第17章

Wegraspatallthewealthitistothem；

Andbyreflectedlightitsworthisfound。

Yetforusstill’tisnothing!andthatzealOffalseappreciationquicklyfades。

Thistruthislittleknowntohumanshades，Howrarefromtheirowninstinct’tistofeel!

Theywastethesoulwithspuriousdesire，Thatisnottheripeflameuponthebough。

WetwohavetakenupalifelessvowTorobalingpassion：dustforfire!

Madamisgrave，andeyestheclockthattellsApproachingmidnight。WehavestruckdespairIntotwohearts。O，lookwelikeapairWhoforfreshnuptialsjoyfullyyieldallelse？

Iamtofollowher。ThereismuchgraceInwomanwhenthusbentonmartyrdom。

Theythinkthatdignityofsoulmaycome，Perchance，withdignityofbody。Base!

ButIwastakenbythatairofcoldAndstatuesquesedateness，whenshesaid’I’mgoing’；litataper，bowedherhead，Andwent，aswiththestrideofPallasbold。

Fleshlyindifferencehorrible!ThehandsOfTimenowsignal：O，she’ssafefromme!

WithinthosesecretwallswhatdoIsee？

Wherefirstshesetthetaperdownshestands：

NotPallas：Hebeshamed!ThoughtsblackasdeathLikeastirredpoolinsunshinebreak。HerwristsIcatch：shefaltering，asshehalfresists，’Youlove……？love……？love……？’allonanindrawnbreath。

Markwherethepressingwindshootsjavelin-likeItsskeletonshadowonthebroad-backedwave!

HereisafittingspottodigLove’sgrave；

Herewheretheponderousbreakersplungeandstrike，Anddarttheirhissingtongueshighupthesand：

Inhearingoftheocean，andinsightOfthoseribbedwind-streaksrunningintowhite。

IfIthedeathofLovehaddeeplyplanned，Inevercouldhavemadeithalfsosure，AsbytheunblestkisseswhichupbraidThefull-wakedsense；orfailingthat，degrade!

’Tismorning：butnomorningcanrestoreWhatwehaveforfeited。Iseenosin：

Thewrongismed。Intragiclife，Godwot，Nollainneedbe!Passionsspintheplot：

Wearebetrayedbywhatisfalsewithin。

Theysay，thatPityinLove’ssercedwells，Aporterattherosytemple’sgate。

Imissedhimgoing：butitismyfateTocomeuponhimnowbesidehiswells；

WherebyIknowthatILove’stempleleave，Andthatthepurpledoorshaveclosedbehind。

Poorsoul!if，inthoseearlydaysunkind，Thypowertostinghadbeenbutpowertogrieve，Wenowmightwithanequalspiritmeet，Andnotbematchedlikeinnocenceandce。

ShefortheTemple’sworshiphaspaidprice，AndtakesthecoinofPityasacheat。

Sheseesthroughsimulationtothebone：

What’sbestinherimpelshertotheworst：

Never，shecries，shallPitysootheLove’sthirst，Orfoulhypocrisyfortruthatone!

Itistheseasonofthesweetwildrose，MyLady’semblemintheheartofme!

Sogolden-crownedshinesshegloriously，Andwiththatsoftestdreamofbloodsheglows；

MildasaneveningheavenroundHesperbright!

Iplucktheflower，andsmellit，andreveThetimewheninhereyesIstoodale。

IseemtolookuponitoutofNight。

Here’sMadam，steppinghastily。HerwhimsBidherdemandtheflower，whichIletdrop。

AsIproceed，Ifeelhersharplystop，Andcrushitunderheelwithtremblinglimbs。

Shejoinsmeinacat-likeway，andtalksOfcompany，andevencondescendsToutterlaughingscandalofoldfriends。

Thesearethesummerdays，andtheseourwalks。

Atlastweparley：wesostrangelydumbInsuchaclosecommunion!ItbefellAboutthesoundingoftheMatin-bell，Andlo!herplacewasvacant，andthehumOflonelinesswasroundme。ThenIrose，AndmydisorderedbraindidguidemyfootTothatoldwoodwhereourfirstlove-saluteWasinterchanged：thesourceofmanythroes!

TheredidIseeher，notalone。ImovedTowardher，andmadeprofferofmyarm。

Shetookitsimply，withnorudealarm；

Andthatdisturbingshadowpassedreproved。

Ifeltthepainedspeechcoming，anddeclaredMyfirmbeliefinher，ereshecouldspeak。

Aghastlymorningcameintohercheek，Whilewithawideningsoulonmeshestared。

Wesawtheswallowsgatheringinthesky，Andintheosier-isleweheardthemnoise。

Wehadnottolookbackonsummerjoys，Orforwardtoasummerofbrightdye：

ButinthelargenessoftheeveningearthOurspiritsgrewaswewentsidebyside。

Thehourbecameherhusbandandmybride。

Love，thathadrobbedusso，thusblessedourdearth!

ThepilgrimsoftheyearwaxedveryloudInmultitudinouschatterings，asthefloodFullbrowncamefromtheWest，andlikepalebloodExpandedtotheuppercrimsoncloud。

Love，thathadrobbedusofimmortalthings，Thislittlemomentmercifullygave，WhereIhaveseenacrossthetwilightwaveTheswansailwithheryoungbeneathherwings。

Theirsenseiswiththeirsensesallmedin，Destroyedbysubtletiesthesewomenare!

