s: Nor fresh from heroes’ brows the laurels green;


s: Nor bright sheaves by bards of eld entrusted


s: To earth’s great granaries—I bring not these.


s: Only thin, scattered blades from harvests gleaned


s: Erewhile I plucked, may happen thee to please.


s: So poor indeed, those others had demeaned


s: Themselves to cull; or from their strong, firm hands


s: Down dropped about their feet with careless laugh,


s: Too broken for home gathering, these strands,


s: Or else more useless than the idle chaff.


s: But I have garnered them.  Yet, lest they seem


s: Amid the loose-bound sheaf stray flowers gleam.


s: And fairer seeming make the gift I bring,


s: Lilies blood-red, that lit the waving field,


s: And now are knotted through the golden grain.


s: Thou wilt not scorn the tribute I now yield,


s: So take it, and if still too slight, too small


s: It seem, think ’tis a bloom that grew anear,


s: In other Springtime, the old garden wall.


s: (That pale blue flower you will remember, dear.


s: The heedless world, unseeing, passed it by,


s: And left it to the bee and you.) Then say,


s: “Because the hands that tended it are nigh


s: That round it trampled down the beaded grass,


s: Of Southland; and dearer than days that pass


s: In other summer-tides.” This simple song


s: Read so, dear heart; Nay, rather white-souled one,


s: From a low bed where ’neath the westering sun


s: You sang. And if your lone heart ever said


s: “Lo, she is gone, and cannot more be mine,”


s: Say now, “She is not changed—she is not wed,—


s: She never left her cradle bed. Still shine


s: The pillows with the print of her wee head.”


s: So, mother-heart, this song, where through still rings


s: I bring. An idle gift mayhap, that clings


s: About old days forgotten long, and dead.


s: Perchance ’tis sad, and hath not any mirth,


s: Yet love thou it, for the weak singer’s sake,


s: And hold it dear, though yet is little worth,


s: This tale of Elder-world: of earth’s first prime,


s: Of years that in their grave so long have lain,


s: To-day’s dull ear, through poets’ tuneful rhyme


s: No echo hears, nor mocking friar’s strain.


s: Pure as an angel’s dream shone Paradise.


s: Blue mountains hemmed it round; and airy sighs


s: Of rippling waters haunted it. Dim glades,


s: And wayward paths o’erflecked with shimmering shades,


s: And tangled dells, and wilding pleasances,


s: Hung moist with odors strange from scented trees.


s: Sweet sounds o’erbrimmed the place; and rare perfumes,


s: Faint as far sunshine, fell ’mong verdant glooms.


s: Wrapt flawless days in endless summer-sheen.


s: Bright eyes, the violet waking, lifted up


s: Where bent the lily her deep, fragrant cup;


s: And folded buds, ’gainst many a leafy spray—


s: The wild-woods’ voiceless nuns—knelt down to pray.


s: There roses, deep in greenest mosses swathed,


s: Kept happy tryst with tropic blooms, sun-bathed.


s: No sounds of sadness surged through listening trees:


s: Made answer, murmurous; nor paled the hue


s: The jonquils wore; nor chill the wild breath grew


s: Of daisies clustered white in dewy croft;


s: Nor fell the tasseled plumes as satin soft


s: Upon the broad-leaved corn. Sweet all the day


s: O’erflowed with music every woodland way;


s: And sweet the jargonings of nested bird,


s: When light the listless wind the forest stirred.


s: Straight as the shaft that ’gainst the morning sun


s: The slender palm uprears, the Fairest one—


s: The first of womankind—sweet Lilith—stood,


s: A gracious shape that glorified the wood.


s: About her rounded shoulders warm and bare,


s: Like netted sunshine fell her lustrous hair;


s: The rosy flush of young pomegranate bells


s: Dawned on her cheeks; and blue as in lone dells


s: Sleep the Forget-me-nots, her eyes. With bent


s: Brows, sullen-creased, swart Adam gazed intent


s: Upon a leopard, crouched low in its place


s: Beneath his feet. Not once in Lilith’s face


s: He looked, nor sought her wistful, downcast eyes


s: With shifting shadows dusk, and strange surprise.


s: “O, Love,” she said, “no more let us contend!


s: So sweet is life, anger, methinks, should end.


s: In this, our garden bright, why dost thou claim


s: Ever the highest place, the noblest name?


s: Freely to both our Lord gave self-same sway


s: O’er living things. Love, thou art gone astray!


s: Twin-born, of equal stature, kindred soul


s: Are we; like dowed with strength. Yon stars that roll


s: Their course above, down-looking on my face,


s: See yours as fair; in neither aught that’s base.


s: Thy wife, not handmaid I, yet thou dost say,


s: ‘I first in Eden rule.’ Thou, then, hast sway.


s: Run at thy bidding, crouch beside thy knee?


s: Lift up (when thou dost bid me) timid eyes?


s: “Mine own,” Adam made answer soft, “’twere best


s: Thou didst forget such ills in noontide rest.


s: Content I wake, the keeper of the place.


s: Of equal stature? Yea! Of self-same grace?


s: Nay, Love; recall those lately vanished eves,


s: When we together plucked the plantain leaves;


s: Yon leopard lowly stretched at my command


s: Its lazy length beneath my soothing hand.


s: At thee she snarled, disdaining half, to sheathe


s: ’Neath thy soft pleading eyes her milk-white teeth.


s: Oft, Love, in other times, in sheltered nook,


s: We scattered pearly millet by the brook.


s: Lo thine lay barren in the sand. Quick mine


s: Upspringing sifts o’er pale blooms odors fine:


s: Hateful thy chidings grow; each breeze doth bring


s: Thereat he rose, and quick at every stride


s: The fawning leopard gambolled at his side.


s: So fell the first dark shadow of Earth’s strife.


s: With coming evil all the winds were rife.


s: Lone lay the land with sense of dull loss paled.


s: The days grew sick at heart; the sunshine failed;


s: And falling waters breathed in silvery moan


s: As sometimes you have seen, ’neath household eaves,


s: ’Mong scents of Springtime, in the budded leaves,


s: The swallows circling blithe, with slant brown wing,


s: Home-flying fleet, with tender chattering,


s: And all the place o’errun with nested love—


s: So have you come, when leaves hung crisp above


s: Those shining wings, cleaving the air, have seen


s: Nor heard the gladsome swallows twittering there—


s: Only the empty nests, low-hung and bare,


s: Spake of the scattered brood.—So lonely were


s: To Lilith grown her once loved haunts. Nor fair


s: The starlit nights, slow-dropping fragrant dew,


s: Nor the dim groves when dawn came shifting through.


s: Far ’mong the hills the wood-doves’ moan she heard,


s: Or in some nearer copse, a startled bird;


s: Or the white moonshine ’mong green boughs o’erhead


s: Wrought her full heart to tears. “Sweet peace,” she said,


s: “Beyond these walls I know not what may be—


s: Islands low-fringed, or bare; or tranquil sea,


s: Spaces unpeopled, wastes of burning sands,


s: Green-wooded belts, enclasping summer lands,


s: Or realms of dusky pines, or wolds of snow,


s: Or jagged ice-peaks wrapt in purple glow,


s: Or shadowy oceans lapped in fadeless sheen—


s: Yet there were Paradise, were Lilith queen.


s: To soothe his idle whims, above him bent,


s: Warm in my milk-white arms, lull his repose,


s: Nor deep in subtle kisses drown his woes.


s: Wherefore, since here no more dwells love, I fly


s: Should Lilith wait since Adam’s empty state


s: More dear he holds than Lilith desolate?”


s: For faint his dying love, yet coldly stirred


s: Its ashen cerements: “Nay, love, our home


s: Within these garden walls lies safe. Wouldst roam


s: Without? Sweet peace, by loss, wilt thou restore


s: But I, for peace, nor love, nor life,” she cried,


s: Oft have I watched the mists athwart yon peaks,


s: Pursuing oft past coves and winding creeks,


s: Have thought to touch their shining veil outspread,


s: So now, farewell! Ere the new day shall break


s: Adown their gleaming track, my way I take.”


s: She turned; but ere the gate that looked without


s: She reached, one fleeting moment paused in doubt


s: Upon a river’s brink. In one swift glance


s: All coming time she saw. A weird romance


s: Wherein she traced great peoples yet unborn,


s: New springing cycles, strange lands cleft with tarn


s: Or pleasant vale, and green plains stretching far,


s: And troubled seas, with bitter perils past,


s: And elfin shapes that jeering flitted fast


s: With scornful faces, leering lips that smiled,


s: Or bursts of laughter through that vision wild.


s: Uncertain, then, she stood, half loth to turn.


s: “Against yon deepening sky, how dimly burn


s: The stars, new-lit. Dear home, thou art so fair!”


s: The angel near her paused, whose watchful care


s: Guards Eden’s peaceful bounds. Serene, his air


s: So tender-sweet, so pure the gentle face,


s: She scarce dared look upon its subtle grace.


s: Sad were his eyes; his words, rebuking, fell


s: Soft as the moonshine clear, in sleeping dell.


s: “My sister, go not hence, lest these gates bar


s: Anger and pride shall lead through distant ways


s: Behold! waits even now my princely mate.


s: Thou can’st not tell which hath in our far land


s: The highest place. Nay; nor, indeed, whose hand


s: Hath grasped the noblest fame; nor yet divine


s: Whose brows enwound with honor, brightest shine.


s: In pleasant labor lurks no thought of pain;


s: The greatest loss oft brings the noblest gain;


s: The heart’s warm pulse feels not one throb of strife,


s: And Love is holiest crown of human life.


s: Ere thou didst sleep, beyond the rim of night


s: I heard a voice that sang. The carol light,


s: Scarce earth-born seemed.  So sweet the matchless strain,


s: Its cadence weird, lowly to breathe again,


s: Wrapt echo, listening, half forgot; and o’er


s: And o’er, as joyous birds unprisoned soar,


s: The free notes rose. And in the silence wide,


s: Across the seas, across the night, I cried:


s: O sinless soul, whose clear voice blithely rings


s: ’Gainst the blue verge of stars! ’Tis Lilith sings


s: The happy song of love. O Love! the tint


s: Of light divine thou wearest. Thou hast no hint


s: Of storm or turmoil, or of Sin’s rough ways,


s: Whose feet to heaven climb, through darkest maze.


s: Ah, Lilith, sure the love that basely weighs,


s: That stoops to count its gifts, and hoarding, says,


s: ‘Such and so many, these indeed are mine;


s: I hold my treasure dear, nor covet thine;’


s: This is not love; ’tis Thrift in borrowed dress,


s: Deceiving thee. Love giveth free largess


s: With open hand, clean as the whitest day;


s: Yea, that it gave, forgetteth it straightway.


s: Beyond these walls dwells bliss that lives not here?


s: When thou hast bartered peace, outshining clear


s: And storm-tossed wide, art wildly driven hence,


s: The outer world gives thee no recompense.


s: Each shining sphere that trembles in blue space


s: Nor doth the planet pale that gems the night


s: Reel wanton down, the smallest star to smite.


s: No twining vine, tendril, or springing shoot


s: Ere taught thee so; for bud and leaf and root


s: Doth its best self lift upward into light,


s: Yet climbing still, scorns not the sacred right


s: The dark roots drink—and healthful juice slow drains


s: Deep ’neath the mould; and with their secret toil


s: Bear stainless, leaf and flow’r above the soil.


s: Noblest the soul that self hath most forgot;


s: Strongest the self which hath most humbly wrought;


s: Purest the soul that in full light serene,


s: Unquestioning, enwrapt, God’s field doth glean.


s: I have seen worlds far hence; thy tender feet


s: Bleeding, will tread their stony ways. And sweet


s: Is love. And wedded love, grown cold and rude,


s: More bitter-seeming makes dull solitude.


s: The young heart beats, close shut from every harm.”


s: “Yet,” Lilith answered slow, “in that still night


s: Ere He, the garden’s Lord, passed from our sight,


s: Hast thou forgot his words? ‘Lo this fair spot


s: Made for your pleasance; see ye mar it not,


s: Oh, twin-born pair! So richly dight with grace


s: Of soul and stature; unto whom the place


s: O’er all that live herein.’  Hath Lilith sought


s: The compact. Therefore, unhindered let me take


s: My way far hence. I shall not vex his soul


s: With fretful plaints, where unknown stars shall roll,


s: Thy feet pass, linger. Lilith, list glad sounds


s: That greet thine ear. Slow cycles will pass on


s: And in the time-to-be-bright years, grow wan;


s: Old planets fade, new stars shall dimly burn,


s: But not to Eden’s peace shalt thou return.


