s: But never was my heart thus touch'd before.


s: Are they from Heaven, these softenings of the heart?


s: O thou old warrior, let us yield to Heaven!


s: Come, plant we here in earth our angry spears,


s: And make a truce, and sit upon this sand,


s: And pledge each other in red wine, like friends,


s: And thou shalt talk to me of Rustum's deeds.


s: There are enough foes in the Persian host,


s: Whom I may meet, and strike, and feel no pang;


s: Champions enough Afrasiab has, whom thou


s: Mayst fight; fight _them_, when they confront thy spear!


s: But oh, let there be peace 'twixt thee and me!"


s: He ceased, but while he spake, Rustum had risen,


s: And stood erect, trembling with rage; his club


s: He left to lie, but had regain'd his spear,


s: Whose fiery point now in his mail'd right-hand


s: Blazed bright and baleful, like that autumn-star,


s: The baleful sign of fevers; dust had soil'd


s: His stately crest, and dimm'd his glittering arms.


s: His breast heaved, his lips foam'd, and twice his voice


s: Was choked with rage; at last these words broke way:--


s: "Girl! nimble with thy feet, not with thy hands!


s: Curl'd minion, dancer, coiner of sweet words!


s: Fight, let me hear thy hateful voice no more!


s: With Tartar girls, with whom thou art wont to dance;


s: Of battle, and with me, who make no play


s: Of war; I fight it out, and hand to hand.


s: Speak not to me of truce, and pledge, and wine!


s: And cunning! all the pity I had is gone;


s: Because thou hast shamed me before both the hosts


s: With thy light skipping tricks, and thy girl's wiles."


s: He spoke, and Sohrab kindled at his taunts,


s: And he too drew his sword; at once they rush'd


s: Come rushing down together from the clouds,


s: One from the east, one from the west; their shields


s: Rose, such as that the sinewy woodcutters


s: Make often in the forest's heart at morn,


s: Of hewing axes, crashing trees--such blows


s: And you would say that sun and stars took part


s: Grew suddenly in Heaven, and dark'd the sun


s: Over the fighters' heads; and a wind rose


s: Under their feet, and moaning swept the plain,


s: And in a sandy whirlwind wrapp'd the pair.


s: In gloom they twain were wrapp'd, and they alone;


s: For both the on-looking hosts on either hand


s: Stood in broad daylight, and the sky was pure,


s: And the sun sparkled on the Oxus stream.


s: But in the gloom they fought, with bloodshot eyes


s: And labouring breath; first Rustum struck the shield


s: Which Sohrab held stiff out; the steel-spiked spear


s: Rent the tough plates, but fail'd to reach the skin,


s: And Rustum pluck'd it back with angry groan.


s: Then Sohrab with his sword smote Rustum's helm,


s: Nor clove its steel quite through; but all the crest


s: He shore away, and that proud horsehair plume,


s: Never till now defiled, sank to the dust;


s: And Rustum bow'd his head; but then the gloom


s: Grew blacker, thunder rumbled in the air,


s: And lightnings rent the cloud; and Ruksh, the horse,


s: Who stood at hand, utter'd a dreadful cry;--


s: No horse's cry was that, most like the roar


s: Hath trail'd the hunter's javelin in his side,


s: And comes at night to die upon the sand.


s: The two hosts heard that cry, and quaked for fear,


s: And Oxus curdled as it cross'd his stream.


s: But Sohrab heard, and quail'd not, but rush'd on,


s: And struck again; and again Rustum bow'd


s: His head; but this time all the blade, like glass,


s: Sprang in a thousand shivers on the helm,


s: And in the hand the hilt remain'd alone.


s: Then Rustum raised his head; his dreadful eyes


s: Glared, and he shook on high his menacing spear,


s: And shouted: _Rustum!_--Sohrab heard that shout,


s: And shrank amazed; back he recoil'd one step,


s: And scann'd with blinking eyes the advancing form;


s: And then he stood bewilder'd; and he dropp'd


s: His covering shield, and the spear pierced his side.


s: He reel'd, and staggering back, sank to the ground;


s: And then the gloom dispersed, and the wind fell,


s: And the bright sun broke forth, and melted all


s: The cloud; and the two armies saw the pair--


s: Saw Rustum standing, safe upon his feet,


s: And Sohrab, wounded, on the bloody sand.


s: Then, with a bitter smile, Rustum began:--


s: "Sohrab, thou thoughtest in thy mind to kill


s: A Persian lord this day, and strip his corpse,


s: And bear thy trophies to Afrasiab's tent.


s: Or else that the great Rustum would come down


s: Himself to fight, and that thy wiles would move


s: His heart to take a gift, and let thee go.


s: And then that all the Tartar host would praise


s: Thy courage or thy craft, and spread thy fame,


s: Fool, thou art slain, and by an unknown man!


s: Than to thy friends, and to thy father old."


s: And, with a fearless mien, Sohrab replied:--


s: "Unknown thou art; yet thy fierce vaunt is vain.


s: Thou dost not slay me, proud and boastful man!


s: No! Rustum slays me, and this filial heart.


s: For were I match'd with ten such men as thee,


s: And I were that which till to-day I was,


s: They should be lying here, I standing there.


s: That name, and something, I confess, in thee,


s: Which troubles all my heart, and made my shield


s: Fall; and thy spear transfix'd an unarm'd foe.


s: And now thou boastest, and insult'st my fate.


s: But hear thou this, fierce man, tremble to hear:


s: The mighty Rustum shall avenge my death!


s: My father, whom I seek through all the world,


s: He shall avenge my death, and punish thee!"


s: As when some hunter in the spring hath found


s: And pierced her with an arrow as she rose,


s: And follow'd her to find her where she fell


s: Far off;--anon her mate comes winging back


s: From hunting, and a great way off descries


s: His huddling young left sole; at that, he checks


s: His pinion, and with short uneasy sweeps


s: Circles above his eyry, with loud screams


s: Chiding his mate back to her nest; but she


s: A heap of fluttering feathers--never more


s: Shall the lake glass her, flying over it;


s: Echo her stormy scream as she sails by--


s: As that poor bird flies home, nor knows his loss,


s: So Rustum knew not his own loss, but stood


s: But, with a cold incredulous voice, he said:--


s: "What prate is this of fathers and revenge?


s: And, with a failing voice, Sohrab replied:--


s: "Ah yes, he had! and that lost son am I.


s: Surely the news will one day reach his ear,


s: Reach Rustum, where he sits, and tarries long,


s: Somewhere, I know not where, but far from here;


s: And pierce him like a stab, and make him leap


s: To arms, and cry for vengeance upon thee.


s: Fierce man, bethink thee, for an only son!


s: What will that grief, what will that vengeance be?


s: Oh, could I live, till I that grief had seen!


s: With that old king, her father, who grows grey


s: With age, and rules over the valiant Koords.


s: With spoils and honour, when the war is done.


s: From tribe to tribe, until it reach her ear;


s: And then will that defenceless woman learn


s: That Sohrab will rejoice her sight no more,


s: He spoke; and as he ceased, he wept aloud,


s: Thinking of her he left, and his own death.


s: He spoke; but Rustum listen'd, plunged in thought.


s: Who spoke, although he call'd back names he knew;


s: For he had had sure tidings that the babe,


s: So that sad mother sent him word, for fear


s: Rustum should seek the boy, to train in arms


s: And so he deem'd that either Sohrab took,


s: By a false boast, the style of Rustum's son;


s: Or that men gave it him, to swell his fame.


s: So deem'd he; yet he listen'd, plunged in thought


s: And his soul set to grief, as the vast tide


s: Of the bright rocking Ocean sets to shore


s: At the full moon; tears gather'd in his eyes;


s: And all its bounding rapture; as, at dawn,


s: The shepherd from his mountain-lodge descries


s: Through many rolling clouds--so Rustum saw


s: His youth; saw Sohrab's mother, in her bloom;


s: And that old king, her father, who loved well


s: His wandering guest, and gave him his fair child


s: With joy; and all the pleasant life they led,


s: They three, in that long-distant summer-time--


s: The castle, and the dewy woods, and hunt


s: And hound, and morn on those delightful hills


s: Of age and looks to be his own dear son,


s: Like some rich hyacinth which by the scythe


s: Mowing the garden grass-plots near its bed,


s: And lies, a fragrant tower of purple bloom,


s: On the mown, dying grass--so Sohrab lay,


s: And Rustum gazed on him with grief, and said:--


s: Whom Rustum, wert thou his, might well have loved.


s: Yet here thou errest, Sohrab, or else men


s: Have told thee false--thou art not Rustum's son.


s: For Rustum had no son; one child he had--


s: But one--a girl; who with her mother now


s: Plies some light female task, nor dreams of us--


s: Of us she dreams not, nor of wounds, nor war."


s: But Sohrab answer'd him in wrath; for now


s: The anguish of the deep-fix'd spear grew fierce,


s: And let the blood flow free, and so to die--


s: But first he would convince his stubborn foe;


s: And, rising sternly on one arm, he said:--


s: "Man, who art thou who dost deny my words?


s: And falsehood, while I lived, was far from mine.


s: I tell thee, prick'd upon this arm I bear


s: That seal which Rustum to my mother gave,


s: That she might prick it on the babe she bore."


s: He spoke; and all the blood left Rustum's cheeks,


s: And his knees totter'd, and he smote his hand


s: Against his breast, his heavy mailed hand,


s: That the hard iron corslet clank'd aloud;


s: And to his heart he press'd the other hand,


s: And in a hollow voice he spake, and said:--


s: "Sohrab, that were a proof which could not lie!


s: If thou show this, then art thou Rustum's son."


s: Then, with weak hasty fingers, Sohrab loosed


s: His belt, and near the shoulder bared his arm,


s: And show'd a sign in faint vermilion points


s: Prick'd; as a cunning workman, in Pekin,


s: Pricks with vermilion some clear porcelain vase,


s: An emperor's gift--at early morn he paints,


s: And all day long, and, when night comes, the lamp


s: Lights up his studious forehead and thin hands--


s: On Sohrab's arm, the sign of Rustum's seal.


s: It was that griffin, which of old rear'd Zal,


s: Rustum's great father, whom they left to die,


s: A helpless babe, among the mountain-rocks;


s: Him that kind creature found, and rear'd, and loved--


s: Then Rustum took it for his glorious sign.


s: And himself scann'd it long with mournful eyes,


s: And then he touch'd it with his hand and said:--


s: "How say'st thou? Is that sign the proper sign


s: Of Rustum's son, or of some other man's?"


s: He spoke; but Rustum gazed, and gazed, and stood


s: Speechless; and then he utter'd one sharp cry:


s: _O boy--thy father!_--and his voice choked there.


s: And then a dark cloud pass'd before his eyes,


s: And his head swam, and he sank down to earth.


s: But Sohrab crawl'd to where he lay, and cast


s: His arms about his neck, and kiss'd his lips,


s: And with fond faltering fingers stroked his cheeks,


s: Trying to call him back to life; and life


s: Came back to Rustum, and he oped his eyes,


s: And they stood wide with horror; and he seized


s: In both his hands the dust which lay around,


s: And threw it on his head, and smirch'd his hair,--


s: His hair, and face, and beard, and glittering arms;


s: And strong convulsive groanings shook his breast,


s: And his sobs choked him; and he clutch'd his sword,


s: But Sohrab saw his thought, and held his hands,


s: And with a soothing voice he spake, and said:--


s: The doom which at my birth was written down


s: In Heaven, and thou art Heaven's unconscious hand.


s: Surely my heart cried out that it was thou,


s: When first I saw thee; and thy heart spoke too,


s: I know it! but fate trod those promptings down


s: The strife, and hurl'd me on my father's spear.


s: But let us speak no more of this! I find


s: My father; let me feel that I have found!


s: Come, sit beside me on this sand, and take


s: My head betwixt thy hands, and kiss my cheeks,


s: And wash them with thy tears, and say: _My son!_


s: Quick! quick! for number'd are my sands of life,


s: And swift; for like the lightning to this field


s: Sudden, and swift, and like a passing wind.


