The Poetical Works of John Payne Definitive Edition in Two Volumes |
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| I. | I.THE RIME OF REDEMPTION. |
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 | The Poetical Works of John Payne |  |
47
I.THE RIME OF REDEMPTION.
“Traditur etiam nonnullos vi pervincente amoris ipsum
contra summum Domini judicium prævaluisse.”
Euseb. de Fid. rebus Epist.
contra summum Domini judicium prævaluisse.”
Euseb. de Fid. rebus Epist.
THE ways are white in the moon's light,
Under the leafless trees;
Strange shadows go across the snow,
Before the tossing breeze.
Under the leafless trees;
Strange shadows go across the snow,
Before the tossing breeze.
The night, meseems, is full of dreams,
Ghosts of the bygone time:
Full many a sprite doth walk to-night
Over the soundless rime.
Ghosts of the bygone time:
Full many a sprite doth walk to-night
Over the soundless rime.
The burg stands grim upon the rim
Of the steep wooded height;
In the great hall, the casements tall
Flame with the fireside light.
Of the steep wooded height;
In the great hall, the casements tall
Flame with the fireside light.
From the hearth's womb, athwart the gloom,
Rays out the firelight red:
Sir Loibich there before the flare
Sits in a dream of dread.
Rays out the firelight red:
Sir Loibich there before the flare
Sits in a dream of dread.
The tower-light glows across the snows,
In the black night defined:
The cresset-fire flares high and higher,
Tossed by the raging wind.
In the black night defined:
The cresset-fire flares high and higher,
Tossed by the raging wind.
48
The knight sits bent, with eyes intent
Upon the dying fire;
Sad dreams and strange in sooth do range
Before the troubled sire.
Upon the dying fire;
Sad dreams and strange in sooth do range
Before the troubled sire.
He sees the maid the past years laid
Upon his breast to sleep,
Long dead in sin, laid low within
The grave unblest and deep.
Upon his breast to sleep,
Long dead in sin, laid low within
The grave unblest and deep.
He sees her tears, her sobs he hears,
Borne on the shrieking wind;
He sees her hair, so golden-fair,
Stream out her form behind.
Borne on the shrieking wind;
He sees her hair, so golden-fair,
Stream out her form behind.
He hears her wail, with lips that fail,
To him to save her soul;
He sees her laid, unhouselèd,
Under the crossless knoll.
To him to save her soul;
He sees her laid, unhouselèd,
Under the crossless knoll.
His heart is wrung, his soul is stung
To death with memories:
His face grows white as the moon's light
And all his words are sighs.
To death with memories:
His face grows white as the moon's light
And all his words are sighs.
“Ah! would, dear Christ, my tears sufficed
To ransom her!” he cries:
“Sweet Heaven, to win her back from sin,
I would renounce the skies.
To ransom her!” he cries:
“Sweet Heaven, to win her back from sin,
I would renounce the skies.
“Might I but bring her suffering
To pardon and to peace,
I for mine own sin would atone,
Where never pain doth cease:
To pardon and to peace,
I for mine own sin would atone,
Where never pain doth cease:
“I for my part would gnaw my heart,
Chain'd in the flames of hell;
I would abide, unterrified,
More than a man shall tell.”
Chain'd in the flames of hell;
I would abide, unterrified,
More than a man shall tell.”
49
The flame burns red; he bows his head
Upon his joining hands;
The wraiths of old are shown and told
Upon the dying brands.
Upon his joining hands;
The wraiths of old are shown and told
Upon the dying brands.
A hoarse scream tears athwart his ears,
Strange howls are in the air;
The wolves do stray in search of prey
Across the moorlands bare.
Strange howls are in the air;
The wolves do stray in search of prey
Across the moorlands bare.
Red eyes flame forth from south to north,
The beasts are all a-chase;
God help the wight that goes to-night
Among the wild wood-ways!
The beasts are all a-chase;
God help the wight that goes to-night
Among the wild wood-ways!
The moon is pale, the night-winds wail,
Weird whispers fill the night:
“Dear heart, what word was that I heard
Ring out in the moonlight?
Weird whispers fill the night:
“Dear heart, what word was that I heard
Ring out in the moonlight?
“Methought there came to me my name,
Cried with a wail of woe;
A voice whose tone my heart had known
In the days long ago.”
Cried with a wail of woe;
A voice whose tone my heart had known
In the days long ago.”
'Twas but the blast that hurried past,
Shrieking among the pines;
The souls that wail upon the gale,
When the dim starlight shines.
Shrieking among the pines;
The souls that wail upon the gale,
When the dim starlight shines.
Great God! The name! Once more it came
Ringing across the dark!
