THE LIBRARY THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES

THE

LIBRARY

OF

THE

UNIVERSITY

OF

CALIFORNIA

SONGS

TO

A

SINGER

SONGS

TO

A

SINGER

AND

OTHER

VERSES

BY

ROSA

NEWMARCH

LONDON

:

JOHN

LANE,

THE

BODLEY

HEAD

PrintedbyBALLANTYNE&*Co.LIMITED TavistockStreet,London

CONTENTS

SONGS

TO A

SINGER

PAGE

THE PRELUDE TO DAY _g WHITE ROSEOR RED? II THE ROSE OF SONG 12 EUPHROSYNE ₁₄ STARLESS NIGHTS ₁₅ THE GIFT: SONNET l6

THE HOPE OF _JUNE 18

A SONG OF FLOOD TIDE 2O

ACROSS CHANNEL 22 A SONG OF DAWN 24 "DOUSHA MOYA" 26 SONNET 27 ROSE OK ROSES 29 AUBADE 30 MIDSUMMER'S STARS 31 THE COMING OF WINTER: SONNET

....

32

MY BIRTHDAY 34

CONTENTS

FRAGMENTS

FROM

"KING

WALDEMAR"

PAGE

WALDEMAR'S LOVE-SONG 87

WALDEMAR SINGS AT MIDNIGHT

....

88

TOVE'S REPLY 9O

THE LOVE DUET 92

THE PRESAGE ₉₃ QUEEN HELVIG'S SONG 94

THE TIDINGS 95

TOVE'S DIRGE 95

TOVE'S BURIAL 97

KING WALDEMAR'S LAMENT

...

100

WALDEMAR'S DESPAIR . 101 KING WALDEMAR'S MIDNIGHT CHASE

....

102

THE

PRELUDE

TO

DAY

THE

violins

had

stirred_{with hopes that died,} Like windstoo weakto usherin themorn,

While tothe dark-tonedbassesstill_replied The_sad, uncertain echo _ofthehorn.

The impending mass of music seemedto brood Inert

and

torpid, as nocturnalearth

Waits_pulselessin the _{vaguedisquietude}

Of

that lasthour which shrouds the daylight's birth.

Until the blast_oftrumpetscametobreak

io

THE PRELUDE

_TO

DAY

Thenflutescales, as

from

throstleshalf-awake,

And

_harp-chordslikethe_{farewellsighof}stars.

But

last_ofall_{the effulgenceofyour}voice

Rose, scatteringall the lingeringfearsofnight,

And

bade

_my

heart

_{grow warm,}

_my

soul_rejoice;

As

_though

God

said once more: "Let there be

WHITE

ROSE OR

RED?

MY

_{singer, sing a}

_song

that flows In asilver _melody,

Chaster than the breezethat

blows

From

a winter moonlitsea,

Blanched

to _{perfectpurity}

Likethe heart of

some

whiterose.

My

singer, singa

song

that

_glows

Fiercer than a _{smouldering pyre,}

Linked

to

_melody

that

_grows

Ever

_{stronger, fuller, higher,}

Shot with

dusk and

scent

and

fire,

THE

ROSE

OF SONG

"

Strangerosewhich blossoms_ffee

On_{boughs of}anenchantedtree

Andsings likeanybird" A. LANG

SHE

_{stands superb} ; a

queen

apart

From

all the _{radiant, jewelled throng,}

As

when

a roseunfolds

_among

The

_gay

_parterres her

_glowing

heart, All lesser flowers,

though

rare

and

sweet,

Must

seem

but _subjects ather feet.

She

_sings : each lifted face in turn

Is touched with _{rapture or}with _pain.

THE

ROSE OF

SONG

13

O

voice,

wherein

life's _{passionsyearn} !

My

heart salutes her

_{queen above}

EUPHROSYNE

SET,

O

star_malign,

That

_{too long has} cast

On

thislife of

mine

Rays which

pierce

and

blast,

Star,

whose mocking

light

Misleads like blackest _night.

Rise anotherstar,

Shining butto bless, Milder, dearerfar,

In itstenderness : Star,all stars

_among,

STARLESS

NIGHTS

THE

_skyis dull

and

_softly clouded

With

_vapoursall too_slight for _shape;

Her

_gold

and

_{purple closelyshrouded,}

Night

seems

a

banner swathed

in _crape.

The

sea lies blank ; I hear itcalling

And

_strainingtowards the darkened land;

A

lineof silver,

dimly

falling,

Shows where

it

meets

the

hidden

sand.

Through gloom

of starless _nights, the

ocean

Still finds a

_way

toreach the _shores,

As

_through life's stress

some

veiled

emotion

THE

GIFT

AH,

would

that I

_might

_spread

_my

arms and

gather

The

essence ofall _beautyearth contains:

The

bloom

of hills at

sundown

; jewelled

chains

Of

_midnight stars; hues

from

the peacock's

feather;

The

thrill of frost; the

glow

of harvest

weather;

The

_fragrance of _palejasmine afterrains

And

_{golden songs before} their_{passion wanes,}

THE

GIFT

17

But

since,dear child,I

am

not

God

in

_Heaven,

To

crush this _world, as

one

_might

crush a flower,

And

o'er

_your

life its _yieldedsweets _diffuse,

I can but _{give to-day}

what

I have given

Unasked,

eluded, since our meeting

hour

THE

HOPE

_{OF JUNE}

BRING,

O

Maytide,to the earth, Festal robes

and

_songs of mirth.

Clothethefields in emerald

Silks,

by

fairy

hands

forestalled,

Woven

in _April's

_magic

looms.