s: But it was writ in Heaven that this should be."


s: So said he, and his voice released the heart


s: Of Rustum, and his tears broke forth; he cast


s: His arms round his son's neck, and wept aloud,


s: And kiss'd him. And awe fell on both the hosts,


s: When they saw Rustum's grief; and Ruksh, the horse,


s: With his head bowing to the ground and mane


s: Sweeping the dust, came near, and in mute woe


s: First to the one then to the other moved


s: His head, as if inquiring what their grief


s: Might mean; and from his dark, compassionate eyes,


s: The big warm tears roll'd down, and caked the sand.


s: But Rustum chid him with stern voice, and said:--


s: "Ruksh, now thou grievest; but, O Ruksh, thy feet


s: Should first have rotted on their nimble joints,


s: Or ere they brought thy master to this field!"


s: But Sohrab look'd upon the horse and said;--


s: "Is this, then, Ruksh? How often, in past days,


s: My mother told me of thee, thou brave steed,


s: My terrible father's terrible horse! and said,


s: That I should one day find thy lord and thee.


s: O Ruksh, thou art more fortunate than I;


s: For thou hast gone where I shall never go,


s: And snuff'd the breezes of my father's home.


s: And thou hast trod the sands of Seistan,


s: And seen the River of Helmund, and the Lake


s: Has often stroked thy neck, and given thee food,


s: Corn in a golden platter soak'd with wine,


s: And said; _O Ruksh! bear Rustum well!_--but I


s: Have never known my grandsire's furrow'd face,


s: Nor slaked my thirst at the clear Helmund stream;


s: But lodged among my father's foes, and seen


s: And the black Toorkmun tents; and only drunk


s: Kohik, and where the Kalmuks feed their sheep,


s: The northern Sir; and this great Oxus stream,


s: Then, with a heavy groan, Rustum bewail'd:--


s: "Oh, that its waves were flowing over me!


s: Oh, that I saw its grains of yellow silt


s: Roll tumbling in the current o'er my head!"


s: But, with a grave mild voice, Sohrab replied:--


s: "Desire not that, my father! thou must live.


s: For some are born to do great deeds, and live,


s: As some are born to be obscured, and die.


s: Do thou the deeds I die too young to do,


s: Thou art my father, and thy gain is mine.


s: But come! thou seest this great host of men


s: Which follow me; I pray thee, slay not these!


s: Let me entreat for them; what have they done?


s: They follow'd me, my hope, my fame, my star.


s: Let them all cross the Oxus back in peace.


s: But me thou must bear hence, not send with them,


s: And place me on a bed, and mourn for me,


s: Thou, and the snow-hair'd Zal, and all thy friends.


s: And thou must lay me in that lovely earth,


s: And heap a stately mound above my bones,


s: That so the passing horseman on the waste


s: May see my tomb a great way off, and cry:


s: _Sohrab, the mighty Rustum's son, lies there,_


s: _Whom his great father did in ignorance kill!_


s: And, with a mournful voice, Rustum replied:--


s: "Fear not! as thou hast said, Sohrab, my son,


s: So shall it be; for I will burn my tents,


s: And quit the host, and bear thee hence with me,


s: And place thee on a bed, and mourn for thee,


s: With the snow-headed Zal, and all my friends.


s: And I will lay thee in that lovely earth,


s: And heap a stately mound above thy bones,


s: And men shall not forget thee in thy grave.


s: And I will spare thy host; yea, let them go!


s: Let them all cross the Oxus back in peace!


s: For would that all that I have ever slain


s: Might be once more alive; my bitterest foes,


s: And they who were call'd champions in their time,


s: And through whose death I won that fame I have--


s: A poor, mean soldier, and without renown,


s: So thou mightest live too, my son, my son!


s: Near death, and by an ignorant stroke of thine,


s: Not thou of mine! and I might die, not thou;


s: And Zal might weep above my grave, not thine;


s: And say: _O son, I weep thee not too sore,_


s: _For willingly, I know, thou met'st thine end!_


s: But now in blood and battles was my youth,


s: And full of blood and battles is my age,


s: And I shall never end this life of blood."


s: Then, at the point of death, Sohrab replied:--


s: "A life of blood indeed, thou dreadful man!


s: But thou shalt yet have peace; only not now,


s: Not yet! but thou shalt have it on that day,


s: When thou shalt sail in a high-masted ship,


s: Thou and the other peers of Kai Khosroo,


s: From laying thy dear master in his grave."


s: And Rustum gazed in Sohrab's face, and said:--


s: "Soon be that day, my son, and deep that sea!


s: Till then, if fate so wills, let me endure."


s: He spoke; and Sohrab smiled on him, and took


s: The spear, and drew it from his side, and eased


s: His wound's imperious anguish; but the blood


s: Came welling from the open gash, and life


s: Flow'd with the stream;--all down his cold white side


s: The crimson torrent ran, dim now and soil'd,


s: Left, freshly gather'd, on their native bank,


s: By children whom their nurses call with haste


s: Indoors from the sun's eye; his head droop'd low,


s: His limbs grew slack; motionless, white, he lay--


s: White, with eyes closed; only when heavy gasps,


s: Deep heavy gasps quivering through all his frame,


s: Convulsed him back to life, he open'd them,


s: And fix'd them feebly on his father's face;


s: Till now all strength was ebb'd, and from his limbs


s: Regretting the warm mansion which it left,


s: And youth, and bloom, and this delightful world.


s: So, on the bloody sand, Sohrab lay dead;


s: And the great Rustum drew his horseman's cloak


s: Down o'er his face, and sate by his dead son.


s: As those black granite pillars, once high-rear'd


s: His house, now 'mid their broken flights of steps


s: Lie prone, enormous, down the mountain side--


s: And night came down over the solemn waste,


s: And the two gazing hosts, and that sole pair,


s: And darken'd all; and a cold fog, with night,


s: As of a great assembly loosed, and fires


s: Began to twinkle through the fog; for now


s: Both armies moved to camp, and took their meal;


s: Southward, the Tartars by the river marge;


s: Out of the mist and hum of that low land,


s: Into the frosty starlight, and there moved,


s: Rejoicing, through the hush'd Chorasmian waste,


s: Brimming, and bright, and large; then sands begin


s: To hem his watery march, and dam his streams,


s: And split his currents; that for many a league


s: The shorn and parcell'd Oxus strains along


s: Through beds of sand and matted rushy isles--


s: Oxus, forgetting the bright speed he had


s: A foil'd circuitous wanderer--till at last


s: The long'd-for dash of waves is heard, and wide


s: His luminous home of waters opens, bright


s: And tranquil, from whose floor the new-bathed stars


s: Where through the sellers' booths the slaves


s: Watch'd my lord's coming forth, and push'd


s: My guards, what, prick him with your spears!


s: My man comes running, fleck'd with blood


s: "Wherefore hear thou! Thou know'st, how fierce


s: Brake forth, and cursed them--dost thou hear?--


s: Most deaf where thou shouldst most give ear!


s: "What, wilt thou pray, and get thee grace,


s: Till that the King stood forth and said:


s: "Before the priests thou shalt be heard."


s: Kneel'd down, and cried not, neither ran.


s: That they flew thick and bruised him sore.


s: Wilt thou they straightway bring him in?


s: Still, thou art king, and the law stands.


s: But who, through all this length of time,


s: Makes the head white, and bows the knees.


s: Though it be great; all the earth round,


s: Things which might vex him shall be found.


s: Hath snatch'd a little fair-hair'd slave;


s: And for this drought, all kinds of fruits,


s: "With cherries serv'd in drifts of snow."


s: With curious fruit-trees brought from far


s: Wash off all blood, set smooth each limb!


s: So on the floor lay Balder dead; and round


s: Lay thickly strewn swords, axes, darts, and spears,


s: Which all the Gods in sport had idly thrown


s: At Balder, whom no weapon pierced or clove;


s: But in his breast stood fixt the fatal bough


s: Of mistletoe, which Lok the Accuser gave


s: 'Gainst that alone had Balder's life no charm.


s: And all the Gods and all the Heroes came,


s: And stood round Balder on the bloody floor,


s: Up to its golden roof with sobs and cries;


s: And on the tables stood the untasted meats,


s: And in the horns and gold-rimm'd skulls the wine.


s: And now would night have fall'n, and found them yet


s: And thus the father of the ages spake:--


s: "Enough of tears, ye Gods, enough of wail!


s: If any here might weep for Balder's death,


s: I most might weep, his father; such a son


s: I lose to-day, so bright, so loved a God.


s: But he has met that doom, which long ago


s: The Nornies, when his mother bare him, spun,


s: And fate set seal, that so his end must be.


s: Balder has met his death, and ye survive--


s: Weep him an hour, but what can grief avail?


s: For ye yourselves, ye Gods, shall meet your doom,


s: But ours we shall not meet, when that day comes,


s: With women's tears and weak complaining cries--


s: Why should we meet another's portion so?


s: Rather it fits you, having wept your hour,


s: With cold dry eyes, and hearts composed and stern,


s: To live, as erst, your daily life in Heaven.


s: By me shall vengeance on the murderer Lok,


s: The foe, the accuser, whom, though Gods, we hate,


s: Be strictly cared for, in the appointed day.


s: Meanwhile, to-morrow, when the morning dawns,


s: Bring wood to the seashore to Balder's ship,


s: And on the deck build high a funeral-pile,


s: And on the top lay Balder's corpse, and put


s: Fire to the wood, and send him out to sea


s: To burn; for that is what the dead desire."


s: So spake the King of Gods, and straightway rose,


s: And mounted his horse Sleipner, whom he rode;


s: And from the hall of Heaven he rode away


s: The mount, from whence his eye surveys the world.


s: And far from Heaven he turn'd his shining orbs


s: To look on Midgard, and the earth, and men.


s: And on the conjuring Lapps he bent his gaze


s: Whom antler'd reindeer pull over the snow;


s: And on the Finns, the gentlest of mankind,


s: Fair men, who live in holes under the ground;


s: Nor did he look once more to Ida's plain,


s: Nor tow'rd Valhalla, and the sorrowing Gods;


s: For well he knew the Gods would heed his word,


s: And cease to mourn, and think of Balder's pyre.


s: From around Balder, all the Heroes went;


s: And left his body stretch'd upon the floor.


s: And on their golden chairs they sate again,


s: Beside the tables, in the hall of Heaven;


s: And before each the cooks who served them placed


s: New messes of the boar Serimner's flesh,


s: And the Valkyries crown'd their horns with mead.


s: So they, with pent-up hearts and tearless eyes,


s: Wailing no more, in silence ate and drank,


s: While twilight fell, and sacred night came on.


s: But the blind Hoder left the feasting Gods


s: In Odin's hall, and went through Asgard streets,


s: And past the haven where the Gods have moor'd


s: Their ships, and through the gate, beyond the wall;


s: Though sightless, yet his own mind led the God.


s: Between the waves and black o'erhanging cliffs


s: Where in and out the screaming seafowl fly;


s: Through the cliff-wall, and a fresh stream runs down


s: From the high moors behind, and meets the sea.


s: There, in the glen, Fensaler stands, the house


s: And shows its lighted windows to the main.


s: There he went up, and pass'd the open doors;


s: And in the hall he found those women old,


s: On Frea's hearth feed high the sacred fire


s: Both night and day; and by the inner wall


s: With folded hands, revolving things to come.


s: To her drew Hoder near, and spake, and said:--


s: "Mother, a child of bale thou bar'st in me!


s: For, first, thou barest me with blinded eyes,


s: Sightless and helpless, wandering weak in Heaven;


s: And, after that, of ignorant witless mind


s: That I alone must take the branch from Lok,


s: The foe, the accuser, whom, though Gods, we hate,


s: And cast it at the dear-loved Balder's breast


s: At whom the Gods in sport their weapons threw--


s: 'Gainst that alone had Balder's life no charm.


