s: Fairer than feigned of old, or fabled since


s: And all the while harmonious airs were heard


s: Of chiming strings or charming pipes; and winds


s: From their soft wings, and Flora's earliest smells.


s: Such was the splendour; and the Tempter now


s: "What doubts the Son of God to sit and eat?


s: These are not fruits forbidden; no interdict


s: Defends the touching of these viands pure;


s: Their taste no knowledge works, at least of evil,


s: But life preserves, destroys life's enemy,


s: All these are Spirits of air, and woods, and springs,


s: Thee homage, and acknowledge thee their Lord.


s: What doubt'st thou, Son of God?  Sit down and eat."


s: To whom thus Jesus temperately replied:--


s: "Said'st thou not that to all things I had right?


s: And who withholds my power that right to use?


s: When and where likes me best, I can command?


s: I can at will, doubt not, as soon as thou,


s: And call swift flights of Angels ministrant,


s: Why shouldst thou, then, obtrude this diligence


s: In vain, where no acceptance it can find?


s: And with my hunger what hast thou to do?


s: And count thy specious gifts no gifts, but guiles."


s: To whom thus answered Satan, male-content:--


s: "That I have also power to give thou seest;


s: What I might have bestowed on whom I pleased,


s: Why shouldst thou not accept it?  But I see


s: Of these things others quickly will dispose,


s: Whose pains have earned the far-fet spoil."  With that


s: Both table and provision vanished quite,


s: With sound of harpies' wings and talons heard;


s: Only the importune Tempter still remained,


s: And with these words his temptation pursued:--


s: "By hunger, that each other creature tames,


s: Thou art not to be harmed, therefore not moved;


s: And all thy heart is set on high designs,


s: High actions.  But wherewith to be achieved?


s: Great acts require great means of enterprise;


s: Thou art unknown, unfriended, low of birth,


s: Which way, or from what hope, dost thou aspire


s: To greatness? whence authority deriv'st?


s: What followers, what retinue canst thou gain,


s: Longer than thou canst feed them on thy cost?


s: Money brings honour, friends, conquest, and realms.


s: And his son Herod placed on Juda's throne,


s: Thy throne, but gold, that got him puissant friends?


s: Therefore, if at great things thou wouldst arrive,


s: Get riches first, get wealth, and treasure heap--


s: They whom I favour thrive in wealth amain,


s: While virtue, valour, wisdom, sit in want."


s: "Yet wealth without these three is impotent


s: To gain dominion, or to keep it gained--


s: Witness those ancient empires of the earth,


s: In highth of all their flowing wealth dissolved;


s: But men endued with these have oft attained,


s: Gideon, and Jephtha, and the shepherd lad


s: Whose offspring on the throne of Juda sate


s: That seat, and reign in Israel without end.


s: Among the Heathen (for throughout the world


s: To me is not unknown what hath been done


s: Worthy of memorial) canst thou not remember


s: For I esteem those names of men so poor,


s: Who could do mighty things, and could contemn


s: Riches, though offered from the hand of kings.


s: Accomplish what they did, perhaps and more?


s: Extol not riches, then, the toil of fools,


s: The wise man's cumbrance, if not snare; more apt


s: Than prompt her to do aught may merit praise.


s: Riches and realms!  Yet not for that a crown,


s: Golden in shew, is but a wreath of thorns,


s: Brings dangers, troubles, cares, and sleepless nights,


s: When on his shoulders each man's burden lies;


s: For therein stands the office of a king,


s: His honour, virtue, merit, and chief praise,


s: That for the public all this weight he bears.


s: Yet he who reigns within himself, and rules


s: Passions, desires, and fears, is more a king--


s: Which every wise and virtuous man attains;


s: And who attains not, ill aspires to rule


s: Cities of men, or headstrong multitudes,


s: Or lawless passions in him, which he serves.


s: But to guide nations in the way of truth


s: To know, and, knowing, worship God aright,


s: Is yet more kingly.  This attracts the soul,


s: And oft by force--which to a generous mind


s: Besides, to give a kingdom hath been thought


s: Greater and nobler done, and to lay down


s: Riches are needless, then, both for themselves,


s: And for thy reason why they should be sought--


s: To gain a sceptre, oftest better missed."


s: SO spake the Son of God; and Satan stood


s: A while as mute, confounded what to say,


s: Of his weak arguing and fallacious drift;


s: At length, collecting all his serpent wiles,


s: With soothing words renewed, him thus accosts:--


s: "I see thou know'st what is of use to know,


s: What best to say canst say, to do canst do;


s: Thy actions to thy words accord; thy words


s: To thy large heart give utterance due; thy heart


s: Contains of good, wise, just, the perfet shape.


s: Should kings and nations from thy mouth consult,


s: On Aaron's breast, or tongue of Seers old


s: Infallible; or, wert thou sought to deeds


s: That might require the array of war, thy skill


s: Of conduct would be such that all the world


s: Could not sustain thy prowess, or subsist


s: In battle, though against thy few in arms.


s: These godlike virtues wherefore dost thou hide?


s: All Earth her wonder at thy acts, thyself


s: That sole excites to high attempts the flame


s: Of most erected spirits, most tempered pure


s: AEthereal, who all pleasures else despise,


s: All treasures and all gain esteem as dross,


s: And dignities and powers, all but the highest?


s: Thy years are ripe, and over-ripe.  The son


s: At his dispose; young Scipio had brought down


s: The Carthaginian pride; young Pompey quelled


s: The Pontic king, and in triumph had rode.


s: Yet years, and to ripe years judgment mature,


s: Quench not the thirst of glory, but augment.


s: Great Julius, whom now all the world admires,


s: The more he grew in years, the more inflamed


s: With glory, wept that he had lived so long


s: Ingloroious.  But thou yet art not too late."


s: To whom our Saviour calmly thus replied:--


s: "Thou neither dost persuade me to seek wealth


s: For what is glory but the blaze of fame,


s: The people's praise, if always praise unmixed?


s: And what the people but a herd confused,


s: Things vulgar, and, well weighed, scarce worth the praise?


s: They praise and they admire they know not what,


s: And know not whom, but as one leads the other;


s: And what delight to be by such extolled,


s: To live upon their tongues, and be their talk?


s: Of whom to be dispraised were no small praise--


s: Are few, and glory scarce of few is raised.


s: This is true glory and renown--when God,


s: Looking on the Earth, with approbation marks


s: The just man, and divulges him through Heaven


s: To all his Angels, who with true applause


s: Recount his praises.  Thus he did to Job,


s: When, to extend his fame through Heaven and Earth,


s: As thou to thy reproach may'st well remember,


s: He asked thee, 'Hast thou seen my servant Job?'


s: Famous he was in Heaven; on Earth less known,


s: To things not glorious, men not worthy of fame.


s: They err who count it glorious to subdue


s: Large countries, and in field great battles win,


s: Great cities by assault.  What do these worthies


s: But rob and spoil, burn, slaughter, and enslave


s: Peaceable nations, neighbouring or remote,


s: Made captive, yet deserving freedom more


s: Than those their conquerors, who leave behind


s: And all the flourishing works of peace destroy;


s: Then swell with pride, and must be titled Gods,


s: Great benefactors of mankind, Deliverers,


s: Worshipped with temple, priest, and sacrifice?


s: One is the son of Jove, of Mars the other;


s: Till conqueror Death discover them scarce men,


s: Violent or shameful death their due reward.


s: But, if there be in glory aught of good;


s: It may be means far different be attained,


s: By patience, temperance.  I mention still


s: Him whom thy wrongs, with saintly patience borne,


s: Made famous in a land and times obscure;


s: Who names not now with honour patient Job?


s: Poor Socrates, (who next more memorable?)


s: By what he taught and suffered for so doing,


s: For truth's sake suffering death unjust, lives now


s: Yet, if for fame and glory aught be done,


s: Aught suffered--if young African for fame


s: His wasted country freed from Punic rage--


s: The deed becomes unpraised, the man at least,


s: And loses, though but verbal, his reward.


s: Shall I seek glory, then, as vain men seek,


s: Oft not deserved?  I seek not mine, but His


s: Who sent me, and thereby witness whence I am."


s: To whom the Tempter, murmuring, thus replied:--


s: "Think not so slight of glory, therein least


s: Resembling thy great Father.  He seeks glory,


s: And for his glory all things made, all things


s: Orders and governs; nor content in Heaven,


s: Glory from men, from all men, good or bad,


s: Wise or unwise, no difference, no exemption.


s: Glory he requires, and glory he receives,


s: Or Barbarous, nor exception hath declared;


s: From us, his foes pronounced, glory he exacts."


s: "And reason; since his Word all things produced,


s: Though chiefly not for glory as prime end,


s: But to shew forth his goodness, and impart


s: Freely; of whom what could He less expect


s: Than glory and benediction--that is, thanks--


s: The slightest, easiest, readiest recompense


s: From them who could return him nothing else,


s: And, not returning that, would likeliest render


s: But why should man seek glory, who of his own


s: Hath nothing, and to whom nothing belongs


s: Turned recreant to God, ingrate and false,


s: And so of all true good himself despoiled;


s: Yet, sacrilegious, to himself would take


s: That which to God alone of right belongs?


s: Yet so much bounty is in God, such grace,


s: That who advances his glory, not their own,


s: Satan had not to answer, but stood struck


s: With guilt of his own sin--for he himself,


s: Yet of another plea bethought him soon:--


s: "Of glory, as thou wilt," said he, "so deem;


s: Worth or not worth the seeking, let it pass.


s: But to a Kingdom thou art born--ordained


s: By mother's side thy father, though thy right


s: Be now in powerful hands, that will not part


s: With temperate sway: oft have they violated


s: The Temple, oft the Law, with foul affronts,


s: Thy right by sitting still, or thus retiring?


s: That by strong hand his family obtained,


s: Though priests, the crown, and David's throne usurped,


s: With Modin and her suburbs once content.


s: If kingdom move thee not, let move thee zeal


s: But on Occasion's forelock watchful wait:


s: They themselves rather are occasion best--


s: Zeal of thy Father's house, duty to free


s: The Prophets old, who sung thy endless reign--


s: Rein then; what canst thou better do the while?"


s: To whom our Saviour answer thus returned:--


s: "All things are best fulfilled in their due time;


s: And time there is for all things, Truth hath said.


s: The Father in his purpose hath decreed--


s: He in whose hand all times and seasons rowl.


s: What if he hath decreed that I shall first


s: Be tried in humble state, and things adverse,


s: Contempts, and scorns, and snares, and violence,


s: Suffering, abstaining, quietly expecting


s: Without distrust or doubt, that He may know


s: Can suffer best can do, best reign who first


s: Well hath obeyed--just trial ere I merit


s: Solicitous?  What moves thy inquisition?


s: Know'st thou not that my rising is thy fall,


s: And my promotion will be thy destruction?"


s: To whom the Tempter, inly racked, replied:--


s: "Let that come when it comes.  All hope is lost


s: For where no hope is left is left no fear.


s: Of worse torments me than the feeling can.


s: I would be at the worst; worst is my port,


s: My crime; whatever, for itself condemned,


s: And will alike be punished, whether thou


s: Reign or reign not--though to that gentle brow


s: Willingly I could fly, and hope thy reign,


s: From that placid aspect and meek regard,


s: Would stand between me and thy Father's ire


s: (Whose ire I dread more than the fire of Hell)


s: If I, then, to the worst that can be haste,


s: Why move thy feet so slow to what is best?


