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The Marriage Before Death, And Other Poems

By George Barlow
Barlow, George

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THE MARRIAGE BEFORE DEATH,
 I. 
Scene I.—In a large Cell in the Prison.
 II. 
Scene II.—On the way to Execution.
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TUA-TUA: or, ROSE-ROSE:
 I. 
Scene I.—In a Dell in the Forest.
 2. 
Scene 2.—In the forest.
 III. 
Scene III.—Chorus of attendant Dyak Maidens, bringing Tua-Tua bound towards the Altar of the Fetish in the black stony valley. Priests of the god, Soldiers, etc.
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LOVE'S EARLY MUSIC.
 I. 
I.—THE SONG OF THE BLACK-BROWN HAIR.
 II. 
II.—PASSION'S MYSTICISM.
  
A VISION IN HYDE PARK.
  
THE ROSE WILL BLOSSOM NONE THE LESS.
  
TO MAZZINI TRIUMPHANT.
  
DEATH OR YOU.
  
TO THEE, LOVE.
  
MARIA FORSTER AND JEAN PAUL.
  
A MEETING: AFTER FIVE YEARS.
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TO GERTRUDE IN THE SPIRIT WORLD.
  
WHAT ART THOU LIKE?
  
THOU ART THE SUMMER.
  
THE HAY-FIELDS ON THE CLIFF TOP.
  
SWEET PASSIONATE SPIRIT.
  
THY LAUGHTER.
  
WHAT MATTERS IT?
  
A MAIDEN SPIRIT.
  
MAN'S DEVOTION AND WOMAN'S POTION:
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THE WRESTLE FOR A SOUL.
 1. 
Scene 1.—Morning.
 2. 
Scene 2.—At Night.
 3. 
Scene 3.—Early Morning.
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TO HELEN.
  
THE FRAGRANT NIGHT.
  
HAVING OUTLIVED, OUTSUFFERED.
  
OH, SEA!
  
STIR NOT.
  
AFTER THE DAY.
  
CALM.
  
ALONE TOGETHER.
  
STILL THERE.
  
THE GENIUS OF SOLOMON.
  
SONNET.
  
THE KITTEN.
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FOUR SONNETS.
 I. 
I.—THE ROSE OF GOD'S BLOOD.
 II. 
II.—THE CROWN OF FLOWERS.
 III. 
III.—IN ENGLAND'S NAME.
 IV. 
IV.—FACE TO FACE.
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THE RELIGION OF ART:
 I. 
I.—VENUS.
 II. 
II.—THE IMMEASURABLE ROSE.
 III. 
III.—UPON THE BREEZES.
 IV. 
IV.—CONTEMPLATION.
 V. 
V.—THE ARTIST.
 VI. 
VI.—LOVE.
 VII. 
VII.—DEATH.
 VIII. 
VIII.—THE DEATH OF THE FIRST FAIR WOMAN.
 IX. 
IX.—THE EMBRACE.
 X. 
X.—THE RAPTURE BEYOND.
 XI. 
XI.—WITHIN THE NIGHT.
 XII. 
XII.—NO DESPAIR.
 XIII. 
XIII.—THE FIRST ROSE.
 XIV. 
XIV.—THE FIRST RED ROSE.
 XV. 
XV.—FROM LOVE.
 XVI. 
XVI.—NO GREATER JOY.
 XVII. 
XVII.—AN ANGEL.
 XVIII. 
XVIII.—THE TEMPEST.
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THE MELODY OF LIFE.
 I. 
I.—LIFE.
 II. 
II.—HAS IT ALL PASSED?
 III. 
III.—THE LONE DAYS.
 IV. 
IV.—PAST KISSES.
 V. 
V.—THE JOY OF LOOKING BACK.
 VI. 
VI.—IT MAY BE.
  
A SOUL-WREATH.

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215

VIII.—THE DEATH OF THE FIRST FAIR WOMAN.

For when the first fair trembling woman died
Death was abolished—all his heart did melt
E'en at that utter beauty which he felt
Gathered like some strange blossom at his side.
He could not bear the beauty of his bride—
He could not bear the stroke her beauty dealt
Soft and white-handed; as he grasped her belt,
Kissing, life-loosening, death was deified.
He could not bear the ecstasy of this
The first embrace of her the first red rose;
Fainting, death vanished in a stream of bliss,
Made one with life and love in thrills and throes
Delicious—at the beauty of her kiss
Death shudders; all his threatening purpose goes.
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