s: Now therefore what to attempt, or whither fly,


s: For who will bear my hateful sight in Heaven?


s: Can I, O mother, bring them Balder back?


s: Or--for thou know'st the fates, and things allow'd--


s: Can I with Hela's power a compact strike,


s: And make exchange, and give my life for his?"


s: He spoke: the mother of the Gods replied:--


s: "Hoder, ill-fated, child of bale, my son,


s: Sightless in soul and eye, what words are these?


s: That one, long portion'd with his doom of death,


s: Should change his lot, and fill another's life,


s: On Balder Death hath laid her hand, not thee;


s: Nor doth she count this life a price for that.


s: For many Gods in Heaven, not thou alone,


s: Would freely die to purchase Balder back,


s: And wend themselves to Hela's gloomy realm.


s: For not so gladsome is that life in Heaven


s: Which Gods and heroes lead, in feast and fray,


s: Waiting the darkness of the final times,


s: That one should grudge its loss for Balder's sake,


s: Balder their joy, so bright, so loved a God.


s: But fate withstands, and laws forbid this way.


s: But much must still be tried, which shall but fail."


s: And the blind Hoder answer'd her, and said:--


s: "What way is this, O mother, that thou show'st?


s: And straight the mother of the Gods replied:--


s: "There is a road which leads to Hela's realm,


s: Untrodden, lonely, far from light and Heaven.


s: Who goes that way must take no other horse


s: To ride, but Sleipner, Odin's horse, alone.


s: Nor must he choose that common path of Gods


s: Which every day they come and go in Heaven,


s: O'er the bridge Bifrost, where is Heimdall's watch,


s: Past Midgard fortress, down to earth and men.


s: But he must tread a dark untravell'd road


s: Which branches from the north of Heaven, and ride


s: Nine days, nine nights, toward the northern ice,


s: Through valleys deep-engulph'd, with roaring streams.


s: And he will reach on the tenth morn a bridge


s: Which spans with golden arches Giall's stream,


s: Not Bifrost, but that bridge a damsel keeps,


s: Who tells the passing troops of dead their way


s: To the low shore of ghosts, and Hela's realm.


s: And she will bid him northward steer his course.


s: Then he will journey through no lighted land,


s: But he must ever watch the northern Bear,


s: Who from her frozen height with jealous eye


s: Confronts the Dog and Hunter in the south,


s: And is alone not dipt in Ocean's stream.


s: And straight he will come down to Ocean's strand--


s: Ocean, whose watery ring enfolds the world,


s: And on whose marge the ancient giants dwell.


s: But he will reach its unknown northern shore,


s: Far, far beyond the outmost giant's home,


s: Northward, until he meets a stretching wall


s: Barring his way, and in the wall a grate.


s: But then he must dismount, and on the ice


s: Tighten the girths of Sleipner, Odin's horse,


s: And make him leap the grate, and come within.


s: And he will see stretch round him Hela's realm,


s: The plains of Niflheim, where dwell the dead,


s: And hear the roaring of the streams of Hell.


s: And he will see the feeble, shadowy tribes,


s: And Balder sitting crown'd, and Hela's throne.


s: Then must he not regard the wailful ghosts


s: Who all will flit, like eddying leaves, around;


s: But he must straight accost their solemn queen,


s: And pay her homage, and entreat with prayers,


s: Telling her all that grief they have in Heaven


s: For Balder, whom she holds by right below;


s: If haply he may melt her heart with words,


s: And make her yield, and give him Balder back."


s: She spoke; but Hoder answer'd her and said:--


s: "Mother, a dreadful way is this thou show'st;


s: And straight the mother of the Gods replied:--


s: "Therefore thyself thou shalt not go, my son.


s: But he whom first thou meetest when thou com'st


s: To Asgard, and declar'st this hidden way,


s: Shall go; and I will be his guide unseen."


s: She spoke, and on her face let fall her veil,


s: And bow'd her head, and sate with folded hands,


s: But at the central hearth those women old,


s: Who while the Mother spake had ceased their toil,


s: And Hoder turn'd, and left his mother's house,


s: Fensaler, whose lit windows look to sea;


s: And came again down to the roaring waves,


s: And back along the beach to Asgard went,


s: Pondering on that which Frea said should be.


s: But night came down, and darken'd Asgard streets


s: Then from their loathéd feasts the Gods arose,


s: And lighted torches, and took up the corpse


s: Of Balder from the floor of Odin's hall,


s: And laid it on a bier, and bare him home


s: Through the fast-darkening streets to his own house,


s: Breidablik, on whose columns Balder graved


s: The enchantments that recall the dead to life.


s: Postures of runes, and healing herbs he knew;


s: To keep his own life safe, and see the sun.


s: There to his hall the Gods brought Balder home,


s: And each bespake him as he laid him down:--


s: "Would that ourselves, O Balder, we were borne


s: Home to our halls, with torchlight, by our kin,


s: So thou might'st live, and still delight the Gods!"


s: They spake; and each went home to his own house.


s: But there was one, the first of all the Gods


s: For speed, and Hermod was his name in Heaven;


s: Most fleet he was, but now he went the last,


s: Heavy in heart for Balder, to his house,


s: Which he in Asgard built him, there to dwell,


s: From the sea cityward, and knew his step;


s: Nor yet could Hermod see his brother's face,


s: For it grew dark; but Hoder touch'd his arm.


s: Who shuffles through the deep dew-moisten'd dust,


s: On a May evening, in the darken'd lanes,


s: And starts him, that he thinks a ghost went by--


s: So Hoder brush'd by Hermod's side, and said:--


s: "Take Sleipner, Hermod, and set forth with dawn


s: And they shall be thy guides, who have the power."


s: He spake, and brush'd soft by, and disappear'd.


s: And Hermod gazed into the night, and said:--


s: "Who is it utters through the dark his hest


s: The voice was like the unhappy Hoder's voice.


s: For there rang note divine in that command."


s: So speaking, the fleet-footed Hermod came


s: Home, and lay down to sleep in his own house;


s: And all the Gods lay down in their own homes.


s: And Hoder too came home, distraught with grief,


s: Loathing to meet, at dawn, the other Gods;


s: And he went in, and shut the door, and fixt


s: His sword upright, and fell on it, and died.


s: But from the hill of Lidskialf Odin rose,


s: The throne, from which his eye surveys the world;


s: And mounted Sleipner, and in darkness rode


s: To Asgard. And the stars came out in heaven,


s: High over Asgard, to light home the King.


s: But fiercely Odin gallop'd, moved in heart;


s: And swift to Asgard, to the gate, he came.


s: Along the flinty floor of Asgard streets,


s: And the Gods trembled on their golden beds


s: Hearing the wrathful Father coming home--


s: For dread, for like a whirlwind, Odin came.


s: And to Valhalla's gate he rode, and left


s: Sleipner; and Sleipner went to his own stall;


s: But in Breidablik, Nanna, Balder's wife,


s: Came with the Goddesses who wrought her will,


s: And at his head and feet she station'd Scalds


s: Who in their lives were famous for their song;


s: These o'er the corpse intoned a plaintive strain,


s: A dirge--and Nanna and her train replied.


s: And far into the night they wail'd their dirge.


s: But when their souls were satisfied with wail,


s: They went, and laid them down, and Nanna went


s: And Frea seal'd her tired lids with sleep.


s: And 'twas when night is bordering hard on dawn,


s: When air is chilliest, and the stars sunk low;


s: Then Balder's spirit through the gloom drew near,


s: Alive; and still the rays were round his head


s: Which were his glorious mark in Heaven; he stood


s: And gazed on Nanna as she slept, and spake:--


s: "Poor lamb, thou sleepest, and forgett'st thy woe!


s: Tears stand upon the lashes of thine eyes,


s: Tears wet the pillow by thy cheek; but thou,


s: Like a young child, hast cried thyself to sleep.


s: Sleep on; I watch thee, and am here to aid.


s: Alive I kept not far from thee, dear soul!


s: Neither do I neglect thee now, though dead.


s: For with to-morrow's dawn the Gods prepare


s: To gather wood, and build a funeral-pile


s: Upon my ship, and burn my corpse with fire,


s: That sad, sole honour of the dead; and thee


s: They think to burn, and all my choicest wealth,


s: With me, for thus ordains the common rite.


s: But it shall not be so; but mild, but swift,


s: But painless shall a stroke from Frea come,


s: To cut thy thread of life, and free thy soul,


s: And they shall burn thy corpse with mine, not thee.


s: And well I know that by no stroke of death,


s: Whom thou so well hast loved; but I can smooth


s: Thy way, and this, at least, my prayers avail.


s: Death from thy head, and with the Gods in Heaven


s: Prolong thy life, though not by thee desired--


s: But right bars this, not only thy desire.


s: Yet dreary, Nanna, is the life they lead


s: In that dim world, in Hela's mouldering realm;


s: And doleful are the ghosts, the troops of dead,


s: Whom Hela with austere control presides.


s: For of the race of Gods is no one there,


s: On battle-field have met their death, and now


s: Only the inglorious sort are there below,


s: The old, the cowards, and the weak are there--


s: Men spent by sickness, or obscure decay.


s: Some solace in each other's look and speech,


s: Wandering together through that gloomy world,


s: And talking of the life we led in Heaven,


s: While we yet lived, among the other Gods."


s: He spake, and straight his lineaments began


s: To fade; and Nanna in her sleep stretch'd out


s: Mournfully shook his head, and disappear'd.


s: And Nanna on her bed sank back; but then


s: Frea, the mother of the Gods, with stroke


s: Painless and swift, set free her airy soul,


s: Which took, on Balder's track, the way below;


s: Forth from the east, up the ascent of Heaven,


s: Day drove his courser with the shining mane;


s: Hereafter, in the blackest dead of night,


s: With shrill and dismal cries that bird shall crow,


s: Warning the Gods that foes draw nigh to Heaven;


s: But now he crew at dawn, a cheerful note,


s: To wake the Gods and Heroes to their tasks.


s: And all the Gods, and all the Heroes, woke.


s: And from their beds the Heroes rose, and donn'd


s: Their arms, and led their horses from the stall,


s: And mounted them, and in Valhalla's court


s: Were ranged; and then the daily fray began.


s: And all day long they there are hack'd and hewn,


s: 'Mid dust, and groans, and limbs lopp'd off, and blood;


s: Woundless and fresh; such lot is theirs in Heaven.


s: And the Valkyries on their steeds went forth


s: Tow'rd earth and fights of men; and at their side


s: Skulda, the youngest of the Nornies, rode;


s: And over Bifrost, where is Heimdall's watch,


s: Past Midgard fortress, down to earth they came;


s: There through some battle-field, where men fall fast,


s: Their horses fetlock-deep in blood, they ride,


s: And pick the bravest warriors out for death,


s: Whom they bring back with them at night to Heaven


s: To glad the Gods, and feast in Odin's hall.


s: But the Gods went not now, as otherwhile,


s: Into the tilt-yard, where the Heroes fought,


s: To feast their eyes with looking on the fray;


s: Nor did they to their judgment-place repair


s: Where they hold council, and give laws for men.


s: But they went, Odin first, the rest behind,


s: To the hall Gladheim, which is built of gold;


s: Where are in circle ranged twelve golden chairs,


s: And in the midst one higher, Odin's throne.


s: There all the Gods in silence sate them down;


s: And thus the Father of the ages spake:--


s: "Go quickly, Gods, bring wood to the seashore,


s: With all, which it beseems the dead to have,


s: And make a funeral-pile on Balder's ship;


s: On the twelfth day the Gods shall burn his corpse.


s: But Hermod, thou, take Sleipner, and ride down


s: So said he; and the Gods arose, and took


s: Axes and ropes, and at their head came Thor,


s: Shouldering his hammer, which the giants know.


s: Forth wended they, and drave their steeds before.