“Loibich!” it cried. The night is wide,
The dim pines stand and hark.
Ringing across the dark!
“Loibich!” it cried. The night is wide,
The dim pines stand and hark.
The lead-grey heaven by the blast is riven;
God! How the torn trees shriek!
The wild wind soughs among the boughs,
As though the dead did speak.
God! How the torn trees shriek!
The wild wind soughs among the boughs,
As though the dead did speak.
50
“Loibich! Loibich! My soul is sick
With hungering for thee!
The night fades fast, the hours fly past;
Stay not, come forth to me!”
With hungering for thee!
The night fades fast, the hours fly past;
Stay not, come forth to me!”
Great Heaven! The doubt is faded out;
It was her voice that spake;
He made one stride and open wide
The casement tall he strake.
It was her voice that spake;
He made one stride and open wide
The casement tall he strake.
The cloudwrack grey did break away;
Out shone the ghostly moon;
Off slid the haze from all the ways,
Before her silver shoon.
Out shone the ghostly moon;
Off slid the haze from all the ways,
Before her silver shoon.
Pale silver-rayed, out shone the glade,
Before the castle wall,
And on the lea the knight could see
A maid both fair and tall.
Before the castle wall,
And on the lea the knight could see
A maid both fair and tall.
Gold was her hair, her face was fair,
As fair as fair can be,
But through the night the blue corpse-light
About her could he see.
As fair as fair can be,
But through the night the blue corpse-light
About her could he see.
She raised her face toward the place
Where Loibich stood adread;
There was a sheen in her two een,
As one that long is dead.
Where Loibich stood adread;
There was a sheen in her two een,
As one that long is dead.
She looked at him in the light dim
And beckoned with her hand:
“Sir Knight,” she said, “thy prayer hath sped
Unto the heavenly land.
And beckoned with her hand:
“Sir Knight,” she said, “thy prayer hath sped
Unto the heavenly land.
“Come forth with me: the night is free
For us to work the thing
That is to do, before we two
Shall hear the dawn-bird sing.”
For us to work the thing
That is to do, before we two
Shall hear the dawn-bird sing.”
51
He took his brand within his hand,
His dirk upon his thigh:
And he hath come, through dusk and gloom,
Where wide the portals lie.
His dirk upon his thigh:
And he hath come, through dusk and gloom,
Where wide the portals lie.
“Saddle thy steed, Sir Knight, with speed,
Thy faithfullest,” quoth she,
“For many a tide we twain must ride
Before the end shall be.”
Thy faithfullest,” quoth she,
“For many a tide we twain must ride
Before the end shall be.”
The steed is girt, black Dagobert,
Swift-footed as the wind;
The knight leapt up upon his croup,
The maid sprang up behind.
Swift-footed as the wind;
The knight leapt up upon his croup,
The maid sprang up behind.
A stately pair the steed doth bear
Upon his back to-night:
The sweatdrops rain from flank and mane,
His eyes start out for fright.
Upon his back to-night:
The sweatdrops rain from flank and mane,
His eyes start out for fright.
Her weight did lack upon his back;
He trembled as he stood;
It seemed as 'twere a death-cold air
Did freeze the courser's blood.
He trembled as he stood;
It seemed as 'twere a death-cold air
Did freeze the courser's blood.
She threw the charms of her white arms
About Sir Loibich's neck:
It seemed as if 't had been a drift
Of snow on him did break.
About Sir Loibich's neck:
It seemed as if 't had been a drift
Of snow on him did break.
The spurs are dyed deep in the side
Of the destrere amain;
The leaves do chase behind his race
And far out streams his mane.
Of the destrere amain;
The leaves do chase behind his race
And far out streams his mane.
The wind screams past; they ride so fast,—
Like troops of souls in pain
The snowdrifts spin, but none may win
To rest upon the twain.
Like troops of souls in pain
The snowdrifts spin, but none may win
To rest upon the twain.
52
So fast they ride, the blasts divide
To let them hurry on;
The wandering ghosts troop past in hosts
Across the moonlight wan.
To let them hurry on;
The wandering ghosts troop past in hosts
Across the moonlight wan.
They fly across the frozen floss,
Across the frost-starred mead:
Hill, wood and plain they cross amain;
Hill, plain and wood succeed.
Across the frost-starred mead:
Hill, wood and plain they cross amain;
Hill, plain and wood succeed.
The wild wind drops, the snow-whirl stops,
Frost fades from grass and brere;
The dim clouds die from out the sky
And forth the moon shines clear.
Frost fades from grass and brere;
The dim clouds die from out the sky
And forth the moon shines clear.
