Part 2 (1/2)
And trembling Mildred overheard.
These from the careless or the dull-- Gossips at best; at wisest, dolts; And though her quickened ear might cull From out their whispered thunderbolts A ”lovely!” and a ”beautiful!”
And though sweet mother-faces smiled, And bows were given with friendly grace, And many a pleasant little child Sought sympathy within her face, Her aching heart was not beguiled.
She did not see--she only felt-- As up the staring aisle she walked-- The critic glances, coldly dealt, By those who looked, and bent, and talked; And, even, when at last she knelt
Alone within the pastor's pew, And prayed for self-forgetfulness With deep humility, she knew She gave her figure and her dress To careful eyes with closer view.
IX.
At length she raised her head, and tossed A burden from her heart, and brain.
She would have love at any cost Of weary toil and patient pain, And rightful ease and pleasure lost!
They could not love her for his sake; They would not, and her heart forgave.
Why should a woman stoop to take The poor endowment of a slave, And like a menial choose to make
Her master's mantle half her own?
They loved her least who loved him most: They envied her her little throne!
He who was cherished by a host Was hers by gift, and hers alone,
And she would prove her woman's right To hold the throne to which the king Had called her, clothing her with white; And never would she show her ring To win a loving proselyte!
These were the thoughts and this the strife That through her kindling spirit swept, And wrought her purposes of life; And powers that waked and powers that slept Within the sweet and girlish wife.
Sprang into energy intense, At touch of an inspiring chrism That fell on her, she knew not whence, And lifted her to heroism Which wrapped her wholly, soul and sense.
X.
Meanwhile, through all the vaulted s.p.a.ce The organ sent its angels out; And up and down the holy place They fanned the cheeks of care and doubt, And touched each worn and weary face
With beauty as their wings went by: Then sailed afar with peaceful sweep, And, calling heavenward every eye, Evanished into silence deep-- The earth forgotten in the sky!
Then by the sunlight warmly kissed, Far up, in rainbow glory set, Rayed round with gold and amethyst, She saw upon the great rosette The Saviour's visage, pale and trist.
”Oh Crown of Thorns!” she softly breathed; ”Oh precious crown of love divine!
Oh brow with trickling life enwreathed!
Oh piercing thorns and crimson sign!
I hold you mine in love bequeathed.
”But not for sake of these or thee!
I must win love as thou hast won.