/^ £j I jy 
 
 JH Dramatic T^oem 
 
 7^ IMacleod FuUartori
 
 THE LIBRARY 
 
 OF 
 
 THE UNIVERSITY 
 
 OF CALIFORNIA 
 
 LOS ANGELES
 
 M E K L I N 
 
 A DRAMATIC POEM
 
 Meruelous Merling is wasted away 
 With a wicked woman, woe might shee be, 
 For shee hath closed him in a craige 
 On Cornwel coast. 
 
 — Old Scots Song,
 
 MERLIN 
 
 A DBAMATIG POEM 
 
 BY 
 
 EALPH MACLEOD FULLAETOK 
 
 WILLIAM BLACKWOOD AND SONS 
 
 EDINBUKGH AND LONDON 
 
 MDCCCXC 
 
 All Rights reserved
 
 
 DEDICA TOR Y. 
 
 When Ufe so noUe is so near. 
 Who would have heart to roam ? 
 
 mother and sister dear, 
 Your love is heaven and home. 
 
 Take the old tragic story, where 
 Deep meaning darkly shines ; 
 
 For you a light divinely fair 
 Illumines all the lines, — 
 
 The light as of a lucent soul 
 In Hiss. heavenly dove ! 
 
 Her eyes are stars, and gild the whole 
 Dark agony of love ; 

 
 VI DEDICATORY. 
 
 Yet haply through a tear have gazed, 
 
 Knowing it hut a part 
 Of the great mystery that hath raised 
 
 And broken many a heart ; 
 
 Hath raised and broke, shall raise and break 
 
 Full many a heart again, 
 Until the Son of Man shall make 
 
 Anew the sons of men ; 
 
 Till from the thorny death-dewed hroio 
 
 A god shall lift the pall, 
 And love, that is the victim now, 
 
 Shall be the lord of all.
 
 PEOLOGUE 
 MEELIN AT HOME
 
 A Wooded Valley/ openinij on the Sea. 
 
 Chorus of Spirits {unseen). 
 
 The god of light with radiant fingers 
 Bends o'er the earth an azure blaze ; 
 She, warmly wooed, no longer lingers. 
 But gives her beauty to his gaze. 
 His smile illumes her secret fountains. 
 In forests olden glads the gloom, 
 Eolls the light mist from off the mountains, 
 And robes the valley-slopes in bloom. 
 
 From hill and plain, from rock and river, 
 An universal shout goes up 
 Loud antheming the glorious Giver, 
 Who crowneth every creature's cup.
 
 MERLIN. 
 
 The stainless height of heaven rejoices, 
 The winds shake music from their wings, 
 And ocean with ten thousand voices 
 His thunder-psalm majestic sings. 
 
 The sun, with vast reverberations 
 Amid his shining choir above, 
 Awakes with magical vibrations 
 All earth to bloom, all souls to love. 
 ITight falls ; a planetary splendour 
 Deepens the deep mysterious sky ; 
 With expectation dread yet tender 
 The sons of God look up on high. 
 
 Mbblin {entering). 
 
 Alone with nature I breathe again. 
 This quiet wood, that shining sea, 
 With sweet allurement beckon me 
 Out from the noisy ways of men ; 
 And Xature with her thousand voices 
 Calls ; at her call my heart rejoices.
 
 PEOLOGUE. MERLIN AT HOME. I 
 
 mighty Mother, let me see 
 The inly soul of all things fair, 
 " That burst in blossom, and melt in air, 
 And haunt the deep heart of the sea. 
 Come, blessed creatures, at the call 
 Of him who loves you one and all. 
 ]^o weird compelling wand have I, 
 But love, mere love. On you I'll try 
 The power of love and poesy. 
 See in my song your beauty set ; 
 For love must give, if love would get. 
 
 (Sings.) 
 
 Heart of mine, out with thee into the day, 
 Spread thee through nature anear and afar. 
 Bloom Avith the flower, with the cloud float away, 
 Mingle with earth and air, sea, sky, and star. 
 
 Leap with the cataract into the vale. 
 Hang on the rainbow's rim over the fall, 
 Spread with the sea-gull a feathery sail. 
 Break with the breakers when loud wmds call.
 
 MERLIN. 
 
 Weave with the moonlight a shadowy dream, 
 Dance with the ripple, and sleep with the pool, 
 With the wave wander in gloom and in gleam, 
 Full he with life, heart, with all life be full. 
 
 Art thou a wanderer, Avind of the West 1 
 Know'st thou the heart of the wide wild sea 1 
 I too a rover am, bold as the best, 
 j^ature's wide wild heart is open to me. 
 
 (The Spirits appear on all sides.) 
 
 Trooping they come in order fair 
 Out of ocean, earth, and air. 
 
 The Spirits. 
 
 To thee we come, man, the singer, 
 Of deeper music the mighty bringer. 
 For on our ear thy song did fall. 
 And stirred us like a trumpet-call. 
 As when of old great Orpheus led 
 The dance of things that men call dead.
 
 PEOLOGUE. MERLIN AT HOME. 
 
 Merlin. 
 
 - Happy creatures, tell me whence 
 Ye come to charm my ravished sense. 
 
 The Spirits of the Air {circle and sing). 
 
 In the great ocean that ebbs and flows not, 
 But breathes in zephyr and breaks in storm. 
 We fleet, fair phantoms the dull eye knows not. 
 And play i' the clouds' ever-shifting form. 
 The wmds they weave for us late and early 
 Of rainbow colours a garment rare. 
 With woof of sunbeam and weft of pearly 
 
 Diaphanous air. 
 Blue, deep blue in the vaulted ether, 
 Silver-blue in the moonlit night, 
 Eed, rose-red Avhere the sky beneath her 
 Beholds the birth and the death of light, 
 Gold and purple and green where the great sea 
 Draws o'er the sunk sun her garment's hem ; 
 All tender hues of air melt into us, and we 
 
 Melt into them.
 
 8 MEKLIN. 
 
 The Spirits of the Water {circle and sing). 
 
 By the clear cool bubbling of wells in the heart of 
 
 the hills, 
 Where white down the shadowy dells fall the waver- 
 ing rills, 
 Where cold on the water wan pale moonbeams play, 
 Go alone, you will see her anon — the sweet water-fay. 
 And she hath a sister, who Kes in the ocean-caves 
 Eocked on the faU and rise of the great green waves, 
 Or runs with the ridge that darkles and breaks into 
 
 spray, 
 A shower of diamond sparkles and dies away. 
 
 Her lips are coral, her grave sweet eyes are blue, 
 
 But her cheek is wan as a wave that the light shines 
 
 through ; 
 Goldy green is the shine of her floating hair. 
 And white as foam on the brine is her bosom bare. 
 And calm with the calm of ocean her perfect breast 
 Heaves with a restful motion that may not rest. 
 never again may the man rest by night or day
 
 PROLOGUE. ]MERLIN AT H0:ME. 9 
 
 Who hath, kissed the "wild eyes of the wan sweet 
 water-fay. 
 
 The Spirits of the Earth {circle and sing). 
 
 Semi-Chorus I., Dryads. 
 
 Where in the dim wood 'mid shadows olden 
 
 Flits and flickers the wavering light, 
 Whether through green leaves the sun falls golden 
 By day, or the moon falls silver by night, / 
 
 All in a kirtle green, 
 
 And a Avild rose in her hair, 
 Flitteth through shade and sheen 
 The wood-nymph rare. 
 
 Pure her cheek as a wild rose pale, 
 
 And her dark eyes are the violet-blue 
 0' the sky when the light has begun to fail 
 And sweet and sudden a star peeps through. 
 And over her kirtle green, 
 
 And do-\vn to her ankles bare. 
 Flits and flickers the sheen 
 Of her golden hair.
 
 10 MERLIN. 
 
 Semi-Chorus II., Oreads. 
 
 Through the solemn silence of the glen, 
 Up the steep slopes of the mighty hen, 
 "Where around his craggy shoulders hare 
 Purple rohe of heather he doth wear, 
 Higher yet, higher. 
 Mortal, aspire, 
 If thou would see 
 The goddess fair and free, 
 The spirit of the hills whose train are we. 
 
 "Where the topmost peak his forehead hare 
 Lifts into the clear immaculate air. 
 Where the cloud her fleecy fold hath laid 
 O'er the scars the thunderholt hath made. 
 There on the edge 
 Of earth's utmost ledge, 
 Heaven in her air, 
 The goddess standeth hare, 
 While the winds lift her long loose-floating hair.
 
 PEOLOGUE. MERLIN AT HOME. 11 
 
 IMerlin. 
 
 Children of the Mighty Mother, 
 Of you all I am the brother. 
 All your elements to me 
 Are a dear necessity. 
 Looking on your ordered beauty 
 The soul wakes to love and dutj^, 
 And in deep jDrophetic dreams 
 Sees what is, behind what seems. 
 
 The Spirits. 
 
 "NVe are of the wind, the tide. 
 The season, and with them we glide, 
 And gliding with us all things seem 
 A vague sweet xmpurposed dream. 
 Yet within our narrower scope 
 "We have yearning, we have hope, 
 Blind fore-feelings that do lie 
 Deeper than the seeing eye.
 
 12 MERLIN. 
 
 And to us too 'tis a woe 
 
 To see, to wonder, and not to know. 
 
 But to thee belongs, man, 
 
 In the maze to find a plan. 
 
 Listening thy sweet singing we 
 
 For the first time seem to see 
 
 In all l^ature unity. 
 
 All her shifting shows remain 
 
 Links in a mysterious chain. 
 
 Say, for thou art in touch with the whole. 
 
 What is of all things the secret soul ? 
 
 Merlin. 
 Love, only love. 
 
 The Spirits. 
 
 Love ! What is he 1 
 Whence ] and where may his kingdom be 1 
 
 Merlin. 
 
 Love, though veiled, is lord of all, 
 Or in ocean, earth, or air,
 
 PEOLOGUE. MERLIN AT HOME. 13 
 
 Or the dim-lit starry space ; 
 Secret, silent, everywhere 
 Showing his finger, hiding his face. 
 Eound the fiery central ball, 
 "\ATiere, to rhythmic motions bound. 
 Through the vast light-haunted ether 
 Planets roll in mazy round, 
 Separate however far. 
 O'er the gulf that doth enwreathe her 
 Star doth yet reach after star. 
 While in other orbits wheeling, 
 An unconscious attractive grace 
 Links them leaning gently, feeling 
 Each the other o'er endless space. 
 And of earth, our kindly mother, 
 Every atom owns a brother. 
 Not a graua in all her dust 
 Clasps another because it must, 
 Eut an inner elective force 
 Shapes for either a common course, 
 And a motion, akin to will 
 In a blind impulsive mood,
 
 14 MEELIN, 
 
 Promptetli each to repel the ill, 
 
 Guideth each to the kindred good. 
 
 Each tiny life on the teeming earth 
 
 In loving union had his birth, 
 
 For all is barren where love is not. 
 
 His vital beauty-breathing power 
 
 Clothes hill and valley with herb and flower, 
 
 Sweeter the lonelier the spot. 
 
 With Philomel he wooes the dark, 
 
 "Wooes the dawn with thy song, sweet lark, 
 
 "Warms the wan wave's silent brood, 
 
 Quickens earth, air, ocean-flood. 
 
 Love, informer of every form, 
 
 Yet owns o'er man a diviner sway. 
 
 Sweetly thrilling, kindly warm, 
 
 Where the bounding pulses play. 
 
 Sits i' the silence of the breast 
 
 Love, confest or unconfest. 
 
 On the heart as on a throne 
 
 Autocrat. 'Nov there alone. 
 
 Spirit-like, love hath the art 
 
 To be all in every part ;
 
 PROLOGUE. MERLIN AT HOME. 15 
 
 Pledge in all and prophecy 
 
 Of the better yet to be. 
 — Love hath in the lordly dome 
 i Of thought a palace and a home ; 
 I Tliere, or waking we or sleeping, 
 [ His phantastic revels keeping 
 
 Throuirh the chambers of the brain 
 
 'Mid a bright immortal train 
 
 Fashioned more divinely fair 
 
 Than to breathe earth's lower air ; 
 
 They to fancy do belong 
 
 And the old domain of song. 
 
 Love looks from the lattice hio:h 
 /Of the clear lash-curtained eye ; 
 \ Straightway 'tis a magic mirrour. 
 /Highest truth, divinest errour. 
 
 Forms ideal, unborn being. 
 
 Glass them there for love's sole seeing. 
 
 Common things by common light 
 
 Glow transfigured in his sight ; 
 
 Might they be 1 Ah if they might ! 
 