s: Oft from thy yearning heart glad hope shall fail.


s: Thy fruit of life lift bloom all sere and pale.


s: Certain, small comfort bides, when joy is gone,


s: In Great or Less. Grim Sorrow waits to lead thee on.


s: Sorrow! Thou hast not seen her pallid face.


s: In thy most troubled dream she had no place”—


s: “Nay, I depart,” she said, with lips grown chill.


s: “Fearless and free, exiled, but princess still.”


s: “I may not hinder thee,” the Angel sighed;


s: Slow swung the verdant gates neath saddest eyes.


s: Soft stealing through the shade, and skirting swift


s: The walls of Paradise, through night’s dark rift


s: Lilith fled far; nor stopped lest deadly snare


s: Grew chill. Loud beat her heart, as through the wind


s: Adown the pathway of the mist she passed,


s: And reached a weird, strange land at last.


s: When morning flecked the dappled sky with red,


s: And odors sweet from waking flowers were shed,


s: Lilith beheld a plain, outstretching wide,


s: The blue shore kissed.  And in that tropic glow


s: Dim islands shone, palm-fringed, and low.


s: In nearer space, like scarlet arrows flew


s: Strange birds, or ’mong the reedy fens, or through


s: Now Lilith seaward passed, and stooping, bent


s: Her hollowed hand above the wave, and quaffed;


s: For she was spent with wanderings wide.  Loud laughed


s: She then, beholding on that silent shore


s: Rare shells, that still faint in their pink lips bore


s: Wild ocean-songs; and precious stones, that bright


s: That dim sea’s marge, deep in the land of night


s: Loud crying there, “O Lilith, now arise,


s: Great queen-triumphant! See how wildly fair


s: Before me lies my realm! And from its air


s: Hath Eden’s self. Look, where upon the sands


s: The garish mosses spread with dainty hands,


s: Like goblin network fine, each fairy frond.


s: And dusky trees shut in broad fields beyond,


s: And hang long trembling garlands, age-grown-gray,


s: From topmost boughs adown, athwart the day;


s: And sweet amid these wilds, bright dewy bells


s: Ring summer chimes.  And soft in fragrant dells,


s: ’Mong tender leaves, great spikes of scarlet flaunt


s: About the pools—the errant wild bees’ haunt—


s: And thick with bramble-blooms pink petals starred,


s: And dew-stained buds of blue, the velvet sward.


s: Scarce ripple stirred the sea; and inland wend


s: Far bays and sedgy ponds; and rolling rivers bend.


s: Of palest glamours steeped. And far and low


s: Great purple isles; and further still a rim


s: Shine ’gainst the day. “O world, new found,” she said,


s: “With treasures heaped and odors rare, ’mong flowers shed,


s: For whose dear sake I came o’er flinty ways,


s: And paths with danger fraught; ’mong brambly sprays,


s: With bleeding feet, and shoulders thorn-pierced deep.


s: But perils past, fade fast. And I will weep


s: My Eden lost no more.” And sweet and low


s: As one who dreams, she said, “For now I know


s: These mountain heights, these level plains, are mine.”


s: She ceased, and inland quickly turned. “Fair shine


s: Strange fruits thick-set, or blossoms lightly tossed


s: Low at my feet.” Therewith, a dusk globe, crossed


s: With golden bands, from bent boughs, stripped she. Through


s: The gleaming sphere its nectrous juices drew,


s: And thirsting cried—as one grown drunken: “Mine


s: These fruits unknown, in thorny combs that shine,


s: Or gray-green spikes that glow, dull on the sands.


s: Fain would I pluck, out-reaching eager hands,


s: Save that a marvel grows of ruddier rind


s: Out-flinging fruity breath upon the wind,


s: Beneath harsh spines half-hid. Nor drains


s: My wilful spouse such nectars fine. Nor gains


s: His patient care the fruitage rare, these plains


s: That heaps unheeded. Nay, nor bearded grains


s: Golding this goodly land, where Lilith reigns.”


s: So passed the glad years on, and o’er her home—


s: Its woods and mountains, its clear streams—to roam,


s: She loved. The inmost throb of Nature’s heart


s: She felt amid the grass. Each daintiest part


s: Of Nature’s work she knew; each gain, each loss.


s: And reverent watched on high the starry cross


s: Gleaming, mute symbol in that southern dome


s: Of One—the Promised One—of days to come.


s: The rifted sea-shell on the shingly beach


s: She scanned, pitying each inmate gone. Each


s: Named. ’Mong beetling crags, the sea-bird’s home,


s: Light-footed, went. Or, idly, in the foam


s: Under the cocoa-palms, her fingers dipped,


s: Much marveling to see where featly slipped


s: Beneath the waves scaled creatures, crimson-dyed


s: Or luminous: Barred-yellow, purple pied,


s: Rose-tinted, opaline, or dight with stain,


s: Rich as the rainbow streaks, when through the rain


s: The Sun’s kiss falls. Much wondered she when bright


s: By sedgy pools, flamingoes stalked. And light


s: The startled ostrich bent his headlong flight


s: O’er desert bare. And on the woody height


s: Trooped zebras, velvet-brown.  The date’s green crest


s: Beneath, the peaceful camels lay at rest.


s: And slender-straight camelopards the boughs


s: Down-drew, the lush-green leaves thereon to browse.


s: Or oft ’mong oozy bogs, or through the fens,


s: Fearless she went, when low, ’mong reedy dens


s: The water-courses by, huge creatures slept,


s: Or in the jungles spotted panthers crept,


s: And in the thickets deadly serpents wound


s: Like blossomed wreaths, their coils upon the ground.


s: All forms of life she saw; with tenderest care


s: Uplifting humblest sprays, or blooms most rare.


s: Pierced the deep heart of Nature’s subtlest lore,


s: Touched highest knowledge, probed the inmost core


s: Of hidden things. She tracked each circling world


s: And the wide sweep of billows lightly curled.


s: Each page the Master writ she read, close furled


s: In lotus blooms, or, ’mong the storm-clouds whirled;


s: Or traced, star-lettered, on the flaming scroll


s: The night unwinds toward the southern pole.


s: And sometimes wiling idle days, she wove


s: In quaint device, gems from her treasure-trove,


s: Soft emerald, sapphire pale, and many a stone


s: Among, the glinting diamonds shone. And there


s: The sultry topaz burned. And laughing, twined


s: She round her bare white throat red rubies shrined


s: That sheltered island birds; or in the grove,


s: Or ’mong the rocky cliffs, where dainty nests


s: They fashioned swift. She scaled the seaward crests,


s: And on the sands piled turtle eggs, when all


s: About hoarse-shrieked the water-fowl, or call


s: Of plovers fell among the tangled glens,


s: Or lonely bitterns’ boom came o’er the fens.


s: So traversed she her realm, when mangoes green


s: Baobabs by, showed freshest hues; and sheen


s: Of silver touched acacias slight; and lone


s: Of that far sea against the shore brake soft.


s: And through that blossom-burdened land as oft


s: She roamed and far, sweet sped the passing days.


s: Till one dawned fairest, in whose noon-tide haze


s: Sweet slumbering she lay; and dreamed-steeped still,


s: Half conscious, caught the tinkle of a rill


s: Across her thoughts, as once she loved to hear,


s: Rippled the waters, low against the stones


s: Where poised gemmed dragon-flies;  and sudden moans


s: Shook ’mong blue flags. Waked, vague unrest


s: And tender yearning rose within her breast,


s: And longing love, that she ne’er more might still.


s: When late upon her parting day smiled chill,


s: Pensive she gazed upon the darkling land,


s: With lingering feet o’er-passed the shining strand,


s: The sea o’erlooking. Far the horizon’s edge


s: Athwart her gaze a rim of blue hills cleft,


s: Whereat she sighed. “So rose, ere I them left,


s: So smiled, the dim hills round my Eden home.


s: But I—wherefore recall, when far I roam,


s: Dreams vanished—gone? And now since long time dead


s: Is that fair past, I fain would lay it low


s: Where soft about it memories sweet may blow


s: As summer winds the fallen leaves among.”


s: Then passed her tender thoughts, and loud and glad


s: As our morn wakens, strong that yesternight slept sad,


s: She sang. The song triumphant upward swelled,


s: Unsorrowed by soft dreams or thoughts of eld—


s: As fresh the full, free, mellow notes did rise


s: As the blithe skylark’s strain, anear the skies:


s: I watch thy flight, above thy craggèd rock.


s: Far roll thy waves ere yet they find thy shore.


s: Break ’neath the beetling cliffs with muffled roar.


s: Thy scorching breath fierce burns the crouching land


s: Still higher than thy wing, O Eagle, soars,


s: My soul, that fearless leaps to thine embrace


s: Swift changed her mood, and darkened in her face.


s: The sudden dusks o’er crinkling waters run,


s: So fell her thoughts to music. And as one


s: That grieves, she sang.  That lay—soft, weirdly clear,


s: The babbling waves made murmurous pause to hear:


s: Fair land (she sang), O sun-steeped realm of mine,


s: The Sun, thy lover, hath his farewell kiss.


s: Strong is thy Day-god! yet his parting kiss


s: Falls soft upon thy faltering lips. O land,


s: Fast comes the night, and warm, for thy dear sake,


s: The shadows curtain dusk, thy lonely rest.


s: Fair land, my lover cold, doth careless take


s: From my shut lips his flight. Here leaves me lone


s: She ceased. But still the song did float and fade,


s: As failing sunshine soft, in woodland glade.


s: And Lilith, listening, heard—so wild, so shrill,


s: Yet dream-like, far, again that tinkling rill


s: A sadness bitter-sweet, as ’neath the green palms crept


s: The wind, low-sighing, faint. As from lone nest


s: A bird torn pinion lifts, striving to soar


s: And brooding, homeward slowly went again.


s: Wide through her realm she walked, and glad or lorn


s: She mused. So, loitering, it chanced one morn


s: When lone she sat upon a mountain height,


s: One sudden stood anear, whose dark eyes bright


s: Upon her shone. Pallid his face, and red


s: His smileless lips. “Who art thou?” Lilith said,


s: And faint a hidden pain her hot heart stirred,


s: When low, and rarely sweet, his voice she heard.


s: She looked, half-pleased—and half in strange surprise


s: Shrank ’neath the gaze of those wild, starry eyes.


s: “Oh, dame,” the stranger said, “where waters leap


s: Bright glancing down, I rested oft, where steep


s: Thy Eden o’er, bare-browed, a peak uprose.


s: Naught craving bloom or fruitage—nay, nor those


s: Frail joys Adam holds dear. One only boon


s: I sought of all his heritage. Fair ’neath the moon


s: I saw thee stand; and all about thy feet


s: The night her perfume spilled, soft incense meet.


s: Then low I sighed, when grew thy beauty on my sight,


s: ‘Some comfort yet remains, if that I might


s: From Adam pluck this perfect flower. Some morn—


s: If I (some dreamed-of morn, perchance slow-born)


s: This flawless bloom, white, fragrant, lustrous, pure


s: For ever on my breast might hold secure.’


s: Yea, for thy love, through darkling realms of night


s: I followed thee, sharing thy fearful flight


s: Unseen. Lo, when thy timid heart, behind


s: Heard echoing phantom feet upon the wind,


s: ’Twas I, pursuing o’er the day’s last brink;


s: Wherefore, I now am here. O Lilith, think


s: How over-much I love thee, and how sweet


s: Were life with thee! O weary naked feet,


s: With me each onward path wilt thou not tread?


s: Or, if thou endest here thy quest,” he said,


s: One stood at Eden’s gate like thee. But thy face


s: I know thee. Say, whence comest thou, O prince?”


s: “Nay, then,” he sighed, “an outcast I, long since


s: From Heaven thrust out; yet now, the curse is past,


s: Thy love I win. Yea, where thou art, I know


s: Is Heaven. And bliss, in sooth” (oh, soft and low,


s: He passed. Though long her eyes the stranger sought


s: Where curved the distant shore, she saw him not.


s: Soft through the trees the mottled shadows dropped


s: When Lilith in her pleasance sat. Half-propped


s: ’Gainst mossy trunk her slender length. Her hair


s: Slowly the breeze swayed the mimosas slight


s: As Eblis pushed aside the bent boughs light.


