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The Complete Poetical Works of Robert Buchanan

In Two Volumes. With a Portrait
Buchanan, Robert Williams (1841-1901)

collapse sectionI. 
VOL. I.
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Early Poems.
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PASTORAL PICTURES.
 I. 
I. Down the River.
 II. 
II. The Summer Pool.
 III. 
III. Up the River.
 IV. 
IV. Snow.
  
TO THE LUGGIE.
  
FRA GIACOMO.
  
CHARMIAN.
  
CLOUDLAND.
  
CUCKOO SONG.
  
THE WHITE DEER.
  
CONVENT-ROBBING.
  
THE BALLAD OF THE WAYFARER.
  
IN SPRING-TIME.
  
THE FISHERMAN.
  
THE CHURCHYARD.
  
SEA-WASH.
  
EARTH AND THE SOUL.
  
A CURL.
  
LOVE AND TIME.
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Undertones.
  
POET'S PROLOGUE. TO DAVID IN HEAVEN.
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THE UNDERTONES.
  
[Thou Fame! who makest of the singer's Life]
 I. 
I. PROTEUS;
 II. 
II. ADES, KING OF HELL.
 III. 
III. PAN.
 IV. 
IV. THE NAIAD.
 V. 
V. THE SATYR.
 VI. 
VI. VENUS ON THE SUN-CAR.
 VII. 
VII. SELENE THE MOON.
 VIII. 
VIII. IRIS THE RAINBOW.
 IX. 
IX. ORPHEUS THE MUSICIAN.
 X. 
X. POLYPHEME'S PASSION.
 XI. 
XI. PENELOPE.
 XII. 
XII. SAPPHO:
 XIII. 
XIII. THE SYREN.
 XIV. 
XIV. A VOICE FROM ACADEME.
collapse sectionXV. 
XV. PYGMALION THE SCULPTOR.
 1. 
1.Shadow.
 2. 
2.The Marble Life.
 3. 
3.The Sin.
 4. 
4.Death in Life.
 5. 
5.Shadow
 XVI. 
XVI. ANTONY IN ARMS.
 XVII. 
XVII. FINE WEATHER ON THE DIGENTIA.
 XVIII. 
XVIII. FINE WEATHER BY BAIAE.
 XIX. 
XIX. THE SWAN-SONG OF APOLLO.
  
POET'S EPILOGUE. TO MARY ON EARTH.
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Idyls and Legends of Inverburn.
  
[Fly to the city, Spirit of the Spring]
  
THE LOWLAND VILLAGE.
  
WILLIE BAIRD.
  
LORD RONALD'S WIFE.
  
POET ANDREW.
  
WHITE LILY OF WEARDALEHEAD.
  
THE ENGLISH HUSWIFE'S GOSSIP.
  
THE FAËRY FOSTER-MOTHER.
  
THE GREEN GNOME.
  
HUGH SUTHERLAND'S PANSIES.
  
THE DEAD MOTHER.
  
THE WIDOW MYSIE.
  
THE MINISTER AND THE ELFIN.
  
VILLAGE VOICES.
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London Poems.
  
BEXHILL, 1866.
  
THE LITTLE MILLINER;
  
LIZ.
  
THE STARLING.
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JANE LEWSON.
  
[prologue]
 I. 
[I.]
 II. 
II.
  
LANGLEY LANE.
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EDWARD CROWHURST;
 I. 
I.
 II. 
II. After Ten Years.
  
ARTIST AND MODEL:
  
NELL.
  
ATTORNEY SNEAK.
  
BARBARA GRAY.
  
THE BLIND LINNET.
  
`TIGER BAY:
  
THE CITY ASLEEP.
  
UP IN AN ATTIC.
  
TO THE MOON.
  
SPRING SONG IN THE CITY.
  
IN LONDON, MARCH 1866.
  
A LARK'S FLIGHT.
  
DE BERNY.
  
THE WAKE OF TIM O'HARA.
  
KITTY KEMBLE.
  
THE SWALLOWS.
  
TOM DUNSTAN; OR, THE POLITICIAN.
  
