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60 0 0
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TO E U TY CH E

L
—
i n es I w r i te th e fi rs t ti m e a n d th e l a s t ti m e
R OB E R T B R O WN I N G
 P R E FA C E .

OF the followi ng v erses by far the gre ater

maj orit y have ha d an origin of necessit y ,

ha v ing be en written to su pply the needs of

T C D the Du b lin Uni v ersit y Magaz ine
. . .
,
.

At the suggestion of certain f rien d s and f or ,

a personal reason I ha v e col l ecte d them

,

together and a d d ed the v ery f ew v erses

which I ha v e written since lea v ing T rinit y
College .

I n m y r eading of E nglis h p oe try ! w h ic h

has bee n almost entire l y su b sequent to th e
writing of these v erses) I hav e occasi onall y
co m e across phr ases and term s o f e ! p res
sion w h ic h b ear a r ese mbl ance t o wo rds
which I ha v e used Wh er e v er it was
.

possible that I might h a v e r ead these sources

b efore m y verses were pro d uce d o r th at t h e y ,

might have b ec om e f a m i l i a r t o me thr o ug h

the medium of current quotati o n I h av e ,

altered my o wn p h raseo l o gy b ut o t h erwis e

ha v e all o wed it to stan d as a t a ll e v ents,

subj ectivel y original

,
.

T his d oes not apply to epithets bo r r owe d

f r om the G reek or R oman classics w h ic h I
have once o r twice deliberately adopted ,

following therein a well known pre c edent-

.

v ii .
 C ON T E N TS

Mi co n c ptio n s
s e

C u rl w
Av e —al
e s

V e

We too fat
are

C h i ld S on g
’
s

Luc r tiu e s

D i r g f th C o l c h i a n ov r A b
e o e s e syrtis
R o w i n g So n g f th Ar go n a ut o e s

Th S w ie Al p 1 9 1 7ss s,

R q ui m
e e

B la c k M a ggi e

I g n o ra n c e

E v ni n g
e

S o nn t e

Y ar A g
e s o

Th W a ve e

D aw n aft r th e Da n c
'

e e

I n M m o r i am
e

S o nn t e

Th S cu l p to r S p a k
e e s

M y Lad y
“
Let u s Dr i n k
E at an d
Mi dd l e A g es I ma gi n i n gs
—
Th e C ard i n al
—
I .

Th e H erm it
—
II .

I I L Th e P oi so n er s
B y t ha t S i n fe ll th e A n g el s
“ ”

So n g o f th e P la i n F a i r i es
M en s H o m i n i s
T o a M em o ry
D evi l s
Th e Mu sici a n s D ea t h ’

S on g
C ha cu n aS on Go u t
 CO N TE N TS
Wi n d
B a ss Son g
Th e Rall y
Apr i l , 19 17
Noctu rn O pal an d Si l v r
e. e

Wi n t r e

Th R c l u s s Da ug h t r
’
e e e e

So nn t e

M la n c h o l i a
e

Th S o n g f th H ig h R o ad
e o e

Th Mi d n ig h t S a
e e

Lu n a D i tN t Nocti
es e o! . e s S evera
E l m L av s e e

V a g ra n t S on g '
s

M a v M y Lad y f Dr am
e e: o e s

D i d r iu m
es e

T o E u tyc h e
 MI S C ON C E P T I ONS .

WE shall go lau ghing laughing la u ghing

, , ,

Away and o v e r the olive hill ,

Whe n the earth is drunk with her ! une tid e -

q u afii n
g
A nd the valley still .

And the birds with a ru stle of tre m u l ous

wings
In a path of singing will halo your hea d ,

For the bi r ds sing where the heart sings ,

And ! oy is perfected .

L ight on the sunbeams shall ou r sp irits

mingle .

What of the r ain ! I f r ain there be

We shall find shelter in a little dingle
Where you will lie close to me .

For eve r ything shall then conspire

To bind us in immutable bands ,

A nd highe r still and eve r highe r

,

Shall blaze our love to loveless lands

,

A beacon and an augury ,

At which the wise the leaden hearte d

,
-

vv i se
,

Will wonde r ; but the fools will see

Angels descending from the skies .
 M I S CO NCE P TI O N S

Then will you tu r n hal f

questioning eyes
-

that say
Dea r I ha v e d reamed
,
Can it b e
.

”
d r eaming this ?
A nd I shall smile in my old silent way ,

A nd b end to se al the silence with a kiss .

 C U RL E WS .

OVE R the city the cu r lews call ,

Call and whistle and call and cry ;

,

W ailings adrift fro m t h e night s dark pall

’

Ghostly wailings across the sk y .

O v e r the houses whe r e men are stri v ing ,

W orrying worshipp ing

,
want o ning , ,

wi v ing ,

How they mock at us as they fl y

We who work in a pett y passion
A ll unseeing all contriving
,

But to build int o ou r f as hion

Godhe ad and E ternity !

T hey laugh fo r over the fens they crie d ,

O v er the fenlands dank and misted

, ,

When the lonel y bittern pried

And the tidal streams ran twisted ,

Where the cit y lifts her p ile ,

Where the r eeking smoke ascends ,

W here the crimes of men defile

E arth an d the sea whe r e the tired l and
,

ends .

An d when we are phantoms you and I , ,

A ll of us forgotten all , ,

Stil l will the cur l ews cr y and call ,

Still will the curlews call an d c ry .

3
 C UR LE W S

When the city is but d ust

Dust of Babylon dust of Nine v eh
, ,

Dust of So dom and dust of T r oy

Damned eternally for the sin of her ,

Damned fo r her grief and he r little j o y ;

T hey will call as call they must
, ,

Wailing over the g r assy sweep ,

Wailing out into the deep ,

Wailing to a setting sun

E ve r fo r ever the cu r lews call
,

Call and whistle and call and c r y .

 AV E . V AL E
-
.

S P R I NG I N THE A L P S .

W HE N the b irds sing m a d from the swe l ling

b ranches
And the first flowe r s stea l thro u gh t h e
waste o f sno w ;
W h e n the streams flo w b rimm ing the ,

thawe d lake ripples ,

And silken breezes softl y blow ;

Fro m wood and f r o m heath an d from low
land fallow ,

From slum b ering v ale an d gua r dian

steep ,

From tor r ent and pool and sunwarme d

shallow ,

The sp i r its of ea r th b egin to cree p .

In the oak the dry ad combs her t r esses ,

T he fl ocks leap wild to the p ipes of Pan ,

T he laughter of n ym p h s shines l ight

th r ough the water ,

And violets crown the fairy v an .

But the snow w r aiths wit h er and wi l t in the

sun
An d the ice bo rn maidens are weary a n d
-

sad ,

For thei r time of pleasure is w ell nigh run -

Yet the b irds are singing t h e earth i s ,

glad .

5
 A VE .
—V A LE

T he icicles shrink and the last d r ift

,

na r rows,

The winter is passing but ere it fades

, , ,

The earth and the snow hold revel together

Whe r e the W hite still gleams in the
quickening glades .

The rough faun glides with the maid o f

frost,
’
T he woo d nymph catch es the ice king s -

sigh ;
One night the y gathe r e d in mingled host ,

—
Dawn breaks and th e children of
wint e r d ie.
 W E A R E TOO F A T .

WE a r e too fat ,

T oo stuffed with g r easy self r espect

-
.

Ou r maxims a r e so pat ;
We love our sect
—
Because i t i s the image of ourself .

Our common delft

Seems to us finest porcelain ,

We worship pel f
—
Not God for God has long agob e en
,

slain
Upon the altar of co mp l acent faith ;
And all in vain
T he creed of love and charit y ,

While we
Have d r iven L ife into the shape of
Death ,

A nd m oulde d a l l into a n a rr o w fr am e
O f meaningless respect a b i l it y .
 ’
CH I L D S S ONG .

C O M E away L ittle One Come with m e

,
.

Come whe r e the woodpecker taps on th e

t r ee
,

Seeking for eve r the hoar d of gold

Stored up safe in the ages old
Perhaps we shall find it you and I , ,

Hidden away in the chestnut high .

Come awa y L ittle One Come to the wood

,
.
,
’
We shall taste of the fai r i e s food .

Honey sweet from the linden flowe r

R ain —
,

d r ops quivering afte r the showe r ,

Wee wild st r awbe r ries red and sweet , ,

A ll the nice things that the fairies eat .

Come awa y L ittle One Come to the cav e

,
.

W he r e the ! ueen of ! oy was the ogre s

’

sla v e'

T ill the prince with the magic helm and

,

shield ,

A nd the swo r d that none but he could

W ield ,

Slew him ; ma r ried the mai d of laughte r ;

And duly lived happy for ever a fter .

Come away L ittle One Hand in hand

, .

’
We l l wander the w ay s of fairy l and ,

8
 C HI L D S
’
S O NG

Dance in the moonshine ; hi d e in the lea v es ;

Sleep o n the hammocks the sp ider we a ves ;
And none shal l know of the things we have
seen
In t h e land of the won d er f u l mig h t h a v e
-

been .
 L U C R E T I US .

