s: Each thread and filament of water-courses,


s: I see you come and go; sometimes in haste


s: To reach your journey's end, which being done


s: Soft through the silent air descend the feathery snow-flakes;


s: White are the distant hills, white are the neighboring fields;


s: Only the marshes are brown, and the river rolling among them


s: Weareth the leaden hue seen in the eyes of the blind.


s: A lovely morning, without the glare of the sun, the sea in great


s: So from the bosom of darkness our days come roaring and gleaming,


s: But on the shores of Time each leaves some trace of its passage,


s: Though the succeeding wave washes it out from the sand.


s: The ANGEL bearing the PROPHET HABAKKUK through the air.


s: Of thy head, like a cloud that is drifted


s: As if the stars had fallen from their places


s: The streets, the gardens, and the vacant spaces


s: Full of the knowledge of the Lord shall be


s: He that stretcheth the heavens as a curtain


s: Shall blow upon you, and ye shall wither,


s: And the whirlwind shall take you away as stubble!


s: Not in the lightning's flash, nor in the thunder,


s: Not in the tempest, nor the cloudy storm,


s: But part invisible these boughs asunder,


s: And move and murmur as the wind upheaves


s: But in soft tones of sweetness and persuasion,


s: A sound as of the fall of mountain streams,


s: He sitteth there in silence, worn and wasted


s: With famine, and uplifts his hollow eyes


s: For forty days and nights he hath not tasted


s: Of food or drink, his parted lips are pale,


s: Wherefore dost thou in penitential fasting


s: Waste and consume the beauty of thy youth.


s: Command these stones beneath thy feet to be


s: 'T is written!  Man shall not live by bread alone,


s: But by each word that from God's mouth proceedeth!


s: Too weak, alas! too weak is the temptation


s: For one whose soul to nobler things aspires


s: With its resplendent domes, and manifold


s: Lo, I have brought thee!  Let thy glory here


s: Descending with the bright triumphant host


s: The shining clouds, and all thy splendors show


s: Cast thyself down, it is the hour appointed;


s: And God hath given his angels charge and care


s: Upon their hands his only Son, the Anointed,


s: Lest he should dash his foot against a stone


s: 'T is written: Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God!


s: But one temptation still remains untried,


s: The thirst of power, the fever of ambition!


s: Above the yawning chasms and deep abysses,


s: Across the headlong torrents, I have brought


s: And from the highest of these precipices,


s: The Kingdoms of the world thine eyes behold.


s: From far-off Lebanon, with cedars crested,


s: And the vast desert, silent, sand-invested,


s: These kingdoms all are mine, and thine shall be,


s: Get thee behind me, Satan! thou shalt worship


s: The Lord thy God; Him only shalt thou serve!


s: The sun goes down; the evening shadows lengthen,


s: Thine Angels Miniatrant, we come to strengthen


s: And comfort thee, and crown thee with the palm,


s: The time of the singing of birds is come,


s: And the voice of the turtle is heard in our land.


s: Sweetly the minstrels sing the Song of Songs!


s: My heart runs forward with it, and I say:


s: For love is strong as life, and strong as death,


s: Ah yes, I sleep, and yet my heart awaketh.


s: It is the voice of my beloved who knocks.


s: Thou art all fair, my love, there's no spot in thee!


s: Who is that youth with the dark azure eyes,


s: Who preacheth to the poor in field and village


s: Oft known to weep, but never known to laugh.


s: And tell me, she with eyes of olive tint,


s: And skin as fair as wheat, and pale brown hair,


s: And the tall figure standing close behind them,


s: Clad all in white, with lace and beard like ashes,


s: Come from his cave on Carmel to foretell


s: The Essenian, he who dwells among the palms


s: Doth he come here to sadden with his presence


s: Haters of women, and that taste not wine?


s: The queens and the concubines praised her;


s: As if he asked, why is that old man here


s: Among the revellers?  And thou, the Anointed!


s: Why art thou here?  I see as in a vision


s: A figure clothed in purple, crowned with thorns;


s: And hear a cry of agony, that shall echo


s: Give us more wine.  These goblets are all empty.


s: To do with thee?  Mine hour is not yet come.


s: Nurtured in abstinence, taste not the wine!


s: It is the poison of dragons from the vineyards


s: Of Sodom, and the taste of death is in it!


s: All men set forth good wine at the beginning,


s: And when men have well drunk, that which is worse;


s: But thou hast kept the good wine until now.


s: The things that have been and shall be no more,


s: The things that are, and that hereafter shall he,


s: The things that might have been, and yet were not,


s: The fading twilight of great joys departed,


s: The daybreak of great truths as yet unrisen,


s: Of something, which, when come, is not the same,


s: But only like its forecast in men's dreams,


s: The longing, the delay, and the delight,


s: Sweeter for the delay; youth, hope, love, death,


s: All these make up the sum of human life;


s: Seeking for something lost it cannot find.


s: Hath been fore-written in the thought divine


s: From the beginning.  None can hide from it,


s: But it will find him out; nor run from it,


s: But it o'ertaketh him!  The Lord hath said it.


s: THE BRIDEGROOM to the BRIDE, on the balcony.


s: The land was all illumined with her beauty;


s: But thou dost make the very night itself


s: Brighter than day!  Behold, in glad procession,


s: Crowding the threshold of the sky above us,


s: The stars come forth to meet thee with their lamps;


s: And the soft winds, the ambassadors of flowers,


s: From neighboring gardens and from fields unseen,


s: Come laden with odors unto thee, my Queen!


s: Onward through leagues of sun-illumined corn,


s: As if through parted seas, the pathway runs,


s: And crowned with sunshine as the Prince of Peace


s: Out of the land of bondage!  We have found


s: Him of whom Moses and the Prophets wrote,


s: The summer sun grows hot: I am anhungered.


s: Pipes in the corn, and bids us to his Feast


s: Of Wheat Sheaves!  How the bearded, ripening ears


s: As if the unseen hand of some High-Priest


s: Waved them before Mount Tabor as an altar!


s: It were no harm, if we should pluck and eat.


s: With the Good Master!  Since the miracle


s: He wrought at Cana, at the marriage feast,


s: His fame hath gone abroad through all the land,


s: And when we come to Nazareth, thou shalt see


s: How his own people will receive their Prophet,


s: Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast


s: Thou art the Son of God, thou art the King


s: Under the fig-tree, before Philip called thee,


s: Believest thou?  Thou shalt see greater things.


s: Hereafter thou shalt see the heavens unclosed,


s: The angels of God ascending and descending


s: And all they that were with him?  How he entered


s: Into the house of God, and ate the shew-bread,


s: Which was not lawful, saving for the priests?


s: Have ye not read, how on the Sabbath-days


s: The priests profane the Sabbath in the Temple,


s: And yet are blameless?  But I say to you,


s: One in this place is greater than the Temple!


s: And had ye known the meaning of the words,


s: The guiltless ye would not condemn.  The Sabbath


s: Was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath.


s: Wandering about the fields, and uttering


s: As prophecies the words they comprehend not!


s: Alone excites their wonder.  There is none


s: He hath anointed me to preach good tidings


s: Unto the poor; to heal the broken-hearted;


s: To comfort those that mourn, and to throw open


s: The prison doors of captives, and proclaim


s: Who is this youth?  He hath taken the Teacher's seat!


s: Have I been Priest here in the Synagogue,


s: This scripture is fulfilled.  One is appointed


s: And hath been sent to them that mourn in Zion,


s: To give them beauty for ashes, and the oil


s: Of joy for mourning!  They shall build again


s: The old waste-places; and again raise up


s: The cities that are wasted!  As a bridegroom


s: Decketh himself with ornaments; as a bride


s: Hath clothed me with the robe of righteousness!


s: He speaks the Prophet's words; but with an air


s: As if himself had been foreshadowed in them!


s: For Zion's sake I will not hold my peace,


s: And for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest


s: Until its righteousness be as a brightness,


s: And its salvation as a lamp that burneth!


s: Thou shalt be called no longer the Forsaken,


s: The Lord hath sworn, by his right hand hath sworn,


s: And by his arm of strength: I will no more


s: The sons of strangers shall not drink thy wine.


s: Go through, go through the gates!  Prepare a way


s: Unto the people!  Gather out the stones!


s: And thou, Jerusalem, shalt be called Sought out,


s: The carpenter Joseph's son?  Is not his mother


s: Called Mary? and his brethren and his sisters


s: Are they not with us?  Doth he make himself


s: In his own house no Prophet is accepted.


s: When for three years and more the heavens were shut,


s: And a great famine was throughout the land;


s: The Prophet, and yet none of them was cleansed,


s: And speakest to the Elders and the Priests,


s: Had fallen upon thee!  Are thou not ashamed?


s: We want no Prophets here!  Let him be driven


s: The world is changed.  We Elders are as nothing!


s: We are but yesterdays, that have no part


s: Or portion in to-day!  Dry leaves that rustle,


s: That make a little sound, and then are dust!


s: Whom we have seen at work here in the town


s: Day after day; a stripling without learning,


s: Shall he pretend to unfold the Word of God


s: Never was such a marvellous draught of fishes


s: Are full of them!  Yet we had toiled all night


s: And taken nothing, when the Master said:


s: Launch out into the deep, and cast your nets;


s: And doing this, we caught such multitudes,


s: Our nets like spiders' webs were snapped asunder,


s: And with the draught we filled two ships so full


s: That they began to sink.  Then I knelt down


s: Amazed, and said: O Lord, depart from me,


s: Simon, fear not; henceforth thou shalt catch men!


s: He hath been with the Master.  Tell us, Philip,


s: As we drew near to Nain, out of the gate


s: Bewailed her loss, and the much people with her;


s: And when the Master saw her he was filled


s: And came and touched the bier, and they that bare it


s: Stood still; and then he said: Young man, arise!


s: And he that had been dead sat up, and soon


s: The Lord, and said, rejoicing: A great Prophet


s: Ay, greater than a Prophet: greater even


s: As natural brute beasts, they growl at things


s: They do not understand; and they shall perish,


s: Out of their Synagogue, out of their city,


s: And would have cast him down a precipice,


s: But, passing through the midst of them, he vanished


s: Clouds carried with a tempest, unto whom


s: The mist of darkness is reserved forever.


s: Behold, he cometh.  There is one man with him


s: Girt with a leathern apron.  No one knoweth


s: And I will give you rest!  Come unto me,


s: And take my yoke upon you and learn of me,


s: And ye shall all find rest unto your souls!


s: Oh, there is something in that voice that reaches


s: I feel that it might say unto the blind:


s: Receive your sight! and straightway they would see!


s: Master, I will leave all and follow thee.


s: He hath escaped, hath plucked his chains asunder,


s: And broken his fetters; always night and day


s: Is in the mountains here, and in the tombs,


s: Crying aloud, and cutting himself with stones,


s: Exceeding fierce, so that no man can tame him!


s: Listen!  It is his voice!  Go warn the people


s: Thou angel of the bottomless pit, have pity!


s: On whom be peace! two hundred leagues away


s: Into the country, and to make him scullion


s: In the kitchen of the King of Maschkemen!


s: Why dost thou hurl me here among these rocks,


s: THE DEMONIAC, appearing from a tomb among the rocks.


