Songs from Books Part 23

There's a dew falling.

_The King_. He'll take no harm of it. I'll follow presently.....

He's all his mother's now and none of mine-- Her very face on the bride-pillow. Yet I tricked her.

But that was later--and she never guessed.

I do not think he sinned much--he's too young-- Much the same age as my Queen. G.o.d must not judge him Too hardly for such slips as youth may fall in.

But I'll entreat that Throne.

(_Prays by the body._)

_Gow_. The Heavens hold up still. Earth opens not and this dew's mere water. What shall a man think of it all? _(To Gardener.)_ Not dead yet, sirrah? I bade you follow the Prince. Despatch!

_Gardener_. Some kind soul pluck out the dagger.

Why did you slay me? I'd done no wrong. I'd ha'

kept it secret till my dying day. But not now--not now! I'm dying. The Prince fell from the Queen's chamber window. I saw it in the nut alley. He was----

_Ferdinand_. But what made you in the nut alley at that hour?

_Gardener_. No wrong. No more than another man's wife. Jocasta of the still-room. She'd kissed me good-night too; but that's over with the rest.... I've stumbled on the Prince's beastly loves, and I pay for all. Let me pa.s.s!

_Gow_. Count it your fortune, honest man. You would have revealed it to your woman at the next meeting. You fleshmongers are all one feather.

_(Plucks out the dagger.)_ Go in peace and lay your death to Fortune's door.

He's sped--thank Fortune!

_Ferdinand_. Who knows not Fortune, glutted on easy thrones, Stealing from feasts as rare to coney-catch Privily in the hedgerows for a clown.

With that same cruel-l.u.s.tful hand and eye, Those nails and wedges, that one hammer and lead, And the very gerb of long-stored lightning loosed.

Yesterday 'gainst some King.

_The King_. I have pursued with prayers where my heart warns me My soul shall overtake--

_Enter the Queen_

_The King_. Look not! Wait till I tell you, dearest.... Air!...

'Loosed to adventure early'

... I go late. _(Dies.)_

_Gow_. So! G.o.d hath cut off the Prince in his pleasures. Gow, to save the King, hath silenced one poor fool who knew how it befell, and now the King's dead, needs only that the Queen should kill Gow and all's safe for her this side o' the Judgment.

...Senor Ferdinand, the wind's easterly. I'm for the road.

_Ferdinand_. My horse is at the gate. G.o.d speed you. Whither?

_Gow_. To the Duke, if the Queen does not lay hands on me before. However it goes, I charge you bear witness, Senor Ferdinand, I served the old King faithfully. To the death, Senor Ferdinand--to the death!

THE WIs.h.i.+NG CAPS

Life's all getting and giving.

I've only myself to give.

What shall I do for a living?

I've only one life to live.

End it? I'll not find another.

Spend it? But how shall I best?

Sure the wise plan is to live like a man And Luck may look after the rest!

Largesse! Largesse, Fortune!

Give or hold at your will.

If I've no care for Fortune, Fortune must follow me still.

Bad Luck, she is never a lady, But the commonest wench on the street, Shuffling, shabby and shady, Shameless to pa.s.s or meet.

Walk with her once--it's a weakness!

Talk to her twice--it's a crime!

Thrust her away when she gives you 'good day,'

And the besom won't board you next time.

Largesse! Largesse, Fortune!

What is Your Ladys.h.i.+p's mood?

If I've no care for Fortune, My Fortune is bound to be good!

Good Luck, she is never a lady, But the cursedest quean alive!

Tricksey, wincing and jady, Kittle to lead or drive.

Greet her--she's hailing a stranger!

Meet her--she's busking to leave.

Let her alone for a shrew to the bone, And the hussy comes plucking your sleeve!

Largesse! Largesse, Fortune!

I'll neither follow nor flee.

If I don't run after Fortune, Fortune must run after me!

'BY THE HOOF OF THE WILD GOAT'

By the Hoof of the Wild Goat uptossed From the cliff where she lay in the Sun Fell the Stone To the Tarn where the daylight is lost, So she fell from the light of the Sun And alone!

Now the fall was ordained from the first With the Goat and the Cliff and the Tarn, But the Stone Knows only her life is accursed As she sinks from the light of the Sun And alone!

Oh Thou Who has builded the World, Oh Thou Who has lighted the Sun, Oh Thou Who has darkened the Tarn, Judge Thou The sin of the Stone that was hurled By the goat from the light of the Sun, As she sinks in the mire of the Tarn, Even now--even now--even now!

SONG OF THE RED WAR-BOAT

(A.D. 683)

Shove off from the wharf-edge! Steady!

Watch for a smooth! Give way!