TA N T U M R E L I G IO P OTU I T S UA DE R E
M ALOR U M .

GR E AT HE A R T ED unbe liever w hose belief

-
,

In all the manifold p romise of m a nkind

Swells through the centuries —thou w h ose ,

eagle mind i

L ong since descried ou r or i g i ns o f g r ie f ,

Still does the message of th y passionate

page
B r ing fiery comfo r t to the haggar d heart ,

And the ste r n gospel quickened by thy a rt

G r ows to f r uition in this latter age .

B r oken at last the priesthood s iron rod ; ’

N0 mo r e the crimson categor y of crime ,

Blood sac r ifice to an avenging God ,

Incarnadines the calendars of T ime .

T he sun has risen ! Thou thu nderest from

the night
Such infamies religion could incite .

10
DIR GE OF THE C O L CHI AN S OV E R
A B S YR TI S .

“
! FR O M THE H E LL E S P O N T
C A R R Y him slowl y hear him sa f e
,

T he last of an ancient line ;

N0 mo r e the Colchian kings shal l bo a s t
Descent f rom ! eus di v ine .

Carr y him safely be a r him s lo w

,

To whe r e his mother waits ;

The coming of a victor lord
Upon the western gates .

'

Carry hi m tender ly b ear h i m so ft

, ,

F o r he was young an d fair ;

A nd b righter than the Golden Fleec e
T he ringlets of his hair .

Carry him sadly b ea r him sure

,

Unto the funera l p y re !

Th e noblest v ictim in our l and

Is offered to the fire .

11
! D 44 7)
 R OWING S ONG OF TH E
A R GONAU T S .

THE
“
! FR OM H E LL E S P O N T .

! On thei r v o a e home af t
y g er b ei n
g man y
ti m es sav ed by M ed ea ) .

B END to the oa r till the sha r p p r ows gor e

,

The c r est of the meeting wave ;

B end to the oa r till the wate r s hoa r
,

In to r tu r ed eddies r ave ;
B end to the c ar till we r each the sho r e ;
,

Bend to the oar bend to the c ar

,
.

O urs is the Fleece and sac r ed G r eece

,

Shall hold the Colchian spoil ;

O u r s is the Fleece and glad rele ase
,

F r om the appointed to il ;
O u r s is the Fleece the foemen cease ;
,

Ou r s is the Fleece ou r s is the Fleece

,
.

Wel c ome the b r ide ou r r oyal gu ide

, ,

Welcome the magic maid ;

Welcome the b r ide whose a r t defied
The sn ake the fi r e the blade ;
, ,

Wel c ome the b ride to I ol c hos wide

Welcome the b ride welcome the b ri d e ,
.

12
 TH E SWI S S A L P S ,
1 917

F IE R CE LY the war r ing nations stri v e an d

tear
—
Around this high built home of ancient
peace,

The bitter sna r lings of the guns ne er cease

’

To shake the stillness of this quiet ai r ;

But the high mountain b rows in v iolate
, ,

L ook down with calm and un d isturbed gaze

Upon the red flood tide o f w ar that plays
A bout them stretching eage r crests of hate
,

Towa r d their peaks . Unharassed the y

remain
T o view the endless battles of al l ti m e
Fought out beneath ca r ele ss of who sha ll
,

gain
—
T he p rize for they ma y e v er stand su b
l im e
W h ile from afa r the wear y strugglers s ee
T heir w hite and Unapp r oache d maj est y .

13
 R E ! UI E M .

THE falling petals of the b r oom

Spangle the stream with golden bloom ,

A n d bright a long the hollow lane

T he woodbine wreathes he r flowering chain .

Upon the hilltop neighs the steed ,

The trout a r e leap ing as they feed ,

A nd close beside the silvery fall ,

Motionless stands the he r on tall

,
.

A ll else is bou r geoning in its prime

For me is nig h the fading time ,

Wh en l i fe and lo v e alike shall cease ,

And I shall dwell in endless peace .

14
 B L ACK MAG GI E .

’
B L A C! Maggie and I we r e courtin
For nigh u pon si v in year ,

An I hadn the sperri t to a! her

’ ’

Me lonesome l ot to cheer .

’
Fo r Maggie was gran in her apron ,

He r cap an he r r ibbons an al
,
’

,
’ ’

An mann y s the gent ry as e yed her

’ ’

A wai ti n beyan t at the hal l

’
-

’
An i v e r y l ad in the c ou n thry
Was wishful a glance av her eye
A n now she d be shmi l i n an wi nki n
,
’ ’ ’ ’ ’

,
’ ’
An now she d let on to be sh y .

But the m asther was knowi n me w ish es ’

A n he built me a purty sheebeen

’

,
’
An he lifted me wages a thrifle ,
’
An tou l t me to a! m e colleen .

’
So Maggie an I got mar r ied ,
’ ’
An now we ve been wedded a y e a r ;
’
An Maggie and I v e stopped courtin ’ ’

,
’
An I bought me sheebeen dear .

15
 I GNO R AN G E .

I TA L ! of that we know not and a friend ,

T a lks w ith me ; b lind we w r estle o er the

,
’

ground
Where all ha v e battled yet W here none has ,

found
Victory only strife unto the end
, .

T h ales and P l ato and the Stagy rite

,

A nd those great trag i c three and Soc r ates ,

.

How v aliantl y the y grappled to w ards the

light
Half v isioned ! Ay e and unto the le ast of
,

t h ese
Gay idle creatures Who has paused awhile
,

Amid her laughter ; paused awhile and

thought
On things unfathomable till a smile ,

Chased t houghts asi d e a n d left the t r ut h

unsought .

So do we stri v e T h e cat beside t h e fire

.
,

Purrs sleeps and sleeping mocks at ou r

, ,

desire .

16
 E V E NING .

H U S H ! T he e v ening shadows l engt h en ,

Broaden mingle fl oo d together ;

, ,
’
An d the sun s last r ays are burning
Al l the pu r ple from the h eather .

From the shadow cradled v alle y s

-
,

Slipp ing to the land of dreams ,

Comes the distant slum berous murmu r

, ,

O f a hundred happ y st reams .

’
So when e v ening s touch has hidden
,

Al l the horr o r of the clay ,

Ma y we l oose our l ife an d g l adly

,

Vanis h wit h th e dy ing da y .

17
 SONN E T .

H ow many souls have lo v ed thei r little

loves
Upon this earth and li v ed their little li v es ;
,

Panted a little f r etted on the gyv es

,

—
O f c r eed and custom then amid the droves
O f br oad backed oxen fed their battening
-

wa
T ill came the butche r with his que sting eye
And sha r pened knife— or else w i th mu m
~ ~

bled sigh
Passed to a lean fl ank ed mouldering decay
-
.

All our entanglement of hopes and fea r s

I s tossed into the c r ucible of time ;
Swept in the slow pr oc ession of the years
T o nothingness E ach man is but a m i m e
.

Mouthing upon a visionary stage

The dreams of youth the m aunderings o f
,

age .

18
 Y E A R S A GO .

WE met and lau ghed and kissed a whi l e

Yea r s ago yea r s ago
,
!

Behaved in most imprope r style

Years ago yea r s ago !
,

We though t ou r selves exceeding W ise

Yea r s ago yea r s ago ;
,

A n d told no small amount of lies

Yea r s ago yea r s ago !
,

We pa r ted with appa r en t grief

Yea r s ago yea r s ago ;
,

A nd heaved a sigh of vast relief

Years ago years ago !
,

A nd y et I think We loved a span

, ,

Years ago y ea r s ago ;

,

E r e she was maid o r I was man

Years ago y ea r s ago !
,

A nd though the world proclaime d us

m ad
Yea r s ago yea r s ago ;
,

I still r emember and am glad

,

For y ears ago years ago !

,

19
 TH E WAV E .

FAR in the distance I marked it high reared

‘

,
’
mid the tumult and tossing ;
R ampant o v er its fellows maj estic superb
, , ,

unapp r oached ,

Sweep ing and thundering onwa r ds The .

rival waves of the ocean

Seemed but as r ipples beneath it tha t ,

fawned and wonde r ed and murmured

L icking its feet and we r e me r ged in the
,

m ight y mass of the monster .

Onward and nea r er and neare r t h e w h it e ,

foam cresting its summit ,

F u rrowed and r idged and seamed with ,

m ultitudinous wavelets
B r eaking the smoo th of its height ; w h il e
the seamews eddied and clamoure d
Stooping above and the r eef w h ere the
,

smaller b illows were b roken

Stayed not its path ; still onwards with
frenz i e d soul unappeased ,

All the long line of its c r est upli f te d ter ,

ri bl b e etling
y
I m minent ove r the shore : the white sun
s h one through its bulwarks
Glinting in silver and green t h e s h adow,

gloomed in its ca v erns

20
 TH E WAVE

Cur v ing forwa r d and downward ti l l n ow ,

with the mutter of menace

Swelled to a p aean of rage it swoope d on i ts
,

foeman and scatte r ed

Shingle an d sand from its course and
fiercely g r eatly defiant
, ,

L eapt at the cli ff enfolding its crags in

,

a torrent of greenness ,

Searching through cranny and cleft and ,

scattering high to the heavens

One wild whi r lwind of foam as it mounted ,

and surging exultant

R a v ed o v er butt r ess and ledge Yet slowe r .

it sto r med and slower ,

! oined in gigantic grappling ; till weary ,

W ith in fi nite striving ,

Seething and h issing in hate it st ayed and ,

hung f or an instant
’
Pressed on the mould of the cli ff ; ere
v anquished bellowing anger
,

Backwa r ds it fell and in fa ll ing c o n

, ,

temptu ou s swept f r om its p a t h way

,

A l l of its com r ades that hastened to aid i n

its onslaught and moaning
Mingled itself in the sea —
,

an d v anishe d .

