Poems by George Meredith Volume Ii Part 18

'Not we for thirst of blood appeal To sword and slaughter curst; We have G.o.d's blessing on our steel, Do we our pleading first.'

XIX

Count Louis, soul of chivalry, Put trust in plighted word; By starlight on the broad brown lea, To bar the strife he spurred.

XX

Across his breast a crimson spot, That in a quiver glowed, The ruddy crested camp-fires shot, As he to darkness rode.

XXI

He rode while omens called, beware Old Kraken's pledge of faith!

A smile and waving hand in air, And outward flew the wraith.

XXII

Before pale morn had mixed with gold, His army roared, and chilled, As men who have a woe foretold, And see it red fulfilled.

XXIII

Away and to his young wife speed, And say that Honour's dead!

Another word she will not need To bow a widow's head.

XXIV

Old Kraken roped his white moustache Right, left, for savage glee: - To swing him in his soldier's sash Were kind for such as he!

XXV

Old Kraken's look hard Winter wears When sweeps the wild snow-blast: He had the hug of Arctic bears For captives he held fast.

2--I

Archd.u.c.h.ess Anne sat carved in frost, Shut off from priest and spouse.

Her lips were locked, her arms were crossed, Her eyes were in her brows.

II

One hand enclosed a paper scroll, Held as a strangled asp.

So may we see the woman's soul In her dire tempter's grasp.

III

Along that scroll Count Louis' doom Throbbed till the letters flamed.

She saw him in his scornful bloom, She saw him chained and shamed.

IV

Around that scroll Count Louis' fate Was acted to her stare, And hate in love and love in hate Fought fell to smite or spare.

V

Between the day that struck her old, And this black star of days, Her heart swung like a storm-bell tolled Above a town ablaze.

VI

His beauty pressed to intercede, His beauty served him ill.

- Not Vengeance, 'tis his rebel's deed, 'Tis Justice, not our will!

VII

Yet who had sprung to life's full force A breast that loveless dried?

But who had sapped it at the source, With scarlet to her pride!

VIII

He brought her waning heart as 'twere New message from the skies.

And he betrayed, and left on her The burden of their sighs.

IX

In floods her tender memories poured; They foamed with waves of spite: She crushed them, high her heart outsoared, To keep her mind alight.

X

- The crawling creature, called in scorn A woman!--with this pen We sign a paper that may warn His crowing fellowmen.

XI

- We read them lesson of a power They slight who do us wrong.

That bitter hour this bitter hour Provokes; by turns the strong!

XII

- That we were woman once is known: That we are Justice now, Above our s.e.x, above the throne, Men quaking shall avow.

XIII

Archd.u.c.h.ess Anne ascending flew, Her heart outsoared, but felt The demon of her s.e.x pursue, Incensing or to melt.

XIV

Those counterfloods below at leap Still in her breast blew storm, And farther up the heavenly steep Wrestled in angels' form.

XV

To disentangle one clear wish Not of her s.e.x, she sought; And womanish to womanish Discerned in lighted thought.

XVI