The Poetical Works of George Barlow In Ten [Eleven] Volumes |
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KING SOLOMON
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 | The Poetical Works of George Barlow |  |
37
KING SOLOMON
When at the last the great King's heart grew weary,
When pleasure's wild impassioned reign was done,
When laughter of bright lips rang dull and dreary,
When sadness veiled the stars and veiled the sun,
When pleasure's wild impassioned reign was done,
When laughter of bright lips rang dull and dreary,
When sadness veiled the stars and veiled the sun,
Then with grim Death the great King thus debated:
“The end is drawing near, lift up thine eyes,”
Said Death; “through all these long years I have waited,
But now my patient keen spear claims its prize.”
“The end is drawing near, lift up thine eyes,”
Said Death; “through all these long years I have waited,
But now my patient keen spear claims its prize.”
“But, Death, the world is mine, its every season—
I am the lord of winter and of spring;
If one flower failed to obey me, it were treason.”
Then answered Death: “I also am a King.
I am the lord of winter and of spring;
If one flower failed to obey me, it were treason.”
Then answered Death: “I also am a King.
“The flowers of all the flower-filled world obey me;
They smile one hour upon thee half in scorn,
Yet not for all thy wealth will they gainsay me:
I steal the rubies from the brow of morn.
They smile one hour upon thee half in scorn,
Yet not for all thy wealth will they gainsay me:
I steal the rubies from the brow of morn.
38
“Where is thy last month's concubine? thou hast missed her?
The dark-brown eyes, the soft lips' fragrant bloom—
With lips more masterful than thine I kissed her,
Then built our bridal chamber in the tomb.
The dark-brown eyes, the soft lips' fragrant bloom—
With lips more masterful than thine I kissed her,
Then built our bridal chamber in the tomb.
“Arise. The sun and stars were thine, the glory
Of empire measureless as morning's light:
Green plains and forests dark and mountains hoary;
Rest in the day and rapture in the night.
Of empire measureless as morning's light:
Green plains and forests dark and mountains hoary;
Rest in the day and rapture in the night.
“Thy throne was molten gold, with ivory blended,
A work of which no craftsman's heart had dreamed:
On the six steps by which thy foot ascended
Twelve golden lions, maned with terror, gleamed.
A work of which no craftsman's heart had dreamed:
On the six steps by which thy foot ascended
Twelve golden lions, maned with terror, gleamed.
“Beside the throne two lions even more massive,
Sculptured in silent gold, yet seemed to say,
‘If man's heart trembles while our strength rests passive
Earth's soul must shudder when we pant for prey.’
Sculptured in silent gold, yet seemed to say,
‘If man's heart trembles while our strength rests passive
Earth's soul must shudder when we pant for prey.’
“Sheba's fair queen with costliest presents sought thee;
Thy wisdom through the wide earth won renown:
Kings did thee homage,—Ophir's gold they brought thee:
The golden sun was envious of thy crown.
Thy wisdom through the wide earth won renown:
Kings did thee homage,—Ophir's gold they brought thee:
The golden sun was envious of thy crown.
39
“The moon was envious in her pearly whiteness
Of women whose soft whiteness gladdened thee:
Through pitchy night, or under noontide's brightness,
Thy countless strong ships coursed from sea to sea.
Of women whose soft whiteness gladdened thee:
Through pitchy night, or under noontide's brightness,
Thy countless strong ships coursed from sea to sea.
“Horses they brought thee from far Egypt's regions,
Proud-nostrilled, fiery, many a flawless form;
Steeds fit to mount thine horsemen's mustering legions,
Maned like the night and footed like the storm.
Proud-nostrilled, fiery, many a flawless form;
Steeds fit to mount thine horsemen's mustering legions,
Maned like the night and footed like the storm.
“Thy chariots gathered in each chariot city
Flashed back the sunlight from their wheels of gold:
Where David's splashed through blood-pools without pity
Through flower-strewn streets thy cars of triumph rolled.