So the wave broke .

21
 D A WN AF T E R TH E DAN C E .

S UDDE Na gleam o er the enfolding g r e y

’

Shivered and paled Came again an d.

stayed .

T hen bade the embers of the night to fade

And slowly g r ew into a perfect day .

O
’
and plain and mountain wa shed
er sea

the light ,

And burnished into flame the clouds on

high ,

A n d scatte r ed ros y petals in the sky ,

And swept away the tresses of the

night .

22
 IN M E MO R IAM .

! R Y.T Y RR E LL .
,

M A S T E R fa r ewell L oosed is the silve r

,
.

cord ,

An d thou hast v entured o er the sha d ow y ’

fo r d ,

E r e y et fulfilled the three score y ears and

ten
T hat a r e the heritage o f mortal men .

So passes one who tilled a ston y earth

And br ought a thousan d l asting flowers t o
bir th ;
W hile year by year fresh labourers found
, ,

their t o il
L ightened where he be fore h ad loosed the
soil .

NO pedant he not his the use l ess store ,

O f dull dr y d oc kete d d ecaying lo r e ;

, , ,

But his the secrets of the past t o unfol d ,

T o touch an d touc h ing turn the dust to

,

gold .

Sleep Master sleep We that r emain sh a ll

, ,
.

stri v e
T o keep the magic of thy nam e ali v e ;
And our gre y courts shal l hail thee to t h e
end
—
A s scholar poe t most of al l as friend
, .

23
 S ONN E T .

0 T H AT some f r uitful kindl y po w er might

pen
Those half imagined thought s that fade
-

away
Un r a v elled e r e knit up again to stray ,

L ost in the limbo of f or getting Then .

'

Might the old snake b e slain and E den

gained .

For oft in v oyaging we touch the f r inge

O f a lost continent and glimpse the tinge
,
’
O f hea v en s wide fl u n g gates with wild
-
,

eyes strained
T o p ie r ce the distance ; b ut the colours
p ale ,
’
L i fe s current sweeps us on : again we
lea v e
Behind the mysterious land an d still we ,

fail ;
Failing forget and with forgetting gri e ve
,
.

Once more the dull accusto m ed w ay s we

pl od .

But whose han d stayed our questing ? W a s

it God ?

24
 TH E S C U L P T O R S P E A KS .

I WR OU G H T a statue pu r e and fair

, ,

A nd beautiful most beautiful

,
.

A maiden w ith melodious hair

R ippling in cadences unto the ground ,

A nd nobly pe r fect in her nakedness .

I d r essed her in the wea r ,

Wantonly slashed with delicate bosom h a l f

,

pent
In lecherous gyves of gaudy ornament .

White veiling clung a r ound her body sli m ,

A nd silken gossamer folded every limb .

I hid each t r ess .

Then called the people to behold

This thing that I had w rought
They found
—
Beauty in ugliness for I ha d fame .

They mu rmu r d wisely of the silken ga r b

’

They p r aised the tinsel c r ying it for gold

, ,

They swallowed in the bait and felt no b a rb .

Then I tore from the figu r e the d r e ss ,

And it shone with the tender l ight

O f the moon on a misty night ,

Beauti ful beauti ful white

, ,
.

But they shrieked and turne d fr om t h e

,

sight

25
 TH E SC U L P T O R SP E A ! S

T hey shudde r ed in feigned fright ,

They fled
Blaspheming forth o b scenity .

Il ied to them I laughed and lied

, ,

And lied ; they took me fo r a god .

They w orshipped me I ga v e them drink

.
,

The soft soul snaring d r aught of lies ;

-

Thei r own sweet drink ; yet somehow mine

w a s bre w ed
The sw ee ter dead l ier So they w orshippe d
,
.

me .

I ga v e them W ine ,

T he clear red quickening wine of t r ut h .

T hey knew it not They feared to tast e

.

of it
And d ro v e me as a p o is oner fr om t h e l an d .

26
 MY LA DY .

TE LL me stranger passing b y
, ,

Have you seen m y L ady nigh ?

Have y ou seen my L ady ?

Man y a maiden have I seen ,

Peasant lass and royal queen ,

Al l might be y ou r L ady !

She is s m all and she is white ,

’
She is all the world s delight ,

And the heavens ado r e my L ady .

M a ny are white and m any sma l l

’
And the world s delight to all
T r u e lo v ers is thei r L ady !
In her voice are the b irds of Sp ring ,
’
An d the sun and the gossamer s f ashionin g
Is the hair of m y dear L ady .

T he mu r mur of love is sweetest sound ,

And with gold fai r maids by the sun are

crowned .

How shall I know you r L ady ?

Her eyes mo r e blue than a Tuscan l a ke
, ,

Flash as steel in the light awake ,

Thus may you know m y L ady !

Nay but many an eye of b lue
,

D im to me may flas h for y ou .

Nor thus may I know your L a dy !

27
! D 447)
 MY L AD Y

O n her b r ow i s the flame of truth

In her hea r t is Mary s r uth
’

A nd she i s L o v e my L ady
, .

God has blessed us both my son

O f such the wide ea r th holds but one .

Yes I have seen your L ady

,
.

28
 ‘ ’
L E T U S E A T AND D R INK .

IN the da r k misty shadow s p ace

O f ou r mysterious dwelling place
No passions stir the souls of men ;
Nor hope nor fea r can f r et us then .

C ome then my lo v e ; abide with me ,

A little while my j oy to be ;
And since the r e waits no heaven a bo v e
, ,

Make h eaven on ea r th fo r me my love

, .

29
 MIDD L E AG E S IMAGININGS .

I . TH E
-
CAR DI NA L .

Howev er it fe ll o ut t h at o n a ce r tain d a y wh en
hi E m inence h a d ! u t ce l e br ate d Ma in t h e ! ing ’
s s ss s

c h ape l h e l e ft in g r eat h a ste an d ti ll b ea ring hi

,
s s

v e st m ent up o n h im
s B t in t h e g r eat h a ll a
. u

m e s enge r fr o m t h e ! ing acc te d h im T wh o m

s os . o

hi E m inence r ep l ie d in wr at h t h at h e k ne w n ug h t
‘
s o

of suc h t h ing s an d t h at h e ca ll e d G d t o w itne his

’
o ss

inn o cence ; an d e en a h e p o k e h e fe ll d ea d wh e r e
v s s

fo r e wa a ll his t r ea o n m
,

s a d e k n ow n
s .

H A S T E ye and hustle yH omes the Lo rd

Cardinal ,

Pack y e as close as the peas in a pod ,

Mark all the nobles a buzz ing a r ound him -

,

Princes and p r elates awaiting his nod .

Hey fo r the Cardinal ,

W ay for the Ca r dinal ,

Courted of man and ordained of God .

Master of many a mansion and acreage ,

Waiting to step in the shoes of the Pope ,

Friend of the King and the chief of hi s ,

councillors ,

Might y dis pense r of sca ffold and rope .

Hey for the Cardinal ,

Way for the Ca r dinal ,

S ee how he struts it in scarlet and cop e !

30
 TH E C ARDIN A L

’
Think you he ll S ign the petitions awaiting
him ,
’

Grant a reprieve f r om the au to da fe ?

Pa r do n the sinne r s R elieve the distressed
? ?

Does the black eagle relinquish his pre y !

Hey fo r the Ca r dinal ,

Way fo r the Ca r dinal

'

Aye si r we ll witness some burnings to

, ,

day

’
He d ne v er rescue a wretc h fr om the
faggots ;
Heretic holocaust pleases him well .

Thie v es unbelievers possesso r s of secrets

, , ,

Such must be sc hol ared with torture and

cell .

Hey for the Cardinal ,

W ay for th! Ca r dinal ,

’
M a rr y he ll hasten their j ourne y t o h el l
,
.

Hist ! ’
He r e s a messenger h ot from
Maj est y ,

Plucking the chie f of the gua r d by

S l eeve .

Some matter of impo r t conce r ning

E minence ?

31
 TH E C ARDI NA L

Lo ok !They prevent him from taking his

lea v e .

Hey for the Ca r dinal ,

Way for the Ca r dinal ,

’
Somebody ll pay for this j est befo r e eve .

What does he say —

Oh a t r uce to your ,

j abberi n gs ,

How can I hea r i f ye cackle like geese ?

May the Almighty condemn me if guilty
N Obly responded ! What ? Peace ye fools , ,

peace .