s: Singeth to me, and bids me to the banquet,


s: Behemoth the great ox, who daily cropped


s: A thousand hills for food, and at a draught


s: Drank up the river Jordan, and have slain


s: The huge Leviathan, and stretched his skin


s: And made them shine from one end of the world


s: Whose outspread wings eclipse the sun, and make


s: Midnight at noon o'er all the continents!


s: That fell out of her nest, and broke to pieces


s: And swept away three hundred cedar-trees,


s: And threescore villages!--Rabbi Eliezer,


s: How thou didst sin there in that seaport town


s: When thou hadst carried safe thy chest of silver


s: I too have sinned beyond the reach of pardon.


s: Ye hills and mountains, pray for mercy on me!


s: Ye stars and planets, pray for mercy on me!


s: Ye sun and moon, oh pray for mercy on me!


s: Who hath an unclean spirit; so that none


s: Can pass this way.  He lives among the tombs


s: Up there upon the cliffs, and hurls down stones


s: With thee, thou Son of God?  Do not torment us.


s: Cain, the first murderer; and the King Belshazzar,


s: And Admatha, the death-cloud, prince of Persia


s: There is a herd of swine here in the pastures,


s: How motionless he stands!  He cries no more;


s: He seems bewildered and in silence stares


s: As one who, walking in his sleep, awakes


s: And knows not where he is, and looks about him,


s: What have they done to me, that I am naked?


s: And tell them how great things the Lord hath done


s: For thee, and how He had compassion on thee!


s: The herds! the herd!  O most unlucky day!


s: When suddenly they started, and grew savage


s: As the wild boars of Tabor, and together


s: Therefore we prize our herds of swine, and count them


s: Not as unclean, but as things consecrate


s: To the immortal gods.  O great magician,


s: Themselves in gardens, eating flesh of swine.


s: Shall be consumed together, saith the Lord!


s: O Master!  I entreat thee!  I implore thee!


s: My daughter lieth at the point of death;


s: I pray thee come and lay thy hands upon her,


s: Thou seest the multitude that throng and press thee,


s: And sayest thou: Who touched me?  'T was not I.


s: Some one hath touched my garments; I perceive


s: If I so much as touch his garment's hem,


s: Thy faith hath made thee whole.  Depart in peace.


s: Why troublest thou the Master?  Hearest thou not


s: The flute players, and the voices of the women


s: Singing their lamentation?  She is dead!


s: We have girded ourselves with sackcloth!


s: Give place.  Why make ye this ado, and weep?


s: To take away front me this tender blossom!


s: To take away my dove, my lamb, my darling!


s: He hath led me and brought into darkness,


s: That our prayer should not pass through and reach him!


s: He stands beside her bed!  He takes her hand!


s: See, she obeys his voice!  She stirs!  She lives!


s: Her mother holds her folded in her arms!


s: I sit here in this lonely tower, and look


s: That swoon with heat, and see as in a vision


s: All my past life unroll itself before me.


s: The princes and the merchants come to me,


s: And pass, and disappear, and are no more;


s: Their perfumes, and their gold, and their disgust.


s: I loathe them, and the very memory of them


s: Cloyed with the luscious figs of Dalmanutha!


s: What if hereafter, in the long hereafter


s: Grown hideous and decrepit in their sins,


s: And hear them say: Thou that hast brought us here,


s: These silks, and these embroideries, and they seem


s: Only as cerements wrapped about my limbs!


s: I look upon these rings thick set with pearls,


s: And they are burning coals upon my flesh!


s: Away, thou viper! and away, ye garlands,


s: Whose odors bring the swift remembrance back


s: Of the unhallowed revels in these chambers!


s: Sung long ago by minstrels in the street,--


s: But yesterday, as from this tower I gazed,


s: Upon the lake and the white ships, and wondered


s: Whither and whence they steered, and who was in them,


s: A fisher's boat drew near the landing-place


s: Came up from it, and passed beneath the tower,


s: Close under me.  In front of them, as leader,


s: Walked one of royal aspect, clothed in white,


s: Who lifted up his eyes, and looked at me,


s: And all at once the air seemed filled and living


s: With a mysterious power, that streamed from him,


s: Of light and love.  As one entranced I stood,


s: But from that very hour the seven demons


s: Which men call beautiful, departed from me!


s: This morning, when the first gleam of the dawn


s: With wind-tossed garments walking on the lake.


s: The face I could not see, but I distinguished


s: 'T was he that healed me.  And the gusty wind


s: Brought to mine ears a voice, which seemed to say:


s: Be of good cheer!  'T is I!  Be not afraid!


s: And from the darkness, scarcely heard, the answer:


s: Upon the water!  And the voice said: Come!


s: And then I heard a cry of fear: Lord, save me!


s: As of a drowning man.  And then the voice:


s: Why didst thou doubt, O thou of little faith!


s: At this all vanished, and the wind was hushed,


s: And the great sun came up above the hills,


s: And the swift-flying vapors hid themselves


s: In caverns among the rocks!  Oh, I must find him


s: And follow him, and be with him forever!


s: The souls of flowers lie pent, the precious balm


s: And spikenard of Arabian farms, the spirits


s: Nursed by the sun and dew, not all unworthy


s: To bathe his consecrated feet, whose step


s: Makes every threshold holy that he crosses;


s: Until we find him, and pour out our souls


s: Before his feet, till all that's left of us


s: Shall be the broken caskets that once held us!


s: Are ye deceived?  Have any of the Rulers


s: This man to be the very Christ?  Howbeit


s: We know whence this man is, but when the Christ


s: Of this generation? and what are they like?


s: They are like children sitting in the markets,


s: We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced


s: We have mourned unto you, and ye have not wept!


s: This say I unto you, for John the Baptist


s: Came neither eating bread nor drinking wine


s: Behold a gluttonous man, and a wine-bibber;


s: Behold a friend of publicans and sinners!


s: See, how she kneels there weeping, and her tears


s: Fall on his feet; and her long, golden hair


s: Waves to and fro and wipes them dry again.


s: With precious ointment, filling all the house


s: Were he indeed a Prophet, would have known


s: Who and what manner of woman this may be


s: That toucheth him! would know she is a sinner!


s: Had once two debtors; and the one of them


s: Owed him five hundred pence; the other, fifty.


s: They having naught to pay withal, he frankly


s: Forgave them both.  Now tell me which of them


s: Seest thou this woman?  When thine house I entered,


s: But she hath washed them with her tears, and wiped them


s: With her own hair.  Thou gavest me no kiss;


s: This woman hath not ceased, since I came in,


s: To kiss my feet.  My head with oil didst thou


s: Anoint not; but this woman hath anointed


s: My feet with ointment.  Hence I say to thee,


s: Her sins, which have been many, are forgiven,


s: That pardoneth also sins without atonement?


s: Woman, thy faith hath saved thee!  Go in peace!


s: Welcome, O wilderness, and welcome, night


s: That drift with golden sands the barren heavens,


s: Welcome once more!  The Angels of the Wind


s: The voices of these solitudes; the sound


s: Of bitterns in the reeds of water-pools.


s: And lo! above me, like the Prophet's arrow


s: Shot from the eastern window, high in air


s: The clamorous cranes go singing through the night.


s: Would I had wings that I might follow you!


s: I look forth from these mountains, and behold


s: That hangs o'er all men's lives!  I see beneath me


s: The desert stretching to the Dead Sea shore,


s: And westward, faint and far away, the glimmer


s: Like a great cross it seems, on which suspended,


s: A human figure!  Hide, O merciful heaven,


s: And thou, Machaerus, lifting high and black


s: Thy dreadful walls against the rising moon,


s: How grim thou showest in the uncertain light,


s: Feasts with Herodias, while the Baptist John


s: Fasts, and consumes his unavailing life!


s: And in thy court-yard grows the untithed rue,


s: Coeval with the world.  Would that its leaves


s: Medicinal could purge thee of the demons


s: That now possess thee, and the cunning fox


s: That burrows in thy walls, contriving mischief!


s: Angels of God!  Sandalphon, thou that weavest


s: The prayers of men into immortal garlands,


s: Their songs, and bear them to the gates of heaven,


s: The prayers that fill this prison, and the songs


s: That echo from the ceiling of this palace,


s: And lay them side by side before God's feet!


s: Thou hast sent for me, O King, and I am here.


s: These torn and faded garments?  On thy road


s: Have demons crowded thee, and rubbed against thee,


s: And given thee weary knees?  A cup of wine!


s: One day when I, a schoolboy in the streets


s: To school, and thou didst say to me: Hereafter


s: Thinking thou didst not know me, I replied:


s: I am of humble birth; whereat thou, smiling,


s: Didst smite me with thy hand, and saidst again:


s: Thou shalt be king; and let the friendly blows


s: That Manahem hath given thee on this day


s: Remind thee of the fickleness of fortune.


s: It shall be well with thee if thou love justice


s: And then, foreseeing all thy life, I added:


s: But these thou wilt forget; and at the end


s: When will that come?  For this I sent to thee.


s: How long shall I still reign?  Thou dost not answer!


s: Nay, thirty years.  I cannot name the end.


s: Was never mine.  We hold a banquet here.


s: See, yonder are Herodias and her daughter.


s: 'T is said that devils sometimes take the shape


s: Of ministering angels, clothed with air.


s: And lead man to destruction.  Such are these.


s: Said that it was not lawful I should marry


s: My brother Philip's wife, and John the Baptist


s: For tearing the golden eagle from its station


s: Above the Temple Gate,--a slighter crime


s: Than John is guilty of.  These things are warnings


s: To intermeddlers not to play with eagles,


s: My words a meaning foreign to my thought.


s: In her best days, was not more beautiful.


s: Oh, what was Miriam dancing with her timbrel,


s: When men bear out the dead! The air is hot


s: And stifles me!  Oh for a breath of air!


s: Whate'er thou wilt; and even unto the half


s: Of John the Baptist on this silver charger!


s: Not that, dear child!  I dare not; for the people


s: For mine oath's sake, then.  Send unto the prison;


s: Let him die quickly.  Oh, accursed oath!


s: Give me thy hand.  I love the Essenians.


s: Awaiting the pale face, the silent witness.


s: The lamps flare; and the curtains of the doorways


s: Wave to and fro as if a ghost were passing!


s: Strengthen my heart, red wine of Ascalon!


s: Through whose streaming hair, and the white


s: The streets are silent.  The dark houses seem


s: Like sepulchres, in which the sleepers lie


s: Wrapped in their shrouds, and for the moment dead.


s: The lamps are all extinguished; only one


s: Burns steadily, and from the door its light


s: Lies like a shining gate across the street.


s: He waits for me.  Ah, should this be at last


s: The long-expected Christ!  I see him there


s: Sitting alone, deep-buried in his thought,


s: As if the weight of all the world were resting


s: Upon him, and thus bowed him down.  O Rabbi,


s: We know thou art a Teacher come from God,


s: Thou dost perform, except the Lord be with him.


s: Thou art a Prophet, sent here to proclaim


s: The coming of that kingdom.  Tell me of it.


s: He cannot enter into the Kingdom of God.


s: For that which of the flesh is born, is flesh;


s: And that which of the spirit is born, is spirit.


s: Our souls are breathings of the Holy Ghost.


s: No more than this we know, or need to know.


s: Of birth and death we cannot comprehend.


s: The wind bloweth where it listeth, and we hear


s: The sound thereof, but know not whence it cometh,


s: He seems to speak of some vague realm of shadows,


s: Nor can this be the Christ, the Son of David,


s: Of Israel, and knowest not these things?


