第14章

Isthatit？’heasked；andthesilencetheelderspreservedplainlysaid，OnMary’sheangbosomthisbegging-petitionwasread。

AndthatitwasscarcelyabargainthatshewhohaddrenhimwildShouldsharenowthefruitsofhisvalour，thewomenexpressed，astheysmiled。

ThefamilyprideoftheBridgemanswascomforted；still，withcontempt，Theylookedonamonieddamselofmodestyquitesoexempt。

’Ogemeforcetotellthem!’criedMary，andevenasshespoke，Ashoutandahushofthechildren：asiononallofthembroke。

Wheeled，pale，inachair，andshattered，thewreckoftheirherowasseen；

TheghostofTomdrawnslowo’ertheorchard’sshadowygreen。

Couldthisbethemartialdarlingtheyjoyedinamomentago？

’Heknowsit？’toMaryTommurmured，andclosedhisweaklidsather’No。’

’Beloved!’shesaid，fallingbyhim，’Ihavebeenacoward：I

thoughtYoulayintheforeigncountry，andsomestrangegoodmightbewrought。

’EachdayIhavecometotellhim，andfailed，withmyhandonthegate。

Iborethedreadfulknowledge，andcrushedmyheartwithitsweight。

Theletterbroughtbyyourcomrade——hehasbutjustreaditaloud!

Itonlyreachedhimthismorning!’Herheadonhisshouldershebowed。

ThenTomwithpity’stenderestlordlinesspattedherarm，Andeyedtheoldwhite-headfondly，withsomethingofdoubtandalarm。

O，taketoyourfancyasculptorwhosefreshmarbleoffspringappearsBeforehim，shininglyperfect，thelaurel-crown’dissueofyears：

Isheavenoffended？forlightningbeholdfromitsbosomescape，Andthosearemockingfragmentsthatmadetheharmoniousshape!

Hecannotlovetheruins，till，feelingthatruinsaloneAreleft，helovesthemthreefold。Sopassedtheoldgrandfather’smoan。

John’stextforasermononSlaughterheheard，andhedidnotprotest。

AllrigidasAprilsnowdrifts，hestood，hardandfeeble；hischestJustshowingtheswellofthefireasitmeltedhim。Smitingarib，’Heigh!whathavewebeenabout，Tom!Wasthisallaterriblefib？’

Hecried，andtheletterforth-trembled。Tomtoldwhatthecannonhaddone。

Fewpresentbutachedtoseefallingthoseagedtearsonhisheart’sson!

Uplanesofthequietllage，andwherethemill-watersrushredThro’browningsummermeadowstocatchthesun’scrimsoninghead，YoumeetanoldmanandamaidenwhohasthesoftwaysofawifeWithonewhomtheywheel，alternate；whosedelicateflushofnewlifeIsprizedliketheearlyprimrose。Thenshakehisrighthand，inthechair-

Theoldmanfailsnevertotellyou：’You’vegottheFrenchGeneral’sthere!’

Howlowwhenangelsfalltheirblackdescent，Ourprimalthundertells：knownisthepainOfmusic，thatnighthroningwisdomwent，Andonefalsenotecastwailfultotheinsane。

NowseemsthelanguageheardofLoveasrainTomakeamirewherefruitfulnesswasmeant。

Thegoldenharpgesoutajangledstrain，Toolikerevoltfromheaven’sOmnipotent。

Butlisteninthethought；somaytherecomeConceptionofanewly-addedchord，Commandingspacebeyondwhereearhashome。

Inlabourofthetroubleatitsfount，LeadsLifetoanintelligibleLordTherebeldiscordsupthesacredmount。

Bythisheknewsheweptwithwakingeyes：

That，athishand’slightquerbyherhead，ThestrangelowsobsthatshooktheircommonbedWerecalledintoherwithasharpsurprise，Andstrangledmute，likelittlegapingsnakes，Dreadfullyvenomoustohim。ShelayStone-still，andthelongdarknessflowedawayWithmuffledpulses。Then，asmidnightmakesHergiantheartofMemoryandTearsDrinkthepaledrugofsilence，andsobeatSleep’sheavymeasure，theyfromheadtofeetWeremoveless，lookingthroughtheirdeadblackyears，Byvainregretscrawledovertheblankwall。

LikesculpturedeffigiestheymightbeseenUpontheirmarriage-tomb，theswordbetween；

Eachwishingfortheswordthatseversall。

Itended，andthemorrowbroughtthetask。

Hereyeswereguiltygates，thatlethiminByshuttingalltoozealousfortheirsin：

Eachsuckedasecret，andeachworeamask。

But，oh，thebittertasteherbeautyhad!

