第12章

Iheldthellagelilycheap，Andthedreamaroundheridle：

Lo，quietlyasIlaytosleep，Thebellsledmeofftoabridal。

MybrideworethehoodofaBeguine，Andminewasthefoottofalter；

Threecowledmonks，rat-eyed，wereseen；

TheCrosswasofboneso’erthealtar。

TheCrosswasofbones；thepriestthatread，Aspectaclednecromancer：

Butatthefourthword，thebrideIledChangedtoanOperadancer。

Ayoungballet-beauty，whoperkedinherplace，Adarlingofpinkandspangles；

Onefairfootlevelwithherface，Andtheheartsofmenatherankles。

Shewhirled，shetwirled，themock-priestgrinned，Andquicklyhismaskunriddled；

’TwasAdrian!loudhisoldlaughterdinned；

Thenheseizedafiddle，andfiddled。

Hefiddled，heglowedwiththebottomlessfire，LikeSathanasinfeature：

AllthroughmehefiddledawolfishdesireTodancewiththatbrightcreature。

AndgatheringcourageIsaidtomysoul，Throttlethethingthathinders!

Whenthethreecowledmonks，fromblackascoal，Waxedhotasfurnace-cinders。

Theycaughtherup，twirling：theyleaptbetween-whiles：

Thefiddlerflickeredwithlaughter：

Profanelytheyflewdowntheawfulaisles，WhereIwentslidingafter。

Downtheawfulaisles，bythefrettedwalls，BeneaththeGothicarches：-

KingSkullintheblackconfessionalsSatrub-a-dub-dubbinghismarches。

Thenthesilentcoldstonewarriorsfrowned，Thepicturedsaintsstrodeforward：

Awhirlwindsweptthemfromholyground；

Atempestpuffedthemnor’ward。

Theyshotthroughthegreatcathedraldoor；

Likemallardstheytraversedocean：

Andgazingbelow，onitsboilingfloor，Imarkedahorridcommotion。

Downaforest’slongalleystheyspunliketops：

Itseemedthatforagesandages，Thro’theBookofLifebereftofstops，Theywaltzedcontinuouspages。

Andagesafter，scarceawake，Andmybloodwiththefeverfretting，Istoodalonebyaforest-lake，Whoseshadowsthemoonwerenetting。

Lilies，goldenandwhite，bythecurlsOftheirbroadflatleaveshungswaying。

AwreathoflanguidtwininggirlsStreamedupward，longlocksdisarraying。

Theircheekshadthesatinfrost-glowofthemoon；

TheireyesthefireofSirius。

Theycircled，anddronedamonotonoustune，Abandonedtolovedelirious。

Likelengthsofconvolvulustornfromthehedge，Andtrailingthehighwayover，Thedreamy-eyedmistressescircledthesedge，Andcalledforalover，alover!

Isank，Irosethroughseasofeyes，Inodorousswathesdelicious：

Theyfannedmewithimpetuoussighs，Theyhitmewithkissescious。

Myearswerespelled，myneckwascoiled，AndIwiththeirfurywasglowing，WhenthemarblywatersbubbledandboiledAtawaterynoiseofcrowing。

Theydraggedmelowandlowtothelake：

Theirkissesmorestormilyshowered；

Ontheemeraldbrink，inthewhitemoon’swake，Anearthlydamselcowered。

Freshheart-sobsshookherknittedhandsBeneathatinysuckling，AsonebyoneofthedolefulbandsDedlikeafairyduckling。

Andnowmyturnhadcome——Ome!

Whatwisdomwasminethatsecond!

Idroppedontheadorer’sknee；

TothatsweetfigureIbeckoned。

Saveme!saveme!fornowIknowThepowersthatNaturegaveme，AndthevalueofhonestloveIknow：-

Myllagelily!saveme!

Come’twtmeandthesisterhood，Whilethepassion-bornphantomsarefleeing!

