Studies of Sensation and Event Poems: By Ebenezer Jones. Edited, Prefaced and Annotated by Richard Herne Shepherd with Memorial Notices of the Author by Sumner Jones and William James Linton |
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Studies of Resemblance and
Consent.
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 | Studies of Sensation and Event |  |
183
Studies of Resemblance and Consent.
185
WHEN THE WORLD IS BURNING.
When the world is burning,Fired within, yet turning
Round with face unscathed;
Ere fierce flames, uprushing,
O'er all lands leap, crushing,
Till earth fall, fire-swathed;
Up amidst the meadows,
Gently through the shadows,
Gentle flames will glide,
Small, and blue, and golden.
Though by bard beholden,
When in calm dreams folden,—
Calm his dreams will bide.
186
Through the greensward peeping,
Shall the soft lights start;
Laughing maids, unstaying,
Deeming it trick-playing,
High their robes upswaying,
O'er the lights shall dart;
And the woodland haunter
Shall not cease to saunter
When, far down some glade,
Of the great world's burning
One soft flame upturning
Seems, to his discerning,
Crocus in the shade.
187
[My wife and child, come close to me]
My wife and child, come close to me,
The world to us is a stormy sea:
With your hands in mine, if your eyes but shine,
I care not how wild the storm may be.
The world to us is a stormy sea:
With your hands in mine, if your eyes but shine,
I care not how wild the storm may be.
For the fiercest wind that ever blew
Is nothing to me, so I shelter you;
No warmth do I lack, for the howl at my back
Sings down to my heart, “Man bold and true!”
Is nothing to me, so I shelter you;
No warmth do I lack, for the howl at my back
Sings down to my heart, “Man bold and true!”
A pleasant sail, my child, my wife,
O'er a pleasant sea, to many is life;
The wind blows warm, and they dread no storm,
And wherever they go, kind friends are rife.
O'er a pleasant sea, to many is life;
The wind blows warm, and they dread no storm,
And wherever they go, kind friends are rife.
But, wife and child, the love, the love
That lifteth us to the saints above,
Could only have grown where storms have blown
The truth and strength of the heart to prove.”
That lifteth us to the saints above,
Could only have grown where storms have blown
The truth and strength of the heart to prove.”
188
TACT IN KINDNESS.
What its sound is to the shower,
What its smoothness to the flower,
What its silence to the kiss,—
All this tact to kindness is.
What its smoothness to the flower,
What its silence to the kiss,—
All this tact to kindness is.
Of the sound of the rain, of the feel of the flower,
Now there is not a bard but would carol the praise;
Then to tact, when subservient to kindness its power,
May not I fitly give one of my humble lays?
For though tact be a word that weds music not kindly,
Let the sweet of its meaning make up for its sound;
Without tact all kindness must go to work blindly,
And inflame when it seeks to relieve the heart's wound.
Now there is not a bard but would carol the praise;
Then to tact, when subservient to kindness its power,
May not I fitly give one of my humble lays?
For though tact be a word that weds music not kindly,
Let the sweet of its meaning make up for its sound;
Without tact all kindness must go to work blindly,
And inflame when it seeks to relieve the heart's wound.
189
Granted sometimes deception included in tact,
And oftenest deception the handmaid of sin;
Yet deception sometimes is by virtue enact,
And some universal applauses shall win;
Yea, though truth crowning glory of virtue is, still
Sometimes 'tis a luxury the good must forego;
Ask Trotty who feign'd to have supp'd that starved Will
Might eat the whole meal, yet without remorse go.
And oftenest deception the handmaid of sin;
Yet deception sometimes is by virtue enact,
And some universal applauses shall win;
Yea, though truth crowning glory of virtue is, still
Sometimes 'tis a luxury the good must forego;
Ask Trotty who feign'd to have supp'd that starved Will
Might eat the whole meal, yet without remorse go.
Oh! seem when one serving, to be yourself served;
Conceal not your blush when entirely bestowing;
Expose, if you're woman, yourself all unnerved,
When a lover's false hopes kindly all overthrowing;
Serve not on one absolute plan, as though tending
Herds or flocks; but each kindness effect in a way
To each weakness adapted, and so be commending
That tact half whose goodness words fail to display.
Conceal not your blush when entirely bestowing;
Expose, if you're woman, yourself all unnerved,
When a lover's false hopes kindly all overthrowing;
Serve not on one absolute plan, as though tending
Herds or flocks; but each kindness effect in a way
To each weakness adapted, and so be commending
That tact half whose goodness words fail to display.