Flashed back the sunlight from their wheels of gold:
Where David's splashed through blood-pools without pity
Through flower-strewn streets thy cars of triumph rolled.
“Not heaven itself had stars enough to greet thee—
Bright India's birds for thee must rob the skies,
Spread star-besprinkled plumes, and raise to meet thee
Their banners glorious with a thousand eyes.
Bright India's birds for thee must rob the skies,
Spread star-besprinkled plumes, and raise to meet thee
Their banners glorious with a thousand eyes.
“David's fierce wars and warrior-deeds were over;
The light of peace on all the glad land fell:
Thine eyes were ever soft eyes of a lover,
Though sombre David's eyes took fire from hell.
The light of peace on all the glad land fell:
Thine eyes were ever soft eyes of a lover,
Though sombre David's eyes took fire from hell.
40
“Thou hadst no need of mad adultery's rapture
For thy strong men sent forth through land on land
Brought thee, through fair gifts won or kingly capture,
Forms by some love-god's passionate genius planned.
For thy strong men sent forth through land on land
Brought thee, through fair gifts won or kingly capture,
Forms by some love-god's passionate genius planned.
“The women of all the realm were thine. Didst covet
Some girl with hair that mocked the raven's wing?
At night her mouth was thine, thy lips might love it,
And she might say, ‘I worship thee, O King!’
Some girl with hair that mocked the raven's wing?
At night her mouth was thine, thy lips might love it,
And she might say, ‘I worship thee, O King!’
“At morn, if thou didst weary of her embraces,
Let the joy wane with dawning of the light!
For thee another of countless sweet girl-faces
Rose with the stars, resplendent on the night.
Let the joy wane with dawning of the light!
For thee another of countless sweet girl-faces
Rose with the stars, resplendent on the night.
“The joy men seek and many a life foregoes it,
The pressure of virgin lips by no man won,
Was thine a thousand times—the dark night knows it
That for thy sake craved respite from the sun.
The pressure of virgin lips by no man won,
Was thine a thousand times—the dark night knows it
That for thy sake craved respite from the sun.
“To thee the God of David seemed austerer
Than gentler gods of nations round thy throne:
To thee the white-armed Ashtaroth was dearer
Than the stern Lord whom Sinai's peaks enthrone.
Than gentler gods of nations round thy throne:
To thee the white-armed Ashtaroth was dearer
Than the stern Lord whom Sinai's peaks enthrone.
41
“The women-gods of nations round thy borders
To thee were lovelier than Jehovah's form:
Upon the hill-sides temples at thine orders
Rose to the gods of starlight or the storm.
To thee were lovelier than Jehovah's form:
Upon the hill-sides temples at thine orders
Rose to the gods of starlight or the storm.
“Thy soul was full of artist-dreams and fancies;
Thou ponderedst on the tales thy women told,
On Midianitish lore and strange romances
Of passionate gods who ruled in kingdoms old.
Thou ponderedst on the tales thy women told,
On Midianitish lore and strange romances
Of passionate gods who ruled in kingdoms old.
“But now the end has come. Lift up thy glances—
Glances that shook the earth and shook the sea.
O King, a mightier step than thine advances:
Tremble,—as all the world once quailed at thee.”
Glances that shook the earth and shook the sea.
O King, a mightier step than thine advances:
Tremble,—as all the world once quailed at thee.”
Then Solomon: “O Death with gaze tremendous
What lamp shall light me when I leave the sun?”
And Death, with voice than thunder more stupendous:
“All stars I extinguish, King, save only one.”
What lamp shall light me when I leave the sun?”
And Death, with voice than thunder more stupendous:
“All stars I extinguish, King, save only one.”
Then Solomon: “O Death with lance that quivers,
What cup shall proffer me my costly wine?”
And Death: “O King, within my realm are rivers;
The right to lap their black waves shall be thine.”
What cup shall proffer me my costly wine?”
And Death: “O King, within my realm are rivers;
The right to lap their black waves shall be thine.”
