s: But life gone breathless will she reinstate.


s: Close on the heart of Earth his bosom beats,


s: Alive to breast a future wrapped in haze,


s: Strike camp, and onward, like the wind's cloud-fleets.


s: Unresting she, unresting he, from change


s: To change, as rain of cloud, as fruit of rain;


s: She feels her blood-tree throbbing in her grain,


s: Yet skyward branched, with loftier mark and range.


s: No miracle the sprout of wheat from clod,


s: She knows, nor growth of man in grisly brute;


s: But he, the flower at head and soil at root,


s: And that way seems he bound; that way the road,


s: With his dark-lantern mind, unled, alone,


s: Wearifully through forest-tracts unsown,


s: He travels, urged by some internal goad.


s: Dares he behold the thing he is, what thing


s: He would become is in his mind its child;


s: Astir, demanding birth to light and wing;


s: For battle prompt, by pleasure unbeguiled.


s: So moves he forth in faith, if he has made


s: His mind God's temple, dedicate to truth.


s: Earth's nourishing delights, no more gainsaid,


s: He tastes, as doth the bridegroom rich in youth.


s: Then knows he Love, that beckons and controls;


s: Then match in him who holds his tempters fast,


s: The body's love and mind's, whereof the soul's.


s: Then Earth her man for woman finds at last,


s: To speed the pair unto her goal of goals.


s: Or is't the widowed's dream of her new mate?


s: Seen has she virulent days of heat in flood;


s: His rough refractory off on kicking heels


s: To rear; the man dragged rearward, shamed, amazed;


s: And as a torrent stream where cattle grazed,


s: His tumbled world.  What, then, the faith she feels?


s: May not his aspect, like her own so fair


s: And he, the once wild ocean storming sky,


s: Be rebel at the core?  What hope is there?


s: 'Tis that in each recovery he preserves,


s: Sense of his march ahead, more brightly lit;


s: He less the shaken thing of lusts and nerves;


s: With such a grasp upon his brute as tells


s: Of wisdom from that vile relapsing spun.


s: Resplendent springs, to faith refreshed compels.


s: How big of breast our Mother Gaea laughed


s: Each over other as they neighboured home,


s: Fronting the day's descent across green slopes,


s: And up fired mountain crags their shadows danced.


s: Close with them in their fun, she scarce could guess,


s: Though these two billowy urchins reeked of craft,


s: It signalled some adventurous master-trick


s: Lest it might be their godhead undermined,


s: For the bull-bellowings given to grand good news,


s: Compact, complexioned in his gleeful roar


s: While Otos aped the prisoner's wrists and knees,


s: With doleful sniffs between recurrent howls;


s: Till Gaea's lap receiving them, they stretched,


s: And both upon her bosom shaken to speech,


s: Burst the hot story out of throats of both,


s: Like rocky head-founts, baffling in their glut


s: The hurried spout.  And as when drifting storm


s: A peak, a forest mound, a valley's gleam


s: Of grass and the river's crooks and snaky coils,


s: Through gurglings of triumphant jollity,


s: Which now engulphed and now gave eye; at last


s: With mountain-cloud of laughter banked around,


s: Stood in her sight confirmed:  she could believe


s: That these, her sprouts of promise, her most prized,


s: These two made up of lion, bear and fox,


s: Her sportive, suckling mammoths, her young joy,


s: Still by the reckoning infants among men,


s: Had done the deed to strike the Titan host


s: These two combining strength and craft had snared,


s: Enmeshed, bound fast with thongs, discreetly caged


s: The blood-shedder, the terrible Lord of War;


s: The scarlet heel in towns, foul smoke to sky,


s: Great Ares.  And they gagged his trumpet mouth


s: When they had seized on his implacable spear,


s: Hugged him to reedy helplessness despite


s: For he had eyed them nearing him in play,


s: The giant cubs, who gambolled and who snarled,


s: Unheeding his fell presence, by the mount


s: On Earth's original fisticuffs they called


s: For ease of sharp dispute:  whereat the God,


s: Approving, deemed that sometime trained to arms,


s: Their rebel restless fellows, villain brood


s: The lusty twain were on him and they had him.


s: Breath to us, Powers of air, for laughter loud!


s: Bound like a wheaten sheaf by those two babes!


s: Because they knew our Mother Gaea loathed him,


s: Knew him the famine, pestilence and waste;


s: With splendour built of fruitful things in ashes;


s: The gory chariot-wheel on cries for justice;


s: Her deepest planted and her liveliest voice,


s: Heard from the babe as from the broken crone.


s: Behold him in his vessel of bronze encased,


s: And tumbled down the cave.  But rather look -


s: Ah, that the woman tattler had not sought,


s: Hermes, after the thirteen songful months!


s: Prompting the Dexterous to work his arts,


s: Then first, as where the fountain runs a stream,


s: But see her in the Seasons through that year;


s: That one glad year and the fair opening month.


s: Had never our Great Mother such sweet face!


s: War with her, gentle war with her, each day


s: Her sons and daughters urged; at eve were flung,


s: On the morrow stood to challenge; in their strength


s: From hourly wrestlings up to shut of lids,


s: Returned for valiant labour:  she and they


s: By loss enriched, by overthrow restored.


s: Exchange of powers of this conflict came;


s: Defacement none, nor ever squandered force.


s: Is battle nature's mandate, here it reigned,


s: As music unto the hand that smote the strings;


s: And she the rosier from their showery brows,


s: They fruitful from her ploughed and harrowed breast.


s: Who suck the teats of milky earth, and clasp


s: Man stepped; with wits less fearful to pronounce


s: The mortal mind's concept of earth's divorced


s: Above; those beautiful, those masterful,


s: Those lawless.  High they sit, and if descend,


s: Descend to reap, not sowing.  Is it just?


s: Earth in her happy children asked that word,


s: Whereto within their breast was her reply.


s: Those beautiful, those masterful, those lawless,


s: Enjoy the life prolonged, outleap the years;


s: Yet they ('twas the Great Mother's voice inspired


s: The audacious thought), they, glorious over dust,


s: Outleap not her; disrooted from her soar,


s: To meet the certain fate of earth's divorced,


s: And clap lame wings across a wintry haze,


s: Up to the farthest bourne:  immortal still,


s: Thenceforth innocuous; lovelier than when ruled


s: The Tyranny.  This her voice within them told,


s: When softly the Great Mother chid her sons


s: Those lawless Gods, first offspring of our brain


s: Set moving by an abject blood, that waked


s: And planted aliens on Olympian heights; -


s: By light from her, born of the love of her,


s: Their lordship the illumined brain rejects


s: For earth's beneficent, the sons of Law,


s: Her other name.  So spake she in their heart,


s: Among the wheat-blades proud of stalk; beneath


s: Young vine-leaves pushing timid fingers forth,


s: Confidently to cling.  And when brown corn


s: Swayed armied ranks with softened cricket song,


s: With gold necks bent for any zephyr's kiss;


s: When vine-roots daily down a rubble soil


s: Drank fire of heaven athirst to swell the grape;


s: When swelled the grape, and in it held a ray,


s: Rich issue of the embrace of heaven and earth;


s: The very eye of passion drowsed by excess,


s: Then in that time of general cherishment,


s: Sweet breathing balm and flutes by cool wood-side,


s: He the harsh rouser of ire being absent, caged,


s: Then did good Gaea's children gratefully


s: Lift hymns to Gods they judged, but praised for peace,


s: Delightful Peace, that answers Reason's call


s: Reflects, and though short-lived as then, revives,


s: By natural yearnings, all the happy scenes;


s: The picture of an earth allied to heaven;


s: Between them the known smile behind black masks;


s: Rightly their various moods interpreted;


s: And frolic because toilful children borne


s: With larger comprehension of Earth's aim


s: At loftier, clearer, sweeter, by their aid.


s: At times she fluttered, spoke her thought;


s: The posts that named the swallowed mile;


s: Unto that love must we through fire attain,


s: Which those two held as breath of common air;


s: The hands of whom were given in bond elsewhere;


s: Midway the road of our life's term they met,


s: Nor cared that beauty stood in mutual eyes;


s: To them it was revealed how they had found


s: The flower to plant in sanctuary ground.


s: For either, what most lived within each breast


s: Demanding righteousness approved them good.


s: She leaned on a strong arm, and little feared


s: Her heart at intervals while Love looked blank,


s: Their tempter's moment o'er the black abyss,


s: Across the narrow plank--he could abjure.


s: Then came a day that clipped for him the thread,


s: And their first touch of lips, as he lay cold,


s: Was all of earthly in their love untold,


s: Beyond all earthly known to them who wed.


s: So has there come the gust at South-west flung


s: By sudden volt on eves of freezing mist,


s: When sister snowflake sister snowdrop kissed,


s: And one passed out, and one the bell-head hung.


s: That white star with the front of angel she;


s: He casts round her, and knows his hour of rest


s: Incomplete, were the light for which he dies,


s: Less like joy of the dove that wings to nest.


s: Lustrous momently, near on earth she sinks;


s: Life's full throb over breathless and abased:


s: Yet stand they, though impalpable the links,


s: One, more one than the bridally embraced.


s: If that thou hast the gift of strength, then know


s: A hopeless wrestler shall thy soul contend.


s: Seen, too clear and historic within us, our sins of omission


s: Frown when the Autumn days strike us all ruthlessly bare.


s: They of our mortal diseases find never healing physician;


s: Errors they of the soul, past the one hope to repair.


s: Even the limp-legged beggar a sick desperado has flattered


s: Back to a half-sloughed life cheered by the mere human tone.


s: When comes the lighted day for men to read


s: Life's meaning, with the work before their hands


s: Till this good gift of breath from debt is freed,


s: Earth will not hear her children's wailful bands


s: Deplore the chieftain fall'n in sob and dirge;


s: Nor they look where is darkness, but on high.


s: The sun that dropped down our horizon's verge,


s: Illumes his labours through the travelled sky,


s: Now seen in sum, most glorious; and 'tis known


s: By what our warrior wrought we hold him fast.


s: A splendid image built of man has flown;


s: His deeds inspired of God outstep a Past.


s: Ours the great privilege to have had one


s: To Thee, dear God of Mercy, both appeal,


s: Who straightway sound the call to arms.  Thou know'st;


s: And that black spot in each embattled host,


s: Spring of the blood-stream, later wilt reveal.


s: Now is it red artillery and white steel;


s: Till on a day will ring the victor's boast,


s: To brute, did strength and craft combining strike,


s: He tore the fall'n, the Eternal was his Foe.


s: Beneath the vans of doom did men pass in.


s: Heroic who came out; for round them hung


s: A wavering phantom's red volcano tongue,


s: With league-long lizard tail and fishy fin:


s: Old Earth's original Dragon; there retired


s: To his last fastness; overthrown by few.


s: Then man to play devorant straight was fired.


s: While pillared darkness hatched malicious life


s: And wary slid the glance from ear to ear.


s: In chillness, like a clouded lantern-ray,


s: The forest's heart of fog on mossed morass,


s: Revealed where lured the swallower byway.


s: Dead outlook, flattened back with hard rebound


s: Off walls of distance, left each mounted height.


s: It seemed a giant hag-fiend, churning spite


s: Through friendless wastes, through treacherous woodland, slow


s: The feet sustained by track of feet pursued


s: Pained steps, and found the common brotherhood


s: By sign of Heaven indifferent, Nature foe.


s: And long-frocked men, called Brothers, there abode.


s: They pointed up, bowed head, and dug and sowed;


s: Whereof was shelter, loaf, and warm firelight.


s: What words they taught were nails to scratch the head.


s: Benignant works explained the chanting brood.


s: As one might think a star that heavenward led.


s: Like some gold flower nightly inward curled,


s: Where gentle maidens fled a roaring world,


s: Or played with it, and had their white retreat.


