IV。
Sittingbymyside,Atmyfeet,SohebreathedbutairIbreathed,Satisfied!
I,too,atlove'sbrimTouchedthesweet:
IwoulddieifdeathbequeathedSweettohim。
V。
``Speak,Ilovetheebest!''
Heexclaimed:
``Letthylovemyownforetell!''
Iconfessed:
``Claspmyheartonthine``Nowunblamed,``Sinceuponthysoulaswell``Hangethmine!''
VI。
Wasitwrongtoown,Beingtruth?
WhyshouldallthegivingproveHisalone?
Ihadwealthandease,Beauty,youth:
Sincemylovergavemelove,Igavethese。
VII。
ThatwasallImeant,——Tobejust,AndthepassionIhadraised,Tocontent。
SincehechosetochangeGoldfordust,IfIgavehimwhathepraisedWasitstrange?
VIII。
Wouldhelovedmeyet,Onandon,WhileIfoundsomewayundreamed——Paidmydebt!
Gavemorelifeandmore,Till,allgone,Heshouldsmile``Sheneverseemed``Minebefore。
IX。
``What,shefeltthewhile,``MustIthink?
``Love'ssodifferentwithusmen!''
Heshouldsmile:
``Dyingformysake——
``Whiteandpink!
``Can'twetouchthesebubblesthen``Buttheybreak?''
X。
Dear,thepangisbrief,Dothypart,Havethypleasure!HowperplexedGrowsbelief!
Well,thiscoldclayclodWasman'sheart:
Crumbleit,andwhatcomesnext?
IsitGod?
WOMENANDROSES。
I。
Idreamofared-rosetree。
AndwhichofitsrosesthreeIsthedearestrosetome?
II。
Roundandround,likeadanceofsnowInadazzlingdrift,asitsguardians,goFloatingthewomenfadedforages,Sculpturedinstone,onthepoet'spages。
Thenfollowwomenfreshandgay,Livingandlovingandlovedto-day。
Last,intherear,fleethemultitudeofmaidens,Beautiesyetunborn。Andall,toonecadence,Theycircletheirroseonmyrosetree。
III。
Dearrose,thytermisreached,Thyleafhangslooseandbleached:
Beespassitunimpeached。
IV。
Staythen,stoop,sinceIcannotclimb,You,greatshapesoftheantiquetime!
HowshallIfixyou,fireyou,freezeyou,Breakmyheartatyourfeettopleaseyou?
Oh,topossessandbepossessed!
Heartsthatbeat'neatheachpallidbreast!
Oncebutoflove,thepoesy,thepassion,Drinkbutonceanddie!——Invain,thesamefashion,Theycircletheirroseonmyrosetree。
V。
Dearrose,thyjoy'sundimmed,Thycupisruby-rimmed,Thycup'sheartnectar-brimmed。
VI。
Deep,asdropsfromastatue'splinthThebeesuckedinbythehyacinth,SowillIburymewhileburning,Quenchlikehimataplungemyyearning,Eyesinyoureyes,lipsonyourlips!
Foldmefastwherethecinctureslips,Prisonallmysoulineternitiesofpleasure,Girdlemeforonce!Butno——theoldmeasure,Theycircletheirroseonmyrosetree。
VII。
Dearrosewithoutathorn,Thybud'sthebabeunborn:
Firststreakofanewmorn。
VIII。
Wings,lendwingsforthecold,theclear!
Whatisfarconquerswhatisnear。
Roseswillbloomnorwantbeholders,Sprungfromthedustwhereourfleshmoulders。
Whatshallarrivewiththecycle'schange?
Anovelgraceandabeautystrange。
IwillmakeanEve,betheartistthatbeganher,Shapedhertohismind!——Alas!inlikemannerTheycircletheirroseonmyrosetree。
BEFORE。
I。
Letthemfightitout,friend!thingshavegonetoofar。
Godmustjudgethecouple:leavethemastheyare——Whicheverone'stheguiltless,tohisglory,Andwhicheveronetheguilt'swith,tomystory!
II。
Why,youwouldnotbidmen,sunkinsuchaslough,Strikenoarmoutfurther,stickandstinkasnow,Leavingrightandwrongtosettletheembroilment,Heavenwithsnakyhell,intortureandentoilment?