42
Then Solomon: “O bitter Death, thus leaving
The land of plenty, what food shall I take?”
And Death: “Thy soul will hunger not, receiving
Each day one loaf of memory's bread to break.”
The land of plenty, what food shall I take?”
And Death: “Thy soul will hunger not, receiving
Each day one loaf of memory's bread to break.”
Then Solomon: “O Death, what change or raiment
Shall I select from all my priceless store?”
And Death: “Thou hast robbed the world, the time for payment
Approaches—take thy winding-sheet, no more.”
Shall I select from all my priceless store?”
And Death: “Thou hast robbed the world, the time for payment
Approaches—take thy winding-sheet, no more.”
Then Solomon: “Of queens whose eyes mocked morning
Which shall I choose for mistress of the night?”
And Death: “The faithfullest—but with this warning,
Find, if thou canst, one woman who was not light.”
Which shall I choose for mistress of the night?”
And Death: “The faithfullest—but with this warning,
Find, if thou canst, one woman who was not light.”
Then Solomon: “On what couch shall I slumber,
I who with many a white-limbed love have lain?”
And Death: “Thy loves have been so many in number
That surely to sleep single will be gain?”
I who with many a white-limbed love have lain?”
And Death: “Thy loves have been so many in number
That surely to sleep single will be gain?”
Then Solomon: “And how long shall I tarry
Within the darkness that man's spirit fears,
The gloom where bodiless souls eat not nor marry
Nor drink nor slumber?” Death: “Three thousand years.”
Within the darkness that man's spirit fears,
The gloom where bodiless souls eat not nor marry
Nor drink nor slumber?” Death: “Three thousand years.”
43
Four times the great King's loneliness was broken,
Four times a spirit in those three thousand years
Hovering approached him, and a word was spoken
That rang like thunder in the great King's ears.
Four times a spirit in those three thousand years
Hovering approached him, and a word was spoken
That rang like thunder in the great King's ears.
Four times a spirit he once had loved addressed him;
Four times that spirit forsook him as in scorn:
Four times a spirit whose arms had once caressed him
Left him in darkness, crying, “I love the morn!”
Four times that spirit forsook him as in scorn:
Four times a spirit whose arms had once caressed him
Left him in darkness, crying, “I love the morn!”
The first time thus it happed. He saw swift-sailing
On starlike wings through night's perpetual gloom
A spirit whose glory and loveliness unfailing
Had sweeter been to him than summer's bloom.
On starlike wings through night's perpetual gloom
A spirit whose glory and loveliness unfailing
Had sweeter been to him than summer's bloom.
She on the bridal night with queenly laughter
Had said: “Bestow a gift on me, O King—
A gift that may recall through all the hereafter,
In life's dim winter, passion's peerless spring.”
Had said: “Bestow a gift on me, O King—
A gift that may recall through all the hereafter,
In life's dim winter, passion's peerless spring.”
And he: “Ask what thou wilt. The world of flowers
Is mine, and the underworld of jewelled gleams.
O love, shall blood-bright rubies gem thy bowers?
O queen, shall star-bright diamonds haunt thy dreams?
Is mine, and the underworld of jewelled gleams.
O love, shall blood-bright rubies gem thy bowers?
O queen, shall star-bright diamonds haunt thy dreams?
44
“Shall Hiram's vessels bring thee gold unmeasured
From Tyre, from Sidon? Shall the purple sea
Yield up the noblest pearls its depths have treasured?
Shall looms of Edom weave rich robes for thee?
From Tyre, from Sidon? Shall the purple sea
Yield up the noblest pearls its depths have treasured?
Shall looms of Edom weave rich robes for thee?
“Thou art the fairest of far Moab's daughters.
For this thy first kiss what gift shall I bring?
Ores from the mountains, amber from the waters?
Speak thou, O queen—command thy slave, the King.”
For this thy first kiss what gift shall I bring?
Ores from the mountains, amber from the waters?
Speak thou, O queen—command thy slave, the King.”
