawn sighs are mutinously rife 
 O to recall that late-bewelcomed guest ! 
 
 The stealthy dark draws close on autumn eves, 
 
 Love's plaint alone the brooding silence grieves.
 
 122 THE SKAITH OF GUILLARDUN 
 
 ' Alas,' quoth she, ' what hapless woe is mine 
 To love a stranger knight so tenderly ! 
 
 O wherefore at first sight my heart resign, 
 Who know not yet his kindred or degree ! 
 
 Ah, fool ! thus to entreat him with these eyne 
 He must, mefears, think very light of me ! 
 
 Perchance he may not bide beyond the morrow, 
 
 And my life's crown will be a crown of sorrow. 
 
 XXXVI 
 
 * Yet, of his clemency as belted knight, 
 Commiserate he must a maid's distress. 
 
 He could not ill my tender heart requite, 
 And syne I love him more love me the less ! 
 
 For one so goodly in the world's fair sight 
 Must certes be the soul of gentleness ! 
 
 But should he scorn my love, or slight my name, 
 
 How might I bear that ever-during shame ? '
 
 THE SKAITH OF GUILLARDUN 123 
 
 XXXVII 
 
 So toss'd upon her pillow fev'rously, 
 
 And the dark hours with longing sweet outwore ; 
 She could not stem her heart's persistency, 
 
 For with each hope went ever one fear more 
 Now thinking he would love, anon that he 
 
 Had pledged his heart in sovereign troth before. 
 When vestal morn the dewy world awoke, 
 Love'* sleepless vigil her flush'd cheeks bespoke. 
 
 XXXVIH 
 Then to the close ear of her chamberlain 
 
 Did Guillardun her heart of fear confide 
 ' Speech must I have with that brave knight again, 
 
 Whatever after-woe shall me betide. 
 His lustrous eyes I may not long sustain, 
 
 Which, if he love me not, my death decide. 
 How may the heart of any maiden tell 
 If him she loves, eke loveth her full well ? '
 
 124 THE SKAITH OF GUILLARDUN 
 
 XXXIX 
 
 And thus to her the sage old counsellor 
 
 ' If of his knightly love you would have proof, 
 
 Despatch to him a ring which once you wore 
 Or girdle-belt, and if he stand aloof 
 
 And your bright gifts forthwith to you restore, 
 Then know the knight deaf to your fond behoof. 
 
 But, if he wear your favour or your ring, 
 
 Your queenly heart make ready for the king.' 
 
 XL 
 And she hath sent a ruby ring, thrice kiss'd, 
 
 Symbol of Love's deep and indwelling fire ; 
 And she hath sent a girdle that she list 
 
 Might clasp him with the arms of her desire ; 
 And scarcely could her tender soul subsist, 
 
 Against whose peace a-many thoughts conspire. 
 O Love, how fathomless are thy decrees ! 
 How limitless thy vast estranging seas !
 
 THE SKAITH OF GUILLARDUN 125 
 
 XLI 
 
 How fared it with the knight, Sir Eliduc ? 
 
 Was he, too, trammell'd in the self-same toils ? 
 As one that on the burnish'd sun doth look, 
 
 Bedazed and sightless on himself recoils, 
 So with Love's blinding brilliance was he shook, 
 
 Her pale sweet face his inward peace despoils. 
 Who that hath felt Love's mountain surges roll 
 Can weigh the waters that o'erwhelm the soul ? 
 
 XLII 
 What of his knighthood, and his knightly vow ? 
 
 W T hat of his troth to deep oblivion thrust ? 
 What of a pride that not the world could bow ? 
 
 What of his honour, trampled in the dust ? 
 What clemency must Charity allow 
 
 If Love the tender scales of faith adjust ! 
 His wife's bedimm'd and desolated face 
 Now to a pale and crescent moon gives place.
 
 126 THE SKAITH OF GUILLARDUN 
 
 XLIH 
 
 Now Passion hath him in her silken snare, 
 
 Now dwells he on her bosom's ripening charm, 
 
 Now riots in the luxury of her hair, 
 
 Now thrills along each lily-cinctured arm, 
 
 Now trembles at the bliss that circles near, 
 Now cools, now burns no moment ever calm. 
 
 Till, fann'd by the fierce winds of gaunt desire, 
 
 His leaping thoughts have set his heart afire. 
 
 XLIV 
 
 Deem not our erstwhile trust in him misplaced ! 
 A ' stainless ' saint to-morrow stain'd may be! 
 
 Ah, judge not this true knight in soulless haste, 
 For who of mortal men is passion-free ? 
 
 Yet, till this hour, Sir Eliduc was chaste, 
 
 With brave, clean hands and heart of chivalry. 
 
 And if some cavil that he fell too soon 
 
 Love counts not Time by sessions of the moon !
 
 THE SKAITH OF GUILLARDUN 127 
 
 XLV 
 
 All perils that Love's stony path constrict, 
 
 The gusty winds that round Love's summit blow, 
 
 All pains that outraged conscience can inflict, 
 All toils that passionate natures undergo, 
 
 All tremors that the faithless heart convict, 
 With these he wrestled in his night-long woe. 
 
 With dawn Desire resumed her sceptred sway, 
 
 His last doubt fled before the full-orb'd day ! 
 
 XLVI 
 When Guillardun's blithe messenger appear'd, 
 
 And all her bourgeoning heart blossom'd anew, 
 Madly thro' every vein his blood career' d 
 
 What need of eloquence, Love's words are few 1 
 Her girdle soon his glittering mail ensphered, 
 
 And where it clung it did with fire endue. 
 The circlet bright of her unaltering faith 
 From his third finger glimmers all too rath !
 
 128 THE SKAITH OF GUILLARDUN 
 
 XLVII 
 
 His fiery destrier now champing stands ; 
 
 The rimy cobbles to his hoof resound ; 
 Each glowing nostril fev'rously expands ; 
 
 His volley'd breath smokes fast along the ground ; 
 Impatiently he waits his lord's commands, 
 
 With twitching ears that strain at every sound. 
 Now mounts the knight to do his Love's behest ; 
 Now to each glossy flank the spur is press'd. 
 
 XLVIII 
 
 Like spindrift swept the foam-flakes to his rear, 
 Yet his full heart ne'er omen'd the abyss 
 
 That yawns in front of all who love foreswear. 
 The fairest maid in this fair land was his 
 
 A jewel that the mightiest king might wear 
 Why had his laggard suit been so remiss ? 
 
 How many loveless days unfruited sped, 
 
 When every heart-throb now was harvested !
 
 THE SKAITH OF GUILLARDUN 129 
 
 Life doth no richer joy to man accord 
 Than to behold the Darling of Desire 
 
 Entrancedly awaiting Love's first word, 
 
 That master-word for which the Fates conspire ! 
 
 The opals that her childing eyes have stored 
 A softer, deeper radiancy acquire 
 
 Loadstars that scour the darkness of his night, 
 
 They put all faint resolves to headlong flight ! 
 
 L 
 He strains her to his passion-laden breast ; 
 
 Like a white homing dove she seeks his arms. 
 His ardent lips against her own are press'd ; 
 
 She thrills and pants with poignant sweet alarms. 
 He straight disburdens him of love's unrest ; 
 
 She breathes upon him all her fragrant charms. 
 His ravish'd eyes her rising colour note 
 And the swift heart-throbs at her column'd throat.
 
 ISO THE SKAITH OF GUILLARDUN 
 
 LI 
 
 Yet such the garb of innocence she wore, 
 White-robed in panoply of virgin faith, 
 
 For very knighthood he his strength forbore : 
 To him she should not owe her maiden skaith ! 
 
 How could he bring dishonour to her door, 
 
 And make of her heart's love a piteous wraith ? 
 
 Whiles yet to him high courage and truth remain, 
 
 Her heart of peace he never would profane. 
 
 While with himself he wrestled day by day, 
 His passion sore chastised more chasten'd grew. 
 
 Now doth his vacillating mind assay 
 Such perilous visits never to renew, 
 
 Nor could he yet his smoking heart allay, 
 J Which kept the pale temptation full in view. 
 
 O Love ! in vain thy breach we may repair, 
 
 Ever thou fimlest entry unaware !
 
 THE SKAITH OF GUILLARDUN 131 
 
 LI 11 
 
 Ah. welladay ! they met on many an eve, 
 And cull'd the honey hived in either heart, 
 
 Whiles yet no chill of lurking doubt doth grieve 
 With thought that they could ever draw apart. 
 
 The maid too featly doth herself deceive, 
 The knight hath long forgot his bitter smart. 
 
 This earth for them was paradise enow 
 
 What richer could the glowing heavens bestow ? 
 
 LIV 
 The sweetest dream foreshadows an awaking, 
 
 True love is oft the harbinger of pain 
 How many hearts upon Life's wheel are breaking ! 
 
 How many lips have seal'd their troth in vain ! 
 How many souls, all earthly hopes forsaking, 
 
 Shall yet embark upon Love's shoreless main ! 
 Even so these lovers each had greatly dared, 
 So thro' the world they twain together fared.
 
 132 THE SKAITH OF GUILLARDUN 
 
 LV 
 
 But swift upon their dream came winged Fate 
 Time had avenged the knight of his deep wrong. 
 
 The land he loved fierce war did desolate. 
 
 While round his liege unmanner'd traitors throng. 
 
 Him now his chasten'd lord would reinstate, 
 And, vex'd that he his sojourn should prolong, 
 
 Besought him by his oath of fealty 
 
 Pressingly to take ship across the sea. 
 
 LVI 
 Forthwith resolved, he sought the King, her sire, 
 
 And to him show'd the seal of his recall ; 
 1 My lord,' quoth he, 'since you no more require 
 
 My faith and sword, for Peace reigns over all, 
 Of your free grace permit me to retire 
 
 To mine own land, which traitors hold in thrall. 
 While danger threatens Brittany's dear lord, 
 My homage bids me carry hence my sword.'
 
 THE SKAITH OF GUILLARDUN 133 
 
 LVII 
 As clouds that gather on the mountain's brow 
 
 Scatter, when the full orb of heaven bursts through, 
 So lighten'd the king's face. His yearlong vow 
 
 The grateful monarch of boon grace withdrew. 
 With manifold gifts he did his friend endow, 
 
 And wish'd success might wait on arms so true. 
 He then embraced the knight, and bade him seek 
 Fair Guillardun, his bitter news to break. 
 
 LVIII 
 Sir Eliduc hath ta'en the maid aside, 
 
 And told her of the grief that him bestead. 
 The call of Honour might not be denied, 
 
 Tho' sore the severance, deep the parting dread. 
 Still manfully must he that pang abide. 
 
 And she, who wist not yet that he was wed 
 And fain had kept him near her evermore, 
 Against his breast her burden'd plaint did pour
 
 134 THE SKAITH OF GUILLARDUN 
 
 LIX 
 
 ' Dear lord, your absence I may not sustain, 
 For die I should of anguish, you being gone. 
 
 Perchance you might in battail sore be slain, 
 And I be left to everlasting moan ! 
 
 Let not the waves dispart, nor winds constrain 
 Hearts that reverberate and beat as one ! 
 
 Beside you, I can still the fret of fear ; 
 
 Apart, the long suspense I could not bear.' 
 
 LX 
 He pent her in his bosom's massy fold 
 
 Anigh the heave and storm-press of his heart, 
 Then full at arm's length did her wan face hold, 
 
 Then drew her lips to his to ease his smart. 
 And all around them beeches rain'd their gold, 
 
 For Autumn here lay slain by Winter's dart. 
 Down russet wood-ways, dim with drift of oak, 
 After long silence chill his accents broke
 
 THE SKAITH OF GUILLARDUN 135 
 
 LXI 
 
 ' I may not take you with me, heartes dear, 
 Because of the deep faith I owe the king ; 
 
 But this I promise ere another year 
 Pass on to fading leaf, it shall me bring 
 
 Back to those arms that all my world ensphere. 
 Against my coming, here I pledge my ring.' 
 
 For answer she her mute face raised to his, 
 
 And seal'd him hers with one long deathless kiss. 
 
 LXII 
 Ah, fortunate that leagues of foam divide 
 
 Albion's bright headlands from the Bretagne shore ! 
 For those first severing days intensified 
 
 The gnawing anguish that his heart outwore. 
 Like one benumb'd, he view'd the ocean wide 
 
 And the white cliffs receding more and more. 
 When dusk along the waste of waters crept, 
 Aloof, afar, his sentinel watch he kept.
 
 136 THE SKAITH OF GUILLARDUN 
 
 LXIII 
 
 And to the night winds cried out ' Guillardun,' 
 And thrice thro' space he call'd her tristfully ; 
 
 And ' Guillardun ' he sigh'd to the pale moon 
 To the silvery chime and cadence of the sea ; 
 
 And evermore was ' Guillardun ' his rune, 
 The music of her name his lullaby. 
 
 Whilst morn and eve her passionate pale face 
 
 Rose up to shatter his resolved peace. 
 
 LXIV 
 Now all his mind was torn with love of her, 
 
 Yet from that knowledge he must screen his wife. 
 He could not be that true heart's murderer, 
 
 Whose love for him transcended love of life. 
 If she once read his soul's sad register, 
 
 Not long had he bemoan'd the living strife ! 
 Her heart was cast in such heroic mould, 
 In martyrdom her passing bell had toll'd.
 
 THE SKAITH OF GUILLARDUN 137 
 
 'Twixt Scylla and Charybdis now of Fate, 
 
 On rock or whirlpool his riven heart must break. 
 
 Was ever knight in such a parlous strait ? 
 Doth Fortune evermore her son forsake ? 
 
 Ah, only ye who met and loved too late 
 Can judge of Love's illimitable ache ! 
 
 He now endured, not sought his wife's caress 
 
 What pity won gave love but one tear less. 
 
 LXVI 
 
 But the new love possess'd his life and being, 
 He might not put it from him for an hour. 
 
 Each morn the phantom he would still be fleeing, 
 Each eve brought nearer the pursuing power. 
 
 Ah, wide o'er all the limit of our seeing 
 Hover the Harpy Wings that life devour ! 
 
 Canst stifle Love ? Let whoso will but try it ! 
 
 Thrice vain his hope who turns and thinks to fly it !
 
 138 THE SKAITH OF GUILLARDUN 
 
 LXVII 
 
 His Lady leal wist that her lord was changed, 
 Yet noway could her mind divine the cause. 
 
 She felt his foretime love for her estranged, 
 And scann'd her heart for any seeming flaws 
 
 Could he conceive that her sweet faith had ranged, 
 Who only sunn'd herself in his applause ? 
 
 The world for her one man alone contain'd, 
 
 His alienated love the more constrain'd. 
 
 LXVIII 
 But little saw she of her pensive lord, 
 
 Whom king and country call'd from her chaste arms. 
 Her task to watch and wait, till Time restored 
 
 His dear, accustom'd tribute to her charms, 
 For Victory must shine upon his sword ! 
 
 Rich in this thought her bodeful heart she calms. 
 Ah, hapless dove ! Peace is not yet to come ! 
 Deadlier than death is Love's fast-closing doom !
 
 THE SKAITH OF GUILLARDUN 139 
 
 LXIX 
 
 Sir Eliduc, now raised to highest trust 
 
 And charged with the defences of the realm, 
 
 Cared little for the seals upon him thrust, 
 So that his foes he might betimes o'erwhelm. 
 
 One face before him fired the battle's lust, 
 Delay he found in each opposing helm 
 
 Deep to the chin he clove with trenchant steel 
 
 Any that cross'd his wing'd and fiery zeal ! 
 
 LXX 
 
 Within the appointed time he did compel 
 The insurgent baronage to sue for peace. 
 
 Then from the master he had served so well 
 Claim'd as reward an opportune release. 
 
 The turmoil at his heart he could not quell, 
 His headstrong passion did the more increase. 
 
 True to the pledged hour of his return, 
 
 Once more his prow the frothy seas doth spurn.
 
 140 THE SKAITH OF GUILLARDUN 
 
 LXXI 
 
 His heart sings louder than the shrilling gale, 
 His bosom riots in the blustering breeze, 
 
 His cheeks caress the lash of sleet and hail, 
 His spirit soars beyond the thundering seas, 
 
 His eager eyes peer thro' the watery veil 
 For those white cliffs that can alone appease, 
 
 His plunging prow spurns the deterrent blast, 
 
 His full sail swells before the straining mast. 
 
 LXXII 
 He lands, and still he feels the rocking main 
 
 Beneath his feet or doth his stout heart fail ? 
 For honour to the last doth wildly strain 
 
 Against ignoble love. Ah, sad assail ! 
 For now his missive speeds to her amain 
 
 To meet him in the shadow of the pale 
 When night^o'er all her sable shroud hath thrown. 
 And she o^wings of love to him hath flown.
 
