s: The wind-blown flame mounts the vaulted sky,


s: Now he floated around on the desolate sea, like a


s: To the champions on board he gave justice and law;


s: wilt thou hear now the sea-viking's code?


s: "Make no tent on thy ship, never sleep in a house, for


s: On his shield sleeps the viking; his sword in his hand,


s: See how short is the shaft of the hammer of Thor, but


s: an ell's length the sword blade of Frey;


s: 'Tis enough, for your weapon will ne'er be too short if


s: "When the storm rageth fierce, hoist the sail to the top,--


s: Let her drive! let her drive! better founder than strike,


s: for who strikes is a slave to his fears.


s: "Never take on thy vessel the land-sheltered maid; were


s: For the dimples she wears are but pitfalls for men, and


s: "Wine is Allfather's drink, and the cup is allowed if you


s: He who falls on the land may arise,--who falls here he


s: "If a merchant sail by, you must shelter his ship, but


s: You are king of the waves, he a slave to his gains; and


s: "Let your goods he divided by lot or by dice, how it


s: But the sea-king himself takes no part in the lots,--he


s: "If a viking-ship come, there is grappling and strife,


s: and the fight 'neath the shields will rejoice;


s: If you yield but a pace you are parted from us; 'tis the


s: "If you win, be content; he who praying for peace


s: "Prayer's a Valhalla-child, hear the suppliant voice; he's


s: "Wounds are viking's reward, and the pride of the man


s: on whose breast or whose forehead they stand;


s: Let them bleed on unbound till the close of the day, if


s: Thus his law was enrolled,--and his name, every day,


s: through all foreign coasts grew renowned;


s: For his like was not seen on the blue-rolling sea, nor the


s: Then he sat by the rudder and sullenly gazed in the


s: "Thou art deep; in thy depths thriveth peace, it may


s: be, but it thriveth not here where we ride.


s: "Is the White God enraged? Let him take up his sword,


s: But he sits in the skies, and the thoughts he sends


s: down which forever are clouding my mind."


s: When the conflict came on, then his spirit arose like an


s: And his brow it was clear, and his voice it rang high,--


s: So from conquest to conquest unbroken he went, and


s: And he saw in the south many islands and rocks, till


s: When he saw the green groves that stand out from the


s: waves, and the temple before him uprose,


s: What he thought Freyja knows, and the poet knows too,


s: "Here we ought to have dwelt, here's the island and


s: grove, here the fane as my father set forth.


s: It was here, it was here I invited my love, but the cruel


s: "Surely peace has its home in those blissful green dales,--


s: Like the whisper of love are the murmuring founts, and


s: "Where is Ingeborg now? Hath forgotten me quite for


s: I can never forget, but my life I would give, if one sight


s: "Now three years have passed by since the land I beheld


s: Tower the honored mounts yet to the heavenly blue? is


s: "On the grave where my father is laid I once planted


s: And who cares for the weakling? Thou earth give it


s: moisture, and dew, kindly heaven, give thou.


s: "But why linger I longer on far distant waves, taking


s: For my soul but despises the glittering gold, and I've


s: "There's a flag on the mast and it points to the North,


s: I will follow the course of the heavenly winds, and back


s: Turbulent traps are the billowy fountains;


s: Northland's firm earth and her long cherished mountains,


s: Wondrous attractions, are calling to me.


s: No one denies him his father's green grave;


s: Too long, alas, have I wandered dejected,


s: Outlawed, afloat on this wilderness wave.


s: Good is the sea, your complaining you squander,


s: Freedom and joy on the sea flourish best;


s: Who on the billows delighteth to wander.


s: When I am old, to the green growing land


s: I too will cling, with the grass for my pillow;


s: Now I will drink and will fight with free hand,


s: Now I'll enjoy my own sorrow-free billow.


s: Now hath the ice indeed chased us to land,


s: Close round our keel are the stiffened waves dozing;


s: Let me not waste the long winter reposing


s: Here among rocks on this desolate strand.


s: Let me once more keep the Yule banquet olden,


s: Guest of king Ring and the bride of my choice;


s: Let me once more see those waving locks golden,


s: Hear the sweet tones of that well-beloved voice.


s: Good! to king Ring it shall be my glad duty,


s: Something to teach of a wronged viking's power;


s: Fire we the palace at midnight's still hour,


s: Scorch the old graybeard and bear off the beauty.


s: Challenge him out on the ice for a fight,--


s: Whatever you will, only waiting is cruel.


s: Speak not of firebrands, to war give no thought,--


s: Peace would I bear to the king, and not terror;


s: Ring nor his partner committed the error--


s: Heavenly vengeance my punishment sought,


s: Little of hope is now left worth the telling,


s: Only farewell would I take of my dear,--


s: Final farewell. When the green buds are swelling,


s: Sooner it may be, you'll see Fridthjof here.


s: Fridthjof, 'tis time for your folly's abating;


s: Sigh and lament for a false woman's loss!


s: Earth is, alas, but too full of such dross;


s: One may be lost, still a thousand are waiting.


s: Say but the word, of such goods I will bring


s: Quickly a cargo,-- the Southland can spare them,


s: Red as the rose, mild as lambs in the Spring;


s: Then we'll cast lots, or as brothers we'll share them.


s: Bjorn, you're as frank and as joyous as Frey,


s: Bold to wage war and with wisdom advising;


s: Odin and Thor you ne'er think of despising,--


s: Freyja, the heavenly, you dare to gainsay.


s: Once, though now slumbering, the sparkle eternal


s: Mortals and gods shall enkindle to fire.


s: Hagbert, remember, was hanged to a tree.


s: Who can be taken, to hang has consented.


s: Carve I the blood-eagle, vengeance bestowing.


s: Needless, fond Bjorn, he'll not hear the cock crowing


s: Longer than I do. Farewell, fare thee well.


s: King Ring in state was seated at Yule-time drinking mead.


s: And with him sat his consort, so white and rosy red;


s: They seemed like Spring and Autumn. when both together seen,--


s: The king was chilly Autumn, fresh Spring the fair young queen.


s: A man, unknown, there entered within the spacious hall,


s: From head to foot enveloped, a bear-skin covering all;


s: And though by staff supported, and bent with age and care,


s: He stood a head the taller than any champion there.


s: He chose for seat to rest him a bench beside the door,--


s: 'Tis now the poor man's station, as 'twas in days of yore;


s: The courtiers all laughed loudly, with many a gibe and jest,


s: And with the finger pointed to him in bear-skin dressed.


s: The stranger's eyes flashed lightning which made his anger felt,


s: And quick a young man seizing with one hand, by the belt,


s: Both up and down he turned him; then ceased the gleeful din,


s: For all the rest were silent,--so you and I had been.


s: "What causes such an uproar? who dares disturb our peace?


s: Old man, come here and answer, and let the tumult cease;


s: Your name, your place, your errand; come, answer if you can."


s: Thus spake the angered monarch to the half-concealed


s: "You ask me many questions, I'll answer every one:


s: My name (I will not give it) belongs to me alone;


s: My birthplace was misfortune, my heritage is want,--


s: I hither came but lately from wolf so fierce and gaunt.


s: "In youth I rode a dragon upon the waters blue,


s: Its wings were stout, and gayly and safely too it flew;


s: But crippled now and frozen, it leaves the land no more,


s: And I, grown old and weary, burn salt upon the shore.


s: "I came to see thy wisdom, renowned so far and wide;


s: And when they met me rudely (for scorn I'll not abide),


s: For that I beg your pardon,--though now he's safe and sound."


s: "Thy words are wisely chosen," said Ring, "I must agree;


s: The aged should be honored, come sit thee here by me;


s: Slip off these false disguises and let thy form appear,--


s: Disguise is foe to pleasure, and pleasure ruleth here."


s: The guest now loosed the bearskin,--it fell from off his head,


s: Where stood old age decrepit, each saw a youth instead,--


s: From off whose noble forehead, and round whose shoulders brave,


s: The light locks fell and floated in many a golden wave.


s: In azure velvet mantle, he then stood forth erect,


s: His belt a silver girdle with forest beasts bedecked,--


s: Embossed by cunning workman, each figure deftly traced,


s: And round and round the hero they each the other chased.


s: A massive golden circlet his sinewy arm displayed;


s: His battle-sword hung by him as though the lightning stayed;


s: A hero glance about him he cast from time to time,


s: And stood as Balder beauteous, as Asa-Thor sublime.


s: Surprised, the queen's cheeks quickly with changing color glow,


s: As northern lights so ruddy paint fields of driven snow;


s: As two twin water lilies, alarmed by tempest's swell,


s: Stand swinging on the billow, her bosom rose and fell.


s: The horn a shrill blast sounded, then silence reigned throughout;


s: His mouth contained an apple, wreaths on his neck were laid,


s: His four knees bent beneath him upon a silver cade.


s: King Ring, his gray locks flowing, arose and straight-way now


s: The boar's head gently touching, he thus declared his vow:


s: "I swear to conquer Fridthjof, the champion in war,


s: So help me Frey and Odin, and. likewise mighty Thor."


s: Then with a smile defiant uprose the stranger tall,


s: A look of wrath heroic spread o'er his features all,--


s: He smote with sword the table till through the hall it rang;


s: And up from oaken benches the steel-clad warriors sprang.


s: "And now, sir king, please listen while I my vow shall tell,--


s: Young Fridthjof is my kinsman, and so I know him well;


s: 'Gainst all the world I'll shield him, I give you here my word,


s: So help me now my norn, and likewise my good sword."


s: My queen, fill him a bumper of wine, the very best,--


s: I hope that through the winter he'll here remain our guest."


s: The queen then took the goblet, before her it was placed,--


s: It stood on feet of silver, and on its golden bands


s: Were runes of high achievement, engraved by skillful hands.


s: With downcast eyes she reached him the goblet, brimming filled,--


s: As evening's shades so ruddy upon the lilies glow,


s: So gleamed the drops of ruby on hand as white as snow.


s: The guest the horn accepted with reverential bow,--


s: Not two men could have drained it, as men are reckoned now,--


s: Without an instant's waiting the strong man, at a draught,


s: The lovely queen to honor, the brimming ruby quaffed.


s: The skald at table seated, his waiting harp brought forth,


s: And sang a heartfelt story of true love in the North,--


s: Of Hagbert and of Signe; and at the deep tones' peal


s: Each warrior's heart was melted, though clad his breast in steel.


s: He sang of Valhal's mansions, of heroes' blest reward,


s: Of ancient deeds of valor, on fields of wave and sward;


s: And lively was the drinking within that royal hall,--


s: An honest Yule carousal engaged the champions all;


s: The sleep that followed after no care or anger stained;


s: But Ring, the aged monarch, with Ingeborg remained.


s: King Ring to a banquet his queen would take,


s: The ice like a mirror o'erspread the lake.


s: "Go not on the ice," said the stranger bold,


s: "It may break, and the bath is too deep and cold."


s: "The king," answered Ring, "is not easily drowned,


s: The stranger was angered and sullen frowned,--


s: Then quickly his skates to his feet he bound.


s: The sledge-horse sets out, he is strong and free,--


s: His nostrils are flaming, so glad is he.


s: "Strike out," cried the monarch, "my charger good,


s: And show if you are of the Sleipner blood."


s: As swift as a storm on the sea his speed;


s: The prayers of the queen does the king not heed.


s: The stranger in mail on his skates is not still,


s: But passes them swiftly whenever he will.


s: He writes many runes on the ice besides,--


s: And over her name lovely Ingeborg rides.