 'Tis the miylit he in the being
 
 16 MEELIN. 
 
 Love sees with a precious seeing. 
 Saddest memories, sweetest fancies, 
 Are the back and forward glances 
 Of his soul that sweeps the scene 
 From may he to might have been. 
 The faint fragrance of a rose 
 Ere the blushing leaves unclose 
 Love keeps when the petals gay 
 Long years gone are fled away. 
 Lightest whisper love will hear, 
 Heard not but by lover's ear, 
 And draw from cold or kindly tone 
 All pain, all pleasure. Love alone 
 Leaps from passion-parted lips 
 A winged joy, a soul-like sound ; 
 And with a mighty thrill is found 
 Li touch of tender finger-tips ; 
 Waiting in a sweet suspense 
 At the gateways of the sense, 
 Wistful windows whence the soul 
 Sees the part and dreams the whole. 
 And at those visionary gates
 
 PROLOGUE. MERLIN AT HOME. 17 
 
 'Twixt truth and phantasy love waits, 
 
 Sees the beatific sight, 
 
 Ideal forms unearthly fair 
 
 That haunt with music and with light 
 
 Hill and tree and wave and air. 
 
 Or rise, by shaping fancy wrought, 
 
 Warm with passion, clear with thought. 
 
 By a subtle-simple art 
 
 Fashioned out of love's own heart. 
 
 The Spirits. 
 
 Sweet, Merlm, is thy singing ; 
 As of old, when mighty Pan 
 Sang before the birth of man, 
 Nature thrills with the sweet ringino;. 
 We are nature, we are artless ; 
 And our heart, that is not heartless, 
 Singeth out as simply free 
 As a bird upon a tree. 
 But thy song hath deeper seeming, 
 And within the boding breast 
 
 B
 
 18 MEELIN. 
 
 "Wakes a visionary gleaming, 
 
 A sweet tumult of unrest. 
 
 Merlin, whence that deeper part 1 
 
 Is it nature 1 is it art 1 
 
 And what is art— this moving plan 
 
 That nature knoAvs not but only man 1 
 
 Merlin. 
 
 Art is nature raised above 
 
 Accident by human love. 
 
 Marring mist of accident. 
 
 By chance and vile occasion sent. 
 
 Touched with love's divining rod 
 
 Eolls away, reveals the God 
 
 All bare of limb, all clothed with awe, 
 
 Pure nature moulded by a law 
 
 l!^ot Nature's to a perfect whole 
 
 "\^^lose measure is the maker's soul. 
 
 ITature with a sleep doth cover 
 
 Her dim beauty, till a kiss 
 
 From the soul of man the lover
 
 PEOLOGUE. MERLIN AT HOME. 19 
 
 Fills her waking eyes with bliss, 
 
 Bliss half his and half her own, 
 
 Man and nature joined in one. 
 
 Lo their child, ideal art, 
 
 Part her fact, his fancy part, 
 
 All — nature and the human heart. 
 
 Who may match with pencilled dye 
 
 Hues that emparadise the eye 
 
 In Nature's endless pageantry 1 
 
 To him who sees with a deep delight 
 
 The birth, the death, of changeful light 
 
 From the rose-red dawn to the moon-pale night. 
 
 Their open secret they freely show, 
 
 The variance subtle in union sweet 
 
 Through soft gradation of hues that meet 
 
 And melt and blend in the rainy bow. 
 
 "What spell is on the charmed air 
 
 When the deft musician flings 
 
 Cunning fingers o'er the strings ? 
 
 Sound is music if love be there. 
 
 Sister tone hath answering brother ; 
 
 He knows the notes that love each other,
 
 20 MEELIN. 
 
 Links tlieir liking, and holds afar 
 
 Sounds that only meet to jar ; 
 
 Or, — for love hath gracious lies, 
 
 Nor seldom wears a brief disguise, — 
 
 Love in discord's self shall be 
 
 An excentric harmony : 
 
 Masker bold, he cheats the fear 
 
 With : " When you think not, I am here ! " 
 
 Love least looked for is then most dear. — 
 
 Love hath language ; tender ties, 
 
 Intimate affinities 
 
 Of strong to weak, of fall to rise, 
 
 Link the numbers of rhythmic speech 
 
 In golden order each to each. 
 
 Where, in living union found, 
 
 Thought hath shape, and shape hath sound, 
 
 And all are poetry — the art 
 
 To voice the universal heart 
 
 Of men below and of gods above. — 
 
 Love is art, and art is love. 
 
 This her glory that her gaze 
 
 Hath misgiving of higher things,
 
 PROLOGUE. MEELIN AT HOME. 21 
 
 Motions of a sweet amaze, 
 
 Flashes rare and vanisliings 
 
 Of a strange celestial grace, 
 
 Native to some happier place, 
 
 By visionary fancy canght 
 
 On prophetic heights of thought, 
 
 Where for a moment she may stand 
 
 And see, with the seer of ancient days, 
 
 Faint and far in a golden haze 
 
 The vision of the promised land 
 
 Where Love unveiled shall be lord of all. 
 
 The Spirits. 
 
 Love lord of all ! sing it again ! 
 Sing us of love, as love seems to men. 
 
 , Merlin, 
 
 / Of all souls the very soul. 
 Love, art thou alone ; 
 They the parts, and thou the whole, 
 They many, and thou one.
 
 22 MEKLIX. 
 
 Thou dost like a garment wear 
 The morning and the night ; 
 
 Without thee jSTature were not fair, 
 The sun would give no light. 
 
 Thine the carol, thine the wail, 
 That greets the dawn, the dark ; 
 
 Thy sob the night calls nightingale, 
 Thy laugh the day calls lark. 
 
 All bliss that owns a human birth 
 By thee alone is given ; 
 
 The happy lover calls thee earth, 
 Sad lovers call thee heaven. 
 
 !Not all of earth or heaven art thou. 
 
 Thy yearning is of earth ; 
 But the clear radiance on thy brow 
 
 Knows neither death nor birth. 
 
 On fickle wings of vague desire 
 Thou wanderest abroad ;
 
 PEOLOGUE. MERLIN AT HOME. 23 
 
 Bear'st in thy breast the sacred fire, 
 The burning breath of God. 
 
 The Spirits. 
 
 Love alone is Lord of all ! 
 Love only Lord of all ! 
 Love Lord of all ! 
 Love— AU !
 
 ACT I. 
 
 THE WIZAED WELL
 
 On the Heath : hy the Wizard Well. 
 
 "Vivien {alone). 
 
 I WONDER Avhom my fairy godmother 
 Meant, at my birth foretelling I should wed 
 Of men the wisest, who should do my will 
 To his own hurt, and not I his, though wise. 
 All men say Merlin is the wisest man ; 
 And he's a knight, and of the Table Eound, 
 And chief of Arthur's council. Is it he, 
 I wonder 1 or some younger goodlier man, 
 "SRla^o shall be great yet ? But my father says 
 Wisdom is ever old, love ever young. 
 I don't know that. But this I long to know : 
 Shall it be Merlin, or what other man ? 
 They say this weU hath such a magic in it.
 
 28 MEKLIN. 
 
 That at a certain hour of every day — 
 
 But what hour no man knows — the maid that looks 
 
 Shall see her lover's face. JSTow will I sing 
 
 A song to charm the spirit of the well, 
 
 And woo the lucky hour. Sweet love, be kind ! 
 
 (Sings.) 
 
 wizard well, what is in thy heart 
 To make thee leap so and tremble and start 
 With a mighty welling-up out of the night 1 
 Hast thou a secret that will to the light, 
 wizard well ? 
 
 Merlin (approaching and seeing Vivien, stops). 
 
 Whom have we here 1 My fountain has a nymph ! 
 
 A lissom shape ; — and what a subtle look 
 
 For one so young and fair ! Her dark eyes glow 
 
 With passion that is not the idle dream 
 
 Of pleasant youth. Merlin, this girl might match 
 
 A wizard, were the wizard fool enough 
 
 To match him with a girl. — A song-bird too !
 
 / 
 
 ACT I. THE WIZARD WELL. 29 
 
 Vivien {singing). 
 
 Where is thy wizard 1 The people say 
 'Twas the mighty Merlin passed this way, 
 And drank, and looked with his fateful eyes 
 Into thy deep heart, and made thee wise, 
 wizard well ! 
 
 Merlin (aside). 
 
 And if it were so, what has thy yoimg life. 
 
 Which yesterday a doll did satisfy. 
 
 To do with Merlin and his fateful eyes 1 
 
 Vivien (singing). 
 
 well of wisdom, say me not nay, 
 For I too would be like Morgan the fay, 
 "Whom wizard Merlin hath taught to know 
 All sweet strange things that are hid below 
 For the wise to see.
 
 30 MERLIN. 
 
 Merlin {aside). 
 
 'Twere an apt pupil ! — Merlin, have a care 
 That thou fulfil not thine own prophecy 
 About the lion by the leopard slain ; 
 For she is as a leopard, outward fair, 
 Supple of body, subtle of intent. 
 And, roused, implacable. Beware of her ! 
 
 YiviEN (singinr/). 
 
 wizard well, see, I stoop and lave 
 My lips and eyes in thy wan cold wave. 
 And look for Merlin, and see nought there 
 But my o^^^l young face, that is only fair, 
 JS'ot his, that is lofty and wise. 
 
 Merlin. 
 
 Certes, it were uncivil to deny 
 So sweet a suppliant. 
 
 (He comes hehmd her unobserved, and looks 
 over her into the xvell.)
 
 ACT I. THE WIZARD WELL. 31 
 
 Vivien. 
 
 Heavens ! I see a face 
 ISToble and gentle, holding passionate fire 
 Within controlling calm ; a man of men ! 
 If he were only mine ! watery shape, 
 See how I stoop to kiss thee. 
 {Merlin draws hack.) Oh ! he's gone ! 
 
 Merlin. 
 
 Sweet lady, he is here. K"ay, shrink not so. 
 Mislike you then the veritable shape 
 Whose counterfeit you kissed 1 
 
 Vivien. 
 
 You had no right 
 To steal upon me so, and see me stoop 
 To love unsought. Yet, sweet friend, I forgive you, 
 If you are he. Axe you the mighty wizard 1
 
 32 MERLIN. 
 
 Merlin. 
 
 An you mean Merlin, I'm his dearest friend, 
 And he hath taught me many secret arts 
 And wonderful 
 
 Vivien. 
 
 I Avish I had been you ! 
 Would he have taught me, think you 1 
 
 Merlin. 
 
 Had he felt 
 As I do now, your wish had been his will. 
 
 Vivien. 
 
 You speak me fair ; and if you fairly mean it, 
 Show me such wonder as shall well assure 
 That you have been with Merlin. 
 
 Merlin. 
 
 "What you will. 
 See, I will put for your delight alone 
 A garden round this well, and people it
 
 ACT I. THE WIZARD WELL. 33 
 
 With, knights and ladies who shall lightly move 
 To music that shall shame the nightingale 
 To hush his ruder note. 
 
 Vivien. 
 
 excellent ! 
 
 Merlin draws a circle round them icith his staff, 
 then dips it in the well and sprinkles the circle, 
 then waves it thrice round Vivien's head, re- 
 peating — 
 
 Beauty be round thee, 
 
 Beneath, and above ; 
 For thrice have I wound thee 
 
 The spell of love. 
 
 The scene changes to a fair garden, wherein knights 
 and ladies walk and dance upon the greensward 
 to the music of an unseen Choir, icho sing this — 
 
 Song. 
 On rosy pinions 
 
 The young-eyed love 
 
 Drops from above 
 On his happy minions. 
 

 
 34 MERLIN. 
 
 Dear hopes, dark fears 
 On his bright wings bringing, 
 He comes with singing. 
 
 He goes with tears. 
 
 trust him never, 
 
 The light-winged boy ! 
 
 His rose of joy 
 Has a sharp thorn ever. 
 
 On earth nought cheers 
 "When away he's winging ; 
 He comes with singing. 
 
 He goes with tears. 
 
 Vivien. 
 
 ^N'o dream was ever lialf so beautiful. 
 "WTiat a gay company ! 
 
 Merlin, 
 
 Nay, what a sad one ! 
 See in their restless eyes languor and longing,
 
 ACT I. THE WIZAED WELL. 35 
 
 Unsatisfied desire ; and hear you not 
 
 The song they dance to, with his sad refrain 
 
 Of love that comes with singing and goes with tears 1 
 
 Vivien. 
 Can people dance to that 1 
 
 Merlix. 
 
 Ay, marry, can they, 
 And when he's gone for ever, dance the more. 
 
 Vivien. 
 
 I could not dance so. "When I cease to love, 
 Then I shall hate. 
 
 Merlin. 
 
 Nay, some of them hate too, 
 And yet they dance ; and you wiU do the like, 
 When you have been to Court.
 
