 | Poems (1905) |  |
[MATILDA.]
I tell you chearful Tales, with all my Heart—
Tales meet for Feasts, with idle Mirth and Glee;
But Woes come in, and they will claim a part—
A woeful part—with my sad muse and me.
Tales meet for Feasts, with idle Mirth and Glee;
But Woes come in, and they will claim a part—
A woeful part—with my sad muse and me.
Matilda was sitting at Brandon-Hall,
And gazed on a River that rolled in its pride,
Like an Arm of the Sea—if aloud you would call,
You could not be heard to the farthermost side.
She there saw the Ships in their Majesty glide,
And Boats born along by the Sail and the Oar;
And her Colin was there, and the boy she denied;
But he said, “Let him come—on my Life, I restore.
And gazed on a River that rolled in its pride,
Like an Arm of the Sea—if aloud you would call,
You could not be heard to the farthermost side.
She there saw the Ships in their Majesty glide,
And Boats born along by the Sail and the Oar;
And her Colin was there, and the boy she denied;
But he said, “Let him come—on my Life, I restore.
“Do give me the Boy, and no longer reprove;
“And, if I return him not safe to your Arms,
“The Blame shall be mine; and the penalty, love,
“For giving that Bosom such painful Alarms,
“Shall be to be banished and torn from your Charms;
“Nor think of [the] Danger, or aught that affright;
“But, assured that my Love shall protect him from Harms,
“Give place for the Day—we'll be happy at Night.”
“And, if I return him not safe to your Arms,
“The Blame shall be mine; and the penalty, love,
“For giving that Bosom such painful Alarms,
“Shall be to be banished and torn from your Charms;
“Nor think of [the] Danger, or aught that affright;
“But, assured that my Love shall protect him from Harms,
“Give place for the Day—we'll be happy at Night.”
She again took her Glass; and the Boat she could trace,
For the Gunwale was painted in white and in blue;
She distinguished the pair whom she longed to embrace,
And the Features of Colin were full in her View.
Then awhile from the Pleasure she sadly withdrew,
And forc'd her Attention on trifles that past;
“Oh, harder it blows!” she exclaim'd—it was true,
And Clouds roll'd on Clouds by the Strength of the Blast.
For the Gunwale was painted in white and in blue;
She distinguished the pair whom she longed to embrace,
And the Features of Colin were full in her View.
Then awhile from the Pleasure she sadly withdrew,
And forc'd her Attention on trifles that past;
“Oh, harder it blows!” she exclaim'd—it was true,
And Clouds roll'd on Clouds by the Strength of the Blast.
517
She gazes intensely; “['Tis] danger,” she cried;
And a Youth who had been a whole Summer at sea
Repeats the word “Danger!” in wonderful Pride,
And asks her what manner of “Danger” could be.
She knew not; but doubted; the Shore on the Lea
Was lost in her troubles—she wished them on shore:
There in Cold they would rest, but in safety would be,
And the Tide would her Treasures in safety restore.
And a Youth who had been a whole Summer at sea
Repeats the word “Danger!” in wonderful Pride,
And asks her what manner of “Danger” could be.
She knew not; but doubted; the Shore on the Lea
Was lost in her troubles—she wished them on shore:
There in Cold they would rest, but in safety would be,
And the Tide would her Treasures in safety restore.
I dwell on the Confines of Anguish, but still
Must plunge in the Midst; for the wife has again
The Tube in her Hand! 'Tis her Dread, but her Will,
To fix on the Object that gives her such pain.
She finds to relinquish the Sight is in vain,
And this moment she gazes; but, what to behold,
It pierces her Soul, it unsettles her Brain—
The Boat is o'erset!—and her Story is told.
Must plunge in the Midst; for the wife has again
The Tube in her Hand! 'Tis her Dread, but her Will,
To fix on the Object that gives her such pain.
She finds to relinquish the Sight is in vain,
And this moment she gazes; but, what to behold,
It pierces her Soul, it unsettles her Brain—
The Boat is o'erset!—and her Story is told.
She saw both the Husband and Child in the boat;
She saw the effect of the Blast as it blew;
And she sees in her Sorrow their Bodies [afloat],
And she draws in her Madness the Boat and its Crew.
'Tis a Grief to behold her so calmly pursue
Her Tale that she tells, and is eager to tell;
And she says, when she tells it—“Indeed, it is true—
“And I wonder I bear it so calmly and well!”
She saw the effect of the Blast as it blew;
And she sees in her Sorrow their Bodies [afloat],
And she draws in her Madness the Boat and its Crew.
'Tis a Grief to behold her so calmly pursue
Her Tale that she tells, and is eager to tell;
And she says, when she tells it—“Indeed, it is true—
“And I wonder I bear it so calmly and well!”
| Poems (1905) | |