III。
Who'stheculpritofthem?HowmustheconceiveGod——thequeenhecapsto,laughinginhissleeve,``'Tisbutdecenttoprofessoneselfbeneathher:
``Still,onemustnotbetoomuchinearnest,either!''
IV。
Bettersinthewholesin,surethatGodobserves;
Thengolivehislifeout!Lifewilltryhisnerves,Whenthesky,whichnoticedall,makesnodisclosure,Andtheearthkeepsupherterriblecomposure。
V。
Lethimpaceatpleasure,pastthewallsofrose,Plucktheirfruitswhengrape-treesgrazehimashegoes!
Forhe'ginstoguessthepurposeofthegarden,Withtheslymutething,besidethere,forawarden。
VI。
What'stheleopard-dog-thing,constantathisside,Aleerandlieineveryeyeofitsobsequioushide?
Whenwillcomeanendtoallthemockobeisance,Andthepriceappearthatpaysforthemisfeasance?
VII。
Somuchfortheculprit。Who'sthemartyredman?
Lethimbearonestrokemore,forbesurehecan!
Hethatstrovethusevil'slumpwithgoodtoleaven,Lethimgivehisbloodatlastandgethisheaven!
VIII。
Allornothing,stakeit!TrustsheGodorno?
Thusfarandnofarther?farther?beitso!
Now,enoughofyourchicaneofprudentpauses,Sageprovisos,sub-intentsandsaving-clauses!
IX。
Ah,``forgive''youbidhim?WhileGod'schampionlives,Wrongshallberesisted:dead,why,heforgives。
Butyoumustnotendmyfriendereyoubeginhim;
Evilstandsnotcrownedonearth,whilebreathisinhim。
X。
Oncemore——Willthewronger,atthislastofall,Daretosay,``Ididwrong,''risinginhisfall?
No?——Letgothen!Boththefighterstotheirplaces!
WhileIcountthree,stepyoubackasmanypaces!
AFTER。
Takethecloakfromhisface,andatfirstLetthecorpsedoitsworst!
Howheliesinhisrightsofaman!
Deathhasdonealldeathcan。
And,absorbedinthenewlifeheleads,Herecksnot,heheedsNorhiswrongnormyvengeance;bothstrikeOnhissensesalike,AndarelostinthesolemnandstrangeSurpriseofthechange。
Ha,whatavailsdeathtoeraseHisoffence,mydisgrace?
IwouldwewereboysasofoldInthefield,bythefold:
Hisoutrage,God'spatience,man'sscornWeresoeasilyborne!
Istandherenow,heliesinhisplace:
Covertheface!
THEGUARDIAN-ANGEL。
APICTUREATFANO。
I。
DearandgreatAngel,wouldstthouonlyleaveThatchild,whenthouhastdonewithhim,forme!
Letmesitallthedayhere,thatwheneveShallfindperformedthyspecialministry,Andtimecomefordeparture,thou,suspendingThyflight,maystseeanotherchildfortending,Anotherstill,toquietandretrieve。
II。
ThenIshallfeeltheesteponestep,nomore,Fromwherethoustandestnow,towhereIgaze,——Andsuddenlymyheadiscoveredo'erWiththosewings,whiteabovethechildwhopraysNowonthattomb——andIshallfeeltheeguardingMe,outofalltheworld;forme,discardingYonheaventhyhome,thatwaitsandopesitsdoor。
III。
IwouldnotlookupthitherpastthyheadBecausethedooropes,likethatchild,Iknow,ForIshouldhavethygraciousfaceinstead,ThoubirdofGod!AndwiltthoubendmelowLikehim,andlay,likehis,myhandstogether,Andliftthemuptopray,andgentlytetherMe,asthylambthere,withthygarment'sspread?
IV。
Ifthiswasevergranted,IwouldrestMybeadbeneaththine,whilethyhealinghandsClose-coveredbothmyeyesbesidethybreast,Pressingthebrain,whichtoomuchthoughtexpands,Backtoitspropersizeagain,andsmoothingDistortiondowntilleverynervehadsoothing,Andalllayquiet,happyandsuppressed。
V。
Howsoonallworldlywrongwouldberepaired!