s: That we have seen, and ye will not receive


s: Our witness.  If I tell you earthly things,


s: And ye believe not, how shall ye believe,


s: If I should tell you of things heavenly?


s: But he alone that first came down from heaven,


s: This is a dreamer of dreams; a visionary,


s: Whose brain is overtasked, until he deems


s: The unseen world to be a thing substantial,


s: And yet his presence fascinates and fills me


s: Shall perish not, but have eternal life.


s: He that believes in Him is not condemned;


s: He that believes not, is condemned already.


s: This is the condemnation; that the light


s: Is come into the world, and men loved darkness


s: Rather than light, because their deeds are evil!


s: Because I come by night to question him!


s: Hateth the light, nor cometh to the light


s: But he that doeth truth comes to the light,


s: Be not impatient, Chilion; it is pleasant


s: Under the palms, and hear the hum of bees,


s: And drowsy bells of caravans on their way


s: The City of Palms, and yet the walls thou seest


s: Are not the old walls, not the walls where Rahab


s: Hid the two spies, and let them down by cords


s: Out of the window, when the gates were shut,


s: And it was dark.  Those walls were overthrown


s: When Joshua's army shouted, and the priests


s: Beyond the river, the great prophet Elijah


s: That is the plain of Moab; and beyond it


s: Died, whom the Lord knew face to face? and whom


s: Would thou couldst see these places, as I see them.


s: Since thou wast born.  I never saw thy face,


s: Perhaps shall see it; for there is a Prophet


s: Who heals the blind, if I could only find him.


s: I hear the sound of many feet approaching,


s: Is coming through the gateway, and a crowd


s: O neighbors, tell me who it is that passes?


s: Be of good comfort; rise, He calleth thee!


s: CHRISTUS passes on, The crowd gathers round BARTIMEUS.


s: Like a remembered dream, familiar things


s: Above me, see the trees, the city walls,


s: And the old gateway, through whose echoing arch


s: I groped so many years; and you, my neighbors;


s: But know you by your friendly voices only.


s: How beautiful the world is! and how wide!


s: Oh let me gaze upon thy face, dear child!


s: For I have only seen thee with my hands!


s: How beautiful thou art!  I should have known thee;


s: Thou hast her eyes whom we shall see hereafter!


s: To the affections and the thoughts of earth,


s: Thee, and the adoration that I owe thee,


s: When by thy power alone these darkened eyes


s: Have been unsealed again to see thy light!


s: The sun is hot; and the dry east-wind blowing


s: Fills all the air with dust.  The birds are silent;


s: No longer twitter; only the grasshoppers


s: Sing their incessant song of sun and summer.


s: They seemed to me in speaking, when they asked


s: The short way to the market-place.  Perhaps


s: They are fishermen from the lake; or travellers,


s: Looking to find the inn.  And here is some one


s: Sitting beside the well; another stranger;


s: And buried them in this land, and it is holy.


s: The silly folk of Sychar.  Sir, how is it


s: The gift of God, and who it is that sayeth


s: Give me to drink, thou wouldst have asked of Him;


s: He would have given thee the living water.


s: Sir, thou hast naught to draw with, and the well


s: Is deep!  Whence hast thou living water?


s: Say, art thou greater than our father Jacob,


s: Which gave this well to us, and drank thereof


s: Himself, and all his children and his cattle?


s: Shall thirst again; but whosoever drinketh


s: The water I shall give him shall not thirst


s: That I may thirst not, nor come here to draw.


s: Go call thy husband, woman, and come hither.


s: I have no husband.  Thou hast had five husbands;


s: And he whom now thou hast is not thy husband.


s: Surely thou art a Prophet, for thou readest


s: The hidden things of life!  Our fathers worshipped


s: The only place in which men ought to worship


s: The hour is coming, when ye neither shall


s: Worship the Father; for the hour is coming,


s: And is now come, when the true worshippers


s: Shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth!


s: God is a spirit; and they that worship Him


s: Must worship Him in spirit and in truth.


s: Which is called Christ; and he will tell us all things.


s: The Master sitting by the well, and talking


s: Of Sychar, the silly people, always boasting


s: Their Everlasting Mountain, which they think


s: Higher and holier than our Mount Moriah!


s: Why, once upon the Feast of the New Moon,


s: Had all its watch-fires kindled on the hills


s: To warn the distant villages, these people


s: See, she has left the Master; and is running


s: Who hath told me all things that I ever did!


s: Is food, that we have brought thee from the city.


s: And brought Him aught to eat, while we were gone?


s: Of Him that sent me, and to finish his work.


s: Do ye not say, Lo! there are yet four months


s: Lift up your eyes, and look upon the fields,


s: For they are white already unto harvest!


s: That thou art John the Baptist; some, Elias;


s: Simon Barjona!  Flesh and blood hath not


s: Revealed it unto thee, but even my Father,


s: Which is in Heaven.  And I say unto thee


s: I build my Church, and all the gates of Hell


s: Shall not prevail against it.  But take heed


s: And must be crucified, and the third day


s: Thou savorest not the things that be of God,


s: And daily take his cross, and follow me.


s: For whosoever will save his life shall lose it,


s: And whosoever will lose his life shall find it.


s: If he shall gain the whole world, and shall lose


s: The Master lead us up into this mountain?


s: His face shines as the sun! and all his raiment


s: Exceeding white as snow, so as no fuller


s: On earth can white them!  He is not alone;


s: There are two with him there; two men of eld,


s: Their white beards blowing on the mountain air,


s: If thou wilt, let us make three tabernacles;


s: Behold a bright cloud sailing in the sun!


s: And all the mountains in a luminous shadow!


s: I see no more.  The nearest rocks are hidden.


s: It is the voice of God.  He speaketh to us,


s: As from the burning bush He spake to Moses!


s: The cloud-wreaths roll away.  The veil is lifted;


s: CHRISTUS, coming down from the mountain.


s: I charge ye, tell the vision unto no one,


s: Till the Son of Man is risen from the dead!


s: Again He speaks of it!  What can it mean,


s: Restoring all things.  But I say to you,


s: They knew him not, but have done unto him


s: Whate'er they listed, as is written of him.


s: It is of John the Baptist He is speaking.


s: As we descend, see, at the mountain's foot,


s: A crowd of people; coming, going, thronging


s: Round the disciples, that we left behind us,


s: Seeming impatient, that we stay so long.


s: That waits the Master's coming to be healed.


s: I see a boy, who struggles and demeans him


s: And sorely vexed; for oftentimes he falleth


s: He teareth him.  He gnasheth with his teeth,


s: And pines away.  I spake to thy disciples


s: That they should cast him out, and they could not.


s: How long shall I be with you, and suffer you?


s: Seizes the boy, and tortures him with pain!


s: He falleth to the ground and wallows, foaming!


s: Oh, have compassion on us, Lord, and help us,


s: Come out of him, I charge thee, and no more


s: The boy utters a loud cry of pain, and then lies still.


s: He lieth there.  No life is left in him.


s: His eyes are like a blind man's, that see not.


s: And takes him by the hand, and lifts him up.


s: But one touch of that hand, and he is healed!


s: Now thou art mine again.  The unclean spirit


s: Shall never more torment thee!  Look at me!


s: Speak unto me!  Say that thou knowest me!


s: Good Master, tell us, for what reason was it


s: Two men went up into the temple to pray.


s: Stood and prayed thus within himself: O God,


s: Twice in the week, and also I give tithes


s: Standing afar off, would not lift so much


s: Even as his eyes to heaven, but smote his breast,


s: I tell you that this man went to his house


s: More justified than the other.  Every one


s: That doth exalt himself shall be abased,


s: And he that humbleth himself shall be exalted!


s: Let us go nearer!  He is telling stories!


s: What are ye doing here?  Why do ye crowd us?


s: That followed Elisha, mucking him and crying:


s: Go up, thou bald-head!  But the bears--the bears


s: We brought them here, that He might lay his hands


s: Of such is the kingdom of heaven; and their angels


s: Takes them in his arms and blesses them.


s: What good thing shall I do, that I may have


s: There is none good but one, and that is God.


s: Thou shalt not steal; thou shalt not bear false witness;


s: Honor thy father and thy mother; and love


s: All these things have I kept.  What lack I yet?


s: Sell all thou hast, and give it to the poor,


s: And come, take up thy cross, and follow me,


s: And thou shalt have thy treasure in the heavens.


s: Children! how hard it is for them that trust


s: In riches to enter into the kingdom of God!


s: A needle's eye, than for the rich to enter


s: Behold, we have left all, and followed thee.


s: And troubles not herself with household cares.


s: 'T is the old story.  When a guest arrives


s: She gives up all to be with him; while I


s: Must be the drudge, make ready the guest-chamber,


s: Prepare the food, set everything in order,


s: And see that naught is wanting in the house.


s: She shows her love by words, and I by works.


s: O Master! when thou comest, it is always


s: I must sit at thy feet; must see thee, hear thee!


s: I have a feeble, wayward, doubting heart,


s: Incapable of endurance or great thoughts,


s: Striving for something that it cannot reach,


s: Baffled and disappointed, wounded, hungry;


s: Stronger than I, and wiser, and far better


s: Thou seest how well she orders everything


s: To make thee welcome; how she comes and goes,


s: Careful and cumbered ever with much serving,


s: While I but welcome thee with foolish words!


s: Whene'er thou speakest to me, I am happy;


s: Sufficeth me.  My heart is then at rest.


s: Lord, dost thou care not that my sister Mary


s: Hath left me thus to wait on thee alone?


s: Art thou, and yet one thing alone is needful!


s: Thy sister Mary hath chosen that good part,


s: Which never shall be taken away from her!


s: It is not he, but like him, for that beggar


s: Was blind from birth.  It cannot be the same.


s: And put it on mine eyes, and said to me:


s: I went and washed, and I received my sight.


s: Gathered about a beggar?  What has happened?


s: Here is a man who hath been blind from birth,


s: And now he sees.  He says a man called Jesus


s: Upon mine eyes; I washed, and now I see.


s: The Sabbath day.  This man is not of God,


s: This is a wonderful story, but not true,


s: A beggar's fiction.  He was not born blind,


s: What answer shall we make?  If we confess


s: It was the Christ, we shall be driven forth


s: This is our son, and that he was born blind;


s: But by what means he seeth, we know not,


s: Or who his eyes hath opened, we know not.


s: We know the man that healed thee is a sinner!


s: One thing I know; that whereas I was blind,


s: Ye did not hear: why would ye hear again?


s: Or palsy-stricken, or lepers, or the like,


s: That we should join the Synagogue of Satan,


s: And follow jugglers?  Thou art his disciple,


s: But we are disciples of Moses; and we know


s: That God spake unto Moses; but this fellow,


s: A marvellous thing!  Ye know not whence he is,


s: Yet he hath opened mine eyes!  We know that God


s: Doeth God's will, and is his worshipper,


s: Him doth he hear.  Oh, since the world began


s: It was not heard that any man hath opened


s: The eyes of one that was born blind.  If He


s: Were not of God, surely he could do nothing!


s: Thou reprobate, thou beggar, thou blasphemer!


s: On the house-top at Endor.  Night.  A lighted lantern on a table.


