s: And Snaebiorn rode to the north country.


s: "Full hot," he said, "is the sun to-day,


s: And the snow is gone from the mountain-way.


s: And through the wood do the thrushes pass."


s: And their heads are turned to Helliskarth."


s: She combed her hair, and the word she hid.


s: "Come, love; is the way so long and drear


s: "Is the Dead-strand come to Whitewater side?"


s: But her eyes were bright in the change and the gloom.


s: "Sharp sword," she sang, "and death is sure,


s: The hilts were hard in Hallbiorn's hand:


s: The bitter point was in Hallgerd's breast


s: That Snaebiorn's lips of love had pressed.


s: _So many times over comes summer again_,


s: But Hallgerd's feet the floor shall lack.


s: _What healing in summer if winter be vain_?


s: Now Hallbiorn's house-carles ride full fast,


s: 'Twas, "Where shall we give our horses ease?"


s: When Shieldbroad-side was well in sight,


s: 'Twas, "Where shall we lay our heads to-night?"


s: "Under the stones of the waste," he said.


s: Quoth one, "The clatter of hoofs anigh."


s: Quoth the other, "Spears against the sky!"


s: Down from his horse leapt Hallbiorn straight:


s: And Hallbiorn's twain that were of worth.


s: Then Hallbiorn cried: "Come, fellow of mine,


s: To the southern bent where the sun doth shine."


s: Till he came to his ship in Grimsar-oyce.


s: "Be blithe, O shipmate," Snaebiorn said,


s: Round veered the wind to the east again.


s: Green groweth the wheat in the English land


s: But here is nought with grief to strive.


s: _So many times over comes summer again_,


s: _What healing in summer if winter be vain_?


s: Love gives every gift whereby we long to live


s: "Love takes every gift, and nothing back doth give."


s: "Love locks up the lips whence all things good might come."


s: Love makes clear the eyes that else would never see:


s: "Love makes blind the eyes to all but me and thee."


s: Love turns life to joy till nought is left to gain:


s: "Love turns life to woe till hope is nought and vain."


s: Love, who changest all, change me nevermore!


s: "Love, who changest all, change my sorrow sore!"


s: Love burns up the world to changeless heaven and blest,


s: "Love burns up the world to a void of all unrest."


s: And there we twain are left, and no more work we need:


s: "And I am left alone, and who my work shall heed?"


s: Ah!  I praise thee, Love, for utter joyance won!


s: "And is my praise nought worth for all my life undone?"


s: Thick rise the spear-shafts o'er the land


s: What mayor shall rule the hall we built?


s: What judge shall doom the robber's guilt,


s: Thine heart to live, and love, and long;


s: Live, then, and long, though hope be dead!


s: Make pictures through the mist of tears,


s: That crossed the time ere hope was dead.


s: Weep, though no hair's breadth thou shalt move


s: Sighs rest thee not, tears bring no ease,


s: The years change not, though they decrease,


s: Because the world to me seemed nowise good;


s: Still autumn was it, & the meadows slept,


s: The misty hills dreamed, and the silent wood


s: Seemed listening to the sorrow of my mood:


s: I knew not if the earth with me did grieve,


s: Or if it mocked my grief that bitter eve.


s: Then 'twixt my tears a maiden did I see,


s: Who drew anigh me on the leaf-strewn grass,


s: With grief-worn eyes, until my woe did pass


s: Into the dark wood, and my own great pain


s: Still held me there, till dark had slain the day,


s: And perished at the grey dawn's hand again;


s: Then from the wood a voice cried: "Ah, in vain,


s: In vain I seek thee, O thou bitter-sweet!


s: In what lone land are set thy longed-for feet?"


s: Then I looked up, and lo, a man there came


s: From midst the trees, and stood regarding me


s: Until my tears were dried for very shame;


s: Then he cried out: "O mourner, where is she


s: Whom I have sought o'er every land and sea?


s: We meet no more than green hill meeteth hill."


s: With that he passed on sadly, and I knew


s: That these had met and missed in the dark night,


s: Blinded by blindness of the world untrue,


s: That hideth love and maketh wrong of right.


s: Then midst my pity for their lost delight,


s: Yet more with barren longing I grew weak,


s: Yet more I mourned that I had none to seek.


s: Then rose his heart and cleared his brow,


s: The brown carles stayed 'twixt draught and draught,


s: And the mountain-dale by summer cleared,


s: There leaned a knight on the gateway side


s: And after the heels of the horse he cried,


s: Then his face grew pale from chin to brow,


s: Till he stood where once his heart was glad


s: Him-seemed the horn's voice he might hear--


s: Him-seemed bright raiment towards him drew--


s: There in the door the green-coats stood,


s: "O welcome, Rafe, to the free green-wood,


s: It was bill and bow by the high-seat stood,


s: "Now welcome, Rafe, to the good green-wood,


s: White, white in the moon is the woodland plash,


s: Forth wend those twain, from oak to ash,


s: And Sir Rafe's good men with bow and bill,


s: In the fair green-wood where lurks no fear,


s: There dwell they, friends and fellows dear,


s: And when the leaf from the oak-tree falls,


s: With the carles of the woodland thorps and halls


s: For the ploughing carle and the straying herd


s: And the judge and the sergeants wander wide,


s: Well learned and wise is Sir Rafe's good sword,


s: Grey grows the dawn while men-folk sleep,


s: Till the thrush sings to the coloured things,


s: We've toiled and failed; we spake the word;


s: What's this?  For joy our hearts stand still,


s: The lost and found the Cause hath crowned,


s: O muse that swayest the sad Northern Song,


s: Thy right hand full of smiting & of wrong,


s: Thy left hand holding pity; & thy breast


s: Heaving with hope of that so certain rest:


s: Thou, with the grey eyes kind and unafraid,


s: The soft lips trembling not, though they have said


s: The doom of the World and those that dwell therein.


s: The lips that smile not though thy children win


s: The fated Love that draws the fated Death.


s: O, borne adown the fresh stream of thy breath,


s: Let some word reach my ears and touch my heart,


s: In that great sorrow of thy children dead


s: That vexed the brow, and bowed adown the head,


s: Whitened the hair, made life a wondrous dream,


s: And death the murmur of a restful stream,


s: But left no stain upon those souls of thine


s: Whose greatness through the tangled world doth shine.


s: O Mother, and Love and Sister all in one,


s: That thou thine arms about my heart shouldst throw,


s: There met three knights on the woodland way,


s: But the third was rags from head to heel.


s: "Lo, now is the year and the day come round


s: Who hath never turned his back in fight."


s: But the third said: "I have found a love


s: That Time and the World shall never move."


s: "With me," said the first, "for my king is near."


s: But there was a change of times and days.


s: "That ye should eat my children's bread?


s: And mocking and grudge have I gained therefore.


s: "With me," said the second, "my knight is near."


s: For fear lest aught should do him wrong.


s: When he heard the mouse run in the wall,


s: "Hist!" he said, "what next shall befal?


s: Round death it babbleth still," said he.


s: "And what is fame and the praise of men,


s: "Ah me!" said the third, "that my love were anear!


s: They have come to a waste was rock and stone.


s: Forth passed the third with head down bent,


s: "Where would'st thou wander, love," she said,


s: "Since I have drawn thee from the dead."


s: Laughing, "The world's my home," she said,


s: Till o'er its stones his keel shall swim.


s: Come, tell my flowery fields," she said,


s: "With me," he said, "for my love is here.


s: Now life is little, and death is nought,


s: Fair now is the springtide, now earth lies beholding


s: With the eyes of a lover, the face of the sun;


s: Long lasteth the daylight, and hope is enfolding


s: The green-growing acres with increase begun.


s: Now sweet, sweet it is through the land to be straying


s: 'Mid the birds and the blossoms and the beasts of the field;


s: Love mingles with love, and no evil is weighing


s: On thy heart or mine, where all sorrow is healed.


s: From township to township, o'er down and by tillage


s: Fair, far have we wandered and long was the day;


s: But now cometh eve at the end of the village,


s: Where over the grey wall the church riseth grey.


s: There is wind in the twilight; in the white road before us


s: The straw from the ox-yard is blowing about;


s: The moon's rim is rising, a star glitters o'er us,


s: And the vane on the spire-top is swinging in doubt.


s: Down there dips the highway, toward the bridge crossing over


s: The brook that runs on to the Thames and the sea.


s: Draw closer, my sweet, we are lover and lover;


s: This eve art thou given to gladness and me.


s: Shall we be glad always?  Come closer and hearken:


s: Three fields further on, as they told me down there,


s: When the young moon has set, if the March sky should darken


s: We might see from the hill-top the great city's glare.


s: Hark, the wind in the elm-boughs! from London it bloweth,


s: And telleth of gold, and of hope and unrest;


s: Of power that helps not; of wisdom that knoweth,


s: But teacheth not aught of the worst and the best.


s: Of the rich men it telleth, and strange is the story


s: How they have, and they hanker, and grip far and wide;


s: And they live and they die, and the earth and its glory


s: Has been but a burden they scarce might abide.


s: Hark! the March wind again of a people is telling;


s: Of the life that they live there, so haggard and grim,


s: That if we and our love amidst them had been dwelling


s: My fondness had faltered, thy beauty grown dim.


s: This land we have loved in our love and our leisure


s: For them hangs in heaven, high out of their reach;


s: The wide hills o'er the sea-plain for them have no pleasure,


s: The grey homes of their fathers no story to teach.


s: The singers have sung and the builders have builded,


s: The painters have fashioned their tales of delight;


s: For what and for whom hath the world's book been gilded,


s: When all is for these but the blackness of night?


s: How long, and for what is their patience abiding?


s: How oft and how oft shall their story be told,


s: While the hope that none seeketh in darkness is hiding,


s: And in grief and in sorrow the world groweth old?


s: Come back to the inn, love, and the lights and the fire,


s: And the fiddler's old tune and the shuffling of feet;


s: For there in a while shall be rest and desire,


s: And there shall the morrow's uprising be sweet.


s: Yet, love, as we wend, the wind bloweth behind us,


s: And beareth the last tale it telleth to-night,


s: How here in the spring-tide the message shall find us;


s: For the hope that none seeketh is coming to light.


s: Like the seed of midwinter, unheeded, unperished,


s: Like the autumn-sown wheat 'neath the snow lying green,


s: Like the love that o'ertook us, unawares and uncherished,


s: Like the babe 'neath thy girdle that groweth unseen;


s: So the hope of the people now buddeth and groweth,


s: Rest fadeth before it, and blindness and fear;


s: It biddeth us learn all the wisdom it knoweth;


s: It hath found us and held us, and biddeth us hear:


s: For it beareth the message: "Rise up on the morrow


s: And go on your ways toward the doubt and the strife;


s: Join hope to our hope and blend sorrow with sorrow,


s: And seek for men's love in the short days of life."


s: But lo, the old inn, and the lights, and the fire,


s: And the fiddler's old tune and the shuffling of feet;


s: Soon for us shall be quiet and rest and desire,


s: And to-morrow's uprising to deeds shall be sweet.


s: What cometh here from west to east awending?


s: And who are these, the marchers stern and slow?


s: We bear the message that the rich are sending


s: Aback to those who bade them wake and know.


s: _Not one_, _not one_, _nor thousands must they slay_,


s: _But one and all if they would dusk the day_.


s: We asked them for a life of toilsome earning,


s: They bade us bide their leisure for our bread;


s: We craved to speak to tell our woeful learning:


s: We come back speechless, bearing back our dead.


s: They will not learn; they have no ears to hearken.


s: They turn their faces from the eyes of fate;


s: Their gay-lit halls shut out the skies that darken.


