 | Julian Fane, Ad matrem |  |
1
I.
[Doth love—doth filial love—delight to vaunt]
Doth love—doth filial love—delight to vauntIts own existence?—or, if I should be
Silent this day, wouldst thou inflict the taunt,
Saying, “Thou'rt changed—no thought hast thou of me?”
Not so; within my heart of hearts they dwell,
Dear thoughts of thee (oh! dearer than the breath
Of life itself), and not a power, save death,
Shall pluck them from me. This thou knowest well.
Nor doth my love (enamoured of its own
Sweet self) court notice in the Poet's lay.
Then wherefore sing? A voice of heavenly tone
Comes annual to me on thy natal day,
And whispers, even as now, “Pass not her shrine
Unhonoured.” Therefore I this chaplet twine.
Berlin; March 13th, 1849.
2
II.
[Dearest and best! on this thy natal day]
Dearest and best! on this thy natal day,
The Muse, as wont, in amaranthine bowers
Wreathes for thy brow a coronal of flowers,
Culling the sweets from every trembling spray:
The Muse, as wont, in amaranthine bowers
Wreathes for thy brow a coronal of flowers,
Culling the sweets from every trembling spray:
But as I, glad, the annual strains prolong,
Like some sad air that sighs against the leaf
The voice of Memory, mellowing in her grief,
Comes uninvoked, and mingles with the song;
Like some sad air that sighs against the leaf
The voice of Memory, mellowing in her grief,
Comes uninvoked, and mingles with the song;
Remembering her, whom in a by-gone year
(Sweet flower that on thy breast maternal grew)
The nipping breath of March untimely slew.
(Sweet flower that on thy breast maternal grew)
The nipping breath of March untimely slew.
So comes my greeting to thee, Mother dear,
Something less glad, and in the wreath I bind
With laurels gay a cypress branch is twined.
Something less glad, and in the wreath I bind
With laurels gay a cypress branch is twined.
Cambridge; March 13th, 1850.
3
III.
[Shrill sings the merry lark, as in the east]
Shrill sings the merry lark, as in the east
Morn o'er the dun cloud steps with glowing feet;
And Philomela from a dewy breast
Pours her wild note the rising moon to greet:
The woodland rings with song, when rarely-sweet,
Soft airs announce the loved return of Spring,
And every grateful heart with music meet
Best loves aloud to gratulate and sing
The sight and fair recurrence of a happy thing!
Morn o'er the dun cloud steps with glowing feet;
And Philomela from a dewy breast
Pours her wild note the rising moon to greet:
The woodland rings with song, when rarely-sweet,
Soft airs announce the loved return of Spring,
And every grateful heart with music meet
Best loves aloud to gratulate and sing
The sight and fair recurrence of a happy thing!
Rise, happy day! above the Eastern hills,
Come fair, come cloudless in unsmirched attire,
The mingling melodies of birds and rills
Thou shalt not lack, nor music of the lyre,
If my frail skill further my fond desire;
Not Morning to the loud lark in her glee,
Nor to rapt Philomel the moon's faint fire,
Nor Spring to every bird that carols free,
Such theme for song restores as thy return to me!
Come fair, come cloudless in unsmirched attire,
The mingling melodies of birds and rills
Thou shalt not lack, nor music of the lyre,
If my frail skill further my fond desire;
Not Morning to the loud lark in her glee,
4
Nor Spring to every bird that carols free,
Such theme for song restores as thy return to me!
Whilom thou camest, smiling upon earth
Like one that bears glad news of sweet surprise,
And, by thee ushered to her mortal birth,
A child, now woman in her fairest guise,
First on the bleak world oped her infant eyes!
Her, through long years and seasons circling round,
Larger of heart, more gracious, gentle, wise,
Thy annual visitation still hath found;
Sweet soul of stainless worth by moral beauty crowned!
Like one that bears glad news of sweet surprise,
And, by thee ushered to her mortal birth,
A child, now woman in her fairest guise,
First on the bleak world oped her infant eyes!
Her, through long years and seasons circling round,
Larger of heart, more gracious, gentle, wise,
Thy annual visitation still hath found;
Sweet soul of stainless worth by moral beauty crowned!
Once more thou comest, and the hand of Time
Slides a fresh pearl upon her threaded years,
And I once more with poverty of rhyme,
Rich in my large love, do salute her ears;
Nor yet forbear my song, though sad appears
The shade of Sorrow on her tender face,
And sad her eyes new-watered by her tears,
And all her visage by the cloudlike trace
Of mourning shrouded in a melancholy grace.
Slides a fresh pearl upon her threaded years,
And I once more with poverty of rhyme,
Rich in my large love, do salute her ears;
Nor yet forbear my song, though sad appears
The shade of Sorrow on her tender face,
And sad her eyes new-watered by her tears,
And all her visage by the cloudlike trace
Of mourning shrouded in a melancholy grace.
5
But thou wilt not rebuke because I sing,
Nor wonted tribute of my love forego:
Mother! thou knowest no conceits I bring,
Nor hollow words to mock thy holy woe;
Thy loss is mine!—for him who rests below,
Lapt in the long night of Death's leaden sleep,
Our mutual tears from kindred sources flow;
And while my own well from their fountain deep,
False words I cannot bring, nor wish thee not to weep.
Nor wonted tribute of my love forego:
Mother! thou knowest no conceits I bring,
Nor hollow words to mock thy holy woe;
Thy loss is mine!—for him who rests below,
Lapt in the long night of Death's leaden sleep,
Our mutual tears from kindred sources flow;
And while my own well from their fountain deep,
False words I cannot bring, nor wish thee not to weep.
