 | Marah |  |
146
SATURNALIA
1
Hid in the heaviest dark, a mysteryWithin a mystery, the sea augments
Night's witchcraft with its shadowy sound; the sigh
Of an uneasy silence, that half vents
In sobs and gasps the dreadful secrecy
Of its contents!
2
And yet another mystery haunts the night:The uncouth, phantasmal, bodiless return
Of Chaos. That which was before the light
147
Of darkness voids confusions infinite
That seethe and yearn.
3
All spectres now resume their dim domain.A shrouded dream is passing o'er the deep.
The scatter'd clusters of effaced stars wane
Behind a livid film. The shuddering heap
Of waters hoarser breathes. Athwart my brain
Vast shadows sweep.
4
My waking self sinks from me. In its placeThere comes a sense of preternatural force
Freed from thought's timid tyranny. The chase
Begins. The phantom bugles blow. To horse!
I mount the Nightmare. Fleet thro' time and space
Speeds our wild course!
148
5
Where are we hurrying, they and I? And they,Who are they? We shall find each other out
As we go on, perhaps, and by the way
Discover also what we are about.
Heavens! Is it you? How came you here astray
In such a rout?
6
They told me you were settled down in life,Well married, living far away from here
In your own country, a good happy wife
And mother, virtue's model, a sincere
Church-goer, all whose decent days were rife
With heavenly cheer.
149
7
Yet here you are to-night, without a blush,Stark naked, riding furious at my side
The Devil's own charger! Foremost in the push
Of this fierce crowd, and no attempt to hide
Your unashamed enjoyment of the rush
Of our wild ride!
8
Who is it you were laughing with just nowBefore you join'd me? The tall woman there,
With the gold fillet glittering on her brow,
And those large long-lash'd eyes, and bosoms bare?
What is it hanging from her saddle bow
By a tress of hair?
150
9
Stay! Now she has it in her hands. It isA dead man's head. And how her burning eyes
Gloat on its horror! How her red lips kiss
Those white ones! Yes, 'tis she. I recognize
Herodias. But you never told me this.
Who could surmise
10
That you were old associates? And you,Whom have you loved to death, that you should be
Here in such company? Yon couple, too?
She with the man asleep upon her knee?
Asleep, or dead? A nail is driven thro'
His forehead. See!
151
11
With what still rapture her white fingers roveAmong his matted curls, as low she bends
Her glowing gaze his upturn'd face above,
Husht as a watchful mother when she tends
Her sick child, lull'd to sleep with songs of love!
So you are friends?
12
I noticed that the woman, as we pass'd,Nodded to you encouragingly. Drums
And cymbals! Hark! Behind us prancing fast,
Here, with the head of Holofernes, comes
Dame Judith, bravely dress'd! And now, the vast
Black midnight hums
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13
With a mysterious far-off music. SongsUnholy, soft lascivious Lydian lyres,
Shrill Phrygian pipes, and throbbing Scythian gongs,
In wizard concert where, round monstrous fires,
The redden'd gloom reveals dim dancing throngs,
And loose-robed choirs.
14
O hasten! Hasten! If we get not thereBefore the dawn breaks, we shall be undone!
Our steeds flag, and we still have far to fare.
Flog the jade fast! The revel has begun.
Faster! Our names are call'd. Death and despair!
Too late .... the Sun!
| Marah | |