 36 MERLIN. 
 
 Vivien. 
 
 How know you, sir, 
 
 That I shall go to Court 1 
 
 Merlin. 
 
 I read it now 
 In your bright eyes : when I said " Court," they 
 glistened. 
 
 Vivien. 
 
 The Count my father says I must to Court 
 When Easter comes again, for I am now 
 Sixteen last Easter, and have been confirmed. 
 
 Merlin. 
 
 Two weighty reasons ! — (Aside.) Pity, holy Church 
 
 Should ope the door to let sweet nature out 
 
 And the world in !— ^^Hiat think you of my garden 1
 
 ACT I. THE WIZAKD WELL. 37 
 
 Vivien. 
 
 'Tis fairyland ! But whither are they gone, 
 That goodly company ? 
 
 Merlin. 
 
 Back into air, 
 Into thin air, their native element. 
 You did not fancy they would dance for ever 1 
 The garden must go too. 
 
 YlVIBN. 
 
 leave me that ! 
 For I would wander in it oft alone 
 And think of 
 
 Merlin. 
 
 What? 
 
 Vivien. 
 
 N'ay, I will say no more, 
 "Who have said too much already.
 
 38 MERLIN. 
 
 Merlin. 
 
 Lady mine, 
 This garden shall remain for your delight 
 So long as you shall in your heart of hearts 
 Care aught for him who gave it. 
 
 Vivien. 
 
 Then 'twill bloom 
 WhUe my heart beats. 
 
 Merlin. 
 
 God grant it may be so ! 
 
 Vivien. 
 
 Each day, when you are gone, I'll pluck a flower 
 And lay it for remembrance on my breast, 
 As I do now. 
 
 (She reaches to pluck afloioer.) 
 
 wonder ! what is this ? 
 My hand passed through it clean, and it broke not. 
 As 'twere a shadow !
 
 ACT I. THE WIZAKD WELL. 39 
 
 Merlin. 
 
 'Tis a waking dream. 
 These are but cheats and unsubstantial shows, 
 'No further may the force of magic go. 
 But real flowers to lay on love's own breast, 
 And real fruits that shall be good to eat. 
 Are born of toil, and through slow moons mature. 
 
 Vivien. 
 
 what a pity that I cannot wear them ! 
 
 Merlin. 
 
 Go, put a single heart's-ease in a pot 
 "Within your chamber-window, Avater it 
 Each day, and watch it ope his tender eyes ; 
 Then say : " This is my love, and with good care, 
 Thank God ! it blooms." 
 
 Vivien. 
 
 You have a humble taste ! 
 A single simple heart's-ease !
 
 40 MERLIN. 
 
 Merlin. 
 
 Will content 
 A single simple heart. 
 
 Vivien. 
 
 My heart, I own, 
 However single, is not quite so simple. 
 I much prefer these pretty cheats, although 
 One cannot pluck them. — Will you show me how 
 To make a magic garden 1 
 
 Merlin. 
 
 That I will : 
 'Twere no hard trick for love and youth to play. 
 But what shall be my guerdon 1 
 
 Vivien. 
 
 That I please you. 
 But if I please you not, then show me nothing, 
 For nothing then will please.
 
 ACT I. THE WIZARD WELL, 41 
 
 Merlin (aside). 
 
 There might you hear, 
 
 Merlin, the clanking of love's golden chains ! 
 
 Sweet lady mine, I kiss your hand and go. 
 
 YlYIEN. 
 
 And go ! and whither 1 and when do you come back ? 
 
 Merlin. 
 
 I needs must go abroad and bide a year. 
 But on St John's Eve, this day come a year, 
 I will be with you, be you where you may, 
 
 Vivien, 
 
 A whole long year ! Well ! it is very well. 
 Had I your power, you should not leave me so ! 
 But we poor women must say " Very well " ; 
 What can we else 1 — And you have taught me nothing, 
 Not one of all your charms !
 
 42 MERLIN. 
 
 Merlin. 
 
 You are all charms ; 
 And have a magic mightier far than mine, 
 To hind the wizard's self. What would you more 1 
 
 Vivien. 
 
 A charm to keep you ever at my side, 
 And make you love me. 
 
 JMerlin. 
 
 Other charm is none 
 But love to win love, or to keep it, won. 
 Eely on that ; nor seek without you powers 
 That God hath put within. Ask your own heart, 
 And tell me truly : do you truly love me 
 As I love you 1 
 
 Vivien. 
 
 ISTow by my maiden troth 
 I love you better than a maiden should 
 Who loves she knows not whom !
 
 ACT I. THE WIZARD WELL. 43 
 
 Merlin. 
 
 My Vivien ! 
 {Takes her in his arms and kisses her.) 
 Now shall this long kiss that has linked our lips 
 Be as a charm to lure thee back again 
 Thy Merlin. 
 
 Vivien. 
 
 You are Merlin ! you are he 
 I dreamt of by the well, and looked to find, 
 And found ! happy, happy Vivien ! 
 
 Merlin. 
 
 And him I looked not ever to find again 
 I found there. 
 
 Vivien. 
 
 Whom 1 
 
 Merlin. 
 
 The master-daemon, Love,
 
 44 MERLIN. 
 
 My Vivien, — a good master, so you be 
 His servant, not his slave. 
 
 Vivien. 
 
 Nay, I would be 
 His slave, so you would give me what I want. 
 
 Mbelin. • 
 What is it you want 1 
 
 Vivien. 
 
 0, many, many things ! 
 But first and now, that ring upon your hand, 
 To wear on mine when you are far away. 
 
 Merlin, 
 
 You cannot wear it. 'Twould proclaim to all 
 That you had been with Merlin, ere he came 
 To claim you.
 
 ACT I, THE WIZAED WELL. 45 
 
 Vivien. 
 
 Then I'll hang it round my neck 
 And hide it in my bosom. 
 
 Merlin. 
 
 A 'sweet nest ! 
 But 'tis my signet-ring of solemn use, 
 And hath a virtue dangerous to one 
 Who knows not how to use it. 
 
 Vivien. 
 
 N'ot to me ; 
 For you will show me how to use it right. 
 
 Merlin. 
 Anon, my minion, when I come again. 
 
 Vivien. 
 
 Now ! now !
 
 46 MERLIN. 
 
 Merlin. 
 
 'Not now. 
 
 Vivien. 
 
 I pray you let me go, sir, 
 "Who hold my love so cheap. I gave you more 
 Than maiden should, because I trusted you ; 
 And you deny me the first little thing 
 I ask, because you trust me not. I know 
 The maid you trust ; 'tis Morgan, Arthur's sister ; 
 You tell her aU you know ; she has but to ask, 
 And she will have the ring. Naj, let me go, 
 For I wiU not be second, though it be 
 To the sister of a king. Unhand me, sir ! 
 
 Merlin. 
 
 Now this is very madness ! Vivien, 
 
 I swear I love her not, nor shall she have 
 
 The ring.
 
 ACT I. THE WIZAED WELL. 47 
 
 Vivien. 
 
 Then give it me. 
 
 Merlin. 
 
 Well, there it is, 
 Since you will have it so. But have a care 
 You lose it not, nor use it heedlessly. 
 
 "Vivien. 
 
 Now that is like my gentle Merlin ! ISTow 
 I dare believe you love me. Tell me, then. 
 What virtue has it that is dangerous, 
 For I would fain avoid it. 
 
 Merlin. 
 
 'Tis a charm 
 To put to sleep whomso the wearer will 
 So long the wearer please. 
 
 Vivien. 
 
 excellent ! 
 But I see nothing dangerous in that.
 
 48 MEKLIN. 
 
 Merlin. 
 
 Kay, promise me you will not play with it ; 
 
 'Tis for grave uses. 
 
 Vivien. 
 
 Well, I promise you, 
 If you will give me — ^just one little kiss. 
 
 Merlin. 
 
 A thousand ! 
 
 Vivien. 
 
 No, just one, sir ! — There ! I knew 
 You were not to be trusted ! 
 
 Merlin. 
 
 'Tis a breach 
 To enter heaven by ! Vivien, my own love, 
 Farewell ! 
 
 Vivien. 
 
 Farewell !
 
 ACT I. THE WIZARD WELL. 49 
 
 Merlin. 
 Vivie:i ! 
 
 Vivien. 
 
 What is it then 1 
 
 Merlin. 
 Say once more that you love me — love me, Vivien. 
 
 Vivien. 
 
 You foolish man ! I love you far too well ; 
 And if you promise not to kiss me, mind, 
 I'll seal it with one little parting kiss. 
 There ! Are you satisfied ? 
 
 Merlin. 
 
 As he can be 
 Wlio, quitting heaven, has one thought — to return. 
 
 Vivien. 
 Let it be soon. Good-bye ! 
 
 D
 
 50 MERLIN. 
 
 Merlin. 
 
 My life, good-bye ! 
 {Exit) 
 Vivien. 
 
 And so my fairy godmother was right ; 
 'Tis Merlin after all "Well, he is younger 
 Than I had fancied ; a right goodly man, 
 And of a noble presence. How his eye 
 Gleamed when he looked on me ! 'Tis very sure 
 He loves me passing well. And he shall tell me 
 All I would know. I will go straight to Court 
 And there out-rival Morgan. Haughty Princess, 
 Look to your laurels. I have got the ring, 
 And the ring's master. Vivien shall be King !
 
 ACT 11. 
 
 ST JOHN'S EVE
 
 A Chamher in the Palace. 
 Morgan and Gwendolen working at embroidery. 
 
 Morgan. 
 
 Give me another skein — tlie yellow. And now 
 Tell me, what think yon of your pretty rival 
 The sprightly Vivien 1 I have heard the Queen 
 Doth simply dote on her young maid-of-honour. 
 
 Gwendolen. 
 
 Young maid-of-honour truly ! a forward minx, 
 A chit, a green girl, newly out o' the nest ; 
 Yet she forsooth has no thought but to out-fly 
 Her elders and her betters.
 
 64 MEELIN. 
 
 Morgan. 
 
 You mistake her. 
 She hath a rare wit. Greenness never knew 
 That unabashahle brow ; no haughtier cliff 
 Affronts the Atlantic. Have you seen her roused 1 
 Her eyes flash thunders. "Where her fell tongue falls, 
 Were it coat of mail, it bites. iN'ought turns her edge 
 Save adamantine right. Yet can she be, 
 When it suits her, gentle as a summer night. 
 Mild as the treacherous ocean when he hath pent 
 His winds and smoothed his waters till they smile. 
 
 Gwendolen. 
 
 You draw a demon. 
 
 I draw a woman. 
 
 Morgan. 
 
 Let the d^vil beware 
 
 Gwendolen. 
 Nay, the devil and she
 
 ACT II. ST JOHN'S EVE. 55 
 
 Are hand and glove : how could she else have cast 
 
 Poor Snid into such a deathly swound, 
 
 Nor shout nor shake nor sharpest needle-thrust 
 
 Into the quick nerve 'neath the finger-nail 
 
 Could rouse her ; and all because she did upbraid her 
 
 For rumouring of the Queen and Lancelot. 
 
 All stiff and cold as any corpse she lay, 
 
 Till we bethought to fetch the coroner ; 
 
 When with a word she waked her. 
 
 Morgan. 
 
 'Tis the ring 
 She had of Merlm ; I saw it on her hand ; 
 And she did boast to me she hath his love, 
 Who is not worthy of it. Gwendolen, 
 She hath beguiled me of my dearest hope ! 
 I say not that he loved me ; yet his eye 
 Eested on mine so kindly, and, when we met. 
 Gave me such sunny welcome, that I — hoped ; 
 Nor haply but for her had hoped in vain. 
 
 4
 
 56 MERLIN. 
 
 Gwendolen. 
 
 Come, be a woman ; love where you are loved. 
 You have about you many a goodly knight, 
 E'oble and gentle, in the very flower 
 Of lusty youth, far better formed to love. 
 
 Morgan. 
 
 'Tis not the lusty life that makes the lover, 
 But fire i' the soul ; and he hath a soul all fire. 
 
 Gwendolen. 
 
 An the fire warm me not, 'tis nought to me. 
 Give where you get ; and whoso lets, let be. 
 
 Morgan. 
 You savour more of policy than love. 
 
 Gwendolen. 
 
 !N^ay, an my love knew nought of policy, 
 I'd hang myself.
 
 ACT II. ST JOHN'S EVE. 57 
 
 Morgan. 
 True lovers have done so. 
 
 Gwendolen. 
 The more fool they ! 
 
 Morgan. 
 
 Such foUy might be mine. 
 But have you ever loved 1 
 
 Gwendolen. 
 
 I have loved as well 
 As men deserve : the woman who loves more 
 Hath more of love than wit. 
 