He sleeps!—no storms of roused emotion mar
The waveless calm of his unruffled breast:
The strife of clamorous tongues, the world's rude jar,
Pierce not the silence of his placid rest;
But only winds, in whispers from the west,
And birds that low their timorous carol trill,
Sigh o'er his grave with many a wild flower drest;
Nightly the dews on him their tears distil,
The heavens shine calm above.—He sleeps—and all is still.
The waveless calm of his unruffled breast:
The strife of clamorous tongues, the world's rude jar,
Pierce not the silence of his placid rest;
But only winds, in whispers from the west,
And birds that low their timorous carol trill,
Sigh o'er his grave with many a wild flower drest;
Nightly the dews on him their tears distil,
The heavens shine calm above.—He sleeps—and all is still.
6
Of him I sing, whose blighted Spring was brief
And Summer's dawn was never doomed to see,
Yet singing seek not to console thy grief,
Knowing thou hast no need of words from me;
Who feedeth with the bread of tears—even He
Who ministered a cup of deadly wine
To Israel—ministered thy loss to thee,
But feeds thy meek and patient soul divine
With wisdom such as shames poor thoughts and words of mine.
And Summer's dawn was never doomed to see,
Yet singing seek not to console thy grief,
Knowing thou hast no need of words from me;
Who feedeth with the bread of tears—even He
Who ministered a cup of deadly wine
To Israel—ministered thy loss to thee,
But feeds thy meek and patient soul divine
With wisdom such as shames poor thoughts and words of mine.
I wished to greet thee gaily! but a tear
Hath dimmed the smile that hailed thy natal day:
And, as I sing, almost I seem to hear
The voice of his dear soul who passed away,
Mingling a mournful music with my lay!
Forgive what words too much thy spirit move:
Forgive me all my weakness cannot say,
And in thy bounty listen, and approve
This faint imperfect echo of my proffered love!
Hath dimmed the smile that hailed thy natal day:
And, as I sing, almost I seem to hear
The voice of his dear soul who passed away,
Mingling a mournful music with my lay!
Forgive what words too much thy spirit move:
Forgive me all my weakness cannot say,
And in thy bounty listen, and approve
This faint imperfect echo of my proffered love!
7
As Ivy clothes the bole from which it springs
With leaves that fair the parent tree surround,
So all my clustering Love about thee clings,
Which else perhaps, no fit sustainment found,
Had trailed with weeds along the common ground,
Or, self-entangled, mixed with grosser clay;
But thou, dear saint! to whom my heart is bound,
Nearer to heaven risest every day,
And this frail soul that loves thee follows as it may!
With leaves that fair the parent tree surround,
So all my clustering Love about thee clings,
Which else perhaps, no fit sustainment found,
Had trailed with weeds along the common ground,
Or, self-entangled, mixed with grosser clay;
But thou, dear saint! to whom my heart is bound,
Nearer to heaven risest every day,
And this frail soul that loves thee follows as it may!
March 13th, 1851.
8
IV.
[If those dear eyes that watch me now]
If those dear eyes that watch me now,With looks that teach my heart content:
That smile which o'er thy placid brow
Spreads, with Delight in pure concént:
And that clear voice whose rise and fall
Altérnates, in a silver chime:
If these fair tokens false were all
That told the tale of fleeting Time—
I scarce should mark his swift career,
So little change hath o'er thee passed,
So much thy Present doth appear
Like all my Memory holds most dear,
When she recalls thy perfect Past!
Unchanged thou seem'st in mind and frame:
Thy sweet smile brightens still the same:
In thy fair face is nothing strange;
And when from out thy pure lips flow
Thy earnest words with grace, I know
Thy Wisdom hath not suffered change!
9
Wherein no trace of change appears,
Proclaims not that this day will add
A fresh sheaf to thy garnered years!
But Time himself proclaims his power,
And will not pass unheeded by:
At every turn his ruins lie,
I track his steps at every door;
Or, musing with myself, I find
His signet borne by every thought,
From many a moral blemish wrought
By more of commerce with my kind;
Who am not armed, as thou in youth
To bear unhurt the brunt of Life,
To battle with the foes of Truth,
And issue scarless from the strife;
Not pure, as thou, to pass unscared,
Where Knaves and Fools infest the ways,
By their rank censure unimpaired,
And spotless from their ranker praise.
And thus the slow year, circling round,
Mars with no change thy soul serene,
While I, though changed, alas! am found
Far other than I should have been,
And only not at heart unsound,
Because thy love still keeps it green;
10
To save me with Love's holiest dew,
Heaven guard thee, dear! and oft renew
Return of this thy natal day:
And teach me with each rolling year
That leaves us on a heartless earth,
To love thee so, that Love may bear
Fruits worthier of thy perfect worth;
And so, whatever ills betide,
Whatever storms about me lour,
Though broken by the bolts of Pride,
And scorched by Envy's lightning power,
I shall not perish in the blast,
But prosper while thou still art nigh,
By my pure love preserved, and by
My guardian Spirit saved at last.
March 13th, 1852.
11
V.
[I dreamed a dream! I stood among the spheres]
I dreamed a dream! I stood among the spheres
Stationed alone upon a flying star;
Seraphic music smote upon my ears,
The planets moved around me, and afar
I saw a sweet Moon, like a lady fair,
Pursue her calm course through the quiet air.
Stationed alone upon a flying star;
Seraphic music smote upon my ears,
The planets moved around me, and afar
I saw a sweet Moon, like a lady fair,
Pursue her calm course through the quiet air.
