Chapter II: Front Matter (2)

Is rest where cloudlets slowly creep, And sobbing winds forget to grieve, And quiet waters gently heave, As if they rocked the ship to sleep? Ah no! that southern vapour white Will bring a tempest ere the night, And thunder through the quiet Heaven, Lashing the sea in its angry might.

The battle-field lies still and cold, While stars that watch in silent light Gleam here and there on weapons bright, In weary sleepers' slackened hold; Nay, though they dream of no alarm, One bugle sound will stir that calm, And all the strength of two great nations, Eager for battle, will rise and arm.

Pause where the Pilgrim's day is done, Where scrip and staff aside are laid, And, resting in the silent shade, They watch the slowly sinking sun. Ah no! that worn and weary band Must journey long before they stand, With bleeding feet, and hearts rejoicing, Kissing the dust of the Holy Land.

Then find a soul who meets at last A noble prize but hard to gain, Or joy long pleaded for in vain, Now sweeter for a bitter past. Ah no! for Time can rob her yet, And even should cruel Time forget, Then Death will come, and, unrelenting, Brand her with sorrowful long regret.

Seek farther, farther yet, oh Dove! Beyond the Land, beyond the Sea, There shall be rest for thee and me, For thee and me and those I love. I heard a promise gently fall, I heard a far-off Shepherd call The weary and the broken-hearted, Promising rest unto each and all.

It is not marred by outward strife, It is not lost in calm repose, It heedeth neither joys nor woes, Is not disturbed by death or life; Through, and beyond them, lies our Rest: Then cease, oh Heart, thy longing quest! And thou, my Dove, with silver pinions Flutter again to thy quiet nest!

VERSE: THE TYRANT AND THE CAPTIVE

It was midnight when I listened, And I heard two Voices speak; One was harsh, and stern, and cruel, And the other soft and weak: Yet I saw no Vision enter, And I heard no steps depart, Of this Tyrant and his Captive, . . . Fate it might be and a Heart.

Thus the stern Voice spake in triumph:- "I have shut your life away From the radiant world of nature, And the perfumed light of day. You, who loved to steep your spirit In the charm of Earth's delight, See no glory of the daytime, And no sweetness of the night."

But the soft Voice answered calmly: "Nay, for when the March winds bring Just a whisper to my window, I can dream the rest of Spring; And to-day I saw a Swallow Flitting past my prison bars, And my cell has just one corner Whence at night I see the stars."

But its bitter taunt repeating, Cried the harsh Voice:--"Where are they-- All the friends of former hours, Who forget your name to-day? All the links of love are shattered, Which you thought so strong before; And your very heart is lonely, And alone since loved no more."

But the low Voice spoke still lower:-- "Nay, I know the golden chain Of my love is purer, stronger, For the cruel fire of pain: They remember me no longer, But I, grieving here alone, Bind their souls to me for ever By the love within their own."

But the Voice cried:- "Once remember You devoted soul and mind To the welfare of your brethren, And the service of your kind. Now, what sorrow can you comfort? You, who lie in helpless pain, With an impotent compassion Fretting out your life in vain."

"Nay;" and then the gentle answer Rose more loud, and full, and clear: "For the sake of all my brethren I thank God that I am here! Poor had been my Life's best efforts, Now I waste no thought or breath-- For the prayer of those who suffer Has the strength of Love and Death."

VERSE: THE CARVER'S LESSON

Trust me, no mere skill of subtle tracery, No mere practice of a dexterous hand, Will suffice, without a hidden spirit, That we may, or may not, understand.

And those quaint old fragments that are left us Have their power in this,--the Carver brought Earnest care, and reverent patience, only Worthily to clothe some noble thought.

Shut then in the petals of the flowers, Round the stems of all the lilies twine, Hide beneath each bird's or angel's pinion, Some wise meaning or some thought divine.

Place in stony hands that pray for ever Tender words of peace, and strive to wind Round the leafy scrolls and fretted niches Some true, loving message to your kind.