s: They swiftly speed onward, the lake to span,


s: But under them lurketh the treacherous Ran.


s: And catches the sled in the hole she makes.


s: The cheeks of the beautiful queen turn pale;


s: Then comes like a whirlwind the skater in mail.


s: He buries his skate in the ice, to clasp


s: The steed's flowing mane in his iron grasp.


s: With one single effort his arm the swings,


s: And charger and sled to the firm ice brings.


s: "That stroke," said Ring, "was a noble one,--


s: Not Fridthjof, the strong, could have better done."


s: So they all returned to the house of the king,--


s: The stranger remaining until the spring.


s: Glowing like the cheeks of Freyja, from the buds the roses ope,--


s: Ho! the chase! the aged monarch with his queen will go to-day;


s: Now in crowds the court assembles, waiting in confused array,--


s: From her dainty hat of purple, plumes are waving in the sun.


s: Aged Ring no longer follows where the eager hunter flies;


s: "Oh, the sea! why did I leave it? thus to my own peril blind!


s: Sorrow thrives not on the billow, scattered 'tis by every wind.


s: Broods the viking? danger cometh bidding him the lance prepare;


s: Vanish then all sad reflections, blinded by the weapon's glare.


s: "Here, a longing, past describing, flaps its wings about my brow,


s: Balder's precincts I remember, nor forget the oath she gave.


s: "For they hate the race of mortals, on their joy with anger look,


s: What does Winter with my blossom? Can he understand its worth?


s: Thus bewailed he. Soon they came into a dark and lonesome dell,


s: "Like the other gods, sleep cometh unexpected. Does my guest,"


s: On his shield, or as an infant cradled in his mother's arms.


s: Coward, wilt thou murder slumber? Slay an old defenceless man?


s: Win what else, the crown of heroes is not won by such a plan."


s: Black-bird flew away to Nastrand, airily the other one,


s: Suddenly the old man wakens. "Much that sleep was worth to me;


s: Guarded by a brave man's weapon, sleep is sweet beneath a tree.


s: Sleep is here in danger from it, seeking silver locks it comes."


s: "Fame had told us of a Fridthjof, whom both men and gods revere;


s: I have proved you and forgiven. I have pitied and forgot.


s: "Now am I grown old and weary, in the grave shall rest me soon,


s: Swordless champion shall protect me and our feud exist no more."


s: "As a thief," said Fridthjof sadly, "came I not, O king, to thee;


s: But my bride, though lost forever, wished I to behold once more;


s: "In thy halls too long I've tarried; here I must no longer stay.


s: Gods unreconciled their anger rest upon me day by day;


s: Balder, with the light locks flowing, loveth all mankind but one;


s: "Yes, l set on fire his temple. Fane-profaner call they me.


s: In my native land I'm outlawed, I am outlawed in my heart.


s: "Therefore hence to ocean's billow! Out, away my dragon good,


s: Bathe again thy pitch-black bosom in the briny boiling flood;


s: Wave in clouds thine inky pinions, let the sea a path prepare,


s: Fly as far as star can guide us, far as conquered billows bear.


s: Clang of shields and rain of arrows! Let the sea the battle fill;


s: Draweth the spring sun more bright than before;


s: Sport in the hall;--there's a knock at the door.


s: Pale sits the king, while the queen's gentle breast


s: A song of departure, with sorrow oppressed.


s: Sea-horse is longing to flee from the strand;


s: Far from his home and his well beloved land.


s: Truly forgives. Thou'lt not see him again.


s: Northland I'll see. Truly man is a slave;


s: There is my fatherland, there is my grave.


s: Go not with Ingeborg down to the strand;


s: Fridthjof, the outlawed, cast up on the sand."


s: "When a man moans like a weak maiden's sigh.


s: Death song I hear. Every mortal must die.


s: Change the allotment the norns have set down;


s: Take thou my queen, for my son guard the crown.


s: Peaceful I've reigned, over mountain and vale;


s: Landward and seaward, without turning pale.


s: Dying in bed ill befits Northland's kings;


s: Life's pain is equal to that which death brings."


s: Death runes to Odin on arm and on chest;


s: Skoal to thy honor, thou land of my birth!


s: Peaceful exploits have I loved on the earth.


s: Sought I for peace,--she fled in dismay.


s: Earth disappears; Gjallarhorn to a feast


s: Blessedness crowns as a helmet the guest!"


s: Also his son's, and his friend's, too, he pressed;


s: Flies with a sigh to the Allfather's breast.


s: The child leaped down and fearless stood ;--


s: But Fridthjof frowned: "To-day," said he,


s: And o'er the broom-heath passed from view,


s: "How brightly smiles the sun, so friendly seeming.


s: As swift from branch to branch its soft rays glide!


s: Allfather's light within the dew-drop gleaming,


s: See! all the mountain tops with red are streaming,--


s: From Balder's altar flows the bloody tide;


s: In night will shortly sink the world's commotion,


s: As sinks the golden shield beneath the ocean.


s: "Yet let me first behold those well known places,


s: My childhood friends that I have loved so well;


s: The same sweet beauty still the valley graces,


s: The same birds yet alight in wood and dell;


s: The same blue wave the stable rock embraces,--


s: Oh, would I ne'er had tried its treacherous swell!


s: It always speaks of fame and high endeavor,


s: But far from home it bears thee on forever.


s: "I know thee, stream, whose waters erst were freighted


s: With swimmer bold, who with thy billows fought!


s: I know thee, too, thou vale where oft we plighted


s: Eternal faith! Alas! earth holds it not!


s: Ye birchen trees, whose bark I carved delighted


s: With many runes, still wedded to the spot


s: Your white stems stand, crown-capped with sunshine golden,


s: All save myself unchanged since days now olden.


s: "Is all unchanged? Where, then, is Framness' dwelling,


s: And Balder's temple on the sacred shore?


s: At thought of childhood's dales my heart is swelling.


s: But fire and sword devoured them, they're no more.


s: Of human vengeance, of God's wrath their telling


s: To wanderers over blackened field and floor;


s: Thou pious pilgrim, come not here to ponder,


s: For forest beasts in Balder's grove now wander.


s: "With Nidhug's curse each human life is teeming,--


s: The cruel tempter from the land of shade,


s: He hates the asa-light with glory beaming


s: On hero's brow and on his shining blade;


s: Each coward deed, each act of wrathful scenting,


s: He wins when temples burn and gods are slighted,


s: He claps his coal-black hands and laughs delighted.


s: Thou blue-eyed god, dost thou no penance take?


s: Man pardons man who has for pardon striven.


s: When men atone the gods their wrath forsake;


s: By thee, the mildest one, I'm unforgiven ;--


s: No will had Fridthjof in the temple's burning;


s: Oh! stainless make his shield, thine anger turning.


s: "Thy burden take away, I cannot bear it,


s: The dark wood's music in my soul doth cry.


s: A moment's fault! cannot a life repair it,--


s: An upright life? Then hear my contrite sigh!


s: If Thor's fierce bolt should strike, I still would dare it:


s: Nor shrink to meet the look of Hel's pale eye.


s: Thou pious god, who moonlight glances bendest,


s: 'Tis thee I fear, and vengeance which thou sendest.


s: "My father's grave is here. The hero sleepeth;--


s: Alas! whence he has gone none ever roam;


s: A starry tent his home, no more he weepeth,


s: Where shields rejoice and brimming mead-horns foam;


s: Thou asa-guest, from heaven look down where keepeth


s: His weary watch thy child. O father, come!


s: I bring not runes nor charms, but bending lowly


s: Would learn to appease pale Balder holy.


s: "Still silent is the grave? Ah yes, and cruel.


s: A sword roused Angantyr within his grave;


s: Compared with what I ask. A sword the brave


s: Forgiveness from the asas' home I crave;


s: Bear thou my plea, my sorrowing look to heaven,


s: "Thou'rt silent, father! Hear the waves resounding,


s: And send thy loving word by their sweet cry;


s: Now flies the storm, on its swift pinions bounding.


s: See golden rings the western sky surrounding,


s: Let them the message give which words deny.


s: How poor indeed are those whom death has taken!"


s: The sun is quenched. The evening breeze is stealing


s: And sunset tints in myriad circles wheeling


s: O'er hill and dale their azure hues revealing,


s: Then unexpected comes with rustling motion,


s: An image, gold and flames from western ocean.


s: A wondrous Hagring now the heavens covers.


s: (The name that Valhal gives hath lovelier sound),


s: And over Balder's grove it gently hovers.


s: Resplendence everywhere the eye discovers,


s: Such lustre mortals ne'er before had found.


s: It stops and sinks to earth, not disappearing,


s: But where the temple stood, a temple rearing.


s: An imaged Breidablik its wall upreareth,


s: (So burnished silver on the cliff had shone),


s: Each pillar cut of deep blue steel appealeth,


s: A power unseen the vaulted roof upbeareth,


s: A winter sky with sparkling stars o'erstrewn;


s: And there with golden crowns and robes befitting,


s: Of azure splendor. Valhal's gods are sitting.


s: With rune-writ shields, the maids of fateful power,


s: The noble norns, within the portal stand,--


s: Three rosebuds springing in a single flower,


s: While Urd is pointing to the ruined tower,--


s: The new one Skuld doth greet with welcome hand;


s: But scarce restored is Fridthjof, filled with blended


s: Delight and wonder, ere the scene is ended.


s: "From you, Time's maidens, comes illumination,--


s: The wasted shrine I'll build on sure foundation,


s: In beauty shall it stand where erst it stood;


s: By peaceful deeds to atone for actions rude!


s: The outcast still may hope who sues in meekness,--


s: The White God softens, and forgives his weakness.


s: "All hail, ye myriad stars in splendor beaming!


s: With joy I watch you silent tread the skies;


s: And welcome, Northern-lights. above me streaming,--


s: Grow green, O grave! and from the wave bright gleaming,


s: I'll sleep upon my shield, and dream how heaven


s: Forgets the faults its mercy hath forgiven.


s: Completed now was Balder's temple. Not enclosed


s: As heretofore with fence of wood; of hammered steel,


s: With golden knobs upon each bar, was built the fence


s: Round Balder's ground. Like steel-clad champions ranged for war,


s: With halberds and with golden helms, there stood it now


s: On guard around the sanctuary of the god.


s: Of giant stones alone the massive wall was built,


s: And joined with active skill, a noble giant work


s: For all eternity (as is Upsala's shrine,)


s: Where Norseland saw its Valhal in an earthly mold.


s: It stood there in its grandeur on the mountain cliff,


s: And mirrored in the ocean wave its lofty brow,


s: While round about it, like a zone of beauteous flowers,


s: Far stretched the dale of Balder with its sighing groves.


s: Its song of birds, a home where peace might reign supreme.


s: High rose the copper-bolted portal, and within


s: Two colonnades supported on strong omoplates


s: The vaulted canopy, and beautiful it hung


s: Above the temple, like a concave shield of gold.


s: At farthest end stood Balder's altar. It was hewn


s: From one huge block of northern granite: round it coiled


s: A graven serpent, covered o'er with written runes, -


s: Profoundest thoughts from Vala and from Ha'vama'l;


s: But in the wall above was left an open space,--


s: A dark blue ground all filled with golden stars; and there


s: A silver image sat--the pious god--as calm


s: And mild as sits the silver moon in heaven's blue.