IthinkhowIshouldviewtheearthandskiesAndsea,whenonceagainmybrowwasbaredAfterthyhealing,withsuchdifferenteyes。
Oworld,asGodhasmadeit!Allisbeauty:
Andknowingthis,islove,andloveisduty。
Whatfurthermaybesoughtforordeclared?
VI。
GuercinodrewthisangelIsawteach(Alfred,dearfriend!)——thatlittlechildtopray,Holdingthelittlehandsup,eachtoeachPressedgently,——withhisownheadturnedawayOvertheearthwheresomuchlaybeforehimOfworktodo,thoughheavenwasopeningo'erhim,AndhewasleftatFanobythebeach。
VII。
WewereatFano,andthreetimeswewentTositandseehiminhischapelthere,Anddrinkhisbeautytooursoul'scontent——Myangelwithmetoo:andsinceIcareFordearGuercino'sfame(towhichinpowerAndglorycomesthispictureforadower,Fraughtwithapathossomagnificent)——
VIII。
AndsincehedidnotworkthusearnestlyAtalltimes,andhaselseenduredsomewrong——
Itookonethoughthispicturestruckfromme,Andspreaditout,translatingittosong。
Myloveishere。Whereareyou,dearoldfriend?
HowrollstheWairoaatyourworld'sfarend?
ThisisAncona,yonderisthesea。
MEMORABILIA。
I。
Ah,didyouonceseeShelleyplain,AnddidhestopandspeaktoyouAnddidyouspeaktohimagain?
Howstrangeitseemsandnew!
II。
Butyouwerelivingbeforethat,Andalsoyouarelivingafter;
AndthememoryIstartedat——
Mystartingmovesyourlaughter。
III。
Icrossedamoor,withanameofitsownAndacertainuseintheworldnodoubt,Yetahand's-breadthofitshinesalone'Midtheblankmilesroundabout:
IV。
ForthereIpickedupontheheatherAndthereIputinsidemybreastAmoultedfeather,aneagle-feather!
Well,Iforgettherest。
POPULARITY。
I。
Standstill,truepoetthatyouare!
Iknowyou;letmetryanddrawyou。
Somenightyou'llfailus:whenafarYourise,rememberonemansawyou,Knewyou,andnamedastar!
II。
Mystar,God'sglow-worm!WhyextendThatlovinghandofhiswhichleadsyouYetlocksyousafefromendtoendOfthisdarkworld,unlessheneedsyou,justsavesyourlighttospend?
III。
Hisclenchedhandshalluncloseatlast,Iknow,andletoutallthebeauty:
Mypoetholdsthefuturefast,Acceptsthecomingages'duty,Theirpresentforthispast。
IV。
Thatday,theearth'sfeast-master'sbrowShallclear,toGodthechaliceraising;
``Othersgivebestatfirst,butthou``Foreverset'stourtablepraising,``Keep'stthegoodwinetillnow!''
V。
Meantime,I'lldrawyouasyoustand,Withfewornonetowatchandwonder:
I'llsay——afisher,onthesandByTyretheold,withocean-plunder,Anetful,broughttoland。
VI。
WhohasnotheardhowTyrianshellsEnclosedtheblue,thatdyeofdyesWhereofonedropworkedmiracles,AndcolouredlikeAstarte'seyesRawsilkthemerchantsells?
VII。
AndeachbystanderofthemallCouldcriticize,andquotetraditionHowdepthsofbluesublimedsomepall——Togetwhich,prickedaking'sambitionWorthsceptre,crownandball。
VIII。
Yetthere'sthedye,inthatroughmesh,Theseahasonlyjusto'erwhispered!
Livewhelks,eachlip'sbearddrippingfresh,Asiftheystillthewater'slispheardThroughfoamtherock-weedsthresh。
IX。
EnoughtofurnishSolomonSuchhangingsforhiscedar-house,That,whengold-robedhetookthethroneInthatabyssofblue,theSpouseMightswearhispresenceshoneX。
Mostlikethecentre-spikeofgoldWhichburnsdeepintheblue-bell'swomb,Whattime,withardoursmanifold,Thebeegoessingingtohergroom,Drunkenandoverbold。
XI。
Mereconchs!notfitforwarporwoof!