s: Swift are the blessed Immortals to the mortal


s: That perseveres!  So doth it stand recorded


s: On the dried skins of oxen the Twelve Books


s: Therefore I persevere; and I have brought thee


s: From the great city of Tyre, where men deride


s: The things they comprehend not, to this plain


s: Called Armageddon, and this town of Endor,


s: Where men believe; where all the air is full


s: Of marvellous traditions, and the Enchantress


s: Is still remembered.  Thou hast seen the land;


s: I miss the tumult of the street; the sounds


s: Of people in gay attire, with cloaks of purple,


s: Of friends and neighbors at the open door


s: The singing and the dancing, the delight


s: To give up all these pleasures, and to lead


s: And though possessing thee, I still remain


s: Apart from thee, and with thee, am alone


s: Came sailing in, with ivory, gold, and silver,


s: And apes and peacocks; and the singing sailors,


s: And the gay captains with their silken dresses,


s: The ancestress of the great Psalmist David;


s: And wherefore should not I, Helen of Tyre,


s: And hast been Helen of Troy, and hast been Rahab,


s: And Sara of seven husbands, and Jezebel,


s: And other women of the like allurements;


s: And now thou art Minerva, the first Aeon,


s: For one who has been all these noble dames,


s: Knows all things in himself.  I have charmed thee,


s: Thou beautiful asp: yet am I no magician,


s: Illusions!  Thou deceiver, self-deceived!


s: He looks at her, and she sinks into a deep sleep.


s: Go, see it in thy dreams, fair unbeliever!


s: And leave me unto mine, if they be dreams,


s: That take such shapes before me, that I see them;


s: Of the mysterious world, that come to me


s: From the elements of Fire and Earth and Water,


s: And the all-nourishing Ether!  It is written,


s: Look not on Nature, for her name is fatal!


s: Yet there are Principles, that make apparent


s: And visions most divine appear in ether.


s: So speak the Oracles; then wherefore fatal?


s: I take this orange-bough, with its five leaves,


s: About a centre where the stem is planted,


s: And each still equidistant from the other,


s: Down from each leaf, and fastened with a pin.


s: Now if from these five points a line be traced


s: To each alternate point, we shall obtain


s: A charm against all witchcraft, and a sign,


s: Drove back the fierce barbarians of the North,


s: Demons esteemed, and gave the Syrian King


s: Thus Nature works mysteriously with man;


s: And from the Eternal One, as from a centre,


s: All things proceed, in fire, air, earth, and water,


s: And all are subject to one law, which, broken


s: Even in a single point, is broken in all;


s: By this will I compel the stubborn spirits,


s: That guard the treasures, hid in caverns deep


s: These precious things to the Samaritans.


s: A mist is rising from the plain below me,


s: And as I look, the vapors shape themselves


s: My lips had breathed the Tetragrammaton,


s: And from their graves, o'er all the battlefields


s: Had started, with their thousands, and ten thousands,


s: And rushed together to renew their wars,


s: Powerless, and weaponless, and without a sound!


s: Wake, Helen, from thy sleep!  The air grows cold;


s: Thou sayest that I usurp another's titles.


s: In youth I saw the Wise Men of the East,


s: Who followed the bright star, but home returned


s: Lies hidden now that star? and where are they


s: That brought the gifts of frankincense and myrrh?


s: His name in many towns, but have not seen Him.


s: He flits before us; tarries not; is gone


s: When we approach, like something unsubstantial,


s: The King of Israel, whom the Wise Men worshipped?


s: Or does He fear to meet me?  It would seem so.


s: We should soon learn which of us twain usurps


s: The titles of the other, as thou sayest.


s: Thy faith hath saved thee!  Ah, how true that is!


s: For I had faith; and when the Master came


s: Into the coasts of Tyre and Sidon, fleeing


s: From those who sought to slay him, I went forth


s: And cried unto Him, saying: Have mercy on me,


s: O Lord, thou Son of David! for my daughter


s: But he passed on, and answered not a word.


s: And then the Master answered them and said:


s: Of the House of Israel!  Then I worshipped Him,


s: Saying: Lord help me!  And He answered me,


s: It is not meet to take the children's bread


s: And cast it unto dogs!  Truth, Lord, I said;


s: And yet the dogs may eat the crumbs which fall


s: From off their master's table; and he turned,


s: And answered me; and said to me: O woman,


s: Great is thy faith; then be it unto thee


s: Even as thou wilt.  And from that very hour


s: Thou wast made whole, my darling! my delight!


s: There came upon my dark and troubled mind


s: The silver trumpets of the Temple blowing


s: Their welcome to the Sabbath.  Still I wonder,


s: And could not see me, by his thought alone


s: Had power to heal me.  Oh that I could see Him!


s: Perhaps thou wilt; for I have brought thee here


s: Thine offering of thanksgiving on the altar.


s: Thou mayst both see and hear Him.  Hark!


s: A crowd comes pouring through the city gate!


s: Fills all the street; and riding on an ass


s: The people spread their garments in the way,


s: Is he that cometh in the name of the Lord!


s: Out of his grave, and raised him from the dead!


s: That nothing we prevail.  Behold, the world


s: What power is in that care-worn countenance!


s: What sweetness, what compassion!  I no longer


s: The very stones beneath us would cry out!


s: All hath passed by me like a dream of wonder!


s: But I have seen Him, and have heard his voice,


s: When Rabban Simeon--upon whom be peace!--


s: Taught in these Schools, he boasted that his pen


s: Had written no word that he could call his own,


s: But wholly and always had been consecrated


s: To the transcribing of the Law and Prophets.


s: He used to say, and never tired of saying,


s: The world itself was built upon the Law.


s: Gains a good name gains something for himself,


s: Gains everlasting life.  And they spake truly.


s: Great is the Written Law; but greater still


s: The lovely words of Levites, spoken first


s: From mouth to mouth, in one unbroken sound


s: The voice of God resounding through the ages.


s: Is precious wine; the Written Law is salt,


s: The Unwritten costly spice; the Written Law


s: Is but the body; the Unwritten, the soul


s: That quickens it and makes it breathe and live.


s: A little bright-eyed school-boy, a mere stripling,


s: From Nazareth, I think, who came one day


s: And sat here in the Temple with the Scribes,


s: Hearing us speak, and asking many questions,


s: And we were all astonished at his quickness.


s: And when his mother came, and said: Behold


s: Thy father and I have sought thee, sorrowing;


s: He looked as one astonished, and made answer,


s: How is it that ye sought me?  Wist ye not


s: That I must be about my Father's business?


s: Often since then I see him here among us,


s: Or dream I see him, with his upraised face


s: Unto what manner of manhood he hath grown!


s: Perhaps a poor mechanic like his father,


s: And toiling at his craft, to die unknown


s: The Scribes and Pharisees sit in Moses' seat;


s: All, therefore, whatsoever they command you,


s: Observe and do; but follow not their works


s: They say and do not.  They bind heavy burdens


s: And very grievous to be borne, and lay them


s: Upon men's shoulders, but they move them not


s: Exhorting in the outer courts so loudly?


s: Their works they do for to be seen of men.


s: They make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge


s: The borders of their garments, and they love


s: The uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats


s: In Synagogues, and greetings in the markets,


s: And to be called of all men Rabbi, Rabbi!


s: That came here at the Feast of Dedication,


s: And stirred the people up to break the Law!


s: Ye hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom


s: Of heaven, and neither go ye in yourselves


s: Nor suffer them that are entering to go in!


s: How eagerly the people throng and listen,


s: As if his ribald words were words of wisdom!


s: Of widows, and for pretence ye make long prayers;


s: Therefore shall ye receive the more damnation.


s: To make one proselyte, and when he is made


s: Ye make him twofold more the child of hell


s: Hillel of blessed memory, hear and judge!


s: Ye hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint,


s: The weightier matters of the law of God,


s: Judgment and faith and mercy; and all these


s: Ye ought to have done, nor leave undone the others!


s: Stir in their grave to hear such blasphemies!


s: Woe unto you, ye Scribes, and Pharisees,


s: Ye hypocrites! for ye make clean and sweet


s: The outside of the cup and of the platter,


s: Patience of God! canst thou endure so long?


s: Or art thou deaf, or gone upon a journey?


s: To whited sepulchres, which indeed appear


s: Filled full of dead men's bones and all uncleanness!


s: Ye hypocrites! because ye build the tombs


s: Of righteous men, and say: if we had lived


s: When lived our fathers, we would not have been


s: Partakers with them in the blood of Prophets.


s: That ye are children of them that killed the Prophets!


s: Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers.


s: And Scribes, and some ye crucify, and some


s: Scourge in your Synagogues, and persecute


s: The righteous blood that hath been shed on earth,


s: From the blood of righteous Abel to the blood


s: Ye slew between the Temple and the altar!


s: My little Saul of Tarsus, the tent-maker,


s: Whose wit is sharper than his needle's point,


s: He would delight to foil this noisy wrangler!


s: That killest the Prophets, and that stonest them


s: Which are sent unto thee, how often would I


s: Have gathered together thy children, as a hen


s: Gathereth her chickens underneath her wing,


s: And ye would not!  Behold, your house is left


s: Think ye, shall Christ come out of Galilee?


s: That dippeth with me in this dish his hand;


s: He is betrayed!  Good were it for that man


s: Ay, thou hast said.  And that thou doest, do quickly.


s: Because of me this night; for it is written:


s: Awake, O sword, against my shepherd!  Smite


s: The shepherd, saith the Lord of hosts, and scattered


s: Shall be the sheep!--But after I am risen


s: O Master! though all men shall be offended


s: Behold how Satan hath desired to have you,


s: That he may sift you as one sifteth wheat!


s: Not now; but thou shalt follow me hereafter.


s: Wherefore can I not follow thee?  I am ready


s: Ere the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice!


s: Though I should die, yet will I not deny thee.


s: When first I sent you forth without a purse,


s: Or scrip, or shoes, did ye lack anything?


s: Now let him take it, and likewise his scrip;


s: And he that hath no sword, let him go sell


s: His clothes and buy one.  That which hath been written


s: Must be accomplished now: He hath poured out


s: His soul even unto death; he hath been numbered


s: With the transgressors, and himself hath borne


s: For the transgressors.  And here have an end


s: Even unto death!  Tarry ye here and watch.


s: Under this ancient olive-tree, that spreads


s: Its broad centennial branches like a tent,


s: That glimmer on Brook Kedron there below us?


s: It is some marriage feast; the joyful maidens


s: The struggles of this day have overcome me.


s: Father! all things are possible to thee,--


s: Oh let this cup pass from me!  Nevertheless


s: Not as I will, but as thou wilt, be done!


s: What! could ye not watch with me for one hour?


s: Oh watch and pray, that ye may enter not


s: It is for sorrow that our eyes are heavy.--


s: I see again the glimmer of those torches


s: Among the olives; they are coming hither.


s: Outside the garden wall the path divides;


s: It is for sorrow that our eves are heavy.--


s: Seeking for some one, or for something lost.


s: Hath been betrayed into the hands of sinners!


s: The hour is come.  Rise up, let us be going;


s: Ah me!  See, from his forehead, in the torchlight,


s: Great drops of blood are falling to the ground!


s: What lights are these?  What torches glare and glisten


s: He smites the servant of the High-Priest with his sword.


s: Put up thy sword into its sheath; for they


s: That take the sword shall perish with the sword.


s: The cup my Father hath given me to drink,


s: Shall I not drink it?  Think'st thou that I cannot


s: Pray to my Father, and that he shall give me


s: More than twelve legions of angels presently!