s: Into big books of metal clasps they pored.


s: They governed, even as men; they welcomed lays.


s: The treasures women are whose aim is praise,


s: Was shown in them:  the Garden half restored.


s: A deluge billow scoured the land off seas,


s: With widened jaws, and slaughter was its foam.


s: For food, for clothing, ambush, refuge, home,


s: The lesser savage offered bogs and trees.


s: Whence reverence round grey-haired story grew:


s: And inmost spots of ancient horror shone


s: As temples under beams of trials bygone;


s: For in them sang brave times with God in view.


s: Till now trim homesteads bordered spaces green,


s: Like night's first little stars through clearing showers.


s: Was rumoured how a castle's falcon towers


s: The wilderness commanded with fierce mien.


s: Therein a serious Baron stuck his lance;


s: For minstrel songs a beauteous Dame would pout.


s: Gay knights and sombre, felon or devout,


s: Pricked onward, bound for their unsung romance.


s: It might be that two errant lords across


s: The block of each came edged, and at sharp cry


s: They charged forthwith, the better man to try.


s: One rode his way, one couched on quiet moss.


s: Perchance a lady sweet, whose lord lay slain,


s: Swift should her hero come, like lightning's blue!


s: She prayed for him, as crackling drought for rain.


s: As we, that ere the worst her hero haps,


s: Of Angels guided, nigh that loathly den:


s: Where long forlorn the lone dog whines and yaps.


s: By daylight now the forest fear could read


s: Itself, and at new wonders chuckling went.


s: Straight for the roebuck's neck the bowman spent


s: A dart that laughed at distance and at speed.


s: Rang forth of merry dingles round the tors;


s: And deftest hand was he from foreign wars,


s: But soon he hailed the home-bred yeoman mate.


s: Before the blackbird pecked the turf they woke;


s: At dawn the deer's wet nostrils blew their last.


s: To forest, haunt of runs and prime repast,


s: With paying blows, the yokel strained his yoke.


s: On grassy sweeps and flying arrows, thick


s: As swallows o'er smooth streams, and sighed him sick


s: For thinking that his dearer home was there.


s: Familiar, still unseized, the forest sprang


s: An old-world echo, like no mortal thing.


s: The hunter's horn might wind a jocund ring,


s: Some shadow lurked aloof of ancient time;


s: Some warning haunted any sound prolonged,


s: As though the leagues of woodland held them wronged


s: To hear an axe and see a township climb.


s: Had voice when lowered heavens drummed for gales.


s: At midnight a small people danced the dales,


s: So thin that they might dwindle through a sieve


s: Ringed mushrooms told of them, and in their throats,


s: Old wives that gathered herbs and knew too much.


s: The pensioned forester beside his crutch,


s: Struck showers from embers at those bodeful notes.


s: Came then the one, all ear, all eye, all heart;


s: The forest wreathed the city's drama-mart.


s: There found he in new form that Dragon old,


s: From tangled solitudes expelled; and taught


s: For either's breath the needs of either told.


s: Now deep in woods, with song no sermon's drone,


s: He showed what charm the human concourse works:


s: Amid the press of men, what virtue lurks


s: Where bubble sacred wells of wildness lone.


s: Due boundaries of realms from Nature won,


s: Plucked all the winds but chill North-east.


s: And struck on sight, when quick with dews,


s: Whose hair had growth in earth's unreal;


s: Who merely danced when light winds blew,


s: With word, that less than feather-weight,


s: The blindworm stretched him, drunk of sun.


s: Sprung of the father blood, the mother brain,


s: Are they who point our pathway and sustain.


s: They rarely meet; one soars, one walks retired.


s: When they do meet, it is our earth inspired.


s: To see Life's formless offspring and subdue


s: Desire of times unripe, we have these two,


s: Whose union is right reason:  join they hands,


s: The world shall know itself and where it stands;


s: What cowering angel and what upright beast


s: Make man, behold, nor count the low the least,


s: Nor less the stars have round it than its flowers.


s: When these two meet, a point of time is ours.


s: Smooth for the leap on their great voice below,


s: Some eddies near the brink borne swift along,


s: Will capture hearing with the liquid song,


s: So, while the headlong world's imperious force


s: Resounded under, heard I these discourse.


s: First words, where down my woodland walk she led,


s: To her blind sister Patience, Foresight said:


s: - Your faith in me appals, to shake my own,


s: When still I find you in this mire alone.


s: By men had slain me but for those you trace.


s: Black as the rebel angels rained from sky!


s: - Needs must you drink of me while here you live,


s: Than doth an eagle that to mount him seems.


s: She hath the secret never fieriest reach


s: Of wing shall master till men hear her teach.


s: - Liker the clod flaked by the driving plough,


s: My semblance when I have you not as now.


s: Bear likeness to pure growths of the green sap:


s: By cowards shunning strife or strivers tired.


s: I listen at their breasts:  is there no jar


s: Of wrestlings and of stranglings, dead they are,


s: Are my true pupils while the world is brute.


s: What edict of the stronger keeps me mute,


s: If that I teach, 'tis little the dry word,


s: Content, but how to savour hope deferred.


s: We come of earth, and rich of earth may be;


s: The coursing veins, the constant breath, the use


s: Of sleep, declare that strife allows short truce;


s: And pass despised; "a-cold for lack of heat,"


s: Like other corpses, but without death's plea.


s: - My sister calls for battle; is it she?


s: - Rather a world of pressing men in arms,


s: Than stagnant, where the sensual piper charms


s: With dreams of ease whereof the soul pays price!


s: No home is here for peace while evil breeds,


s: While error governs, none; and must the seeds


s: You sow, you that for long have reaped disdain,


s: Let stout contention drive deep furrows, blood


s: Moisten, and make new channels of its flood!


s: - My sober little maid, when we meet first,


s: Drugs cravings.  Here we see how men advance


s: A doubtful foot, but circle if much stirred,


s: Like dead weeds on whipped waters.  Shout the word


s: Prompting their hungers, and they grandly march,


s: Thus was it, and thus is it; save that then


s: - Observe them, and down rearward for a term,


s: Gaze to the primal twistings of the worm.


s: Thence look this way, across the fields that show


s: Men's early form of speech for Yes and No.


s: My sister a bruised infant's utterance had;


s: And issuing stronger, to mankind 'twas mad.


s: I knew my home where I had choice to feel


s: Bright as you are, to me the Age will turn.


s: Its learning is through Science to despair.


s: - Despair lies down and grovels, grapples not


s: The lower deeps.  It laughs at Happiness!


s: That know I, though the echoes of it wail,


s: For one step upward on the crags you scale.


s: Brave is the Age wherein the word will rust,


s: Which means our soul asleep or body's lust,


s: Until from warmth of many breasts, that beat


s: - But your fierce Yes and No of butting heads,


s: Are thrown by every novel light upraised.


s: The world's whole round smokes ominously, amazed


s: And trembling as its pregnant AEtna swells.


s: Run piling, for one spark to roll in fire


s: And leave the track of devils where men built.


s: Perceptive of a doom, the sinner's guilt


s: Confesses in a cry for help shrill loud,


s: If drops the chillness of a passing cloud,


s: To conscience, reason, human love; in vain:


s: None save they but the souls which them contain.


s: Alone gives aid to city charged with sin.


s: A world that for the spur of fool and knave,


s: Sweats in its laboratory, what shall save?


s: But men who ply their wits in such a school,


s: Must pray the mercy of the knave and fool.


s: To know her Wisdom's mother, and that we


s: May deem the harshness of her later cries


s: In labour a sure goad to prick the wise,


s: If men among the warnings which convulse,


s: Can gravely dread without the craven's pulse.


s: Long ere the rising of this Age of ours,


s: The knave and fool were stamped as monstrous Powers.


s: Of human lusts and lassitudes they spring,


s: Yet numbering locust hosts, bent they to drill,


s: They might o'ermatch and have mankind at will.


s: Behold such army gathering:  ours the spur,


s: A sea; nor stays that sea the bastioned beach.


s: Now must the brother soul alive in each,


s: Hold subject lest the grand destruction come.


s: To overthrow, perchance uproot the race.


s: Within, without, they are a field of tares:


s: Fruitfuller for them when the contest squares,


s: And wherefore warrior service they must yield,


s: That is my comfort, following shock on shock,


s: Which sets faith quaking on their firmest rock.


s: Since with his weapons, all the arms of Night,


s: Frail men have challenged Lucifer to fight,


s: Have matched in hostile ranks, enrolled, erect,


s: What forces on the earth and under roll,


s: Their granite rock runs igneous; now they stand


s: Pledged to the heavens for safety of their land.


s: They cannot learn save grossly, gross that are:


s: Through fear they learn whose aid is good in war.


s: - My sister, as I read them in my glass,


s: Their field of tares they take for pasture grass.


s: Save browsing--the concrete indifferent!


s: Friend Lucifer supplies them solid stuff:


s: They fear not for the race when full the trough.


s: They have much fear of giving up the ghost;


s: And these are of mankind the unnumbered host.


s: - If I could see with you, and did not faint


s: In beating wing, the future I would paint.


s: Those massed indifferents will learn to quake:


s: Once denser than the grunters of the sty.


s: If I could see with you!  Could I but fly!


s: - The length of days that you with them have housed,


s: An outcast else, approves their cause espoused.


s: - O true, they have a cause, and woe for us,


s: While still they have a cause too piteous!


s: Yet, happy for us when, their cause defined,


s: They walk no longer with a stumbler blind,


s: And quicken in the virtue of their cause,


s: The toilers with your "troughsters" now engage;


s: Instructing them through their acutest sense,


s: Already have my people shown their worth,


s: More love they light, which folds the love of Earth.


s: That love to love of labour leads:  thence love


s: Of humankind--earth's incense flung above.


s: - Admit some other features:  Faithless, mean;


s: Encased in matter; vowed to Gods obscene;


s: Contemptuous of the impalpable, it swells


s: On Doubt; for pastime swallows miracles;


s: Declares me hoodwinked by my optic nerve!


s: - Oft has your prophet, for reward of toil,


s: Which were his offspring, born of flame on slime.


s: Nor him, their sire, have known the filial fry:


s: As little as Time's earliest knew the sky.


s: Perchance among them shoots a lustrous flame


s: At intervals, in proof of whom they came.


s: To strengthen our foundations is the task


s: Of this tough Age; not in your beams to bask,


s: Though, lighted by your beams, down mining caves


s: The rock it blasts, the hoarded foulness braves.


s: My sister sees no round beyond her mood;


s: To hawk this Age has dressed her head in hood.


s: Out of the course of ancient ruts and grooves,


s: It moves:  O much for me to say it moves!


s: About his AEthiop Highlands Nile is Nile,


s: Though not the stream of the paternal smile:


s: And where his tide of nourishment he drives,


s: He is the yellow crops, the rounded limbs,


s: The Past yet flowing, the fair time that fills;


s: Breath of all mouths and grist of many mills.


s: To-morrow, warning none with tempest-showers,


s: His golden promise over leagues of seed,


s: Then sits in a smooth lake upon the deed.


s: The races which on barbarous force begin,


s: And cancelled blessings will the current length


s: Reveal till they know need of shaping strength.


s: Before they clash in hosts, in hosts they bleed.


s: Then may sharp suffering their nature grind;


s: Of rabble passions grow the chieftain Mind.


s: Yet mark where still broad Nile boasts thousands fed,


s: For tens up the safe mountains at his head.


s: Few would be fed, not far his course prolong,


s: Save for the troublous blood which makes him strong.


s: - That rings of truth!  More do your people thrive;


s: Than erewhile when I gloried in the page


s: Greece was my lamp:  burnt out for lack of oil;


s: Rome, Python Rome, prey of its robber spoil!


s: All structures built upon a narrow space


s: Must fall, from having not your hosts for base.


