From “The End of Elfintown”
* * * * *FOR this holds true—too true, alas!
The sky that eve was clear as glass,
Yet no man saw the Faeries pass
Where azure pathways glisten;
And true it is—too true, ay me—
That nevermore on lawn or lea
Shall mortal man a Faery see,
Though long he look and listen....
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What was he doing, the great god Pan,
Down in the reeds by the river?
Spreading ruin and scattering ban,
Splashing and paddling with hoofs of a goat,
And breaking the golden lilies afloat
With the dragon-fly on the river?He tore out a reed, the great god Pan,
From the deep, cool bed of the river,
The limpid water turbidly... -
From the Latin by Henry King
From “The Metamorphoses”
WEARY and travel-worn,—her lips unwet
With water,—at a straw-thatched cottage door
The wanderer knocked. An ancient crone came forth
And saw her need, and hospitable brought
Her bowl of barley-broth, and bade her drink.
Thankful she raised it; but a graceless boy
And impudent... -
October, 1858
ERRATIC Soul of some great Purpose, doomed
To track the wild illimitable space,
Till sure propitiation has been made
For the divine commission unperformed!
What was thy crime? Ahasuerus’ curse
Were not more stern on earth than thine in heaven!Art thou the Spirit of some Angel World,
For grave rebellion banished... -
’t Was the body of Judas Iscariot
Lay in the Field of Blood;
’T was the soul of Judas Iscariot
Beside the body stood.Black was the earth by night,
And black was the sky;
Black, black were the broken clouds,
Tho’ the red Moon went by.’T was the body of Judas Iscariot
Strangled and dead lay there;
’T... -
The BlessÈd damozel 1 leaned out
From the gold bar of Heaven;
Her eyes were deeper than the depth
Of waters stilled at even,
She had three lilies in her hand,
And the stars in her hair were seven.Her robe, ungirt from clasp to hem,
No wrought flowers did adorn,
But a white rose of Mary’s gift,
For service... -
October 6, 1892 1
I ’LL wake and watch this autumn night,
Till the slow dawn is gray;
Lest I should miss a noble sight
Upon the King’s highway.For now the far-enthronèd King
To whom all flesh shall come,
A glorious message sends, to bring
His exiled minstrel home;And I may see the guards in white
... -
God sends his teachers unto every age,
To every clime, and every race of men,
With revelations fitted to their growth
And shape of mind, nor gives the realm of truth,
Into the selfish rule of one sole race.
Therefore each form of worship that hath swayed
The life of man, and given it to grasp
The master-key of knowledge, reverence,... -
From “The Faërie Queene,” Book I. Canto I.
A GENTLE Knight was pricking on the plaine,
Ycladd in mightie armes and silver shielde,
Wherein old dints of deepe woundes did remaine,
The cruell markes of many a bloody fielde;
Yet armes till that time did he never wield:
His angry steede did chide his foming bitt,
As much... -
From “The Faërie Queene,” Book I. Canto III.
ONE day, nigh wearie of the yrkesome way,
From her unhastie beast she did alight;
And on the grasse her dainty limbs did lay
In secrete shadow, far from all mens sight;
From her fayre head her fillet she undight,
And layd her stole aside. Her angels face,
As the great eye of heaven...