s: But, lo! this dead man knocking at the gate.


s: Here lies the sign that we shall break our prison;


s: Amidst the storm he won a prisoner's rest;


s: Brings us our day of work to win the best.


s: Toothed rocks down the side of the firth


s: striped adown with their desolate green:


s: like the building of Gods that have been,


s: all cloud-wreathed and snow-flecked and grey,


s: And the mountain-waste voiceless as death


s: but for winds that may sleep not nor tire?


s: through the length and breadth of a land,


s: But that there 'mid the grey grassy dales


s: where the treasures of old have been laid,


s: The few ships that sail by its blackness


s: when the light of the year had been fought,


s: "Not for this nor for that was I wrought.


s: and death of things worshipped and sure,


s: but the brand that thy Brynhild doth bear?


s: 'mid the crown of the deeds thou hast done;


s: King's daughter sitting in tower so high,


s: _Fair sing the swans 'twixt firth and field_.


s: Till the tears run through thy fingers sweet?


s: I shall tell thee a tale shall gladden thee.


s: When the wind blew merry from the north.


s: For 'twixt ashen plank and dark blue sea


s: Fly south, O fowl, to the field of death


s: As well as this dull floor knows my feet,


s: For what shall breach the wall but fame?


s: Lest life 'twixt hope and death be done.


s: Of the eve grown red with the battle-dew,


s: In the Frankish land the spear points met,


s: And high ere the cold moon quenched the sun,


s: With the world before him from end to end?


s: In the King's house much shall my fame increase;


s: Where thy love the golden seam doth sew.


s: I shall bring thee in and lay thine hand


s: One bed that night shall hold you both."


s: And the rain and the wind from the south do blow.


s: But the bridal song I must learn to sing.


s: For O the rain, and the rain drifts red!


s: _Fair sing the swans 'twixt firth and field_.


s: She heard the blast of Steingrim's horn,


s: Fair sing the swans 'twixt firth and field.


s: The longing of days and the grief of years!


s: O Winter, O white winter, wert thou gone


s: Leaping with bent bow over stock and stone!


s: No more alone my love the lamp should burn,


s: Watching the weary spindle twist and turn,


s: Or o'er the web hold back her tears and yearn:


s: O winter, O white winter, wert thou gone!


s: Sweet thoughts fly swiftlier than the drifting snow,


s: And with the twisting threads sweet longings grow,


s: And o'er the web sweet pictures come and go,


s: O stream so changed, what hast thou done to me,


s: That I thy glittering ford no more can see


s: Wreathing with white her fair feet lovingly?


s: See, in the rain she stands, and, looking down


s: With frightened eyes upon thy whirlpools brown,


s: Drops to her feet again her girded gown.


s: O hurrying turbid stream, what hast thou done?


s: The clouds lift, telling of a happier day


s: When through the thin stream I shall take my way,


s: Girt round with gold, and garlanded with may,


s: What rushing stream can keep us long alone?


s: Why must we, toiling, cast away the best,


s: Now, when the bird sleeps by her empty nest?


s: In lonely labour stands mine own, my sweet,


s: Above the quern half-filled with half-ground wheat.


s: O red taskmaster, that thy flames were done!


s: O love, to-night across the half-shorn plain


s: What flaming sun can keep us long alone?


s: To-morrow, said I, is grape gathering o'er;


s: To-morrow, and our loves are twinned no more


s: To-morrow came, to bring us woe and war.


s: What have I done, that I should stand with these


s: Hearkening the dread shouts borne upon the breeze,


s: While she, far off, sits weeping 'neath her trees?


s: Come, love, delay not; come, and slay my dread!


s: In the cool chamber flower-strewn is my bed:


s: Come, love, what king shall keep us long alone?


s: See, with life snatched from out the hand of fate!


s: How on thy glittering triumph I must wait!


s: Are not her hands stretched out to me?  Her eyes,


s: Grow they not weary as each new hope dies,


s: And lone before her still the long road lies?


s: And thou art happy, amid shouts and songs,


s: And all that unto conquering men belongs.


s: Night hath no fear for me, and day no wrongs.


s: What brazen city gates can keep us, lone?


s: O long, long road, how bare thou art, and grey!


s: Hill after hill thou climbest, and the day


s: And she is standing where the rushes grow,


s: And still with white hand shades her anxious brow,


s: Though 'neath the world the sun is fallen now,


s: O dreary road, when will thy leagues be done?


s: O tremblest thou, grey road, or do my feet


s: Tremble with joy, thy flinty face to meet?


s: Because my love's eyes soon mine eyes shall greet?


s: No heart thou hast to keep us long alone.


s: O wilt thou ne'er depart, thou heavy night?


s: When will thy slaying bring on the morning bright,


s: Why lingerest thou, filling with wandering fears


s: My lone love's tired heart; her eyes with tears


s: For thoughts like sorrow for the vanished years?


s: Weaver of ill thoughts, when wilt thou be gone?


s: Love, to the east are thine eyes turned as mine,


s: In patient watching for the night's decline?


s: And hast thou noted this grey widening line?


s: That thou so long unto thy life must cling,


s: I praised thee that thou broughtest joy so nigh;


s: Thine hours are turned to years, thou wilt not die;


s: O day so longed for, would that thou wert gone!


s: The light fails, love; the long day soon shall be


s: Blessed for the tales it told to thee and me.


s: As the breast of the Queen that suckled him.


s: For I deem the sea well wrought for his grave."


s: "And whoso the tale of his death shall tell,


s: _So grey is the sea when the day is done_.


s: When the ships sail fair and the young men ride.


s: And each morrow of fight was a gainful day.


s: Such lovely lords should dwell in bliss.


s: When the lift is low o'er the Danish earth.


s: And the gold worms gape from every prow."


s: The sun and the wind came down o'er the sea,


s: "Good fellows, grip the shield and spear,


s: "I would have word with this waxen face!


s: Then some they knelt and some they drowned,


s: "Look here at the wax-white corpse of him,


s: "Make now for the shore, for the moon is bright,


s: And I would be home ere the end of night.


s: "Two sons last night had Thyrre the Queen,


s: And both she may lack ere the woods wax green,"


s: Queen Thyrre looked out of her window-side,


s: Come, sweet son, to thy mother's bower!"


s: None from the Queen's bower went that day


s: When the great wax lights were all aflame.


s: "What tidings, son, dost thou bear to me?


s: "They fought in the sun, they fought in the wind,


s: No boot the white fowl's wounds to bind.


s: "They fought in the wind, they fought in the sun,


s: And the white fowl died when the play was done."


s: "Small tidings these to bear o'er the sea!


s: Be nought but a tale told over the wine."


s: Now fareth the King with his men to sleep,


s: And dim the maids from the Queen's bower creep,


s: And there standeth the Queen with cheeks full white.


s: From end to end of the King's great hall.


s: These bear the gold-wrought cloths away,


s: The morrow men looked on King Gorm and said


s: "Hath he dreamed a dream or beheld the dead?


s: Till in high-seat there he sat him down,


s: "O Queen, what thrall's hands durst do this,


s: "No thrall's hands in the hangings were,


s: No thrall's hands made the tenters bare.


s: "King's daughters' hands have done the deed,


s: "Nought betters the deed thy word unsaid.


s: For thine own lips have said the thing."


s: That once cleared ships from board to board.


s: His wan cheek brushed the high-seat's side,


s: But from mouth to mouth this tale did pass.


s: Whence comest thou, and whither goest thou?


s: What hopest thou the dark to thee will show?


s: Why should I name the land across the sea


s: Why should I name the land that flees from me?


s: What wilt thou do within the desert place


s: Whereto thou turnest now thy careful face?


s: Stay but a while to tell us of thy case.


s: What, nigh the journey's end shall I abide,


s: When in the waste mine own love wanders wide,


s: When from all men for me she still doth hide?


s: Nay, nay; but rather she forgetteth thee,


s: Or in green gardens where sweet fountains be.


s: Will ye then keep me from the wilderness,


s: Where I at least, alone with my distress,


s: The quiet land of changing dreams may bless?


s: And 'mid these clinging hands and loving eyes,


s: Dream, not in vain, thou knowest paradise.


s: Ah! with your sweet eyes shorten not the day,


s: Nor let your gentle hands my journey stay!


s: Pluck love away as thou wouldst pluck a thorn


s: From out thy flesh; for why shouldst thou be born


s: Yea, why then was I born, since hope is pain,


s: And life a lingering death, and faith but vain,


s: And love the loss of all I seemed to gain?


s: Dost thou believe that this shall ever be,


s: That in our land no face thou e'er shalt see,


s: No voice thou e'er shalt hear to gladden thee?


s: Stay! take one image for thy dreamful night;


s: Come, look at her, who in the world's despite


s: Weeps for delaying love and lost delight.


s: Mock me not till to-morrow.  Mock the dead,


s: They will not heed it, or turn round the head,


s: To note who faithless are, and who are wed.


s: We mock thee not.  Hast thou not heard of those


s: Whose faithful love the loved heart holds so close,


s: That death must wait till one word lets it loose?


s: I hear you not: the wind from off the waste


s: Sighs like a song that bids me make good haste


s: The wave of sweet forgetfulness to taste.


s: Come back! like such a singer is the wind,


s: As to a sad tune sings fair words and kind,


s: That he with happy tears all eyes may blind!


s: Did I not hear her sweet voice cry from far,


s: That o'er the lonely waste fair fields there are,


s: Fair days that know not any change or care?


s: Oh, no! not far thou heardest her, but nigh;


s: Nigh, 'twixt the waste's edge and the darkling sky.


s: How with the lapse of lone years could I strive,


s: And can I die now that thou biddest live?


s: What joy this space 'twixt birth and death can give.


s: Dark hills whose heath-bloom feeds no bee,


s: Once seen, once kissed, once reft from me


s: And none heareth thy breath but thy mother,


s: Now, therefore, while yet thou art little


s: Who have stood in the row of the reapers


s: When the lights of the Christmas feasting


s: And the wild geese gone to the salt-marsh


s: And thy birth-bed have bleached them indeed,


s: Whose spears and whose swords were the warders


s: To the downs from the house on the river


s: through the waves of the blossoming corn.


s: with the hope of the brave and the wise.


s: And all these are the good and the happy,


s: Though she breed of the fools of the earth,


s: Of thy love and thy deeds and thy valour,


s: When the boughs of the garden hang heavy with rain


s: And the thunder departing yet rolleth again,


s: When the day that was dusk while his death was aloof


s: For the clearness of all things beneath the world's roof,


s: I call back the wild chance and the change.


s: For once we twain sat through the hot afternoon


s: Till she, the soft-clad, for the glory of June


s: Changed all with the change of her smile.


s: For her smile was of longing, no longer of glee,


s: And her fingers, entwined with mine own,


s: With caresses unquiet sought kindness of me


s: Then down rushed the rain, and the voice of the thunder


s: And I to myself was grown nought but a wonder,


s: That she craved for my lips that had craved her so often,


s: And the hand that had trembled to touch,


s: That the tears filled her eyes I had hoped not to soften


s: It was dusk 'mid the thunder, dusk e'en as the night,


s: When first brake out our love like the storm,


s: But no night-hour was it, and back came the light


s: While our hands with each other were warm.


s: And her smile killed with kisses, came back as at first


s: And out to the garden, where nought was athirst,


s: Earth's fragrance went with her, as in the wet grass,


s: She bent down her head, 'neath the roses to pass,


s: In the garden we wandered while day waned apace


s: Till the moon o'er the minster-wall lifted his face,


s: And grey gleamed out the lead of the roof.