s: “O dame,” he said, “it seemeth surely meet


s: Earth’s richest gifts to lay at Lilith’s feet;


s: Things loveliest beneath the shining sun


s: I bring.’ Since of all crafts in this young earth


s: So much deserves, I bear this marble sphere,


s: Whose hollowed husk, well polished, gleaming clear,


s: Hides rarest fruit.” Therewith the globe he showed,


s: The half whereof smooth-sparkling was: Half glowed


s: With carven work; embossed with pale leaves light,


s: And delicately sculptured birds in flight,


s: And clustered flowers frail. Lilith drew near


s: With beaming eyes, and laid the graven sphere


s: Against her smiling lips; o’ertraced the vine


s: That circled it with fingers slim. “Mine, mine


s: Is it, O prince?” she cried. “I know not why


s: Its beauty doth recall the winds’ long sigh


s: That surged among the palms.  Methinks is dead


s: Some summer-tide, that in its own sweet stead


s: More fair? If such thou knowest, Lilith, speak.


s: That I, for thee, surely would straightway seek.


s: On land or sea, created things so rare?”


s: And Lilith answered, “On this earth so round,


s: But see yon nodding palm that droops its head


s: Low sighing o’er the wave. Bring me a bough


s: So feathery-fine. Turn thy white sphere! Now


s: On its cold, fair surface, Eblis, canst thou


s: Such branches carve, or tender fronds, that we


s: Bright waving on the cocoa, these may see?”


s: And Eblis wrought till grew upon the stone


s: Then Lilith cried: “Skilled craftsman, proven thou!


s: Didst thou, then, make my cocoa-tree? Thy bough


s: Pale graven give the grace of its green crown


s: When through it night winds gently slip adown.


s: No charm of color, nor of change, nor glow


s: Of blue noon sky, thy carven work doth show;


s: Let dusk bees visit it—or sip the breath


s: From thy chill marble buds.” Then, Lilith saith,


s: “Eblis hath wroughten noblest on this earth.”


s: He answered quick, “Poor bauble, little worth


s: To Lilith! Ope thy slighted husk, reveal


s: The miracle thy rough rind doth conceal!”


s: He touched a hidden spring, and wide apart


s: The riven sphere showed its white hollow heart,


s: And in the midst a gem; the which he laid


s: Within her hand. “Behold,” he said, “I made


s: Most fair for thee this lustrous blood-red sard,


s: And deftly traced its gleaming surface hard


s: With carvings thick of bright acacias slim,


s: Pomegranates lush and river-reeds. Its rim


s: A spray of leaves enchased, white as with rime


s: Night fallen. ‘Slow drags the lagging time,’


s: I said, ‘till one day shines upon the breast


s: It decks, this gem.’ The token, Lilith, take;


s: Awhile from thine own land. Then shall I know


s: Turned from her pleasance and all silently


s: Passed to the sea, across the yellow strand


s: That, glimmering, ringed her shadowy land.


s: “Oh cool,” he said, “the lucent waves that fret


s: The barren shore, and curl their scattered spray wet


s: ’Gainst thy hand. Come! my longing pinnace waits


s: To bear thee far. Her slender keel now grates


s: Upon the beach; and swift her shapely prow


s: Will skim the deep, as swallows’ fleet wing. Thou


s: Seest! comely and strong it is. For thee


s: With skin of spotted pard, I cushioned it.


s: Ere the fresh breeze doth die, light let us flit


s: Across the sea. No craft so proud, so staunch,


s: Goes glancing through the foam.  I safely launch


s: Her now, and speed to fairy isles. Come thou


s: With me.”  And glad she crossed the burnished prow;


s: And ’mong the thick furred rugs sat down. “Oh craft,


s: Fair fashioned, lightly built, speed far,” she laughed;


s: They idly on, her slender hand she trailed


s: Among the waves, and sudden cried, “Indeed,


s: A craft stauncher than thine floats by. What need


s: Hath it of helm, or prow, or silken sail,


s: Fast drives it onward?” A nut she drew, round,


s: Rough, coarse-husked, forth from the wave. “Lo, I found,”


s: She said, “this boat well built. The cocoa-tree


s: The summer wind; its port, the misty shore


s: Of ocean isles. It fades from sight. ‘No more,’


s: We say, ‘it sails the wild uncertain main,’


s: But when the drifting days are gone, again


s: We turn our prow, and reach the barren isles


s: Where, stranded as we went, the nut. Now smiles


s: Behold, the cocoa, towering, doth spring


s: Forth from the brown nut’s heart. About it cling


s: Sweet odors faint; and far stars trembling peep.


s: When through its bowers cool the breezes creep.


s: Strong, indeed, thy boat, well builded! I wis


s: There be yet other craft as firm, Eblis,


s: That o’er these trackless waters boldly glide.


s: Brave Nautilus afar, doth fearless ride,


s: With sails of gossamer. So, too, doth spread,


s: To summer airs, his silken gleaming thread,


s: The water-spider fleet, free sailor true


s: That in the sunshine floats, beneath the blue,


s: Glad skies. And through the deep, all sparkling, slip


s: A thousand insect-swarms, that, rippling, dip


s: That roam the sultry seas! Look, the wind stirs


s: Our creaking sails! Thy pinnace flying o’er


s: The ocean’s swell, fast leaves the fading shore;


s: And darts the spider quick. And swifter fly


s: The insect-fleets among the foam; yet think


s: Not when among the billows wild doth sink


s: Thy bounding boat, I fear. Nor would I slight


s: Thy skill, that made it strong, and swift, and light,


s: A jutting shore Prince Eblis drew, where sheer


s: The brown rocks rose. And just beyond, a slim


s: Beach of white sand curved to the ocean’s brim.


s: Thereto he came, and high upon the strand


s: Drew the boat’s keel. “Welcome, fair queen, to land


s: That Eblis rules,” he said. “I fain would show


s: Thee what thou hast not seen in the warm glow


s: Of thy glad home. This blighted shore of mine


s: No verdure hath, nor bloom, nor fruits that shine


s: ’Mong drooping boughs.  Far inland gloom lone peaks


s: O’er blackened meads; or from their bare cones leaps


s: Gaunt, crackling flame; or crawl like ashen veins


s: The smouldering fires across the stricken plains.


s: Deep in these yawning caves black shadows lie


s: That shall be lifted never more. Come, I


s: Enter! Know thou what treasure by the sea


s: I gathered other time.” Therewith showed he


s: Hid ’mong the high heaped rocks a dusky grot


s: Where never sunshine fell. A dismal spot


s: Where dank the sea-weeds coiled and cold the air


s: Swept through. And stooping, Eblis downward rolled


s: Of purple sheen, enwrought with flecks of gold.


s: Great wefts of scarlet and of blue, thick strewn


s: With pearls, or cleft with discs of jacinth stone;


s: And drifts of silky woof and samite white,


s: Wound round her neck a scarf of amber. Wide


s: Its smooth folds sweeping flowed; and proud he cried,


s: “Among these hills, in the still loom of night,


s: I wrought for Lilith’s pleasing, all. And bright


s: Have spun these webs, in blended morning hues


s: And noontide shades and trail of silver dews—


s: Hereon have set fair traceries of cloud-shine


s: And tints of the far vales. The textures fine


s: Glow with sweet thoughts of thee. And otherwhere


s: Hast thou such fabrics seen, or colors rare


s: As these?” Dawned in her eyes a swift delight,


s: And low she cried, “Oh, wondrous is the sight,


s: And much it pleaseth me. But yet,” she said,


s: “Beside my knee one morn, its hooded head


s: A Hagè reared. Its gliding shape so near


s: To subtler music moved, than my dull ear


s: Could catch. Its velvet skin I gently strake,


s: Watching the light that o’er its heaped coils brake


s: In glittering waves. Within its small, wise glance,


s: Flame silent slept, or quick in baleful dance


s: Before my startled gaze quivering did wake.


s: Fair is thy woof, soft woven, yet the snake


s: Out-dazzles it. The beetle that doth boom


s: Its dull life out among the tangled gloom,


s: Lift his wide wing above thy weft, or trail


s: His splendor there, and thy poor web will pale;


s: Yea, the red wayside lily that doth snare


s: The girdled bee, is softer still, more fair


s: She smoothed the gleaming folds. “Much pleaseth me,


s: Natlhess,” she said, “such loveliness.” Then brought


s: He tapestries of fleeces fine, well wrought


s: In colors soft as woodland mosses’ tinge,


s: Or glow of autumn blooms: Heavy with fringe


s: Of downward sweeping gold; arras, where through


s: Showed mottled stripes, or arabesques of blue,


s: Broad zones of red, and tender grays, and hue


s: Of dropping leaves. “Lilith,” he said, “when rolled


s: The storm-tossed billows round these caves, behold


s: I spun these daintily. ’Twere hard to find


s: Such twisted weft or woven strand.” “Oh, kind,”


s: Would give due thanks. His gorgeous train


s: Bright in the sun gleamed his small crested head;


s: His haughty neck wrinkled to green and blue,


s: And since I needs must truly speak, I knew


s: The curious nest among the branches green,


s: The busy weaver-bird plaits of thick leaves,


s: And in and out its pliant meshes weaves;


s: And since thou sayest ’twere hard to match thy fine,


s: Strong, woven fabrics, watch the weaver twine


s: His cunning wefts. Though still,” she said, “think not


s: I scorn thy gifts, Prince Eblis; for I wot


s: Their worth is greater than my tongue can say.”


s: Then Eblis deeper in the cave led her a little way,


s: And showed a stately screen of such fine art


s: One almost felt the breeze that seemed to part


s: The pictured boughs. And o’er the stirless lake


s: Dreamed the swift, wimpling waters sudden brake


s: Among the willows on its brink—and flowers


s: Of scarlet, shining-clean from summer showers;


s: And Eblis said, “Cold praise a friend should spare


s: This picture true. Certain naught else will dare


s: The rose from her bright hair, and lightly shook


s: The dewdrop from its heart. “I loving, touch,”


s: She said, “these petals smooth. O, Eblis, such


s: Give to thy painted blooms; give its cool sheen


s: Of morningtide, the mossy, lush leaves green


s: That fold it round. Give its faint, fragrant breath,


s: When with the fickle breeze it dallieth.


s: Nay, fairer still my rose than gilded screen,


s: Though it be limned with perfect art, I ween.”


s: One parting gift,” he said, “a dainty thing;


s: One who strove long and patiently through all


s: These days to win thy praise.” An oval plane


s: Of crystal gave he her; of fleck or stain


s: The frame. And when she looked, “Divine,”


s: He laughed, “the beauty it enshrines. Canst claim


s: Gazed in the glass, her face beholding there,


s: Her pink flushed cheeks, her yellow streaming hair.


s: Quick came her breath. “O prince,” she slowly said,


s: “Fair is the stranger. Bid those lips so red


s: Speak once to Lilith. For methinks the voice


s: Therein.” “O glorious counterfeit!” cried


s: He. “Lovelier is not on this earth wide!


s: Behold, sweet Lilith, ’tis thine own pure face


s: That lends my happy mirror perfect grace


s: It else had not. Bid thou thine image speak!


s: If the soft tale she whispers be of me.”


s: And Lilith answered gravely, “I know thee,


s: Eblis. Master indeed of all crafts thou—


s: Red Sard, and marble sphere, and agile prow


s: Of pinnace light well wroughten were by thee


s: And decked full fair. And, beauteous to see,


s: Fine woven weft and web, and the tall screen


s: O’errun with painted bloom, crystal, with gleam


s: Of Lilith’s face—thou madest these. Mayhap


s: Beetle and asp likewise didst tint—didst wrap


s: The green about my rose, and richly fringe


s: My cocoa-tree, or peacock’s train didst tinge


s: With dazzling hues. Methought thou wert a prince,


s: But now Lilith should humbly kneel, since


s: Thou art far higher than she deemed, if thou


s: Madest these wondrous things.” And lowly now


s: As she would kneel, she drew anigh. But he


s: Cried, shrinking, “Nay, I made them not.” And she


s: Low questioned, “Eblis, tell me who then, did make


s: Them all. Who set the creeping hooded snake


s: And stealthy pard within the thorny brake,


s: And spread the sea, and wreathed the waterfall


s: With foam? Who reared the hoar hills, towering tall


s: Above the lands?” With eyes wild flashing, low


s: He groaned: “O Lilith, ask me not. My foe


s: He was—he is. Trembles with wrath my frame


s: If I but faintly breathe his awful name.”


