Volume II Part 11 (1/2)
She riseth from her knee, She holds her dark, wet locks away-- There is no light to see!
She cries a quick and bitter cry-- ”Nuleeni, launch me thine!
We must have light abroad to-night, For all the wreck of mine.”
The river floweth on.
IX.
”I do remember watching Beside this river-bed When on my childish knee was leaned My dying father's head; I turned mine own to keep the tears From falling on his face: What doth it prove when Death and Love Choose out the self-same place?”
The river floweth on.
X.
”They say the dead are joyful The death-change here receiving: Who say--ah me! who dare to say Where joy comes to the living?
Thy boat, Nuleeni! look not sad-- Light up the waters rather!
I weep no faithless lover where I wept a loving father.”
The river floweth on.
XI.
”My heart foretold his falsehood Ere my little boat grew dim; And though I closed mine eyes to dream That one last dream of _him_, They shall not now be wet to see The s.h.i.+ning vision go: From earth's cold love I look above To the holy house of snow.”[2]
The river floweth on.
XII.
”Come thou--thou never knewest A grief, that thou shouldst fear one!
Thou wearest still the happy look That s.h.i.+nes beneath a dear one: Thy humming-bird is in the sun,[3]
Thy cuckoo in the grove, And all the three broad worlds, for thee Are full of wandering love.”
The river floweth on.
XIII.
”Why, maiden, dost thou loiter?
What secret wouldst thou cover?
That peepul cannot hide thy boat, And I can guess thy lover; I heard thee sob his name in sleep, It was a name I knew: Come, little maid, be not afraid, But let us prove him true!”
The river floweth on.
XIV.
The little maiden cometh, She cometh shy and slow; I ween she seeth through her lids They drop adown so low: Her tresses meet her small bare feet, She stands and speaketh nought, Yet blusheth red as if she said The name she only thought.
The river floweth on.
XV.
She knelt beside the water, She lighted up the flame, And o'er her youthful forehead's calm The fitful radiance came:-- ”Go, little boat, go soft and safe, And guard the symbol spark!”
Soft, safe doth float the little boat Across the waters dark.
The river floweth on.
XVI.
Glad tears her eyes have blinded, The light they cannot reach; She turneth with that sudden smile She learnt before her speech-- ”I do not hear his voice, the tears Have dimmed my light away, But the symbol light will last to-night, The love will last for aye!”