s: Thus seemed the finished shrine. In couples entered now


s: Twelve temple virgins, clad in robes of silver gauze,


s: With roses glowing on their cheeks, and roses in


s: Their guileless hearts. Before the image of the god,


s: Around the altar newly consecrate they danced,


s: As light spring winds above the flowing fountains flit,


s: As dance the forest elves amid the waving grass.


s: While yet the morning dew. like pearls, lies glittering there.


s: And while they danced they joyful sang a sacred song


s: Of pious Balder, and how dearly he was loved


s: By every being; how he fell 'neath Hoder's dart,


s: And earth and sea and heaven wept. Yet sounded not


s: The song as though 'twere uttered by a human voice,


s: But as a tone from Breidablik, from Balder's home;


s: Or like the thought of lover to a lonely maid


s: When pipes the quail his deep notes in the hush of night,


s: And over northern birches falls the moonlight soft.


s: Enraptured Fridthjof stood; he leaned upon his sword,


s: And gazed upon the dance. Sweet childhood's memories thronged


s: His vision by,--an innocent and pleasant folk,


s: With smiling eyes reflecting heaven's blue, with heads


s: Surrounded hy a halo of bright locks, they waved


s: A kindly salutation to their childhood's friend.


s: Then sank the bloody shadow of his viking life,


s: With all its conflicts, all its perilous exploits,


s: Down into night, and in his fancy stood he forth


s: A flower-crowned monument above their grave.


s: And ever, as the song increased, his spirit soared


s: From earthly dales below to Valaskjalf above;


s: Then melted human hate and human vengeance, too,


s: As melts the icy coat of mail from off the cliff,


s: When shines the sun in spring. A sea of quiet peace.


s: Of silent ecstasy, possessed his hero-soul;


s: It was as if he felt the heart of nature beat


s: Against his own; as if, deep moved, he fain would fold


s: Creation in his brotherly embrace, and be at peace


s: Then came into the temple Balder's priest most high,


s: Not young and beauteous as the god, but tall in form,


s: With heavenly mildness beaming in his noble face,


s: While down about his girdle flowed his silver beard.


s: An unused reverence possessed proud Fridthjof's heart;


s: The eagle wings upon his helmet meekly drooped


s: Before the aged man, who thus spoke words of peace:


s: "Son Fridthjof, welcome hither I've expected thee;


s: The strong man gladly roves around the earth and sea,


s: A berserk-like, who pallid bites the shield's hard edge,


s: But weary grown, and thoughtful, wanders home at last.


s: The powerful Thor went many times to Jotunheim,--


s: But spite his belt divine and gloves of finest steel,


s: Still sits the Utgard-Loke on his lofty throne;


s: For evil is itself a power, and will not yield,---


s: And piety not joined with power is children's play:


s: 'Tis like the sunbeams on the breast of AEger thrown,--


s: An image faint, which falls and rises with the wave,


s: Foundationless and insecure, devoid of trust.


s: But power not joined with virtue eats itself away,


s: As rust the buried sword. 'Tis life's unchecked carouse;


s: The heron of oblivion hovers o'er the cup,


s: And when the drinker wakes, he blushes for his deed.


s: All power is from the earth of Ymer's body formed;


s: Wild waves and flowing waters are the veins therein,


s: From various metals are its tough strong sinews forged,


s: And yet 'tis empty, desolate, unfruitful, till


s: The sun its light and warmth, heaven's piety, sends down.


s: Then spring the grass and flowers a web of many hues;


s: The tree lifts up its crown and knits its golden fruit,--


s: And man and beast are nourished at the mother's breast.


s: 'Tis thus with every child of Ask. Opposing weights


s: Has Odin laid within the scales of human life,--


s: And when they balance true, then even stands the beam;


s: And heavenly piety and earthly power they're called.


s: The power of Thor is great whene'er about his loins,


s: Immovable, he girds the belt of strength and strikes.


s: Indeed is Odin wise, when Urd's clear silver fount


s: He looketh down, and birds swift flying come to bring


s: The Asas' father tidings from the world's extreme:


s: Yet both turned pale, the radiance of their starry crowns


s: Was half extinguished when the pious Balder fell,--


s: The band was he of all the diadems of heaven.


s: Then withered on the tree of time its splendid crown,


s: And Nidhug gnawed upon its root; then were loosed


s: The powers of aged night. The Midgard serpent flung


s: Toward heaven its poison-swollen tail, and Fenris howled,


s: And Surt's swift fire-sword flashing gleamed from Muspelheim.


s: Since then wherever thou mayest look the strife goes on,


s: A war throughout creation. In Valhal crows


s: The cock with goldcn comb. Upon and 'neath the earth


s: The blood-red cock to battle calls. There once was peace


s: Not only where gods dwell, but also on the earth;


s: In man's as in the high gods' thoughts was peace.


s: Whate'er has happened here below has also chanced


s: In greater measure there; humanity is but


s: An image frail of heaven; it is as Valhal's light


s: Reflected in the shield of Saga writ with runes.


s: Its Balder hath each heart. Remember'st thou the time


s: When dwelt within thy breast sweet peace a guest, and life


s: As joyful seemed, as heavenly calm, as song bird's dream


s: When summer night-winds to and fro so gently wave


s: Each fragrant blossom sleeping in its bed of green?


s: Then holy Balder still abode in thy pure soul,


s: Thou asa-son, thou wandering image of high heaven.


s: For childhood Balder is not dead, and Hela gives


s: Again her prey us often as a child is born.


s: With Balder also groweth up in every soul


s: His brother Hoder, blind, the child of night; for blind


s: At birth is evil always, like the young of bears, and night


s: Its mantle, but the good of earth rejoice in light.


s: The tempter, busy Loke, always ready stands


s: To guide the blind one's murderous hand. The missile oft


s: To Valhal's love is sent, to Balder's tender breast.


s: Then Hate awakes and Violence upon its prey


s: Springs forth; the hungry sword-wolf prowls o'er hill and dale.


s: And fiercest dragons wild swim o'er the bloody waves.


s: For this meek Piety a powerless shadow sits


s: One dead among the dead, and with him pallid Hel,


s: And in its ashes Baldur's sanctuary lies.


s: So too the asa's life on high prefigures that


s: Mere human life below, and both are but the thoughts,


s: The silent thoughts of Odin which can never change.


s: What hath been, what shall be, that the song profound


s: Of Vala knows,--Time's lullaby, its drapa too.


s: Creation's annals have a melody the sam.


s: And man may hear his own life's history therein.


s: Dost comprehend or not? 'Tis Vala asketh thee.


s: Thou seek'st atonement; know'st thou what atonement is?


s: Oh, Fridthjof, look me in the eye and turn not pale!


s: Round earth a mediator goes, his name is Death.


s: A spark translucent, from eternity, is time:


s: All earthly life is but the refuse from Allfather's throne;


s: Atonement is to there return all purified.


s: The lofty asas fall themselves, and Ragnarok


s: The day of their atonement is, a bloody day


s: On Vigrid's hundred miles of plain; there will they fall,


s: But fall not unavenged, for there the evil die


s: Forever, but the fallen good arise again,


s: Refined, from out the flaming pyre to higher life.


s: 'Tis true the star-crown, pale and withered, falleth down


s: From heaven's temple; earth too, sinks beneath the sea,


s: But brighter is it born again, and joyous lifts


s: Its flower crowned head from out the seething waves,--


s: And new created stars pursue with god-like glance


s: Their silent pathway round about the new-born earth.


s: But on the green hill-slopes will Balder govern then


s: The new-born asas, and a human race renewed.


s: The golden tablets filled with runes, lost long ago,


s: In Time's fresh morning, then are found amid the grass


s: On Ida's plain, by Valhal's children reconciled.


s: The fallen good in death are only tried by fire;


s: It is atonement made, a birth to higher life,


s: Which, purified, flies back to him from whom it came,


s: And plays a guileless child upon its father's knee.


s: Alas! that all the best is found beyond the grave,--


s: That gate of green which Gimle opens; vile is all,


s: Contaminated all that dwells beneath the stars.


s: And yet there is atonement found in life itself,--


s: A humble prelude to the peace of heaven above.


s: 'Tis like the broken chords the minstrel strikes upon


s: The harp, when he with skillful fingers wakes the song;


s: The tone attuning with a gentle hand, before


s: With firmer touch he grasps the golden strings,--


s: Grand memories of old alluring from their grave,


s: While Valhal's splendor streameth on enraptured eyes.


s: For earth, indeed, is only heaven's shadow, life


s: The grounds in front of Balder's temple in the sky.


s: The people sacrifice unto the gods; the steed


s: Bedecked with gold and purple is an offering made.


s: A token this with meaning most profound,--for blood


s: Tints red the morning light of each atonement day.


s: But signs are not the substitute, they can not atone,


s: Thine own transgressions no one can amend for thee.


s: In Odin's breast divine the dead are reconciled;


s: Atonement for the living lies in their own hearts.


s: One offering, I know, unto the gods more dear


s: Than smoke of victims. 'Tis the sacrifice of thine


s: Own vengeance, and thy heart's untamed and bitter hate.


s: Canst thou not silence them, and canst thou not forgive,


s: O youth? What wilt thou then in Balder's sacred house?


s: With what intent hast thou this holy temple reared?


s: With stones is Balder not appeased. Atonement dwells


s: Below, as up above, alone where dwelleth peace.


s: With all thy foes and with thyself be reconciled.


s: The light-haired god will then be reconciled with thee.


s: They have a Balder in the south--the virgin's son,


s: Who by the Allfather wise was sent to explain the runes


s: Upon the norns' black shield rand,--unexplained before.


s: His battle-cry was peace, his conquering sword was love;


s: And blameless sat the dove upon his silver helm.


s: He holy lived and taught, he died and he forgave,--


s: And under distant palms his grave in sunlight lies.


s: From dale to dale his followers wander, it is said.


s: And melting hardened hearts, and laying hand in hand


s: Establish peace upon the reconciled earth.


s: I do not know the doctrine well, but dimly have I


s: In my better moments guessed what it may mean,--


s: And every human heart at times divines as well.


s: I know the time will come when it will lightly wave


s: Its white dove-pinions over all our northern hills;


s: But that day come, the North will be no more to us;


s: The oaks will sigh above our long-forgotten graves.


s: Oh, fortunate and blessed race! Ye who shall drink


s: The sparkling beaker of that light, I bid you hail!


s: It will be well if it can drive away the cloud


s: Whose humid covering hitherto has veiled life's sun.


s: But scorn not us, who, in sincerity, have sought


s: With unaverted gaze to find the light divine.


s: The Allfather is but one, though many herald him.


s: "Thou hatest Bele's sons. And wherefore hatest thou?


s: Because to thee, a yeoman's son, they did not choose


s: To give their sister, who belongs to Seming's race.--


s: The noble son of all-wise Odin. Their descent extends


s: To Valhal's throne,--and pride of birth is theirs.


s: Thou sayest that birth on fortune, not on worth, depends.


s: Of merit all his own, O youth, is no one proud,--


s: But only of his fortune; for the best of things


s: Are only God's good gifts to man. Art thou not proud


s: Of thy heroic deeds, of thy superior strength?


s: Who gave thee thy great strength? Did Asa-Thor not knit


s: Thy sinewy arms as firm and close as oaken boughs?


s: And is it not God's spirit high which joyous beats


s: Within the citadel of thine arched breast? Is not


s: The lightning God's which flashes in thy fiery eyes?


s: Beside thine infant cradle sang the haughty norns


s: The prince-song of thy life; for that thy merit is


s: No whit the greater than the king's son's for his birth.