 THE SKAITH OF GUILLARDUN Ul 
 
 LXXIII 
 
 They met near by a pinewood's pillar'd shade : 
 O long and passionate their rapt embraces ! 
 
 Night's orb ensilvers all the forest glade : 
 O paler than her beams their ashen faces ! 
 
 Now tress on tress athwart his armour play'd, 
 
 While seaward sped his barb thro' moonlit spaces. 
 
 Now far, far out upon the glistening tide 
 
 These lovers in close-clasp'd enthralment glide ! 
 
 LXXIV 
 Then made they full amends for their lost days ! 
 
 Spirits that long had languish'd in suspense, 
 Now warm'd in the bright aura of Love's rays, 
 
 Flower'd, and drew life from every tingling sense- 
 He thrill'd with joy each time he met her gaze, 
 
 And sunn'd his soul in Love's vast opulence ; 
 She gather'd all the rapture to her heart, 
 And found in giving Love's diviner part.
 
 142 THE SKAITH OF GUILLARDUN 
 
 LXXV 
 
 But Destiny swoop'd darkling on their course : 
 For as they drew anear the land of France, 
 
 A wind arose and swell'd to tempest force ; 
 Their sail was rent, and many a dire mischance 
 
 Shook those wild thralls o' the sea, while vain remorse 
 Unloosed slow tongues to surly utterance 
 
 His leman dear should to the waves be thrown, 
 
 Thus only might they for such sin atone. 
 
 LXXVI 
 
 Sorely the knight chastised their cowardice : 
 He fell'd their leader, and his corpse did throw 
 
 To the ravening seas a signal sacrifice, 
 
 That all might learn the way that traitors go. 
 
 But, when he turn'd to meet his love's dear eyes, 
 Their light was quench'd before that fateful blow. 
 
 Too late her heart divined that he was wed, 
 
 And with the knowledge her white soul had fled.
 
 THE SKAITH OF GUILLARDUN 143 
 
 LXXVII 
 
 Still masterful, the unruly helm he seized, 
 
 And by stout seacraft weather'd that fierce gale ; 
 
 Yet noway could his anger be appeased 
 
 Against the traitorous tongues that wrought his bale. 
 
 Now vengeful chastisement his passion eased, 
 Anon with stripes he did his own flesh flail. 
 
 Distraught, he drave his vessel up the shore; 
 
 Then leaping, landward his pale burden bore. 
 
 Now came to mind, as he rode sorrowing home, 
 An hermit's sanctuary all husht and dim. 
 
 There in the lonely forest is he come 
 
 To rest her soul with lowly chaunt and hymn, 
 
 Till skyward rise o'er all a silvery dome 
 
 Which the pale moon should in her sessions brim. 
 
 But when he came anigh that holy door 
 
 The silent fane seem'd stiller than of yore.
 
 144 THE SKAITH OF GUILLARDUN 
 
 LXXIX 
 
 And where that hoar recluse was wont to pray, 
 The hillock of his everlasting rest 
 
 Rose moist and miry from the new-turn'd clay 
 Not long had he rejoin'd the meek and blest. 
 
 At that lone shrine the knight his love did lay, 
 His crimson cloak about her silence press'd. 
 
 Then unto the Great King and Lord of all 
 
 In utter desolation did he call. 
 
 ' O Thou who fashion'd her so beautiful, 
 
 Forgive the hapless love that wrought her doom 
 
 How could my soul its questing impulse rule 
 Before a flower of such ethereal bloom ! 
 
 Thou, only Thou, canst my dark fault annul, 
 Thou only canst speak comfort from the tomb ! 
 
 For where she is there also would I be, 
 
 Save, Lord, I may not till Thou cleansest me.
 
 THE SKAITH OF GUILLARDUN 145 
 
 LXXXI 
 
 ' Her life was innocent in thought and deed 
 Mine be the guilt, as mine the undying shame. 
 
 Thou, in Thy wisdom, hast her pure soul freed : 
 Never a maid to Thee more chastely came ! 
 
 Thou knowest my heart and its exceeding need 
 O pardon grant in Christ's most precious Name ! 
 
 And evermore throughout my length of days 
 
 My penitence in stone to Thee I'll raise.' 
 
 LXXXII 
 
 Silent he kneels beside his muted dove, 
 
 His crisped locks white as the new fall'n snow ; 
 
 And thrice he kiss'd the pale lips of his love, 
 And thrice his hand caress'd the marble brow ; 
 
 Then drew his silken scarf her face above, 
 And all around did lenten lilies strow. 
 
 Now with hung head, and sad, unhasting feet, 
 
 Homeward he turns his wistful wife to greet.
 
 146 THE SKAITH OF GUILLARDUN 
 
 With lilting heart she heralds his return, 
 And in rich vesture doth herself array ; 
 
 Her veins run ichor, her sweet temples burn, 
 
 While roseate blushes round her cheeks do play ; 
 
 All shadowy doubts her joyous mind doth spurn 
 Will he not kiss her fondling fears away ? 
 
 Once more to be close-haven'd in his arms 
 
 Were recompense for many past alarms ! 
 
 LXXXIV 
 But when she view'd his countenance o'ercast, 
 
 His down-droopt eye, his hair all silvery white, 
 A dreadful fear fell like an icy blast 
 
 Upon her soul, and wither'd all delight. 
 Thro' some fierce conflict her dear lord had pass'd. 
 
 His pallid looks her wofully affright. 
 Straight all her woman's heart went out to him, 
 Her tender eyes bright tears of ruth bedim.
 
 THE SKAITH OF GUILLARDUN 147 
 
 She did not press him with unwelcome speech 
 
 Silence is oft the only comforter ! 
 She knew his soul toward hers must sometime reach, 
 
 And that their spirits would at length confer. 
 His loyalty she never would impeach : 
 
 Never could he dismantle Truth for her. 
 Her present wish she would in sooth forgo 
 Till he should choose to unburden all his woe. 
 
 LXXXVI 
 Day after day went by, and still he fed 
 
 On his own thought, and pined, and grieved the more. 
 And she was told how all his journeyings led 
 
 Thro' that lone forest to the hermit's door. 
 He could not so lament his old friend dead ? 
 
 And over this new wonder 'gan she pore. 
 Till angerly the woman in her cried, 
 1 Am I not shamed thus long to be denied ? '
 
 148 THE SKAITH OF GUILLARDUN 
 
 LXXXVII 
 
 So, ere the first pale flush of day appear' d, 
 She thro' that darksome forest wanly crept ; 
 
 An old retainer whom her lord revered 
 
 Went with her, while the drowsy hamlet slept ; 
 
 And when that lowly hermitage they near'd, 
 
 All tremblingly she thwart the threshold stept 
 
 Where lo ! before the altar, mute and still, 
 
 Beauty than marble lovelier and more chill ! 
 
 LXXXVHI 
 No more she mar veil' d that her lord was sad 
 
 When she beheld that face in death so fair. 
 For this was he in speechless woe yclad 
 
 Her witchery had ta'en him unaware. 
 Such beauty might have driven the noblest mad, 
 
 Which even untenanted could still ensnare. 
 With poignant pity for her stricken lord, 
 Compassion dear did her meek heart accord.
 
 THE SKAITH OF GUILLARDUN 149 
 
 LXXXIX 
 
 Now while she wept beside that lonely shrine, 
 
 A weasel ran from out the coverlet 
 That Guillardun's fair body did confine, 
 
 Which when her squire perceived, he straightway set 
 Himself to slay, and struck across the spine. 
 
 One small life more, pass'd to man's monstrous 
 
 debt ! 
 
 Then flung the dead thing testily aside, 
 Ere his sweet mistress that rude stroke could chide. 
 
 xc 
 But soon astonishment their senses bound 
 
 Its furry mate, returning from the wood, 
 Ran full upon its fellow's death-like swound, 
 
 And over the mute form immobile stood ; 
 Then task'd itself to solve that piteous wound, 
 
 Raising the listless head in 'wilder'd mood. 
 Eftsoons it scurried to a lonely heath, 
 And bore back with a red flower in its teeth.
 
 150 THE SKAITH OF GUILLARDUN 
 
 This fragrant herb it forced upon the tongue 
 Of its drowsed love, which rathly did revive 
 
 And perkily upon her helpmate hung : 
 He capers in high joy to see her live. 
 
 Athwart the forest aisles they blithely sprung, 
 Discarding the fair flower of Love's reprieve. 
 
 A petal of that rosy amulet 
 
 Between her rival's lips the lady set. 
 
 Who, waking as from sleep, be wilder" d gazed 
 About the gloom-lit place in wan dismay ; 
 
 Then dwelt upon that gentle dame amazed, 
 And faintly came her voice from far away, 
 
 ' Some troublous dream hath all my senses dazed 
 Methought that in my winding sheet I lay, 
 
 And that my love had ever me forsaken 
 
 O speak ! for thy soft eyes compassion waken.'
 
 THE SKAITH OF GUILLARDUN 151 
 
 Straight was she gather'd to that gentle breast 
 Where precious tears in guileless pity fall. 
 
 Then 'gan they rock their paining hearts to rest, 
 And to each other clung as all in all. 
 
 Fair Guillardun her maiden fears confest, 
 
 Unwitting that her words were barb'd with gall ; 
 
 Her auditress, with countenance serene, 
 
 'Neath veiling lids her own dull ache did screen. 
 
 xciv 
 Now toward the dawn they glide with love-lock'd hands : 
 
 One dark and stately as the forest pines, 
 One fairer than the silver-streaming sands 
 
 When in the waning heavens the light declines. 
 The one the homage of all hearts commands, 
 
 The other with a softer radiance shines. 
 Shall the proud Rose, in widest empire set, 
 Rob of one charm the sweet-lip'd Violet ?
 
 152 THE SKAITH OF GUILLARDUN 
 
 xcv 
 
 The mists disperse, and lo ! before their eyes, 
 The sun's rays visualising scarp and tower, 
 
 Sir Eliduc's broad battlements uprise ; 
 
 The warming landscape glistens like a flower 
 
 When on its vestments morn's first emerald lies ; 
 The lark's blithe carol greets the matin hour ; 
 
 On the boon air the hum and stir of life 
 
 Proclaim another day of task and strife. 
 
 Where kneels the knight, absorbed in silent prayer, 
 With eyes enchain'd upon the glowing Cross ? 
 
 In his husht oratory, unaware 
 
 How near his gain, how nigh his livelong loss ! 
 
 The sunlight streams athwart his silver hair, 
 And gilds the figures that his sword emboss. 
 
 A hand is on his shoulder lightly laid 
 
 Lo ! yearning toward him leans his lily-maid !
 
 THE SKAITH OF GUILLARDUN 153 
 
 ' Love, Guillardun ! this vision Christ assign'd 
 
 In token of mercy and of sin abjured ; 
 Yet had my soul for evermore repined 
 
 Until of thee full pardon was procured. 
 Now on thy lips there breathes a placid wind, 
 
 Condoning that deep wrong thou hast endured. 
 O kiss me once, tho' but in spirit-wise, 
 Ere thou withdraw'st the heaven-light of thine eyes ! ' 
 
 m 
 
 XCVIII 
 
 ' My lord, it is no vision thou beholdest, 
 
 But her whom once thy passion did constrain ; 
 
 Tho' thou for aye my heart in thine enfoldest, 
 Apart we must embrace Love's glory and pain ; 
 
 Return to her from whom thou now withholdest 
 Love that is her sweet right and thy sure gain. 
 
 Renunciation is our portion here, 
 
 Let each be worthy of the cross we bear ! '
 
 154 THE SKAITH OF GUILLARDUN 
 
 Life surged before them, when a gentle voice 
 Fell, like a chaunt from heaven, upon their souls : 
 
 ' Ye twain shall in your deathless love rejoice, 
 
 Since He who made our hearts, their need controls. 
 
 Earth I renounce, to seek in sacrifice 
 
 That Love which now and evermore consoles. 
 
 Little is left save sweet humility 
 
 To plead with the dear Christ for clemency.' 
 
 Years passed. And where that lowly hermitage 
 Stood forest-screen'd, a Fane of Peace uprose 
 
 Where desolate souls their sorrows might assuage. 
 Its first loved Abbess her brief reign did close 
 
 In v deeds that live and lighten every Age. 
 In hands like hers God's charities repose. 
 
 The knight long after wed his Guillardun. 
 
 And love grown perfect did their days attune. 
 
 1906.
 
 AMY ROBSART 
 
 ss
 
 AMY ROBSART 
 
 THE hour is late, yet streaks of light appear 
 Along the West, and fade, and glimmer there 
 With such enchantment in their still eclipse 
 Over the hills and valleys and the tips 
 Of many a forest at the horizon's brim, 
 That the dusk wardress of the twilight dim 
 Reluctant seems to close the gates of day. 
 No sound of life, no stir of leaf at play 
 The world with all its voices is at rest, 
 Its fret and tumult fled into the West. 
 
 When hark ! a voice upon the Autumn air, 
 Flooding the night with music of despair, 
 So melancholy sweet, so full of woe 
 Alas ! that Love should be requited so ! 
 What tender longing ! What affection dear ! 
 A woman's love, with all its hope and fear ! 
 In every note the passion of a life, 
 In every note a soul too sweet for strife 
 The hunger of a heart for ever fed 
 On love and hope, when hope and love are dead !
 
 158 AMY ROBS ART 
 
 And what are these these accents wild of grief ? 
 And who the fair that sings her soul's relief? 
 Who to the pitiless woods from her high tower 
 Doth chaunt love's requiem at evening hour,, 
 While Cumnor's turrets fade along the sky, 
 And the wing'd mouse of twilight flitters by ? 
 Sure such a voice was never heard in bower 
 Since Enid's heart awoke in Yniol's tower ! 
 Sure never lady's face grief did so stain 
 Since Love bewitch'd the lily-maid Elaine ! 
 The violets within these tender eyes 
 Had robb'd Queen Guinevere of Lancelot's sighs ! 
 
 * Leicester ! my Leicester, could this voice of mine 
 Recall to thee thy duty, and these eyne 
 But show thee half the sorrow that I bear, 
 Since in thy thought I am no longer fair, 
 Or could mine arms thy wonted ardours fan 
 And thou but fold me to thy heart again, 
 I might forget the past, and learn to live 
 In memory of that thou once didst give 
 The passion and the rapture of thy kiss, 
 That fatal ecstasy I took for bliss, 
 Those eyes whose magic wrought my mortal dole, 
 Which did enmesh my will, to snare my soul,
 
 AMY ROBS ART 159 
 
 The subtle poison of thy matchless tongue, 
 On whose least accents I so fondly hung. 
 All, all must I forgo ? Ah, death to me, 
 The love I lived for can no longer be ! 
 Now nevermore shall Spring-time bring me hope, 
 Nor Summer crown, nor Autumn gild life's slope, 
 But Winter always Winter ! bleak and cold, 
 Until I thread the Valley sorrows told ! 
 
 ' How happier were the days when young and free 
 I lisp'd my sorrows at a father's knee, 
 When all my joys and all my griefs were his, 
 And every secret shared save only this ! 
 Ah, had I then, too foolish maid, given ear 
 To his brave counsel and monitions dear, 
 I might have stood, where I, impassion'd, fell 
 And thou been victim, whom I loved too well ! 
 Yet, Leicester ! am I doom'd to love thee so, 
 Whose cruel scorn should trample out my woe ? 
 Must fondness ever in my breast abide, 
 And hope of freedom perish with my pride ? 
 Is it thy will my loving heart should be 
 Estranged from thine to all eternity ? 
 Thou, whose first vows were sweet as manna dew, 
 Thy breathless kisses thrilling thro' and thro',
 
 160 AMY ROBS ART 
 
 Whose every word some richer promise gave 
 That I should never ask, what now I crave. 
 " That Pyramids might crumble in the dust, 
 The stars be quench'd before the whirling gust, 
 The unfathom'd ocean and her seas run dry. 
 And mountains quit their mansions in the sky, 
 Ere breath of treason cloud a Dudley's sword, 
 Or maiden skaith arraign his plighted word." 
 
 ' So vehement his vows, till love was given ! 
 Alas ! there is but one thing under Heaven 
 That never Dudley yet had strength to face 
 Ambition is the curse of his proud race 
 A prospect of advancement in the state, 
 And honour, virtue, truth itself might wait ! 
 No Dudley ever question'd whom he slew 
 If end would justify the means and few 
 Who cross'd his path their line of crossing knew ! 
 A Dudley's vengeance pierced where steel might fail 
 In days when poison lurk'd beneath the nail 
 A glove, a letter, some such friendly token, 
 And, with the seal, the cords of life were broken ! 
 
