The Poetical Works of Elizabeth Barrett Browning Volume II Part 11

She riseth from her knee, She holds her dark, wet locks away-- There is no light to see!

She cries a quick and bitter cry-- "Nuleeni, launch me thine!

We must have light abroad to-night, For all the wreck of mine."

The river floweth on.

IX.

"I do remember watching Beside this river-bed When on my childish knee was leaned My dying father's head; I turned mine own to keep the tears From falling on his face: What doth it prove when Death and Love Choose out the self-same place?"

The river floweth on.

X.

"They say the dead are joyful The death-change here receiving: Who say--ah me! who dare to say Where joy comes to the living?

Thy boat, Nuleeni! look not sad-- Light up the waters rather!

I weep no faithless lover where I wept a loving father."

The river floweth on.

XI.

"My heart foretold his falsehood Ere my little boat grew dim; And though I closed mine eyes to dream That one last dream of _him_, They shall not now be wet to see The s.h.i.+ning vision go: From earth's cold love I look above To the holy house of snow."[2]

The river floweth on.

XII.

"Come thou--thou never knewest A grief, that thou shouldst fear one!

Thou wearest still the happy look That s.h.i.+nes beneath a dear one: Thy humming-bird is in the sun,[3]

Thy cuckoo in the grove, And all the three broad worlds, for thee Are full of wandering love."

The river floweth on.

XIII.

"Why, maiden, dost thou loiter?

What secret wouldst thou cover?

That peepul cannot hide thy boat, And I can guess thy lover; I heard thee sob his name in sleep, It was a name I knew: Come, little maid, be not afraid, But let us prove him true!"

The river floweth on.

XIV.

The little maiden cometh, She cometh shy and slow; I ween she seeth through her lids They drop adown so low: Her tresses meet her small bare feet, She stands and speaketh nought, Yet blusheth red as if she said The name she only thought.

The river floweth on.

XV.

She knelt beside the water, She lighted up the flame, And o'er her youthful forehead's calm The fitful radiance came:-- "Go, little boat, go soft and safe, And guard the symbol spark!"

Soft, safe doth float the little boat Across the waters dark.

The river floweth on.

XVI.

Glad tears her eyes have blinded, The light they cannot reach; She turneth with that sudden smile She learnt before her speech-- "I do not hear his voice, the tears Have dimmed my light away, But the symbol light will last to-night, The love will last for aye!"

The river floweth on.

XVII.

Then Luti spake behind her, Outspake she bitterly-- "By the symbol light that lasts to-night, Wilt vow a vow to me?"

Nuleeni gazeth up her face, Soft answer maketh she-- "By loves that last when lights are past, I vow that vow to thee!"

The river floweth on.

XVIII.

An earthly look had Luti Though her voice was deep as prayer-- "The rice is gathered from the plains To cast upon thine hair:[4]

But when _he_ comes his marriage-band Around thy neck to throw, Thy bride-smile raise to meet his gaze, And whisper,--_There is one betrays, While Luti suffers woe._"

The river floweth on.

XIX.

"And when in seasons after, Thy little bright-faced son Shall lean against thy knee and ask What deeds his sire hath done,-- Press deeper down thy mother-smile His glossy curls among, View deep his pretty childish eyes, And whisper,--_There is none denies, While Luti speaks of wrong._"

The river floweth on.

XX.

Nuleeni looked in wonder, Yet softly answered she-- "By loves that last when lights are past, I vowed that vow to thee: But why glads it thee that a bride-day be By a word of _woe_ defiled?

That a word of _wrong_ take the cradle-song From the ear of a sinless child?"

"Why?" Luti said, and her laugh was dread, And her eyes dilated wild-- "That the fair new love may her bridegroom prove, And the father shame the child!"

The river floweth on.

XXI.

"Thou flowest still, O river, Thou flowest 'neath the moon; Thy lily hath not changed a leaf,[5]

Thy charmed lute a tune: _He_ mixed his voice with thine and _his_ Was all I heard around; But now, beside his chosen bride, I hear the river's sound."

The river floweth on.

XXII.

"I gaze upon her beauty Through the tresses that enwreathe it; The light above thy wave, is hers-- My rest, alone beneath it: Oh, give me back the dying look My father gave thy water!

Give back--and let a little love O'erwatch his weary daughter!"

The river floweth on.

XXIII.

"Give back!" she hath departed-- The word is wandering with her; And the stricken maidens hear afar The step and cry together.

Frail symbols? None are frail enow For mortal joys to borrow!-- While bright doth float Nuleeni's boat, She weepeth dark with sorrow.

The river floweth on.

FOOTNOTES:

[2] The Hindoo heaven is localized on the summit of Mount Meru--one of the mountains of Himalaya or Himmaleh, which signifies, I believe, in Sanscrit, the abode of snow, winter, or coldness.

[3] Himadeva, the Indian G.o.d of love, is imagined to wander through the three worlds, accompanied by the humming-bird, cuckoo, and gentle breezes.