What its sound is to the shower,
What its smoothness to the flower,
What its silence to the kiss,—
All this tact to kindness is.
What its smoothness to the flower,
What its silence to the kiss,—
All this tact to kindness is.
190
SEEKERS.
Twice three years in this tomb she hath lain;
Speak low, speak low.
One like to her doth the earth yet contain?
We have sought ever; is the search vain?
Speak low.
Speak low, speak low.
One like to her doth the earth yet contain?
We have sought ever; is the search vain?
Speak low.
Answer we nothing? none have we found?
Weep not, weep not.
One like to her earth could but wound,
Sense with but wearying trammels bound;—
Weep not.
Weep not, weep not.
One like to her earth could but wound,
Sense with but wearying trammels bound;—
Weep not.
I would not meet one like to her!
Start not, start not.
Not with hope search I the world's strife and stir,
Ne'er at two shrines be I worshipper;—
Start not.
Start not, start not.
191
Ne'er at two shrines be I worshipper;—
Start not.
Part we now from around her tomb,—
Speak low, speak low.
East and west, through the world's gloom,
Seeking ever till here we come;—
Speak low.
Speak low, speak low.
East and west, through the world's gloom,
Seeking ever till here we come;—
Speak low.
September 1845.
192
THE MISANTHROPE'S CURE.
One had counted every blow
Which the lofty deal the low,
Till his wretched soul could know
Nought beside.
Which the lofty deal the low,
Till his wretched soul could know
Nought beside.
And to him earth seem'd a plain
Where each strove his good to gain
Through some other's loss or pain;
Evil all.
Where each strove his good to gain
Through some other's loss or pain;
Evil all.
Common fate! such watch will blind
Even a wise and learned mind
To the goodness in mankind
Rooted deep.
Even a wise and learned mind
To the goodness in mankind
Rooted deep.
For—be it well or be it ill—
To each man the universe will,
Like his own experience, still
Ever loom.
To each man the universe will,
Like his own experience, still
Ever loom.
193
He grew sick with wrath and gloom;
And one day, to ask his doom,
In the leech's waiting-room
Waited pale.
And one day, to ask his doom,
In the leech's waiting-room
Waited pale.
But a dame and maid coming in,
He from them his cure did win;
How, it were a heavy sin
Ever to hide.
He from them his cure did win;
How, it were a heavy sin
Ever to hide.
From the city's farthest side,
Through the city five miles wide,
Twice each week the dame here hied,
Lone and old,
Through the city five miles wide,
Twice each week the dame here hied,
Lone and old,
To be present while the maid,
Paying nought, sought the leech's aid;
Lest the maid's fair fame might fade,
Hied she here.
Paying nought, sought the leech's aid;
Lest the maid's fair fame might fade,
Hied she here.
Told this, to the dame he said,
“Five miles walk'd you with this maid?”
Said she, “For her ride I paid;
She is ill.”
“Five miles walk'd you with this maid?”
Said she, “For her ride I paid;
She is ill.”
194
“Then you are kin to her?” said he;
“No, oh no! but those that be
Would not do it, sir,” answer'd she
Softly still.
“No, oh no! but those that be
Would not do it, sir,” answer'd she
Softly still.
Ask'd he, “Could you both not ride?”
“Little, since my husband died,
Have I; she has nothing,” replied
Yet the dame.
“Little, since my husband died,
Have I; she has nothing,” replied
Yet the dame.
Look'd he wondering in her face;
Heavenly shone its human grace;
And to him the world apace
Heavenly shone.
Heavenly shone its human grace;
And to him the world apace
Heavenly shone.
As when in a wood a shower
Lights up every leaf and flower,
Was the universe in this hour
Lit for him.
Lights up every leaf and flower,
Was the universe in this hour
Lit for him.
Oh let none learn good by stealth;
Tombing so earth's real wealth;
Thus regain'd its moral health
This poor soul.
Tombing so earth's real wealth;
Thus regain'd its moral health
This poor soul.
195
I BELIEVE.
“Nature is not malignant like the gods of the people; she
is dreadfully imperfect, but has shown herself capable of improvement.”—Barker.
Every ship, except the ship we embark in,
Gives us dreams
Of bright voyaging, beauteous lands afar, and
Glorious streams;
Every maiden, until she has consented,
Angel seems.