Some will praise, some blame, and, soon forgetting, Come and go, nor even pause to gaze; Only now and then a passing stranger Just may loiter with a word of praise.

But I think, when years have floated onward, And the stone is grey, and dim, and old, And the hand forgotten that has carved it, And the heart that dreamt it still and cold;

There may come some weary soul, o'erladen With perplexed struggle in his brain, Or, it may be, fretted with life's turmoil, Or made sore with some perpetual pain.

Then, I think those stony hands will open, And the gentle lilies overflow, With the blessing and the loving token That you hid there many years ago.

And the tendrils will unroll, and teach him How to solve the problem of his pain; And the birds' and angels' wings shake downward On his heart a sweet and tender rain.

While he marvels at his fancy, reading Meaning in that quaint and ancient scroll, Little guessing that the loving Carver Left a message for his weary soul.

VERSE: THREE ROSES

Just when the red June Roses blow She gave me one,--a year ago. A Rose whose crimson breath revealed The secret that its heart concealed, And whose half shy, half tender grace Blushed back upon the giver's face. A year ago--a year ago-- To hope was not to know.

Just when the red June Roses blow I plucked her one,--a month ago: Its half-blown crimson to eclipse, I laid it on her smiling lips; The balmy fragrance of the south Drew sweetness from her sweeter mouth. Swiftly do golden hours creep,-- To hold is not to keep.

The red June Roses now are past, This very day I broke the last-- And now its perfumed breath is hid, With her, beneath a coffin-lid; There will its petals fall apart, And wither on her icy heart:- At three red Roses' cost My world was gained and lost.

VERSE: MY PICTURE GALLERY

I.

You write and think of me, my friend, with pity; While you are basking in the light of Rome, Shut up within the heart of this great city, Too busy and too poor to leave my home.

II.

You think my life debarred all rest or pleasure, Chained all day to my ledger and my pen; Too sickly even to use my little leisure To bear me from the strife and din of men.

III.

Well, it is true; yet, now the days are longer, At sunset I can lay my writing down, And slowly crawl (summer has made me stronger) Just to the nearest outskirt of the town.

IV.

There a wide Common, blackened though and dreary With factory smoke, spreads outward to the West; I lie down on the parched-up grass, if weary, Or lean against a broken wall to rest.

V.

So might a King, turning to Art's rich treasure, At evening, when the cares of state were done, Enter his royal gallery, drinking pleasure Slowly from each great picture, one by one.

VI.

Towards the West I turn my weary spirit, And watch my pictures: one each night is mine. Earth and my soul, sick of day's toil, inherit A portion of that luminous peace divine.

VII.

There I have seen a sunset's crimson glory, Burn as if earth were one great Altar's blaze; Or, like the closing of a piteous story, Light up the misty world with dying rays.

VIII.

There I have seen the Clouds, in pomp and splendour, Their gold and purple banners all unfurl; There I have watched colours, more faint and tender Than pure and delicate tints upon a pearl.

IX.

Skies strewn with roses fading, fading slowly, While one star trembling watched the daylight die; Or deep in gloom a sunset, hidden wholly, Save through gold rents torn in a violet sky.

X.

Or parted clouds, as if asunder riven By some great angel--and beyond a space Of far-off tranquil light; the gates of Heaven Will lead us grandly to as calm a place.

XI.

Or stern dark walls of cloudy mountain ranges Hid all the wonders that we knew must be; While, far on high, some little white clouds changes' Revealed the glory they alone could see.

XII.

Or in wild wrath the affrighted clouds lay shattered, Like treasures of the lost Hesperides, All in a wealth of ruined splendour scattered, Save one strange light on distant silver seas.

XIII.

What land or time can claim the Master Painter, Whose art could teach him half such gorgeous dyes? Or skill so rare, but purer hues and fainter Melt every evening in my western skies.

XIV.

So there I wait, until the shade has lengthened, And night's blue misty curtain floated down; Then, with my heart calmed, and my spirit strengthened, I crawl once more back to the sultry town.