s: From that drear cavern passed. Ere the water’s brim


s: They gained, he plucked the wilding reeds, that slim


s: Stood by a brook. “My pipe I make, one strain


s: Shalt thou such fresh notes hear. Music like mine


s: Methinks thou hast not known in any time.”


s: He laid his pipe unto his lips, and blew


s: A blast, wild, piercing, sweet. The far hills through


s: It rung. And softer fell, yet wild and clear.


s: It ceased. With drooping eyes, “Once I did hear


s: A song as wildly clear, as sad,” she said,


s: “In mine own realm.” And as she spoke, dark dread


s: The sky grew with a coming storm. “Oh, haste,”


s: He cried; “seek refuge ere this dreary waste


s: Reeks with the rain!” And fast they sped


s: Back to his ocean-cave. There safe, o’erhead


s: They watched the piling clouds. With angry roar


s: The baffled billows broke upon the rocks. O’er


s: Them rushed the shrieking storm. Wild through the grot


s: Wandered the prisoned wind, a troubled ghost that sought


s: Repose. Or low did moan, and trembling, wail,


s: Like some sore-hearted thing that hideth, pale,


s: And dare not front the day; and wilder still,


s: In chords melodious, swelled or sank, until


s: She sighed, “Oh, this weird harp among the caves,


s: Strange players hath! For loud as one that raves,


s: Its mellow notes than thy thin pipes.” “One day,”


s: He said, “mayhap my strain may please, when wind


s: Doth not outpipe my slighted reeds. Unkind


s: Thou art.” “The storm is past; to mine own land


s: I would return,” she said.  And Eblis o’er the strand


s: Led her. And homeward silent turned his prow


s: That swiftly through the swirling waves did plow.


s: But when they parted, Eblis mused, “I know


s: Through fear of ill, I enter; or by goal


s: Leaped high above a brazier that he bore,


s: Its sweet, white, scented wood quick lapping o’er.


s: With darkened face Eblis above her hung.


s: “This hath, than my poor pipe, a keener tongue,”


s: Smileless and stern, he said. “Oh, dame,


s: List how the wild, crisp, crackling ruby flame


s: Eats through the tender boughs. A trusty knave


s: It is, that serves me well, and loud doth rave


s: With angry fangs leaps on its prey. But see,


s: It now sleeps harmlessly, till Eblis calls


s: His faithful servant back. Lilith, when falls


s: The red fire at thy feet, dost fear?” “Nay, nay,”


s: She cried, and drew her white neck up.  “A way


s: To tame it thou hast found. Believe me, since


s: It is thy slave I too will bind it, prince.


s: Should Lilith fear? Unfaltering, these eyes


s: Have watched when rushing storm-clouds heaped the skies,


s: And the black whirlwind, with loud, deafening roar,


s: Beat the torn waves; or whirled against the shore


s: The tumbling billows, with fierce lips that bit


s: The shrinking land. And the wreathed lightnings split


s: The cloud with thunder dread: or wildly burst


s: Upon the sea the water-spout. Shall first


s: She fear thy flame, who feared not these?” “Fit mate


s: Art thou for Eblis,” answered he. “His fate


s: Share, great-souled one. Thou wouldst not meanly shrink,


s: Though his strong heart did fail. O Lilith, think!


s: The crown of clustered worlds thou mayest find,


s: If thou with him who loveth thee wilt bind


s: Thy life.” “Nay, far happier seems to me


s: Than eagle caged, the wild lark soaring free,”


s: She said. And through her rose-pleached alleys strayed


s: That guileful voice; yet slow his wooing sped


s: And brown the crisping leaves, “Oh, love,” he said,


s: “Of all the centuries, thou rarest bloom,


s: Thy shut heart open wide. Its sweet perfume,


s: Though I should die, fain would I parting drink.


s: Sleeps yet thy love? From me no longer shrink,


s: In their blue depths doth happy morning rise;


s: And ancient strife recalling, thus replied:


s: “When dwelt a prince discrowned, well satisfied?


s: And fallen, loving, still art thou a prince,


s: And otherwhiles might sorrow bring me, since


s: It might hap thou wouldst much desire her realm,


s: Were Lilith thine; for princes seize the helm


s: When Love lies moored, and bid the shallop seek


s: Across the waves new lands. But Love is weak,


s: Is dashed, while one, on-looking, wrings her hands.


s: Such days I have outlived. Like Adam, thou


s: Perchance will seek to bind the loosed. Then how


s: Shall she, athirst, rejoice; no longer free,


s: “My love,” he said, “large-hearted lives,


s: Full dowers thee, and royal bounty gives,


s: Nor knoweth law, save Lilith’s wish alone.”


s: “Why, then,” she answered, “on the polished stone


s: That fronts yon hill, write, Eblis, in full day,


s: That other time we read it clear, and say,


s: We whispered low aneath the summer boughs,’


s: Write every word. That so the stone shall be


s: Then shall I know thou seekest in me no thrall


s: For after-days, if thou make compact. All


s: As she had said, graved Eblis, and thereon


s: Did set his seal. So wedded they: and hand


s: In hand the wide world roamed. Or in her land


s: Abode. And oft, of hours, ere yet on earth


s: He walked, she questioned.  Or he loosed with mirth


s: Her yellow hair, down-streaming o’er his arm;


s: And ’gainst his cheek her breath came sweet and warm;


s: As through his dusky locks caressing played


s: Her fingers slim; and shadows, half afraid,


s: They trod, watching the white clouds rise and float


s: Athwart the sky. Or by the listless main,


s: Or ’neath the lotus bough, slow paced the twain.


s: Or dragon-trees spread their cool leafy screen.


s: And faint crept odors through the mangroves green,


s: Where paused the pair upon the sandy shore.


s: Love-tranced, unheeded, swiftly passed them o’er


s: Glad summer days: till one hour softly laid


s: At Lilith’s feet a fair, lone babe, that strayed


s: From distant Dreamland far. So might one deem


s: That looked upon its face. Or, it might seem


s: From other climes, a rose-leaf blown apart,


s: Down-fluttered there, to gladden Lilith’s heart.


s: To that fair Elf-child other summers came;


s: But Lilith walked, heart-hungered, filled with shame,


s: Naught comforted. And in that shadow-land


s: She sorrowing bore, in after-time, a band


s: Of elfin babes, that waked dim echoes long


s: Forgotten there, and ghastly bursts of song.


s: Then Lilith saddened more, for that she knew


s: The curse was fallen now. And cried she through


s: Fast-falling tears, “Oh, me most desolate,


s: That shall not know in any time the fate


s: Of baby hands. Oh, longed-for, loved so much!


s: Alas, my babes, ere yet hour-old ye fly,


s: Out-spreading shining wings with jeering cry,


s: The crown of motherhood, yet white with bloom,


s: Falls blighted! Close in these empty arms fain


s: But once could ye not solace? Nay, ’tis vain;


s: I shall not kiss their lips, nor hear again,


s: As gladder mothers may, low-rippling, sweet,


s: The laughter children bring about their feet.


s: Oh, soulless ones, can ye not wait awhile,


s: ’Till on your loveless lips I wake one smile?”


s: But merrily out-laughed the phantom crew;


s: On shining pinions white, swift seaward flew,


s: Or upward rose, slow-fading in the blue;


s: Or lured her trembling, green morasses through.


s: And ’mong the frothy waves they vanished fast;


s: Or shrieked with glee borne on the wintry blast,


s: While fairer grew each day that elfin throng.


s: To pluck the mangoes brown, fair Lilith sped


s: One morn. Quick throbbed her heart. On mossy bed


s: Lay all her babes. With face like morning, shone


s: One there, and wide her yellow hair out-blown


s: As ’twere in play. Red-flushed her cheeks, and deep


s: Was one, white-gleaming, pure as pearl unseen


s: In sunless caves, close-shut. And one did lean


s: Against his fellow, lithe, sun-flushed and brown,


s: His bosom streamed. And one there was, whose dream


s: O’erflowed with laughter. And one did seem


s: Half-waking. One, with dimpled arms in sleep


s: Thrust elbow-deep in moss, that sure did weep


s: Ere yet he slept, and on his cheek scarce dried


s: As near she drew, down-bending tender eyes:


s: “And are ye here, my babes; and will ye rise


s: If I but break your sleep?” His naked feet


s: One faintly moved as low she leant; and warm


s: His slumbrous breath stirred ’gainst her circling arm,


s: And slow aneath his closed lids slipped a waft


s: Of wind, that loosed a trickling tear. Its craft


s: The mother-heart forgot thereat. “At last,


s: Close to my breast, my babes,” she cried, and fast


s: Laughing, outstretched her eager hands and strong.


s: Breasted the pulsing air with mocking song.


s: “Alas,” she said, “could ye not give one kiss—


s: One tender clasp of hands! And must I miss


s: Your throbbing hearts from my cold, barren breast,


s: Ye soulless ones, that flout my lonely rest?”


s: There, prostrate, long lay Lilith, and there, late


s: ’Mid dew-fall, Eblis found his stricken mate.


s: “O Eblis, say o’er me what curse hangs bare,


s: For now no more,” she said, “this realm seems fair.


s: Its fruits grow bitter, all its light falls chill.


s: With thee, my prince, poor Lilith mates but ill—


s: Earth-born, with angel linked. Alas, is left


s: Methinks soft baby lips might erewhile drain


s: From Lilith’s famished heart its wildest pain.


s: Wherefore, my Eblis, it were wise to seek


s: Surcease of grief. That Lilith, is so weak


s: Who wedded thee; and that she sinned, knew not.


s: Yet, if we part, mayhap may follow naught


s: Not so, what time the angel barred her way


s: My Lilith stood. Shelter within my arms. Oh, say,


s: Was not our young love sweet? Hath it grown cold?


s: With me thou sharest endless life; nor old,


s: Nor shrivelled, shalt thou be. And not one trace


s: Of earth’s decay (sure doom of thy sad race)


s: Thy soulless ones immortal youth. They live


s: Without a pang. And yet, methinks the cry


s: Of Earth adown the ages sounds, when die


s: And fold still hands, that answer not their love.


s: Lilith, doth not indeed my love outweigh


s: Caresses missed from phantom babes? Astray


s: From Eden long, here in this fair domain


s: To bide; and through long cycles fearless reign


s: Wide spreads thy land. The marge of islets green


s: The palm-trees skirt. Soft shine the dusk lagoons


s: And inland mountains. Mirk the jungle’s glooms,


s: And fair thy fertile plains. Oh, sweet the glow


s: When we together watch the day, that low


s: Among the winds lies still. Shut lilies blow


s: While here we wait. Come, for they fain would show


s: Their golden hearts. Or, love, with me to float


s: Were it not sweet, through flowery bays remote,


s: Past coves and peaks? Or pierce yon ocean’s verge,


s: And through wild tumbling waves our sails to urge?”


s: “Yea, sweet is love,” she said, “and sweet to roam


s: By listless currents lulled; or ’mid the foam


s: Low dip our feathery oars,” she sighed, “yet sore


s: Is still the mother-heart that hears no more


s: The lisping tongues. And sad, when baby smiles


s: “Lilith, no longer mourn. For I have read


s: Upon a scroll as samite glistening white,


s: All coming fate, close hid from human sight,


s: Great peoples yet shall dwell in these dusk lands.


s: That fly thy fond caress, with them abide


s: In closest fellowship. And though they hide


s: Sometimes from human ken their better selves,


s: Still loved, remain these tricksy elves.


s: Though yet indeed some quips and pranks they play,


s: ’Tis but a jest, men know, when far away


s: The flickering marsh-fires swift they light


s: And children follow their false tapers bright


s: Among the spongy bogs. The ship-lad smiles,


s: When distant ’mid the waves the phantom isles


s: Rise green. ’Tis but a harmless jest that sets


s: On lonely plains, domes, mosques, and minarets,


s: And o’er the desert sands, mirage uplifts


s: When glimmering waves shine through deep rifts


s: Across new seas, and turn their venturous prows.


s: When tempests shriek, and wet about their brows


s: The salt spray dashes fierce, one, watching, cries,


s: ‘Good mates, no storm I fear, for yonder rise


s: The Elf-babes ’mid the foam. Ye goblin crew,


s: That sail these unknown seas, we follow you


s: To harbor safe. Ho, ho! With beckoning hands,


s: Wind-driven, loud they cry—My mates! the lands,


s: “In Earth’s brown bosom pent, the hardy wight


s: Long in deep caverns dwells; and hard doth smite


s: The rocky caves. Nor sees the golden spoil


s: Through weary days of wasted, lonely toil.


