第19章

Redroseandwhiteinthegarden；

Thebridegroomstartedoutofadream：

Andthebirdsingsovertheroses。

Hewenttothedoor，andthereespied：

Redroseandwhiteinthegarden；

Thefigureofhissilentbride：

Andthebirdsingsovertheroses。

Hewenttothedoor，andletherin：

Redroseandwhiteinthegarden；

Whiterlookedshethanachildofsin：

Andthebirdsingsovertheroses。

Shelookedsowhite，shelookedsosweet：

Redroseandwhiteinthegarden；

Shelookedsopurehefellatherfeet：

Andthebirdsingsovertheroses。

Hefellatherfeetwithloveandawe：

Redroseandwhiteinthegarden；

Astainlessbodyoflighthesaw：

Andthebirdsingsovertheroses。

OMargaret，sayyouarenotofthedead!

Redroseandwhiteinthegarden；

Mybride!bytheangelsatnightareyouled？

Andthebirdsingsovertheroses。

Iamnotledbytheangelsabout：

Redroseandwhiteinthegarden；

ButIhaveadelwithintoletout：

Andthebirdsingsovertheroses。

OMargaret!mybrideandsaint!

Redroseandwhiteinthegarden；

Thereisonyounoearthlytaint：

Andthebirdsingsovertheroses。

Iamnosaint，andnobridecanIbe：

Redroseandwhileinthegarden；

UntilIhaveopenedmybosomtothee：

Andthebirdsingsovertheroses。

Tocatchatherheartshelaidonehand：

Redroseandwhiteinthegarden；

Shetoldthetalewhereshedidstand：

Andthebirdsingsovertheroses。

Shestoodbeforehimpaleandtall：

Redroseandwhiteinthegarden；

Hereyesbetweenhis，shetoldhimall：

Andthebirdsingsovertheroses。

Shesawhowherbodygrowfreckledandfoul：

Redroseandwhiteinthegarden；

Sheheardfromthewoodsthehootingowl：

Andthebirdsingsovertheroses。

Withneveraquerhermouthdidspeak：

Redroseandwhiteinthegarden；

Owhenshehaddoneshestoodsomeek!

Andthebirdsingsovertheroses。

Thebridegroomstampedandcalledherle：

Redroseandwhiteinthegarden；

Hedidbutwakenalittlesmile：

Andthebirdsingsovertheroses。

Thebridegroomragedandcalledherfoul：

Redroseandwhiteinthegarden；

Sheheardfromthewoodsthehootingowl：

Andthebirdsingsovertheroses。

Hemutteredanamefullbitterandsore：

Redroseandwhiteinthegarden；

Shefellinalumponthestilldeadfloor：

Andthebirdsingsovertheroses。

Ogreatwasthewonder，andloudthewail：

Redroseandwhiteinthegarden；

Whenthroughthehouseholdflewthetale：

Andthebirdsingsovertheroses。

Theoldgreymothershedressedthebier：

Redroseandwhiteinthegarden；

Withasheringchinandneveratear：

Andthebirdsingsovertheroses。

OhadyoubutdoneasIbadeyou，mychild!

Redroseandwhiteinthegarden；

Youwouldnothavediedandbeenreled：

Andthebirdsingsovertheroses。

Thebridegroomhehungatmidnightbythebier：

Redroseandwhiteinthegarden；

Heeyedthewhitegirlthro’adazzlingtear：

Andthebirdsingsovertheroses。

Ohadyoubeenfalseasthewomenwhostray：

Redroseandwhiteinthegarden；

YouwouldnotbenowwiththeAngelsofDay!

Andthebirdsingsovertheroses。

Shecanbeaswiseaswe，Andwiserwhenshewishes；

Shecanknitwithcunningwit，Anddressthehomelydishes。

Shecanflourishstafforpen，Anddealawoundthatlingers；

Shecantalkthetalkofmen，Andtouchwiththrillingfingers。

Matchheryeacrossthesea，Naturesfondandfiery；

Yewhozesttheturtle’snestWiththeeagle’seyrie。

Softandlongishersoul，Swiftandloftysoaring；

Mingwithitsdove-likedolePassionateadoring。

Suchashewho’llmatchwithme？

Inflyingorpursuing，SubtlewilesareinhersmilesTosettheworlda-wooing。

Sheissteadfastasastar，Andyetthemaddestmaiden：

Shecanwageagallantwar，AndgethepeaceofEden。

BYMORNINGTWILIGHT

Night，likeadyingmother，Eyesheryoungoffspring，Day。

Thebirdsaredreamilypiping。

AndO，mylove，mydarling!

Thenightislifeebb’daway：

Awaybeyondourreach!

Aseathathascastuspaleonthebeach；

WeedswiththeweedsandthepebblesThathearthelonetamariskrootedinsandSwayWiththesongoftheseatotheland。

ThoughIamfaithfultomylovesledthrough，AndplacethemamongMemory’sgreatstars，WhereburnsafacelikeHesper：onelikeMars：

OfsagesIgetamoment’sew，Sweeteyesthatintheheavenofme，too，Ascend，tho’rgintomylifetheypassed。

Lo，thesewithinmydestinyseemglassedAttimessobright，IwishthatHopewerenew。

Agraciousfreckledlady，tallandgrave，Went，inashawlvoluminousandwhite，Lastsunsetby；andgoingsow’daglance。

Earthistoopoortoholdasecondchance；

IwillnotaskformorethanFortunegave：

Myheartshegoesfrom——neverfrommysight!