s: Lest thy pride be condemned another's censure not.


s: That while thou here wert building, he was on the march


s: Among the Finnish mountains. On a lonely crag


s: There stood an ancient shrine. To Jumala 'twas built


s: Abandoned long ago,--the door was now fast closed;


s: But just above the portal still there stood a strange


s: Old image of the god, now tottering to its fall.


s: But no one dare approach, for there a saying rife


s: Among the people went from age to age, that he


s: Who first the temple sought should Jumala behold.


s: This Helge heard, and, blinded by his furious wrath,


s: Went up the ruined steps against the hated god,--


s: Intent to cast the temple down. When there arrived


s: The gate was closed,-- the key fast rusted in the lock.


s: Then grasping both the door-posts, hard and fierce he shook


s: The rotten pillars. All at once, with horrid crash,


s: Down fell the ponderous image, crushing in its fall


s: The Valhal-son. And thus he Jumala beheld.


s: A messenger last night arrived the tidings bore.


s: Now Halfdan sits alone on Bele's throne. To him


s: Thy hand extend, to heaven thy vengeance sacrifice.


s: That offering Balder asks, and I, his priest, require


s: In token that the peaceful god thou mockest not.


s: If thou refuse, this temple then is built in vain,


s: Across the copper threshold, and with doubtful look


s: He stood aloof from him he feared and silence kept.


s: Then Fridthjof loosed the breastplate-hater from his side,


s: Against the altar placed his shield's bright golden orb,


s: And weaponless approached his silent waiting foe.


s: "In such a strife," said Fridthjof, in a kindly voice,


s: "The noblest he who offers first his hand for peace."


s: King Halfdan blushed, then off he drew his glove of steel,


s: And hands long separated met in friendly clasp,--


s: A hearty hand-shake, steadfast as the mountain's base.


s: And then the aged priest revoked the ban which on


s: The outlawed temple-violater long had lain.


s: 'Twas scarce dissolved ere entered [Ingeborg, attired


s: In bridal robes and ermine mantle, with her maids,--


s: So glides the moon, whom stars attend, in heaven's vault;


s: With tear-drops in her lovely eyes, she fell upon


s: Her brother's neck; but he, with deep emotion, laid


s: His sister, grown more dear, on Fridthjof's faithful breast;


s: And o'er the altar of the god she gave her hand


s: To him, her childhood's early friend, her heart's beloved.


s: ASA. God. It is used as a prefix, as Asa-Thor, Asa-Loke. etc.


s: BERSERK-GANG. The onset of the berserks.


s: BIFROST (the trembling way). The rainbow, the bridge of the gods.


s: BREIDABLIK (broad-gleaming). Balder's abode.


s: BURN SALT. A common expression for making salt.


s: EFJE-SOUND. A sound in the Orkney Islands.


s: FREY (a lord). The god of harvests: the dispenser of wealth.


s: FREYJA. Frey's soster, and goddess of love.


s: FRIGG. The wife of Odin and mother of Balder.


s: GLITNER (the glittering). Forsete's golden dwelling.


s: GRONING-SOUND. A sound between the Danish Islands.


s: IDA'S PLAIN. Where the gods assemble after Ragnarok.


s: MIMER. The wise giant keeper of the holy well of wisdom.


s: MORVEN'S HILLS. Hills in the north of Scotland.


s: PEASANT. The piece of lowest rank in chess; a pawn.


s: RAN (the robber).  Goddess of the sea; wife of AEger.


s: ROTA. One of Valhal's maidens; a valkyrie.


s: SAGA. Goddess of history; hence a history.


s: SKINFAXE (shining mane). The horse of Day.


s: SLEIPNER (the slipper). Odin's course with eight feet.


s: VAR. The goddess who presides over marriages.


s: VINGOLF (floor of friends). Freyja's dwelling.


s: VOLUND. A renowned smith corresponding to Vulcan.


s: happening, was utilised by my imaginative and thrifty muse.


s: continual agonies and retained life and reason.


s: How young I am!  Ah! heaven, this curse of youth


s: Doth mock me from my mirror with great eyes,


s: And pulsing veins repeat the unwelcome truth,


s: That I must live, though hope within me dies.


s: So young, and yet I have had all of life.


s: Why, men have lived to see a hundred years,


s: Who have not known the rapture, joy, and strife


s: Of my brief youth, its passion and its tears.


s: Oh! what are years?  A ripe three score and ten


s: Hold often less of life, in its best sense,


s: Than just a twelvemonth lived by other men,


s: Whose high-strung souls are ardent and intense.


s: But having seen all depths and scaled all heights,


s: Having a heart love thrilled, and sorrow wrung,


s: Knowing all pains, all pleasures, all delights,


s: Now I would die--but cannot, being young.


s: Nothing is left me, but supreme despair;


s: The bitter dregs that tell of wasted wine.


s: Come furrowed brow, dull eye, and frosted hair,


s: Companions fit for this old heart of mine.


s: Through the sunshine, and through the rain


s: Of these changing days of mist and splendour,


s: With a smile half tender, and yet all sad,


s: It comes, and finding my life grown glad


s: Looks down in my eyes, and says 'Remember.'


s: And nothing was left but dust and ashes.


s: Flames fanned out, and the embers falling.


s: But the sun of the saddest day must set,


s: And hope wakes ever with Springtime's calling.


s: With Springtime's calling the pulses thrill;


s: And the heart is tuned to a sweeter measure.


s: For never a green Spring crossed the hill


s: That came not laden with some new pleasure.


s: And the heart looks up with a smile of gladness,


s: Out of the life that seemed all sadness.


s: That seemed all sadness, and yet grew bright


s: With colours we thought could tinge it never.


s: Yet I think the pain though out of sight,


s: Like the warp of the carpet, is there for ever.


s: When the woof wears thin, or draws asunder,


s: The brighter threads that they may not sever.


s: And I lean from my lattice and sigh and sigh,


s: The thrush soars up, over green clad hills,


s: And ever it quivers, and runs, and trills


s: And I lean and whisper what no soul knows


s: But what would that matter to me, I pray


s: How long it must be ere it grows to a year--


s: I think sweet help with my salt tears would come,


s: A poisoned arrow burns.  It would fall out


s: And tears would wash the wound, I have no doubt,


s: And bring one thrill back, of a vanished day,


s: Instead of throbbing in this dull, dead way,


s: Nectar or gall for us through all the years,


s: Take what thou wilt, but give me back my tears,


s: Why should we sigh o'er a summer that's dead--


s: For the rose will come again just as red


s: Why should we weep o'er a pleasure past--


s: New shells on the shore by new waves are cast;


s: Let us prize each new joy more than the last,


s: For time is passing, and will not pause;


s: How foolish the shore were it sad because


s: Then let us not sing of a year that is fled--


s: For though summer and pleasure and love seem dead,


s: Love will be sweet, and the rose will be red


s: In the dark and the gloom when winds were fretting


s: Like restless children worn out with play,


s: I said to my heart, 'This task, forgetting--


s: For a hungry love that hides from the light,


s: Like a tiger steals forth, and is bold at night.'


s: The wind wailed low like a woman weeping;


s: And, oh! for the old, sweet nights of sleeping,


s: When dreams were happy, and love was true.


s: In a sudden blackness of dread and doubt.


s: The wind wailed loud, like a madman shrieking,


s: And I said to my heart, 'Oh! vain, vain strife;


s: We cannot forget, and the peace we are seeking


s: The eyes of the tiger shine through the dark.'


s: The wind sighed low like a sick man dying,


s: And the dawn crept silently over the hill.


s: And I said, 'O heart! there is no use trying,


s: And the tiger, appeased with its midnight feast,


s: Once more on the beach with the shifting clouds o'er me


s: And the sea all unchanged, like a true friend before me,


s: The shifting clouds o'er me, the shifting sands under;


s: Why need I feel bitter, and why should I wonder


s: Down here is the path where we wandered together,


s: Her love was sweet as the sweet summer weather,


s: The bathers laugh loud in the surf over yonder.


s: And rise not--no more need he suffer or ponder


s: In a glimmer of gems and a blaze of light,


s: This curious thought came all unsought--


s: With gems on her bosom and smiles on her face,


s: While her fan kept time to the swaying rhyme


s: With her wan face hid by her falling hair,


s: And the sickening pain of heart and brain


s: And one who was swathed from head to foot,


s: One hiding her heart and playing a part,


s: The one who sat with a rose in her hair,


s: Of the one who kept in the dark and wept


s: There is nothing but glee in the roundelay


s: Of the human breast, and its great unrest,


s: If I might stand on the treacherous sand,


s: While the moaning sea sang a dirge for me,--


s: Through what strange ways my pathway now may lead;


s: Since I know that it runs away from thee,


s: It does not matter if in calm or strife,


s: There ebb or flow for me the future's tide.


s: Or walk with kings, or with the rank and file;


s: Life's loftiest aims and best ambitions all


s: It does not matter what the world may say:


s: I feel no interest in its blame or praise.


s: It does not matter.  For my restless heart


s: Is numb to sorrow, or to pleasure's touch.


s: Since it must be that we two drift apart,


s: The twitter and thrill of a brown-backed bird,


s: As he sat and sang in the leafless tree,


s: As the troubled thrill of the brown-backed bird.


s: With moaning murmur of wrecks and graves,


s: O herald of days that are green and glad,


s: The shadow of death, and tears, and gloom


s: Though the whole world sings of hopes death chilled,


s: But we only can speak of a thing as we find it--


s: (Some joy that was extinguished like a star)


s: Than that which makes the prize so much its own


s: That its poor commonplacenesses are shown;


s: (Which in all things, when viewed too closely, are.)


s: Before it reached perfection, than behold


s: The fresh bloom fade, and the fair leaf decay.


s: Better to lose the dream, with all its gold,


s: Than keep it till it changes to dull grey.


s: Take out the blossom in your hair abloom,


s: No more it seemeth beautiful, or bright,


s: And sickening is its subtly sweet perfume--


s: Take off the necklace with its sparkling gem,


s: And rings that glow and glitter in the light,


s: And fling them in the case that waits for them--


s: You chose, to make you fairer in his sight;


s: 'Tis ten o'clock.  So late you can but know


s: He will not come.  God grant you strength and grace,


s: Shall dawn a glimpse of that beloved face


s: He will not come.  And through the shadowed years,


s: The perfume of that blossom that you wore


s: Shall stir the fount of salt and bitter tears--


s: I saw a young heart in the grasp of pain;


s: With bruised breast, and broken, bleeding wing


s: Shipwrecked on hopeless love's tempestuous main,


s: It pulsed with all the anguish of despair;


s: It ached with all a fond heart's awful power;


s: Emotions of my soul in spendthrift fashion,


s: I, who have scattered here and there the gold


s: Of my heart's store, until I spent the whole;


s: I, who have sold the birthright of sweet tears,


s: And no more feel a thrill in pulse or brain,


s: Would gladly have exchanged my tasteless years


s: Weep on, ye mourners.  Glory in the cross


s: Of some great grief.  Thank God you do not know


s: The greater grief that comes but with the loss


s: When hearts that shelter love are light,


s: When all hope's ships shall heave in sight,


s: But it brought back the smile of a vanished lip,


s: But she seemed to stand under the dear old trees,


s: But the old love woke in her heart again,


s: But the bolts slid back from a marble tomb,


s: As it sang in the burst of the golden dawn.


