University of Virginia Library

I. Part I.

I sing a song, ancient and pitiful, the wonder of earth and heaven,

Of two lovers, affianced before the worlds were made, who could only be united through death.

Fair are they in each other's sight, and joyful in

their hour of meeting; but the day of their espousals is bitter.

And if ye ask me to unfold these marvels, I answer, I was not by when the threads were spun

Which weave unseen their meshes between Hades and heaven and earth.

I know not why she, beloved by one so mighty, was abject; why he, the Lord of all things, was suffering and opprest.

I know not why his life was painful and his death so full of shame; I only know that it was for her he endured both life and death.

And for her truly he died once; but how often hath she died for him?

For his sake she died to all things that make life lovely; yea, even unto love itself.

And if hers was the glory of the union, had she indeed all the gain?

Is it well with the rough frieze frayed and fretted with the costly inwrought thread of gold?

With the frail jar of porcelain in which an acorn lies buried; with the soul that travails with a mighty incessant birth?

Is it well with the life that is dear unto one far distant, and hated by the many who are near?

She lived unbeloved by the mother who bare her; her brethren were full of guile;

Their words to her were now harsh, now mocking; they brooked not that she should be their queen.

Dark secrets and spells were round her, mystery, and bondage, and fear. When she plucked the white woodland flower,

A groan went through the crowded forest, which said, Thou hast torn out thy mother's heart;

So that, wounded by the thorn and brier, she became like unto them she dwelt with; one grieving and causing grief.

She disdained the little sister who alone loved her; the sister whom it was given her to rear.

She was proud; for though she seemed forsaken, she knew she was beloved by a king.

And she had listened to the voice of charmers, who told her that she could not err;

Till she, who had only learnt to walk through

falling, who spoke ever with a stammering tongue,

Had said, “My footsteps are unerring; when I speak there is none who can gainsay.

I deceive not, nor can any deceive me.” Yet who hath so oft wandered, who been so oft beguiled as she?

Yet was she beloved in all her wanderings, beloved and watched over from afar.

And I too loved this woman, and followed her through every change;

For I saw that she of all beings created alone had learnt how to love.

And her song was sweeter to me than that of the bird, her smile dearer than the spring's first opening flower.

I mourned when I saw her wander; for her I pleaded and wept.