A sudden hush, and then a rush
Of magic melodies;
A summer wood, with moon-pearls strewed
And jasmine-girdled trees.
Of magic melodies;
A summer wood, with moon-pearls strewed
And jasmine-girdled trees.
The lady laid her hand of shade
Upon the hurrying horse,
And suddenly, upon the lea,
He halted in his course.
Upon the hurrying horse,
And suddenly, upon the lea,
He halted in his course.
To them there came a fragrant flame,
A light of elfinry:
The haggard night poured forth delight
And flowers of Faërie.
A light of elfinry:
The haggard night poured forth delight
And flowers of Faërie.
A wondrous song did wind along
The moon-besilvered glades,—
And all the things the elf-night brings
Did glitter from the shades.
The moon-besilvered glades,—
And all the things the elf-night brings
Did glitter from the shades.
“Light down, Sir Knight, in the moonlight;
Light down and loose my hand;
I must be gone; but thou hast won
Unto the Faery land.”
Light down and loose my hand;
I must be gone; but thou hast won
Unto the Faery land.”
53
“By Christ His troth!” he swore an oath,
“No Faery land for me,
Except thou light thee down to-night,
Therein with me to be.”
“No Faery land for me,
Except thou light thee down to-night,
Therein with me to be.”
“Alas, Sir Knight, I must this night
Harbour me far away;
Far be 't from thee to rest with me
Where I must dwell for aye.”
Harbour me far away;
Far be 't from thee to rest with me
Where I must dwell for aye.”
He smote his breast: “By Christ His rest,
No Faery land will I!
Rather in hell with thee to dwell
Than lonely in the sky!”
No Faery land will I!
Rather in hell with thee to dwell
Than lonely in the sky!”
The thunder broke, the lightning-stroke
Fell down and tore the earth;
The firm ground shook, as though there took
The world the throes of birth.
Fell down and tore the earth;
The firm ground shook, as though there took
The world the throes of birth.
The elf-song died, the moon did hide
Her face behind the haze,
And once again they ride amain
Across the wild wide ways.
Her face behind the haze,
And once again they ride amain
Across the wild wide ways.
The night grew black; the grey cloudwrack
Whirled fast across the skies;
What lights are those the white snow throws
Reflected in their eyes?
Whirled fast across the skies;
What lights are those the white snow throws
Reflected in their eyes?
What flames are those the blackness shows,
Rising like rosy flowers
Up to the lift? What ruddy rift
Shines out in the night hours?
Rising like rosy flowers
Up to the lift? What ruddy rift
Shines out in the night hours?
The night is wide: they ride and ride,
The lights grow bright and near;
There comes a wail upon the gale
And eke a descant clear.
The lights grow bright and near;
There comes a wail upon the gale
And eke a descant clear.
54
There comes a plain of souls in pain
And eke a high sweet song,
As of some fate whose grief is great,
But yet whose hope is strong.
And eke a high sweet song,
As of some fate whose grief is great,
But yet whose hope is strong.
Aye louder grow the sounds of woe,
But the song sweeter still,
Until the steed doth slacken speed,
At foot of a high hill.
But the song sweeter still,
Until the steed doth slacken speed,
At foot of a high hill.
The hazes grey before their way
Divided are in two;
A wondrous sight midmost the night
Lies open to their view.
Divided are in two;
A wondrous sight midmost the night
Lies open to their view.
The hill is strewn beneath the moon
With strange and singing fires;
In every flame a soul from shame
And soil of sin aspires.
With strange and singing fires;
In every flame a soul from shame
And soil of sin aspires.
From every fire, higher and higher
The song of hope doth rise:
These are the sprights that God delights
To fit for Paradise.
The song of hope doth rise:
These are the sprights that God delights
To fit for Paradise.
“Light down, Sir Knight; I pray, alight;
This is the purging-place;
Here shalt thou win to cast off sin
And come to Christ His grace.”
This is the purging-place;
Here shalt thou win to cast off sin
And come to Christ His grace.”
“By Christ His troth!” he swore an oath,
“That will I not,” quoth he,
“Unless thou too, my lover true,
Therein shalt purgèd be.”
“That will I not,” quoth he,
“Unless thou too, my lover true,
Therein shalt purgèd be.”
“Would God,” she said, “the lot were laid
For me to enter here!
Alack! my stead is with the dead,
All in the place of fear.
For me to enter here!
Alack! my stead is with the dead,
All in the place of fear.
55
“But thou light down; the gate is thrown
Wide open in the ward;
See where they stand on either hand,
Angels with downdropt sword.”
Wide open in the ward;
See where they stand on either hand,
Angels with downdropt sword.”
