Dramatic Romances Part 3

NOTES: "The Boy and the Angel." An imaginary legend ill.u.s.trating the worth of humble, human love to G.o.d, who missed in the praise of the Pope, Theocrite, and of the Angel Gabriel, the precious human quality in the song of the poor boy, Theocrite.

INSTANS TYRANNUS

I

Of the million or two, more or less I rule and possess, One man, for some cause undefined, Was least to my mind.

II

I struck him, he grovelled of course-- For, what was his force?

I pinned him to earth with my weight And persistence of hate: And he lay, would not moan, would not curse, As his lot might be worse. 10

III

"Were the object less mean, would he stand At the swing of my hand!

For obscurity helps him and blots The hole where he squats."

So, I set my five wits on the stretch To inveigle the wretch.

All in vain! Gold and jewels I threw, Still he couched there perdue; I tempted his blood and his flesh, Hid in roses my mesh, 20 Choicest cates and the flagon's best spilth: Still he kept to his filth.

IV

Had he kith now or kin, were access To his heart, did I press: Just a son or a mother to seize!

No such booty as these.

Were it simply a friend to pursue 'Mid my million or two, Who could pay me in person or pelf What he owes me himself! 30 No: I could not but smile through my chafe: For the fellow lay safe As his mates do, the midge and the nit, --Through minuteness, to wit.

V

Then a humour more great took its place At the thought of his face, The droop, the low cares of the mouth, The trouble uncouth 'Twixt the brows, all that air one is fain To put out of its pain. 40 And, "no!" I admonished myself, "Is one mocked by an elf, Is one baffled by toad or by rat?

The gravamen's in that!

How the lion, who crouches to suit His back to my foot, Would admire that I stand in debate!

But the small turns the great If it vexes you, that is the thing!

Toad or rat vex the king? 50 Though I waste half my realm to unearth Toad or rat, 'tis well worth!"

VI

So, I soberly laid my last plan To extinguish the man.

Round his creep-hole, with never a break Ran my fires for his sake; Over-head, did my thunder combine With my underground mine: Till I looked from my labour content To enjoy the event. 60

VII

When sudden... how think ye, the end?

Did I say "without friend"?

Say rather, from marge to blue marge The whole sky grew his targe With the sun's self for visible boss, While an Arm ran across Which the earth heaved beneath like a breast Where the wretch was safe prest!

Do you see? Just my vengeance complete, The man sprang to his feet, 70 Stood erect, caught at G.o.d's skirts, and prayed!

--So, _I_ was afraid!

NOTES: "Instans Tyrannus" is a despot's confession of one of his own experiences which showed him the inviolability of the weakest man who is in the right and who can call the spiritual force of good to his aid against the utmost violence or cunning.--"Instans Tyrannus," or the threatening tyrant, suggested by Horace, third Ode in Book III:

"Justum et tenacem proposti vlrum, Non civium ardor prava jubentium, Non vultus instantis tyranni," etc.

[The just man tenacious of purpose is not to be turned aside by the heat of the populace nor the brow of the threatening tyrant.]

MESMERISM

I

All I believed is true!

I am able yet All I want, to get By a method as strange as new: Dare I trust the same to you?

II

If at night, when doors are shut, And the wood-worm picks, And the death-watch ticks, And the bar has a flag of s.m.u.t, And a cat's in the water-b.u.t.t-- 10

III

And the socket floats and flares, And the house-beams groan, And a foot unknown Is surmised on the garret-stairs, And the locks slip unawares--

IV

And the spider, to serve his ends, By a sudden thread, Arms and legs outspread, On the table's midst descends, Comes to find, G.o.d knows what friends!-- 20

V

If since eve drew in, I say, I have sat and brought (So to speak) my thought To bear on the woman away, Till I felt my hair turn grey--

VI

Till I seemed to have and hold, In the vacancy 'Twixt the wall and me, From the hair-plait's chestnut gold To the foot in its muslin fold-- 30

VII

Have and hold, then and there, Her, from head to foot Breathing and mute, Pa.s.sive and yet aware, In the grasp of my steady stare--

VIII

Hold and have, there and then, All her body and soul That completes my whole, All that women add to men, In the clutch of my steady ken-- 40

IX

Having and holding, till I imprint her fast On the void at last As the sun does whom he will By the calotypist's skill--

X