Crown

the lilac

bush

with plumes,

Gild _{the slopes}with _{fragrant blooms,}

Deck

in bridal white _{the hedges,}

Fringe the

brook

with flowering sedges.

Giveall nature her desire,

Birds their

mates

and maids

their lovers.

I will _wait, till

summer's

fire

THE

HOPE

_{OF JUNE}

19

Where

all

_day

_my

_fancyhovers,

From

_grey

dawn

to _{golden close,} O'er

one

_proud, defiant rose.

A

SONG OF

FLOOD

TIDE

FROM

the

bosom

of

mid-ocean

With

_{a glad}

and

_lifting

motion

Flood

tide

comes

in swift

commotion.

Likea lover

new

to _blisses,

First earth's

_garment

hem

he

kisses,

Where

the

wet beach

_drags

and

hisses.

Now

_{leapsskyward,}

now

curves under, Flings

upon

her _lap the

wonder

A

SONG

OF

FLOOD

TIDE

21

Then

in

_{wooing waxing}

_bolder,

Reaches

toher sun-

warmed

shoulder, Stretching yearning

arms

to holdher,

Till _{cold pools}

and

arid _shingle In his salt

embraces

tingle,

ACROSS

CHANNEL

ONE

short

_June

_night of_yearning,

One

bird'sclear matin _song,

Twelve hours

of_{golden sunshine}

A

_day

twelve hours too _long;

A

race

_through

Kentish hop-fields,

A

_{flashing arc of blue,}

The

low, green fields of Flanders

And

then I

come

to

_you

!

O

stars, desist

from

roaming,

Wake

birds

and

call the _light;

Morn

melt in

noon

_{and midday}

Mix

_instantly with _night

ACROSS

CHANNEL

23

Throb

with

_my

_haste,hot _engines,

Set seaward,

wind and

tide

My

heart outleaps each

moment

A

SONG OF

DAWN

Front A. P. _Jacobsen

AWAKE

_{to joy,}

O

_flowers,

Arise

and throw

The

_{dewdrops from your}

faces !

The

sun

_putsforth his _powers,

The

stars

_{must go}

To

hide in

dim

_sky-spaces.

Already through the grass

The

mottled snake

A

SONG

OF

DAWN

25

The

rosy dawn-mists pass

And

birds

awake

To

_sing in hurst

and

_hedge.

Drop

from

the_{lily's cup,}

Bright lady-bird,

And

bid

_your

wife

come

too !

The

summer

sun is _up,

The

lark is _heard,

"DOUSHA MOYA"

"

_DOUSHA

moya," once

long

ago

I _spoke the Russian

words

in _jest,

Which

_{pleased thee,}

though

thou didst not

know

Their_highest

_{meaning and}

_{their best,}

Nor dream

thatthou shouldst

come

to be

Dousha

_moya,

"the soul ofme."

Dousha

_moya,

if thou shouldst tire

And

care

no more

to be the breath

Of

impulse,

and

the active fire

That

keeps

my

soul

from

sloth

and

death,

How

aimless life

and

work

would

_be,

SONNET

YOUR

heart is

no

_{enclosed garden-space}

Where

_{treacherous pools}lie hid

from sun and

breeze,

And

_{stealthy paths,}

_yew-shaded

_mysteries,

Lead on

lost lovers in a fruitless chase;

Nor

is itlike a close-trimmed _public place,

Where

fairest _plants

and

_spiciest rosaries

Are_kept for _show,

and

all istrained to_please

A

_loit'ring

crowd

with artificial _grace.

Ah

no

!

Your

heartis _{spacious, frank}

and

_free,

As

the wild heath-tracts of

_your

northern land,

Swept

clean

_{by mountain winds}

; a spot to be

28

SONNET

The

_{singing-ground} of _larks, the

enchanted

strand

Of happy

children

and

_my

dream

of ease

ROSE

OF

ROSES

ROSE

of roses! All life's

_garden

Knows

the secret of _{thy presence,}

Like _{a sweet, soul-healing}essence Breathing love

and

shedding pardon. Sweet

when

noontide's sun has flushed_thee,

Sweeter still

when

rainshave crushed thee.

Rose

oflife, toobright, too tender,

For

the_garden of

_my

_spirit,

Desert land that does not merit

Perfume

rare

and crimson

_splendour!

Dear

in noontide's_{golden gladness,}

AUBADE

COME,

morn,

to meltthe

shadows

That

_{keep the roses grey.}

Stir, thrush,

and

wake

my

singer, Break, primrose

dawn, and

bring her Acrossthe glistening

meadows

MIDSUMMER'S

STARS

ARCTURUS,

Vega and

Altair, Antares,

burning

fiercely red,

And

all _June'sstars that overhead

Are

_quivering inthe _limpidair,

Shine while ye

may,

for_ye shall be

Wan

and

_grey,

Dissolved away,

THE

COMING OF

WINTER

NOW

woods

are black

and

orchards _stripped

of _fruit,

And

half the

_empty

fields are

_{ploughed and}

tilled

For

next _year's harvest;

now

the dykes are

filled

With

_{shining floods of}

_{autumn, where}

the coot

Dips

among

yellowing reeds; the blackbird's

flute,

Late tuned to_{strange tonalities,} is stilled;

Now

_{robins sing};

and

everynight the chilled

THE

COMING

OF

WINTER

33

But

winter

cannot

reach

_my

heart while I

Fold

_{closely there a}

dream

as dearas true :

How

in the brief

November

_days

we

two

Shall

meet

in flame-lit _dusk,

_{and you}

will _sing

Songs

that recall the timid

_hopes

of _Spring,

And

all _{the glad fulfilment} of July.

