Part 19 (1/2)

”Sun, nought doth let In journey or depart; Make Him, arisen, set Within my heart.

”O high white Moon, Alone and glittering, As you pull ocean soon, My Beloved bring.

”O swelling Sea, Cavernous in your sweep, Make Him ingulph, drown me Far in His deep.

”O Day, O Night, O Moon, O Sun, O Sea, O Wind, bring my Delight!

Bring Him to me!”

V

In the second watch of the night The amazed guards saw with affright Gold stars fall in a shower: Coins of gold in a sweeping flight, They silently broke on the tower.

And the tower's top turned a rose Of enwreathed, ruddy light, And, like men smit of their foes, The guards fell at the sight....

And the Rose possessed the tower alone All the blue, windless night.

VI

”Soft torrential wind Falls through the vast, still deep Like thick dreams pouring behind The opened gates of sleep: _Ah, not so swift, Lord, not so bright, Lest I be blown--a feather; Not so white, not so white, Lest I be withered altogether._

”Earth s.h.i.+fts under my feet, Glory breaks over my head; Speechlessly my wings I beat, And fall mute in breathless dread: _Ah, not so swift, Lord, not so bright, Lest I be blown--a feather; Not so white, not so white, Lest I be wilted altogether._”

VII

”Mine is a heavenly Lover, In Him I am wholly blest; My heart it is His coffer Wherein His gold doth rest.

”Dead in the metal tower I lie till night doth come, When in a golden shower He bursts the midnight dome.

”And, caught beyond releasing, I yield me to His claim, And by my creature ceasing All that He is I am.”

VIII

The silver sun looks down On the silent tower; The guards awaken, nor own To the unguarded hour.

They eye each other's face, But to speak none durst; As though the night were ungraced, Silent they are dispersed.

The cruel King climbs, doth draw Near, then by he creeps, Marking in rage and awe The smile in which she sleeps.

STAMFORD, _Autumn_, 1912, _and Autumn_, 1913.