s: Then we turned from the blossoms, and cold were they grown:


s: Till over the threshold back fluttered her gown,


s: With a grace of prayers sung loud and late


s: For a valiant knight, men called Boncoeur,


s: The Devil had cried, "Take this gold cup,"


s: Now passed the squire through this and that,


s: "Speak out," said Maltete, "have no fear,


s: "E'en such as thou once preached of gold,


s: And his gold in my strong chest shall lie.


s: The truth of this mine eyes shall know."


s: The old knight muttered under his breath,


s: "Then mayhap ye shall but ride to death."


s: When I come back safe, old carle, perdie,


s: Thine head shall brush the linden-tree."


s: And Boncoeur's spy, for good leagues ten,


s: Was John's house, neither fair nor good.


s: Trembling, with hand joined fast to hand.


s: Thou hast through books of wicked lore?"


s: This day, that thou thereon mightst look,


s: Yea, in my house thou well mayst thrive."


s: They brought it him in that bowl of wood.


s: He said, "This is but poor men's blood!"


s: The great lord, called Maltete, is dead;


s: When the birds sang sweet on either hand


s: "The shoes that the May-blooms kissed on thee


s: Might yet be things to some men's mind."


s: "The kiss of thy mouth and the love of thee


s: Better than world's wealth should I find."


s: But though they sang both clear and loud,


s: Was the speech so close 'twixt lip and lip:


s: Naught lacketh the Northland joy gone past


s: Where thou wouldst rather be than here?"


s: Is there none shall bring thee some delight?"


s: "I will bring thee there where thou wouldst be,


s: They have sailed by hills were green and gay,


s: They have sailed by sea-cliffs stark and white


s: They have sailed by lands of little night


s: The flood it drave them toward the strand,


s: "Yea, this is e'en the sea-washed strand


s: To see where God first wrought us wrong:


s: "Come here, my love; come here for rest,


s: From those same eyes they once did kiss,


s: And what kind heart hath served thee well,


s: "Thou once hadst deemed great gift enow;


s: From the hall-floor hard by the row of limes.


s: So out we went, and the clattering latch


s: It was dark in the porch, but our scythes we felt,


s: And thrust the whetstone under the belt.


s: Where the tumbling roses shed their scent.


s: And there was the mead by the town-reeve's close


s: Where the hedge was sweet with the wilding rose.


s: Ere the very last of the night was spent.


s: So we whet our scythes by the stars alone:


s: But or ever the long blades felt the hay


s: While yet the bloom of the swathe was dim


s: Ere half of the road to the river was shorn


s: Now wide was the way 'twixt the standing grass


s: For the townsfolk unto the mote to pass,


s: 'Twixt the quivering rushes flickered by;


s: And though our knives shone sharp and white


s: And heard the voice of the gathering-horn


s: For the wind was in the blossoming wheat


s: And drave the bees in the lime-boughs sweet.


s: Then loud was the horn's voice drawing near,


s: And it hid the talk of the prattling weir.


s: And now was the horn on the pathway wide


s: We sheared a space by the Elders' Mound;


s: When wise men stood on the Elders' Mound,


s: And the swords were shining bright around.


s: On the first of the way that we had shorn;


s: And on the White was the Cloud-fleck blue.


s: Then thronged the folk the June-tide field


s: Now when the swords stood thick and white


s: As the mace reeds stand in the streamless bight,


s: And over his head was the grey mail done.


s: When over the new-shorn place of the field


s: Was nought but the steel hood and the shield.


s: The face on the mound shone ruddy and hale,


s: But the hoar hair showed from the hoary mail.


s: And shook a sword o'er the peopled place.


s: And there came a voice from the mound and said:


s: In the street and the booths of the goodly town.


s: Have I seen 'twixt water-side and wheat.


s: Have I bowed adown the wheat-stalks high.


s: Whose are these flocks and whose the neat,


s: That the lark was hushed above the field.


s: The old voice come from the hoary beard:


s: Whose thralls are ye, hereby that stand,


s: As glitters the sun in the rain-washed grass,


s: E'en so was the voice of the weaponed town.


s: And there was the steel of the old man's sword,


s: And there was his hollow voice, and his word:


s: "Many men many minds, the old saw saith,


s: But this, that ye were thrall-folk born;


s: When they shear the corn in the country-side?


s: What prayer to him did our fathers pray.


s: Did they hold out hands his gyves to bear?


s: Did their knees his high hall's pavement wear?


s: Doth he hold the rain in his hollow hand?


s: Hath he cleft this water through the land?


s: He hight Earl Hugh of the Shivering Low:


s: As the voice of the winter wind that tears


s: At the eaves of the thatch and its emptied ears,


s: E'en so was the voice of laughter and scorn


s: By the water-side in the mead new-shorn;


s: Red was his weed and his glaive was white,


s: So he spake in a voice was loud and strong:


s: "Young is the day though the road is long;


s: For the kiss in the porch and the meat in the hall.


s: For the foe by the way we wend must come.


s: We shall be an host both great and good;


s: And yet to the house of Heaven shall go.


s: As we went on our ways to all that happed.


s: Nor ever the face of their fathers know.


s: Doth never a thrall or an earl's man bide;


s: I heard men saying, Leave hope and praying,


s: To-day and to-morrow bring fear and sorrow,


s: When Earth was younger mid toil and hunger,


s: In hope we strove, and our hands were strong;


s: Then great men led us, with words they fed us,


s: Bids us grind treasure and fashion pleasure


s: Where home is a hovel and dull we grovel,


s: Where no babe we cherish, lest its very soul perish;


s: Who now shall lead us, what god shall heed us


s: As we lie in the hell our hands have won?


s: For us are no rulers but fools and befoolers,


s: The great are fallen, the wise men gone.


s: I heard men saying, Leave tears and praying,


s: Are we not stronger than the rich and the wronger,


s: Come, shoulder to shoulder ere the world grows older!


s: Hope is before us, the long years that bore us


s: Let dead hearts tarry and trade and marry,


s: And trembling nurse their dreams of mirth,


s: While we the living our lives are giving


s: Come, shoulder to shoulder ere earth grows older!


s: Now the world shaketh, and fear awaketh,


s: and whose walls by the toil of dead hands


s: that ye stand there with unbated breath,


s: Till the heart swells to think of the gladness


s: that these nine hundred years he hath seen.


s: till the dawn hard on midnight shall fill


s: and the grey plain the sea meeteth grey.


s: that no dark night shall brighten ere day,


s: For here day and night toileth the summer


s: Of the wonderful days a-coming, when all


s: And the tale shall be told of a country,


s: For ourselves and for each of our fellows,


s: Then all Mine and all Thine shall be Ours,


s: For all these shall be ours and all men's


s: They are gone; there is none can undo it,


s: Yea, the voiceless wrath of the wretched,


s: Blots out my half-dream's faint delight,


s: That time, when the long day toiled through,


s: Nought seem its leaves and blossoms good,


s: Their waste defeated hearts should move.


s: Here sleeps the world that would not love!


s: Thy still hands conquered in the strife;


s: Thine eyes were light; thy lips were life.


s: ere I meddled with right and with wrong.


s: While one's thought wends over the world


s: and that she will be there 'mid the hay,


s: And the great trench digged by the Romans:


s: Like a ghost, from the lives of the living


s: And the great trench digged by the Romans;


s: All free, nought owned of goods and gear,


s: Yea, God, well counselled for our health,


s: And clothe their limbs and shoe their feet


s: But the third sailed swiftly from the land


s: Art thou well content with that true love


s: _I never wail my sorrow to any other one_.


s: Yet nought but mad is thy sewing still!"


s: Knights fifteen served before his board.


s: Twelve knights had watch and ward of me.


s: Than the truth thereof to my father was said.


s: They stood by the door with glaive and spear;


s: Lord Hildebrand stroked my white white cheek:


s: Out from the door lord Hildebrand leapt,


s: Were my seven brethren with golden hair.


s: Than with eight wounds fell my love to earth.


s: But my brother's horse he swam it through.


s: There stood my mother in sorrow and shame.


s: But the first stroke that ever it strake


s: In the arm of the Queen she sat there dead,


s: _I never tell my sorrow to any other one_.


s: Thou playest not, and thou laughest not;


s: And the tale of my sorrow shalt thou hear.


s: One brought me my meat when I should dine,


s: Bright red she was as the flickering flame


s: 'To flee with thee to my heart were good.'


s: When we came to the dark wood and the shade


s: Agnes went through the meadows a-weeping,


s: There stood the hill-man heed thereof keeping.


s: The reddest of gold will I give unto thee!"


s: Then wended within, left the fair world without.


s: In the hillside bode Agnes, three years thrice told o'er,


s: For the green earth sithence fell she longing full sore.


s: There she sat, and lullaby sang in her singing,


s: And she heard how the bells of England were ringing.


s: "May I wend to the church of the English Land?"


s: "To England's Church well mayst thou be gone,


s: So that no hand thou lay the red gold upon.


s: "So that when thou art come the churchyard anear


s: "So that when thou standest the church within


s: "So that when thou hearest the high God's name,


s: No knee unto earth thou bow to the same."


s: Hand she laid on all gold that was there,


s: To her mother on bench straight did she win.


s: For thy seven small sons greet sorely for thee!"


s: "Let them greet, let them greet, as they have will to do;


s: For never again will I hearken thereto!"


s: Weird laid he on her, sore sickness he wrought,


s: That self-same hour to death was she brought.


s: When she heard how the fair knight Aagen


s: For the gates of Heaven are opening now,


s: But when the wood was well passed through,


s: Weep no more for thine own troth-plight,


s: "Whereas thou dreamed'st thou wert in heaven,


s: Dreamed'st thou of falling through the clouds,


s: And chiefest of all to the Dane-King's daughter


s: "Hail, sittest thou, sweet King's daughter,


s: They sewed the hart, they sewed the hind,


s: As they run through the wild-wood green,


s: "Hearken, sweet nurse, whereso thou art,


s: "Still wilt thou mock, still wilt thou spy;


s: He sewed the hart, and he sewed the hind,


s: He sewed the lily, and he sewed the rose,


s: The lights were quenched, the nurse went forth,


s: Therefore my breasts are little of growth


s: And there they lay through the night so long,


s: In talk full sweet, but little of sleep,


s: Nought but the sound of his gold-wrought horn


s: Why ridest thou not to my father's garth


s: But the false nurse ever stood close without,


s: For Hafbur the King hath guested with us;


s: Thank and praise to the King's son Hafbur,


s: But they took him, the King's son Hafbur,


s: As the tears fast down her cheek did fall:


s: And thronged to behold him man and maid,


s: "For my father's mind stands fast in this,


s: "Of all heeds I heeded, this was the last,


s: But when they came to the fair green mead


s: King Siward looked out of his window fair,


s: At the first of the shearing of the corn.


s: And of new-leased wheat was little dearth.


s: For the high-noon cakes they needs must earn.


s: When through the land 'tis the hook goes wide?"


s: "The autumn drought, and the winter rain,


s: The frost and the snow, and St. David's wind,


s: As thou wendest the world 'twixt home and hell!"


s: As he left the land of the wheaten shocks.


s: He's gotten him far from the Upland Town,


s: And he's gone by Dale and he's gone by Down.


s: He's come to the wild-wood dark and drear,


s: Where never the bird's song doth he hear.


s: He has slept in the moonless wood and dim


s: Where the noon is as dark as the summer night.


s: Till his scrip was bare and his meat was done.


s: On the seventh morn in the mirk, mirk wood,


s: But the very first step he made from the place


s: Sweet-mouthed she was, and fair he wist;


s: And again in the darksome wood they kissed.


s: Then first in the wood her voice he heard,


s: As sweet as the song of the summer bird.