s: From his wild eyes, far-flying hides the prize,


s: Till desperate, angered, worn, aloud he cries:


s: ‘Vain, vain! The caves my labor answer not,


s: Nor yellow threads, that gleam in any grot.


s: Hard, cruel, silent hills, my strength ye mock,


s: And seal your treasures close in flinty rock;


s: So, after toilsome years, sweet wife, I bring


s: To thee no sparkling love-gift. Nay, nor anything


s: He sturdy blows, and listening, almost fears


s: He dreams. But swift the echoes rise, and still


s: More loudly roll, and quick replies the hill.


s: Reverberant, through all the caverns round,


s: The uproar swells, and fills the world with sound.


s: Then lists he once again. ‘With lusty shocks


s: Your hammers ring against the hard-ribbed rocks—


s: Goblins!’ he boldly shouts, ‘smite! smite! ye bring


s: My treasure forth, dark-beating goblin wing


s: Among the gleaming caves, whose dusk veins hold


s: The gold. At last! At last, the ruddy gold!’


s: “And lone, in stricken fields, the husbandman


s: Sits pale, with anxious eyes that hopeless scan


s: The burning sky. Hot lie the glimmering plain


s: And uplands parched. ‘Behold, the bending grain,


s: Fair in the springtide, now is dead; and dry


s: The brooks. If yet the rainfall fail, we die


s: Of famine sore. No bleating lambs I hear in fold


s: Safe shut, nor lowing kine; nor on the wold


s: The whir of mounting bird: Nor thrives about me


s: Any living thing. So seemeth, end must be


s: Of striving. Since all the land is cursed,


s: What matter if by famine scorched, or thirst,


s: Above his head, wide-spreading dark wings warm,


s: Fast flitted by. The waiting fields he stands


s: Among. And laughing, claps exultant hands.


s: ‘Good speed ye, Sprites! that bring the welcome cloud


s: And pile the vapors thick,’ he shouts aloud.


s: Oh! sweet shall bloom again the bending grain,


s: And clothe afresh the wide, the wasted plain.


s: The clouds sweep black. Ha, ha! Against my cheek


s: The big drops fall. Merry the goblins shriek.


s: Behold, they mount, they sink, they rise again.


s: Ho, friendly elves, that bring the longed-for rain!’”


s: Thereat, he, smiling, ceased. And when soft crept


s: The listening stars across the sky, they slept


s: The night was spent, Prince Eblis waking lay.


s: Soft Lilith’s breathing ’mong the droopt leaves stirred.


s: And he, sore troubled, mused on every word


s: That Lilith spake ere yet they slept. In all


s: Foreseeing much of ill that might befall


s: Their love. “O, queenly soul! Of finer grain


s: Thou art than angels are. And more in brain


s: Than man, I hold thee. Sooth, yet taints thee still


s: One touch of womankind. And since so chill


s: She finds her babes, must I forego my vow?


s: For one flaw, Hope’s clear crystal break? Oh, how


s: Ally her cause with mine! So doth she long


s: To hurl my empire down. From her soft heart


s: Red, baby lips can drain revenge, and start


s: When ’mong dead embers she sits lone, and strife


s: “Then, at Regret’s dull heels, lo, fast,


s: Retrieving follows. Happy days long past


s: She will recall. If so for love she yearn,


s: Back to her early home once more will turn,


s: Would hold forever. Lilith, thou one balm


s: Of my lost soul in all this world! Shall calm


s: My sufferings, or love me, any one, save thee,


s: My only love! Nay, then, ’twere surely wise


s: New seeds of wrath to sow, her hate so feed


s: That all her rankling wounds afresh shall bleed.


s: And in her ears ‘Good Adam!’ will I cry,


s: Yea, ‘Adam!’ I will laugh. Till her red lips with guile


s: O’erflow. And she shall curse him loud.  With subtlest wile


s: Safe won, then shall she ever be mine own.


s: Soul-bound to me in hate, more terrible than death


s: In hate, that long outlasts Love’s puny breath—


s: O cunning craft, that with the self-same blow


s: Forever wins my love, and smites my foe!


s: “Last night, when Lilith slept, lest I might mar


s: Her dreams, from our green couch I rose, and far


s: Passed silent. Know I not the spell that draws


s: I may not brave to rend my foe. Nor there


s: The Angel pass, unseen. The night so fair,


s: As prone among the glistening leaves I lay,


s: Erstwhile he seemed. And I could almost swear


s: The sound of silvery laughter on the air


s: Fell soft. And a fleet footfall ’mong the flowers


s: Scattered the dew. Yet ’mid those silent bowers


s: Naught else I saw or heard save rippling flow


s: Of waters, and the moonshine white. Oh, low


s: Speak, Eblis, lest aloud the night may tell


s: Thy secret to the stars. Yet it were well


s: If lies the hidden cure for Lilith’s woe


s: If we, close hid without those verdant walls,


s: Together watched. What fate soe’er befalls


s: He o’er her hair, thick with the night-dew sprent.


s: Soft kissed it, crying, “Love, the morn shines bright.


s: Waken, my Lilith, now. Through lands of night


s: Past smiling shores where mighty rivers bend,


s: Past cove and cape and isle, and winding bay


s: And still blue mists, that hang athwart the day.”


s: Thereat she rose, and joyously they sped


s: New blooms. About them coiled long wreaths of vine,


s: And slim lianas drooped, and marish lichens fine.


s: And fared they on o’er many a slanting beach


s: And mountain crest; past many an open reach


s: They saw the stars, clear, tender, loving, rise.


s: Then ’neath the screen of those rose-girdled walls


s: They hid without, listing the waterfalls,


s: Or bird belated, twittering to its nest.


s: So still the spot, the very grass to rest


s: The garden-close, a clinging rose o’ercrept.


s: Its lustrous stem without that drooping swept


s: Thick set with buds as tintless as the snows


s: On sunless hills, when wild the north wind blows.


s: Lilith a-tiptoe stood; upreaching, caught


s: The swaying boughs. Her eyes with longing fraught


s: Close scanned her old deserted home. Then came


s: Unuttered breathed through those remembered glades


s: And touched the odors moist ’mong mirky shades.


s: With wistful gaze, she traced each bosky dell,


s: Each winding path. And sweet youth’s memories fell


s: Pacing the pleasance-ways. With ruddy glow


s: Fresh shone his cheeks, and crisp his hair out-blown


s: By wanton winds. His lips were mirthful grown.


s: Once he made pause hard by the coppice green


s: That hid the watcher. Once the leafy screen


s: So near he passed, from the overhanging edge


s: Quick through, in sudden blessing slim white hand


s: Fain had she reached. “O Eden mine! Dear land,”


s: She sighed. And springing warm the tender tide


s: Of teardrops gemmed the roses at her side.


s: His early home. The lintels worn, the door


s: Age-stained; the iris clumps, in sheltered nook;


s: The mill-wheel rotting o’er the shrunken brook;


s: The sunny orchard, sloping west; and far


s: And cold, above his mother’s grave, a star—


s: Then quick unbidden tears, the heart’s warm rain,


s: O’erflow his soul, and leave it pure again.


s: So Lilith backward turned to holier days,


s: Watching through misty tears where trod those ways


s: Came down those paths a glimpse of flying feet;


s: A sound of girlish laughter smote the air.


s: The guarding Angel’s wrath. But, silver clear,


s: The mocking laugh of Eblis caught her ear.


s: “Thou hast forgot,” he said, “this peaceful land,


s: Grasped once again the roses’ shining strand,


s: And ’neath her guileful touch, like scarlet flame


s: The snowy flowers burned. So, first Earth’s shame


s: Pale Lilith looked, as coldly still and fair


s: As carven stone. Then, with a fierce despair,


s: A sense of utter loss, downbending there,


s: With fingers hot she tore the hedge apart


s: And laid thereto her face. With sorer smart


s: She gazed again. For now, the twain at rest


s: Were laid. Pure as a dream, Eve’s sinless breast


s: A babe close pressed. One pink foot, small and warm,


s: Among the leaves was hid. One dimpled arm


s: In young Eve’s arms my Lilith is forgot.


s: Oh, soon,” he said, “these earth-worms changeful turn—


s: From the oped rose when red the shut buds burn.”


s: But wild eyes on the babe she fixed. “Oh, blind,”


s: She cried, “was I. Yea, if the wanton wind


s: Doth mock, I will not chide. Was it for this


s: I wandered far, and bartered Eden’s bliss?


s: For this have lost the very bloom of life?


s: So Adam comfort finds, not knowing strife!


s: Look you, that fragile thing at Adam’s side—


s: The treasure she so careless doth possess.


s: See how the babe, scarce waking, doth caress


s: The mother! Look! Oh, hear the mother croon


s: Above her child! Ah, Eblis, love, I swoon—


s: No babe shall come! Accurséd may she be,


s: Cursed Adam too. Thrice heavy on the head


s: Sweet love. Once more to our dark realm of night


s: With merry jest, Eblis gan cheer the way.


s: “Nay, otherwhiles mirth pleased,” she said. “Knowest thou


s: What name she bears, who dwells in Eden now?


s: When Lilith went, long tarried Adam lone?”


s: She said. Replied he, “All to me is known


s: Since that same hour you parted. What befell,


s: “Calm morn in Eden streaked the skies with red,


s: And flushed the waiting hills above the grassy bed


s: Where Adam, joyless, saw new rise the sun,


s: Athwart low meads. Slow, droning murmurs sent


s: The waking bees, with bloom and fragrance blent.


s: Unheeded poured her music blithesome Day


s: The reedy brooks beside and shallows gray.


s: For lone to Adam seemed the place, and cold;


s: For Lilith’s sake, no more was Eden fair.


s: Bloomless the days, the nights bowed down with care.


s: Oft pacing pathways dim, he saw the gleam


s: Of strange-faced flowers beside the purling stream,


s: Or toyed with circling leaves; or plucked the grass,


s: And watched through rifted trees the clouds o’erpass;


s: Wide roaming, heard the waters idly break


s: ‘Oh, sweet with thee each hour—each wilding way,


s: And sweet the memory of each gathered spray.


s: Could you not wait, dear love? Or come once more?


s: Yea, ’till you come, vain doth great Nature pour


s: Her richest gifts.’ He paused, and heard alone


s: Respondent fall, the wood-dove’s plaintive moan,


s: And the spent winds among the scented glades.


s: Moss-couched beneath the glinting forest shades,


s: He gazed, when shadows o’er the hills crept light,


s: Quick vanishing, like phantom fingers white,


s: Until on mead, and mere, and sounding shore


s: Eden found voice, sad plaining, ‘Never-more!’


s: Long time he pondered on blue peaks remote


s: When slow, as stranded ships that listless float,


s: Moved by the sunset clouds. Or the white rack


s: Might take,’ he said, ‘Lilith, so long you stay.


s: Thus ever mourned he, comfortless; that so


s: Young Eve bent o’er his sleep. Ere down the glade


s: The startled fawn leaps swift, her glance dismayed


s: Questions the hunter, mute. Such eyes—so brown,


s: So soft, so winning, shy—that looked adown


s: When Adam waked. Like vagrant tendrils, tossed


s: Dark hair about her brows. And quaintly crossed


s: Her hands upon her breast. Less red the dart


s: That deepest cleaves the folded rose’s heart,


s: Than her round cheeks. Not hers the regal air


s: Of Lilith lost, the white arms, lissom, bare,


s: The slender throat; the elbows dimpled deep, whereto


s: Some pleasant dream, the summer’s spicy air


s: Stirs odorous ’mong seaward gardens fair,


s: In southland hid; so, gently, Eve straightway


s: Forever there. Sure entrance then made she


s: “So, to some olden house, from whose shut doors


s: One went erewhile, another comes. Its floors


s: All empty sees. The lowly threshold worn,


s: The moss-grown roof, the casements left forlorn.


s: Amid the shadows round about him stands,


s: Missing the footsteps passed to other lands,


s: And whispers tenderly, ‘Since here no more


s: The owner bides, what harm if on the floor


s: I pass? Good chance it were the clambering vine


s: About the porch with fingers deft to twine—


s: To draw the curtains, ope the door. For who


s: May know how soon these paths untended, through,


s: He comes again, with weary, way-worn feet,


s: Who made aforetime, other days so sweet.


s: Wherefore, I enter now. For whose dear sake


s: These vacant rooms, white, fragrant, clean, I make.