Oh，hethatistruetofleshandbloodIstruetohisownbeing!

AndhethatisfalsetofleshandbloodIsfalsetothestarwithinhim：

AndthemadandhungrysisterhoodAllunderthetidesshallwinhim!

Myllagelily!saveme!save!

Forstrengthiswiththeholy：-

AlreadyIshudderedtofeelthewave，AsIkeptsinkingslowly：-

Ifeltthecoldwaveandtheunder-tugOftheBrides，when——startingandshrinking-

Lo，Adriantiltsthewater-jug!

AndBrugeswithmornisblinking。

MerrilysparklessunnyprimeOngabledpeakandarbour：

Merrilyrattlesbelfry-chimeThesongofSella’sBarber。

Whate’erIbe，oldEnglandismydam!

Sothere’smyanswertothejudges，clear。

I’mnothingofafox，norofalamb；

Idon’tknowhowtobleatnorhowtoleer：

I’mforthenation!

That’swhyyouseemebythewaysidehere，Returninghomefromtransportation。

It’sSummerinherbaththismorn，Ithink。

I’mfreshasdew，andchirpyasthebirds：

AndjustforjoytoseeoldEnglandwinkThro’leavesagain，Icouldharanguetheherds：

Isn’titsomethingTospeakoutlikeamanwhenyou’vegotwords，Andproveyou’renotastupiddumbthing？

Theyshipp’dmeofforit；I’mhereagain。

OldEnglandismydam，whate’erIbe!

SaysI，I’lltrampithome，andseethegrain：

Ifyouseewell，you’rekingofwhatyousee：

Eyesightishang，Ifyou’renotgen，Isaid，togluttony。

Suchtalktoignorancesoundsasrang。

Youdearoldbrook，thatfromhisGrace’sparkComebounding!onyourunnearmyoldtown：

Mylordcan’tlockthewater；northelark，Unlesshekillshim，canmylordkeepdown。

Up，isthesong-note!

I’vetriedit，too：-forcomfortandrenown，Iratherpitch’duponthewrongnote。

I’mnotashamed：Notbeaten’sstillmyboast：

AgainI’llrousethepeopleuptostrike。

Buthome’swheredifferentpoliticsjarmost。

Respectabilitythewomenlike。

Thisform，orthatform，-

TheGovernmentmaybehungrypike，Butdon’tyoumountaChartistplatform!

Well，well!Notbeaten——spiteofthem，Ishout；

AndmyestateissufferingfortheCause-

No，——whatisyonbrownwater-ratabout，Whowasheshisoldpollwithbusypaws？

Whatdoeshemeanby’t？

It’slikedefyingallournaturallaws，Forhimtohopethathe’llgetcleanby’t。

Hisseatisonamud-bank，andhistradeIsdirt：-he’squitecontemptible；andyetThefellow’sallasanousasamaidToshowadecentdress，anddrythewet。

Nowit’shiswhisker，Andnowhisnose，andear：heseemstogetEachmomentatthemotionbrisker!

Toseehimsquatlikelittlechapsatschool，Icouldletflyalaughwithallmymight。

Hepeers，hangsbothhisfore-paws：-blessthatfool，He’sbobbingathisfrillnow!——whatasight!

Lickingthedishup，Asifhethoughttopassfromblacktowhite，Likeparsonintolawnybishop。

Theelmsandyellowreed-flagsinthesun，Lookonquitegrave：-thesunlightfleckshisside；

Andlinksofbindweed-flowersroundhimrun，Andshineupdoubledwithhiminthetide。

I’Mnearlysplitting，Butnatureseemslikesecondinghispride，Andthinksthathisbehaour’sfitting。

Thatisleo’mudlooksbakingdrywithgold。

Hisneedle-muzzlestillworksoutandin。

Itreallyisawondertobehold，Andmakesmefeelthebristlesofmychin。

Judgedbyappearance，IfancyofthetwoI’mnearerSin，Andmightaswellcommenceaclearance。

Andthat’swhatmyfinedaughtersaid：-shemeant：

Pray，holdyourtongue，andwearaSundayface。

Herhusband，theyounglinendraper，spentMuchargumentthereon：-I’mtheirdisgrace。

Botherthecouple!