s: O thrice must one be you, to see them shift


s: Along their desert flats, here dash, there drift;


s: With faith, that of privations and spilt blood,


s: Comes Reason armed to clear or bank the flood!


s: And thrice must one be you, to wait release


s: From duress in the swamp of their increase.


s: At which oppressive scene, beyond arrest,


s: A darkness not with stars of heaven dressed,


s: Your Many nourished, starved my brilliant few;


s: Then flinging heels, as charioteers the reins,


s: Dive down the fumy AEtna of their brains.


s: - Ay, be we faithful to ourselves:  despise


s: Nought but the coward in us!  That way lies


s: The wisdom making passage through our slough.


s: Am I not heard, my head to Earth shall bow;


s: Like her, shall wait to see, and seeing wait.


s: Philosophy is Life's one match for Fate.


s: That photosphere of our high fountain One,


s: Our spirit's Lord and Reason's fostering sun,


s: Philosophy, shall light us in the shade,


s: Warm in the frost, make Good our aim and aid.


s: Companioned by the sweetest, ay renewed,


s: Unconquerable, whose aim for aid is Good!


s: God's voice; have there the surety in our aim.


s: They crack a childish whip, drive puny herds,


s: Where numbers crave their sustenance in words.


s: Now let the perils thicken:  clearer seen,


s: Your Chieftain Mind mounts over them serene.


s: Who never yet of scattered lamps was born


s: To speed a world, a marching world to warn,


s: But sunward from the vivid Many springs,


s: Counts conquest but a step, and through disaster sings.


s: Either the mission hie on or stoutly do fight with the foemen?


s: I, not hither I fared on account of the spear-armed Trojans,


s: Pledged to the combat; they unto me have in nowise a harm done;


s: Never have they, of a truth, come lifting my horses or oxen;


s: Never in deep-soiled Phthia, the nurser of heroes, my harvests


s: Ravaged, they; for between us is numbered full many a darksome


s: Mountain, ay, therewith too the stretch of the windy sea-waters.


s: O hugely shameless! thee did we follow to hearten thee, justice


s: Never, in sooth, have I known my prize equal thine when Achaians


s: Gave some flourishing populous Trojan town up to pillage.


s: Homeward go with my beaked ships now, and I hold not in prospect,


s: Nay, but I tell thee, and I do swear a big oath on it likewise:


s: Loud will the cry for Achilles burst from the sons of Achaia


s: Like as a terrible fire feeds fast on a forest enormous,


s: Up on a mountain height, and the blaze of it radiates round far,


s: Hither and yon fly they, and rejoicing in pride of their pinions,


s: Even as countless hot-pressed flies in their multitudes traverse,


s: Now, as when fire voracious catches the unclipped woodland,


s: Trojans fell; and in numbers amany the horses, neck-stiffened,


s: Rattled their vacant cars down the roadway gaps of the war-field,


s: Forth of his ambush leapt, and he vaunted him, uttering thiswise:


s: "Bow-puller, jiber, thy bow for thy glorying, spyer at virgins!


s: If that thou dared'st face me here out in the open with weapons,


s: Reck I as were that stroke from a woman or some pettish infant.


s: They then to fountain-abundant Ida, mother of wild beasts,


s: Came, and they first left ocean to fare over mainland at Lektos,


s: Mounted upon a tall pine-tree, tallest of pines that on Ida


s: Lustily spring off soil for the shoot up aloft into aether.


s: Not the sea-wave so bellows abroad when it bursts upon shingle,


s: Down along mountain-glades, when it surges to kindle a woodland;


s: As rose then stupendous the Trojan's cry and Achaians',


s: So now the horses of Aiakides, off wide of the war-ground,


s: Sooth, meanwhile, then did Automedon, brave son of Diores,


s: Nay, as a pillar remains immovable, fixed on the tombstone,


s: Haply, of some dead man or it may be a woman there-under;


s: Even like hard stood they there attached to the glorious war-car,


s: Master; ye that are ageless both, ye both of you deathless!


s: Floating upon their necks along the heavens away.


s: Nor bitter spur that rips the flanks subdue


s: The mares of the Camargue.  I have known,


s: Led off, their saline pastures far from view:


s: They have flung their riders to the ground,


s: Of long marsh-leagues devour'd, and then,


s: After ten years of slavery just to breathe salt sea


s: Of old escaped from Neptune's car, full sure,


s: Still with the white foam fleck'd are they,


s: The stallions of Camargue, all joyful in the roar;


s: Their tails that drag the dust, and back


s: Scratch up the earth, and feel, entering their flesh, where he,


s: And shatters to their depths the abysses of the sea.


s: 'Villa miretur vulgus; mihi flavus Apollo


s: EVEN as the sun with purple-colour'd face


s: Had ta'en his last leave of the weeping morn,


s: Rose-cheek'd Adonis tried him to the chase;


s: Hunting he lov'd, but love he laugh'd to scorn;


s: Sick-thoughted Venus makes amain unto him,


s: And like a bold-fac'd suitor 'gins to woo him.


s: 'Thrice fairer than myself,' thus she began,


s: 'The field's chief flower, sweet above compare,


s: Stain to all nymphs, more lovely than a man,


s: More white and red than doves or roses are;


s: Nature that made thee, with herself at strife,


s: Saith that the world hath ending with thy life.


s: 'Vouchsafe, thou wonder, to alight thy steed,


s: And rein his proud head to the saddle-bow;


s: If thou wilt deign this favour, for thy meed


s: A thousand honey secrets shalt thou know:


s: Here come and sit, where never serpent hisses;


s: And being set, I'll smother thee with kisses:


s: 'And yet not cloy thy lips with loath'd satiety,


s: But rather famish them amid their plenty,


s: Making them red and pale with fresh variety;


s: Ten kisses short as one, one long as twenty:


s: A summer's day will seem an hour but short,


s: Being wasted in such time-beguiling sport.'


s: With this she seizeth on his sweating palm,


s: And, trembling in her passion, calls it balm,


s: Earth's sovereign salve to do a goddess good:


s: Being so enrag'd, desire doth lend her force


s: Courageously to pluck him from his horse.


s: Who blush'd and pouted in a dull disdain,


s: She red and hot as coals of glowing fire


s: Nimbly she fastens;--O! how quick is love:--


s: Backward she push'd him, as she would be thrust,


s: And govern'd him in strength, though not in lust.


s: Each leaning on their elbows and their hips:


s: Now doth she stroke his cheek, now doth he frown,


s: And 'gins to chide, but soon she stops his lips;


s: And kissing speaks, with lustful language broken,


s: 'If thou wilt chide, thy lips shall never open.'


s: He burns with bashful shame; she with her tears


s: Doth quench the maiden burning of his cheeks;


s: Then with her windy sighs and golden hairs


s: To fan and blow them dry again she seeks:


s: He saith she is immodest, blames her miss;


s: What follows more she murders with a kiss.


s: Tires with her beak on feathers, flesh and bone,


s: Shaking her wings, devouring all in haste,


s: Till either gorge be stuff'd or prey be gone;


s: Even so she kiss'd his brow, his cheek, his chin,


s: Panting he lies, and breatheth in her face;


s: And calls it heavenly moisture, air of grace;


s: Wishing her cheeks were gardens full of flowers


s: So they were dewd with such distilling showers.


s: Pure shame and aw'd resistance made him fret,


s: Which bred more beauty in his angry eyes:


s: Perforce will force it overflow the bank.


s: Still she entreats, and prettily entreats,


s: Still is he sullen, still he lours and frets,


s: 'Twixt crimson shame and anger ashy-pale;


s: Being red she loves him best; and being white,


s: Her best is better'd with a more delight.


s: Look how he can, she cannot choose but love;


s: And by her fair immortal hand she swears,


s: Till he take truce with her contending tears,


s: Which long have rain'd, making her cheeks all wet;


s: And one sweet kiss shall pay this countless debt.


s: Like a dive-dapper peering through a wave,


s: Who, being look'd on, ducks as quickly in;


s: So offers he to give what she did crave;


s: But when her lips were ready for his pay,


s: He winks, and turns his lips another way.


s: More thirst for drink than she for this good turn.


s: Her help she sees, but help she cannot get;


s: She bathes in water, yet her fire must burn:


s: 'O! pity,' 'gan she cry, 'flint-hearted boy:


s: 'Tis but a kiss I beg; why art thou coy?


s: 'I have been woo'd, as I entreat thee now,


s: Even by the stern and direful god of war,


s: Whose sinewy neck in battle ne'er did bow,


s: Who conquers where he comes in every jar;


s: Yet hath he been my captive and my slave,


s: And begg'd for that which thou unask'd shalt have.


s: His batter'd shield, his uncontrolled crest,


s: And for my sake hath learn'd to sport and dance


s: To toy, to wanton, dally, smile, and jest;


s: Scorning his churlish drum and ensign red


s: Making my arms his field, his tent my bed.


s: Leading him prisoner in a red-rose chain:


s: Strong-temper'd steel his stronger strength obey'd,


s: O! be not proud, nor brag not of thy might,


s: For mastering her that foil'd the god of fight.


s: Touch but my lips with those falr lips of thine,--


s: Though mine be not so fair, yet are they red,--


s: The kiss shall be thine own as well as mine:


s: What seest thou in the ground? hold up thy head:


s: Look in mine eyeballs, there thy beauty lies;


s: Then why not lips on lips, since eyes in eyes?


s: 'Art thou asham'd to kiss? then wink again,


s: And I will wink; so shall the day seem night;


s: Love keeps his revels where there are but twain;


s: Be bold to play, our sport is not in sight:


s: These blue-vein'd violets whereon we lean


s: Never can blab, nor know not what we mean.


s: 'The tender spring upon thy tempting lip


s: Shows thee unripe, yet mayst thou well be tasted:


s: Make use of time, let not advantage slip;


s: Beauty within itself should not be wasted:


s: Fair flowers that are not gather'd in their prime


s: Rot and consume themselves in little time.


s: 'Were I hard-favour'd, foul, or wrinkled-old,


s: Ill-nurtur'd, crooked, churlish, harsh in voice,


s: O'erworn, despised, rheumatic, and cold,


s: Thick-sighted, barren, lean, and lacking juice,


s: Then mightst thou pause, for then I were not for thee;


s: But having no defects, why dost abhor me?


s: 'Thou canst not see one winkle in my brow;


s: Mine eyes are grey and bright, and quick in turning;


s: My beauty as the spring doth yearly grow;


s: My flesh is soft and plump, my marrow burning;


s: My smooth moist hand, were it with thy hand felt.


s: Would in thy palm dissolve, or seem to melt.


s: 'Bid me discourse, I will enchant thine ear,


s: Or, like a nymph, with long dishevell'd hair,


s: Dance on the sands, and yet no footing seen:


s: Not gross to sink, but light, and will aspire.


s: 'Witness this primrose bank whereon I lie;


s: These forceless flowers like sturdy trees support me;


s: Two strengthless doves will draw me through the sky,


s: From morn till night, even where I list to sport me:


s: Is love so light, sweet boy, and may it be


s: That thou shouldst think it heavy unto thee?


s: 'Is thine own heart to shine own face affected?


s: Can thy right hand seize love upon thy left?


s: Then woo thyself, be of thyself rejected,


s: Steal thine own freedom, and complain on theft.


s: And died to kiss his shadow in the brook.


s: Dainties to taste, fresh beauty for the use,


s: Herbs for their smell, and sappy plants to bear;


s: Things growing to themselves are growth's abuse:


s: Seeds spring from seeds, and beauty breedeth beauty;


s: 'Upon the earth's increase why shouldst thou feed,


s: Unless the earth with thy increase be fed?


s: By law of nature thou art bound to breed,


s: That thine may live when thou thyself art dead;


s: And so in spite of death thou dost survive,


s: In that thy likeness still is left alive.'


