The Poems of Sidney Lanier Part 34

Heart's helmet-crest bore favors three From his lady's white hand caught; While Brain wore a plumeless casque; not he Or favor gave or sought.

V.

The herald blew; Heart shot a glance To find his lady's eye, But Brain gazed straight ahead his lance To aim more faithfully.

VI.

They charged, they struck; both fell, both bled.

Brain rose again, ungloved, Heart, dying, smiled and faintly said, "My love to my beloved!"

____ Camp French, Wilmington, N.C., May, 1862.

Joust Second.

I.

A-many sweet eyes wept and wept, A-many bosoms heaved again; A-many dainty dead hopes slept With yonder Heart-knight p.r.o.ne o' the plain.

II.

Yet stars will burn through any mists, And the ladies' eyes, through rains of fate, Still beamed upon the b.l.o.o.d.y lists And lit the joust of Love and Hate.

III.

O strange! or ere a trumpet blew, Or ere a challenge-word was given, A knight leapt down i' the lists; none knew Whether he sprang from earth or heaven.

IV.

His cheek was soft as a lily-bud, His grey eyes calmed his youth's alarm; Nor helm nor hauberk nor even a hood Had he to s.h.i.+eld his life from harm.

V.

No falchion from his baldric swung, He wore a white rose in its place.

No dagger at his girdle hung, But only an olive-branch, for grace.

VI.

And "Come, thou poor mistaken knight,"

Cried Love, unarmed, yet dauntless there, "Come on, G.o.d pity thee! -- I fight Sans sword, sans s.h.i.+eld; yet, Hate, beware!"

VII.

Spurred furious Hate; he foamed at mouth, His breath was hot upon the air, His breath scorched souls, as a dry drought Withers green trees and burns them bare.

VIII.

Straight drives he at his enemy, His hairy hands grip lance in rest, His lance it gleams full bitterly, G.o.d! -- gleams, true-point, on Love's bare breast!

IX.

Love's grey eyes glow with a heaven-heat, Love lifts his hand in a saintly prayer; Look! Hate hath fallen at his feet!

Look! Hate hath vanished in the air!

X.

Then all the throng looked kind on all; Eyes yearned, lips kissed, dumb souls were freed; Two magic maids' hands lifted a pall And the dead knight, Heart, sprang on his steed.

XI.

Then Love cried, "Break me his lance, each knight!

Ye shall fight for blood-athirst Fame no more!"

And the knights all doffed their mailed might And dealt out dole on dole to the poor.

XII.

Then dove-flights sanctified the plain, And hawk and sparrow shared a nest.

And the great sea opened and swallowed Pain, And out of this water-grave floated Rest!

____ Macon, Georgia, 1865.

The Dying Words of Stonewall Jackson.

"Order A. P. Hill to prepare for battle."

"Tell Major Hawks to advance the Commissary train."

"Let us cross the river and rest in the shade."

The stars of Night contain the glittering Day And rain his glory down with sweeter grace Upon the dark World's grand, enchanted face -- All loth to turn away.

And so the Day, about to yield his breath, Utters the stars unto the listening Night, To stand for burning fare-thee-wells of light Said on the verge of death.

O hero-life that lit us like the sun!

O hero-words that glittered like the stars And stood and shone above the gloomy wars When the hero-life was done!

The phantoms of a battle came to dwell I' the fitful vision of his dying eyes -- Yet even in battle-dreams, he sends supplies To those he loved so well.

His army stands in battle-line arrayed: His couriers fly: all's done: now G.o.d decide!

-- And not till then saw he the Other Side Or would accept the shade.

Thou Land whose sun is gone, thy stars remain!

Still s.h.i.+ne the words that miniature his deeds.

O thrice-beloved, where'er thy great heart bleeds, Solace hast thou for pain!