Part 23 (1/2)

_Judith_.

Sufficeth not for us that I have come?-- Let not unseemly things live in my mouth; Yet I would praise thee as thou praisest me, But in a manner that my people use, Things to approach in song they list not speak.

And song, thou knowest, inwrought with chiming strings, Sweetens with sweet delay loving desire: Also thine eyes will feed, and thy heart wonder.-- Balkis was in her marble town, And shadow over the world came down.

Whiteness of walls, towers and piers, That all day dazzled eyes to tears, Turned from being white-golden flame, And like the deep-sea blue became.

Balkis into her garden went; Her spirit was in discontent Like a torch in restless air.

Joylessly she wandered there, And saw her city's azure white Lying under the great night, Beautiful as the memory Of a wors.h.i.+pping world would be In the mind of a G.o.d, in the hour When he must kill his outward power; And, coming to a pool where trees Grew in double greeneries, Saw herself, as she went by The water, walking beautifully, And saw the stars s.h.i.+ne in the glance Of her eyes, and her own fair countenance Pa.s.sing, pale and wonderful, Across the night that filled the pool.

And cruel was the grief that played With the queen's spirit; and she said: ”What do I hear, reigning alone?

For to be unloved is to be alone.

There is no man in all my land Dare my longing understand; The whole folk like a peasant bows Lest its look should meet my brows And be harmed by this beauty of mine.

I burn their brains as I were sign Of G.o.d's beautiful anger sent To master them with punishment Of beauty that must pour distress On hearts grown dark with ugliness.

But it is I am the punisht one.

Is there no man, is there none, In whom my beauty will but move The l.u.s.t of a delighted love; In whom some spirit of G.o.d so thrives That we may wed our lonely lives?

Is there no man, is there none?”-- She said, ”I will go to Solomon.”

_Holofernes_.

I shall not bear it: dreamed, it hath made my life Fail almost, like a storm broken in heaven By its internal fire; and now I feel Love like a dreadful G.o.d coming to do His pleasure on me, to tear me with his joy And shred my flesh-wove strength with merciless Utterance through me of inhuman bliss.-- I must have more divinity within me.-- Come to me, slave! [_Calling out to his attendants_.

_Judith_.

Thou callest someone? Alas!

O, where's my veil?--Cry him to stay awhile!--

_Holofernes_.

Thou troubled with such whimsy!--But 'tis no one, A mere s.e.xless thing of mine.

_Judith_.

He is coming!

I threw my veil--where?--I must bow my face Close to the ground, or his eyes will find me out; And--O my lord, hold him back with thy voice!

[_She has knelt down_.

Hold him in doubt to enter a moment, while I loosen my hair into some manner of safety Against his prying.

_Holofernes_.

Slave, dost thou hear me? Come!-- I marvel, room for such a paltering mood Should be within thy mind, now so nearly Deified with the first sense of my love.

[_A Eunuch comes in_.

_Holofernes_.

Wine! The mightiest wine my sutlers have; Wine with the sun's own grandeur in it, and all The wildness of the earth conceiving Spring From the sun's golden l.u.s.t: wine for us twain!

And when thou hast brought it, burn anear my bed Storax and ca.s.sia; and let wealth be found To cover my bed with such strife of colour, Crimson and tawny and purple-inspired gold, That eyes beholding it may take therefrom Splendid imagination of the strife Of love with love's implacable desire.

_Judith (still kneeling)_.

I must lean on thee now, my G.o.d! A weight Of pitiable weakness thou must bear And move as it were thine own strength; tell my heart How not to sicken in abomination, Show me the way to loathe this vile man's rage, Now close to seize me into the use of his pleasure, With the loathing that is terrible delight.

So that not fainting, but refresht and astonisht And strangely spirited and divinely angry My body may arise out of its pa.s.sion, Out of being enjoyed by this fiend's flesh.

Then man my arm; then let mine own revenge Utter thy vengeance, Lord, as speech doth meaning; Yea, with hate empower me to say bravely The glittering word that even now thy mind Purposes, G.o.d,--the swift stroke of a falchion!

_Holofernes_.