s: Happiest, both to thyself and all the world,


s: That thou, who worthiest art, shouldst be their King!


s: Perhaps thou linger'st in deep thoughts detained


s: Of the enterprise so hazardous and high!


s: No wonder; for, though in thee be united


s: Thy life hath yet been private, most part spent


s: At home, scarce viewed the Galilean towns,


s: Short sojourn; and what thence couldst thou observe?


s: The world thou hast not seen, much less her glory,


s: Empires, and monarchs, and their radiant courts--


s: Best school of best experience, quickest in sight


s: In all things that to greatest actions lead.


s: (As he who, seeking asses, found a kingdom)


s: But I will bring thee where thou soon shalt quit


s: Those rudiments, and see before thine eyes


s: The monarchies of the Earth, their pomp and state--


s: And regal mysteries; that thou may'st know


s: How best their opposition to withstand."


s: With that (such power was given him then), he took


s: A spacious plain outstretched in circuit wide


s: Lay pleasant; from his side two rivers flowed,


s: The one winding, the other straight, and left between


s: Fair champaign, with less rivers interveined,


s: Then meeting joined their tribute to the sea.


s: Fertil of corn the glebe, of oil, and wine;


s: With herds the pasture thronged, with flocks the hills;


s: Huge cities and high-towered, that well might seem


s: The seats of mightiest monarchs; and so large


s: The prospect was that here and there was room


s: For barren desert, fountainless and dry.


s: To this high mountain-top the Tempter brought


s: Our Saviour, and new train of words began:--


s: "Well have we speeded, and o'er hill and dale,


s: Forest, and field, and flood, temples and towers,


s: Cut shorter many a league.  Here thou behold'st


s: Assyria, and her empire's ancient bounds,


s: And oft beyond; to south the Persian bay,


s: Here, Nineveh, of length within her wall


s: Several days' journey, built by Ninus old,


s: There Babylon, the wonder of all tongues,


s: As ancient, but rebuilt by him who twice


s: His city, there thou seest, and Bactra there;


s: Ecbatana her structure vast there shews,


s: The drink of none but kings; of later fame,


s: Turning with easy eye, thou may'st behold.


s: All these the Parthian (now some ages past


s: From the luxurious kings of Antioch won.


s: And just in time thou com'st to have a view


s: Of his great power; for now the Parthian king


s: Against the Scythian, whose incursions wild


s: He marches now in haste.  See, though from far,


s: They issue forth, steel bows and shafts their arms,


s: Of equal dread in flight or in pursuit--


s: All horsemen, in which fight they most excel;


s: In rhombs, and wedges, and half-moons, and wings."


s: He looked, and saw what numbers numberless


s: The city gates outpoured, light-armed troops


s: In mail their horses clad, yet fleet and strong,


s: Prauncing their riders bore, the flower and choice


s: From Atropatia, and the neighbouring plains


s: He saw them in their forms of battle ranged,


s: How quick they wheeled, and flying behind them shot


s: Sharp sleet of arrowy showers against the face


s: Of their pursuers, and overcame by flight;


s: The field all iron cast a gleaming brown.


s: Nor wanted clouds of foot, nor, on each horn,


s: Cuirassiers all in steel for standing fight,


s: Chariots, or elephants indorsed with towers


s: To lay hills plain, fell woods, or valleys fill,


s: Or where plain was raise hill, or overlay


s: With bridges rivers proud, as with a yoke:


s: Mules after these, camels and dromedaries,


s: And waggons fraught with utensils of war.


s: Such forces met not, nor so wide a camp,


s: When Agrican, with all his northern powers,


s: The city of Gallaphrone, from thence to win


s: His daughter, sought by many prowest knights,


s: Both Paynim and the peers of Charlemane.


s: Such and so numerous was their chivalry;


s: At sight whereof the Fiend yet more presumed,


s: And to our Saviour thus his words renewed:--


s: "That thou may'st know I seek not to engage


s: On no slight grounds thy safety, hear and mark


s: To what end I have brought thee hither, and shew


s: All this fair sight.  Thy kingdom, though foretold


s: Thou never shalt obtain: prediction still


s: In all things, and all men, supposes means;


s: Without means used, what it predicts revokes.


s: But say thou wert possessed of David's throne


s: Roman and Parthian?  Therefore one of these


s: Thou must make sure thy own: the Parthian first,


s: Thy country, and captive lead away her kings,


s: Choose which thou wilt, by conquest or by league.


s: By him thou shalt regain, without him not,


s: That which alone can truly reinstall thee


s: In David's royal seat, his true successor--


s: Deliverance of thy brethren, those Ten Tribes


s: Whose offspring in his territory yet serve


s: In Habor, and among the Medes dispersed:


s: Thus long from Israel, serving, as of old


s: These if from servitude thou shalt restore


s: To their inheritance, then, nor till then,


s: Thou on the throne of David in full glory,


s: Shalt reign, and Rome or Caesar not need fear."


s: To whom our Saviour answered thus, unmoved:--


s: And fragile arms, much instrument of war,


s: Long in preparing, soon to nothing brought,


s: Before mine eyes thou hast set, and in my ear


s: Of enemies, of aids, battles, and leagues,


s: Plausible to the world, to me worth naught.


s: Means I must use, thou say'st; prediction else


s: Will unpredict, and fail me of the throne!


s: My time, I told thee (and that time for thee


s: Were better farthest off), is not yet come.


s: When that comes, think not thou to find me slack


s: On my part aught endeavouring, or to need


s: Of human weakness rather than of strength.


s: My brethren, as thou call'st them, those Ten Tribes,


s: David's true heir, and his full sceptre sway


s: But whence to thee this zeal?  Where was it then


s: For Israel, or for David, or his throne,


s: When thou stood'st up his tempter to the pride


s: Of numbering Israel--which cost the lives


s: of threescore and ten thousand Israelites


s: By three days' pestilence?  Such was thy zeal


s: To Israel then, the same that now to me.


s: As for those captive tribes, themselves were they


s: Who wrought their own captivity, fell off


s: And all the idolatries of heathen round,


s: Besides their other worse than heathenish crimes;


s: Humbled themselves, or penitent besought


s: The God of their forefathers, but so died


s: Like to themselves, distinguishable scarce


s: From Gentiles, but by circumcision vain,


s: And God with idols in their worship joined.


s: Who, freed, as to their ancient patrimony,


s: Headlong would follow, and to their gods perhaps


s: Of Bethel and of Dan?  No; let them serve


s: Yet He at length, time to himself best known,


s: Remembering Abraham, by some wondrous call


s: May bring them back, repentant and sincere,


s: And at their passing cleave the Assyrian flood,


s: While to their native land with joy they haste,


s: As the Red Sea and Jordan once he cleft,


s: When to the Promised Land their fathers passed.


s: To his due time and providence I leave them."


s: So spake Israel's true King, and to the Fiend


s: Made answer meet, that made void all his wiles.


s: So fares it when with truth falsehood contends.


s: Perplexed and troubled at his bad success


s: The Tempter stood, nor had what to reply,


s: Discovered in his fraud, thrown from his hope


s: That sleeked his tongue, and won so much on Eve,


s: So little here, nay lost.  But Eve was Eve;


s: This far his over-match, who, self-deceived


s: And rash, beforehand had no better weighed


s: The strength he was to cope with, or his own.


s: But--as a man who had been matchless held


s: In cunning, over-reached where least he thought,


s: To salve his credit, and for very spite,


s: Still will be tempting him who foils him still,


s: And never cease, though to his shame the more;


s: About the wine-press where sweet must is poured,


s: Beat off, returns as oft with humming sound;


s: Though all to shivers dashed, the assault renew,


s: (Vain battery!) and in froth or bubbles end--


s: Met ever, and to shameful silence brought,


s: Yet gives not o'er, though desperate of success,


s: He brought our Saviour to the western side


s: Of that high mountain, whence he might behold


s: Another plain, long, but in breadth not wide,


s: Washed by the southern sea, and on the north


s: To equal length backed with a ridge of hills


s: That screened the fruits of the earth and seats of men


s: From cold Septentrion blasts; thence in the midst


s: On seven small hills, with palaces adorned,


s: Statues and trophies, and triumphal arcs,


s: Gardens and groves, presented to his eyes


s: Above the highth of mountains interposed--


s: By what strange parallax, or optic skill


s: Of vision, multiplied through air, or glass


s: And now the Tempter thus his silence broke:--


s: "The city which thou seest no other deem


s: Than great and glorious Rome, Queen of the Earth


s: So far renowned, and with the spoils enriched


s: Of nations.  There the Capitol thou seest,


s: The imperial palace, compass huge, and high


s: The structure, skill of noblest architects,


s: With gilded battlements, conspicuous far,


s: Turrets, and terraces, and glittering spires.


s: My aerie microscope--thou may'st behold,


s: Outside and inside both, pillars and roofs


s: Carved work, the hand of famed artificers


s: Thence to the gates cast round thine eye, and see


s: What conflux issuing forth, or entering in:


s: Hasting, or on return, in robes of state;


s: Lictors and rods, the ensigns of their power;


s: Legions and cohorts, turms of horse and wings;


s: Or on the AEmilian--some from farthest south,


s: Syene, and where the shadow both way falls,


s: The realm of Bocchus to the Blackmoor sea;


s: From the Asian kings (and Parthian among these),


s: Dusk faces with white silken turbants wreathed;


s: From Gallia, Gades, and the British west;


s: Germans, and Scythians, and Sarmatians north


s: To Rome's great Emperor, whose wide domain,


s: And long renown, thou justly may'st prefer


s: Before the Parthian.  These two thrones except,


s: The rest are barbarous, and scarce worth the sight,


s: Shared among petty kings too far removed;


s: These having shewn thee, I have shewn thee all


s: The kingdoms of the world, and all their glory.


s: This Emperor hath no son, and now is old,


s: Old and lascivious, and from Rome retired


s: On the Campanian shore, with purpose there


s: All public cares, and yet of him suspicious;


s: Hated of all, and hating.  With what ease,


s: Might'st thou expel this monster from his throne,


s: Now made a sty, and, in his place ascending,


s: And with my help thou may'st; to me the power


s: Is given, and by that right I give it thee.


s: Aim, therefore, at no less than all the world;


s: Aim at the highest; without the highest attained,


s: Will be for thee no sitting, or not long,


s: On David's throne, be prophesied what will."


s: To whom the Son of God, unmoved, replied:--


s: "Nor doth this grandeur and majestic shew


s: More than of arms before, allure mine eye,


s: Much less my mind; though thou should'st add to tell


s: Their sumptuous gluttonies, and gorgeous feasts


s: (For I have also heard, perhaps have read),


s: Their wines of Setia, Cales, and Falerne,


s: Chios and Crete, and how they quaff in gold,


s: Crystal, and myrrhine cups, imbossed with gems


s: And studs of pearl--to me should'st tell, who thirst


s: And hunger still.  Then embassies thou shew'st


s: From nations far and nigh!  What honour that,


s: But tedious waste of time, to sit and hear


s: Outlandish flatteries?  Then proceed'st to talk


s: How gloriously.  I shall, thou say'st, expel


s: Let his tormentor, Conscience, find him out;


s: That people, victor once, now vile and base,


s: Frugal, and mild, and temperate, conquered well,


s: By lust and rapine; first ambitious grown


s: Then cruel, by their sports to blood inured


s: Of fighting beasts, and men to beasts exposed;


s: Luxurious by their wealth, and greedier still,


s: What wise and valiant man would seek to free


s: These, thus degenerate, by themselves enslaved,


s: Or could of inward slaves make outward free?