Quiet! I whirled through heaven, my senses grew
Dim with swift flight of unapproachéd pace,
For that wild orb whereon I stood now flew
Swift as a whirlwind through unbounded space;
Then shocked and, staggering blindly, reeled; then, driven
Fresh with new force, shot fiercely on through heaven!
Dim with swift flight of unapproachéd pace,
For that wild orb whereon I stood now flew
Swift as a whirlwind through unbounded space;
Then shocked and, staggering blindly, reeled; then, driven
Fresh with new force, shot fiercely on through heaven!
12
Wild terror seized upon me, and the fear
Of quick annihilation struck my soul;
No Power I saw, no Hand Divine to steer
The orb that bore me unto any goal,
While systems, suns and stars, that central hung
Poised in mid air, about me orbed and swung!
Of quick annihilation struck my soul;
No Power I saw, no Hand Divine to steer
The orb that bore me unto any goal,
While systems, suns and stars, that central hung
Poised in mid air, about me orbed and swung!
Now on some huge and glowing mass of fire
I drove; I clenched my nerves, I held my breath,
Thinking, with sound of sharp collision dire,
To rush each moment on a shattering death;
But, lo! we swerved, that fiery orb and I,
And unimpeded flashed athwart the sky.
I drove; I clenched my nerves, I held my breath,
Thinking, with sound of sharp collision dire,
To rush each moment on a shattering death;
But, lo! we swerved, that fiery orb and I,
And unimpeded flashed athwart the sky.
Yet ever and anon brief rest I knew;
Some noble Planet circling in her place
We neared—and her unseen attraction drew
My wild orb softly into her embrace;
The charmed star paused and spun—and then became
Still, and poised, steady as an unblown flame.
Some noble Planet circling in her place
We neared—and her unseen attraction drew
My wild orb softly into her embrace;
The charmed star paused and spun—and then became
Still, and poised, steady as an unblown flame.
13
But soon I whirled through heaven as before;
That saving Power had loosed me, and I swept
Again past suns and systems, and once more
That nameless fear o'er all my senses crept,
So that I raved, and, maddened in my place,
Cursed life, and lifeless fell upon my face!
That saving Power had loosed me, and I swept
Again past suns and systems, and once more
That nameless fear o'er all my senses crept,
So that I raved, and, maddened in my place,
Cursed life, and lifeless fell upon my face!
Long time I lay oblivious, but at last
Rising, I felt I rose not to despair,
Wild motion and wild fear alike were passed;
The orb that bore me sailed the tranquil air,
And moved with music, subject unto law,
Near that sweet Moon which erst far off I saw.
Rising, I felt I rose not to despair,
Wild motion and wild fear alike were passed;
The orb that bore me sailed the tranquil air,
And moved with music, subject unto law,
Near that sweet Moon which erst far off I saw.
Spell-bound my charméd orb did gently glide,
And round about its Heavenly Mistress roll,
Now moved more near, now wandered from her side,
But never strayed beyond her mild control;
Touched with her beams of spotless radiance white,
It shone a placid glory through the night!
And round about its Heavenly Mistress roll,
Now moved more near, now wandered from her side,
But never strayed beyond her mild control;
Touched with her beams of spotless radiance white,
It shone a placid glory through the night!
14
Then, with pure joy, I woke! yet waking dozed,
And thought to sail through heaven in a car;
Black clouds were closing round, but ere they closed
I looked once more upon that Moon and Star,
And saw—thy sweet face shining in the one,
And in the other knew thy rescued son!
And thought to sail through heaven in a car;
Black clouds were closing round, but ere they closed
I looked once more upon that Moon and Star,
And saw—thy sweet face shining in the one,
And in the other knew thy rescued son!
Vienna; March 13th, 1853.
15
VI.
[I had a vision when the night was late.]
I had a vision when the night was late.
Methought I stood within a garden set
With stateliest plants, with fairest flowers, with shrubs
That breathed a smell of spices on the air.
To left and right, and all the place around,
Grew amaranth and acanthus, tulip tall,
Primrose and pallid lily, and the flush
Of fresh-blown rose, carnation crimson-dyed,
And pinks and pansies and pale jessamine;
And over head the long laburnum showered
Clusters of golden rain, and the gadding vine
Leant from the boughs, and through the laughing leaves
Her fruit fantastic showed; but elm trees dark,
Cypress and cedar, and the solemn yew,
Hedged-in the garden. And as one who looks
Upon a countenance that should be fair,
Yet to his eye ungracious shows and blank,
So I upon this garden fed my gaze
Unsatisfied, with sense of secret loss
And longings unfulfilled. Gay seemed the flowers,
But light was not upon them, neither shone
The smile of Heaven in their unlaughing eyes:
Dark cloud, or shadows of dark cloud, appeared
Dreary to haunt the unhallowed ground; the sky
Frowned black upon it, and the surcharged air
Breathed close and clammy, as with noxious mists
Discomforted, with damps and dreadful gloom.
Then, through the garden, heavy as one who bears
A weight of unwept sorrow in his breast,
Disconsolate and desolate I walked;
And suddenly I saw that all the place
Was filled with crowds of human faces fair,
Great multitudes who flocked through all the paths
In bold and boisterous glee; but ghastly looked
The countenance of those that nearest stood,
And their great peals of hollow laughter shrieked
Discordant to my ear, so that with haste
I turned, and to a sheltered ground afar,
Where double row of branching cedars built
A natural aisle, with all my woe removed.
