The Poetical Works Of Robert Bridges Part 74

Unto us all our days are love's anniversaries, each one In turn hath ripen'd something of our happiness.

So, lest heart-contented adown life easily floating, We note not the pa.s.sage while living in the delight, I have honour'd always the attentive vigil of Autumn, And thy day set apart holy to fair Memory.

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COMMUNION OF SAINTS

FROM ANDRE CHENIER

What happy bonds together unite you, ye living and dead, Your fadeless love-bloom, your manifold memories.

EPITAPHS

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Fight well, my comrades, and prove your bravery. Me too G.o.d call'd out, but crown'd early before the battle.

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I died in very flow'r: yet call me not unhappy therefore, Ye that against sweet life once a lament have utter'd.

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When thou, my beloved, diedst, I saw heaven open, And all earthly delight inhabiting Paradise.

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Where thou art better I too were, dearest, anywhere, than Wanting thy well-lov'd lovely presence anywhere.

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IBANT OBSCURI

_A line for line paraphrase of a part of Virgil's aeneid, Bk. VI._

They wer' amid the shadows by night in loneliness obscure Walking forth i' the void and vasty dominyon of Ades; As by an uncertain moonray secretly illumin'd 270 One goeth in the forest, when heav'n is gloomily clouded, And black night hath robb'd the colours and beauty from all things.

Here in h.e.l.l's very jaws, the threshold of darkening Orcus, Have the avenging Cares laid their sleepless habitation, Wailing Grief, pallid Infections, & heart-stricken Old-age, Dismal Fear, unholy Famine, with low-groveling Want, Forms of spectral horror, gaunt Toil and Death the devourer, And Death's drowsy brother, Torpor; with whom, an inane rout, 278 All the Pleasures of Sin; there also the Furies in ambusht Chamber of iron, afore whose bars wild War b.l.o.o.d.yhanded Raged, and mad Discord high brandisht her venomous locks.

Midway of all this tract, with secular arms an immense elm Reareth a crowd of branches, aneath whose leafy protection Vain dreams thickly nestle, clinging unto the foliage on high: And many strange creatures of monstrous form and features Stable about th' entrance, Centaur and Scylla's abortion, And hundred-handed Briareus, and Lerna the wildbeast Roaring amain, and clothed in frightful flame the Chimaera, Gorgons and Harpies, ['] and Pluto's three-bodied ogre.

In terror aeneas upheld his sword to defend him, 290 With ready naked point confronting their dreaded onset: And had not the Sibyl warn'd how these lively spirits were All incorporeal, flitting in thin maskery of form, He had a.s.sail'd their host, and wounded vainly the void air.

Hence is a road that led them a-down to the Tartarean streams, Where Acheron's whirlpool impetuous, into the reeky Deep of c.o.kytos disgorgeth, with muddy burden.

These floods one ferryman serveth, most awful of aspect, Of squalor infernal, Charon: all filthily unkempt That woolly white cheek-fleece, and fiery the blood-shotten eyeb.a.l.l.s: 300 On one shoulder a cloak knotted-up his nudity vaunteth.

He himself plieth oar or pole, manageth tiller and sheet, And the relics of men in his ash-grey barge ferries over; Already old, but green to a G.o.d and hearty will age be.

Now hitherward to the bank much folk were crowding, a medley Of men and matrons; nor did death's injury conceal Bravespirited heroes, young maidens beauteous unwed, And boys borne to the grave in sight of their sorrowing sires.

Countless as in the forest, at a first white frosting of autumn Sere leaves fall to the ground; or like whenas over the ocean Myr[^ia]d birds come thickly flocking, when wintry December 311 Drives them afar southward for shelter upon sunnier sh.o.r.es, So throng'd they; and each his watery journey demanded, All to the further bank stretching-out their arms impatient: But the sullen boatman took now one now other at will, While some from the river forbade he', an' drave to a distance.

aeneas in wonder alike and deep pity then spake.

'Tell-me,' said he, 'my guide, why flock these crowds to the water?

Or what seek the spirits? or by what prejudice are these Rudely denied, while those may upon the solemn river embark?' 320 T'whom[B] then briefly again the Avern[^ia]n priestess in answer.

'O Son of Anchises, heavn's true-born glorious offspring, Deep c.o.kytos it is thou s[^ee]st & h.e.l.l's Styg[^ia]n flood, Whose dread sanct[^io]n alone Jove's oath from falsehood a.s.sureth.

These whom thou pitiedst, th' outcast and unburied are they; That ferryman Charon; those whom his bark carries over Are the buried; nor ever may mortal across the livid lake Journey, or e'er upon Earth his bones lie peacefully entomb'd: Haunting a hundred years this mournful plain they wander Doom'd for a term, which term expired they win to deliv'rance.' 330 Then he that harken'd stood agaze, his journey arrested, Grieving at heart and much pitying their unmerited lot.