s: By this the love-sick queen began to sweat,


s: For where they lay the shadow had forsook them,


s: With burning eye did hotly overlook them,


s: His louring brows o'erwhelming his fair sight,


s: Like misty vapours when they blot the sky,


s: Souring his cheeks, cries, 'Fie! no more of love:


s: The sun doth burn my face; I must remove.'


s: 'Ay me,' quoth Venus, 'young, and so unkind!


s: What bare excuses mak'st thou to be gone!


s: I'll sigh celestial breath, whose gentle wind


s: Shall cool the heat of this descending sun:


s: I'll make a shadow for thee of my hairs;


s: If they burn too, I'll quench them with my tears.


s: 'The sun that shines from heaven shines but warm,


s: And lo! I lie between that sun and thee:


s: The heat I have from thence doth little harm,


s: Thine eye darts forth the fire that burneth me;


s: 'Art thou obdurate, flinty, hard as steel?


s: Nay, more than flint, for stone at rain relenteth:


s: Art thou a woman's son, and canst not feel


s: What 'tis to love? how want of love tormenteth?


s: She had not brought forth thee, but died unkind.


s: 'What am I that thou shouldst contemn me this?


s: Or what great danger dwells upon my suit?


s: What were thy lips the worse for one poor kiss?


s: Speak, fair; but speak fair words, or else be mute:


s: Give me one kiss, I'll give it thee again,


s: And one for interest if thou wilt have twain.


s: 'Fie! lifeless picture, cold and senseless stone,


s: Thou art no man, though of a man's complexion,


s: For men will kiss even by their own direction.'


s: This said, impatience chokes her pleading tongue,


s: And swelling passion doth provoke a pause;


s: Red cheeks and fiery eyes blaze forth her wrong;


s: Being judge in love, she cannot right her cause:


s: And now she weeps, and now she fain would speak,


s: And now her sobs do her intendments break.


s: Sometimes she shakes her head, and then his hand;


s: Now gazeth she on him, now on the ground;


s: Sometimes her arms infold him like a band:


s: She would, he will not in her arms be bound;


s: And when from thence he struggles to be gone,


s: 'Fondling,' she saith, 'since I have hemm'd thee here


s: I'll be a park, and thou shalt be my deer;


s: Feed where thou wilt, on mountain or in dale:


s: Graze on my lips, and if those hills be dry,


s: Stray lower, where the pleasant fountains lie.


s: Sweet bottom-grass and high delightful plain,


s: Round rising hillocks, brakes obscure and rough,


s: To shelter thee from tempest and from rain:


s: Then be my deer, since I am such a park;


s: No dog shall rouse thee, though a thousand bark.'


s: That in each cheek appears a pretty dimple:


s: Love made those hollows, if himself were slain,


s: Foreknowing well, if there he came to lie,


s: Why, there Love liv'd, and there he could not die.


s: These lovely caves, these round enchanting pits,


s: Open'd their mouths to swallow Venus' liking.


s: Being mad before, how doth she now for wits?


s: Struck dead at first, what needs a second striking?


s: Poor queen of love, in thine own law forlorn,


s: To love a cheek that smiles at thee in scorn!


s: Now which way shall she turn? what shall she say?


s: Her words are done, her woes the more increasing;


s: The time is spent, her object will away,


s: And from her twining arms doth urge releasing:


s: 'Pity,' she cries; 'some favour, some remorse!'


s: Away he springs, and hasteth to his horse.


s: But lo! from forth a copse that neighbours by,


s: A breeding jennet, lusty, young, and proud,


s: And forth she rushes, snorts and neighs aloud:


s: The strong-neck'd steed, being tied unto a tree,


s: Breaketh his rein, and to her straight goes he.


s: Imperiously he leaps, he neighs, he bounds,


s: And now his woven girths he breaks asunder;


s: The bearing earth with his hard hoof he wounds,


s: Whose hollow womb resounds like heaven's thunder;


s: The iron bit he crusheth 'tween his teeth,


s: Controlling what he was controlled with.


s: His ears up-prick'd; his braided hanging mane


s: Upon his compass'd crest now stand on end;


s: His nostrils drink the air, and forth again,


s: As from a furnace, vapours doth he send:


s: His eye, which scornfully glisters like fire,


s: Shows his hot courage and his high desire.


s: Sometime he trots, as if he told the steps,


s: Anon he rears upright, curvets and leaps,


s: As who should say, 'Lo! thus my strength is tried;


s: Of the fair breeder that is standing by.'


s: His flattering 'Holla', or his 'Stand, I say'?


s: What cares he now for curb or pricking spur?


s: He sees his love, and nothing else he sees,


s: Nor nothing else with his proud sight agrees.


s: Look, when a painter would surpass the life,


s: In limning out a well-proportion'd steed,


s: His art with nature's workmanship at strife,


s: As if the dead the living should exceed;


s: In shape, in courage, colour, pace and bone.


s: Round-hoof'd, short-jointed, fetlocks shag and long,


s: Broad breast, full eye, small head, and nostril wide,


s: High crest, short ears, straight legs and passing strong,


s: Thin mane, thick tail, broad buttock, tender hide:


s: Look, what a horse should have he did not lack,


s: Sometimes he scuds far off, and there he stares;


s: Anon he starts at stirring of a feather;


s: And whe'r he run or fly they know not whether;


s: For through his mane and tail the high wind sings,


s: Fanning the hairs, who wave like feather'd wings.


s: He looks upon his love, and neighs unto her;


s: She answers him as if she knew his mind;


s: Being proud, as females are, to see him woo her,


s: She puts on outward strangeness, seems unkind,


s: Spurns at his love and scorns the heat he feels,


s: Beating his kind embracements with her heels.


s: He vails his tail, that, like a falling plume,


s: Cool shadow to his melting buttock lent:


s: He stamps, and bites the poor flies in his fume.


s: His testy master goeth about to take him;


s: When lo! the unback'd breeder, full of fear,


s: Jealous of catching, swiftly doth forsake him,


s: With her the horse, and left Adonis there:


s: As they were mad, unto the wood they hie them,


s: Outstripping crows that strive to overfly them.


s: All swoln with chafing, down Adonis sits,


s: Banning his boisterous and unruly beast:


s: And now the happy season once more fits,


s: That love-sick Love by pleading may be blest;


s: For lovers say, the heart hath treble wrong


s: When it is barr'd the aidance of the tongue.


s: An oven that is stopp'd, or river stay'd,


s: Burneth more hotly, swelleth with more rage:


s: Free vent of words love's fire doth assuage;


s: But when the heart's attorney once is mute


s: The client breaks, as desperate in his suit.


s: He sees her coming, and begins to glow,--


s: Even as a dying coal revives with wind,--


s: And with his bonnet hides his angry brow;


s: Looks on the dull earth with disturbed mind,


s: For all askance he holds her in his eye.


s: How she came stealing to the wayward boy;


s: To note the fighting conflict of her hue,


s: How white and red each other did destroy:


s: But now her cheek was pale, and by and by


s: With one fair hand she heaveth up his hat,


s: Her other tender hand his fair cheek feels:


s: His tenderer cheek receives her soft hand's print,


s: As apt as new-fall'n snow takes any dint.


s: O! what a war of looks was then between them;


s: His eyes saw her eyes as they had not seen them;


s: Her eyes woo'd still, his eyes disdain'd the wooing:


s: With tears, which, chorus-like, her eyes did rain.


s: Full gently now she takes him by the hand,


s: So white a friend engirts so white a foe:


s: This beauteous combat, wilful and unwilling,


s: Show'd like two silver doves that sit a-billing.


s: Once more the engine of her thoughts began:


s: My heart all whole as thine, thy heart my wound;


s: For one sweet look thy help I would assure thee,


s: Though nothing but my body's bane would cure thee.'


s: 'Give me my hand,' saith he, 'why dost thou feel it?'


s: 'Give me my heart,' saith she, 'and thou shalt have it;


s: O! give it me, lest thy hard heart do steel it,


s: And being steel'd, soft sighs can never grave it:


s: Then love's deep groans I never shall regard,


s: Because Adonis' heart hath made mine hard.'


s: 'For shame,' he cries, 'let go, and let me go;


s: My day's delight is past, my horse is gone,


s: I pray you hence, and leave me here alone:


s: For all my mind, my thought, my busy care,


s: Is how to get my palfrey from the mare.'


s: Thus she replies: 'Thy palfrey, as he should,


s: Welcomes the warm approach of sweet desire:


s: Affection is a coal that must be cool'd;


s: Else, suffer'd, it will set the heart on fire:


s: The sea hath bounds, but deep desire hath none;


s: Therefore no marvel though thy horse be gone.


s: 'How like a Jade he stood, tied to the tree,


s: Servilely master'd with a leathern rein!


s: But when he saw his love, his youth's fair fee,


s: Throwing the base thong from his bending crest,


s: Enfranchising his mouth, his back, his breast.


s: 'Who sees his true-love in her naked bed,


s: Teaching the sheets a whiter hue than white,


s: But, when his glutton eye so full hath fed,


s: Who is so faint, that dare not be so bold


s: To touch the fire, the weather being cold?


s: And learn of him, I heartily beseech thee,


s: O learn to love, the lesson is but plain,


s: And once made perfect, never lost again.


s: 'I know not love,' quoth he, 'nor will not know it,


s: Unless it be a boar, and then I chase it;


s: 'Tis much to borrow, and I will not owe it;


s: My love to love is love but to disgrace it;


s: That laughs and weeps, and all but with a breath.


s: 'Who wears a garment shapeless and unfinish'd?


s: Who plucks the bud before one leaf put forth?


s: If springing things be any jot diminish'd,


s: They wither in their prime, prove nothing worth;


s: The colt that's back'd and burden'd being young


s: Loseth his pride, and never waxeth strong.


s: 'You hurt my hand with wringing. Let us part,


s: And leave this idle theme, this bootless chat:


s: Remove your siege from my unyielding heart;


s: To love's alarms it will not ope the gate:


s: Dismiss your vows, your feigned tears, your flattery;


s: For where a heart is hard they make no battery.'


s: 'What! canst thou talk?' quoth she, 'hast thou a tongue?


s: O! would thou hadst not, or I had no hearing;


s: Thy mermaid's voice hath done me double wrong;


s: I had my load before, now press'd with bearing:


s: Melodious discord, heavenly tune, harsh-sounding,


s: Ear's deep-sweet music, and heart's deep-sore wounding.


s: 'Had I no eyes but ears, my ears would love


s: Or were I deaf, thy outward parts would move


s: Though neither eyes nor ears, to hear nor see,


s: Yet should I be in love by touching thee.


s: 'Say, that the sense of feeling were bereft me,


s: And that I could not see, nor hear, nor touch,


s: And nothing but the very smell were left me,


s: Yet would my love to thee be still as much;


s: For from the stillitory of thy face excelling


s: Comes breath perfum'd that breedeth love by smelling.


s: 'But O! what banquet wert thou to the taste,


s: Being nurse and feeder of the other four;


s: Would they not wish the feast might ever last,


s: Lest Jealousy, that sour unwelcome guest,


s: Should, by his stealing in, disturb the feast?'


s: Once more the ruby-colour'd portal open'd,


s: Which to his speech did honey passage yield,


s: Like a red morn, that ever yet betoken'd


s: Wrack to the seaman, tempest to the field,


s: Sorrow to shepherds, woe unto the birds,


s: Gusts and foul flaws to herdmen and to herds.


s: Even as the wind is hush'd before it raineth,


s: Or as the wolf doth grin before he barketh,


s: Or as the berry breaks before it staineth,


s: His meaning struck her ere his words begun.


s: For looks kill love, and love by looks reviveth;


s: A smile recures the wounding of a frown;


s: But blessed bankrupt, that by love so thriveth!