A whispering sound of welcome through the trees,
A strain of spheral music, and the sweep
Of rustling wings that fanned the winnowed air:
And, lo! a seraph stationed at my side,
With his unutterable glowing orbs
That looked with pitying glance through my sad soul.
A little space, and “Child of earth,” he said,
“Thou knowest not thy sorrow. All things here
“In this fair world which whilome beauteous showed
“To thy rapt gaze, which touched thy heart with joy
“And moved thy soul to song—all these appear
“Lifeless, bereft of beauty, drear and dark,
“Unlovely to behold. Lo! I am He
“In Heaven who move the blessed saints to tears
“Of beautiful compassion, seeking those
“On Earth who best their pitying tears deserve;
“And I have found thee, and behold I come
“To teach thy heart its sorrow. Thou hast lost
“Her to whose clear unspotted soul thou owedst
“What joy on earth was found. So long her eyes
“Looked on this world, so long to thee it seemed
“As 'twere a fruitful and a fragrant field
“Whereon the blessed sunshine rests, and flowers
“Laugh through its grasses, and the merry birds
“People its air with song. But, because grief
“Hath jarred thy reason, all too rudely shocked,
“And marred the mind's clear glass—therefore thy soul
“Knows not the things whereof I speak. Look up,
“Lift high thy sorrowing eyes and learn thy doom.”
I looked, and, lo! athwart the midmost sky
Hung a great cloud, and on its front it bore
A triple arch of ever-changing hues
(Ensign of wrath appeased and present love)
Which, slowly waning, paled and passed away.
Then from the middle of the mighty cloud
Black billowy mists, with dire commotion moved,
Heaved like a tumbled ocean, and anon
Rolled back, as ebbing from a central shore,
And wondrous sight disclosed. For when these eyes,
First dazed and blinded by excess of light,
A little their power resumed—there, in the midst
Of that bright chasm, I saw the mortal form
Of her who gave me being. Mortal no more!
For round about her high and holy brow
Flamed the bright glory of a Saint, which lit
Her face with light immortal and suffused
With liquid gold her silvery tresses fair.
Erect she stood, and in her pure right hand
A branching palm, the meed of Saints, she bore,
But th' other lay caressent on the head
Of a bright angel couched beside her knee
Singing the praise of God and God's elect;
And, hovering round, were clustering faces bright
Of Seraph and of Cherubim, who poised
On pure white wings contingent, echoing loud
The strain of her below. Intent I gazed!
And suddenly I felt about my soul
The yearning to approach that vision bright
Expand and grow, and at the last become
A power. Buoyant I rose, and through the air
Swifter than bolt from arbalist I flew,
And on the folded skirting of the cloud
Lodged, and fell prone. Senseless long time I lay,
Then raised with pain my drooping head, and cried,
“Art thou, indeed, the Soul, nor only form,
“Of Her who gave me Being, and blest it given?
“More lovely than all else but her, art Thou
“Indeed her Spirit! Oh! might the jealous Gods
“Not grant thee still to sojourn, brief delay,
“In yon bleak world? could not the bonds of Love
“Hold thee, Ingrateful, yet a little while
“Linked to this heart? Oh! Lips maternal, say,
“What life (thy life being lost) remains for me,
“Wand'ring for ever desolate and dark,
“As in yon garden? If indeed Thou art
“No Phantom, come to cheat me into grief,
“Let thy bland lips, as thy bland lips were wont,
“Teach me such wisdom as may comfort lend,
“And light whereby to live!” So saying I looked,
Through passionate tears that dimmed my mortal sight,
Upon her luminous face. No word she spake;
Raising a solemn finger she made sign
Of silence, on her lips by some great Law
Of Heaven imposed—but her immortal eyes
That act accompanied with such sweet look
Of piteous love compassionately kind,
That I leapt forth to embrace her—and, behold!
Sudden the cloud rolled shrivelled up and fled,
And I, hurled back, through twice ten thousand leagues
Of whistling air, fell headlong to the ground.
Methought I stood within a garden set
With stateliest plants, with fairest flowers, with shrubs
That breathed a smell of spices on the air.
To left and right, and all the place around,
Grew amaranth and acanthus, tulip tall,
Primrose and pallid lily, and the flush
Of fresh-blown rose, carnation crimson-dyed,
And pinks and pansies and pale jessamine;
And over head the long laburnum showered
Clusters of golden rain, and the gadding vine
Leant from the boughs, and through the laughing leaves
Her fruit fantastic showed; but elm trees dark,
Cypress and cedar, and the solemn yew,
Hedged-in the garden. And as one who looks
Upon a countenance that should be fair,
Yet to his eye ungracious shows and blank,
So I upon this garden fed my gaze
Unsatisfied, with sense of secret loss
And longings unfulfilled. Gay seemed the flowers,
16
The smile of Heaven in their unlaughing eyes:
Dark cloud, or shadows of dark cloud, appeared
Dreary to haunt the unhallowed ground; the sky
Frowned black upon it, and the surcharged air
Breathed close and clammy, as with noxious mists
Discomforted, with damps and dreadful gloom.
Then, through the garden, heavy as one who bears
A weight of unwept sorrow in his breast,
Disconsolate and desolate I walked;
And suddenly I saw that all the place
Was filled with crowds of human faces fair,
Great multitudes who flocked through all the paths
In bold and boisterous glee; but ghastly looked
The countenance of those that nearest stood,
And their great peals of hollow laughter shrieked
Discordant to my ear, so that with haste
I turned, and to a sheltered ground afar,
Where double row of branching cedars built
A natural aisle, with all my woe removed.