TillcunningcometopoundandsqueezeAndclarify,——refinetoproofTheliquorfilteredbydegrees,Whiletheworldstandsaloof。
XII。
Andthere'stheextract,flaskedandfine,Andpricedandsaleableatlast!
AndHobbs,Nobbs,StokesandNokescombineTopaintthefuturefromthepast,Putblueintotheirline。
XIII。
Hobbshintsblue,——Straightheturtleeats:
Nobbsprintsblue,——claretcrownshiscup:
NokesoutdaresStokesinazurefeats,——
Bothgorge。Whofishedthemurexup?
WhatporridgehadJohnKeats?
1TheSyrianVenus。
2MolluscsfromwhichthefamousTyrianpurpledyewasobtained。
MASTERHUGUESOFSAXE-GOTHA。
[Animaginarycomposer。]
I。
Hist,butaword,fairandsoft!
Forthandbejudged,MasterHugues!
AnswerthequestionI'veputyousooft:
Whatdoyoumeanbyyourmountainousfugues?
See,we'realoneintheloft,——
II。
I,thepoororganisthere,Hugues,thecomposerofnote,Deadthough,anddonewith,thismanyayear:
Let'shaveacolloquy,somethingtoquote,Maketheworldprickupitsear!
III。
See,thechurchemptiesapace:
Fasttheyextinguishthelights。
Hallothere,sacristan!Fiveminutes'grace!
Here'sacrankpedalwantssettingtorights,Baulksoneofholdingthebase。
IV。
See,ourhugehouseofthesounds,Hushingitshundredsatonce,Bidsthelastloitererbacktohisbounds!
Oyoumaychallengethem,notaresponseGetthechurch-saintsontheirrounds!
V。
(Saintsgotheirrounds,whoshalldoubt?——
March,withthemoontoadmire,Upnave,downchancel,turntranseptabout,Superviseallbetwixtpavementandspire,Putratsandmicetotherout——
VI。
AloysandJurienandJust——
Orderthingsbacktotheirplace,Haveasharpeyelestthecandlesticksrust,Rubthechurch-plate,darnthesacrament-lace,Clearthedesk-velvetofdust。)
VII。
Here'syourbook,youngerfolksshelve!
PlayedInotoff-handandrunningly,Justnow,yourmasterpiece,hardnumbertwelve?
Here'swhatshouldstrike,couldonehandleitcunningly:
HeIptheaxe,giveitahelve!
VIII。
PageafterpageasIplayed,Everybar'srest,whereonewipesSweatfromone'sbrow,Ilookedupandsurveyed,O'ermythreeclaviersyonforestofpipesWhenceyoustillpeepedintheshade。
IX。
Sureyouwerewishfultospeak?
You,withbrowruledlikeascore,Yes,andeyesburiedinpitsoneachcheek,Liketwogreatbreves,astheywrotethemofyore,Eachsidethatbar,yourstraightbeak!
X。
Sureyousaid——``Good,themerenotes!
``Still,couldstthoutakemyintent,``KnowwhatprocuredmeourCompany'svotes——
``Amasterwerelaudedandsciolistsshent,``Partedthesheepfromthegoats!''
XI。
Wellthen,speakup,neverflinch!
Quick,eremycandle'sasnuff——Burnt,doyousee?toitsuttermostinch——
_I_believeinyou,butthat'snotenough:
Givemyconvictionaclinch!
XII。
Firstyoudeliveryourphrase——Nothingpropound,thatIsee,Fitinitselfformuchblameormuchpraise——
Answerednoless,wherenoanswerneedsbe:
OffstarttheTwoontheirways。
XIII。
StraightmustaThirdinterpose,Volunteerneedlesslyhelp;
InstrikesaFourth,aFifththrustsinhisnose,Sothecry'sopen,thekennel'sa-yelp,Argument'shottotheclose。
XIV。
Onedissertates,heiscandid;
Twomustdiscept,——hasdistinguished;
Threehelpsthecouple,ifeveryetmandid;
Fourprotests;Fivemakesadartatthethingwished:
BacktoOne,goesthecasebandied。
XV。
OnesayshissaywithadifferenceMoreofexpounding,explaining!