XV.

What Monarch, then, has nobler recreations Than mine? Or where the great and classic Land Whose wealth of Art delights the gathered nations That owns a Picture Gallery half as grand?

VERSE: SENT TO HEAVEN

I had a Message to send her, To her whom my soul loved best; But I had my task to finish. And she was gone home to rest.

To rest in the far bright heaven: Oh, so far away from here, It was vain to speak to my darling, For I knew she could not hear!

I had a message to send her. So tender, and true, and sweet, I longed for an Angel to bear it, And lay it down at her feet.

I placed it, one summer evening, On a Cloudlet's fleecy breast; But it faded in golden splendour, And died in the crimson west.

I gave it the Lark next morning, And I watched it soar and soar; But its pinions grew faint and weary, And it fluttered to earth once more.

To the heart of a Rose I told it; And the perfume, sweet and rare, Growing faint on the blue bright ether, Was lost in the balmy air.

I laid it upon a Censer, And I saw the incense rise; But its clouds of rolling silver Could not reach the far blue skies.

I cried, in my passionate longing:- "Has the earth no Angel-friend Who will carry my love the message That my heart desires to send?"

Then I heard a strain of music, So mighty, so pure, so clear, That my very sorrow was silent, And my heart stood still to hear.

And I felt, in my soul's deep yearning, At last the sure answer stir:- "The music will go up to Heaven, And carry my thought to her."

It rose in harmonious rushing Of mingled voices and strings. And I tenderly laid my message On the Music's outspread wings.

I heard it float farther and farther, In sound more perfect than speech; Farther than sight can follow. Farther than soul can reach.

And I know that at last my message Has passed through the golden gate: So my heart is no longer restless, And I am content to wait.

VERSE: NEVER AGAIN

"Never again!" vow hearts when reunited, "Never again shall Love be cast aside; For ever now the shadow has departed; Nor bitter sorrow, veiled in scornful pride, Shall feign indifference, or affect disdain,-- Never, oh Love, again, never again!"

"Never again!" so sobs, in broken accents, A soul laid prostrate at a holy shrine,-- "Once more, once more forgive, oh Lord, and pardon, My wayward life shall bend to love divine; And never more shall sin its whiteness stain,-- Never, oh God, again, never again!"

"Never again!" so speaketh one forsaken, In the blank desolate passion of despair,-- "Never again shall the bright dream I cherished Delude my heart, for bitter truth is there,-- The angel, Hope, shall still thy cruel pain Never again, my heart, never again!"

"Never again!" so speaks the sudden silence, When round the hearth gathers each well-known face,-- But one is missing, and no future presence, However dear, can fill that vacant place; For ever shall the burning thought remain,-- "Never, beloved, again! never again!"

"Never again!" so--but beyond our hearing-- Ring out far voices fading up the sky; Never again shall earthly care and sorrow Weigh down the wings that bear those souls on high; Listen, oh earth, and hear that glorious strain,-- "Never, never again! never again!"

VERSE: LISTENING ANGELS

Blue against the bluer Heavens Stood the mountain, calm and still, Two white Angels, bending earthward, Leant upon the hill.

Listening leant those silent Angels, And I also longed to hear What sweet strain of earthly music Thus could charm their ear.

I heard the sound of many trumpets In a warlike march draw nigh; Solemnly a mighty army Passed in order by.

But the clang had ceased; the echoes Soon had faded from the hill; While the Angels, calm and earnest, Leant and listened still.

Then I heard a fainter clamour, Forge and wheel were clashing near And the Reapers in the meadow Singing loud and clear.

When the sunset came in glory, And the toil of day was o'er, Still the Angels leant in silence, Listening as before.

Then, as daylight slowly vanished, And the evening mists grew dim, Solemnly from distant voices Rose a vesper hymn.

When the chant was done, and lingering Died upon the evening air, From the hill the radiant Angels Still were listening there.

Silent came the gathering darkness, Bringing with it sleep and rest; Save a little bird was singing Near her leafy nest.