 ' But now a Virgin Queen had shown him grace, 
 Had praised him to the Court and to his face,
 
 AMY ROBSART l6l 
 
 Had flatter'd him how far beyond his dreams, 
 Consulted him on all her monarch schemes. 
 With such a vista widening to his eyes, 
 What wonder that a Dudley list the prize ! 
 What marvel that his love for Amy waned, 
 Where honour stood so sovranly constrain'd ! 
 What vows would he not break, what love disown, 
 With but a step 'twixt freedom and the throne ! 
 Oh, Memory ! wilt scald me with thy tears ? 
 Fain would I blot remembrance of the years ! 
 From my soul's self myself I cannot save, 
 My only peace the solace of the grave. 
 
 ' O blinded one ! hast thou no strength within 
 To give thy life a sacrifice for sin, 
 To pray in some dim convent's cloistral shade 
 For peace both to betrayer and betray'd, 
 That when we meet in that dear Home above 
 Our lives may there be perfected in love ? ' 
 So sang that Lady of her soul's despair, 
 Making low moan upon the midnight air, 
 And with faint sobs her tender hands of grief 
 She stretch'd to God and found in Him relief,
 
 162 AMY ROBSART 
 
 Now morning rose on other hills and towers, 
 And kiss'd fair Windsor's streams and shady bowers 
 Here all was joyance, hastenings to and fro, 
 Here hounds were baying in the court below, 
 And horses champ'd the bit, and hearts ran high 
 'Mid eager questions if the scent would lie. 
 The Queen herself would view the kingly sport 
 With all the splendour of that Virgin Court, 
 The noble Earl of Leicester at her side, 
 Like to a prince in his imperious pride : 
 The Earl the envy of all gallant men, 
 The Queen what maid had not been Countess then ? 
 
 So all that morn by forest, lake, and fen, 
 Where Nature wound by many a secret glen, 
 Where every voice that trill'd from brake and bough 
 Did love's impassion'd tenderment avow, 
 The Queen and Leicester rode and with them shame 
 Of that sweet trouble neither dared to name, 
 And yet their eyes too often met to fear 
 What each from either came attuned to hear, 
 What each had waited month by month to tell, 
 What each of either but divined too well !
 
 AMY ROBSART 163 
 
 At length the Queen broke silence yet with voice 
 So tremulous, it seem'd to mock her choice 
 ' Leicester, this day of grace must be our last, 
 Its radiance draws now to the treasured past. 
 Thy Amy pines for thee to her be true, 
 Else wilt thou make sure misery for two. 
 Monarch of this wide realm, this heart so great, 
 We must remain the mistress of our fate. 
 Love comes and goes : it leavens awhile our lot, 
 And, like the rose, is all too soon forgot ! ' 
 
 ' Love comes but once, my Queen, and like the 
 
 rose 
 
 Its fragrance lingers with us till life's close ! f 
 Despoil me of my honours, rank, and fame, 
 And all my service done in thy dear name, 
 But doom me not to shades of endless night, 
 I cannot live an outcast from the light ! 
 I never loved before ! Be this my vow, 
 How much my soul is perill'd by thee now. 
 Elizabeth ! thou must, thou shalt be mine ! 
 Love owns no law but what is all-divine. 
 Fate calls us ! Fate is calling thee and me 
 Yield, and I consecrate my life to thee ! '
 
 164 AMY ROBSART 
 
 ' No, Dudley, no ! it shall not may not be. 
 Were our heart's choice undiadem'd and free, 
 We had not exiled happiness, nor stood 
 Aloof in cold, majestic solitude.' 
 
 * * * * * 
 
 Ah, Night ! prolific author of all ill, 
 Whose misbegotten progeny doth fill 
 Palace and dungeon, hovel and hut of the poor, 
 Adventuring shame and vice from door to door 
 How long wilt thou bedarken and betray, 
 Disrobe the vestal, and the meek dismay ? 
 
 ' Varney, to horse ! despatch her as thou wilt, 
 Yet see thou leave behind no track of guilt ! 
 Should once suspicion hap upon my name, 
 Liker were I to wed the block than fame ! 
 " The wrath of Kings is as a flaming fire," 
 And Tudor blood was never slow to ire, 
 Our Sovereign Lady hath for all her smiles 
 A hint of Nilus in her serpent wiles ! 
 Let not thy right hand to thy left reveal 
 The fateful task that shall thy service seal.' 
 
 Dark is the night, but not more dark than dread, 
 While heavy looms the tempest overhead,
 
 AMY ROBSART 165 
 
 Mephitic vapours roll along the ground, 
 And murder, muffled, haunts in every sound. 
 A pause, for the fierce wind to gather breath. 
 But now the thunder breaks the ban of death 
 With rattling bursts which rend the very skies ; 
 Now the sheer darkness opens to our eyes 
 And all the terrors of the storm lie bare ! 
 Weird and fantastic demons of the air, 
 Abhorrent imps, deform'd with deadly sin, 
 Dance, and make riot o'er the village Inn, 
 While Cumnor towers are wrapt in lambent fire, 
 As round them sweep the storm-fiends in their ire ! 
 
 And many a watch-dog howl'd that night from fear, 
 And many a maiden wish'd her lover near, 
 And many a gable-end was cleft in twain, 
 And many an oak lay shatter'd on the plain : 
 And ever as the wind went moaning by 
 It wail'd with burden of a mortal cry 
 And still that plaintive cry sobs down the years 
 ' Dudley, I do absolve thee through my tears ! ' 
 
 1893
 
 NATURE POEMS 
 
 167
 
 INVOCATION TO THE MUSES 
 
 AWAKE ! ye tuneful Nine, and sing 
 The budding glories of the Spring. 
 Awake ! and sweep each sounding lyre, 
 Breathe on the strings celestial fire ! 
 Euterpe first, with her soft flute, 
 Shall bid the whistling winds be mute, 
 And after her let each in turn 
 Reveal the thoughts that inward burn. 
 And you, ye Nymphs, that haunt the grove, 
 Whose only travail is to love, 
 Who all night long in revel gay 
 Prolong the scenes ye shun by day, 
 And, circling round your Fairy Queen, 
 In sprightly dance rejoice unseen, 
 Awake ! and on transparent wing 
 Swell the brave chorus of the Spring ! 
 
 The children of the awakening Year 
 
 Are worthy of your tenderest care ; 
 
 169
 
 170 NATURE POEMS 
 
 The first to greet you every day, 
 
 And spread their incense in your way, 
 
 Impearl'd in robes of transient lawn, 
 
 The delicate foldings of the dawn, 
 
 Each little face o'erbrimm'd with joy, 
 
 And blushing like a maiden coy. 
 
 And when the sun with orient wings 
 
 His glittering splendour round them flings, 
 
 No jewel from the pearly seas, 
 
 No wavelet flick'd before the breeze, 
 
 E'er shed upon the freshening brine 
 
 Such lustre as their dewy eyne. 
 
 * * * * * 
 
 1888. 
 
 THE SPRING MINSTRELS 
 
 THRUSH 
 
 HARK ! how the welkin rings, 
 Trembling with glee ! 
 
 Hark ! how the Mavis sings, 
 Changing his key ! 
 
 Bird of the dapple-gray ! 
 
 Warbling from topmost spray, 
 
 What bard durst fling to-day 
 Challenge to thee ?
 
 NATURE POEMS 171 
 
 BLACKBIRD 
 Merle to his mate doth call, 
 
 ' Springtime is near ! 
 Flute-like his accents fall, 
 
 Blithesome his cheer ! 
 Never so true a note 
 Down the soft wind did float 
 From so divine a throat 
 
 Of such a seer ! 
 
 LARK 
 Queen of the azure sky ! 
 
 Whose dew-lapp'd home 
 Green blades, or wheat, or rye, 
 
 Serve for a dome. 
 Soaring with spiral flight 
 High o'er the realms of sight, 
 Rapt in thy song's delight, 
 
 Where dost thou roam ? 
 
 LINNET 
 Brown wings flash in and ou , 
 
 Winnow the wind. 
 Lovers, without a doubt, 
 
 Rapture enshrined !
 
 172 NATURE POEMS 
 
 Flitting from tree to tree, 
 Filling my soul with glee, 
 Linnet, thy melody 
 
 Is wondrous kind ! 
 
 ROBIN 
 
 Robin, my winter friend, 
 
 Robin, my Robin ! 
 Did all thy music end 
 
 When winds were sobbing ? 
 Fetter' d to vain regret, 
 Is thy bright soul afret ? 
 Surely the Spring can set 
 
 Thy heart a-throbbing ? 
 
 CHAFFINCH 
 
 Chaf st thou at my approach ? 
 
 Shelfie, refrain ! 
 Never could I encroach 
 
 On thy domain. 
 Bird of the flashing plume ! 
 Piercing the days of gloom, 
 Thy mossy nest resume, 
 
 Fearless of bane
 
 NATURE POEMS 173 
 
 THE ROOKS 
 
 Cradled in sunset glows, 
 Rock'd by the storm ! 
 
 Far from your fellest foes, 
 Chaunting Life's psalm. 
 
 Happy community ! 
 
 Builded of Unity. 
 
 Dawn's importunity 
 
 Is Evening's calm. 
 1889. 
 
 SUNSHINE AND SHOWER 
 
 BLOW soft, ye winds, from out the South, 
 Breathe low, as from the All-Mother's mouth, 
 And whisper to this darksome heart 
 Tidings She only can impart, 
 Tidings which, at a Mother's knee, 
 Hold both of heaven and earth the key 
 Dim shadowings of the vision'd truth 
 Reveal'd in sweet, far days of Youth.
 
 NATURE POEMS 
 
 Waft, waft, ye winds, come waft me o'er 
 Rich incense from your vernal store 
 The hot scent of the odorous pine, 
 The breezy gorse, like perfumed wine, 
 That rambling over hill and dale 
 With thankful heart I may inhale 
 Spring's balmy fragrance. 
 
 Inconstant Dame ! hast changed so soon 
 The sunny garb of yesternoon ? 
 Shall moody frowns thy charms efface, 
 Like wayward children out of grace ? 
 Or do thy dear inconstancies 
 Expound some riddle of the skies ? 
 That cloud and sunshine, wind and shower, 
 Are gifts alike of equal dower, 
 Forces obedient to His will 
 Who spreads the feast of the daffodil. 
 Then haste thy mandate to obey ! 
 Lead on thy legions to the fray ! 
 The warring winds, the misted rain, 
 The hail-storm driving o'er the plain, 
 In cloudy dissonance !
 
 NATURE POEMS 175 
 
 in 
 
 Hark ! thunder warns the wakeful hare 
 Now hasteneth to her grassy lair, 
 While Heaven's high flood-gates, open'd wide, 
 Pour forth the deluge tide on tide, 
 And leaping fires of varied form 
 Reveal the grandeur of the storm ! 
 Not now the feather'd tribe delight 
 In lyric love, or whirring flight : 
 'Mid covert close of oak and ash, 
 Their colour'd pennons cease to flash. 
 While the bright sun's resplendent rays 
 Are veil'd beneath a spectral haze. 
 When, lo ! a symbol from on high, 
 A Rainbow throws across the sky 
 Her peaceful radiance ! 
 
 1888. 
 
 AN EQUATORIAL SUNSET 
 
 THE sun has set and sea and sky are blending 
 In tints of purple, amaranth, and gold, 
 While fretted clouds which stretch in line unending 
 New harmonies of light and shade unfold.
 
 176 NATURE POEMS 
 
 Like a young bride with cheeks incarnadined, 
 The crimson main droops deepening every hour. 
 Spiced with the breath of many a twilight flower, 
 Steals on the shadowy dusk the soft night wind, 
 Bringing forgetfulness of place and time. 
 Lo ! from her bed of waters, gleaming white 
 'Mid soft unveilings of translucent light, 
 Fair Venus rises vestally sublime, 
 And down the jewell'd splendour of the sky 
 Clouds with remembrance many a lover's eye ! 
 
 1890. 
 
 EVENING AT SEA 
 
 A PERFECT night ! a night of calm at sea, 
 
 In all its grace and all its purity ! 
 
 And not a sound, save where the glittering spray 
 
 Quivers in emerald furrows round our way. 
 
 Myriads of little stars, divinely fair, 
 
 Peer shimmering thro' the vestures of the night ; 
 
 So many handmaidens their torches bear 
 
 To tend her steps who is the Queen of Light ! 
 
 Now, from the furthest disc, comes proudly forth 
 
 Diana, in chaste coronal of snow,
 
 NATURE POEMS 177 
 
 Pale as the daylight in the frozen North, 
 Yet zoned with sympathy, as lovers know, 
 For, as she mellows with each darkening hour, 
 Their linked hearts confess her gracious power. 
 
 1891. 
 
 TO MAY 
 
 MAY, like a maiden soft and fair, 
 With pink- white blossoms in her hair, 
 Trippingly foots the verdant mead, 
 Conscious of none, so all take heed. 
 
 To her wend lovers, old and young, 
 
 With hearts new-kindled and lyres new-strung, 
 
 To list once more her sweet command, 
 
 And crave some boon at her fair hand. 
 
 The Cuckoo clamours down the wind 
 To every listener he can find ; 
 And little birds, from brake and bough, 
 Her, Queen of all the months, allow.
 
 178 NATURE POEMS 
 
 The Chestnut and the Hawthorn vie 
 Whose blossoms shall outmatch the sky, 
 Where soft and fleecy clouds unfold 
 New realms of wonder spann'd with gold. 
 
 Now mounts the Lark his spiral throne 
 To wing the firmament alone, 
 And flood the hollow vault of Heaven 
 With music not to mortals given. 
 
 Maiden of Months ! to thee I bring 
 This simple tribute of the Spring 
 Content, if in thy smiles I see 
 A glimpse of what thy love might be ! 
 
 THE RING-DOVE 
 
 'MiD beechy umbrage, bosky dell, 
 'Tis there the Ring-dove loves to dwell, 
 And thro' the still, deep hush of noon 
 His plaintive melodies to croon.
 
 NATURE POEMS 179 
 
 Like moonbeams on a silent pool. 
 His liquid notes flow soft and cool ; 
 Like plashing waters heard at even, 
 So falls his voice on hearts bereaven. 
 
 Not here the upward-soaring lark 
 With quivering throat can pierce the dark ; 
 The Nightingale might sing in vain 
 Within the Ring-dove's hush'd domain. 
 
 Sweet Bird ! thy mate along the bough 
 Listens to thy so ardent vow : 
 She will console that woe of thine, 
 But, ah, my mistress heeds not mine ! 
 
 
 Thy song is like a summer dream 
 Beside some gently-rilling stream 
 A vale where fever'd hearts may rest 
 In sanctuaried oblivion blest. 
 
 Amid the lush and waving grass 
 I watch the shadows as they pass, 
 And in thy leafy covert find 
 Brief solace for my wounded mind.
 
 180 NATURE POEMS 
 
 THE GAME-KEEPER'S DAUGHTER 
 
 (KATE BOLT, AGED ELEVEN, IN CHARGE OF HER 
 LITTLE BROTHER) 
 
 ' GEORGIE, whom do you love best ? ' 
 ' Kittle/ comes the arch reply. 
 
 Baby lips are wildly prest, 
 
 Dimpled arms are flung on high. 
 
 Georgie's love, I fear, will fade, 
 Sissie's too will some day wane 
 
 He will claim another maid, 
 She some simple, loving swain. 
 
 Yet to me their tender loves 
 
 Bear the seal of Heaven's impress, 
 
 When the spirit swiftly moves 
 At a little maid's caress. 
 
 TWILIGHT 
 
 O MYSTIC Hour ! when day and night 
 Seem spell-bound by the fading light, 
 When hill and valley, dale and grove, 
 Throb with the immanence of Love.
 
 NATURE POEMS 181 
 
 Recumbent on her couch of pine, 
 With languorous grace and dewy eyne, 
 The Queen of Heaven l doth now unfold 
 Her fatal beauty, limn'd in gold. 
 
 Whilst on the air the bat's bent wings 
 Add witchery to earthly things, 
 As, sailing with uneven flight, 
 He mocks the shadows of the night. 
 
 Now doth my spirit feel a part 
 
 Of The Great Universal Heart 
 
 That beats in bird and beast and flower, 
 
 Proclaiming their Immortal Dower ! 
 
 THE COTTAR'S SONG 
 
 HERE the birds still chirp and twitter 
 
 In November days, 
 Flitter, glitter, sweet and bitter, 
 
 Little brief, brief lays ! 
 
 1 The Planet Venus.
 
 182 NATURE POEMS 
 
 City streets may brim with morsels, 
 
 Rich and dainty fare ; 
 But for them the cottage door-sills 
 
 And the sky-sweet air ! 
 