s: And up the dewy mountain-tracks they fared


s: And up and down, and side and slant they roam'd.


s: Of crashing falls; for with his hammer Thor


s: Smote 'mid the rocks the lichen-bearded pines,


s: And burst their roots, while to their tops the Gods


s: Made fast the woven ropes, and haled them down,


s: And lopp'd their boughs, and clove them on the sward,


s: And bound the logs behind their steeds to draw,


s: And drave them homeward; and the snorting steeds


s: Went straining through the crackling brushwood down,


s: And by the darkling forest-paths the Gods


s: Follow'd, and on their shoulders carried boughs.


s: And they came out upon the plain, and pass'd


s: Asgard, and led their horses to the beach,


s: And loosed them of their loads on the seashore,


s: And ranged the wood in stacks by Balder's ship;


s: And every God went home to his own house.


s: But when the Gods were to the forest gone,


s: And saddled him; before that, Sleipner brook'd


s: Yet docile now he stood at Hermod's side,


s: Arching his neck, and glad to be bestrode,


s: Knowing the God they went to seek, how dear.


s: Which branches from the north of Heaven, and went


s: All day; and daylight waned, and night came on.


s: And all that night he rode, and journey'd so,


s: Nine days, nine nights, toward the northern ice,


s: Through valleys deep-engulph'd, by roaring streams.


s: And on the tenth morn he beheld the bridge


s: Which spans with golden arches Giall's stream,


s: And on the bridge a damsel watching arm'd,


s: In the strait passage, at the farther end,


s: Where the road issues between walling rocks.


s: Scant space that warder left for passers by;--


s: And on the ridge a waggon chokes the way,


s: Wedged in the snow; then painfully the hinds


s: With goad and shouting urge their cattle past,


s: Plunging through deep untrodden banks of snow


s: To right and left, and warm steam fills the air--


s: So on the bridge that damsel block'd the way,


s: And question'd Hermod as he came, and said:--


s: "Who art thou on thy black and fiery horse


s: Under whose hoofs the bridge o'er Giall's stream


s: Rumbles and shakes? Tell me thy race and home.


s: But yestermorn, five troops of dead pass'd by,


s: Bound on their way below to Hela's realm,


s: Nor shook the bridge so much as thou alone.


s: And thou hast flesh and colour on thy cheeks,


s: Like men who live, and draw the vital air;


s: Nor look'st thou pale and wan, like men deceased,


s: Souls bound below, my daily passers here."


s: And the fleet-footed Hermod answer'd her:--


s: Of Odin; and my high-roof'd house is built


s: Far hence, in Asgard, in the city of Gods;


s: And Sleipner, Odin's horse, is this I ride.


s: And I come, sent this road on Balder's track;


s: Say then, if he hath cross'd thy bridge or no?"


s: He spake; the warder of the bridge replied:--


s: Upon my bridge; and, when they cross, I know.


s: Balder hath gone this way, and ta'en the road


s: Below there, to the north, tow'rd Hela's realm.


s: From here the cold white mist can be discern'd,


s: Nor lit with sun, but through the darksome air


s: By the dim vapour-blotted light of stars,


s: Which hangs over the ice where lies the road.


s: For in that ice are lost those northern streams,


s: Freezing and ridging in their onward flow,


s: Which from the fountain of Vergelmer run,


s: The spring that bubbles up by Hela's throne.


s: There are the joyless seats, the haunt of ghosts,


s: Hela's pale swarms; and there was Balder bound.


s: Ride on! pass free! but he by this is there."


s: She spake, and stepp'd aside, and left him room.


s: Across the bridge; then she took post again.


s: But northward Hermod rode, the way below;


s: And o'er a darksome tract, which knows no sun,


s: But by the blotted light of stars, he fared.


s: And he came down to Ocean's northern strand,


s: At the drear ice, beyond the giants' home.


s: Thence on he journey'd o'er the fields of ice


s: Still north, until he met a stretching wall


s: Barring his way, and in the wall a grate.


s: Then he dismounted, and drew tight the girths,


s: On the smooth ice, of Sleipner, Odin's horse,


s: And made him leap the grate, and came within.


s: And he beheld spread round him Hela's realm,


s: The plains of Niflheim, where dwell the dead,


s: And heard the thunder of the streams of Hell.


s: For near the wall the river of Roaring flows,


s: Outmost; the others near the centre run--


s: These flow by Hela's throne, and near their spring.


s: And from the dark flock'd up the shadowy tribes;--


s: And as the swallows crowd the bulrush-beds


s: Of some clear river, issuing from a lake,


s: On autumn-days, before they cross the sea;


s: And to each bulrush-crest a swallow hangs


s: Quivering, and others skim the river-streams,


s: And their quick twittering fills the banks and shores--


s: So around Hermod swarm'd the twittering ghosts.


s: Women, and infants, and young men who died


s: Too soon for fame, with white ungraven shields;


s: And old men, known to glory, but their star


s: Betray'd them, and of wasting age they died,


s: Not wounds; yet, dying, they their armour wore,


s: And now have chief regard in Hela's realm.


s: Behind flock'd wrangling up a piteous crew,


s: Greeted of none, disfeatured and forlorn--


s: Cowards, who were in sloughs interr'd alive;


s: And round them still the wattled hurdles hung,


s: Wherewith they stamp'd them down, and trod them deep,


s: But all he pass'd unhail'd, and reach'd the throne


s: Of Hela, and saw, near it, Balder crown'd,


s: And Hela set thereon, with countenance stern;


s: And thus bespake him first the solemn queen:--


s: "Unhappy, how hast thou endured to leave


s: The light, and journey to the cheerless land


s: Where idly flit about the feeble shades?


s: How didst thou cross the bridge o'er Giall's stream,


s: Or how o'erleap the grate that bars the wall?"


s: She spake: but down off Sleipner Hermod sprang,


s: And fell before her feet, and clasp'd her knees;


s: And spake, and mild entreated her, and said:--


s: "O Hela, wherefore should the Gods declare


s: Their errands to each other, or the ways


s: They go? the errand and the way is known.


s: Thou know'st, thou know'st, what grief we have in Heaven


s: For Balder, whom thou hold'st by right below.


s: Restore him! for what part fulfils he here?


s: Shall he shed cheer over the cheerless seats,


s: And touch the apathetic ghosts with joy?


s: Not for such end, O queen, thou hold'st thy realm.


s: For Heaven was Balder born, the city of Gods


s: And Heroes, where they live in light and joy.


s: Thither restore him, for his place is there!"


s: He spoke; and grave replied the solemn queen:--


s: "Hermod, for he thou art, thou son of Heaven!


s: A strange unlikely errand, sure, is thine.


s: Do the Gods send to me to make them blest?


s: Small bliss my race hath of the Gods obtained.


s: Did Angerbode, the giantess, bring forth--


s: Fenris the wolf, the Serpent huge, and me.


s: Of these the Serpent in the sea ye cast,


s: Who since in your despite hath wax'd amain,


s: And now with gleaming ring enfolds the world;


s: Me on this cheerless nether world ye threw,


s: And gave me nine unlighted realms to rule;


s: Made fast to the bored crag, by wile not strength


s: Subdued, with limber chains lives Fenris bound.


s: Lok still subsists in Heaven, our father wise,


s: Your mate, though loathed, and feasts in Odin's hall;


s: But him too foes await, and netted snares,


s: And o'er his visage serpents dropping gall.


s: Yet he shall one day rise, and burst his bonds,


s: And with himself set us his offspring free,


s: When he guides Muspel's children to their bourne.


s: Wrought by the Gods--and ask the Gods our aid?


s: Seek to afflict our foes with petty pangs,


s: Come then! if Balder was so dear beloved,


s: And this is true, and such a loss is Heaven's--


s: Hear, how to Heaven may Balder be restored.


s: Show me through all the world the signs of grief!


s: Fails but one thing to grieve, here Balder stops!


s: Let all that lives and moves upon the earth


s: Weep him, and all that is without life weep;


s: Let Gods, men, brutes, beweep him; plants and stones!


s: So shall I know the lost was dear indeed,


s: And bend my heart, and give him back to Heaven."


s: She spake; and Hermod answer'd her, and said:--


s: "Hela, such as thou say'st, the terms shall be.


s: But come, declare me this, and truly tell:


s: Or is it here withheld to greet the dead?"


s: He spake, and straightway Hela answered him:--


s: "Hermod, greet Balder if thou wilt, and hold


s: Converse; his speech remains, though he be dead."


s: And straight to Balder Hermod turn'd, and spake:--


s: "Even in the abode of death, O Balder, hail!


s: Thou hear'st, if hearing, like as speech, is thine,


s: The terms of thy releasement hence to Heaven;


s: Fear nothing but that all shall be fulfill'd.


s: Who see the light, and blest in Asgard dwell;


s: Even here they seek thee out, in Hela's realm.


s: And sure of all the happiest far art thou


s: Who ever have been known in earth or Heaven;


s: Alive, thou wast of Gods the most beloved,


s: And now thou sittest crown'd by Hela's side,


s: Here, and hast honour among all the dead."


s: But feebly, as a voice far off; he said:--


s: "Hermod the nimble, gild me not my death!


s: Than be a crown'd king here, and rule the dead.


s: And now I count not of these terms as safe


s: Though I be loved, and many mourn my death;


s: Of Lok, and double are the gifts they give.


s: Howbeit, report thy message; and therewith,


s: And tell the Heaven-born Gods how thou hast seen


s: Crown'd, having honour among all the dead."


s: He spake, and raised his hand, and gave the ring.


s: But Hermod took the ring, and yet once more


s: Kneel'd and did homage to the solemn queen;


s: Then mounted Sleipner, and set forth to ride


s: Back, through the astonish'd tribes of dead, to Heaven.


s: And to the wall he came, and found the grate


s: Lifted, and issued on the fields of ice.


s: And o'er the ice he fared to Ocean's strand,


s: And up from thence, a wet and misty road,


s: To the arm'd damsel's bridge, and Giall's stream.


s: Worse was that way to go than to return,


s: For him;--for others all return is barr'd.


s: And on the twelfth morn saw the light of Heaven.


s: To the steep edge of some great valley comes,


s: Through which a river flows, and sees, beneath,


s: Clouds of white rolling vapours fill the vale,


s: But o'er them, on the farther slope, descries


s: Vineyards, and crofts, and pastures, bright with sun--


s: So Hermod, o'er the fog between, saw Heaven.


s: And Sleipner snorted, for he smelt the air


s: Of Heaven; and mightily, as wing'd, he flew.


s: And Hermod saw the towers of Asgard rise;


s: And he drew near, and heard no living voice


s: Then Hermod knew what labour held the Gods;


s: And through the empty streets he rode, and pass'd


s: Under the gate-house to the sands, and found


s: The Gods on the sea-shore by Balder's ship.


s: The Gods held talk together, group'd in knots,


s: Round Balder's corpse, which they had thither borne;


s: And Hermod came down tow'rds them from the gate.


s: And Lok, the father of the serpent, first


s: Beheld him come, and to his neighbour spake:--


s: "See, here is Hermod, who comes single back


s: From Hell; and shall I tell thee how he seems?


s: Like as a farmer, who hath lost his dog,


s: Some morn, at market, in a crowded town--


s: Through many streets the poor beast runs in vain,


s: And follows this man after that, for hours;


s: And, late at evening, spent and panting, falls


s: Before a stranger's threshold, not his home,


s: With flanks a-tremble, and his slender tongue


s: Hangs quivering out between his dust-smear'd jaws,


s: But home his master comes to his own farm,


s: Far in the country, wondering where he is--


s: So Hermod comes to-day unfollow'd home."


s: And straight his neighbour, moved with wrath, replied:--


s: "Deceiver! fair in form, but false in heart!


s: Enemy, mocker, whom, though Gods, we hate--


s: Peace, lest our father Odin hear thee gibe!


s: Would I might see him snatch thee in his hand,


s: And bind thy carcase, like a bale, with cords,


s: And hurl thee in a lake, to sink or swim!


