Poems By William Bell Scott. Ballads, Studies from Nature, Sonnets, etc. Illustrated by Seventeen Etchings by the Author and L. Alma Tadema |
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| FOUR ACTS OF SAINT CUTHBERT. |
 | Poems |  |
237
FOUR ACTS OF SAINT CUTHBERT.
FIRST. SAINT CUTHBERT'S TRIAL OF FAITH.
A fair-faced man our Cuthbert was,
The fairest ever seen,
His hair was fair and his eyebrow dark,
And bonny blue his eyen.
The fairest ever seen,
His hair was fair and his eyebrow dark,
And bonny blue his eyen.
His kin were lewd and he was meek,
So he left them in God's fear,
And at morn he sat at his shealing's yett;
The sun shone warm and clear.
So he left them in God's fear,
And at morn he sat at his shealing's yett;
The sun shone warm and clear.
The sun was high, it was so still
On hill and stream and wood,
That forth with he broke into songs
Of praise to God so good.
On hill and stream and wood,
That forth with he broke into songs
Of praise to God so good.
The Saints above the firmament
Said one to another then:
‘Hear ye that song from a land so dark
Of wicked and violent men?’
Said one to another then:
‘Hear ye that song from a land so dark
Of wicked and violent men?’
238
But Christ Himself above the Saints
Heard what was said and sung;
‘The heart of man is dark,’ quoth He,
‘This Cuthbert is but young.’
Heard what was said and sung;
‘The heart of man is dark,’ quoth He,
‘This Cuthbert is but young.’
Therewith a cloud passed o'er the sun
And a shadow o'er Cuthbert's face;
At once his limbs waxed lax and shrank,
And blisters rose apace.
And a shadow o'er Cuthbert's face;
At once his limbs waxed lax and shrank,
And blisters rose apace.
The gold hair of his head grew gray,
His beard grew gray also,
He laid his breviary aside,
For his hand shook to and fro.
His beard grew gray also,
He laid his breviary aside,
For his hand shook to and fro.
The husbond crossed the stubble-field
Bringing his daily bread,
But when that leprous face he saw,
The evil man was glad.
Bringing his daily bread,
But when that leprous face he saw,
The evil man was glad.
‘Ha, Cuthbert, but yestreen a boy,
So old how canst thou be—
Now know I that thou art no Saint,
But God doth punish thee.’
So old how canst thou be—
Now know I that thou art no Saint,
But God doth punish thee.’
The husbond throws his cakes of rye
Upon the bench and goes,
But as he turned the meekest words
Of thanks from Cuthbert rose.
Upon the bench and goes,
But as he turned the meekest words
Of thanks from Cuthbert rose.
239
The maiden from the hill came next
With a bunch of flowers so kind;
Her bowl of milk each second night
Well knew he where to find.
With a bunch of flowers so kind;
Her bowl of milk each second night
Well knew he where to find.
A mountain maid, she was abashed
A clerk to look upon,
And she would wait at eve till he
Into his cell was gone,
Then steal within the yett, and lay
The can upon a stone.
A clerk to look upon,
And she would wait at eve till he
Into his cell was gone,
Then steal within the yett, and lay
The can upon a stone.
That day she sat upon the knoll,
And saw him kneeling there;
She deemed it could not Cuthbert be,
So gray was his brown hair.
And saw him kneeling there;
She deemed it could not Cuthbert be,
So gray was his brown hair.
Then down with silent feet she came
And hid behind the trees,
That by his shealing's end grew straight,
The howf of summer bees.
And hid behind the trees,
That by his shealing's end grew straight,
The howf of summer bees.
She looked from out this covert good,
She saw the change so grim;
But more than ever beautiful
She thought his evening hymn.
She saw the change so grim;
But more than ever beautiful
She thought his evening hymn.
240
The tears then from her sweet eyes fell,
To think of his beautië,
More swiftly gone than sorrel flowers,
More changed than autumn tree.
To think of his beautië,
More swiftly gone than sorrel flowers,
More changed than autumn tree.
Now Cuthbert as he rose from prayer,
He saw the shaking leaves,
And heard the sobs, then asked he,
‘Who is it thus that grieves—
Is it the maiden from the hill
The alms of milk that leaves?’
He saw the shaking leaves,
And heard the sobs, then asked he,
‘Who is it thus that grieves—
Is it the maiden from the hill
The alms of milk that leaves?’
With that he passed the shealing's end,
Among the trees and bent,
But the maiden rose right hastily,
And away in fear she went.