 Better half a crumb with gladness 
 
 In the light of day, 
 Than a feast with pale-faced sadness 
 
 Brooding o'er the way ! 
 
 O to feel the warmth of Heaven 
 
 As it purely flows, 
 Feel that it is freely given, 
 
 Straight from God's own brows ! 
 
 Not for us the City's glamour, 
 
 Its adulterate wine 
 Hectic flush, and noisy clamour 
 
 Of a World supine.
 
 NATURE POEMS 183 
 
 VICISSITUDE 
 
 O BLITHE and bonny ! when woods are green, 
 And winds breathe soft and low, 
 
 To sit beneath the budding Thorn, 
 With lilting hearts aglow. 
 
 Thus, in the morning of our life, 
 
 We sing of Hope and Love, 
 With quest and chivalry before 
 
 And halcyon skies above. 
 
 But when the woods are sere and brown, 
 
 The land in furrows laid, 
 How soon the Spring-tide is forgot ! 
 
 How soon the Hawthorn shade ! 
 
 So, in the evening of our days, 
 When the light dies down within, 
 
 We reck not of the wild, wild rose 
 And the lanes we loiter'd in !
 
 184 NATURE POEMS 
 
 We wander in a world distraught 
 
 And ban the biting East, 
 Forgetful that the sap will rise 
 
 To spread a richer feast. 
 
 Ah, but the feast is not the same ! 
 
 Those half-averted eyes 
 Will fill with tears of vain regret 
 
 As other Springs arise. 
 
 The Autumn now holds more of Hope,- 
 Hope at her heart doth sing, 
 
 Our eyes once more are forward bent 
 Unto no earthly Spring ! 
 
 ODE TO THE SWALLOW 
 
 THOU bringest Summer on thy steel-blue pinions ! 
 
 Whom laughter-loving April could not lure 
 From thy sun-girdled, over-sea dominions, 
 
 The maiden May, 1 with drooping lids demure, 
 
 1 In 1902 the swallows did not appear in the North of 
 England till May, owing to the late and boisterous Spring.
 
 NATURE POEMS 185 
 
 Hath drawn : and all her opening heart is thine, 
 Full of the fragrance of expanding buds, 
 
 The bourgeoning and bridals of the year. 
 Winter, so long delay 'd through storm and shine, 
 Gives place at last for see thy helpmate scuds 
 Along the meads ! Summer Summer is here ! 
 
 Tho' few thy seasons, still thy magic gleaning 
 
 Hath taught thee April lingers into May ; 
 But who hath taught the mystery and meaning 
 
 Of the vex'd wind and variable way ? 
 Over the passage of the lonesome deep 
 
 Thou wing'st secure, to rear thy callow broods 
 
 In shelter of our close-projecting eaves, 
 To watch and ward their heavy-lidded sleep. 
 
 So the still mind, through thy maternal moods, 
 Nature's undeviating course perceives. 
 
 in 
 
 O blithe of heart ! O grace and gladness bringing ! 
 
 Lo ! at thy coming, Spring to Summer yields. 
 O happy swallow ! thro' the meadow winging 
 
 Thy joyous flight above the freshening fields.
 
 186 NATURE POEMS 
 
 So long as thou art with us, we may feel 
 The end of life is not some fretful goal 
 
 But rest i' the eye of Nature each tired head 
 Laid where her soft caresses gently steal. 
 
 But when thy far broods congregate, the soul 
 Low whispereth, ' Summer Summer is fled ! ' 
 
 IOLAIRE 
 
 LINES WRITTEN IN THE NORTH SEA ON BOARD 
 THE 8.Y. IOLA.IRE 
 
 I 
 
 THIS was the land that the Norseman plough'd ! 
 Here lay his furrows, there his shroud. 
 A thousand years . . . Oh, what are they ? 
 But the romance of yesterday ! 
 
 lolaire ! lolaire ! 
 
 Dance in the moonbeams free and fair. 
 
 Thou art a Viking's chosen bride, 
 
 Speed-away, speed-away over the tide ! 
 
 ii 
 
 And these same streamers that we chase 
 Have tost their foam in the Viking's face.
 
 NATURE POEMS 187 
 
 A thousand years . . . And the rolling billow 
 Will rest our sons on the Norseman's pillow ! 
 
 lolaire ! lolaire ! 
 
 Shake out the moonbeams from thy hair ! 
 
 Scatter thy jewels on the tide, 
 
 For thou art a Viking's joy and pride ! 
 
 in 
 
 Breeze of the Norland ! fresh and strong, 
 Blow us a stave of the Viking's song : 
 One short hour of the Norseman's quest 
 The Celtic maid with her snow-white breast, 
 lolaire ! lolaire ! 
 
 The stars are bright, and the night is fair, 
 Whilst over the moonlit waters wide 
 The phantom hosts of the Norsemen glide. 
 
 TO THE NIGHTJAR 
 
 WHEN the moon hangs high in the heavens, 
 And the evening star shines bright, 
 
 The purr of the Nightjar leavens 
 The music of the night.
 
 188 NATURE POEMS 
 
 It speaks of the soft caresses 
 
 That Summer gave to June. 
 His murmurous voice impresses 
 
 The magic of the moon. 
 
 Past hill and dale it leadeth, 
 
 Now far, now very near, 
 While note to note succeedeth 
 
 More passionately clear. 
 
 O joy for the happy lover 
 
 To find, as he nears his bliss, 
 The song of the Nightjar cover 
 
 A maid's too-transient kiss ! 
 
 While spirit with spirit blendeth, 
 
 The wheel-bird l carols low ; 
 Anon the vale he rendeth 
 
 With the fulness of his woe. 
 
 And in those deep embraces 
 
 He seems to bear a part 
 In quiet, woodland places 
 
 Where heart clings close to heart. 
 
 1 So called from the resemblance of the Nightjar's purr 
 to that of a spinning-wheel in motion.
 
 NATURE POEMS 189 
 
 Lips that the day did sever, 
 
 Spirits by song set free, 
 Now meet like an unchain'd river 
 
 As it mingles with the sea. 
 
 Whilst thro' and thro' their gladness 
 There thrills the Nightjar's song, 
 
 And to such old-world madness 
 He croons the whole night long. 
 
 Bird of the high-midsummer ! 
 
 Silent, and swift, and shy, 
 Linger awhile, sweet hummer, 
 
 Beneath our northern sky. 
 
 For the lands of the South shall hear thee 
 When our nights are long and chill ; 
 
 But my heart will be cold and dreary 
 Till thy song comes over the hill.
 
 190 NATURE POEMS 
 
 THE HARVEST OF THE HAY 
 
 i 
 O GOLDEN Joys of Summer ! O days and nights in 
 
 June ! 
 
 O freshness of the morning ! O radiance of noon ! 
 O the subtle scents of evening ! O the shadows in 
 
 the lane 
 When the moonlight floods each arching bough with 
 
 amethystine rain ! 
 
 O happy days of Summer, when the mowers mow 
 all day ! 
 
 O the jocund shouts of children amid the tumbled 
 hay ! 
 
 The oldest and the youngest a-working with a will, 
 
 As the big, broad sun goes shouldering the church- 
 tower from the hill. 
 
 in 
 O first-fruits of the Summer ! O pathways bright with 
 
 flowers ! 
 O the redolence of roses amid the dreaming hours !
 
 NATURE POEMS 191 
 
 O days of golden rapture ! O nights perfumed with 
 
 sighs ! 
 O the boon grace of living when Eden round us lies ! 
 
 THE SOU' WESTER 
 
 (BLOWING OVER THE OVERTON HILLS, CHESHIRE) 
 
 BLUSTERING, boisterous wind, that bloweth over the 
 
 bracken, 
 Rending the knotted oak, and tearing the stalwart 
 
 pine, 
 
 Never for one short pause do thy wild coursers slacken, 
 Hurrying, scurrying by, with slashing sting of the 
 brine. 
 
 Roaring, and rolling along with the force of the full 
 
 Atlantic, 
 Bending the fern-leaf d beech, and breaking the 
 
 poplar's pride, 
 
 Driving the giant chiefs and lords of the forest frantic, 
 Writhing their mighty limbs in tortuous circles wide.
 
 192 NATURE POEMS 
 
 On over boulder and crag, with a fury that brooks no 
 
 negation, 
 Bellowing back to the blast, booming aloud to the 
 
 vale, 
 Now like the sweep of a scythe, as it moweth in close 
 
 serration, 
 
 Now like the rush of a torrent, lash'd white with 
 wintry hail. 
 
 On over bracken and ling, over bilberry, gorse, and 
 
 heather, 
 
 Raying their silvery sides in the light of the wester- 
 ing sun, 
 On over bramble and broom where the tall grasses 
 
 blow together, 
 
 On ! in the joy of battle, in the armour of victories 
 won. 
 
 Quieted now are the million, murmurous voices of 
 
 Summer, 
 
 Only the thud of the surf in the beat of a surging sea, 
 Whilst over above the gale the voice of the fierce 
 
 Oncomer, 
 
 ' I am the breath of a Spirit that wandereth ever 
 free ! '
 
 NATURE POEMS 193 
 
 SUNDOWN 
 
 SOUNDS of the day come out distinct and clear, 
 While children's voices break the muffled roar 
 That rises from the village. Evermore 
 
 The babble of birds falls on the dreaming ear. 
 
 The ring-dove gurgles from a coppice near, 
 The lark flits low above his wheaten floor, 
 And, tired of climbing, seeks his nestlings four, 
 
 While swallows cleave the laden atmosphere. 
 
 The bloom of fruit is on the distant firs, 
 The valley films with soft and fleecy spray, 
 The breeze but fans the face, and dies away, 
 
 And not a leaf within the forest stirs. 
 
 The sun goes down upon the throbbing air, 
 And leaves the hills more silent than they were. 
 
 A DULL DAY IN SEPTEMBER 
 
 A MELANCHOLY wind moans all the day ; 
 At intervals comes the warm pelt of rain, 
 Then lifts to fleck the heavens with many a stain, 
 
 While little torrents tear their ribbed way
 
 19* NATURE POEMS 
 
 The sky is dun, with leaden rifts and gray ; 
 
 The hurrying clouds break 'neath the veering 
 strain, 
 
 And limpid isles of blue appear amain, 
 To lose themselves in leagues of billowy spray. 
 
 So on toward Evening, when the conquering Sun 
 Rolling the beaten foe before his face, 
 
 And breaking up his forces one by one, 
 Completes his victory o'er time and space, 
 
 And, on the field he hath so hardly won, 
 
 Calls off his glittering legions from the chase.
 
 LOVE POEMS 
 
 195
 
 LOVE'S GOLDEN PILGRIMAGE 
 
 To one who loves, all things are beautiful 
 Love colours every thought, and on his wings 
 Doth bear those tender, sweet imaginings 
 
 That stir the soul to depths most dutiful. 
 
 The merry clangour of the Bells at Yule, 
 
 The Cuckoo's trumpet-call, when first it rings 
 On unaccustom'd ears, and earlier Springs 
 
 Hallow with light life's darkening vestibule, 
 
 Are harbingers of Love, but Love grants more 
 Than all the wealth of Nature can bestow, 
 
 For he who loves, hath of Love's boundless store 
 A heart, a mind, whose riches overflow, 
 
 A spirit that immersed in Love's deep lore 
 Perceives in Nature things unseen before. 
 
 THE LITTLE ARCHER 
 
 DEFTLY the little Archer plies 
 
 His shafts of light, 
 Thou canst not hold him in disguise, 
 Ambush'd within those lidded eyes,
 
 198 LOVE POEMS 
 
 He revels in his victories 
 Till set of night. 
 
 And Love and Laughter hide and seek 
 
 Where lilies vie 
 
 They chase the sunbeams o'er each cheek, 
 And ripple low, like waves that break 
 Upon the shingle of a lake, 
 
 Until they die. 
 
 And Love enkindles at thy voice, 
 
 And hovers near 
 
 The Love that crowns a maiden's choice, 
 The Love that makes a heart rejoice, 
 The Love that fills all sacrifice 
 
 In sigh or tear. 
 
 LOVE'S SLEEPLESSNESS 
 
 I CAN no more mine eyes to sleep compose, 
 And thou alone sweet orb of my unrest ! 
 Yet think not I would shrive thee from my breast, 
 
 Nor lose one pearl of grief thy love bestows.
 
 LOVE POEMS 199 
 
 Whilst thou, close-shelter'd like a folded rose, 
 In spirit realms immeasurably blest. 
 Art dreaming of a love thy tears caress'd, 
 
 Unwistful of thy lover and his woes. 
 
 Oh, would that I might tend thy tranquil sleep, 
 And guard the passage of thine incensed breath ! 
 
 To dwell upon thy breast's entrancing steep 
 Were all of Heaven, and too much of Death 
 
 The heart that once had beat so near to thine 
 
 Would stop for aye if sever'd from its shrine ! 
 
 MY LADYE 
 
 'Tis not that my Ladye hath bountiful hair 
 Those deep-scented tresses, which lovers declare 
 Are the first of Love's charms and the breath of its air. 
 
 'Tis not that my Ladye hath wonderful eyes, 
 Whose depth is the ocean, whose zenith the skies, 
 Whose harmonies wake in the kingdom of sighs. 
 
 'Tis not that my Ladye is sweet as the Rose, 
 
 When the dews of the morning its freshness disclose, 
 
 Or while it more fragrantly sinks to repose.
 
 200 LOVE POEMS 
 
 Tis not that my Ladye is tender and kind, 
 That the queenliest of virtues are blissfully shrined 
 In the grace of her speech, in the charm of her 
 mind. 
 
 Then why doth my Ladye my homage compel r 
 When a maid holds the keys of high heaven and of 
 
 hell, 
 
 'Twere vain to resist her, 'twere rash to rebel ! 
 And so, past redemption, I love her. 
 
 SORROW'S THRONE 
 
 WHY are friends like summer showers, 
 As fresh as they are fleeting ? 
 
 Why are friends like all sweet flowers 
 That die within the greeting ? 
 
 As Summer pales with Time's alloy, 
 Our fairest hopes deceive us 
 
 And so with Friendship's transient joy, 
 It blooms but to bereave us !
 
 LOVE POEMS 201 
 
 THE WOODLAND WAY 
 
 WHEN the glowworms trim their lanterns 
 
 And the dusk is fair as day, 
 When every Jill to her Jan turns 
 With lips that pout and say, 
 Say charily, say warily, 
 
 O men, you are not clever, 
 Say airily, say fairily, 
 
 To take our No for Never. 
 
 When the nightjar thrills the gloaming 
 
 With his undulating lay, 
 While lads and lasses roaming 
 Turn in the wildwood way, 
 Say cheerily, say dearily, 
 
 Love knows the woodland blisses, 
 Say eerily, say wearily, 
 Love tires at last of kisses.
 
 202 LOVE POEMS 
 
 CIRCLES OF AFFINITY 
 
 i 
 
 SING hey ! for the fields of old Romance 
 And a life that is truly living. 
 
 Sing ho ! for the eyes that round us glance 
 And a kiss that is worth the giving. 
 
 Love is a circle, so men say, 
 
 And circle in circle twining 
 Advances a spark from the wheel of day 
 
 That will last till the sun's declining. 
 
 HI 
 Should circle in circle coalesce, 
 
 The joy of that close communion 
 Is the innermost heart of the hours that bless 
 
 The rapture of earthly union. 
 
 But circle so seldom its circle meets, 
 Or the segments so slightly cover, 
 
 That rarely, oh rarely, the circle greets 
 The soul of its heart's true lover !
 
 LOVE POEMS 203 
 
 v 
 With Space for a circle, the Stars and Time 
 
 Are all in their orbits moving, 
 Each swinging in circuit so sublime 
 
 That the Godhead needs no proving. 
 
 VI 
 
 Then hey ! for the fields of old Romance, 
 
 The soul of our soul pursuing ; 
 And ho ! for the eyes that round us glance 
 
 And a heart that is worth the wooing. 
 
 THE ISLAND OF DREAMS 
 
 'Tis a close-shelter'd Island the Island of Dreams ! 
 Where Love, like the murmur of far-away streams, 
 Doth lull with its music, doth gild with its beams. 
 
 'Tis an Island of refuge ! An Island of calm ! 
 Where the weary are rested, and life has a charm 
 That may seldom be found in this world of alarm. 
 
 'Tis an Island of worship ! An Island of light ! 
 Where the soft, quiring stars are transcendently bright, 
 And the Moon is the Queen of that Island of Night.
 
 204 LOVE POEMS 
 
 'Tis an Island of pleading so tender and low, 
 That the heart in its rapture is fain to forgo 
 The round of its duties, the round of its woe. 
 