 Morgan. 
 
 Love is not tauf^ht 
 Of wit, but teacheth wit. 
 
 'o-' 
 
 Gytendglen. 
 
 'Tis very true ;
 
 58 MERLIN. 
 
 For love is taught of folly, and love's event 
 Teachetli the fool. Dear lady, be advised. 
 Choose a good honest happy-hearted man, 
 Not over-wise, — have you not wit for two 1 — 
 And he will prize you more for his defect. 
 There now is Guyomar ; he's a proper man ; — 
 A gallant youth, and of a sprightly humour 
 That looks on the bright o' things, a merry soul. 
 
 Morgan. 
 
 I love not merry souls ; or they are noisy, 
 Or funny, which is worse. A sad high soul 
 Had took my fancy more. 
 
 Gwendolen. 
 
 You hanker still 
 After your wizard, whom you cannot have, 
 And miss what might be. The apple out of reach 
 Shows fairer, but the apple in the hand 
 Hath this charm, you can eat it.
 
 ACT II. ST John's eve. 59 
 
 Morgan. 
 
 In my hand 
 I have no apple good or bad. 
 
 Gwendolen. 
 
 You're not 
 An apple-tree. Go, choose one, sit beneath 
 And shake the bough ; 'twill fall into your lap. 
 Here comes young Guyomar. An you shake not him, 
 I warrant he'll shake you. 
 
 Guyomar {entering). 
 
 Good morrow, ladies. 
 
 Gwendolen. 
 
 Good morrow, Guyomar. What gallant news 
 Have flushed your face so with a sanguine joy ? 
 
 Guyomar. 
 Great news. The King commands a solemn tourney
 
 60 MEKLIN. 
 
 Betwixt the Queen's knights and the Table Eound ; 
 Each knight to bring a lady, and wear i' the helm 
 Her glove. Sir Gawain leads us for the Queen, 
 And wears her favour. Lady, now you know 
 What brought me hither. 
 
 Morgan. 
 
 No indeed I don't. 
 
 GUTOMAR. 
 
 My casque is empty. 
 
 Morgan. 
 
 When the head is in it, 
 You mean. 
 
 GUYOMAR. 
 
 Qiiite so. But, lady, my heart is full ; 
 And asks your glove.
 
 ACT II. ST JOHN'S EVE. 61 
 
 Morgan (aside). 
 
 0, most preposterous G ! 
 "Was ever such a — G-lover "? 
 
 GUYOMAR. 
 
 "VVTiat says my lady % 
 
 Morgan. 
 
 That she is sorry for your empty casque 
 And your full heart. 'Tis not a fair division. 
 
 Gwendolen. 
 
 Nay, an you shake it so, the branch will break 
 Or e'er the apple fall. 
 
 Morgan. 
 
 Sweet cousin, peace ! 
 He does not see it. 
 
 GUYOMAE. 
 
 But what about the glove ?
 
 62 MERLIN. 
 
 Morgan. 
 
 'Tis custom for a knight, hefore he ask 
 
 A lady publicly to set her honour 
 
 At risk upon his head, to do some deed 
 
 That may attest his love and knightly faith. 
 
 Even Hercules, for love of Omphale, 
 
 Did hold the distaff ere he slew the Hydra. 
 
 GUYOMAE. 
 
 Of Hercules I know enough to swear by, 
 No further. But by Hercules I swear. 
 Command me any deed, and I will do it. 
 So I may win your 
 
 Morgan. 
 Glove ! 
 
 GUYOMAR. 
 
 Quite so ; you read 
 My thought beforehand.
 
 ACT II. ST John's eve. 63 
 
 Morgan. 
 
 Great wits jump, you know. 
 
 GUYOMAR. 
 
 Quite so ; your wits at least jump like a cat ; 
 I'm not so sure o' mine. But what is it 
 You'd have me do 1 
 
 Morgan. 
 
 To sit down here before me 
 And hold this skein the while I reel it off. 
 Hold your hands so. They tremble ! Are you cold 1 
 
 Gdyomar. 
 
 igj 
 
 ISTo, I am hot. 'Tis warmer work than tiltinc 
 To sit so. I had rather break a lance 
 AYith deadliest opposite, than sit opposite you 
 And feel your fingers touch mine, and your eyes 
 That smiling mock me.
 
 64 MERLIN". 
 
 Morgan. 
 And how do you feel i' the lists ? 
 
 GUYOMAR. 
 
 I clench my teeth, and feel nought but the man 
 In front, how to unhorse him. 
 
 Morgan (aside). 
 
 After all, 
 This thing's a man. — Well, clench your teeth so now, 
 And feel nought but the skein, how you may hold it. 
 
 GuYOMAR. 
 
 And so I would, if you were not behmd it. 
 
 Morgan. 
 I^ay, an you like me not, you need not stay. 
 
 GuYOMAR. 
 
 But I do like you ; that's the worst of it.
 
 ACT II. ST JOHN'S EVE. 65 
 
 When I'm away, I'm longing to be here ; 
 Though when I'm here, I'm so uncomfortable. 
 
 MORGAX. 
 
 Poor fellow ! 
 
 Vivien {entering). 
 
 Lady, the Queen would speak with you 
 An hour hence in her chamber. — I am sorry 
 To have seen an interesting situation ! 
 
 MORGAX. 
 
 You see no interest — except your own. 
 
 YlVIEX. 
 
 Xay, 'twill much interest the Queen to hear 
 The Lady Morgan trains her youthful knights 
 In arts as weU as arms. You should be grateful, 
 Sir Guyomar. It is not every knight 
 That has the Lady Morgan for a mistress 
 
 E
 
 66 MERLIN. 
 
 In sweet domestic duties. But you hold 
 The skein awry ; pardon me, let me show you. 
 
 (Leans softly over him and adjusts his hands 
 with gentle pi'essure. ) 
 
 GUTOMAR. 
 
 With two such mistresses I cannot fail 
 To learn apace. 
 
 Vivien. 
 
 Nay, you must not have two ! 
 One of us would be jealous ! 
 
 Morgan. 
 
 I have your message. 
 Doubtless the Queen expects you. 
 
 Vivien. 
 
 1^0 ; she said, 
 If it amused me, I might stay with you 
 A little. There, you hold it wrong again,
 
 ACT 11. ST JOHN'S EVE. 67 
 
 Guyomar. When my lady pulls the thread 
 With -petulant twitch, as she is doing now, 
 Your hands should humour her, so, — 
 
 {Leans again over Mm and iiilaces her hands 
 against his loitJwi the skein.) 
 
 — and let the thread 
 Eun lightly over, else 'tis sure to break, 
 And yours will be the blame, you naughty boy ! 
 
 Guyomar. 
 
 Nay, I would evermore be so in fault 
 But to be so set right. 
 
 Vivien. 
 
 Don't look at me ! 
 Look at the skem. My lady will be angry ! 
 
 Morgan. 
 
 'Tis past endurance. Lady Gwendolen, 
 Will you relieve Sir Guyomar of the skein ^
 
 68 MERLIN, 
 
 Vivien. 
 
 I told you she'd be angry. Better come 
 Away "with me now. 
 
 GUYOMAE. 
 
 N'ay, such sudden leaving 
 Would be uncivil. 
 
 Morgan. 
 
 He cannot leave too soon 
 Who has outstayed his welcome. 
 
 Vivien. 
 
 I told you so. 
 
 GUYOMAK. 
 
 I did not mean 
 
 MOKGAN. 
 
 Fools never mean. — Begone ! 
 
 {Exit GUYOMAR.) 
 
 Why do you not go with him 1 You have won him.
 
 ACT II. ST JOHN'S EYE.. 69 
 
 Vivien. 
 
 That's "why. "Were he not won, I might have gone. 
 The hunter does not follow the bagged hare. 
 
 You are a hunter ! 
 
 Vivien. 
 
 I amuse myself 
 
 As other women do. 
 
 Morgan, 
 
 But on your hand 
 You wear a pledge you should not sully so. 
 
 Vivien (glancing at the ring). 
 
 That thing 1 Poor Merlin ! Plainly 'tis a pledge 
 That he loves me, but not that I love him.
 
 70 MERLIN. 
 
 Gwendolen. 
 'Tis plain indeed ! 
 
 YlVIEN. 
 
 I did not speak to you. 
 
 Morgan {eagerly). 
 You do not love him ! You love Guyoniar ! 
 
 YlVIEN. 
 
 I did not say I loved or one or other. 
 
 'Tis they love me. Merlin is wise and potent, 
 
 And will no doubt be usefid. Guyomar 
 
 Is young and fresh and merry as a lark. 
 
 Why not have both ? Each of his kind is good, 
 
 The one for use, the other for delight. 
 
 Morgan. 
 
 And you would use him ! And in love prefer 
 That empty-headed boy ! shame ! shame !
 
 ACT II. ST JOHN'S EVE. 71 
 
 Vivien, 
 
 You may love age, and happy may you be ! 
 Youth will have youth ; young Guyomar for me ! 
 
 Merlin {who has entered unobserved). 
 
 Have then your wish ; go to young Guyomar. 
 I do release you. Give me back my ring. 
 
 Vivien (abashed). 
 Your ring ! 
 
 Merlin. 
 
 My ring ; the ring I pledged you with. 
 You would not give it to young Guyomar ? 
 
 (Vivien reluctantly hands him the ring.) 
 Since we two parted, I have had one thought — 
 To meet again ; ay, and a thousand times 
 Have chid the slow sun and the la^frard hours 
 That kept me from her side. I little dreamed
 
 72 MERLIN. 
 
 How over her the same hours swiftly flew 
 And paled my promised bliss. 'Tis over now 
 And gone, my late-born short-lived dream of love. 
 I have had rude awakening. Yet I blame not 
 That you have ceased to love me, — that you love 
 Young Guyomar ; for you were but a girl 
 And knew not other men, knew not yourself. 
 But that you should have traded on my name, 
 Flaunted my ring, and callously designed 
 To utilise my love, — I marvel yet 
 At one so young, so heartless, and so bold. 
 Yet, — for I would not harbour enmity 
 Where love hath nestled, — I forgive. Farewell. 
 
 {Exit.) 
 
 Morgan. 
 
 I looked not to have ceased from wrath ; but now 
 I pity you. Come, Gwendolen, the Queen 
 
 Expects us. 
 
 Gwendolen. 
 
 Ta ta 1 Love to Guyomar ! 
 {Exeunt Morgan and Gwendolen.)
 
 ACT II. ST John's eve. 73 
 
 Vivien. 
 
 Plundered ! deserted ! pitied ! flouted at ! 
 
 And with impunity ! Is this a dream 1 
 
 Can it be true 1 Is this tamo victim Vivien ? 
 
 The ring is gone, — and Merlin, — and he has taught me 
 
 'Not one of all his arts. I am undone. 
 
 Morgan will triumph ; all the Court will hear. 
 
 And make them merry ; even this Gwendolen, 
 
 This lady's-maid, will laugh at me. HeU ! 
 
 Give me a dagger ! — Xo, it may not be. 
 
 I must walk gently up to my revenge. 
 
 I must regain the ring, and to that end 
 
 Bring Merlin to my feet again. He loves me. 
 
 And I must feign to love him. 'TwiU be hard 
 
 "With this huge hate within ; not to be done 
 
 But by who loves the doing. After all, 
 
 Who but a fool would hate the needful means 
 
 To his own end 1 If 'tis the shrewdest weapon, 
 
 Shall I not kiss the blade 1 I know his haunts 
 
 I' the forest ; I wiU straight go seek him there, 
 
 And see which is the wiser, he or I.
 
 74 MERLIN. 
 
 he is wise ! He thinks me but a girl, 
 Who knows not men, not she ! nor yet herself. 
 
 1 know my man well ; he has two weak points : 
 A tender heart, — well, that is mine already, — 
 And what he calls his conscience. "With such cards 
 I cannot fail to win, — were we alone. 
 
 Merlin 'twere easy to deceive, but Morgan, — 
 She will oppose, and she will see the game. 
 Which is the mightier 1 She thinks she loves him ; 
 I know I hate him. Love may come and go, 
 But hatred is immortal. IS'ow I hate, 
 I am a thing inspired. God-like hate. 
 Thou liftest me to superhuman state. 
 Lead on, I follow thee to my revenge.
 
 ACT III. 
 UNDEE THE WHITE-THOKN
 
 A Wood. 
 
 Merlin (alone). 
 
 "Whence then man 1 Out of God ? or Matter ? 
 
 Or both commingled 1 A genial batter 
 
 Of God and matter unequally mixed ? 
 
 Through ingrate matter a God energising ! 
 