O'MURTOGH.
  
THE BOOKWORM.
  
THE LAST OF THE HANGMEN.
  
LONDON, 1864.
  
THE MODERN WARRIOR.
  
PAN: EPILOGUE.
  
L'ENVOI TO LONDON POEMS.
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Miscellaneous Poems.
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THE DEATH OF ROLAND.
 I. 
I.
 II. 
II.
 III. 
III.
 IV. 
IV.
 V. 
V.
 VI. 
VI.
 VII. 
VII.
 VIII. 
VIII.
 IX. 
IX.
 X. 
X.
 XI. 
XI.
 XII. 
XII.
 XIII. 
XIII.
 XIV. 
XIV.
 XV. 
XV.
 XVI. 
XVI.
 XVII. 
XVII.
 XVIII. 
XVIII.
  
THE GIFT OF EOS.
  
CLARI IN THE WELL.
  
SERENADES.
  
IN THE GARDEN.
  
THE ASRAI.
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THE CHANGELING.
 I. 
I. The Asrai.
 II. 
II. The Changeling's Birth.
 III. 
III. His Mortal Life.
 IV. 
IV. His Sorrow and Sin.
 V. 
V. The Battle-Field.
 VI. 
VI. The Abbot Paul.
  
TO CLARI.
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North Coast, and other Poems.
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MEG BLANE.
 I. 
I. Storm.
 II. 
II. Dead Calm.
 III. 
III. A Troubled Deep.
 IV. 
IV.
  
THE BATTLE OF DRUMLIEMOOR.
  
THE NORTHERN WOOING.
  
AN ENGLISH ECLOGUE.
  
A SCOTTISH ECLOGUE.
  
THE SCAITH O' BARTLE.
  
THE GLAMOUR.
  
SIGURD OF SAXONY.
  
A POEM TO DAVID.
  
HAKON.
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Sonnets WRITTEN BY LOCH CORUISK, ISLE OF SKYE.
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CORUISKEN SONNETS.
 I. 
I. Lord, is it Thou?
 II. 
II. We are Fatherless.
 III. 
III. We are Children.
 IV. 
IV. When we are all Asleep.
 V. 
V. But the Hills will bear Witness.
 VI. 
VI. Desolate!
 VII. 
VII. Lord, art Thou here?
 VIII. 
VIII. God is Beautiful.
 IX. 
IX. The Motion of the Mists.
 X. 
X. Coruisk.
 XI. 
XI. But Whither?
 XII. 
XII. God is Pitiless.
 XIII. 
XIII. Yea, Pitiless.
 XIV. 
XIV. Could God be Judged.
 XV. 
XV. The Hills on their Thrones.
 XVI. 
XVI. King Blaabhein.
 XVII. 
XVII. Blaabhein in the Mists.
 XVIII. 
XVIII. The Fiery Birth of the Hills.
 XIX. 
XIX. The Changeless Hills.
 XX. 
XX. O Mountain Peak of a God.
 XXI. 
XXI. God the Image.
 XXII. 
XXII. The Footprints.
 XXIII. 
XXIII. We are Deathless.
 XXIV. 
XXIV. A Voice in the Whirlwind.
 XXV. 
XXV. Cry of the Little Brook.
 XXVI. 
XXVI. The Happy Hearts of Earth.
 XXVII. 
XXVII. Father, forgive Thy Child.
 XXVIII. 
XXVIII. God's Loneliness.
 XXIX. 
XXIX. The Cup of Tears.
 XXX. 
XXX. The Light of the World.
 XXXI. 
XXXI. Earth's Eldest Born.
 XXXII. 
XXXII. What Spirit Cometh?
 XXXIII. 
XXXIII. Stay, O Spirit!
 XXXIV. 
XXXIV. Quiet Waters.
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The Book of Orm.
  
INSCRIPTION. To F. W. C.
  
PROEM.
  
THE BOOK OF THE VISIONS SEEN BY ORM THE CELT.
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I. FIRST SONG OF THE VEIL.
  