And she with eyes of more than mortal splendour,
Eyes whose bright glance might lead the sun astray,
Smiling had said: “In love's supreme surrender
My heart is thine, thy will I must obey;
Eyes whose bright glance might lead the sun astray,
Smiling had said: “In love's supreme surrender
My heart is thine, thy will I must obey;
“I am thy slave—thou art my lord, my master,—
Thine am I from this moment to my grave;
Yet woman am I—my desire is vaster
Than starlit night, more hungry than the wave.
Thine am I from this moment to my grave;
Yet woman am I—my desire is vaster
Than starlit night, more hungry than the wave.
“To-night take all my beauty—it is fairer,
They say in Moab, than the day-dawn bright:
A royal crown is mine, win thou the wearer;
Win from me all thou canst of strange delight.
They say in Moab, than the day-dawn bright:
A royal crown is mine, win thou the wearer;
Win from me all thou canst of strange delight.
45
“Yet grant me this, O King—one thing I covet;
In Moabitish blood desire runs high:
Thou fondlest my white hand,—thou sayest, ‘I love it!’
Place in that hand the rainbow from the sky.”
In Moabitish blood desire runs high:
Thou fondlest my white hand,—thou sayest, ‘I love it!’
Place in that hand the rainbow from the sky.”
The great King laughed. “O queen, the rainbow's splendour
In that white hand of thine thou yet shalt hold—
Its gleaming hues, its changing tints most tender,
Its red and green, its lilac and its gold.”
In that white hand of thine thou yet shalt hold—
Its gleaming hues, its changing tints most tender,
Its red and green, its lilac and its gold.”
Then by his magic spells the great King, knowing
Secrets revealed to him on earth alone,
Created opals—thus for e'er bestowing
The rainbow's charm and glamour on a stone.
Secrets revealed to him on earth alone,
Created opals—thus for e'er bestowing
The rainbow's charm and glamour on a stone.
But now she said: “The opal's charm has vanished;
My soul has grown beyond such gauds as these.
Listen, thou King to night's deep darkness banished;
On earth new sunlight shines on lands and seas.
My soul has grown beyond such gauds as these.
Listen, thou King to night's deep darkness banished;
On earth new sunlight shines on lands and seas.
“I am the spirit of Freedom—thou the enslaving
Strong King of all the world liest chained and bound.
Thou mayest not even see the green grass waving;
Thou mayest not hear stern Sparta's trumpet sound.
Strong King of all the world liest chained and bound.
Thou mayest not even see the green grass waving;
Thou mayest not hear stern Sparta's trumpet sound.
46
“From Asia once again harsh slavery threatens;
The dateless future on a thin thread hangs:
Asia's tumultuous vast host hourly greatens,
One monstrous serpent with unmeasured fangs.
The dateless future on a thin thread hangs:
Asia's tumultuous vast host hourly greatens,
One monstrous serpent with unmeasured fangs.
“Three hundred heroes in the pass are posted
With keen eyes gazing on the silvery sea,
The sea that guards the fair land golden-coasted:—
Man's history pauses at Thermopylæ.
With keen eyes gazing on the silvery sea,
The sea that guards the fair land golden-coasted:—
Man's history pauses at Thermopylæ.
“Lo! time is poised upon a moment breathless:
Of centuries Leonidas is lord.
Three hundred deaths shall make three hundred deathless;
Ten thousand years are balanced on a sword.
Of centuries Leonidas is lord.
Three hundred deaths shall make three hundred deathless;
Ten thousand years are balanced on a sword.
“As by a hair all Europe's fate is dangling:
‘Draw back,’ saith darkness to the golden morn—
‘Draw back, give place, while Xerxes' hand is strangling
The neck of Freedom, in its iron scorn.’
‘Draw back,’ saith darkness to the golden morn—
‘Draw back, give place, while Xerxes' hand is strangling
The neck of Freedom, in its iron scorn.’