A whispering sound of welcome through the trees,
A strain of spheral music, and the sweep
Of rustling wings that fanned the winnowed air:
And, lo! a seraph stationed at my side,
With his unutterable glowing orbs
That looked with pitying glance through my sad soul.
17
“Thou knowest not thy sorrow. All things here
“In this fair world which whilome beauteous showed
“To thy rapt gaze, which touched thy heart with joy
“And moved thy soul to song—all these appear
“Lifeless, bereft of beauty, drear and dark,
“Unlovely to behold. Lo! I am He
“In Heaven who move the blessed saints to tears
“Of beautiful compassion, seeking those
“On Earth who best their pitying tears deserve;
“And I have found thee, and behold I come
“To teach thy heart its sorrow. Thou hast lost
“Her to whose clear unspotted soul thou owedst
“What joy on earth was found. So long her eyes
“Looked on this world, so long to thee it seemed
“As 'twere a fruitful and a fragrant field
“Whereon the blessed sunshine rests, and flowers
“Laugh through its grasses, and the merry birds
“People its air with song. But, because grief
“Hath jarred thy reason, all too rudely shocked,
“And marred the mind's clear glass—therefore thy soul
“Knows not the things whereof I speak. Look up,
“Lift high thy sorrowing eyes and learn thy doom.”
18
Hung a great cloud, and on its front it bore
A triple arch of ever-changing hues
(Ensign of wrath appeased and present love)
Which, slowly waning, paled and passed away.
Then from the middle of the mighty cloud
Black billowy mists, with dire commotion moved,
Heaved like a tumbled ocean, and anon
Rolled back, as ebbing from a central shore,
And wondrous sight disclosed. For when these eyes,
First dazed and blinded by excess of light,
A little their power resumed—there, in the midst
Of that bright chasm, I saw the mortal form
Of her who gave me being. Mortal no more!
For round about her high and holy brow
Flamed the bright glory of a Saint, which lit
Her face with light immortal and suffused
With liquid gold her silvery tresses fair.
Erect she stood, and in her pure right hand
A branching palm, the meed of Saints, she bore,
But th' other lay caressent on the head
Of a bright angel couched beside her knee
Singing the praise of God and God's elect;
And, hovering round, were clustering faces bright
Of Seraph and of Cherubim, who poised
19
The strain of her below. Intent I gazed!
And suddenly I felt about my soul
The yearning to approach that vision bright
Expand and grow, and at the last become
A power. Buoyant I rose, and through the air
Swifter than bolt from arbalist I flew,
And on the folded skirting of the cloud
Lodged, and fell prone. Senseless long time I lay,
Then raised with pain my drooping head, and cried,
“Art thou, indeed, the Soul, nor only form,
“Of Her who gave me Being, and blest it given?
“More lovely than all else but her, art Thou
“Indeed her Spirit! Oh! might the jealous Gods
“Not grant thee still to sojourn, brief delay,
“In yon bleak world? could not the bonds of Love
“Hold thee, Ingrateful, yet a little while
“Linked to this heart? Oh! Lips maternal, say,
“What life (thy life being lost) remains for me,
“Wand'ring for ever desolate and dark,
“As in yon garden? If indeed Thou art
“No Phantom, come to cheat me into grief,
“Let thy bland lips, as thy bland lips were wont,
“Teach me such wisdom as may comfort lend,
“And light whereby to live!” So saying I looked,
Through passionate tears that dimmed my mortal sight,
20
Raising a solemn finger she made sign
Of silence, on her lips by some great Law
Of Heaven imposed—but her immortal eyes
That act accompanied with such sweet look
Of piteous love compassionately kind,
That I leapt forth to embrace her—and, behold!
Sudden the cloud rolled shrivelled up and fled,
And I, hurled back, through twice ten thousand leagues
Of whistling air, fell headlong to the ground.
I woke: the lark was singing in the sky,
The field was fresh with flowers. The fragrant dews
Glistened upon the face of happy Earth
Who (as a Bride new-made puts off her veil
And smiles upon her Bridegroom through sweet tears)
Put off the morning mist, and, bashful fair,
Looked dewy on the Sun. Then I perceived
How all things, robed in gladness, laughed to scorn
My evil dream, and that thy natal day
Once more was come, and thou wert with me still.
Live Thou, oh, live! and let my darksome Dream
Be mocked by thy bright life. Die not, dear Saint,
A little while refrain thee from thy home!
And though the clouds of tempest seem to lour
About the wrinkled and the wrathful Earth—
Though War's hoarse thunder bellow, and the flash
Of kindled Passions fire the world, and bring
(Inevitable sequel) drenching floods
Of human misery, salt and streaming tears—
Endure the storm (so hard to be endured
If thou wert not!) with those who love and need
Thy presence, needed most where least Love is.
So shall thy bland and gracious Spirit wise,
Though desolation and distress be near,
Give counsel, comfort, and to those who watch
Shine like a Beacon-light athwart the Storm!
The field was fresh with flowers. The fragrant dews
Glistened upon the face of happy Earth
Who (as a Bride new-made puts off her veil
And smiles upon her Bridegroom through sweet tears)
Put off the morning mist, and, bashful fair,
Looked dewy on the Sun. Then I perceived
How all things, robed in gladness, laughed to scorn
My evil dream, and that thy natal day
Once more was come, and thou wert with me still.
Live Thou, oh, live! and let my darksome Dream
Be mocked by thy bright life. Die not, dear Saint,
21
And though the clouds of tempest seem to lour
About the wrinkled and the wrathful Earth—
Though War's hoarse thunder bellow, and the flash
Of kindled Passions fire the world, and bring
(Inevitable sequel) drenching floods
Of human misery, salt and streaming tears—
Endure the storm (so hard to be endured
If thou wert not!) with those who love and need
Thy presence, needed most where least Love is.