s: And when, world-wearied, he returns, we twain


s: Perchance together bide. Nor part again.’


s: So Eve found refuge. Tender love, the spell


s: Whereby she ruled. Peaceful the pair did dwell.


s: Fast fled the happy years, till softly laid


s: In her glad arms the babe—a winsome maid.”


s: He ended there. Between them silence deep


s: Fell, as they journeyed. And the furthest steep


s: They crossed, that o’er their shadow-world rose high.


s: Then saw they level plains, their home, anigh.


s: And now, seeking her pleasance once again,


s: They came to their own land. But all in vain


s: His care. Silent she was, and oft did grieve,


s: Till Eblis wrathful cried: “Because this Eve


s: Adam holds dear, art mourning? Still dost yearn


s: To mate his sordid soul? Or wouldst thou turn


s: Belike, ne’er loved thee. So is it young Eve can


s: His pulses sway. Is she not passing fair?


s: Red-lipped and soft, she deftly rules him still,


s: Though he wist not. Yet sweeter Lilith’s frown


s: Than archest smile she wears. Great Soul! The crown


s: Thou bearest of fadeless life. For fleeting dreams


s: In Paradise, beside the winding streams,


s: Wilt thou resign such boon? Thou art, in sooth,


s: Of mold too firm for Adam’s love. In truth


s: A prince—though fallen—consorts best with thee


s: Say which were wise, with Eden’s lord to be,


s: Or, shining high, the purer soul, the star


s: That fadeless burns, and Eblis lights afar?


s: Were it not grand through endless spaces hurled


s: With me to drive, above a shrinking world


s: Dark days upon our foes, and hope is gone.


s: Wherefore, my Lilith, now, as seems thee good,


s: Make choice.” Thereat she, turning where she stood,


s: With kisses hung about his neck, and smiled,


s: Crying, “Thine, Eblis, thine!” So were they reconciled.


s: For fierce within her, bitter hatred burned,


s: And better, dearer, seemed revenge than aught


s: She else desired. The coppice oft she sought,


s: Much hoping direful evil might be wrought


s: Oft strayed fair Eve; the little maid, beside,


s: From ribbed papyrus broad, frail fairy boats


s: Deft fashioning. Or Adam, watching, smiled,


s: With flowery wreaths engarlanding the child.


s: And laughed the pair, intent on pleasant toil,


s: When blithe the child upheaped her fruity spoil—


s: Great globes of red and gold. Or roguish face


s: O’er feathery broods, or in the further space


s: To count the small blue eggs, she sportive bent;


s: And far her restless feet swift glancing went.


s: It chanced one day she watched the careless flight


s: Of vagrant butterflies, that circled light


s: Uncertain, high, above a copse rose-wreathed;


s: Then soft down-dropping, gaudy wings they sheathed


s: With yellow buds was strewn. And softly here


s: She crept, deeming her little half-shut hand


s: Might snare the fairest of that gleaming band.


s: Yet ere she touched it, wide its wings outspread


s: Among the groves, till wearied, slept the maid


s: Deep in the mid-day shadows, lowly laid.


s: Without, stooped Lilith. And with fingers swift,


s: Among the leaves she oped a small green rift,


s: That she might see the child. The hedge was wet


s: With starry blooms. Whereto her hand she set


s: When she awaked, seeing each dainty frond


s: Of fragrant ferns, dusk mirrored in the pond.


s: The child came near the copse, much wondering:


s: From glossy stems the smooth leaves sundering.


s: And stooping o’er the rift, she saw there, low


s: Against the hedge, a face like drifted snow,


s: Above the brooks; and hair that downward rolled


s: Upon the ground in glittering strands of gold.


s: Mute stood the maid, naught fearing, but amazed.


s: Then nearer drew, and lingering, she gazed


s: In those blue orbs. And smiling as she knelt,


s: The stranger quickly loosed her shining belt


s: Of gems. Flawless each stone whose pallid gleam


s: Lit silent nooks, or slept by far-off stream


s: Unheeded—pale pearls with shimmering light,


s: From distant oceans plucked, blue sapphires bright,


s: Its sultry glow, jasper, dull onyx white,


s: Sardonyx, rare chalcèdon, streaked with light.


s: Against her white breast that bright zone she laid,


s: Then stretched it, flashing forth, toward the maid,


s: She sung, sweet as the pause of summer rain.


s: So soft, so pure her voice, the child it drew


s: Still nearer that green rift; and low there-through


s: She laughing stroked the down-bent golden head


s: With her soft baby hands. And parting, spread


s: And kissed the temptress through the green-leaved space.


s: Whereat fell Lilith snatched the babe and fled,


s: Crying, as swift from Eden’s bounds she sped,


s: And like a fallen star shone on her breast


s: The child, “At last! at last! thy peaceful rest


s: Ere long will cease. O helpless mourn, frail Eve,


s: Since Lilith far from thee thy babe doth bear!


s: She leaves thy loving arms, thy tender care.


s: Nor canst thou follow anywhere my flight,


s: When far we go athwart the falling night.


s: Ah, little babe, close-meshed in yellow hair


s: Thou liest pale! Fear not, thou art so fair,


s: And onward, hostile lands among, passed fleet


s: Blue solitudes afar, till paused her feet,


s: Where highest ’mong hoar climbing peaks, uprose


s: In those untrodden ways there was no sound,


s: No sight of living thing, the barren heights around.


s: No hum of insect life, no whirring wing of bird.


s: Bare rocks alone, all fissured, blotched and blurred


s: As with red stain of battle-fields unseen.


s: Far, far below, still vales were shining green.


s: And leaping downward swift, a mountain stream


s: Crept soft to sleep, where meadow grasses dream.


s: Wan, wayworn, there, the babe upon her knee,


s: Lilith sat down. “O Eve,” she said, “on me


s: The child smiles sweet! Fondle her silken hair


s: If now thou canst, or clasp her small hands fair.


s: Afar from thee. See, then! Its transient woe


s: Thy babe e’en now forgets; and sweet and low


s: It babbles on my knee. In sooth, not long


s: Endure her griefs, and through my crooning song


s: Whence she has come. Nay, nor her mother’s face.”


s: Long time stayed Lilith in that land. More calm


s: Each day she grew, for soft, like healing balm,


s: The child’s pure love fell on her sin-sick soul.


s: Now oft among the crags, fleet-footed, stole


s: The maid, or lightly crossed the fertile plain.


s: And blithesome sang among the growing grain


s: That brake in billowy waves about her feet.


s: But when the wheat full ripened was, and sweet,


s: She plucked and ate. Thereat a shadowy pain,


s: A sense of sorrow, stirred that childish brain,


s: She wist not why. For it did surely seem


s: Before her waking thought, with pallid gleam


s: Of other days, dim pictures passed; of wood


s: And stream, beyond these mountain rims. And stood,


s: It seemed, midway a garden wide, a tree that bright


s: Like silver gleamed, and broad boughs light


s: Uplifted. Like ripened wheat the fruit thereon,


s: When low the westering sun upon it shone.


s: Then slow the maid did turn, and silent stand


s: At Lilith’s side. And o’er that mountain land,


s: Down-looking, mused. Or lifted pensive eyes,


s: She might perceive the land she longing sought;


s: But of its stream, or garden, saw she naught.


s: Thereat Lilith with white lips drew more near,


s: And clasped in her lithe arms the child so dear.


s: And once again fled swift, a shadowy shape,


s: Across green fields.  And heard, through silence, break


s: A voice she could not hush, that loudly wailed,


s: And listening, heard, borne ever on the wind,


s: The tread of feet fast following behind.


s: Then westward turned, where once among new ways


s: When far they wandered. Thitherward she bent


s: Her timid steps, the babe upon her breast,


s: Until with travel worn her noontide rest


s: She took. And now a land of alien blooms


s: About them lay, outwafting strange perfumes.


s: And quaint defiles, that sloped behind a bay;


s: And level fields; and curly vines that lay


s: Thick clustered o’er with unripe fruit; and bent


s: Above them fragrant limes and spicy scent


s: Made sweet, and ’mid the trees, an open space


s: Burned like a topaz ’neath a crescent moon,


s: Drew on, and chill the night dews filled the place.


s: And ashen-gray the broad leaves drooping hung;


s: Low ’mong the marish buds lay one that made


s: Against the sudden dusk a duskier shade—


s: “O mother, childless! Wife—of all bereft!


s: To comfort me, in these last hopeless days,


s: Shut out from Paradise. Through unknown ways


s: I sought thee sorrowing. Oh, once again,


s: Art grown? Ah, never more shall I thee find?


s: I cannot live. Come but again, mine own.


s: In tears I call thee. Oh, in tears I wait


s: Her plaint. And ’mong the glistening leaves hid low,


s: When that lorn mother, tear-stained, weeping, wild,


s: From peaceful dreams, leaps quick amid the strife


s: Of morning hours, so now the maid to pass


s: From Lilith’s arms strove hard. And loosed her clasp,


s: And turned her shadowed face with plaintive moan


s: And fond beseeching eyes, where lay her mother lone.


s: But Lilith hardening, seized the child again,


s: And from her ears shut out the mother’s pain


s: Pale Eve, till clear she saw the dawn’s pure ray,


s: And as she looked, the voice of one she heard


s: Anigh. Her heart to sudden joy was stirred.


s: “Rise up, mine own,” he said, “no more apart


s: We walk.” Then she arose, and cried, “Dear heart,


s: Close hold me. So! Methinks I dreamed we were


s: From home thrust out, together—everywhere.


s: And oft they journeyed on with sufferings spent


s: To distant lands. And oft with labor bent


s: Recalled the olden home, with brimming eyes,


s: Hemmed in by mountains blue—lost Paradise.


s: Meanwhile, to her own realm Lilith long since


s: Was come, glad greeting Eblis. “O my prince,


s: I have most bravely done. Our foes full sore


s: Are smitten now. My guerdon o’er and o’er


s: Thou wilt bestow, I ween, in kisses warm


s: As my own southland’s breath. For I great harm


s: Have wrought that hated pair. With feeble moan


s: Lies Eve in a far land, thrust out. Alone,


s: I know not. Nay, nor what new world his eyes


s: Sleeps on my breast the babe—Eve’s babe. And she


s: Shall know no more its tender, sweet caress,


s: Peaceful abode, long time content, the three,


s: Save that the child unmurmuring drooped.


s: Then oft above her Lilith, singing, stooped,


s: About her wee, warm mouth. Vain wiles! And vain


s: Her loving skill. All still she lay, and pale.


s: Besprent with cuckoo flowers; the faint wild breath


s: Of cradled buds, among the cloven elms, and saith,


s: ‘I shall not see that place beyond the seas,


s: As one that weeps above dead joys. Then pale


s: Grew Lilith as those wasting lips she pressed


s: And kissed the filmy eyes, and kissing, blessed


s: The faded, wasted face. “Happy, thou mother lorn,


s: Unseeing her,” he said. “This fragile thing


s: To-day lies on thy breast. To-morrow’s wing


s: Hath brushed it from thy sight.” Low Lilith sighed:


s: “My Eblis, is this death?” And louder cried,


s: “But thou art wise, and sure some hidden way


s: From this sore hap canst find. O Eblis, say,


s: Hast thou no spell whereby the child may live?


s: Stays fleeting life, or turns Death’s nimble shaft,”


s: He said. “Yet if,” she mused, “I laid again


s: The child in young Eve’s arms, like summer rain,


s: This shriveled life. And yet, must I resign


s: The babe? Alas, my little one! Nay, mine


s: The child far northward; the exiled pair o’er


s: Many lands long seeking. Till from a crest


s: Of barren hills Lilith looked down. At rest,


s: And low they spoke of hidden snares beside


s: Their unknown path, since unaware fared they


s: Into this hostile spot. The dim wolds lay


s: All bare beneath chill stars. And far away


s: Were belts of pine, and dingy ocean shore,


s: Like wrinkled lip. Cold was the land, and hoar


s: With wintry rime.  Near by, its leafless boughs


s: A thorn bush bent, with withered berries red.


s: “My Eve, bide here. From yonder friendly tree


s: The ripe fruit I will pluck and bring to thee.”