s: "O sweet-breathed, what is the name of thee?"


s: Through her brown kirtle's rents full wide


s: Yet shalt thou eat though I hunger now."


s: She stroked his breast and his scarlet gear;


s: She spake, "How brave thou art and dear!"


s: She shook her head, and laughed, and spake;


s: But thou: this hour the crone shall know


s: "Where hast thou dwelt then on the earth?"


s: On earth save these, would all were done!


s: Till her tears rose up beneath his smile.


s: And let me know what thou seest of worth."


s: "Yea," quoth she, "There doth the mistress dwell


s: "Then shall my sharp sword lock his mouth."


s: "Nay," she said, "or a worm of the South."


s: "Then shall my sword his hot blood cool."


s: "The trees its swelling flood shall stay,


s: And dead its flickering flame shall fall."


s: What cometh down the stone-wrought stair


s: "Yea, that forsooth shall my mistress be:


s: And into the fair-built house they passed.


s: But a full fair Queen on a golden throne.


s: And he sat at the board beside the Queen,


s: When down did the mirk of midnight fall.


s: Then up and down from the board they ran,


s: There was the cry, and the laughter shrill,


s: Then spake the Queen o'er all the crowd,


s: And grim was her speech, and harsh, and loud:


s: While I sit with mine own love over the wine!


s: For this dusk is the very deed of a foe,


s: Till the noise of the bickering guests had died.


s: Then again she spake amidst of the mirk,


s: In a voice like an unoiled wheel at work:


s: Let him bring aback the sun to the lift.


s: Let him bring aback the light and the day,


s: And rich and in peace he shall go his way."


s: I shall sit at the board by the bride-groom's side,


s: I shall eat of his dish and drink of his cup,


s: "E'en so must it be, thou Angel's child.


s: Thou shalt sit by my groom till the dawn of night,


s: And then shalt thou wend thy ways aright."


s: Said the voice, "Yet shalt thou swear an oath


s: That free I shall go though ye be loth."


s: "How shall I swear?" the false Queen spake:


s: "Thou shalt swear by the one eye left in thine head,


s: And the throng of the ghosts of the evil dead."


s: There was peace in the hall, and the light of the sun.


s: While slim hands framed his hungry face;


s: And nought he saw of the guest-folk gay,


s: That wreathed her, limbs and breast and side.


s: But babbling-loud the guests were grown;


s: But nothing changed was the Queenly bride;


s: The Queen smiled o'er the guest-rich board,


s: From lips that well-nigh touched his cheek:


s: Through rents of the poor raiment there?


s: Wondering what new-wrought shape of death


s: Should quench my new love-quickened breath?


s: Thou said'st would bide thy true-love there?


s: As foolish tales through night-dreams flit.


s: And soft they cooed, and sweet they billed


s: And she crumbled a share of the spice-loaf brown,


s: And the Swain upon her hand looked down;


s: And still he looked on the hands of the Maid,


s: Then the false Queen knit her brows and laid


s: A fair white hand by the hand of the Maid.


s: But the queen-bird now the carle-bird fed


s: Then with wheedling voice for more he craved,


s: And the Maid a share from the spice-loaf shaved;


s: She held where the creeping doves did stand.


s: And saw how the carle the queen-bird wronged.


s: And swiftly all things there 'gan change.


s: And bright the sunshine streamed in there,


s: Swine-heads; small red eyes void of ruth;


s: And all these mopped and mowed and grinned,


s: And cried the Maid: "Thy sword, thy sword!


s: Out flashed the blade therewith.  He saw


s: The foul thing sidelong toward them draw,


s: And the sharp blade sheared the evil throat.


s: And faced the beast, that whined and cried,


s: But round him the Swain danced and leaped,


s: Reared 'gainst his face the mouth aboil:


s: And the hot blood ran from the hairy throat,


s: Then back he turned and caught her hand,


s: "Sweet art thou, though we perish here!"


s: "Come, love," she cried, "the ways I know,


s: Bright grey the great boles gleamed on it.


s: "O flee," she said, "the sword is nought


s: If thou mightst bring us from the wood."


s: She said: "It hangs 'twixt worst and best.


s: As though nought else were aught of worth,


s: For all earth's wealth that may be found


s: Strode onward through the wild-wood dim.


s: Till clear the shapes of things were seen.


s: And yelling mouth.  Then the swain stood


s: She looked up; sobs were all her speech,


s: Doubted the swain, and a while did stand


s: Then he tore his coat from the woman's hand,


s: And there rose behind him laughter shrill,


s: And then was the windless wood all still,


s: Then stirred the sweetling that he bore,


s: And she slid adown from his arms once more.


s: Nought might he see her well-loved face;


s: But he felt her lips in the mirky place.


s: "'Tis night," she said, "and the false day's gone,


s: And we twain in the wild-wood all alone.


s: So 'neath the trees they lay, those twain,


s: And to them the darksome night was gain.


s: And when on their feet they came to stand


s: Swain Goldilocks stretched out his hand.


s: She blushed as red as the sun-sweet rose:


s: That the false Queen dight to slay my heart;


s: And sore indeed was their fleshly smart.


s: And this tattered coat is now for a sign


s: Till the wood grew light with the outer day.


s: He sheareth a deal from his kirtle meet,


s: He windeth a wreath of the beechen tree,


s: "Lead forth, O love, the Woodland Child!


s: And what wilt thou with the woodland may?"


s: And we come adown from the wild-wood side,


s: But when they came to the Fathers' door,


s: When forth from the Upland Town he went.


s: What are the deeds that thou hast done?"


s: "I have wooed me a wife in the forest wild,


s: And therewith an Evil Thing have I slain;


s: Yet I come with the first-come harvest-wain."


s: How good is the deed that thou hast done?


s: But how long the time that is worn away!


s: But the autumn drought, and the winter rain,


s: The frost and the snow, and St. David's wind,


s: Till they came adown from the wheaten shocks.


s: Come, love, and look on the Fathers' Hall,


s: And the folk of the kindred one and all!


s: Shall dwell in the land of the Wheaten Shocks."


s: Extracts from the Book of Tarshish, or "Necklace of Pearls."


s: Most of the poems in this volume were originally printed in


s: Publisher's note: Thanks are due to the Editors of "The Century,"


s: EMMA LAZARUS. (Written for "The Century Magazine")


s: sensibilities, whose imagination, not yet focused by reality,


s: In this connection a name would suggest itself even if it did not


s: "What simple things be these the soul to raise


s: To bounding joy, and make young pulses beat


s: With nameless pleasure, finding life so sweet!"


s: And over ruined fields the storm hath come."


s: "The mystic winged and flickering butterfly,


s: Ah! who can tell to what strange paradise,


s: To what undreamed-of fields and lofty skies!"


s: assert herself or claim any prerogative,--something even morbid


s: and exaggerated, which we know not how to define, whether as


s: That plays upon the grass, to feel (and sigh


s: With perfect pleasure) the mild breeze stir


s: She gives us the breath of the pines and of the cool, salt seas,


s: With gazing at the large, bright, breathing sea."


s: "Although, generally speaking, I do not think it advisable


s: to take celebrated men, especially poets and artists, as a


s: subject for a novel, still I am truly glad to say that I


s: have read your book with the liveliest interest.  It is


s: very sincere and very poetical at the same time; the life


s: and spirit of Germany have no secrets for you, and your


s: characters are drawn with a pencil as delicate as it is


s: strong.  I feel very proud of the approbation you give to


s: my works, and of the influence you kindly attribute to them


s: on your own talent; an author who write as you do is not


s: a pupil in art any more; he is not far from being himself


s: This awful joy in mine own heart is love."


s: "While you are here the one thing real to me


s: under such adverse conditions seems little short of a miracle,


s: has been deprived of the natural means of development and


s: progress, and has remained a stationary force.  The next


s: hundred years will, in our opinion be the test of their


s: vitality as a people; the phase of toleration upon which


s: they are only now entering will prove whether or not they


s: Laid waste where Greeks profaned the Law


s: Even they who shrunk, even they who slept,


s: The dead forms burst their bonds and lived again. She sings "Rosh


s: "Kindle the taper like the steadfast star


s: Ablaze on Evening's forehead o'er the earth,


s: An eight-fold splendor shine above thy hearth.


s: Clash, Israel, the cymbals, touch the lyre,


s: Blow the brass trumpet and the harsh-tongued horn;


s: Chant psalms of victory till the heart take fire,


s: "What! can these dead bones live, whose sap is dried


s: Is as a tale that's told, an ancient song?


s: Of psalmist, priest, and prophet?  Can the breath


s: Open the graves, and clothe the ribs of death?


s: Yea, Prophesy, the Lord hath said again:


s: Say to the wind, come forth and breathe afresh,


s: Even that they may live, upon these slain,


s: And bone to bone shall leap, and flesh to flesh.


s: The spirit is not dead, proclaim the word.


s: Where lay dead bones a host of armed men stand!


s: I ope your graves, my people, saith the Lord,


s: And I shall place you living in your land."


s: "Have you no smile to welcome love with, Liebhaid?


s: Afraid of my own heart, my unfathomed joy,


s: "What good shall come, forswearing kith and God,


s: To follow the allurements of the heart?"


s: How shall I pray for strength to love him less


s: I am all Israel's now.  Till this cloud pass,


s: I have no thought, no passion, no desire,


s: "The misers! they will take their gems and gold


s: "Our feet stand within thy gates, O Zion!


s: These flames that would eclipse it dark as blots


s: Of candle-light against the blazing sun.


s: We die a thousand deaths,--drown, bleed, and burn.


s: Yet the wild winds cherish the sacred seed,


s: Brave through our bright example, virtuous


s: Lest our great memory fall in disrepute."


s: The "Dance to Death" was published, along with other poems and


s: "I am fully persuaded that all suggested solutions other


s: than this are but temporary palliatives.... The idea


s: formulated by George Eliot has already sunk into the minds


s: rapidity.  'The idea that I am possessed with,' says Deronda,


s: 'is that of restoring a political existence to my people;


s: making them a nation again, giving them a national centre,


s: such as the English have, though they, too, are scattered


s: over the face of the globe.  That task which presents itself


s: to me as a duty.... I am resolved to devote my life to


s: prophetess who wrote the above words have lived but till to-


s: day to see the ever-increasing necessity of adopting her


s: inspired counsel,...she would have been herself astonished


s: at the flame enkindled by her seed of fire, and the practical


s: shape which the movement projected by her poetic vision is


s: "Every student of the Hebrew language is aware that we have


s: in the conjugation of our verbs a mode known as the 'intensive


s: voice,' which, by means of an almost imperceptible modification


s: of vowel-points, intensifies the meaning of the primitive root.


s: in connection with the people among whom they dwell.  They are


s: the 'intensive form' of any nationality whose language and


s: customs they adopt.... Influenced by the same causes, they


s: represent the same results; but the deeper lights and shadows


s: of the Oriental temperament throw their failings, as well as


s: their virtues, into more prominent relief."


s: In drawing the epistles to a close, February 24, 1883, she thus


s: summarizes the special objects she has had in view:--


s: "My chief aim has been to contribute my mite towards arousing


s: First, in a return to varied pursuits and broad system of


s: physical and intellectual education adopted by our ancestors;


s: Second, in a more fraternal and practical movement towards


s: favored than our own; Third, in a closer and wider study of


s: Hebrew literature and history and finally, in a truer recognition


s: which Judaism is founded, and which should draw into harmonious


s: "Our last day on board ship was a vision of beauty from


s: morning till night,--the sea like a mirror and the sky


s: dazzling with light.  In the afternoon we passed a ship


s: in full sail, near enough to exchange salutes and cheers.


