 | Songs of Doubt and Dream (Poems) |  |
93
QUEEN CHRISTINA AND DE LIAR.
Glad the day that saw Christina, broad of brain though young in years,
Take the crown of glorious Vasa, girt with Sweden's proudest peers.
Take the crown of glorious Vasa, girt with Sweden's proudest peers.
Regal was the face they looked on, regal were the form and guise,
Regal were the light-blue lustres of her Scandinavian eyes.
Regal were the light-blue lustres of her Scandinavian eyes.
“She will rule us,” cried the people, “like her sire, Gustavus great;
War at this girl's frown shall thunder; peace upon her smile shall wait.
War at this girl's frown shall thunder; peace upon her smile shall wait.
“Yet below her kingdom ever, civic wisdom, patriot love
Shall be pediments majestic to the monument above!”
Shall be pediments majestic to the monument above!”
Time with happy confirmation proved the praise whose welcome strain,
Like an archway for a conquerer, spanned the threshold of her reign.
Like an archway for a conquerer, spanned the threshold of her reign.
94
Ten bright years her lifted sceptre loomed in power o'er land and seas;
Norway, Prussia, Denmark, Austria trembled at her calm decrees.
Norway, Prussia, Denmark, Austria trembled at her calm decrees.
Battle in righteous loathing held she, yet no dastard armistice made;
Half Minerva, half Brunhilda, Sweden's destiny she swayed.
Half Minerva, half Brunhilda, Sweden's destiny she swayed.
Oxenstiern, the astute old statesman, oft her might of mind would own;
Grotius, poet and historian, laid allegiance at her throne;
Grotius, poet and historian, laid allegiance at her throne;
Torstenston, the unrivalled soldier, served her with his valiant men;
Blunt Salmacius, wily Vossius, flattered her with tongue and pen;
Blunt Salmacius, wily Vossius, flattered her with tongue and pen;
Keen Descartes, who grandly brooded on the spells of time and space,
Lost his learning in the sorceries fashioned by her virgin face;
Lost his learning in the sorceries fashioned by her virgin face;
95
Milton, he whose thought was earthquake to an age of sloth and swoon,
Praised her as the lark the morning, as the nightingale the moon.
Praised her as the lark the morning, as the nightingale the moon.
Many a suitor sought her favor; princes hotly vied with peers;
Magnus Gabriel de la Gardie urged his cause with smiles and tears;
Magnus Gabriel de la Gardie urged his cause with smiles and tears;
Uladislaus, King of Poland, tried her maiden heart to thrill;
Spain's fourth Philip strove to tempt her with alliance loftier still.
Spain's fourth Philip strove to tempt her with alliance loftier still.
But alike entreaty or protest ineffectual found her mood;
She was adamant to all men, howsoever subtly wooed.
She was adamant to all men, howsoever subtly wooed.
Yet would sages, wits and pundits, bards, philosophers and priests
In her palace at Upsala throng to share her stately feasts.
In her palace at Upsala throng to share her stately feasts.
96
Here, one evening, 'tis recorded, lights in plenteous measure played,
Through the imperial apartments, on a mirthful masquerade.
Through the imperial apartments, on a mirthful masquerade.
And of multitudes assembled, none so lured the royal glance
As De Liar, the Chevalier, jovial, handsome, fresh from France.
As De Liar, the Chevalier, jovial, handsome, fresh from France.
He, like all except Christina, wore a mask of envious fold,
Yet the Queen, through secret signal, his identity had told.
Yet the Queen, through secret signal, his identity had told.
Speech urbane her lips addressed him; radiant looks on him she bent;
Other suitors, keenly watching, gnawed their beards in discontent.
Other suitors, keenly watching, gnawed their beards in discontent.
“'Tis the Frenchman,” they would whisper; “fortunate he should be wed,
Else perchance our bold young sovereign by some wild caprice were led.”