“Five hundred years have passed since in thy palace,
O Solomon, my love I gave to thee:
Our rainbow-opals circled passion's chalice;
Now Freedom's rainbow-circlet crowns the sea.
O Solomon, my love I gave to thee:
Our rainbow-opals circled passion's chalice;
Now Freedom's rainbow-circlet crowns the sea.
47
“I, once a slave to all thy royal caprices,
Am now to Freedom only chainless thrall
For Freedom's touch enslaving, yet releases;
At Freedom's voice the inveterate fetters fall.
Am now to Freedom only chainless thrall
For Freedom's touch enslaving, yet releases;
At Freedom's voice the inveterate fetters fall.
“Now, while pale Europe shrinks from regal capture,
With brave Leonidas I pause to see
How fearless death may lead to deathless rapture
And time pay tribute to eternity.”
With brave Leonidas I pause to see
How fearless death may lead to deathless rapture
And time pay tribute to eternity.”
She spoke—the King remained alone and weeping,
But she flew forth to watch the unequal fight
That left three hundred in the dark pass sleeping,
Their foreheads crowned with everlasting light.
But she flew forth to watch the unequal fight
That left three hundred in the dark pass sleeping,
Their foreheads crowned with everlasting light.
Again five hundred years of darkness, lighted
By the faint radiance of that single star,
Passed o'er the mighty King in gloom benighted,
Closed in by past deeds, as by bolt and bar.
By the faint radiance of that single star,
Passed o'er the mighty King in gloom benighted,
Closed in by past deeds, as by bolt and bar.
Then through the gloom he marked a spirit approaching;
Before her feet aside the mist-wreaths fell:
Her golden wings upon the dark encroaching
Lit up like sudden lamps the vaults of hell.
Before her feet aside the mist-wreaths fell:
Her golden wings upon the dark encroaching
Lit up like sudden lamps the vaults of hell.
48
A thousand years ago (she then a maiden
Of Ammon, he great Israel's peerless lord)
He had said, his kingly heart with passion laden,
“Choose what thou wilt—then trust my unfailing sword.”
Of Ammon, he great Israel's peerless lord)
He had said, his kingly heart with passion laden,
“Choose what thou wilt—then trust my unfailing sword.”
And she, within whose hair the stars mistaking
Its blackness for sweet night aspired to rest,
Said, “Of all jewels of the earth-gods' wondrous making
I love the deep-green emerald far the best.
Its blackness for sweet night aspired to rest,
Said, “Of all jewels of the earth-gods' wondrous making
I love the deep-green emerald far the best.
“Yet bring me not the emerald's transient lustre;
Plant a vast forest round about our throne,
Within whose leafage the sun's rays may muster
Legions of emeralds nobler than the stone!”
Plant a vast forest round about our throne,
Within whose leafage the sun's rays may muster
Legions of emeralds nobler than the stone!”
So Solomon with ready heart had ordered
For her the dark-haired amorous white-browed queen
A palace to be built, by dense woods bordered,
Where living emeralds flashed their leafy green.
For her the dark-haired amorous white-browed queen
A palace to be built, by dense woods bordered,
Where living emeralds flashed their leafy green.
But now to-day she said: “O King, low-lying
Within the darkness, helpless in the gloom,
Upon the earth the sullen night is dying!
A living light has flashed upon the tomb!
Within the darkness, helpless in the gloom,
Upon the earth the sullen night is dying!
A living light has flashed upon the tomb!
49
“A nobler reign than thine is now beginning:
A mighty Lord, descended, King, from thee,
Shall make an end of lust and wrath and sinning,—
By love's voice hush the thunder-throated sea.
A mighty Lord, descended, King, from thee,
Shall make an end of lust and wrath and sinning,—
By love's voice hush the thunder-throated sea.
“Rome's empire now through all the world extending
Recalls and yet exceeds thine empire old,
But this King's empire, when pale Rome's is ending,
Boundless, shall storm the sunset's gates of gold.