s: If clear from plotting Balder's death, to swim;


s: But deep, if thou devisedst it, to drown,


s: And perish, against fate, before thy day."


s: But Odin look'd toward the land, and saw


s: His messenger; and he stood forth, and cried.


s: And Hermod came, and leapt from Sleipner down,


s: And in his father's hand put Sleipner's rein,


s: And greeted Odin and the Gods, and said:--


s: "Odin, my father, and ye, Gods of Heaven!


s: Lo, home, having perform'd your will, I come.


s: Below, and look'd upon the shadowy tribes


s: Of ghosts, and communed with their solemn queen;


s: And to your prayer she sends you this reply:


s: _Show her through all the world the signs of grief!_


s: _Fails but one thing to grieve, there Balder stops!_


s: _Let Gods, men, brutes, beweep him; plants and stones:_


s: _So shall she know your loss was dear indeed,_


s: _And bend her heart, and give you Balder back._"


s: He spoke; and all the Gods to Odin look'd;


s: And straight the Father of the ages said:--


s: "Ye Gods, these terms may keep another day.


s: But now, put on your arms, and mount your steeds,


s: And in procession all come near, and weep


s: Balder; for that is what the dead desire.


s: When ye enough have wept, then build a pile


s: Of the heap'd wood, and burn his corpse with fire


s: Out of our sight; that we may turn from grief,


s: And lead, as erst, our daily life in Heaven."


s: He spoke, and the Gods arm'd; and Odin donn'd


s: His dazzling corslet and his helm of gold,


s: And led the way on Sleipner; and the rest


s: Follow'd, in tears, their father and their king.


s: And thrice in arms around the dead they rode,


s: Weeping; the sands were wetted, and their arms,


s: With their thick-falling tears--so good a friend


s: They mourn'd that day, so bright, so loved a God.


s: And Odin came, and laid his kingly hands


s: On Balder's breast, and thus began the wail:--


s: "Farewell, O Balder, bright and loved, my son!


s: In that great day, the twilight of the Gods,


s: When Muspel's children shall beleaguer Heaven,


s: Then we shall miss thy counsel and thy arm."


s: Thou camest near the next, O warrior Thor!


s: Shouldering thy hammer, in thy chariot drawn,


s: Swaying the long-hair'd goats with silver'd rein;


s: And over Balder's corpse these words didst say:--


s: "Brother, thou dwellest in the darksome land,


s: And talkest with the feeble tribes of ghosts,


s: Now, and I know not how they prize thee there--


s: But here, I know, thou wilt be miss'd and mourn'd.


s: For haughty spirits and high wraths are rife


s: Among the Gods and Heroes here in Heaven,


s: As among those whose joy and work is war;


s: And daily strifes arise, and angry words.


s: But from thy lips, O Balder, night or day,


s: The others, labouring to compose their brawls.


s: Be ye then kind, as Balder too was kind!


s: For we lose him, who smoothed all strife in Heaven."


s: He spake, and all the Gods assenting wail'd.


s: And Freya next came nigh, with golden tears;


s: The loveliest Goddess she in Heaven, by all


s: To mate, but left her to roam distant lands;


s: Since then she seeks him, and weeps tears of gold.


s: They call her, Freya is her name in Heaven;


s: She in her hands took Balder's head, and spake:--


s: "Balder, my brother, thou art gone a road


s: My long-lost wandering Oder thou hast met,


s: For in the paths of Heaven he is not found.


s: Oh, if it be so, tell him what thou wast


s: And wring his heart with shame, to hear thy word!


s: For he, my husband, left me here to pine,


s: First drove him from me into distant lands;


s: Since then I vainly seek him through the world,


s: And weep from shore to shore my golden tears,


s: But neither god nor mortal heeds my pain.


s: To take my hand, and wipe my tears, and say:


s: _Weep not, O Freya, weep no golden tears!_


s: _One day the wandering Oder will return,_


s: _Or thou wilt find him in thy faithful search_


s: _On some great road, or resting in an inn,_


s: To the world's end; and Balder now is gone,


s: She spake; and all the Goddesses bewail'd.


s: Last from among the Heroes one came near,


s: No God, but of the hero-troop the chief--


s: Regner, who swept the northern sea with fleets,


s: And ruled o'er Denmark and the heathy isles,


s: Living; but Ella captured him and slew;--


s: A king whose fame then fill'd the vast of Heaven,


s: Now time obscures it, and men's later deeds.


s: He last approach'd the corpse, and spake, and said:--


s: "Balder, there yet are many Scalds in Heaven


s: Still left, and that chief Scald, thy brother Brage,


s: Whom we may bid to sing, though thou art gone.


s: And all these gladly, while we drink, we hear,


s: After the feast is done, in Odin's hall;


s: But they harp ever on one string, and wake


s: Such as on earth we valiantly have waged,


s: And blood, and ringing blows, and violent death.


s: But when thou sangest, Balder, thou didst strike


s: Another note, and, like a bird in spring,


s: Thy voice of joyance minded us, and youth,


s: And wife, and children, and our ancient home.


s: Yes, and I, too, remember'd then no more


s: My dungeon, where the serpents stung me dead,


s: Nor Ella's victory on the English coast--


s: But I heard Thora laugh in Gothland Isle,


s: Her flock along the white Norwegian beach.


s: Tears started to mine eyes with yearning joy.


s: Therefore with grateful heart I mourn thee dead."


s: So Regner spake, and all the Heroes groan'd.


s: But now the sun had pass'd the height of Heaven,


s: And soon had all that day been spent in wail;


s: "Ye Gods, there well may be too much of wail!


s: Bring now the gather'd wood to Balder's ship;


s: Heap on the deck the logs, and build the pyre."


s: But when the Gods and Heroes heard, they brought


s: The wood to Balder's ship, and built a pile,


s: Full the deck's breadth, and lofty; then the corpse


s: With Nanna on his right, and on his left


s: Hoder, his brother, whom his own hand slew.


s: And they set jars of wine and oil to lean


s: Against the bodies, and stuck torches near,


s: Splinters of pine-wood, soak'd with turpentine;


s: And brought his arms and gold, and all his stuff,


s: And his horse, Balder's horse, whom most he loved,


s: And placed them on the pyre, and Odin threw


s: A last choice gift thereon, his golden ring.


s: The mast they fixt, and hoisted up the sails,


s: Then they put fire to the wood; and Thor


s: Set his stout shoulder hard against the stern


s: To push the ship through the thick sand;--sparks flew


s: From the deep trench she plough'd, so strong a God


s: And the ship floated on the waves, and rock'd.


s: But in the hills a strong east-wind arose,


s: And came down moaning to the sea; first squalls


s: Ran black o'er the sea's face, then steady rush'd


s: The breeze, and fill'd the sails, and blew the fire.


s: And wreathed in smoke the ship stood out to sea.


s: Soon with a roaring rose the mighty fire,


s: And the pile crackled; and between the logs


s: Sharp quivering tongues of flame shot out, and leapt,


s: Curling and darting, higher, until they lick'd


s: The summit of the pile, the dead, the mast,


s: And ate the shrivelling sails; but still the ship


s: Drove on, ablaze above her hull with fire.


s: And the Gods stood upon the beach, and gazed.


s: And while they gazed, the sun went lurid down


s: Into the smoke-wrapt sea, and night came on.


s: Then the wind fell, with night, and there was calm;


s: But through the dark they watch'd the burning ship


s: Still carried o'er the distant waters on,


s: Farther and farther, like an eye of fire.


s: And long, in the far dark, blazed Balder's pile;


s: But fainter, as the stars rose high, it flared,


s: The bodies were consumed, ash choked the pile.


s: A charr'd log, falling, makes a shower of sparks--


s: So with a shower of sparks the pile fell in,


s: Reddening the sea around; and all was dark.


s: But the Gods went by starlight up the shore


s: All night they ate the boar Serimner's flesh,


s: And from their horns, with silver rimm'd, drank mead,


s: And morning over all the world was spread.


s: Then from their loathéd feasts the Gods arose,


s: And took their horses, and set forth to ride


s: O'er the bridge Bifrost, where is Heimdall's watch,


s: Thor came on foot, the rest on horseback rode.


s: And they found Mimir sitting by his fount


s: Of wisdom, which beneath the ashtree springs;


s: Of that world-shadowing tree with honey-dew.


s: There came the Gods, and sate them down on stones;


s: "Ye Gods, the terms ye know, which Hermod brought.


s: Accept them or reject them! both have grounds.


s: Accept them, and they bind us, unfulfill'd,


s: An unrecover'd prisoner, shade with shades.


s: But how, ye say, should the fulfilment fail?--


s: Smooth sound the terms, and light to be fulfill'd;


s: For dear-beloved was Balder while he lived


s: In Heaven and earth, and who would grudge him tears?


s: But from the traitorous seed of Lok they come,


s: These terms, and I suspect some hidden fraud.


s: Bethink ye, Gods, is there no other way?--


s: Speak, were not this a way, the way for Gods?


s: Mounted on Sleipner, with the warrior Thor


s: Drawn in his car beside me, and my sons,


s: All the strong brood of Heaven, to swell my train,


s: Should make irruption into Hela's realm,


s: And set the fields of gloom ablaze with light,


s: And bring in triumph Balder back to Heaven?"


s: He spake, and his fierce sons applauded loud.


s: Daughter and wife of Odin; thus she said:--


s: "Odin, thou whirlwind, what a threat is this!


s: Thou threatenest what transcends thy might, even thine.


s: For of all powers the mightiest far art thou,


s: Lord over men on earth, and Gods in Heaven;


s: Yet even from thee thyself hath been withheld


s: One thing--to undo what thou thyself hast ruled.


s: For all which hath been fixt, was fixt by thee.


s: In the beginning, ere the Gods were born,


s: Before the Heavens were builded, thou didst slay


s: The giant Ymir, whom the abyss brought forth,


s: Thou and thy brethren fierce, the sons of Bor,


s: And cast his trunk to choke the abysmal void.


s: But of his flesh and members thou didst build


s: The earth and Ocean, and above them Heaven.


s: And from the flaming world, where Muspel reigns,


s: Thou sent'st and fetched'st fire, and madest lights,


s: Sun, moon, and stars, which thou hast hung in Heaven,


s: Dividing clear the paths of night and day.


s: And Asgard thou didst build, and Midgard fort;


s: Then me thou mad'st; of us the Gods were born.


s: Last, walking by the sea, thou foundest spars


s: Of wood, and framed'st men, who till the earth,


s: Or on the sea, the field of pirates, sail.


s: And all the race of Ymir thou didst drown,


s: Save one, Bergelmer;--he on shipboard fled


s: Thy deluge, and from him the giants sprang.


s: But all that brood thou hast removed far off,


s: And set by Ocean's utmost marge to dwell;


s: And gav'st her nine unlighted worlds to rule,


s: That empire wilt thou now invade, light up


s: Her darkness, from her grasp a subject tear?--


s: Try it; but I, for one, will not applaud.


s: Nor do I merit, Odin, thou should'st slight


s: Me and my words, though thou be first in Heaven;


s: Thine eldest, and of me the Gods are sprung;


s: And all that is to come I know, but lock


s: In mine own breast, and have to none reveal'd.


s: Come then! since Hela holds by right her prey,


s: But offers terms for his release to Heaven,


s: Accept the chance; thou canst no more obtain.


s: Send through the world thy messengers; entreat


s: For Balder; if thou haply thus may'st melt


s: Hela, and win the loved one back to Heaven."


s: She spake, and on her face let fall her veil,


s: And bow'd her head, and sate with folded hands.


s: Nor did the all-ruling Odin slight her word;


s: Straightway he spake, and thus address'd the Gods:


s: "Go quickly forth through all the world, and pray


s: When the Gods heard, they straight arose, and took


s: Their horses, and rode forth through all the world;


s: North, south, east, west, they struck, and roam'd the world,


s: Entreating all things to weep Balder's death.