Among the trees and bent,
But the maiden rose right hastily,
And away in fear she went.
The good man smiled to see her run,
Nor murmured he at all,
But read within the holy book
Until the night 'gan fall;
Then cheerfully for sleep turned round,
And shut his wicket small.
Nor murmured he at all,
But read within the holy book
Until the night 'gan fall;
Then cheerfully for sleep turned round,
And shut his wicket small.
Thereafter hunger in him rose,
But none brought cakes of rye,
And sore thirst made him very faint,
But no herd-maid came nigh:
Upon his knees he stumbled down
That praying he might die.
But none brought cakes of rye,
And sore thirst made him very faint,
But no herd-maid came nigh:
241
That praying he might die.
‘As is his prayer shall be his meed,’
Said Christ upon his throne;
When lo, he askèd not for strength
And beauty once his own.
Said Christ upon his throne;
When lo, he askèd not for strength
And beauty once his own.
He askèd not the bread and milk
The neighbours wont to give,
But he gave thanks to God who had
Measured his time to live.
The neighbours wont to give,
But he gave thanks to God who had
Measured his time to live.
The brown cloud passed from off the sun
Now hidden five days and more,
And from his face—he rose therefrom
More beautiful than before!
Now hidden five days and more,
And from his face—he rose therefrom
More beautiful than before!
242
SECOND. SAINT CUTHBERT'S PENANCE.
This bield of Melrose wide and tall,
Whereof we four are freres,
Was at the time established first
When Cuthbert grew in years.
Whereof we four are freres,
Was at the time established first
When Cuthbert grew in years.
And so he joined the banded few
Who left their cares and strife,
With vows eschewing shows and gear,
To live a cloistered life.
Who left their cares and strife,
With vows eschewing shows and gear,
To live a cloistered life.
I ween he was more humble than
The lowliest brother there,
Scarce would he dare to look up to
The great gilt rood at prayer
The lowliest brother there,
Scarce would he dare to look up to
The great gilt rood at prayer
Scarce would he take his turn to read
Aloud at the midday meal,
Although he was so learnèd,—
He would the same conceal.
Aloud at the midday meal,
Although he was so learnèd,—
He would the same conceal.
243
Scarce would he speak with fewest words
Of Jesu's love and dole,
But ever and anon the tears
Over his eyelids stole.
Of Jesu's love and dole,
But ever and anon the tears
Over his eyelids stole.
The man whom Jesu died to bless
He sometimes looked like too,
But then his gladness suddenly
To woful sadness grew.
He sometimes looked like too,
But then his gladness suddenly
To woful sadness grew.
Oft would he scan from day to day
Saint Chrysostom's great book,
And all this watching-time no food
Within his lips he took.
Saint Chrysostom's great book,
And all this watching-time no food
Within his lips he took.
Oft by the night, the winter night,
When all are fain to cower,
And other monks their rosaries laid
Aside till matin hour,
He went forth on the crispèd frost
Right through the snow or shower.
When all are fain to cower,
And other monks their rosaries laid
Aside till matin hour,
He went forth on the crispèd frost
Right through the snow or shower.
Then gathered some with whisperings
And twinklings of the eye,
Who went about from cell to cell
Saint Cuthbert to decry.
And twinklings of the eye,
Who went about from cell to cell
Saint Cuthbert to decry.
244
But still their spite he noted not,
So byeward and so meek,
And when that night was deepest dark
The door was heard to creak.
So byeward and so meek,
And when that night was deepest dark
The door was heard to creak.
Then from his pallet suddenly
A cunning frere arose;
‘I'll see,’ quoth he, ‘where in the mirk
Our stalwart Cuthbert goes.’
A cunning frere arose;
‘I'll see,’ quoth he, ‘where in the mirk
Our stalwart Cuthbert goes.’
So saying from his couch he slid
And softly followèd him,
Across the wood into the haugh,
Led by the snow-marks dim.
And softly followèd him,
Across the wood into the haugh,
Led by the snow-marks dim.
Late at sunset the sleet had blown
Into the eye of day;
Their slow steps verily were cold,
Imprinted in the clay.
Into the eye of day;
Their slow steps verily were cold,
Imprinted in the clay.
He followed to the river's edge;
But soon repented he
That ever he did on such a chace
With the other freres agree.
But soon repented he
That ever he did on such a chace
With the other freres agree.
For fear came like an icicle
Into his curdled brain,
And sure he felt the cold more keen
Than earthly frost or rain.