s: And all amaz'd brake off his late intent,


s: For sharply he did think to reprehend her,


s: Fair fall the wit that can so well defend her!


s: For on the grass she lies as she were slain


s: Till his breath breatheth life in her again.


s: He wrings her nose, he strikes her on the cheeks,


s: He bends her fingers, holds her pulses hard,


s: He chafes her lips; a thousand ways he seeks


s: To mend the hurt that his unkindness marr'd:


s: He kisses her; and she, by her good will,


s: Will never rise, so he will kiss her still.


s: The night of sorrow now is turn'd to day:


s: Her two blue windows faintly she up-heaveth,


s: Like the fair sun, when in his fresh array


s: He cheers the morn, and all the world relieveth:


s: And as the bright sun glorifies the sky,


s: Whose beams upon his hairless face are fix'd,


s: As if from thence they borrow'd all their shine.


s: Were never four such lamps together mix'd,


s: Had not his clouded with his brow's repine;


s: But hers, which through the crystal tears gave light


s: Shone like the moon in water seen by night.


s: 'O! where am I?' quoth she, 'in earth or heaven,


s: Or in the ocean drench'd, or in the fire?


s: What hour is this? or morn or weary even?


s: But now I liv'd, and life was death's annoy;


s: But now I died, and death was lively joy.


s: 'O! thou didst kill me; kill me once again:


s: Thy eyes' shrewd tutor, that hard heart of thine,


s: Hath taught them scornful tricks, and such disdain,


s: That they have murder'd this poor heart of mine;


s: And these mine eyes, true leaders to their queen,


s: But for thy piteous lips no more had seen.


s: 'Long may they kiss each other for this cure!


s: O! never let their crimson liveries wear;


s: And as they last, their verdure still endure,


s: To drive infection from the dangerous year:


s: That the star-gazers, having writ on death,


s: May say, the plague is banish'd by thy breath.


s: 'Pure lips, sweet seals in my soft lips imprinted,


s: What bargains may I make, still to be sealing?


s: So thou wilt buy and pay and use good dealing;


s: Which purchase if thou make, for fear of slips


s: 'A thousand kisses buys my heart from me;


s: And pay them at thy leisure, one by one.


s: Are they not quickly told and quickly gone?


s: Say, for non-payment that the debt should double,


s: Is twenty hundred kisses such a trouble?'


s: 'Fair queen,' quoth he, 'if any love you owe me,


s: Measure my strangeness with my unripe years:


s: Before I know myself, seek not to know me;


s: The mellow plum doth fall, the green sticks fast,


s: Or being early pluck'd is sour to taste.


s: 'Look! the world's comforter, with weary gait


s: His day's hot task hath ended in the west;


s: The owl, night's herald, shrieks, 'tis very late;


s: The sheep are gone to fold, birds to their nest,


s: And coal-black clouds that shadow heaven's light


s: Do summon us to part, and bid good night.


s: 'Now let me say good night, and so say you;


s: If you will say so, you shall have a kiss.'


s: 'Good night,' quoth she; and ere he says adieu,


s: Her arms do lend his neck a sweet embrace;


s: Incorporate then they seem, face grows to face.


s: Till, breathless, he disjoin'd, and backward drew


s: The heavenly moisture, that sweet coral mouth,


s: Whose precious taste her thirsty lips well knew,


s: Whereon they surfeit, yet complain on drouth:


s: He with her plenty press'd, she faint with dearth,


s: Their lips together glu'd, fall to the earth.


s: Now quick desire hath caught the yielding prey,


s: And glutton-like she feeds, yet never filleth;


s: Paying what ransom the insulter willeth;


s: Whose vulture thought doth pitch the price so high,


s: That she will draw his lips' rich treasure dry.


s: And having felt the sweetness of the spoil,


s: With blindfold fury she begins to forage;


s: Her face doth reek and smoke, her blood doth boil,


s: And careless lust stirs up a desperate courage;


s: Forgetting shame's pure blush and honour's wrack.


s: Hot, faint, and weary, with her hard embracing,


s: Like a wild bird being tam'd with too much handling,


s: Or like the froward infant still'd with dandling,


s: He now obeys, and now no more resisteth,


s: What wax so frozen but dissolves with tempering,


s: And yields at last to every light impression?


s: Things out of hope are compass'd oft with venturing,


s: Chiefly in love, whose leave exceeds commission:


s: Affection faints not like a pale-fac'd coward,


s: But then woos best when most his choice is froward.


s: When he did frown, O! had she then gave over,


s: Such nectar from his lips she had not suck'd.


s: Foul words and frowns must not repel a lover;


s: What though the rose have prickles, yet 'tis pluck'd:


s: Were beauty under twenty locks kept fast,


s: Yet love breaks through and picks them all at last.


s: For pity now she can no more detain him;


s: The poor fool prays her that he may depart:


s: She is resolv'd no longer to restrain him,


s: Bids him farewell, and look well to her heart,


s: The which, by Cupid's bow she doth protest,


s: He carries thence incaged in his breast.


s: 'Sweet boy,' she says, 'this night I'll waste in sorrow,


s: For my sick heart commands mine eyes to watch.


s: Tell me, Love's master, shall we meet to-morrow


s: Say, shall we? shall we? wilt thou make the match?'


s: To hunt the boar with certain of his friends.


s: 'The boar!' quoth she; whereat a sudden pale,


s: Like lawn being spread upon the blushing rose,


s: Usurps her cheeks, she trembles at his tale,


s: And on his neck her yoking arms she throws:


s: She sinketh down, still hanging by his neck,


s: Her champion mounted for the hot encounter:


s: He will not manage her, although he mount her;


s: Even as poor birds, deceiv'd with painted grapes,


s: As those poor birds that helpless berries saw.


s: The warm effects which she in him finds missing,


s: She seeks to kindle with continual kissing.


s: But all in vain, good queen, it will not be:


s: She hath assay'd as much as may be prov'd;


s: Her pleading hath deserv'd a greater fee;


s: She's Love, she loves, and yet she is not lov'd.


s: 'Fie, fie!' he says, 'you crush me; let me go;


s: 'Thou hadst been gone,' quoth she, 'sweet boy, ere this,


s: But that thou told'st me thou wouldst hunt the boar.


s: O! be advis'd; thou know'st not what it is


s: With javelin's point a churlish swine to gore,


s: Whose tushes never sheath'd he whetteth still,


s: Of bristly pikes, that ever threat his foes;


s: His eyes like glow-worms shine when he doth fret;


s: His snout digs sepulchres where'er he goes;


s: Being mov'd, he strikes whate'er is in his way,


s: And whom he strikes his crooked tushes slay.


s: 'His brawny sides, with hairy bristles arm'd,


s: Are better proof than thy spear's point can enter;


s: His short thick neck cannot be easily harm'd;


s: Being ireful, on the lion he will venture:


s: The thorny brambles and embracing bushes,


s: As fearful of him, part, through whom he rushes.


s: 'Alas! he nought esteems that face of thine,


s: To which Love's eyes pay tributary gazes;


s: Nor thy soft hands, sweet lips, and crystal eyne,


s: Whose full perfection all the world amazes;


s: But having thee at vantage, wondrous dread!


s: Would root these beauties as he roots the mead.


s: 'O! let him keep his loathsome cabin still;


s: Beauty hath nought to do with such foul fiends:


s: They that thrive well take counsel of their friends.


s: When thou didst name the boar, not to dissemble,


s: I fear'd thy fortune, and my joints did tremble.


s: 'Didst thou not mark my face? was it not white?


s: Saw'st thou not signs of fear lurk in mine eye?


s: Grew I not faint? And fell I not downright?


s: My boding heart pants, beats, and takes no rest,


s: But, like an earthquake, shakes thee on my breast.


s: 'For where Love reigns, disturbing Jealousy


s: And in a peaceful hour doth cry "Kill, kill!"


s: 'This sour informer, this bate-breeding spy,


s: This canker that eats up Love's tender spring,


s: That sometime true news, sometime false doth bring,


s: Knocks at my heart, and whispers in mine ear


s: That if I love thee, I thy death should fear:


s: 'And more than so, presenteth to mine eye


s: Under whose sharp fangs on his back doth lie


s: An image like thyself, all stain'd with gore;


s: Whose blood upon the fresh flowers being shed


s: Doth make them droop with grief and hang the head.


s: 'What should I do, seeing thee so indeed,


s: The thought of it doth make my faint heart bleed,


s: If thou encounter with the boar to-morrow.


s: 'But if thou needs wilt hunt, be rul'd by me;


s: Pursue these fearful creatures o'er the downs,


s: And on thy well-breath'd horse keep with thy hound.


s: 'And when thou hast on foot the purblind hare,


s: Mark the poor wretch, to overshoot his troubles


s: How he outruns the winds, and with what care


s: He cranks and crosses with a thousand doubles:


s: The many musits through the which he goes


s: 'Sometime he runs among a flock of sheep,


s: To make the cunning hounds mistake their smell,


s: And sometime where earth-delving conies keep,


s: To stop the loud pursuers in their yell,


s: And sometime sorteth with a herd of deer;


s: Danger deviseth shifts, wit waits on fear:


s: 'For there his smell with others being mingled,


s: The hot scent-snuffing hounds are driven to doubt,


s: Ceasing their clamorous cry till they have singled


s: With much ado the cold fault cleanly out;


s: Then do they spend their mouths: Echo replies,


s: 'By this, poor Wat, far off upon a hill,


s: Stands on his hinder legs with listening ear,


s: To hearken if his foes pursue him still:


s: To one sore sick that hears the passing bell.


s: 'Then shalt thou see the dew-bedabbled wretch


s: Turn, and return, indenting with the way;


s: Each envious briar his weary legs doth scratch,


s: Each shadow makes him stop, each murmur stay:


s: Nay, do not struggle, for thou shalt not rise:


s: To make thee hate the hunting of the boar,


s: 'Where did I leave?' 'No matter where,' quoth he


s: 'Leave me, and then the story aptly ends:


s: The night is spent,' 'Why, what of that?' quoth she.


s: 'I am,' quoth he, 'expected of my friends;


s: And now 'tis dark, and going I shall fall.'


s: The earth, in love with thee, thy footing trips,


s: Rich preys make true men thieves; so do thy lips


s: Lest she should steal a kiss and die forsworn.


s: 'Now of this dark night I perceive the reason:


s: Cynthia for shame obscures her silver shine


s: Till forging Nature be condemn'd of treason,


s: For stealing moulds from heaven that were divine;


s: Wherein she fram'd thee in high heaven's despite,


s: To shame the sun by day and her by night.


s: 'And therefore hath she brib'd the Destinies,


s: To cross the curious workmanship of nature


s: And pure perfection with impure defeature;


s: 'As burning fevers, agues pale and faint,


s: Life-poisoning pestilence and frenzies wood,


s: The marrow-eating sickness, whose attains


s: Disorder breeds by heating of the blood;


s: Surfeits, imposthumes, grief, and damn'd despair,


s: Swear nature's death for framing thee so fair.


s: 'And not the least of all these maladies


s: But in one minute's fight brings beauty under:


s: Whereat the impartial gazer late did wonder,


s: Are on the sudden wasted, thaw'd and done,


s: As mountain-snow melts with the mid-day sun.


s: 'Therefore, despite of fruitless chastity,


s: Love-lacking vestals and self-loving nuns,


s: That on the earth would breed a scarcity


s: And barren dearth of daughters and of sons,


s: Be prodigal: the lamp that burns by night


s: Dries up his oil to lend the world his light.


s: 'What is thy body but a swallowing grave,


s: Which by the rights of time thou needs must have,


s: If thou destroy them not in dark obscurity?


s: If so, the world will hold thee in disdain,


s: Sith in thy pride so fair a hope is slain.


s: A mischief worse than civil home-bred strife,


s: Or theirs whose desperate hands themselves do slay,


s: Or butcher-sire that reeves his son of life.