s: And all that lived, and all without life, wept.


s: And as in winter, when the frost breaks up,


s: At winter's end, before the spring begins,


s: And a warm west-wind blows, and thaw sets in--


s: In all the forests, and the soft-strewn snow


s: Under the trees is dibbled-thick with holes,


s: And from the boughs the snowloads shuffle down;


s: And, in fields sloping to the south, dark plots


s: Of grass peep out amid surrounding snow,


s: And widen, and the peasant's heart is glad--


s: So through the world was heard a dripping noise


s: Of all things weeping to bring Balder back;


s: And there fell joy upon the Gods to hear.


s: But Hermod rode with Niord, whom he took


s: To show him spits and beaches of the sea


s: Far off, where some unwarn'd might fail to weep--


s: Niord, the God of storms, whom fishers know;


s: Not born in Heaven; he was in Vanheim rear'd,


s: With men, but lives a hostage with the Gods;


s: He knows each frith, and every rocky creek


s: Fringed with dark pines, and sands where seafowl scream--


s: They two scour'd every coast, and all things wept.


s: And they rode home together, through the wood


s: Of Jarnvid, which to east of Midgard lies


s: Bordering the giants, where the trees are iron;


s: There in the wood before a cave they came,


s: Where sate, in the cave's mouth, a skinny hag,


s: Toothless and old; she gibes the passers by.


s: Thok is she call'd, but now Lok wore her shape;


s: She greeted them the first, and laugh'd, and said:--


s: "Ye Gods, good lack, is it so dull in Heaven,


s: That ye come pleasuring to Thok's iron wood?


s: Lovers of change ye are, fastidious sprites.


s: Look, as in some boor's yard a sweet-breath'd cow,


s: Whose manger is stuff'd full of good fresh hay,


s: Snuffs at it daintily, and stoops her head


s: To chew the straw, her litter, at her feet--


s: So ye grow squeamish, Gods, and sniff at Heaven!"


s: She spake; but Hermod answer'd her and said:--


s: "Thok, not for gibes we come, we come for tears.


s: Balder is dead, and Hela holds her prey,


s: But will restore, if all things give him tears.


s: Begrudge not thine! to all was Balder dear."


s: Then, with a louder laugh, the hag replied:--


s: "Is Balder dead? and do ye come for tears?


s: Thok with dry eyes will weep o'er Balder's pyre.


s: Weep him all other things, if weep they will--


s: I weep him not! let Hela keep her prey."


s: She spake, and to the cavern's depth she fled,


s: Mocking; and Hermod knew their toil was vain.


s: And as seafaring men, who long have wrought


s: In the great deep for gain, at last come home,


s: And towards evening see the headlands rise


s: Of their dear country, and can plain descry


s: A fire of wither'd furze which boys have lit


s: Upon the cliffs, or smoke of burning weeds


s: Out of a till'd field inland;--then the wind


s: Catches them, and drives out again to sea;


s: And they go long days tossing up and down


s: Over the grey sea-ridges, and the glimpse


s: Of port they had makes bitterer far their toil--


s: So the Gods' cross was bitterer for their joy.


s: Then, sad at heart, to Niord Hermod spake:--


s: "It is the accuser Lok, who flouts us all!


s: Ride back, and tell in Heaven this heavy news;


s: He spoke; and Niord set forth back to Heaven.


s: But northward Hermod rode, the way below,


s: The way he knew; and traversed Giall's stream,


s: And down to Ocean groped, and cross'd the ice,


s: And came beneath the wall, and found the grate


s: Still lifted; well was his return foreknown.


s: And once more Hermod saw around him spread


s: The joyless plains, and heard the streams of Hell.


s: But as he enter'd, on the extremest bound


s: Of Niflheim, he saw one ghost come near,


s: Hovering, and stopping oft, as if afraid--


s: Hoder, the unhappy, whom his own hand slew.


s: And Hermod look'd, and knew his brother's ghost,


s: And call'd him by his name, and sternly said:--


s: "Hoder, ill-fated, blind in heart and eyes!


s: Why tarriest thou to plunge thee in the gulph


s: Of the deep inner gloom, but flittest here,


s: In twilight, on the lonely verge of Hell,


s: Far from the other ghosts, and Hela's throne?


s: Doubtless thou fearest to meet Balder's voice,


s: Thy brother, whom through folly thou didst slay."


s: He spoke; but Hoder answer'd him, and said:--


s: "Hermod the nimble, dost thou still pursue


s: The unhappy with reproach, even in the grave?


s: For this I died, and fled beneath the gloom,


s: Nor with a hateful presence cumber Heaven;


s: And canst thou not, even here, pass pitying by?


s: No less than Balder have I lost the light


s: I too had once a wife, and once a child,


s: And substance, and a golden house in Heaven--


s: Balder upbraids me not, nor hates at all,


s: Though he has cause, have any cause; but he,


s: When that with downcast looks I hither came,


s: Stretch'd forth his hand, and with benignant voice,


s: _Welcome_, he said, _if there be welcome here,_


s: _Brother and fellow-sport of Lok with me!_


s: And not to offend thee, Hermod, nor to force


s: From the deep gloom, where I will now return;


s: Not too far off, when that thou camest by;


s: And hear the passage of a horse of Heaven,


s: For the last time--for here thou com'st no more."


s: He spake, and turn'd to go to the inner gloom.


s: But Hermod stay'd him with mild words, and said:--


s: "Thou doest well to chide me, Hoder blind!


s: Truly thou say'st, the planning guilty mind


s: Was Lok's; the unwitting hand alone was thine.


s: But Gods are like the sons of men in this--


s: When they have woe, they blame the nearest cause.


s: Howbeit stay, and be appeased! and tell:


s: Sits Balder still in pomp by Hela's side,


s: Or is he mingled with the unnumber'd dead?"


s: And the blind Hoder answer'd him and spake:--


s: "His place of state remains by Hela's side,


s: Lately below, and join'd him; and the pair


s: Frequent the still recesses of the realm


s: But they too, doubtless, will have breathed the balm,


s: Which floats before a visitant from Heaven,


s: And have drawn upward to this verge of Hell."


s: He spake; and, as he ceased, a puff of wind


s: Round where they stood, and they beheld two forms


s: Make toward them o'er the stretching cloudy plain.


s: And Hermod straight perceived them, who they were


s: "Balder, too truly thou foresaw'st a snare!


s: Lok triumphs still, and Hela keeps her prey.


s: No more to Asgard shalt thou come, nor lodge


s: The love all bear toward thee, nor train up


s: Forset, thy son, to be beloved like thee.


s: Here must thou lie, and wait an endless age.


s: Therefore for the last time, O Balder, hail!"


s: He spake; and Balder answer'd him, and said:--


s: "Hail and farewell! for here thou com'st no more.


s: Yet mourn not for me, Hermod, when thou sitt'st


s: In Heaven, nor let the other Gods lament,


s: For Nanna hath rejoin'd me, who, of old,


s: In Heaven, was seldom parted from my side;


s: And still the acceptance follows me, which crown'd


s: My former life, and cheers me even here.


s: When I draw nigh, and the wan tribes of dead


s: Their ineffectual feuds and feeble hates--


s: Shadows of hates, but they distress them still."


s: And the fleet-footed Hermod made reply:--


s: "Thou hast then all the solace death allows,


s: Esteem and function; and so far is well.


s: Yet here thou liest, Balder, underground,


s: Rusting for ever; and the years roll on,


s: When from the south shall march the fiery band


s: And cross the bridge of Heaven, with Lok for guide,


s: And Fenris at his heel with broken chain;


s: While from the east the giant Rymer steers


s: His ship, and the great serpent makes to land;


s: And all are marshall'd in one flaming square


s: Against the Gods, upon the plains of Heaven,


s: I mourn thee, that thou canst not help us then."


s: He spake; but Balder answer'd him, and said:--


s: Mourn for the men on earth, the Gods in Heaven,


s: Who live, and with their eyes shall see that day!


s: The day will come, when fall shall Asgard's towers,


s: And Odin, and his sons, the seed of Heaven;


s: But what were I, to save them in that hour?


s: If strength might save them, could not Odin save,


s: My father, and his pride, the warrior Thor,


s: I, what were I, when these can nought avail?


s: Yet, doubtless, when the day of battle comes,


s: And the two hosts are marshall'd, and in Heaven


s: The golden-crested cock shall sound alarm,


s: And his black brother-bird from hence reply,


s: And bucklers clash, and spears begin to pour--


s: Longing will stir within my breast, though vain.


s: Absence from fields where I could nothing aid;


s: Of carnage, and find, Hermod, in your life


s: Something too much of war and broils, which make


s: Life one perpetual fight, a bath of blood.


s: Mine eyes are dizzy with the arrowy hail;


s: Mine ears are stunn'd with blows, and sick for calm.


s: Inactive therefore let me lie, in gloom,


s: Unarm'd, inglorious; I attend the course


s: In new-recover'd seats, the happier day."


s: He spake; and the fleet Hermod thus replied:--


s: "Brother, what seats are these, what happier day?


s: Tell me, that I may ponder it when gone."


s: And the ray-crowned Balder answer'd him:--


s: "Far to the south, beyond the blue, there spreads


s: Another Heaven, the boundless--no one yet


s: Hath reach'd it; there hereafter shall arise


s: Thither, when o'er this present earth and Heavens


s: The tempest of the latter days hath swept,


s: And they from sight have disappear'd, and sunk,


s: Shall a small remnant of the Gods repair;


s: Hoder and I shall join them from the grave.


s: From the bright Ocean at our feet an earth


s: More fresh, more verdant than the last, with fruits


s: Self-springing, and a seed of man preserved,


s: Who then shall live in peace, as now in war.


s: But we in Heaven shall find again with joy


s: Familiar, halls where we have supp'd of old;


s: Our eyes with gazing, and rebuild with tears.


s: And we shall tread once more the well-known plain


s: The golden dice wherewith we play'd of yore;


s: And that will bring to mind the former life


s: And pastime of the Gods, the wise discourse


s: O Hermod, pray that thou may'st join us then!


s: Such for the future is my hope; meanwhile,


s: Death, and the gloom which round me even now


s: Thickens, and to its inner gulph recalls.


s: Farewell, for longer speech is not allow'd!"


s: He spoke, and waved farewell, and gave his hand


s: To Nanna; and she gave their brother blind


s: Her hand, in turn, for guidance; and the three


s: Departed o'er the cloudy plain, and soon


s: Faded from sight into the interior gloom.


s: But Hermod stood beside his drooping horse,


s: Mute, gazing after them in tears; and fain,


s: Fain had he follow'd their receding steps,


s: Though they to death were bound, and he to Heaven,


s: Then; but a power he could not break withheld.


s: And as a stork which idle boys have trapp'd,


s: Flocks of his kind pass flying o'er his head


s: To warmer lands, and coasts that keep the sun;--


s: He strains to join their flight, and from his shed


s: Follows them with a long complaining cry--


s: So Hermod gazed, and yearn'd to join his kin.


s: At last he sigh'd, and set forth back to Heaven.


s: Is she not come? The messenger was sure.


s: Raise me, my page! this cannot long endure.


s: --Christ, what a night! how the sleet whips the pane!


s: What lights will those out to the northward be?


s: The lanterns of the fishing-boats at sea.


s: Soft--who is that, stands by the dying fire?


s: Though the locks are yet brown on his noble head,


s: Gleams so rich in the light of the fire?


s: Of those that in secret the heart-strings rive,


s: That proud, first Iseult, Cornwall's queen?


s: With Tristram that spiced magic draught,


s: Through their blood, and binds their souls,


s: Loud howls the wind, sharp patters the rain,


s: And the knight sinks back on his pillows again.