 What wonder the outcome is something surprising, 
 
 By cut-and-dry formulae not to be fixed, 
 
 Opposing exception to each narrow rule, 
 
 The despair of the pedant, the dread of the fool, 
 
 Self-taught, uncurbable, life his teacher, 
 
 A wayward plastic passionate creature. 
 
 Blent with alloy of sturdier ore ; 
 
 Heat it, hammer it, more and more
 
 78 MERLIN. 
 
 Firms his strength to an iron frame, 
 Casmg fit for a soul all flame. 
 Man, the star-measurer, sun-analyser, 
 Of the Great Mother the one surpriser 
 Where at her mighty loom she stands 
 "With time, the shuttle, atwixt her hands, 
 . Weaving swiftly to and fro 
 Life and death and weal and woe 
 Into the garment of God's owm stature. 
 His royal raiment that men call Xature. 
 
 But soft ! Who comes 1 !N"o more of man 
 Here's woman — quite another plan ! 
 Such artless art, such artful heart. 
 Her art is nature, her nature art. 
 For she can smile, and she can weep, 
 And what a silence she can keep ! 
 And she can talk too, and such a lingo 
 The deuce himself cries iYow distingiLO. 
 Her no means yes, her yes oft no ; 
 Yet not even contraries can show 
 The suhtle shiftings of her will,
 
 ACT III. UNDER THE WHITE-THORN. 79 
 
 That ranges the gamut of good and ill ; 
 
 Yet- be it well or ill, as fate 
 
 'Tis sure she never can be straight. 
 
 Still must we doubt, still may we grieve 
 
 Whether we do or don't believe. 
 
 What solves the doubt 1 What turns the scale 1 
 
 A practised blush, a turning pale 
 
 At the right moment — off they fly, 
 
 The wise distrust, the critic eye. 
 
 Yet how to doubt, — God above ! — 
 
 The smile, the tear, of her we love 1 
 
 What do I see ! She faints ! — Or else she feigns, — 
 Which is it 1 'Tis well acted, if 'tis feigned. — 
 I doubt too lightly. May not a God-sent chance 
 Have touched her better part, and waked the pain 
 That purifies 1 'Needs I do make assay 
 If she be false or true. 
 
 (Advances to her.) 
 What accident 
 ]\Iakes me of all men witness to the pain 
 I fain would heal 1
 
 80 MERLIN. 
 
 Vrv^iEN. 
 
 I came to liide my grief 
 pray you 
 Since you have left me, leave 
 
 I came to uide my grie: 
 i'rom cruel eyes. I pray you mock me not. 
 lince you have left me, leave me ! 
 
 Merlix. 
 
 I left you not 
 
 TUl well assured that you had all left me. 
 
 Vivien. 
 
 You left me a whole year to bide the brunt 
 Of cruel comment in a scandalous Court. 
 And when to shield myself I, woman-like, 
 Lightlied our dear love, and made game of you. 
 Whom in my heart I worshipped, you, my lover. 
 My chosen knight, my should-have-been defender, 
 Do on a sudden burst invade the scene. 
 Like Jove, all thunderbolts, abjure your faith, 
 Lisult my truth, make our sweet secret love 
 An open shame, ourselves a laughing-stock 
 To wise men and to fools. Yet 'tis not that.
 
 ACT III. UNDER THE WHITE -THOEN. 81 
 
 The public shame, though to a woman bitter ; 
 'Tis to have lost, Avhat thinking to have won 
 I gave my good name, would have given my life, 
 'Tis to be scorned, 'tis to be all alone. 
 
 Merlin. 
 Do you not then love Guyomar ? 
 
 YlVIEN. 
 
 Do you think 
 I, Vivien, would dechne upon a boy, 
 A beardless, downy, inarticulate thing, 
 Or if articulate, infallible. 
 As knowing aU things ! I love dignity 
 And power, that love not a raw unripe youth, 
 But the wide temples and the mighty brows 
 Of thunder-wielding Jove. One such I loved ; 
 But he hath flung me from him like a weed. 
 
 Merlin. 
 
 If I have wronged you, I am truly sorry. 
 
 F •
 
 82 MEELIN. 
 
 Vivien. 
 
 I thank you for that if, it is so healing 
 To the wounded heart ! I will go tell my comrades, 
 Who heard you flout me : Merlin doth make amends ; 
 Says, if he wronged me, why then he is sorry ! 
 
 Merlin. 
 
 I did not mean it so. I am truly sorry 
 That I had so misjudged you : tell them that. 
 
 Vivien. 
 
 I care not what they think, whom I love not 
 Nor honour. But 'tis misery that you 
 I honoured in my heart, and woman-like 
 Had hoped to please, do in your heart of hearts 
 Distrust poor Vivien. 
 
 Mbblin. 
 By heaven, she weeps !
 
 ACT III. UNDER THE WHITE -THORN. 83 
 
 Needs I were more or less than man to doubt 
 
 Thoso^ heavenly drops. Vivien, by those sweet tears 
 
 From sweeter eyes, in whose pathetic fount 
 
 Angels inhabit, I offer you a love 
 
 Most absolute, and henceforth do renounce 
 
 All thought of doubt. 
 
 YlVIEN. 
 
 If I did weep but now 
 To be scorned so, more am I fain to weep, 
 ISTow I am loved. 
 
 Meelin. 
 
 Nay, rather lean your head 
 Here on my heart, and I will kiss away 
 The precious rain, that love hath turned to joy, 
 
 Vivien. 
 
 Then make your arm a pillow for my head 
 That is with over-grief and over-joy
 
 84 MEELIN. 
 
 Grown weary ; and wake me not, for I would sleep, 
 And dream of — Merlin. 
 
 Merlin. 
 
 Is this earth or heaven 1 
 Eude arms, he tender round this tender thing. 
 I'll sing to her a lullahy as soft 
 As snow-flakes upon water, as the dew 
 Of even dropping from the wings of sleep. 
 
 (Sings.) 
 
 For my wonder 
 
 Make a bed, 
 
 Eoses red 
 And violets under. 
 And above her 
 A bending lover. 
 
 Low — breathe low ! 
 She sleeps — 
 
 My lady sleeps — 
 Sleeps !
 
 ACT III, UNDER THE WHITE -THORN. 85 
 
 On light pinions 
 
 Of a dove 
 
 O'er my love 
 Float, airy minions. 
 In dreams steep her 
 Deep, deeper ! 
 
 Low — breathe low ! 
 She sleeps— 
 
 My lady sleeps — 
 Sleeps ! 
 
 How beautiful ! All round the snowy neck 
 
 A finger-breadth apart run two faint lines 
 
 Of pearly grey, that make the opposed white 
 
 Show whiter. On this stalk in hue a lily 
 
 Hangs the consmnmate rose. Ah might I print 
 
 But one kiss where the marble-arched brow 
 
 Casts o'er the curved lid a pearly shade 
 
 Like snow on snow ! I^ay, nay, it might awake her, 
 
 And break the perfect wonder of her sleep. 
 
 I'll lay my head as close as I may dare. 
 
 And follow her into the land of dream.
 
 86 MERLIN. 
 
 Where we may meet, and I may haply dare, 
 What here for very love I dare not. So, — 
 Sweet sleep befall me ! 
 
 Vivien (raising herself cautiously). 
 
 At last he is asleep ! 
 And the ring-hand unclenched ! happy chance ! 
 Stay, did I hear him murmur, "Vivien"? 
 He wakes ! — Dear Merlin ! — Merlin % — K'o, thank God, 
 He does not wake ! Now must I make essay 
 To take it off his hand as tenderly 
 As upon mine he put it on that day 
 When first I wore it. 
 
 [Draios it off stealtMly ; then holds it up in 
 triumxjh.) 
 
 Lo ! the spoiler spoiled ! 
 Back to thy proper place ! 
 
 (Puts it on ; then looking at it.) 
 He called thee his ! 
 
 (Raises her hand.) 
 Sleep, Merlin ! wake not till I — bid thee wake !
 
 ACT III. UNDER THE WHITE -THORN. 87 
 
 But shall I wake him 1 He did play the lover 
 
 So, deftly that, did I not hate him so, 
 
 Almost I could have loved him. Out of doubt 
 
 He loves me passing well ; but 'tis because 
 
 He doth believe the thing that is not is. 
 
 He will not always be deceived ; and then — 
 
 Then will be Morgan's hour. — It shall not be ; 
 
 He never shall be hers. Were I to spare him, 
 
 He never would stand by and see me wreak 
 
 My vengeance upon Morgan, — would oppose 
 
 And moralise with lily-livered saws 
 
 And maxims from the Sermon on the Mount 
 
 Of meekness and forgiveness and the rest ; 
 
 As though an eagle, a winged thunderbolt 
 
 Of Jove, the curved beak and cruel claws 
 
 All red with lordly rapine, would descend 
 
 To cower and coo among the holy doves, — 
 
 how I hate them ! 'No, it cannot last. 
 
 Since end it must, 'twere well I end it now. 
 
 Therefore, Merlin, sleep, and wake no more ! — 
 
 How grand he looks ! 
 
 {Stoops to kiss him, hut draws hacli.)
 
 88 MERLIN, 
 
 IsTay, better let the past 
 Be past ; relenting is not in the game. 
 Poor Merlin ! I shall miss him, now he's gone. 
 Yotmg Guyomar must comfort me for this. 
 
 {Exit.) 
 
 Morgan (entering). 
 
 He cannot be far off. iJ^ow let me stop 
 
 And think what I shall say. I greatly fear 
 
 He may mislike it, for he loved her well. 
 
 But I must warn him she was overheard, 
 
 Then when we left her in my room alone. 
 
 To threaten dire revenge, and to that end 
 
 To seek him here. God grant I be in time ! 
 
 For she is prompt to plan, and swift to act. — 
 
 This path he loved. Here he would often pace 
 
 Long hours, or sit, and commune with himself 
 
 And nature. — But he is not here. — A tree 
 
 There was, a white-thorn ; when the bloom was out 
 
 And birds were nesting, he would lie beneath 
 
 Still as a stone, looking and listening. 
 
 Ay, here it is ; and, my heart, 'tis he !
 
 ACT III. UNDEK THE WHITE -THORN. 89 
 
 And fast asleep. How pale he looks ! How pure 
 
 The blue-veined temples whence the clustering locks 
 
 Fall hyacinthine ! I have never seen 
 
 The face I love with such sweet undisturbed 
 
 Serenity of vision, never dared 
 
 To pause and linger over every line 
 
 As 'twere some statue of a demigod 
 
 Breathing in marble. Air, what happy star 
 
 Has -wrought this dreamy spell? Who avouM have 
 
 thought 
 Sleep could be so like death ! Or — can it be ? — 
 O God, can he be dead "? 
 
 (Kneels, and seizes his hand.) 
 Xo, he's alive, 
 The faint pulse flickers. Merlin, Merlin, wake ! 
 Wake, Merlin ! Oh, he lies as motionless 
 As Enid. Ha ! I have it ; the ring is gone ; 
 That devil has bewitched him ! What dread power 
 Shall countervail the ring, that charmed circle 
 Which his own magic made ? Help, righteous heaven ! 
 Rescue the righteous ! 
 
 (Takes from her breast a crucifix.)
 
 90 
 
 MERLIN. 
 
 Oh, by this holy sign 
 Of our salvation, and the blessed hands 
 That hung thereon. Merlin, awake ! arise ! — 
 He moves ! his colour comes again ! he wakes ! 
 Thank God ! thank God ! 
 
 Merlin. 
 
 Vivien ! 
 
 I am not wanted. 
 
 Morgan. 
 
 He loves her still ; 
 {Turns her head away.) 
 
 Merlin. 
 
 Vivien, I have had 
 A dreadful dream. Methought a basilisk 
 Coiled round my neck, then raised the cruel head 
 In act to strike, and with her glittering eye 
 Held me. Anon she fastened on my hand ; 
 Then round my throat tightened her horrid coil
 
 ACT III. UXDEE THE WHITE -THORN. 91 
 
 Until I fainted. A long time I lay 
 
 Neiglrbouring on death ; when on a sudden there feU 
 
 A warmth around me, a light, and in the light 
 
 I saw an angel holding over me 
 
 A crucifix ; and from that Blessed One 
 
 Went virtue forth, and through my tingling veins 
 
 Life thrilled again ; and with a cry I woke. 
 
 But with that horror black, that heavenly blaze, 
 
 I am all dazed, and in my veins the blood 
 
 Doth prick me shrewdly. Vivien, my own love, 
 
 Kiss me, and tell me it is all a dream. 
 
 Morgan. 
 
 It is no dream. 
 
 Merlin. 
 
 It is not Vivien ! 
 Morgan ! You here ! And where is Vivien 1 
 
 Morgan. 
 
 The basilisk is gone.
 