[prologue]
 I. 
I. The Veil Woven.
 II. 
II. Earth the Mother.
 III. 
III. Children of Earth.
 IV. 
IV. The Wise Men.
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II. THE MAN AND THE SHADOW.
  
[prologue]
 I. 
I. The Shadow.
 II. 
II. The Rainbow.
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III. SONGS OF CORRUPTION.
  
[prologue]
 I. 
I. Phantasy.
 II. 
II. The Dream of the World without Death.
 III. 
III. Soul and Flesh.
 IV. 
IV. THE SOUL AND THE DWELLING.
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V. SONGS OF SEEKING.
  
[prologue]
 I. 
I.
 II. 
II. Quest.
 III. 
III. The Happy Earth.
 IV. 
IV. O Unseen One!
 V. 
V. World's Mystery.
 VI. 
VI. The Cities.
 VII. 
VII. The Priests.
 VIII. 
VIII. The Lamb of God.
 IX. 
IX. Doom.
 X. 
X. God's Dream.
 XI. 
XI. Flower of the World.
 XII. 
XII. O Spirit!
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VI. THE LIFTING OF THE VEIL.
  
[prologue]
 I. 
I. Orm's Vision.
 II. 
II. The Face and the World.
 III. 
III. Orm's Awakening.
collapse sectionVII. 
VII. THE DEVIL'S MYSTICS.
  
[prologue]
 I. 
I. The Inscription Without.
 II. 
II. The Tree of Life.
 III. 
III. The Seeds.
 IV. 
IV. Fire and Water; or, a Voice of the Flesh.
 V. 
V. Sanitas.
 VI. 
VI. The Philosophers.
 VII. 
VII. The Devil's Prayer.
 VIII. 
VIII. Homunculus; or, the Song of Deicides.
 IX. 
IX. Roses.
 X. 
X. Hermaphroditus.
 XI. 
XI. After.
 XII. 
XII. His Prayer.
 VIII. 
VIII. THE VISION OF THE MAN ACCURST.
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Political Mystics.
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TITAN AND AVATAR.
 I. 
I. Ode of Nations.
 II. 
II. The Avatar's Dream.
 II. 
III. The Elemental Quest.
 IV. 
IV. The Elemental Doom.
  
THE FOOL OF DESTINY.
  
THE TEUTON MONOLOGUE.
  
THE REPLY.
  
THE CITY OF MAN.
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Songs of the Terrible Year.
  
ODE TO THE SPIRIT OF AUGUSTE COMTE.
  
A DIRGE FOR KINGS.
  
THE PERFECT STATE.
  
THE TWO VOICES.
  
ODE BEFORE PARIS.
  
A DIALOGUE IN THE SNOW.
  
THE PRAYER IN THE NIGHT.
  
THE SPIRIT OF FRANCE.
  
THE APOTHEOSIS OF THE SWORD.
  
THE CHAUNT BY THE RHINE.
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Saint Abe and his Seven Wives.
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A TALE OF SALT LAKE CITY.
  
DEDICATION: TO OLD DAN CHAUCER.
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APPROACHING UTAH.—THE BOSS'S TALE.
 I. 
I. Passing the Ranche.
 II. 
II. Joe Wilson goes a-Courting.
 III. 
III. Saint and Disciple.
 IV. 
IV. The Book of Mormon.
 V. 
V. Joe ends his Srory—First Glimpse of Utah.
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THE CITY OF THE SAINTS.
  
[prologue]
 I. 
I. Among the Pastures—Summer Evening Dialogue.
 II. 
II. Within the City. St. Abe and the Seven.
 III. 
III. Promenade—Main Street, Utah.
 IV. 
IV. Within the Synagogue. Sermonizeth the Prophet.
 V. 
V. The Falling of the Thunderbolt.
 VI. 
VI. Last Epistle of St. Abe to the Polygamists.
  
THE FARM IN THE VALLEY—SUNSET.
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[subsection]
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White Rose and Red.
  
DEDICATION.
  