s: The calm sea shines, loose hang the vessel's sails;


s: Before us are the sweet green fields of Wales,


s: And overhead the cloudless sky of May.--


s: _"Ah, would I were in those green fields at play,_


s: _Not pent on ship-board this delicious day!_


s: _Tristram, I pray thee, of thy courtesy,_


s: _Reach me my golden phial stands by thee,_


s: _But pledge me in it first for courtesy_.--"


s: Ha! dost thou start? are thy lips blanch'd like mine?


s: Child, 'tis no true draught this, 'tis poison'd wine!


s: Chill blows the wind, the pleasaunce-walks are drear--


s: Madcap, what jest was this, to meet me here?


s: Were feet like those made for so wild a way?


s: Had been the likeliest trysting-place to-day!


s: "_Tristram!--nay, nay--thou must not take my hand!--_


s: The pleasaunce-walks, the weeping queen,


s: All red with blood the whirling river flows,


s: The wide plain rings, the dazed air throbs with blows.


s: Their spears are down, their steeds are bathed in foam.


s: "Up, Tristram, up," men cry, "thou moonstruck knight!


s: What foul fiend rides thee? On into the fight!"


s: --Above the din her voice is in my ears;


s: I see her form glide through the crossing spears.--


s: They cloud the brain, they dull the blood!


s: --His sword is sharp, his horse is good;


s: The march, the leaguer, Heaven's blithe air,


s: The neighing steeds, the ringing blows--


s: All round the forest sweeps off, black in shade,


s: And in the bottom of the glade shine clear


s: The forest-chapel and the fountain near.


s: Come, let me leave the shadow of this wood,


s: Ride down, and bathe my hot brow in the flood.


s: --Mild shines the cold spring in the moon's clear light;


s: God! 'tis _her_ face plays in the waters bright.


s: "Fair love," she says, "canst thou forget so soon,


s: At this soft hour, under this sweet moon?"--


s: Is my page here? Come, turn me to the fire!


s: Upon the window-panes the moon shines bright;


s: The wind is down--but she'll not come to-night.


s: Far hence; her dreams are fair--smooth is her brow


s: Of me she recks not, nor my vain desire.


s: --I have had dreams, I have had dreams, my page,


s: Would take a score years from a strong man's age;


s: And with a blood like mine, will leave, I fear,


s: --My princess, art thou there? Sweet, do not wait!


s: Where do the children sleep? kiss them for me!


s: Poor child, thou art almost as pale as I;


s: This comes of nursing long and watching late.


s: The bare heaths spreading, clear as day,


s: What voices are these on the clear night-air?


s: What lights in the court--what steps on the stair?


s: Raise the light, my page! that I may see her.--


s: Thou art come at last, then, haughty Queen!


s: Long I've waited, long I've fought my fever;


s: Blame me not, poor sufferer! that I tarried;


s: Bound I was, I could not break the band.


s: Chide not with the past, but feel the present!


s: Thou art come, indeed--thou hast rejoin'd me;


s: Thou hast dared it--but too late to save.


s: Fear not now that men should tax thine honour!


s: I am dying: build--(thou may'st)--my grave!


s: Tristram, ah, for love of Heaven, speak kindly!


s: What, I hear these bitter words from thee?


s: Sick with grief I am, and faint with travel--


s: Take my hand--dear Tristram, look on me!


s: Yes, the spray is on thy cloak and hair.


s: But thy dark eyes are not dimm'd, proud Iseult!


s: Ah, harsh flatterer! let alone my beauty!


s: Take my hand, and touch these wasted fingers--


s: See my cheek and lips, how white they are!


s: Thou art paler--but thy sweet charm, Iseult!


s: Would not fade with the dull years away.


s: Ah, how fair thou standest in the moonlight!


s: I forgive thee, Iseult!--thou wilt stay?


s: Fear me not, I will be always with thee;


s: I will watch thee, tend thee, soothe thy pain;


s: Sing thee tales of true, long-parted lovers,


s: No, thou shalt not speak! I should be finding


s: Sit--sit by me! I will think, we've lived so


s: In the green wood, all our lives, alone.


s: Alter'd, Tristram? Not in courts, believe me,


s: Love like mine is alter'd in the breast;


s: Courtly life is light and cannot reach it--


s: Ah! it lives, because so deep-suppress'd!


s: What, thou think'st men speak in courtly chambers


s: Words by which the wretched are consoled?


s: What, thou think'st this aching brow was cooler,


s: Royal state with Marc, my deep-wrong'd husband--


s: Silken courtiers whispering honied nothings--


s: Those were friends to make me false to thee!


s: Ah, on which, if both our lots were balanced,


s: Vain and strange debate, where both have suffer'd


s: Both have pass'd a youth consumed and sad,


s: Both have brought their anxious day to evening,


s: And have now short space for being glad!


s: Join'd we are henceforth; nor will thy people,


s: When she sees her humbled, pale, and still.


s: Pour'd in prayer before the Virgin-Mother,


s: She will cry: "Is this the foe I dreaded?


s: Ah, an hour of health would purge his eyesight!


s: Hush, no words! that smile, I see, forgives me.


s: Close thine eyes--this flooding moonlight blinds them!--


s: Nay, all's well again! thou must not weep.


s: I am happy! yet I feel, there's something


s: Swells my heart, and takes my breath away.


s: Through a mist I see thee; near--come nearer!


s: Bend--bend down!--I yet have much to say.


s: Heaven! his head sinks back upon the pillow--


s: Tristram! Tristram! let thy heart not fail!


s: What, love, courage!--Christ! he is so pale.


s: Hush, 'tis vain, I feel my end approaching!


s: When the fierce pains took her in the forest,


s: The deep draughts of death, in bearing me.


s: "Son," she said, "thy name shall be of sorrow;


s: Tristram art thou call'd for my death's sake."


s: So she said, and died in the drear forest.


s: Grief since then his home with me doth make.


s: I am dying.--Start not, nor look wildly!


s: Me, thy living friend, thou canst not save.


s: Close mine eyes, then seek the princess Iseult;


s: Say, I will'd so, that thou stay beside me--


s: She will grant it; she is kind and good.


s: Now to sail the seas of death I leave thee--


s: Tristram!--Tristram!--stay--receive me with thee!


s: Iseult leaves thee, Tristram! never more.


s: You see them clear--the moon shines bright.


s: Strung like white stars, the pearls still are,


s: And the golden bracelets, heavy and rare,


s: When the feast was gay and the laughter loud


s: With hot-flush'd cheeks and brilliant eyes,


s: And a glance which over the crowded floor,


s: "Her moods, good lack, they pass like showers!


s: Which, dogg'd by fear and fought by shame,


s: And though the bed-clothes hide her face,


s: Steals coldly around the chamber bright,


s: He stares and stares, with troubled face,


s: "_What place is this, and who are they?_


s: _How comes it here, this chamber bright,_


s: _And then the beach, and, mark'd with spray,_


s: _--What, has some glamour made me sleep,_


s: _Through some old, sea-side, knightly hall,_


s: _That Knight's asleep, and at her prayer_


s: _Then hush, thou boisterous bugle-peal!_"


s: The fierce hounds snuff the tainted air;


s: And through the glades thy pastime take--


s: A year had flown, and o'er the sea away,


s: In Cornwall, Tristram and Queen Iseult lay;


s: In King Marc's chapel, in Tyntagel old--


s: There in a ship they bore those lovers cold.


s: The young surviving Iseult, one bright day,


s: Had wander'd forth. Her children were at play


s: Which borders the sea-shore--a country path


s: Creeps over it from the till'd fields behind.


s: The hollow's grassy banks are soft-inclined,


s: And to one standing on them, far and near


s: The lone unbroken view spreads bright and clear


s: Over the waste. This cirque of open ground


s: Is light and green; the heather, which all round


s: Creeps thickly, grows not here; but the pale grass


s: Is strewn with rocks, and many a shiver'd mass


s: Of vein'd white-gleaming quartz, and here and there


s: In the smooth centre of the opening stood


s: Three hollies side by side, and made a screen,


s: Warm with the winter-sun, of burnish'd green


s: With scarlet berries gemm'd, the fell-fare's food.


s: Under the glittering hollies Iseult stands,


s: Watching her children play; their little hands


s: Are busy gathering spars of quartz, and streams


s: Of stagshorn for their hats; anon, with screams


s: Of mad delight they drop their spoils, and bound


s: Among the holly-clumps and broken ground,


s: Racing full speed, and startling in their rush


s: The fell-fares and the speckled missel-thrush


s: Out of their glossy coverts;--but when now


s: Their cheeks were flush'd, and over each hot brow,


s: Under the feather'd hats of the sweet pair,


s: In blinding masses shower'd the golden hair--


s: Then Iseult call'd them to her, and the three


s: Cluster'd under the holly-screen, and she


s: Warm in their mantles wrapt the three stood there,


s: Under the hollies, in the clear still air--


s: Mantles with those rich furs deep glistering


s: Long they stay'd still--then, pacing at their ease,


s: Moved up and down under the glossy trees.


s: But still, as they pursued their warm dry road,


s: From Iseult's lips the unbroken story flow'd,


s: And still the children listen'd, their blue eyes


s: Fix'd on their mother's face in wide surprise;


s: Nor did their looks stray once to the sea-side,


s: Nor to the brown heaths round them, bright and wide,


s: Nor to the snow, which, though 't was all away


s: From the open heath, still by the hedgerows lay,


s: Nor to the shining sea-fowl, that with screams


s: Bore up from where the bright Atlantic gleams,


s: Swooping to landward; nor to where, quite clear,


s: The fell-fares settled on the thickets near.


s: And they would still have listen'd, till dark night


s: Came keen and chill down on the heather bright;


s: But, when the red glow on the sea grew cold,


s: Look'd sternly through the frosty evening-air,


s: Then Iseult took by the hand those children fair,


s: And brought her tale to an end, and found the path,


s: And led them home over the darkening heath.


s: The days in which she might have lived and loved


s: Slip without bringing bliss slowly away,


s: Joy has not found her yet, nor ever will--


s: Is it this thought which makes her mien so still,


s: Her features so fatigued, her eyes, though sweet,


s: Her children's? She moves slow; her voice alone


s: But even that comes languidly; in truth,


s: And now she will go home, and softly lay


s: Her laughing children in their beds, and play


s: Awhile with them before they sleep; and then


s: She'll light her silver lamp, which fishermen


s: Dragging their nets through the rough waves, afar,


s: Along this iron coast, know like a star,


s: And take her broidery-frame, and there she'll sit


s: Hour after hour, her gold curls sweeping it;


s: And when the clock peals midnight, she will move


s: Across the shaggy brows of Tristram's hound


s: Who lies, guarding her feet, along the ground;


s: Or else she will fall musing, her blue eyes


s: Fixt, her slight hands clasp'd on her lap; then rise,


s: And at her prie-dieu kneel, until she have told


s: Her rosary-beads of ebony tipp'd with gold,


s: Then to her soft sleep--and to-morrow 'll be


s: The children, and the grey-hair'd seneschal,


s: Her women, and Sir Tristram's aged hound,


s: Are there the sole companions to be found.


s: But these she loves; and noisier life than this


s: She would find ill to bear, weak as she is.


s: She has her children, too, and night and day


s: Is with them; and the wide heaths where they play,


s: The hollies, and the cliff, and the sea-shore,


s: The sand, the sea-birds, and the distant sails,


s: These are to her dear as to them; the tales


s: With which this day the children she beguiled


s: She gleaned from Breton grandames, when a child,


s: She herself loves them still, and, when they are told,


s: Dear saints, it is not sorrow, as I hear,


s: Not suffering, which shuts up eye and ear


s: And lets us be what we were once no more.


s: Power to be moved and soothed, for all our pain,


s: By what of old pleased us, and will again.


s: No, 'tis the gradual furnace of the world,


s: In whose hot air our spirits are upcurl'd


s: Until they crumble, or else grow like steel--


s: Which kills in us the bloom, the youth, the spring--


s: Which leaves the fierce necessity to feel,


s: But takes away the power--this can avail,


s: To make our former pleasures all seem stale.