s: With swords and staves to take me?  When I daily


s: Was with you in the Temple, ye stretched forth


s: No hands to take me!  But this is your hour,


s: And this the power of darkness.  If ye seek


s: The Disciples depart.  CHRISTUS is bound and led away.  A certain


s: body.  They lay hold of him, and the young man flees from them


s: What do we?  Clearly something must we do,


s: This Lazarus should be taken, and put to death


s: And preach in country towns, I should not heed him.


s: And drives the money-changers from the Temple,


s: On whom be peace! would have dealt presently


s: With such a demagogue.  I shall no less.


s: It is expedient that one man should die,


s: Not the whole nation perish?  What is death?


s: It differeth from sleep but in duration.


s: When we are in our graves we are at peace,


s: And plotting, and contriving how to take him,


s: Fearing the people, and so doing naught,


s: I, who fear not the people, have been acting;


s: Have taken this Prophet, this young Nazarene,


s: Casteth out devils, and doth raise the dead,


s: That might as well be dead, and left in peace.


s: Annas my father-in-law hath sent him hither.


s: I hear the guard.  Behold your Galilean!


s: Why art thou up so late, my pretty damsel?


s: It is not cock-crow yet, and art thou stirring?


s: Who art thou?  Tell us plainly of thyself


s: And of thy doctrines, and of thy disciples.


s: In secret have said nothing.  Wherefore then


s: Askest thou me of this?  Ask them that heard me


s: What I have said to them.  Behold, they know


s: I will destroy this Temple made with hands,


s: And will within three days build up another


s: What is this thing they witness here against thee?


s: Sit on the right hand of the power of God,


s: He hath spoken blasphemy!  What further need


s: Have we of witnesses?  Now ye have heard


s: His blasphemy.  What think ye?  Is he guilty?


s: KINSMAN OF MALCHUS to PETER in the vestibule.


s: Did I not see thee in the garden with him?


s: How couldst thou see me?  I swear unto thee


s: I do not know this man of whom ye speak!


s: Hark! the cock crows!  That sorrowful, pale face


s: Seeks for me in the crowd, and looks at me,


s: As if He would remind me of those words:


s: Ere the cock crow thou shalt deny me thrice!


s: Goes out weeping.  CHRISTUS is blindfolded and buffeted.


s: Prophesy unto us, thou Christ, thou Prophet!


s: Down from Caesarea to their winter-quarters


s: Of Caesar on their ensigns, and a tumult


s: They threw themselves upon the ground with wild


s: Expostulations, bared their necks, and cried


s: That they would sooner die than have their Law


s: Were not as great as Moses, and the Laws


s: Of the Twelve Tables as their Pentateuch!


s: Their valley with an aqueduct, and bring


s: As if they had been herds of unwashed swine!


s: Thousands and thousands of them got together


s: And raised so great a clamor round my doors,


s: That, fearing violent outbreak, I desisted,


s: And left them to their wallowing in the mire.


s: And now here comes the reverend Sanhedrim


s: Of lawyers, priests, and Scribes and Pharisees,


s: Like old and toothless mastiffs, that can bark


s: But cannot bite, howling their accusations


s: Against a mild enthusiast, who hath preached


s: I know not what new doctrine, being King


s: Of some vague kingdom in the other world,


s: That hath no more to do with Rome and Caesar


s: I sent him straight to Herod, and I hope


s: That is the last of it; but if it be not,


s: I still have power to pardon and release him,


s: Seeming to yield to them, yet saving him,


s: Ye have a God, who seemeth like yourselves


s: Majestic, cloud-encompassed, clothed in darkness!


s: One whom ye fear, but love not; yet ye have


s: No Goddesses to soften your stern lives,


s: And make you tender unto human weakness,


s: While we of Rome have everywhere around us


s: The woodlands, and the waters, and frequent


s: Our households, with their sweet and gracious presence!


s: PILATE, on the tessellated pavement in front of his palace.


s: Ye have brought unto me this man, as one


s: Who doth pervert the people; and behold!


s: Touching the things whereof ye do accuse him.


s: No, nor yet Herod; for I sent you to him,


s: And nothing worthy of death he findeth in him.


s: That one condemned to death shall be released.


s: Whom will ye, then, that I release to you?


s: Jesus Barabbas, called the Son of Shame,


s: Or Jesus, Son of Joseph, called the Christ?


s: That I should do with him that is called Christ?


s: Lo, I have found no cause of death in him;


s: I will chastise him, and then let him go.


s: This message to thee,--Have thou naught to do


s: With that just man; for I this day in dreams


s: Have suffered many things because of him.


s: The Gods speak to us in our dreams!  I tremble


s: How shall I save him?  Yet one effort more,


s: Of the blood of this just person; see ye to it!


s: Let his blood be on us and on our children!


s: Put on thy royal robes; put on thy crown,


s: I bring him forth to you, that ye may know


s: I find no fault in him.  Behold the man!


s: CHRISTUS is led in with the purple robe and crown of thorns.


s: More than ye know, ye ignorant High-Priests!


s: Dost thou not answer me?  Dost thou not know


s: That I have power enough to crucify thee?


s: That I have also power to set thee free?


s: Thou couldst have no power at all against me


s: Except that it were given thee from above;


s: Therefore hath he that sent me unto thee


s: Thou art not Caesar's friend.  For whosoever


s: Maketh himself a King, speaks against Caesar.


s: Take him, ye cruel and bloodthirsty priests,


s: Who pity and spare the fainting gladiator


s: With the affairs of mortals, which I doubt not,


s: To scatter you to the four winds of heaven,


s: Exacting tear for tear, and blood for blood.


s: Here, take ye this inscription, Priests, and nail it


s: Upon the cross, above your victim's head:


s: Enough.  What I have written, I have written.


s: Lost! Lost!  Forever lost!  I have betrayed


s: The innocent blood!  O God! if thou art love,


s: Why didst thou leave me naked to the tempter?


s: Why didst thou not commission thy swift lightning


s: To strike me dead? or why did I not perish


s: With those by Herod slain, the innocent children,


s: Who went with playthings in their little hands


s: If thou in thy foreknowledge didst perceive


s: I know I am not generous, am not gentle,


s: And I have failed.  I thought by following him


s: I should grow like him; but the unclean spirit


s: That from my childhood up hath tortured me


s: Hath been too cunning and too strong for me,


s: Because I cannot love, and ne'er have known


s: The love of woman or the love of children?


s: A mark that hath been set upon my forehead,


s: That none shall slay me, for it were a mercy


s: That I were dead, or never had been born.


s: Too late! too late!  I shall not see Him more


s: Among the living.  That sweet, patient face


s: Will never more rebuke me, nor those lips


s: Repeat the words: One of you shall betray me!


s: I will be there before Him, and will wait


s: Until he comes, and fall down on my knees


s: And kiss his feet, imploring pardon, pardon!


s: I heard Him say: All sins shall be forgiven,


s: That shall not be forgiven in this world,


s: Nor in the world to come.  Is that my sin?


s: Here nor hereafter?  That I soon shall know.


s: O God, have mercy!  Christ have mercy on me!


s: Three crosses in this noonday night uplifted,


s: Gleam white against the supernatural darkness;


s: Two thieves, that writhe in torture, and between them


s: A crown of thorns on that dishonored head!


s: Those hands that healed the sick now pierced with nails,


s: Those feet that wandered homeless through the world


s: Now crossed and bleeding, and at rest forever!


s: And the three faithful Maries, overwhelmed


s: By this great sorrow, kneeling, praying weeping!


s: O Joseph Caiaphas, thou great High-Priest


s: How wilt thou answer for this deed of blood?


s: Thou that destroyest the Temple, and dost build it


s: In three days, save thyself; and if thou be


s: The Son of God, come down now from the cross.


s: Others he saved, himself he cannot save!


s: Let Him deliver him, if He will have him,


s: Lord, when thou comest into thine own kingdom.


s: This day shalt thou be with me in Paradise.


s: Golgotha! Golgotha!  Oh the pain and darkness!


s: Oh the uplifted cross, that shall forever


s: Shine through the darkness, and shall conquer pain


s: This is the end of one who called himself


s: The Son of God!  Such is the fate of those


s: Who preach new doctrines.  'T is not what he did,


s: But what he said, hath brought him unto this.


s: Sell that thou hast, and give unto the poor!


s: This is the treasure in heaven he promised me!


s: CHRISTUS, with a loud cry, bowing his head.


s: O'ertakes us ere we reach the sepulchre,


s: Shall roll away the stone for us to enter?


s: It hath been rolled away!  The sepulchre


s: Is open!  Ah, who hath been here before us,


s: When we rose early, wishing to be first?


s: And look within.  There is a young man sitting


s: On the right side, clothed in a long white garment!


s: Why do ye seek the living among the dead?


s: Come see the place where the Lord lay!  Remember


s: Saying: The Son of Man must be delivered


s: Be crucified, and the third day rise again!


s: But go your way, and say to his disciples,


s: There shall ye see Him as He said to you.


s: My Lord away from me, and now I know not


s: Where they have laid Him!  Who is there to tell me?


s: This is the gardener.  Surely he must know.


s: Woman, why weepest thou?  Whom seekest thou?


s: They have taken my Lord away; I cannot find Him.


s: O sir, if thou have borne Him hence, I pray thee


s: Looked in, and saw the linen grave-clothes lying,


s: The napkin that had been about his head,


s: But wrapped together in a separate place.


s: And I have seen Him.  I have seen the print


s: Of nails upon his hands, and thrust my hands


s: But where are now the kingdom and the glory


s: He promised unto us?  We have all dreamed


s: That we were princes, and we wake to find


s: To the old life, the peaceful life, among


s: In the gray light of morning!  The old life,


s: Yea, the old life! for we have toiled all night


s: 'T is like an apparition.  He hath kindled


s: A fire of coals, and seems to wait for us.


s: On the right side of the ship, and ye shall find.


s: How that reminds me of the days gone by,


s: And one who said: Launch out into the deep,


s: And they are filled, so that we cannot draw them!


s: PETER, girding his fisher's coat about him.


s: There is no fear in love; for perfect love


s: Casteth out fear.  Now then, if ye are men,


s: Put forth your strength; we are not far from shore;


s: The net is heavy, but breaks not.  All is safe.


s: Dear Lord! I heard thy voice and could not wait.


s: Let me behold thy face, and kiss thy feet!


s: Thou art not dead, thou livest!  Again I see thee.


s: I have denied thee thrice.  Have mercy on me!


s: Dear Lord! stay with us! cheer us! comfort us!


s: Lo! we again have found thee!  Leave us not!


s: Bring hither of the fish that ye have caught,


s: As He was wont.  From his own blessed hands


s: More, Lord, than all men, even more than these.


s: Again, the selfsame question, and the answer


s: Repeated with more vehemence.  Can the Master


s: When thou wast young thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst


s: Whither thou wouldst; but when thou shalt be old,


s: Thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and other men


s: Shall gird and carry thee whither thou wouldst not.


s: He tarry till I come, what is it to thee?


s: Yea, I will follow thee, dear Lord and Master!


s: Will follow thee through fasting and temptation,


s: Through all thine agony and bloody sweat,


s: And in Jesus Christ his only Son, our Lord;


s: Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary;


s: Suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried;


s: And the third day He rose again from the dead;


s: He ascended into Heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God,


s: From thence He shall come to judge the quick and the dead.