s: “Oh, leave me not! This solitude I fear;


s: The land about is chill,” she said, “and drear


s: It seems to me.” But Adam answered, “Nay,


s: Sore famished art thou, and not far away


s: Beside her stood, with coils of yellow hair,


s: And blue eyes, calm as sleep among the hills’


s: Dim lakes. Eve, frighted, shrank. As mountain rills,


s: Sweet fell the stranger’s words. “My sister, one


s: Is here that glad salutes thee. And since done


s: Is now my quest, and here my journey ends,


s: I bring a goodly gift. For elsewhere wends


s: Brighter than gold, purer than silver sheen,


s: With it, compared in all the world, no stone.


s: Against the hedge, saying, ‘When she draws near


s: This moteless gem, that fellow doth not know.’


s: “Now I without the copse that day was hid.


s: Where in the midst stood a fair wheaten tree


s: As emerald green. Its ears, as rubies red,


s: Fragrant as breath of musk, its odors spread.


s: And white its shining grains as rifted snow.


s: I looked again. And in thy fair hand, lo,


s: Full ripe bright gleamed the yellow wheaten grain.


s: Thou saidst, ‘Though I did eat, I live.  No pain


s: Desired thy gem. ‘All things most goodly pour


s: On Eve their gifts. But I am famished lone,’


s: I said. And still against the hedge the stone


s: Rayed like a frozen tear the pure Night shed—


s: The which with trembling hand I seized, and fled


s: A dream. A voice called loud, ‘Straightway restore


s: To Eve that which is hers; lest I, that bright


s: Set it against the hedge, will quench its light.


s: Yea, I will crumble it and quickly smite


s: It into dust e’en from thy hand.’ Mine eyes


s: I careless closed. But yesternight ‘Arise!’


s: The stern voice cried. ‘Stay not at all. For lo,


s: I wait not. Lest I scourge thee sorely, go!’


s: Ah, Eve, though long upon my heart I wore


s: Then Eve cried loud, “Ere my heart break,


s: Give me my babe!  Where is she, for whose sake


s: I sorrowed all these years—the little maid?”


s: In blended hues. And stooping at Eve’s side,


s: Among green hills—and enters glad therein,


s: Long pent, upon the child poured swiftly down


s: Sweet kisses. And again, twixt laugh and frown


s: Divided, smoothed the baby face, and through


s: Her fingers soft the silken hair she drew,


s: Recalled the stranger’s smile, the mournful eyes,


s: Much marveling whence she fared. And said, “As pale


s: She seemed as bramble-blooms in Eden’s vale.”


s: When homeward Adam came, the child she set


s: She stood. So tall, so yellow-haired, so fair;


s: She ended low. “Doubtless an angel, love, sith


s: So you deem her,” he replied. And mused on all


s: Those words, sad pondering “so fair, so tall.”


s: They lingered. And the child slow faded, till


s: One day Eve frighted cried, “See, Adam, still


s: She lies! Ah, little one, unseal those eyes!


s: Rouse but awhile, ere waning daylight flies!”


s: For she discerned not yet its doom, nor knew


s: Beneath the thorn, lest he might see the child.


s: And all the lone hours through Eve, babbling, smiled


s: Adown. And blew her warm breath o’er the cheeks


s: So wan. “The night grows cold,” she said. “Sleep creeps


s: Dull on my babe. The night grows cold and chill,”


s: Nor dreamed aneath those lids closed still,


s: Among the dry leaves heaped, where lowly slept


s: The child. Cold grew the night and colder, till


s: Against the east the dawn glowed daffodil,


s: Above dun wolds white with new-fallen snow.


s: So rose the day and widened into morning glow


s: With rosy tints o’erstreaked, and faintly blurred


s: And strove to wake the maid. In vain. Her task


s: Was done. And as she gazed, a gentle grasp


s: Soft loosed the dead from that cold mother’s clasp,


s: And Lilith laid the babe in its chill bed—


s: Straightened the limbs, and kissed the little head.


s: And o’er the sleeper, kneeling, she did lean.


s: Forth from her breast she drew, close folded, green,


s: A sheath of leaves, bright shining, lustrous—wet


s: With tears—that in those waxen hands she set.


s: Then those shut leaves oped slow. And low and frail


s: Bloomed ’mid the tintless snows a snow-drop pale.


s: Soft Lilith said, “For this pale sleeper’s sake,


s: O Eve, one kiss bestow. E’en thou canst take


s: Pity on me. For thee new, happy days await,


s: For thee fresh love will bloom above this mould;


s: For thee, in coming years, pure lips unfold;


s: But I—no more, no more, shall feel the warm


s: Breath ’gainst my breast. Nay, nor the baby arm


s: Soft clasping me. Nor see the feet that pass


s: Like falling music, through the waving grass.


s: Therefore, one pardoning kiss give e’er I go


s: To my own land, beyond this realm of snow.”


s: And Eve, uprising, took the hand she gave,


s: And weeping, kissed; and parted by that grave.


s: Stood Adam, after-time, by that small mound.


s: Low at their feet a sheaf of leaves Eve found,


s: Wherein white flowers shone. “Oh, like,” she said,


s: Where lies the child. And fair, O, passing fair,


s: She was, and tall, with yellow gleaming hair,


s: And cheeks soft flushed as fresh pomegranate bells;


s: And dewy eyes, like violets in the dells,


s: Who came. So, silent passed that stranger fair


s: Who loved our babe. And e’er I well was ware,


s: She was,” Eve said. “A princess, with a face


s: Surpassing fair, who trod the pathway bright


s: Among the mists, beyond the rim of night


s: When Cain had lain in her young arms, and chime


s: Of voices round her came, and clasp of hands,


s: And thick with baby faces bloomed the lands,


s: Eve silent sat, remembering that one child


s: Among the snowdrops, in a Northern wild.


s: With Eblis still strayed far. And hand in hand


s: They talked; the while her phantom brood in glee


s: Laughed overhead. Then looking on the sea,


s: Low voiced, she sang. So sweet the idle song,


s: She said, “From Paradise, forgotten long,


s: Upward from summer seas to bending skies.


s: It shall not fail. And sweet forever more


s: Shall make my memory. That witching strain


s: Pale Lilith’s love shall lightly breathe again.


s: O’er every cradle wake that sweet refrain.


s: My memory still shall bloom. It cannot die


s: While rings Earth’s cradle-song—sweet lullaby.”


s: Slow passed dim cycles by, and in the earth


s: Strange peoples swarmed; new nations sprang to birth.


s: Then first ’mong tented tribes men shuddering spake


s: Dread tales of one that moved, an unseen shape,


s: ’Mong chilling mists and snow. A spirit swift,


s: That dwelt in lands beyond day’s purple rift.


s: Whose fast-sealed eyes ope not to earthly morn.


s: “We heard,” they cried, “the Elf-babes shrilly scream,


s: And loud the Siren’s song, when lightnings gleam.”


s: Then they that by low beds all night did wake,


s: Prayed for the day, and feared to see it break.


s: When o’er the icy fjords cold rise white peaks,


s: And fierce wild storms blot out the frozen creeks,


s: The Finnish mother to her breast more near


s: Draws her dear babe—clasps it in her wild fear


s: Still closer to her heart. And o’er and o’er


s: Through her weird song fall echoes from that lore


s: That lived when Time was young, e’er yet the rime


s: Of years lay on his brow. In that far prime


s: Nature and man, couched ’neath God’s earliest sky,


s: Heard clear-voiced spheres chant Earth’s first lullaby.


s: Now, in the blast loud sings the Finn, and long,


s: Nor knows that faint through her wild cradle-song


s: Yet sweetly thrills the vanished Elf-babes’ cry,


s: Nor dreams, as low she croons her lullaby,


s: Still breathes through that sweet, lingering refrain


s: As through the gathering storm that mother sings:


s: Wild through the murky air goblin voices shout.


s: Hark! Hearest thou not their lusty rout?


s: Over wide wastes borne, white are the snow-wreaths blown,


s: And loud the drear icy fjords shudder and moan;


s: The sea-gull, affrighted, soars seaward away,


s: And dark on the shores falls the wind-driven spray;


s: Like a wild beast in pain, it cries to the wrack


s: Of the storm-cloud overhead. The sea answers back—


s: Ah, strong one, so cruel—fierce breath of the North—


s: The torches of heaven are lighting thee forth!


s: The sports of my hunter, the white fox, the bear,


s: The spoils of our rivers are thine. Ah, then spare,


s: My babe lies so chill. See, the reindeer I give!


s: Ah, lift thy dark wings, that my darling may live!


s: By half-wakened stream. It lay shriveled and low


s: Ere the spring-time had come, in soft shroud of snow.


s: The life-current red. O Demon, art breaking


s: My heart while I plead? Ah, babe! Art thou waking?


s: ’Mid the mist and the snow, fast, fast, and more fast—


s: In the teeth of the blast—flies Lilith at last.


s: By Ganges still the Indian mother weaves


s: Above her babe her mat of plantain leaves,


s: And laughing, plaits. Or pausing, sweet and low


s: Her voice blends with the river’s drowsy flow;


s: The while she fitful sings that old, old strain,


s: Forgetting that the love, the deathless pain


s: Of wandering Lilith lives and throbs again


s: When falls the tricksy Elf-babes’ mocking cry


s: The night o’er-brimmed with pulsing song.


s: Not here shall come that pale wraith fair,


s: Fear not, mine own, the Elf-babes shrill,


s: Where coral reefs gnaw with white cruel teeth


s: The yellow surf, and the torn billows seethe—


s: When shines the Southern Cross o’er placid isles,


s: The Afric mother sits, and singing, smiles,


s: Unheeding that a dead world’s hidden pain


s: Beats wildly rhythmic through her pure refrain,


s: Low in Earth’s cradle-song—sweet lullaby.


s: Of terror wild, she sings, down bending low,


s: The while bright gleams the Starry Cross above


s: That healeth all the wide world’s sin and loss.


s: Ah, linger no longer ’mong blooms of the mangoes,


s: Nor pluck the bright shells by the low sighing sea,


s: Swift, swift, through the groves of the palms and acacias


s: Comes Lilith, the childless one, seeking for thee.


s: She will bind thee so fast in her yellow-gold hair—


s: Ah, hasten, my children, of Lilith beware!


s: Cold, cold are her cheeks as the spray of the wild sea,


s: Red, red are her lips as the pomegranate’s bloom;


s: Cold, cold are the kisses the phantom will give thee,


s: Ah, cruel her kisses, that smell of the tomb.


s: Hist, hist! ’tis the sorceress with yellow-gold hair—


s: She flies to the jungle, with false tales beguiling,


s: Ah, hear’st thou her elfin babes scream overhead!


s: Close, close in her strong arms she bears my babe, smiling;


s: She hath sucked the soft bloom from the lips of my dead.


s: Now far speeds the vampire, with yellow-gold hair—


s: Art frighted, my baby? Nay, then, thy mother


s: Low singing enfolds thee all safe from the snare;


s: Afar flit the Elf-babes ’mid gray, misty shadows,


s: Afar flees the temptress with yellow-gold hair.


s: Ah, heed not her songs in the still slumbrous air—


s: When hawthorn-trees sift thick their rifted snow,


s: The English mother o’er her babe sings low;


s: Where red the cross burns on the ivied fane,


s: And softer sings, nor feels the wailing pain


s: Still faintly surging through that low refrain;


s: Nor dreams she hears Love’s early cradle cry


s: Slow echoing through Earth’s song—sweet lullaby—


s: And in the shadow of that cross, her strain


s: Breathes sweetly; love, and hope, and ended pain.


s: Softlier while that small arm closely clings


s: About her heart, that mother peaceful sings:


s: Sweet dreams shall steep thy slumber deep.


s: Lies still; and soft the brown eyes close;


s: Sweet steals the breath, ’twixt lips as red,


s: Fear naught, sweetheart, though day be past.


s: =It is a fact= acknowledged by the English press that American


s: =It is also a fact= that for young people


s: _Stands foremost_ } _In pleasure giving!_


s: =For the younger Boys and Girls and the Babies:=


s: ☞ _Send for specimen copies, circulars, etc., to the Publishers,_


s: Mother’s Boys and Girls’ Library, 12 vols. Quarto Boards, $3.00.


s: Pansy Primary Library, 30 vol. Cloth. Price, $7.50.


s: Half Hour Library. Octavo, 8 vols. Price, $3.20.


s: Two volumes in one. Illustrated. 16mo. $1.00.


s: Illustrated. Quarto. Cover in colors. $1.25.


s: MUCH FRUIT. 16mo. Cloth. Illustrated. Price $1.00.


s: The above set of nine volumes will be furnished at $10.00.