s: After tossing about for six days without seeing a human


s: being, except those on our vessel, even this was a sensation.


s: Then an hour or two before sunset came the great sensation


s: of--land!  At first, nothing but a shadow on the far horizon,


s: like the ghost of a ship; two or three widely scattered rocks


s: which were the promontories of Ireland, and sooner than we


s: expected we were steaming along low-lying purple hills."


s: The journey to Chester gives her "the first glimpse of mellow


s: England,"--a surprise which is yet no surprise, so well known and


s: "I have neither ability, energy, nor purpose," she writes. "It is


s: And now once more we come upon that keen zest of enjoyment, that


s: "wiping out all other places and impressions, and opening


s: a whole new world of sensations.  I am wild with the


s: excitement of this tremendous place.  I have been here a


s: week, and have seen the Vatican and the Capitoline Museums,


s: and the Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter's, besides the ruins


s: on the streets and on the hills, and the graves of Shelley


s: "It is all heart-breaking.  I don't only mean those beautiful


s: graves, overgrown with acanthus and violets, but the mutilated


s: the glowing sunshine under the Roman blue sky."


s: "and the far-away past, that seems so sad and strange and


s: near.  I am even out of humor with pictures; a bit of broken


s: stone or a  fragment of a bas-relief, or a Corinthian column


s: standing out against this lapis-lazuli sky, or a tremendous


s: arch, are the only things I can look at for the moment,--


s: except the Sistine Chapel, which is as gigantic as the rest,


s: and forces itself upon you with equal might."


s: incongruity. Her works bear the imprint of her character, and her


s: Not while the snow-shroud round dead earth is rolled,


s: And naked branches point to frozen skies,--


s: When orchards burn their lamps of fiery gold,


s: Look where the mother of the months uplifts


s: In the green clearness of the unsunned West,


s: Her ivory horn of plenty, dropping gifts,


s: Cool, harvest-feeding dews, fine-winnowed light;


s: Back to thy courts whatever faint heart throb


s: With thine ancestral blood, thy need craves all.


s: The red, dark year is dead, the year just born


s: Leads on from anguish wrought by priest and mob,


s: For never yet, since on the holy height,


s: The Temple's marble walls of white and green


s: Carved like the sea-waves, fell, and the world's light


s: Went out in darkness,--never was the year


s: Greater with portent and with promise seen,


s: Even as the Prophet promised, so your tent


s: Hath been enlarged unto earth's farthest rim.


s: To snow-capped Sierras from vast steppes ye went,


s: Through fire and blood and tempest-tossing wave,


s: For freedom to proclaim and worship Him,


s: High above flood and fire ye held the scroll,


s: Out of the depths ye published still the Word.


s: No bodily pang had power to swerve your soul:


s: Lived to bear witness to the living Lord,


s: One rolling homeward to its ancient source,


s: One rushing sunward with fresh will, new heart.


s: By each the truth is spread, the law unfurled,


s: Each separate soul contains the nation's force,


s: Offer the first fruits of the clustered bowers,


s: The garnered spoil of bees.  With prayer and praise


s: Rejoice that once more tried, once more we prove


s: How strength of supreme suffering still is ours


s: The flood of tears, the life-blood spilt


s: With blood for blood and crime for crime.


s: "Since that day till now our life is one unbroken paradise.  We


s: live a true brotherly life.  Every evening after supper we take


s: a seat under the mighty oak and sing our songs."--Extract from


s: Twilight is here, soft breezes bow the grass,


s: Day's sounds of various toil break slowly off,


s: The yoke-freed oxen low, the patient ass


s: Dips his dry nostril in the cool, deep trough.


s: Up from the prairie the tanned herdsmen pass


s: With frothy pails, guiding with voices rough


s: Their udder-lightened kine.  Fresh smells of earth,


s: The rich, black furrows of the glebe send forth.


s: How good to lie, with limbs relaxed, brows bare


s: To evening's fan, and watch the smoke-wreaths coil


s: Up from one's pipe-stem through the rayless air.


s: So deem these unused tillers of the soil,


s: Who stretched beneath the shadowing oak tree, stare


s: The hounded stag that has escaped the pack,


s: And pants at ease within a thick-leaved dell;


s: The unimprisoned bird that finds the track


s: Through sun-bathed space, to where his fellows dwell;


s: The martyr, granted respite from the rack,


s: The death-doomed victim pardoned from his cell,--


s: Such only know the joy these exiles gain,--


s: Life's sharpest rapture is surcease of pain.


s: Strange faces theirs, wherethrough the Orient sun


s: Gleams from the eyes and glows athwart the skin.


s: Grave lines of studious thought and purpose run


s: From curl-crowned forehead to dark-bearded chin.


s: And over all the seal is stamped thereon


s: In fire and blood through ages on their name,


s: Their seal of glory and the Gentiles' shame.


s: Freedom to love the law that Moses brought,


s: To sing the songs of David, and to think


s: Freedom to dig the common earth, to drink


s: And truth's perpetual lamp forbid to wane.


s: Hark! through the quiet evening air, their song


s: Floats forth with wild sweet rhythm and glad refrain.


s: They sing the conquest of the spirit strong,


s: The soul that wrests the victory from pain;


s: To comrades and to brothers.  In their strain


s: Rustle of palms and Eastern streams one hears,


s: And the broad prairie melts in mist of tears.


s: The golden harvest-tide is here, the corn


s: Bows its proud tops beneath the reaper's hand.


s: Ripe orchards' plenteous yields enrich the land;


s: Bring the first fruits and offer them this morn,


s: With the stored sweetness of all summer hours,


s: The amber honey sucked from myriad flowers,


s: And sacrifice your best first fruits to-day,


s: With fainting hearts and hands forespent with toil,


s: Offer the mellow harvest's splendid spoil,


s: To Him who gives and Him who takes away.


s: Bring timbrels, bring the harp of sweet accord,


s: And in a pleasant psalm your voice attune,


s: And blow the cornet greeting the new moon.


s: Who woundeth and who healeth mortal pain,


s: Whose hand afflicts us, and who sends us peace.


s: Hail thou slim arc of promise in the West,


s: Thou pledge of certain plenty, peace, and rest.


s: With the spent year, may the year's sorrows cease.


s: The crown, the garland of the branching tree


s: Is plucked and withered.  Ripe of years was he.


s: The priest, the good old man who wrought so well


s: Who at his seed-plot toiled through rain and sun.


s: Morn found him not as one who slumbereth,


s: Noon saw him faithful, and the restful night


s: The just man's service with the just man's death.


s: What shall be said when such as he do pass?


s: Go to the hill-side, neath the cypress-trees,


s: Fall midst that peopled silence on your knees,


s: And weep that man must wither as the grass.


s: But mourn him not, whose blameless life complete


s: Rounded its perfect orb, whose sleep is sweet,


s: Whom we must follow, but may not recall.


s: Salute with solemn trumpets the New Year,


s: And offer honeyed fruits as were he here,


s: Though ye be sick with wormwood and with gall.


s: A brackish lake is there with bitter pools


s: Anigh its margin, brushed by heavy trees.


s: Gray skies above, and in the gloomy space


s: An awful presence hath its dwelling-place.


s: I saw a youth pass down that vale of tears;


s: His head was circled with a crown of thorn,


s: His form was bowed as by the weight of years,


s: His wayworn feet by stones were cut and torn.


s: His eyes were such as have beheld the sword


s: He passed, and clouds and shadows and thick haze


s: Fell and encompassed him.  I might not see


s: What hand upheld him in those dismal ways,


s: Wherethrough he staggered with his misery.


s: The creeping mists that trooped and spread around,


s: The smitten head and writhing form enwound.


s: Then slow and gradual but sure they rose,


s: Those clinging vapors blotting out the sky.


s: The youth had fallen not, his viewless foes


s: Unto the heart that fainted not nor failed,


s: But from the hill-tops its salvation hailed.


s: I looked at him in dread lest I should see,


s: The anguish of the struggle in his eyes;


s: And lo, great peace was there!  Triumphantly


s: The sunshine crowned him from the sacred skies.


s: "From strength to strength he goes," he leaves beneath


s: "Thrice blest who passing through that vale of Tears,


s: Makes it a well,"--and draws life-nourishment


s: From those death-bitter drops.  No grief, no fears


s: Assail him further, he may scorn the event.


s: For naught hath power to swerve the steadfast soul


s: Within that valley broken and made whole.


s: Laid waste where Greeks profaned the Law,


s: Even they who shrunk, even they who slept,


s: *The sons of Mattathias--Jonanthan, John, Eleazer,


s: On my lord Bishop's head, his grace of Malta.


s: Nobly he bears them all,--with tact, skill, zeal,


s: Fulfills each special office, vast or slight,


s: Nor slurs the least minutia,--therewithal


s: Broad-checked, broad-chested, reverend, sanctified,


s: Haloed with white about the tonsure's rim,


s: With dropped lids o'er the piercing Spanish eyes


s: (Lynx-keen, I warrant, to spy out heresy);


s: Tall, massive form, o'ertowering all in presence,


s: Or ere they kneel to kiss the large white hand.


s: His looks sustain his deeds,--the perfect prelate,


s: Whose void chair shall be taken, but not filled.


s: You know not, who are foreign to the isle,


s: Haply, what this Red Disk may be, he guards.


s: 'T is the bright blotch, big as the Royal seal,


s: These vermin so infest the isle, so slide


s: Direct or roundabout to wealth or power,


s: Some plain, plump mark was needed, to protect


s: From the degrading contact Christian folk.


s: Wore such a haughty air, had so refined,


s: With super-subtile arts, strict, monkish lives,


s: And studious habit, the coarse Hebrew type,


s: One might have elbowed in the public mart


s: Iscariot,--nor suspected one's soul-peril.


s: Christ's blood! it sets my flesh a-creep to think!


s: We may breathe freely now, not fearing taint,


s: Praise be our good Lord Bishop!  He keeps count


s: The scarlet stamp of separateness, of shame.


s: No beard, blue-black, grizzled or Judas-colored,


s: May hide that damning little wafer-flame.


s: When one appears therewith, the urchins know


s: Good sport's at hand; they fling their stones and mud,


s: Sure of their game.  But most the wisdom shows


s: Upon the unbelievers' selves; they learn


s: Their proper rank; crouch, cringe, and hide,--lay by


s: Flaunt forth in rich attire, but in dull weeds,


s: Slovenly donned, would slink past unobserved;


s: Bow servile necks and crook obsequious knees,


s: Chin sunk in hollow chest, eyes fixed on earth


s: I warrant my Lord Bishop has full hands,


s: Guarding the Red Disk--lest one rogue escape!


s: What, can these dead bones live, whose sap is dried


s: Is this the House of Israel, whose pride


s: Is as a tale that's told, an ancient song?


s: Of psalmist, priest, and prophet?  Can the breath


s: Open the graves and clothe the ribs of death?


s: Yea, Prophesy, the Lord hath said.  Again


s: Say to the wind, Come forth and breathe afresh,


s: Even that they may live upon these slain,


s: And bone to bone shall leap, and flesh to flesh.


s: The Spirit is not dead, proclaim the word,


s: Where lay dead bones, a host of armed men stand!


s: I ope your graves, my people, saith the Lord,


s: And I shall place you living in your land.


s: Veiled, floating phantoms, lost in twilight space;


s: For one the hour had struck, he paused; the place


s: Two paths are offered; that, in velvet-flower,


s: Follow the multitude and bind thine eyes,


s: Thou and thy sons' sons shall have peace with power.


s: This narrow track skirts the abysmal verge,


s: Here shalt thou stumble, totter, weep and bleed,


s: All men shall hate and hound thee and thy seed,


s: Thy portion be the wound, the stripe, the scourge.