Through the sounds of war and labour She had warbled all day long, While the Angels leant and listened Only to her song.

But the starry night was coming; When she ceased her little lay From the mountain top the Angels Slowly passed away.

VERSE: GOLDEN DAYS

Golden days--where are they? Pilgrims east and west Cry; if we could find them We would pause and rest: We would pause and rest a little From our long and weary ways:- Where are they, then, where are they-- Golden days?

Golden days--where are they? Ask of childhood's years, Still untouched by sorrow, Still undimmed by tears: Ah, they seek a phantom Future, Crowned with brighter, starry rays;-- Where are they, then, where are they-- Golden days?

Golden days--where are they? Has Love learnt the spell That will charm them hither, Near our hearth to dwell? Insecure are all her treasures, Restless is her anxious gaze:- Where are they, then, where are they-- Golden days?

Golden days--where are they? Farther up the hill I can hear the echo Faintly calling still: Faintly calling, faintly dying, In a far-off misty haze:- Where are they, then, where are they-- Golden days?

VERSE: PHILIP AND MILDRED

Lingering fade the rays of daylight, and the listening air is chilly; Voice of bird and forest murmur, insect hum and quivering spray Stir not in that quiet hour: through the valley, calm and stilly, All in hushed and loving silence watch the slow departing Day.

Till the last faint western cloudlet, faint and rosy, ceases blushing, And the blue grows deep and deeper where one trembling planet shines, And the day has gone for ever--then, like some great ocean rushing, The sad night wind wails lamenting, sobbing through the moaning pines.

Such, of all day's changing hours, is the fittest and the meetest For a farewell hour--and parting looks less bitter and more blest; Earth seems like a shrine for sorrow, Nature's mother voice is sweetest, And her hand seems laid in chiding on the unquiet throbbing breast.

Words are lower, for the twilight seems rebuking sad repining, And wild murmur and rebellion, as all childish and in vain; Breaking through dark future hours clustering starry hopes seem shining, Then the calm and tender midnight folds her shadow round the pain.

So they paced the shady lime-walk in that twilight dim and holy, Still the last farewell deferring, she could hear or he should say; Every word, weighed down by sorrow, fell more tenderly and slowly-- This, which now beheld their parting, should have been their wedding-day.

Should have been: her dreams of childhood, never straying, never faltering, Still had needed Philip's image to make future life complete; Philip's young hopes of ambition, ever changing, ever altering, Needed Mildred's gentle presence even to make successes sweet.

This day should have seen their marriage; the calm crowning and assurance Of two hearts, fulfilling rather, and not changing, either life: Now they must be rent asunder, and her heart must learn endurance, For he leaves their home, and enters on a world of work and strife.

But her gentle spirit long had learnt, unquestioning, submitting, To revere his youthful longings, and to marvel at the fate That gave such a humble office, all unworthy and unfitting, To the genius of the village, who was born for something great.

When the learned Traveller came there who had gained renown at college, Whose abstruse research had won him even European fame, Questioned Philip, praised his genius, marvelled at his self-taught knowledge, Could she murmur if he called him up to London and to fame?

Could she waver when he bade her take the burden of decision, Since his troth to her was plighted, and his life was now her own? Could she doom him to inaction? could she, when a newborn vision Rose in glory for his future, check it for her sake alone?

So her little trembling fingers, that had toiled with such fond pleasure, Paused, and laid aside, and folded the unfinished wedding gown; Faltering earnestly assurance, that she too could, in her measure, Prize for him the present honour, and the future's sure renown.

Now they pace the shady lime-walk, now the last words must be spoken, Words of trust, for neither dreaded more than waiting and delay; Was not love still called eternal--could a plighted vow be broken?-- See the crimson light of sunset fades in purple mist away.

"Yes, my Mildred," Philip told her, "one calm thought of joy and blessing, Like a guardian spirit by me, through the world's tumultuous stir, Still will spread its wings above me, and now urging, now repressing, With my Mildred's voice will murmur thoughts of home, and love, and her.