s: Know, therefore, when my season comes to sit


s: On David's throne, it shall be like a tree


s: Spreading and overshadowing all the earth,


s: All monarchies besides throughout the world;


s: And of my Kingdom there shall be no end.


s: Means there shall be to this; but what the means


s: Is not for thee to know, nor me to tell."


s: To whom the Tempter, impudent, replied:--


s: Thou valuest, because offered, and reject'st.


s: Nothing will please the difficult and nice,


s: Or nothing more than still to contradict.


s: Nor what I part with mean to give for naught,


s: All these, which in a moment thou behold'st,


s: The kingdoms of the world, to thee I give


s: (For, given to me, I give to whom I please),


s: No trifle; yet with this reserve, not else--


s: On this condition, if thou wilt fall down,


s: For what can less so great a gift deserve?"


s: Whom thus our Saviour answered with disdain:--


s: "I never liked thy talk, thy offers less;


s: Now both abhor, since thou hast dared to utter


s: The abominable terms, impious condition.


s: But I endure the time, till which expired


s: Thou hast permission on me.  It is written,


s: The first of all commandments, 'Thou shalt worship


s: The Lord thy God, and only Him shalt serve.'


s: And dar'st thou to the Son of God propound


s: To worship thee, accursed? now more accursed


s: For this attempt, bolder than that on Eve,


s: And more blasphemous; which expect to rue.


s: The kingdoms of the world to thee were given!


s: If given, by whom but by the King of kings,


s: God over all supreme?  If given to thee,


s: Long since.  Wert thou so void of fear or shame


s: That I fall down and worship thee as God?


s: Get thee behind me!  Plain thou now appear'st


s: To whom the Fiend, with fear abashed, replied:--


s: Though Sons of God both Angels are and Men--


s: Than these thou bear'st that title, have proposed


s: What both from Men and Angels I receive,


s: Nations besides from all the quartered winds--


s: God of this World invoked, and World beneath.


s: Who then thou art, whose coming is foretold


s: Rather more honour left and more esteem;


s: Me naught advantaged, missing what I aimed.


s: Therefore let pass, as they are transitory,


s: The kingdoms of this world; I shall no more


s: Advise thee; gain them as thou canst, or not.


s: And thou thyself seem'st otherwise inclined


s: When, slipping from thy mother's eye, thou went'st


s: On points and questions fitting Moses' chair,


s: Teaching, not taught.  The childhood shews the man,


s: As morning shews the day.  Be famous, then,


s: So let extend thy mind o'er all the world


s: In knowledge; all things in it comprehend.


s: All knowledge is not couched in Moses' law,


s: The Pentateuch, or what the Prophets wrote;


s: The Gentiles also know, and write, and teach


s: And with the Gentiles much thou must converse,


s: Ruling them by persuasion, as thou mean'st.


s: Without their learning, how wilt thou with them,


s: Or they with thee, hold conversation meet?


s: How wilt thou reason with them, how refute


s: Look once more, ere we leave this specular mount,


s: Westward, much nearer by south-west; behold


s: Where on the AEgean shore a city stands,


s: Built nobly, pure the air and light the soil--


s: Athens, the eye of Greece, mother of arts


s: City or suburban, studious walks and shades.


s: Plato's retirement, where the Attic bird


s: Trills her thick-warbled notes the summer long;


s: There, flowery hill, Hymettus, with the sound


s: Of bees' industrious murmur, oft invites


s: His whispering stream.  Within the walls then view


s: The schools of ancient sages--his who bred


s: There thou shalt hear and learn the secret power


s: By voice or hand, and various-measured verse,


s: And his who gave them breath, but higher sung,


s: Whose poem Phoebus challenged for his own.


s: Thence what the lofty grave Tragedians taught


s: Of moral prudence, with delight received


s: In brief sententious precepts, while they treat


s: Of fate, and chance, and change in human life,


s: High actions and high passions best describing.


s: Those ancient whose resistless eloquence


s: Shook the Arsenal, and fulmined over Greece


s: From heaven descended to the low-roofed house


s: Whom, well inspired, the Oracle pronounced


s: Wisest of men; from whose mouth issued forth


s: Mellifluous streams, that watered all the schools


s: These here revolve, or, as thou likest, at home,


s: Till time mature thee to a kingdom's weight;


s: These rules will render thee a king complete


s: Within thyself, much more with empire joined."


s: To whom our Saviour sagely thus replied:--


s: "Think not but that I know these things; or, think


s: I know them not, not therefore am I short


s: Of knowing what I ought.  He who receives


s: Light from above, from the Fountain of Light,


s: No other doctrine needs, though granted true;


s: But these are false, or little else but dreams,


s: Conjectures, fancies, built on nothing firm.


s: The first and wisest of them all professed


s: To know this only, that he nothing knew;


s: The next to fabling fell and smooth conceits;


s: A third sort doubted all things, though plain sense;


s: But virtue joined with riches and long life;


s: In corporal pleasure he, and careless ease;


s: By him called virtue, and his virtuous man,


s: Wise, perfect in himself, and all possessing,


s: Wealth, pleasure, pain or torment, death and life--


s: Which, when he lists, he leaves, or boasts he can;


s: For all his tedious talk is but vain boast,


s: Alas! what can they teach, and not mislead,


s: Ignorant of themselves, of God much more,


s: And how the World began, and how Man fell,


s: Degraded by himself, on grace depending?


s: Much of the Soul they talk, but all awry;


s: And in themselves seek virtue; and to themselves


s: Fortune and Fate, as one regardless quite


s: Of mortal things.  Who, therefore, seeks in these


s: True wisdom finds her not, or, by delusion


s: Far worse, her false resemblance only meets,


s: Wise men have said, are wearisome; who reads


s: Incessantly, and to his reading brings not


s: A spirit and judgment equal or superior,


s: (And what he brings what needs he elsewhere seek?)


s: Deep-versed in books and shallow in himself,


s: And trifles for choice matters, worth a sponge,


s: As children gathering pebbles on the shore.


s: That solace?  All our Law and Story strewed


s: With hymns, our Psalms with artful terms inscribed,


s: That pleased so well our victor's ear, declare


s: That rather Greece from us these arts derived--


s: The vices of their deities, and their own,


s: Their gods ridiculous, and themselves past shame.


s: Remove their swelling epithetes, thick-laid


s: As varnish on a harlot's cheek, the rest,


s: Thin-sown with aught of profit or delight,


s: With Sion's songs, to all true tastes excelling,


s: Where God is praised aright and godlike men,


s: (Such are from God inspired, not such from thee);


s: By light of Nature, not in all quite lost.


s: Their orators thou then extoll'st as those


s: And lovers of their country, as may seem;


s: As men divinely taught, and better teaching


s: Than all the oratory of Greece and Rome.


s: In them is plainest taught, and easiest learnt,


s: What makes a nation happy, and keeps it so,


s: What ruins kingdoms, and lays cities flat;


s: These only, with our Law, best form a king."


s: Quite at a loss (for all his darts were spent),


s: Thus to our Saviour, with stern brow, replied:--


s: "Since neither wealth nor honour, arms nor arts,


s: Kingdom nor empire, pleases thee, nor aught


s: What dost thou in this world?  The Wilderness


s: For thee is fittest place: I found thee there,


s: And thither will return thee.  Yet remember


s: What I foretell thee; soon thou shalt have cause


s: Which would have set thee in short time with ease


s: On David's throne, or throne of all the world,


s: Now at full age, fulness of time, thy season,


s: When prophecies of thee are best fulfilled.


s: Now, contrary--if I read aught in heaven,


s: Or heaven write aught of fate--by what the stars


s: In their conjunction met, give me to spell,


s: Attends thee; scorns, reproaches, injuries,


s: Violence and stripes, and, lastly, cruel death.


s: A kingdom they portend thee, but what kingdom,


s: So saying, he took (for still he knew his power


s: Brought back, the Son of God, and left him there,


s: Feigning to disappear.  Darkness now rose,


s: As daylight sunk, and brought in louring Night,


s: Her shadowy offspring, unsubstantial both,


s: Our Saviour, meek, and with untroubled mind


s: After hisaerie jaunt, though hurried sore,


s: Hungry and cold, betook him to his rest,


s: Wherever, under some concourse of shades,


s: Whose branching arms thick intertwined might shield


s: From dews and damps of night his sheltered head;


s: But, sheltered, slept in vain; for at his head


s: The Tempter watched, and soon with ugly dreams


s: Disturbed his sleep.  And either tropic now


s: 'Gan thunder, and both ends of heaven; the clouds


s: Fierce rain with lightning mixed, water with fire,


s: Within their stony caves, but rushed abroad


s: From the four hinges of the world, and fell


s: On the vexed wilderness, whose tallest pines,


s: Though rooted deep as high, and sturdiest oaks,


s: Bowed their stiff necks, loaden with stormy blasts,


s: Or torn up sheer.  Ill wast thou shrouded then,


s: Unshaken!  Nor yet staid the terror there:


s: Infernal ghosts and hellish furies round


s: Environed thee; some howled, some yelled, some shrieked,


s: Some bent at thee their fiery darts, while thou


s: Sat'st unappalled in calm and sinless peace.


s: Thus passed the night so foul, till Morning fair


s: Came forth with pilgrim steps, in amice grey,


s: Who with her radiant finger stilled the roar


s: Of thunder, chased the clouds, and laid the winds,


s: And griesly spectres, which the Fiend had raised


s: To tempt the Son of God with terrors dire.


s: And now the sun with more effectual beams


s: Had cheered the face of earth, and dried the wet


s: From drooping plant, or dropping tree; the birds,


s: Who all things now behold more fresh and green,


s: Cleared up their choicest notes in bush and spray,


s: Nor yet, amidst this joy and brightest morn,


s: Was absent, after all his mischief done,


s: The Prince of Darkness; glad would also seem


s: Of this fair change, and to our Saviour came;


s: Yet with no new device (they all were spent),


s: Rather by this his last affront resolved,


s: Desperate of better course, to vent his rage


s: Backed on the north and west by a thick wood;


s: Out of the wood he starts in wonted shape,


s: And in a careless mood thus to him said:--


s: "Fair morning yet betides thee, Son of God,


s: After a dismal night.  I heard the wrack,


s: As earth and sky would mingle; but myself


s: Was distant; and these flaws, though mortals fear them,


s: As dangerous to the pillared frame of Heaven,


s: Or to the Earth's dark basis underneath,


s: And harmless, if not wholesome, as a sneeze


s: To man's less universe, and soon are gone.


s: Yet, as being ofttimes noxious where they light


s: On man, beast, plant, wasteful and turbulent,


s: Like turbulencies in the affairs of men,


s: Over whose heads they roar, and seem to point,


s: This tempest at this desert most was bent;


s: Of men at thee, for only thou here dwell'st.