Gives us dreams
Of bright voyaging, beauteous lands afar, and
Glorious streams;
Every maiden, until she has consented,
Angel seems.
Beautiful is nought, unless some foreground
Grasp debar;
All things flying attract us, and all charm till
Gain'd they are;
The hills are beautiful but because their summits
Soar afar.
Grasp debar;
All things flying attract us, and all charm till
Gain'd they are;
The hills are beautiful but because their summits
Soar afar.
196
What is the argument of thy discontent,
Human soul?
Wilt thou, oh haggardest of coursers! ever
Find fit goal?
Art thou a wild exception, or knoweth Nature
Nothing whole?
Human soul?
Wilt thou, oh haggardest of coursers! ever
Find fit goal?
Art thou a wild exception, or knoweth Nature
Nothing whole?
Sometimes I dream the law of thy well-being
Ceaseless change,
And while thy senses and affections bid thee
Narrow range,
Thou, like a bird encaged and fetter'd, pinest
Lost and strange.
Ceaseless change,
And while thy senses and affections bid thee
Narrow range,
Thou, like a bird encaged and fetter'd, pinest
Lost and strange.
But most I pondering deem that it may be
That thy sight
To grasp the perfect 'neath Time's imperfections
Hath no might,
Whilst only before the perfect canst thou expand to
Fit delight.
That thy sight
To grasp the perfect 'neath Time's imperfections
Hath no might,
Whilst only before the perfect canst thou expand to
Fit delight.
And seems it then, whilst each fruit thou pursuest
Turns to dust,
That, spite of all thy pride in thy pursuing,
'Twere more just
That thou hadst never been unto dead-sea apples
Thus out-thrust.
Turns to dust,
That, spite of all thy pride in thy pursuing,
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That thou hadst never been unto dead-sea apples
Thus out-thrust.
Wait, blind-whirl'd Ixion of the flashing wheels,
Life and Death!
This thing is certain, that like ore good grows all
Ill beneath;
Other than worshippers of dreams and scriptures
Live by faith.
Life and Death!
This thing is certain, that like ore good grows all
Ill beneath;
Other than worshippers of dreams and scriptures
Live by faith.
Tombs many yet may rise for us, of lifetimes
Dark and brief;
We may not see Time's victory, but it comes, and,
For our grief,
Endurance knows celestial consolations
Past belief.
Dark and brief;
We may not see Time's victory, but it comes, and,
For our grief,
Endurance knows celestial consolations
Past belief.
Dissatisfaction accident is of Earth,
Not Earth's plan;
Years come when even its name shall be a riddle
None may scan;
Perchance even now his plumes outspreads the hour that
Ends the ban.
Not Earth's plan;
Years come when even its name shall be a riddle
None may scan;
Perchance even now his plumes outspreads the hour that
Ends the ban.
198
Roll on then, Earth, with all thy soaring mountains
Pale as Ghosts!
Enchant, oh maids, and glory in enchanting
Man's young hosts;
Toward a new future will we make your victims
Road sign-posts.
Pale as Ghosts!
Enchant, oh maids, and glory in enchanting
Man's young hosts;
Toward a new future will we make your victims
Road sign-posts.
Mix pigments, study lines, exalt us Nature,
Painters all,
Burn fire on all her altars; and, though wearied,
Never fall;
What if 'twere come that she a Cleopatra
Could not pall.
Painters all,
Burn fire on all her altars; and, though wearied,
Never fall;
What if 'twere come that she a Cleopatra
Could not pall.
Hills, shake not off one torrent, nor grow pale thou,
Golden Sun!
The music of the world thou light'st up hath not
Yet begun.
Get ready, women! fitly have ye not yet
Once been won.
Golden Sun!
The music of the world thou light'st up hath not
Yet begun.
Get ready, women! fitly have ye not yet
Once been won.
Nor shake thou mockingly thy dart, oh Death!
Know, oh king!
We have made friends with Melancholy, and she
Thee will bring
Gently among us, yea to teach new music
Them that sing.
Know, oh king!
We have made friends with Melancholy, and she
199
Gently among us, yea to teach new music
Them that sing.
There is a heaven, though we to hope to pass there
May not dare;
Where adoration shall for ever adore some
Perfect fair;
And we can wait thee, Death, our eyes enfixed
Firmly there.
May not dare;
Where adoration shall for ever adore some
Perfect fair;
And we can wait thee, Death, our eyes enfixed
Firmly there.