"It will charm my peaceful leisure, sanctify my daily toiling, With a right none else possesses, touching my heart's inmost string; And to keep its pure wings spotless I shall fly the world's touch, soiling Even in thought this Angel Guardian of my Mildred's Wedding Ring.

"Take it, dear; this little circlet is the first link, strong and holy, Of a life-long chain, and holds me from all other love apart; Till the day when you may wear it as my wife--my own--mine wholly-- Let me know it rests for ever near the beating of your heart."

Dawn of day saw Philip speeding on his road to the Great City, Thinking how the stars gazed downward just with Mildred's patient eyes; Dreams of work, and fame, and honour struggling with a tender pity, Till the loving Past receding saw the conquering Future rise.

Daybreak still found Mildred watching, with the wonder of first sorrow, How the outward world unaltered shone the same this very day; How unpitying and relentless busy life met this new morrow, Earth, and sky, and man unheeding that her joy had passed away.

Then the round of weary duties, cold and formal, came to meet her, With the life within departed that had given them each a soul; And her sick heart even slighted gentle words that came to greet her; For Grief spread its shadowy pinions, like a blight, upon the whole.

Jar one chord, the harp is silent; move one stone, the arch is shattered; One small clarion-cry of sorrow bids an armed host awake; One dark cloud can hide the sunlight; loose one string, the pearls are scattered; Think one thought, a soul may perish; say one word, a heart may break!

Life went on, the two lives running side by side; the outward seeming, And the truer and diviner hidden in the heart and brain; Dreams grow holy, put in action; work grows fair through starry dreaming; But where each flows on unmingling, both are fruitless and in vain.

Such was Mildred's life; her dreaming lay in some far-distant region, All the fairer, all the brighter, that its glories were but guessed; And the daily round of duties seemed an unreal, airy legion-- Nothing true save Philip's letters and the ring upon her breast.

Letters telling how he struggled, for some plan or vision aiming, And at last how he just grasped it as a fresh one spread its wings; How the honour or the learning, once the climax, now were claiming, Only more and more, becoming merely steps to higher things.

Telling her of foreign countries: little store had she of learning, So her earnest, simple spirit answered as he touched the string; Day by day, to these bright fancies all her silent thoughts were turning, Seeing every radiant picture framed within her golden Ring.

Oh, poor heart--love, if thou willest; but, thine own soul still possessing, Live thy life: not a reflection or a shadow of his own: Lean as fondly, as completely, as thou willest--but confessing That thy strength is God's, and therefore can, if need be, stand alone.

Little means were there around her to make farther, wider ranges, Where her loving gentle spirit could try any stronger flight; And she turned aside, half fearing that fresh thoughts were fickle changes-- That she must stay as he left her on that farewell summer night.

Love should still be guide and leader, like a herald should have risen, Lighting up the long dark vistas, conquering all opposing fates; But new claims, new thoughts, new duties found her heart a silent prison, And found Love, with folded pinions, like a jailer by the gates.

Yet why blame her? it had needed greater strength than she was given To have gone against the current that so calmly flowed along; Nothing fresh came near the village save the rain and dew of heaven, And her nature was too passive, and her love perhaps too strong.

The great world of thought, that rushes down the years, and onward sweeping Bears upon its mighty billows in its progress each and all, Flowed so far away, its murmur did not rouse them from their sleeping; Life and Time and Truth were speaking, but they did not hear their call.

Years flowed on; and every morning heard her prayer grow lower, deeper, As she called all blessings on him, and bade every ill depart, And each night when the cold moonlight shone upon that quiet sleeper, It would show her ring that glittered with each throbbing of her heart.

Years passed on. Fame came for Philip in a full, o'erflowing measure; He was spoken of and honoured through the breadth of many lands, And he wrote it all to Mildred, as if praise were only pleasure, As if fame were only honour, when he laid them in her hands.

Mildred heard it without wonder, as a sure result expected, For how could it fail, since merit and renown go side by side: And the neighbours who first fancied genius ought to be suspected, Might at last give up their caution, and could own him now with pride.