s: Did I not tell thee, if thou didst reject


s: To win thy destined seat, but wilt prolong


s: Of gaining David's throne no man knows when


s: (For both the when and how is nowhere told),


s: Thou shalt be what thou art ordained, no doubt;


s: For Angels have proclaimed it, but concealing


s: The time and means?  Each act is rightliest done


s: Not when it must, but when it may be best.


s: If thou observe not this, be sure to find


s: Ere thou of Israel's sceptre get fast hold;


s: Whereof this ominous night that closed thee round,


s: May warn thee, as a sure foregoing sign."


s: So talked he, while the Son of God went on,


s: And staid not, but in brief him answered thus:--


s: "Me worse than wet thou find'st not; other harm


s: Those terrors which thou speak'st of did me none.


s: I never feared they could, though noising loud


s: And threatening nigh: what they can do as signs


s: As false portents, not sent from God, but thee;


s: Who, knowing I shall reign past thy preventing,


s: Obtrud'st thy offered aid, that I, accepting,


s: At least might seem to hold all power of thee,


s: Ambitious Spirit! and would'st be thought my God;


s: And storm'st, refused, thinking to terrify


s: Me to thy will!  Desist (thou art discerned,


s: And toil'st in vain), nor me in vain molest."


s: To whom the Fiend, now swoln with rage, replied:--


s: "Then hear, O Son of David, virgin-born!


s: By all the Prophets; of thy birth, at length


s: Announced by Gabriel, with the first I knew,


s: And of the angelic song in Bethlehem field,


s: On thy birth-night, that sung thee Saviour born.


s: From that time seldom have I ceased to eye


s: Thy infancy, thy childhood, and thy youth,


s: Thy manhood last, though yet in private bred;


s: Till, at the ford of Jordan, whither all


s: Flocked to the Baptist, I among the rest


s: (Though not to be baptized), by voice from Heaven


s: Heard thee pronounced the Son of God beloved.


s: Thenceforth I thought thee worth my nearer view


s: And narrower scrutiny, that I might learn


s: In what degree or meaning thou art called


s: The Son of God, which bears no single sense.


s: All men are Sons of God; yet thee I thought


s: Therefore I watched thy footsteps from that hour,


s: And followed thee still on to this waste wild,


s: Where, by all best conjectures, I collect


s: And what he is; his wisdom, power, intent;


s: By parle or composition, truce or league,


s: To try thee, sift thee, and confess have found thee


s: To the utmost of mere man both wise and good,


s: Not more; for honours, riches, kingdoms, glory,


s: Have been before contemned, and may again.


s: Therefore, to know what more thou art than man,


s: Worth naming the Son of God by voice from Heaven,


s: So saying, he caught him up, and, without wing


s: Of hippogrif, bore through the air sublime,


s: And higher yet the glorious Temple reared


s: Her pile, far off appearing like a mount


s: The Son of God, and added thus in scorn:--


s: "There stand, if thou wilt stand; to stand upright


s: Will ask thee skill.  I to thy Father's house


s: Have brought thee, and highest placed: highest is best.


s: Cast thyself down.  Safely, if Son of God;


s: For it is written, 'He will give command


s: Concerning thee to his Angels; in their hands


s: They shall uplift thee, lest at any time


s: Thou chance to dash thy foot against a stone.'"


s: To whom thus Jesus: "Also it is written,


s: 'Tempt not the Lord thy God.'"  He said, and stood;


s: But Satan, smitten with amazement, fell.


s: As when Earth's son, Antaeus (to compare


s: Small things with greatest), in Irassa strove


s: With Jove's Alcides, and, oft foiled, still rose,


s: Receiving from his mother Earth new strength,


s: Fresh from his fall, and fiercer grapple joined,


s: Throttled at length in the air expired and fell,


s: So, after many a foil, the Tempter proud,


s: Renewing fresh assaults, amidst his pride


s: Fell whence he stood to see his victor fall;


s: And, as that Theban monster that proposed


s: Her riddle, and him who solved it not devoured,


s: That once found out and solved, for grief and spite


s: Cast herself headlong from the Ismenian steep,


s: So, strook with dread and anguish, fell the Fiend,


s: And to his crew, that sat consulting, brought


s: Joyless triumphals of his hoped success,


s: Who durst so proudly tempt the Son of God.


s: So Satan fell; and straight a fiery globe


s: Of Angels on full sail of wing flew nigh,


s: Who on their plumy vans received Him soft


s: As on a floating couch, through the blithe air;


s: On a green bank, and set before him spread


s: Ambrosial fruits fetched from the Tree of Life,


s: And from the Fount of Life ambrosial drink,


s: That soon refreshed him wearied, and repaired


s: What hunger, if aught hunger, had impaired,


s: Or thirst; and, as he fed, Angelic quires


s: Over temptation and the Tempter proud:--


s: "True Image of the Father, whether throned


s: In the bosom of bliss, and light of light


s: Conceiving, or, remote from Heaven, enshrined


s: Wandering the wilderness--whatever place,


s: Habit, or state, or motion, still expressing


s: The Son of God, with Godlike force endued


s: Against the attempter of thy Father's throne


s: Thou didst debel, and down from Heaven cast


s: With all his army; now thou hast avenged


s: Temptation, hast regained lost Paradise,


s: He never more henceforth will dare set foot


s: In paradise to tempt; his snares are broke.


s: For, though that seat of earthly bliss be failed,


s: For Adam and his chosen sons, whom thou,


s: Where they shall dwell secure, when time shall be,


s: But thou, Infernal Serpent! shalt not long


s: Rule in the clouds.  Like an autumnal star,


s: Or lightning, thou shalt fall from Heaven, trod down


s: Under his feet.  For proof, ere this thou feel'st


s: Thy wound (yet not thy last and deadliest wound)


s: By this repulse received, and hold'st in Hell


s: No triumph; in all her gates Abaddon rues


s: Thy bold attempt.  Hereafter learn with awe


s: To dread the Son of God.  He, all unarmed,


s: Shall chase thee, with the terror of his voice,


s: From thy demoniac holds, possession foul--


s: Thee and thy legions; yelling they shall fly,


s: And beg to hide them in a herd of swine,


s: Lest he command them down into the Deep,


s: Bound, and to torment sent before their time.


s: Hail, Son of the Most High, heir of both Worlds,


s: Thus they the Son of God, our Saviour meek,


s: Sung victor, and, from heavenly feast refreshed,


s: Brought on his way with joy.  He, unobserved,


s: Home to his mother's house private returned.


s: "Curse thee, Life, I will live with thee no more!


s: O world, I cannot hold thee close enough!


s: Love has gone and left me and the days are all alike;


s: All the dog-wood blossoms are underneath the tree!


s: I said,--for Love was laggard, O, Love was slow to come,--


s: Time does not bring relief; you all have lied


s: Mindful of you the sodden earth in spring,


s: If I should learn, in some quite casual way,


s: This door you might not open, and you did;


s: My breath came short, and scarce at all.


s: Through which my shrinking sight did pass


s: That, sick'ning, I would fain pluck thence


s: But could not,--nay! But needs must suck


s: Craved all in vain!  And felt fierce fire


s: Perished with each,--then mourned for all!


s: And every scream tore through my throat.


s: That was not mine; mine each last breath


s: Rolls, twinkling, from its grass-blade top.


s: I ceased; and through the breathless hush


s: The startled storm-clouds reared on high


s: Of orchard-breath, and with the smell,--


s: Caught fiercely, and a great heart-throb


s: And closed the door behind me, all at once


s: Yet stiff with meaning, struck my senses sick!--


s: The heavy scent of damp, funereal flowers,--


s: The very essence, hush-distilled, of Death--


s: Has strangled that habitual breath of home


s: Whose expiration leaves all houses dead;


s: And wheresoe'er I look is hideous change.


s: Save here.  Here 'twas as if a weed-choked gate


s: Had opened at my touch, and I had stepped


s: Into some long-forgot, enchanted, strange,


s: And suddenly thought, "I have been here before!"


s: You are not here.  I know that you are gone,


s: And yet it seems to me, if I should speak,


s: Your silent step must wake across the hall;


s: If I should turn my head, that your sweet eyes


s: Would kiss me from the door.--So short a time


s: The room is as you left it; your last touch--


s: A thoughtless pressure, knowing not itself


s: As saintly--hallows now each simple thing;


s: Hallows and glorifies, and glows between


s: The dust's grey fingers like a shielded light.


s: There is your book, just as you laid it down,


s: That you are gone!--Just then it seemed to me


s: You must be here.  I almost laughed to think


s: Yet knew before I laughed, and so was still.


s: That book, outspread, just as you laid it down!


s: Perhaps you thought, "I wonder what comes next,


s: And whether this or this will be the end";


s: So rose, and left it, thinking to return.


s: Perhaps that chair, when you arose and passed


s: Out of the room, rocked silently a while


s: Ere it again was still. When you were gone


s: Forever from the room, perhaps that chair,


s: Stirred by your movement, rocked a little while,


s: And here are the last words your fingers wrote,


s: Scrawled in broad characters across a page


s: In this brown book I gave you. Here your hand,


s: Guiding your rapid pen, moved up and down.


s: Here with a looping knot you crossed a "t",


s: These two eccentric "e's".  You were so small,


s: That of all words these are the words you chose!


s: And yet a simple choice; you did not know


s: You would not write again.  If you had known--


s: But then, it does not matter,--and indeed


s: If you had known there was so little time


s: You would have dropped your pen and come to me


s: And this page would be empty, and some phrase


s: Other than this would hold my wonder now.


s: Yet, since you could not know, and it befell


s: That these are the last words your fingers wrote,


s: In this, "I picked the first sweet-pea to-day."


s: To-day!  Was there an opening bud beside it


s: The things that withered,--and you came not back!


s: That day you filled this circle of my arms


s: That day--that day you picked the first sweet-pea,--


s: With terrible distinctness how the smell


s: Of your cool gardens drifted in with you.


s: And flushed because I looked not at the flower,


s: But at your face; and when behind my look


s: You laughed and brushed your flower against my lips.


s: (You were the fairest thing God ever made,


s: I think.)  And then your hands above my heart


s: And while your head was bent I kissed your hair.


s: Somehow I cannot seem to see them still.


s: In your bright hair.)  What is the need of Heaven


s: When earth can be so sweet?--If only God


s: Had let us love,--and show the world the way!


s: Strange cancellings must ink th' eternal books


s: When love-crossed-out will bring the answer right!


s: That first sweet-pea!  I wonder where it is.


s: It seems to me I laid it down somewhere,


s: Save that it was the first.  I did not know,


s: Then, that it was the last.  If I had known--


s: But then, it does not matter.  Strange how few,


s: After all's said and done, the things that are


s: Of ten small words a rope to hang the world!


s: There, there it dangles,--where's the little truth


s: That can for long keep footing under that


s: When its slack syllables tighten to a thought?


s: Here, let me write it down!  I wish to see


s: Just how a thing like that will look on paper!


s: "*I had you and I have you now no more*."


s: O little words, how can you run so straight


s: Across the page, beneath the weight you bear?


s: How can you fall apart, whom such a theme


s: That tearing you apart would tear the thread


s: I strung you on!  Would God--O God, my mind


s: Stretches asunder on this merciless rack


s: Would I could sleep, and wake to find me back


s: In that sweet summer afternoon with you.