Jersey
200
A WINTER HYMN TO THE SNOW.
Come o'er the hills, and pass unto the wold,
And all things, as thou passest, in rest upfold,
Nor all night long thy ministrations cease;
Thou succourer of young corn, and of each seed
In plough'd land sown, or lost on rooted mead,
And bringer everywhere of exceeding peace!
And all things, as thou passest, in rest upfold,
Nor all night long thy ministrations cease;
Thou succourer of young corn, and of each seed
In plough'd land sown, or lost on rooted mead,
And bringer everywhere of exceeding peace!
Beneath the long interminable frost
Earth's landscapes all their excellent force have lost,
And stripp'd and abject each alike appears;
Not now to adore can they exalt the soul,—
Panic, or anger, or unrest control,—
Or aid the loosening of Affliction's tears.
Earth's landscapes all their excellent force have lost,
And stripp'd and abject each alike appears;
Not now to adore can they exalt the soul,—
Panic, or anger, or unrest control,—
Or aid the loosening of Affliction's tears.
201
No more doth Desolateness lovely sit
Lone on the moor; no more around her flit
From far high-travelling heaven the sailing shades;
The shrunk grass shivers feebly; reed and sedge,
By frozen marsh, by rivulet's iron edge,
Bow, blent into the ice, mix'd stems and blades.
Lone on the moor; no more around her flit
From far high-travelling heaven the sailing shades;
The shrunk grass shivers feebly; reed and sedge,
By frozen marsh, by rivulet's iron edge,
Bow, blent into the ice, mix'd stems and blades.
The mountains soar not, holding high in heaven
Their mighty kingdoms, but all downward driven
Seem shrunken haggard ridges running low;
And all about stand drear upon the leas,
Like giant thorns, the frozen skeleton trees,
Dead to the winds that ruining through them go.
Their mighty kingdoms, but all downward driven
Seem shrunken haggard ridges running low;
And all about stand drear upon the leas,
Like giant thorns, the frozen skeleton trees,
Dead to the winds that ruining through them go.
The woodland rattles in the sudden gusts;
Frozen through frozen brakes the river thrusts
His arm forth stiffly, like one slain and cold;
The glory from the horizon-line has fled;
One sullen formless gloom the skies are spread,
And black the waters of the lakes are roll'd.
Frozen through frozen brakes the river thrusts
His arm forth stiffly, like one slain and cold;
The glory from the horizon-line has fled;
One sullen formless gloom the skies are spread,
And black the waters of the lakes are roll'd.
Come! Daughter fair of Sire the sternest, come,
And bring the world relief! to rivers numb
Give garments, cover broadly the broad land;
All trees with thy resistless gentleness
Assume, and in thine own white vesture dress,
And hush all nooks with thy persistings bland.
And bring the world relief! to rivers numb
Give garments, cover broadly the broad land;
202
Assume, and in thine own white vesture dress,
And hush all nooks with thy persistings bland.
Come! making rugged gorge and rocky height
Even more than fur of ermine soft and white,
And cover up and silence roads and lanes;
And, while the ravish'd wind sleeps hush'd and still,
Wreaths, little infancy with glee to fill,
Upheap at doorways and at casement-panes.
Even more than fur of ermine soft and white,
And cover up and silence roads and lanes;
And, while the ravish'd wind sleeps hush'd and still,
Wreaths, little infancy with glee to fill,
Upheap at doorways and at casement-panes.
Fancy's most potent pandar! gentlest too:
Man, rising on the morn, the scene will view
Thus, all transform'd, with no less sweet surprise
Than stirreth him to whose half-doubting sight
Sudden appears beloved friend, masqued bright
In not less fair than unexpected guise.
Man, rising on the morn, the scene will view
Thus, all transform'd, with no less sweet surprise
Than stirreth him to whose half-doubting sight
Sudden appears beloved friend, masqued bright
In not less fair than unexpected guise.
And some will think the earth, in white robes drest,
Seems sinking fast in a great trance of rest,
Beyond all further reach of wintry ill;
And some will say it seems as though a ghost
Appear'd; and thus, on fancy's seas far toss'd,
With doubtful shadowy joys their spirits fill.
Seems sinking fast in a great trance of rest,
Beyond all further reach of wintry ill;
And some will say it seems as though a ghost
Appear'd; and thus, on fancy's seas far toss'd,
With doubtful shadowy joys their spirits fill.