Into his curdled brain,
And sure he felt the cold more keen
Than earthly frost or rain.
245
But from the stars shot arrowy sparks
As if alone to him;
Till he waxed more wrothful than afraid,
All woebegone but grim.
As if alone to him;
Till he waxed more wrothful than afraid,
All woebegone but grim.
Quoth he, ‘The youth must have some nook
Wherein to bait him soon;
I'll find him out although I die
I' the sedges in a swoon.’
Wherein to bait him soon;
I'll find him out although I die
I' the sedges in a swoon.’
Upon the sand he set his foot,
He sank up to his thigh,
And further in, hands raised in prayer,
He saw sweet Cuthbert lie.
He sank up to his thigh,
And further in, hands raised in prayer,
He saw sweet Cuthbert lie.
And a voice in his ear
Said clear and low,
‘Until my servant press his bier
What thou hast seen let no man hear;
Thy steps are loosened, go!’
Said clear and low,
‘Until my servant press his bier
What thou hast seen let no man hear;
Thy steps are loosened, go!’
246
THIRD. SAINT CUTHBERT'S HERMITAGE.
The Saint had grown in years, as I
Have now by our Father's grace—
When he left the cloister for the cell,
Alone for a lonelier place.
Have now by our Father's grace—
When he left the cloister for the cell,
Alone for a lonelier place.
He travelled without sack or scrip
As the sun doth day by day,
Till the patient staff he leant upon
Was chafèd half away.
As the sun doth day by day,
Till the patient staff he leant upon
Was chafèd half away.
Nor when he came into a town
Did he go near the lord,
But with the humblest did he house,
And sat at the scantest board.
Did he go near the lord,
But with the humblest did he house,
And sat at the scantest board.
At length upon Norhumber-land,
Beside the hungering sea,
He stood as the landward breezes brought
The fisherman home with glee.
Beside the hungering sea,
He stood as the landward breezes brought
The fisherman home with glee.
247
‘Why stand ye here,’ the fisher said,
‘Your eye on the waters gray?’
‘I see,’ quoth he, ‘an island small,
Afar, like peace, away.’
‘Your eye on the waters gray?’
‘I see,’ quoth he, ‘an island small,
Afar, like peace, away.’
‘An isle of rocks and sand it is,
And no fresh spring is there,
And in its blackened clefts and holes
Devils and changelings fare.’
And no fresh spring is there,
And in its blackened clefts and holes
Devils and changelings fare.’
‘A hermit's benison be thine,—
Its name I now would learn;’
‘Father, a poor man's thanks are mine,
The island's name is Ferne.’
Its name I now would learn;’
‘Father, a poor man's thanks are mine,
The island's name is Ferne.’
Next day upon Ferne's beach he stept
From the good fisher's bark;
His welcome such as Noah's was
When he issued from the ark.
From the good fisher's bark;
His welcome such as Noah's was
When he issued from the ark.
The boards of a tangled wreck and boughs
There stranded by the tide,
Took he for balks to bigg a bower
Wherein he might abide.
There stranded by the tide,
Took he for balks to bigg a bower
Wherein he might abide.
Next, that the waters might not swell
Upon him in the night,
He made a wall with stones, four men
Can't shift with all their might.
Upon him in the night,
He made a wall with stones, four men
Can't shift with all their might.
248
That done, amidst his earthen floor,
Beside his pan and wood,
He caused a crystal spring to rise
By signing of the rood.
Beside his pan and wood,
He caused a crystal spring to rise
By signing of the rood.
With that he worken in the earth
And sowed his onions there;
And when the crows and sea-mews came,
They understood his care;
And sowed his onions there;
And when the crows and sea-mews came,
They understood his care;
And lifting up their beaks unfed,
Flew silently away;
Also the mermaids, devils and wraiths,
They came no more that way.
Flew silently away;
Also the mermaids, devils and wraiths,
They came no more that way.
So Christ doth aid his faithful Saints
To do such wondrous things,
Their humbleness surpassing far
The power and force of kings.
To do such wondrous things,
Their humbleness surpassing far
The power and force of kings.
Also it is more beautiful
Than Arthur's painted arms,
Or belle Isonde's long locks of love,
Or Queen Guenever's charms.
Than Arthur's painted arms,
Or belle Isonde's long locks of love,
Or Queen Guenever's charms.
And happy it is beyond the song
Of minstrelle's gemmèd keys;
Whom knights with guerdons in their hands
Can purchase as they please.
