s: O the nightingale is dying for its mate.


s: His blood is on his breast, and the moss-roots at his hair;


s: It's over the hills we'll bound, old hound,


s: There's nought for us here save to count the clock,


s: But over the hills we'll bound, old hound,


s: So, over the hills we'll bound, old hound,


s: 'Tis ours on the heather to bound, old hound,


s: What joy on the heather to bound, old hound,


s: The sun bursts broad, and the heathery bed


s: Pitch here the tent, while the old horse grazes:


s: By the old hedge-side we'll halt a stage.


s: Yes, my old girl! and it's no use crying:


s: We've travelled times to this old common:


s: Ay, when we're strong, and braced, and manful,


s: Life's a sweet fiddle:  but we're a batch


s: Born to become the Great Juggler's han'ful:


s: Balls he shies up, and is safe to catch.


s: Here's where the lads of the village cricket:


s: Couldn't I whip off the bail from the wicket?


s: Donkey, sheep, geese, and thatched ale-house -


s: They are old friends of my halts, and seem,


s: Juggling don't hinder the heart's esteem.


s: Juggling's no sin, for we must have victual:


s: Holding one's own makes us juggle no little;


s: But, to increase it, hard juggling's the rule.


s: There's the Prime Minister, in one Session,


s: Juggles more games than my sins 'll count.


s: I've murdered insects with mock thunder:


s: Conscience, for that, in men don't quail.


s: I've made bread from the bump of wonder:


s: That's my business, and there's my tale.


s: Fashion and rank all praised the professor:


s: Ay! and I've had my smile from the Queen:


s: Bravo, Jerry! she meant:  God bless her!


s: Some are fine fellows:  some, right scurvy:


s: But it's a woman, old girl, that makes me


s: And it's a woman, old girl, that shakes me


s: Honest we've lived since we've been one.


s: Birds in a May-bush we were! right merry!


s: All night we kiss'd, we juggled all day.


s: Now from his old girl he's juggled away.


s: Parson and Doctor!--don't they love rarely,


s: Fighting the devil in other men's fields!


s: Coin I've stored, and you won't be wanting:


s: You shan't beg from the troughs and tubs.


s: Nobly you've stuck to me, though in his kitchen


s: Palaces you could have ruled and grown rich in,


s: Hand up the chirper! ripe ale winks in it;


s: Once a stout draught made me light as a linnet.


s: May be--for none see in that black hollow -


s: It's just a place where we're held in pawn,


s: And, when the Great Juggler makes as to swallow,


s: It's just the sword-trick--I ain't quite gone!


s: Yonder came smells of the gorse, so nutty,


s: Gold-like and warm:  it's the prime of May.


s: Lean me more up the mound; now I feel it:


s: All the old heath-smells!  Ain't it strange?


s: There's the world laughing, as if to conceal it,


s: Once--it's long gone--when two gulls we beheld,


s: Down a big wave that sparked and swelled.


s: Crack, went a gun:  one fell:  the second


s: Wheeled round him twice, and was off for new luck:


s: There in the dark her white wing beckon'd:-


s: Drop me a kiss--I'm the bird dead-struck!


s: He, bearing her dear weight, shall speed


s: God speed him whole!  The knights make bets:


s: - See'st thou the tumbled heavens? they break!


s: - See'st thou the crowded swards of gold?


s: - See'st thou the angels with their Crown?


s: Bright burns the Head of Bran the Blest.


s: The old coach-road through a common of furze,


s: Berries of autumn, with thistles, and burrs,


s: And spider-threads, droop'd in the light.


s: The light in a thin blue veil peered sick;


s: No fly shook the round of the silver net;


s: The girl for her babe hummed prayerful speech;


s: Now, this, to my notion, is pleasant cheer,


s: Where your nose isn't sniffing for bones or beer,


s: But a peat-fire smells like a garden beneath.


s: And the girl at the window ties her strings.


s: She's a dish for a man who's a mind to be poor;


s: We don't marry beggars, says she:  why, no:


s: It seems that to make 'em is what you do;


s: A man for himself should be able to scratch,


s: Love burns as long as the lucifer match,


s: Wedlock's the candle!  Now, that's my creed.


s: The church-bells sound water-like over the wheat;


s: And up the long path troop pair after pair.


s: The man's well-brushed, and the woman looks neat:


s: With a donkey for friend, you must have a wife:


s: She pulls out your hair, but she brushes your hat.


s: You nice little madam! you know you're nice.


s: You're a plateful of vanity pepper'd with vice;


s: You chap at the gate thinks t' other way.


s: On his waistcoat you read both his head and his heart:


s: There's a whole week's wages there figured in gold!


s: Yes! when you turn round you may well give a start:


s: Now, that's a good craft, weaving waistcoats and flowers,


s: And selling of ribbons, and scenting of lard:


s: It gives you a house to get in from the showers,


s: And food when your appetite jockeys you hard.


s: If it's worth the trouble?  You use your tools,


s: And spend your time, and what's your task?


s: Why, to make a slide for a couple of fools.


s: You can't match the colour o' these heath mounds,


s: Nor better that peat-fire's agreeable smell.


s: I'm clothed-like with natural sights and sounds;


s: To myself I'm in tune:  I hope you're as well.


s: You jolly old cot! though you don't own coal:


s: It's a generous pot that's boiled with peat.


s: Let the Lord Mayor o' London roast oxen whole:


s: His smoke, at least, don't smell so sweet.


s: I talk o' the Lord Mayor o' London because


s: I once was on intimate terms with his cook.


s: I served him a turn, and got pensioned on scraps,


s: And, Lord, Sir! didn't I envy his place,


s: Till Death knock'd him down with the softest of taps,


s: And I knew what was meant by a tallowy face!


s: On the contrary, I'm Conservative quite;


s: It's nonsense, trying to set things right,


s: For if people will give, why, who'll refuse?


s: That stopping old custom wakes my spleen:


s: The poor and the rich both in giving agree:


s: Your tight-fisted shopman's the Radical mean:


s: There's nothing in common 'twixt him and me.


s: On week-days he's playing at Spider and Fly,


s: Nailing shillings to counters is his chief work:


s: He nods now and then at the name on his door:


s: But judge of us two, at a bow and a smirk,


s: I think I'm his match:  and I'm honest--that's more.


s: No use! well, I mayn't be.  You ring a pig's snout,


s: And then call the animal glutton!  Now, he,


s: Mr. Shopman, he's nought but a pipe and a spout


s: Who won't let the goods o' this world pass free.


s: This blazing blue weather all round the brown crop,


s: He's only a snail that crawls under his shop;


s: Though he has got the ear o' the magistrates.


s: Now, giving and taking's a proper exchange,


s: Like question and answer:  you're both content.


s: But buying and selling seems always strange;


s: You're hostile, and that's the thing that's meant.


s: It's man against man--you're almost brutes;


s: There's here no thanks, and there's there no pride.


s: If Charity's Christian, don't blame my pursuits,


s: I carry a touchstone by which you're tried.


s: - 'Take it,' says she, 'it's all I've got':


s: She stood by a coffee-stall, nice and hot,


s: Says I to myself, as her shilling I seized,


s: But for making a rascal like me so pleased,


s: And that's where it is--she made me feel


s: And tell a poor patch-breech he isn't genteel,


s: Why, they make him kick up--and he treads on a corn.


s: Drives half of us into the begging-trade:


s: If for taking to water you praise a duck,


s: The sermon's over:  they're out of the porch,


s: But in general people who come from church,


s: And have called themselves sinners, hate chaps to beg.


s: I'll wager they'll all of 'em dine to-day!


s: May I perish!--we're never contented--heigho!


s: And it tumbles the rocks in boisterous play,


s: Sharp it throws out an emerald shoulder,


s: The roaring voice through the long white chain


s: Is the voice of the world of bubble and brain.


s: Bursts out like a reveller's loud in the night,


s: And into me passed, with the green-eyed wine


s: Three cowled monks, rat-eyed, were seen;


s: The Cross was of bones; the priest that read,


s: A young ballet-beauty, who perked in her place,


s: She whirled, she twirled, the mock-priest grinned,


s: 'Twas Adrian! loud his old laughter dinned;


s: He fiddled, he glowed with the bottomless fire,


s: All through me he fiddled a wolfish desire


s: And gathering courage I said to my soul,


s: When the three cowled monks, from black as coal,


s: They caught her up, twirling:  they leapt between-whiles:


s: Profanely they flew down the awful aisles,


s: Down the awful aisles, by the fretted walls,


s: Then the silent cold stone warriors frowned,


s: A whirlwind swept them from holy ground;


s: They shot through the great cathedral door;


s: Down a forest's long alleys they spun like tops:


s: Of their broad flat leaves hung swaying.


s: Streamed upward, long locks disarraying.


s: Their cheeks had the satin frost-glow of the moon;


s: They circled, and droned a monotonous tune,


s: Like lengths of convolvulus torn from the hedge,


s: The dreamy-eyed mistresses circled the sedge,


s: My ears were spelled, my neck was coiled,


s: When the marbly waters bubbled and boiled


s: They dragged me low and low to the lake:


s: On the emerald brink, in the white moon's wake,


s: Fresh heart-sobs shook her knitted hands


s: While the passion-born phantoms are fleeing!


s: Of the Brides, when--starting and shrinking -


s: So there's my answer to the judges, clear.


s: I don't know how to bleat nor how to leer:


s: That's why you see me by the wayside here,


s: It's Summer in her bath this morn, I think.


s: I'm fresh as dew, and chirpy as the birds:


s: And just for joy to see old England wink


s: Thro' leaves again, I could harangue the herds:


s: To speak out like a man when you've got words,


s: They shipp'd me of for it; I'm here again.


s: Says I, I'll tramp it home, and see the grain:


s: If you see well, you're king of what you see:


s: If you're not given, I said, to gluttony.


s: Such talk to ignorance sounds as raving.


s: You dear old brook, that from his Grace's park


s: Come bounding! on you run near my old town:


s: My lord can't lock the water; nor the lark,


s: Unless he kills him, can my lord keep down.


s: I've tried it, too:- for comfort and renown,


s: I'm not ashamed:  Not beaten's still my boast:


s: Again I'll rouse the people up to strike.


s: But home's where different politics jar most.


s: But don't you mount a Chartist platform!


s: Well, well!  Not beaten--spite of them, I shout;


s: And my estate is suffering for the Cause. -


s: For him to hope that he'll get clean by't.


s: His seat is on a mud-bank, and his trade


s: Is dirt:- he's quite contemptible; and yet


s: To show a decent dress, and dry the wet.


s: And now his nose, and ear:  he seems to get


s: To see him squat like little chaps at school,


s: I could let fly a laugh with all my might.


s: He peers, hangs both his fore-paws:- bless that fool,


s: He's bobbing at his frill now!--what a sight!


s: As if he thought to pass from black to white,


s: The elms and yellow reed-flags in the sun,


s: Look on quite grave:- the sunlight flecks his side;


s: And links of bindweed-flowers round him run,


s: And shine up doubled with him in the tide.


s: But nature seems like seconding his pride,


s: And thinks that his behaviour's fitting.


s: That isle o' mud looks baking dry with gold.


s: His needle-muzzle still works out and in.


s: And makes me feel the bristles of my chin.


s: And that's what my fine daughter said:- she meant:


s: Pray, hold your tongue, and wear a Sunday face.


s: Her husband, the young linendraper, spent


s: Much argument thereon:- I'm their disgrace.


s: I'll mend the gentry's boots, and keep discreet,


s: Until they grow TOO violent,--why, then,


s: A warmer welcome I might chance to meet:


s: And if she fancies her old cock is beat,


s: She suffered for me:- women, you'll observe,


s: Don't suffer for a Cause, but for a man.


