English Narrative Poems Part 11

So saying, he took the boy, that cried aloud And struggled hard. The wreath of flowers fell 100 At Dora's feet. She bow'd upon her hands, And the boy's cry came to her from the field, More and more distant. She bow'd down her head, Remembering the day when first she came, And all the things that had been. She bow'd down 105 And wept in secret; and the reapers reap'd, And the sun fell, and all the land was dark.

Then Dora went to Mary's house, and stood Upon the threshold. Mary saw the boy Was not with Dora. She broke out in praise 110 To G.o.d, that help'd her in her widowhood.

And Dora said, "My uncle took the boy; But, Mary, let me live and work with you: He says that he will never see me more."

Then answer'd Mary, "This shall never be, 115 That thou shouldst take my trouble on thyself: And, now I think, he shall not have the boy, For he will teach him hardness, and to slight His mother; therefore thou and I will go, And I will have my boy, and bring him home; 120 And I will beg of him to take thee back: But if he will not take thee back again, Then thou and I will live within one house, And work for William's child, until he grows Of age to help us."

So the women kiss'd 125 Each other, and set out, and reach'd the farm.

The door was off the latch: they peep'd, and saw The boy set up betwixt his grandsire's knees, Who thrust him in the hollows of his arm, And clapt him on the hands and on the cheeks, 130 Like one that loved him: and the lad stretch'd out And babbled for the golden seal, that hung From Allan's watch, and sparkled by the fire.

Then they came in: but when the boy beheld His mother, he cried out to come to her: 135 And Allan set him down, and Mary said: "O Father!--if you let me call you so-- I never came a-begging for myself, Or William, or this child; but now I come For Dora: take her back; she loves you well. 140 O Sir, when William died, he died at peace With all men; for I ask'd him, and he said, He could not ever rue his marrying me-- I had been a patient wife: but, Sir, he said That he was wrong to cross his father thus: 145 'G.o.d bless him!' he said, 'and may he never know The troubles I have gone thro'!' Then he turn'd His face and pa.s.s'd--unhappy that I am!

But now, Sir, let me have my boy, for you Will make him hard, and he will learn to slight 150 His father's memory; and take Dora back, And let all this be as it was before."

So Mary said, and Dora hid her face By Mary. There was silence in the room; And all at once the old man burst in sobs:-- 155 "I have been to blame--to blame. I have kill'd my son.

I have kill'd him--but I loved him--my dear son.

May G.o.d forgive me!--I have been to blame.

Kiss me, my children."

Then they clung about The old man's neck, and kiss'd him many times 160 And all the man was broken with remorse; And all his love came back a hundredfold; And for three hours he sobb'd o'er William's child, Thinking of William.

So those four abode Within one house together; and as years 165 Went forward, Mary took another mate; But Dora lived unmarried till her death.

OENONE--1832

There lies a vale in Ida,[176] lovelier Than all the valleys of Ionian[177] hills.

The swimming vapour slopes athwart the glen, Puts forth an arm, and creeps from pine to pine, And loiters, slowly drawn. On either hand 5 The lawns and meadow-ledges midway down Hang rich in flowers, and far below them roars The long brook falling thro' the clov'n ravine In cataract after cataract to the sea.

Behind the valley topmost Gargarus[178] 10 Stands up and takes the morning: but in front The gorges, opening wide apart, reveal Troas[179] and Ilion's[180] column'd citadel, The crown of Troas.

Hither came at noon Mournful Oenone, wandering forlorn 15 Of Paris,[181] once her playmate on the hills.

Her cheek had lost the rose, and round her neck Floated her hair or seem'd to float in rest.

She, leaning on a fragment twined with vine, Sang to the stillness, till the mountain-shade 20 Sloped downward to her seat from the upper cliff.

"O mother Ida, many-fountain'd Ida, Dear mother Ida, hearken ere I die.

For now the noonday quiet holds the hill: The gra.s.shopper is silent in the gra.s.s: 25 The lizard, with his shadow on the stone, Rests like a shadow, and the winds are dead.

The purple flower droops: the golden bee Is lily-cradled: I alone awake.

My eyes are full of tears, my heart of love, 30 My heart is breaking, and my eyes are dim, And I am all aweary of my life.

"O mother Ida, many-fountained Ida, Dear mother Ida, hearken ere I die.