INVOCATION.
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PART I. THE CAPTURE OF EUREKA HART.
 I. 
I. Natura Naturans.
 II. 
II. Eureka.
 III. 
III. The Capture.
 IV. 
IV. Thro' the Wood.
 V. 
V. The Red Tribe.
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PART II. RED ROSE.
 I. 
I. Erycina Ridens.
 II. 
II. Log and Sunbeam.
 III. 
III. Nuptial Song.
 IV. 
IV. Arretez!
 V. 
V. The Farewell.
 VI. 
VI. The Paper.
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PART III. WHITE ROSE.
 I. 
I. Drowsietown.
 II. 
II. After Meeting.
 III. 
III. Phœbe Anna.
 IV. 
IV. Nuptial Song.
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PART IV. THE GREAT SNOW.
 I. 
I. The Great Snow.
 II. 
II. The Wanderer.
 III. 
III. Retrospect: the Journey.
collapse sectionIV. 
IV. The Journey's End.
  
[subsection]
  
[subsection]
  
[subsection]
  
[subsection]
  
[subsection]
  
[subsection]
  
[subsection]
  
[subsection]
  
[subsection]
  
[subsection]
  
‘Eureka Hart, Drowsietown, State of Maine.’
 V. 
V. Face to Face.
 VI. 
VI. Pauguk.
 VII. 
VII. The Melting of the Snow.
 VIII. 
VIII. The Last Look.
  
EPILOGUE.
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Faces on the Wall.
  
LONE HOUSE.
  
STORM AND CALM.
  
WITHOUT AND WITHIN.
  
NAPOLEON.
  
ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
  
WALT WHITMAN.
  
O FACES!
  
TO TRIFLERS.
  
THE WANDERERS.
  
THE WATCHER OF THE BEACON.
  
‘AND THE SPIRIT OF GOD MOVED UPON THE WATERS.’
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[subsection]
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Balder the Beautiful.
  
PROEM TO---.
 I. 
I. THE BIRTH OF BALDER.
collapse sectionII. 
II. THE FINDING OF BALDER.
 I. 
I. Frea in the Wood.
 II. 
II. The Shadow in the Wood.
 III. 
III. Full Godhead.
 IV. 
IV. The Man by the Ocean.
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III. THE HEAVENWARD JOURNEY.
 I. 
I. The Goddesses.
 II. 
II. The Fruit of Life.
 III. 
III. The City of the Gods.
 IV. 
IV. The Voice of the Father.
 V. 
V. Balder's Return.
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IV. BALDER'S RETURN TO EARTH.
 I. 
I. ‘Balder is Here.’
 II. 
II.
 III. 
III. All Things Blest by Balder.
 IV. 
IV. The Cry from the Ground.
 V. 
V. The Shadow on the Earth.
 VI. 
VI. On the Heights—Evening.
 VII. 
VII. The Vow of Balder.
collapse sectionV. 
V. BALDER'S QUEST FOR DEATH.
 I. 
I.
 II. 
II.
 III. 
III. The Fight of Ships.
 IV. 
IV. Ydun.
collapse sectionVI. 
VI. BALDER AND DEATH.
 I. 
I. The Altar of Sacrifice.
 II. 
II. Balder and Death.
 III. 
III. ‘O Death, pale Death.’
 IV. 
IV. Death sings.
 V. 
V.
 VI. 
VI. The Last Prayer.
 VII. 
VII. The First Snowflake—Falling of the Snow.
collapse sectionVII. 
VII. THE COMING OF THE OTHER.
 I. 
I.
 II. 
II. The Light on the Snow.
 III. 
III. The Face and the Voice.
 IV. 
IV. ‘Wake, Balder! Wake!’
 V. 
V. The Birth and Death.
 VI. 
VI. The Paracletes.
 VII. 
VII.
 VIII. 
VIII.
collapse sectionVIII. 
VIII. THE TWILIGHT OF THE GODS.
 I. 
I.
 II. 
II.
 III. 
III. The Bridge of Ghosts.
 IV. 
IV. ‘Behold, I am risen.’
 V. 
V. Alfadur.
 VI. 
VI. The Brethren.
 VII. 
VII. Father and Son.
 VIII. 
VIII. Twilight.
 IX. 
IX. ‘A Cross and a Lily.’
 IX. 
IX. THE LAST BLESSING.
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Miscellaneous Poems and Ballads.
  