s: When I was in the dock she show'd her nerve:


s: To screw me for my work:  she loath'd my plan,


s: I've never lost the taste of that same tea:


s: That liquor on my logic floats like oil,


s: When I state facts, and fellows disagree.


s: Before that time!--He's furbishing his dress, -


s: That yon old dandy rat amid the cress, -


s: The old fat fellow's heaven's neighbour!


s: I've looked on my superiors far too long,


s: You've done the right while I've denounced the wrong.


s: Should they ask why, I'll answer:  in my life


s: Can't rob you of your own esteem, old rat!


s: The life it once lived in thy breast when it wore no disguise.


s: O bury it where the sweet wild-flowers blow!


s: And strange feet cannot guess of the anguish that slumbers below.


s: O wander once more to the haunt of the bee!


s: And thy being first felt its wild birth like a wind-wakened tree.


s: O dissemble it! smile! let the rose hide the thorn!


s: Bury it, bury it, bury it where it was born.


s: Not vainly doth the earnest voice of man


s: Call for the thing that is his pure desire!


s: Fame is the birthright of the living lyre!


s: Nor vainly to the Sphinx thy voice was raised!


s: Time moves behind her in a blind eclipse:


s: She sees, and she might speak, since that wild call,


s: He lifted the crumpled letter, and thumped a surprising 'Hurrah!'


s: John Bridgeman, I'm always the whisky, and you are the water, my


s: But soon it was known thro' the house, and the house ran over for


s: Then messengers sped to the maltster, the auctioneer, miller, and


s: The seven sons of the farmer who housed in the range of his call.


s: The day was a van-bird of summer:  the robin still piped, but the


s: As a warm and dreamy palace with voices of larks ringing thro',


s: A day to sweeten the juices:  a day to quicken the sap.


s: Full time there was before dinner to bring fifteen of his blood,


s: When under the blossoming apple the chair of the Grandfather


s: She heard one little child crying, 'Dear brave Cousin Tom!' as it


s: Then murmured she:  'Let me spare them!' and passed round the


s: Yet not from sight had she slipped ere feminine eyes could detect


s: Was uttered:  and:  'Didn't I tell you?'  Of Mary the rumour


s: That she is now her own mistress, and mistress of five thousand


s: 'Twas she, they say, who cruelly sent young Tom to the war.


s: Miss Mary, we thank you now!  If you knew what we're thanking you


s: Despite the women's remonstrance, two little ones, lighter than


s: The pity in her pale visage they read in a different sense.


s: The old man turned his tongue to ironical utterance deep:


s: 'He came of a Methodist dad, so it wasn't his fault if he kicked.


s: His name was Tom, and, dash me! but Bridgeman! I think you might


s: Whatever he was, bear in mind that he came of a Methodist dad.'


s: This prelude dismally lengthened, till Mary, starting, exclaimed,


s: The old man answered, and further, the words that sent Tom to the


s: Said low to a sister:  'I'm certain she knows more than we about


s: She wants him now he's a hero!'  The same, resuming her place,


s: Begged Mary to check them the moment she found it a tedious case.


s: Then as a mastiff swallows the snarling noises of cats,


s: A regular stand-up combat:  eight hours smelling powder and gore.


s: And carries the flag of old England!  Heigh! see him lift foes on


s: '--An officer! ay, Miss Charlworth, he is, or he is so to be;


s: You'll own war isn't such humbug:  and Glory means something, you


s: The old man sneered, and read forward.  It was of that desperate


s: The Muscovite stole thro' the mist-wreaths that wrapped the chill


s: Swung white as the silky bog-flowers in purple heath-hollows that


s: And louder at Tom's first person:  acute and in thunder the 'I'


s: Invaded the ear with a whinny of triumph, that seem'd to defy


s: The hosts of the world.  All heated, what wonder he little could


s: To catch the sight of Mary's demure puritanical look?


s: And still as he led the onslaught, his treacherous side-shots he


s: At her who was fighting a battle as fierce, and who sat there


s: They frightened me there."--He's no coward; for when, Miss, they


s: I saw you snoring at home with the dear cuddled-up little imps.


s: And then like the winter brickfields at midnight, hot fire


s: Our fellows were just leashed bloodhounds:  no heart of the lot


s: Ping-ping flew the enemies' pepper:  the Colonel roared, Forward,


s: '"Well, now about me and the Frenchman:  it happened I can't tell


s: And, Grandfather, hear, if you love me, and put aside prejudice


s: And backwards, and forwards, and backwards we went, and at last I


s: "These Russians came lumping and grinning:  they're fierce at it,


s: "They came--never mind how many:  we couldn't have run very well,


s: '"Then I strove wild for his body:  the beggars saw glittering


s: Which I vowed to send to his mother.  I got some hard knocks and


s: But felt them no more than angel, or devil, except in the wind.


s: I know that I swore at a Russian for showing his teeth, and he


s: '"But half in his arms, and half at his stirrup, he bore me right


s: And pitched me among my old comrades:  before I could tell south


s: I've learnt to love a whole nation."'  The ancient man paused,


s: A curious look, half woeful, was seen on his face as he turned


s: His eyes upon each of his children, like one who but faintly


s: His old self in an old mirror.  Then gathering sense in his fist,


s: Tom properly stated his praises in facts, but the lady preferred


s: Once spat at the name of their nephew, and now made his praises


s: The letter at last was finished, the hearers breathed freely, and


s: Was given, 'Tom's health!'--Quoth the farmer:  'Eh, Miss? are you


s: For Mary had sunk, and her body was shaking, as if in a fit.


s: Fast-dinted, while she hung sobbing:  'O, see, Sir, the letter is


s: O, do not be too happy!'--'If I understand you, I'm bowled!'


s: Said Grandfather Bridgeman, 'and down go my wickets!--not happy!


s: Here's Tom like to marry his General's daughter--or widow--I'll


s: Will ask him to Buckingham Palace, to say what he's done and he's


s: 'And "now"'s just a bit too late, so it's no use your piping your


s: The farmer added bluffly:  'Old Lawyer Charlworth was rich;


s: You followed his instructions in kicking Tom into the ditch.


s: 'But, Sir,' Mary faintly repeated:  'for four long weeks I have


s: To come and cast on you my burden; such grief for you always


s: My heart has so bled for you!'  The old man burst on her speech:


s: 'You've chosen a likely time, Miss! a pretty occasion to preach!'


s: But when again she stammered in this bewildering way,


s: The farmer no longer could bear it, and begged her to go, or to


s: But not to be whimpering nonsense at such a time.  Pricked by a


s: On Mary's heaving bosom this begging-petition was read.


s: The family pride of the Bridgemans was comforted; still, with


s: They looked on a monied damsel of modesty quite so exempt.


s: Wheeled, pale, in a chair, and shattered, the wreck of their hero


s: The ghost of Tom drawn slow o'er the orchard's shadowy green.


s: Could this be the martial darling they joyed in a moment ago?


s: 'Beloved!' she said, falling by him, 'I have been a coward:  I


s: You lay in the foreign country, and some strange good might be


s: Then Tom with pity's tenderest lordliness patted her arm,


s: And eyed the old white-head fondly, with something of doubt and


s: O, take to your fancy a sculptor whose fresh marble offspring


s: Before him, shiningly perfect, the laurel-crown'd issue of years:


s: And those are mocking fragments that made the harmonious shape!


s: He cannot love the ruins, till, feeling that ruins alone


s: John's text for a sermon on Slaughter he heard, and he did not


s: Up lanes of the quiet village, and where the mill-waters rush red


s: With one whom they wheel, alternate; whose delicate flush of new


s: Is prized like the early primrose.  Then shake his right hand, in


s: The old man fails never to tell you:  'You've got the French


s: How low when angels fall their black descent,


s: Our primal thunder tells:  known is the pain


s: Of music, that nigh throning wisdom went,


s: Now seems the language heard of Love as rain


s: To make a mire where fruitfulness was meant.


s: The golden harp gives out a jangled strain,


s: Too like revolt from heaven's Omnipotent.


s: But listen in the thought; so may there come


s: Commanding space beyond where ear has home.


s: By this he knew she wept with waking eyes:


s: That, at his hand's light quiver by her head,


s: The strange low sobs that shook their common bed


s: Were called into her with a sharp surprise,


s: And strangled mute, like little gaping snakes,


s: Stone-still, and the long darkness flowed away


s: With muffled pulses.  Then, as midnight makes


s: Drink the pale drug of silence, and so beat


s: Sleep's heavy measure, they from head to feet


s: Were moveless, looking through their dead black years,


s: By vain regret scrawled over the blank wall.


s: Like sculptured effigies they might be seen


s: Upon their marriage-tomb, the sword between;


s: Each wishing for the sword that severs all.


s: It ended, and the morrow brought the task.


s: Her eyes were guilty gates, that let him in


s: By shutting all too zealous for their sin:


s: Each sucked a secret, and each wore a mask.


s: But, oh, the bitter taste her beauty had!


s: He sickened as at breath of poison-flowers:


s: And if their smiles encountered, he went mad,


s: And raged deep inward, till the light was brown


s: Before his vision, and the world, forgot,


s: Looked wicked as some old dull murder-spot.


s: A star with lurid beams, she seemed to crown


s: He fainted on his vengefulness, and strove


s: And smote himself, a shuddering heap of pain.


s: This was the woman; what now of the man?


s: But pass him.  If he comes beneath a heel,


s: He shall be crushed until he cannot feel,


s: The rich light striking out from her on him!


s: Ha! what a sense it is when her eyes swim


s: Across the man she singles, leaving dark


s: All else!  Lord God, who mad'st the thing so fair,


s: To put a kiss?  Yet if I meet him there!


s: But she is mine!  Ah, no!  I know too well


s: The hour has struck, though I heard not the bell!


s: All other joys of life he strove to warm,


s: But they had suffered shipwreck with the ship,


s: And gazed upon him sallow from the storm.


s: The coming minute mock the one that went.


s: Cold as a mountain in its star-pitched tent,


s: Stood high Philosophy, less friend than foe:


s: Whom self-caged Passion, from its prison-bars,


s: Is always watching with a wondering hate.


s: Not till the fire is dying in the grate,


s: And the great price we pay for it full worth:


s: A message from her set his brain aflame.


s: A world of household matters filled her mind,


s: She treated him as something that is tame,


s: Through that dark rain:  yet it may come to pass


s: That a changed eye finds such familiar sights


s: More keenly tempting than new loveliness.


s: The 'What has been' a moment seemed his own:


s: The splendours, mysteries, dearer because known,


s: Nor less divine:  Love's inmost sacredness


s: Called to him, 'Come!'--In his restraining start,


s: Eyes nurtured to be looked at scarce could see


s: Convulsed at a checked impulse of the heart.


s: It chanced his lips did meet her forehead cool.


s: She had no blush, but slanted down her eye.


s: Shamed nature, then, confesses love can die:


s: Who will believe what honours her the most!


s: Dead! is it dead?  She has a pulse, and flow


s: Of tears, the price of blood-drops, as I know,


s: For whom the midnight sobs around Love's ghost,


s: Since then I heard her, and so will sob on.


s: The love is here; it has but changed its aim.


s: The name, the name, the new name thou hast won?


s: Behold me striking the world's coward stroke!


s: That will I not do, though the sting is dire.


s: - Beneath the surface this, while by the fire


s: She issues radiant from her dressing-room,


s: Like one prepared to scale an upper sphere:


s: How deftly that oiled barber lays his bloom!


s: That long-shanked dapper Cupid with frisked curls


s: The gold-eyed serpent dwelling in rich hair


s: Awakes beneath his magic whisks and twirls.