Else perchance our bold young sovereign by some wild caprice were led.”
97
Later, when the night grew merrier, when the feasting-hall was gay,
Stealthily De Liar glided to a chamber yards away.
Stealthily De Liar glided to a chamber yards away.
Here, where old Norse gods were pictured on the drapery's fold and flow,
Glided stealthily to meet him a mysterious domino.
Glided stealthily to meet him a mysterious domino.
From a face of blooming witchery soon its mask of velvet fell;
The Chevalier stood confronted by the wife that loved him well.
The Chevalier stood confronted by the wife that loved him well.
“‘Come,” she laughs, “my wandering gallant, say me frank and say me fair!
Have you left your heart entangled in the Swedish Queen's gold hair?”
Have you left your heart entangled in the Swedish Queen's gold hair?”
Laughing back with amorous ardor, the Chevalier makes reply:
“Nay, already in your brown tresses doth my heart entangled lie!”
“Nay, already in your brown tresses doth my heart entangled lie!”
“Flatterer!” mocks the wife—but kisses all her raillery swiftly choke,
Fond as those that lily or poppy may from buoyant bee invoke.
Fond as those that lily or poppy may from buoyant bee invoke.
98
“Fear not, lady of mine,” he murmurs, “lest new love your rights profane;
I to this crowned Queen am colder than the frost-flowers on her pane!
I to this crowned Queen am colder than the frost-flowers on her pane!
“Pettier is her dull self-worship, fed by parasitic prate,
Than the crowd of salaried pedants truckling to her trivial state!
Than the crowd of salaried pedants truckling to her trivial state!
“Hers a royalty to reverence! Nay, we witnessed, you and I,
Our own lordly and gracious Louis on his white stairs at Versailles!
Our own lordly and gracious Louis on his white stairs at Versailles!
“Hers, forsooth, a court of splendor! Nay, we saw, in other years,
Those great pomps that made the Tuileries one pale blaze of chandeliers!”
Those great pomps that made the Tuileries one pale blaze of chandeliers!”
Thus he spoke, far less of slander than bravado on his tongue,
Spoke, nor ever dreamed how deeply his audacious words had stung.
Spoke, nor ever dreamed how deeply his audacious words had stung.
99
For with blue eyes glittering icy, with fierce wrath in all her mien,
Near at hand, behind an arras, cowered the unsuspected Queen!..
Near at hand, behind an arras, cowered the unsuspected Queen!..
In the heaven of royal favor, slowly from that fateful night
Rose the star of the Chevalier, sweeping up to haughtier height.
Rose the star of the Chevalier, sweeping up to haughtier height.
Military rank was given him; orders gleamed upon his breast;
Often at Queen Christina's table he would sit a welcome guest.
Often at Queen Christina's table he would sit a welcome guest.
Soon his poor wife pined and languished; faith and hope were rudely wrecked;
Snared by dizzying dreams of greatness, he had galled her with neglect.
Snared by dizzying dreams of greatness, he had galled her with neglect.
Wherefore, now, when supplications and remonstrances had failed,
Equally in scorn and sorrow back to her own land she sailed.
Equally in scorn and sorrow back to her own land she sailed.
100
The Chevalier, to detain her, strove at last with strong dismay,
But she had learned what potent magic in the Queen's least whisper lay.
But she had learned what potent magic in the Queen's least whisper lay.
“I will share his love,” she murmured, while the dark ship spread its wings,
“With no other living woman, be she born of churls or kings!”
“With no other living woman, be she born of churls or kings!”
So to France the sad wife journeyed; and ambition's greedy flame
From the conscience of De Liar banished his remorseful shame.
From the conscience of De Liar banished his remorseful shame.
Through the future's mist that mantles every deed our spirits dare,
He beheld a shadowy sceptre, waving beckoning in the air.
He beheld a shadowy sceptre, waving beckoning in the air.
