Part 5 (1/2)

”Has, then, misfortune,” he cried, ”not yet so bound us together, That we have finally learned to bear and forbear one another, Though each one, it may be, do not measure his share of the labor?

He that is happy, forsooth, is contentious! Will sufferings never Teach you to cease from your brawls of old between brother and brother?

Grudge not one to another a place on the soil of the stranger; Rather divide what ye have, as yourselves, ye would hope to find mercy.”

Thus spoke the man and all became silent: restored to good humor, Peaceably then the people arranged their cattle and wagons.

But when the clergyman now had heard what was said by the stranger, And had the steadfast mind of the foreign justice discovered, He to the man drew near and with words of meaning addressed him: ”True it is, father, that when in prosperity people are living, Feeding themselves from the earth, which far and wide opens her bosom, And in the years and months renews the coveted blessings,-- All goes on of itself, and each himself deems the wisest, Deems the best, and so they continue abiding together, He of greatest intelligence ranking no higher than others; All that occurs, as if of itself, going quietly forward.

But let disaster unsettle the usual course of existence, Tear down the buildings about us, lay waste the crops and the garden, Banish the husband and wife from their old, familiar-grown dwelling, Drive them to wander abroad through nights and days of privation,-- Then, ah then! we look round us to see what man is the wisest, And no longer in vain his glorious words will be spoken.

Tell me, art thou not judge among this fugitive people, Father, who thus in an instant canst bid their pa.s.sions be quiet?

Thou dost appear to-day as one of those earliest leaders, Who through deserts and wanderings guided the emigrant nations.

Yea, I could even believe I were speaking with Joshua or Moses.”

Then with serious look the magistrate answered him, saying: ”Truly our times might well be compared with all others in strangeness, Which are in history mentioned, profane or sacred tradition; For who has yesterday lived and to-day in times like the present, He has already lived years, events are so crowded together.

If I look back but a little, it seems that my head must be h.o.a.ry Under the burden of years, and yet my strength is still active.

Well may we of this day compare ourselves unto that people Who, from the burning bush, beheld in the hour of their danger G.o.d the Lord: we also in cloud and in fire have beheld him.”

Seeing the priest was inclined to speak yet more with the stranger, And was desirous of learning his story and that of his people, Privately into his ear his companion hastily whispered: ”Talk with the magistrate further, and lead him to speak of the maiden.

I, however, will wander in search, and as soon as I find her, Come and report to thee here.” The minister nodded, a.s.senting; And through the gardens, hedges, and barns, went the spy on his errand.

CLIO

THE AGE

Now when the foreign judge had been by the minister questioned As to his people's distress, and how long their exile had lasted, Thus made answer the man: ”Of no recent date are our sorrows; Since of the gathering bitter of years our people have drunken,-- Bitterness all the more dreadful because such fair hope had been blighted.

Who will pretend to deny that his heart swelled high in his bosom, And that his freer breast with purer pulses was beating; When we beheld the new sun arise in his earliest splendor, When of the rights of men we heard, which to all should be common, Were of a righteous equality told, and inspiriting freedom?

Every one hoped that then he should live his own life, and the fetters, Binding the various lands, appeared their hold to be loosing,-- Fetters that had in the hand of sloth been held and self-seeking.

Looked not the eyes of all nations, throughout that calamitous season, Towards the world's capital city, for so it had long been considered, And of that glorious t.i.tle was now, more than ever, deserving?

”Were not the names of those men who first delivered the message, Names to compare with the highest that under the heavens are spoken?

Did not, in every man, grow courage and spirit and language?

And, as neighbors, we, first of all, were zealously kindled.

Thereupon followed the war, and armed bodies of Frenchmen Pressed to us nearer; yet nothing but friends.h.i.+p they seemed to be bringing; Ay, and they brought it too; for exalted the spirit within them: They with rejoicing the festive trees of liberty planted, Promising every man what was his own, and to each his own ruling.

High beat the heart of the youths, and even the aged were joyful; Gaily the dance began about the newly raised standard.

Thus had they speedily won, these overmastering Frenchmen, First the spirits of men by the fire and dash of their bearing, Then the hearts of the women with irresistible graces.

Even the pressure of hungry war seemed to weigh on us lightly, So before our vision did hope hang over the future, Luring our eyes abroad into newly opening pathways.

Oh, how joyful the time when with her belov'ed the maiden Whirls in the dance, the longed-for day of their union awaiting!

But more glorious that day on which to our vision the highest Heart of man can conceive seemed near and attainable to us.

Loosened was every tongue, and men--the aged, the stripling-- Spoke aloud in words that were full of high feeling and wisdom.

Soon, however, the sky was o'ercast. A corrupt generation Fought for the right of dominion, unworthy the good to establish; So that they slew one another, their new-made neighbors and brothers Held in subjection, and then sent the self-seeking ma.s.ses against us.

Chiefs committed excesses and wholesale plunder upon us, While those lower plundered and rioted down to the lowest: Every one seemed but to care that something be left for the morrow.

Great past endurance the need, and daily grew the oppression: They were the lords of the day; there was none to hear our complaining.

Then fell trouble and rage upon even the quietest spirit.

One thought only had all, and swore for their wrongs to have vengeance, And for the bitter loss of their hope thus doubly deluded.

Presently Fortune turned and declared on the side of the German, And with hurried marches the French retreated before us.

Ah! then as never before did we feel the sad fortunes of warfare: He that is victor is great and good,--or at least he appears SO,-- And he, as one of his own, will spare the man he has conquered, Him whose service he daily needs, and whose property uses.

But no law the fugitive knows, save of self-preservation, And, with a reckless greed, consumes all the possessions about him; Then are his pa.s.sions also inflamed: the despair that is in him Out of his heart breaks forth, and takes shape in criminal action.

Nothing is further held sacred; but all is for plunder. His craving Turns in fury on woman, and pleasure is changed into horror.

Death he sees everywhere round him, and madly enjoys his last moments,

”Taking delight in blood, in the shrieking of anguish exulting.