s: But in thy hand I place my lamp for light,


s: Thy blood shall be the witness of my Law,


s: The unveiled spirit, grown divinely bright,


s: Choose the grim path.  He turned, I knew full well


s: The pale, great martyr-forehead shadowy-curled,


s: The glowing eyes that had renounced the world,


s: Stripes and scourgings, death and shame.


s: Well-nigh two thousand years hath Israel


s: Suffered the scorn of man for love of God;


s: Endured the outlaw's ban, the yoke, the rod,


s: With perfect patience.  Empires rose and fell,


s: On his high places, while the sacred sod


s: His faith proved steadfast, without breach or flaw,


s: But now the last renouncement is required.


s: His truth prevails, his God is God, his Law


s: Not his the glory!  He, maligned, misknown,


s: Bows his meek head, and says, "Thy will be done!"


s: Kindle the taper like the steadfast star


s: Ablaze on evening's forehead o'er the earth,


s: An eightfold splendor shine above thy hearth.


s: Clash, Israel, the cymbals, touch the lyre,


s: Blow the brass trumpet and the harsh-tongued horn;


s: Chant psalms of victory till the heart takes fire,


s: Remember how from wintry dawn till night,


s: Such songs were sung in Zion, when again


s: On the high altar flamed the sacred light,


s: The foam-white walls with golden shields were hung,


s: With crowns and silken spoils, and at the shrine,


s: Stood, midst their conqueror-tribe, five chieftains sprung


s: Five branches grown from Mattathias' stem,


s: Simon the fair, the Burst-of Spring, the Gem,


s: Towered in warrior-beauty, uncrowned king,


s: Armed with the breastplate and the sword of God,


s: Whose praise is: "He received the perishing."


s: They who had camped within the mountain-pass,


s: Couched on the rock, and tented neath the sky,


s: Who saw from Mizpah's heights the tangled grass


s: Choke the wide Temple-courts, the altar lie


s: Their faces on the stones, and mourned aloud


s: And rent their garments, wailing with one tongue,


s: Crushed as a wind-swept bed of reeds is bowed,


s: Even they by one voice fired, one heart of flame,


s: Though broken reeds, had risen, and were men,


s: They rushed upon the spoiler and o'ercame,


s: Each arm for freedom had the strength of ten.


s: Now is their mourning into dancing turned,


s: Their sackcloth doffed for garments of delight,


s: Week-long the festive torches shall be burned,


s: Still ours the dance, the feast, the glorious Psalm,


s: The mystic lights of emblem, and the Word.


s: Where is our Judas?  Where our five-branched palm?


s: Where are the lion-warriors of the Lord?


s: Clash, Israel, the cymbals, touch the lyre,


s: Sound the brass trumpet and the harsh-tongued horn,


s: Chant hymns of victory till the heart take fire,


s: His prayer was granted.  High as heaven, behold


s: Of lavish Nile washed all his land with gold.


s: Armies of slaves toiled ant-wise at his feet,


s: World-circling traffic roared through mart and street,


s: His priests were gods, his spice-balmed kings enshrined,


s: Set death at naught in rock-ribbed charnels deep.


s: Seek Pharaoh's race to-day and ye shall find


s: Rust and the moth, silence and dusty sleep.


s: "O World-God, give me beauty!" cried the Greek.


s: His prayer was granted.  All the earth became


s: Plastic and vocal to his sense; each peak,


s: Each grove, each stream, quick with Promethean flame,


s: Peopled the world with imaged grace and light.


s: The lyre was his, and his the breathing might


s: Of diamond-pointed thought and golden tongue.


s: Go seek the sun-shine race, ye find to-day


s: "O World-God, give me Power!" the Roman cried.


s: His prayer was granted.  The vast world was chained


s: The blood of myriad provinces was drained


s: To feed that fierce, insatiable red heart.


s: With serried legions and with close-meshed Code,


s: Within, the burrowing worm had gnawed its home,


s: "O Godhead, give me Truth!" the Hebrew cried.


s: His prayer was granted; he became the slave


s: Cursed, hated, spurned, and scourged with none to save.


s: The Pharaohs knew him, and when Greece beheld,


s: Beauty he hath forsworn, and wealth and power.


s: Seek him to-day, and find in every land.


s: No fire consumes him, neither floods devour;


s: Immortal through the lamp within his hand.


s: Be then the desperate strife, the storm and stress


s: Who dies for freedom, loving all things less,


s: Against world-legions, mustering his poor clan;


s: The weak, the wronged, the miserable, to send


s: Their death-cry's protest through the ages' span--


s: Nobler the conquered than the conqueror's end!


s: Thou two-faced year, Mother of Change and Fate,


s: Didst weep when Spain cast forth with flaming sword,


s: The children of the prophets of the Lord,


s: Prince, priest, and people, spurned by zealot hate.


s: Hounded from sea to sea, from state to state,


s: The West refused them, and the East abhorred.


s: No anchorage the known world could afford,


s: Close-locked was every port, barred every gate.


s: Then smiling, thou unveil'dst, O two-faced year,


s: A virgin world where doors of sunset part,


s: There falls each ancient barrier that the art


s: Of race or creed or rank devised, to rear


s: Grim bulwarked hatred between heart and heart!"


s: Of God's decree, they come as lightning, wind:


s: Before the throne, they all are living fire.


s: There stand four rows of angels--to the right


s: The hosts of Michael, Gabriel's to the left,


s: The ranks of Raphael; all, with one accord,


s: Upon the high and holy throne there rests,


s: Is compassed in His glance; at His right hand


s: Life stands, and at His left hand standeth Death.


s: Had spread abroad among the heavenly hosts;


s: And all at once before the immortal throne


s: Pressed troops of angels and of seraphim,


s: With minds opposed, and contradicting cries:


s: "Fulfill, great Father, thine exalted thought!


s: Create and give unto the earth her king!"


s: "Cease, cease, Almighty God! create no more!"


s: Deep silence fell; before the immortal throne


s: The angel Mercy knelt, and thus he spoke:


s: Create the likeness of thyself on earth.


s: In this new creature I will breathe the spirit


s: But to his words the angel Peace replied,


s: With heavy sobs: "My spirit was outspread,


s: But man, this strange new being, everywhere


s: Shall bring confusion, trouble, discord, war."


s: Exclaimed the angel Justice, "he shall be


s: Subject to me, and peace shall bloom again.


s: Create, oh Lord, create!"  "Father of truth,"


s: Implored with tears the angel Truth, "Thou bring'st


s: A cloud of grief, and stillness deep prevailed.


s: Then from the midst of that abyss of light


s: Whence sprang the eternal throne, these words rang forth:


s: "Be comforted, my daughter!  Thee I send


s: And all the angels cried, lamenting loud:


s: "Thou robbest heaven of her fairest gem.


s: Truth! seal of all thy thoughts, Almighty God,


s: "From heaven to earth, from earth once more to heaven,


s: Shall Truth, with constant interchange, alight


s: From his wide wanderings under many skies,


s: Through Spain and Italy, the isles of Greece,


s: Laughing with bloom, across the Caucasus,


s: The interminable sameness of bare steppes,


s: Through dark luxuriance of Bohemian woods,


s: And issuing on the broad, bright Moldau vale,


s: Entered the gates of Prague.  Here, too, his fame,


s: Being winged, preceded him.  His people swarmed


s: Of learning from his lips.  Amazement filled


s: Of Moses ben-Maimuni, called him friend;


s: Raschi the scholiast, poet, and physician,


s: Who bore the ponderous Bible's storied wisdom,


s: The Mischna's tangled lore at tip of tongue,


s: From his clear eye youth flamed magnificent;


s: Force, masked by grace, moved in his balanced frame;


s: Dominant on domed brow, on fine, firm lips,


s: While, as an aureole crowns a burning lamp,


s: Shone beauty of a soul benign with love.


s: Grazing each other's heels, urged by one will,


s: With bleat and baa following the wether's lead,


s: Or the wise shepherd, so o'er the Moldau bridge


s: Chattering, hustling, shuffling.  At their head


s: High priest in Prague, oldest and most revered,


s: To greet the star of Israel.  As a father


s: Yearns toward his son, so toward the noble Raschi


s: Leapt at first sight the patriarch's fresh old heart.


s: "My home be thine in Prague!  Be thou my son,


s: Who have no offspring save one simple girl.


s: See, glorious youth, who dost renew the days


s: Delights to honor who hath honored him."


s: Then Raschi, though he felt a ball of fire


s: Globe itself in his throat, maintained his calm,


s: His cheek's opaque, swart pallor while he kissed


s: Silent the Rabbi's withered hand, and bowed


s: He had the word of counsel, comfort, help;


s: For all, rich eloquence of thanks.  His voice,


s: Even and grave, thrilled secret chords and set


s: Plain speech to music.  Certain folk were there


s: Sick in the body, dragging painful limbs,


s: To the physician.  These he solaced first,


s: With healing touch, with simples from his pouch,


s: Of constant service till their ills were cured.


s: And some, gray-bearded, bald, and curved with age,


s: Blear-eyed from poring over lines obscure


s: And knotty riddles of the Talmud, brought


s: Their problems to this youth, who cleared and solved,


s: Yielding prompt answer to a lifetime's search.


s: Then, followed, pushed by his obsequious tribe,


s: Who fain had pedestaled him on their backs,


s: Hemming his steps, choking the airs of heaven


s: With their oppressive honors, he advanced,


s: Midst shouts, tumultuous welcomes, kisses showered


s: Upon his road-stained garments, through Prague's streets,


s: Gaped at by Gentiles, hissed at and reviled,


s: Glad tidings Raschi brought from West and East


s: Another still in Bagdad, from whose chair


s: Preached the great rabbi, Samuel Ha-levi,


s: Who blindfold could repeat the whole vast text


s: From Bagdad, Raschi found in the wilderness,


s: Thrice ten perpetual lamps starred the dim shrine,


s: Two hundred sentinels held the sleepless vigil,


s: Receiving offerings.  At the Feast of Booths


s: From all the neighboring lands, to celebrate


s: The glorious memories of the golden days.


s: The pearl, the crown of Israel, ben-Maimuni,


s: Forgetting or ignoring the chief shrine,


s: The Exile's Home, whereunto yearned all hearts,


s: All ears were strained for tidings.  Some one asked:


s: The light died from his eyes.  From depths profound


s: Issued his grave, great voice: "Alas for Zion!


s: Nay, not a score, not ten, not two abide!


s: His heart's live wound; to weep, a mendicant,


s: Where reigned his ancestors, upon the graves


s: Where sleep the priests, the prophets, and the kings


s: Who were his forefathers.  Ask me no more!"


s: And his tumultuous greeting, envious growls


s: And ominous eyebeams threatened storm in Prague.


s: The Anti-Christ!  The century-long-awaited,


s: Flaunting their monstrous joy in Christian eyes,


s: And strutting peacock-like, with hideous screams,


s: Who are wont to crawl, mute reptiles underfoot."


s: A stone or two flung at some servile form,


s: (With secret happiness but half suppressed


s: On features cast for misery), served at first


s: For chance expression of the rabble's hate;


s: But, swelling like a snow-ball rolled along


s: By mischief-plotting boys, the rage increased,


s: With righteous wrath his injured subjects' charge


s: Against presumptuous aliens: how these blocked


s: His avenues, his bridges; bared to the sun


s: The canker-taint of Prague's obscurest coigne;


s: One who denied Him, one by them hailed Christ.


