 | Between Doubting and Daring |  |
34
The Culprit
Went up a clamour, a cry, begun
'Neath shrouding wings of night,
For deeds that could make dark a sun,
If dared in heaven's good light;
With woe and bitterest wrath it won,
Wailing, the welkin's height.
'Neath shrouding wings of night,
For deeds that could make dark a sun,
If dared in heaven's good light;
With woe and bitterest wrath it won,
Wailing, the welkin's height.
Impierceable the shadow lay
As veil of hidden doom
Whereby fate lists our steps betray
Unaware; from out that gloom
Only lamenting rose alway
To fill the world's wide room.
As veil of hidden doom
Whereby fate lists our steps betray
Unaware; from out that gloom
Only lamenting rose alway
To fill the world's wide room.
Then lo, as if the brooding dark confesst
Its secret dire,
Strode forth one armed from heel to lofty crest
With mail like fire
Smouldering on embers dulled, yet ever addresst
To blaze in ire.
Its secret dire,
Strode forth one armed from heel to lofty crest
With mail like fire
Smouldering on embers dulled, yet ever addresst
To blaze in ire.
But, drawn in his Titan's grasp, the brand he bore
Seemed very flame;
A mighty blade, entituled as of yore
Be they whose fame
Bides chronicled; yea have men cursed it sore
By many a name.
Seemed very flame;
A mighty blade, entituled as of yore
Be they whose fame
Bides chronicled; yea have men cursed it sore
By many a name.
35
Its wielder's hand no thralling ruth
Withheld, whose glaive had slain
A myriadfold earth's flower of youth,
And still for deeper stain
Glowed greedily. That it now in sooth
Should keenlier bite again
Withheld, whose glaive had slain
A myriadfold earth's flower of youth,
And still for deeper stain
Glowed greedily. That it now in sooth
Should keenlier bite again
With finer edge unflawed, if any place
Fierce strokes impaired,
Flashed to and fro thwart a grim crag's smooth face
Like levin it flared.
(Fraught with wild griefs from yonder stricken race,
Loud winds despaired).
Fierce strokes impaired,
Flashed to and fro thwart a grim crag's smooth face
Like levin it flared.
(Fraught with wild griefs from yonder stricken race,
Loud winds despaired).
He wrought till it burned from point to hilt
As first new-forged, ere fell
On lives innumerably spilt
Its bale-fire's blinding spell;
While even as lads light-hearted lilt
O'er tasks that like them well,
As first new-forged, ere fell
On lives innumerably spilt
Its bale-fire's blinding spell;
While even as lads light-hearted lilt
O'er tasks that like them well,
Now hum a stave, now haply troll thereof
Some clearer word,
So rose this slayer's careless song above
His whetted sword;
And ever said thus the burden: life is love
And love is Lord.
Some clearer word,
So rose this slayer's careless song above
His whetted sword;
And ever said thus the burden: life is love
And love is Lord.
| Between Doubting and Daring | |