MY

BIRTHDAY

ALL

_day

_{the foghas brooded,}

The

streets aredark

and

_cold,

My

heart is_{grey with}

shadows

That

warn

me

I

am

old.

I dare notface the _firelight,

For where

it smoulders red

Too many

visions gather

Of

men

and

women

dead.

I look

_through

_yellow

windows

Upon

a_{yellow square};

My

gate creaks

on

its_hinges,

MY

BIRTHDAY

35

My

friend has crossed the threshold,

I hear hervoice that _sings,

And

_age

and

_fog

and

sadness

MYSTICAL

SONG

As

cloudsare

drawn

_along a river's course

Out

to

some

_{distant, unconjectured}sea,

So

down

a silver stream of

_melody

My

soul to _yours is

drawn

_by

_mystic force.

Serene

and

stilled,

my

life floats just

above

The

deep,

smooth

current of

your

songs that

flow,

And

istoo well content with

dreams

to

know

OUR

SILENCES

THE

world

_may

_{have your}

_songs,

Your

_beauty

_{and your}

_smiles,

The

art that

moves

_{great throngs,}

The manner

that beguiles.

What

use

have

I _{for these,}

Who

cravea fuller dole :

Prefulgent silences

NEW

YEAR'S

EVE

IF there

_{be any}

_way

in

which

My

ineffectual love has failed^

To

make

your

days

more

full

and

rich ;

If in life's stress I have curtailed

An

hour

that should have

_{been your}

due,

Or

_blindly left

_you

_{to uplift}

A

load I

_{might have borne}

for

_you

;

If

once

I have

misunderstood

The

reason of

_your

smiles or_tears,

Or

met

in _jest

_your

_graver

_mood,

I

can

but pray the

_coming

_years

Will

make

_my

wisdom

more

_mature,

That you

may

learn to find in

me

THE

BITTER

MELODY

IF I

must

name

the

_song

in

which

Your

voice has

touched

_my

_{spirit most,}

Twas

not that _{splendidmusic,} rich In clarion-cries

from

Love's _gladhost,

When

_victory

and

_passion

meet

In hearts that never

knew

defeat.

It

was

that bitter

_melody

Wherein

Love's

_{triumph had no}

_part,

Which

like a _lone,

unanswered

sea

Wailed

out its_woe, until

_my

heart

Heard

its

own

voiceless _{pain that spoke,}

SOME

NIGHT

TO

COME

(Jean Lahor)

WITHIN

_your

heart therelies _{a ray}

Of calm and

_opalescent light,

Love, let

me

_put the

world

_away

And

rest there

on

some

quiet night.

Let

me

_forget all_{anguish past,}

All failures

and

all life'salarms;

There

in the silence hold

me

fast,

Enfolded

in

_your

_{sheltering arms.}

Or

take

_my

_{thought-worn, aching}head,

SOME

NIGHT TO

COME

41

And

_singto

me

of _{lovers dead,}

A

_{poignant old-world melody.}

Tillin

_your

_eyes, with _{pity wet,}

Perchance

at last

_might

be revealed

Such

tenderness

and

such

_regret

THE

FALLEN

STAR

ONE

starhas left its _{purple track,}

And

from

the

_happy

skies

Has

piercedthat ocean, blind

and

black,

Whence

never star nor _ship

came

back,

Where

_hope

_extinguished lies.

O

fall not thou,

my

star,

whose

spark

Brought

joy

beyond

all _speech,

Through

hidden

_{depths where, white}

and

_stark,

My

wrecked hopes

drift _{through gulfs} toodark

A

KISS

AT

SUNSET

KEEP

_your kisses, child,

For younger

lips than mine,

And

for hearts less wild

To

whom

_they are not wine. Kiss

_your

_girlish friends _{in play,}

They,

who

think it sweet _to-day,

To-morrow

may

have

met

Love's kiss

and

_{will forget.}

But

to

me

_your

kiss

Seems

a _leapingfire,

Far tookeen for _bliss,

44

A

KISS

AT SUNSET

Dreams

that never

_may

be told !

Sweet, itis too late, too cold

When

life's sun is set

FOREST SONG

THE

_{pinewood seems}

the _path of

doom

The

haunt of fear

and

_heaviness,

Along

its avenues of

_gloom

The

_nightwindwails in _pain

and

stress ;

But

ne'er a bird sits_carolling

In glades that yield

no

_{joy of spring.}

The

beechwood

is the lover's walk.

On

_spreadingroots, moss-tapestried,

Here two

_may

rest to

dream

or talk,

Where

_{strange, sea-tinted rays} are shed,

Too

tenderfor the noon's

broad

_light,

46

FOREST SONG

O

take

_my

_hand,

and

let us

roam

Together through thehursts of beech,

Where

_song

thrills alltheemerald

dome

And

_{springhas hopeful things} to teach !

Or

must

our

_ways

divide

and

mine

SONG

LOVE,

like a_{honey-scented} breeze

Whose

_{path has}

been

o'er flowers

and

hives,

Breathes _sweetly

on

some

_happy

lives,

For

whom

his tender _mysteries

Remain

as

dreams

_remote,

Or

_{pastoral music, sweet}

and

_mild,

Whose

_{limpid echoesgive}

no

wild,

Discordant note.

Love, like a fierce

autumnal

_gale

Whose

_{path has}

been

o'er northern seas, Brine-bitter with _{the spray ofthese,} Smites

on

some

lives _{that quail}

48

SONG

And

shrink beneath the test_;

And

_{yet the hearts} Love's conflicts break

And

those that_grieve for _{passion's sake}

SONG

(Russian Style)

IN the

Heavens one

star afar

And

above

;

In

_my

heart

one

star the star

Of your

love.