There miserably fellow'd in death's indignity saw he Leucaspis with his old Lycian seachieften Orontes, Whom together from Troy in home-coming over the waters Wild weather o'ermaster'd, engulphing both s.h.i.+pping and men.

And lo! his helmsman, Palinurus, in eager emotion, Who on th' Afric course, in bright star-light, with a fair wind, Fell by slumber opprest unheedfully into the wide sea: Whom i' the gloom when hardly he knew, now changed in affliction, 340 First he addrest. 'What G.o.d, tell-me O Palinurus, of all G.o.ds Pluckt you away and drown'd i' the swift wake-water abandon'd?

For never erst nor in else hath kind responsive Apollo Led-me astray, but alone in this thing wholly deluded, When he aver'd that you, to remote Ausonia steering, Safe would arrive. Where now his truth? Is this the promis'd faith?'

But he, 'Neither again did Phbus wrongly bespeak thee, My general, nor yet did a G.o.d in his enmity drown me: For the tiller, wherewith I led thy fleet's navigation, And still clung to, was in my struggling hold of it uns.h.i.+pt, 350 And came with-me' o'erboard. Ah! then, by ev'ry accurst sea, Tho' in utter despair, far less mine own peril awed me Than my thought o' the s.h.i.+p, what harm might hap to her, yawing In the billows helmless, with a high wind and threatening gale.

Two nights and one day buffeted held I to the good spar Windborne, with the current far-drifting, an' on the second morn Saw, when a great wave raised me aloft, the Italyan highlands; And swimming-on with effort got ash.o.r.e, nay already was saved, Had not there the wrecking savages, who spied-me defenceless, Scarce clinging outwearied to a rock, half-drowned & speechless, 360 Beat me to death for hope of an unfound booty upon me.

Now to the wind and tidewash a sport my poor body rolleth.

Wherefore thee, by heav'n's sweet light & airness, I pray, By thy Sire's memories, thy hope of youthful Iulus, Rescue-me from these ills, brave master; Go to Velija, O'er my mortality's spoil cast thou th' all-hallowing dust; Or better, if so be the G.o.ddess, heav'n's lady-Creatress, Show-thee the way,--nor surely without high favoring impulse Mak'st thou ventur' across these floods & black Ereban lake,-- Give thy hand-to-me', an' o'er their watery boundary bring me 370 Unto the haven of all, death's home of quiet abiding.'

Thus-he lamented, anon spake sternly the maid of Avernus.

'Whence can such unruly desire, Palinurus, a.s.sail thee?

Wilt thou th' Eumenidan waters visit unburied? o'erpa.s.s h.e.l.l's Stygian barrier? Charon's boat unbidden enter?

Cease to believe that fate can be by prayer averted.

Let my sooth a litel thy cruel destiny comfort Surely the people of all thy new-found country, determin'd By heav'n-sent omens will achieve thy purification, 379 Build thee a tomb of honour with yearly solemnity ordain'd, And dedicate for ever thy storied name to the headland.'

These words lighten awhile his fear, his sadness allaying, Nor vain was the promise his name should eternally survive.

They forthwith their journey renew, tending to the water: Whom when th' old boatman descried silently emerging Out o' the leafy shadows, advancing t'ward the river-sh.o.r.e, Angrily gave-he challenge, imperious in salutation.

'Whosoever thou be, that approachest my river all-arm'd, Stand to announce thyself, nor further make footing onward.

Here 'tis a place of ghosts, of night & drowsy delusion: 390 Forbidden unto living mortals is my Stygian keel: Truly not Alkides embarkt I cheerfully, nor took Of Theseus or Pirithous glad custody, nay though G.o.d-sprung were they both, warriors invincible in might: He 'twas would sportively the guard of Tartarus enchain, Yea and from the palace with gay contumely dragged him: They to ravish h.e.l.l's Queen from Pluto's chamber attempted.'

Then thus th' Amphrysian prophetess spake briefly in answer.

'No such doughty designs are ours, Cease thou to be moved!

Nor these sheeny weapons intend force. Cerberus unvext Surely for us may affray the spirits with 'howling eternal, 401 And chaste Persephone enjoy her queenly seclusion.

Troian aeneas, bravest and gentlest-hearted, Hath left earth to behold his father in out-lying Ades.

If the image ' of a so great virtue doth not affect thee, Yet this bough'--glittering she reveal'd its golden avouchment-- 'Thou mayst know.' Forthwith his bl.u.s.ter of heart was appeased: Nor word gave-he, but admiring the celestial omen, That bright sprigg of weird for so long period unseen, Quickly he-turneth about his boat, to the margin approaching, 410 And the spirits, that along the gun'al benchways sat in order, Drave he ash.o.r.e, offering readyroom: but when the vessel took Ponderous aeneas, her timbers crankily straining Creak'd, an' a brown water came trickling through the upper seams.

Natheless both Sibyl and Hero, slow wafted across stream, Safe on th' ooze & slime's hideous desolation alighted.

