第20章

Redwerethemyriadcherub-mouthsthatpressed，Amongtheclusters，richwithsong，fullfain，Butdumb，becausethatovermasteringspellOfraptureheldthemdumb：then，hereandthere，Agoldenharploststrings；acrimsonshellBurntgrey；andsheavesoflustrefelltoair。

TheillimitableeagernessofhueBronzed，andthebeamywingedbloomthatflew’Midthosebunchedfruitsandthrongingfiguresfailed。

Agreen-edgedlakeofsaffrontouchedtheblue，Withislesoffirelesspurplelyingthrough：

AndFancyonthatlaketoseeklosttreasuressailed。

Notlongthesilencefollowed：

Thevoicethatissuesfromthybreast，OgloriousSouth-west，Alongthegloom-horizonholloa’d；

WarningthevalleyswithamellowroarThroughflappingwings；thensharpthewoodlandboreAshudderandanoiseofhands：

AthousandhornsfromsomefarvaleInambushsoundingonthegale。

ForthfromtheclovenskycamebandsOfrevel-gatheringspirits；troopingdown，Somerodethetree-tops；someontorncloud-stripsBurstscreamingthro’thelightedtown：

Andscuddingseaward，somefellonbigships：

Ormountingthesea-horsesblewBrightfoam-flakesontheblackreewOfheanghullsandburyingbeaks。

Stillonthefarthestline，withoutpuffedcheeks，’Twtdarkandutterdark，thegreatwinddrewFromheaventhatdisenchantedharmonyTojoinearth’slaughterinthemidnightblind：

BoomingadistantchorustotheshrieksPreludinghim：thenhe，Hismantlestreamingthunderinglybehind，AcrosstheyellowrealmofstiffenedDay，Shotthro’thewoodlandalleyssignalsthree；

AndwiththepressureofaseaPlungedbroaduponthevalethatunderlay。

Nightontherollingfoliagefell：

ButI，wholoveoldhymningnight，AndknowtheDryadvoiceswell，Discernedthemastheirleavestookflight，Likesoulstowanderafterdeath：

Greatarmiesinimperialdyes，Andmadtotreadtheairandrise，ThesavagefreedomoftheskiesTotastebeforetheyrot。Andhere，Likefrailwhite-bodiedgirlsinfear，Thebirchesswungfromshriekstosighs；

Theaspens，laughersatabreath，Inshoweringspray-fallsmedtheircries，Orrakedasavageocean-strandWithoneincessantdrowningscreech。

Herestoodasolitarybeech，Thatgaveitsgoldwithopenhand，Andallitsbranches，toningchill，Didseemtoshuttheirteethrightfast，Toshriekmoremercilesslyshrill，Andmatchthefiercenessoftheblast。

ButheardIalowswellthatnoisedOffar-offocean，Iwas’wareOfpinesupontheirwiderootspoised，WhomnevermadnessintheairCandrawtomorethanloftierstressOfmournfulness，notmournfulnessFormelancholy，butJoy’sexcess，Thatsingingonthelapofsorrowfaints：

AndPeace，asintheheartsofsaintsWhochantuntotheLordtheirGod；

DeepPeacebelowuponthemuffledsod，Thestillnessofthesea’sunswayingfloor，CouldIbesoletherenottoseeThelifewithinthelifeawake；

Thespiritburstingfromthetree，Andrisingfromthetroubledlake？

Pour，letthewinesofHeavenpour!

TheGoldenHarpisstruckoncemore，Andallitsmusicisforme!

Pour，letthewinesofHeavenpour!

And，ho，foranightofPaganglee!

Thereisacurtaino’erus。

Foronce，goodsouls，we’llnotpretendTobeaughtbetterthanherwhoboreus，Andisouronlysiblefriend。

Harktoherlaughter!wholaughslikethis，Canshebedead，orrootedinpain？

Shehasbeenslainbythenarrowbrain，Butforuswholovehershelesagain。

Canshedie？O，takeherkiss!

Thecrimson-footednymphispantinguptheglade，Withthewine-jaratherarm-pit，andthedrunkeny-braidRoundherforehead，breasts，andthighs：startsaSatyr，andtheyspeed：

Hearthecrushingoftheleaves：hearthecrackingofthebough!