s: I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy Catholic Church;


s: The communion of Saints; the forgiveness of sins;


s: The wind is rising; it seizes and shakes


s: In a book the things that thou hast seen,


s: The things that are, and that have been,


s: And walked through many a village street


s: And I have written.  These volumes three,


s: And the Psalter with Ten Strings, enfold


s: His lightnings flashed, his hailstorms beat;


s: His symbols were, that they should preach


s: In the Land of Labor, thine eagle's nest!


s: Standing with arms outstretched in prayer,


s: Night and storm.  LUCIFER, with the Powers of the Air, trying to


s: Panes, that flame with gold and crimson;


s: They sweep away. Organ and Gregorian Chant.


s: A chamber in a tower.  PRINCE HENRY sitting alone, ill and


s: Come back! ye friendships long departed!


s: That like o'erflowing streamlets started,


s: Come back! ye friends, whose lives are ended,


s: Come back, with all that light attended,


s: Rest! rest!  Oh, give me rest and peace!


s: The thought of life that ne'er shall cease


s: A flash of lightning, out of which LUCIFER appears, in the garb


s: And thought you answered when I knocked.


s: And it is not a matter of special wonder


s: The storm, that against your casement drives,


s: And there I heard, with a secret delight,


s: Which neither astonished nor dismayed me.


s: And I hastened hither, though late in the night,


s: Which a kind of leprosy drinks and drains;


s: And, indeed, I think that I shall be soon.


s: But the case is quite beyond their science.


s: Is the blood that flows from a maiden's veins,


s: And give her life as the price of yours!"


s: Purge with your nostrums and drugs infernal


s: The spouts and gargoyles of these towers,


s: Distilling herbs and flowers, discovered


s: You may drink all; it will not harm you.


s: An ANGEL with an aeolian harp hovers in the air.


s: It is but the rest of the fire, from which the air has been


s: It is but the rest of the sand, when the hour-glass is not


s: It is but the rest of the tide between the ebb and the flow!


s: It is but the rest of the wind between the flaws that blow!


s: The trance, the swoon, the dream, is o'er!


s: And like a pebble it rolled beneath his heel!


s: Here in the court-yard springs the grass,


s: How now, my friend!  This looks quite lonely!


s: Your hair has grown much grayer and thinner,


s: And, like these towers, begin to moulder;


s: Stretched on the floor, as if in a swoon


s: The priests came flocking in, like rooks,


s: With all their crosiers and their crooks,


s: And, as if he were condemned to the tomb,


s: First, the Mass for the Dead they chanted,


s: And forth from the chapel door he   went


s: The words that dropped from his sweet tongue


s: Strengthened our hearts; or heard at night


s: They taste not food, they drink not wine,


s: The day is done; and slowly from the scene


s: The stooping sun up-gathers his spent shafts,


s: And puts them back into his golden quiver!


s: As goblets are, from which in thirsty draughts


s: We drink its wine, the swift and mantling river


s: Flows on triumphant through these lovely regions,


s: Etched with the shadows of its sombre margent,


s: And soft, reflected clouds of gold and argent!


s: Yes, there it flows, forever, broad and still


s: As when the vanguard of the Roman legions


s: First saw it from the top of yonder hill!


s: How beautiful it is!  Fresh fields of wheat,


s: Vineyard and town, and tower with fluttering flag,


s: And the white hamlet gathered round its base,


s: Like Mary sitting at her Saviour's feet,


s: O friend!  O best of friends!  Thy absence more


s: Than the impending night darkens the landscape o'er!


s: A garden; morning; PRINCE HENRY seated, with a book.


s: It seemed a thousand harp-strings ringing.


s: Fall on the golden flagging of the street


s: The same cloisters and belfry and spire.


s: The meekest and humblest of his creatures.


s: There was here a monk, full of God's grace,


s: Of Felix, and this man must be the same."


s: That is the prettiest legend of them all.


s: Twilight.  URSULA Spinning.  GOTTLIEB asleep in his chair.


s: Has awakened me out of a pleasant dream.


s: I thought I was sitting beside a stream,


s: They are sitting with Elsie at the door.


s: She is telling them stories of the wood,


s: And the Wolf, and little Red Ridinghood.


s: ELSIE comes in with a lamp.  MAX and BERTHA follow her; and they


s: all sing the Evening Song on the lighting of the lamps.


s: It was the Prince: he stood at the door,


s: To shoot at the robins and the sparrows,


s: He gave us the farm, the house, and the grange,


s: We have nothing to give him but our love!


s: Did he give us the beautiful stork above


s: On the chimney-top, with its large, round nest?


s: As a blessing, the dear white stork was given,


s: But the Prince has given us all the rest.


s: Would I could do something for his sake,


s: Thou shouldst not say what thou dost not mean!


s: That in the night to the sheepfold came,


s: And ate up my lamb, that was left outside.


s: I am glad he is dead.  It will be a warning


s: To the wolves in the forest, far and wide.


s: I would do nothing else, the whole day long,


s: She will hardly be able to creep upstairs.


s: Goodnight, my children. Here's the light.


s: Of her heart, that was once so docile and mild!


s: And in all her words and ways, she seems


s: And there has been of late such a change!


s: That she may not live till the year is out.


s: She is so strange,--so strange,--so strange!


s: She will live and thrive for many a year.


s: Midnight. ELSIE standing by their bedside, weeping.


s: Were abroad to-night with his ghostly train!


s: What dost thou mean? my child! My child!


s: Through the open window looked the skies


s: And the wind was like the sound of wings,


s: And how my heart beats, when thou stayest!


s: Of his Father's mansion, vast and splendid,


s: Spake through her lips, and in her stead:


s: The woman goes out.  The Priest comes forth, and walks


s: Still touch thy wounds and make them bleed!


s: And what good deeds, since first it rose,


s: What wrong repressed, what right maintained,


s: What struggle passed, what victory gained,


s: Why should the world for thee make room,


s: The tempter, though his power be strong,


s: Of restless limbs, and quivering breath,


s: That see, through tears, the sun go down,


s: The stronger be, that hear the Black Prayer!


s: To call such a hole the House of the Lord,


s: And the gate of Heaven,--yet such is the word.


s: Covered with cobwebs, blackened with mould;


s: Dust on the benches, and stalls, and chairs!


s: The pulpit, from which such ponderous sermons


s: Have fallen down on the brains of the Germans,


s: Had fallen, and struck them on the head;


s: With statue of stone, and scutcheon of brass,


s: But at length, to escape the threatened doom


s: He died in the dress of a mendicant friar,


s: And bartered his wealth for a daily mass.


s: And whether he finds it dull or pleasant,


s: And its latticed windows on either side,


s: And its step well worn by the beaded knees


s: Here sits the priest; and faint and low,


s: From his bruised conscience rolls the stone,


s: Of the horrors and crimes and sins and woes


s: That arise, when with palpitating throes


s: Gives up its dead, at the voice of the priest,


s: This odor of earthly passions and crimes,


s: In the hottest and most pestilential season.


s: In a heart that is almost to madness wrought,


s: He comes.  In the twilight he will not see


s: The difference between his priest and me!


s: PRINCE HENRY, entering and kneeling at the confessional.


s: Meanwhile, hast thou searched well thy breast?


s: Strikes the great forest white with fear,


s: Points all its quivering leaves one way,


s: And meadows of grass, and fields of rain,


s: And the clouds above, and the slanting rain,


s: She meets half-way her children's weakness,


s: Writes their transgressions in the dust!


s: The mandate written, "Thou shalt not kill!"


s: We must look at the Decalogue in the light


s: Thou art a Prince.  If thou shouldst die


s: What hearts and hopes would prostrate lie!


s: But thine is precious; the fore-appointed


s: With the roughness and barrenness of life!


s: From a fate like this, in one so tender,


s: Of her young blood, and thou shalt live.


s: In the greater weakness or greater strength


s: Of the acts which follow it, till at length


s: To scourge and torment the offending one!


s: Thrust from his Father's house with a curse


s: From all crimes in which it may involve thee,


s: LUCIFER, stretching forth his hand and muttering.


s: All things else are but false pretences.


s: And selfishness itself a virtue and a merit!


s: When we are gone from here, and on our way


s: Are journeying to Salerno, you will not,


s: By word or deed, endeavor to dissuade me


s: And turn me from my purpose; but remember


s: Walks unmolested, and with thoughts of pardon


s: The gates of Heaven, in this great jubilee,


s: All thoughts of earth, as shoes from off my feet.


s: Like roses from the lips of Angelo: and angels


s: So long to one or both of us, I promise.


s: Shall we not go, then?  Have you lifted me


s: Drink the polluted puddles of the world?


s: O Elsie! what a lesson thou dost teach me!


s: The life which is, and that which is to come,


s: A breath disturbs the balance; and that scale


s: In which we throw our hearts preponderates,


s: And the other, like an empty one, flies up,


s: Having such hold on life.  To thee it is not


s: With light that shines through its transparent walls!


s: O pure in heart! from thy sweet dust shall grow


s: Lilies, upon whose petals will be written


s: Night.  PRINCE HENRY wandering alone, wrapped in a cloak.


s: In the dusk and damp of these walls of stone,


s: Sends forth the challenge of his breath!


s: With the light of another world in their eyes!


s: The health of absent friends, and pledges,


s: Not in bright goblets crowned with roses,


s: That mocks and mimics their funeral knell.


s: With fitful lights and shadows blending,


s: Lights its dim aisles and paths unknown!


s: That through their foliage sobs and soughs;


s: Sits on his steed, and the moonbeams quiver


s: And beckons, and makes as he would speak.


s: What brings thee hither?  What potent charm


s: But what brings thee, thus armed and dight


s: And shoot forth from its trembling string


s: With lyre and sword, with song and steel;


s: Thy heart, thy hand, thy lyre, thy sword,


s: Whilst on your dreams, like dismal rain,


s: Easter Sunday.  FRIAR CUTHBERT preaching to the crowd from a


s: pulpit in the open air.  PRINCE HENRY and Elsie crossing the


s: The churches are all decked with flowers,


s: Nay, let us mount the church-steps here,


s: From the crowd that madly heaves and presses!


s: What a gay pageant! what bright dresses!


s: It looks like a flower-besprinkled meadow.


s: And a Friar, who is preaching to the crowd


s: FRIAR CUTHBERT, gesticulating and cracking a postilion's whip.


s: "Christ is arisen!"  Whence come you?  "From court."


s: Then I do not believe it; you say it in sport.


s: Ah, here comes another, riding this way;


s: "Christ is arisen!"  Whence come you?  "From town."


s: Then I do not believe it; away with you, clown.


s: And here comes a third, who is spurring amain;


s: What news do you bring, with your loose-hanging rein,


s: Your spurs wet with blood, and your bridle with foam?


s: "Christ is arisen!"  Whence come you?  "From Rome."


s: Ah, now I believe.  He is risen, indeed.


s: Ride on with the news, at the top of your speed!


s: To come back to my text!  When the news was first spread


s: That Christ was arisen indeed from the dead,


s: Very great was the joy of the angels in heaven;


s: And as great the dispute as to who should carry


s: Pierced to the heart with sorrows seven.


s: But he was refused, for fear, said they,


s: Because he might meet with his brother Cain!


s: Noah, too, was refused, lest his weakness for wine


s: And John the Baptist could not get a vote,


s: On account of his old-fashioned camel's-hair coat;


s: And the Penitent Thief, who died on the cross,


s: Was reminded that all his bones were broken!