On it ever seemed to tempt him, till there came a pregnant hour
When he almost felt his fingers clasp it with impetuous power.
When he almost felt his fingers clasp it with impetuous power.
101
Once again while sumptuous revels turned her palace halls aglow,
Did the Queen upon De Liar copious blandishments bestow.
Did the Queen upon De Liar copious blandishments bestow.
“Now,” they said, “he nears the summit of his insolent success;
Every glance Christina gives him hides and harbors a caress.
Every glance Christina gives him hides and harbors a caress.
“He to-day is virtual Regent; in his name large mandates meet;
On what giddier grade of lordship may to-morrow land his feet?”
On what giddier grade of lordship may to-morrow land his feet?”
While in babbling throngs they gossiped, the Chevalier drank his fill
Of that dangerous wine Christina could so craftily distil.
Of that dangerous wine Christina could so craftily distil.
Through the dance beside her suitor moved she with august repose;
Now her eyes were melting sapphires, now her lips an opening rose.
Now her eyes were melting sapphires, now her lips an opening rose.
102
Once, by hardier courage prompted, in her ear he dared to sigh:
“Since Diana loved Endymion, wherefore did she let him die?”
“Since Diana loved Endymion, wherefore did she let him die?”
Low he leaned to catch her answer; but it came in loitering tone:
“Turn your metaphors more nicely. .. 'Twas Endymion's fault alone!”
“Turn your metaphors more nicely. .. 'Twas Endymion's fault alone!”
Flushed the infatuate young Chevalier while he thought: “Perchance she means
My divorce were given for asking by the priests that cringe to queens!”
My divorce were given for asking by the priests that cringe to queens!”
But aloud he breathed: “Be piteous, O my lady of light and grace!”..
“Look,” she smiled, “our last cotillion. .. Come, Chevalier, take your place!”
“Look,” she smiled, “our last cotillion. .. Come, Chevalier, take your place!”
In the dance, like one delirious, near the Queen he paced and bowed,
Till her clear voice clove his spirit as a moonbeam cleaves a cloud:
Till her clear voice clove his spirit as a moonbeam cleaves a cloud:
103
“I depart .. yet seek me later at my boudoir's private door...
Take the long south gallery leading past the sculptured bust of Thor.
Take the long south gallery leading past the sculptured bust of Thor.
“Fear no guards; I have dismissed them; none will wait to watch or snare...
They that are most wise at hoping prove but dullards at despair.”
They that are most wise at hoping prove but dullards at despair.”
Through the lane of bending courtiers fled Christina from his look;
Off his mind its trance of rapture slowly the Chevalier shook.
Off his mind its trance of rapture slowly the Chevalier shook.
Soon along the wide south gallery did he move with cautious mien,
Reached the door, unclosed it lightly, crossed its threshold, met the Queen.
Reached the door, unclosed it lightly, crossed its threshold, met the Queen.
Now his heart beat fast and furious while upon his knees he fell...
“Rise,” Christina suavely faltered; “such allegiance is not well.
“Rise,” Christina suavely faltered; “such allegiance is not well.
104
“If indeed your love's large fervor from your soul confession draws,
Bravely speak it like a soldier, though a Queen hath been its cause!”
Bravely speak it like a soldier, though a Queen hath been its cause!”
“Oh, my sovereign, my enchantress!” leaping to his feet, he cried;
And he flung both arms about her, drunk with passion and with pride.
And he flung both arms about her, drunk with passion and with pride.
But Christina darted shivering from the strenuous embrace.
“Do you love me?” rang her answer. “See how such love brings disgrace!”
“Do you love me?” rang her answer. “See how such love brings disgrace!”
Then she shrieked “Help! help!” and straightway, as responsive to her need,
Guards and gentlemen-in-waiting filled the room at breakneck speed.
Guards and gentlemen-in-waiting filled the room at breakneck speed.
“Hear me, all!” proclaimed Christina. “He, the wretch that yonder stands,
Dared profane our sacred person with his sacrilegious hands!