So shall thy bland and gracious Spirit wise,
Though desolation and distress be near,
Give counsel, comfort, and to those who watch
Shine like a Beacon-light athwart the Storm!
L'Envoy.
Take, Sweet! my annual blessing due this day,And on my head thy benediction lay.
Though War's red fury round the world increase,
Thy life preserved preserves my heart its Peace.
Vienna; March 13th, 1854.
22
VII.
[Scarce hath rare-plumaged Moon released]
Scarce hath rare-plumaged Moon released
Her bright head from her raven wing,
When blithe, the wakeful Lark, well pleased
To quit the Earth, prepares her spring.
Her bright head from her raven wing,
When blithe, the wakeful Lark, well pleased
To quit the Earth, prepares her spring.
The gorgeous Morning floats on high,
The Lark in swift ascension fair
Goes fluttering up the middle sky,
And floods with song the quivering air.
The Lark in swift ascension fair
Goes fluttering up the middle sky,
And floods with song the quivering air.
Beneath her, near her late abode,
The dark unhallowed earth along,
Crawl the vile worm and spotted toad,
They miss not her, nor hear her song.
The dark unhallowed earth along,
Crawl the vile worm and spotted toad,
They miss not her, nor hear her song.
No voice can vex her on her throne
Her happy soul, expanded free,
Fills the blue void;—she is alone
With her outpoured felicity.
Her happy soul, expanded free,
Fills the blue void;—she is alone
With her outpoured felicity.
23
So I, sometimes, from Earth's control
Shoot, when the Muse, with heavenly eyes
Dawns like clear day on my dark soul,
And leads me vocal up the skies.
Shoot, when the Muse, with heavenly eyes
Dawns like clear day on my dark soul,
And leads me vocal up the skies.
She lends my human weakness wings,
And with clear voice she doth endow
My soul to sing of holiest things—
To sing thy Love she leads me now.
And with clear voice she doth endow
My soul to sing of holiest things—
To sing thy Love she leads me now.
Thy Love! which is to me what Heaven
Is to the Lark that carols free,—
A blue expanse, a refuge given
From Earth and all Earth's misery.
Is to the Lark that carols free,—
A blue expanse, a refuge given
From Earth and all Earth's misery.
And this bright Morn hath ushered in,
Mother, once more thy natal day;
And shame it were in me, and sin,
To miss my annual votive lay.
Mother, once more thy natal day;
And shame it were in me, and sin,
To miss my annual votive lay.
So sing I—though the clarion's blare,
The beat of drums, the shock of arms
Assault my soul, and vex the air
With War's unmusical alarms;
The beat of drums, the shock of arms
Assault my soul, and vex the air
With War's unmusical alarms;
24
And though these sounds be no false din
Of puling Fancy, but indeed
Harsh echoes of harsh facts, wherein
The fate of our best loved we read;
Of puling Fancy, but indeed
Harsh echoes of harsh facts, wherein
The fate of our best loved we read;
Of him, the gallant, great, and good,
The brother of thy soul,—of him
Whose fame the fickle multitude
May mock with sneers, but cannot dim;
The brother of thy soul,—of him
Whose fame the fickle multitude
May mock with sneers, but cannot dim;
And that bright creature at his side,
That Star of modern chivalry,
Who claims thy whole maternal pride,
Who shares, ungrudged, thy heart with me.
That Star of modern chivalry,
Who claims thy whole maternal pride,
Who shares, ungrudged, thy heart with me.
Yea! though War's batteries rend the skies,
And Earth be pale with wild affright,
Above the tumult I can rise
Beyond the sound and out of sight.
And Earth be pale with wild affright,
Above the tumult I can rise
Beyond the sound and out of sight.
Ev'n as the Lark can soar above
The jarring world, and pipe in peace,
I, in the Heaven of thy dear Love,
From all Earth's discords find release.
The jarring world, and pipe in peace,
I, in the Heaven of thy dear Love,
From all Earth's discords find release.
25
And far above the mortal din,
Beyond the reach of human wrong,
Of human speech and human sin,
I chaunt in Heaven my quiet song;
Beyond the reach of human wrong,
Of human speech and human sin,
I chaunt in Heaven my quiet song;
And needs must chaunt (as chaunts the Lark
Of Nature and her face) of thee;
Thine eyes, the sweet, the azure dark,
Are firmaments of love to me.
Of Nature and her face) of thee;
Thine eyes, the sweet, the azure dark,
Are firmaments of love to me.
Nor thou, dear Heaven, be sad this day,
No thought of grief obscure thy grace,
No cloud athwart thy fairness stray,
To dull the smile of thy sweet face;
No thought of grief obscure thy grace,
No cloud athwart thy fairness stray,
To dull the smile of thy sweet face;
And since the madness of the world
Makes winter of our early spring,
I ask thee to forget the world
A little while, that I may sing
Makes winter of our early spring,
I ask thee to forget the world
A little while, that I may sing
And cheat myself, as yon poor bird
Who pipes on leafless boughs to-day,
With hope, that while my voice is heard,
Thy heart's December turns to May.
Who pipes on leafless boughs to-day,
With hope, that while my voice is heard,
Thy heart's December turns to May.
26
Fair omen! Fancy thinks to see
Thy heart bloom like a garden fair;
Sweet flowers in all variety
And foliaged trees are waving there.
Thy heart bloom like a garden fair;
Sweet flowers in all variety
And foliaged trees are waving there.