s: Till at last, when each in turn had spoken,


s: And filled with glory that gloomy prison,


s: And said to the Virgin, "The Lord is arisen!"


s: But hark! the bells are beginning to chime;


s: For the bells themselves are the best of preachers;


s: From their pulpits of stone, in the upper air,


s: That from mouth of brass, as from Month of Gold,


s: May be taught the Testaments, New and Old,


s: And above it the great cross-beam of wood


s: Upon which, like the bell, our hopes are hung.


s: And the wheel wherewith it is swayed and rung


s: Is the mind of man, that round and round


s: And the rope, with its twisted cordage three,


s: That we touch upon matters high and low;


s: And the constant change and transmutation


s: Downward, the Scripture brought from on high,


s: And I hope you will have the grace to attend.


s: Christ bring us at last to his felicity!


s: These paintings of the Saints upon the walls


s: Thine own hereafter shall be placed among them.


s: Never have I beheld a church so splendid!


s: Such columns, and such arches, and such windows,


s: So many tombs and statues in the chapels,


s: They must be for the rich.  I should not like


s: To tell my sins in such a church as this.


s: Children that came to see these Saints in stone,


s: As day by day out of the blocks they rose,


s: Grew old and died, and still the work went on,


s: And on, and on, and is not yet completed.


s: Built his great heart into these sculptured stones,


s: And with him toiled his children, and their lives


s: Were builded, with his own, into the walls,


s: As offerings unto God.  You see that statue


s: Fixing its joyous, but deep-wrinkled eyes


s: By the fair hand of his own child, Sabina.


s: How beautiful is the column that he looks at!


s: That, too, she sculptured.  At the base of it


s: Stand the Evangelists; above their heads


s: Four Angels blowing upon marble trumpets,


s: And over them the blessed Christ, surrounded


s: Would I could leave behind me upon earth


s: Some monument to thy glory, such as this!


s: A greater monument than this thou leavest


s: See, too, the Rose, above the western portal


s: Resplendent with a thousand gorgeous colors,


s: The perfect flower of Gothic loveliness!


s: And, in the gallery, the long line of statues,


s: Christ with his twelve Apostles watching us!


s: A Bishop in armor, booted and spurred, passes with his train.


s: But come away; we have not time to look,


s: The crowd already fills the church, and yonder


s: The Mystery that will now be represented.


s: Lord! we have searched the world around,


s: Here the ANGEL GABRIEL shall leave Paradise and fly towards the


s: earth; the jaws of hell open below, and the Devils walk about,


s: Here MARY looketh around her, trembling, and then saith:


s: Here the ANGEL, appearing to her, shall say:


s: Here the Devils shall again make a great noise, under the stage.


s: Let there he light! and there was light!


s: A sudden light shines from the windows of the stable in the


s: And now these clothes, that wrapped Him, take


s: She gives them swaddling-clothes and they depart.


s: Here JOSEPH shall come in, leading an ass, on which are seated


s: Here MARY shall alight and go to the spring.


s: Here a band of robbers shall be seen sleeping, two of whom shall


s: Here a great rumor of trumpets and horses, like the noise of a


s: king with his army, and the robbers shall take flight.


s: Here he shall stride up and down and flourish his sword.


s: Here a voice of lamentation shall be heard in the street.


s: He falls down and writhes as though eaten by worms.  Hell opens,


s: and SATAN and ASTAROTH come forth and drag him down.


s: They draw water out of the river by channels and form little


s: pools. JESUS makes twelve sparrows of clay, and the other boys do


s: That canst thou not!  They are but clay,


s: Here JESUS shall clap his hands, and the sparrows shall fly away,


s: The RABBI BEN ISRAEL, sitting on a high stool, with a long beard,


s: Throughout this village known full well,


s: When the Angel of Death, who is full of eyes,


s: Here RABBI BEN ISRAEL shall lift up his rod to strike Jesus, and


s: JESUS sitting among his playmates, crowned with flowers as their


s: With fragrant flowers thy head is crowned


s: Here a traveller shall go by, and the boys shall lay hold of his


s: He passes by; and others come in, bearing on a litter a sick


s: He touches the wound, and the boy begins to cry.


s: PRINCE HENRY and ELSIE, with their attendants on horseback.


s: Onward and onward the highway runs to the distant city,


s: Tidings of human joy and disaster, of love and of hate,


s: This life of ours is a wild aeolian harp of many


s: But under them all there runs a loud perpetual wail,


s: Faith alone can interpret life, and the heart


s: Of pain, alone bears the likeness of Christ,


s: Man is selfish, and seeketh pleasure with little care


s: Else why am I travelling here beside thee,


s: All the hedges are white with dust, and the great dog


s: Hangs his head in the lazy heat, while onward


s: Now they stop at the wayside inn, and the wagoner laughs


s: While out of the dripping trough the horses


s: distend their leathern sides with water.


s: All through life there are wayside inns,


s: where man may refresh his soul with love;


s: down into the broad green valley descends.


s: I am not sorry to leave behind the beaten road


s: The air will be sweeter far, and the turf will be softer


s: and the valley stretching for miles below


s: Over our heads a white cascade is gleaming


s: We cannot hear it, nor see it move, but it hangs


s: Damp and cool is this deep ravine, and cool


s: What is this castle that rises above us,


s: Well I remember each tower and turret, remember the brooklet,


s: Hark! from the little village below us the bells


s: Priests and peasants in long procession come forth


s: They have not long to wait, for I see in the south


s: That before the sun shall be set will cover


s: The Convent cellar.  FRIAR CLAUS comes in with a light and a


s: With a thoughtful, solemn, and reverent pace,


s: That produce these various sorts of wines!


s: That we have got through with the tedious Lent!


s: Who have to contend with invisible foes;


s: Who am not of that nervous and meagre kind,


s: That are always distressed in body and mind!


s: But filled to the lips with the ardor of youth,


s: With the latent power and love of truth,


s: I have heard it said, that at Easter-tide,


s: And fain would burst from its sombre tun


s: And now that we have lived through Lent,


s: Till his beard has grown through the table of stone!


s: And a heart still beats in those ribs of oak


s: That time may have tamed, but has not broke!


s: Four butts are sent to the Pope of Rome.


s: The old rhyme keeps running in my brain;


s: Than those of the Neckar, or those of the Ahr.


s: This I shall draw for the Abbot's drinking,


s: Who seems to be much of my way of thinking.


s: On their way to his, that have stopped at mine;


s: For a deep draught out of his silver tankard,


s: When it should have been busy with other affairs,


s: Less with its longings and more with its prayers.


s: But now there is no such awkward condition,


s: No danger of death and eternal perdition;


s: So here's to the Abbot and Brothers all,


s: Who dwell in this convent of Peter and Paul!


s: O cordial delicious!  O soother of pain!


s: Such a fudder of wine as this to his friends!


s: A draught from the noble Bacharach cask,


s: And I will be gone, though I know full well


s: The cellar's a cheerfuller place than the cell.


s: Behold where he stands, all sound and good,


s: But within, what a spirit of deep unrest!


s: What a seething and simmering in his breast!


s: Or as if the grapes were stained with the blood


s: Of the innocent boy, who, some years back,


s: Without first touching my lips to the glass,


s: For here in the midst of the current I stand


s: Like the stone Pfalz in the midst of the river,


s: The rascal who drank wine out of a boot.


s: Could drink a postilion's jack-boot full,


s: And ask with a laugh, when that was done,


s: To the friars who sit at the lower board,


s: And are far better off than if they could,


s: Being rather the rude disciples of beer,


s: FRIAR PACIFICUS transcribing and illuminating.


s: As it stands there at the end of the book,


s: Ah me! when I think of that vision divine,


s: Like the trump of doom, in the closing verse!


s: Take aught from the book of that Prophecy,


s: With the writings of St. Thecla herself,


s: If we should compare them line for line.


s: Saint Ulric himself never made a better!


s: Finished down to the leaf and the snail,


s: And see what lies between cover and cover,


s: How sweet the air is! how fair the scene!


s: How the swallows twitter under the eaves!


s: I can just catch a glimpse of her head and breast,


s: And will sketch her thus, in her quiet nook


s: I can see no more.  Through the valley yonder


s: It will do for the face of some beautiful Saint,


s: The peace of God, that passeth understanding,


s: Reigns in these cloisters and these corridors.


s: You are thrice welcome to our humble walls.


s: You do us honor; and we shall requite it,


s: With Paschal eggs, and our poor convent wine,


s: How fares it with the holy monks of Hirschau?


s: Their commendations lag behind the truth.


s: You lie here in the valley of the Nagold


s: As in a nest: and the still river, gliding


s: How all things pass.  Your lands are rich and ample,


s: And your revenues large.  God's benediction


s: We strive to merit it.  Our Lord and Master,


s: These we have always with us; had we not,


s: Our hearts would grow as hard as are these stones.


s: If I remember right, the Counts of Calva


s: Within these cloisters lie already buried


s: Twelve holy Abbots.  Underneath the flags


s: On which we stand, the Abbot William lies,


s: The world is wicked, and sometimes I wonder


s: God does not lose his patience with it wholly,


s: And shatter it like glass!  Even here, at times,


s: Within these walls, where all should be at peace,


s: I have my trials.  Time has laid his hand


s: And weariness of life, that makes me ready


s: Of evening twilight coming, and have not


s: The thought of my shortcomings in this life


s: Falls like a shadow on the life to come.


s: The young have no exemption from that doom.


s: Ah, yes! the young may die, but the old must!


s: Praised for their beauty and their excellence.


s: That is indeed our boast.  If you desire it


s: You shall behold these treasures.  And meanwhile


s: Your horses and attendants for the night.


s: Vespers: after which the monks retire, a chorister leading an old


s: They are all gone, save one who lingers,


s: Though Time has touched it in his flight,


s: The passionate will, the pride, the wrath


s: By days of penance and nights of prayer,


s: Whose passions brooked no curb nor check.


s: Gaudiolum of Monks at midnight.  LUCIFER disguised as a Friar.


s: You'll disturb the Abbot at his prayers.


s: I should think your tongue had broken its chain!


s: You will rouse up the Abbot, I tell you again!


s: No danger! to-night he will let us alone,


s: As I happen to know he has guests of his own.


s: It seemed like a blossom blown from a tree.


s: Come, old fellow, drink down to your peg!


s: Why fill the convent with such scandals,


s: With an eye that glows like a coal of fire,


s: As if he were used to such feasting and frolicking?


s: He's a stranger.  You had better ask his name,


s: And where he is going and whence he came.


s: You must raise your voice a little higher,


s: Now, try again!  He is looking this way.


s: Whence you came, and where you are going,


s: And anything else that is worth the knowing.


s: Of which, very like, you never have heard.


s: You must know, then, it is in the diocese


s: Ha! that is a convent! that is an abbey!


s: None of your death-heads carved in wood,


s: None of your Saints looking pious and good,


s: You are a little too pious, a little too tame,


s: Without juice enough to get thoroughly mellow.


s: What is that bell for!  Are you such asses


s: As to keep up the fashion of midnight masses?


s: Who is gifted with most miraculous powers


s: And, by way of penance and Christian meekness,


s: May murmur some kind of prayer for his sake,


s: He takes his lantern, and goes the rounds,


s: But enough of that.  Go on, if you please,


s: With your story about St. Gildas de Rhuys.