s: His art can take the eyes from out my head,


s: While deeper knowledge crouches in its den,


s: And sends a spark up:- is it true we are wed?


s: But faithlessness of heart I do hold worse.


s: The former, it were not so great a curse


s: To read on the steel-mirror of her smile.


s: Yet it was plain she struggled, and that salt


s: Poor twisting worm, so queenly beautiful!


s: Where came the cleft between us? whose the fault?


s: My tears are on thee, that have rarely dropped


s: But, no:  we are two reed-pipes, coarsely stopped:


s: The God once filled them with his mellow breath;


s: And they were music till he flung them down,


s: Used! used!  Hear now the discord-loving clown


s: Puff his gross spirit in them, worse than death!


s: If the same soul be under the same face,


s: Speak, and a taste of that old time restore!


s: He felt the wild beast in him betweenwhiles


s: So masterfully rude, that he would grieve


s: To see the helpless delicate thing receive


s: His guardianship through certain dark defiles.


s: Had he not teeth to rend, and hunger too?


s: But still he spared her.  Once:  'Have you no fear?'


s: He said:  'twas dusk; she in his grasp; none near.


s: She laughed:  'No, surely; am I not with you?'


s: And uttering that soft starry 'you,' she leaned


s: And from her eyes, as from a poison-cup,


s: He drank until the flittering eyelids screened.


s: Devilish malignant witch! and oh, young beam


s: Of heaven's circle-glory!  Here thy shape


s: I might, and yet thou goest safe, supreme.


s: But where began the change; and what's my crime?


s: The wretch condemned, who has not been arraigned,


s: Chafes at his sentence.  Shall I, unsustained,


s: Drag on Love's nerveless body thro' all time?


s: I must have slept, since now I wake.  Prepare,


s: You lovers, to know Love a thing of moods:


s: Not, like hard life, of laws.  In Love's deep woods,


s: I dreamt of loyal Life:- the offence is there!


s: Love's jealous woods about the sun are curled;


s: At least, the sun far brighter there did beam. -


s: My crime is, that the puppet of a dream,


s: Oh, had I with my darling helped to mince


s: The facts of life, you still had seen me go


s: With hindward feather and with forward toe,


s: Her much-adored delightful Fairy Prince!


s: Out in the yellow meadows, where the bee


s: Hums by us with the honey of the Spring,


s: And showers of sweet notes from the larks on wing


s: Are dropping like a noon-dew, wander we.


s: As then, the larks from running rings pour showers:


s: The golden foot of May is on the flowers,


s: And friendly shadows dance upon her brow.


s: What's this, when Nature swears there is no change


s: To challenge eyesight?  Now, as then, the grace


s: Of heaven seems holding earth in its embrace.


s: Nor eyes, nor heart, has she to feel it strange?


s: Look, woman, in the West.  There wilt thou see


s: Within it, featured even in death divine,


s: Not solely that the Future she destroys,


s: And the fair life which in the distance lies


s: For all men, beckoning out from dim rich skies:


s: Nor that the passing hour's supporting joys


s: Have lost the keen-edged flavour, which begat


s: Distinction in old times, and still should breed


s: Sweet Memory, and Hope,--earth's modest seed,


s: And heaven's high-prompting:  not that the world is flat


s: Since that soft-luring creature I embraced


s: Methinks with all this loss I were content,


s: If the mad Past, on which my foot is based,


s: Were firm, or might be blotted:  but the whole


s: Of life is mixed:  the mocking Past will stay:


s: Says Nature, laughing on her way.  'So must


s: All those whose stake is nothing more than dust!'


s: She drops a look of fondness, and goes by,


s: For she the laws of growth most deeply knows,


s: Whose hands bear, here, a seed-bag--there, an urn.


s: Pledged she herself to aught, 'twould mark her end!


s: Can we not teach our foolish hearts to learn?


s: Yes! yes!--but, oh, our human rose is fair


s: Surpassingly!  Lose calmly Love's great bliss,


s: Whirls life within the shower of loosened hair!


s: What soul would bargain for a cure that brings


s: And strike this rusty bosom with new stings!


s: Since on a gold-haired lady's eyeballs pure


s: I looked with little prospect of a cure,


s: The while her mouth's red bow loosed shafts of wit.


s: Just heaven! can it be true that jealousy


s: Has decked the woman thus? and does her head


s: Swim somewhat for possessions forfeited?


s: Madam, you teach me many things that be.


s: That 'Women still may love whom they deceive.'


s: Such love I prize not, madam:  by your leave,


s: I think she sleeps:  it must be sleep, when low


s: Hangs that abandoned arm toward the floor;


s: The face turned with it.  Now make fast the door.


s: Sleep on:  it is your husband, not your foe.


s: The Poet's black stage-lion of wronged love


s: Frights not our modern dames:- well if he did!


s: Now will I pour new light upon that lid,


s: Full-sloping like the breasts beneath.  'Sweet dove,


s: Your sleep is pure.  Nay, pardon:  I disturb.


s: I do not? good!'  Her waking infant-stare


s: Grows woman to the burden my hands bear:


s: Was left on Passion's tongue.  She trembles through;


s: A woman's tremble--the whole instrument:-


s: The words are very like:  the name is new.


s: In our old shipwrecked days there was an hour,


s: Joined slackly, we beheld the red chasm grow


s: Among the clicking coals.  Our library-bower


s: That eve was left to us:  and hushed we sat


s: From sudden-opened doors we heard them sing:


s: The nodding elders mixed good wine with chat.


s: Well knew we that Life's greatest treasure lay


s: With us, and of it was our talk.  'Ah, yes!


s: Love dies!' I said:  I never thought it less.


s: She yearned to me that sentence to unsay.


s: Then when the fire domed blackening, I found


s: Her cheek was salt against my kiss, and swift


s: Up the sharp scale of sobs her breast did lift:-


s: Now am I haunted by that taste! that sound!


s: Went the feast ever cheerfuller?  She keeps


s: With sparkling surface-eyes we ply the ball:


s: Such play as this the devils might appal!


s: But here's the greater wonder; in that we,


s: Each other, like true hypocrites, admire;


s: Shoot gaily o'er the dishes and the wine.


s: Fast, sweet, and golden, shows the marriage-knot.


s: Dear guests, you now have seen Love's corpse-light shine.


s: Here Jack and Tom are paired with Moll and Meg.


s: Fair space for signal shakings of the leg.


s: That little screwy fiddler from his booth,


s: Whence flows one nut-brown stream, commands the joints


s: Of all who caper here at various points.


s: The May-fly pleasures of a mind at ease.


s: A charmed Amphion-oak she tripped the grass.


s: What life was that I lived?  The life of these?


s: Heaven keep them happy!  Nature they seem near.


s: They have the secret of the bull and lamb.


s: 'Tis true that when we trace its source, 'tis beer.


s: No state is enviable.  To the luck alone


s: Of some few favoured men I would put claim.


s: I bleed, but her who wounds I will not blame.


s: Have I not felt her heart as 'twere my own


s: Beat thro' me? could I hurt her? heaven and hell!


s: But I could hurt her cruelly!  Can I let


s: My Love's old time-piece to another set,


s: Swear it can't stop, and must for ever swell?


s: Sure, that's one way Love drifts into the mart


s: Where goat-legged buyers throng.  I see not plain:-


s: Great God! the maddest gambler throws his heart.


s: Still rubs his hands before him, like a fly,


s: Who sniff at vice and, daring not to snap,


s: Do therefore hope for heaven.  I take the hap


s: Of all my deeds.  The wind that fills my sails


s: Propels; but I am helmsman.  Am I wrecked,


s: Besides, he's damned.  That man I do suspect


s: A coward, who would burden the poor deuce


s: With what ensues from his own slipperiness.


s: I have just found a wanton-scented tress


s: That, like some aged star, gleam luridly.


s: We three are on the cedar-shadowed lawn;


s: My friend being third.  He who at love once laughed


s: Struck through, and tells his passion's bashful dawn


s: And radiant culmination, glorious crown,


s: When 'this' she said:  went 'thus':  most wondrous she.


s: Our eyes grow white, encountering:  that we are three,


s: But he demands our blessing; is convinced


s: That words of wedded lovers must bring good.


s: We question; if we dare! or if we should!


s: And pat him, with light laugh.  We have not winced.


s: Next, she has fallen.  Fainting points the sign


s: To happy things in wedlock.  When she wakes,


s: She looks the star that thro' the cedar shakes:


s: Her lost moist hand clings mortally to mine.


s: There is about her mouth a nervous twitch.


s: 'Tis something to be told, or hidden:- which?


s: I get a glimpse of hell in this mild guess.


s: That all the household things are things she knew.


s: She stops before the glass.  What sight in view?


s: For she turns from it hastily, and tossed


s: I stand; and wavering pale before me there,


s: Her tears fall still as oak-leaves after frost.


s: She will not speak.  I will not ask.  We are


s: League-sundered by the silent gulf between.


s: 'Tis Christmas weather, and a country house


s: Receives us:  rooms are full:  we can but get


s: An attic-crib.  Such lovers will not fret


s: At that, it is half-said.  The great carouse


s: Knocks hard upon the midnight's hollow door,


s: But when I knock at hers, I see the pit.


s: Why did I come here in that dullard fit?


s: I enter, and lie couched upon the floor.


s: Passing, I caught the coverlet's quick beat:-


s: Come, Shame, burn to my soul! and Pride, and Pain -


s: Foul demons that have tortured me, enchain!


s: Out in the freezing darkness the lambs bleat.


s: The small bird stiffens in the low starlight.


s: I know not how, but shuddering as I slept,


s: My feet were nourished on her breasts all night.


s: To know her flesh so pure, so keen her sense,


s: That she does penance now for no offence,


s: Save against Love.  The less can I forgive!


s: That cruel lovely pallor which surrounds


s: Her footsteps; and the low vibrating sounds


s: Low are they, but most subtle to find out


s: The shrinking soul.  Madam, 'tis understood


s: It means, a Season gone.  And yet I doubt


s: But I am duped.  That nun-like look waylays


s: Pluck out the eyes of pride! thy mouth to mine!


s: Never! though I die thirsting.  Go thy ways!


s: You like not that French novel?  Tell me why.


s: You think it quite unnatural.  Let us see.


s: The actors are, it seems, the usual three:


s: Husband, and wife, and lover.  She--but fie!


s: In England we'll not hear of it.  Edmond,


s: The lover, her devout chagrin doth share;


s: Blanc-mange and absinthe are his penitent fare,


s: Till his pale aspect makes her over-fond:


s: So, to preclude fresh sin, he tries rosbif.


s: Auguste forgives her ere the tear is used.


s: IF she will choose between them.  She does choose;


s: And takes her husband, like a proper wife.


s: Unnatural?  My dear, these things are life:


s: And life, some think, is worthy of the Muse.


s: Love ere he bleeds, an eagle in high skies,


s: Has earth beneath his wings:  from reddened eve


s: He views the rosy dawn.  In vain they weave


s: But when the arrow strikes him, there's a change.


s: He moves but in the track of his spent pain,


s: Whose red drops are the links of a harsh chain,


s: Binding him to the ground, with narrow range.


s: Henceforward with the serpent I am cursed.


s: Speak, and I see the side-lie of a truth.


s: Perchance my heart may pardon you this deed:


s: But be no coward:- you that made Love bleed,


s: You must bear all the venom of his tooth!


s: Of golden hair, or raven black, composed?


s: And does a cheek, like any sea-shell rosed,


s: Or clear as widowed sky, seem most divine?


s: And if the devil snare me, body and mind,


s: Here gratefully I score:- he seemed kind,


s: When not a soul would comfort my distress!


