In My Lady's Praise Being Poems, Old and New: Written to the Honour of Fanny, Lady Arnold and Now Collected for her Memory: By Sir Edwin Arnold |
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75
E.
[Emeralds! The colour, Fanny! of the light]
Emeralds! The colour, Fanny! of the light
Sifted through lime-leaves on a summer-noon;
Or curl of crested wave, when foam-bells bright
Fringe the green furrows of the sea in June.
Sifted through lime-leaves on a summer-noon;
Or curl of crested wave, when foam-bells bright
Fringe the green furrows of the sea in June.
Such should true emeralds be! green—it is said—
As throat of parroquet; or spark quick-twinkled
From fire-fly's lamp; or fresh unfolded blade
Of water-grass; or lotus-leaf unwrinkled
As throat of parroquet; or spark quick-twinkled
From fire-fly's lamp; or fresh unfolded blade
Of water-grass; or lotus-leaf unwrinkled
New risen 'mid the pool, or glow which fringes
The gleaming amethysts in the peacock's train:
Sourindro Mohun holds “all Virtue hinges
On tints like these, and, if there show a stain
The gleaming amethysts in the peacock's train:
Sourindro Mohun holds “all Virtue hinges
On tints like these, and, if there show a stain
Yellowish or clouded, do not seek to heal
Snake-bites with such, nor carve a love-name on them!”
But mine are ‘Marakats’ whose hearts reveal
Greener and greener glories as you con them;
Snake-bites with such, nor carve a love-name on them!”
But mine are ‘Marakats’ whose hearts reveal
Greener and greener glories as you con them;
76
A necklace for a queen! Not that you need it!
One gem-mark was already on your neck
Set by the Power who made us—as I read it—
Your throat with one soft little foil to speck
One gem-mark was already on your neck
Set by the Power who made us—as I read it—
Your throat with one soft little foil to speck
For contrast's sake: as lovely dames, who brightened
With high-bred charms King Louis' court or Anne's,
Laid on their damask cheeks patches which heightened
The tender pink, just spied above their fans.
With high-bred charms King Louis' court or Anne's,
Laid on their damask cheeks patches which heightened
The tender pink, just spied above their fans.
Yet, be you heedful of this lucent jewel,
Soft as the moon-ray seen through leaf-green waves
By those sea-maids whose love, earnest but cruel,
Draws down the sailor, dead, to their cold caves:
Soft as the moon-ray seen through leaf-green waves
By those sea-maids whose love, earnest but cruel,
Draws down the sailor, dead, to their cold caves:
For wise men write that, like as diamonds hidden
Under the pillow of a sleeping bride,
Will make her closed lips open, all-unbidden,
To tell if ever any lips beside
Under the pillow of a sleeping bride,
Will make her closed lips open, all-unbidden,
To tell if ever any lips beside
Touched their ripe crimson, so the Emerald's hue—
By reason that this is the stone of Faith—
Reports when plighted lovers prove untrue,
Ever so widely parted! Mansoor saith:
By reason that this is the stone of Faith—
Reports when plighted lovers prove untrue,
Ever so widely parted! Mansoor saith:
77
It burgeons for true love, like sprays of henna;
But withers, at a broken vow to white,
Or falls in tintless fragments. Avicenna
Bade breathe upon it, at the morning light,
But withers, at a broken vow to white,
Or falls in tintless fragments. Avicenna
Bade breathe upon it, at the morning light,
And, if the One belov'd were false, a mist
Would pass athwart its verdant lustre, telling
Of oaths forsworn! When frail Zuleika kissed
Yusuf,—her Lord, in Pharaoh's palace dwelling,
Would pass athwart its verdant lustre, telling
Of oaths forsworn! When frail Zuleika kissed
Yusuf,—her Lord, in Pharaoh's palace dwelling,
Knew by his signet. Doubt you that was so?
Yet think how stones are built in Earth's abysses!
What wonderful dark secrets Gnomes must know!
How they may hear men's whispers, sighs, and kisses,
Yet think how stones are built in Earth's abysses!
What wonderful dark secrets Gnomes must know!
How they may hear men's whispers, sighs, and kisses,
Living in gems—as Celsus held they live!—
When George the Third was throned, an emerald fell
Out from his crown; and, did the Fates forgive?
America was lost! you know it well!
When George the Third was throned, an emerald fell
Out from his crown; and, did the Fates forgive?
America was lost! you know it well!
But still you smile—American by birth—
Thinking that loss a gain! Well, I'll be grave!
Esteem the emerald noblest stone of Earth
When you shall hear the Queen of Sheba gave
Thinking that loss a gain! Well, I'll be grave!
Esteem the emerald noblest stone of Earth
When you shall hear the Queen of Sheba gave
78
An emerald vast to Suleiman the King,
Cut from the mother-crystal—flawless, shining—
By life-long labour. Oh, a perfect thing,
Leek-green, playing to blue and gold! Reclining
Cut from the mother-crystal—flawless, shining—
By life-long labour. Oh, a perfect thing,
Leek-green, playing to blue and gold! Reclining
Within his summer-tent Suleiman bade
Amru his steward bear it to the Palace:
At the first step which bearded Amru made
Down sank he dead! The precious carven chalice
Amru his steward bear it to the Palace:
At the first step which bearded Amru made
Down sank he dead! The precious carven chalice
Had fall'n, in ruined beauty; but, a wretch—
White with the third degree of leprosy—
Begging against the gate, his arm did stretch,
And caught the glowing cup,—and saved! And, see!