Hesickenedasatbreathofpoison-flowers：

Alanguidhumourstoleamongthehours，Andiftheirsmilesencountered，hewentmad，Andrageddeepinward，tillthelightwasbrownBeforehission，andtheworld，forgot，Lookedwickedassomeolddullmurder-spot。

Astarwithluridbeams，sheseemedtocrownThepitofinfamy：andthenagainHefaintedonhisvengefulness，andstroveToapethemagnanimityoflove，Andsmotehimself，ashudderingheapofpain。

Thiswasthewoman；whatnowoftheman？

Butpasshim。Ifhecomesbeneathaheel，Heshallbecrusheduntilhecannotfeel，Or，beingcallous，haplytillhecan。

Butheisnothing：-nothing？OnlymarkTherichlightstrikingoutfromheronhim!

Ha!whatasenseitiswhenhereyesswimAcrossthemanshesingles，leangdarkAllelse!LordGod，whomad’stthethingsofair，SeethatIamdrawntoherevennow!

ItcannotbesuchharmonhercoolbrowToputakiss？YetifImeethimthere!

Butsheismine!Ah，no!IknowtoowellIclaimastarwhoselightisovercast：

Iclaimaphantom-womaninthePast。

Thehourhasstruck，thoughIheardnotthebell!

Allotherjoysoflifehestrovetowarm，Andmagnify，andcatchthemtohislip：

Buttheyhadsufferedshipwreckwiththeship，Andgazeduponhimsallowfromthestorm。

OrifDelusioncame，’twasbuttoshowThecomingminutemocktheonethatwent。

Coldasamountaininitsstar-pitchedtent，StoodhighPhilosophy，lessfriendthanfoe：

Whomself-cagedPassion，fromitsprison-bars，Isalwayswatchingwithawonderinghate。

Nottillthefireisdyinginthegrate，Lookweforanykinshipwiththestars。

Oh，wisdomnevercomeswhenitisgold，Andthegreatpricewepayforitfullworth：

Wehaveitonlywhenwearehalfearth。

Littleavailsthatcoinagetotheold!

Amessagefromhersethisbrainaflame。

Aworldofhouseholdmattersfilledhermind，Whereinhesawhypocrisydesigned：

Shetreatedhimassomethingthatistame，Andbutatotherprovocationbites。

Familiarwashershoulderintheglass，Throughthatdarkrain：yetitmaycometopassThatachangedeyefindssuchfamiliarsightsMorekeenlytemptingthannewloveliness。

The’Whathasbeen’amomentseemedhisown：

Thesplendours，mysteries，dearerbecauseknown，Norlessdine：Love’sinmostsacrednessCalledtohim，’Come!’——Inhisrestrainingstart，EyesnurturedtobelookedatscarcecouldseeAwaveofthegreatwavesofDestinyConvulsedatacheckedimpulseoftheheart。

Itchancedhislipsdidmeetherforeheadcool。

Shehadnoblush，butslanteddownhereye。

Shamednature，then，confesseslovecandie：

AndmostshepunishesthetenderfoolWhowillbelievewhathonoursherthemost!

Dead!isitdead？Shehasapulse，andflowOftears，thepriceofblood-drops，asIknow，ForwhomthemidnightsobsaroundLove’sghost，SincethenIheardher，andsowillsobon。

Theloveishere；ithasbutchangeditsaim。

Obitterbarrenwoman!what’sthename？

Thename，thename，thenewnamethouhastwon？

Beholdmestrikingtheworld’scowardstroke!

