Days and Hours :: :: University of Virginia Library

Two Sisters in a honeysuckle shade,
Sat singing the same song—each slender waist
Was by the other's loving arm embraced,
Their mingled hearts the selfsame motion made;
Their downy cheeks against each other leaning,
Each on the other warmer ruby laid;
Their clustering locks, the same gold lustre sheening,
Rain'd o'er their necks from many a loosed braid.

II

They sang of mirth perennial as the clime
Afar, where all the year is Summer weather;
Of fortunes shared, misfortunes wept together;
Of constancy inflexible as Time;

Of unborn daughters wed to unborn heirs;
Their love begun in childhood never ending;
And bright-hair'd, blue-eye'd beauty such as theirs,
Thro' the unnumber'd generations blending.

III

Their blessed voices made such deep accord
That twin seem'd one—alas! that very morn
Truth changed to Slander, Love was shrunk to Scorn;
And they were sunder'd by an idle Lord:
A jealous Fury sow'd their hearts with sighs;
No more they sate, or walk'd, or sang together;
Their very beauty died within their eyes,
Like timeless blossoms which the frost winds wither!

IV

Two angry striplings—each a burning son
And heir of Vengeance, at a banquet sate,
And pouring hot wine on their ancient hate,
Rail'd at each other, as their sires had done;

And from amid the appalled guests they stood,
With hands that lighten'd steel, and eyes of flame,
Till lips grew pale for fear their stormy blood
With fiercer drops should put the wine to shame!

V

‘Hold back,’ they cried, ‘were not our fathers foes,
And theirs before them? how shall we be friends?
To us the heritage of Hate descends,
Life born in strife, and war unto its close:’
Two sisters came, and drew those foes apart—
Each bound her brother's foe with her own charms,
Each to the fetters link'd her brother's heart,
And waged his battle with enchanted arms!

VI

Again two pledged their faith to one another—
‘We will be friends,’ they said, ‘while life endures,
In wealth, or penury, or amid the lures
Of Syren tongues—for each shall have a brother

Whose voice shall win him from the subtlest spell
Of all their song:’ they said, and swore an oath—
Vain armour for true hearts that loved so well—
But Love and Fate look'd down, and laugh'd at both!

VII

And lo! a damsel with a scornful brow
Lean'd from a lattice, as they pass'd beneath;
That day they were forsworn—their mutual breath
Was cursing, till one laid the other low;
Yet neither did possess her, for she died
Loving a third, but never was his mate:
Grave on their sepulchres, Love, Hate, and Pride—
Blind Nature, and unconquerable Fate!