On

_{the steppes}

warm

showers

wake

flowers

Red

and

blue;

On

love's

_way

lie _{flowers, rare flowers,}

Shed

_by

_you.

From

the

woods

come

_songs,

from

_throngs

50

SONG

And

_my

_{heart sings songs,} glad songs,

To

your

words.

Where

the

ocean

_swirls, lie_pearls,

Fathoms

_deep

;

In

_my

_{soul-depths, shrined} like _pearls,

Memories

_sleep.

Snow

and

silencewhite : the night

Holds

its breath

;

Over

life _creeps

down

the white

AFTER-THOUGHTS

MY

_pain isstifled. I have set

My

heel

_upon

_Hope's

brood, new-born,

And

with

much

_anguish of regret

Your

_{image from}

_my

heartis torn.

Forgive

me

we

are strangers

now

But

if

sometimes

the_ghost of old

And

murdered

love should touch

_your

brow

With

_lips that are not_yet quite cold,

Bid

it _depart, lest it should bring

A

flush of

_shame,

athrill of_fear,

Some

warmth

from

fires still _smouldering,

LES

HEURES TENEBRES

I,

WHO

would

give

you

my

life

As

a shield for

_{your name,}

I,

who

would

give

you

my

brain

As

a _spur to

_{your fame}

;

Turn

_my

cold hearth to a

_warm,

Safe place for

_your

_resting,

My

restlessheart to a

calm

Resort for

_your

_nesting;

I,

who

would

give

you

my

all,

My

soul

_{and body}

to

_spend

On

_{the things}

_you

desire

What

have I

done

in the

end

?

LES

HEURES TENEBRES

53

The

weight of

_my

sorrow

and

care,

Shadowed

your

radiance,sweet friend,

Loved

_you,

and

lost

_you

at last

WHERE

LINERS

PASS

THE

_throbbing liners cut their

_way

down

Channel,

Swift rangers'twixttheold

world and

the_new,

When

steel-bright

sunbeams

glint

on

mast and

funnel

And

noon

_{draws up}

the earliermists ofblue ;

Or

_when,

_{with grey fogs palled, their} hulls at

dawning

Loom

out like

_huge

_sarcophagi of lead,

While

sirensto

and

fro wail

back

a

_warning

From

treacherous

Goodwins

to_{the Serpent's}

WHERE

LINERS PASS

55

Sometimes, as

_though

_{the Pleiads strayed}

from

heaven,

On

_passing linersclear

and

clustered _lights

Red

stars

and

_{gold, along}the horizon driven

Flash

_by

_my

casement

on autumnal

_nights.

By

day

or dark, in fair or

stormy

weather

Whene'er

a _liner,

_{outward-bound,}

steams

_by

My

lonely spirit, straining at its _tether,

Goes

out to hail her in the sea-birds' _cry:

"

_O

vessel, to the north-westgale careening,

Heave

to,

and

bear

me

with

you

overseas,

Till

_yonder

dark horizon _intervening, Divide

me

from

this

world

ofmemories."

THE

REST

ARE

DREAMS

IF outof all _{the lovely things}

That

I have

meant

to

do

for_you,

The upward

flight of lyric

wings

To

_magic

_{regions, glad}

_{and new,}

The

flashesof creative _fire,

The

nobletruths

made

clear

and

plain-I havefulfilled

one

least desire

For which

_you

else

had

_sighed in vain,

This is achievement's best, Life's actual

crown

the rest

THE

REST

ARE

DREAMS

57

If

once

in all the _years,

_my

_friend,

That

I shall _only livefor

_you

And

watch

_{you, careless-handed,}

_spend

Your

dearest self

on

aims_untrue,

And

_{give to others} without stint

The

faith

no

zeal of

mine

_may

_gain

If

once

_{you show}

_by

look or hint

My

love has saved

_{you one}

least_pain,

'Twill be achievement's_best,

Life'sactual

_good

therest

SAINT

ELIZABETH

"/cannotliveondreamsalone" The Saint's Tragedy

IF I _lay

low

_upon

my

bed

Wrecked

_by

some

hideous, last_disease,

I

know

that

_you

would

take

_my

head

Upon

your

breast togiveit ease.

Or

ifthe _{world put}

me

aside

For

some

intolerable sin,

Your

stainless heart

would

_open

wide

To

fold the _{culprit safe}within.

Or

if I sat at Dives' _gate,

62

SAINT

ELIZABETH

And

_you, Princess,

came

by

in state,

You'd

pauseto _give

me

alms

and

bless.

If I should call

on

_you

to take

Some

unclean load of

shame

and

_pain

And

bearit for a stranger's _sake, I should not

have

to callin vain.

But

for

_my

_daily sin of love

And

_{wasting hungers} of the_soul,

You

havethe virtue to _reprove,

But

not thefaith to

make

me

whole.

And

forthe _failing

dreams

of years,

And

for these

human

_hopes

that fall

Like frost-slain_buds,

and

for

_my

_tears,

SAINT

ELIZABETH

63

But on

_my

lifethat

burns

and

dies

A

_lamp

that

wanes

with each _{lone night}

You

look with pure, unpitying eyes :

REALIST

TO

IDEALIST

You, whose

tenderness setsfree

All thevirtue locked in

_me,

Will

_you

leave thisobvious

_good

For

a useless

_memory

?