 'Tis the Isle of all Isles ! where grief and unrest 
 Are hush'd on the surge of the All-mother's breast, 
 Where hearts that are broken, again are made blest. 
 
 LOVE'S BURDEN 
 
 ALL my longing, since first I beheld thee, 
 My lips in three words would convey. 
 
 Dare we build on the ruin of Honour ? 
 Dare we hope with God's Angels away ? 
 
 Oh, what if I never may tell thee, 
 And die with the burden I bear ! 
 
 Wilt thou value the friendship I gave thee, 
 The silence that cost me so dear ? 
 
 And so in our hearts we must cherish 
 The secret that makes life divine. 
 
 And, when in the dawning we perish, 
 God mingle thine ashes with mine !
 
 LOVE POEMS 205 
 
 THE STAR OF HOPE 
 
 LOVE is not Love that can admit despair ! 
 For Love is born of Hope, and Hope is fair ; 
 With that sole Star to light the pilgrim's way, 
 No life were loveless, tho' Love say him ' Nay.' 
 
 What tho' the World may pass him by with scorn, 
 Life without Love were surely more forlorn ! 
 He that hath look'd upon Love's guiding Star, 
 Knows that it never sets but burns afar ! 
 
 Tho' Love shall never here his guerdon find, 
 Love leaves his own sweet recompense behind ; 
 For but to love is to forget the while 
 Griefs that no Time can ever reconcile. 
 
 THE WHITE POPPY 
 
 LIKE a shimmering poppy, robed in white, 
 With sashes and bows of palest green, 
 
 A very woman of soft delight ! 
 
 Yet moulded as the flowers have been
 
 206 LOVE POEMS 
 
 Eyes golden-brown, and deep as true, 
 Bespeak a mind to calmness given, 
 
 A soul wherein a man may view 
 The sovran sanctities of Heaven. 
 
 When she doth smile, lights it as tho' 
 Pale shadowy moonbeams brim her lips 
 
 And scatter there an argent glow 
 That never suffereth eclipse. 
 
 Those treasured hands that lie superb 
 Upon the foldings of her gown, 
 
 O beating heart ! how can I curb 
 
 The folly thou wouldst make me own ? 
 
 For thou wouldst her sweet trust requite 
 With fervours of the sun-lash'd South ; 
 
 Thou, the arch-traitor ! wouldst invite 
 A lordlier trespass on her mouth. 
 
 O that her lips might closer steal, 
 Droop yet a little nearer mine ! 
 
 Till life upon its axis reel 
 
 With kisses maddening more than wine
 
 LOVE POEMS 207 
 
 LOVE'S RULE 
 
 How soon hath sped this fadeless summer day ! 
 
 This golden link in our twin destinies ! 
 
 This chain of bliss, welded of deeper ties 
 Than any yet divulged 'neath Friendship's sway. 
 Neither will lightly let it pass away ; 
 
 And, as a dream long cherish'd never dies, 
 
 Its fond memorials will renew our sighs 
 When Winter's thoughts wander in fields of May. 
 
 So shall we blissfully from life decline, 
 Knowing that we have tasted to the full 
 
 The cup that other lips have deem'd divine 
 
 The cup we drain'd in nectarous draughts and 
 cool ! 
 
 And may Love's rosy garlands here enshrine 
 The Day we first submitted to Love's Rule !
 
 208 LOVE POEMS 
 
 THE JEWELS OF DAWN AND OF DUSK 
 
 i 
 LIKE a diamond on a roseleaf when the dew has 
 
 gemm'd the flower, 
 Like the first faint flush of sunrise stealing over stream 
 
 and tower, 
 Like the palest light of evening, darkly deep'ning 
 
 every hour, 
 So the jewels of dawn and dusk meet in thine eyes. 
 
 ii 
 Like a brook that purls and ripples ever with a silvery 
 
 sound, 
 Like the chime of distant sleigh-bells tinkling over 
 
 frosty ground, 
 
 Like a soft-toned Stradivarius breathing on a spirit- 
 wound, 
 So cadenced falls the music of thy voice. 
 
 in 
 Like the whiteness of the hawthorn when the summer 
 
 months are near, 
 Like the warmth of tender nestlings zoned within a 
 
 mossy sphere,
 
 LOVE POEMS 209 
 
 Like the bounty of the gorse-bloom that engarlands 
 
 all the year, 
 So boon to bless, thy love-enladen hands. 
 
 IV 
 
 Like the tints that fall at sunset on a cloudlet's 
 
 drifting snow, 
 Like the flash of crimson streamers when the Alpine 
 
 ridges glow, 
 Like the blossoms of the almond, like the petals of 
 
 the sloe, 
 So blush and pale the roses of thy cheeks. 
 
 v 
 
 Like the dawn to one immured in a dungeon cold and 
 
 grim, 
 Like the faint, far hope of Summer breaking over 
 
 woodlands dim, 
 Like soft moonlight on the waters when it floods the 
 
 ocean's brim, 
 So steals upon a darken'd heart thy smile.
 
 210 LOVE POEMS 
 
 IANTHE 
 
 IANTHE ! could thy name express 
 
 The unwhisper'd hope my soul conceals, 
 
 Why, from my voice thou then might'st guess 
 More of my heart than speech reveals. 
 
 No other homage need I pay, 
 
 All vows find utterance in thy name, 
 
 A thousand things it seems to say 
 That thee, and thee alone, proclaim. 
 
 In those three syllables doth flow 
 
 A music that is passing sweet, 
 All other notes are lost below 
 
 Until within thy name they meet. 
 
 And whether by the brooklet's side, 
 Or by the shallow, murmuring weir, 
 
 In the soft hush of eventide, 
 
 Thy name alone floats on my ear. 
 
 Or in the silence of the night 
 
 If thy dear name my sleep invade, 
 
 I wake to clasp a brief delight 
 I wake to find the vision fade.
 
 LOVE POEMS 211 
 
 ATTAR OF ROSES 
 
 LIKE the petals of the Rose 
 When the dews their scent disclose, 
 Soft as velvet tho' they be, 
 Fragrant of the Dawn and thee, 
 
 Yet thy lips are sweeter far 
 
 Than all garden Roses are. 
 
 Once I thought my life supreme, 
 Bedded in a Rose's dream, 
 Scent of Attar on my lips, 
 Nectar that the brown bee sips, 
 
 Yet I never knew before 
 
 What sweet scents thy lips could store ! 
 
 This, above that carmine wave, 
 Was the soft response they gave 
 Fading fast before my touch, 
 Never yielding overmuch ! 
 
 Now I have no peace of mind 
 
 Till thy lips again I find.
 
 212 LOVE POEMS 
 
 LOVE'S ONENESS 
 
 (TO A LADY WHO COMPLAINED THAT OTHERS WERE 
 NEGLECTED FOR HERSELF) 
 
 IF I had loved thee less, I had been free 
 
 To smile when others smiled to hope, or fear, 
 
 And lend to each such silent sympathy 
 
 As well might prove a friend was listening near. 
 
 But, loving thee, I have no eyes to see 
 
 What others see, or feel as others feel. 
 
 I have no thoughts that are not part of thee, 
 
 And all my sweets from thoughts of thee I steal. 
 
 By day, by night, a presence everywhere, 
 
 Thy mirror'd loveliness in all I find. 
 
 O task me not in others' thoughts to share, 
 
 Who cannot turn from thee my tranced mind ! 
 
 Thus, loving thee far more than aught beside, 
 
 My world is lost, yet thou dost merely chide ! 
 
 LOVE'S BITTERNESS 
 
 WHY should I love, where others would despise ? 
 Why idly hope thou still may'st love me best ? 
 When every act doth wear a bold disguise, 
 And other friendships seem to stir thy breast !
 
 LOVE POEMS 213 
 
 And yet, to look but once within those eyes. 
 
 So darkly beautiful, so purely true, 
 
 I, for my doubts, can but myself chastise, 
 
 Who could of thee such bitter thoughts review. 
 
 Have I no meed of dignity or pride 
 
 That I must fall to thinking foul of thee ? 
 
 Shall jealous fears with my strong love abide ? 
 
 Shall others' faith fix bounds of faith for me ? 
 
 No, tho' mine eyes should tell me thou hadst 1 ied, 
 
 Their light I'd quench to prove thy constancy ! 
 
 TELL HER, SWEET THRUSH ! 
 
 O THOU sweet bird in the hazel tops, 
 Piping high, piping low, piping clear ! 
 
 O thou sweet bird in the hazel tops, 
 Pipe to me of my dear ! 
 
 Thou canst make love to her better than I, 
 Thrush, O Thrush of my heart ! 
 
 Blending thy notes with the blue of the sky. 
 While the cloudlets drift apart.
 
 214 LOVE POEMS 
 
 Call to her now from the fields of thy grace, 
 Name her by wood and stream ! 
 
 Tell her, I long to see her face 
 Within the moonlight gleam. 
 
 Tell her, sweet Thrush, of the grief that has lain 
 
 For six long months at my breast, 
 Tell her, sweet Thrush, of my endless pain 
 
 Of the burden of my unrest. 
 
 And if, of her grace, she would pity give 
 Pity from her heart's core, 
 
 Tell her, by that one word I'll live 
 And love for evermore ! 
 
 THRO' THE PASS OF LLANBERIS 
 
 You ... at the end of the valley ! 
 
 Storm-wrack and cloud before 
 Thro' the wild pass of Llanberis 
 
 To the gleam of a tranquil shore.
 
 LOVE POEMS 215 
 
 So, thro' the gulfs of sorrow, 
 
 Thro' anguish of heart and mind, 
 
 One only hope to my journey, 
 One haven of peace I find. 
 
 Yet if that hope should fail me, 
 
 That home in the valley fair, 
 Alone, 'mid the wastes of the mountains, 
 
 Must I wrestle with despair ! 
 
 IF LOVE WERE ALL 
 
 (SUGGESTED BY THE * PRISONER OF ZENDA ') 
 
 IF Love were all, then might not thou and I 
 Seek out some plot of Earth before we die, 
 And live and breathe into each other's being 
 The happiness which seems beyond our seeing ? 
 
 If Love were all, then might I take thy hand 
 Fearless of Fate, so thou and Love command ! 
 How poor soe'er thy lot, no cloud could be 
 Toe big that did encompass thee and me !
 
 216 LOVE POEMS 
 
 If Love were all, then on that all I'd cast 
 My life, my honour all that Fame holds fast ; 
 For, O my love ! how could I give thee less ? 
 How set close bounds to Love's divine excess ? 
 
 But Love is only Love when it doth bind 
 Hearts to themselves, with Godhead intertwined. 
 If I should yield, my love Ah, tempt me not, 
 Lest in my blinding need God were forgot ! 
 
 HAVE WE NOT MET 
 
 HAVE we not met, and must we weep 
 
 Because our paths divide ? 
 Have we not climb'd by crag and steep 
 
 Love's summit, side by side ? 
 Our sun, if we had never met, 
 In passionless content had set. 
 
 Have we not met, and can we find 
 
 No solace of our pain ? 
 Tho' much in parting were resign'd, 
 
 Doth nothing sweet remain ? 
 Thou wouldst not we had never met, 
 And thou been spared this wild regret ?
 
 LOVE POEMS 21T 
 
 Have we not met and loved the more 
 
 This Eden-earth of ours ? 
 And shall we not to God restore 
 
 This flower of all His flowers ? 
 While in a happier Eden set 
 Our love shall bloom beyond regret. 
 
 MY SILVER MOON 
 
 As the moon with silver streaming 
 Laves the wilder' d world of night, 
 
 So thine eyes in pity gleaming 
 
 Flood my darken'd soul with light. 
 
 AT PARTING 
 
 SHE caught my eyes and held them with her own : 
 There might I read what speech would not betray, 
 What human lips could never yet convey 
 
 The language that the heart must speak alone. 
 
 In that brief moment was her spirit known : 
 
 All the fierce doubts of many an anguish'd day, 
 Pure from that radiance, pass'd in light away ; 
 
 Love robed and crown'd was to full stature grown !
 
 218 LOVE POEMS 
 
 Bravely she faced me in that mute farewell, 
 Proudly, yet pale, with virginal control, 
 
 One look that made my heart's blood surge and swell, 
 And then again sweet mastery of the whole. 
 
 Unalterable love ah, who can tell ? 
 
 Yet from my Pisgah I had view'd her soul ! 
 
 INTO THE SHADOW 
 
 BACK again into the Shadow after the Sun ! 
 So thro' the Valley of Sorrow is Victory won. 
 Into the tunnell'd dark plunges Life's roaring car, 
 But the gradual gloom grows less as God's daylight 
 breaks afar. 
 
 LOVE'S CROSS AND CROWN 
 
 DOST thou miss me, Heart of mine ? 
 
 Doth thy soul its fellow know ? 
 Is my sorrow also thine ? 
 
 Doth the inward trouble grow ?
 
 LOVE POEMS 219 
 
 Do the morning sunbeams wake 
 
 Hopes to which the heart must cling, 
 
 The alternate joy and ache 
 That another day will bring ? 
 
 in 
 
 As, between each kindling thought, 
 Vistas of the treasured past 
 
 Thro' dim avenues have caught 
 Glory all too bright to last. 
 
 IV 
 
 Then the vacancy, the void, 
 
 Where no love-wind ever blew ! 
 
 And oh, the darkness unalloy'd 
 F the gulf betwixt us two ! 
 
 Trivial things of sight and sound 
 Stab remembrance in the brain, 
 
 Opening up afresh Love's wound, 
 Quickening every pulse of pain.
 
 220 LOVE POEMS 
 
 VI 
 
 Hourly doth thy lover's face 
 
 Come between thy task and thee, 
 
 Shaking thy resolved peace 
 With its one eternal plea ? 
 
 VII 
 
 Hast thou never at eve's fall 
 Put thy work by with a sigh, 
 
 Heard a voice within thee call, 
 ' I must go to him or die ? ' 
 
 VIII 
 
 It were wiser, wiser far 
 
 Thou and I should never meet ! 
 Lest the flame of passion mar 
 
 Lives that both of us hold sweet. 
 
 Something doth remain of bliss 
 Even unto sunder'd souls 
 
 Even in the joys we miss 
 
 There's a leaven that Love controls !
 
 LOVE POEMS 
 
 x 
 
 Veil'd in clouds Love's star hath set, 
 Darkness covers all the shore, 
 
 Down the winds of vain regret 
 Wails that one word Nevermore ! 
 
 WITHERED HOPES 
 
 LAST night my heart was as a fading Rose, 
 Which in an Urn of Tears I did dispose. 
 Dawn stoop'd to raise the Rose's drooping head, 
 But, like my heart, the soul o' the Rose had fled. 
 
 SHE WHOM THOU LOVEST 
 
 O HEART, my heart ! 
 Why tost in tempest throe ? 
 She whom thou lovest 
 Cares not for thy joy, 
 Cares not for thy woe, 
 Then let her go ! 
 
 O beauteous Truth ! 
 
 Why is thy heart so wrung ? 
 
 She whom thou lovedst
 
 222 LOVE POEMS 
 
 Is false to thee and thine, 
 Is false to me and mine, 
 Then why repine ? 
 
 O kindly stars ! 
 
 Why shed thy tears for her ? 
 
 Or is't but mine own blinding pain 
 
 That sees tears in thy glistening rain ? 
 
 Oh, join with me to forget ! 
 
 Leave not a way for regret ! 
 
 And yet And yet ! 
 
 REJECTED 
 
 You cast my soul to the four winds of heaven, 
 You hurl me, passionate, upon the sea of life- 
 
 And all that I in love have madly given 
 Comes back to me in strife ! 
 
 LOVE IN CHAINS 
 
 I FLUNG Love down upon the dungeon floor, 
 Close-shackled to his fellow-prisoner Hate. 
 Grim warders twain I set before the door 
 My Pride and Will, to guard him for his fate
 
 LOVE POEMS 223 
 
 Daily I sign'd the warrant for his doom, 
 Yet daily that fell mandate I withdrew ; 
 A thousand times I vow'd him to the tomb, 
 A thousand times his life I would renew. 
 At last perplex'd, yet wishing he should feel 
 Some measure of the torment I endured, 
 To harsher usage I my heart did steel, 
 And for the Rogue fresh chastisement procured. 
 Ah, vain my hope ! Vain, too, the grinding chain, 
 For Love rose up and bless'd me in his pain ! 
 
 THE WAND OF FATE 
 
 O NOT by reason can we love, 
 
 Nor yet by reason hate ; 
 Our lives to mystic measures move, 
 
 Touch'd by the Wand of Fate. 
 
 ii 
 Your soul drew mine, as doth the moon 
 
 Draw after her the main ; 
 Yet howso oft he craves her boon, 
 
 The chiller her disdain.
 