Hey for the Cardinal ,

Way for the Ca r dinal ,

Conj u r ing God to secu r e his r elease .

!ounds ! He has fallen His prayer has .

been answe r ed .

’
See if he s dead someone Give him a p r od
,
. .

Oh the a r ch —hypoc r ite hoist on his own,

petard ,

Soon to be wo r m r iddled unde r the sod

-

Hey fo r the Ca r dinal ,

Way fo r the Ca r dinal ,

L oathed of man and condemned of God .

32
 II .
—
TH E HE R M I T .

Yet d i d hi s l a dy for wh o m h e had r en o unce d all

,

t h ing s tir e of h im at t h e l a st an d my l o rd st ric k e n

, , ,

w it h penitence tur ne d fr om his un h o ly l ife and

, ,

ente ring t h e Ch u r c h spent his d a y s a l on e in t h e

,

m o untain s p ra y ing an d fa sting A n d in t hr ee y ea rs

.

h e was fo un d d ea d bu t a pictu r e of his l a dy was

,

sti ll up o n h im
”
.

D AY afte r day the slow suns rise ,

D ay after day the r ed suns set ,

Day after day the vain re gret

Chills my young heart and dims my

I who have sworn to serve my God

,

With fasting penitence and tea r s

, , ,
’
Can ne e r fo r get the face that sea r s
My soul : and eve r till the sod

Grows g r eene r where my corp se is laid

I m ust remember all those hou r s
O f n oble sin The evil powe r s
Have grippe d too deep my life and made ,

My b eing fes tered E ven now .

Were she to call me I would leave ,

My scou r ge my cowl my books and weave

, , ,

Ou r lives toge the r— and my vow

33
 TH E H E R M IT

Would m el t away as Ap r il snow

.

’
Before our lo v e s fierce fi r e But she .

Calls not and si n has found its fee

,

In this eternit y of woe .

Da y after day the weary round ,

The praye r s the fasting and the pain

A ll ti m
.
, ,

e has ceased The new moons wane

.
,

And all in solitude is bound .

N 0 human foot no hum an cr y

,

Breaks the sad silence ; the b l eak w 1 n d

Moans chee r lessly ; for I h av e sinned ,

And I must su fi er till I die .

The flicker of the fire can cast

Strange shadows as if one was nigh ;
And oft I seem to hear a sigh
Borne round me in the rushing blast .

But ever I am tricked and less ,

Daily my hopes and strength become ;

And e v en I am st r icken dumb
In this enfolding loneliness .

’
The snow falls hushing the distant r iver s
,

moan
Darkness enfolds me—and I am alone
,

34
 III —T HE
. P OI SO N E R S .

Now wh en t h e ! ing g re w o ld h e was fi ll e d w it h

a m ig h t y l o at h ing for a ll his v a ssa l s an d u n derlords

an d w i s h e d t h e m t o d ie To t h i s en d h e bad t h e m
.

c om w it h t h ei r l a d ie s t o a g r eat fea st an d su m
‘

e , , , ,

m o ning t o his ai d an age d p o iso ne r who h a d b een

l on g in his e m p l o y b ad h i m p r epa r e a p o is on of
,

g r eat p o tenc y Th is h e h im se l f d i d put int o the

.

w ine an d as h e d e sir e d a ll d ie d h i d e o u sly

, , B u tt h e .

! ing h i m se l f d ie d a l so fro m ! oy as m en a ll ege

, , .

K I NG AND P OI S O N E R T O G E TH E R ‘

T wisting and twining the smoke gro w s

up ,

W reathing and writhing the s m oke

d r i fts by ;

—
To night the lo r ds of the earth s h a ll sup
-
,

T o night the lords of the earth sha l l

”
die .

THE P OI S O N E R
T hrice distilled and trebly strong
T h a t its l ab ou r may b e short ,

L isten to the merry song

Hissing throug h th e big retort .

THE K I NG
The y shall eat and they shall drink ,

The y shall wanton and grow ga y ;

35
 TH E P OI S O NE R S

Neve r a man of them shall think

—
That his end has come to day ”
.

T hey shall j est and they shall laugh ,

They shall banish eve r y ca r e ;

A s the subtle wine they qua ff
Death shall gripe them unaware ,
.

THE P OI S O N E R
Winking white the bu b bles r ise
Through the limp id bowl of blue ,

W icked winking evil eyes

Searching fo r some ill to do .

THE K I NG
They shall p r ess the little hand
Of thei r mist r ess si tting by
, ,

They shall feel thei r a r dou r fanned

”
By he r hot impassioned sigh .

They shall p r aise her coiling hai r ,

They shall mou th he r wine fl u shed -

cheek ,

They shall lay her bosom bare

T ill the r e b r eaks the first long shriek .

36
 TH E P OI S O N E R S

THE P OI S O N E R
Now the fire is gre y and old
And the work is well nigh don e ; -

Now the glass is g r owing cold ,

But a few mo r e d rops to run .

THE K I NG
They shall start and gasp and quail ,

They shall rise and r eel and fall ,

They shall tu r n a j aundiced pale

—
Th r ough the many lighted hall .

They shall retch and frot h and squirm ,

Wail and moan and grunt and cry ,

They shall w r iggle as the worm

While I laugh and watch the m die .

THE P OI S O N E R
See ! The phial is prepared ,

Cold and still the poison sleep s

I n its hea r t old deat h lies snared ,
”
In its depth corruption c r eeps .

THE K I NG
All the to r tu r es men ha v e known
Shall delight my gloating eyes ,

37
 TH E P OI S O N ER S

And I think their dying g r oan

, ,
”
Will be almost Par adise .

They shall find a seemly tomb

On the midden by the gate ;
All shall see the lowest g r oom
Spu r n the bodies of the great .

K I NG AND P OI S O N E R T O G E TH E R
Twisting and twining the smoke grows
up ,

W r eathing and w r ithing the smoke

d r ifts by ;
T o— night the lords of the ea r th S hall sup ,

TO night
-
lo r ds of t h e earth sh al l
die .

38
 BY T HAT S IN F E LL T H E AN G E L S .

A N A LL E G O R Y OF A M B I T IO N .

LOW ,
lush and le v e l swooning in the mis t
, ,

Of placid noonday the luxu r iant pl a in

,

Swept onwa r d to the mount a ins and la y ,

coiled
A round their feet as some s l eek emer a ld
,

sn ake
—
Full go r ged and steeped in m id day som
,

n olen c e .

All wa y s we r e windless . He a vy fingere d

arr
Pressed moist upon me ; wea r iness ensna r ed
M y stumbling feet and almost I despaired
E v er to compass the appointed go a l—
,

Those air y mountain heights that called to

me
From the b lue d istance whi l e I watche d the
kine
Graz ing the long green grass contentedl y
L ong had they called and b eckoned me to
come ,

L eaving the fat abun d ance of m y home

And pleasant pas tures of my y outh to wi n ,

Thei r far pale peaks As in a dream I rose

.
,

And set upon my j ou r ne y Many days .

Passed and my striving see m ed a thing i n

,

vai n .

39
 BY THAT S I N FELL TH E A NG EL S

But now at last the long sought cli ff s were -

nigh
,

And I could ma r k the plumed wate r falls

S t r eaking the ashen sides ,and see the t r ack
O f last year s avalanche A loof and s till
’
.
,

L ike a philo sopher in thought they stood ,

And seemed to ponder on the steady plash

’

Of their own rills But here no gentl e

.

sound
O f murmurous water soo thed my thi r st y
ear
W ith soft empl eadi n g Wearily the stems.
,

L aden with too much fruitage d r oope d ,

a r ound
My path ; the v e r y b irds f orgot t o sing ,

And slept I on l y in th a t listless lan d

.

Held my uns w er v ing aim and onw a r d

presse d ,

While the su n dippe d from heav en and t h e ,

peak
Stretched forth a shadow hand a cross t h e
plain .

So c r ept the e v e and in the gathe r ing c ool

,

T he careless kindly people of the land

, ,

Awoke from e a sy slumbering and flocke d ,

M u ster ed in m erry bands and cho r uses ,

40
 RY THAT S IN F ELL THE A NG EL S

To herald in the night with dan c e and

play .

Songs r ose Sweet laughter sped along the

.

ai r,
Soft smiling faces garlanded the fields ,

A nd happ iness swept o er the wea r y ea r th

’

’
L ike the soft passing of an angel s wing .

Some too the r e were that asked m e whence

I came ,

Who seemed so weary and so tra v e l stain ed ,

And whit her I was bound But when the y .

hea rd
I j ourneyed to the topmost citadel
O f those mysterious mountains s m ile d at ,

me ;
For never yet said they had mo r tal man
, ,
’
Ventu r ed beyond the foothill s gentle rise ,

Nor ever should There on the b arren

.

wastes
R eigned an almighty God who would not ,

b r ook
That any mo r tal wanderer should disturb
His high impenet r able solitude .

S o spake the y b ut they b id m e stay a wh i l e

A mong the happy people of the l and ,

Who for an hou r of toil had length of j o y ,

A nd lived untasting weariness or grief

41
 BY THAT S I N F ELL THE A NG EL S

T ill when the l oc ks grew silve r and the

,

limbs
Moved slowe r in the dan c e and age dr e w
nigh
Death found them sleep in g —left the m stil l
,

asleep .