Will

_you

leave aheart thatlives

Betterfor

_your

sake,

and

gives All itssubstance as

_your

food

For

a

dream

_deception

weaves

?

My

life-purposeis

_your

own

:

Mould

it to

_{your ends}

alone.

All

_{unworthy though}

it _be,

Bread

is better than a stone.

REALIST

TO

IDEALIST

65

Leave your

futile

shadow-land

For

life's sunshine ; grasp

my

hand

;

Learn love's_actuality;

Touch

_my

lips

and

understand.

Hold

_{the present}; feel the leap

Of

life's _pulses ; hearthe

deep

Harvest-song of

them

who

sow

Human

_{joys thatthey}

_may

_reap.

Nay,

who

knows

but

_you

_{are wise,}

Gazing

with unfeeling eyes O'er

_my

_living

_hopes

laid _low,

To

_{the place}

where

_memory

lies.

Where

_unchanging, faultless, chill,

66

REALIST

AND

IDEALIST

Certain that

no

_living soul Shall hisvacant office fill

...

Keep

your

dead, inviolate _past ;

Hold

_your

_pale ideal fast

Well

I

_know,

who

crave the _whole,

IN

FLOODTIME

WE

_parted,

and

the

_{morning wept}

Wild

rain

from

neutral-tinted _skies,

While

down

the street the west

wind

_swept

And

mocked

aloud

_my

stifled _sighs.

I crossed the midlands.

Far

and wide

The

floods

were

out

on

eitherhand,

As though

the olddiluvial tide

Had

rolled

once

more

across the land.

From

morn

till _eve, the _slant,white rain

68 IN

FLOODTIME

And

_sang a_spiritless refrain

Unto

a

world

with_{tears replete.}

And

_listening toits ceaseless fall

Upon

the _{weary, satiate earth,}

Which

did not ask for rain at_all,

But

craved a _space of

sun

and

_mirth,

I

knew

how

wrong

my

tears,

and

vain,

That

vexed

_your

life, already full

Of

sadness, as the earth with rain,

Whose

need

of _joy

was

pitiful.

Before

_my

_journeying

was

done,

Above

the _watery

meadows

cold,

Broke one

_{pale ray of evening}

sun

IN

FLOODTIME

69

At which

the earth looked

_{up and}

smiled

And

half _{forgot her}

wretched

_plight,

As

I have seen a

_weeping

child

Take

comfort at ahint of _light.

And

so the floods

and

sunset heard

My

oath to love

_you

_cheerfully,

To

_{win you}

with a_joyous

_word,

TO

A

WANDERER

WHAT

_{purplesplendour}seek'stthemin_{the East,}

What

ardent _songs,

what

_vintageforlife's_feast,

What

blooms

of _{potent charm,}

Which

were

notthinein our

own

northern land

Where

skies

_may

_weep

and

cold

waves

vexthe strand,

But

love issure

and

warm

?

Have

I not

_sung

thee softer melodies

Than

thosethat

from

the _parching locust-trees

To

theethe white doves

coo

?

Or

doth the _nenuphar,

when

sun _{is set,} Smell sweeter than an English rose, rain-wet,

TO

A

WANDERER

71

When

_{midday winds}

assail _thee, hot

and

swift,

Surcharged with flame

and

sharp with

desert-drift,

The

messengers of _fear,

Know

that

_my

vows

could

win

to thee as

soon

As demon-voices

on

the dread

Simoon

Didst thou but careto hear !

At

_sunset,

when

the level _{desert glows,}

A

cold

_Sphinx

flushes like a

rock-hewn

rose

Which

folds a_mystery.

Ah, did Echidna'soffspring e'erconceive

A

riddle half so _{baffling to}

unweave

As

_{are thy}

_ways

with

me

?

Fierce are the fervours ofthe _{Dervish crowd,}

72

TO

A

WANDERER

His

faith

from

roof

and

tower;

But

have not _{I, fanatic,}

_worshipped

_thee,

Contented

_thy

Muezzin

stillto be

Throughout

life's _every

hour

?

* * * *

<-Dream

then awhile in _{ancient, mystic lands,}

Or

share the

freedom

of thosetrackless sands

Where

careless

Bedouins

rove ;

Yet lifeholds secrets travel cannot teach

Come

back

and

wander

all _{thy days,}nor reach

THE

DOUBLE

LIFE

I TOIL

and

strivethe _long

_{day through}

And

win

no

sense _{of efforts blessed,}

Yet all the while

somewhere

with

_you

My

anxiousbrain'sat rest.

I share in life's _felicity,

Such

_joys

and

_jestsas

come

and

_go,

Still consciousthat

one

halfof

me

Is

_{darkened by your}

woe.

And

while

_my

_spirit walks _{in night,}

Or mourns

with

them

that

_mourn,

My

flesh rejoices in the _light

That

of_{your laugh} is born.

74

THE DOUBLE

LIFE

Sometimes

I sit

and

muse

_apart,

The

idlest creature

under

heaven ;

Yet feel

_your

influencein

_my

heart

Is

_working

like a leaven.

Or

when

I _{sleep, that} dreamless_sleep,

Where

life

and

will

seem

_thingsafar,

There's

_something

in

me

wakes

to

_keep

A

vigil

where you

are.

And

I

am

sure

when

I

must

_give

My

soul

_{and body}

_up

to _Death,

Some

_faculty of

mine

will live

THE

SONG

UNSUNG

THE

_throbbing fires of

_{day were}

_quenched

at

last

In the

dim

_purple of a breathless _night.