203
Thy task complete, if to the amazing scene
With Night should come, full-orb'd, Night's radiant Queen,
How the whole race from out their homes will gaze!
Hard hearts will restless grow, and mean men sigh,
And wish they could be holier, and on high
Some, whispering words of heaven, meek thanks will raise.
With Night should come, full-orb'd, Night's radiant Queen,
How the whole race from out their homes will gaze!
Hard hearts will restless grow, and mean men sigh,
And wish they could be holier, and on high
Some, whispering words of heaven, meek thanks will raise.
I, sweet celestial kisser! from croft home-crown'd,
From ancient mead by stateliest trees girt round,
From wilds where thou the earth lovest all alone,
Shall watch thee shower thy kisses, and all the hours
Rapt worship solemnize, and bless the Powers
That let thy loveliness to my soul be known!
From ancient mead by stateliest trees girt round,
From wilds where thou the earth lovest all alone,
Shall watch thee shower thy kisses, and all the hours
Rapt worship solemnize, and bless the Powers
That let thy loveliness to my soul be known!
204
TO DEATH.
I see thee in the churchyard, Death,
And fain would talk with thee,
While still I draw the young man's breath
And still with clear eyes see.
And fain would talk with thee,
While still I draw the young man's breath
And still with clear eyes see.
Thou wilt not make my spirit sink,
Thou dost not move my fear;
More sad more blest I often think
The mortal sojourner here.
Thou dost not move my fear;
More sad more blest I often think
The mortal sojourner here.
Here where the symbols all of fair
With vileness mix'd we find;
Where knowledge soothes not, and where care
Haunts most the finest mind.
With vileness mix'd we find;
Where knowledge soothes not, and where care
Haunts most the finest mind.
205
'Tis thou who know'st if any knows
Of life's wild maze the key;
And if behind its marvellous shows
Some Master moving be.
Of life's wild maze the key;
And if behind its marvellous shows
Some Master moving be.
And haply of some farther life
That shall this life adjust,
Or if we are men for threescore years,
And then unconscious dust.
That shall this life adjust,
Or if we are men for threescore years,
And then unconscious dust.
For this, oh Death, of thee I crave
Some sign; but not to pray
Against the inevitable grave
Or self-contain'd decay.
Some sign; but not to pray
Against the inevitable grave
Or self-contain'd decay.
Alas! since first our fragile race
Appear'd this earth upon,
Hast thou been question'd thus, and trace
Of answer never won.
Appear'd this earth upon,
Hast thou been question'd thus, and trace
Of answer never won.
In vain the young from youth's delights,
From lips whose kissing bloom
Bright chaos makes of days and nights,
To thee defiant come.
From lips whose kissing bloom
Bright chaos makes of days and nights,
To thee defiant come.
206
In vain the old with trembling tread
And trembling hands applies,
And strives to coax thy silence dread,
And lifts beseeching eyes.
And trembling hands applies,
And strives to coax thy silence dread,
And lifts beseeching eyes.
And vainly I desert my post
In life's poor puppet game,
And seek thee where this silent host
Of tombs thy power proclaim.
In life's poor puppet game,
And seek thee where this silent host
Of tombs thy power proclaim.
When midnight wraps the world in sleep,
Or when the vanishing stars
And morn once more, new day to keep,
Rolls back her golden bars.
Or when the vanishing stars
And morn once more, new day to keep,
Rolls back her golden bars.
In vain, in vain, but one reply
In thy sad realm I find;
Some fresh grave ever meets the eye,
And mocks the unanswer'd mind.
In thy sad realm I find;
Some fresh grave ever meets the eye,
And mocks the unanswer'd mind.
June 10, 1860.
207
A WARNING.
He took his heart away from his fellows,
And gave it to angels fair;
But the angels cannot commune with the human,
Nor, if they could, would they dare.
And gave it to angels fair;
But the angels cannot commune with the human,
Nor, if they could, would they dare.
Then took he back his heart from the angels,
And over it long he mourn'd;
For he either could not or would not offer it
Back to the race he scorn'd.
And over it long he mourn'd;
For he either could not or would not offer it
Back to the race he scorn'd.
But all things die if utterly self-bound;
And slowly this lone heart died:
And ever the Scorner is doom'd to wander,
Meaner than all beside.
And slowly this lone heart died:
And ever the Scorner is doom'd to wander,
Meaner than all beside.
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