 | Verse-tales, Lyrics and Translations |  |
26
“AND NOW ABIDETH.....HOPE.”
How calm and sweet it is to night! The full moon shineth down
With not a breath of wind to break her light on the golden brown
Of autumn leaves, and green of grass, and the folds of my black gown—
With not a breath of wind to break her light on the golden brown
Of autumn leaves, and green of grass, and the folds of my black gown—
The gown I have worn since the heavy time my dear was taken away.
My soul is quiet too this night; just now I heard one say,
“We have not seen her look like that for many and many a day.”
My soul is quiet too this night; just now I heard one say,
“We have not seen her look like that for many and many a day.”
I smiled to hear—yes, even I, who not for long have smiled,
But only curved pale lips whose curve was rather proud than mild;
For now in me is born, I know, the heart of a little child.
But only curved pale lips whose curve was rather proud than mild;
For now in me is born, I know, the heart of a little child.
I was sitting yesterday alone; my household tasks were done,
And time was come that I should pause from work to think upon
My darling, who, five years ago, went from the blessed sun.
And time was come that I should pause from work to think upon
My darling, who, five years ago, went from the blessed sun.
27
The day was warm, the sky was blue, the sounds were gay I heard,
A stream that babbled o'er its stones, the chirp of many a bird,
And my sisters' talk, wherein a laugh seemed wed to every word.
A stream that babbled o'er its stones, the chirp of many a bird,
And my sisters' talk, wherein a laugh seemed wed to every word.
I watched them walking hand in hand with that free step of theirs,
Fair faces only grave when raised to God in holy prayers;
I said, “God save them from the woe that took me unawares!”
Fair faces only grave when raised to God in holy prayers;
I said, “God save them from the woe that took me unawares!”
“God give them all their hearts' desire! God keep them!” did I say,
Till vague “God keep” grew earnest strong, and then I flung away
The prayer, because He did not keep one dearer far than they.
Till vague “God keep” grew earnest strong, and then I flung away
The prayer, because He did not keep one dearer far than they.
“My darling from the dog He could have saved and would not save;
The terrible too late seals up the lips that cry and crave—
The love that saves the worst who breathe avails not in the grave.
The terrible too late seals up the lips that cry and crave—
The love that saves the worst who breathe avails not in the grave.
“Myriads and myriads perished souls !—a tale that none can tell!
I heard it oft, but never knew till my beloved fell
From golden sun and golden life into the dark of hell.
I heard it oft, but never knew till my beloved fell
From golden sun and golden life into the dark of hell.
28
“He who had sinned a grievous sin, was mad with grief and shame—
Oh, I was by his body fair, and so they hushed their blame,
But with maimed rites they buried him in a grave without a name.
Oh, I was by his body fair, and so they hushed their blame,
But with maimed rites they buried him in a grave without a name.
“Beneath the sun no face more fair than that young face of his;
No lips more worthy to receive the Father's pardon-kiss;
The robe and ring had never graced a nobler one than this!”
No lips more worthy to receive the Father's pardon-kiss;
The robe and ring had never graced a nobler one than this!”
So moaned I in my heart last eve, as never pale or dim
But clear as the day I saw it first, arose the face of him,
Whate'er to others, unto me fair beyond seraphim.
But clear as the day I saw it first, arose the face of him,
Whate'er to others, unto me fair beyond seraphim.
“Why am I thus, O God, my God?” I moaned in great despair;
Then rose and went out from the house, and passed my sisters fair;
They checked their laugh— I knew they said, “She goeth to weep there.”
Then rose and went out from the house, and passed my sisters fair;
They checked their laugh— I knew they said, “She goeth to weep there.”
How long I sat upon the ground I know not, only I—
I all alone, with head bowed down by weight of agony;
It was so old, so old a prayer I prayed, that I might die.
I all alone, with head bowed down by weight of agony;
It was so old, so old a prayer I prayed, that I might die.
But when the shadows lengthened out, I rose, my way I took
Home by the fields on the hillside, crossed by the little brook,
And there I met with one who had Christ's heaven in her sweet look.
Home by the fields on the hillside, crossed by the little brook,
And there I met with one who had Christ's heaven in her sweet look.
29
She stopped and stood, as waiting me, for just a minute's space:
I looked, and thought I had never seen so beautiful a face;
Eyes' loving joy and joyful love, and mouth's benignant grace.