s: Summer?  'Tis summer still by the calendar!


s: Set back the world a little turn or two!


s: Correct its griefs, and bring its joys again!


s: That we could die apart.  I had not thought


s: That I could move,--and you be stiff and still!


s: I think our heart-strings were, like warp and woof


s: The shining strip is rent; the exquisite


s: Fine pattern is destroyed; part of your heart


s: Aches in my breast; part of my heart lies chilled


s: In the damp earth with you.  I have been torn


s: To life,--a ship whose star has guttered out?


s: A Fear that in the deep night starts awake


s: Perpetually, to find its senses strained


s: Against the taut strings of the quivering air,


s: Awaiting the return of some dread chord?


s: All else were contrast,--save that contrast's wall


s: Is down, and all opposed things flow together


s: And day, and frost and thaw, and death and life,


s: Are all the jabbering birds and foolish flowers


s: That clutter up the world?  You were my song!


s: Now, let discord scream!  You were my flower!


s: Now let the world grow weeds!  For I shall not


s: Plant things above your grave--(the common balm


s: Of the conventional woe for its own wound!)


s: Or that, and say, "My face is turned to you";


s: If Heaven hold you or if earth transmute,


s: But this I know:--not for one second's space


s: Such as the credulous crowd so eager-eyed


s: Beholds, self-conjured, in the empty air.


s: Let the world wail!  Let drip its easy tears!


s: I too might feel that frenzied faith whose touch


s: Though it must walk a while, as is its wont,


s: With wild lamenting!  Would I too might weep


s: Where weeps the world and hangs its piteous wreaths


s: For its new dead!  Not Truth, but Faith, it is


s: That keeps the world alive.  If all at once


s: Faith were to slacken,--that unconscious faith


s: Which must, I know, yet be the corner-stone


s: Of all believing,--birds now flying fearless


s: Across would drop in terror to the earth;


s: Fishes would drown; and the all-governing reins


s: Would tangle in the frantic hands of God


s: And the worlds gallop headlong to destruction!


s: Flashes this breathlessness of sudden sight


s: Before me like a scroll and read thereon


s: Chaos and Doom, where helpless planets whirl


s: Dizzily round and round and round and round,


s: Like tops across a table, gathering speed


s: To shudder and lurch forward out of sight--


s: It is too much--I am but flesh and blood,


s: And I must sleep.  Though you were dead again,


s: I am but flesh and blood and I must sleep.


s: "Curse thee, Life, I will live with thee no more!


s: Thou hast mocked me, starved me, beat my body sore!


s: And all for a pledge that was not pledged by me,


s: I have kissed thy crust and eaten sparingly


s: That I might eat again, and met thy sneers


s: With deprecations, and thy blows with tears,--


s: Aye, from thy glutted lash, glad, crawled away,


s: With me, whence fear and faith alike are flown;


s: But that thou canst not follow me I know."


s: Thus I to Life, and ceased; but through my brain


s: My thought ran still, until I spake again:


s: I brought!  I have been heated in thy fires,


s: Bent by thy hands, fashioned to thy desires,


s: In me all's sunk that leapt, and all that dreamed


s: Is wakeful for alarm,--oh, shame to thee,


s: For the ill change that thou hast wrought in me,


s: Who laugh no more nor lift my throat to sing!


s: Ah, Life, I would have been a pleasant thing


s: To have about the house when I was grown


s: If thou hadst left my little joys alone!


s: That thou wouldst leave me playing in the sun!


s: And this thou didst deny, calling my name


s: I saw the sun no more.--It were not well


s: So long on these unpleasant thoughts to dwell,


s: With all things save my thoughts and this one night,


s: Free and remote from thee,--I feel no haste


s: Merely, with thoughtful mien, an unknown draught,


s: That in a little while I shall have quaffed."


s: Thus I to Life, and ceased, and slightly smiled,


s: Looking at nothing; and my thin dreams filed


s: "Treasures thou hast that never have been mine!


s: Warm lights in many a secret chamber shine


s: Of thy gaunt house, and gusts of song have blown


s: Thus I to Life, and ceased, and spake no more,


s: But turning, straightway, sought a certain door


s: In the rear wall.  Heavy it was, and low


s: And dark,--a way by which none e'er would go


s: Was heard thereat,--bearing a curious lock


s: Some chance had shown me fashioned faultily,


s: Whereof Life held content the useless key,


s: And great coarse hinges, thick and rough with rust,


s: Whose sudden voice across a silence must,


s: I knew, be harsh and horrible to hear,--


s: A strange door, ugly like a dwarf.--So near


s: Came weariness, and all things other passed


s: To make it room; the still night drifted deep


s: Like snow about me, and I longed for sleep.


s: But, suddenly, marking the morning hour,


s: Bayed the deep-throated bell within the tower!


s: Startled, I raised my head,--and with a shout


s: Laid hold upon the latch,--and was without.


s: Ah, long-forgotten, well-remembered road,


s: My father's house!  There in the night I came,


s: And found them feasting, and all things the same


s: As they had been before.  A splendour hung


s: Upon the walls, and such sweet songs were sung


s: Had called me from the house of Life, I know.


s: So fair their raiment shone I looked in shame


s: Then straightway at my hesitancy mocked:


s: "It is my father's house!" I said and knocked;


s: And the door opened.  To the shining crowd


s: Tattered and dark I entered, like a cloud,


s: And "Father!" I cried, and clasped his knees, and wept.


s: Ah, days of joy that followed!  All alone


s: I wandered through the house.  My own, my own,


s: My own to touch, my own to taste and smell,


s: All I had lacked so long and loved so well!


s: None shook me out of sleep, nor hushed my song,


s: Nor called me in from the sunlight all day long.


s: And whither fared and on what errands bent


s: The tall and gracious messengers he sent.


s: Yet one day with no song from dawn till night


s: Wondering, I sat, and watched them out of sight.


s: And the next day I called; and on the third


s: Asked them if I might go,--but no one heard.


s: Then, sick with longing, I arose at last


s: Has sat, surrounded by his charts and spheres.


s: "Father," I said, "Father, I cannot play


s: The harp that thou didst give me, and all day


s: Away from thee, than this, the life I lead,


s: To sit all day in the sunshine like a weed


s: That grows to naught,--I love thee more than they


s: Who serve thee most; yet serve thee in no way.


s: "All things thy fancy hath desired of me


s: Thou hast received.  I have prepared for thee


s: Within my house a spacious chamber, where


s: Are delicate things to handle and to wear,


s: And all these things are thine.  Dost thou love song?


s: My minstrels shall attend thee all day long.


s: Or sigh for flowers?  My fairest gardens stand


s: And all thy days this word shall hold the same:


s: No pleasure shalt thou lack that thou shalt name.


s: But as for tasks--" he smiled, and shook his head;


s: "Thou hadst thy task, and laidst it by", he said.


s: O world, I cannot hold thee close enough!


s: Thy woods, this autumn day, that ache and sag


s: And all but cry with colour!  That gaunt crag


s: To crush!  To lift the lean of that black bluff!


s: World, World, I cannot get thee close enough!


s: As stretcheth me apart,--Lord, I do fear


s: Thou'st made the world too beautiful this year;


s: No burning leaf; prithee, let no bird call.


s: Love has gone and left me and the days are all alike;


s: Eat I must, and sleep I will,--and would that night were here!


s: But ah!--to lie awake and hear the slow hours strike!


s: Would that it were day again!--with twilight near!


s: Love has gone and left me and I don't know what to do;


s: This or that or what you will is all the same to me;


s: But all the things that I begin I leave before I'm through,--


s: There's little use in anything as far as I can see.


s: Love has gone and left me,--and the neighbors knock and borrow,


s: And life goes on forever like the gnawing of a mouse,--


s: And to-morrow and to-morrow and to-morrow and to-morrow


s: There's this little street and this little house.


s: She smiled and smiled--there was no hint


s: She paused--then opened and passed through


s: All the dog-wood blossoms are underneath the tree!


s: Ere spring was going--ah, spring is gone!


s: And there comes no summer to the like of you and me,--


s: Blossom time is early, but no fruit sets on.


s: All the dog-wood blossoms are underneath the tree,


s: And I would with all my heart they trimmed a mound for me,


s: And weeds were tall on all the paths that led that way!


s: Love, in my sleep I dreamed of waking,--


s: Over the floor, and somewhere, somewhere,


s: There was a shutter loose,--it screeched!


s: Swung in the wind,--and no wind blowing!--


s: I said,--for Love was laggard, O, Love was slow to come,--


s: "I'll hear his step and know his step when I am warm in bed;


s: But I'll never leave my pillow, though there be some


s: As would let him in--and take him in with tears!" I said.


s: I lay,--for Love was laggard, O, he came not until dawn,--


s: I lay and listened for his step and could not get to sleep;


s: And he found me at my window with my big cloak on,


s: All sorry with the tears some folks might weep!


s: And her voice is a string of colored beads,


s: Than small white single poppies,--I can bear


s: Thy beauty; though I bend before thee, though


s: From left to right, not knowing where to go,


s: I turn my troubled eyes, nor here nor there


s: So has it been with mist,--with moonlight so.


s: Like him who day by day unto his draught


s: Of delicate poison adds him one drop more


s: Till he may drink unharmed the death of ten,


s: Even so, inured to beauty, who have quaffed


s: Each hour more deeply than the hour before,


s: I drink--and live--what has destroyed some men.


s: Time does not bring relief; you all have lied


s: Who told me time would ease me of my pain!


s: I want him at the shrinking of the tide;


s: The old snows melt from every mountain-side,


s: And last year's leaves are smoke in every lane;


s: But last year's bitter loving must remain


s: Heaped on my heart, and my old thoughts abide!


s: And entering with relief some quiet place


s: Where never fell his foot or shone his face


s: I say, "There is no memory of him here!"


s: And so stand stricken, so remembering him!


s: Mindful of you the sodden earth in spring,


s: And all the flowers that in the springtime grow,


s: And dusty roads, and thistles, and the slow


s: Rising of the round moon, all throats that sing


s: The summer through, and each departing wing,


s: And all the nests that the bared branches show,


s: And all the storms that the four seasons bring.


s: Up paths that only mist and morning knew,


s: Or watch the wind, or listen to the beat


s: Of a bird's wings too high in air to view,--


s: But you were something more than young and sweet


s: And fair,--and the long year remembers you.


s: When the long hours of that mysterious night


s: Were over, and the morning was in sight--


s: I cried, but in strange places, steppe and firth


s: I have not seen, through alien grief and mirth;


s: And never shall one room contain me quite


s: Who in so many rooms first saw the light,


s: Child of all mothers, native of the earth.


s: To-day, when the world's fire has burned so low;


s: I kneel, spending my breath in vain desire,


s: At that cold hearth which one time roared so strong,


s: And straighten back in weariness, and long


s: If I should learn, in some quite casual way,


s: That you were gone, not to return again--


s: Read from the back-page of a paper, say,


s: And such a street (so are the papers filled)


s: A hurrying man--who happened to be you--


s: At noon to-day had happened to be killed,


s: Aloud, or wring my hands in such a place--


s: I should but watch the station lights rush by


s: With a more careful interest on my face,


s: Or raise my eyes and read with greater care


s: Where to store furs and how to treat the hair.