A bird comes flying through the trees,
And in her beak she bears a leaf;
Through all the garden blows a breeze,
And in thy heart no sign of grief.
And in her beak she bears a leaf;
Through all the garden blows a breeze,
And in thy heart no sign of grief.
The bird of Peace, the branch of Peace,
Enter thy heart and nestle there,
And in thy heart if sorrow cease,
Then sorrow ceases everywhere.
Enter thy heart and nestle there,
And in thy heart if sorrow cease,
Then sorrow ceases everywhere.
Oh, Dove! oh, Olive! wing your flight,
Foreseen on this propitious day,
Soon on the jarring world alight,
And perfect my prophetic lay.
Foreseen on this propitious day,
Soon on the jarring world alight,
And perfect my prophetic lay.
Prophetic! Hark, methinks I hear
Seraphic voices in the skies;
I see an angel's form appear,
A vision comes before my eyes:
Seraphic voices in the skies;
I see an angel's form appear,
A vision comes before my eyes:
27
The flocks graze; sudden light of joy
Bursts on the Shepherds where they stand;
The Mother clasps her babe; the Boy
Veils off the brightness with his hand.
Bursts on the Shepherds where they stand;
The Mother clasps her babe; the Boy
Veils off the brightness with his hand.
The Angel's face is sweet, and still,
And very fair; I hear her say—
“Peace upon Earth; toward men goodwill;”
And all the vision fades away.
And very fair; I hear her say—
“Peace upon Earth; toward men goodwill;”
And all the vision fades away.
But ere She went the Angel smiled;
Oh, God! I knew that face divine;—
Mother! I saw thy long-lost child;
Oh, Sister! and that voice was thine!
Oh, God! I knew that face divine;—
Mother! I saw thy long-lost child;
Oh, Sister! and that voice was thine!
March 13th, 1855.
28
VIII.
[Lo! in the East the clouded grey]
Lo! in the East the clouded grey
Begins to change its sullen hue,
And Morning, with mild eyes of blue,
Smiles on a happy, nascent day.
Begins to change its sullen hue,
And Morning, with mild eyes of blue,
Smiles on a happy, nascent day.
Thy natal day, which finds me now
Far from thee—on a foreign strand;
I cannot take thy gracious hand,
Nor press my blessing on thy brow.
Far from thee—on a foreign strand;
I cannot take thy gracious hand,
Nor press my blessing on thy brow.
The salt sea waves between us swell
And part us—but, though rolling wide,
Our hearts they never can divide,
For love is indivisible!
And part us—but, though rolling wide,
Our hearts they never can divide,
For love is indivisible!
High o'er the ocean's liquid space
A triple rainbow arch I see,
It spans across from me to thee,
A loving heart at either base:
A triple rainbow arch I see,
It spans across from me to thee,
A loving heart at either base:
29
The rainbow of our Love! which blends
Ten thousand lesser loves in one,
Which links the Mother to her Son,
Which joins two sympathetic friends.
Ten thousand lesser loves in one,
Which links the Mother to her Son,
Which joins two sympathetic friends.
And while beneath the ocean's roar,
(Oh! human work divinely wrought!)
The lightning message, swift as thought,
Darts with the news from shore to shore;
(Oh! human work divinely wrought!)
The lightning message, swift as thought,
Darts with the news from shore to shore;
Our souls more swiftly meet above,
And, strong in spiritual might,
Flash, pathless as the rays of light,
From shore to shore with thoughts of Love.
And, strong in spiritual might,
Flash, pathless as the rays of light,
From shore to shore with thoughts of Love.
So I, this day can breathe on thee
My blessing, though I be not near,
And, though I hear not, seem to hear
Thy blessing spoken back to me;
My blessing, though I be not near,
And, though I hear not, seem to hear
Thy blessing spoken back to me;
Can, in clear thought, beside thee stand,
And touch with reverent lips thy face,
And hold thee in a dear embrace
Affectionately, hand in hand.
And touch with reverent lips thy face,
And hold thee in a dear embrace
Affectionately, hand in hand.
30
God keep thee! May the rolling years
Crown with fresh grace thy blameless life!
God keep from thee all cause of strife,
And wipe away the source of tears!
Crown with fresh grace thy blameless life!
God keep from thee all cause of strife,
And wipe away the source of tears!
And those high Powers to whom 'tis given
To guard the pure of soul on earth,
Who tend upon thee since thy birth
And watch thy progress up to heaven,
To guard the pure of soul on earth,
Who tend upon thee since thy birth
And watch thy progress up to heaven,
Save from all harm thy sacred head,
Bestrew with flowers thy thornless way,
Attend upon thy steps by day,
And guard with angel-wings thy bed!
Bestrew with flowers thy thornless way,
Attend upon thy steps by day,
And guard with angel-wings thy bed!
And I, what offering can I bring,
To lay this day before thy feet,
What gift of fragrant incense sweet
Beside the votive song I sing?
To lay this day before thy feet,
What gift of fragrant incense sweet
Beside the votive song I sing?
I know not—but as here I stand,
Here on the Gallic shore, in thought,
Thinking of what I might have wrought
To please thee in a foreign land:
Here on the Gallic shore, in thought,
Thinking of what I might have wrought
To please thee in a foreign land:
31
From out my bosom swift to thee
There flies, or seems to fly, a bird
That takes her silent flight unheard,
And sweeps towards thee o'er the sea.
There flies, or seems to fly, a bird
That takes her silent flight unheard,
And sweeps towards thee o'er the sea.