DEDICATION To Harriett.
  
THE STRANGE COUNTRY.
  
THE BALLAD OF JUDAS ISCARIOT.
  
THE LIGHTS OF LEITH.
  
THE WEDDING OF SHON MACLEAN.
  
HANS VOGEL.
  
PHIL BLOOD'S LEAP.
  
THE FAËRY REAPER.
  
THE ‘MIDIAN-MARA.’
  
O'CONNOR'S WAKE.
  
HIGHLAND LAMENT.
  
JAMES AVERY.
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THE DEVIL'S PEEPSHOW.
  
[prologue]
 I. 
I.
 II. 
II.
 III. 
III.
 IV. 
IV.
 V. 
V.
 VI. 
VI.
 VII. 
VII.
 VIII. 
VIII.
 IX. 
IX.
 X. 
X.
 XI. 
XI.
 XII. 
XII.
 XIII. 
XIII.
 XIV. 
XIV.
 XV. 
XV.
 XVI. 
XVI.
  
DAYBREAK.
  
EUPHROSYNE; OR, THE PROSPECT.
  
STANLEY FARM.
  
ON A YOUNG POETESS'S GRAVE.
  
LOVE IN WINTER.
  
WILL O' THE WISP.
  
GIANT DESPAIR.
  
THE MOUNTAIN WELL.
  
THE SONG OF THE SHEALING.
  
THE SECRET OF THE MERE.
  
MNEMOSYNE; OR, THE RETROSPECT.
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VANITY FAIR.
 I. 
I.
 II. 
II.
collapse sectionII. 
VOL. II.
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[section]
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The Earthquake.
  
DEDICATION: AD MATREM.
  
PRELUDE.
  
THE FIRST DAY.
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JULIA CYTHEREA:
 I. 
I.
 II. 
II.
 III. 
III.
 IV. 
IV.
 V. 
V.
 VI. 
VI.
 VII. 
VII.
 VIII. 
VIII.
  
PAN AT HAMPTON COURT.
  
THE SECOND DAY.
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SERAPION.
 I. 
I.
 II. 
II.
 III. 
III.
 IV. 
IV.
  
RAMON MONAT.
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IN A FASHIONABLE CHURCH.
 I. 
I.
 II. 
II.
  
THE THIRD DAY.
  
THE VOYAGE OF MAGELLAN.
  
SOLILOQUY OF THE GRAND ÊTRE.
  
O MARINERS.
  
INTERLUDE. To H---.
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[section]
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The City of Dream.
  
DEDICATION: TO THE SAINTED SPIRIT OF JOHN BUNYAN.
 I. 
BOOK I. SETTING FORTH.
 II. 
BOOK II. STRANGERS AND PILGRIMS.
 III. 
BOOK III. EGLANTINE.
 IV. 
BOOK IV. WITHIN CHRISTOPOLIS.
 V. 
BOOK V. WITHIN THE GATE.
 VI. 
BOOK VI. THE CALVARIES.
 VII. 
BOOK VII. THE WAYSIDE INN.
 VIII. 
BOOK VIII. THE OUTCAST, ESAU.
 IX. 
BOOK IX. THE GROVES OF FAUN.
 X. 
BOOK X. THE AMPHITHEATRE.
 XI. 
BOOK XI. THE VALLEY OF DEAD GODS.
 XII. 
BOOK XII. THE INCONCEIVABLE.
 XIII. 
BOOK XIII. THE OPEN WAY.
 XIV. 
BOOK XIV. THE CITY WITHOUT GOD.
 XV. 
BOOK XV. THE CELESTIAL OCEAN.
  
L'ENVOI.
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The Outcast.
  
AD CARISSIMAM PUELLAM.
  
THE FIRST CHRISTMAS EVE.
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[Herein lies a Mystery]
  
AD LECTOREM.
 I. 
CANTO I. MADONNA.
collapse sectionII. 
CANTO II. THE FIRST HAVEN.
 I. 
I.
 II. 
II.
 III. 
III.
 IV. 
IV.
 V. 
V.
 VI. 
VI.
 VII. 
VII.
  