s: This door you might not open, and you did;


s: So enter now, and see for what slight thing


s: You are betrayed. . . .  Here is no treasure hid,


s: The sought-for truth, no heads of women slain


s: For greed like yours, no writhings of distress,


s: But only what you see. . . .  Look yet again--


s: An empty room, cobwebbed and comfortless.


s: And you did so profane me when you crept


s: Unto the threshold of this room to-night


s: That I must never more behold your face.


s: This now is yours.  I seek another place.


s: Three of us afloat in the meadow by the swing,


s: Three of us abroad in the basket on the lea.


s: Winds are in the air, they are blowing in the spring,


s: And waves are on the meadow like the waves there are at sea.


s: Where shall we adventure, to-day that we're afloat,


s: Wary of the weather and steering by a star?


s: Shall it be to Africa, a-steering of the boat,


s: Hi!  but here's a squadron a-rowing on the sea--


s: Cattle on the meadow a-charging with a roar!


s: Quick, and we'll escape them, they're as mad as they can be,


s: The wicket is the harbour and the garden is the shore.


s: Late in the night when the fires are out,


s: Among the bed-clothes, through the hills;


s: I have a little shadow that goes in and out with me,


s: And what can be the use of him is more than I can see.


s: He is very, very like me from the heels up to the head;


s: And I see him jump before me, when I jump into my bed.


s: The funniest thing about him is the way he likes to grow--


s: Not at all like proper children, which is always very slow;


s: For he sometimes shoots up taller like an india-rubber ball,


s: And he sometimes goes so little that there's none of him at all.


s: He hasn't got a notion of how children ought to play,


s: And can only make a fool of me in every sort of way.


s: He stays so close behind me, he's a coward you can see;


s: I'd think shame to stick to nursie as that shadow sticks to me!


s: One morning, very early, before the sun was up,


s: I rose and found the shining dew on every buttercup;


s: But my lazy little shadow, like an arrant sleepy-head,


s: Had stayed at home behind me and was fast asleep in bed.


s: I woke before the morning, I was happy all the day,


s: I never said an ugly word, but smiled and stuck to play.


s: And now at last the sun is going down behind the wood,


s: And I am very happy, for I know that I've been good.


s: My bed is waiting cool and fresh, with linen smooth and fair,


s: And I must be off to sleepsin-by, and not forget my prayer.


s: I know that, till to-morrow I shall see the sun arise,


s: No ugly dream shall fright my mind, no ugly sight my eyes.


s: But slumber hold me tightly till I waken in the dawn,


s: And hear the thrushes singing in the lilacs round the lawn.


s: The lights from the parlour and kitchen shone out


s: Through the blinds and the windows and bars;


s: There were thousands of millions of stars.


s: There ne'er were such thousands of leaves on a tree,


s: As the crowds of the stars that looked down upon me,


s: And that glittered and winked in the dark.


s: The Dog, and the Plough, and the Hunter, and all,


s: These shown in the sky, and the pail by the wall


s: They saw me at last, and they chased me with cries,


s: But the glory kept shining and bright in my eyes,


s: The world is so full of a number of things,


s: I'm sure we should all be as happy as kings.


s: Breaking the branches and crawling below,


s: Out through the breach in the wall of the garden,


s: Here is a mill with the humming of thunder,


s: Here is the weir with the wonder of foam,


s: Here is the sluice with the race running under--


s: Marvellous places, though handy to home!


s: Sounds of the village grow stiller and stiller,


s: Stiller the note of the birds on the hill;


s: Dusty and dim are the eyes of the miller,


s: Deaf are his ears with the moil of the mill.


s: Years may go by, and the wheel in the river


s: Wheel as it wheels for us, children, to-day,


s: Wheel and keep roaring and foaming for ever


s: Home for the Indies and home from the ocean,


s: Heroes and soldiers we all will come home;


s: Still we shall find the old mill wheel in motion,


s: Turning and churning that river to foam.


s: You with the bean that I gave when we quarrelled,


s: Honoured and old and all gaily apparelled,


s: Here we shall meet and remember the past.


s: My tea is nearly ready and the sun has left the sky.


s: It's time to take the window to see Leerie going by;


s: For every night at teatime and before you take your seat,


s: With lantern and with ladder he comes posting up the street.


s: Now Tom would be a driver and Maria go to sea,


s: And my papa's a banker and as rich as he can be;


s: But I, when I am stronger and can choose what I'm to do,


s: O Leerie, I'll go round at night and light the lamps with you!


s: For we are very lucky, with a lamp before the door,


s: And Leerie stops to light it as he lights so many more;


s: And oh! before you hurry by with ladder and with light;


s: O Leerie, see a little child and nod to him to-night!


s: The moon has a face like the clock in the hall;


s: She shines on thieves on the garden wall,


s: On streets and fields and harbour quays,


s: And birdies asleep in the forks of the trees.


s: The squalling cat and the squeaking mouse,


s: The howling dog by the door of the house,


s: All love to be out by the light of the moon.


s: But all of the things that belong to the day


s: And flowers and children close their eyes


s: Till up in the morning the sun shall arise.


s: Faster than fairies, faster than witches,


s: And charging along like troops in a battle


s: All through the meadows the horses and cattle:


s: All of the sights of the hill and the plain


s: Here is a child who clambers and scrambles,


s: And here is the green for stringing the daisies!


s: And here is a mill, and there is a river:


s: Till the shining scythes went far and wide


s: And they piled them here in mountain tops


s: All around the house is the jet-black night;


s: It crawls in the corners, hiding from the light,


s: Now my little heart goes a beating like a drum,


s: With the breath of the Bogies in my hair;


s: And all around the candle the crooked shadows come,


s: The shadow of the balusters, the shadow of the lamp,


s: The shadow of the child that goes to bed--


s: All the wicked shadows coming tramp, tramp, tramp,


s: When children are playing alone on the green,


s: In comes the playmate that never was seen.


s: When children are happy and lonely and good,


s: The Friend of the Children comes out of the wood.


s: But he's sure to be present, abroad or at home,


s: When children are happy and playing alone.


s: He lies in the laurels, he runs on the grass,


s: He sings when you tinkle the musical glass;


s: Whene'er you are happy and cannot tell why,


s: The Friend of the Children is sure to be by!


s: He loves to be little, he hates to be big,


s: 'Tis he that inhabits the caves that you dig;


s: 'Tis he when you play with your soldiers of tin


s: That sides with the Frenchmen and never can win.


s: 'Tis he, when at night you go off to your bed,


s: Bids you go to sleep and not trouble your head;


s: For wherever they're lying, in cupboard or shelf,


s: 'Tis he will take care of your playthings himself!


s: O it's I that am the captain of a tidy little ship,


s: Of a ship that goes a sailing on the pond;


s: And my ship it keeps a-turning all around and all about;


s: But when I'm a little older, I shall find the secret out


s: How to send my vessel sailing on beyond.


s: For I mean to grow as little as the dolly at the helm,


s: And with him beside to help me, it's a-sailing I shall go,


s: It's a-sailing on the water, when the jolly breezes blow


s: For beside the dolly sailor, I'm to voyage and explore,


s: To land upon the island where no dolly was before,


s: And to fire the penny cannon in the bow.


s: These nuts, that I keep in the back of the nest,


s: Where all my tin soldiers are lying at rest,


s: Were gathered in Autumn by nursie and me


s: In a wood with a well by the side of the sea.


s: This whistle we made (and how clearly it sounds!)


s: By the side of a field at the end of the grounds.


s: Of a branch of a plane, with a knife of my own,


s: It was nursie who made it, and nursie alone!


s: The stone, with the white and the yellow and grey,


s: We discovered I cannot tell HOW far away;


s: And I carried it back although weary and cold,


s: For though father denies it, I'm sure it is gold.


s: But of all my treasures the last is the king,


s: For there's very few children possess such a thing;


s: And that is a chisel, both handle and blade,


s: Which a man who was really a carpenter made.


s: What are you able to build with your blocks?


s: Rain may keep raining, and others go roam,


s: But I can be happy and building at home.


s: Let the sofa be mountains, the carpet be sea,


s: And a harbour as well where my vessels may ride.


s: Great is the palace with pillar and wall,


s: To where my toy vessels lie safe in the bay.


s: This one is sailing and that one is moored:


s: And see, on the steps of my palace, the kings


s: Coming and going with presents and things!


s: Now I have done with it, down let it go!


s: Block upon block lying scattered and free,


s: What is there left of my town by the sea?


s: The kirk and the palace, the ships and the men,


s: And as long as I live and where'er I may be,


s: I'll always remember my town by the sea.


s: There, in the night, where none can spy,


s: These are the hills, these are the woods,


s: More thick than rain he showers his rays.


s: He digs the flowers, green, red, and blue,


s: And all the thousand things that children are.


s: We watch the children, our successors, play.


s: While flowing fast away, leaves love behind.


s: Flows past our childhood's garden still;


s: The bones of antelope, the wings of albatross,


s: The junks and bangles, beads and screens,


s: These rhymes for old acquaintance' sake!


s: Then you shall discover, that your name was printed down


s: By the English printers, long before, in London town.


s: In the great and busy city where the East and West are met,


s: All the little letters did the English printer set;


s: While you thought of nothing, and were still too young to play,


s: Foreign people thought of you in places far away.


s: Ay, and when you slept, a baby, over all the English lands


s: Other little children took the volume in their hands;


s: Other children questioned, in their homes across the seas:


s: Who was little Louis, won't you tell us, mother, please?


s: Now that you have spelt your lesson, lay it down and go and play,


s: Watching all the mighty whalebones, lying buried by the breeze,


s: Tiny sandy-pipers, and the huge Pacific seas.


s: And remember in your playing, as the sea-fog rolls to you,


s: Long ere you could read it, how I told you what to do;


s: And that while you thought of no one, nearly half the world away


s: Some one thought of Louis on the beach of Monterey!


s: "By thy long grey beard and glittering eye,


s: "The Bridegroom's doors are opened wide,


s: The ship was cheered, the harbour cleared,


s: The ship drove fast, loud roared the blast,


s: It cracked and growled, and roared and howled,


s: Whiles all the night, through fog-smoke white,


s: From the fiends, that plague thee thus!--


s: Why look'st thou so?"--With my cross-bow


s: And the good south wind still blew behind


s: 'Twas right, said they, such birds to slay,


s: The fair breeze blew, the white foam flew,


s: Down dropt the breeze, the sails dropt down,


s: And every tongue, through utter drought,


s: With throats unslaked, with black lips baked,


s: And straight the Sun was flecked with bars,


s: As if through a dungeon-grate he peered,


s: Alas! (thought I, and my heart beat loud)


s: Are those her sails that glance in the Sun,


s: Are those her ribs through which the Sun


s: "The game is done!  I've won!  I've won!"


s: The stars were dim, and thick the night,


s: The steersman's face by his lamp gleamed white;


s: Each turned his face with a ghastly pang,


s: For the sky and the sea, and the sea and the sky


s: Seven days, seven nights, I saw that curse,


s: I dreamt that they were filled with dew;


s: And the rain poured down from one black cloud;


s: The thick black cloud was cleft, and still


s: They groaned, they stirred, they all uprose,


s: The helmsman steered, the ship moved on;


s: They raised their limbs like lifeless tools--


s: 'Twas not those souls that fled in pain,


s: For when it dawned--they dropped their arms,


s: Sweet sounds rose slowly through their mouths,


s: "Is it he?" quoth one, "Is this the man?