s: Nothing can crush me, or silence me long,


s: Though the heart be bowed, yet the soul will rise,


s: Till it swims like the lark in a sea of skies.


s: Though youth may fade, and love grow cold,


s: And friends prove false, and best hopes blight,


s: And the stars in glory will shine at night.


s: Though all earth's joys from my life are missed,


s: And I cannot be sad while the seas are left.


s: I belong to the system of life and death.


s: And strong with the courage of love and faith.


s: What is she like, is she dark, or light,


s: But she lives, and loves, and her heart is true;


s: With sweet, calm eyes, and a wealth of hair,


s: And first in the morning, and last at night


s: She kisses one ring on her finger white;


s: She has all best things to make life sweet:


s: And a love that renders it quite complete.


s: Yet in all the store of her great delight


s: She cannot be gladder than I, in the bright


s: Sweet smile he gave her when he said good night--


s: If she knew, when I knelt with low bowed head,


s: Could I but hear you laugh across the street,


s: Though I, or mine, shared nothing in your glee,


s: Could I taste that one drop of bitter sweet,


s: If I might see you coming through the door,


s: Though with averted face and smileless eye,


s: Were I allowed that little boon, no more,


s: Stripped of the only joy your starved heart had,


s: Shut in a prison world and forced to stay--


s: Fair?  Why, I see the blackness of the tomb


s: Where'er I turn, and grave mould on each brow;


s: And grinning faces peer out of the gloom--


s: The summer is just in its grandest prime,


s: The earth is green and the skies are blue;


s: But where is the lilt of the olden time,


s: And dreams were so real they all seemed true?


s: There is sun on the meadow, and blooms on the bushes,


s: But the pulse that bounds, and the blood that rushes,


s: And the hope that soars, and the joy that gushes,


s: There are purple mountains, and pale pink seas


s: That flush to crimson where skies have kist;


s: But out of life there is something missed--


s: Of the love that brightened our long ago,


s: From graves where they have lonely lain;


s: With wan white cheeks and mournful eyes,


s: But through that vapoury veiling, gleams


s: Of liquid amber, flecked with caps of gold, I told


s: The sweet old story unto Geraldine, my Queen,


s: Who long hath made the whole of life for me.


s: But though she smiled upon me yesterday,


s: And heaven seemed near because she was so kind, I find


s: She held me but as one of many men; and then


s: Dismissed me in her proud, yet gracious way.


s: There waits for thee not very far away, a day


s: When thou shalt waken out of tranquil sleep, and weep


s: Such bitter tears as spring from anguished hearts.


s: Thou shalt look in thy mirror with dismay


s: To find upon each feature of thy face, the trace


s: Of time, the lover who shall follow thee, and see


s: So self-assured, so certain of thy power,


s: It shall come on thee with a swift surprise.  Thine eyes


s: Appalled, shall fall upon each certain, strange, sad change,


s: And when that day shall come, as come it must,


s: You then will think of me, sweet Geraldine, my Queen,


s: And of the faithful heart there tossed away one day,


s: Before thy dead sea apples turned to dust.


s: To dust and ashes, leaving nothing more,


s: That day will come, my lady, I can wait; and Fate


s: Shall right my wrongs.  Thou smilest, Geraldine, my Queen!


s: Ah well, so have fair women smiled before.


s: How strange are dreams.  Last night I dreamed about you.


s: All that old bitterness of loss and pain,


s: The keen regret, all, all came back again.


s: Again the blankness of a dread to-morrow


s: Filled me with sickly terror and dismay.


s: I woke in tears; but lo! a moment after,


s: When every vestige of my dream was fled,


s: I broke the silence of my room with laughter,


s: To think sleep had revived a thing so dead.


s: Thank God, that only in the realms of fancy


s: Can that old sorrow wake again to strife.


s: No fate is strong enough--no necromancy--


s: To make it stir one pulse of my calm life.


s: My heart is light, my lot is blest without you,


s: Our early sorrows are not what they seem,


s: Talk not to me of souls that do conceive


s: And bound by circumstances, sit desolate,


s: And long for heights they never can achieve.


s: It is not so.  That which we most desire,


s: With _understanding_, we at last obtain,


s: In part or whole.  I hold there is no rain,


s: No deluge, that can quench a heavenly fire.


s: Show me thy labour, I straightway will name


s: The nature of thy thoughts.  Who bends the bow,


s: And lets the arrow from the strained string go,


s: Strikes somewhere near the object of his aim.


s: We build our ships from timbers of the brain;


s: With products of the soul we load the hold;


s: Where lies the blame if they bring back no gold,


s: The will is all.  So be it thou art pure,


s: And strong of purpose, thy success is sure;


s: But fools and sluggards prate of circumstance.


s: If this were our creed it were creed enough


s: To keep us thoughtful and make us brave;


s: _Guard your actions and bridle your tongue_,


s: _Words are adders when hearts are stung_.


s: If this were our aim, it were all, in sooth,


s: That any soul needs, to climb to heaven,


s: And we would not cumber the way of truth


s: With dreary dogmas, or rites priest given.


s: _That you have not comforted some sad heart_.


s: O'er intricate _isms_ and modes of faith--


s: For the life we are living, or after death.


s: _It shall rise in a harvest of golden grain_,


s: _And a wise soul ever thanks God for pain_.


s: I stand in the blaze of the candle rays,


s: I sweep down the stair, a bride most fair,


s: I am numb and cold, but the lie is told,


s: I am queen of the ball and the festal hall;


s: Men bow at the shrine of this lord of mine--


s: I dream a dream while the candles gleam,


s: Neath the evening star I am speeding far,


s: And my heart beats high with hope and cheer,


s: We have no wealth but our love and health,


s: And I have no wish in the whole wide world,


s: And my lord says, 'Dear, you are ill, I fear,


s: With smiling lips we've said those words:


s: When days grow long, and brain and hands grow weary,


s: Forth to the haunts, by cooling winds made cheery


s: We leave our cares and labours all behind us,


s: And, hid securely where they cannot find us,


s: But when the days grow long with bitter sorrow,


s: Where are the haunts that we may seek to-morrow?


s: Holds earth no nook, where hearts with sorrow breaking,


s: A season's respite from the weary aching


s: O God! if we could fly and leave behind us


s: Could hide a season where they could not find us,


s: Found--as I rushed through the great world's mart,


s: In a race for gold and a pleasure quest,


s: I had always laughed at the foolish word;


s: I was proud with the sense of my might and power


s: 'It is will, not heart that wins,' I said.


s: But I suddenly found one sad, strange hour


s: Drunk with the wine of a wild, sweet dream,


s: It is tossed with hope, and fear, and doubt,


s: It is mad with the fever of love's unrest,


s: How cold the old porch seems.  A dreary chill


s: Creeps upward from the river at twilight,


s: And yet, I like to linger here at night,


s: And dream the summer tarries with us still.


s: The summer and the summer guests, or guest.


s: (Men rarely dream in plurals.)  Over there


s: Beyond the pillars, stands the rustic chair,


s: No pretty head reclines its golden bands


s: Against the back.  No playful winds disclose


s: Distracting glimpses of embroidered hose:


s: No palm leaf waves in dainty, dangerous hands.


s: How cold it is!  That star up yonder gleams


s: A white ice sickle from the heavenly eaves.


s: That bleak wind from the river sighs and grieves,


s: Perchance o'er some poor fellow's broken dreams.


s: Come in, and shut the door, and leave that star


s: Summer and summer guests and dreams must go.


s: Well, Fate was kind to leave me my cigar.


s: I feel as one who, lost in darksome wilds,


s: Some nameless nectar, made of wines of suns,


s: And through my veins a subtle iveresse runs.


s: Some sweet-tongued brooklet, which the whole long day,


s: Holds converse with the birds along the way.


s: Oh then I hear the beat of silver wings;


s: All that is earthly from beneath me slips,


s: Lost in the glory of a white starred dream.


s: How terrible these nights are when alone


s: With our scarred hearts, we sit in solitude,


s: And some old sorrow, to the world unknown,


s: Does suddenly with silent steps intrude.


s: After the guests departed, and the light


s: Burned dimly in my room, there came to me,


s: Out of the gruesome darkness and the gloom


s: I saw it peering; and, in still despair,


s: I watched it gliding swift across the room,


s: Until it came and stood beside my chair.


s: Why, need I tell thee what its shape or name?


s: Thou hast thy secret hidden from the light:


s: Thou dost not like to meet it in the night.


s: And yet it comes.  As certainly as death,


s: And far more cruel since death ends all pain,


s: On lonesome nights we feel its icy breath,


s: And turn and face the thing we fancied slain.


s: With shrinking hearts, we view the ghastly shape;


s: We look into its eyes with fear and dread,


s: Until the grave doth fold us with the dead.


s: On the swift maelstrom of the eddying world


s: We hurl our woes, and think they are no more.


s: But round and round by dizzy billows whirled,


s: They reach out sinewy arms and swim to shore.


s: But the glow went out of one young life,


s: But the reader paused, and the room grew full


s: Lean down, and kiss me, O my love, my own;


s: The day is near when thy fond heart will miss me;


s: And o'er my low green bed, with bitter moan,


s: Thou wilt lean down, but cannot clasp or kiss me.


s: How strange it is, that I, so loving thee,


s: And knowing we must part, perchance to-morrow,


s: Do comfort find, thinking how great will be


s: And stranger--sadder, O mine own other part,


s: That I should grudge thee some surcease of weeping;


s: Why do I not rejoice, that in thy heart,


s: Sweet love will bloom again when I am sleeping?


s: Nay, make no promise.  I would place no bar


s: Upon thy future, even wouldst thou let me.


s: Thou hast, thou dost, well love me, like a man:


s: And, like a man, in time thou wilt forget me.


s: Why should I care, so near the Infinite--


s: Why should I care, that thou wilt cease to miss me?


s: O God! these earthly ties are knit so tight--


s: Quick, quick, lean lower, O my love, and kiss me!


s: So well I knew your habits and your ways,


s: That like a picture painted on the skies,


s: At the sweet closing of the summer days,


s: While slow the shadows of the twilight fall,


s: The West grows dim.  The faithful evening star


s: Comes out and sheds its tender patient beam.


s: But dream of what?  I know your outward life--


s: Your ways, your habits; know they have not changed.


s: But has one thought of me survived the strife


s: I know not of the workings of your heart;


s: That I perchance do hold some little part


s: The memories of a past that held so much.


s: As birds fly homeward at the close of day,


s: Must sometimes come and nestle in your breast


s: Oh do they stir you with a vague unrest?


s: 'Sweetheart, I like deep azure tints on you.'


s: Coiled low like Clytie's--with no wanton curl.'


s: Said, 'Donald likes it high,' and wore it there.


s: He said, 'I wish, love, when you sing to me,


s: You would sing sweet, sad things--they suit your voice.'


s: I tossed my head, and sung light strains of glee--


s: Saying, 'This song, or that, is Harold's choice.'


s: But now I wear no colour--none but blue.


s: Whatever in his eyes would make me fair.


s: I sing no songs but those he loved the best.


s: (Ah! well, no wonder: for the mournful strain


s: That sings so mournfully within my breast.)


s: For Donald, if he died from my neglect--


s: Learns true love's worth, but--when her life is wrecked.


