Chapter V

"O Pearl," I said, "in pearls bedight, Art thou my pearl for which I mourn, Lamenting all alone at night? With hidden grief my heart is worn. Since thou through grass didst slip from sight, Pensive and pained, I pass forlorn, And thou livest in a life of light, A world where enters sin nor scorn. What fate has hither my jewel borne, And left me in earth's strife and stir? Oh, sweet, since we in twain were torn, I have been a joyless jeweler."

That Jewel then with gems besprent Glanced up at me with eyes of grey, Put on her pearl crown orient, And soberly began to say: "You tell your tale with wrong intent, Thinking your pearl gone quite away. Like a jewel within a coffer pent, In this gracious garden bright and gay, Your pearl may ever dwell at play, Where sin nor mourning come to her; It were a joy to thee alway Wert thou a gentle jeweler.

"But, Jeweler, if thou dost lose Thy joy for a gem once dear to thee, Methinks thou dost thy mind abuse, Bewildered by a fantasy; Thou hast lost nothing save a rose That flowered and failed by life's decree: Because the coffer did round it close, A precious pearl it came to be. A thief thou hast dubbed thy destiny That something for nothing gives thee, sir; Thou blamest thy sorrow's remedy, Thou art no grateful jeweler."

Like jewels did her story fall, A jewel, every gentle clause; "Truly," I said, "thou best of all! My great distress thy voice withdraws. I thought my pearl lost past recall, My jewel shut within earth's jaws; But now I shall keep festival, And dwell with it in bright wood-shaws; And love my Lord and all His laws, Who hath brought this bliss. Ah! if I were Beyond these waves, I should have cause To be a joyful jeweler."

"Jeweler," said that Gem so dear, "Why jest ye men, so mad ye be? Three sayings thou hast spoken clear, And unconsidered were all three; Their meaning thou canst not come near, Thy word before thy thought doth flee. First, thou believest me truly here, Because with eyes thou mayst me see; Second, with me in this country Thou wilt dwell, whatever may deter; Third, that to cross here thou art free: That may no joyful jeweler."