 224 LOVE POEMS 
 
 in 
 
 O never nearer may I climb ! 
 
 Old Ocean's faith I know 
 Like his, my passion spurns at Time 
 
 In ceaseless ebb and flow. 
 
 IV 
 
 O pitiless the moon's cold fire ! 
 
 And pitiless the heart 
 That bids me ever to aspire, 
 
 Yet bends not to my smart ! 
 
 O not by reason can we love, 
 
 Nor yet by reason hate ; 
 We cannot prove, we may not move 
 
 The issues of our fate. 
 
 THROUGH THE NIGHT 
 
 ONE hope have I one prayer both night and day- 
 That God will lead thee some day to my side, 
 
 And touching me upon the shoulder say, 
 'Take her. She is for evermore thy Bride.'
 
 LOVE POEMS 225 
 
 A SPIRIT HATH FLED FROM MY HEARTH 
 
 A SPIRIT hath fled from my hearth 
 That no cry of the soul can restore. 
 
 Tho' I wander the range of the earth, 
 I shall find her no more. 
 
 Ah, the days that are over and gone ! 
 
 And the nights that were number'd as one ! 
 How can I live on, Love, alone 
 
 In the light of the sun ? 
 
 For the things that did gladden me once 
 Now lash like the whips of the sea ; 
 
 And with them all joy I renounce, 
 For it speaks but of thee ! 
 
 And so, down the slow-ranging years, 
 
 I abide with my pain, 
 Until thro' the mist of my tears 
 
 I enfold thee again.
 
 226 LOVE POEMS 
 
 THE VISION 
 
 SOFTLY she comes at the close of day 
 
 And stands beside my chair, 
 The thrush calls loudly from topmost spray, 
 
 Lightens the evening star. 
 
 So, in the dusk of that twilight land, 
 When those we love draw nigh, 
 
 I take once more that beloved hand, 
 Her lips to mine comply. 
 
 Once more for us 'neath the fading skies 
 
 A veil of blue is drawn, 
 Once more for us in each other's eyes 
 
 Is the gleam of a love-lit dawn. 
 
 She is gone ! she is fled ! and the shadow I chase 
 
 Will neither turn, nor hear ! 
 Ah God ! that the loss of one loved face 
 
 Can leave the world so drear.
 
 LOVE POEMS 227 
 
 LOVE IS FOR EVERMORE 
 
 I HAD thought to bury my love too deep for tears 
 Beyond the prying gaze of the phantom years, 
 I had wish'd to fold the past in its hooded shroud, 
 But ever the spirit within me cried aloud 
 
 O the joy that may never awaken 
 
 In the bosom by love forsaken ! 
 
 I had thought to quell this aching at my heart, 
 In the duties of wife and mother to play my part, 
 But that which makes the light of the home alway 
 Lay buried amid the blooms on my bridal day. 
 
 O the joy that may never awaken 
 
 In the bosom by love forsaken ! 
 
 I could not marry the man my heart required, 
 So I gave to another the heart that he desired 
 My heart in a casket of lead. O God above, 
 Was ever a gift more wanton than loveless love ! 
 
 O the joy that may never awaken 
 
 In the bosom by love forsaken !
 
 228 LOVE POEMS 
 
 I did not think at the time of the dual wrong, 
 Any haven allures when the waters of grief run strong, 
 Despite of love, I had hoped to love again : 
 Too late too late, I know that that hope is vain ! 
 
 O the joy that may never awaken 
 
 In the bosom by love forsaken ! 
 
 His wife ! Ah me ! And yet I am not his own ! 
 
 For my heart leaps up at another's look or tone. 
 
 Nothing oh nothing, can ever recall the past ! 
 
 And the curse of that marriage vow must for ever last ! 
 O the joy that may never awaken 
 In the heart of a woman by Love forsaken ! 
 
 O WORLD, THY CREED 
 
 O WORLD, thy creed is cold and stark ! 
 
 How little dost thou heed our weeping ! 
 Whilst ever thro' the glimmering dark 
 
 The shadow of death is slowly creeping.
 
 SACRED POEMS
 
 GUARD THY HEART! 
 
 GUARD thy heart ! as tho' thy Ladye 
 Shrined her costliest jewels there. 
 
 For the Queen, lest Love upbraid thee, 
 Keep the casket bright and fair ! 
 
 Let thy glance be calm and steady, 
 Heart of gold, O tried and true ! 
 
 Let thy feet be ever ready, 
 Tho' the Master's calls be few. 
 
 Every self-will'd aim abandon'd, 
 
 Every passion won to rest, 
 Every trespass freely pardon'd, 
 
 Every bitter thought repress'd. 
 
 Thou mayst rend the veil asunder, 
 
 Vision The Eternal Grace ! 
 All the mystery and wonder 
 
 Breathing, breaking from thy face.
 
 232 SACRED POEMS 
 
 So when age to youth succeedeth 
 And God's Angel draweth nigh, 
 
 Thou shalt bless the Hand that leadeth 
 Cheerly up the starry sky. 
 
 1890. 
 
 FORGIVENESS 
 
 * MUST I forgive till seven times seven ? ' 
 
 The heart within me cried. 
 As thou wouldst hope to be forgiven; 
 
 An Angel Voice replied. 
 My wrongs are many, my wounds are sore, 
 And shall mine enemy triumph more, 
 
 And scorn my captive, pride ? 
 
 And must I turn the smarting cheek ? 
 
 And meekly make reply ? 
 My arm is strong my faith is weak, 
 
 And storm clouds hover nigh. 
 Who holds in check the eager blow 
 He conquers Jar more than his foe 
 
 And seta his courage high.
 
 SACRED POEMS 233 
 
 And have I but the hour withstood ? 
 
 Revenge, a welcome guest ? 
 And shall this second, fiercer flood 
 
 O'erwhelna my battling breast ? 
 Who rules his heart is mightier Jar 
 Than he who rules by right of mar 
 
 And mightier is his quest ! l 
 1890. 
 
 MORNING HYMN 
 
 Now the golden morning shines 
 
 Let us each be up and doing, 
 And when daylight swift declines, 
 
 May it find us still pursuing ! 
 
 Each hath his appointed sphere, 
 Hands and brain alike achieving, 
 
 Hallowing all the fleeting year 
 With the tribute of his weaving. 
 
 Mind and Spirit, Light and Law, 
 Into unknown realms extending, 
 
 From man's tireless purpose draw 
 Starry triumphs never-ending. 
 1 Prov. xvi. 32.
 
 234. SACRED POEMS 
 
 Tho' the labour of thy hands 
 Serves but to enrich another, 
 
 God, above thee, understands 
 
 Thou art helping on some brother, 
 
 Who, of frailer mould and form, 
 
 Other purposes fulfilling, 
 Else had perish'd in the storm, 
 
 Laying by God's task, unwilling. 
 
 Tho' in mines thou delv'st all day, 
 Gloom perennial surround thee, 
 
 Every stroke emits a ray 
 
 From the spot where Duty bound thee. 
 
 Never let the heart repine, 
 
 Tho' thy toil seem unavailing 
 
 Every labourer's work 's divine, 
 Hope and Love are never-failing !
 
 SACRED POEMS 235 
 
 A HYMN OF SLEEP 
 
 i 
 ANOTHER day is dying 
 
 From out the golden year, 
 Mists in the valley lying 
 
 Proclaim that night is near, 
 And little ones go home to rest 
 With Jesus at each lowly breast. 
 
 While we whose thoughts are tying 
 Us earthward day by day, 
 
 Now doubting, now denying 
 The God who is our Stay, 
 
 How can we lightly turn to rest, 
 
 Our love for Jesus unconfess'd ? 
 
 When in the midnight sighing 
 
 For pity of our lot, 
 The worldly heart relying 
 
 On hopes that comfort not, 
 How happier did we seek our rest, 
 All sorrow hush'd on Jesu's breast !
 
 236 SACRED POEMS 
 
 IV 
 
 And wide o'er all our crying 
 His dove-like wings are spread, 
 
 While Angel looms are plying 
 His peace about our bed : 
 
 Like little children, wholly blest, 
 
 In Jesu's arms we sink to rest. 
 
 Oh, fast our days are flying ! 
 
 More fleetly as they speed ! 
 Within the Churchyard lying 
 
 The many Christ hath freed : 
 These have but ta'en their final rest 
 And are asleep on Jesu's breast. 
 
 ON DEATH 
 
 WHY shouldst thou fear the Death to come ? 
 Why, Mortal, shouldst thou dread the tomb ? 
 Thou canst not one sweet minute gain 
 Nor stay the Hand that stilleth pain. 
 Then bravely meet the silent Foe, 
 If Foe He be Who ends thy woe '
 
 SACRED POEMS 237 
 
 For at the worst Forgetfulness, 
 And at the best Great Happiness 
 Will minister to thy distress, 
 And make the parting less and less. 
 
 YOUNG DESIRE 
 
 WHEN Young Desire first shakes his lustrous wings, 
 Rejoicing in the strength which manhood brings, 
 And, like the dragon-fly in summer's pride, 
 Flaunts his bright armoury from side to side, 
 What charm can keep his passionate heart secure ? 
 What amulet repel the Tempter's lure ? 
 O Love ! there is no talisman like this 
 The sanctity of one true woman's kiss. 
 
 ICONOCLASTS 
 
 THERE are those who would silence the Thrush, 
 
 And stifle his woodnotes wild ; 
 But never for them the Evening's hush 
 
 Or the heart of a little child !
 
 238 SACRED POEMS 
 
 ii 
 There are those who would ravish a flower, 
 
 The heart of a maid despoil ; 
 But the Spirit that lives from hour to hour 
 
 Shall it ever their souls assoil ? 
 
 in 
 There are those who would strangle Belief, 
 
 Profaning the mystic tryst ; 
 But over the swirling waters of grief 
 
 Comes the luminous face of Christ ! 
 
 EASTERTIDE 
 
 i 
 COME wrap the crocus in his winding-sheet, 
 
 For lowly lies his head : 
 His wind-blown petals torn with snow and sleet, 
 
 And March, the slayer, fled. 
 
 ii 
 Lo ! Easter comes, and with the uprisen God 
 
 A million chimes awake : 
 The grass springs greener from the dripping sod, 
 
 The lily scents the brake.
 
 SACRED POEMS 239 
 
 HI 
 
 And Nature hails her cardinal high-priest 
 
 With music all her own ; 
 Her choirs await his chariot in the East, 
 
 And his bright service crown. 
 
 Till every glade takes up the festal song, 
 
 And every rill unites 
 ' Glory to Him to Whom all joys* belong, 
 
 Hosanna in the heights ! * 
 
 LORD, TEACH US HOW TO PRAY ! 
 
 'Mm clashing creeds and civic strife, 
 'Mid hosts with jealous envy rife, 
 'Mid all the turbulence of life, 
 
 Lord, teach us how to pray ! 
 
 'Mid wrongs that speak from hour to hour 
 Of raging lust, of rampant power, 
 Of many a bruised and broken flower, 
 Lord, teach us how to, 'pray !
 
 340 SACRED POEMS 
 
 in 
 
 'Mid lives whose luxury decrees 
 To millions ttondaged hearts and knees, 
 'Mid wanton waste and slothful ease, 
 Lord, teach us how to pray ! 
 
 IV 
 
 'Mid tongues that slander and defame, 
 That batten on a neighbour's shame, 
 Regardless 'of the lives they maim, 
 Lord, teach us how to pray ! 
 
 Give us Thy Faith the Faith of old, 
 Hope springing from her fount of gold, 
 And Charity that grows not cold, 
 And teach us how to pray ! 
 
 VI 
 
 Be Thou our inspiration still, 
 Grant, Lord, submission to Thy will, 
 Our hearts with Thy compassion fill, 
 And teach us how to pray !
 
 SACRED POEMS 241 
 
 RENUNCIATION 
 
 No man hath gain'd soul-mastery, without 
 Fierce self-renunciation and the fight, 
 
 So hardly won, so perilous near to rout, 
 Widens Life's whole horizon to his sight. 
 
 HYMN FOR CATHOLIC LOVE 
 
 LORD JESU, Son of Grace, 
 Thy boundless charity instil, 
 
 And hearts which here Thy love efface 
 With Thy compassion fill. 
 
 Thou madest all, dear Lord, 
 
 Sinner and Saint alike are Thine 
 Trial and suffering both accord 
 
 With Thy ordain'd design.
 
 242 SACRED POEMS 
 
 in 
 
 Thou sentest forth Thy Son 
 The unregenerate to reclaim 
 
 Never a sin-besmirch6d one 
 But Christ hath call'd by name. 
 
 IV 
 
 As knock'd, in dead of night, 
 
 The Hand Divine on Samuel's heart, 
 So doth Thy Love in mercy bright 
 
 A two-fold choice impart 
 
 To enter Thy sure rest, 
 
 That calm which comes of loving Thee, 
 And loving Thee, then only blest 
 
 In guileless charity, 
 
 VI 
 
 Or graceless to depart 
 
 And journey thro' the world alone, 
 Missing that gladness of the heart 
 
 To true believers known.
 
 243 
 
 Lord Jesu, Son of Grace, 
 
 Thy Heart of Charity bestow, 
 
 That all who seek Thee, face to face, 
 May find Thee here below ! 
 
 CHARITY 
 
 TRUE test and savour of a Christian soul 
 
 Sweet Charity, how seldom art thou found ! 
 
 For oh, how rarely is thy gentle dole 
 
 Meted to Christian folk on Christian ground ! 
 
 HYMN OF PRAISE 
 
 PRAISE God for this all-beauteous earth ; 
 Praise Him for blessings of our birth ; 
 Praise Him for all the joy of life 
 That far outweighs its grief and strife.
 
 244 SACRED POEMS 
 
 ii 
 
 Praise Him for duties of our way, 
 Which lead to the diviner day ; 
 Praise Him for labour, bond of all, 
 For after toil comes evenfall. 
 
 in 
 
 Praise Him, tho' storm-clouds intervene 
 And blinding mists distort the scene. 
 His guides are ofttimes pain and woe 
 To that far land to which we go. 
 
 iV 
 
 Praise Him, tho' stricken in the fight, 
 Sore as our need, more sure our might 
 The strength to conquer, or to bear, 
 Apportion'd is to our despair. 
 
 Each^time we triumph over sin 
 We bring more near the heaven within, 
 Each time we yield and vanquish'd lie 
 The heaven without us grows less nigh.
 
 SACRED POEMS 245 
 
 VI 
 
 Praise Him for His indwelling Soul, 
 That Glory which transmutes the whole 
 Of those vast realms of Light and Love 
 Within, around us, and above. 
 
 VII 
 
 Praise Him Who of His grace hath given 
 A bounteous earth, a boundless heaven, 
 And in the Heaven of Heavens to come 
 Hath builded Our Eternal Home. 
 
 A MAXIM FOR EVERY DAY 
 
 Find good in all you can, 
 Take up your human load, 
 
 Fulfil the higher man, 
 
 And leave the rest with God !
 
 LYRICS FROM THREE DRAMAS
 
 SPRING SONG 
 
 How joyous the Spring is ! 
 
 How jocund the hours 
 When the call of the throstle 
 
 Awakens the flowers, 
 When the merry, mad squirrels 
 
 Their revels prolong, 
 And the aisles of the forest 
 
 Are ringing with song ! 
 
 ii 
 
 As the laughter of April 
 
 Enkindles the Spring, 
 As the song of the skylark 
 
 Is blithest on wing, 
 So stirs with new wonder 
 
 The heart of a maid, 
 When the first stars besprinkle 
 
 The daffodil glade. 
 
 From David and Bat/uhua. 
 349
 
 250 LYRICS FROM THREE DRAMAS 
 
 A LULLABY 
 
 DARKNESS steals o'er hill and valley, 
 In the heavens one pale star shines, 
 
 Whilst the nightjar's murmurous music 
 Breathes the magic of the pines. 
 
 Sleep : sleep : in happy slumbers blest, 
 
 For Silence broods upon a world at rest. 
 
 From David and Bathshua. 
 
 BATHSHUA'S PRAYER 
 
 FATHER of Life, of light, of love, 
 
 In Whose vast arms the world endures, 
 
 Pour down Thy blessing from above 
 The peace that Faith alone secures. 
 
 O let the waters flow again ! 
 
 The fountain of my grief upspring ; 
 For all life's sands are parch'd with pain, 
 
 And desolate the heart I bring.
 
 LYRICS FROM THREE DRAMAS 251 
 
 Remove, O Lord, the sense of guilt, 
 
 The bitter memories amass'd ! 
 Thou canst give sevenfold, if Thou wilt, 
 
 The treasure that seem'd unsurpass'd. 
 
 But of all treasures this the most, 
 O keep me first in David's heart ! 
 