IfeelsuperiortoachapwhoseplaceCommandshimtobeneatandsupple。

ButifIgoandsaytomyoldhen：

I’llmendthegentry’sboots，andkeepdiscreet，UntiltheygrowTOOolent，——why，then，AwarmerwelcomeImightchancetomeet：

Warmerandbetter。

Andifshefanciesheroldcockisbeat，Anddropsuponherknees——solether!

Shesufferedforme：-women，you’llobserve，Don’tsufferforaCause，butforaman。

WhenIwasinthedocksheshow’dhernerve：

Isawbeneathhershawlmyoldtea-canTrembling……shebroughtitToscrewmeformywork：sheloath’dmyplan，AndthereforedoublykindIthoughtit。

I’veneverlostthetasteofthatsametea：

Thatliquoronmylogicfloatslikeoil，WhenIstatefacts，andfellowsdisagree。

Forhumancreaturesallareinacoil；

Allmaywantpardon。

IseeadaywheneverypotwillboilHarmoniousinonegreatTea-garden!

WewaitthesettingoftheDandy’sday，Beforethattime!——He’sfurbishinghisdress，-

HeWILLbereadyforit!——andIsay，Thatyonolddandyratamidthecress，-

Thankstohardlabour!-

Ifcleanlinessisnexttogodliness，Theoldfatfellow’sheaven’sneighbour!

Youteachmeafinelesson，myoldboy!

I’velookedonmysuperiorsfartoolong，Andsmallhasbeenmyprofitasmyjoy。

You’vedonetherightwhileI’vedenouncedthewrong。

Prospermelater!

LikeyouIwilldespisethesniggeringthrong，AndpleasemyselfandmyCreator。

I’llbringthelinendraperandhiswifeSomedaytoseeyou；takingoffmyhat。

Shouldtheyaskwhy，I’llanswer：inmylifeIneverfoundsotrueademocrat。

BaseoccupationCan’trobyouofyourownesteem，oldrat!

I’llpreachyoutotheBritishnation。

Shouldthylovedie；

Oburyitnotunderice-blueeyes!

Andlipsthatdeny，Withascornfulsurprise，Thelifeitonceledinthybreastwhenitworenodisguise。

Shouldthylovedie；

Oburyitwherethesweetwild-flowersblow!

Andbreezesgoby，Withnowhisperofwoe；

Andstrangefeetcannotguessoftheanguishthatslumbersbelow。

Shouldthylovedie；

Owanderoncemoretothehauntofthebee!

WherethefoliagedskyIsmostsacredtosee，Andthybeingfirstfeltitswildbirthlikeawind-wakenedtree。

Shouldthylovedie；

Odissembleit!smile!lettherosehidethethorn!

Whilethelarksingsonhigh，Andnothinglooksforlorn，Buryit，buryit，buryitwhereitwasborn。

TOALEX。SMITH，THE’GLASGOWPOET，’ONHISSONNETTO’FAME’

NotvainlydoththeearnestvoiceofmanCallforthethingthatishispuredesire!

Fameisthebirthrightofthelinglyre!

TonobleimpulseNatureputsnoban。

NorvainlytotheSphinxthyvoicewasraised!

Tho’allthygreatemotionslikeasea，Againstherstonyimmortality，Shatterthemselvesunheededandamazed。

Timemovesbehindherinablindeclipse：

YetifinhercoldeyestheendofallBesible，asonherlargeclosedlipsHangsdumbtheawfulriddleoftheearth；-

Shesees，andshemightspeak，sincethatwildcall，ThemightywarningofaPoet’sbirth。