Matin Bells and Scarlet and Gold By "F. Harald Williams"[i.e. F. W. O. Ward]. First Edition |
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| VII. |
THE PASSING OF THE PRINCE. |
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 | Matin Bells and Scarlet and Gold |  |
THE PASSING OF THE PRINCE.
I am waiting, I am waiting for the Passing of the Prince,
They assured me he was near,
And I dried the rebel tear
Which was falling then and calling for his presence—but not since;
For they bade me and they made me hope for something new and sweet—
That would raise my little life
From the trouble and the strife
To a splendour true and tender—if I only touched his feet;
And his brightness lent a lightness to their voices as they spoke
In their fulness of his love,
That it lifted me above
All my meekness and the weakness and my heart in blossom broke.
They assured me he was near,
And I dried the rebel tear
Which was falling then and calling for his presence—but not since;
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That would raise my little life
From the trouble and the strife
To a splendour true and tender—if I only touched his feet;
And his brightness lent a lightness to their voices as they spoke
In their fulness of his love,
That it lifted me above
All my meekness and the weakness and my heart in blossom broke.
For they told me he would hold me for a moment in his arms,
And upon me look and smile
In his glory for a while,
If a lonely child gave only these white lilies' maiden charms;
And that blessing and caressing is the one thing that I miss,
It would broaden my poor fate
To a queenlier estate,
And my petty life turn pretty with the wonder of his kiss;
So I humbly here and dumbly through the weary hours have stood,
Though I know I cannot see
How all-beautiful is he,
But his kindness to my blindness will be merciful and good.
And upon me look and smile
In his glory for a while,
If a lonely child gave only these white lilies' maiden charms;
And that blessing and caressing is the one thing that I miss,
It would broaden my poor fate
To a queenlier estate,
And my petty life turn pretty with the wonder of his kiss;
So I humbly here and dumbly through the weary hours have stood,
Though I know I cannot see
How all-beautiful is he,
But his kindness to my blindness will be merciful and good.
From the morning in adorning of their silk and satin dress
I have heard the ladies go
With a rustling shine and show,
Horse and carriage to his marriage by my meaner lowliness;
And their laughter echoed after in the distance as they drove
In their pageantry and pride,
And so near my very side
That misgiving with the living burning trust a season strove;
And the shadows on the meadows now I feel are growing dim,
But I'm hoping still, if some
May be doubting he will come,
And the longer kept the stronger is my simple faith in him.
I have heard the ladies go
With a rustling shine and show,
Horse and carriage to his marriage by my meaner lowliness;
And their laughter echoed after in the distance as they drove
In their pageantry and pride,
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That misgiving with the living burning trust a season strove;
And the shadows on the meadows now I feel are growing dim,
But I'm hoping still, if some
May be doubting he will come,
And the longer kept the stronger is my simple faith in him.
I am waiting, I am waiting for the Passing of the Prince
Who is perfect and most fair,
And his presence in the air
Is all fragrant, and my vagrant mood has never wandered since;
He is praying, he is playing, he is tired and asks for rest,
He is feasting in his hall,
But will quickly know my call,
And with speeding step and heeding care yet fold me to his breast;
If he tarry on I carry his great love that cannot lie
Like a picture in my heart,
As its best and dearest part—
In the darkening I am hearkening for his blessing, though I die.
Who is perfect and most fair,
And his presence in the air
Is all fragrant, and my vagrant mood has never wandered since;
He is praying, he is playing, he is tired and asks for rest,
He is feasting in his hall,
But will quickly know my call,
And with speeding step and heeding care yet fold me to his breast;
If he tarry on I carry his great love that cannot lie
Like a picture in my heart,
As its best and dearest part—
In the darkening I am hearkening for his blessing, though I die.
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