White with the third degree of leprosy—
Begging against the gate, his arm did stretch,
And caught the glowing cup,—and saved! And, see!
Clean grew his flesh, again, as babe's new-born!
Then the King gave command Balkis the Queen,
Be brought to audience on the morrow's morn;
And, awful-eyed, he told what deeds had been:
Then the King gave command Balkis the Queen,
Be brought to audience on the morrow's morn;
And, awful-eyed, he told what deeds had been:
How this was dead, that healed. But she replied,
Low-laughing; “King! It was not cut to give
Into the hands of liars! Amru died
Touching the Gem of Truth; thy slave will live
Low-laughing; “King! It was not cut to give
Into the hands of liars! Amru died
Touching the Gem of Truth; thy slave will live
79
Henceforward whole, because whole was his mind!
The mother-stone of this had virtues vast;
Only true lips must touch it! False will find
Thy Hermon honey slay therein! 'Twill cast
The mother-stone of this had virtues vast;
Only true lips must touch it! False will find
Thy Hermon honey slay therein! 'Twill cast
All ills from such as keep a sinless heart!”
Then quoth King Suleiman, “Which man is he,
Save my poor Syrian who did bear the smart
Of God's hard hand—yet love Him? Let him be
Then quoth King Suleiman, “Which man is he,
Save my poor Syrian who did bear the smart
Of God's hard hand—yet love Him? Let him be
My Steward! Let the dreadful Cup be laid
Within the Temple of the Lord!” So fell it
To keeping of the Priests. When Cæsar made
Judæa a spoil, some Roman lord did sell it
Within the Temple of the Lord!” So fell it
To keeping of the Priests. When Cæsar made
Judæa a spoil, some Roman lord did sell it
To one who kept that “furnished upper room”
In whose sad walls the Master sate at meat
With His disciples, 'ere the deed of doom,
And the Last Supper's bread did meekly eat;
In whose sad walls the Master sate at meat
With His disciples, 'ere the deed of doom,
And the Last Supper's bread did meekly eat;
And the Last Supper's wine meekly did pour,
Saying:“These be my Body and my Blood!
Do this in my remembrance!” At that hour
The emerald cup of Sheba 'twas which stood
Saying:“These be my Body and my Blood!
Do this in my remembrance!” At that hour
The emerald cup of Sheba 'twas which stood
80
At Christ's right hand; and in that cup did glisten
The noblest wine which ever vine did shed;
Soothing with peace the souls of all who listen,
Feeding the spirits of the quick and dead.
The noblest wine which ever vine did shed;
Soothing with peace the souls of all who listen,
Feeding the spirits of the quick and dead.
Then the Crusaders won it! Ninety fell
Fighting round Godefroi for the beaker golden:
That Cup which kissed the mouth of Christ—they tell—
Was wet with gore! A Paynim of the Soldan
Fighting round Godefroi for the beaker golden:
That Cup which kissed the mouth of Christ—they tell—
Was wet with gore! A Paynim of the Soldan
Lay, slain by twenty wounds, clutching the thing.
The soldiers of the Cross freighted a ship—
Proud Genoa's swiftest caravel—to bring
The prize to Italy: and no man's lip
The soldiers of the Cross freighted a ship—
Proud Genoa's swiftest caravel—to bring
The prize to Italy: and no man's lip
Dared touch it, all those quiet centuries
It lay in San Lorenzo. Next, it came
To France,—or Spain, some tell: but he, who is
Our Master, and the noblest English name
It lay in San Lorenzo. Next, it came
To France,—or Spain, some tell: but he, who is
Our Master, and the noblest English name
Of living singers—holds (in Arthur's lay),
Arimathœan Joseph brought it here
To Glastonbury, where the black-thorn spray
Blossoms at Christmas, every mindful year;
Arimathœan Joseph brought it here
To Glastonbury, where the black-thorn spray
Blossoms at Christmas, every mindful year;
81
Nay, that one saw it! saw the glorious Grail!
(Percival's Sister—pious, meek, a maid)
Glide, with a sudden radiance, rosy, pale,
Down a long silvery moon-path, through the shade:
(Percival's Sister—pious, meek, a maid)
Glide, with a sudden radiance, rosy, pale,
Down a long silvery moon-path, through the shade:
“Rosy,” “rose-red”—he sings—“and, in it, beatings,
As though alive,” and music, heavenly-tender
Better than we can blow or touch, with meetings
Of tones celestial; and a burning splendour
As though alive,” and music, heavenly-tender
Better than we can blow or touch, with meetings
Of tones celestial; and a burning splendour
Of Angels' feathers, fanning airs unfelt;
And crimson samite draped; and stars which darted
Hither and thither, leaving lines that melt
In sparkles on the Blue; and dim shapes started
And crimson samite draped; and stars which darted
Hither and thither, leaving lines that melt
In sparkles on the Blue; and dim shapes started
Forth from the Void! Yet, only three,—or two—
Believed with Arthur; he “who knew alway
Himself no vision, and the high God knew
No vision,” nor Lord Christ. But still I say
Believed with Arthur; he “who knew alway
Himself no vision, and the high God knew
No vision,” nor Lord Christ. But still I say
The Cup was Emerald, glassy-green! I trow
Where now it is, but dare not have it given;
Could even Galahad dare? Could Arthur? No!
Dear lips of Christ! Rich wine, vintaged in Heaven!
Where now it is, but dare not have it given;
Could even Galahad dare? Could Arthur? No!
Dear lips of Christ! Rich wine, vintaged in Heaven!
| In My Lady's Praise | |