s: Enough!  This cloud, no bigger than one's hand,


s: Gains overweening bulk.  Prague harbored, first,


s: Out of contemptuous ruth, a wretched band


s: Of outcast paupers, gave them leave to ply


s: Their money-lending trade, and leased them land


s: On all too facile terms.  Behold! to-day,


s: Like leeches bloated with the people's blood,


s: They breed and grow; like adders, spit back hate


s: Thereat the Duke, urged by wise counsellors--


s: Narzerad the statesman (half whose wealth was pledged


s: The Holy Sepulchre, whose long, full life


s: The Duke, I say, by these persuasive tongues,


s: Coaxed to his darling aim, forbade his guards


s: Raschi sat, full of peace, with Jochanan,


s: And the sole daughter of the house, Rebekah,


s: Young, beautiful as her namesake when she brought


s: Her firm, frail pitcher balanced on her neck


s: Unto the well, and gave the stranger drink,


s: And gave his camels drink.  The servant set


s: The sparkling jar's refreshment from his lips,


s: And saw the virgin's face, bright as the moon,


s: Beam from the curled luxuriance of black locks,


s: And cast-back linen veil's soft-folded cloud,


s: Then put the golden ear-ring by her cheek,


s: The bracelets on her hands, his master's pledge,


s: Isaac's betrothal gift, whom she should wed,


s: And be the mother of millions--one whose seed


s: Dwells in the gates of those which hate them.


s: Yearned Raschi to adorn the radiant girl


s: Who sat at board before him, nor dared lift


s: Shy, heavy lids from pupils black as grapes


s: That dart the imprisoned sunshine from their core.


s: But in her ears keen sense was born to catch,


s: And in her heart strange power to hold, each tone


s: O' the low-keyed, vibrant voice, each syllable


s: O' the eloquent discourse, enriched with tales


s: Of venturous travel, brilliant with fine points


s: With living portraits of world-famoused men,


s: Whose hand he had grasped--the iron warrior,


s: Who in all strength, wit, courtesy excelled


s: But even as Raschi spake an abrupt noise


s: Of angry shouts, of battering staves that shook


s: The oaken portal, stopped the enchanted voice,


s: The uplifted wine spilled from the nerveless hand


s: Hie thee, Rebekah, to the inmost chamber,


s: Far from their wanton eyes' polluting gaze,


s: Their desecrating touch!  Kiss me!  Begone!


s: Raschi, my guest, my son"--But no word more


s: Uttered the reverend man.  With one huge crash


s: The strong doors split asunder, pouring in


s: A stream of soldiers, ruffians, armed with pikes,


s: Lances, and clubs--the unchained beast, the mob.


s: "Behold the town's new guest!" jeered one who tossed


s: The half-filled golden wine-cup's contents straight


s: Must your good friends of Prague break bolts and bars


s: You bury in your shell?  Forth to the day!


s: Our Duke himself claims share of your new wealth;


s: Then, while some stuffed their pokes with baubles snatched


s: From board and shelf, or with malignant sword


s: Slashed the rich Orient rugs, the pictured woof


s: That clothed the wall; others had seized and bound,


s: And gagged from speech, the helpless, aged man;


s: Still others outraged, with coarse, violent hands,


s: The marble-pale, rigid as stone, strange youth,


s: Whose eye like struck flint flashed, whose nether lip


s: Was threaded with a scarlet line of blood,


s: Where the compressed teeth fixed it to forced calm.


s: He struggled not while his free limbs were tied,


s: His beard plucked, torn and spat upon his robe--


s: Seemed scarce to know these insults were for him;


s: But never swerved his gaze from Jochanan.


s: Swiftly and low he spake: "Be of good cheer,


s: Reverend old man.  I deign not treat with these.


s: By the ineffable Name!  I snap my chains


s: Like gossamer, and in his blood, to the hilt,


s: Bathe the prompt knife hid in my girdle's folds.


s: The Duke shall hear me.  Patience.  Trust in me."


s: Somewhat the authoritative voice abashed,


s: Even hoarse and changed, the miscreants, who feared


s: Some strong curse lurked in this mysterious tongue,


s: Armed with this evil eye.  But brief the spell.


s: With gibe and scoff they dragged their victims forth,


s: The abused old man, the proud, insulted youth,


s: O'er the late path of his triumphal march,


s: Befouled with mud, with raiment torn, wild hair


s: Quick-eyed, sharp-nosed, red-whiskered as a fox;


s: Bishop of Olmutz, unctuous, large, and bland.


s: "So these twain are chief culprits!" sneered the Duke,


s: Measuring with the noble's ignorant scorn


s: His masters of a lesser caste.  "Stand forth!


s: Rash, stubborn, vain old man, whose impudence


s: Hath choked the public highways with thy brood


s: In lanes obscure, who hailed this charlatan


s: With sky-flung caps, bent knees, and echoing shouts,


s: Due to ourselves alone in Prague; yea, worse,


s: Who offered worship even ourselves disclaim,


s: Thy crimes have murdered patience.  Thou hast wrecked


s: Thy people's fortune with thy own.  But first


s: With how great compensation from thy store


s: Hark how my subjects, storming through the streets,


s: Vent on thy tribe accursed their well-based wrath."


s: And, truly, through closed casements roared the noise


s: Of mighty surging crowds, derisive cries,


s: And victims' screams of anguish and affright.


s: "Hear me, my liege!"  At that commanding voice,


s: The Bishop, who with dazed eyes had perused


s: The grieved, wise, beautiful, pale face, sprang up,


s: Quick recognition in his glance, warm joy


s: Aflame on his broad cheeks.  "No more!  No more!


s: Thou art the man!  Give me the hand to kiss


s: That raised me from the shadow of the grave


s: In Jaffa's lazar-house!  Listen, my liege!


s: I, sickened with the plague and nigh to death,


s: Languished 'midst strangers, all my crumbling flesh


s: One rotten mass of sores, a thing for dogs


s: To shy from, shunned by Christian as by Turk,


s: When lo! this clean-breathed, pure-souled, blessed youth,


s: Seeing featured like the Christ, believed a saint,


s: Sat by my pillow, charmed the sting from pain,


s: Quenched the fierce fever's heat, defeated Death;


s: And when I was made whole, had disappeared,


s: No man knew whither, leaving no more trace


s: Then Raschi, who had stood erect, nor quailed


s: Now sank his eagle gaze, stooped his high head,


s: Veiling his glowing brow, returned the kiss


s: Of brother-love upon the Christian's hand,


s: And dropping on his knees implored the three,


s: "Grace for my tribe!  They are what ye have made.


s: Insatiable, revengeful, ignorant, mean--


s: And there are many such--ask your own hearts


s: What virtues ye would yield for planted hate,


s: Ribald contempt, forced, menial servitude,


s: Who bear on back and breast the scathing brand


s: In ignominious livery, whose bowed necks


s: Are broken with the yoke.  Change these to men!


s: That were a noble witchcraft simply wrought,


s: God's alchemy transforming clods to gold.


s: If there be one among them strong and wise,


s: Whose lips anoint breathe poetry and love,


s: Whose brain and heart served ever Christian need--


s: And there are many such--for his dear sake,


s: Lest ye chance murder one of God's high priests,


s: Spare his thrice-wretched tribe!  Believe me, sirs,


s: Who have seen various lands, searched various hearts,


s: I have yet to touch that undiscovered shore,


s: Have yet to fathom that impossible soul,


s: Where a true benefit's forgot; where one


s: Slight deed of common kindness sown yields not


s: Oh! what a shining host, great Duke, shall guard


s: Thy consecrated throne, for all the lives


s: Thy mercy spares, for all the tears thy ruth


s: Stops at the source.  Behold this poor old man,


s: Last of a line of princes, stricken in years,


s: As thy dead father would have been to-day.


s: Was that white beard a rag for obscene hands


s: To tear? a weed for lumpish clowns to pluck?


s: Fit target for their foul throats' voided rheum?


s: That wrinkled flesh made to be pulled and pricked,


s: Wounded by flinty pebbles and keen steel?


s: Bruised, silent, chained.  Duke, such is Israel!"


s: "Unbind these men!" commanded Vladislaw.


s: "Go forth and still the tumult of my town.


s: Thou who hast served the Christ--with this priest's life,


s: Who is my spirit's counselor--Christ serves thee.


s: The Duke's their friend.  Go, publish the glad news!"


s: But Narzerad fed his venomed heart with gall,


s: And heretic bishops.  He fulfilled his vow.


s: Grandson, to bless thy grandchild, I'll forget


s: Never that youth and what he did for Prague.


s: Aye, aye, I know! he slurred a certain verse


s: In such and such a prayer; omitted quite


s: Commands us rise and bow towards the East;


s: Therefore, the ingrates brand him heterodox,


s: For his dear sake.  The Passover was here.


s: Raschi, just wedded with the fair Rebekah,


s: For homeward journey with his bride to France.


s: The sacred meal was spread.  All sat at board


s: The kind old priest; his noble, new-found son,


s: Whose name was wrung in every key of praise,


s: By every voice in Prague, from Duke to serf


s: The beautiful young wife, whose cup of joy


s: Sparkled at brim; next her the vacant chair


s: In God's good time shall take his place with us.


s: Now when the Rabbi reached the verse where one


s: Shall rise from table, flinging wide the door,


s: The glorious hour have sounded, Raschi rose,


s: Pale, grave, yet glad with great expectancy,


s: Crossed the hushed room, and, with a joyous smile


s: A cry, "Revenged!" a thrust, a stifled moan,


s: The sheathing of a poniard--that was all!


s: Masked, gowned in black; and in the room of prayer,


s: Raschi, face downward on the stone-cold floor,


s: Bleeding his life out.  Oh! what a cry was that


s: (Folk shuddered, hearing, roods off in the street)


s: Wherewith Rebekah rushed to raise her lord,


s: Kneeling beside him, striving in vain to quench


s: With turban, veil, torn shreds of gown, stained hands,


s: The black blood's sickening gush.  He never spoke,


s: The passion in her eyes.  He met his end


s: Bows to its death--so beautiful, silent, ripe.


s: Howe'er they choke us.  What redress in Prague


s: Revenge or justice.  We forbore to seek.


s: The priest, discrowned o' the glory of his age,


s: The widow-bride, mourned as though smitten of God,


s: Gave forth they would with solemn obsequies


s: Bury their dead, and crave no help from man.


s: Now of what chanced betwixt the night of murder


s: Only the sum of gossip--servants' tales,


s: Neighbors' reports, close confidences leaked


s: From friends and kindred.  Night and day, folk said,


s: Rebekah wept, prayed, fasted by the corpse,


s: Three mortal days.  Upon the third, her eyes,


s: Sunk in their pits, glimmered with wild, strange fire.


s: She started from her place beside the dead,


s: Kissed clay-cold brow, cheeks, lids, and lips once more,


s: And with a maniac's wan, heart-breaking smile,


s: Veiled, hooded, glided through the twilight streets,


s: Close by the Moldau's brink, beyond the bridge,


s: Her trace was lost.  'T was evening and mild May,


s: Air full of spring, skies perfect as a pearl;


s: Yet one who saw her pass amidst the shades


s: O' the blue-gray branches swears a sudden flame,


s: As of miraculous lightning, thrilled through heaven.


s: One hour thereafter she reentered Prague,


s: Slid swiftly through the streets, as though borne on


s: By ankle-wings or floating on soft cloud,


s: Smiling no more, but with illumined eyes,


s: Transfigured brow, grave lips, and faltering limbs,


s: Stretched 'twixt tall tapers lit at head and foot.