INTERLUDE.
  
FIDES AMANTIS.
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[section]
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The Wandering Jew.
  
[section]
 I. 
I.
 II. 
II.
 III. 
III.
 IV. 
IV.
 V. 
V.
 VI. 
VI.
 VII. 
VII.
 VIII. 
VIII. THE WITNESSES.
 IX. 
IX.
 X. 
X.
 XI. 
XI.
 XII. 
XII.
 XIII. 
XIII.
 XIV. 
XIV.
 XV. 
XV.
 XVI. 
XVI.
 XVII. 
XVII.
 XVIII. 
XVIII.
 XIX. 
XIX.
 XX. 
XX.
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The Devil's Case.
  
DEDICATION.
  
THE DEVIL'S CASE.
  
THE LITANY. DE PROFUNDIS.
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The Ballad of Mary the Mother.
  
[Shepherds, wake, 'tis Christmas tide!]
  
['Twas Mary, the woeful Mother]
  
AD MADONNAM.
  
A CATECHISM.
  
ANTIPHONES.
  
L'ENVOI.
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The New Rome.
  
PROEM. TO DAVID IN HEAVEN.
  
THE NEW ROME.
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Songs of Empire.
  
CARMEN DEIFIC.
  
THE IMAGE IN THE FORUM.
  
THE AUGURS.
  
THE JEW PASSES.
  
A SONG OF JUBILEE.
  
THE MERCENARIES.
  
SONG OF THE SLAIN.
  
THE CHARTER'D COMPANIE.
  
THE BALLAD OF KIPLINGSON.
  
TO OLIVE SCHREINER.
  
THE DREAMER OF DREAMS.
  
BE PITIFUL.
  
MAN OF THE RED RIGHT HAND.
  
SONG OF THE FUR-SEAL.
  
GOD EVOLVING.
  
‘PATRIOTISM.’
  
THE GRAND OLD MAN.
  
‘THE UNION.’
  
‘PEACE, NOT A SWORD.’
  
HARK NOW, WHAT FRETFUL VOICES.
  
THE IRISHMAN TO CROMWELL.
  
THE WEARING OF THE GREEN.
  
VICTORY.
  
VOX POPULI.
  
VOX DEI.
  
OLD ROME.
  
THE LAST BIVOUAC.
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Thro' the Great City.
  
THE FAIRY QUEEN.
  
THE LORDS OF THE BREAD.
  
LAST NIGHT.
  
THE SPHINX.
  
‘THESE VOICES.’
  
THE CRY FOR LIFE.
  
SISTERS OF MIDNIGHT.
  
THE LOST WOMEN.
  
A MORNING INVOCATION.
  
TO JUVENAL.
  
LYDIA AT THE SAVOY.
  
LESBIA.
  
BICYCLE SONG.
  
THE SHOWER.
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SERAPHINA SNOWE.
 I. 
I. Her Portrait.
 II. 
II. Séance.
 III. 
III. The Gospel According to Philosophy.
 IV. 
IV. Mesmeric Flashes.
  
MAETERLINCK.
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THE LAST CHRISTIANS
 I. 
I. ‘Storm in the Night.’
 II. 
II. ‘Hallelujah Jane.’
collapse sectionIII. 
III. ‘Annie;’ or, the Waif's Jubilee.
  
[subsection]
  
[subsection]
  
[subsection]
  
[subsection]
  
[subsection]
  
[subsection]
  
[subsection]
  
[subsection]
  
[subsection]
  
L'Envoi to the Preceding Poem.
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THE TRUE SONG OF FAIRYLAND.
 I. 
I.
 II. 
II.
 III. 
III.
 IV. 
IV.
 V. 
V.
 VI. 
VI.
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Latter-Day Gospels.
  
JUSTINIAN; OR, THE NEW CREED.
  
THE NEW BUDDHA.
  
NIETZSCHE.
  
THE LAST FAITH.
  