s: Beside a crib that holds a baby's stocking,


s: A sleeping mother dreams that she is rocking


s: Upon the cradle's side her light touch keeping,


s: She gently rocks it, crooning low a song;


s: And smiles to think her little one is sleeping,


s: Step light, breathe low, break not her rapturous dreaming,


s: Wake not the sleeper from her trance of joy,


s: For never more save in sweet slumber-seeming


s: God pity her when from her dream Elysian


s: She wakes to see the empty crib, and weep;


s: Knowing her joy was but a sleeper's vision,


s: When winds of March by the springtime bidden


s: Forth from my breast where it long hath hidden


s: For it makes no stir while the snows lie deep.


s: But as soon as the sun, like some fond lover,


s: Smiles and kisses the earth's round cheeks,


s: This sad, sad sorrow throws off its cover,


s: And out of the depths of its anguish, speaks.


s: It finds a sword for its half-healed wounds;


s: In every note that the thrush is singing


s: In the cup of gold that the sun is spilling


s: It sees through the warp that the Spring is filling,


s: The black threads twining in under it all.


s: These haunts of sorrow, shall sink to rest.


s: Go back! go back! for my heart is breaking,


s: And the same old anguish hurts my breast.


s: Like a thorn in the flesh, like a fly in the mesh,


s: The wild unrest of the heart in my breast


s: For it knew no grief, but has found relief,


s: It has had of pleasure full many a measure;


s: It has hope and health, and youth's rare wealth--


s: And its ceaseless pain is worse than vain,


s: It longs to be, like the waves of the sea


s: And dash and lunge, and hurry and plunge,


s: It wearies of life and it sickens of strife


s: Oh!  I know not why it should ache and cry--


s: Though not understood, I think it a good


s: It springs from the soul that longs for its goal--


s: Then surge, O breast, with thy wild unrest--


s: In the night I dreamed that you had died,


s: And I thought you lay in your winding sheet;


s: With my cheek on your heart that had ceased to beat.


s: And I thought as I looked on your form so still,


s: And then it seemed that the chill of death


s: And I knew by my fluttering, failing breath


s: That the end was near, and all was well.


s: I woke from my dream in the black midnight--


s: But I lay and thought till the dawn of light,


s: Had the dream been true we had both been blest.


s: Better to kneel by your still dead form,


s: With my cheek on your breast, and die that way,


s: Than to live and battle with night and storm,


s: The sharp, quick pain, and the darkness, then,


s: Oh! give me the night, the dark, dark night,


s: When the stars are veiled and the moon has sailed


s: When thought grows weary of groping its way


s: For I hate the night, the moon-white night,


s: When a million eyes from the watchful skies


s: For thought awakes and the old wound aches,


s: Through the aisles of my troubled breast.


s: And she fills the cup of the past well up


s: And she calls for a toast to the ghastly ghost


s: And that terrible face in the dear old moon


s: So give me the night, the deep, dark night,


s: When the skies are veiled and the moon has sailed


s: But we wave out the ship that is leaving


s: Look up, and reach out, and believe them--


s: Hope stands at the helm there to steer her,


s: Like the voice of a spirit seemed speaking


s: The tide of love swells in me with such force,


s: It sweeps away all hate and all distrust.


s: Are lost by some swift river in its course.


s: So much I love my friends, my life, my art,


s: Each shadow flies; the light dispels the gloom.


s: To grace and perfume sweeter than the rose,


s: Or leave neglected while our heart soil grows


s: Rank with that vile and poison thistle, hate.


s: Love is a joyous thrush, that one can teach


s: To sing sweet lute-like songs which all may hear.


s: To caw of crows, or to the vulture's screech.


s: Love is a feast; and if the guests divide


s: With all who pass, though thousands swell the van,


s: There shall be food and drink for every man;


s: The loaves and fishes will be multiplied.


s: Love is the guide.  I look to heights above


s: Yet I shall tread their sunlit peaks some day,


s: Since close in mine I hold the hand of love.


s: Love is the law.  But yield to its control


s: And thou shalt find all things work for the best,


s: And in the calm, still heaven of thy breast,


s: That God, Himself, sits talking with thy soul.


s: The while she spread the cloth of white,


s: The skies were calm, the winds were still.


s: The clock points close to noon,' she said.


s: She heard the moon's glad sound of cheer;


s: (The hiss, the whirl, the crash, the creak,


s: The clock struck twelve, the noon had come.


s: The rain falls long, and the rain falls light,


s: With a desolate drip--drop, sad to hear.


s: But never a star shines through the night


s: But my heart like a bird has spread its wings,


s: And leaves the music, and mirth, and all.


s: To valleys of sunshine, or hills of snow,


s: It would sit in the rain by your lonely grave.


s: Sit there waiting till death should pass,


s: And bear it to you in his strong embrace.


s: It flies in the darkness, and seeks for you.


s: Back in the morning, drenched with rain,


s: The poor thing cometh with never a clue.


s: Like a poor crazed thing that has lost its way,


s: It searches for you till the break of day.


s: 'Tis time to dress.  Dost hear the music surging


s: Like sobbing waves that roll up from the sea?


s: Yes, yes, I hear--I yield--no need of urging;


s: I know your wishes,--send Lisette to me.


s: I hate the ballroom; hate its gilded pleasure;


s: I hate the crowd within it, well you know;


s: But what of that?  I am your lawful treasure--


s: And when you would display me I must go.


s: You bought me with a mother's pain and trouble.


s: And now, if you can sell me, and get double


s: The sum I cost--why, what have I to say?


s: You've done your duty: kept me in the fashion,


s: And shown me off at every stylish place.


s: 'Twas not your fault I had a heart of passion;


s: 'Twas not your fault I ever _saw_ his face.


s: The dream was brief, and beautiful, and tender,


s: (O God! to live those golden hours once more.


s: The silver moonlight, and his dark eyes' splendour,


s: Come, come, Lisette, bring out those royal laces;


s: To-night must make the victory complete.


s: Among the crowd of masked and smiling faces,


s: I'll move with laughter, and with smiles most sweet.


s: Make me most fair! with youth and grace and beauty,


s: I needs must conquer bloated age and gold.


s: She shall not say I have not done my duty;


s: _Was_ it we, or our two ghosts who muttered


s: I had flown from much thinking about you,


s: For to call back the dream that was broken,


s: That draw out the soul through the lips,


s: Nay, nay, they were ghosts, and not real,


s: They were ghosts, unprepared for the meeting;


s: My heart to-day is like a southern wood,


s: Through summer months it has been drunk with heat;


s: Of life beyond it: sleep alone seemed good.


s: Now milder Autumn's tints are in the sky;


s: The fervid heats of summer noons depart;


s: And backward to the old haunts in my heart


s: The golden robins and the blue birds fly.


s: They flock about the Spring's deserted nest,


s: The stirring of sweet half-forgotten things.


s: Bright sunny mornings--golden growing hours--


s: The building of glad birds among the trees;


s: Bringing the perfume of half-open flowers.


s: A blithe face at the window fair with truth;


s: A mellow laugh that falls like silver spray;


s: Down through the sunlight of the perfect day,


s: Ecstatic hopes, that bud with Spring and Youth.


s: The morning time grew rank with summer blight;


s: The birds flew northward, fresher fields to find;


s: And in our hearts we closed the folding blind,


s: While drooping blossoms withered in the light.


s: The fair face at the window could not stay;


s: The laugh grew weary, with a minor strain


s: That borders on the foreign realm of pain,


s: And hopes that blossomed, ripened to decay.


s: Come, happy birds, and sing of vanished joy,


s: Of that sweet Spring for ever passed away;


s: (But what is sadder than the sweets that cloy.)


s: The old-time echoes with the songs of glee,


s: Though bloom and beauty cling to bush and brake.


s: Then dropped at her door, where, passing by,


s: I have taken it out of the dust and dirt,


s: Ah! poor bruised leaf, with your stain and hurt,


s: Bright with the blood of its wasting tide


s: It glowed in the sun of her laughing eyes.


s: What cared she though a stray heart died--


s: The winds of passion were spent at last,


s: And my heart like the leaf in her pathway lay;


s: And under her slender foot as she passed,


s: So I picked the leaf from its dusty place,


s: He set out to see what people were kind,


s: With a nod of his head old Santa Claus said


s: Watch well how they live, and report what they give


s: Keep track of each cent and each moment;


s: To silver line clouds for earth's suffering crowds,


s: And with pencil and book they sat by and took


s: White marks for the deeds done for others--


s: Black marks for the deeds done for self.


s: With a very light pack of small gifts on his back,


s: And there never had been such surprise and chagrin


s: As there was on that bright Christmas morning


s: When stockings, and cupboards, and shelves


s: Were ransacked and sought in, for gifts that were not in--


s: There was a something in your song, men say


s: No later singer voices: some strange power


s: Awed and inspired, your listeners turned away,


s: Baptized in your sweet music's holy shower.


s: For through that music shone the glorious dower


s: Of your great soul: here all the secret lay.


s: Not for the honours of this earth you sang--


s: Not for the fortunes at your fair feet hurled.


s: The love of God through all your measures rang,


s: And each pure note bespoke a noble heart.


s: When worth weds genius, lo! they rule the world.


s: The hand that fashioned me, tuned my ear


s: That it will not let me grow sad or tired.


s: And the sorrowful cadence of good gone wrong,


s: Breaks more and more into earth's glad song.


s: And I long to comfort the hearts that ache,


s: To sweeten the cup that is bitter to take,


s: And to strengthen each soul that strives.


s: The bridge of prayer from heavenly heights suspended


s: Unites the earth with spirit-realms in Space.


s: The interests of those separate worlds are blended


s: For those whose feet turn often toward that place.


s: In troubled nights of sorrow and repining,


s: When joy and hope seem sunk in dark despair,


s: We still may see above the shadows shining,


s: The gleaming archway of the bridge of prayer.


s: From that fair height, our souls may lean and listen


s: To sounds of music from the farther shore,


s: And through the vapours, sometimes dear eyes glisten


s: Of loved ones who have hastened on before.


s: And angels come from their Celestial City--


s: And meet us half way on the bridge of prayer.


s: God sends them forth, full of divinest pity


s: To strengthen us for burdens we must bear.


s: Oh! you whose feet walk in some shadowed by-way,


s: Far from the scenes of pleasure and delight,


s: Still free to you hangs this suspended highway,


s: Where heavenly glories dawn upon the sight.


s: And common paths glow with a grace supernal,


s: And happiness walks hand in hand with care,


s: And faith becomes a knowledge fixed, eternal,


s: For those who often seek the bridge of prayer.


s: Know this! there is nothing can harm you


s: Know this, and the knowledge shall arm you


s: The winds are still; the sea lies all untroubled


s: Beneath a cloudless sky; the morn is bright,


s: Yet, Lord, I feel my need of Thee is doubled;


s: Come nearer to me in this blaze of light;


s: The night must fall,--the storm will burst at length.


s: So well, so well, I know the treacherous seeming


s: Of days like this; they are too heavenly fair.


s: Those waves that laugh like happy children dreaming,


s: For thoughtless hearts, and ere the hour of need,


s: Joy cannot last; it must give place to sorrow


s: I would not wait till that time comes to borrow


s: The strength prayer offers to a suffering soul.


s: Here in the sunlight--yet undimmed by shade,


s: I dare not lightly drain the cup of pleasure,


s: Though Thine the hand that proffers me the draught.


s: Such bitter lees lie lower in the measure,


s: I shall need courage, ere the potion's quaffed;


s: Then strengthen me before that time befall,


s: I need Thee in my joys and my successes,


s: To make me humble, grateful, and not vain.


s: I need Thee when the weight of sorrow presses


s: The tortured heart that cries aloud in pain,


s: So close great pleasures and great anguish lie.