Allnowiswrangle,abuse,andvociferance;
Nowthere'satruce,all'ssubdued,self-restraining:
Five,though,standsoutallthestifferhence。
XVI。
Oneisincisive,corrosive:
Tworetorts,nettled,curt,crepitant;
Threemakesrejoinder,expansive,explosive;
Fouroverbearsthemall,stridentandstrepitant,Five……ODanaides,OSieve!
XVII。
Now,theyplyaxesandcrowbars;
Now,theyprickpinsatatissueFineasaskeinofthecasuistEscobar's
Workedontheboneofalie。Towhatissue?
WhereisourgainattheTwo-bars?
XVIII。
_Estfuga,volviturrota。_
Onwedrift:whereloomsthedimport?
One,Two,Three,Four,Five,contributetheirquota;
Somethingisgained,ifonecaughtbuttheimport——
Showitus,HuguesofSaxe-Gotha!
XIX。
Whatwithaffirming,denying,Holding,risposting,subjoining,All'slike……it'slike……foraninstanceI'mtrying……
There!Seeourroof,itsgiltmouldingandgroiningUnderthosespider-webslying!
XX。
Soyourfuguebroadensandthickens,Greatensanddeepensandlengthens,Tillweexclaim——``Butwhere'smusic,thedickens?
``Blotyethegold,whileyourspider-webstrengthens``——Blackedtothestoutestoftickens?''
XXI。
Iforman'seffortamzealous:
Provemesuchcensureunfounded!
Seemsitsurprisingalovergrowsjealous——
Hopes'twasforsomething,hisorgan-pipessounded,Tiringthreeboysatthebellows?
XXII。
IsityourmoralofLife?
Suchaweb,simpleandsubtle,Weaveweonearthhereinimpotentstrife,Backwardandforwardeachthrowinghisshuttle,Deathendingallwithaknife?
XXIII。
Overourheadstruthandnature——
Stillourlife'szigzagsanddodges,Insandouts,weavinganewlegislature——
God'sgoldjustshiningitslastwherethatlodges,Palledbeneathman'susurpature。
XXIV。
Soweo'ershroudstarsandroses,Cherubandtrophyandgarland;
NothingsgrowsomethingwhichquietlyclosesHeaven'searnesteye:notaglimpseofthefarlandGetsthroughourcommentsandglozes。
XXV。
Ahbuttraditions,inventions,(Sayweandmakeupavisage)
Somanymenwithsuchvariousintentions,Downthepastages,mustknowmorethanthisage!
Leavewethewebitsdimensions!
XXVI。
WhothinksHugueswroteforthedeaf,Provedameremountaininlabour?
Bettersubmit;tryagain;what'stheclef?
'Faith,'tisnotrifleforpipeandfortabor——
Fourflats,theminorinF。
XXVII。
Friend,yourfuguetaxesthefingerLearningitonce,whowouldloseit?
Yetallthewhileamisgivingwilllinger,Truth'sgoldeno'erusalthoughwerefuseit——
Nature,thro'cobwebswestringher。
XXVIII。
Hugues!Iadvise_MePn_
(CounterpointglareslikeaGorgon)
BidOne,Two,Three,Four,Five,clearthearena!
Saytheword,straightIunstopthefull-organ,Blareoutthe_modePalestrina。_
XXIX。
Whileintheroof,ifI'mrightthere,……Loyou,thewickinthesocket!
Hallo,yousacristan,showusalightthere!
Downitdips,gonelikearocket。
What,youwant,doyou,tocomeunawares,Sweepingthechurchupforfirstmorning-prayers,AndfindapoordevilhasendedhiscaresAtthefootofyourrotten-rungedrat-riddledstairs?
DoIcarrythemooninmypocket?
1Afugueisashortmelody。
2Keyboardoforgan。
3Anoteinmusic。
4ThedaughtersofDanaus,condemnedtopourwaterintoasieve。
5TheSpanishcasuist,soseverelymauledbyPascal。
6Aquickreturninfencing。
7Acloselywovenfabric。
8_GiovanniP。daPalestrina_,celebratedmusician(1524-1594)。