s: O sweet new world, in which I rise new made!


s: Lady, I must be flattered.  Shouldst thou wake


s: But if across your beauty I throw light,


s: To make it threefold, it must be all mine.


s: First secret; then avowed.  For I must shine


s: Envied,--I, lessened in my proper sight!


s: How much hangs on that lamp you cannot tell.


s: Most earnestly I pray you, tend it well:


s: And men shall see me as a burning sphere;


s: And men shall mark you eyeing me, and groan


s: To be the God of such a grand sunflower!


s: Glory she wears, but springing from the mould;


s: Is my soul beggared?  Something more than earth


s: Where is the ancient wealth wherewith I clothed


s: That else had grinned at me the fact I loathed?


s: Of a great flood that whirls me to the sea.


s: But, as you will! we'll sit contentedly,


s: What are we first?  First, animals; and next


s: Pale lies the distant shadow of the tomb,


s: And all that draweth on the tomb for text.


s: Into which state comes Love, the crowning sun:


s: Beneath whose light the shadow loses form.


s: We are the lords of life, and life is warm.


s: But nature says:  'My children most they seem


s: When they least know me:  therefore I decree


s: That they shall suffer.'  Swift doth young Love flee,


s: And we stand wakened, shivering from our dream.


s: Thus do the few who live but with the day:


s: Proportions of the natural nursing size.


s: Great poets and great sages draw no prize


s: With women:  but the little lap-dog breed,


s: Her homage.  And of this we men are vain?


s: Of this!  'Tis ordered for the world's increase!


s: Small flattery!  Yet she has that rare gift


s: To beauty, Common Sense.  I am approved.


s: And yet I do prefer it.  What's my drift?


s: Full faith I have she holds that rarest gift


s: To beauty, Common Sense.  To see her lie


s: Bloom-covered, while the underlids uplift,


s: Would almost wreck the faith; but when her mouth


s: (Can it kiss sweetly? sweetly!) would address


s: The inner me that thirsts for her no less,


s: And has so long been languishing in drouth,


s: I feel that I am matched; that I am man!


s: One restless corner of my heart or head,


s: That holds a dying something never dead,


s: Still frets, though Nature giveth all she can.


s: For serpent's bites?  'Twould calm me could I clasp


s: Shrieking Bacchantes with their souls of wine!


s: 'In Paris, at the Louvre, there have I seen


s: Prone Lucifer, descending.  Looked he fierce,


s: Showing the fight a fair one?  Too serene!


s: Less willingly their locks of floating silk:


s: That suckling mouth of his upon the milk


s: Of heaven might still be feasting through the fray.


s: Oh, Raphael! when men the Fiend do fight,


s: Half serpent in the struggle grow these worms.


s: And does he grow half human, all is right.'


s: GROSS CLAY INVADES IT.  If the spy you play,


s: My wife, read this!  Strange love talk, is it not?


s: Madam would speak with me.  So, now it comes:


s: The Deluge or else Fire!  She's well; she thanks


s: My husbandship.  Our chain on silence clanks.


s: Time leers between, above his twiddling thumbs.


s: Am I quite well?  Most excellent in health!


s: Our eyes dart scrutinizing snakes.  She's glad


s: I'm happy, says her quivering under-lip.


s: 'And are not you?'  'How can I be?'  'Take ship!


s: 'Nowhere for me!'  Her voice is barely heard.


s: With commonplace I freeze her, tongue and sense.


s: Deep to her soul, as if the sense had swooned,


s: And not a thought of vengeance had survived.


s: Must come to one whose suffering is acute.


s: They punish you in acts:  their steps are brief.


s: What is she doing?  What does she demand


s: The drugs that crowd about a woman's hand.


s: At Forfeits during snow we played, and I


s: Must kiss her.  'Well performed!' I said:  then she:


s: "Tis hardly worth the money, you agree?'


s: Save her?  What for?  To act this wedded lie!


s: You're probed by them for tears, you yet may smile,


s: Nay, laugh outright, as I have done just now.


s: The interview was gracious:  they anoint


s: (To me aside) each other with fine praise:


s: That hit with wondrous aim on the weak point:


s: My Lady's nose of Nature might complain.


s: Her character of large-browed steadfastness.


s: But Madam says:  Thereof she may be vain!


s: And inaccessible eye, that has soft fires,


s: Wide gates, at love-time, only.  This admires


s: By smoky torch-flame on the long cloud-ledge


s: Whereunder dropped the chariot) glimmers rich,


s: So sweet up violet banks the Southern balm


s: Breathes round, we care not if the bell be late:


s: Though here and there grey seniors question Time


s: The low rosed moon, the face of Music mute,


s: As in and out, in silvery dusk, we thread,


s: The devils with that hideous human game:-


s: Thus fallen have earth's greatest Gogmagogs,


s: That, in default of better, drives the hogs.


s: So, therefore, my dear Lady, let me love!


s: The bond that woman broke:  what would you have?


s: 'Tis Love, or Vileness! not a choice between,


s: Save petrifaction!  What does Pity here?


s: She killed a thing, and now it's dead, 'tis dear.


s: Oh, when you counsel me, think what you mean!


s: She yields:  my Lady in her noblest mood


s: Has yielded:  she, my golden-crowned rose!


s: The bride of every sense! more sweet than those


s: Who breathe the violet breath of maidenhood.


s: Soft moon!  I feel thy song, my fairest friend!


s: Belief has struck the note of sound:  a gleam


s: Of living silver shows me where she shook


s: Her long white fingers down the shadowy brook,


s: That sings her song, half waking, half in dream.


s: What two come here to mar this heavenly tune?


s: And honour.  Their hands touch!  Am I still tame?


s: God, what a dancing spectre seems the moon!


s: I bade my Lady think what she might mean.


s: Commits such folly.  Terrible Love, I ween,


s: Has might, even dead, half sighing to upheave


s: The lightless seas of selfishness amain:


s: To fall and still them.  Peace can I achieve,


s: By turning to this fountain-source of woe,


s: This woman, who's to Love as fire to wood?


s: She breathed the violet breath of maidenhood


s: The thing is mocked at!  Helplessly afloat,


s: Has seized my nursling new love by the throat.


s: How many a thing which we cast to the ground,


s: We grasp at all the wealth it is to them;


s: And by reflected light its worth is found.


s: Yet for us still 'tis nothing! and that zeal


s: This truth is little known to human shades,


s: How rare from their own instinct 'tis to feel!


s: They waste the soul with spurious desire,


s: That is not the ripe flame upon the bough.


s: To rob a living passion:  dust for fire!


s: Madam is grave, and eyes the clock that tells


s: Approaching midnight.  We have struck despair


s: Into two hearts.  O, look we like a pair


s: Who for fresh nuptials joyfully yield all else?


s: I am to follow her.  There is much grace


s: They think that dignity of soul may come,


s: And statuesque sedateness, when she said


s: 'I'm going'; lit a taper, bowed her head,


s: And went, as with the stride of Pallas bold.


s: Fleshly indifference horrible!  The hands


s: Of Time now signal:  O, she's safe from me!


s: Within those secret walls what do I see?


s: Where first she set the taper down she stands:


s: Not Pallas:  Hebe shamed!  Thoughts black as death


s: Like a stirred pool in sunshine break.  Her wrists


s: I catch:  she faltering, as she half resists,


s: Mark where the pressing wind shoots javelin-like


s: Its skeleton shadow on the broad-backed wave!


s: Here is a fitting spot to dig Love's grave;


s: Here where the ponderous breakers plunge and strike,


s: And dart their hissing tongues high up the sand:


s: Of those ribbed wind-streaks running into white.


s: If I the death of Love had deeply planned,


s: I never could have made it half so sure,


s: The full-waked sense; or failing that, degrade!


s: 'Tis morning:  but no morning can restore


s: The wrong is mixed.  In tragic life, God wot,


s: No villain need be!  Passions spin the plot:


s: We are betrayed by what is false within.


s: They say, that Pity in Love's service dwells,


s: Whereby I know that I Love's temple leave,


s: And that the purple doors have closed behind.


s: Poor soul! if, in those early days unkind,


s: Thy power to sting had been but power to grieve,


s: And not be matched like innocence and vice.


s: She for the Temple's worship has paid price,


s: She sees through simulation to the bone:


s: What's best in her impels her to the worst:


s: Never, she cries, shall Pity soothe Love's thirst,


s: It is the season of the sweet wild rose,


s: So golden-crowned shines she gloriously,


s: And with that softest dream of blood she glows;


s: Mild as an evening heaven round Hesper bright!


s: I pluck the flower, and smell it, and revive


s: The time when in her eyes I stood alive.


s: Here's Madam, stepping hastily.  Her whims


s: Bid her demand the flower, which I let drop.


s: And crush it under heel with trembling limbs.


s: She joins me in a cat-like way, and talks


s: To utter laughing scandal of old friends.


s: These are the summer days, and these our walks.


s: And lo! her place was vacant, and the hum


s: Of loneliness was round me.  Then I rose,


s: And my disordered brain did guide my foot


s: To that old wood where our first love-salute


s: Was interchanged:  the source of many throes!


s: There did I see her, not alone.  I moved


s: And that disturbing shadow passed reproved.


s: I felt the pained speech coming, and declared


s: My firm belief in her, ere she could speak.


s: While with a widening soul on me she stared.


s: We saw the swallows gathering in the sky,


s: And in the osier-isle we heard them noise.


s: But in the largeness of the evening earth


s: Our spirits grew as we went side by side.


s: The hour became her husband and my bride.


s: Love, that had robbed us so, thus blessed our dearth!


s: The pilgrims of the year waxed very loud


s: In multitudinous chatterings, as the flood


s: Full brown came from the West, and like pale blood


s: Love, that had robbed us of immortal things,


s: Where I have seen across the twilight wave


s: The swan sail with her young beneath her wings.


s: Their sense is with their senses all mixed in,


s: Destroyed by subtleties these women are!


s: More brain, O Lord, more brain! or we shall mar


s: Behold!  I looked for peace, and thought it near.


s: Our inmost hearts had opened, each to each.


s: We drank the pure daylight of honest speech.


s: Alas! that was the fatal draught, I fear.


s: Jealous devotion bade her break the mesh,


s: That I might seek that other like a bird.


s: The act!  She has gone forth, I know not where.


s: Will the hard world my sentience of her share


s: I feel the truth; so let the world surmise.


s: He found her by the ocean's moaning verge,


s: And she believed his old love had returned,


s: Which was her exultation, and her scourge.


s: She took his hand, and walked with him, and seemed


s: The wife he sought, though shadow-like and dry.


s: She had one terror, lest her heart should sigh,


s: And tell her loudly she no longer dreamed.


s: She dared not say, 'This is my breast:  look in.'


s: But there's a strength to help the desperate weak.


s: That night he learned how silence best can speak


s: The awful things when Pity pleads for Sin.


s: Was heard, and he came wondering to the bed.


s: 'Now kiss me, dear! it may be, now!' she said.


s: Lethe had passed those lips, and he knew all.


s: Thus piteously Love closed what he begat:


s: These two were rapid falcons in a snare,


s: Condemned to do the flitting of the bat.


s: They wandered once; clear as the dew on flowers:


s: But they fed not on the advancing hours:


s: Their hearts held cravings for the buried day.


s: Then each applied to each that fatal knife,


s: Deep questioning, which probes to endless dole.


s: When hot for certainties in this our life! -


s: Moves dark as yonder midnight ocean's force,


s: Thundering like ramping hosts of warrior horse,


s: To throw that faint thin fine upon the shore!


s: Hills round the Meuse-boat echoed about.


s: Fair flash'd the foreign landscape while


s: I've seen her sons strung up b' the rope.