Recalls and yet exceeds thine empire old,
But this King's empire, when pale Rome's is ending,
Boundless, shall storm the sunset's gates of gold.
“Women shall seek him—aye, throughout the eras—
But by sweet pureness are his victories won.
While past kings' dreams dissolve like mist-chimeras
His kingdom shall outstay the flagging sun.
But by sweet pureness are his victories won.
While past kings' dreams dissolve like mist-chimeras
His kingdom shall outstay the flagging sun.
“The skies shall hear the last low roll of thunder
That wearies on the horizon's pallid verge;
Beside the lessening waves man's heart shall wonder
At the last effort of the worn-out surge:
That wearies on the horizon's pallid verge;
Beside the lessening waves man's heart shall wonder
At the last effort of the worn-out surge:
“The very stars with fragments golden-gleaming
May strew the heavens, the night drown out the day,
The moon may cease to set the green woods dreaming,—
Christ's timeless kingdom cannot pass away.
May strew the heavens, the night drown out the day,
The moon may cease to set the green woods dreaming,—
Christ's timeless kingdom cannot pass away.
50
“Within his kingdom clasping all things human
In deathless clasp of sympathy divine
A fairer throne than thy throne waits for woman,
A kinglier love, great Solomon, than thine.”
In deathless clasp of sympathy divine
A fairer throne than thy throne waits for woman,
A kinglier love, great Solomon, than thine.”
In fifteen hundred years the shadows shifted;
More light flashed downward from the single star:
His weary brow once more the great King lifted,—
He saw a spirit approaching from afar.
More light flashed downward from the single star:
His weary brow once more the great King lifted,—
He saw a spirit approaching from afar.
A queen he recognised whose golden tresses
Through the Eastern night shone fairer than the sun
In the old lost hours of mirth and love-caresses,
A wife in Midian's mountain-regions won.
Through the Eastern night shone fairer than the sun
In the old lost hours of mirth and love-caresses,
A wife in Midian's mountain-regions won.
“And art thou come to cheer my lonely slumber,
To be once more my light?” the great King said:
“I, once the lord of palaces past number,
Have now no pillow for thy golden head!”
To be once more my light?” the great King said:
“I, once the lord of palaces past number,
Have now no pillow for thy golden head!”
The sweet ghost answered: “Past all power of telling
Is the great change within my spirit wrought
Since by those Eastern fountains upward welling
We wandered, mingling queenly and kingly thought.
Is the great change within my spirit wrought
Since by those Eastern fountains upward welling
We wandered, mingling queenly and kingly thought.
51
“O King, my soul has grown beyond thy dreaming;
Thine harem's backward blossoms all have blown:
The eyes that once were stars upon thee gleaming
Are now as suns to lands thou hast not known.
Thine harem's backward blossoms all have blown:
The eyes that once were stars upon thee gleaming
Are now as suns to lands thou hast not known.
“A mighty power beyond the Western waters,
England, has risen—a land where all are free.
My heart is now as hearts of England's daughters,
Full of the passion of the chainless sea.
England, has risen—a land where all are free.
My heart is now as hearts of England's daughters,
Full of the passion of the chainless sea.
“Work have I now to do—work vast, undying;
I may not share with thee thy timeless sleep:
I have to watch, on my keen sight relying,
A mighty fleet whose sails are on the deep.
I may not share with thee thy timeless sleep:
I have to watch, on my keen sight relying,
A mighty fleet whose sails are on the deep.
“Beyond thy dreams of love my soul has risen;
I am thy slave, thy love-crowned queen, no more!
Rest thou for ever in thy lonely prison;
I am as free as waves that kiss the shore.
I am thy slave, thy love-crowned queen, no more!
Rest thou for ever in thy lonely prison;
I am as free as waves that kiss the shore.
“Lo! from the South a giant fleet approaches;
Slaves are they who man it, and a king who sends:
On English waters their lewd flag encroaches;
On me the Armada's destiny depends.
Slaves are they who man it, and a king who sends:
On English waters their lewd flag encroaches;
On me the Armada's destiny depends.