The

_wide, slow

Flemish

river _{glided past}

As

black _{as Styx, save}

where

a _{spear of light}

Punctured

its _{glassy surface} here

and

there,

Shot

from

some

anchored

boat; in garden

bowers,

The

listless roses

_{drooped and}

all the air

Was

warm

with

_perfumes

of _day-wearied flowers.

Long

since the _sturdy

team

of roans

had

drawn

76

THE

SONG

UNSUNG

Tall trunks of

elm

trees, felled

and

roughly

sawn

In

_yon

dim woods

that

crown

the _pastures

warm,

Whence

comes

_{a low,} faint _tinkle, asthe _sheep

Move

_spectre-like across the_darkening slope.

Tis

late,

and

yet the village does not sleep,

But seems

astir with

some

_{expectant hope.}

See,

from

the Master's villa, set half

_way

Between

the river

and

the

wooded

_heights,

Descends

intothe starless

dusk

_{a ray}

Of

_{gathered glory,} like an aureole

light,

And

wearied workers in their

_doorways

wait

A

little _longer ere_they

nod

and

_drowse,

Since

rumour

flies

from

_{cottage gate} to _gate :

THE SONG UNSUNG

77

Yes, there

was

music, such as

_may

_{bring near}

To

mortal _{dulness hints of things divine} ;

Beethoven's loftiest _{utterance, vital, clear,}

Sprang

out of silence atthe _{Master's sign}

Evoked, and through

the master-soul did flow

Till _light

and sound seemed

focused

where he

stood:

The

silverstream that left the_silvery

_bow,

The

flash of_lamplight

on

wine-coloured

wood.

The wonder

ceased.

Within

_{the polished case}

The

_priceless

_medium,

_whereby

two

_great

hearts.

Had

met and

communed

with _{us for a space,}

Was

laid with _{reverence, as a}

woman

_parts

With

that _cold, voiceless _clay that

was

her

y8

THE

SONG

UNSUNG

Then

withhissmile_(all

know

theMaster's_ways)

He

sped usforth, a

band

of devotees

To

breakthe _midnight silence with our _praise,

And

talk of "tone"

and

technicalities.

That

brief

_June

_night I

lay

upon

my

bed

And

_throughthe_{casement's square}of_filmyblue

Watched

_{a pale planet} set;

my

mind

was

fed

With

music, as _{the night}

was

fed with dew.

Master, forgive

me

! It

was

not the strong,

Deep

echo of the

_{boon by}

_you

conferred

That

filled

_my

_brain, but

memories

of a

_song

A

voicebeloved

had

left _{unsung, unheard.}

That

_night I

was

not _{far, friend,}

from your

heart,

THE SONG

UNSUNG

79

Across _{that gulf}

which

_{keeps our} lives _apart;

Because

_{a cryptic}

_song

came

back

to teach

A

_way

_whereby

I took

_you

for

my

_own,

High

in life's fane enthroned

and

sanctified,

Against

your

will, not withit; all

unknown

To

_{you and}

to the callous world outside.

It

was

a

_song

thatheld a _mystery.

(Wolf

made

it ere the clouds closed o'er his brain.)

"The

_night is _still," it ran,

"and

thought is

free

And

none

_may

read

_my

_rapture or

_my

_pain, Since love of soul for soul _{goes unconfessed,}

And

cloaks its _bitter, as ithides itssweet;

Therefore

_my

_love,

_{unspoken and}

_unguessed,

STORNELLI

FLOWER

of the thorn !

My

love

was

so blithe

When

I

met

her at

morn.

Honey-sweet

heather!

Her

hair

touched

_my

cheek

As

we

wandered

_together.

Flower

of the _ling !

On

the _fingers I kissed

STORNELLI

81

Pale

blossom

of privet

What

are pledges of love

To

the

man

who

would

live it?

Warm

flowers of

musk

!

My

soul

was

afire

When

we

_partedat dusk.

Sharp

spikes of the gorse!

Could

I leave her the rapture

FIVE

TATAR

FOLK-SONGS

I

FROM

out the _yellow reeds

which

_fringe the

burn

The

_{wild-fowl's cry} is

borne

_along to

me

;

Whether

I _{fare straight on, or}

backward

_turn,

Still for

_my

folk I _{pine eternally.}

II

Ere

I could _{pierce the} forest's

_gloom,

I _broke the rowan-trees_apart;

Now,

severed

from

_my

race, with

whom

FIVE

TATAR

FOLK-SONGS

83

III

Good

it isto stand

and

see

How

the _{windmills evenly}

Turn and

turn their sails.

When my

love is far

from me,

Vain, sweet

words

come

fluently;

Meeting her,

my

tongue is _tied,

Then

the _right

word

fails.

IV

How

am

I

_changed

!

Upon

the distant hill

Is stretched a forest dark

and

_vast,

O

God

!

The happy

days that are for others_still,

84

FIVE

TATAR

FOLK-SONGS

V

Were

I athief, I

would

steal ahorse ;

I

would

_carry off a

maid

_by

force,

If I

were

_sly

and

bold.

But

if I

were

a rosy _lass,

I'dloosen all

_my

_{heavy mass}

Of

tresses_black, or_gold,

And

in

_my

casement

seta _light

For one

who

_passes

_by

at _night.

FRAGMENTS

FROM

"KING

WALDEMAR"

A

LIBRETTO FOR

A

DRAMATIC

SYMPHONY

BASED

ON

THE

WALDEMAR'S

LOVE-SONG

THE

saints before the

_Throne,

_they

know

not

such

Delight as

now

is mine.

Their harps

respond

less _sweetlyto theirtouch

Than

Wolmer's

soul tothine.