s: '"You've sent them where they're strong,


s: Think!  Think!--four days from those frontiers,


s: Cluck, went his tongue; his fingers, snap.


s: The old grey mother she thrummed on her knee:


s: And which of the handsome young men shall it be?


s: There's a rose that's ready for clipping.


s: My daughter, come hither, come hither to me:


s: Come, point me your finger on him that you see:


s: For I shall bring shame on the man marries me:


s: And the man'll jump for you, right briskly will he:


s: O the handsome young man dropped down on his knee:


s: Pale Margaret gave him her hand, woe's me!


s: O mother, my mother, this thing I must say:


s: Ere he lies on the breast where that other lay:


s: Now, folly, my daughter, for men are men:


s: You marry them blindfold, I tell you again:


s: My child, you are his, and the ring is worn:


s: Tall Margaret sighed and loosened a tress:


s: My mother will sink if this thing be said:


s: That my first betrothed came thrice to my bed;


s: He died on my shoulder the third cold night:


s: I dragged his body all through the moonlight:


s: I fell in a lump on the stiff dead floor:


s: Could I follow the lover I loved so well!


s: The bridesmaids slept in their chambers apart:


s: Tall Margaret walked with her thumping heart:


s: There's a rose that's ready for clipping.


s: The frill of her nightgown below the left breast:


s: Had fall'n like a cloud of the moonlighted West:


s: But where the West-cloud breaks to a star:


s: Pale Margaret's breast showed a winding scar:


s: I must speak to him under this roof to-night:


s: I shall burn to death if I speak in the light:


s: O my breast!  I must strike you a bloodier wound:


s: Though I bleed to the death, I shall let out the lie:


s: O happy my bridesmaids! white sleep is with you!


s: Had he chosen among you he might sleep too!


s: O happy my bridesmaids! your breasts are clean:


s: She looked so white, she looked so sweet:


s: O Margaret, say you are not of the dead!


s: My bride! by the angels at night are you led?


s: To catch at her heart she laid one hand:


s: She saw how her body grow freckled and foul:


s: She heard from the woods the hooting owl:


s: With never a quiver her mouth did speak:


s: The bridegroom stamped and called her vile:


s: The bridegroom raged and called her foul:


s: He muttered a name full bitter and sore:


s: She fell in a lump on the still dead floor:


s: O great was the wonder, and loud the wail:


s: When through the household flew the tale:


s: The old grey mother she dressed the bier:


s: O had you but done as I bade you, my child!


s: You would not have died and been reviled:


s: The bridegroom he hung at midnight by the bier:


s: He eyed the white girl thro' a dazzling tear:


s: O had you been false as the women who stray:


s: You would not be now with the Angels of Day!


s: A sea that has cast us pale on the beach;


s: That hear the lone tamarisk rooted in sand


s: Though I am faithful to my loves lived through,


s: And place them among Memory's great stars,


s: Where burns a face like Hesper:  one like Mars:


s: Sweet eyes that in the heaven of me, too,


s: Ascend, tho' virgin to my life they passed.


s: Lo, these within my destiny seem glassed


s: At times so bright, I wish that Hope were new.


s: A gracious freckled lady, tall and grave,


s: Last sunset by; and going sow'd a glance.


s: Earth is too poor to hold a second chance;


s: I will not ask for more than Fortune gave:


s: My heart she goes from--never from my sight!


s: O my lover! the night like a broad smooth wave


s: Bears us onward, and morn, a black rock, shines wet.


s: How I shuddered--I knew not that I was a slave,


s: Till I looked on thy face:- then I writhed in the net.


s: Then I felt like a thing caught by fire, that her star


s: Glowed dark on the bosom of Shemselnihar.


s: And he came, whose I am:  O my lover! he came:


s: And his slave, still so envied of women, was I:


s: And I turned as a hissing leaf spits from the flame,


s: Yes, I shrivelled to dust from him, haggard and dry.


s: O forgive her:- she was but as dead lilies are:


s: The life of her heart fled from Shemselnihar.


s: Yet with thee like a full throbbing rose how I bloom!


s: Like a rose by the fountain whose showering we hear,


s: As we lie, O my lover! in this rich gloom,


s: Smelling faint the cool breath of the lemon-groves near.


s: As we lie gazing out on that glowing great star -


s: Yet with thee am I not as an arm of the vine,


s: Firm to bind thee, to cherish thee, feed thee sweet?


s: Swear an oath on my lip to let none disentwine


s: The life that here fawns to give warmth to thy feet.


s: The music thou breathest on Shemselnihar.


s: Far away, far away, where the wandering scents


s: Of all flowers are sweetest, white mountains among,


s: There my kindred abide in their green and blue tents:


s: Bear me to them, my lover! they lost me so young.


s: Let us slip down the stream and leap steed till afar


s: None question thy claim upon Shemselnihar.


s: O that long note the bulbul gave out--meaning love!


s: O my lover, hark to him and think it my voice!


s: The blue night like a great bell-flower from above


s: Drooping low and gold-eyed:  O, but hear him rejoice!


s: Can it be?  'twas a flash! that accurst scimiter


s: In thought even cuts thee from Shemselnihar.


s: Yes, I would that, less generous, he would oppress,


s: He would chain me, upbraid me, burn deep brands for hate,


s: Than with this mask of freedom and gorgeousness


s: Bespangle my slavery, mock my strange fate.


s: Would, would, would, O my lover, he knew--dared debar


s: Thy coming, and earn curse of Shemselnihar!


s: Thy greatest knew thee, Mother Earth; unsoured


s: He knew thy sons.  He probed from hell to hell


s: Of human passions, but of love deflowered


s: His wisdom was not, for he knew thee well.


s: Thence came the honeyed corner at his lips,


s: The conquering smile wherein his spirit sails


s: Calm as the God who the white sea-wave whips,


s: Yet full of speech and intershifting tales,


s: Close mirrors of us:  thence had he the laugh


s: We feel is thine:  broad as ten thousand beeves


s: At pasture! thence thy songs, that winnow chaff


s: From grain, bid sick Philosophy's last leaves


s: Whirl, if they have no response--they enforced


s: To fatten Earth when from her soul divorced.


s: In gloomy noddings over life!  They pass.


s: Or eye a beauteous face in a cracked glass.


s: But he can spy that little twist of brain


s: Which moved some weighty leader of the blind,


s: Unwitting 'twas the goad of personal pain,


s: To view in curst eclipse our Mother's mind,


s: The wretched bondmen till the end of time.


s: That little twist of brain would ring a chime


s: Of whence it came and what it caused, to start


s: Thunders of laughter, clearing air and heart.


s: Fair Mother Earth lay on her back last night,


s: To gaze her fill on Autumn's sunset skies,


s: Sprang realms of rosy fruitage o'er her eyes.


s: A lustrous heavenly orchard hung the West,


s: Wherein the blood of Eden bloomed again:


s: Red were the myriad cherub-mouths that pressed,


s: Among the clusters, rich with song, full fain,


s: A golden harp lost strings; a crimson shell


s: Burnt grey; and sheaves of lustre fell to air.


s: Bronzed, and the beamy winged bloom that flew


s: 'Mid those bunched fruits and thronging figures failed.


s: A green-edged lake of saffron touched the blue,


s: With isles of fireless purple lying through:


s: And Fancy on that lake to seek lost treasures sailed.


s: Through flapping wings; then sharp the woodland bore


s: Of revel-gathering spirits; trooping down,


s: Some rode the tree-tops; some on torn cloud-strips


s: And scudding seaward, some fell on big ships:


s: Still on the farthest line, with outpuffed cheeks,


s: 'Twixt dark and utter dark, the great wind drew


s: To join earth's laughter in the midnight blind:


s: His mantle streaming thunderingly behind,


s: Across the yellow realm of stiffened Day,


s: Shot thro' the woodland alleys signals three;


s: Plunged broad upon the vale that under lay.


s: Discerned them as their leaves took flight,


s: The birches swung from shrieks to sighs;


s: In showering spray-falls mixed their cries,


s: Did seem to shut their teeth right fast,


s: That singing on the lap of sorrow faints:


s: The stillness of the sea's unswaying floor,


s: To be aught better than her who bore us,


s: Hark to her laughter! who laughs like this,


s: But for us who love her she lives again.


s: The crimson-footed nymph is panting up the glade,


s: With the wine-jar at her arm-pit, and the drunken ivy-braid


s: Hear the crushing of the leaves:  hear the cracking of the bough!


s: But the bull-voiced oak is battling now:


s: He laughs and grasps the broadened giant,


s: And multitudes, acclaiming to the cloud,


s: In the circles of pine, on the moss-floor soft.


s: The nymphs of the woodland are gathering there.


s: They huddle the leaves, and trample, and toss;


s: They swing in the branches, they roll in the moss,


s: A fountain of leaves over bosom and back.


s: The pipe of the Faun comes on their track


s: With musical shrieks and wind-wedded hair.


s: Great Mother Nature! teach me, like thee,


s: Unto God's footstool, whither she reaches:


s: That the joy of motion, the rapture of being,


s: Shall throw strong light when our season is fleeing,


s: At the gates of the vault, on the verge of the plain?


s: Life thoroughly lived is a fact in the brain,


s: Behold, in yon stripped Autumn, shivering grey,


s: He lies with all his painted terrors glaring;


s: Hushed are the tribe to hear a threading cry:


s: There she goes up the street with her book in her hand,


s: And her Good morning, Martin!  Ay, lass, how d'ye do?


s: Very well, thank you, Martin!--I can't understand!


s: I might just as well never have cobbled a shoe!


s: I can't understand it.  She talks like a song;


s: Her voice takes your ear like the ring of a glass;


s: She seems to give gladness while limping along,


s: Yet sinner ne'er suffer'd like that little lass.


s: First, a fool of a boy ran her down with a cart.


s: Then, her fool of a father--a blacksmith by trade -


s: Why the deuce does he tell us it half broke his heart?


s: His heart!--where's the leg of the poor little maid!


s: Well, that's not enough; they must push her downstairs,


s: To make her go crooked:  but why count the list?


s: If it's right to suppose that our human affairs


s: Are all order'd by heaven--there, bang goes my fist!


s: For if angels can look on such sights--never mind!


s: When you're next to blaspheming, it's best to be mum.


s: The parson declares that her woes weren't designed;


s: But, then, with the parson it's all kingdom-come.


s: Lose a leg, save a soul--a convenient text;


s: I call it Tea doctrine, not savouring of God.


s: When poor little Molly wants 'chastening,' why, next


s: The Archangel Michael might taste of the rod.


s: But, to see the poor darling go limping for miles


s: To read books to sick people!--and just of an age


s: When girls learn the meaning of ribands and smiles!


s: Makes me feel like a squirrel that turns in a cage.


s: The more I push thinking the more I revolve:


s: I never get farther:- and as to her face,


s: It starts up when near on my puzzle I solve,


s: And says, 'This crush'd body seems such a sad case.'


s: Not that she's for complaining:  she reads to earn pence;


s: And from those who can't pay, simple thanks are enough.


s: Does she leave lamentation for chaps without sense?


s: Howsoever, she's made up of wonderful stuff.


s: Ay, the soul in her body must be a stout cord;


s: She sings little hymns at the close of the day,


s: Though she has but three fingers to lift to the Lord,


s: And only one leg to kneel down with to pray.


s: What I ask is, Why persecute such a poor dear,


s: If there's Law above all?  Answer that if you can!


s: Irreligious I'm not; but I look on this sphere


s: As a place where a man should just think like a man.


s: It isn't fair dealing!  But, contrariwise,


s: Why, then it's all chance-work!  And yet, in her eyes,


s: She holds a fixed something by which I am checked.