Hear me, O Earth, hear me, O Hills, O Caves 35 That house the cold crown'd snake! O mountain brooks, I am the daughter of a River-G.o.d,[182]

Hear me, for I will speak, and build up all My sorrow with my song, as yonder walls Rose slowly to a music slowly breathed,[183] 40 A cloud that gather'd shape: for it may be That, while I speak of it, a little while My heart may wander from its deeper woe.

"O mother Ida, many-fountain'd Ida, Dear mother Ida, hearken ere I die. 45 I waited underneath the dawning hills, Aloft the mountain lawn was dewy-dark, And dewy-dark aloft the mountain pine: Beautiful Paris, evil-hearted Paris, Leading a jet-black goat white-horn'd, white hooved, 50 Came up from reedy Simois[184] all alone.

"O mother Ida, hearken ere I die.

Far-off the torrent call'd me from the cleft: Far up the solitary morning smote The streaks of virgin snow. With down-dropt eyes 55 I sat alone: white-breasted like a star Fronting the dawn he moved; a leopard skin Droop'd from his shoulder, but his sunny hair Cl.u.s.ter'd about his temples like a G.o.d's: And his cheek brightened as the foam-bow brightens 60 When the wind blows the foam, and all my heart Went forth to embrace him coming ere he came.

"Dear mother Ida, hearken ere I die.

He smiled, and opening out his milk-white palm Disclosed a fruit of pure Hesperian[185] gold, 65 That smelt ambrosially,[186] and while I look'd And listen'd, the full-flowing river of speech Came down upon my heart.

"'My own Oenone, Beautiful-brow'd Oenone, my own soul, Behold this fruit whose gleaming rind ingrav'n 70 "For the most fair," would seem to award it thine As lovelier than whatever Oread[187] haunt The knolls of Ida, loveliest in all grace Of movement and the charm of married brows.'

"Dear mother Ida, hearken ere I die. 75 He prest the blossom of his lips to mine, And added, 'This was cast upon the board, When all the full-faced presence of the G.o.ds Ranged in the halls of Peleus[188]; whereupon Rose feud, with question unto whom 'twere due: 80 But light-foot Iris[189] brought it yester-eve, Delivering, that to me, by common voice Elected umpire, Here[190] comes to-day, Pallas[191] and Aphrodite,[192] claiming each This meed of fairest. Thou, within the cave 85 Behind yon whispering tuft of oldest pine, Mayst well behold them unbeheld, unheard Hear all, and see thy Paris judge of G.o.ds.'

"Dear mother Ida, hearken ere I die.

It was the deep midnoon: one silvery cloud 90 Had lost his way between the piney sides Of this long glen. Then to the bower they came, Naked they came to that smooth-swarded bower.

And at their feet the crocus brake like fire, Violet, amaracus,[193] and asphodel,[194] 95 Lotos and lilies: and a wind arose, And overhead the wandering ivy and vine, This way and that, in many a wild festoon Ran riot, garlanding the gnarled boughs With bunch and berry and flower thro' and thro'. 100

"O mother Ida, hearken ere I die.

On the tree-tops a crested peac.o.c.k[195] lit, And o'er him flow'd a golden cloud, and lean'd Upon him, slowly dropping fragrant dew.

Then first I heard the voice of her, to whom 105 Coming thro' heaven like a light that grows Larger and clearer, with one mind the G.o.ds Rise up for reverence. She to Paris made Proffer of royal power, ample rule Unquestion'd, overflowing revenue 110 Wherewith to embellish state, 'from many a vale, And river-sunder'd champaign clothed with corn, Or labour'd mine undrainable of ore.

Honour,' she said, 'and homage, tax and toll, From many an inland town and haven large, 115 Mast-throng'd beneath her shadowing citadel In gla.s.sy bays among her tallest towers.'

"O mother Ida, hearken ere I die.

Still she spake on and still she spake of power, 'Which in all action is the end of all; 120 Power fitted to the season; wisdom-bred And throned of wisdom--from all neighbour crowns Alliance and allegiance, till thy hand Fail from the sceptre-staff. Such boon from me, From me, Heaven's Queen, Paris, to thee, king-born, 125 A shepherd all thy life but yet king-born, Should come most welcome, seeing men, in power Only, are likest G.o.ds, who have attain'd Rest in a happy place and quiet seats Above the thunder, with undying bliss 130 In knowledge of their own supremacy.'

"Dear mother Ida, hearken ere I die.

She ceased, and Paris held the costly fruit Out at arm's-length, so much the thought of power Flatter'd his spirit; but Pallas where she stood 135 Somewhat apart, her clear and bared limbs O'erthwarted with the brazen-headed spear Upon her pearly shoulder leaning cold, The while, above, her clear and earnest eye Over her snow-cold breast and angry cheek 140 Kept watch, waiting decision, made reply.