Dared profane our sacred person with his sacrilegious hands!
105
“Like a thief he sought our chamber, yet with wish more wild and bad;
We should deal him death immediate, did we not believe him mad!”
We should deal him death immediate, did we not believe him mad!”
“Mad?” the assemblage loudly echoed, though in dazed and wondering style;
“Mad?” the poor Chevalier shuddered, awed by such abysmal guile.
“Mad?” the poor Chevalier shuddered, awed by such abysmal guile.
“Mad, indeed!” shot back Christina, “yet some pity attends our scorn...
To the mad-house at Upsala let him instantly be borne!”
To the mad-house at Upsala let him instantly be borne!”
Five slow years of stern immurement followed as De Liar's doom,
Till the new King, Charles Gustavus, loosed him from his living tomb.
Till the new King, Charles Gustavus, loosed him from his living tomb.
But at last he hailed his freedom with no greetings warm and glad;
Misery, self-reproach and bondage had in good truth made him mad.
Misery, self-reproach and bondage had in good truth made him mad.
106
Back to Stockholm soon he drifted, and in beggary spent his days,
With his face of ravaged beauty and his memory-haunted gaze.
With his face of ravaged beauty and his memory-haunted gaze.
And he oft would say to passers, like a man of wandering wit:
“Can you tell me where's my country? I have lost my way to it?”
“Can you tell me where's my country? I have lost my way to it?”
Who recalls not how Christina threw aside the crown she wore,
Roaming other lands of Europe, joyed to be a queen no more?
Roaming other lands of Europe, joyed to be a queen no more?
Strange the fortunes that befell her, bright or sombre, harsh or sweet...
All remember Monaldeschi, dying suppliant at her feet!
All remember Monaldeschi, dying suppliant at her feet!
Oft her name was dipped in odium, till her people, far aloof,
Learned to clothe it with the colors of perpetual reproof.
Learned to clothe it with the colors of perpetual reproof.
107
Feared alike for plots and scandals, now in Paris, now in Rome,
Tired at last she grew of exile, and bethought herself of home.
Tired at last she grew of exile, and bethought herself of home.
Not a trace of tribute met her till old Nórköping she gained;
Here, through many a dismal streetway, night with desolation reigned.
Here, through many a dismal streetway, night with desolation reigned.
Northward faring, past the frontier she as monarch had surveyed,
Wroth she grew that sullen silence over all the land was laid.
Wroth she grew that sullen silence over all the land was laid.
“What!” she fumed; “no troops, no escort! Every window dark as fate!
Fickle Swedes that once adored me, has your love so soon turned hate?”
Fickle Swedes that once adored me, has your love so soon turned hate?”
But the words thus framed in anger died upon her lips in fright,
For a glimmering apparition dawned that moment on her sight.
For a glimmering apparition dawned that moment on her sight.
108
Round about the royal carriage giddy and volatile it sped,
And the starlight showed it vaguely, like the resurrected dead!
And the starlight showed it vaguely, like the resurrected dead!
Back the snow-white hair blew ghastly from a face of idiot leer,
As it tossed its antic tatters, whirling there and wheeling here.
As it tossed its antic tatters, whirling there and wheeling here.
“Look,” it cried, “the great She-Spider to her web hath crawled again!
Bolt the portal, bar the casement, Swedish maids and Swedish men!
Bolt the portal, bar the casement, Swedish maids and Swedish men!
“Bar the casement, bolt the portal! Lie ye still and give no sign,
Lest she suck the blood from your heart as she sucked the blood from mine!”
Lest she suck the blood from your heart as she sucked the blood from mine!”
So Christina, home returning (fame, love, power one cold eclipse!)
Found the mockery of this welcome from the mad De Liar's lips!
Found the mockery of this welcome from the mad De Liar's lips!
| Songs of Doubt and Dream (Poems) | |