s: Foul-cankering rust the hidden treasure frets,


s: But gold that's put to use more gold begets.'


s: 'Nay then,' quoth Adon, 'you will fall again


s: The kiss I gave you is bestow'd in vain,


s: And all in vain you strive against the stream;


s: For by this black-fac'd night, desire's foul nurse,


s: Your treatise makes me like you worse and worse.


s: 'If love have lent you twenty thousand tongues,


s: And every tongue more moving than your own,


s: Bewitching like the wanton mermaid's songs,


s: Yet from mine ear the tempting tune is blown;


s: For know, my heart stands armed in mine ear,


s: And will not let a false sound enter there;


s: And then my little heart were quite undone,


s: No, lady, no; my heart longs not to groan,


s: But soundly sleeps, while now it sleeps alone.


s: 'What have you urg'd that I cannot reprove?


s: The path is smooth that leadeth on to danger;


s: I hate not love, but your device in love


s: That lends embracements unto every stranger.


s: You do it for increase: O strange excuse!


s: When reason is the bawd to lust's abuse.


s: 'Call it not, love, for Love to heaven is fled,


s: Since sweating Lust on earth usurp'd his name;


s: Under whose simple semblance he hath fed


s: Upon fresh beauty, blotting it with blame;


s: Which the hot tyrant stains and soon bereaves,


s: 'Love comforteth like sunshine after rain,


s: Love's gentle spring doth always fresh remain,


s: Lust's winter comes ere summer half be done.


s: Love surfeits not, Lust like a glutton dies;


s: Love is all truth, Lust full of forged lies.


s: 'More I could tell, but more I dare not say;


s: My face is full of shame, my heart of teen:


s: Mine ears, that to your wanton talk attended


s: Do burn themselves for having so offended.'


s: With this he breaketh from the sweet embrace


s: Of those fair arms which bound him to her breast,


s: And homeward through the dark laund runs apace;


s: Leaves Love upon her back deeply distress'd.


s: Look, how a bright star shooteth from the sky


s: So glides he in the night from Venus' eye;


s: Which after him she darts, as one on shore


s: Till the wild waves will have him seen no more,


s: Whose ridges with the meeting clouds contend:


s: Fold in the object that did feed her sight.


s: Or 'stonish'd as night-wanderers often are,


s: Their light blown out in some mistrustful wood;


s: Having lost the fair discovery of her way.


s: And now she beats her heart, whereat it groans,


s: That all the neighbour caves, as seeming troubled,


s: 'Ay me!' she cries, and twenty times, 'Woe, woe!'


s: She marking them, begins a wailing note,


s: How love makes young men thrall and old men dote;


s: How love is wise in folly foolish-witty:


s: Her heavy anthem still concludes in woe,


s: And still the choir of echoes answer so.


s: Her song was tedious, and outwore the night,


s: For lovers' hours are long, though seeming short:


s: If pleas'd themselves, others, they think, delight


s: In such like circumstance, with such like sport:


s: Their copious stories, oftentimes begun,


s: End without audience, and are never done.


s: For who hath she to spend the night withal,


s: Like shrill-tongu'd tapsters answering every call,


s: She says, ''Tis so:' they answer all, ''Tis so;'


s: And would say after her, if she said 'No'.


s: Lo! here the gentle lark, weary of rest,


s: From his moist cabinet mounts up on high,


s: And wakes the morning, from whose silver breast


s: Who doth the world so gloriously behold,


s: That cedar-tops and hills seem burnish'd gold.


s: Venus salutes him with this fair good morrow:


s: 'O thou clear god, and patron of all light,


s: From whom each lamp and shining star doth borrow


s: The beauteous influence that makes him bright,


s: There lives a son that suck'd an earthly mother,


s: May lend thee light, as thou dost lend to other'


s: This said, she hasteth to a myrtle grove,


s: And yet she hears no tidings of her love;


s: She hearkens for his hounds and for his horn:


s: And all in haste she coasteth to the cry.


s: Some catch her by the neck, some kiss her face,


s: Some twine about her thigh to make her stay:


s: She wildly breaketh from their strict embrace,


s: Like a milch doe, whose swelling dugs do ache,


s: Hasting to feed her fawn hid in some brake.


s: By this she hears the hounds are at a bay;


s: Whereat she starts, like one that spies an adder


s: Wreath'd up in fatal folds just in his way,


s: The fear whereof doth make him shake and shudder;


s: Even so the timorous yelping of the hounds


s: Appals her senses, and her spirit confounds.


s: For now she knows it is no gentle chase,


s: But the blunt boar, rough bear, or lion proud,


s: Wilere fearfully the dogs exclaim aloud:


s: They all strain courtesy who shall cope him first.


s: Througll which it enters to surprise her heart;


s: Who, overcome by doubt and bloodless fear,


s: With cold-pale weakness numbs each feeling part;


s: Like soldiers, when their captain once doth yield,


s: They basely fly and dare not stay the field.


s: Till, cheering up her senses sore dismay'd,


s: She tells them 'tis a causeless fantasy,


s: And childish error, that they are afraid;


s: Bids them leave quaking, bids them fear no more:


s: And with that word she spied the hunted boar;


s: Whose frothy mouth bepainted all with red,


s: Like milk and blood being mingled both together,


s: A second fear through all her sinews spread,


s: Which madly hurries her she knows not whither:


s: This way she runs, and now she will no further,


s: But back retires to rate the boar for murther.


s: A thousand spleens bear her a thousand ways,


s: She treads the path that she untreads again;


s: Her more than haste is mated with delays,


s: Like the proceedings of a drunken brain,


s: Full of respects, yet nought at all respecting,


s: In hand with all things, nought at all effecting.


s: Here kennel'd in a brake she finds a hound,


s: And asks the weary caitiff for his master,


s: Gainst venom'd sores the only sovereign plaster;


s: And here she meets another sadly scowling,


s: To whom she speaks, and he replies with howling.


s: When he hath ceas'd his ill-resounding noise,


s: Another flap-mouth'd mourner, black and grim,


s: Against the welkin volleys out his voice;


s: Clapping their proud tails to the ground below,


s: Shaking their scratch'd ears, bleeding as they go.


s: Look, how the world's poor people are amaz'd


s: Whereon with fearful eyes they long have gaz'd,


s: So she at these sad sighs draws up her breath,


s: And, sighing it again, exclaims on Death.


s: 'Hard-favour'd tyrant, ugly, meagre, lean,


s: Hateful divorce of love,'--thus chides she Death,--


s: 'Grim-grinning ghost, earth's worm, what dost thou mean


s: To stifle beauty and to steal his breath,


s: Who when he liv'd, his breath and beauty set


s: Seeing his beauty, thou shouldst strike at it;


s: O yes! it may; thou hast no eyes to see,


s: Thy mark is feeble age, but thy false dart


s: Mistakes that aim and cleaves an infant's heart.


s: 'Hadst thou but bid beware, then he had spoke,


s: And, hearing him, thy power had lost his power.


s: The Destinies will curse thee for this stroke;


s: They bid thee crop a weed, thou pluck'st a flower.


s: Love's golden arrow at him shoull have fled,


s: And not Death's ebon dart, to strike him dead.


s: 'Dost thou drink tears, that thou provok'st such weeping?


s: Why hast thou cast into eternal sleeping


s: Those eyes that taught all other eyes to see?


s: Now Nature cares not for thy mortal vigour


s: Since her best work is ruin'd with thy rigour.'


s: She vail'd her eyelids, who, like sluices, stopp'd


s: The crystal tide that from her two cheeks fair


s: In the sweet channel of her bosom dropp'd


s: But through the flood-gates breaks the silver rain,


s: And with his strong course opens them again.


s: O! how her eyes and tears did lend and borrow;


s: Her eyes seen in the tears, tears in her eye;


s: Both crystals, where they view'd each other's sorrow,


s: Sorrow that friendly sighs sought still to dry;


s: But like a stormy day, now wind, now rain,


s: Sighs dry her cheeks, tears make them wet again.


s: Variable passions throng her constant woe,


s: As striving who should best become her grief;


s: All entertain'd, each passion labours so,


s: That every present sorrow seemeth chief,


s: But none is best; then join they all together,


s: Like many clouds consulting for foul weather.


s: By this, far off she hears some huntsman holloa;


s: A nurse's song no'er pleas'd her babe so well:


s: This sound of hope doth labour to expel;


s: Whereat her tears began to turn their tide,


s: Being prison'd in her eye, like pearls in glass;


s: Yet sometimes falls an orient drop beside,


s: Which her cheek melts, as scorning it should pass


s: Who is but drunken when she seemeth drown'd.


s: O hard-believing love! how strange it seems


s: Thy weal and woe are both of them extremes;


s: The one doth flatter thee in thoughts unlikely,


s: In likely thoughts the other kills thee quickly.


s: Now she unweaves the web that she hath wrought,


s: Adonis lives, and Death is not to blame;


s: It was not she that call'd him all to naught,


s: Now she adds honours to his hateful name;


s: She clepes him king of graves, and grave for kings,


s: 'No, no,' quoth she, 'sweet Death, I did but jest;


s: Whenas I met the boar, that bloody beast,


s: Which knows no pity, but is still severe;


s: Then, gentle shadow,--truth I must confess--


s: I rail'd on thee, fearing my love's decease.


s: 'Tis not my fault: the boar provok'd my tongue;


s: 'Tis he, foul creature, that hath done thee wrong;


s: I did but act, he 's author of my slander:


s: Grief hath two tongues: and never woman yet,


s: Could rule them both without ten women's wit.'


s: And that his beauty may the better thrive,


s: Tells him of trophies, statues, tombs; and stories


s: His victories, his triumphs, and his glories.


s: 'O Jove!' quoth she, 'how much a fool was I,


s: To wail his death who lives and must not die


s: For he being dead, with him is beauty slain,


s: And, beauty dead, black chaos comes again.


s: 'Fie, fie, fond love! thou art so full of fear


s: As one with treasure laden, hemm'd with thieves


s: Thy coward heart with false bethinking grieves.'


s: Even at this word she hears a merry horn


s: Whereat she leaps that was but late forlorn.


s: The grass stoops not, she treads on it so light;


s: The foul boar's conquest on her fair delight;


s: Which seen, her eyes, as murder'd with the view,


s: Like stars asham'd of day, themselves withdrew:


s: Or, as the snail, whose tender horns being hit,


s: Shrinks backwards in his shelly cave with pain,


s: And there, all smother'd up, in shade doth sit,


s: Long after fearing to creep forth again;


s: So, at his bloody view, her eyes are fled


s: Where they resign their office and their light


s: Who bids them still consort with ugly night,


s: And never wound the heart with looks again;


s: Who, like a king perplexed in his throne,


s: By their suggestion gives a deadly groan,


s: As when the wind, imprison'd in the ground,


s: Struggling for passage, earth's foundation shakes,


s: Which with cold terror doth men's minds confound.


s: That from their dark beds once more leap her eyes;


s: And, being open'd, threw unwilling light


s: Upon the wide wound that the boar had trench'd


s: In his soft flank; whose wonted lily white


s: With purple tears, that his wound wept, was drench'd:


s: No flower was nigh, no grass, herb, leaf, or weed


s: But stole his blood and seem'd with him to bleed.


s: Over one shoulder doth she hang her head,


s: She thinks he could not die, he is not dead:


s: Her voice is stopp'd, her joints forget to bow,


s: Her eyes are mad that they have wept till now.


s: That her sight dazzling makes the wound seem three;


s: And then she reprehends her mangling eye,


s: That makes more gashes where no breach should be:


s: His face seems twain, each several limb is doubled;


s: For oft the eye mistakes, the brain being troubled.


s: 'My tongue cannot express my grief for one,


s: And yet,' quoth she, 'behold two Adons dead!