AD CARISSIMAM AMICAM.
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Land and Sea Songs.
  
SPRING SONG AFTER SNOW.
  
ON THE SHORE.
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THE MERMAID.
 I. 
I.
 II. 
II.
 III. 
III.
 IV. 
IV.
  
THE TRAMP'S DITTY.
  
THE CRY FROM THE MINE.
  
THE LEAD-MELTING.
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In the Library.
  
TO A POET OF THE EMPIRE.
  
THE GNOME.
  
THE WHITE ROBE; OR, ZOLA IN A NUTSHELL.
  
CARLYLE.
  
ATYS.
  
DOCTOR B.
  
SOCRATES IN CAMDEN.
  
WALT WHITMAN.
  
THE STORMY ONES.
  
THE DISMAL THRONG.
  
THE GIFT OF BURNS.
  
THE ROBIN REDBREAST.
  
TO GEORGE BERNARD SHAW.
  
THE SAD SHEPHERD.
  
L'ENVOI IN THE LIBRARY.
  
CORUISKEN SONNETS.
  
THE DEVIL'S SABBATH.
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Miscellaneous Poems.
  
TWO SONS.
  
PAT MULDOON; OR, JACK THE GIANT-KILLER UP TO DATE.
  
THE WIDOW: A WAR SONG.
  
THE BURIAL OF PARNELL.
  
THE GOOD PROFESSOR'S CREED.
  
A DEDICATION.
  
COLONEL SHARK.
  
THE FISHER BOY: A SONG IN TIME OF WAR.
  
THE DUMB BAIRN.
  
PROEM TO ‘THE SHADOW OF THE SWORD.’
  
PROEM TO ‘GOD AND THE MAN.’
  
PROEM TO ‘THE NEW ABELARD.’
  
PROEM TO ‘THE MOMENT AFTER.’
  
L'ENVOI.
  
THE LAST CRY.

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III. The Gospel According to Philosophy.

O eyes of pale forget-me-not blue,
Wash'd more pale by a dreamy dew,
O red red lips, O dainty tresses,
O breast the breath of the world distresses!
O little lady, do they divine
That they hath fathom'd thee and thine?
Fools! Let them fathom fire,—and beat
Light in a mortar; ay, and heat
Soul in a crucible! Let them try
To conquer the Light, and the Wind, and the Sky!
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Darkly the secret forces lurk,
We know them least where most they work,
And here they meet and mix in thee,
For a strange and mystic entity,
Making of thy pale soul in sooth
A life half trickery and half truth.
Well? . . . O my philosophic friend,
Does Nature herself ne'er condescend
To cheats and shams, and freaks and tricks,
Or doth she rather affect to mix
Reason with revel? Are you certain
That all is honest behind the curtain
Of lovely things you rejoice to meet?
Doth the Earth never sham, the Sky never cheat?
And do we question and rebel
If the cheat is pleasant and plausible?
Do we growl at the Rainbow in the air,
Or frown at the Mirage here and there?
Nay, we take these things as they come, my friend,
And let them into our being blend!
Passive we yield to the Sun and the Light,
To the scent of the flowers, to the sense and the sight,
Taking all changes with souls serene . . .
And so I take poor Seraphine!
Beautiful mingling, tinted well,
Of ‘Ariel’ and ‘Little Nell,’
With a spice of ‘Puck!’
True, as you aver,
I never was a philosopher!
But I do not envy Doctor Snooks
His scientific tools and books,
And I cheerfully let the grim old boy
Dissect the humbug that I enjoy.
Names,—more names? Let the lady be,—
Fie upon your philosophy!
And so the tricksy little bird
Is a ‘grass widow’ (is that the word?)
Or cast-off mistress, left to shame
By a New York rowdy of evil fame.
He thrash'd her did he? Go on. What more?
Finish your story, and o'er and o'er,
Proving things beyond human guess,
Blacken the little adventuress.
Now you have done, and I have heard,
Patiently, every cruel word,
Listen to me,—or rather, no!
Why should I argue with you so,
O wise Philosophy? Frown and go!
. . . I turn to Seraphina Snowe!
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