 92 MERLIN. 
 
 Merlin. 
 
 The basilisk '] 
 What do you mean 1 Beware ! for if you harm her 
 In aught, your life shall answer it. 
 
 Morgan. 
 
 My life 
 Has answered it already. She is gone. 
 Your ring is gone with her. She robbed you of it, 
 And then bewitched you, or bewitched you first 
 And robbed you after, and left you there for dead. 
 God and this holy rood have done the rest. 
 
 Merlin. 
 
 Vivien is gone ! The ring is gone ! God, 
 Can thy fair creature be so false 1 Could she 
 I loved so, she that kissed me, steal a knife 
 To stab me with 1 
 
 (He buries his face in Ms hands.)
 
 ACT III. UNDER THE WHITE -THORN. 93 
 
 Vivien {entering from behind and unobserved). 
 
 I am all out of iDieath. 
 How stupid to forget the wand that made 
 The magic garden ! — What do I see ! Hell ! 
 He lives ! And she is happy ! foolish ring, 
 Where is thy virtue 1 Or hath she a magic 
 Mightier than mine ? I will go hide me here 
 And listen. JSTow I look, she looks not happy, 
 And he — well ! were he twice alive, he dies. 
 
 Morgan. 
 Eouse you, dear Merlin. 
 
 Meelin. 
 
 Who calls Merlin dear ? 
 Ah me, not Vivien ! 
 
 Vivien [aside). 
 Good!
 
 94 MERLIN. 
 
 Morgan. 
 
 I^ot she indeed. 
 Sigh not for her who never sighed for yon. 
 
 Merlin. 
 
 'Nay, nay ; though love longs ever to be loved, 
 He waits not, nor withholds, nor weighs out love 
 By calculated doles of less or more, 
 As less or more he gets ; but like the sun 
 Pours out his fiery heart no whit the poorer 
 For all his golden gifts. 
 
 (Morgan tur7is aside weeping.) 
 Forgive me, friend, 
 If I have wounded you. Why do you weep 1 
 
 Vivien (aside). 
 
 The subtle jade ! that I had my will ! 
 She should have cause to weep. 
 
 Morgan. 
 
 I am not wounded,
 
 ACT III. UNDER THE WHITE -THORN. 95 
 
 Though bleeding at the heart. I too have loved, 
 Noi waited, nor withheld, nor weighed out love 
 As I received, but lavished all my heart 
 Without return, and now I am alone, 
 And at the very side of him I love 
 Tenfold alone. 
 
 MERLiisr. 
 
 Love never is alone. 
 'Tis smiled upon by the eternal Powers 
 That gladden earth and heaven. Only the proud 
 And selfish are alone ; them God Himself, 
 Though Love, sees afar off ; they see not Him. 
 
 MOKGAN. 
 
 I am a woman, I have need of love 
 And not philosophy, — a manly soul 
 Just strong enough to lean on, weak enough 
 To need my care. 
 
 Merlin. 
 
 Even as you speak, I see
 
 96 MEELIK 
 
 The gates of Eden open once again, 
 But not for me. 
 
 Morgan. 
 
 If not for you, for none. 
 And why not then for you ] You would not take 
 The snake that stung you to your hreast again 1 
 Merlin, if my love be nought to you, 
 Then for the love of Him who brought you back 
 From out her deadly toils, beware of her. 
 Forget that faithless woman. She is gone. 
 Think not that God has given you back your life, 
 To throw that life away. 
 
 Vivien (aside). 
 
 insolent ! 
 But she shall pay for this. 
 
 jMeelin. 
 
 If she is gone. 
 The will of God be done. My life is mine
 
 ACT III. UNDER THE WHITE -THORN. 97 
 
 To live where honour leads ; if into danger, 
 Then danger must be run. 
 
 Vivien {aside). 
 
 Good ! very good ! 
 
 Let him but stick to that ! 
 
 Morgan. 
 
 What binds you then 
 
 To this unnatural woman 1 
 
 Merlin. 
 
 I am bound 
 With the strong cords of pity and love, the same 
 That chained the Titan to his flinty bed 
 Alone amid the icy Caucasus, 
 The while the vulture, his fell bed-fellow, 
 Preyed on his mighty heart, and all around 
 The helpless ISTereid mourned. 
 
 Q
 
 98 MERLIN. 
 
 Morgan. 
 
 Helpless indeed, 
 Seeing you are not minded to be free. 
 
 Merlin. 
 
 Am I not free 1 The law I love and honour 
 Alone I live by, and obeying it 
 Have peace within. 
 
 YiviEN (aside). 
 
 I have him ! Yet 'twere well 
 I struck a blow ere Morgan strike again. 
 The flowers I had but now of Guyomar, — 
 Ay, these will do. Now forward, Vivien ! 
 
 (Advances to Merlin.) 
 At last you are awake ! You slept so sound 
 I could not bear to wake you ; so I went 
 To make you a posy of wood-violets. 
 Are they not sweet 1 
 
 (Offers them ; he mutely declines.)
 
 ACT III. UNDER THE WHITE -THOEN. 99 
 
 You frown ! You will not have them ! 
 What is the matter? Ah, I see it all ! 
 That woman has been at you. 
 
 Merlin. 
 
 Vivien, 
 How could you practise on your lover's sleep, 
 And steal away the ring you coveted, 
 To use against his life ? 
 
 Vivien. 
 
 It is a lie, 
 A base invention of the woman there, 
 To ruin me, and have you to herself. 
 Is this the love you bear me, this the faith, 
 ^Vho but an hour ago vowed nevermore 
 To harbour doubt 1 
 
 Merlin. 
 
 Vows are the passionate i^rayers 
 Of the fond heart ; they have no prophecy, 
 No vision of the future, — ah, not even 
 True vision of the past !
 
 So he break not faith. 
 
 100 MERLIN. 
 
 Vivien. 
 
 Then may true love 
 Break vows within an hour 1 
 
 Merlin. 
 
 Ay, for just cause, 
 
 YlVIEN. 
 
 Then give your love to Morgan ; 
 She may be thankful for it ; 'tis not fit 
 For my poor human uses. 
 
 Merlin. 
 
 Yet 'tis true 
 And tender. 
 
 Vivien. 
 
 True, if to believe a lie 
 Be truth — and tender, if 'tis to be tender 
 To cast me off upon the first suggestion
 
 ACT III. UNDER THE WHITE -THORN. 101 
 
 Of a designing woman. 'Tis a plot 
 To oust me from my place. 
 
 MORGAX. 
 
 The ring ! the ring ! 
 You robbed him of the ring and used it on him. 
 
 Vivien. 
 
 MerKn, I pray you bid this insolent 
 Be silent. I will answer but to you. 
 
 Merlin. 
 
 Peace ! peace ! 
 
 Vivien. 
 
 There is no peace ; 'tis open war. 
 I did not use it. And — for I did take it — 
 Was it not mine 1 Did you not give it me 1 
 And though you took it back, the time we quarrelled, 
 Did you not mean it to be mine again, 
 N"ow we are one 1 But if you want it back, 
 Take back your love with it ; give it to Morgan,
 
 102 MERLIN. 
 
 'Tis fitting she should have it whom you love. 
 
 {Offers it to Merlin.) 
 
 Merlin. 
 
 IsTay, nay, I want it not. — That awful dream 
 Gives sad corroboration, 
 
 Vivien. 
 
 Help me Heaven, 
 If every time you have a heavy supper 
 And a bad dream, I must be taxed with murder ! 
 
 Merlin. 
 And did you then not purpose to desert me ? 
 
 Vivien. 
 
 Why am I here 1 And where should Vivien go % 
 I am no princess, have no retinue 
 Of lusty knights about me. 
 
 Merlin. 
 
 Vile suggestion
 
 ACT III. UNDER THE WHITE -THOKN. 103 
 
 Against another may hurt you, cannot help you. 
 How am I troubled ! the sad soul divided 
 Betwixt a dear hope and a dreadful fear ! 
 How to resolve it 1 If she did forsake me 
 Is doubtful, is denied ; and if she did, 
 'Twas not for long, nor publicly ; and she 
 Says that she meant it not. My honour saved, 
 I may o'erlook. This hand shall never cut 
 The cords of pity and love. Come, Vivien ! 
 
 (Vivien makes a mock reverence to Morgan.) 
 Nay, mock not, where I honour and owe thanks. 
 
 (Gives Ms hand to Morgan.) 
 My friend, I thank you from my heart. Farewell. 
 
 {Exeunt Merlin and Vivien.) 
 
 Morgan. 
 
 vanity of wisdom, that saves others 
 And not himself ! I see the bitter end, 
 Eead his death-warrant in her cruel eyes. 
 He will not see it, he is lost ! God, 
 Hast Thou the heart to see and not to save "?
 
 ACT IV. 
 
 THE MAGIC MIEEOUE
 
 A Room in ]\Ierlin's House. 
 At the upper end, the Mirrour behind a curtain. 
 
 The Spirits of the Mirrour. 
 
 \st Semi-Chorus. 
 
 In the beginning of days, 
 
 Ere the sun was born, 
 Mirrour of right, thy rays 
 
 Made in heaven an endless morn. 
 
 Fashioned by God's own hand 
 
 For a breastplate rare. 
 Hiding his heart with a band 
 
 Of light as the day-star fair.
 
 108 MEKLIN. 
 
 Shine forth, infinite truth, 
 Than the sun more bright, 
 
 Within thee infinite ruth 
 Softens thine awful light. 
 
 2cl Se^ni- Chorus. 
 
 A mirrour to thee too, man, 
 
 High God hath given, 
 Wrought on the self-same plan, 
 
 A lucent witness of heaven ! 
 
 Clear to the single eye 
 
 That is clear within, 
 To the soul that loveth a lie 
 
 Dim with the shadow of sin. 
 
 Happy who finds thy face 
 
 As the noonday clear, 
 On him from a happy place 
 
 Falls the light of an endless year.
 
 ACT IV. THE MAGIC MIRROUR. 109 
 
 Merlin. 
 
 Often, ye gentle monitors, your song 
 Has hither led my steps, but never yet 
 "With such reluctant longing ; for within 
 My heart misgives me. Shall I — dare I look 1 
 
 (Reaches out, then withdraios his hand?) 
 I dare not look ; it were a sight of doom. 
 
 Chorus of Spirits. 
 
 Woe to the mortal 
 
 Who shunneth thee ever, 
 Heaven opes him her portal 
 
 Ifever, oh never. 
 
 Merlin. 
 
 N'ay, let me know the worst, which knowing not 
 I cannot better, known I might amend. 
 I dread it as the patient dreads the knife 
 That hurts him but to heal. Soul, see thyself ! 
 
 (Draws the curtain. The Mirrour is dark 
 and dim.)
 
 110 MERLIN. 
 
 'Tis as I feared ; for in my soul I felt 
 
 A trouble dim. I have made of Vivien 
 
 Occasion and excuse of all unrest 
 
 Which in myself had root ; and nature, calm 
 
 And healing, and the God within the breast. 
 
 Unsought, were silent. There is no excuse, 
 
 'Nov need be no occasion. JSTothing comes 
 
 To man of hard or easeful but is good 
 
 To the sincere soul. Spirit holy and pure, 
 
 Search thou my heart, if any wicked way 
 
 Or wish be there, and lead me into light. 
 
 (As he speaJcs, the Mirrour clears and brightens, 
 irradiating him ivith its light.) 
 
 Chorus of Spirits. 
 
 Beacon, God-sent light. 
 
 Through storm and stress ! 
 Shield him with heavenly might, 
 Breastplate of righteousness ! 
 (Vivien enters ; Merlin hastily draws the 
 curtain : the room darkens.)
 
 ACT IV. THE MAGIC MIRROUE. Ill 
 
 Vivien. 
 
 What have you got behind the curtain there 1 
 Something improper, else you had not made 
 Such haste to hide it. Nay, for I will see 
 What 'tis you keep so slyly under lock 
 That none may know, and visit all alone 
 So regularly. 'Tis the first time now 
 Of many times I find the door unlocked 
 And Bluebeard in his closet. Tell me now 
 What is your skeleton 1 Is she live or dead ? 
 
 Merlin. 
 l^or live nor dead, but is for evermore. 
 
 Vivien. 
 
 You riddle well ; but I, Avho am not clever, 
 Do woman-like prefer to read the answer 
 With my own eyes. 
 
 Merlin. 
 
 You shall, my Vivien,
 
 112 MERLIN. 
 
 If, when you know, you wiU. 'Tis no sweet sight 
 To unprepared eyes. It is a mirrour 
 Of most rare property. 
 