A nd almost I had stayed when suddenly ,

The p innacle that crowned the darkenin g

range
Clo v e into the sun s red rim and I replied
’

Upon the mountain b rows a clearer ai r

Glitters than in the mist hung v ale be low
-
.

And I wil l to the m ountains I wi l l win

T he guar d ed su mm i t—
.

then let death b e

mine
I f the great G od take me not to Himself .

With this I parte d a nd I h asted on

’
T o meet t h e shadow m oving o e r t h e plain ,

An d pas sed into its cooln e ss soon the

night
Fell and the sleeping stars awoke ; a wind
T he thin small wind of sunse t—softly b lew
,

And swept along the bo rd er of the hills ,

An d stole the wea r iness from out my limbs ;

S O that I quickly came to where the fie ld s
R olled upwards and the level pathwa y
,

ceased .

42
 BY THAT S I N F ELL TH E A NG EL S

Yet in the strength of that enchante d e v e

, ,
’
Swi fter I hastened o er the mounting tr a ck
T h an o er the str a ight smooth r oad that l ay
’

belo w .

Onwar d an d e v er onward till the si d es ,

Stretched high a bov e me while t h e quiet ,

m oo n
S wung slowly t h rough the sky an d touch e d
the peaks ,

Chiselling a world of e bo n and i vo ry .

Stronger and ever stronger a s the way

, ,

Steepened Within my leaping heart there

.

g r ew
A knowledge of the might that in me l ay ;
And round me gentle v oice s seemed to ca ll ,

A nd cr y and wonde r and encourage m e

, ,

T o win the summit ; softly mu r mu r ing

T hat there was godhead and that there the ,

God
Waited to welcome me unto Himself .

And told me ho w the wo r ld would worship

me ,

And how that strength was gi v en unt o

th ose
W ho dared the heights so that the hei gh t s,

became
L ess than the little hillocks of the plain .

43
! D 44 7 )
 BY THAT S I N F ELL THE A NG EL S

S wiftly I sped swifte r than e e r the goat

,
’

That fled in te rr o r from my r inging fee t;

L ightly f r om r ocky c r ag I leaped
To r ocky cr ag The rive r r oa r ed benea th
.

In a white gleam of sof t enticing foam

And then was past The da r k r ock loomed
.

above
An instan t—and I stood upon its c r est .

Da r kness g r ew thinne r and alone remained

T hat last and highest spi r e that like a ,

flame
Burned upwards golden in the mo r ning
,

light,

And in the evening golden e v ery hou r ,

F ron ti n g with steady b r ow the ci r cling sun .

Awhile I paused seeking how be st to scale

—
,

The obdu r ate sides and found a single

ledge
Which like a thread slanted across the face .

Whereon with ca r eless ease and strength

,

assured
I arrogantly swung F i erc ely as stoop s
.
,

F r om viewless heights an eagle that

descries
A desolate l am b left lonely f ro m the fold
A n d with emb r acing talons clea v es its
heart ,

44
 BY THAT S I N F ELL THE A NG EL S

S o f r om the da r kness and the fa r unknown

Fear swoo ped u pon me and my hea r t w as
held .

N 0 more I hea r d the voices felt no more ,

The insistent urge L imb lay on le aden

.

limb
P owe r less as in a dream No hope n o .
,

strength
’
Sustained me Wisd om s false and weig h ty
.

tongue
—
Counselled abandonment for I had won
Mo r e me r it than the most what gained it ,

then
T o lose in folly the assured reward
O f quiet honou r and the p r aise of men
,

Filling with music m y remaining da y s .

P ride only godliest of God s gifts to m a n

,
’

Stood by my side and with impe r ial tone

A woke my hea r t and through the agon y
,

Of that imperilled traverse hel d eac h st e p ,

Nea r er the summit ; till by cleft and ri d ge

Cornice and chi mne y at the l as t I st oo d
V ictorious on that sac r ed pinnacle
A n d stretched m y arms out to the rising
sun.

B elow the mists untangled and dispersed ,

45
 BY THAT S I N FELL TH E A NG EL S

T he g r een fields shone and fo r th from e v er y

,

home
Hastened the kindly folk ; and turned thei r
eyes,

A s w as their wont toward the storied

,

peaks .

Thus did they see me blazone d in the light

, .

A nd raised a cry a low and wonde r ing c ry

,

That rose and fell as the dull hum Of bee s

Sways in the limes o f su mmer ; rose and
swelled
Into a mighty shout to gree t the God
Made manifest ; no r knew that it was I
Whom late they chid Clea r th r ough the
.

mo r ning air
The wel c ome pealed and crashed against
,

the cliffs ,

And r oared along the hollows worship meet ,

Fo r Man v ictorious by the might of Man

Man t h e immortal L o r d —The thunderbo lt
,

Fell as they c r ied and I was s m itten down

, ,

Down f ro m the heights down down int o , ,

the depths ,

Down to the hidden womb of the c r e v ass .

T h ere ha v e I lain f o r ages there I lie , ,

Where the cold mountain sweat d r ops down

on me ,

46
 BY THAT SIN F ELL TH E A NG EL S

Whe r e the wa r m r adiance of the noonday sun

Comes not only the biting winter blast
,

Cu r ls in and out the c r annies of the rock

, ,
.

And here will lie for e v e r ; that sho r t space

Whe r ein I stood upon the sac r ed soil ,

Gave me the cu r se of immo r tality .

He r e do I lie and here I think upon

,

The j oyful careless child r en of the plain ,

Who live so pleasantly mid dance and song

No r e v er st r ive to venture on the heights
That towe r a bove thei r e asy indolence .

Yet sometimes when the soughing wind

,

has hushed
And the hoarse river roar aw h ile is stayed
Within the grip of the fierce silent f r ost ,

A sound comes faintly to my straining ea r s ,

A sound of voices calling mightily

Upon the God wh o once had shewed Him
,

self
—
To their fo r efathe r s so the tale is told ,

An ancient tale passing from sire to son

,
.

T hen though the cold has withered up m y

,

limbs ,

A nd cramped my bo d y though m y heart is ,

chilled ,

M y eyes are blinded then despite of all , , ,

I know that I ha v e found my happ iness .

47
 S ONG OF TH E P L AIN FAI R I E S .

LI G H T upon the heathe r as a wind blown -

feather ,

Swif t as the swallows flight ,

F r om the waking of the sky when the dawn ,

draws nigh ,

To the flutte r ing fall of nigh t ,

Onwa r d ever on we swing weaving wide

, , ,

the fai r y ring ,

And the long limbs soft and b a r e , ,

A re a gliding and a glance in the glimme r

- -

of the dance ,

And the sun glints r ed i the hai r ’

.

’
Have ye seen a r ipple pass o er the summi t
of the grass ,

With ne v er a hint of b r eeze ?

Ha v e ye heard a gentle sighing coming ,

nea r er soft l y d ying

,

In the distant line of trees ?

’ ’
Tis the fly ing of the feet o e r the meadow
and the wheat ,

Ove r the long low plain ,

’
T is the c alling of a voice bidding all the
,

earth rej oice

In the sun and the wind and the r ain .

48
 S O NG O F TH E P L AI N F A I RI E S
’
But with the conning o er of boo ks the
mortal e y e is blear ,

And every tale of calumn y has dulled the

mo r tal ear ,

And mo r tal hea r ts a r e ove r grown with web

and woo f of p ain ,

And now it is the babes alone that hea r the

fai r y st r ain .

49
 M E NS HOMINI S .

R ED a r e the walls and red ,

The floor while o v erhead

‘
,

I nto red gloom grows up the ruby dome ;

Fie r ce in the midst thereglows
‘

And s lowly ebbs and flows ,

And winks and laughs the beacon of the

, ,

gnome .

N 0 wind has ever stirred ,

N0 Sound was ever hea r d ,

But silently the spect r es come and go ;

, ,

Kings p r ophets maidens fai r

, , ,

Go r gons with snake tressed hair -

,

Monsters and demons wande r to and f r o

,
.

And by the flame the r e sits

The weave r of the wits ,

The f r ame r of a never finished p l an .

The feve r ed gnome the hosts ,

Of eve r —changing ghosts ,

The mocking flame the shadowy hall these

, ,

a r e the mind of man .

50
 TO A M E MO R Y .

G OD ! T be v ere svi eet those moments ,

r when a d r op
S pilled f r om the b rimming cup of ha pp i
n ess !
F iercewine o ermou n ti n g f r om the golden
,
’

bo wl
Whose incense spreadeth j oy through out
the world
A nd whose full draught but ne v er h as m
—
,

an
known
T he full deep draught of the enchante d
wm e ,

O r i f they drank a single instant felt

,

The great wild kiss of the whole universe ;

A nd the n were inad and wandere d on an d
,

-o
u
S eeking b ut ne v er fin d ing ; last t h e y die d .