Andthewhistlingofthebramble，thepipingoftheweed!

Butthebull-voicedoakisbattlingnow：

Thestormhasseizedhimhalf-asleep，AndroundhimthewildwoodlandthrongsTohearthefuryofhissongs，Theuproarofanoutrageddeep。

HewakestofindawrestlinggiantTrunktotrunkandlimbtolimb，AndonhisrootedforcereliantHelaughsandgraspsthebroadenedgiant，AndtwistandrolltheAnakim；

Andmultitudes，acclaimingtothecloud，Crywhichisbreaking，whichisbowed。

Away，forthecymbalsclashaloftInthecirclesofpine，onthemoss-floorsoft。

Thenymphsofthewoodlandaregatheringthere。

Theyhuddletheleaves，andtrample，andtoss；

Theyswinginthebranches，theyrollinthemoss，Theyblowtheseedontheair。

BacktobacktheystandandblowThewingedseedonthecradlingair，Afountainofleavesoverbosomandback。

ThepipeoftheFauncomesontheirtrackAndthewelteringalleysoverflowWithmusicalshrieksandwind-weddedhair。

Theriotouscompaniesmelttoapair。

Blessthem，motherofkindness!

AstarhasnoddedthroughThedepthsoftheflyingblue。

TimeonlytoplantthelightOfamemoryintheblindness。

ButtimetoshowmethesightOfmylifethro’thecurtainofnight；

Shiningamoment，andmedWiththeonward-hurryingstream，Whosepressureisdarknesstome；

Behindthecurtain，fed，BeamswithendlessbeamThatstaronthechangingsea。

GreatMotherNature!teachme，likethee，Tokisstheseasonandshunregrets。

AndamImorethanthemotherwhobore，Mockmenotwiththyharmony!

Teachmetoblotregrets，GreatMother!meinspireWithfaiththatforwardsetsButfeedsthelingfire，FaiththatneverfretsForvaguenessintheform。

Inlife，Okeepmewarm!

For，whatishumangrief？

Andwhatdomendesire？

Teachmetofeelmyselfthetree，Andnotthewitheredleaf。

FedamIandawaitthedarkto-beAndO，greenbounteousEarth!

BacchanteMother!sterntothoseWholenotinthyheartofmirth；

DeathshallIshrinkfrom，longthee？

Intothebreastthatgestherose，ShallIwithshudderingfall？

Earth，themotherofall，Movesonherstedfastway，Gathering，flinging，sowing。

Mortals，weleinherday，Sheinherchildrenisgrowing。

Shecanleadus，onlyshe，UntoGod’sfootstool，whithershereaches：

Loved，enjoyed，hergiftsmustbe，Reverencedthetruthssheteaches，EreamanmayhopethatheEvercanattainthegleeOfthingswithoutadestiny!

Sheknowsnotloss：

Shefeelsbutherneed，WhothewingedseedWiththeleafdothtoss。

Andmaynotmentothisattain？

Thatthejoyofmotion，theraptureofbeing，Shallthrowstronglightwhenourseasonisfleeing，Norquickenagedbloodinvain，Atthegatesofthevault，onthevergeoftheplain？

Lifethoroughlyledisafactinthebrain，Whileeyesareleftforseeing。

Behold，inyonstrippedAutumn，sheringgrey，Earthknowsnodesolation。

ShesmellsregenerationInthemoistbreathofdecay。

Propheticofthecomingjoyandstrife，Likethewildwesternwar-chiefsinkingCalmtotheendheeyesunblinking，Hervoiceisjubilantinebbinglife。

Heforhishappyhunting-fieldsForgetsthedroningchant，andyieldsHisnumberedbreathstoexultationIntheproudanticipation：

Shoutingthegloriesofhisnation，Shoutingthegrandeurofhisrace，Shoutinghisowngreatdeedsofdaring：

Andwhenatlastdeathgraspshisface，AndstiffenedonthegroundinpeaceHelieswithallhispaintedterrorsglaring；

Hushedarethetribetohearathreadingcry：

Notfromthedeadman；

Notfromthestanders-by：

ThespiritoftheredmanIswelcomedbyhisfathersuponhigh。

Thereshegoesupthestreetwithherbookinherhand，AndherGoodmorning，Martin!Ay，lass，howd’yedo？

Verywell，thankyou，Martin!——Ican’tunderstand!