s: She held in both hands leafy, flowerless plants,


s: Some she had fastened in her twisted hair,


s: Stuck others in her girdle, and from all


s: The living soul of Spring.  Death's chamber seemed


s: As though clear sunshine and a singing bird


s: Therein had entered.  From the precious herb


s: Sparkling like wine; then with a soundless prayer,


s: White as the dead herself, she held the cup


s: To Raschi's mouth.  A quick, small flame sprang up


s: And lo! the color dawned in cheek and lips,


s: The life returned, the sealed, blind lids were raised,


s: Mocked by the worldly-wise; but I believe,


s: Knowing the miracles the Lord hath wrought


s: In every age for Jacob's seed.  Moreover,


s: Was at the burial.  No man saw the dead.


s: Sealed was the coffin ere the rites began,


s: And none could swear it went not empty down


s: Into the hollow earth.  Too shrewd our priest


s: Scarce were the thirty days of mourning sped,


s: When we awoke to find his home left bare,


s: Rebekah and her father fled from Prague.


s: God grant they had glad meeting otherwhere!


s: Castile, and Privy Councillor to King Henry III. of Spain.


s: and versify the account given in Graetz's History of the


s: in the beginning of the 15th century by Joshua ben Joseph


s: Master and Sage, greetings and health to thee,


s: From thy most meek disciple!  Deign once more


s: Midst the rapt circle gathered round thy knee


s: Thy sacred vials of learning thou didst pour.


s: Be my black doubts illumined and absorbed.


s: Oft I recall that golden time when thou,


s: Born for no second station, heldst with us


s: The Rabbi's chair, who art priest and bishop now;


s: Hung on thy counsels, lifted reverent brow


s: With thee our Talmud problems good and evil,


s: Till startled by the risen stars o'er Seville.


s: For on the Synagogue's high-pillared porch


s: Thou didst hold session, till the sudden sun


s: Beyond day's purple limit dropped his torch.


s: Then we, as dreamers, woke, to find outrun


s: Time's rapid sands.  The flame that may not scorch,


s: Our hearts caught from thine eyes, thou Shining One.


s: I scent not yet sweet lemon-groves in flower,


s: But I re-breathe the peace of that deep hour.


s: We kissed the sacred borders of thy gown,


s: Brow-aureoled with thy blessing, we went forth


s: Through the hushed byways of the twilight town.


s: Then in all life but one thing seemed of worth,


s: To seek, find, love the Truth.  She set her crown


s: Upon thy head, our Master, at thy birth;


s: She bade thy lips drop honey, fired thine eyes


s: With the unclouded glow of sun-steeped skies.


s: Forgive me, if I dwell on that which, viewed


s: From thy new vantage-ground, must seem a mist


s: Those reeking vapors; faith and gratitude


s: Still lead me to the hand my boy-lips kissed


s: For benison and guidance.  Not in wrath,


s: Master, but in wise patience, point my path.


s: The venomed shafts of slander, which thy word


s: Shall shrivel to small dust.  If haply grief,


s: Blame not thy servant's zeal, nor be thou deaf


s: Unto my soul's blind cry for light.  Accord--


s: For hate-soiled name--an answer to my prayer.


s: To me, who, vine to stone, clung close to thee,


s: When first I knew thee fallen from us, to be


s: A tower of strength among our foes, to make


s: I have wept gall and blood for thy dear sake.


s: But now with temperate soul I calmly search


s: Motive and cause that bound thee to the Church.


s: Four motives possible therefor I reach--


s: Ambition, doubt, fear, or mayhap--conviction.


s: I hear in turn ascribed thee all and each


s: By ignorant folk who part not truth from fiction.


s: But I, whom even thyself didst stoop to teach,


s: May poise the scales, weigh this with that confliction,


s: Yea, sift the hid grain motive from the dense,


s: Dusty, eye-blinding chaff of consequence.


s: Ambition first!  I find no fleck thereof


s: In all thy clean soul.  What! could glory, gold,


s: No purple cloak to shield thee from the cold,


s: Alone (so saidst thou) coveting for thine!


s: Shrinking from public honors thrust upon


s: Silence obscure, vast peace and austere days


s: Passed in wise contemplation, prayer, and praise.


s: One less than thou had ne'er known such regret.


s: How must thou suffer, who so lov'st the shade,


s: In Fame's full glare, whom one stride more shall set


s: Half glad, perceiving modest worth repaid


s: Even by the Christians!  Could thy soul deflect?


s: Next doubt.  Could doubt have swayed thee, then I ask,


s: How enters doubt within the soul of man?


s: That falls? and Truth's resplendent face we scan.


s: Nay, 't is a creeping, small, blind worm, whose task


s: Is gnawing at Faith's base; the whole vast plan


s: Rots, crumbles, eaten inch by inch within,


s: And on its ruins falsehood springs and sin.


s: But thee no doubt confused, no problems vexed.


s: Thy father's faith for thee proved bright and sweet.


s: Thou foundst no rite superfluous, no text


s: Obscure; the path was straight before thy feet.


s: Till thy baptismal day, thou, unperplexed


s: By foreign dogma, didst our prayers repeat,


s: Honor the God of Israel, fast and feast,


s: Even as thy people's wont, from first to least.


s: Yes, Doubt I likewise must discard.  Not sleek,


s: Full-faced, erect of head, men walk, when doubt


s: Writhes at their entrails; pinched and lean of cheek,


s: With brow pain-branded, thou hadst strayed about


s: As midst live men a ghost condemned to seek


s: That soul he may nor live nor die without.


s: No doubts the font washed from thee, thou didst glide


s: From creed to creed, complete, sane-souled, clear-eyed.


s: The thesis thou couldst entertain a fear.


s: I would but rout thine enemies, who feign


s: I will but weigh the chances and make plain


s: To Envy's self the monstrous jest appear.


s: Though time, place, circumstance confirmed in seeming,


s: One word from thee should frustrate all their scheming.


s: Thou didst renounce him?  Then mightst thou indeed


s: Snap finger at whate'er thy slanderers say.


s: Still from the wounds of that red year we bleed.


s: The curse had fallen upon our heads--the sword


s: There where we flourished like a fruitful palm,


s: We were uprooted, spoiled, lopped limb from limb.


s: A bolt undreamed of out of heavens calm,


s: So cracked our doom.  We were destroyed by him


s: Whose hand since childhood we had clasped.  With balm


s: Our blood flowed free as water in the sun.


s: Midst the four thousand of our tribe who held


s: Glad homes in Seville, never a one was spared,


s: Some slaughtered at their hearthstones, some expelled


s: To Moorish slavery.  Cunningly ensnared,


s: Baited and trapped were we; their fierce monks yelled


s: And thundered from our Synagogues, while flared


s: The Cross above the Ark.  Ah, happiest they


s: Who fell unconquered martyrs on that day!


s: For some (I write it with flushed cheek, bowed head),


s: Given free choice 'twixt death and shame, chose shame,


s: Their fathers, pillared in a cloud of flame,


s: Bathed in baptismal waters, ate the bread


s: Which is their new Lord's body, took the name


s: Integrity of soul.  Midst such who fell,


s: Far be it, however, from my duteous love,


s: Master, to reckon thee.  Thine own lips tell


s: How fear nor torture thy firm will could move.


s: How thou midst panic nowise disconcerted,


s: To read so wise an author, than was thine.


s: When burning Synagogues changed night to day,


s: And red swords underscored each word and line.


s: That was a light to read by!  Who'd gainsay


s: On this side, death and torture, flame and slaughter,


s: On that, a harmless wafer and clean water.


s: Thou couldst not fear extinction for our race;


s: Though Christian sword and fire from town to town


s: Israel's image--though we bleed, burn, drown


s: Through Christendom--'t is but a scanty space.


s: Still are the Asian hills and plains our own,


s: Still are we lords in Syria, still are free,


s: One sole conclusion hence at last I find,


s: Thou whom ambition, doubt, nor fear could swerve,


s: Perforce hast been persuaded through the mind,


s: Proved, tested the new dogmas, found them serve


s: Thy spirit's needs, left flesh and sense behind,


s: The trans-substantial bread and wine, the Christ


s: At whose shrine thine own kin were sacrificed.


s: Here then the moment comes when I crave light.


s: All's dark to me.  Master, if I be blind,


s: Thou shalt unseal my lids and bless with sight,


s: Whether within me or without, dwell night.


s: One ray from thy clear heaven of sun-bright faith,


s: Grieving, not wroth, at what thy servant saith.


s: Where are the signs fulfilled whereby all men


s: Should know the Christ?  Where is the wide-winged peace


s: Shielding the lamb within the lion's den?


s: The freedom broadening with the wars that cease?


s: Do foes clasp hands in brotherhood again?


s: Where is the promised garden of increase,


s: When like a rose the wilderness should bloom?


s: Earth is a battlefield and Spain a tomb.


s: Of lightnings and of vengeance,--Christians say.


s: Earth trembled, nations perished at his nod;


s: Theirs is the God of Love whose feet have trod


s: Our common earth--draw near to him and pray,


s: Meek-faced, dove-eyed, pure-browed, the Lord of life,


s: Know him and kneel, else at your throat the knife!


s: This is the God of Love, whose altars reek


s: With human blood, who teaches men to hate;


s: Torture past words, or sins we may not speak


s: Wrought by his priests behind the convent-grate.


s: Are his priests false? or are his doctrines weak


s: That none obeys him?  State at war with state,


s: Church against church--yea, Pope at feud with Pope


s: In these tossed seas what anchorage for hope?


s: Is the knife whetted, who refuse to share


s: Blessings the shepherd wise doth not withhold


s: Even from the least among his flock--but there


s: Lamb flaying lamb, fierce sheep that rend and tear.


s: Master, if thou to thy pride's goal should come,


s: Where wouldst thou throne--at Avignon or Rome?


s: I handle burning questions, good my lord,


s: But in a way completes and betters this.


s: The Law of Love shall supersede the sword,


s: So runs the promise, but the facts I miss.


s: A voice divine--a new, third revelation.


s: Condemn each other, while the nations wait


s: Their Christ to thunder forth from Heaven, and tell


s: His throne, the hideous discord to dispel.


s: Where shall I seek, master, while such things be,


s: Chief miracle of life's mystery, say HE KNOWS?


s: Who learns not whence he comes nor where he goes?


s: Like one who walks in sleep a doubtful span


s: He gropes through all his days, till Death unclose


s: His cheated eyes and in one blinding gleam,


s: Wakes, to discern the substance from the dream.


s: The Virgin's motherhood, the resurrection,


s: Who know not how mine own soul came to earth,


s: Nor what shall follow death.  Man's imperfection


s: May bound not even in thought the height and girth


s: Of God's omnipotence; neath his direction


s: We may approach his essence, but that He


s: Should dwarf Himself to us--it cannot be!


s: The God who balances the clouds, who spread


s: The God who shut the sea with doors, who laid


s: The corner-stone of earth, who caused the grass


s: Spring forth upon the wilderness, and made


s: The darkness scatter and the night to pass--


s: That He should clothe Himself with flesh, and move


s: Midst worms a worm--this, sun, moon, stars disprove.


s: Help me, O thou who wast my boyhood's guide,


s: Show me how three are one and One is three!


s: How Christ to save all men was crucified,


s: Instruct me, Sage, why Virtue starves alone,


s: While falsehood step by step ascends the throne.


s: pilgrims crawl like an endless serpent along treeless plains and


s: bleached highroads, through rock-split ravines and castellated,


s: father and brother, to maiden and wife.  In his breast, his own


s: laboriously drag the tented wagons wherein lie the sick athirst


s: flock, the peasant his plow, to pelt with curses and stones; the


s: villager sets on their trail his yelping cur.


s: desolate in the streets; they that were reared in scarlet embrace


s: nations, they shall no more sojourn there; our end is near, our