B u t someti m es when the g od s enraptured

’

arm
R ai se s on high the deep f ull —flow i n g cup ,

O ver the j ewelled l ip there steals a r ill ,

Which with a slow meandering creeps and

, ,

winds
Down the embossed side and gathering ,

Into a ruby p r egnance thence there falls,

A single d r op ; and falling it divides

A nd eve r finer g r ows till at the last
, ,

51
 TO A M E M OR Y

L ike the thin cloud that rises up and round

The leap ing wate r fall it dews the ea r th
,
.

Oh in that hou r a v apou r ed atom fell

—
Full on my lips and ceased befo r e I knew
The whole ri c h sa vou r yet twas nobl y’

sweet .

So madly sweet that now I know the pain ,

The dull deep pain of recollection

,
.

For e v ery faint and passing gleam of j oy

I S paid in full with double gl oom o f w oe ,

Th r oughout the long slow hou r s in which

we d r ea m
A nd stri v e once more to feel a faded bliss .

A nd sometimes faces r ound me seem to floa t

Of all I knew and slowly merge in one
,
.

Thy face Again thy slende r arms

Cl asp softly round me ; once again I feel
T he slow soft rise and the precip itate fal l
O f t hy deep sighing boso m and my lips
-
,

Yearn fo r ward as they s tr ive to p r ess a kis s

On that red mout h half ope in ecstasy
-
.

But e v er as a d r eam that fades away

Before fulfilment of ou r j oy has come ,

So f adest thou ; and I am left alone ,

A dese r t wande r er in a li feless land ,

A lone alone to mourn upon my loss

, ,
.

'

0 b r ing the agate bo wl that I may q u afi

52
 TO A M E M OR Y
’
Deeply and long of bitter L ethe s st r eam ,

So to f orget that touch of the gods wine

And g r atefully to die My ep itaph
.

Al l j oy is but the harbinger of woe .

53
 DEVILS .

T HE R E S a little devil flies

’

F rom you r eyes f r o m your eyes

, ,

T o peep from the curls of you r hair .

Then sidles down your cheek

With a me rr y el fi sh sh r iek ,

T ill he slips ,

To the dimple by you r lip s

And nes tles the r e .

! Which is wise ) .

The r e
’
s a little de v il sleeps
In the deeps in the deeps
,

Of the wate r s of your heart ;

-

T ill he wakens f r om his rest

And becomes a little pest ,

Fo r he r ages ,

And he won t lie down fo r ages

’
.

! Played his part ,

Back he creeps ) .

Now the little devil A

I s a r ogue with whom I play ,

F or he laughs and he j ests and he smiles .

Oh a saucy rascal he !
,

But the little devil B

Is too st r ong
To be tri fled with for long .

! So good day
To your wiles
 ’
TH E MUS I C IAN S D E AT H .

DIE to night
I -
,

Music h a s sp oken wit h new s o und to m e ;

The s o ft tonged v oice s ranging t o a n d fr o
-

Ha v e ca ll e d me h ence .

I follow ,

Where the echoing chord

Has shattered down the barriers an d has ,

shown
Phantoms of melod y .

D im hands ha v e beckoned fro m the clouded

sun
,

And r ound me g r ow strange forms in ai r

and tree
—
,

Th ey smile and open welcoming arms an d

,

fade ,

I die to night -
.

T he magp ies flicke r two and two Th e y .

omen g ood .

An answering j oy im b ues the blos some d

earth ,

I t sha r es my happ iness ne v er before so fair

,
.

0 God for this Thy boon I worship T h ee

, ,

I die to night -
.

Da r kness has closed Black plumed the

.
-

shadows glide
The wings of gloom eng u lf my vision—ah
,

A light has bu r st the casement

All is done .

I die to nigh t -
.
 S ONG .

D O WN by the coppice the rabb its are out ,

With a fli r t and a flicker of fu r r y white

tai l s ,

And the lakelet is r inged wit h the rises

of t r out ,

An d the th r ush in the woodland i s

b r eaking h is snails .

Tap Tap , ,

Tap Tap , ,

The th r ush in the Woodland i s breaking

his snails .

D own by the r iver the otter has shot

S ilently S ilently into the pool ;
,

And the dippe r is nodding his head with a

d ot
Carry one —and
,

,
away to his nest in the
c ool .

Tweet ,
Tweet ,

Tweet ,
Tweet ,

—
Carry one and ,
away to his nest in the
0 00 1 .

D own by the shingle the gulls a r e a wheel -

,

The cormorant dives and the pereg r ines ,

soa r ,

A n d in from the open the lan gu i d wa v es

ste al
56
 S O NG

To nestle their ti r ed little heads on the

sho r e.

Ssh S S S ;,

Ssh S S S , ,

TO nestle thei r ti r ed little heads on the

sho r e.

Down by the garden my lassie and I

Have met The thrush ceases
. The
.

little waves whist .

The rabbits are still and the bi r ds do not

fly
.

Fo r I and my lassie have met and have

kissed .

Hush ! Hush !
Hush ! Hush !
Fo r he and h is lassie have met and have
kissed .

57
 CHACUN A S ON G ou T

! A S ! UI B ) .

—
TH E well b r ed youth who wants a sp r ee
, ,

Goes to a uni v e r sity

T he washerwoman from her tub
, ,

Seeks solace in the cosy pub

The hermit with his vigils weary
, ,

Sna r ls hell at those who doubt his theo r y

And flies when thei r gyrations j a d e
,

Fall v ictims to the ma r malade .

”
De gu sti bu s then wh o am I
To p r aise the saint or blame t h e fly !
,

58
 WIND !

OUT to
the wet the wind the cold
, ,

I wande r ed and my hea r t was held in pain ;

,

And thought on things unutte r ably old ,

And felt the mail clad fingers of the rain

-

Clutching my b r ow while eve r in my b r ain

,

The r ushing gale found echo ; and it told

An elemen tal tale of lust and gold .
,

Of white flesh r eddening wi th bloody stain ,

Of hearts bet r ayed and human kindness

sold .

Then f r om my b r eas t the g r ip ing weakness

r olled
And st r ength encompassed me and left me ,

bo l d .

S o comforted I fared back again

, ,
.

59
! D 44 7 !
 BAS S S ONG .

I WHO was late so st r ong no r feared ought

,

Tha t man o r fate cont r ived ,

Now wander as a thing dist r aught

Of all my w i ts dep r ived .

The steed within the stable champ s ,

The falcon mews upon he r perch ,

’
My banne r flaunts not o er the camps ,
'

And stains my arms b esmirch .

Cu r sed the day when first we met ,

And th r ice accursed those wanton eyes

That snared me in their silken net
And hold me as thei r prize .

The idle hou r s I v ainly wait

No r may my steps r emove ,

Fo r while I love I s tr ive to hate

, ,

And while I hate I love ,

.

Our L ady save he r soul f r om harm

,

And p ity pity me !

,
’
S aint Dennis ne r ve a warrio r s a r m
,

TO strike— and to be free .

60
 TH E R A LL Y .

C O M E The t r umpet call sprang th r ob

bing
R ound the sleepy ea r th .

Come l The evil hou r is da r kening ; come my

sons to succour he r who
Gave ye b irth .

Come The eagle s beak is crimsoned

’

’
With your b r other s gore .

Come ye p r ove your love and kinship pro v e

, ,

your neve r conquered sp i r it

As of yore .

O e r the white Canadian mountains

’

’
O er the tho r ny v eldt
’ ’
O er the prairie o er the dese r t o er the
, ,
’

feve r ed mango ma r shes ,

Whe r e men dwelt .

L ong fo r getting long fo r gotten ,

’
O er the lonely plains ,
’ ’
O er the mine fields o er the Indian fo r ests
,

s teaming swelte r ing r eeking

, ,

In the rains .

Swept the call ; and left the hea r t

st r ings
! uive r ing into sound

61
 TH E RA LL Y

Of the men whom Bri tain nu r tu r ed e r e they ,

left her fields and o r cha r ds

Outwa r d bound .

Till they rallied to their mothe r

Spu r ning ease and peace
Blazoning her name in Flande r s Af r ica , ,

and the many sto r ied

-

Che r sonese .

And ou r hea r ts are filled with gladness

At their mighty deeds ,

Those who heard the mother s summons and

’

f r om eve r y land have muste r ed

To her needs .

Yet amid the r oa r and c r ashing

Of ou r to rr ent p r ide ,

You may hea r the unde r mur m u r

moaning softly mo u r ning
,

Those that died .

62
 AP R I L ,
1 9 17 .

’
T H E R E S a magic in the moo r land the r e s
’

a magic in the rain

’

Sweep ing onwa r d g r ey and gusty o er the

, ,

st r e tching midland plain ,

The r e s a magic in the moun tains climbing

’

r agged to the sk y ,

And a thousand little magics in the dipp ing

peewit s c r y
’

’
There s a lazy lilt of laughter in the
st r eams that hasten down
To the low lush meadow pastures f r om the
upland bleak and b r ow n
’
And o er eve r y copse an d hedge r ow spreads
a mis ty veil of g r een ,

And the light clad ea r th is dancing in the

-

’
sunlight s fi tf u l sheen .