52
“Fate has bestowed on me the power of hurling
Upon the Armada all the ocean's might,
Wild winds and thunders and white waters whirling:
Woman I was—I am the spirit of night!
Upon the Armada all the ocean's might,
Wild winds and thunders and white waters whirling:
Woman I was—I am the spirit of night!
“Fate's hand has stolen the stars of night for crowning
My forehead—starless yet my wreath shall be
That Philip's fleet may perish, darkness drowning
A godless host in hell-depths of the sea.
My forehead—starless yet my wreath shall be
That Philip's fleet may perish, darkness drowning
A godless host in hell-depths of the sea.
“That is my work, O King—not now to sunder
The self-forged chains that hold thee powerless there
But forth to hurl the lightning and the thunder,
Queen of the storm and sovereign of the air.”
The self-forged chains that hold thee powerless there
But forth to hurl the lightning and the thunder,
Queen of the storm and sovereign of the air.”
Ere long once more the lonely watch was broken—
A spirit approached on dawn-pink pinions borne,
Then, ere the great King's doubtful word was spoken,
Said: “King, behold in me the spirit of morn!
A spirit approached on dawn-pink pinions borne,
Then, ere the great King's doubtful word was spoken,
Said: “King, behold in me the spirit of morn!
“Dost thou remember me the Hittite maiden
Of whose blue eyes thou didst one morning say,
‘The sunlit heights beside them are mist-laden;
Twin sovereigns are they of the golden day!’
Of whose blue eyes thou didst one morning say,
‘The sunlit heights beside them are mist-laden;
Twin sovereigns are they of the golden day!’
53
“Ages have passed—behold! in England rises
The mightiest poet whom man's race shall hear,—
He who can penetrate all hearts' disguises
And make all history's darkest moments clear.
The mightiest poet whom man's race shall hear,—
He who can penetrate all hearts' disguises
And make all history's darkest moments clear.
“Him have I now to aid, smiting asunder
Old shackles, pouring through his song supreme
Whereat all time to come shall pause in wonder
The force of truth, the sweetness of a dream.
Old shackles, pouring through his song supreme
Whereat all time to come shall pause in wonder
The force of truth, the sweetness of a dream.
“Woman I was—I am the spirit of morning
And morning's breath in Shakespeare's song shall be;
Strength as of dawn, when rose-flushed peaks give warning,
And boundless light as of the shoreless sea.
And morning's breath in Shakespeare's song shall be;
Strength as of dawn, when rose-flushed peaks give warning,
And boundless light as of the shoreless sea.
“Not Milcah, Tirzah, Asenath,—no longer
Our dark-eyed maidens hold man's spirit bound;
Man worships even far sweeter souls and stronger,
Souls whom the poet of mankind has crowned.
Our dark-eyed maidens hold man's spirit bound;
Man worships even far sweeter souls and stronger,
Souls whom the poet of mankind has crowned.
“England to-day takes up the chant of the ages,
And through that chant rings woman's rallying cry:
Within her heart a blossoming hope assuages
Her long despair, her voiceless agony.
And through that chant rings woman's rallying cry:
Within her heart a blossoming hope assuages
Her long despair, her voiceless agony.
54
“Thou in the East didst hold our spirits fettered:
Prisoned we were, though golden were the walls!
Wast thou for one slave's soft kiss truly bettered,
Thou, loveless tyrant of a thousand thralls?
Prisoned we were, though golden were the walls!
Wast thou for one slave's soft kiss truly bettered,
Thou, loveless tyrant of a thousand thralls?
“Now in the West our agelong bonds are broken.
Was Desdemona modelled from a slave?
Could any word by mightiest monarch spoken
Curb Portia's spirit,—or control the wave?
Was Desdemona modelled from a slave?
Could any word by mightiest monarch spoken
Curb Portia's spirit,—or control the wave?
“The sea's force in the hearts of England's daughters
From tyrant-kings for ever sets them free.