Years flowed on. These empty honours led to others they called better, He had saved some slender fortune, and might claim his bride at last: Mildred, grown so used to waiting, felt half startled by the letter That now made her future certain, and would consecrate her past.

And he came: grown sterner, older--changed indeed: a grave reliance Had replaced his eager manner, and the quick short speech of old: He had gone forth with a spirit half of hope and half defiance; He returned with proud assurance half disdainful and half cold.

Yet his old self seemed returning while he stood sometimes, and listened To her calm soft voice, relating all the thoughts of these long years; And if Mildred's heart was heavy, and at times her blue eyes glistened, Still in thought she would not whisper aught of sorrow or of fears.

Autumn with its golden corn-fields, autumn with its storms and showers, Had been there to greet his coming with its forests gold and brown; And the last leaves still were falling, fading still the year's last flowers, When he left the quiet village, and took back his bride to town.

Home--the home that she had pictured many a time in twilight, dwelling On that tender gentle fancy, folded round with loving care; Here was home--the end, the haven; and what spirit voice seemed telling, That she only held the casket, with the gem no longer there?

Sad it may be to be longing, with a patience faint and weary, For a hope deferred--and sadder still to see it fade and fall; Yet to grasp the thing we long for, and, with sorrow sick and dreary, Then to find how it can fail us, is the saddest pain of all.

What was wanting? He was gentle, kind, and generous still, deferring To her wishes always; nothing seemed to mar their tranquil life: There are skies so calm and leaden that we long for storm-winds stirring, There is peace so cold and bitter, that we almost welcome strife.

Darker grew the clouds above her, and the slow conviction clearer, That he gave her home and pity, but that heart, and soul, and mind Were beyond her now; he loved her, and in youth he had been near her, But he now had gone far onward, and had left her there behind.

Yes, beyond her: yes, quick-hearted, her Love helped her in revealing It was worthless, while so mighty; was too weak, although so strong; There were courts she could not enter; depths she could not sound; yet feeling It was vain to strive or struggle, vainer still to mourn or long.

He would give her words of kindness, he would talk of home, but seeming With an absent look, forgetting if he held or dropped her hand; And then turn with eager pleasure to his writing, reading, dreaming, Or to speak of things with others that she could not understand.

He had paid, and paid most nobly, all he owed; no need of blaming; It had cost him something, may be, that no future could restore: In her heart of hearts she knew it; Love and Sorrow, not complaining, Only suffered all the deeper, only loved him all the more.

Sometimes then a stronger anguish, and more cruel, weighed upon her, That through all those years of waiting, he had slowly learnt the truth; He had known himself mistaken, but that, bound to her in honour, He renounced his life, to pay her for the patience of her youth.

But a star was slowly rising from that mist of grief, and brighter Grew her eyes, for each slow hour surer comfort seemed to bring; And she watched with strange sad smiling, how her trembling hands grew slighter, And how thin her slender finger, and how large her wedding-ring.

And the tears dropped slowly on it, as she kissed that golden token With a deeper love, it may be, than was in the far-off past; And remembering Philip's fancy, that so long ago was spoken, Thought her Ring's bright angel guardian had stayed near her to the last.

Grieving sorely, grieving truly, with a tender care and sorrow, Philip watched the slow, sure fading of his gentle, patient wife; Could he guess with what a yearning she was longing for the morrow, Could he guess the bitter knowledge that had wearied her of life?

Now with violets strewn upon her, Mildred lies in peaceful sleeping; All unbound her long, bright tresses, and her throbbing heart at rest, And the cold, blue rays of moonlight, through the open casement creeping, Show the ring upon her finger, and her hands crossed on her breast.

Peace at last. Of peace eternal is her calm sweet smile a token. Has some angel lingering near her let a radiant promise fall? Has he told her Heaven unites again the links that Earth has broken? For on Earth so much is needed, but in Heaven Love is all!

VERSE: BORROWED THOUGHTS