But the sad wind softly soughing holds a

distant cry of pain ,

And bo rne upon the eddies drift the sp i r its

of the slain ,

Who wonde r at the sp r ingtime for mid ,

’

gun and swo r d and lance

The spring has neve r broken on the battle
fields o f F r ance .

63
NO CT U R N E . OPA L AND SI L V E R .

1 .

THE scen t of the sta r s is d r ifted

S ilen tly down the nigh t ,

Soft as the mist wind sca ttered -

,

To stealing g r ey wreaths tattered ,

With timid moo nbeams sifted

TO opalescent light .

Oh the song o f the faded moonbeams ,

The scent of the stars at night .

The touch of the night has burnished

This d r oss Of thought away ;
Wi th that wild incense d r unken
The busy mind is sunken ,

The senses gleam untarnished ,

Fo r gotten feelings play ,

A melody a harmony, ,

To hymn thei r holiday .

II .

The bounda r ies a r e vanished ,

The ba rr ie r s o erthrown
’

Fo r the da r kne ss is bani shed

The secret is known
That the sou n d an d the si
gh t
sav ou r

A re three an d yet on e .

64
 N O CTU R NE . O P A L A N D S I LVE R

They a r e tend r ils set f r ee

F rom the sea t of the so u l ,

And the soul is the three ,

And the three are the whole

The sc roll that i s w ri tten ,
the fi n gers
That w ri te on the sc roll .

III .

Musing on a night alone ,

With the sp r ingtide on he r throne ,

All the sta r s awake and winking

, ,

Seemed to mock my wea r y thinking .

Woods and hills and dells were quiet ,

Hushed all the season s riot ’

And a t r ance o f beauty lay

O e r that stilly nigh t in May
’

F r om he r bondage slipp ing free

C a me the queen of poesy ,

At the m agic of whose spell

Ga tes we r e opened fetters fell ;
,

E very loveliness did seem

Me r ged in a mo r e lo v ely dream ,

Whe r e the sounds had scent and colou r ,

And the scents were r iche r fuller , ,

Singing sweetly many hued ;

,

And the landscape was imbued

65
 N O CTU R NE . O P A L A N D S I LV ER

With a r ainbow ha r mony .

While each glimpsed sta r and tr ee

Scatte r ed in an odo r ous sea
Incenses of Araby .

66
 WINT E R .

W H I T E and soft ,

Soft and white ,

The snow d r ifts past me and into the night ;

Soft and white ,

White and soft ,

The snow comes trembling down f r om aloft .

Bleak and cold ,

Cold and bleak ,

The wind blows up th r ough the ice bound -

c r eek ;
Cold and bleak ,

Bleak and cold ,

The wind blows ove r the shuddering wold .

Slow and ti r ed ,

T i r ed and slow ,

the few sheep plodding before in the

snow ;
T i r ed and slow ,

Slow and tired ,

the g r ey sheep floundering home to be

byred .

Wa r m and r ed ,

R ed and warm ,

The light shines out f r om the lonel y fa r m ;

67
 W INTER

R ed and warm ,

Wa r m and r ed
,

Is the light f r om the watching window

shed
.

68
 THE R E C L US E S DAU GHT E R
’
.

THE dappled sky Shines b r ight be tween the

t r ees ,

The bi r ds a r e singing : eve r th r ough the

g r ove
—
The cuckoo th robs and all alone I ro v e
Baring my bosom to the wanton breeze .

The king bi r d poises j ewelled on the flag

-
, ,

P r eening befo r e his mate and to the hind

,

With eage r belling comes the many tyned

Mona r ch of all the conque r ing conque r ed
,

stag
.

All else i s j oyous in the su r ge of Spring ,

Alone I wande r and my hea r t i s sad ;

,

N O lov er d r awe th nigh to make me glad

‘

And I may find n o j oy in anything .

Fo r me the r e lu r ks a moaning in the mo r n ,

A dull opp r ession in the hea t of day ,

And when the last long beams a r e wrapped

in g r ey
With s orr ow as my ma te I couch fo r lo r n .

The dappled sky shines b r ight between the

tr ees ,

The bi r ds are singing ; eve r th r ough the

g r ove
69
 TH E R E C LU S E S DA U G HT E R
’

—
The cuckoo throbs yet all alone I ro v e
An d ba r e my bosom to the wantoning
b r eeze
.

70
 S ONN E T .

B E H I N D my house the r e c r awls a feste r ed

lane ,

Whe r e all night long half lighted windows -

wink
From low b r ewed easemen ts and incarnate
-
,

d r ink
Snores shouts and r eels and snores and
, , ,

shouts again .

Hearse poison throated Vixens wail and

,
-

! ee r
,

And ange r baited snarl their beas tl y fill

,
-
, ,

With crossed arms sp r awling on the win

dew sill -
,

Bared fangs dull bloody eyes and obscene

,

leer
There shawl —
.

clad d r abs pursue their

ancient tr ade ,

Bare footed child r en cower in hur r ied

-

flight ,

The r e man is c r ucified with none to aid ,

Fo r even God has hidden his face in f right .

Why do I laugh when people say to me , ,

This is our Ch r istian twentieth cen

”
tury ?

71
 M E L AN CHO L IA .

I R E ADof o the r s j oys and they

’

A r e g r ief to me ; p

I read of o the r s pains and the r e

’

My g r ief I see .

The fal te r ing wind b r eathes songs of woe

The sunbeams flitting to and f r o
,

Have lost thei r glee .

A ti r ed melancholy seems
To wande r r ound ,

S tealing the b r ightness and the j oy

From sight and sound ;
How sweet and soft and still is death ,

Only a ceasing of the b r ea th ,

A sec r et found I
L ong linge r ing life holds nought fo r me .

No r leaden yea r s ,

F eebl e the gleams of j oy tha t b r eak

The rain of tea r s ;
S trength is the goblet fame the wine ,

I cannot know them Only mine .

The dust of fea r s .

Had I the power one line to pen

Of living fire ,

To limn along the sc r oll of life

’
My heart s desi r e ,

72
 M EL A NC HO L IA

G lad would I pass beneath the g r ound ,

A nd ,
passing hol d that I had found
,

A wo r thy hi r e .

But I must go and not h ing leave

,

To gild my name .

No smallest meed to me is given

Of lasting fame .

TO die and quick to be forgot

'

T o perish e v e r ; such my lot

And such my shame !

73
TH E S ONG OF TH E HI GH R OAD .

C R E S T I NG the hill and adown to the valley ,

Under the b r idges and ove r the st r eam

NOW by the fl ower panelled copses I dally
-
,

Now hu rr y on th r ough the smoke and

the ste am .

E ndless and effo r tless j ou r neying onwa r d

, ,

L inking the homes and the tillage of

man ,

The long r oad the hi gh r oad I wind

'

, ,

through the g r eenswa r d ,

Cen tu r y bleached since fi r st I began .

A r mies have ma r ched m e fi erce fo r the ,

battle ,

B r oken and shatte r ed have sought f or

my aid ;
L ight f r om the stile comes the love r s soft ’

p r attle
G r oans of the dying swell low f r om the
shade .

Aged was I when the cha r io ts cou r sed me ,

Young I r emain as the lo rr ies roll by ;

Many have driven me many have horsed ,

me ,

The long road the white r oad the high

, ,

r oad am I .

74
 T H E MIDN I GH T S E A .

’
S L EE P I LY sighing the wind o er the waters
entreateth ,

Sleep ily answer the waves caressing the

shore ,

Till I yea r n fo r the leap f r om the height to

the fathoms beneath me
And the long long sleep of the dead who
,

have v entu r ed before .

Down th r ough the silent and shimme r ing

deeps o f the ocean
In tha t g r eat stillness at l ast would I find
me my rest
While the sea maidens wove wonde r ing
circles a r ound me
And the black seaweed enmeshed its roots
in m y breast .

75
! D 4 47)
L UNA D I E S E T NO! E T NO CTI S,

S I GNA S E V E R A .

THE da r kboughs feathe r ed against the sky

The g r eat moon framing the distant
keep ,

The mu r mur of wings that hasten by ,

The r ipples that wake the tarn from

S leep ;

They hym n the thoughts of an ancient

c r eed ,

These soul deep wakings of the night

-
,

T ill spectres of fear a r ound me speed

And I fly from the powe r s of the dark in
f right .

But when the b r ightness of day r etu r ns

The spi r it moves f r om hea r t to brain ,

And man the ancest r al ter r or spu r ns

T ill night r eco ve r s her powe r again .

_ 76
 ELM L E AV E S .

THE young elm lea v es a r e like little green

wrens ,

L ittle g r een wrens j ust out of the nest .

’
They crowd to gethe r for company s sake ,

And r u ffle their wings in the sun and ,

quake
When the shadow goes stalking by .

But what they twitter of nobo dy kens ; .

What they chirp as they sit at rest

L ittle g r een w r ens j ust out of the nest
We gather not you a nd I
,
.

The Old elm leaves are harsh o l d leaves

With a sh r ill and a scolding tongue ,

A n d the things they say and the thoughts

they think
Were bette r to leave unsung .