s: 'Twas night, calm night, the Moon was high;


s: The pang, the curse, with which they died,


s: The rock shone bright, the kirk no less,


s: And the bay was white with silent light,


s: The skiff-boat neared: I heard them talk,


s: Where are those lights so many and fair,


s: "Strange, by my faith!" the Hermit said--


s: The planks looked warped! and see those sails,


s: Stunned by that loud and dreadful sound,


s: Like one that hath been seven days drowned


s: Laughed loud and long, and all the while


s: "Say quick," quoth he, "I bid thee say--


s: Forthwith this frame of mine was wrenched


s: He went like one that hath been stunned,


s: Little Annie's Dream: or, The Fairy Flower


s: night-wind; and the flowers stood gazing, in very wonder, at the


s: to the music of the hare-bells, who rung out their merriest peal


s: Under the shade of a wild rose sat the Queen and her little


s: Maids of Honor, beside the silvery mushroom where the feast


s: With a gay smile, "Sunny Lock" began her story.


s: "As I was painting the bright petals of a blue bell, it told me


s: THREE little Fairies sat in the fields eating their breakfast;


s: each among the leaves of her favorite flower, Daisy, Primrose,


s: and Violet, were happy as Elves need be.


s: The morning wind gently rocked them to and fro, and the sun


s: shone warmly down upon the dewy grass, where butterflies spread


s: their gay wings, and bees with their deep voices sung


s: among the flowers; while the little birds hopped merrily about


s: On a silvery mushroom was spread the breakfast; little cakes


s: of flower-dust lay on a broad green leaf, beside a crimson


s: strawberry, which, with sugar from the violet, and cream


s: from the yellow milkweed, made a fairy meal, and their drink was


s: the dew from the flowers' bright leaves.


s: "Ah me," sighed Primrose, throwing herself languidly back,


s: "how warm the sun grows! give me another piece of strawberry,


s: and then I must hasten away to the shadow of the ferns.  But


s: while I eat, tell me, dear Violet, why are you all so sad?


s: I have scarce seen a happy face since my return from Rose Land;


s: "I will tell you," replied little Violet, the tears gathering


s: in her soft eyes.  "Our good Queen is ever striving to keep


s: and we can do nothing to help or advise her now."


s: The ant and bee learned generosity, the butterfly and bird


s: contentment, the mole and worm confidence in the love of others;


s: At length she rose, and amid the deep silence spoke thus:--


s: "Dear children, let us not tire of a good work, hard though it be


s: bloom in peace within their quiet homes?  We have tried to gain


s: sunlight and to joy.  How then may we keep our frail blossoms


s: from his cruel spirits?  Who will give us counsel?  Who will be


s: our messenger for the last time?  Speak, my subjects."


s: Long and eagerly they spoke, and their soft voices rose high.


s: Through the crowd there came a little form, a wreath of pure


s: white violets lay among the bright locks that fell so softly


s: round the gentle face, where a deep blush glowed, as, kneeling at


s: spoken fearlessly of his evil deeds?  Have we shed the soft light


s: "Our messengers have gone fearfully, and with cold looks and


s: courtly words offered him rich gifts, things he cared not for,


s: and with equal pride has he sent them back.


s: "Then let me, the weakest of your band, go to him, trusting


s: in the love I know lies hidden in the coldest heart.


s: "I will bear only a garland of our fairest flowers; these


s: will I wind about him, and their bright faces, looking lovingly


s: in his, will bring sweet thoughts to his dark mind, and their


s: soft breath steal in like gentle words.  Then, when he sees them


s: never leave his dreary home, till the sunlight falls on flowers


s: fair as those that bloom in our own dear land."


s: All who will aid our brave little messenger, lift your wands,


s: Every fairy wand glistened in the air, as with silvery voices


s: of the fairest flowers.  Tenderly they gathered them, with the


s: night-dew fresh upon their leaves, and as they wove chanted sweet


s: whom they sent forth to die in a dreary land, that their gentle


s: At length it was done; and the fair flowers lay glowing


s: Of the joy and peace that you have given:


s: The morning sun looked softly down upon the broad green earth,


s: Thus went Violet through the clear air, and the earth looked


s: smiling up to her, as, with the bright wreath folded in her


s: arms, she flew among the soft, white clouds.


s: On and on she went, over hill and valley, broad rivers and


s: rustling woods, till the warm sunlight passed away, the winds


s: grew cold, and the air thick with falling snow.  Then far below


s: With a beating heart Violet folded her fading wreath more closely


s: Gently she answered, telling them her errand, beseeching them


s: to let her pass ere the cold wind blighted her frail blossoms.


s: Then they flung wide the doors, and she passed in.


s: Walls of ice, carved with strange figures, were around her;


s: glittering icicles hung from the high roof, and soft, white snow


s: covered the hard floors.  On a throne hung with clouds sat


s: the Frost-King; a crown of crystals bound his white locks, and


s: a dark mantle wrought with delicate frost-work was folded over


s: His stern face could not stay little Violet, and on through


s: the long hall she went, heedless of the snow that gathered on


s: her feet, and the bleak wind that blew around her; while the King


s: "O King of blight and sorrow, send me not away till I have


s: These fair flowers, with the prayers of all Fairy Land, I lay


s: before you; O send me not away till they are answered."


s: And with tears falling thick and fast upon their tender leaves,


s: "I cannot grant your prayer, little Fairy; it is my will


s: the flowers should die.  Go back to your Queen, and tell her


s: that I cannot yield my power to please these foolish flowers."


s: Then Violet hung the wreath above the throne, and with weary foot


s: Then came the Frost-Spirits, and beneath their cold wings the


s: flowers died, while the Spirits bore Violet to a low, dark cell,


s: in her ear, imploring her to save them.  Then she wept no longer,


s: Then she went to the ugly brown spiders, and in gentle words


s: better food than helpless insects.  You shall live in peace,


s: and spin your delicate threads into a mantle for the stern King;


s: And while she gayly sung, the little weavers spun their silken


s: When the Frost-Spirits told their King, he greatly wondered and


s: floated out into the cold air, where it hung like bright clouds


s: above the dreary gardens, whence all the Spirits' power could not


s: flowers bloomed; but the Spirits heaped snow upon them, and


s: At length the mantle was finished, and amid the gray threads


s: shone golden ones, making it bright; and she sent it to the King,


s: But he scornfully threw it aside, and bade his Spirits take her


s: to a colder cell, deep in the earth; and there with harsh words


s: velvet-coated moles, praying that they might listen to the sweet


s: "We lead," said they, "a dreary life in the cold earth; the


s: flower-roots are dead, and no soft dews descend for us to drink,


s: no little seed or leaf can we find.  Ah, good Fairy, let us be


s: And Violet said, Yes; so day after day they labored to make


s: From his dark castle the King looked out on the happy flowers,


s: who nodded gayly to him, and in sweet colors strove to tell him


s: of the good little Spirit, who toiled so faithfully below,


s: Soon they came hastening back, and prayed him to come and see


s: how lovely the dark cell had grown.  The rough floor was spread


s: with deep green moss, and over wall and roof grew flowery vines,


s: casting crumbs to the downy little moles who ran fearlessly about


s: With a sad farewell to her little friends she followed him, and


s: "Little Fairy, I offer you two things, and you may choose


s: "Ah!" answered Violet sadly, "do you not know that beneath


s: the flowers' bright leaves there beats a little heart that loves


s: and sorrows like our own?  And can I, heedless of their beauty,


s: "Then listen," said the King, "to the task I give you.  You shall


s: that miracle I will grant your prayer or lose my kingly crown.


s: Then out into the gardens went Violet with a heavy heart; for


s: she had toiled so long, her strength was nearly gone.  But the


s: As time went by, the Frost-King feared the task had been


s: the flowers bowed their heads, and all was dark and cold as when


s: And to the stern King his home seemed more desolate and sad; for


s: he missed the warm light, the happy flowers, and, more than all,


s: the gay voice and bright face of little Violet.  So he wandered


s: through his dreary palace, wondering how he had been content


s: to live before without sunlight and love.


s: and blossom which she had loved, and strove to be like her in


s: welcomed him, and brought fresh dew and rosy fruit to refresh the


s: her fadeless love had made the dark cell bright and beautiful.


s: Flowering vines folded their soft leaves around the trees,


s: bearing two crowns, one of sparkling icicles, the other of pure


s: white lilies, and kneeling before him, said,--


s: "Send forth your Spirits to carry sorrow and desolation over


s: The old King looked at the little Fairy, and saw how lovingly


s: the bright shadows gathered round her, as if to shield her


s: from every harm; the timid birds nestled in her bosom, and the


s: Kind thought came thronging to his mind, and he turned to look at


s: Then, amid a burst of wild, sweet music, the Frost-King placed


s: The old King, surrounded by the happy Fairies, sat in Violet's


s: with the Elves, and waited on their King with loving eagerness.


s: Brighter grew the golden light, gayer sang the birds, and the


s: harmonious voices of grateful flowers, sounding over the earth,


s: carried new joy to all their gentle kindred.


s: DOWN among the grass and fragrant clover lay little Eva by the


s: It was a lily of the valley, whose tall stem formed the mast,


s: who danced to the music of the silver lily-bells above, that rang


s: They looked kindly on the child, and, after whispering long among


s: Eva looked into the brook, and saw a tiny child standing between


s: the Elves.  "Now I can go with you," said she, "but see, I can


s: "Now must we go home," said the Queen, "and you shall go with us,


s: "You can look at the bright colors till the light fades, and then


s: lovingly above her, and sang in the clear moonlight.


s: With the sun rose the Fairies, and, with Eva, hastened away to


s: Then they flew away to the gardens, and soon, high up among the


s: bright-winged birds came fearlessly among them, pecking the same


s: "Now, little Eva," said they, "you will see that Fairies are not


s: idle, wilful Spirits, as mortals believe.  Come, we will show you


s: They led her to a lovely room, through whose walls of deep green


s: leaves the light stole softly in.  Here lay many wounded insects,


s: Eva wondered, but silently followed her guide, little Rose-Leaf,


s: who with tender words passed among the delicate blossoms,


s: Then she went to the insects; first to a little fly who lay in a


s: "Do you suffer much, dear Gauzy-Wing?" asked the Fairy.  "I will


s: Then said the Fairy, while she bathed the broken wing,--


s: "Love-Blossom, you should not murmur.  We may find happiness in


s: Then a faint voice whispered, "Little Rose-Leaf, come quickly, or


s: "Dear Fairy, the fairest flowers have cheered me with their sweet


s: Then the quivering wings were still, and the patient little dove


s: gentleness and love are prized far above gold or beauty, here in


s: "Dear Queen," she sadly said, "I would gladly bring as pleasant


s: tidings as my sister, but, alas! my flowers are proud and wilful,


s: proudly closed their leaves and bid me go."


s: and when next you come, you will be laden with gifts from humble,


s: Then into a cheerful place they went, where were many groups of


s: flowers, among whose leaves sat the child Elves, and learned from


s: studied how to watch the tender buds, when to spread them to the


s: sunlight, and when to shelter them from rain; how to guard the


s: Eva nodded to the gay little ones, as they peeped from among the


s: among the petals of a flower that bent beside them, and asked


s: questions that none but Fairies would care to know.