Ah, not

more

fiercely

some

lost soul desires

To

win back

_peace

and

_light,

Than

I desired thy kiss

when

Gurre's spires

First flashed

_upon

_my

_sight.

I

would

not

_change

theseweather-beaten _walls,

Nor

this fair

_gem

_{they hold,}

For

allthe _splendoursof _{the angelic halls,}

88

FROM

"KING

WALDEMAR"

WALDEMAR

SINGS

AT

MIDNIGHT

'TIS _midnight,

when

_through sable

_glooms

The

wicked and

unblest

Pass

from

their _{long-forgotten}

tombs

Wherein

_they find

no

rest,

And,

havingleave

once

more

to rise,

Return

_{to gaze,}with _{wistful eyes,}

Through

casements

where

the

lamps

burn

bright,

Or

watch

the

_homely

_ember-light

That

_leaps in _{cottage-rooms.}

They

shiver in the_{midnight blast,}

They

drift

on

charnel airs_;

The

_mocking

wind

that _{whistles past}

To

_{them, unsheltered}

and

_forlorn,

The

_{echoing clang} of

_{cup and}

_horn,

The

love-refrains of _long

_ago

;

They

sigh,

and

melt likeApril snow,

Poor

ghosts

whose

day

is done.

With

us is life.

My

hand

lies near

Thy

heart that throbs for

me.

My

head

_upon

_thy

_bosom,

_dear,

Is rockedas

on

a sea

Of

living billows,

warm

and

white.

Thy

hair clings like the

_perfumed

_night.

Thy

kisses rain

on

_lips

and

eyes,

And

_my

_{triumphant passion} cries:

"

_O

love, our

day

ishere ! "

Time

scattersbliss; love cannot stay !

90

FROM

"KING

WALDEMAR"

Among

that

band

of _{spectres grey,}

And

come,

without a _sound,

To

visittheeat _{midnight's hour,}

Shallcloser

draw

_my

shroud

and cower

When

cock-crow

bids

me

_{sadly creep}

Forgotten to

my

grave, to

weep

And

ask :

"

_Where

is

our day

?"

TOVE'S

REPLY

AH,

Wolmer,

canst thou _stay to think of death

Amid

our bliss,

While

there remaineth _yet both time

and

breath

For

one

more

kiss?

The

_yellow stars

above

that _pulse

and burn

Must

_pale at

_morn,

TOVE'S

REPLY

91

Yet at _{each purple}

_gloaming

_they return

With

fire reborn.

Not

worse, in truth, is death's_mysterious

_way

:

A

slumber

brief

From

nightfall till the

dawn's

_{increasing grey}

Brings gladrelief.

Beloved, to

yon

faithful stars look _up,

And

let us

two

Not

fearto drain to

Death

_{our golden cup,}

Who

makes

love new.

And when

his _{footsteps take us}

unawares

We

will _{not cry} "Alas! "

Nor

vex

him

with

our

vain

and

_{abject prayers,}

But

kiss

and

_pass.

92

FROM

"KING

WALDEMAR"

THE

LOVE

DUET

Waldemar

MY

wondrous

_{Tove, having} thee

I^have both earth

and

heaven.

My

spirit floats in crystal

calm

Like his

whose

sin is shriven.

Tovc

A

white peace rests

_upon

_my

soul,

A

folded bliss _unbroken,

And

_passion's

words

cool

on

_my

_lips

And

_{perish there unspoken.}

Waldemar and

Tove

Do

not _{our inmost thoughts}rise

_up

THE

PRESAGE

93

That

melt

and

_mingle

and assume

More

_perfect

forms

_together?

We

_gaze into each other's _eyes

And

read but

one

soul's _story ;

One

will,

one

fate,

one

Hell, or

one

Forgiveness

and one

glory.

THE

PRESAGE

The Wood-dove _sings

WOOD-DOVES

of _Gurre,

_my

_sisters,

Weary

my

pinions

and

slow, Bitterthe _tidings I bear _ye,

Pregnant

of

woe

!

Queen

Helvig's falcon, the cruel,

94

FROM

"KING

WALDEMAR"

Piercedto its heart-core

and

murdered

The

bird of her love!

QUEEN

HELVIG'S

SONG

SHARPER

than the hunter's knife

When

it

meets

the roe-deer's flesh;

Wilder

than the _panting strife

Of

birds taken in a

mesh

;

Hotter than the lava-flow

From

the riven mountain-side; Bitterer than those_{stagnant pools} Left

_by

_{long-forgotten} tides

Near

a lone

_{and oozy}

sea;

Vainer than thetears of fools

TOVE'S

DIRGE

95

THE

TIDINGS

The Wood-dove _sings

WOOD-DOVES

of _Gurre,

_my

_sisters,

Heavy

my

pinions

and

slow,

Bitter _{the tidings} I _bringye,

Pregnant with woe.

As

I flew over the Islands,

All the

_{winds whispered}

of dread;

Draw

near

and

hear the winds'

_message

:

Tove isdead.

TOVE'S

DIRGE

The Wood-doves in Chorus TOVE' is

dead

!

Now

darkness weighs

96

FROM

"KING

WALDEMAR"

That were

the _light of

Wolmer's

days.

Her

heart, itis

hushed

and

chill,

But

_{the King's heart}throbs

_madly

still.

Ah,

woe

to theheart that is

_numb,

_{yet wild.}

The

King, he drifts, a stricken bark

Whose

helmsman

in the

weeds

below

Lies

where no

_eye

_may

pierce the dark,

Nor

any

urgent

message

go.

Their thoughts flowed like

one

river

Whose

course

no

rocksdissever.