The Dove of Peace, with wings unfurled,
Glad with the olive branch she goes!
She bears unto thy heart repose,
And brings back Peace to all the world.
Glad with the olive branch she goes!
She bears unto thy heart repose,
And brings back Peace to all the world.
Oh! may thy peace be perfect rest!
And, oh! may all men cease from strife,
And, emulating thy sweet life,
Walk in the ways God loveth best!
And, oh! may all men cease from strife,
And, emulating thy sweet life,
Walk in the ways God loveth best!
Paris; March 13th, 1856.
32
IX.
[Oh, swallow, swallow, flying from the North]
Oh, swallow, swallow, flying from the North
With eager wings that fan the winnowed air,
Wend swift thy flight towards a fairer clime;
Behind thee lie the fields of endless ice,
Before thee summer and the flowering vales.
With eager wings that fan the winnowed air,
Wend swift thy flight towards a fairer clime;
Behind thee lie the fields of endless ice,
Before thee summer and the flowering vales.
Thy birdlike nature, capable of joy,
Feels, with delight how great, the tepid breeze
That bears a perfume of the fragrant South;
The sweet and sunny South where thou wast born,
And where long since thy happy home is made.
Feels, with delight how great, the tepid breeze
That bears a perfume of the fragrant South;
The sweet and sunny South where thou wast born,
And where long since thy happy home is made.
Home! ah! thou restless wanderer of the air,
Once more thou comest to the far off fields
That knew thy earliest chirp, that lodged thee long
Amongst the leafage of their murmuring trees;
Thrice blessed, thou know'st the joy of a return!
Once more thou comest to the far off fields
That knew thy earliest chirp, that lodged thee long
Amongst the leafage of their murmuring trees;
Thrice blessed, thou know'st the joy of a return!
And I participate thy joy. I too,
Swift from the kingdoms of the giant Frost
Who sits a tyrant on the snow-capped hills
And rules the ice-bound plains and has struck dead
The mute and motionless sea—I too am come.
Swift from the kingdoms of the giant Frost
Who sits a tyrant on the snow-capped hills
And rules the ice-bound plains and has struck dead
The mute and motionless sea—I too am come.
33
I too, athwart the storms of driving snow
Wherewith the savage Genius of the North
Pursued me, saw the land of home arise,
Saw the dark coast of England, long desired,
And the white welcome of her laughing cliffs.
Wherewith the savage Genius of the North
Pursued me, saw the land of home arise,
Saw the dark coast of England, long desired,
And the white welcome of her laughing cliffs.
Wherefore with thee, thou Prodigal returned,
With thee, wild vagrant, doth my heart rejoice,
And all my soul grows merry at thy chirp;
Thy long-lost fields possess thee once again,
And I once more am with the souls I love.
With thee, wild vagrant, doth my heart rejoice,
And all my soul grows merry at thy chirp;
Thy long-lost fields possess thee once again,
And I once more am with the souls I love.
Oh, dear, sweet Soul, to whom my heart is bound,
The swallow flies with joy towards the South,
Thou art my South, and unto thee I fly;
Arrived in time to nestle in thy breast,
And chirp my blessing on thy natal day.
The swallow flies with joy towards the South,
Thou art my South, and unto thee I fly;
Arrived in time to nestle in thy breast,
And chirp my blessing on thy natal day.
There sits an Angel at the gates of heaven,
Who watches o'er the course of mortal love,
And blesses all pure passions upon earth;
He smiles when two true loving souls unite,
And He to-day is glad that we are met.
Who watches o'er the course of mortal love,
And blesses all pure passions upon earth;
He smiles when two true loving souls unite,
And He to-day is glad that we are met.
Is it because the joy of seeing thee
Absorbs all words, and in itself sums up
All thought of which my soul is capable,
That I this day can scarcely brook to write
My speechless happiness in measured words?
Absorbs all words, and in itself sums up
All thought of which my soul is capable,
That I this day can scarcely brook to write
My speechless happiness in measured words?
34
In words unmeasured let me pour it out
And clasp thee to my breast, and in thy ear
Tell out the fulness of an o'ercharged heart.
I love thee, best and brightest; oh! my Saint,
The impotence of language wrongs my love.
And clasp thee to my breast, and in thy ear
Tell out the fulness of an o'ercharged heart.
I love thee, best and brightest; oh! my Saint,
The impotence of language wrongs my love.
Thou art so tender, beautiful, and true,
So pure in thought, so spotless in desire,
So peerless in thy perfect womanhood,
That all weak words fall short to tell thy praise;
Thy praise, my Angel, reaching beyond words.
So pure in thought, so spotless in desire,
So peerless in thy perfect womanhood,
That all weak words fall short to tell thy praise;
Thy praise, my Angel, reaching beyond words.
Glad be the sunrise on thy natal day,
Loud be the chaunt of birds, and sweet the breeze
With perfumes of the earliest flowers of Spring;
I too am here, my heart is glad, my voice
Sings loudly, and my love bursts out in bloom.
Loud be the chaunt of birds, and sweet the breeze
With perfumes of the earliest flowers of Spring;
I too am here, my heart is glad, my voice
Sings loudly, and my love bursts out in bloom.
My heart is glad, for thou this day wast born,
My voice its merriest canticle sings out,
And into blossom flowers all my love.
Accept, dear Soul, the feeble song and flower
That draw from thee their sweetness and their sound.
My voice its merriest canticle sings out,
And into blossom flowers all my love.
Accept, dear Soul, the feeble song and flower
That draw from thee their sweetness and their sound.
March 13th, 1857
| Julian Fane, Ad matrem | |