The Years Between Part 13

THE OBEDIENT

Daily, though no ears attended, Did my prayers arise Daily, though no fire descended Did I sacrifice....

Though my darkness did not lift, Though I faced no lighter odds, Though the G.o.ds bestowed no gift, None the less, None the less, I served the G.o.ds!

A DRIFTER OFF TARENTUM

He from the wind-bitten north with s.h.i.+p and companions descended, Searching for eggs of death sp.a.w.ned by invisible hulls.

Many he found and drew forth. Of a sudden the fishery ended In flame and a clamorous breath not new to the eye-pecking gulls.

DESTROYERS IN COLLISION

For Fog and Fate no charm is found To lighten or amend.

I, hurrying to my bride, was drowned-- Cut down by my best friend.

CONVOY ESCORT

I was a shepherd to fools Causelessly bold or afraid.

They would not abide by my rules.

Yet they escaped. For I stayed.

UNKNOWN FEMALE CORPSE

Headless, lacking foot and hand, Horrible I come to land.

I beseech all women's sons Know I was a mother once.

RAPED AND REVENGED

One used and butchered me: another spied Me broken--for which thing a hundred died.

So it was learned among the heathen hosts How much a freeborn woman's favour costs.

SALONIKAN GRAVE

I have watched a thousand days Push out and crawl into night Slowly as tortoises Now I, too, follow these.

It is fever, and not fight-- Time, not battle--that slays.

THE BRIDEGROOM

Call me not false, beloved, If, from thy scarce-known breast So little time removed, In other arms I rest.

For this more ancient bride Whom coldly I embrace Was constant at my side Before I saw thy face.

Our marriage, often set-- By miracle delayed-- At last is consummate, And cannot be unmade.

Live, then, whom Life shall cure, Almost, of Memory, And leave us to endure Its immortality.

V. A. D. (MEDITERRANEAN)

Ah, would swift s.h.i.+ps had never been, for then we ne'er had found, These harsh aegean rocks between, this little virgin drowned, Whom neither spouse nor child shall mourn, but men she nursed through pain And--certain keels for whose return the heathen look in vain.

'THE CITY OF BRa.s.s'

1909

Here was a people whom after their works thou shalt see wept over for their lost dominion: and in this palace is the last information respecting lords collected in the dust.

_The Arabian Nights_

_In a land that the sand overlays--the ways to her gates are untrod-- A mult.i.tude ended their days whose fates were made splendid by G.o.d, Till they grew drunk and were smitten with madness and went to their fall, And of these is a story written: but Allah alone knoweth all!_

When the wine stirred in their heart their bosoms dilated, They rose to suppose themselves kings over all things created-- To decree a new earth at a birth without labour or sorrow-- To declare: 'We prepare it to-day and inherit to-morrow.'

They chose themselves prophets and priests of minute understanding, Men swift to see done, and outrun, their extremest commanding-- Of the tribe which describe with a jibe the perversions of Justice-- Panders avowed to the crowd whatsoever its l.u.s.t is.

Swiftly these pulled down the walls that their fathers had made them-- The impregnable ramparts of old, they razed and relaid them As playgrounds of pleasure and leisure with limitless entries, And havens of rest for the wastrels where once walked the sentries; And because there was need of more pay for the shouters and marchers, They disbanded in face of their foemen their bowmen and archers.

They replied to their well-wishers' fears--to their enemies'

laughter, Saying: 'Peace! We have fas.h.i.+oned a G.o.d Which shall save us hereafter.

We ascribe all dominion to man in his factions conferring, And have given to numbers the Name of the Wisdom unerring.'

They said: 'Who has hate in his soul? Who has envied his neighbour?

Let him arise and control both that man and his labour.'

They said: 'Who is eaten by sloth? Whose unthrift has destroyed him?

He shall levy a tribute from all because none have employed him.'

They said: 'Who hath toiled? Who hath striven, and gathered possession?

Let him be spoiled. He hath given full proof of transgression.'

They said. 'Who is irked by the Law? _Though we may not remove it, If he lend us his aid in this raid, we will set him above it!_'

So the robber did judgment again upon such as displeased him, The slayer, too, boasted his slain, and the judges released him.

As for their kinsmen far off, on the skirts of the nation, They harried all earth to make sure none escaped reprobation, They awakened unrest for a jest in their newly-won borders, And jeered at the blood of their brethren betrayed by their orders.

They instructed the ruled to rebel, their rulers to aid them; And, since such as obeyed them not fell, their Viceroys obeyed them.

When the riotous set them at naught they said: 'Praise the upheaval!

For the show and the word and the thought of Dominion is evil!'

They unwound and flung from them with rage, as a rag that defiled them The imperial gains of the age which their forefathers piled them.

They ran panting in haste to lay waste and embitter for ever The wellsprings of Wisdom and Strength which are Faith and Endeavour.

They nosed out and digged up and dragged forth and exposed to derision All doctrine of purpose and worth and restraint and prevision: And it ceased, and G.o.d granted them all things for which they had striven, And the heart of a beast in the place of a man's heart was given....