s: Yonder riband of sunshine aslope on the wall,


s: If you eye it a minute 'll have the same look:


s: So kind! and so merciful!  God of us all!


s: It's the very same lesson we get from the Book.


s: Then, is Life but a trial?  Is that what is meant?


s: Some must toil, and some perish, for others below:


s: The injustice to each spreads a common content;


s: Ay!  I've lost it again, for it can't be quite so.


s: She's the victim of fools:  that seems nearer the mark.


s: On earth there are engines and numerous fools.


s: Why the Lord can permit them, we're still in the dark;


s: He does, and in some sort of way they're His tools.


s: It's a roundabout way, with respect let me add,


s: If Molly goes crippled that we may be taught:


s: But, perhaps, it's the only way, though it's so bad;


s: In that case we'll bow down our heads,--as we ought.


s: But the worst of ME is, that when I bow my head,


s: I perceive a thought wriggling away in the dust,


s: And I follow its tracks, quite forgetful, instead


s: Of humble acceptance:  for, question I must!


s: Here's a creature made carefully--carefully made!


s: Put together with craft, and then stamped on, and why?


s: The answer seems nowhere:  it's discord that's played.


s: The sky's a blue dish!--an implacable sky!


s: Stop a moment.  I seize an idea from the pit.


s: They tell us that discord, though discord, alone,


s: Can be harmony when the notes properly fit:


s: Am I judging all things from a single false tone?


s: Is the Universe one immense Organ, that rolls


s: From devils to angels?  I'm blind with the sight.


s: It pours such a splendour on heaps of poor souls!


s: I might try at kneeling with Molly to-night.


s: Mean ends for men who what they are would be:


s: Penned in their narrow day no change they see


s: Save one which strikes the blow to brutes and pride.


s: Our faith is ours and comes not on a tide:


s: And whether Earth's great offspring, by decree,


s: They number many heads in that hard flock:


s: Trim swordsmen they push forth:  yet try thy steel.


s: Thou, fighting for poor humankind, wilt feel


s: The strength of Roland in thy wrist to hew


s: And bring the army of the faithful through.


s: And we, who would not be wooed, must court.


s: We have let the blunderers and the waves


s: Is tough, though silent:  may you thrive!


s: 'Twixt fall and fall;--for conscience' sake,


s: Themselves they know not, save that strong


s: Through which we speak the printed stuff


s: His sluggish soul:  HER voice is chained:


s: Which shows a heart sunk low in the girths:


s: 'Live for thyself:  thou art not earth's.'


s: Lost sheared sheep hurt her tender heart


s: With bleating, stops her ears with wool:-


s: Then pants as one who has lost a breath;


s: Believes high heaven, whence favours flow,


s: Gives SHE, 'tis generous, cheese to mice.


s: His tastes are sought:  his will is done:


s: My friend, that will you bid them learn.


s: Proclaimed our weakness, not its source.


s: I, too, have hoped from their good looks,


s: Have hoped that they the land would head


s: They frown:  where they are driven they go.


s: Good health, my friend! and may your lot


s: And as they go, one bends to take a flower,


s: That so may be embalmed their happy hour,


s: Recovered what the teeth of Time devour,


s: The joy, the bloom, and the illusive power,


s: Wherewith by their young blood they are endued


s: Yet seek they with Time's laughing things to wed:


s: To lift the hueless flower and show that dead,


s: Even such, and by this token, is their youth.


s: On a starred night Prince Lucifer uprose.


s: Tired of his dark dominion swung the fiend


s: Above the rolling ball in cloud part screened,


s: Where sinners hugged their spectre of repose.


s: Poor prey to his hot fit of pride were those.


s: And now upon his western wing he leaned,


s: Now his huge bulk o'er Afric's sands careened,


s: Now the black planet shadowed Arctic snows.


s: Soaring through wider zones that pricked his scars


s: He reached a middle height, and at the stars,


s: Which are the brain of heaven, he looked, and sank.


s: Around the ancient track marched, rank on rank,


s: To dotlings under moonlight still art keen


s: With cheerful fervour of a warrior's mien


s: Who holds in his great heart the battle-scales:


s: Unquenched of flame though swift the flood assails,


s: To show what source divine is, and prevails.


s: Long watches through, at one with godly night,


s: I mark thee planting joy in constant fire;


s: And thy quick beams, whose jets of life inspire


s: Life to the spirit, passion for the light,


s: Dark Earth since first she lost her lord from sight


s: Has viewed and felt them sweep her as a lyre.


s: The mind is in their trammels, and lights not


s: By trimming fear-bred tales; nor does the will


s: To find in nature things which less may chill


s: Till we conceive her living we go distraught,


s: Seeing she lives, and of her joy of life


s: Creatively has given us blood and breath


s: For endless war and never wound unhealed,


s: The gloomy Wherefore of our battle-field


s: Solves in the Spirit, wrought of her through strife


s: To read her own and trust her down to death.


s: Earth's secret open, though one page is there;


s: Her plainest, such as children spell, and share


s: With bird and beast; raised letters for the blind.


s: Not where the troubled passions toss the mind,


s: It hangs for those who hither thither fare,


s: Close interthreading nature with our kind.


s: They, hearing History speak, of what men were,


s: And have become, are wise.  The gain is great


s: Yet at a thought of life apart from her,


s: For Earth, that gives the milk, the spirit gives.


s: And greeting in the lists where we may fail:


s: Must, if we bear an aim beyond the head!


s: By their sustainment I likewise shall scale


s: Some rocky steps between the mount and vale;


s: Meanwhile the mark I have and I will wed.


s: Station is nought, nor footways laurel-strewn,


s: Good speed to them!  My place is here or there;


s: My pride is that among them I have place:


s: And thus I keep this instrument in tune.


s: And close behind pale morn she, like the sun


s: Priming our world with light, pours, sweet to see,


s: The image of herself:  and that being done,


s: Choice of what blooms round her fair garden run


s: Beyond the senses, where such love as mine,


s: Such grace as hers, should the strange Fates withhold


s: Their starry more from her and me, unite.


s: Earth was not Earth before her sons appeared,


s: Nor Beauty Beauty ere young Love was born:


s: At city-windows, touching eyelids bleared;


s: To none by her fresh wingedness endeared;


s: In woodland heard, and saw thee come, and cheered.


s: No longer wast thou then mere light, fair soul!


s: And more than simple duty moved thy feet.


s: New colours rose in thee, from fear, from shame,


s: From hope, effused:  though not less pure a scroll


s: May men read on the heart I taught to beat:


s: That change in thee, if not thyself, I claim.


s: While we make sure the struggle cannot cease.


s: Else better were it in some bower of peace


s: Slothful to swing, contending with the flies.


s: You point at Wisdom fixed on lofty skies,


s: As mid barbarian hordes a sculptured Greece:


s: She falls.  To live and shine, she grows her fleece,


s: Is shorn, and rubs with follies and with lies.


s: So following her, your hewing may attain


s: The right to speak unto the mute, and shun


s: That sly temptation of the illumined brain,


s: Who sweats not with the flock will seek in vain


s: To shed the words which are ripe fruit of sun.


s: Rub thou thy battered lamp:  nor claim nor beg


s: Honours from aught about thee.  Light the young.


s: Thou art for this our life an ancient egg,


s: Or a tough bird:  thou hast a rudderless tongue,


s: Turning dead trifles, like the cock of dung,


s: Which runs, Time's contrast to thy halting leg.


s: Nature, it is most sure, not thee admires.


s: But hast thou in thy season set her fires


s: To burn from Self to Spirit through the lash,


s: Honoured the sons of Earth shall hold thee high:


s: Yea, to spread light when thy proud letter I


s: Drops prone and void as any thoughtless dash.


s: In Progress you have little faith, say you:


s: Men will maintain dear interests, wreak base hates,


s: By force, and gentle women choose their mates


s: Most amorously from the gilded fighting crew:


s: Will ever fire to dicing with the Fates.


s: 'Now at this time,' says History, 'those two States


s: Stood ready their past wrestling to renew.


s: They sharpened arms and showed them, like the brutes


s: Whose haunches quiver.  But a yellow blight


s: Fell on their waxing harvests.  They deferred


s: Till God should bless them better.'  They did right.


s: And naming Progress, both shall have the word.


s: Judge mildly the tasked world; and disincline


s: You have perchance observed the inebriate's track


s: At night when he has quitted the inn-sign:


s: He plays diversions on the homeward line,


s: Still that way bent albeit his legs are slack:


s: A hedge may take him, but he turns not back,


s: Nor turns this burdened world, of curving spine.


s: Our mind's ascent:  our world's advance presents


s: That figure on a flat; the way of worms.


s: Cherish the promise of its good intents,


s: And none more kindly gives and takes hard knocks.


s: Strong psalmic chanting, like to nasal cocks,


s: They join to thunderings of their hearty thwacks.


s: But naughtiness, with hoggery, not lacks


s: When Peace another door in them unlocks,


s: Where conscience shows the eyeing of an ox


s: Graceless they are when gone to frivolousness,


s: Fearing the God they flout, the God they glut.


s: Than schooling in the Pleasures:  fair belief


s: That these are devilish only to their thief,


s: Charged with an Axe nigh on the occiput.


s: Once flourished, fenced from passion and mishap,


s: Where mind and body, in fair junction free,


s: Luted their joyful concord; like the tree


s: From root to flowering twigs a flowing sap.


s: Clear Wisdom found in tended Nature's lap


s: That Garden would on light supremest verge,


s: Were the long drawing of an equal breath


s: Healthful for Wisdom's head, her heart, her aims.


s: Our world which for its Babels wants a scourge,


s: And for its wilds a husbandman, acclaims


s: Filled him, and mystic wrynesses he chased;


s: For they lead farther than the single-faced,


s: Wave subtler promise when desire pursues.


s: The moon of cloud discoloured was his Muse,


s: His pipe the reed of the old moaning waste.


s: Love was to him with anguish fast enlaced,


s: And Beauty where she walked blood-shot the dews.


s: Men railed at such a singer; women thrilled


s: What barrenly they yearn for seemed distilled


s: From what they dread, who do through tears rejoice.


s: And measured courtly paces rouse his taunts,


s: Like rough rock-sources; and his woes and wants


s: His utterance never; the nymphs blush, not he.


s: Him, when he blows of Earth, and Man, and Fate,


s: The Muse will hearken to with graver ear


s: Would fain have taught what fruitful things and dear


s: Must sink beneath the tidewaves, of their weight,


s: If in no vessel built for sea they swim.


s: They shadow you with Homer, knock you flat


s: With Shakespeare:  bludgeons brainingly sublime


s: Is verse that shuns their self-producing time.


s: Sound them their clocks, with loud alarum trump,


s: Or watches ticking temporal at their fobs,


s: You win their pleased attention.  But, bright God


s: O' the lyre, what bully-drawlers they applaud!


s: Chorus where Lumpkin with his Giles hobnobs.


s: What say you, critic, now you have become


s: (To quote you) of poor hollow folk who rap


s: You snarled tut-tut for welcome to tum-tum,


s: So like the nose fly-teased in its noon's nap.


s: You scratched an insect-slaughtering thunder-clap


s: With that between the fingers and the thumb.


s: It seemeth mad to quit the Olympian couch,


s: Piper, by his own pepper from his pouch!


s: What of the sneer, the jeer, the voice austere,


s: You dealt?--the voice austere, the jeer, the sneer.


s: The taste which stamped you guide of the inept. -


s: He loved small beer, and for that copious brew,


s: Rations exchanged with flavour for the adept:


s: And merrily plied him captain, mate and crew.