ThatwillInotdo，thoughthestingisdire-

Beneaththesurfacethis，whilebythefireTheysat，shelaughingataquietjoke。

Sheissuesradiantfromherdressing-room，Likeonepreparedtoscaleanuppersphere：-

Bystirringupalower，muchIfear!

Howdeftlythatoiledbarberlayshisbloom!

Thatlong-shankeddapperCupidwithfriskedcurlsCanmakeknownwomentorturinglyfair；

Thegold-eyedserpentdwellinginrichhairAwakesbeneathhismagicwhisksandtwirls。

Hisartcantaketheeyesfromoutmyhead，UntilIseewitheyesofothermen；

Whiledeeperknowledgecrouchesinitsden，Andsendsasparkup：-isittruewearewed？

Yea!filthinessofbodyismostle，ButfaithlessnessofheartIdoholdworse。

Theformer，itwerenotsogreatacurseToreadonthesteel-mirrorofhersmile。

Yetitwasplainshestruggled，andthatsaltOfrighteousfeelingmadeherpitiful。

Poortwistingworm，soqueenlybeautiful!

Wherecamethecleftbetweenus？whosethefault？

Mytearsareonthee，thathaverarelydroppedAsbalmforanybitterwoundofmine：

Mybreastwillopenfortheeatasign!

But，no：wearetworeed-pipes，coarselystopped：

TheGodoncefilledthemwithhismellowbreath；

Andtheyweremusictillheflungthemdown，Used!used!Hearnowthediscord-longclownPuffhisgrossspiritinthem，worsethandeath!

Idonotknowmyselfwithouttheemore：

InthisunholybattleIgrowbase：

Ifthesamesoulbeunderthesameface，Speak，andatasteofthatoldtimerestore!

HefeltthewildbeastinhimbetweenwhilesSomasterfullyrude，thathewouldgrieveToseethehelplessdelicatethingreceeHisguardianshipthroughcertaindarkdefiles。

Hadhenotteethtorend，andhungertoo？

Butstillhesparedher。Once：’Haveyounofear？’

Hesaid：’twasdusk；sheinhisgrasp；nonenear。

Shelaughed：’No，surely；amInotwithyou？’

Andutteringthatsoftstarry’you，’sheleanedHergentlebodynearhim，lookingup；

Andfromhereyes，asfromapoison-cup，Hedrankuntiltheflitteringeyelidsscreened。

Delishmalignantwitch!andoh，youngbeamOfheaven’scircle-glory!HerethyshapeTosqueezelikeanintocatinggrape-

Imight，andyetthougoestsafe，supreme。

X

Butwherebeganthechange；andwhat’smycrime？

Thewretchcondemned，whohasnotbeenarraigned，Chafesathissentence。ShallI，unsustained，DragonLove’snervelessbodythro’alltime？

Imusthaveslept，sincenowIwake。Prepare，Youlovers，toknowLoveathingofmoods：

Not，likehardlife，oflaws。InLove’sdeepwoods，IdreamtofloyalLife：-theoffenceisthere!

Love’sjealouswoodsaboutthesunarecurled；

Atleast，thesunfarbrightertheredidbeam-

Mycrimeis，thatthepuppetofadream，Iplottedtobeworthyoftheworld。

Oh，hadIwithmydarlinghelpedtominceThefactsoflife，youstillhadseenmegoWithhindwardfeatherandwithforwardtoe，Hermuch-adoreddelightfulFairyPrince!

Outintheyellowmeadows，wherethebeeHumsbyuswiththehoneyoftheSpring，AndshowersofsweetnotesfromthelarksonwingAredroppinglikeanoon-dew，wanderwe。

Orisitnow？orwasitthen？fornow，Asthen，thelarksfromrunningringspourshowers：

ThegoldenfootofMayisontheflowers，Andfriendlyshadowsdanceuponherbrow。

What’sthis，whenNatureswearsthereisnochangeTochallengeeyesight？Now，asthen，thegraceOfheavenseemsholdingearthinitsembrace。

Noreyes，norheart，hasshetofeelitstrange？

Look，woman，intheWest。TherewiltthouseeAnambercradlenearthesun’sdecline：