I looked, and thought I had never seen so beautiful a face;
Eyes' loving joy and joyful love, and mouth's benignant grace.
She only asked her way of me, but made me feel that I
In listening to her questioning, and giving my reply,
Had somehow done a gentle deed of lovely courtesy.
In listening to her questioning, and giving my reply,
Had somehow done a gentle deed of lovely courtesy.
Simply, strangely, it came to pass, the woman went not on,
And I was fain to linger there until the set of sun;
And I had learned to bear my pain before the day was done.
And I was fain to linger there until the set of sun;
And I had learned to bear my pain before the day was done.
Simply, strangely, it came to pass that I, who had not borne
To let my mother's children see my tears when I would mourn,
But was alone, yea, all alone, when I went and did return—
To let my mother's children see my tears when I would mourn,
But was alone, yea, all alone, when I went and did return—
I, who was shy and all reserved with those whom blood made near,
Who wrapped myself in silence pale, from kinsfolk true and dear,
Was weeping on this woman's breast, as knowing her many a year.
Who wrapped myself in silence pale, from kinsfolk true and dear,
Was weeping on this woman's breast, as knowing her many a year.
I shall not see her here again who brought this life to me;
To-day she was to go away to work beyond the sea:
God hath a supreme joy for her wherever she may be.
To-day she was to go away to work beyond the sea:
God hath a supreme joy for her wherever she may be.
Was it the look upon her face or the blessed words she said
That drew my soul with bands of love? O lover dead, not dead—
As one his mother comforteth so was I comforted.
That drew my soul with bands of love? O lover dead, not dead—
As one his mother comforteth so was I comforted.
30
Was comforted because I saw in that short hour much more
Than e'er these eyes of mine had seen in all my life before—
Dear God, how much Thou must forgive to us who try Thee sore!
Than e'er these eyes of mine had seen in all my life before—
Dear God, how much Thou must forgive to us who try Thee sore!
Who try Thee sore in the sorest way that man his God can try,
Giving Thy love an earthly span with earthly life to die,
Thy Love, O Love, who art the same to all eternity.
Giving Thy love an earthly span with earthly life to die,
Thy Love, O Love, who art the same to all eternity.
Thou knowest I often trembled sore because a hope would flit
Across this darkened life of mine, and a moment lighten it
With a light more beautiful than dawn, than day more exquisite.
Across this darkened life of mine, and a moment lighten it
With a light more beautiful than dawn, than day more exquisite.
O gracious God, Thou knowest all, Thou knowest I was so weak
I dared not speak of wondrous things where I were first to speak,
I dared not seek the hidden truth if others would not seek.
I dared not speak of wondrous things where I were first to speak,
I dared not seek the hidden truth if others would not seek.
I took the iron in my hand, I walked upon the share,
I seared my hands and seared my feet, and set my soul to bear
The agony in silentness, and thought Thy will was there.
I seared my hands and seared my feet, and set my soul to bear
The agony in silentness, and thought Thy will was there.
I could not but depart from Thee when I thought thou didst this thing,
To see Thy sheep astray and have the power, not will, to bring
From loathly marish-flats of death into Thy sheltering.
To see Thy sheep astray and have the power, not will, to bring
From loathly marish-flats of death into Thy sheltering.
But I did not wrong my human heart to say Thy will be done;
I sat in darkness, knowing well 'twas darkness, not the sun;
I slandered Thee, but never called Thee slandered Loving One.
I sat in darkness, knowing well 'twas darkness, not the sun;
I slandered Thee, but never called Thee slandered Loving One.
31
I was twenty-five a month ago, and but one day the chief
Of light and good has been my own—O sin indeed and grief—
But now I say, Lord, I believe, help Thou mine unbelief.
Of light and good has been my own—O sin indeed and grief—
But now I say, Lord, I believe, help Thou mine unbelief.
Faithful and true, I say it o'er and o'er, Faithful and true,
Old things are safe within Thy hands Who makest all things new;
Lord, Thou hast done, and what Thou dost, Thyself will not undo.
Old things are safe within Thy hands Who makest all things new;
Lord, Thou hast done, and what Thou dost, Thyself will not undo.
I leave my darling in Thy hand, I know him safe with Thee;
His life with us was but an hour of his eternity,
Wherein he shall be sanctified, and by Thy truth made free.
His life with us was but an hour of his eternity,
Wherein he shall be sanctified, and by Thy truth made free.
| Verse-tales, Lyrics and Translations | |