s: ⁂ _For sale by all Booksellers. Sent by mail, post-paid, by_


s: History of Christianity. 12mo, cloth, illust., $2.00.


s: Agnes and the Little Key. 12mo, cloth, $1.00.


s: Evenings with the Doctrines. 12mo, cloth, $1.00.


s: Story Book for children. 12mo, cloth, illust., $1.00.


s: William Henry and his Friends. 12mo, illust., $1.00.


s: Short Comings and Long Goings. 12mo, $1.25.


s: A Family Flight through France, Germany, Norway and Switzerland.


s: Lothrop’s Library of Entertaining History.


s: India, by FANNIE ROPER FEUDGE. 12mo, cloth, illust., $1.50;


s: Annals of a Quiet Neighborhood. 12mo, $1.75.


s: Princess Rosamond. Quarto, board, illust., $.50.


s: Story of the Manuscripts. 12mo, cloth, illust., $1.00.


s: Pansy Scrap Book. (Former title, the Teachers’ Helper.)


s: Thoughts that Breathe. (Dean Stanley). $1.00.


s: Cheerful Words. (George MacDonald). $1.00.


s: Bound volumes A to M. Chromo cover, $1.50; full cloth, $2.00.


s: Helpful Thoughts for Young Men. 12mo, $1.25.


s: A good book to place in the hands of every boy or girl.—Chicago


s: Will be hailed with eager delight, and found well worth


s: An admirable Sunday-school book—_Arkansas Evangel._


s: It is one of the finest pieces of American fiction that has been


s: published for some time.—_Newsdealers’ Bulletin_, New York.


s: =The $1000 prize Books.= A fresh edition in new style of binding.


s: =The Original $500 Prize Series.= A fresh edition in new style of


s: AMERICAN PEOPLE. By Arthur Gilman, M. A.


s: SWITZERLAND. By Miss Harriet D. S. MacKenzie.


s: ALASKA: The Sitkan Archipelago. By Eliza Ruhamah Scidmore.


s: From George MacDonald. Introduction by James T. Fields.


s: From Goethe. Introduction by Alexander McKenzie, D.D.


s: _Philadel^a. Pub. and Sold by W. Charles._


s: _Have recently Published, and for sale,_


s: The Elm of Kensington, a Parody on the House that


s: Cinderella, or the little Glass Slipper,


s: More clothes I've got, I'll give you some;


s: I'll give you bread, I'll give you cheese,


s: And when you're wash'd from head to foot,


s: Your nails all cut and clean'd, you see,


s: You won't be then, though lean and small,


s: Particular attention is called to the following


s: Twelve kinds. A happy collection of enjoyable, childish stories.


s: Four full-page illustrations, elegantly printed in colors.


s: Six kinds. Some of the best that have ever been written,


s: embracing those recommended by Dr. Watts, as standards for the


s: guidance of other writers. 12 pages. Well printed, with four


s: elegant illustrations in colors. Showy pictorial covers,


s: Six kinds. Standard stories, with full-page showy illustrations.


s: |Punctuation is not clear in the original |


s: |book. The two variations of the ampersand|


s: |in the last line, and "Dont" in the third|


s: |verse have been retained.                |


s: A Farmer went trotting upon his grey mare


s: Old woman, old woman, shall we go a-shearing?


s: I had a little dog, they called him Buff


s: I had a little hen, the prettiest ever seen


s: Pus-sy cat ate the dump-lings, the dump-lings


s: I have a lit-tle sister; they call her Peep, Peep


s: When I was a ba-che-lor, I liv-ed by my-self


s: Pus-sy sits be-side the fire. How can she be fair?


s: There was a crook-ed man, and he went a crook-ed mile


s: The Li-on and the U-ni-corn were fight-ing for the crown


s: Cur-ly locks, cur-ly locks, wilt thou be mine?


s: Mar-ge-ry Mut-ton-pie, and John-ny Bo-peep


s: There was an old wo-man who liv-ed in a shoe


s: Sing a song of six-pence, a pock-et full of Rye


s: Once I saw a little bird come hop, hop, hop


s: Willy boy, Willy boy, where are you going?


s: Hey diddle diddle, the cat and the fiddle


s: Four and twen-ty tai-lors went to kill a snail


s: John Cook had a little gray mare; he, haw, hum!


s: There was an old wo-man tos-sed up in a bas-ket


s: There was an old woman, as I've heard tell


s: Dee-dle, dee-dle, dump-ling, my son John


s: I had a lit-tle Hus-band, no big-ger than my thumb


s: Hush, baby, my doll, I pray you, don't cry


s: There was an old wo-man, and what do you think?


s: Pus-sy cat, pus-sy cat, where have you been?


s: There was a lit-tle man, and he had a lit-tle gun


s: Goo-sey, goo-sey, gan-der, whi-ther shall I wan-der?


s: Shoe the wild horse, and shoe the grey mare


s: When I was a little boy, my mother kept me in


s: Miss Jane had a bag, and a mouse was in it


s: Leave them alone, and they'll come home,


s: She found them indeed, but it made her heart bleed,


s: For they'd left their tails behind them.


s: It happen'd one day, as Bo-peep did stray


s: There she espied their tails side by side,


s: And tried what she could, as a shepherdess should,


s: That each tail should be properly placed.


s: And purchased a hat and a very fine coat,


s: With trowsers, and stockings, and shoes;


s: Cravat, and shirt-collar, and gold-headed cane;


s: Then proud as could be, did he march up the lane,


s: It was on a merry time, when Jenny Wren was young,


s: So neatly as she danced, and so sweetly as she sung,--


s: Robin Redbreast lost his heart--he was a gallant bird;


s: He doff'd his hat to Jenny, and thus to her he said:--


s: "My dearest Jenny Wren, if you will but be mine,


s: You shall dine on cherry-pie, and drink nice currant-wine.


s: "I'll dress you like a Goldfinch, or like a Peacock gay;


s: So if you'll have me, Jenny, let us appoint the day."


s: Jenny blushed behind her fan, and thus declared her mind,


s: "Then let it be to-morrow, Bob; I take your offer kind.


s: "Cherry pie is very good! so is currant-wine!


s: But I will wear my brown gown, and never dress too fine."


s: Robin rose up early, at the break of day;


s: He flew to Jenny Wren's house, to sing a roundelay.


s: He met Cock and Hen, and bade the Cock declare,


s: This was his wedding-day with Jenny Wren the fair.


s: The Cock then blew his horn, to let the neighbors know,


s: This was Robin's wedding-day, and they might see the show.


s: And first came Parson Rook, with his spectacles and band;


s: And one of Mother Goose's books, he held within his hand.


s: Then follow'd him the Lark, for he could sweetly sing,


s: And he was to be clerk at Cock Robin's wedding.


s: He sung of Robin's love for little Jenny Wren;


s: And when he came unto the end, then he began again.


s: The Bullfinch walk'd by Robin, and thus to him did say,


s: "What though her gay apparel becomes her very well;


s: Yet Jenny's modest dress and look must bear away the bell!"


s: But Robin cheer'd her up; "My pretty Jen," said he,


s: "We're going to be married, and happy we shall be."


s: The Goldfinch came on next, to give away the Bride;


s: The Linnet, being bride's-maid, walk'd by Jenny's side.


s: And as she was a-walking, said, "Upon my word,


s: I think that your Cock Robin is a very pretty bird!"


s: "And will you have her, Robin, to be your wedded wife?"


s: "Yes, I will," says Robin, "and love her all my life."


s: "And you will have him, Jenny, your husband now to be?"


s: "Yes, I will," says Jenny, "and love him heartily."


s: The Blackbird and the Thrush, and charming Nightingale,


s: Whose sweet jug sweetly echoes through every grove and dale;--


s: The Sparrow and Tom Tit, and many more, were there:


s: All came to see the wedding of Jenny Wren the fair.


s: "Oh, then," says Parson Rook, "who gives this maid away?"


s: "I do," says the Goldfinch, "and her fortune I will pay;--


s: "Here's a bag of grain of many sorts, and other things beside;


s: Now happy be the Bridegroom, and happy be the Bride!"


s: Then on her finger fair, Cock Robin put the ring;


s: "Happy be the Bridegroom, and happy be the Bride!


s: And may not man, nor bird, nor beast, this happy pair divide."


s: The birds were ask'd to dine; not Jenny's friends alone,


s: But every pretty songster that had Cock Robin known.


s: They had a cherry-pie, besides some currant-wine,


s: Now they all sat or stood, to eat and to drink;


s: And every one said what he happen'd to think.


s: They each took a bumper, and drank to the pair,


s: Cock Robin the Bridegroom, and Jenny the fair.


s: The dinner-things removed, they all began to sing;


s: And soon they made the place near a mile round to ring.


s: The concert it was fine; and every bird tried


s: Who best should sing for Robin, and Jenny Wren the Bride.


s: When, in came the Cuckoo, and made a great rout;


s: He caught hold of Jenny, and pull'd her about.


s: Cock Robin was angry, and so was the Sparrow,


s: Who fetch'd in a hurry his bow and his arrow.


s: His aim then he took, but he took it not right;


s: His skill was not good, or he shot in a fright;--


s: For the Cuckoo he miss'd,--but Cock Robin he kill'd!


s: And all the birds mourn'd that his blood was so spill'd.


s: Fol de riddle, lol de riddle, he ding do,


s: Fol de riddle, lol de riddle, he ding do.


s: The tailor shot, and he missed his mark,


s: And shot the miller's sow right through the heart;


s: So he quacked, and he hissed at the kitten;


s: Afraid of being scratched as well as bitten.


s: The Little Fish that would not do as it was bid.


s: Hey, rub-a-dub, dub! here come the boys,


s: Of the garden, the sky, and the weather;


s: But all the while you're thinking, may be


s: But those who quickly say their lessons,


s: For frequently, over the street in full speed,


s: She would cross where the carriages run.


s: And out she would go to a very deep well,


s: How naughty! to run to a dangerous well,


s: One morning, intending to take but one peep,


s: A Farmer went trotting upon his grey mare,


s: With his daughter behind him so rosy and fair,


s: A raven cried croak, and they all tumbled down


s: The mare broke her knees and the farmer his crown,


s: The mischievous raven flew laughing away,


s: And vowed he would serve them the same next day,


s: Old woman, old woman, shall we go a-shearing?


s: Speak a little louder, sir, I am very thick o' hearing.


s: Old woman, old woman, shall I kiss you dearly?


s: Thank you, kind sir, I hear very clearly.


s: Now, Tom with his pipe made such a noise,


s: That he pleas-ed both the girls and boys,


s: Tom with his pipe did play with such skill,


s: That those who heard him could ne-ver stand still;


s: When-e-ver they heard him they be-gan to dance,


s: Even pigs on their hind-legs would after him prance.


s: He met old Dame Trott with a basket of eggs,


s: He u-sed his pipe and she u-sed her legs;


s: She danc-ed a-bout till the eggs were all broke,


s: She be-gan to fret, but he laugh-ed at the joke.


s: He saw a cross fel-low was beat-ing an ass,


s: Hea-vy la-den with pots, pans, dish-es, and glass;


s: He took out his pipe and play-ed them a tune,


s: And the Jack-ass's load was light-en-ed full soon.


s: I had a little dog, they called him Buff,


s: I sent him to the shop for a three cents worth of snuff:


s: But he lost the bag, and spilt the snuff,


s: And that was the reason we couldn't agree.


s: The sheep's in the mea-dow, the cow's in the corn.


s: Where's the lit-tle boy that looks af-ter the sheep?


s: A horse's head where his tail should be.


s: I had a little hen, the prettiest ever seen,


s: She washed me the dishes, and kept the house clean:


s: She went to the mill to fetch me some flour,


s: She brought it home in less than an hour,


s: She baked me my bread, she brewed me my ale,


s: She sat by the fire, and told many a fine tale.


s: Pus-sy cat ate the dump-lings, the dump-lings;


s: I have a lit-tle sister; they call her Peep, Peep.


s: She climbs the moun-tains, high, high, high.


s: Poor lit-tle thing! she has but one eye.


s: I chanced to meet an old man clothed all in leather.


s: He began to compliment, and I began to grin,


s: From four in the morning till eight at night,


s: Jeffery was hung, and Jemmy was drowned,


s: So there was an end to these three sons,


s: There's nobody at home but jumping Joan,


s: "The Squirrel is happy, the Squirrel is gay,"


s: "He has nothing to do, or think of but play,


s: The Squirrel, dear Mary, is merry and wise,