Hence the triple-throated bellowings of Cerberus invade All h.e.l.l, where opposite the arrival he lies in a vast den.

But the Sibyl, who mark'd his necklaces of stiffening snakes, Cast him a cake, poppy-drench'd with drowsiness and honey-sweeten'd. 420 He, rabid and distending a-hungry' his triply-cavern'd jaws, Gulp'd the proffer'd morsel; when slow he-relaxt his immense bulk, And helplessly diffused fell out-sprawl'd over the whole cave.

aeneas fled by, and left full boldly the streamway, That biddeth all men across but alloweth ne'er a returning.

Already now i' the air were voices heard, lamentation, And shrilly crying of infant souls by th' entry of Ades.

Babes, whom unportion'd of sweet life, unblossoming buds, One black day carried off and chokt in dusty corruption.-- Next are they who falsely accused were wrongfully condemn'd Unto the death: but here their lot by justice is order'd. 431 Inquisitor Minos, with his urn, summoning to a.s.sembly His silent council, their deed or slander arraigneth.-- Next the sullen-hearted, who rashly with else-innocent hand Their own life did-away, for hate or weariness of light, Imperiling their souls. How gladly, if only in Earth's air, Would-they again their toil, discomfort, and pities endure!

Fate obstructs: deep sadness now, unloveliness awful Rings them about, & Styx with ninefold circle enarmeth.-- Not far hence they come to a land extensive on all sides; 440 Weeping Plain 'tis call'd:--such name such country deserveth.

Here the lovers, whom fiery pa.s.sion hath cruelly consumed, Hide in leafy alleys ' and pathways bow'ry, sequester'd By woodland myrtle, nor hath Death their sorrow ended.

Here was Phaedra to see, Procris ' and sad Eriphyle, She of her unfilial deathdoing wound not ashamed, Evadne, ' and Pasiphae ' and Laodamia, And epicene Keneus, a woman to a man metamorphos'd, Now by Fate converted again to her old feminine form.

'Mong these shades, her wound yet smarting ruefully, Dido Wander'd throu' the forest-obscurity; and aeneas 451 Standing anigh knew surely the dim form, though i' the darkness Veil'd,--as when one seeth a young moon on the horizon, Or thinketh to' have seen i' the gloaming her delicate horn; Tearfully in oncelov'd accents he-lovingly addrest her.

'Unhappy! ah! too true 'twas told me' O unhappy Dido, Dead thou wert; to the fell extreme didst thy pa.s.sion ensue.

And was it I that slew-thee? Alas! Smile falsity, ye heav'ns!

And h.e.l.l-fury attest-me', if here any sanct.i.ty reigneth, Unwilling, O my Queen, my step thy kingdom abandon'd. 460 Me the command of a G.o.d, who here my journey determines Through Ereban darkness, through fields sown with desolation, Drave-me to wrong my heart. Nay tho' deep-pain'd to desert thee I ne'er thought to provoke thy pain of mourning eternal.

Stay yet awhile, ev'n here unlook'd-for again look upon me: Fly-me not ere the supreme words that Fate granteth us are said.'

Thus he: but the spirit was raging, fiercely defiant, Whom he approach'd with words to appease, with tears for atonement.

She to the ground downcast her ' eyes in fixity averted; Nor were her features more by his pleading affected, 470 Than wer' a face of flint, or of ensculptur'd alabaster.

At length she started disdainful, an' angrily withdrew Into a shady thicket: where her grief kindly Sychaeus Sooth'd with other memories, first love and virginal embrace.

And ever aeneas, to remorse by deep pity soften'd, With br.i.m.m.i.n.g eyes pursued her queenly figure disappearing.

Thence the Sibyl to the plain's extremest boundary led him, Where world-fam'd warriors, a lionlike company, haunted.

Here great Tydeus saw he eclips'd, & here the benighted Phantom of Adrastus, ' of stalwart Parthenopaeus. 480 Here long mourn'd upon earth went all that prowess of Ilium Fallen in arms; whom, when he-beheld them, so many and great, Much he-bewail'd. By Thersilochus his mighty brothers stood, Children of Antenor; here Demetr[^ia]n Polyphates, And Idaeus, in old chariot-pose dreamily stalking.

Right and left the spirits flocking on stood crowding around him; Nor their eyes have enough; they touch, find joy unwonted Marching in equal step, and eager of his coming enquire.

But th' Argive leaders, and they that obey'd Agamemnon When they saw that Trojan in arms come striding among them, 490 Old terror invaded their ranks: some fled stricken, as once They to the s.h.i.+ps had fled for shelter; others the alarm raise, But their thin utterance mock'd vainly the lips wide parted.

Here too Deiphobus he espied, his fair body mangled, Cruelly dismember'd, disfeatur'd cruelly his face, Face and hands; and lo! shorn closely from either temple, Gone wer' his ears, and maim'd each nostril in impious outrage.