 For without him my life is lost ; 
 Let not his joy in me depart ! 
 
 And with his love, dear God, restore 
 The spirit that hath left this clay, 
 
 Into another vessel pour 
 
 The life, the light, that was our day ! 
 
 From David and Bathshua. 
 
 THE WITCH'S RUNE 
 
 Dread not the trumpets of the wind, 
 Nor evil toward from mankind. 
 Follow thy lord, follow thy lord, 
 For love is of life the master-chord ! 
 
 From David and Bathshua.
 
 252 LYRICS FROM THREE DRAMAS 
 
 DONNA MARINA 
 
 DARK her eyes as the forest pines 
 When the slanting sun declines, 
 Deeper than the ebon night 
 Tresses that exhale the light. 
 
 Donna Marina ! Donna Marina ! 
 
 Like a June-enchanted rose, 
 Faery spells about her close ; 
 Tranced in moonlight at her feet 
 Dreams the mystic marguerite. 
 
 Donna Marina ! Donna Marina ! 
 
 in 
 
 All whereon her footprints press 
 She doth sanctify and bless ; 
 Mountain daisies bow before her, 
 Whispering each how they adore her. 
 Donna Marina ! Donna Marina !
 
 LYRICS FROM THREE DRAMAS 253 
 
 Two sweet doves, divinely prest, 
 Flutter 'neath her broider'd vest, 
 Passioning their silken bars 
 In the panoply of Mars. 
 
 Donna Marina ! Donna Marina ! 
 
 Tremulous smiles and tender tears, 
 Queen of all our hopes and fears ! 
 Captive-captain of our band, 
 Victory in thy little hand ! 
 
 Donna Marina ! Donna Marina ! 
 
 From Donna Marina.
 
 254 LYRICS FROM THREE DRAMAS 
 CHORIC ODE TO THE SUN 
 
 O MAJESTY of Heaven ! Whose bright dominion 
 
 Is over all the peoples of the earth, 
 A myriad worlds beneath each streaming pinion ! 
 
 O Thou Who dost renew in us at birth 
 The vital spark that germinates unseen, 
 
 Lighting with torch divine each nuptial hearth, 
 
 And breathing into substances terrene 
 
 The Spirit which transmuteth our dull clay, 
 An effluence of Thine everlasting sheen. 
 
 The Two Eternities of Night and Day 
 Are in Thine hands, and in Thy holy keeping 
 The unnumber'd souls that now in Thee are sleeping. 
 
 O Thou Omniscience, Incomprehensible ! 
 
 Creator Beneficent to Thee we bow. 
 Ruler of suns and systems inconceptible ! 
 
 The girdle of the worlds about Thy brow ! 
 For aeons upon aeons round Thy throne 
 The stars have circled as they circle now.
 
 LYRICS FROM THREE DRAMAS 255 
 
 Thou Genesis of Life ! Thyself unknown, 
 
 What Primal Deity created Thee ? 
 Father and Son, Dividual yet One ! 
 
 Our only merit is to bend the knee. 
 Truths that we here may never comprehend, 
 Thou wilt interpret at the journey's end. 
 
 Be Thou our guide, and bright the way appears ! 
 Teach us to worship Thee with faith profound ! 
 Thou Who dost gild for us the shining years, 
 
 Plenty and peace in Thy diurnal round. 
 Flame on our offering ! Light it from above ! 
 Accept the victims at Thine altar bound ! 
 
 Gladly they speed to meet the All-Father's love, 
 
 To know at last the Aztlan of their dreams ! 
 Grant, Lord, that each shall in Thy presence prove 
 
 The joy that death's brief agony redeems ! 
 Whilst we, who humbly wait on Thee with prayer, 
 Shall feel Thy Spirit touch us unaware. 
 
 From Donna Marina.
 
 256 LYRICS FROM THREE DRAMAS 
 
 WITHOUT YOUR LOVE 
 
 i 
 
 WITHOUT your love, life hath no hope for me, 
 For I would rather cease to be 
 Than be Without your love. 
 
 ii 
 
 Without your love, the day and night were one, 
 For daylight sickens in the sun, 
 And sinks Without your love. 
 
 in 
 
 Without your love, the tender flowers must fade, 
 The rose in ashy bed be laid, 
 
 Scentless Without your love. 
 
 IV 
 
 Without your love, the stars grow faint and dim, 
 Uneven comes the nightjar's hymn 
 And shrill Without your love. 
 
 v 
 
 Without your love, O agony of sight ! 
 How can I blot you from the light, 
 And live Without your love ? 
 
 From Donna Marina.
 
 LYRICS FROM THREE DRAMAS 257 
 
 THE SONG OF THE UNDINES OR 
 WATER-SPIRITS 
 
 WE dwell in the depths of the opaline sea ; 
 Far older than man's must our lineage be 
 Whilst the waters yet cover'd the face of the earth 
 The mermaidens sang of man's mystical birth. 
 Loo-a-ldla, loo-a-ldla, sing we low ; 
 Wind and wavelet waft tis idly, to' and fro. 
 Men live on hereafter ; 
 
 We must pass and go : 
 
 Therefore thro' our laughter 
 
 Wails the note of woe. 
 
 We dance on the edge of the low-rippling wave, 
 In the curl of its foam-crests our light limbs we lave ; 
 We chase the white horses far over the main, 
 And shepherd them back to their pastures again.
 
 258 LYRICS FROM THREE DRAMAS 
 
 in 
 
 We sleep in the dews till the Summer night closes, 
 To part the lush lids of the soft-petal'd roses ; 
 But when the plumed sun shoots his arrowy beams, 
 We trip o'er the meadows to bask in the streams. 
 
 IV 
 
 We float past the cresses ; we skim the wide meres- 
 Not swifter in flight the rath swallow appears 
 We tumble o'er cataracts, yeasty in foam, 
 To the translucent floor of our crystalline home. 
 
 We glide down -the glaciers and snows of the 
 mountain, 
 
 To upbubble in mirth from the heart of a fountain ; 
 
 We meet and commingle in fields of the air, 
 
 When the rain-clouds are lower'd and the thunder- 
 claps blare. 
 
 VI 
 
 We sport in the breakers ; we love the wild roar 
 Of ocean retreating far down the loud shore ;
 
 LYRICS FROM THREE DRAMAS 259 
 
 We plunge in the cascades of emerald spray 
 Which the prows of the fishermen cast in our way. 
 
 And when the pale moonlight steals over the deep, 
 We dream of dead heroes long pillow'd in sleep : 
 Our spousals take place in that mystical hour, 
 When our hearts blossom forth like the rose in her 
 bower. 
 
 Loo-a-ldla, loo-a-ldla, sing rve low ; 
 Wind and wavelet drift us idly, to and fro. 
 Men live on hereafter ; 
 We must pass away : 
 Rippling tones and laughter 
 Are but for a day I 
 
 From Undine.
 
 260 LYRICS FROM THREE DRAMAS 
 
 KUHLEBORN'S SONG 
 
 i 
 BLOW, winds ! and war, ye waters ! 
 
 King Kiihleborn commands ! 
 The fairest of our daughters 
 
 Now thrills at touch of hands. 
 
 ii 
 Let him who comes to woo her 
 
 The soul of honour shrine ! 
 Should mortal love undo her, 
 
 The Sword of Vengeance mine ! 
 
 in 
 Who weds a water-maiden, 
 
 His love must never wane : 
 Twin hearts, with rapture laden 
 
 One soul in bodies twain. 
 
 IV 
 
 Crash out, ye waves, your thunder ! 
 
 Roll up the silver shore ! 
 For, lost in Love's sweet wonder, 
 
 Undine is ours no more ! 
 
 From Undine.
 
 LYRICS FROM THREE DRAMAS % 
 
 UNDINE'S SONG 
 
 i 
 
 GAY are we and without care ; 
 Cheerly, blithely, forth we fare ; 
 Laugh we from the breaking wave, 
 Chaunt we from the echoing cave. 
 
 ii 
 
 Corals, white as ocean foam, 
 Guard the treasures of our home ; 
 Silver voices of the deep 
 Lull us in our tranquil sleep. 
 
 in 
 
 We who live in twilight bowers 
 Heed no murmur of the hours, 
 Pine not for new heavens, new earth 
 Life was given for joy and mirth ! 
 
 IV 
 
 Wizard Winter and Faery Spring 
 Wands of magic around us swing ; 
 Siren Summer and Autumn lusk 
 Weave their spell in the rose-lit dusk. 
 
 From Undine.
 
 262 LYRICS FROM THREE DRAMAS 
 
 SONG 
 
 i 
 FISHERMAN, fisherman, why do you weep, 
 
 Hauling your nets 'neath the moon ? 
 Silvery shadows steal over the deep, 
 
 And the billows are all aswoon. 
 
 H 
 There is that in your face, my sweet mermaid, 
 
 Which recalleth a long-lost child : 
 Far down in the deep is my darling laid, 
 
 Whom the glittering mere beguiled. 
 
 in 
 O better the waters should fold and keep 
 
 Your little one in her shroud, 
 Than ever your famish'd eyes should weep 
 
 A heart grown cold and proud ! 
 
 IV 
 
 If, but for a moment, she might draw near 
 Should I find her heart grown cold ? 
 
 She would rush to my arms, my joyous dear, 
 And greet me as of old.
 
 LYRICS FROM THREE DRAMAS 263 
 
 v 
 O vain is the love of all mortal kind ! 
 
 And vain are the tears you shed ! 
 Ere yon pale sickle wane, you will wish you were blind 
 
 Or else that your child were dead. 
 
 From Undine. 
 
 A SONG OF SPRING 
 (FOR THE GUITAR) 
 
 WHAT word wakes the woodland to music and life ? 
 Spring, Spring, ting-a-ling Spring, 
 Ting-a-ling, ring-a-ding Spring. 
 What spell sets all nature in search of a wife ? 
 
 Spring, Spring, ting-a-ling Spring. 
 Far down in a glade where the daffodils blow, 
 Each spear-head uplifted, each helmet aglow, 
 A thousand bright banners are tost in the breeze 
 As the March wind pipes lustily thro' the loud trees- 
 Spring, Spring, ting-a-ling Spring, 
 Ting-a-ling, ring-a-ding Spring. 
 
 From Undine.
 
 HISTORICAL AND POLITICAL POEMS 
 
 >

 
 DEAN LIDDELL 
 
 (CHRIST CHURCH) 
 
 December 1891 
 
 DEAR crown of manliness and fervid truth ' 
 Thy gentle reign of over thirty years 
 Is drawing to its close, and stifled tears 
 
 Attest the sorrows of our heyday youth. 
 
 Have we no words to tell our bitter ruth ? 
 Silence reveals what the still heart reveres. 
 A living memory of our past arrears 
 
 Leaves us benumb'd yea, dumb in very sooth. 
 
 Our grief is one with thine, dear Master-friend, 
 For we shall miss thee at thy wonted seat. 
 Tho' other minds may claim our reverence meet, 
 And other guides may on our steps attend, 
 Thy spirit will go with us to the end 
 
 An influence breathing of a life complete. 
 
 267
 
 268 HISTORICAL AND POLITICAL POEMS 
 
 THE FIGHT OVER THE NEWMAN STATUE 
 IN OXFORD 1 
 
 February 1892 
 
 Is Bigotry the order of the day ? 
 
 Must we, of larger faith, submit our views 
 To a minority whose least excuse 
 
 Is threaten'd violence to our right of way ? 
 
 And Lawlessness, a fit companion, ay, 
 
 To Christian zeal in most un-Christlike cause 
 To rob a Hero of his just applause 
 
 And we the heirs of such a legacy ! 
 
 Shall Time reprove us for the wrong we do, 
 Our narrow prejudice, our lack of pride ? 
 Shall these roll on thro' ages, and abide 
 
 An earnest of our faith our weakness too ? 
 
 1 The University, in contrast to the open-mindedness 
 shown by a large majority of the citizens, strenuously 
 opposed the erection of a statue to Newman in Oxford, 
 threatening that if such a statue were erected it would 
 assuredly be pulled down.
 
 HISTORICAL AND POLITICAL POEMS 269 
 
 Lo! thro' the years the clouds are backward 
 
 driven 
 One Universal Faith ! one Hope ! one Heaven ! 
 
 DEATH OF TENNYSON 
 
 October6, 1892 
 
 MOURN, all ye Nations, mourn ! for he is dead 
 The sweetest singer of our later choir, 
 Whose thoughts were borne aloft on wings of fire, 
 
 And Truth and Beauty left us in their stead. 
 
 The last of all our prophets now is fled : 
 Fled is the music of his magic lyre, 
 The melody of half a world's desire 
 
 A gift of song for ever garnered. 
 
 Sunrise and sunset shall go fleeting by, 
 And all the voice of Nature now be mute, 
 Since he who loved them leaves us but his lute, 
 
 With none the master of its minstrelsy. 
 
 Yet, in his life and death, what joy have we 
 Who knew the tree, and gather'd of its fruit !
 
 270 HISTORICAL AND POLITICAL POEMS 
 
 TO A VICTORIAN KNIGHT 
 
 AH, not for Quest of Grail nor trophied shield, 
 Nor chivalrous faith in knightly service seal'd, 
 For which our pure and princely Arthur gave 
 That badge of Honour Knighthood to the brave. 
 
 No, nor like those great rovers of the main 
 Who curb'd and crush'd the mighty fleets of Spain, 
 And from a Virgin Queen received the meed 
 Of valorous service or of derring deed. 
 
 Peace hath her captains, resolute as those 
 
 Who gird to battle with their country's foes, 
 
 Victoria first the Sword of Honour drew 
 
 To appraise their worth who shape the world anew. 
 
 THE ABBEY OF ST MARY, 1 IN FURNESS 
 
 SEVEN Henries sought thee thro' four hundred years, 
 But thou for love return'dst a vestal's vow : 
 The Eighth first woo'd with calm and saintly brow, 
 
 And then profaned thee 'mid thy suppliant tears ! 
 
 1 Built during the reign of Henry I., and destroyed by 
 Henry VIII., the so-called " Defender of the Faith ! "
 
 HISTORICAL AND POLITICAL POEMS 271 
 
 PEACE 
 
 THOU gentle Dove ! wing'd envoy to mankind 
 Of that fair morn when war shall cease to be, 
 Yet ever to thine Ark compell'd to flee, 
 
 For nowhere can thy feet a foothold find. 
 
 The air thou cleavest is with sulphur blind, 
 While horrent shapes scud o'er the foamy sea, 
 Which bristles with a monster progeny : 
 
 The clash of arms is borne upon the wind. 
 
 O when wilt thou return to tell of fields 
 
 Ripening with plenty, whilst the smiling lands 
 Are bound by fellowship of hearts and hands ? 
 
 No more the sword its bloody sceptre wields ! 
 
 Come to us from the realms where Heaven expands, 
 
 And bring the leaf the tender olive yields ! 
 
 1900.
 
 272 HISTORICAL AND POLITICAL POEMS 
 
 ENGLAND AND THE S. A. REPUBLICS 
 
 BE just and generous ! Fear not Thou 
 That Kindness may be vain 
 
 Tho' Winter frown from bough to bough, 
 The April buds remain. 
 
 January 1901. 
 
 VICTORIA 
 
 (LINES WRITTEN ON LEARNING THAT THE QUEEN'S 
 CONDITION WAS HOPELESS) 
 
 HER reign : the greatest that this realm hath seen, 
 Whether we count by years or by achievement. 
 
 Her loss : shall we not keep it meetly green 
 With tears of sad bereavement ? 
 
 God gave, of his fair gifts to this fair Isle, 
 A virgin Queen, proud and invincible, 
 
 And for her guide a Prince, to reconcile 
 Her heart to Queenly Rule.
 
 HISTORICAL AND POLITICAL POEMS 273 
 
 Of their pure love a noble progeny, 
 
 O Sovereign Monarch, blest all Queens above ! 
 
 Three generations on that royal knee 
 Have claim'd a Mother's love. 
 
 And if, too early in her life was known, 
 The Sorrow that alone makes desolate, 
 
 She stood as one whom ages shall enthrone 
 As ruler of her fate. 
 
 To God she bow'd : and from His Hand she took 
 The grievous chastisement of later years. 
 
 Her faith in His Great Purpose never shook 
 'Mid shattering hopes and fears. 
 
 And now she waits the Angel of His Peace 
 
 With happy eyes turn'd toward a happier morn. 
 
 Oh, never Soul long'd more for its release 
 Than hers, so bravely borne ! 
 
 January 22, 1901.
 
 274 HISTORICAL AND POLITICAL POEMS 
 
 ON THE EXTINCTION OF THE BOER 
 REPUBLICS 
 
 WHILST we debate upon their overthrow, 
 
 We would do well to weigh that fateful hour 
 When the Arch-Raider, 1 covetous of power, 
 
 Struck, for self-gain, the first insensate blow. 
 