They rattle their bones those shrivelled

,

crones ,

T ill the west wind comes to end thei r mean s ,

A nd hu rr y them helpless ove r the stones ,

Where walking is g ood when the W ind is

high,

And a ve r y good thing when leaves are d r y

Oh—a ve r y good thing say I
,

77
 ’
VAG R ANT S S ONG .

H A I L ! Brothe r Wind and Sister Sea .

Hail ! all my com r ades of a thousand

l1 ills
.

I am of your communion ente r ed f r ee

And pa r tne r of y our wills .

So r ound the wo r ld and round the wo r ld

and r ound the wo r ld I r oam ,

And none of the wo r ld has a home fo r me ,

for all of the wo r ld is home

And ne v er a f r iend and never a mate and
ne v er a child have I ,

But kith and kin from the wild I w i n and ,

com r ades f r om the sk y .

The hoa r se mouthed r oaring of the flood

-
,

And f ar complaining of the a v alanche ,

The t r oubled murmu r of the wood ,

And g r oaning of the b r anch ;

These a r e the tongu es that speak to me the ,

voices that bid me come ,

L ea v ing the a r rogant noise of men and the

’
petulant city s hum ;
L eaving the wisdom of wri tten wo r ds to ,

walk with the ancient powe r s ,

To learn the lo r e of the gods of yo r e in the ,

slow and p r egnant hours .

78
MA E V E '
MY L ADY OF D R E AMS .

T H O U a r t she who has pas sed

In the d r eams of the night ,

Sca r ce beheld e r e the blas t

Has to r n thee f r om sight ,

And has left me despai r ing en thralled

, ,

pu r suing th y shadowy flight .

Thou a r t she whom I chased

In the glimmer of sleep
Through the forest the waste
, ,

Th r ough the air and the deep ,

Th r ough the ultimate regions of space by ,

the paths which the meteors keep .

Betwixt sleeping and waking

Thy presence is nigh ;
When the sunrise is flaking
The plains of the sky
—
Thou are he r e thou art gone yet the
,

s hadows sti l l hold the soft breath of thy

sigh .

E r e the world was create

Thou we r t destined for me ,

Thou wert fo r med as my mate

When the cove r ing sea
Was swept back from the earth and the ,

sp i r its of love and of life we r e set free

79
 M AE V E I MY L AD Y O F DR E A MS

When the dawn wind was sweep ing

Wide ove r the earth
All the wild folk came c r eep ing
To wa tch o e r thy bi r th
’

The gnome and the nymph and the mermaid

f r om mountain and fo r est and firth
. .

All the laughter of mo r n ,

And the sadness of e v e ,

Within thee we r e born

As the mists interwea v e
And a r e lost in the light as the co r n and
,

the flowe r s are bo und up in the shea v e .

In thy voice there sounds low

The soft song of the r ills ,

And en th r oned on thy b r ow

Shines the calm of the hills ,

And thy p r esence is sweet wi th the dew ,

that the da r kness of midnight distils .

When my sp i r it w as slain
A nd my comrade despair ,

When my living was pain ,

All at once thou we r t the r e ,

And the so rr ows had fled at the touch

thy bosom the scent of thy hai r
,
.

80
 M A EV E MY L AD Y O F D R E A M
: S

The r e a r e moments apa r t

When a happiness seems
TO steal ove r my heart ,

And an instant the r e gleams

—
A new l ight in the sun then I know thou
art nigh O my love of the d r eams
, .

Thou a r t mine thou art mine

,

Mine and only for me

,

I am thine I am thine !
,

A S the wea r iest bee

Flies s tr aight to the flower that it loves , so

come I unto thee .

81
 D E S ID E R I UM .

IF I could go as the wind goes treading the,

t r ee tops,

T r ailing the clouds in my hair and with ,

indo len t finger whi r ling

Into a p illa r of smoke the dull white dust
of the read ;
I f I we r e one with the wind with his might
,

endowed and his swi ftness ,

’
Master of unthought lands and of heaven s
'

wide cou r ts enf r anchised

—
E ven to the feet of Go d O soon should I
weary of wandering
Weary of st r ength and swi ftness in hunger
fo r you the mo r tal .

Then should we go togethe r to quiet

familiar places ,

Dabble ou r mo r ning feet in the dew g r een -

pastures of Meath ,

Savou r the gorse of Connaught see Mu c ki sh ,

and E rri gal sta r kly

R aising ete r nal shoulders beneath a hasten s

ing sky
.
 TO E U TYCHE .

I H A D forgotten L ove Amid the throng

.

Of mo r e insistent uses He was lost

And I was well contented o r at most
,

Su ffe r ed a lit tle sadness when His song

Fell soft f r om o ther lips o r when I caught
,

His image in the ey es O f those He taught .

I had forgotten Love ; except to v aunt

T hat I had snapped His chains ; until you
came ;
And I awoke and vainly c r ied His name
, ,

And so u ght Him everywhe r e but found His

,

haunt
Unknown ; fo r lorn I turned ; and close be
,

side
L ost Lo ve stoo d shyl y waiting as m y guide
,
.

83
 TO E UTYCH E .

T HAT mo r ning when you leaned ac r oss the

wall ,

G r im g r e y old wall bea r witness to our

trys t
The very su n had left the heavens and
kissed
You r face such shining r adiance c r owned
,

you all ;
And in the careless ci r cles of your hai r
He hung the humblest gem fo r you to wear
,
.

You r eyes we r e mine Gazing I seemed to

.

hea r
The slow sweet m usic of a distant bell
Tel l i n g within them bid d ing me d r aw
,

nea r
TO sanctua r y They could not say fa r ewell
. .

Yet had your lips commanded me to pa r t ,

—
No wo r d I answe r ed Dea r est I had no,

hea r t .
 TO E UTYCHE .

F OU R wea r y moons have wane d since last

we met ,

And now all clouds are banished fro m the

day ;
And I may follow humbly in the w ay
, ,

Whe r e like the ec ho of a minuet

, ,

You r shy S lim figure dances and the old

Ill humou r ed world stops sp inning to be
-

hel d .

But how may I compact o f tr od d en clay

, ,

App r oach you r singing sp irit ? How

asp i r e
TO pu r ge my grossness in your splendid
fire ?
How bid you steep ? How u r ge myself to
say ?

I who have naught to ofi er da r e to p r o v e

, ,
”
The eve r lasting b r ightness O f your lo v e ?

85
 TO E U TYCHE .

A LL secrets of deep waters ; all delights

Of summe r evenings and of morning May ;
All innoc ence of l aughter ; and the gay
E mb roi dery o f blossom ; and the night s
’

Peace ; and the cool caressings of the b r eeze ;

’
And music s image r y You are these . .

’
Yet more than these Never has poet s lyre
.

E n tu n ed that wild ra r e quintessential

, ,

rac e,
g
Twas such from his Olymp ian dwelling
’

place ,

Drew down great ! ove with mortal love ,

afi re,
L eaving deep —
bosomed ! uno to r epine
While Venus laughed amid the laughing
wine .

86
 TO E UTYCHE .

A L WA YS I c r aved to see you in the sun

That made you r gold mo r e golden I t befell .
,

One day you stood upon a little swell

Of seaside turf ; a strand of hai r undone , ,

Swayed in the wind and in the wind s bo l d

,
’

face
You laughed I saw the sullen shadow race
.

Wind sped to punish you for your disdain

-
,
.

And all at once there came the da r kening

thought
That o e r our l ove some shadow so r row
’

fraught
Might haste Dear child I could not b ea r
.
,

the pain
Of e v en the thought But 10 l the repentant
.

blast
Unveiled the sun and swept the shadow
,

p ast .

87
 TO E UTYCH E f

IFI we r e given a wish it should be this

,

For one full hou r in sunlit wo r ds to sing

A strain that should f ro m loftiest heaven
bring
The angels t r anced in mo r e than heavenly
,

bliss ,

And shrine th r oughout the never dying days

-

Immortal beau ty in immo r tal p r aise .

SO should the wo r ld adore you ; and the

saint
Turn f r om his p a llid deities to bo w
His lowlie r knees before you r steadfast
brow ;
And in your wo r ship should all c r eeds grow
faint ,

All doubts be silenced and accomplished

,

trut h
Shine like a sta r upon the head of youth .

88
 TO E UTYCHE .

LE T this be said . Although our paths must

wind
Henceforth fo r eve r sundered yet a space ,

I was pa r ticipato r of yo u r g r ace ;

A smile a loo k a gentle speech a kind
, , ,

Hea r t quickening hand touch

-
A re these .

things so small
That I c an now fo r get them who let fall ,

N O slightest syllable that stir r ed the bloom

Of thos e belo v ed lips Nay these shall
.
,

b eam
Candles unquenchable whose holy gleam
,

Shall light this life and at the last illume

,

E v en the sunless mansions of the dead ,

And make them beautiful L et this b e said. .

89
 I
UN V ERS ITY CALIFORN IA LO S AN GELES
OF ,

THE UN IVER SITY LI B RA R Y

Af ee o f 3 c per d ay is c h arg ed fo r thi s b oo k w h i c h w as w i th d raw n on

th e l ast d ate stam ped b elo w .

2 m -8