Thy sceptre swayed the hills, but not the waters:
The desert was thy footstool, not the sea.
From tyrant-kings for ever sets them free.
Thy sceptre swayed the hills, but not the waters:
The desert was thy footstool, not the sea.
“The sea is Shakespeare's, and his land's, for ever;
The sea, the stars, the everlasting sun,
The passionate heart of love that wearies never—
These all are England's, till all time be done.”
The sea, the stars, the everlasting sun,
The passionate heart of love that wearies never—
These all are England's, till all time be done.”
Again five hundred years—the star seemed nearer:
Its golden portals filled with fiery light
Flashed till the dense surrounding gloom grew clearer;
A gleam of hope shot radiance through the night.
Its golden portals filled with fiery light
Flashed till the dense surrounding gloom grew clearer;
A gleam of hope shot radiance through the night.
55
Hope! For three thousand years the King, despairing,
In woe profound and darkness' depths had lain:
Can hope whose soul is love, whose breath is daring,
Light up those lampless soundless deeps again?
In woe profound and darkness' depths had lain:
Can hope whose soul is love, whose breath is daring,
Light up those lampless soundless deeps again?
Then starlike—even as if the star, creating
Its fairy spirit of brightness, from afar
Had sent her—came on wings unhesitating
A spirit whose glance was radiant as a star.
Its fairy spirit of brightness, from afar
Had sent her—came on wings unhesitating
A spirit whose glance was radiant as a star.
Then Solomon remembered, slowly raising
The shadowy curtains of three thousand years,
A maiden passing forth from love, and gazing
One moment back with dark eyes full of tears.
The shadowy curtains of three thousand years,
A maiden passing forth from love, and gazing
One moment back with dark eyes full of tears.
She had given the King one month of kingly pleasure,
One month,—and then had passed into the gloom:
But in that month her soul with all its treasure
Had blossomed, all its wealth of scent and bloom.
One month,—and then had passed into the gloom:
But in that month her soul with all its treasure
Had blossomed, all its wealth of scent and bloom.
She had loved the King, she just a captive maiden—
He ruler of the earth, of sea and land.
She gave her soul to him, with sweetness laden:
He took the flower,—then dropped it from his hand.
He ruler of the earth, of sea and land.
She gave her soul to him, with sweetness laden:
He took the flower,—then dropped it from his hand.
56
But now, though vast strange centuries intervening
Had done their varying tasks, then waned and fled,
She, apprehending love's eternal meaning,
Had sought the King among the living dead.
Had done their varying tasks, then waned and fled,
She, apprehending love's eternal meaning,
Had sought the King among the living dead.
She spirit-ruler of the star whose brightness
Had dared to face the midnight's sombre scorn
Now, pure as mountain-snow's ethereal whiteness,
Came whispering words of sweet hope newly born.
Had dared to face the midnight's sombre scorn
Now, pure as mountain-snow's ethereal whiteness,
Came whispering words of sweet hope newly born.
“Rise!” said she: “time is nought, and life is vaster
Than all the swift-winged ways and moods of time.
Not death, but love, is all the ages' master,—
Lord even of hell, star-garlanded, sublime.
Than all the swift-winged ways and moods of time.
Not death, but love, is all the ages' master,—
Lord even of hell, star-garlanded, sublime.
“A thousand hearts have failed thee. Yet, immortal,
A mightier love than theirs pulsates through one.
Lift up thine eyes. Through morning's golden portal
Rolls slowly forth the chariot of the sun.”
A mightier love than theirs pulsates through one.
Lift up thine eyes. Through morning's golden portal
Rolls slowly forth the chariot of the sun.”
Then Solomon arose.—The star receded;
Its task accomplished, that pale lamp might die:
But in the East its lustre was not needed,
For love's majestic morning lit the sky.
Its task accomplished, that pale lamp might die:
But in the East its lustre was not needed,
For love's majestic morning lit the sky.
| The Poetical Works of George Barlow | |