 To that fell act a thousand ills we owe, 
 Suspicion of our purpose, deadly stour 
 Of hate, revenge a sweet and deathless dower. 
 
 Our Justice lagg'd, England's good faith lay low ! 
 
 What tho' corruption lurk'd within the State, 
 What tho' the Boer Executive delay 'd, 
 Time would have brought some less disastrous aid ; 
 For Right must triumph, tho' the Wrong be great. 
 Then England, O my Country, fear no fall, 
 But do thou justice first and last of all ! 
 
 1 Cecil Rhodes.
 
 HISTORICAL AND POLITICAL POEMS 275 
 TO CHAMBERLAIN 
 
 " OUR CHIEF OF MEN " 
 
 THOU Warwick of our age ! whose puissant arm 
 
 Can make or unmake Empires ; whose starr'd shield 
 Can turn the fortune of the doubtful field 
 
 From dolorous gloom to Victory's heighten'd charm. 
 
 Thrice from disruption and from deadly harm 
 Thou hast deliver'd ! knowing when to wield 
 The sword, and when far harder task ! to yield 
 
 To fierce entreaty or to faction warm. 
 
 In thee the Irish rebels met their foil ; 
 
 Not thee the wily Dopper might outface ; 
 The German found thee native of the soil, 
 
 And his " swill'd insolence " to rage gave place. 
 And now, when most seek ease from strife and toil, 
 
 Thou standest forth the champion of our race. 
 
 1903.
 
 276 HISTORICAL AND POLITICAL POEMS 
 
 ENGLAND, QUEEN OF THE SEAS 
 
 WILL you take them into partnership 
 These men of your race and thew, 
 Who have never let occasion slip 
 To do what a Briton should do ? 
 Who venerate your mighty name, 
 England, Queen of the Seas ! 
 And greet, as brothers dear to fame, 
 The children of your knees. 
 
 ii 
 Will you take them into partnership ? 
 
 Fall back on a fresher strain i 
 For the project is one that will soon outstrip 
 The dream of the parent brain ! 
 Who venerate, fyc. 
 
 HI 
 
 Will you take them into partnership, 
 These sons who have learnt your trade ?
 
 HISTORICAL AND POLITICAL POEMS 277 
 
 O never misdoubt their grit and grip 
 Who have render'd you timely aid ! 
 Who venerate, $c. 
 
 IV 
 
 Will you take them into partnership ? 
 
 Have you thought what refusal may mean, 
 When we pass the cup from lip to lip 
 
 With a glint of steel between ? 
 Who venerate, fyc, 
 
 v 
 Will you take them into partnership ? 
 
 Your Imperial task fulfil ? 
 Thank God for the hand of good fellowship, 
 And grasp it with right goodwill ! 
 Who venerate your mighty name, 
 
 England, Queen of the seas ! 
 And greet, as brothers dear to fame, 
 The children of your knees.
 
 278 HISTORICAL AND POLITICAL POEMS 
 
 SONS OF THE EMPIRE 
 
 DEAR Motherland ! Dear Motherland ! Home of the 
 
 brave and free ! 
 
 Above the roar of ocean comes thy children's cry to thee 
 For one united Empire one flag, one law, one crown, 
 One Commonwealth on which the sun shall nevermore 
 go down. 
 
 Sons of the Empire ! Jar and wide, 
 
 Danger has found us side by side ; 
 
 And side by side shall our foemen Jind us 
 
 When the bugles of Britain blow shrill behind us ! 
 
 In England's hour of danger, the only friends she knew 
 Were those of her own blood and bone, of her own 
 
 pith and thew ; 
 
 In England's hour of danger, the only friends she'll need 
 Are the men of her own kith and kin, of her own 
 
 Viking breed. 
 
 Sons of the Empire ! fyc.
 
 HISTORICAL AND POLITICAL POEMS 279 
 
 in 
 Behold her erstwhile enemies the friends of all her 
 
 friends ! 
 For nothing like success succeeds when the fighting 
 
 fury ends. 
 They learnt to know the length and reach of England's 
 
 mighty arm ; 
 And the foreign sneers were exchanged for cheers, 
 
 and hate for the will to charm ! 
 Sons of the Empire ! fyc. 
 
 Free-trade for all is a maxim sound Free-trade for all 
 
 the world, 
 With never a hostile tariff raised, nor a hostile flag 
 
 unfurl'd ; 
 But until that golden day shall dawn in the generous 
 
 years to come, 
 
 FREE-TRADE WITHIN THE EMPIRE ! and widen the 
 bounds of home. 
 
 Sons of the Empire ! far and wide, 
 
 Danger has found us side by side ; 
 
 And side by side shall our foemenjind us 
 
 When the bugles of Britain blow shrill behind us !
 
 280 HISTORICAL AND POLITICAL POEMS 
 
 TILL THE DAY BE DONE 
 
 FROM your island sloth awake you ! 
 Foes engird who fain would break you ! 
 Britons, up ! and guard your own 
 Ere your heritage be flown. 
 What your fathers' valour won, 
 Hold it till the day be done ! 
 For your sons and for your daughters, 
 For your kin across the waters. 
 
 Who'd be a little Englander, 
 
 Whom English loins have bred ? 
 Who'd be a little Englander, 
 
 And shame our mighty dead ? 
 Then for St George and England raise 
 
 The war-cry of our sires 1 
 Let tor and headland Jlash the blaze 
 Of Britain s sea-flung Jires ! 
 
 ii 
 
 Commerce recks not of her slaughter, 
 Neither gives nor craveth quarter,
 
 HISTORICAL AND POLITICAL POEMS 281 
 
 Like the never-sated sea 
 She devours eternally ! 
 Mark the products of our soil, 
 Fast displaced by foreign toil ! 
 Mark the labour for our hands, 
 Driven to plenish foreign lands ! 
 
 Who'd be a little Englander ? $c. 
 
 in 
 
 What our rivals know to-day, 
 Britain taught them first the way. 
 What our rivals know to-morrow, 
 Britain will be last to borrow ! 
 Knowledge none may ever spurn, 
 For the wise have most to learn. 
 We must keep an open mind 
 Would we learn of all mankind. 
 
 Who'd be a little Englander ? $c. 
 
 rv 
 
 Give us leave to meet our foes 
 With the weapons that they chose, 
 Britons ! we can hold our own, 
 Fortune smile, or Fortune frown.
 
 282 HISTORICAL AND POLITICAL POEMS 
 
 Not on laurels of the past 
 Stands our Empire firm and fast ; 
 But on each true son's endeavour, 
 Striving toward the Great Forever I 
 Who'd be a little Englander, 
 
 Whom English loins have bred ? 
 Who'd be a little Englander, 
 
 And shame our mighty dead ? 
 Then for St George and England raise 
 
 The war-cry of our sires ! 
 Let tor and headland Jiash the blaze 
 Of Britain's sea-Jtung Jires ! 
 
 BACK TO THE LAND ! 
 
 i 
 ACRES out of cultivation ! 
 
 British homesteads bleak and bare ! 
 Hear the cry of desolation ! 
 
 Hark the wail of blank despair ! 
 
 ii 
 Britain's navies once defeated 
 
 Then the land were all in all I 
 And her granaries depleted 
 
 Would precipitate her fall.
 
 HISTORICAL AND POLITICAL POEMS 283 
 
 in 
 Where is now the yeoman spirit ? 
 
 Where the manhood of our sires ? 
 Where the race that should inherit 
 
 Some of their ancestral fires ? 
 
 IV 
 
 Sunk within our crowded cities, 
 
 With their phthisis-laden streets, 
 Dregs of men ! whom no one pities, 
 
 Suckled at a drunkard's teats. 
 
 v 
 Back then to the land, my brothers ! 
 
 Let it glow in tilth and ear ! 
 To the land beyond all others 
 
 Every British heart holds dear. 
 
 VI 
 
 Up then ! share your brothers' burden, 
 Drive the alien from your door ! 
 
 Let not others reap the guerdon 
 That your fathers won of yore. 
 
 VII 
 
 Strong in her true sons' affection, 
 
 Greater Britain shall arise 
 Powerful in her free election, 
 . Peace in her Imperial eyes.
 
 284 HISTORICAL AND POLITICAL POEMS 
 
 THE JACK O' THE UNION 
 
 TALK not of our fathers' fears ! 
 
 England alters with the years 
 
 We must now adapt our creed 
 
 To this older England's need. 
 
 Bath'd in the blood of her sons, in the blue of her scat, 
 Break out the Jack ! let it boom to the buffeting breeze ! 
 
 n 
 
 All the battles of the past 
 Are as nothing to this last. 
 The arbitrament of Sense 
 Not of swords our sure defence ! 
 Bath'd in the blood of her sons, fyc. 
 
 in 
 
 Voices from across the foam 
 Chant the Commonwealth to come. 
 Strikes afar the appointed hour, 
 Love shall conquer, hate devour 
 Bath'd in the blood of her sons, SfC.
 
 HISTORICAL AND POLITICAL POEMS 285 
 
 IV 
 
 'Neath the burning Afric sun 
 Did our kinsmen Duty shun ? 
 Were we left to fight alone 
 Thro' the battle's fiercest zone ? 
 Bath'd in the blood of her sons, fyc. 
 
 Fashion'd upon fields of blood. 
 Soldiers of one King we stood. 
 With a clearer purpose now 
 To the mart, and to the plough ! 
 Bath'd in the blood of her sons, Sfc. 
 
 VI 
 
 Where the Flag of Britain waves 
 Over widely-scatter'd graves, 
 Spring the flowers, all flowers above 
 Truth and Justice, Peace and Love. 
 Bath'd in the blood of her sons, in the blue of her seas, 
 Break out the Jack I let it boom to the buffeting breeze !
 
 286 HISTORICAL AND POLITICAL POEMS 
 
 THE GOD OF IGNORANCE 
 
 MEXITLI l more regarded human life ! 
 
 Our streets are altars, where we immolate 
 
 Thousands of victims yearly by a fate 
 More slow and painful than the Aztec knife. 
 This pestilential scourge ! this termless strife 
 
 'Twixt light and darkness, fair and foul estate ! 
 
 Oh, why the phthisic death accelerate ? 
 Why ? with the arrowy doom so swift, so rife ! 
 
 Must then our God of Ignorance be fed ? 
 Our best-belov'd led out before our eyes 
 To grace this most inhuman sacrifice, 
 
 And swell the toll of the unnumber'd dead ! 
 When will the Law in ample might arise, 
 
 And banish from our Land this woful dread ? 
 
 1 The ancient War God of the Mexicans, on whose altars 
 two thousand lives are said to have been annually sacrificed. 
 The yearly death-roll from Consumption in Great Britain 
 alone is computed at 60,000 lives the disease being largely 
 conveyed by wanton expectoration !
 
 HISTORICAL AND POLITICAL POEMS 287 
 
 HYMN OF EMPIRE 
 
 i 
 BRITONS ! salute the rising sun, 
 
 The murky clouds of night are riven, 
 While thro' the Eastern gate the dawn 
 
 O'erflows the saffron fields of heaven. 
 
 ii 
 High as that great imperial orb 
 
 The passion of our lives is set 
 To further Peace, and to absorb 
 
 The Light whose beams scarce reach us yet. 
 
 The Light that quickens to the free, 
 
 That hurleth Ignorance afar ! 
 Whose sister-soul is Liberty, 
 
 Whilst Truth and Love her handmaids are. 
 
 IV 
 
 The Light that in a Briton's breast, 
 
 Once kindled, glows with steadfast fire ; 
 
 That will not let his spirit rest 
 
 Till Justice all men's hearts inspire.
 
 288 HISTORICAL AND POLITICAL POEMS 
 
 The Light that led him forth to fare 
 Thro' unknown wilds and untrod ways, 
 
 That speeds his footsteps everywhere 
 Till the fulfilment of his days. 
 
 That gave him kingdoms for his own 
 And all the highways of the deep ; 
 
 In temperate or in torrid zone 
 
 That ancient Power its watch doth keep. 
 
 These realms were given to him in trust, 
 To hold for men of every land. 
 
 He knows his Empire is but dust, 
 
 And so he takes it from God's hand 
 
 VIII 
 
 Till the fulfilling of the Law, 
 
 Till Truth prevail and Valour save, 
 
 Until the Light shall overawe 
 
 And bind the Darkness in its cave.
 
 HISTORICAL AND POLITICAL POEMS 289 
 
 IX 
 
 Sons of the Free ! salute the Dawn, 
 Salute the flag to Faith unfuiTd ; 
 
 For England's sword was never drawn 
 Save for the Freedom of the World !
 
 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS 
 
 tgi
 
 THE TEMPLE OF ART 
 
 THE Temple of Art lies open evermore, 
 And this the inscription set above the door- 
 Faint not, nor falter, ye that enter here, 
 The deathless dead surround you everywhere. 
 All that life gives, they gave in sacrifice, 
 The Deity demands no lesser price, 
 In blood-red letters the brief legend runs : 
 And one man enters in a thousand suns ' 
 
 93
 
 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS 
 
 TO WINIFRED 
 
 (AGED EIGHTEEN MONTHS) 
 
 THE Angels alone might tell you 
 The Land whence my Lady came, 
 
 Of the days she took to travel 
 Over a sea aflame. 
 
 She came with the early Dawn 
 Before the stars were set, 
 
 The palest of roseate streamers 
 Aglow on her coverlet. 
 
 But how shall I tell of the wonder, 
 The joy that has come to me, 
 
 In the light of the bluest of eyes 
 That ever smiled out of the sea ? 
 
 Such treasure of golden floss, 
 In strands of drifting ore ! 
 
 'Twas spun by a faery hand 
 By the light of faery lore.
 
 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS 295 
 
 Her smile is a flash of the dawn 
 
 Before the morning breaks : 
 'Twould scatter the dullest clouds 
 
 That ever the East awakes ! 
 
 Such tiny hands and feet ! 
 
 Such mimicking words and ways ! 
 And oh, for that childish prattle, 
 
 When the heart, itself, betrays ! 
 
 For to thee, thou little Innocent ! 
 
 The world cannot help but be kind. 
 But the larger the heart, the greater 
 
 The sorrow it needs must find ! 
 
 TO HELEN 
 
 (Obiit December 3, 1.903) 
 
 LILIES for her virgin breast, 
 Where sweet peace shall ever rest ; 
 Violets to recall her eyes. 
 Opening now in paradise.
 
 296 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS 
 
 A WOMAN'S FALL 
 
 SHE sinn'd because her very soul took fire : 
 
 And she, who most should move our tears to flood, 
 As having lost the crown of womanhood, 
 
 Is thrown upon the streets, besprent with mire ! 
 
 HER WORST ACCUSERS 
 
 POOR maimed soul, what refuge hast thou here, 
 Whom man's fierce passions still pursue and vex ? 
 
 Yet bitterest portion of thy lot to bear 
 
 The uncompromising scorn of thine own sex ! 
 
 LITTLE WAIFS OF SIN 
 
 THEIR birthright sin and sorrow from the first, 
 Victims of man's insatiable desire ! 
 Branded with infamy, tho' pure as fire ! 
 
 In paynim lands ye were not so accurst !
 
 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS 297 
 
 TIME TO YOUTH 
 
 AH, fold her fast iii thy victorious arms, 
 Thy thirst for Beauty now or never slake ! 
 Too soon the baleful morn when thou wilt wake 
 
 To find some diminution of her charms ! 
 
 THE TRAGEDY OF BEAUTY 
 
 Is there to womanhood a woe so deep, 
 A moment that so ruthlessly congeals, 
 
 As that when, rising from soft-lidded sleep, 
 She first perceives that Time upon her steals ? 
 
 THE NEW WOMAN 
 
 VULGARITY, nor more nor less, 
 The modern maid entices 
 
 At first she did but ape man's dress, 
 She now affects his vices !
 
 298 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS 
 
 THE ARMOUR OF THE ROSE 
 
 THE gorse by her parent, the golden broom, 
 Was taught to grow spikelets to guard her bloom, 
 So woman, for beauty and grace design'd, 
 To ward off the cattle miscall'd menkind. 
 
 AMBITION AND ATTAINMENT 
 
 EACH man would wish to be his own good-master 
 Freedom the distant goal to which he strains. 
 
 Sad that such strenuous toil should court disaster, 
 Since happiest he who all too late attains ! 
 
 THE VISION AND THE QUEST 
 
 A WILL-O-THE-WISP that ever evades the sight, 
 The nearer we get, the blacker grows the night, 
 And he who would grasp it, grasps but a reedy light, 
 Whilst over his sinking shadow it dances bright !
 
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