“By Christ His rest!” he smote his breast;
“No grace of God will I!
Rather with thee damnèd to be
Than lonely in the sky!”
“No grace of God will I!
Rather with thee damnèd to be
Than lonely in the sky!”
The night closed round, there came a sound
Of trumpets in the air;
The steed leapt on, the fires were gone,
And on the twain did fare.
Of trumpets in the air;
The steed leapt on, the fires were gone,
And on the twain did fare.
Through storm and night again their flight
They urge o'er hill and plain:
What sounds smite clear upon the ear,
Through dusk and wind and rain?
They urge o'er hill and plain:
What sounds smite clear upon the ear,
Through dusk and wind and rain?
“Meseems I heard as if there stirr'd
A sound of golden lyres;
Methought there came a sweet acclaim
Of trumpets and of choirs.
A sound of golden lyres;
Methought there came a sweet acclaim
Of trumpets and of choirs.
“So sing the saints, where never faints
The sunlight from the skies;
So pulse the lyres among the choirs
Of God in Paradise.”
The sunlight from the skies;
So pulse the lyres among the choirs
Of God in Paradise.”
A singing light did cleave the night;
High up a hill rode they;
The veils of Heaven for them were riven
And all the skies poured day.
High up a hill rode they;
The veils of Heaven for them were riven
And all the skies poured day.
The golden gate did stand await,
The golden town did lie
Before their sight, the realms of light
God-builded in the sky.
The golden town did lie
Before their sight, the realms of light
God-builded in the sky.
56
The steed did wait before the gate;
Sheer up the street look'd they;
They saw the bliss in Heaven that is,
They saw the saints' array.
Sheer up the street look'd they;
They saw the bliss in Heaven that is,
They saw the saints' array.
They saw the hosts upon the coasts
Of the clear crystal sea;
They saw the blest, that in the rest
Of Christ for ever be.
Of the clear crystal sea;
They saw the blest, that in the rest
Of Christ for ever be.
The choirs of God pulsed full and broad
Upon the ravished twain;
The angels' feet upon the street
Rang out like golden rain.
Upon the ravished twain;
The angels' feet upon the street
Rang out like golden rain.
They felt the sea of ecstasy
That flows about the throne;
The bliss of heaven to them was given.
Awhile to look upon.
That flows about the throne;
The bliss of heaven to them was given.
Awhile to look upon.
Then said the maid, “Be not afraid;
God giveth heaven to thee;
Light down and rest with Christ His blest
And think no more of me!”
God giveth heaven to thee;
Light down and rest with Christ His blest
And think no more of me!”
Sir Loibich gazed, as one amazed,
Awhile upon the place;
Then, with a sigh, he turned his eye
Upon the maiden's face.
Awhile upon the place;
Then, with a sigh, he turned his eye
Upon the maiden's face.
“By Christ His troth!” he swore an oath,
“No heaven for me shall be,
Except God give that thou shalt live
Therein for aye with me.”
“No heaven for me shall be,
Except God give that thou shalt live
Therein for aye with me.”
“Ah, curst am I!” the maid did cry;
“My place thou knowest well;
I must begone before the dawn,
To harbour me in hell.”
“My place thou knowest well;
I must begone before the dawn,
To harbour me in hell.”
57
“By Christ His rest!” he beat his breast,
“Then be it even so;
With thee in hell I choose to dwell
And share with thee thy woe.
“Then be it even so;
With thee in hell I choose to dwell
And share with thee thy woe.
“Thy sin was mine. By Christ His wine,
Mine too shall be thy doom;
What part have I within the sky,
And thou in Hell's red gloom?”
Mine too shall be thy doom;
What part have I within the sky,
And thou in Hell's red gloom?”
The vision broke, as thus he spoke,
The city waned away:
O'er hill and brake, o'er wood and lake
Once more the darkness lay.
The city waned away:
O'er hill and brake, o'er wood and lake
Once more the darkness lay.
O'er hill and plain they ride again,
Under the night's black spell,
Until there rise against the skies
The lurid lights of hell.
Under the night's black spell,
Until there rise against the skies
The lurid lights of hell.
The night is wide: they ride and ride;
The air with smoke grows crost
And through the dark their ears may hark
The roaring of the lost.
The air with smoke grows crost
And through the dark their ears may hark
The roaring of the lost.
The dreadful cries they rend the skies,
The plain is ceil'd with fire:
The flames burst out, around, about;
The heats of hell draw nigher.
The plain is ceil'd with fire:
The flames burst out, around, about;
The heats of hell draw nigher.