Where now

tend _{Tove's thoughts?}

No

man

TOVE'S

BURIAL

97

TOVE'S

BURIAL

The

Wood-dove

_sings I

SAW

fairTove's bier_upraised

By

Hennig and

the

King

The

_night

was

_dark, but

one

torch blazed

To

lighther burying.

Queen

Helvig

from

her balcony

Beheld

her _{lord depart.}

Her

_vengeful face

was

dire to _see,

More

black than Hell her heart.

But

when

she

saw

her rival _dead,

Borne

_by

in such sad _guise,

The

tearswrath

would

not lether shed

Stood

_glistening inher eyes.

98

FROM

"KING

WALDEMAR"

The

_King

_{a peasant's jerkin} wore,

His

soul

was

_wrapped

in

_gloom.

He

led hisbattle-steed that bore

Fair

Tove

to her

tomb.

And

so the_{gathering dark} increased

As

_{slow they}

_paced

_along

Unto

_{a chapel,}

where

a _priest

Rang

asfor_evensong.

But

when

he

saw

the

_{King go}

_by

He

_guessedhiserrand well,

And

let _{the tinkling} echoes die,

Then

tolled the _passingknell.

Once

Hennig

to his

Lord

_{hath spoken,}

TOVE'S

BURIAL

For

never

was

the silence

broken

By

any answering

word.

But when,

in _{deepest forest hid,}

They

reached the burial-place,

King

Wolmer

raisedthe coffin-lid

And

looked

on

Tove'sface.

Long

time

he

looked,

and

kissed her too,

As though

his living breath

Upon

her _lips

and

_{eyelids blue}

Might

melttheseal of death.

But

when

his kisses all

were

_shed,

And

she

had

given none,

He

knew,

at _last,his love

was dead

100

FROM

"KING

WALDEMAR"

KING

WALDEMAR'S

LAMENT

THE

mere

reflects

_my

Tove's _eyes,

Yon

cloud recallsher breastof

_snow,

Her

voice

on

forest breezes

low

Comes

to

me

from

afar,

Her

smile is _{in that falling star}

Which

_gleams

and

dies.

My

thoughts

would

fashion her again

From

shadows born

of

_wood,

or _lake,

My

cheated sensesstrive to

make

A

dream

_reality.

My

Tov6,

Wolmer

yearnsfor thee

WALDEMAR'S

DESPAIR

101

WALDEMAR'S

DESPAIR

O

THOU,

stern _Judge,

who

sittest throned

above

And

mock'st

_my

_anguish;

Thou

who

hast

no

need

Of

human

_sympathy

and

naturallove,

When

Thou

dost raise us

from

the _dead, take

heed

That

she

and

I are indivisible;

Send

not her soul to

Heaven

and

mine

to

Hell,

Lest

from

_despair I

draw

such

awful

_powers

That

I shall break_{the angelic} ranks

and

burst

The

gates of gold ; fling

down

the jasper

102

FROM

"KING

WALDEMAR"

And

with

_my

huntsmen

wildleaveruin

accurst-As

comets

work

hot

havoc

in the skies

Acrossthe_shining fields of Paradise.

KING

WALDEMAR'S MIDNIGHT CHASE

THE

SPECTRE

HUNTSMEN

HAIL,

O

King

!

We

_come,

we

_flock,

To

thymidnight tryst

by

mere

and

rock,

With

_eyeless sockets

and

fleshless

hands

We

_answer,

O

_liege, to_thy

commands.

Now

fit the shaft to the _stringless

bow

And

overthe _hill-tops

and moorlands low

The phantom

stag pursue,

KING

WALDEMAR'S

MIDNIGHT CHASE

103

We

come,

we

flock,

To

our

_king in his need.

Harkaway

hound, harkaway

steed!

Though

we

gallop apace

Too

short is the chase

We

must

vanish at

crow

of

cock

!

* # * * *

Stands the

cock

with lifted beak

Waiting

forthe first dawn-streak.

From

our

swords

the

_morning

dew

Runs

in _drops of rust-red hue.

Poor

_ghosts, our

_day

is o'er,

Earth

swallows

_{up once}

more

All grisly

forms

that

shun

the _light.

Ere day

returns in

warmth

and

_might,

Back, back,

l<H

FROM

"KING

WALDEMAR'

Ere

darkness _cease,

Down,

down,

to the

_tomb,

To

the dream-filled

_gloom

That

_brings

no

_peace !

EPILOGUE

The

Summer

Wind's

Wild

Chase

THE

summer

wind

has started

on

his chase !

Now

_yellowtansy, spurge,

and

loosestrife tall,

Ere he can

reach

you

in his

_headlong

_race,

Down

with

_your

_heads,

bend

_quick !

See

how

the

_swarming

_gnats

have one

and

all

Forsook

the _sedgyplace

Where

reeds

_grow

thick !

He

falls

_upon

the land like

some

fierce_king

EPILOGUE

105

Who

sailsacrossthe

northern

sea

And

leads hisruthless hosts at _will,

With

tattered flags,

and

fifes,

and

hautboys

shrill,

And

_strange, wild _minstrelsy.

The

dense

marsh

mists

he

scatters like white

wool

;

He

cuts a silver_{path across the pool,}

And

at the _furyof his swift

advance

The

witheredleaves whirlina

Maenad

dance.

Wheugh

!

How

he

screeches

and

whistles

As

loud as

an

autumn

gale !

Now

woe

to the_grey-bearded thistles

And

blossoms

whose

stems are frail.

He

_laughsas

he

mounts and

reaches

The

crowns

of the _{shivering beeches.}