s: My sighs are blown away, my salt tears gone,


s: Mine eyes are turn'd to fire, my heart to lead:


s: Heavy heart's lead, melt at mine eyes' red fire!


s: 'Alas! poor world, what treasure hast thou lost!


s: What face remains alive that's worth the viewing?


s: Whose tongue is music now? what canst thou boast


s: Of things long since, or anything ensuing?


s: The flowers are sweet, their colours fresh and trim;


s: But true-sweet beauty liv'd and died with him.


s: 'Bonnet nor veil henceforth no creature wear!


s: Nor sun nor wind will ever strive to kiss you:


s: Having no fair to lose, you need not fear;


s: The sun doth scorn you, and the wind doth hiss you:


s: But when Adonis liv'd, sun and sharp air


s: Lurk'd like two thieves, to rob him of his fair:


s: 'And therefore would he put his bonnet on,


s: Under whose brim the gaudy sun would peep;


s: The wind would blow it off, and, being gone,


s: Play with his locks: then would Adonis weep;


s: And straight, in pity of his tender years,


s: They both would strive who first should dry his tears.


s: Behind some hedge, because he would not fear him;


s: The tiger would be tame and gently hear him;


s: If he had spoke, the wolf would leave his prey,


s: And never fright the silly lamb that day.


s: 'When he beheld his shadow in the brook,


s: The fishes spread on it their golden gills;


s: When he was by, the birds such pleasure took,


s: That some would sing, some other in their bills


s: Would bring him mulberries and ripe-red cherries


s: He fed them with his sight, they him with berries.


s: 'But this foul, grim, and urchin-spouted boar,


s: Whose downward eye still looketh for a grave,


s: Ne'er saw the beauteous livery that he wore;


s: He thought to kiss him, and hath killed him so.


s: ''Tis true, 'tis true; thus was Adonis slain:


s: He ran upon the boar with his sharp spear,


s: Who did not whet his teeth at him again,


s: But by a kiss thought to persuade him there;


s: And nuzzling in his flank, the loving swine


s: Sheath'd unaware the tusk in his soft groin.


s: 'Had I been tooth'd like him, I must confess,


s: With kissing him I should have kill'd him first;


s: My youth with his; the more am I accurst.'


s: With this she falleth in the place she stood,


s: And stains her face with his congealed blood.


s: Sho looks upon his lips, and they are pale;


s: She takes him by the hand, and that is cold;


s: As if they heard the woeful words she told;


s: She lifts the coffer-lids that close his eyes,


s: Where, lo! two lamps, burnt out, in darkness lies;


s: Two glasses where herself herself beheld


s: A thousand times, and now no more reflect;


s: Their virtue lost, wherein they late excell'd,


s: 'Wonder of time,' quoth she, 'this is my spite,


s: That, you being dead, the day should yet be light.


s: 'Since thou art dead, lo! here I prophesy,


s: Find sweet beginning, but unsavoury end;


s: That all love's pleasure shall not match his woe.


s: 'It shall be fickle, false, and full of fraud,


s: Bud and be blasted in a breathing-while;


s: The bottom poison, and the top o'erstraw'd


s: With sweets that shall the truest sight beguile:


s: The strongest body shall it make most weak,


s: 'It shall be sparing and too full of riot,


s: Teaching decrepit age to tread the measures;


s: The staring ruffian shall it keep in quiet,


s: Pluck down the rich, enrich the poor with treasures;


s: Make the young old, the old become a child.


s: 'It shall suspect where is no cause of fear;


s: It shall not fear where it should most mistrust;


s: And most deceiving when it seems most just;


s: Perverse it shall be, where it shows most toward,


s: Put fear to velour, courage to the coward.


s: 'It shall be cause of war and dire events,


s: And set dissension 'twixt the son and sire;


s: Sith in his prime Death doth my love destroy,


s: By this, the boy that by her side lay kill'd


s: Was melted like a vapour from her sight,


s: And in his blood that on the ground lay spill'd,


s: A purple flower sprung up, chequer'd with white;


s: Resembling well his pale cheeks, and the blood


s: Which in round drops upon their whiteness stood.


s: She bows her head, the new-sprung flower to smell,


s: And says within her bosom it shall dwell,


s: Since he himself is reft from her by death:


s: She drops the stalk, and in the breach appears


s: Green dropping sap, which she compares to tears.


s: 'Poor flower,' quoth she, 'this was thy father's guise,


s: Sweet issue of a more sweet-smelling sire,


s: And so 'tis shine; but know, it is as good


s: 'Here was thy father's bed, here in my breast;


s: Thou art the next of blood, and 'tis thy right:


s: Lo! in this hollow cradle take thy rest,


s: My throbbing heart shall rock thee day and night:


s: There shall not be one minute in an hour


s: Wherein I will not kiss my sweet love's flower.'


s: And yokes her silver doves; by whose swift aid


s: Their mistress, mounted, through the empty skies


s: In her light chariot quickly is convey'd;


s: Holding their course to Paphos, where their queen


s: Means to immure herself and not be seen.


s: When the learned first gave serious attention to popular ballads,


s: certain disabilities.  The Comparative Method was scarcely


s: understood, and was little practised.  Editors were content to


s: study the ballads of their own countryside, or, at most, of Great


s: popular songs, dances, and traditions of classical and savage


s: Instances perpetually occur in the Sagas:  Grettir, Egil,


s: Skarphedin, are always singing.  In Kidnapped, Mr. Stevenson


s: introduces "The Song of the Sword of Alan," a fine example of


s: Celtic practice:  words and air are beaten out together, in the


s: heat of victory.  In the same way, the women sang improvised


s: dirges, like Helen; lullabies, like the lullaby of Danae in


s: These practices are world-wide, and world-old.  The thoroughly


s: popular songs, thus evolved, became the rude material of a


s: noble; or he might go wandering with song and harp among the


s: people.  In either case, this class of men developed more regular


s: mediaeval rhymed romance.  The metre of improvised verse changed


s: into the artistic lyric.  These lyric forms were fixed, in many


s: jongleurs (who may best be studied in Leon Gautier's Introduction


s: less regular brethren of the art, harped and played conjuring


s: tricks, in farm and grange, or at street corners.  The foreign


s: Some writers have decided, among them Mr. Courthope, that our


s: traditional ballads are degraded popular survivals of literary


s: which have not yet evolved, or borrowed, the ampler and more


s: polished and complex genres of literature.  Thus, when a literary


s: popular degradation of the romance; or, it may be the original


s: popular shape of it, still surviving in tradition.  A well-known


s: case in prose, is that of the French fairy tales.


s: Perrault, in 1697, borrowed these from tradition and gave them


s: literary and courtly shape.  But Cendrillon or Chaperon Rouge in


s: the mouth of a French peasant, is apt to be the old traditional


s: version, uncontaminated by the refinements of Perrault, despite


s: Perrault's immense success and circulation.  Thus tradition


s: preserves pre-literary forms, even though, on occasion, it may


s: borrow from literature.  Peasant poets have been authors of


s: The material of the ballad may be either romantic or historical.


s: The former class is based on one of the primeval invented


s: situations, one of the elements of the Marchen in prose.  Such


s: tales or myths occur in the stories of savages, in the legends of


s: and may also inspire ballads.  Popular superstitions, the witch,


s: metamorphosis, the returning ghost, the fairy, all of them


s: survivals of the earliest thought, naturally play a great part.


s: sometimes out of all knowledge.  Good examples are the ballads on


s: In the romantic class, we may take Tamlane.  Here the idea of


s: fairies stealing children is thoroughly popular; they also steal


s: young men as lovers, and again, men may win fairy brides, by


s: Cretan example.  The dipping in milk and water, I may add, has


s: Senegambia.  The fairy tax, tithe, or teind, paid to Hell, is


s: carried away by the Fairy King or Queen.  But here the literary


s: romance borrows from popular superstition; the ballad has no need


s: himself, according to tradition, a victim of the fairies.


s: Thus, in Tamlane, the whole donnee is popular.  But the current


s: version, that of Scott, is contaminated, as Scott knew, by


s: incongruous modernisms.  Burns's version, from tradition, already


s: Yarrow.  But Burns's version does not make the Earl of Murray


s: father of the hero, nor the Earl of March father of the heroine.


s: Roxburgh is the hero's father in Burns's variant, which is more


s: plausible, and the modern verses do not occur.  This ballad


s: apparently owes nothing to literary romance.


s: In Mary Hamilton we have a notable instance of the Historical


s: She had no Marie Hamilton, no Marie Carmichael among her four


s: Maries, though a lady of the latter name was at her court.  But


s: early in the reign a Frenchwoman of the queen's was hanged, with


s: ambassador, uncited by Mr. Child.  Knox adds that there were


s: ballads against the Maries.  Now, in March 1719, a Mary Hamilton,


s: hanged for child murder (Child, vi. 383).  It has therefore been


s: supposed, first by Charles Kirkpatrick Sharpe long ago, later by


s: Professor Child, and then by Mr. Courthope, that our ballad is of


s: has so many widely different variants as Mary Hamilton.  These


s: could hardly have been evolved between 1719 and 1790, when Burns


s: compare Rob Roy and Killiecrankie, in this collection, also the


s: events as Sherriffmuir and Tranent Brae had arisen.  (5) The


s: affair, and there is no room, says Professor Child, for the


s: abroad, but in Edinburgh town.  Nothing can be less probable than


s: yesterday's tragedy in Russia, should throw the time back by a


s: hundred and fifty years, should change the scene to Scotland (the


s: Hardyknute show that literary poets of 1719 had not knowledge or


s: skill enough to mimic the antique manner with any success.


s: We may, therefore, even in face of Professor Child, regard Mary


s: Hamilton as an old example of popular perversion of history in


s: James Mohr (alternately the spy, the Jacobite, and the Hanoverian


s: Such then are ballads, in relation to legend and history.  They


s: are, on the whole, with exceptions, absolutely popular in origin,


s: among and altered by popular reciters.  In England they soon won


s: their way into printed stall copies, and were grievously handled


s: No ballad has a stranger history than The Loving Ballad of Lord


s: Bateman, illustrated by the pencils of Cruikshank and Thackeray.


s: Their form is a ludicrous cockney perversion, but it retains the


s: essence.  Bateman, a captive of "this Turk," is beloved by the


s: Turk's daughter (a staple incident of old French romance), and by


s: identical with those of Lord Bateman, though the proud porter in


s: the Scots version is scarcely so prominent and illustrious.  As


s: heard how HIS Saracen bride sought him in London.  (Robert of


s: Gloucester's Life and Martyrdom of Thomas Becket, Percy Society.


s: See Child's Introduction, IV., i. 1861, and Motherwell's


s: Aucassin and Nicolette.  Thus the cockney rhyme descends from the


s: Such are a few of the curiosities of the ballad.  The examples


s: selected are chiefly chosen for their romantic charm, and for the


s: added in an appendix.  The text is chosen from among the many


s: preferred.  Perhaps the editor may be allowed to say that he does


s: This fact may exempt him, even in the eyes of too patriotic


s: American critics, from "the common blame of a plagiary."  Indeed,


s: collection of all known traditional Scottish and English Ballads,


s: told, however, that he had written a general study of the topic,


s: with his conclusions as to the evolution and diffusion of the


s: Ballads:  as to the influences which directed the selection of


s: certain themes of Marchen for poetic treatment, and the processes


s: knowledge of the subject is so wide and scientific as that of


s: Professor Child.  It is to be hoped that some pupil of his may


s: complete the task in his sense, if, indeed, he has left it


s: To send us out, at this time of the year,


s: "Be it wind, be it weet, be it hall, be it sleet,


s: They hoysed their sails on Monenday morn,


s: "Ye Scottishmen spend a' our king's goud,


s: And I brought a half-fou' o' gude red goud,


s: "Make ready, make ready, my merry-men a'!