s: "Rosebud, if a Cowslip opens three leaves in one day and four the


s: "Harebell, if a silkworm spin one yard of Fairy cloth in an hour,


s: Then Eva saw how, on large, white leaves, the Fairies learned to


s: "You have stayed long enough," said the Elves at length, "we have


s: So Eva said farewell to the child Elves, and hastened with little


s: Then the child wondered no longer, but deeper grew her love


s: Long they stayed, and many a lesson little Eva learned:  but when


s: Then they went into a dark and lonely room, and here they found


s: "Ah," sighed the little one, "it was my only friend, and I


s: cherished it with all my lone heart's love; 't was all that made


s: Tenderly the child fastened the drooping stem, and placed it


s: where the one faint ray of sunlight stole into the dreary room.


s: "Do you see," said the Elves, "through this simple flower will we


s: And with busy love toiled the Elves amid the withered leaves,


s: lonely home; sweet, gentle thoughts filled her heart as she bent


s: to whisper gentle words, to cheer and comfort.


s: Thus their little hands led him back to peace and happiness,


s: waking in their bosoms all the holy feelings and sweet affections


s: Then through the summer sky, above the blossoming earth, they


s: Long they feasted, gayly they sang, and Eva, dancing merrily


s: among them, longed to be an Elf that she might dwell forever


s: "Dear child, tomorrow we must bear you home, for, much as we long


s: "Where have you brought me, and what mean these lovely sounds?"


s: "Look here, and you shall see," said Rose-Leaf, as she bent aside


s: "Look again, and I will tell you," answered the Fairy.


s: Eva looked, and saw from every flower a tiny form come forth to


s: worthless thing if all be not fair and sweet within.  Do you see


s: yonder lovely spirit singing with my sister Moonlight?  a clover


s: "I will never break another flower," cried Eva; "but let me go


s: On a rosy morning cloud, surrounded by the loving Elves, went Eva


s: will make you happiest, and it shall be yours."


s: to make me happy, and taught me so many good and gentle lessons,


s: "Now, Star-Twinkle, what have you to teach?" asked the Queen.


s: THERE grew a fragrant rose-tree where the brook flows,


s: With two little tender buds, and one full rose;


s: When the sun went down to his bed in the west,


s: The little buds leaned on the rose-mother's breast,


s: While the bright eyed stars their long watch kept,


s: And the flowers of the valley in their green cradles slept;


s: Then silently in odors they communed with each other,


s: The two little buds on the bosom of their mother.


s: "O sister," said the little one, as she gazed at the sky,


s: "I wish that the Dew Elves, as they wander lightly by,


s: Would bring me a star; for they never grow dim,


s: And the Father does not need them to burn round him.


s: The shining drops of dew the Elves bring each day


s: And place in my bosom, so soon pass away;


s: But a star would glitter brightly through the long summer hours,


s: And I should be fairer than all my sister flowers.


s: That were better far than the dew-drops that fall


s: On the high and the low, and come alike to all.


s: I would be fair and stately, with a bright star to shine


s: And give a queenly air to this crimson robe of mine."


s: And proudly she cried, "These fire-flies shall be


s: Just then a tiny dew-drop that hung o'er the dell


s: On the breast of the bud like a soft star fell;


s: But impatiently she flung it away from her leaf,


s: And it fell on her mother like a tear of grief,


s: While she folded to her breast, with wilful pride,


s: A glittering fire-fly that hung by her side.


s: "Heed," said the mother rose, "daughter mine,


s: Why shouldst thou seek for beauty not thine?


s: The Father hath made thee what thou now art;


s: And what he most loveth is a sweet, pure heart.


s: Then why dost thou take with such discontent


s: The loving gift which he to thee hath sent?


s: For the cool fresh dew will render thee far


s: More lovely and sweet than the brightest star;


s: They were made for Heaven, and can never come to shine


s: Like the fire-fly thou hast in that foolish breast of thine.


s: O my foolish little bud, do listen to thy mother;


s: Care only for true beauty, and seek for no other.


s: There will be grief and trouble in that wilful little heart;


s: Unfold thy leaves, my daughter, and let the fly depart."


s: But the proud little bud would have her own will,


s: And folded the fire-fly more closely still;


s: Till the struggling insect tore open the vest


s: Of purple and green, that covered her breast.


s: When the sun came up, she saw with grief


s: The blooming of her sister bud leaf by leaf.


s: While she, once as fair and bright as the rest,


s: Hung her weary head down on her wounded breast.


s: Bright grew the sunshine, and the soft summer air


s: Was filled with the music of flowers singing there;


s: But faint grew the little bud with thirst and pain,


s: And longed for the cool dew; but now 't was in vain.


s: Then bitterly she wept for her folly and pride,


s: As drooping she stood by her fair sister's side.


s: Then the rose mother leaned the weary little head


s: On her bosom to rest, and tenderly she said:


s: "Thou hast learned, my little bud, that, whatever may betide,


s: Thou canst win thyself no joy by passion or by pride.


s: The loving Father sends the sunshine and the shower,


s: That thou mayst become a perfect little flower;--


s: The sweet dews to feed thee, the soft wind to cheer,


s: And the earth as a pleasant home, while thou art dwelling here.


s: Then shouldst thou not be grateful for all this kindly care,


s: And strive to keep thyself most innocent and fair?


s: Then seek, my little blossom, to win humility;


s: Be fair without, be pure within, and thou wilt happy be.


s: So when the quiet Autumn of thy fragrant life shall come,


s: Thou mayst pass away, to bloom in the Flower Spirits' home."


s: Then from the mother's breast, where it still lay hid,


s: Into the fading bud the dew-drop gently slid;


s: Stronger grew the little form, and happy tears fell,


s: As the dew did its silent work, and the bud grew well,


s: While the gentle rose leaned, with motherly pride,


s: O'er the fair little ones that bloomed at her side.


s: Night came again, and the fire-flies flew;


s: But the bud let them pass, and drank of the dew;


s: While the soft stars shone, from the still summer heaven,


s: On the happy little flower that had learned the lesson given.


s: "The little bud's lesson shall teach us how sad a thing is pride,


s: ONCE upon a time, two little Fairies went out into the world, to


s: came always from the wing of the gayest butterfly.


s: But he was not loved in Fairy-Land, for, like the flower whose


s: name and colors he wore, though fair to look upon, many were the


s: Such was Thistledown; but far different was his little friend,


s: On and on, over hill and valley, they went, chasing the gay


s: "Now, dear Thistle, do not harm these friendly blossoms," said


s: Lily-Bell; "see how kindly they spread their leaves, and offer us


s: He would have stayed to harm them, but the rain fell fast, and he


s: "Others can forgive and love, beside Lily-Bell and Violet," said


s: Soon the sunlight came again, and with it Lily-Bell seeking for


s: Thistledown; but he was ashamed, and stole away.


s: strove to comfort those whom he had grieved; with gentle care she


s: So Thistle gladly went with him, and soon they came to a pleasant


s: "You cannot see our Queen to-night," said the little bee, "but


s: I will show you to a bed where you can rest."


s: And he led the tired Fairy to a little cell, where on a bed of


s: flower-leaves he folded his wings and fell asleep.


s: On the rippling waves, that brightly flow


s: And lightly they wave on their slender stems


s: shoulder, and his little cap held respectfully in his hand, he


s: followed Nimble-Wing to the great hall, where the Queen was being


s: things.  Order, patience, industry, who can teach so well as they


s: "Now come with us," they said.  So forth into the green fields


s: before he came to live with them, that many grew unhappy and


s: discontented, and they who had before wished no greater joy than


s: subjects, grief and care to me.  I cannot let my peaceful kingdom


s: worthy of it; so farewell."  And the doors of the once happy home


s: "Let us feast and make merry in the pleasant summer-time," said


s: So while the industrious bees were out among the flowers, he led


s: So here dwelt Thistle, and many kind friends gathered round him,


s: friends who had so kindly welcomed him looked upon him as an evil


s: So poor Thistle lay sorrowfully, wondering what would come of it,


s: "You have done many cruel things, and caused much sorrow to happy


s: solitude and darkness, till you have learned to find happiness in


s: Then the Brownies bore him to a high, dark rock, and, entering a


s: little door, led him to a small cell, dimly lighted by a crevice


s: through which came a single gleam of sunlight; and there, through


s: A little vine that grew outside his prison rock came creeping up,


s: with his small share of water, that the little vine might live,


s: even if it darkened more and more his dim cell.


s: The watchful Brownies saw this kind deed, and brought him fresh


s: Thus did poor Thistle strive to be more gentle and unselfish, and


s: She healed the drooping flowers, cheered the Queen Bee's grief,


s: Then Lily-Bell went seeking through the forest, listening for the


s: music, and soon a distant voice mournfully singing,--


s: "Thistle, dear Thistle, where are you?" joyfully cried Lily-Bell,


s: At last he besought the silent Brownie earnestly to tell him


s: "Lily-Bell is safe," replied the Brownie; "come, you shall learn


s: The home of the Earth Spirits was the first to find, and no one


s: On he went, thinking of Lily-Bell, and for her sake bearing all;


s: But few believed him; for they remembered his false promises and


s: Long he wandered, and carefully he sought; but could not find the


s: Then he went among the flowers, but they closed their leaves, and


s: This grieved poor Thistle, and he longed to tell them how changed


s: And when the flowers saw this, and found the once cruel Elf now


s: watering and tending little buds, feeding hungry insects, and


s: But no rude hand tore her little ones away, no unkind words were


s: kindness, and I would gladly repay all for the harm I have done;


s: Then the little rose looked up, and while the dew-drops shone


s: like happy tears upon her leaves, she said,--


s: "I WILL love and trust you, Thistle, for you are indeed much


s: Then the little buds raised their rosy faces, danced again upon


s: trusted him when most forlorn and friendless.


s: moonlight, so bitterly, I longed to speak a kindly word to him.


s: So they called a little bright-eyed mole, and said, "Downy-Back,


s: we have given you a pleasant home among our roots, and you are


s: a grateful little friend; so will you guide dear Thistle to the


s: Downy-Back said, "Yes," and Thistle, thanking the kindly flowers,


s: Then they went quickly up the winding path, and Thistle, guided


s: He soon reached a lovely spot, whose golden halls were bright


s: Long Thistle stood watching the brilliant forms that flashed and


s: sparkled round him; but he missed the flowers and the sunlight,


s: and rejoiced that he was not an Earth Spirit.


s: And Thistle said, "No task will be too hard for me to do for dear


s: Then they led him to a strange, dark place, lit up with torches;


s: "I will tell," replied little Sparkle, "for I once worked here


s: myself.  Some of them watch above the flower-roots, and keep them


s: Then Thistle went among the Spirits, and joined in their tasks;


s: "You have done well," said he, "we hear good tidings of you from


s: bird and flower, and you are truly seeking to repair the evil


s: you have done.  Take now one look at your little friend, and then


s: Spirits; and if I deserve it, they will gladly aid me on my way."


s: So he flew down into the field below, and hastened busily from


s: flower to flower, till he had filled a tiny blue-bell with sweet,


s: So each day Thistle filled a flower-cup, and laid it at the door;


s: while all around the hive had grown fairer since the Fairy came.