s: Sank, washed out within, and overboard was pitched,


s: O captain-critic! printed, neatly stitched,


s: Know while the pillory-eggs fly fast, they are


s: Not eggs, but the drowned soul of Hildebrand.


s: Of me and of my theme think what thou wilt:


s: The song of gladness one straight bolt can check.


s: But I have never stood at Fortune's beck:


s: Were she and her light crew to run atilt


s: At my poor holding little would be spilt;


s: Small were the praise for singing o'er that wreck.


s: Who courts her dooms to strife his bended neck;


s: He grasps a blade, not always by the hilt.


s: Nathless she strikes at random, can be fell


s: With other than those votaries she deals


s: The black or brilliant from her thunder-rift.


s: I say but that this love of Earth reveals


s: A soul beside our own to quicken, quell,


s: Irradiate, and through ruinous floods uplift.


s: 'Tis true the wisdom that my mind exacts


s: Through contemplation from a heart unbent


s: By many tempests may be stained and rent:


s: Yet they seem choicer than your sons of facts,


s: Which scarce give breathing of the sty's content


s: Which treat with Nature in official pacts.


s: Much life have neither.  Let the heavens of wrath


s: Rattle, then both scud scattering to froth.


s: Less put the spirit out, less baffle thirst


s: For light than swinish grunters, blest or curst.


s: This threat of War, that shows a land brain-sick.


s: When nations gain the pitch where rhetoric


s: Seems reason they are ripe for cannon's food.


s: Dark looms the issue though the cause be good,


s: But with the doubt 'tis our old devil's trick.


s: For not since man in his first view of thee


s: Did he unforfeiting thy laws transgress;


s: To drums whose loudness is their emptiness.


s: I, wakeful for the skylark voice in men,


s: Or straining for the angel of the light,


s: When I behold one lamp that through our fen


s: Goes hourly where most noisome; hear again


s: A tongue that loathsomeness will not affright


s: From speaking to the soul of us forthright


s: What things our craven senses keep from ken.


s: This is the doing of the Christ; the way


s: He went on earth; the service above guile


s: To prop a tyrant creed:  it sings, it shines;


s: Brings vengeance down; nor them who rouse revile.


s: With cannon charged?  'Tis hist! and hist!


s: The streaks predicting streams of blood.


s: She thinks they may mean something; thinks


s: Still the mad forces, though the scarred.


s: By degrees, through the upper box-grove,


s: Nose to floor, nose aloft; whined, barked;


s: With the length of a tough knotted staff,


s: Fit to drive the life flying like chaff,


s: The vile cross of this brute:  nevermore


s: The dog dragged his legs, pained to stir,


s: Eyed his master, dropped, barked at the door.


s: Then his master raised head too, and sniffed:


s: You have guessed how the tower was afire.


s: Should have warned of the tyrant in men.


s: Not so sore as my thoughts:  if, beguiled,


s: For the hound slain for saving his child.


s: Which no spring of strength would quell;


s: Last night returning from my twilight walk


s: I met the grey mist Death, whose eyeless brow


s: Was bent on me, and from his hand of chalk


s: He reached me flowers as from a withered bough:


s: O Death, what bitter nosegays givest thou!


s: Death said, I gather, and pursued his way.


s: Sword-hacked and iron-stained, with breasts of clay,


s: And metal veins that sometimes fiery shone:


s: O Life, how naked and how hard when known!


s: Life said, As thou hast carved me, such am I.


s: Then memory, like the nightjar on the pine,


s: And sightless hope, a woodlark in night sky,


s: Joined notes of Death and Life till night's decline


s: Of Death, of Life, those inwound notes are mine.


s: With the touch on his breast than a hail


s: Curled the land with the blight of her curse:


s: Sang through, and revealed round the vines,


s: Of the flowers flooding grass as from founts:


s: Quivered high of the love that would fold


s: Though a God's:  and the wheels were stayed,


s: Head to head, crossing throats:  and apart,


s: Of a something that slipped from the car


s: Though her stature had reached the height


s: O'er the dance of the earth opened wide:


s: The bees chose their flowers, the snub kids


s: Up their branches the little birds billed:


s: Chirrup, drone, bleat and buzz ringed the lake.


s: Like Arachne launched out on her thread.


s: Tripping straight through the fields, green blades,


s: Downy-grey, golden-tinged:  and to glades


s: Where the pear-blossom thickens the spray


s: And she touched them with finger and thumb,


s: Then she murmured that name of the dearth,


s: Were these which had made him her friend?


s: And the lake-slopes, the ravishing scent


s: And the shade-loved white windflower, half hid,


s: Out of sight, smooth as waterdrops, all,


s: Of the grass-billows.  Thence, as a wreath,


s: Vineyard, village, groves, rivers, towers, farms,


s: Clipped by heat, rings the round of the tree.


s: From the bark of the tree she discoursed,


s: Through the shaggy brown skin of the beast,


s: And the steeps where the cataract rushed,


s: And the wilds where the forest is priest,


s: While she spake:  'twas a wonder:  she read


s: Whither soon the youth veered his theme,


s: Nearing harbour, scarce wakened her glance,


s: Seen of Gods, of Gods aided, and maimed.


s: And her eyes, while she bade him desist,


s: Held the lost-to-light ghosts grey-mailed,


s: Then she looked at the sun, she regained


s: Not the pines with the faint airs afloat,


s: And the steeps of the forest she crossed,


s: In the gift he could measure and praise,


s: With her numbered:  corn, wine, fruit, oil


s: Pouring streams, and the whole solid height


s: Like the pause to things hunted, in doubt,


s: All the vale through a thin thread-smoke


s: As the wave breaks to grasp and to spurn,


s: Through the plain of the vale half-devoured.


s: Saying:  Now have we looked on the Three.


s: I have breathed:  I have gazed:  I have been:


s: The remembrance of light through the screen


s: Like a panic-struck breast.  Then she called,


s: Pale she drooped, and the youth by her side


s: Would have clasped her and dared a revolt


s: Clove the fountaining lake with a plough,


s: Through the wave like a boar of the wilds


s: And a name shouted hoarsely:  his child's.


s: With the foam and torn features of wrath,


s: And the steeds clove it, rushing at land


s: To be sundered and stamped with the sere.


s: Strained arms:  he was shade of her shade.


s: With his faith in the Great Mother's love:


s: Of her voice, and her steps, and her touch


s: And he withered rathe, dry to his prime,


s: Through the island with rites of old time


s: Pious hymns when the corn-sheaves are heaped


s: For his beacon where beam there is none:


s: And to join her, or have her brought back,


s: Through pureness filtered crystal-clear,


s: Though nought be promised from the seas,


s: The woods and brooks, the sheep and kine,


s: All these the circling song will wreathe,


s: Yield substance, though they sing not, sweet


s: With showerings drawn from human stores,


s: When by Zeus relenting the mandate was revoked,


s: Mindful were the ploughmen of who the steer had yoked,


s: Who:  and what a track showed the upturned sod!


s: Mindful were the shepherds, as now the noon severe


s: Bent a burning eyebrow to brown evetide,


s: How the rustic flute drew the silver to the sphere,


s: Sister of his own, till her rays fell wide.


s: Chirping none, the scarlet cicadas crouched in ranks:


s: Slack the thistle-head piled its down-silk grey:


s: Scarce the stony lizard sucked hollows in his flanks:


s: Thick on spots of umbrage our drowsed flocks lay.


s: Sudden bowed the chestnuts beneath a wind unheard,


s: Lengthened ran the grasses, the sky grew slate:


s: Then amid a swift flight of winged seed white as curd,


s: Clear of limb a Youth smote the master's gate.


s: Water, first of singers, o'er rocky mount and mead,


s: First of earthly singers, the sun-loved rill,


s: Sang of him, and flooded the ripples on the reed,


s: Seeking whom to waken and what ear fill.


s: Water, sweetest soother to kiss a wound and cool,


s: Sweetest and divinest, the sky-born brook,


s: Chuckled, with a whimper, and made a mirror-pool


s: Round the guest we welcomed, the strange hand shook.


s: Many swarms of wild bees descended on our fields:


s: Stately stood the wheatstalk with head bent high:


s: Big of heart we laboured at storing mighty yields,


s: Wool and corn, and clusters to make men cry!


s: Hand-like rushed the vintage; we strung the bellied skins


s: Plump, and at the sealing the Youth's voice rose:


s: Maidens clung in circle, on little fists their chins;


s: Gentle beasties through pushed a cold long nose.


s: Foot to fire in snowtime we trimmed the slender shaft:


s: Often down the pit spied the lean wolf's teeth


s: Grin against his will, trapped by masterstrokes of craft;


s: Helpless in his froth-wrath as green logs seethe!


s: Safe the tender lambs tugged the teats, and winter sped


s: Whirled before the crocus, the year's new gold.


s: Hung the hooky beak up aloft, the arrowhead


s: Reddened through his feathers for our dear fold.


s: Tales we drank of giants at war with Gods above:


s: Rocks were they to look on, and earth climbed air!


s: Tales of search for simples, and those who sought of love


s: Ease because the creature was all too fair.


s: Pleasant ran our thinking that while our work was good,


s: Sure as fruits for sweat would the praise come fast.


s: He that wrestled stoutest and tamed the billow-brood


s: Danced in rings with girls, like a sail-flapped mast.


s: Lo, the herb of healing, when once the herb is known,


s: Shines in shady woods bright as new-sprung flame.


s: Ere the string was tightened we heard the mellow tone,


s: After he had taught how the sweet sounds came


s: Stretched about his feet, labour done, 'twas as you see


s: Red pomegranates tumble and burst hard rind.


s: So began contention to give delight and be


s: Excellent in things aimed to make life kind.


s: You with shelly horns, rams! and, promontory goats,


s: You whose browsing beards dip in coldest dew!


s: Bulls, that walk the pastures in kingly-flashing coats!


s: Laurel, ivy, vine, wreathed for feasts not few!


s: You that build the shade-roof, and you that court the rays,


s: You that leap besprinkling the rock stream-rent:


s: He has been our fellow, the morning of our days!


s: Us he chose for housemates, and this way went.


s: With love exceeding a simple love of the things


s: That glide in grasses and rubble of woody wreck;


s: Or change their perch on a beat of quivering wings


s: From branch to branch, only restful to pipe and peck;


s: Or, bristled, curl at a touch their snouts in a ball;


s: Or cast their web between bramble and thorny hook;


s: The good physician Melampus, loving them all,


s: Among them walked, as a scholar who reads a book.


s: For him the woods were a home and gave him the key


s: Of knowledge, thirst for their treasures in herbs and flowers.


s: The secrets held by the creatures nearer than we


s: To earth he sought, and the link of their life with ours:


s: And where alike we are, unlike where, and the veined


s: Division, veined parallel, of a blood that flows


s: In them, in us, from the source by man unattained


s: Save marks he well what the mystical woods disclose.


s: And this he deemed might be boon of love to a breast


s: Embracing tenderly each little motive shape,


s: The prone, the flitting, who seek their food whither best


s: Their wits direct, whither best from their foes escape.


s: For closer drawn to our mother's natural milk,


s: As babes they learn where her motherly help is great:


s: They know the juice for the honey, juice for the silk,


s: And need they medical antidotes, find them straight.


s: Of earth and sun they are wise, they nourish their broods,


s: Weave, build, hive, burrow and battle, take joy and pain


s: Like swimmers varying billows:  never in woods


s: The woods revolve:  as the tree its shadowing limns


s: To some resemblance in motion, the rooted life


s: Restrains disorder:  you hear the primitive hymns


s: Of earth in woods issue wild of the web of strife.