Of minstrelle's gemmèd keys;
Whom knights with guerdons in their hands
Can purchase as they please.
249
Roundel and flourish and gleeman's chime!
Hark! in the ha' we hear them now,
The wine is flowing rife I trow,
This is an Easter gay!
Saint Cuthbert! pray ye for us all
Before we pass away.
Hark! in the ha' we hear them now,
The wine is flowing rife I trow,
This is an Easter gay!
Saint Cuthbert! pray ye for us all
Before we pass away.
King Egfrid from Norhumber-land,
And Saint Theodore also,
With a silver crosier o'er the waves
To Cuthbert's island go.
And Saint Theodore also,
With a silver crosier o'er the waves
To Cuthbert's island go.
True tears then from his old eyes came,
(Blest ground whereon they fell!)
For a gyve of love did hold his heart
To his God-fashioned cell.
(Blest ground whereon they fell!)
For a gyve of love did hold his heart
To his God-fashioned cell.
‘I go,’ said he, ‘at God's good heste
Unto high places now,
Would that I might be spared, but all
At God's good heste should bow.’
With that he humbly bended down,
And so received the mitre-crown.
Unto high places now,
Would that I might be spared, but all
At God's good heste should bow.’
With that he humbly bended down,
And so received the mitre-crown.
250
FOURTH. SAINT CUTHBERT'S DEATH.
My words are few and like the days
That o'er this brow may flit
Ere you my brethren well-beloved
See my mass-tapers lit.
That o'er this brow may flit
Ere you my brethren well-beloved
See my mass-tapers lit.
Saint Cuthbert knew before they came,
When death-pains he should dree,
And for the last time took the cup
Kneeling on naked knee.
When death-pains he should dree,
And for the last time took the cup
Kneeling on naked knee.
Then turned he on the altar-steps
Amidst the altar's light,
And laid aside his ring and staff,
And cope so richly dight.
Amidst the altar's light,
And laid aside his ring and staff,
And cope so richly dight.
Lastly he doffed his mitre there,
And every one 'gan weep:
Quickly he blessed them: then went forth
As a child that goes to sleep.
And every one 'gan weep:
Quickly he blessed them: then went forth
As a child that goes to sleep.
251
‘Now follow me not,’ said he, ‘no one
Must follow me I trow,
Save a brother who can hold the oar,
I need none other now.’
Must follow me I trow,
Save a brother who can hold the oar,
I need none other now.’
They kissed his garments' hem and feet,
They kissed them o'er and o'er,
And many times they stayed him quite
That they might kiss them more.
But he had caused them all to go
Before he reached the shore.
They kissed them o'er and o'er,
And many times they stayed him quite
That they might kiss them more.
But he had caused them all to go
Before he reached the shore.
And now he seats him in the boat
With a rower by his side,—
Along the greenery of the sea
And foam-blossom they glide.
With a rower by his side,—
Along the greenery of the sea
And foam-blossom they glide.
Soon they come to the long black swell
That heaves their bark about:
Hark, on the naked craigs of Ferne,
The breakers, how they shout!
That heaves their bark about:
Hark, on the naked craigs of Ferne,
The breakers, how they shout!
Nearer they come, the boatman now
Holds on to the landing-stone,
Saint Cuthbert riseth from his seat
And totters out alone.
Holds on to the landing-stone,
Saint Cuthbert riseth from his seat
And totters out alone.
252
‘Father,’ said the boatman, ‘now
The sun dips in the sea,—
Must I return alone, and when
Shall I come back for thee?’
The sun dips in the sea,—
Must I return alone, and when
Shall I come back for thee?’
The west was red, the cold wind blew,
The clouds were gathering grim,
Twilight was settling into night,
When Cuthbert answered him:
The clouds were gathering grim,
Twilight was settling into night,
When Cuthbert answered him:
‘Come when it seemeth good to thee,
Or come no more at all,
But if thou com'st uncowl thy head,
And bring with thee a pall.’
Or come no more at all,
But if thou com'st uncowl thy head,
And bring with thee a pall.’
No more the rower asked, but watched
The feeble feet go on,
When lo, the door of his ancient hut
Was opened gently from within.
And an odorous light
Streamed out on the night;
He entered, and it closed him in;
The Saint to heaven was gone.
The feeble feet go on,
When lo, the door of his ancient hut
Was opened gently from within.
And an odorous light
Streamed out on the night;
He entered, and it closed him in;
The Saint to heaven was gone.
| Poems | |