English

Sir (then Mr.) Walter Besant
Would never touch pheasant,
But Mr. James Rice
Thought it so nice.

At last we let each other go,
And I left you;
Left the demand and the desire of you
And all our windings in and out and bickerings of love;
And I was wandering
Through corridors and rooms of pictures,
Waiting for my mind to sharpen again
Out of its blur.

Now was stern air to breathe,
High, rational,
Clear of you and me.
The medals in their ordered cases,
Round, clean-edged,
Cooled me.
The tossing and tumbling of my body
Drew itself into form,
Into poise,

Nature indulgent, provident, and kind,
In all things that excel some use design'd.
The radiant sun, of ev'ry heav'nly light
The first, (did Mira not dispute that right)
Sends from above ten thousand blessings down,
Nor is he set so high for show alone;
His beams reviving with auspicious fire,
Freely we all enjoy what all admire.
The moon and stars, those faithful guides of night,
Are plac'd to help, not entertain, the sight.
Plants, fruits, and flow'rs, the fertile fields produce,
Nor for vain ornament, but wholesome use;

I Bill.

John, you're here too early; see,
Here's the schedule time.
Four full minutes here to wait,
Or we smash the downward freight! John.

Bill, I know it, and I try
To hold her back; she seems to fly!
Steam will make, and coal will burn,
Water boil, and drivers turn.
All ahead of time, — and I
And you know why!

II Bill.

All ahead of time again;
We shall smash the local train!
Thunder! John, the devil's in it;
See the watch, — six, seven minute! John.

Passive, and yet it is not passive.
There is no word to tell that droop of the head,
That turned-away rapt face, those outstretched arms:
Relinquishment, as of a woman yielding her body to love;
To the embrace of him she may nowise refuse;
Whose weakness, whose evil, whose un-love she sees,
But takes not back her faith;
Letting his will upon her be as her own will
To its utmost of asking;
Remembering — knowing as he cannot know —
The ends, the issues of love,
Yet without refusal of life or of death:

When faintly gleams the doubtful day,
Ere yet the dew drops on the thorn
Burrow a lustre from the ray
That tips with gold the dancing corn,
Health bids awake, and homage pay
To him who gave another morn.

And, well with strength his nerves to brace,
Urges the sportsman to the chase.

II.

Do we pursue the timid hare,
As trembling o'er the lawn she bounds?

I.

When wilt thou break, my stubborn heart!
O Death! how slow to take my part!
Whatever I pursue denies;
Death, Death itself, like Mira, flies.

II.

Love and Despair, like twins, possest
At the same fatal birth my breast:
No hope could be; her scorn was all
That to my destin'd lot could fall.

III.

I thought, alas! that Love could dwell
But in warm climes, where no snow fell;
Like plants that kindly heat require
To be maintain'd by constant fire.

IV.

Mr. Alfred Beit
Screamed suddenly in the night.
When they asked him why
He made no reply.

See! my soul 's serene invader !
See the face , I first, ador'd!
Heaven, for love , and pity , made her,
And with angel 's graces, stor'd.

Mark her forehead 's aweful rising ,
See her soul-subduing eyes !
Every look , and air , surprizing!
Modest, lively, soft, and wise.

Next to you , I own, I love her,
But your sweet, discerning, eye,
Must not, now, be jealous of her:
She's ne'er seen , but you are by .

White, blue, and green,—the whirling train
Flies through the hills, across the plain.
The varied landscape rushes by,
With wood and snow and distant sky;
And still the powers that shift the scene
Dress it in white and blue and green.

No scarlet of the tropic zone,
No purple of imperial rule;
The days of storm and blood are gone,—
This world is calm, serene, and cool.
White earth, blue sky, and spread between
Forests of living evergreen.

Ride on forever thus, in sooth,
In snow-white innocence of youth,