s: Now sleeping once on a day of marvellous fire,


s: A brood of snakes he had cherished in grave regret


s: That death his people had dealt their dam and their sire,


s: Through savage dread of them, crept to his neck, and set


s: Their tongues to lick him:  the swift affectionate tongue


s: Of each ran licking the slumberer:  then his ears


s: A forked red tongue tickled shrewdly:  sudden upsprung,


s: He heard a voice piping:  Ay, for he has no fears!


s: A bird said that, in the notes of birds, and the speech


s: Of men, it seemed:  and another renewed:  He moves


s: To learn and not to pursue, he gathers to teach;


s: He feeds his young as do we, and as we love loves.


s: No fears have I of a man who goes with his head


s: To earth, chance looking aloft at us, kind of hand:


s: I feel to him as to earth of whom we are fed;


s: I pipe him much for his good could he understand.


s: Melampus touched at his ears, laid finger on wrist


s: He was not dreaming, he sensibly felt and heard.


s: Above, through leaves, where the tree-twigs inter-twist,


s: He spied the birds and the bill of the speaking bird.


s: His cushion mosses in shades of various green,


s: The lumped, the antlered, he pressed, while the sunny snake


s: Slipped under:  draughts he had drunk of clear Hippocrene,


s: It seemed, and sat with a gift of the Gods awake.


s: Divinely thrilled was the man, exultingly full,


s: As quick well-waters that come of the heart of earth,


s: Ere yet they dart in a brook are one bubble-pool


s: To light and sound, wedding both at the leap of birth.


s: The soul of light vivid shone, a stream within stream;


s: The soul of sound from a musical shell outflew;


s: Where others hear but a hum and see but a beam,


s: The tongue and eye of the fountain of life he knew.


s: He knew the Hours:  they were round him, laden with seed


s: Of hours bestrewn upon vapour, and one by one


s: They winged as ripened in fruit the burden decreed


s: For each to scatter; they flushed like the buds in sun,


s: Bequeathing seed to successive similar rings,


s: Their sisters, bearers to men of what men have earned:


s: He knew them, talked with the yet unreddened; the stings,


s: The sweets, they warmed at their bosoms divined, discerned.


s: Not unsolicited, sought by diligent feet,


s: By riddling fingers expanded, oft watched in growth


s: With brooding deep as the noon-ray's quickening wheat,


s: Ere touch'd, the pendulous flower of the plants of sloth,


s: The plants of rigidness, answered question and squeeze,


s: Revealing wherefore it bloomed, uninviting, bent,


s: Yet making harmony breathe of life and disease,


s: The deeper chord of a wonderful instrument.


s: So passed he luminous-eyed for earth and the fates


s: We arm to bruise or caress us:  his ears were charged


s: With tones of love in a whirl of voluble hates,


s: With music wrought of distraction his heart enlarged.


s: Celestial-shining, though mortal, singer, though mute,


s: He drew the Master of harmonies, voiced or stilled,


s: To seek him; heard at the silent medicine-root


s: A song, beheld in fulfilment the unfulfilled.


s: Him Phoebus, lending to darkness colour and form


s: Of light's excess, many lessons and counsels gave,


s: Showed Wisdom lord of the human intricate swarm,


s: And whence prophetic it looks on the hives that rave,


s: And how acquired, of the zeal of love to acquire,


s: And where it stands, in the centre of life a sphere;


s: And Measure, mood of the lyre, the rapturous lyre,


s: He said was Wisdom, and struck him the notes to hear.


s: Sweet, sweet:  'twas glory of vision, honey, the breeze


s: In heat, the run of the river on root and stone,


s: All senses joined, as the sister Pierides


s: Are one, uplifting their chorus, the Nine, his own.


s: In stately order, evolved of sound into sight,


s: From sight to sound intershifting, the man descried


s: The growths of earth, his adored, like day out of night,


s: Ascend in song, seeing nature and song allied.


s: And there vitality, there, there solely in song,


s: Resides, where earth and her uses to men, their needs,


s: Their forceful cravings, the theme are:  there is it strong,


s: The Master said:  and the studious eye that reads,


s: (Yea, even as earth to the crown of Gods on the mount),


s: In links divine with the lyrical tongue is bound.


s: Pursue thy craft:  it is music drawn of a fount


s: To spring perennial; well-spring is common ground.


s: Melampus dwelt among men:  physician and sage,


s: He served them, loving them, healing them; sick or maimed,


s: Or them that frenzied in some delirious rage


s: Outran the measure, his juice of the woods reclaimed.


s: He played on men, as his master, Phoebus, on strings


s: Melodious:  as the God did he drive and check,


s: Through love exceeding a simple love of the things


s: That glide in grasses and rubble of woody wreck.


s: Under yonder beech-tree single on the greensward,


s: Couched with her arms behind her golden head,


s: Knees and tresses folded to slip and ripple idly,


s: Lies my young love sleeping in the shade.


s: Had I the heart to slide an arm beneath her,


s: Press her parting lips as her waist I gather slow,


s: Waking in amazement she could not but embrace me:


s: Then would she hold me and never let me go?


s: Shy as the squirrel and wayward as the swallow,


s: Swift as the swallow along the river's light


s: Circleting the surface to meet his mirrored winglets,


s: Fleeter she seems in her stay than in her flight.


s: Shy as the squirrel that leaps among the pine-tops,


s: Wayward as the swallow overhead at set of sun,


s: She whom I love is hard to catch and conquer,


s: Hard, but O the glory of the winning were she won!


s: When her mother tends her before the laughing mirror,


s: Tying up her laces, looping up her hair,


s: Often she thinks, were this wild thing wedded,


s: More love should I have, and much less care.


s: When her mother tends her before the lighted mirror,


s: Loosening her laces, combing down her curls,


s: I should miss but one for the many boys and girls.


s: Heartless she is as the shadow in the meadows


s: Flying to the hills on a blue and breezy noon.


s: No, she is athirst and drinking up her wonder:


s: Earth to her is young as the slip of the new moon.


s: Deals she an unkindness, 'tis but her rapid measure,


s: Even as in a dance; and her smile can heal no less:


s: Lovely are the curves of the white owl sweeping


s: Lone on the fir-branch, his rattle-note unvaried,


s: Brooding o'er the gloom, spins the brown eve-jar.


s: Darker grows the valley, more and more forgetting:


s: So were it with me if forgetting could be willed.


s: Tell the grassy hollow that holds the bubbling well-spring,


s: Tell it to forget the source that keeps it filled.


s: Stepping down the hill with her fair companions,


s: Arm in arm, all against the raying West,


s: Boldly she sings, to the merry tune she marches,


s: Brave in her shape, and sweeter unpossessed.


s: Sweeter, for she is what my heart first awaking


s: Whispered the world was; morning light is she.


s: Love that so desires would fain keep her changeless;


s: Fain would fling the net, and fain have her free.


s: Happy happy time, when the white star hovers


s: Low over dim fields fresh with bloomy dew,


s: Near the face of dawn, that draws athwart the darkness,


s: Threading it with colour, like yewberries the yew.


s: Thicker crowd the shades as the grave East deepens


s: Glowing, and with crimson a long cloud swells.


s: Maiden still the morn is; and strange she is, and secret;


s: Strange her eyes; her cheeks are cold as cold sea-shells.


s: Sunrays, leaning on our southern hills and lighting


s: Wild cloud-mountains that drag the hills along,


s: Oft ends the day of your shifting brilliant laughter


s: Chill as a dull face frowning on a song.


s: Ay, but shows the South-west a ripple-feathered bosom


s: Blown to silver while the clouds are shaken and ascend


s: Scaling the mid-heavens as they stream, there comes a sunset


s: Rich, deep like love in beauty without end.


s: When at dawn she sighs, and like an infant to the window


s: Turns grave eyes craving light, released from dreams,


s: Beautiful she looks, like a white water-lily


s: Bursting out of bud in havens of the streams.


s: When from bed she rises clothed from neck to ankle


s: In her long nightgown sweet as boughs of May,


s: Beautiful she looks, like a tall garden lily


s: Pure from the night, and splendid for the day.


s: Mother of the dews, dark eye-lashed twilight,


s: Low-lidded twilight, o'er the valley's brim,


s: Rounding on thy breast sings the dew-delighted skylark,


s: Clear as though the dewdrops had their voice in him.


s: Hidden where the rose-flush drinks the rayless planet,


s: Fountain-full he pours the spraying fountain-showers.


s: Let me hear her laughter, I would have her ever


s: Cool as dew in twilight, the lark above the flowers.


s: All the girls are out with their baskets for the primrose;


s: Up lanes, woods through, they troop in joyful bands.


s: My sweet leads:  she knows not why, but now she loiters,


s: Eyes bent anemones, and hangs her hands.


s: Such a look will tell that the violets are peeping,


s: Springs in her bosom for odours and for colour,


s: Covert and the nightingale; she knows not why.


s: Kerchiefed head and chin, she darts between her tulips,


s: Streaming like a willow grey in arrowy rain:


s: Some bend beaten cheek to gravel, and their angel


s: She will be; she lifts them, and on she speeds again.


s: Black the driving raincloud breasts the iron gate-way:


s: She is forth to cheer a neighbour lacking mirth.


s: Saw I once a white dove, sole light of earth.


s: Prim little scholars are the flowers of her garden,


s: Trained to stand in rows, and asking if they please.


s: I might love them well but for loving more the wild ones.


s: O my wild ones! they tell me more than these.


s: You, my wild one, you tell of honied field-rose,


s: Violet, blushing eglantine in life; and even as they,


s: They by the wayside are earnest of your goodness,


s: You are of life's, on the banks that line the way.


s: Peering at her chamber the white crowns the red rose,


s: Jasmine winds the porch with stars two and three.


s: Parted is the window; she sleeps; the starry jasmine


s: Breathes a falling breath that carries thoughts of me.


s: Sweeter unpossessed, have I said of her my sweetest


s: Not while she sleeps:  while she sleeps the jasmine breathes,


s: Luring her to love; she sleeps; the starry jasmine


s: Bears me to her pillow under white rose-wreaths.


s: Yellow with birdfoot-trefoil are the grass-glades;


s: Yellow with cinquefoil of the dew-grey leaf:


s: Yellow with stonecrop; the moss-mounds are yellow;


s: Blue-necked the wheat sways, yellowing to the sheaf.


s: Green-yellow, bursts from the copse the laughing yaffle;


s: Sharp as a sickle is the edge of shade and shine:


s: Earth in her heart laughs looking at the heavens,


s: Thinking of the harvest:  I look and think of mine.


s: This I may know:  her dressing and undressing


s: Such a change of light shows as when the skies in sport


s: Shift from cloud to moonlight; or edging over thunder


s: Slips a ray of sun; or sweeping into port


s: White sails furl; or on the ocean borders


s: White sails lean along the waves leaping green.


s: Visions of her shower before me, but from eyesight


s: Guarded she would be like the sun were she seen.


s: Front door and back of the mossed old farmhouse


s: Open with the morn, and in a breezy link


s: Freshly sparkles garden to stripe-shadowed orchard,


s: Green across a rill where on sand the minnows wink.


s: Busy in the grass the early sun of summer


s: Swarms, and the blackbird's mellow fluting notes


s: Call my darling up with round and roguish challenge:


s: Quaintest, richest carol of all the singing throats!


s: Cool was the woodside; cool as her white dairy


s: Keeping sweet the cream-pan; and there the boys from school,


s: Cricketing below, rushed brown and red with sunshine;


s: O the dark translucence of the deep-eyed cool!


s: Spying from the farm, herself she fetched a pitcher


s: Full of milk, and tilted for each in turn the beak.


s: Then a little fellow, mouth up and on tiptoe,


s: Said, 'I will kiss you':  she laughed and leaned her cheek.


s: Doves of the fir-wood walling high our red roof