Imightjustaswellneverhavecobbledashoe!

Ican’tunderstandit。Shetalkslikeasong；

Hervoicetakesyourearliketheringofaglass；

Sheseemstogegladnesswhilelimpingalong，Yetsinnerne’ersuffer’dlikethatlittlelass。

First，afoolofaboyranherdownwithacart。

Then，herfoolofafather——ablacksmithbytrade-

Whythedeucedoeshetellusithalfbrokehisheart？

Hisheart!——where’sthelegofthepoorlittlemaid!

Well，that’snotenough；theymustpushherdownstairs，Tomakehergocrooked：butwhycountthelist？

Ifit’srighttosupposethatourhumanaffairsAreallorder’dbyheaven——there，banggoesmyfist!

Forifangelscanlookonsuchsights——nevermind!

Whenyou’renexttoblaspheming，it’sbesttobemum。

Theparsondeclaresthatherwoesweren’tdesigned；

But，then，withtheparsonit’sallkingdom-come。

Losealeg，saveasoul——aconvenienttext；

IcallitTeadoctrine，notsavouringofGod。

WhenpoorlittleMollywants’chastening，’why，nextTheArchangelMichaelmighttasteoftherod。

But，toseethepoordarlinggolimpingformilesToreadbookstosickpeople!——andjustofanageWhengirlslearnthemeaningofribandsandsmiles!

Makesmefeellikeasquirrelthatturnsinacage。

ThemoreIpushthinkingthemoreIrevolve：

Inevergetfarther：-andastoherface，ItstartsupwhennearonmypuzzleIsolve，Andsays，’Thiscrush’dbodyseemssuchasadcase。’

Notthatshe’sforcomplaining：shereadstoearnpence；

Andfromthosewhocan’tpay，simplethanksareenough。

Doessheleavelamentationforchapswithoutsense？

Howsoever，she’smadeupofwonderfulstuff。

Ay，thesoulinherbodymustbeastoutcord；

Shesingslittlehymnsatthecloseoftheday，ThoughshehasbutthreefingerstolifttotheLord，Andonlyonelegtokneeldownwithtopray。

WhatIaskis，Whypersecutesuchapoordear，Ifthere’sLawaboveall？Answerthatifyoucan!

IrreligiousI’mnot；butIlookonthissphereAsaplacewhereamanshouldjustthinklikeaman。

Itisn’tfairdealing!But，contrariwise，Dobulletsinbattlethewickedselect？

Why，thenit’sallchance-work!Andyet，inhereyes，SheholdsafedsomethingbywhichIamchecked。

Yonderribandofsunshineaslopeonthewall，Ifyoueyeitaminute’llhavethesamelook：

Sokind!andsomerciful!Godofusall!

It’stheverysamelessonwegetfromtheBook。

Then，isLifebutatrial？Isthatwhatismeant？

Somemusttoil，andsomeperish，forothersbelow：

Theinjusticetoeachspreadsacommoncontent；

Ay!I’velostitagain，foritcan’tbequiteso。

She’sthectimoffools：thatseemsnearerthemark。

Onearththereareenginesandnumerousfools。

WhytheLordcanpermitthem，we’restillinthedark；

Hedoes，andinsomesortofwaythey’reHistools。

It’saroundaboutway，withrespectletmeadd，IfMollygoescrippledthatwemaybetaught：

But，perhaps，it’stheonlyway，thoughit’ssobad；

Inthatcasewe’llbowdownourheads，——asweought。

ButtheworstofMEis，thatwhenIbowmyhead，Iperceeathoughtwrigglingawayinthedust，AndIfollowitstracks，quiteforgetful，insteadOfhumbleacceptance：for，questionImust!

Here’sacreaturemadecarefully——carefullymade!

Puttogetherwithcraft，andthenstampedon，andwhy？

Theanswerseemsnowhere：it’sdiscordthat’splayed。