s: When the lift grew dark, and the wind blew loud,


s: When a bout flew out of our goodly ship,


s: And they wapped them roun that gude ship's side


s: O laith, laith, were our gude Scots lords


s: But the Jardines wald nor with him ride,


s: And three good towers on Reidswire fells,


s: "Thither will I come," proud Percy said,


s: "There will I bide thee," said the Douglas,


s: They swakked their swords, till sair they swat,


s: "Yield thee, now yield thee, Percy," he said,


s: "To whom must I yield," quoth Earl Percy,


s: Or Sir Hugh the Montgomery, if he were here."


s: He stuck his sword's point in the gronde;


s: Earl Douglas was buried at the braken bush,


s: "Haud your tongue, ye auld-fac'd knight,


s: "O tell me, tell me, Tam Lin," she says,


s: But quickly run to the milk-white steed,


s: But quickly she ran to the milk-white steed,


s: "Light down, light down, now, True Thomas,


s: Ye'll neer get back to your ain countrie."


s: And they waded thro rivers aboon the knee,


s: It was mirk mirk night, and there was nae stern light,


s: And they waded thro red blude to the knee;


s: It will give the tongue that can never lie."


s: "My tongue is mine ain," True Thomas said,


s: "I dought neither speak to prince or peer,


s: "How will I come up?  How can I come up?


s: And first came out the thick, thick blood,


s: And syne came out the bonny heart's blood;


s: She's thrown him in Our Lady's draw-well,


s: When bells were rung, and mass was sung,


s: "It began about the cutting o' a willow wand,


s: "What wilt thou leave to thy mother dear?


s: "A fire o' coals to burn her wi' hearty cheer,


s: The carline wife's three sons came hame,


s: But his hawk, his hound, and his lady fair.


s: We'll theek our nest when it grows bare.


s: Oer his white banes, when they are bare,


s: "For in may come my seven bauld brothers,


s: "They hae been in love this mony a year!"


s: But he has striped his bright brown brand


s: Clerk Saunders he started, and Margaret she turned


s: The clinking bell gaed through the town,


s: And Clerk Saunders stood at may Margaret's window,


s: "Your faith and troth ye sall never get,


s: "Their beds are made in the heavens high,


s: Down at the foot of our good lord's knee,


s: She has given it him out at the shot-window,


s: "I thank ye, Marg'ret, I thank ye, Marg'ret;


s: "Is there ony room at your head, Saunders?


s: Is there ony room at your side, Saunders,


s: The sheets shall ne'er be pressed by me,


s: And shake the green leaves off the tree!


s: But my love's heart's grown cauld to me.


s: "Your father will shoe your fu' fair foot,


s: "Your brother will kaim your yellow hair,


s: And the king of heaven will father your bairn,


s: She has ta'en her young son in her arms,


s: And lang she's knocked and sair she ca'd,


s: "O open the door, Love Gregor," she says,


s: For the wind blaws thro' my yellow hair,


s: "I am neither a witch nor a wile warlock,


s: How we changed the rings frae our fingers?


s: When the cock had crawn, and day did dawn,


s: For she turnd my true-love frae my door,


s: Till she was beloved by a' the king's court,


s: Till frae the king's court Marie Hamilton,


s: Saying "Marie Hamilton, where's your babe?


s: Let neither my father nor mother get wit,


s: O have ye na heard o the keen Lord Scroop?


s: Fause Sakelde had never the Kinmont taen


s: They guarded him, fivesome on each side,


s: And they brought him ower the Liddel-rack.


s: "My hands are tied; but my tongue is free,


s: "By the faith o my body, Lord Scroope," he said,


s: That Lord Scroope has taen the Kinmont Willie,


s: "Now Christ's curse on my head," he said,


s: "And have they taen him, Kinmont Willie,


s: "And have they een taen him, Kinmont Willie,


s: Should ken where Carlisle castell stood.


s: And there is peace, and peace should be;


s: With spur on heel, and splent on spauld,


s: And gleuves of green, and feathers blue.


s: There were five and five before them a',


s: Has broken faith wi the bauld Buccleuch."


s: Sae he thrust the lance thro his fause bodie.


s: And at Staneshaw-bank the Eden we crossd;


s: The water was great and meikle of spait,


s: And there the laird garrd leave our steeds,


s: For fear that they should stamp and nie.


s: But 'twas wind and weet, and fire and sleet,


s: Till we placed the ladders against the wa;


s: "Had there not been peace between our lands,


s: "Now sound out, trumpets!" quo Buccleuch;


s: "Let's waken Lord Scroope right merrilie!"


s: It's lang since sleeping was fley'd frae me;


s: Gie my service back to my wyfe and bairns


s: Till of my Lord Scroope I take farewell.


s: "Farewell, farewell, my gude Lord Scroope!


s: My gude Lord Scroope, farewell!" he cried;


s: "I have ridden horse baith wild and wood;


s: "I've pricked a horse out oure the furs;


s: "If ye like na my visit in merry England,


s: "He is either himsell a devil frae hell,


s: The captain of Bewcastle hath bound him to ryde,


s: And he's ower to Tividale to drive a prey.


s: "What tidings, what tidings, my trusty guide?"


s: "Nae tidings, nae tidings, I hae to thee;


s: He pled wi' the captain to hae his gear,


s: Said--"Man, there's naething in thy house,


s: The sun was na up, but the moon was down,


s: Jamie Telfer has run three myles a-foot,


s: "Wha's this that brings the fraye to me?"


s: "It's I, Jamie Telfer o' the fair Dodhead,


s: There's naething left at the fair Dodhead,


s: "Gae seek your succour at Branksome Ha'.


s: Gae seek your succour where ye paid black-mail,


s: And there he shouted baith loud and hie.


s: "Wha's this that brings the fray to me?"


s: "There's naething left in the fair Dodhead,


s: And you on the youngest of a' the three."


s: The captain of Bewcastle has driven my gear;


s: He's set his twa sons on coal-black steeds,


s: Said--"Wha's this brings the fray to me?


s: There's nought left in the fair Dodhead,


s: But a greeting wife and bairnies three."


s: "Alack for wae!" quoth the gude auld lord,


s: The Scots they rade, the Scots they ran,


s: "It's I, the captain o' Bewcastle, Willie;


s: Or, by the faith o' my body," quo' Willie Scott,


s: "I se ware my dame's cauf's-skin on thee!"


s: And through the knapscap the sword has gane;


s: The captain was run thro' the thick of the thigh--


s: There will ne'er fair lady smile on me."


s: Then word is gane to the captain's bride,


s: That her lord was prisoner in enemy's land,


s: Ere he had been disgraced by the Border Scot,


s: Cried--"On for his house in Stanegirthside,


s: They dang wi' trees, and burst the door;


s: Jamie Telfer has gotten thirty and three.


s: "Rise up, rise up now, Lord Douglas," she says,


s: Let it never be said that a daughter of thine


s: And take better care of your youngest sister,


s: For your eldest's awa the last night."--


s: With a bugelet horn hung down by his side,


s: Lord William lookit o'er his left shoulder,


s: And there be spy'd her seven brethren bold,


s: "Light down, light down, Lady Marg'ret," he said,


s: Until that against your seven brothers bold,


s: She held his steed in her milk white hand,


s: Until that she saw her seven brethren fa',


s: And her father hard fighting, who loved her so dear.


s: "O hold your hand, Lord William!" she said,


s: "For your strokes they are wondrous sair;


s: And aye she dighted her father's bloody wounds,


s: "O chuse, O chuse, Lady Marg'ret," he said,


s: "I'll gang, I'll gang, Lord William," she said,


s: And down the stream ran his gude heart's blood,


s: "Hold up, hold up, Lord William," she says,


s: "'Tis naething but the shadow of my scarlet cloak


s: Until they cam to his mother's ha' door,


s: Lord William was dead lang ere midnight,


s: Lord William was buried in St. Marie's kirk,


s: Out o' the lady's grave grew a bonny red rose,


s: And there she spied a brisk young squire,


s: And she has putn't in her heart's bluid,


s: "What needs you care for your bonny hyn?


s: There's aught score hyns in yonder park,


s: And he's gard him draw the carts o wine,


s: And she's calld young Bicham one word by.


s: She's gotten the key o the prison doors,


s: She's gi'n him a loaf o good white bread,


s: "Is this Young Bicham's gates?" says she.


s: An there's as meikle goud aboon her brow


s: "Now fare thee well, Young Bicham," she says,


s: "I'll strive to think nae mair on thee."


s: "Take back your daughter, madam," he says,


s: That's done and suffered so much for me."


s: An he's cald her his bonny love, Lady Jane.


s: He shipped himself all aboard of a ship,


s: She steal the keys of her father's prison,


s: And swore Lord Bateman she would let go free.


s: Was "I wish, Lord Bateman, as you was mine."


s: "O have you got houses, have you got land,


s: And what would you give to the fair young lady


s: As out of prison would let you go free?"


s: And I will give it all to the fair young lady


s: For seven long years, and keep it strong,


s: Saying, "Farewell, farewell to you, Lord Bateman,


s: And swore Lord Bateman she would go see.


s: O when she arrived at Lord Bateman's castle,


s: "Who's there? who's there?" cries the proud young porter,


s: "O yes, O yes," cries the proud young porter,


s: "He's just now taking his young bride in."


s: O away and away went this proud young porter,


s: Until he came to Lord Bateman's chamber,


s: "What news, what news, my proud young porter?


s: "O she bids you to send her a slice of bread,


s: Saying, "I will give half of my father's land,


s: If so be as Sophia has crossed the sea."


s: Then up and spoke this young bride's mother,


s: Saying, "You'll not forget my only daughter,


s: "O it's true I made a bride of your daughter,


s: But she's neither the better nor the worse for me;


s: But she may go home in a coach and three."


s: Lord Bateman then prepared another marriage,


s: Saying, "I will roam no more to foreign countries,


s: It fell on a day, and a bonnie summer day,


s: The Duke o' Montrose has written to Argyle


s: An' lead in his men, by the back O' Dunkeld,


s: The lady look'd o'er her window sae hie,


s: Come to plunder the bonnie house o' Airly.


s: "Come down, come down, Lady Margaret," he says,


s: I'll no leave a standing stane in Airly."


s: Gin you shouldna leave a standing stane Airly."


s: He has ta'en her by the middle sae sma',


s: "It's up and down by the bonnie burn side,


s: That shines on the bowling-green o' Airly,


s: Till he plundered the bonnie house o' Airly.


s: "O it's I hae seven braw sons," she says,


s: There durst na a Campbell in a' the west


s: Hae plundered the bonnie house o' Airly.


s: O'er bush, o'er bank, o'er ditch, o'er stark,


s: They got their paiks, wi sudden straiks,


s: King Shames' red-coats should be hung up,


s: Had bent their brows, like Highland trows,


s: They'd sav'd their king, that sacred thing,


s: He stirr'd him wi' the spur right sairly;


s: The gray was a mare, and a right good mare;


s: Had a thousand merks been wadded at her.


s: And the bonny grey mare did sweat for fear,


s: He has ta'en the ford at that stream tail;


s: But the stream was broad, and his strength did fail,


s: When his strength did fail, and his limbs did tire.


s: That ye never more true love may sever."--


s: There were twal' and twal' wi' baken bread,


s: "Seven king's daughters has our lord wedded,


s: And seven king's daughters has our lord bedded;


s: But he's cutted their breasts frae their breast-bane,


s: "Yet, gin you're sure that you're a maid,


s: To sleep this night with my lord for me."


s: When bells were rung, and mass was sayne,


s: "Now speak to me, blankets, and speak to me, bed,


s: And I hae gotten naething but a woman wi' child."


s: To see which suld to the green-wood gang.


s: Wi' high colled hose and laigh colled shoon,