 Vivien. 
 
 excellent ! 
 My most sage Merlin, vain as any girl, 
 Consults his mirrour, locks him in with it. 
 Hangs over it, and asks it day by day 
 If he is looking younger. Had you asked 
 Of me, who love you far too weU to flatter, 
 I could have told you : since I saw you first 
 You look much older, spite of all my pains 
 To make you look as handsome and as young 
 As Vivien's lover should. Your grey hairs come 
 Faster than I can pluck them. Your pale brow. 
 That ever bore some lines of moody thought. 
 Is furrowed deeper, and your solemn eyes 
 So super-solemn grown, that people ask 
 How ever I could fancy you, a man 
 Dull and unsociable and aU unlike me.
 
 ACT IV. THE MAGIC MIRROUK. 113 
 
 They little dream my moody Merlin hangs, 
 An elderly K'arcissus, o'er his glass, 
 And bids it flatter him. 
 
 Merlin. 
 
 Nay, "Vivien, nay ; 
 The only glass that ever flattered Merlin 
 Was your sweet look and languished air before 
 You loved too well to flatter. Eut this glass 
 Is as a revelation ; nothing hid 
 I' the secret soul, but hath his counterfeit 
 And bodily presentment mirroured clear. 
 No question here of sweet alluring eyes 
 And smiles of subtle meaning ; every thought, 
 And wish, or good or evil, foul or fair. 
 Writ plain as hell and heaven. Will you look ? 
 
 Vivien. 
 
 You are so strange. Merlin, you frighten me. 
 And now I think of it, I will not look, 
 
 H
 
 114 MERLIN. 
 
 For you would play me some unmanly trick 
 To mock me with your mirrour. 
 
 Merlin. 
 
 Mortal none 
 May foul this glass with image of aught else 
 But with his own being evil. 
 
 Vivien. 
 
 So you say ; 
 But I mistrust you and your looking-glass. 
 
 Meblin. 
 
 Nay then, my love, I would not have you look 
 Against your will, nor counter you in aught. 
 Come, let us go. 
 
 Vivien. 
 ]^ow, that is just like you !
 
 ACT IV. THE MAGIC MIRROUR. 115 
 
 So like a man, to take ine at my word, 
 
 Mj very first word, when you know right well 
 
 I want to see it. 
 
 If you Avill, you may. 
 
 Vivien', 
 
 Of course I may, — and will. 
 
 (Draios the curtain.) 
 How dull it is ! 
 I can see nothing. Stay, I see a face ! 
 what a monster ! Not the least like me ! 
 A trick, a cowardly unmanly trick, 
 So to insult me with this devil's glass ! 
 
 (Strikes the glass. Thunder and lightninrj.) 
 save me, Merlin I dearest ]Merlin, save me ! 
 
 Merlin {talcing her hand). 
 God shield us ! Listen !
 
 116 MERLIN. 
 
 Chorus of Spirits. 
 
 Woe if thou beholdest 
 
 Only evil there, 
 And on God's o-vvn breastplate 
 Gorgon-eyed despair. 
 
 (Vivien drops Merlin's hand and 
 leaves the room.) 
 
 Merlin (looTcing after her). 
 
 My poor Vivien !
 
 ACT V. 
 
 THE TOMB
 
 SCEIs^E I. 
 
 By the Sea. Sunrise. 
 
 Merlin {adoring). 
 
 Eternal fount of being, endless spring 
 
 Of forces that with mighty pulse out-thrown 
 
 Inform the vast of nature, thou alone 
 
 The one warm life in every living thing. 
 
 Thou soul of all things, all-uplifting wing 
 
 Of nature mounting to the topmost throne 
 
 Of evolution by dark ways unknown 
 
 Of birth and death, of bloom and withering. 
 
 Thou goal of all things, all-absorbing end ; 
 
 As rivers to the ocean, so to thee 
 
 The streaming forces ever headlong tend
 
 120 MERLIN. 
 
 To lose them and be one again with thee. 
 To thee the generations awful bend, 
 And life and death adoring bow the knee. 
 
 A still small Voice. 
 
 I make and unmake and re-make 
 Pathetic forms that come and go, 
 That think they live because they ache, 
 And think they die because they flow 
 Back into that eternal sea 
 "Where nought becomes, but all things be. 
 
 Mortal, what wouldst thou ? Ask of me. 
 
 Merlin. 
 
 Hast Thou not made me, Father, in Thy love. 
 Thy love to know and render unto Thee, 
 And laid in it a bliss like that above, 
 Foretaste and pledge of immortality ? 
 Hast Thou the heart with sight of heaven to fill
 
 ACT V. THE TOMB. 121 
 
 My raptured eyes, and then to strike me blind 1 
 To njake me love Thee first, and then to kill, — 
 
 that were cruelty ! — and Thou art kind. 
 
 If thus it were, my love were more than Thine ; 
 
 1 would live ever to love only Thee. 
 Is it Thy pleasure I should e'er resign 
 What, Thee enriching nothing, beggars me ] 
 I love Thee : tell me that I shall not die. 
 
 I love thee : let me love immortally. 
 
 The Voice. 
 
 Once have I spoke by lips that cannot lie : 
 He that believeth in me shall never die. 
 
 Merlin. 
 
 I love Thee : 'tis enough : I cannot die. 
 I love Thee : that is immortality. 
 
 The Voice. 
 
 Lo I am Love ; thy life is hid in me. 
 
 (A great silence.)
 
 122 MERLIN. 
 
 Vivien (entering). 
 
 He's at his prayers. 'Tis odd he always stands 
 
 So, bolt-upright and gazing into heaven 
 
 As he would fly into it like an eagle. 
 
 K'ow Avhen I pray, I love to fold the hands 
 
 And bend the knee ; how else should I myself 
 
 Know I was praying 1 Xot that I love shams. 
 
 I hate the formal prayers I do not feeL 
 
 I wish my own -wish be it good or bad, 
 
 And if it is not suitable to God, 
 
 I send it — otherwhere. — I wonder now 
 
 What Merlin has been praying for. I doubt 
 
 He wants me dead that he may marry Morgan. 
 
 Well, let him pray the thing he dare not do, 
 
 Till I have done the very thing I pray. 
 
 The parson says God ever aids the man 
 
 Who lives the thing he prays. Well, I live mine. 
 
 The thing I do I pray that it be done. 
 
 I ask not foolislily that he would alter 
 
 The way o' the world Himself hath so ordained. 
 
 I am content to play the world's own game
 
 ACT V. THE TOMB. 123 
 
 The world's own way, which to my sense at least 
 
 Is not^amiss. But then comes ever in 
 
 This strange incalculable element 
 
 Of sovran chance, and maugre all our skill 
 
 Makes unforeseen event. This must be God, 
 
 Since human wit availeth not against it. 
 
 This then I pray to, that He favour me, 
 
 Or at the least stand by and let me be. — 
 
 jSTow must I steel my heart to strike a blow 
 
 Shall make me mistress of myself again 
 
 At any cost. 'Tis not to be endured 
 
 That he I looked to make so serviceable 
 
 Should prove a mere obstruction ; till so far 
 
 'Tis gone, he has not a good quality 
 
 I do not hate ; and even his defects. 
 
 Though more endurable, do not suffice 
 
 To cloak his odious virtues. Gratitude, 
 
 And truth, and honour, and reverence for the 
 
 right 
 He calls it, when he calls my foe his friend, 
 And chides me that I llout her ! You, my master, 
 Shall rue the day you thwarted Vivien !
 
 ] 24 MEKLIN. 
 
 But he has done his prayers. Now for the game. 
 
 {She apjjroaches him from behind.) 
 How does my lord and master 1 
 
 Meklin. 
 
 Vivien ! 
 You here ! 
 
 Vivien. 
 
 Ah ha ! you thought I did not know 
 Your secret haunts. You cannot so escape me. 
 You lie awake till I am fast asleep, — 
 At least you think so ; you rise stealthily ; 
 You think I do not know that you are gone 
 
 Merlin. 
 
 I did not want to break upon your rest 
 That am so restless. 
 
 Vivien. 
 
 'Tis an ill excuse 
 That apes a virtue.
 
 ACT V. THE TOMB. 125 
 
 Merlin. 
 
 Nay, tlie best excuse 
 Is — not to need one. 
 
 Vivien. 
 
 All, you do not want it ; 
 But I am quite determined you shall have it, — 
 I loill forgive you. 
 
 Merlin. 
 
 If in the true heart 
 Is sweet forgiveness, I am satisfied. 
 
 Vivien. 
 
 As it did not deceive me, I forgive you, 
 But upon one condition. 
 
 Merlin. 
 
 What may that be 1
 
 126 MEKLIN. 
 
 Vivien. 
 
 Do you remember that you promised me 
 A while ago — yes, a long while ago — 
 We never should be parted ? 
 
 Merlin. 
 
 Such a promise 
 Is sacred, even when, ah me ! like this one, 
 It cannot be performed. 
 
 Vivien. 
 
 VThj not 1 I tell you, 
 You shall perform it, you shall make a tomb 
 
 Merlin. 
 A tomb ! 
 
 Vivien. 
 
 A tomb. What would you have us lie in. 
 When Ave are dead 1
 
 ACT V. THE TOMB. 127 
 
 Merlin. 
 
 Your wishes go to mingle 
 Our dust Avlien we are dead ; my promise went 
 To mingle soul with soul, to have one will, 
 One heart, one life. 
 
 Vivien. 
 
 Of course I know you ought 
 To love and cherish me and cleave to me. 
 I take for granted all that sort of thing. 
 
 Merlin. 
 "What is it then you do not take for granted 1 
 
 Vivien. 
 
 Well, I have set my heart upon a tomb. 
 Just wide enough for two — a magic tomb, 
 To ope and close at pleasure. Merhn, dear. 
 Do promise me to make one. 'Twill not be 
 Harder to do than all that magic garden
 
 128 MERLIN. 
 
 You made so cleverly. So now, my dear,- 
 
 What are you dreaming of ? You do not hear me. 
 
 Merlin. 
 
 Oh yes, I hear you. Only I was thinking 
 
 Of our first meeting by the magic well. 
 
 I went there all alone but yesterday ; 
 
 The garden was all gone ; not any trace 
 
 Of love's sweet glamour left. I sat me down 
 
 And thought, until my eyes were dim with tears ; 
 
 When on a sudden tlirough my tears I spied 
 
 A little flower that love's own hand might gather 
 
 And lay on love's own breast. See, here it is ; 
 
 They caU it : Love lies hleeding. "Will you have it ? 
 
 Vivien (throwing it away). 
 
 Certainly not. !N"ow that is so like you, 
 To offer me a common little flower 
 With a foolish name. One reaUy would think 
 You took me for a girl.
 
 ACT V. THE TOMB. 129 
 
 Merlin. 
 
 What are yon then 1 
 
 ViVIEX. 
 
 A woman of the world, wlio knows right well 
 Nor man's nor woman's love lies long a-bleeding. 
 Love never made a wound love would not heal. 
 Though healing haply with another hand 
 Than gave the Avound, ShaU I apply the adage 1 
 The lady Morgan has a fair Avhite hand, 
 Fairer than mine, you think. Nay, let it go, 
 For you do think so. Say, mine wounded you, 
 AVould hers be slow to heal 1 
 
 Merlin, 
 
 You know right well 
 The lady Morgan owes not any charm 
 To win my heart from you. And for your adage, 
 If true love ever gave true love a wound 
 Through hasty word or inconsiderate act, 
 He would not wait until an alien hand 
 
 I
 
 130 MERLIN. 
 
 Had healed the hurt, but instant wash the wound 
 In torrents of his own repentant tears, 
 And heal it with a kiss. 
 
 Vivien. 
 
 Well, kiss me then, 
 And heal the wound. 
 
 Mbelin. 
 
 I had not been aware 
 There was a wound to heal. 
 
 Vivien. 
 
 I do believe 
 You wanted to suggest the wound was yours. 
 
 Merlin. 
 
 ISTot so. But after all, what matters it, 
 So we two kiss 1
 
 ACT V. THE TOMB. 131 
 
 Vivien. 
 
 It matters everything. 
 There never was a more forgiving wife, 
 But one thing I will never tolerate, 
 
 I will not be forgiven. 
 
 I won't forgive you. 
 
 Merlin. 
 
 Well then, dear, 
 
 Vivien. 
 
 For you must admit 
 There's nothing to forgive. 
 
 Merlin. 
 
 N'ay, such perfection 
 Were not to be forgiven ! 'Tis enough 
 It is not Avanted. 
 
 Vivien. 
 
 It is not indeed.
 
 132 MERLIN. 
 
 But an you love me, give me -what I want. 
 You shall have no rest till I have my tomb. 
 
 Merlin. 
 Is love so near death as to want a tomb 1 
 
 Vivien. 
 