Morebrain，OLord，morebrain!orweshallmarUtterlythisfairgardenwemightwin。

Behold!Ilookedforpeace，andthoughtitnear。

Ourinmostheartshadopened，eachtoeach。

Wedrankthepuredaylightofhonestspeech。

Alas!thatwasthefataldraught，Ifear。

ForwhenofmylostLadycametheword，Thiswoman，Othisagonyofflesh!

Jealousdevotionbadeherbreakthemesh，ThatImightseekthatotherlikeabird。

Idoadorethenobleness!despiseTheact!Shehasgoneforth，Iknownotwhere。

WillthehardworldmysentienceofhershareIfeelthetruth；solettheworldsurmise。

Hefoundherbytheocean’smoaningverge，Noranywickedchangeinherdiscerned；

Andshebelievedhisoldlovehadreturned，Whichwasherexultation，andherscourge。

Shetookhishand，andwalkedwithhim，andseemedThewifehesought，thoughshadow-likeanddry。

Shehadoneterror，lestherheartshouldsigh，Andtellherloudlyshenolongerdreamed。

Shedarednotsay，’Thisismybreast：lookin。’

Butthere’sastrengthtohelpthedesperateweak。

ThatnighthelearnedhowsilencebestcanspeakTheawfulthingswhenPitypleadsforSin。

AboutthemiddleofthenighthercallWasheard，andhecamewonderingtothebed。

’Nowkissme，dear!itmaybe，now!’shesaid。

Lethehadpassedthoselips，andheknewall。

L

ThuspiteouslyLoveclosedwhathebegat：

Theunionofthisever-dersepair!

Thesetwowererapidfalconsinasnare，Condemnedtodotheflittingofthebat。

LoversbeneaththesingingskyofMay，Theywanderedonce；clearasthedewonflowers：

Buttheyfednotontheadvancinghours：

Theirheartsheldcrangsfortheburiedday。

Theneachappliedtoeachthatfatalknife，Deepquestioning，whichprobestoendlessdole。

Ah，whatadustyanswergetsthesoulWhenhotforcertaintiesinthisourlife!-

IntragichintshereseewhatevermoreMovesdarkasyondermidnightocean’sforce，Thunderinglikerampinghostsofwarriorhorse，Tothrowthatfaintthinfineupontheshore!

THEPATRIOTENGINEER

’Sirs!mayIshakeyourhands？

Mycountrymen，Isee!

I’veledinforeignlandsTillEngland’sHeaventome。

Aheartyshakewilldomegood，Andfreshenupmysluggishblood。’

Intohishardrighthandwestruck，Gavetheshake，andwish’dhimluck。

’——FromAustriaIcome，AnEnglishwifetowin，AndfindanEnglishhome，Andleanddietherein。

GreatLord!howmanyayearI’vepinedTodrinkoldaleandspeakmymind!’

Loudrangourlaughter，andtheshoutHillsroundtheMeuse-boatechoedabout。

’——Ay，nooffence：laughon，Younggentlemen：I’lljoin。

Hadyoutoelegone，Wherefreespeechisbasecoin，You’dsightoseethejollynoseWhereFreedom’snateliquorflows!’

Hethistimethelaughterled，Dabblinghisoilybullethead。

’——Geme，tosuitmymoods，Anale-houseonaheath，I’llhandthecragsandwoodsToB’elzebubbeneath。

Afigforscenery!whatsceneCanbeataJackassonagreen？’

Gravelyheseem’d，withgazeintense，Puttingthequestiontocommonsense。

’——Why，there’stheale-housebench：

Thefurze-flowershininground：

Andthere’smywaiting-wench，Aslissomeasahound。

With“hailBritannia!“ereIdrink，I’llkissherwithanartfulwink。’

Fairflash’dtheforeignlandscapewhileWebreath’dagainournateIsle。

’——Thegeesemayswimhard-by；

Theygabble，andyoutalk：

You’resurethere’snotaspyTomarkyournamewithchalk。

Myheart’sanoak，anditwon’tgrowInflower-pots，foreignersmustknow。’

Pensehestood：thenshookhisheadSadly；heldouthisfist，andsaid：

’——You’veheardthatHungary’sfloor’d？

They’vegotherontheground。

Atraitorbrokehersword：

Twodespotsheldherbound。

I’veseenhergaspingherlasthope：

I’veseenhersonsstrungupb’therope。

’NinegallantgentlemenInAradtheystrungup!

Iwork’dinpeacetillthen：-

Thatpoison’dallmycup。

Asmellofcorpseshauntedme：

Mynostrilsniff’dlikelifeforsea。

’TakemoneyformyhireFrombutchers？——nottheman!

I’vegotsomenaturalfire，Anddon’tflashinthepan；-

AfewideasIreveal’d：-

’TwaswelloldEnglandstoodmyshield!

’SaidI，“TheLordofHostsHavemercyonyourland!

Iseethosedanglingghosts，-

Andyoumaykeepcommand，Andhang，andshoot，andhaveyourday：

Theyholdyourbill，andyoumustpay。

’“You’vesentthemwherethey’restrong，YoucarrionDouble-Head!

IhearthemsoundagongInHeavenabove!“——Isaid。

“MyGod，whatfeatherswon’tyoumoultForthis!“saysI：andthenIbolt。

’TheBird’sabeastlyBird，Andwhatismore，afool。

IshakehandswiththeherdThatflockbeneathhisrule。

They’rekindly；andtheirlandisfine。