s: Shook hands, smiled a commonplace smile;


s: That you thought I was growing too stout:


s: Blow out the light: there is no oil to feed it:


s: That dim blue light unworthy of the name.


s: And wait for night to pass, and bring the day,


s: Than to depend upon that flickering flame.


s: Take back your vow: there is no love to bind it:


s: Take back this little shining, golden thing.


s: Than strive to hold up, or retain our own,


s: By soulless pledge, or fetter of a ring.


s: When first the lamp was lit, too high you turned it;


s: Your passion was too ardent in the start--


s: Set by the lamp: farewell.  God gird the heart


s: Through darkened hours, and lone and loveless ways.


s: Only a glove that has touched her fingers,


s: But it seems to me something half divine.


s: So well I remember the night she wore it--


s: How I held the hand in its dainty glove,


s: And whispered sweetly as I leaned o'er it--


s: There was mirth, and music, and light and laughter,


s: The viols played and the dancers whirled.


s: We were part of it all--but a moment after


s: But now of that night of glow and splendour,


s: Of youthful dreams that were sweetly tender,


s: When in the early dawn I hear the thrushes,


s: And like a flood of waters o'er my heart


s: When in the languid eve I hear the wailing


s: Whose grief, like mine, seems deep as unavailing,


s: What will I do with all this wealth of love?


s: When the sweet rain falls over hills and meadows,


s: And the tall poplar's silver leaves are wet,


s: And, like my soul, the world seems draped in shadow,


s: How shall I hush this passionate regret?


s: When the wild bee is wooing the red clover,


s: And the fair rose smiles on the butterfly,


s: Missing thy smile and kiss, O love, my lover,


s: My tortured senses new despair will borrow


s: That was as full of joy as this of sorrow--


s: Heard anything more than the throb and beat


s: How little you dreamed of the ghastly thing


s: How could you know that my passionate heart


s: And that waltz of Strauss was a funeral dirge,


s: And you never knew of the ghastly corpse


s: My heart is like a ship that finds no rest,


s: Tossed here and there upon the stormy breast


s: Of loves of many hearts too oft conferred.


s: Thy love is like the harbour, safe and still,


s: Into whose calm that ship may glide at will,


s: So near the perfect peace that knows no word;


s: Yet with an empty, white emotion stirred,


s: It folds its wings like some contented bird.


s: At rest, and yet not _anchored_; and some day


s: Out of the restful peace of this calm bay


s: The winds of Fate will drift it far away.


s: The glitter of wheels far down the street


s: And I heard the thud of his horse's feet


s: A wind from the east rose, sighing, sighing,


s: Winds of the summer time what are you saying,


s: What are ye seeking, and what do you miss?


s: Locks like the thistledown floating and straying,


s: Cheeks like the budding rose, tinted to kiss.


s: See ye yon mist rising up from the river?


s: Go to it, fly to it, call to it, cry to it,


s: What did ye see when ye fell on the plain?


s: Rosewood, and velvet, and pansies, and roses,


s: Blossoms from loving hands tenderly cast.


s: Lids like the leaves of a lily that closes


s: After its brief little day-life is past.


s: Mouth like the bud of a white-petalled blossom,


s: Creased where the lips of an angel had pressed.


s: Dust unto dust--but a mound on the plain.


s: Left alone, lonely, this, and this only,


s: Saw we, and see we to-day, said the rain.


s: Winds of the summer time vain is your seeking,


s: Vain is your calling with sobs in your breath.


s: Lips that are tender, eyes full of splendour,


s: Wooed away, sued away, vanished with death.


s: And banish the glasses, and move the cot,


s: And I listen in vain for your sigh and moan,


s: I am quite contented, and all is best,--


s: _But the empty bed--and the silent room_!


s: And tethered, beside the great ship, glide


s: And calm and steady, his small boat ready,


s: But the river's course, too, seeks that source,


s: Come near to me, I need Thy glorious presence.


s: Through the dense darkness of this troubled hour


s: Shine on my soul, and fill it with the essence


s: Come nearer yet, I have no strength to reach Thee;


s: My soul is like a bird with broken wings.


s: Lean down from Thy fair height of peace, and teach me


s: The balm Thy touch to mortal bruises brings.


s: Come near, and yet if those eternal places


s: Send Thy blest angels whose celestial faces


s: Smile sometimes on us from the spirit lands.


s: I must have help.  I am so weak and broken


s: That moral force of which so much is spoken


s: Some outside aid, some strength from spirit Sources,


s: We all must have in hours like this, or die.


s: To one, or all of those mysterious Forces


s: Which men call God, I lift my voice and cry,


s: Oh! hush little baby, thy Papa's at sea,


s: The big billows rock him as Mama rocks thee.


s: He hastes to his dear ones o'er breakers of foam.


s: Then hush little darling till Papa comes home.


s: The shells and the pebbles all day tossed about


s: Are lulled into sleep by the tide ebbing out.


s: The weary shore slumbers, stretched out in the sand,


s: While the waves hurry off at mid ocean's command.


s: Then hush little baby, sleep little darling,


s: Sleep baby, rocked by thy mother's own hand.


s: The winds that have rollicked all day in the west


s: Are soothed into sleep on the calm evening's breast.


s: The boats that were out with the wild sea at play


s: Are now rocked to sleep in the arms of the bay.


s: Then rest little baby, sleep little baby,


s: How is it that men pray their earthly lot


s: May be 'content and happiness'?  Dire foes


s: Without one common trait which kinship shows


s: I hold these two.  Contentment comes when sought,


s: While Happiness pursued was never caught.


s: But, sudden, storms the heart with mighty throes


s: Whenceforth, mild eyed Content affrighted goes,


s: To seek some calmer heart, less danger fraught.


s: Bold Happiness knows but one rival--Fear;


s: By jealous Fate who calls great joy a crime.


s: While in far ways 'mong leaves just turning sere,


s: With gaze serene and placid, walks Content.


s: No heart ere held these two guests at one time.


s: The woman who looks upon man as a sinner


s: Unsaved as to soul, and uncertain in heart,


s: Should learn how to cook, and prepare him a dinner,


s: And serve it with talent, refinement, and art.


s: Full many a question is solved by digestion.


s: Bad morals are caused, oftentimes by bad cooks,


s: And many a riot results from poor diet--


s: Conversion may lie in the leaves of cook books.


s: About the dull stalk of the thorntree of duty


s: Plant flowers of fragrance and vines of good taste.


s: Surround the coarse needs of the body with beauty,


s: Make common things noble, make vulgar things chaste.


s: Put art in housekeeping, nor think culture sleeping


s: Because the base animal, man, must be fed.


s: Delsarte should be able to speak in the table--


s: 'Expression' may lie in a light loaf of bread.


s: Though hard be the labour, the end recompenses--


s: Though weary the journey, reward is the goal.


s: For the soul of a man must be reached through his senses,


s: As the senses of woman are reached through her soul.


s: Speak first to his spirit, he never will hear it;


s: Speak first to his body, his soul will reply;


s: The mortal man fare for, his appetites care for,


s: And lo! he will follow your footsteps on high.


s: Love born in the boudoir oft dies in the kitchen,


s: The failure of marriage oft starts in the soup.


s: The stomach appeal to, and men's heart you steal to--


s: Would you reach to the last?  To the first you must stoop.


s: Something there was in the robin's tune,


s: That was never before, and never since then.


s: With snowy sails to the free winds tossed?


s: With a sense at my heart as of something lost.


s: The world was bright, and our hearts were young--


s: How you smiled in my eyes while the echoes rung.


s: The new moon shone when we said good-bye?


s: How it listened and smiled when we parted there?


s: The sight of them stirred my blood like wine,


s: Their mute caress, and their clinging hold;


s: Oh for the past that was green and fair,


s: With a cloudless sky, and a sun of gold!


s: As unseen spheres cast shadows on the Earth


s: Some unknown cause depresses me to-night.


s: The house is full of laughter and sweet mirth,


s: The day has held but pleasure and delight.


s: Down in the parlour some one blithely sings;


s: But all unseen by other eyes, strange things


s: Rat-like do seem to glide along the wall.


s: I rise, and laugh, and say I will not care;


s: The sword of Fate seems trembling soon to fall.


s: I leave the house, and walk the lighted street;


s: And mingle with the pleasure-seeking throng.


s: That pause with me, or with me move along.


s: I seek my room, and close and bolt the door;


s: I draw the curtain, and turn up the light;


s: But close beside me, closer than before,


s: This nameless _something_ stands, but out of sight.


s: Ye nameless nothing called 'Presentiment,'


s: But tell who thou art, and wherefore sent.


s: With that soft moonlit radiance of light


s: That she best loves, who sits and dreams of him


s: And one is bare, and comfortless, and dim


s: With that strange, fitful glimmer that is shed


s: By candles casting shadows weird and grim,


s: In one, a round and beautiful young face


s: Is full of wordless rapture; and so fair


s: You know her breast is joy's best dwelling-place;


s: In one, there lies a white and wasted face


s: You need but look to know what left the trace;


s: To one he comes!  She leans her head of gold


s: Upon his breast and bids him no more roam.


s: Ah God!  Ah God! and one lies stark and cold,


s: Last night the house was crowded.  Were you there?


s: You thought our box held only two, maybe--


s: Close, close beside me, sat a phantom form;


s: That rose, and thundered like a sudden storm,


s: I heard his low voice whispering in my ear.


s: A dead man's voice.  You know when dead men speak


s: There is no noise their least tone will not drown.


s: His sweet soft words brought blushes to my cheek,


s: There were so many glasses turned on me,


s: My chaperon was proud.  She called me fair,


s: And said I drew their glances.  Well, may be.


s: _I_ think they saw that dead man sitting there.


s: I know it must have seemed much out of place.


s: He smiled, and spoke, and there was little change


s: In the white pallor of his perfect face.


s: Yet he was dead.  I knew it all the while,


s: It seemed so odd to see a dead man smile;


s: Its strangeness never struck me till to-day.


s: He rose and went out when we left our stall;


s: Rose up, went out, and vanished in the night.


s: But goes when goes the music and the light.


s: On an arm that is cold with death and mould,


s: And life grew bright with a new delight,


s: The dancers rest in their pleasure quest,


s: And the pallid wraith of a broken faith--


s: Where summer has passed with her gorgeous train;


s: Snow on the mountain, and frost on the meadow--


s: A white face pressed to the window pane;


s: A cold mist falling, a bleak wind calling,


s: Dead leaves lie where they walked together,


s: The hammock is gone, and the rustic chair.


s: Let bleak snows cover the whole world over--


s: Time laughs lightly at youth's sad 'Never,'


s: Summer shall come again, smiling once more,


s: High o'er the cold world the sun shines for ever,


s: Hearts that seemed dead are alive at the core.


s: Oh, but the pain of it--oh, but the gain of it,


s: Whatever you want, if you wish for it long,


s: With constant yearning and fervent desire,


s: If your wish soars upward on wings so strong


s: That they never grow languid and never tire,--


s: Why, over the storm clouds and out of the dark


s: As the dove with the olive branch flew to the ark,


s: And the dream you have cherished--it shall come true.


s: But lest much rapture shall make you mad,


s: Or too bright sunshine should strike you blind,


s: Along with your blessing a something sad


s: Shall come like a shadow that follows behind.


s: I wished for a cloudless and golden day;


s: It came, but I looked from my window to see


s: 'If you ask for the sunlight you must take me.'