s: And a poor young friar, who in his stead


s: But look! do you see at the window there


s: That face, with a look of grief and despair,


s: That fellow is always playing the scout,


s: Creeping and peeping and prowling about;


s: A spy in the convent?  One of the brothers


s: Creep under the window, close to the wall,


s: FRIAR PAUL opens the window suddenly, and seizes SIEBALD.


s: Are you Christian monks, or heathen devils,


s: To pollute this convent with your revels?


s: He would write your names, with pen of gall,


s: You, Brother Francis, and you, Brother Paul!


s: With the scourge upon your shoulders bare;


s: But the blood that follows the discipline.


s: You, who should be a guide to your brothers,


s: And are ten times worse than all the others,


s: For you I've a draught that has long been brewing,


s: Away to your prayers, then, one and all!


s: Does not crumble and crush you in its fall!


s: The ABBESS IRMINGARD Sitting with ELSIE in the moonlight.


s: Down upon convent, and grove, and garden;


s: The clouds have passed away from her face,


s: Of one whose heart has been healed with pardon!


s: Was dark with passion and soiled with sin.


s: Gone are the anguish, the terror, and pain;


s: O'er whose burning sands I was forced to go,


s: As the leaves of the tree, or the grass of the field,


s: And I was healed, as the sick are healed,


s: When fanned by the leaves of the Holy Book!


s: Strangely, and strongly, and more and more,


s: As to one I have known and loved before;


s: Whose life was dreary, and bleak, and hard,


s: Brief and bright were those days, and the night


s: Which followed was full of a lurid light.


s: Just from the convent's cloistered school,


s: The fragrance of the flowers, were there;


s: O'er blossomed orchards and fields in bloom,


s: Shall lie in his as the hand of a bride!


s: That night from the castle-gate went down


s: One could not distinguish form nor face,


s: One scarce could say it moved or stayed.


s: Then leaped before us, and in the hollow


s: By the sound our horses' hoof-beats made.


s: With lights, that were passing to and fro;


s: And we heard a shout, and a heavy tramp,


s: Night-air of the meadows green and wide,


s: So close, they must have seemed but one,


s: Like the shadow of clouds before the wind!


s: With the bars of my windows narrow and tall;


s: And I prayed to it, as I had been wont to pray


s: And I thanked God, in my fever and pain,


s: That those shadows on the midnight plain


s: The path that runs through the fairest meads,


s: On the sunniest side of the valley, leads


s: From winds that blow, and waves that beat,


s: From the cold, and rain, and blighting heat,


s: To which the strongest hearts have yielded.


s: On the leaves is a sound of falling rain;


s: Then smooths its plumes and sleeps again.


s: Thou art o'erspent with the day's fatigue


s: Have started from their graves to-night,


s: They have driven sleep from mine eyes away:


s: God's blessing on the architects who build


s: The bridges o'er swift rivers and abysses


s: No less than on the builders of cathedrals,


s: Whose massive walls are bridges thrown across


s: Well has the name of Pontifex been given


s: Unto the Church's head, as the chief builder


s: What are these paintings on the walls around us?


s: All that go to and fro must look upon it,


s: Mindful of what they shall be, while beneath,


s: Among the wooden piles, the turbulent river


s: With dimpling eddies, ever green and bright,


s: Save where the shadow of this bridge falls on it.


s: Leads all men through the mazes of that dance,


s: To different sounds in different measures moving;


s: Sometimes he plays a lute, sometimes a drum,


s: Who kneels at her devotions, but in kneeling


s: Turns round to look at him; and Death, meanwhile,


s: Is putting out the candles on the altar!


s: Ah, what a pity 't is that she should listen


s: She might have heard in heaven the angels singing!


s: Here he has stolen a jester's cap and bells


s: And here the heart of the new-wedded wife,


s: Coming from church with her beloved lord,


s: He startles with the rattle of his drum.


s: Ah, that is sad!  And yet perhaps 't is best


s: That she should die, with all the sunshine on her,


s: And all the benedictions of the morning,


s: Shall fade into a cold and clouded gray,


s: "Nothing but death shall separate thee and me!"


s: And what is this, that follows close upon it?


s: Death playing on a dulcimer.  Behind him,


s: Follows the sound, and seems to wish her feet


s: Were swifter to o'ertake him.  Underneath,


s: The inscription reads, "Better is Death than Life."


s: Better is Death than Life!  Ah yes! to thousands


s: Rings with it, and they cannot choose but follow


s: Whither he leads.  And not the old alone,


s: But the young also hear it, and are still.


s: Yes, in their sadder moments.  'T is the sound


s: Of their own hearts they hear, half full of tears,


s: Which are like crystal cups, half filled with water,


s: With music sweet and low and melancholy.


s: That life, and all that speaks of life, is lovely,


s: And death, and all that speaks of death, is hateful.


s: The grave itself is but a covered bridge,


s: Leading from light to light, through a brief darkness!


s: I breathe again more freely!  Ah, how pleasant


s: To come once more into the light of day,


s: Out of that shadow of death!  To hear again


s: The hoof-beats of our horses on firm ground,


s: And not upon those hollow planks, resounding


s: On coffins in a churchyard!  Yonder lies


s: The Lake of the Four Forest-Towns, apparelled


s: In light, and lingering, like a village maiden,


s: Hid in the bosom of her native mountains


s: Then pouring all her life into another's,


s: Shaking his cloudy tresses loose in air,


s: PRINCE HENRY and ELSIE crossing with attendants.


s: This bridge is called the Devil's Bridge.


s: With a single arch, from ridge to ridge,


s: Marked with the imprint of his shoulder;


s: Like a thread through the eye of a needle.


s: That the first living thing which crossed


s: At length, the bridge being all completed,


s: And the rocks re-echoed with the peals of laughter,


s: This is the highest point.  Two ways the rivers


s: Leap down to different seas, and as they roll


s: Grow deep and still, and their majestic presence


s: They visit, wandering silently among them,


s: Like patriarchs old among their shining tents.


s: How bleak and bare it is!  Nothing but mosses


s: Beneficent Nature sends the mists to feed them.


s: See yonder little cloud, that, borne aloft


s: So tenderly by the wind, floats fast away


s: The body of St. Catherine, borne by angels!


s: Thou art St. Catherine, and invisible angels


s: Bear thee across these chasms and precipices,


s: Lest thou shouldst dash thy feet against a stone!


s: Would I were borne unto my grave, as she was,


s: The voices of the mountains!  Thus they ope


s: Their snowy lips, and speak unto each other,


s: What land is this that spreads itself beneath us?


s: To thee and me, of passion and of prayer!


s: The days are short, the way before us long:


s: We must not linger, if we think to reach


s: Here let us pause a moment in the trembling


s: Shadow and sunshine of the roadside trees,


s: And, our tired horses in a group assembling,


s: Inhale long draughts of this delicious breeze.


s: Our fleeter steeds have distanced our attendants;


s: We will await them under the green pendants


s: Of the great willows in this shady place.


s: Ho, Barbarossa! how thy mottled haunches


s: Sweat with this canter over hill and glade!


s: Stand still, and let these overhanging branches


s: Fan thy hot sides and comfort thee with shade!


s: What a delightful landscape spreads before us,


s: Marked with a whitewashed cottage here and there!


s: And, in luxuriant garlands drooping o'er us,


s: Blossoms of grape-vines scent the sunny air.


s: Hark! what sweet sounds are those, whose accents holy


s: Fill the warm noon with music sad and sweet!


s: On their long journey, with uncovered feet.


s: PILGRIMS, chanting the Hymn of St. Hildebert.


s: In the garb of a barefooted Carmelite dressed!


s: The soles of my feet are as hard and tanned


s: As the conscience of old Pope Hildebrand,


s: Of the bishops lead such shameful lives,


s: And at night such lodging in barns and sheds,


s: Such a clatter of tongues in empty heads,


s: Such a helter-skelter of prayers and sins!


s: For sowing broadcast the seeds of crime,


s: There is none so pleasing to me and mine


s: If from the outward man we judge the inner,


s: A hopeless reprobate, a hardened Sinner,


s: Must be that Carmelite now passing near.


s: And the lovesick girl, whose heated brain


s: But first I must act to my heart's content


s: Of a truth, it often provokes me to laugh


s: And, to make up for not understanding the song,


s: Singing it fiercely, and wild, and strong!


s: Were it not for my magic garters and staff,


s: And the mischief I make in the idle throng,


s: I should not continue the business long.


s: Do you observe that monk among the train,


s: Who pours from his great throat the roaring bass,


s: As a cathedral spout pours out the rain,


s: And this way turns his rubicund, round face?


s: It is the same who, on the Strasburg square,


s: And he has crossed o'er mountain, field, and fell,


s: On that good steed, that seems to bear him well,


s: The hackney of the Friars of Orders Gray,


s: His own stout legs!  He, too, was in the play,


s: But by what instinct, or what secret sign,


s: Meeting me here, do you straightway divine


s: That northward of the Alps my country lies?


s: Your accent, like St. Peter's, would betray you,


s: Did not your yellow beard and your blue eyes.


s: Moreover, we have seen your face before,


s: And heard you preach at the Cathedral door


s: On Easter Sunday, in the Strasburg square.


s: We were among the crowd that gathered there,


s: And saw you play the Rabbi with great skill,


s: To walk with little children, your own will


s: Had caught a childish attitude from theirs,


s: A kind of stooping in its form and gait,


s: And could no longer stand erect and straight.


s: That moves its holy eyes, and sometimes speaks,


s: And lets the piteous tears run down its cheeks,


s: Oh, had I faith, as in the days gone by,


s: That knew no doubt, and feared no mystery!


s: All hearts are touched and softened at her name,


s: The priest, the prince, the scholar, and the peasant,


s: The man of deeds, the visionary dreamer,


s: And even as children, who have much offended


s: Speak with their sister, and confiding wait


s: And yet not venturing rashly to draw near


s: With their requests an angry father's ear,


s: Offer to her their prayers and their confession,


s: And she for them in heaven makes intercession.


s: And if our faith had given us nothing more


s: So mild, so merciful, so strong, so good,


s: So patient, peaceful, loyal, loving, pure,


s: This were enough to prove it higher and truer


s: Than all the creeds the world had known before.


s: Thou didst not make it, thou canst not mend it,


s: Thou needst not whisper above thy breath,


s: ELSIE, coming from her chamber upon the terrace.


s: Thy purer soul, that trembles and believes,


s: Hears the archangel's trumpet in the breeze,


s: And where the forest rolls, or ocean heaves,


s: And tongues of prophets speaking in the leaves.


s: Glare through the windows, and o'erhead,


s: And instead of a breeze he has sent a gale.


s: With their glimmering lanterns, all at play


s: On the tops of the masts and the tips of the spars,


s: And I knew we should have foul weather to-day.


s: I was looking when the wind o'ertook her,


s: She had all sail set, and the only wonder


s: Is that at once the strength of the blast


s: That, through the fear of the Algerines,


s: With a sprinkle of spray above the rails,


s: See how she leaps, as the blasts o'ertake her,


s: And speeds away with a bone in her mouth!


s: And there is no danger of bank or breaker.


s: A travelling Scholastic affixing his Theses to the gate of the


s: There, that is my gauntlet, my banner, my shield,


s: Hung up as a challenge to all the field!


s: One hundred and twenty-five propositions,