Omylover!thenightlikeabroadsmoothwaveBearsusonward，andmorn，ablackrock，shineswet。

HowIshuddered——IknewnotthatIwasaslave，TillIlookedonthyface：-thenIwrithedinthenet。

ThenIfeltlikeathingcaughtbyfire，thatherstarGloweddarkonthebosomofShemselnihar。

Andhecame，whoseIam：Omylover!hecame：

Andhisslave，stillsoenedofwomen，wasI：

AndIturnedasahissingleafspitsfromtheflame，Yes，Ishrelledtodustfromhim，haggardanddry。

Oforgeher：-shewasbutasdeadliliesare：

ThelifeofherheartfledfromShemselnihar。

YetwiththeelikeafullthrobbingrosehowIbloom!

Likearosebythefountainwhoseshoweringwehear，Aswelie，Omylover!inthisrichgloom，Smellingfaintthecoolbreathofthelemon-grovesnear。

Asweliegazingoutonthatglowinggreatstar-

Ah!darkonthebosomofShemselnihar。

YetwiththeeamInotasanarmofthene，Firmtobindthee，tocherishthee，feedtheesweet？

SwearanoathonmyliptoletnonedisentwineThelifethatherefawnstogewarmthtothyfeet。

Ionthine，thus!nomoreshallthatjewelledHeadjarThemusicthoubreathestonShemselnihar。

Faraway，faraway，wherethewanderingscentsOfallflowersaresweetest，whitemountainsamong，Theremykindredabideintheirgreenandbluetents：

Bearmetothem，mylover!theylostmesoyoung。

LetusslipdownthestreamandleapsteedtillafarNonequestionthyclaimuponShemselnihar。

Othatlongnotethebulbulgaveout——meaninglove!

Omylover，harktohimandthinkitmyvoice!

Thebluenightlikeagreatbell-flowerfromaboveDroopinglowandgold-eyed：O，buthearhimrejoice!

Canitbe？’twasaflash!thataccurstscimiterInthoughtevencutstheefromShemselnihar。

Yes，Iwouldthat，lessgenerous，hewouldoppress，Hewouldchainme，upbraidme，burndeepbrandsforhate，ThanwiththismaskoffreedomandgorgeousnessBespanglemyslavery，mockmystrangefate。

Would，would，would，Omylover，heknew——dareddebarThycoming，andearncurseofShemselnihar!

Aroarthro’thetalltwinelm-treesThemusteringstormbetrayed：

TheSouth-windseizedthewillowThatoverthewaterswayed。

ThenfellthesteadydelugeInwhichIstrovetodoze，HearingallnightatmywindowTheknockofthewinterrose。

Therainyroseofwinter!

Anoutcastitmustpine。

AndfromthybosomoutcastAmI，dearladymine。

WhenIwouldimageherfeatures，Comesupashroudedhead：

Itouchtheoutlines，shrinking；

Sheseemsofthewanderingdead。

Butwhenloveasksfornothing，Andliesonhisbedofsnow，Thefaceslipsundermyeyelids，Allinitslingglow。

Likeadarkcathedralcity，Whosespires，anddomes，andtowersQuerinoletlightnings，Mysoulbasksonforhours。

THESPIRITOFSHAKESPEARE

Thygreatestknewthee，MotherEarth；unsouredHeknewthysons。HeprobedfromhelltohellOfhumanpassions，butoflovedefloweredHiswisdomwasnot，forheknewtheewell。

Thencecamethehoneyedcornerathislips，TheconqueringsmilewhereinhisspiritsailsCalmastheGodwhothewhitesea-wavewhips，Yetfullofspeechandintershiftingtales，Closemirrorsofus：thencehadhethelaughWefeelisthine：broadastenthousandbeevesAtpasture!thencethysongs，thatwinnowchaffFromgrain，bidsickPhilosophy’slastleavesWhirl，iftheyhavenoresponse——theyenforcedTofattenEarthwhenfromhersouldorced。

HowsmilesheatagenerationrankedIngloomynoddingsoverlife!Theypass。

Nothetofeeduponabreastunthanked，Oreyeabeauteousfaceinacrackedglass。

ButhecanspythatlittletwistofbrainWhichmovedsomeweightyleaderoftheblind，Unwitting’twasthegoadofpersonalpain，ToewincursteclipseourMother’smind，AndshowusofsomerigidharridanThewretchedbondmentilltheendoftime。

OledtheMasternowtopaintusMan，ThatlittletwistofbrainwouldringachimeOfwhenceitcameandwhatitcaused，tostartThundersoflaughter，clearingairandheart。

FairMotherEarthlayonherbacklastnight，TogazeherfillonAutumn’ssunsetskies，WhenatawangofthefallenlightSprangrealmsofrosyfruitageo’erhereyes。

AlustrousheavenlyorchardhungtheWest，WhereinthebloodofEdenbloomedagain：