第11章

Odropmelikeacursedthing。

See’stthouthecrowdedswardsofgold？

TheywavetousRoseandRing。

death-whitemouth!Ocastmedown!

Thoudiest？ThenwiththeeIdie-

See’stthoutheangelswiththeirCrown？

Wetwainhavereachedthesky。

WhentheHeadofBranWasfirmonBritishshoulders，Godmadeaman!

Criedallbeholders。

SteelcouldnotresistTheweighthisarmwouldrattle；

He，withnakedfist，Hasbrain’daknightinbattle。

Hemarchedonthefoe，Andnevercountednumbers；

ForeignwidowsknowThehostshesenttoslumbers。

Asastreetyouscan，That’stoweredbythesteeple，SotheHeadofBranRoseo’erhispeople。

’Death’smyneighbour，’

QuothBrantheBlest；

’ChristianlabourBringsChristianrest。

FromthetrunkseverTheHeadofBran，ThatwhichneverHasbenttoman!

’ThatwhichneverTomenhasbowedShallleeverToshametheshroud：

ShallleeverTofacethefoe；

Severit，sever，Andwithoneblow。

’Beitwritten，ThatallIwroughtWasforBritain，Indeedandthought：

Beitwritten，ThatwhileIdie，GlorytoBritain!

Ismylastcry。

’GlorytoBritain!

Deathechoesmeround。

GlorytoBritain!

Theworldshallresound。

GlorytoBritain!

Inruinandfall，GlorytoBritain!

Isheardoverall。’

Burn，Sun，downthesea!

Branlieslowwiththee。

Burst，Morn，fromthemain!

Bransoshallriseagain。

Blow，Wind，fromthefield!

Bran’sHeadistheBriton’sshield。

Beam，Star，intheWest!

BrightburnstheHeadofBrantheBlest。

Crimson-footed，likethestork，Fromgreatrutsofslaughter，WarriorsoftheGoldenTorqueCrosstheliftingwater。

Princesseven，enchaininghands，Beartheleheadhomeward。

Lo!itspeaks，andstillcommands：

Gazingoutfarfoamward。

FierywordsoflightningsenseDownthehollowsthunder；

ForesthostelsknownotwhenceComesthespeech，andwonder。

City-Castles，onthesteep，WherethefaithfulSevenHouseatmidnight，hear，insleep，Laughterunderheaven。

Lilies，swimmingonthemere，Inthecastleshadow，Underdrawtheirheads，andFearWalksthemistymeadow。

Tremblenot!itisnotDeathPledgingdarkespousal：

’TistheHeadofendlessbreath，Challengingcarousal!

Brimthehorn!ahealthisdrunk，Now，thatshallkeepgoing：

Lifeisbutthepebblesunk；

Deeds，thecirclegrowing!

Fill，andpledgetheHeadofBran!

Whilehisleadtheyfollow，LongshallheadsinBritainplanSpeechDeathcannotswallow!

Theoldcoach-roadthroughacommonoffurze，Withknollsofpine，ranwhite；

Berriesofautumn，withthistles，andburrs，Andspider-threads，droop’dinthelight。

Thelightinathinblueveilpeeredsick；

Thesheepgrazedcloseandstill；

ThesmokeofafarmbyayellowrickCurledlazilyunderahill。

Noflyshooktheroundofthesilvernet；

Noinsecttheswiftbirdchased；

OnlytwotravellersmovedandmetAcrossthathazywaste。

Onewasagirlwithababethatthrove，Herruinandherbliss；

Onewasayouthwithalawlesslove，Whoclaspeditthemoreforthis。

Thegirlforherbabehummedprayerfulspeech；

Theyouthforhislovedidpray；

Eachcastawistfullookoneach，Andeitherwenttheirway。

Now，this，tomynotion，ispleasantcheer，Tolieallaloneonaraggedheath，Whereyournoseisn’tsniffingforbonesorbeer，Butapeat-firesmellslikeagardenbeneath。

Thecottagersbustleaboutthedoor，Andthegirlatthewindowtiesherstrings。

She’sadishforamanwho’samindtobepoor；

Lord!womenaresuchexpensethings。

Wedon’tmarrybeggars，saysshe：why，no：

Itseemsthattomake’emiswhatyoudo；

AndasIcancook，andscour，andsew，Ineedn’tpayhalfmyctualsforyou。

Amanforhimselfshouldbeabletoscratch，Buttickling’saluxury：-love，indeed!

Loveburnsaslongasthelucifermatch，Wedlock’sthecandle!Now，that’smycreed。

Thechurch-bellssoundwater-likeoverthewheat；

Andupthelongpathtrooppairafterpair。

Theman’swell-brushed，andthewomanlooksneat：

It’smanandwomaneverywhere!

Unless，likeme，youliehereflat，Withadonkeyforfriend，youmusthaveawife：

Shepullsoutyourhair，butshebrushesyourhat。

Appearancesmakethebesthalfoflife。

Younicelittlemadam!youknowyou’renice。

IrememberhearingaparsonsayYou’reaplatefulofvanitypepper’dwithce；

Youchapatthegatethinkst’otherway。

Onhiswaistcoatyoureadbothhisheadandhisheart：

There’sawholeweek’swagestherefiguredingold!