Unfear'd they ride; against the side
Of the red flameful sky
Grim forms are shown, strange shades upthrown
From out Hell's treasury:
Of the red flameful sky
Grim forms are shown, strange shades upthrown
From out Hell's treasury:
Black grisly shapes of demon apes,
Grim human-headed snakes,
Red creeping things with scaly wings,
Born of the sulphur lakes.
Grim human-headed snakes,
Red creeping things with scaly wings,
Born of the sulphur lakes.
58
The flames swell up out of the cup
Of endless agony,
And with the wind there comes entwined
An awful psalmody;
Of endless agony,
And with the wind there comes entwined
An awful psalmody;
The hymning sound of fiends around,
Rejoicing in their doom,
The fearsome glee of things that be
Glad in their native gloom.
Rejoicing in their doom,
The fearsome glee of things that be
Glad in their native gloom.
Fast rode the twain across the plain,
With hearts all undismayed,
Until they came where all a-flame
Hell's gates were open laid.
With hearts all undismayed,
Until they came where all a-flame
Hell's gates were open laid.
The awful stead gaped wide and red,
To gulph them in its womb:
There could they see the fiery sea
And all the souls in doom.
To gulph them in its womb:
There could they see the fiery sea
And all the souls in doom.
There came a breath, like living death,
Out of the gated way:
It scorched his face with its embrace,
It turned his hair to grey.
Out of the gated way:
It scorched his face with its embrace,
It turned his hair to grey.
Then said the maid, “Art not dismayed?
Here is our course fulfilled:
Wilt thou not turn, nor rest to burn
With me, as God hath willed?
Here is our course fulfilled:
Wilt thou not turn, nor rest to burn
With me, as God hath willed?
“By Christ His troth!” he swore an oath,
“Thy doom with thee I'll share.
Here will we dwell, hand-linked in hell,
Unseparate fore'er.”
“Thy doom with thee I'll share.
Here will we dwell, hand-linked in hell,
Unseparate fore'er.”
He spurr'd his steed; the gates of dread
Gaped open for his course:
Sudden outrang a trumpet's clang
And backward fell the horse.
Gaped open for his course:
Sudden outrang a trumpet's clang
And backward fell the horse.
59
The ghostly maid did wane and fade,
The lights of hell did flee;
Alone in night the mazèd wight
Stood on the frozen lea.
The lights of hell did flee;
Alone in night the mazèd wight
Stood on the frozen lea.
Out shone the moon; the mists did swoon
Away before his sight,
And through the dark he saw a spark,
A welcoming of light.
Away before his sight,
And through the dark he saw a spark,
A welcoming of light.
Thither he fared, with falchion bared,
Toward the friendly shine;
Eftsoon he came to where a flame
Did burn within a shrine.
Toward the friendly shine;
Eftsoon he came to where a flame
Did burn within a shrine.
A candle stood before the Rood,
Christ carven on the tree:
Except the shrine, there was no sign
Of man that he could see.
Christ carven on the tree:
Except the shrine, there was no sign
Of man that he could see.
Down on his knee low louted he
Before the cross of wood,
And for her spright he saw that night
Long prayed he to the Rood.
Before the cross of wood,
And for her spright he saw that night
Long prayed he to the Rood.
And as he prayed, with heart down-weighed,
A wondrous thing befell:
The air waxed white and through the night
There rang a silver bell.
A wondrous thing befell:
The air waxed white and through the night
There rang a silver bell.
The earth-mists drew before his view;
He saw God's golden town;
He saw the street, he saw the seat
From whence God looketh down.
He saw God's golden town;
He saw the street, he saw the seat
From whence God looketh down.
He saw the gate transfigurate,
He saw the street of pearl,
And in the throng, the saints among,
He saw a gold-haired girl.
He saw the street of pearl,
And in the throng, the saints among,
He saw a gold-haired girl.
60
He saw a girl as white as pearl,
With hair as red as gold:
He saw her stand among the band
Of angels manifold.
With hair as red as gold:
He saw her stand among the band
Of angels manifold.
He heard her smite the harp's delight,
Singing most joyfully,
And knew his love prevailed above
Judgment and destiny.
Singing most joyfully,
And knew his love prevailed above
Judgment and destiny.
Gone is the night; the morn breaks white
Across the eastward hill;
The knightly sire by the dead fire
Sits in the dawning chill.
Across the eastward hill;
The knightly sire by the dead fire
Sits in the dawning chill.
By the hearth white, there sits the knight,
Dead as the sunken fire;
But on his face is writ the grace
Of his fulfilled desire.
Dead as the sunken fire;
But on his face is writ the grace
Of his fulfilled desire.
| The Poetical Works of John Payne | |