Part 9 (1/2)
Now sheer o'er solitudes of noon the strife Of chariot fierce by chariot scintillant Flames, and the blade-bare charioteers for life, O'er-bent, close-curled, goad their hot yokes that pant.
Haste not, my love, but from the beam Beside this olive-frosty stream Sing while I rest and dream.
What swart Penthesilea, Amazon, Hath, smitten, hurled her s.h.i.+eld, that crescent there; To wrench the barbed arrow leaned,--voiced one Defiant shout, breathed her red life in air.-- Tho' life be close to sunset, lo, Into the sunset let us go Still lyring joy not woe.
How swims the Night thro' the deep-oceaned sky!
How at pale lips blown stars like bubbles break, Burn, streamed from showery locks she tosses high!-- A stronger swimmer, Death, glares in her wake.-- Cast, love, ah cast thy harp away!
Aweary am I of thy lay-- Kneel down by me and pray.
III.
When love delays, when love delays and Joy Steals a strange shadow o'er the happy hills, And Hope smiles from To-morrow, nor fulfills One promise of To-day, thy sight would cloy This soul with loved despair By seeing thee so fair.
When love delays, when love delays and song Aches at wild lips regretful, as the sound Of a whole sea strives in the sh.e.l.l-mouth bound, Tho' Hope smiles still to-morrowed, all this wrong Would, at one little word, Leap forth for thee a sword.
When love delays, when love delays and sleep Nests in dark eyeb.a.l.l.s, like a song of home Heard 'mid familiar flowers o'er the foam, Tho' Hope smiles still to-morrowed, thou wouldst steep This hurt heart overmuch In balm with one true touch.
When love delays, when love delays and Sorrow Drinks her own tears that fever her soul's thirst, And song, and sleep, and memory seem accurst, For Hope smiles still to-morrowed, I would borrow One smile from thee to cheer The weary, weary year.
When love delays, when love delays and Death Hath sealed dim lips and mocked young eyes with night, To love or hate locked calm, indifferent quite,-- Hope's star-eyed acolyte,--what kisses' breath, What joys can slay regret Or teach thee to forget!
IV.
Thou hast not loved her, hast not as thou shouldst, O narrow heart, that could not grasp so wide!
And tho' thy oaths seemed oaths yet they have lied, And thy caresses, kisses were--denied-- Thou hast not loved her, hast not as thou couldst.
Thou hast not loved her, hast not as thou shouldst; O shallow eyes, that could not image deep!-- Enough! what boots it tho' ye weep and weep?
Her sleep is deep, too deep! so let her sleep-- Thou hast not loved her, hast not as thou couldst.
Thou hast not loved her, hast not as thou shouldst; For hadst thou, that confluent night and day Had in oblivion currents borne away Not one alone--but coward! thou didst stay-- Thou hast not loved her, hast not as thou couldst!
V.
O Life, thou hast no power left to strive, Life, who, upon wild mountains of Surprise, Behold'st Love's citadelled, tall towers rise,-- Shafts of clear, Paphian waters poured that live.
O Hope, who sought'st fulfillment of deep dreams Beyond those Caucasus of Faith and Truth,-- Twixt silver realms of eld and golden youth Rolled,--cloudward cl.u.s.tered; whose sonorous streams,
Urned in the palms of Death, gush to his feet: Unlovely beauty of sad, stirless sight Mixed in them with eternity of night;-- O Hope, how sad the journey once so sweet!
Dreams crowned with thorns have pa.s.sed thee on the way; And Beauties with bare limbs red-bruised and torn; Tall, holy Hours their eyes dull, wan and worn, Slaves manacled whom lashed the brutal Day.
And Sorrow sat beside a sea so wide, That sh.o.r.eless Heaven unto one little star Upon the brink of night seems not so far, And on her feet the frail foams tossing sighed.
She, her rent hair, dressed like a siren's, full Of weedy waifs and strays of moaning sh.e.l.ls, Streaked with the glimmering sands and foamy bells, Loomed a pale utterance most beautiful.
”And thou shall love me, Sorrow!” I; but she Turned her vast eyes upon me and no more; Their melancholy language clove the core Of my fast heart; and in mine ears the sea
Along gaunt crags yearned iron-husky grief; Groaned the hard headlands with the wings of Storm, Huge thunder shook the foot-hills and Alarm Gnashed her thin fangs from hissing reef to reef.