 You little know how we poor women love. 
 Many a time I wish that I were dead, 
 Tor then, I think. Merlin would love me more, 
 And miss my love if only it were gone. 
 
 Merlin. 
 
 Love misses love the moment it is gone, 
 But waiteth not upon a selfish loss 
 To prick remembrance. He is lord of life, 
 Not death, and in the sacrifice of self 
 Hath his beatitude. 
 
 YlVIEN. 
 
 Well, sacrifice
 
 ACT V. THE TOMB. 133 
 
 Yourself for once, and give me what I want. 
 Tlren we shaU both be happy ; I shall have 
 My wish, and you have — your beatitude. 
 
 Merlix. 
 Have then your wish. 
 
 Vivien [embracing Mm). 
 
 what a love you are ! 
 
 Merlin (shrinking). 
 Nay, do not kiss me until it is done. 
 
 Vivien [kissing Mm). 
 
 But I must kiss you, for I am so happy. 
 
 How good of you i And when will it be done 1 
 
 I do so long to see how you avUI look — 
 
 How / shall look, I mean — stretched out in it. 
 
 Just like a marble figure in a niche 
 
 In some old minster.
 
 134 MEKLIN. 
 
 Merlin. 
 
 Meet me here again 
 At sunset, 'twill be ready. For the present 
 Farewell ! I will go pray. 
 
 Vivien. 
 
 Farewell ! Farewell I 
 (Exit Merlin.) 
 'Tis the wise man all over ! Innocent 
 As any lamb ! Were he a common fool, 
 I could not fool him so ! — ^And yet he has 
 Such awful eyes, that seem to see me through 
 And yet to look beyond me. 'Tis imcanny 
 To have a mighty wizard for a lover. 
 And not a simple, hearty human fool 
 Like Guyomar. Heigho ! Well, we shall see 
 "S^Hiat sunset and the tomb will do for me. 
 
 (Exit.)
 
 ACT V. THE TOMB. 135 
 
 SCEI^E II. 
 By the Western Sea. Sunset. 
 
 Merlin (alone). 
 
 The hour is come. The thing that I had dreamed 
 
 And dreaded, and yet hoped impossible, 
 
 Is here, inexorable ; and at his touch 
 
 The stout reaUties of solid earth 
 
 Seem shadows, and the noisy life of men 
 
 A troubled dream. What if life be a dream. 
 
 And death the great awakening ? my soul, 
 
 If thou be true, thy dream of life doth bode 
 
 The self-same truth thy waking eyes shall see. 
 
 For truth is one, and one too the true soul 
 
 Whether it wake or sleep, nor feareth not
 
 136 MERLIN. 
 
 To look calm-eyed in the calm eyes of death. 
 
 Poor Vivien ! What she fancies all unseen 
 
 I see it all, how she doth hunt my life, 
 
 And means to have it, cost her what it may. 
 
 Is there no way to save her from herself 1 
 
 To part the resolutely guilty mind 
 
 From her own purpose 1 K'one. The chain that hinds 
 
 them 
 Hath adamantine links. She holds to pride, 
 And pride to hate, and hatred to revenge, 
 "Whose stah is in the dark. Upon her bed 
 She lies awake and plans it ; then, asleep 
 There at my side, enacts it in her dreams, 
 Murmuring, " He is dead ! I am avenged ! " 
 There is no help for her, Xor more for me 
 This side the grave. Were it any one but she 
 That dogged my life so, a single word — a wave 
 Of this light wand — would sweep them from my path; 
 But her I would save harmless with my life, — 
 Yea, to my Hfe's defeat, so it were with honour. 
 And while she lives, she lives to the one end 
 That I may die. And she hath many an arrow
 
 ACT V. THE TOMB. 137 
 
 From my own quiver, many a secret art 
 
 Wormed from my fondness while I dreamed her true, 
 
 Helpful in mine, but in malicious hand 
 
 Most hurtful ; one or other, winged with hate, 
 
 Is sure to hit. Then, my soul, prepare 
 
 To face the destinies whose awfid seat 
 
 Is curtained round with death. Farewell, green earth 
 
 And ever-freshening sea. Yon sinking sun, 
 
 Ere he have reached you, may see Merlin die. 
 
 How calm aU natiu-e ! Pass, blessed calm. 
 
 Into my soul. Am I not part of you — 
 
 Of this fair-ordered universal plan ] 
 
 May not this life be severed less from that 
 
 Than day from day by soft-recurring sleep 
 
 And night 1 Or say I suffer some bright change. 
 
 As that poor grub there, prone upon a leaf, 
 
 Breaks from his self-spun tomb, that is a Avomb, 
 
 A winged imago, minion of the sun 
 
 And darling of the flowers, itself a flower. 
 
 Or say I pass into some lower form ; — - 
 
 Let death change what he may, he cannot change 
 
 My soul to false from true. And One remains
 
 138 MEELIN. 
 
 Amid the changing worlds unchangeable. 
 My God, my life is unto Thee. Thou canst 
 As well by her as any other hand 
 Take Merlin home. 
 
 Vivien (entering). 
 
 Ay, there he is, 
 And at his prayers again. 'Twill not avail him. 
 I too have prayed. ISTot that I trust to that. 
 I work incessantly ; and highest God, 
 Though He approve not, gives set will his way. 
 The constant mind is her own destiny. 
 Chance never is persistent ; I — persist. 
 But he perceives me. — Dearest, you are here 
 Before me. But I do not see the tomb. 
 Is it not ready yet 1 
 
 Merlin. 
 
 Ay, all is ready, — (aside) 
 The altar and the victim and the knife.
 
 ACT V. THE TOMB. 139 
 
 Vivien. 
 Wliat are you muttering ? 
 
 Meblin. 
 
 See you tliis huge rock, 
 That fronts the great sea and the setting sun ? 
 It is the tomb of Merlin. Were he dead, 
 'Twould open at the only name of Death 
 To take him in, and with the one word Peace ! 
 "Would close agam. 
 
 Vivien. 
 
 But as you are not dead, 
 What words wiU ope and close it 1 
 
 Merlin. 
 
 Only one 
 
 Can ope the grave to love. 
 
 Vivien. 
 
 That word is ?
 
 Hate. 
 
 140 MERLIN. 
 
 Merlin. 
 
 And only one can close it upon love. 
 
 Vivien. 
 And that is 1 
 
 Merlin. 
 
 Treachery. 
 
 Vivien. 
 
 What horrid words ! 
 It is so like you, dear, to go and choose 
 Words that no man of taste would ever use. 
 
 Merlin. 
 
 'Tis not I chose them, but the awful powers 
 Whom I obey
 
 ACT V. THE TOMB. 141 
 
 Vivien. 
 
 Then the bad taste is theirs. 
 "Would it not do to think it 1 
 
 Merlix. 
 
 'Twere enough 
 
 o 
 
 To thuik it of set purpose. {The rock opens.) 
 
 {Aside.) Lo, the thought 
 
 Hath oped the deadly chamber ! 
 
 YlVIEN. 
 
 how pretty ! 
 I never thought it would be such a love ! 
 Merlin, you really must lie down in it 
 And let me see you ; you will look so grand 
 Lying alone there. 
 
 {Lays her hand on it, and shrinks hack.) 
 Dear ! how hard and cold !
 
 142 MERLIN. 
 
 Merlin. 
 
 'Tis warm and soft to one who hath laid his head 
 Upon a loveless breast. 
 
 Vivien {aside). 
 
 Does he suspect ? — 
 How narrow, too ! There is not surely room 
 For both of us. 
 
 Merlin. 
 
 If both were minded to, 
 Eoom were enough ; but 'twas not meant for both, 
 My Vivien. Soon it will be all too wide 
 For him whose wishes but an hour ago 
 Did strike against the stars. {Lies dotvn in it.) 
 
 Here Merlin lies. 
 
 Vivien {aside). 
 
 He does suspect. Quick, quick, ere he do rouse him 
 
 From his dejection ! Close, thou fatal casket, 
 
 Upon thy jewel. {The rock closes.)
 
 ACT V. THE TOMB. 143 
 
 "Now, Morgan, do thy worst ! 
 Eescuer-thy lover ! Try each subtle art 
 He taught thee ! Which of them shall ope the vast 
 And massy doors of death 1 
 
 Merlin (from icithin). 
 
 My Vivien ! 
 
 Vivien. 
 He speaks ! horrible ! he calls me his ! 
 
 Merlin. 
 
 Farewell, my Vivien ! With my latest breath 
 I do forgive thee. Vivien, fare thee well ! 
 
 Vivien (listening). 
 
 He's dead ! Xo, no, he lives ! I heard him gasp. 
 Hell ! which horror is to me the greater, 
 That he should die or live 1 K"ow all his acts. 
 That were aU kind, accusing angels stand 
 Betwixt me and my purpose. Shall I yield 1
 
 144 MERLIN. 
 
 iN'o, no ; to yield's to fail. Vivien — to fail ! 
 IN'ever ! no yielding ! — what a cry was there 
 Of a heart breaking ! — What if he does not die, 
 But live confined, a lamentable ghost 
 Crying for exit 1 and the shuddering air 
 Babble the secret, and a rumour spread, 
 Till Morgan hear of it, and once again 
 Rescue her lover 1 if I thought that, 
 I'd ope the rock and hold him by the throat 
 Till he was dead. 'No, no, no, no, not that ! 
 He'd look, I know it, as though he loved me still. 
 Is no way out but to go deeper in ? 
 that it only were aU as before, 
 And he were mine again, and I were glad ! 
 Are you alive. Merlin 1 You are not dead. 
 You shall not die yet. Ope, thou deadly trap, 
 Give back thy victim ! 
 
 (The rock opens : she bends over him.) 
 Merlin, speak to me. 
 My Merlin ! — Thou wast ever wont to smile. 
 If I but called thee mine. — he is dead ! 
 Quite dead ! he cannot help nor hinder me,
 
 ACT V. THE TOMB. 145 
 
 'Not vex me any more. Poor Merlin ! now 
 
 I do forgive him. (Draws herself up.) 
 
 Stay, did not he say 
 That he forgave me? me, to whom he owed 
 Amends, whose right it was to have forgiven ! 
 No, I will not forgive him ! One there lives 
 Whom he preferred in honour. Nevermore 
 Will I relent, while any one remains 
 Happy, who wronged me or taxed me with wrong. 
 I am but half avenged. — Yet, — for he did 
 Most absolutely love me ; and I too, — well, 
 I too had loved him, had he been content 
 To hate where I hate, and love only me ; 
 But he forsooth must heal with amity 
 Whom I had spurned — nay, and be very wroth 
 At my most natural scorn ; — I hate him still, 
 And think it very shame I came so near 
 Quite to forgive him. Yet — he loved me well ; 
 And he is gone ; and there is no one left 
 To love me like my Merlin. — Merlin, see, 
 I do forgive thee, take again thy hand 
 In mine, — it is not cold yet, something lives 
 
 E
 
 146 MERLIN. 
 
 Of thy old ardour ; I will warm it here, 
 Here in my bosom, where it loved to rest 
 Wlien thou wouldst call me thine, thy Vivien, 
 And kiss me even as I kiss thee now. 
 
 {Clasps Mm groaninri.) 
 Merlin ! Merlin ! Merlin ! Oh !— Oh !— Oh ! 
 
 (Starts up, and glances fearfully round.) 
 I must not leave him so. Morgan might find him, 
 Kiss him perchance, and rumour it about, 
 And men might call it murder. Therefore close. 
 Horrible rock, keep in thy breast thy secret ! 
 
 [Tlie rock closes. She stands gazing awhile, 
 then turns away shuddering.) 
 Merlin, thy spirit passeth into light, 
 While Vivien goes alone into the night. {Exit.) 
 
 Chorus of Spirits {unseen). 
 ] 
 
 Semi-Chorus I. 
 
 Lay off the cerements that cling to the mortal, 
 Garment thou needest none, child of the day ; 
 
 Sun-bright thy spirit hath passed the dark portal. 
 Wings of the morning thine only array.
 
 ACT V. THE TOMB. 147 
 
 Semi-Chorus II. 
 
 From all earthly passion purged clear, 
 Enter thon the everlasting age ; 
 
 Heavenly now the vision of the seer, 
 Happy now the wisdom of the sage. 
 
 Semi-Chorus I. 
 
 O'er the death and birth 
 Of the painfnl earth, 
 
 That beneath thee lie, 
 Night deeper sinks, 
 
 Semi-Chorus II. 
 
 And the lucent brinks 
 
 Of the mom are nigh, 
 Where the soul hath the gain 
 Of her fiery pain ; 
 
 Chorus. 
 Glory to God Most High !
 
 PRINTED BY WILLIAM BLACKWOOD AKD SONS.
 
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