"'Self-reverence, self-knowledge, self-control, These three alone lead life to sovereign power.

Yet not for power (power of herself Would come uncall'd for) but to live by law, 145 Acting the law we live by without fear; And, because right is right, to follow right Were wisdom in the scorn of consequence.'

"Dear mother Ida, hearken ere I die.

Again she said: 'I woo thee not with gifts. 150 Sequel of guerdon[196] could not alter me To fairer. Judge thou me by what I am, So shalt thou find me fairest.

Yet indeed, If gazing on divinity disrobed Thy mortal eyes are frail to judge, of fair, 155 Unbias'd by self-profit, oh! rest thee sure, That I shall love thee well and cleave to thee, So that my vigour wedded to thy blood, Shall strike within thy pulses, like a G.o.d's To push thee forward thro' a life of shocks, 160 Dangers, and deeds, until endurance grow Sinew'd with action, and the full-grown will, Circled thro' all experiences, pure law, Commeasure perfect freedom.'

'Here she ceas'd, And Paris ponder'd, and I cried, 'O Paris, 165 Give it to Pallas!' but he heard me not, Or hearing would not hear me, woe is me!

"O mother Ida, many-fountain'd Ida, Dear mother Ida, hearken ere I die.

Idalian[197] Aphrodite beautiful, 170 Fresh as the foam, new-bathed in Paphian[198] wells, With rosy slender fingers backward drew From her warm brows and bosom her deep hair Ambrosial, golden round her lucid throat And shoulder: from the violets her light foot 175 Shone rosy-white, and o'er her rounded form Between the shadows of the vine-bunches Floated the glowing sunlights as she moved.

"Dear mother Ida, hearken ere I die.

She with a subtle smile in her mild eyes, 180 The herald of her triumph, drawing nigh Half-whisper'd in his ear, 'I promise thee The fairest and most loving wife in Greece.'

She spoke and laugh'd: I shut my sight for fear: But when I look'd, Paris had raised his arm, 185 And I beheld great Here's angry eyes, As she withdrew into the golden cloud, And I was left alone within the bower; And from that time to this I am alone, And I shall be alone until I die. 190

"Yet, mother Ida, hearken ere I die.

Fairest--why fairest wife? am I not fair?

My love hath told me so a thousand times.

Methinks I must be fair, for yesterday, When I past by, a wild and wanton pard,[199] 195 Eyed like the evening star, with playful tail Crouch'd fawning in the weed. Most loving is she?

Ah me, my mountain shepherd, that my arms Were wound about thee, and my hot lips prest Close, close to thine in that quick-falling dew 200 Of fruitful kisses, thick as Autumn rains Flash in the pools of whirling Simois.

"O mother, hear me yet before I die.

They came, they cut away my tallest pines, My tall dark pines, that plumed the craggy ledge 205 High over the blue gorge, and all between The snowy peak and snow-white cataract Foster'd the callow eaglet--from beneath Whose thick mysterious boughs in the dark morn The panther's roar came m.u.f.fled, while I sat 210 Low in the valley. Never, never more Shall lone Oenone see the morning mist Sweep thro' them; never see them overlaid With narrow moon-lit slips of silver cloud, Between the loud stream and the trembling stars. 215

"O mother, hear me yet before I die.

I wish that somewhere in the ruin'd folds, Among the fragments tumbled from the glens, Or the dry thickets, I could meet with her The Abominable,[200] that uninvited came 220 Into the fair Pelean banquet-hall, And cast the golden fruit upon the board, And bred this change; that I might speak my mind, And tell her to her face how much I hate Her presence, hated both of G.o.ds and men. 225

"O mother, hear me yet before I die.

Hath he not sworn his love a thousand times, In this green valley, under this green hill, Ev'n on this hand, and sitting on this stone?

Seal'd it with kisses? water'd it with tears? 230 O happy tears, and how unlike to these!

O happy Heaven, how canst thou see my face?

O happy earth, how canst thou bear my weight?

O death, death, death, thou ever-floating cloud, There are enough unhappy on this earth; 235 Pa.s.s by the happy souls, that love to live; I pray thee, pa.s.s before my light of life, And shadow all my soul, that I may die.

Thou weighest heavy on the heart within, Weigh heavy on my eyelids: let me die. 240

"O mother, hear me yet before I die.