s: Oh! a wonderful thing is the human will,


s: When seeking one purpose, and serving one end;


s: But I think it is wiser to just sit still,


s: In the rosy light of my day's fair morning,


s: Ere ever a storm cloud darkened the west,


s: Why then all humour and comedy scorning--


s: I liked the challenge, the fierce fought duel,


s: Than the basest villain could be in fact:


s: For it fed the fires of my mind with the fuel


s: But as time passed on, and I met real sorrow,


s: And she played at night on the stage--my heart,


s: I found I could not forget on the morrow


s: And as life grows older, and therefore sadder


s: (Though sweeter maybe with its autumn haze),


s: I find more pleasure in watching the gladder


s: Where the mirth is as mad, or maybe madder,


s: I like to be forced to laugh and be merry,


s: Though the earth with sorrow and pain is rife:


s: All thoughts of trouble, or pain, or strife.


s: In sooth, I like to be moved to the very


s: 'The light that never was on land or sea'


s: Touches the distant mountain peaks with gold,


s: And through the glass of memory we behold


s: And glow-worm lanterns light the lonely wold


s: No sounds we hear but echoes of young glee;


s: No winds we feel but west winds blowing free,


s: From those fair isles that seem a thousandfold


s: And all the clouds that hang above them flee,


s: Who stunned with despair, I beseech you,


s: Believe when these printed words reach you--


s: We two in the fever, and fervour, and glow


s: Of life's high tide have rejoiced together.


s: We have looked out over the glittering snow,


s: And known we were dwelling in summer weather.


s: For the seasons are made by the heart, I hold,


s: Have journeyed together in dim, dark places,


s: Where black-robed sorrow walked to and fro,


s: Peered out upon us, and froze our blood,


s: Though June's fair roses were all in bud.


s: We two have measured all depths, all heights;


s: We have bathed in tears, we have sunned in laughter;


s: We have known all sorrow, and all delights,


s: They never could keep us apart hereafter.


s: I would find my way in the dark, and go.


s: And told me I must be content without you,


s: I would weary them so with my homesick cries,


s: And the ceaseless questions I asked about you,


s: They would open the gates and set me free,


s: Or else they would find you and bring you to me.


s: That damp, dark night in the August dusk,


s: When I waited for you by the gate alone?


s: And the air was heavy with scents like musk.


s: Like the lonesome light of a falling star,


s: I saw through the shadows dense and brown,


s: Like a king who taketh his own, you came


s: Through the lowering night and the falling dew.


s: Like one who yields to a rightful claim,


s: Shall I stand in the dark and dew, and wait,


s: I think how the light like a falling star


s: Lit all my world with a new strange grace.


s: The passionate glow of your splendid eyes


s: Shines into my heart as it shone that night,


s: And its slumberous billows surge and rise


s: As the ocean is stirred by the tempest's might.


s: Like the bell that rings in the steeple,


s: And woe for the thoughts that are dwelling


s: She glides down the stairs like a thing of light,


s: And the people thought her a goodly sight,


s: With a pain in her heart, as great as then


s: (So thinks this old man's beautiful bride),


s: These summer days when all the poets sing


s: Each seemed a little heaven with no end,


s: I know are gone for evermore, dear friend.


s: And by and by I shall have voice to sing


s: More blithesome songs, more days that have no end;


s: More golden summers; but _like thee_ no friend.


s: All filled with vague and nameless longings, found


s: Slow wasting Genius, who from spot to spot


s: Went idly grazing, through the Realms of Thought.


s: Ambition cried, 'Come, wander forth with me;


s: I like thy face--but cannot stay with thee.'


s: 'I will,' said Genius, 'for I needs must own


s: 'Your hands are cold--come, warm them at my fire,'


s: Ambition said.  'Now, what is thy desire?'


s: Quoth Genius, ''Neath the sod of yonder heather


s: Lie gems untold.  Let's plough them out together.'


s: They bent like strong young oxen to the plough,


s: This done, Ambition questioned, 'Whither now?


s: We'll leave these gems for all the world to see!


s: New sports and pleasures wait for thee and me.'


s: Said Genius, 'Yonder ghostly ruin stands


s: A blot and blemish on surrounding lands;


s: Let's fling sweet, blooming fancies everywhere.'


s: Soon all the world in wonder came to stare.


s: 'Come, come!' Ambition cried; 'Pray, do be gone


s: From this dull place: I would go further on.'


s: 'There lies,' said Genius, 'up on yonder peak


s: A Prize, alone, I have not cared to seek.'


s: Up, up they went--as swift, as sure as Time,


s: They seemed to soar: (in truth they did but climb),


s: And there in sight of all the world beneath--


s: Ambition crowned fair Genius with a wreath.


s: All day they journeyed, swift from place to place;


s: Ambition led, and Genius joined the chase.


s: All depths they sounded, and all heights they sought.


s: Now hand in hand for evermore they stray,


s: You'll find Ambition, aimless, reckless, wild,


s: Small woes and great he brings the world,


s: And trains from iron track are hurled, alack,


s: We'll keep God's laws, and have no cause


s: There was no shroud, no coffin, and no pall,


s: No prayers were uttered and no tears were shed--


s: For years and years; a relic of my youth.


s: It kept the rose of love in constant bloom


s: To see those eyes of earnestness and truth.


s: At hours wherein no other dared intrude,


s: I had drawn comfort from its smiling grace.


s: My soul held sweet communion with that face.


s: I lived again the dream so bright, so brief,


s: Though wakened as we all are by some Fate;


s: A marriage notice fell beneath my glance,


s: With drooping eyes, and cheeks a burning flame,


s: I turned the picture to the blank wall's gloom.


s: Another woman's husband.  So, my friend,


s: Swift age has swept my youth from me at last.


s: Thou who hast touched my mind with tender graces


s: Come near to me that I may see thy faces.


s: Me, didst thou bless before I came to earth;


s: Me, hast thou kissed, and dowered at my birth,


s: That, even in sleep, my dreaming fancy sings.


s: Sometimes when seeing snow-white clouds at noon,


s: Or watching silver shadows from the moon,


s: Within my soul has stirred a joy like fear,


s: As if some kindred spirit lingered near.


s: Come closer, Angels! thou whose haloed wings


s: Do gild for me the meanest ways and things,


s: With beauty borrowed from the Infinite--


s: Stand forth, let me behold thee in the light.


s: O thought supreme!  O death!  O life! unknown


s: The angels who have kissed me at my birth


s: Shall take again my soul when done with earth,


s: And as we soar through vast, star-lighted spaces,


s: At last, at last I shall behold their faces.


s: When the long day leans to the twilight,


s: When the Evening star climbs to the moon,


s: But each day in the hush of the twilight,


s: Oh! the dreams that come back to me mocking,


s: As the night shadows lengthen, and creep


s: If her mother's voice sings her to sleep.


s: When the beautiful mountain ash is turning--


s: When the leaves of the sumac bush are burning,


s: When the weeds by the roadside all grow golden,


s: When maples are glowing and asters gleam,


s: It is then that the new is changed to the olden,


s: And back to my heart comes the past like a dream.


s: Like a mirage I see the blue haze o'er me,


s: Oh! whitely its turrets are gleaming before me,


s: There are cheeks of beauty and eyes of truth:


s: There's no other place like the City of Youth.


s: And a voice in my soul breaks into song.


s: Yes, a passionate love, as fair as tender,


s: Creeps out of the grave where it slept so long.


s: As the strings of a harp by winds are shaken,


s: When my name is breathed and my hand is taken,


s: But with souls that are full of the beautiful weather,


s: As eye unto eye tells the old, old story,


s: And the sunlight seems like the smile of God.


s: The dead leaves fall in the chilly wind.


s: The mirage is fled, and the glory departed,


s: Had they known of the terrible, bloodless fight


s: With the old sweet love and the old fierce pain


s: But the fates have willed that the strife is vain.


s: Alone in the hour my thoughts have reign,


s: The thrill of a voice, and the fold of an arm,


s: Though it oft is checked by the dam of pride,


s: Till the waters flow back to the other side,


s: Ere I played for love without counting the cost,


s: Were the faded leaves of an old bouquet.


s: Those faded leaves were as white as snow,


s: With a background of green, to make them show,


s: When you gave them to me long years ago.


s: They carried me back in a flash of light


s: And a rider who came on a steed of white.


s: Like a knight of old, from the dusty town,


s: With a passionate glow in your eyes of brown.


s: While the golden sun slips low, and wait


s: And watch your coming, my love, my fate.


s: You leap to my side in the garden there,


s: And I take your flowers, and call them fair.


s: With love in our hearts, and love in our eyes.


s: But your restless steed tells the hour is late.


s: And the hand that gave it is green with mould,


s: And the winter of life is cold--so cold.


s: And why was the bridegroom's face as pale


s: And under the bride's warm clinging hand


s: Shall he be free from the haunting thought


s: In the gruesome night and the wintry weather,


s: And I buried them both in one grave together.


s: I heard the bell in the tall church steeple


s: And I thought, 'Of all the great world's people,


s: Life may smile and the skies may brighten,


s: Grief will wane and the burden lighten--


s: opinion about a Latin quantity.  In 1793 Landor went to Trinity


s: particular enthusiasm upon Milton.  Lord Aylmer, who lived near


s: perfect music, {1} lent Landor "The Progress of Romance," a book


s: "Gebir" was written nine years after the outbreak of the French


s: Revolution, and at a time when the victories of Napoleon were in


s: "How grand a prospect opens!  Alps o'er Alps


s: Tower, to survey the triumphs that proceed.


s: Leans on a broom-clad bank to watch the sports


s: Of some far-distant chamois silken haired,


s: Finds, with your children, refuge:  yonder, Rhine


s: Lays his imperial sceptre at your feet."


s: Did ye not hear, that conquest is abjured?"


s: They shall o'er Europe, shall o'er earth extend


s: Empire that seas alone and skies confine,


s: And glory that shall strike the crystal stars."


s: Parallel with the quenching in Gebir of the conqueror's ambition,


s: powers that our misunderstandings of the better life bring into


s: play, runs that part of the poem which shows Tamar, his brother,


s: Spanish army of the North.  After the Convention of Cintra he


s: improvements.  But he lived chiefly at Bath, where he married, in


s: "Roderick" was being printed so nearly at the same time with


s: committed treason.  De Quincey's admiration of this play was more


s: awful carelessness of all but the troubled deeps within his own


s: I sing the fates of Gebir.  He had dwelt


s: Among those mountain-caverns which retain


s: His labours yet, vast halls and flowing wells,


s: Nor have forgotten their old master's name


s: Though severed from his people here, incensed


s: He blew his battle-horn, at which uprose


s: Whole nations; here, ten thousand of most might


s: His dark helm hover o'er the land of Nile,


s: What should the virgin do? should royal knees


s: Bend suppliant, or defenceless hands engage


s: For 'twas reported that nor sword sufficed,


s: Nor shield immense nor coat of massive mail,


s: But that upon their towering heads they bore


s: Each a huge stone, refulgent as the stars.


s: If I have always, and Heaven knows I have,


s: Succour this one distress, recall those days,


s: Love me, though 'twere because you loved me then."


s: Or touched with sexual pride to stand implored,


s: Dalica smiled, then spake:  "Away those fears.


s: Though stronger than the strongest of his kind,


s: He falls--on me devolve that charge; he falls.


s: Rather than fly him, stoop thou to allure;


s: Nay, journey to his tents:  a city stood


s: Upon that coast, they say, by Sidad built,