Yes!whenyouturnroundyoumaywellgeastart：

It’sfuntoafellowwho’sgettingold。

Now，that’sagoodcraft，weangwaistcoatsandflowers，Andsellingofribbons，andscentingoflard：

Itgesyouahousetogetinfromtheshowers，Andfoodwhenyourappetitejockeysyouhard。

Youlearespectableman；butIaskIfit’sworththetrouble？Youuseyourtools，Andspendyourtime，andwhat’syourtask？

Why，tomakeaslideforacoupleoffools。

Youcan’tmatchthecolouro’theseheathmounds，Norbetterthatpeat-fire’sagreeablesmell。

I’mclothed-likewithnaturalsightsandsounds；

TomyselfI’mintune：Ihopeyou’reaswell。

Youjollyoldcot!thoughyoudon’towncoal：

It’sagenerouspotthat’sboiledwithpeat。

LettheLordMayoro’Londonroastoxenwhole：

Hissmoke，atleast，don’tsmellsosweet。

I’mnotalowRadical，hatingthelaws，Who’dthearistocracyrebuke。

Italko’theLordMayoro’LondonbecauseIoncewasonintimatetermswithhiscook。

Iservedhimaturn，andgotpensionedonscraps，And，Lord，Sir!didn’tIenvyhisplace，TillDeathknock’dhimdownwiththesoftestoftaps，AndIknewwhatwasmeantbyatallowyface!

Onthecontrary，I’mConservatequite；

There’sbeggarsinScripture’mongstGentilesandJews：

It’snonsense，tryingtosetthingsright，Forifpeoplewillge，why，who’llrefuse？

Thatstoppingoldcustomwakesmyspleen：

Thepoorandtherichbothingingagree：

Yourtight-fistedshopman’stheRadicalmean：

There’snothingincommon’twthimandme。

HesaysI’mnouse!butIwon’treply。

You’reluckynotbeingofusetohim!

Onweek-dayshe’splayingatSpiderandFly，AndonSundayshesingsaboutCherubim!

Nailingshillingstocountersishischiefwork：

Henodsnowandthenatthenameonhisdoor：

Butjudgeofustwo，atabowandasmirk，IthinkI’mhismatch：andI’mhonest——that’smore。

Nouse!well，Imayn’tbe。Youringapig’ssnout，Andthencalltheanimalglutton!Now，he，Mr。Shopman，he’snoughtbutapipeandaspoutWhowon’tletthegoodso’thisworldpassfree。

Thisblazingblueweatherallroundthebrowncrop，Hecan’tenjoy!allbutcashhehates。

He’sonlyasnailthatcrawlsunderhisshop；

Thoughhehasgottheearo’themagistrates。

Now，gingandtaking’saproperexchange，Likequestionandanswer：you’rebothcontent。

Butbuyingandsellingseemsalwaysstrange；

You’rehostile，andthat’sthethingthat’smeant。

It’smanagainstman——you’realmostbrutes；

There’sherenothanks，andthere’stherenopride。

IfCharity’sChristian，don’tblamemypursuits，Icarryatouchstonebywhichyou’retried-

’Takeit，’saysshe，’it’sallI’vegot’：

IrememberagirlinLondonstreets：

Shestoodbyacoffee-stall，niceandhot，Mybellywaslikealambthatbleats。

SaysItomyself，ashershillingIseized，Youhaven’tacharacterhere，mydear!

Butformakingarascallikemesopleased，I’llgeyouone，inabettersphere!

Andthat’swhereitis——shemademefeelIwasarascal：butpeoplewhoscorn，Andtellapoorpatch-breechheisn’tgenteel，Why，theymakehimkickup——andhetreadsonacorn。

Itisn’tliking，it’scurstill-luck，Dreshalfofusintothebegging-trade：

Iffortakingtowateryoupraiseaduck，Fortakingtobeerwhyamanupbraid？

Thesermon’sover：they’reoutoftheporch，Andit’stimeformetomovealeg；

Butingeneralpeoplewhocomefromchurch，Andhavecalledthemselvessinners，hatechapstobeg。

I’llwagerthey’llallof’emdineto-day!

Iwaseasyhalfaminuteago。

Ifthatisn’tpigthat’sbakingaway，MayIperish!——we’renevercontented——heigho!

BYTHEROSANNA——TOF。M。STANZERTHAL，TYROL

TheoldgreyAlphascaughtthecloud，Andthetorrentrersingsaloud；

Theglacier-greenRosannasingsAnorgansongofitsuppersprings。

Foamingunderthetiersofpine，Iseeitdashdownthedarkrane，Andittumblestherocksinboisterousplay，Withanearnestwilltofinditsway。

Sharpitthrowsoutanemeraldshoulder，And，thunderingeverofthemountain，Slapsinsportsomegiantboulder，Andtopsitinasilverfountain。

Achainoffoamfromendtoend，Andasolitudesodeep，myfriend，YoumayforgetthatmanabidesBeyondthegreatmutemountain-sides。

Yettome，inthishigh-walledsolitudeOfrerandrockandforestrude，TheroaringvoicethroughthelongwhitechainIsthevoiceoftheworldofbubbleandbrain。

WithinaTempleoftheToes，WheretwirledthepassionateWili，Isawfullmanyamarketrose，Andsighedformyllagelily。

WithcynicalAdrianthenItookflightTothatolddeadcitywhosecarolBurstsoutlikeareveller’sloudinthenight，Ashesitsastridehisbarrel。

WetwowereboundtheAlpstoscale，Uptherock-reflectingrer；

Oldtimesblewthro’melikeagale，Andkeptmythoughtsinaquer。

Hawkingruin，wood-slope，andneReeledsilver-lacedundermysion，Andintomepassed，withthegreen-eyedwineKnockinghardatmyheadforadmission。