s: This, or some tyrannous single thought, some fit


s: Of passion, which subdues our souls to it,


s: Till for its sake alone we live and move--


s: This too can change us wholly, and make seem


s: All which we did before, shadow and dream.


s: How this fool passion gulls men potently;


s: How they are full of languor and distress


s: Not having it; which when they do possess,


s: They straightway are burnt up with fume and care,


s: And spend their lives in posting here and there


s: Where this plague drives them; and have little ease,


s: Are furious with themselves, and hard to please.


s: Like that bold Cæsar, the famed Roman wight,


s: Who made a name at younger years than he;


s: Prince Alexander, Philip's peerless son,


s: Into the Soudan's realm, and thundered on


s: What tale did Iseult to the children say,


s: Under the hollies, that bright winter's day?


s: Beyond the heaths, edged by the lonely sea;


s: Of the deep forest-glades of Broce-liande,


s: Through whose green boughs the golden sunshine creeps,


s: Where Merlin by the enchanted thorn-tree sleeps.


s: One April, when the warm days first began.


s: He was on foot, and that false fay, his friend,


s: On her white palfrey; here he met his end,


s: In these lone sylvan glades, that April-day.


s: Was the one Iseult chose, and she brought clear


s: Before the children's fancy him and her.


s: Blowing between the stems, the forest-air


s: Had loosen'd the brown locks of Vivian's hair,


s: Which play'd on her flush'd cheek, and her blue eyes


s: Sparkled with mocking glee and exercise.


s: Her palfrey's flanks were mired and bathed in sweat,


s: For they had travell'd far and not stopp'd yet.


s: Had scored her white right hand, which she allows


s: To rest ungloved on her green riding-dress;


s: The other warded off the drooping boughs.


s: But still she chatted on, with her blue eyes


s: Fix'd full on Merlin's face, her stately prize.


s: Her 'haviour had the morning's fresh clear grace,


s: The spirit of the woods was in her face.


s: She look'd so witching fair, that learned wight


s: Forgot his craft, and his best wits took flight;


s: His mistress, use her empire as she may.


s: They came to where the brushwood ceased, and day


s: Peer'd 'twixt the stems; and the ground broke away,


s: In a sloped sward down to a brawling brook;


s: And up as high as where they stood to look


s: On the brook's farther side was clear, but then


s: This open glen was studded thick with thorns


s: Then white with blossom; and you saw the horns,


s: Through last year's fern, of the shy fallow-deer


s: Who come at noon down to the water here.


s: You saw the bright-eyed squirrels dart along


s: Under the thorns on the green sward; and strong


s: The blackbird whistled from the dingles near,


s: And the weird chipping of the woodpecker


s: Rang lonelily and sharp; the sky was fair,


s: And a fresh breath of spring stirr'd everywhere.


s: Merlin and Vivian stopp'd on the slope's brow,


s: To gaze on the light sea of leaf and bough


s: Which glistering plays all round them, lone and mild,


s: As if to itself the quiet forest smiled.


s: Upon the brow-top grew a thorn, and here


s: The grass was dry and moss'd, and you saw clear


s: Starr'd the cool turf, and clumps of primroses


s: No fairer resting-place a man could find.


s: "Here let us halt," said Merlin then; and she


s: They sate them down together, and a sleep


s: Fell upon Merlin, more like death, so deep.


s: Her finger on her lips, then Vivian rose,


s: And from her brown-lock'd head the wimple throws,


s: And takes it in her hand, and waves it over


s: The blossom'd thorn-tree and her sleeping lover.


s: Nine times she waved the fluttering wimple round,


s: Is Merlin prisoner till the judgment-day;


s: But she herself whither she will can rove--


s: So late!--such storms!--The Saint is mad!


s: But north, still north, Saint Brandan steer'd--


s: "Tell them, one blessed Christmas-night--


s: 'Mid the souls plagued by heavenly power,


s: What blessing must full goodness shower,


s: "Well-fed, well-clothed, well-friended, I


s: He bow'd his head, he breathed a prayer--


s: The knights drew sword, the ladies scream'd,


s: "--False Neckan shares my bed," she weeps;


s: "--O ruth of God," the priest cried out,


s: And the little grey church on the windy shore;


s: She will not come though you call all day;


s: Where the spent lights quiver and gleam,


s: Where the salt weed sways in the stream,


s: Feed in the ooze of their pasture-ground;


s: On a red gold throne in the heart of the sea,


s: She comb'd its bright hair, and she tended it well,


s: When down swung the sound of a far-off bell.


s: She sigh'd, she look'd up through the clear green sea;


s: She said: "I must go, for my kinsfolk pray


s: In the little grey church on the shore to-day.


s: 'Twill be Easter-time in the world--ah me!


s: And I lose my poor soul, Merman! here with thee."


s: I said: "Go up, dear heart, through the waves;


s: Say thy prayer, and come back to the kind sea-caves!"


s: She smiled, she went up through the surf in the bay.


s: "The sea grows stormy, the little ones moan;


s: Long prayers," I said, "in the world they say;


s: Come!" I said: and we rose through the surf in the bay.


s: Where the sea-stocks bloom, to the white-wall'd town;


s: Through the narrow paved streets, where all was still,


s: To the little grey church on the windy hill.


s: From the church came a murmur of folk at their prayers,


s: But we stood without in the cold blowing airs.


s: We climb'd on the graves, on the stones worn with rains,


s: And we gazed up the aisle through the small leaded panes.


s: She sate by the pillar; we saw her clear:


s: "Margaret, hist! come quick, we are here!


s: Dear heart," I said, "we are long alone;


s: The sea grows stormy, the little ones moan."


s: For her eyes were seal'd to the holy book!


s: Loud prays the priest; shut stands the door.


s: She sits at her wheel in the humming town,


s: For the humming street, and the child with its toy!


s: For the priest, and the bell, and the holy well;


s: She steals to the window, and looks at the sand,


s: For the cold strange eyes of a little Mermaiden


s: Ere Dante came, the trump of sacred song,


s: Sate with his bride to see a public show.


s: Fair was the bride, and on her front did glow


s: Youth like a star; and what to youth belong--


s: Gay raiment, sparkling gauds, elation strong.


s: A prop gave way! crash fell a platform! lo,


s: 'Mid struggling sufferers, hurt to death, she lay!


s: Shuddering, they drew her garments off--and found


s: A robe of sackcloth next the smooth, white skin.


s: Such, poets, is your bride, the Muse! young, gay,


s: Radiant, adorn'd outside; a hidden ground


s: What made my heart, at Newstead, fullest swell?--


s: 'Twas not the thought of Byron, of his cry


s: Who struck, in heat, his child he loved so well,


s: And his child's reason flicker'd, and did die.


s: They hang; the picture doth the story tell.


s: Behold the stern, mail'd father, staff in hand!


s: The little fair-hair'd son, with vacant gaze,


s: Where no more lights of sense or knowledge are!


s: Methinks the woe, which made that father stand


s: Was woe than Byron's woe more tragic far.


s: In Paris all look'd hot and like to fade.


s: Sere with September, droop'd the chestnut-trees.


s: 'Twas dawn; a brougham roll'd through the streets and made


s: Of the French Theatre. Worn with disease,


s: Rachel, with eyes no gazing can appease,


s: Sate in the brougham and those blank walls survey'd.


s: She follows the gay world, whose swarms have fled


s: Why stops she by this empty play-house drear?


s: Ah, where the spirit its highest life hath led,


s: All spots, match'd with that spot, are less divine;


s: And Rachel's Switzerland, her Rhine, is here!


s: Above the fragrant warm Provençal shore,


s: Up the steep pine-plumed paths of the Estrelle,


s: And laid her in a stately room, where fell


s: The rose-crown'd queen of legendary lore,


s: Polymnia, full on her death-bed.--'Twas well!


s: The fret and misery of our northern towns,


s: In this her life's last day, our poor, our pain,


s: Our jangle of false wits, our climate's frowns,


s: Do for this radiant Greek-soul'd artist cease;


s: The beauty and the glorious art of Greece.


s: Sprung from the blood of Israel's scatter'd race,


s: To forms from antique Greece and Rome uptorn,


s: Trick'd out with a Parisian speech and face,


s: Imparting life renew'd, old classic grace;


s: Then, soothing with thy Christian strain forlorn,


s: While by her bedside Hebrew rites have place--


s: Ah, not the radiant spirit of Greece alone


s: She had--one power, which made her breast its home!


s: In her, like us, there clash'd, contending powers,


s: The strife, the mixture in her soul, are ours;


s: _Even in a palace, life may be led well!_


s: So spake the imperial sage, purest of men,


s: Of common life, where, crowded up pell-mell,


s: And drudge under some foolish master's ken


s: Who rates us if we peer outside our pen--


s: Match'd with a palace, is not this a hell?


s: _Even in a palace!_ On his truth sincere,


s: Who spoke these words, no shadow ever came;


s: And when my ill-school'd spirit is aflame


s: Some nobler, ampler stage of life to win,


s: I'll stop, and say: "There were no succour here!


s: 'Twas August, and the fierce sun overhead


s: Smote on the squalid streets of Bethnal Green,


s: And the pale weaver, through his windows seen


s: In Spitalfields, look'd thrice dispirited.


s: I met a preacher there I knew, and said:


s: "Ill and o'erwork'd, how fare you in this scene?"--


s: "Bravely!" said he; "for I of late have been


s: Much cheer'd with thoughts of Christ, _the living bread_."


s: To cheer thee, and to right thee if thou roam--


s: Not with lost toil thou labourest through the night!


s: Thou mak'st the heaven thou hop'st indeed thy home.


s: Crouch'd on the pavement, close by Belgrave Square,


s: A tramp I saw, ill, moody, and tongue-tied.


s: A girl; their clothes were rags, their feet were bare.


s: Some labouring men, whose work lay somewhere there,


s: Pass'd opposite; she touch'd her girl, who hied


s: Across, and begg'd, and came back satisfied.


s: The rich she had let pass with frozen stare.


s: Thought I: "Above her state this spirit towers;


s: She will not ask of aliens, but of friends,


s: "She turns from that cold succour, which attends


s: The unknown little from the unknowing great,


s: And points us to a better time than ours."


s: Two springs which close by one another play;


s: And, "Thirteen hundred years agone," they say,


s: "Two saints met often where those waters flow.


s: "One came from Penmon westward, and a glow


s: Whiten'd his face from the sun's fronting ray;


s: And he with unsunn'd face did always go."


s: _Seiriol the Bright, Kybi the Dark!_ men said.


s: The seër from the East was then in light,


s: The seër from the West was then in shade.


s: Ah! now 'tis changed. In conquering sunshine bright


s: The man of the bold West now comes array'd;


s: He of the mystic East is touch'd with night.


s: Long fed on boundless hopes, O race of man,


s: How angrily thou spurn'st all simpler fare!


s: "Christ," some one says, "was human as we are;


s: No judge eyes us from Heaven, our sin to scan;


s: "We live no more, when we have done our span."--


s: "Well, then, for Christ," thou answerest, "who can care?


s: From sin, which Heaven records not, why forbear?


s: Live we like brutes our life without a plan!"


s: So answerest thou; but why not rather say:


s: "Hath man no second life?--_Pitch this one high!_


s: Sits there no judge in Heaven, our sin to see?--


s: "_More strictly, then, the inward judge obey!_


s: Was Christ a man like us? _Ah! let us try_


s: _If we then, too, can be such men as he!_"


s: "Yes, write it in the rock," Saint Bernard said,


s: God's wisdom and God's goodness are display'd,


s: "For God of these his attributes is made."--


s: Well spake the impetuous Saint, and bore of men


s: The suffrage captive; now, not one in ten


s: Recalls the obscure opposer he outweigh'd.


s: _God's wisdom and God's goodness!_--Ay, but fools


s: Mis-define these till God knows them no more.


s: _Wisdom and goodness, they are God!_--what schools


s: Have yet so much as heard this simpler lore?