>:j3l Class $3 g Copight W C0P»R1GHT DEPOSIT. ^v-u^.^ ^cJt.'OUf'^^^^^ c>dvn^:.j>,.^oi CL Cr,J/^^^ RDBAIYAT OF SOLOMON AND OTHER POEMS. BY AMANDA T. JONES Author of "Utah," "Atlantis amd Other Poems," "A Prairie Idyl," etc. NEW YORK! ALDEN BROTHERS, Publishers, 1905. \U5 RAKY oTllONGi^tSsf ;w«; uopies riBCoivtiu « AUG 24 lyOb Copyright, Amanda T. Jones. A. D. 1905. ;> ^ INSCRIBED With immeasurable gratitude and affection To My Brothers: Long known among men as THE REV. RUFUS COOLEY, AND WILLIAM COLLINS JONES, Lovers of Holiness, Israelites indeed in whom was no guile, A. T. J. INTRODUCTION. BY J. N. LARNED, [Author of "Seventy Centuries of the Life of Mankind," and editor of "History for Ready Ref- erence and Topical Reading."] When a poet invites me to associate my name with her own, in such a volume of verse as this, I cannot decline the honor, even though I must take it by the assumption of an office which I ought not to fill. Except in the modesty of her own feeling, there is no reason for what seems to be my presentation of Miss Jones to readers who know her much better than they can pos- sibly know me. It may be that her song is more widely familiar than her name; since much of it has gone unnamed, in the first in- stance, to the world, and is cherished lovingly in many memories, waiting for the personal as- sociation which this book may afford. To a considerable public the present collec- tion of Miss Jones's poetical work may reveal a new star in American literature ; but the poets recognized her and welcomed her to their com- pany at the beginning, almost, of her published VI INTRODUCTION. writing. The little volume, of some twenty years ago, that took a title from its leading poem, "A Prairie Idyl" (issued anonymously, except in a few private copies), drew letters of warm admiration from Whittier, Holmes, Boker, Stoddard, Jean Ingelow, Austin Dob- son, and many more, and was reviewed with very hearty appreciation by the foremost crit- ics of the day ; but an unfortunate fire destroyed most of the edition and it went into not many hands. It deserved a very different fate; for nothing finer in thought, feeling, imagination, phrasing or melody, is to be found in American verse. The title poem is a perfect nature-picture from the teeming West. Then, by a striking change of note in the next poem, entitled ''Serv- ice and Sacrifice," the most solemn impressive- ness is given to a great religious thought; and that is followed by a delicious modulation into strains of tenderness in the third poem, "Fa- ther" (the noblest in the book, for me) ; and so, throughout, the emotional variations are mar- vellously wrought. In imaginative richness and power, but not in sweeter qualities, those poems are surpassed, perhaps, by some which appeared in an earlier volume, written mostly in the years of the civil war, and inspired by the griefs, the hopes, the heroic passions of that trial time. One poem in the older collection, entitled "The Proph- ecy of the Dead," written in April, 1861, can INTRODUCTION. Vll never Have been read and forgotten by one who had Hved through the emotions of that dread month. It is to be hoped that some day, not distant, will give us a collected edition of the writings of Miss Jones. What we receive now adds largely and importantly to her poetical work, especially in the historical quality which so many of her lyrics have taken from the inspira- tion of great events. "The Saving of an Em- pire," dedicated to John Hay, and 'Tanama," are among the fine poems of recent years which have that historical significance, and which greatly enrich the book. To say that a permanent high place in Ameri- can literature belongs to the poems of Amanda T. Jones is to express the judgment of many whose critical opinion has vastly more weight than mine. Buffalo, N. Y., May, 1905. CONTENTS. PAGE 3 Introduction ^^ ] David Gray ^5 j RUBAIYAT OF SOLOMON. ; Scroll I. Labor without End I7 Desolation of the Wise i8 Scroll IL ■ Vanity of Greatness 20 Wisdom and Folly 22 ; Portion without Labor 24 < The Gifts of God 25 Scroll IIL , Times and Seasons 26 Equity in Judgment 28 Scroll IV. ! Oppressors 3^ ; The Miser 3i i Union in Labor 3i ; The Multitude 32 Scroll V. The Place of Worship 3^ \ God's Omniscience 34 i Wealth and Poverty 35 | Happiness 3" I Scroll VL ' Possessions not Enjoyed 3° j Life without Honor 38 \ One Place for All 39 ] Walking by Desire 39 j Evil and Good - 40 1 Scroll VII. " 1 A Good Name 41 ' Vlll CONTENTS. Scroll VII. — Continued. page Wisdom in Sorrow 41 Patience under Oppression 42 Wisdom a Defence 43 Searching for Wisdom 46 Scroll VIII. The King 48 Sentence Delayed 49 Judgment Mis-applied 50 The Work of God 51 Scroll IX. Life and Death 53 The End of All 54 Joy in Life 54 Time and Chance 55 The Reward of Wisdom 56 Scroll X. The Wisdom of Discretion 58 Government 61 Neglect 61 Feasting 62 The Wisdom of Secrecy 62 Scroll XL Charities 63 Light and Darkness 64 Judgment to Come 65 Scroll XII. The Spirit 66 The Preacher ,. 68 Deliverance 71 From a Far Contree y^ The Lady Gwyneth. Part I 74 Part II 77 Part III 82 Glossary 89 Kansas Bird Songs. A Mocking-Bird 91 The Thrush 92 The Purple Finch 93 Che- wink 06 The Red-Bird 97 CONTENTS. IX PAGE Abigail Becker loo Sea-Trout io8 Interludes. My Little Wife no A Lover to His Lady 113 Epithalamium 116 The Child 119 "King David" 121 Bugler Dunn 123 Vincent Archer 125 Mamie's Kisses 127 A Small Pessimist 129 Beauty 132 Coming Home 135 POSTLUDES. Christmas Day I39 At the Ford 141 A New Commandment I43 Comforted I44 Made Manifest I44 Doors of Olive 146 ' A Christian 149 Field and Garden. Food-Seekers 151 The Sensitive Brier 152 One of Many 153 Flowers and a Weed 154 DULCISSIM^. Spirit of Benediction 161 An Evangelist 162 Victim and Victor 164 One Merciful 166 His Minister 167 The Life Beautiful 169 Friends Remaining 171 The Hereafter. His Voice i73 At First 175 Afterward 176 Their Heavenly House' 178 Without the Gates 182 A Flower of Paradise , 184 X CONTENTS. National and International. page America i88 The Saving of an Empire 190 Fort Riley I94 Hawaii 198 "My Irish" I99 America to England 202 Panama 205 A Song of Peace 207 Finis 209 DAVID GRAY, If, for a breathing-space, reprieved we were, Who still in these dim-windowed prisons mourn, — To Heaven's empurpled veils full high were borne, Then should we see and evermore aver, Slighter they are than sheerest gossamer. Within, white souls, to souls from earth up-torn Or loosed in slumber-time from bodies worn. The all-sweet sacraments administer. Into that lucency a poet passed, Of whom men said: "There Hits a woodland bird, "From Scotland bloivn— scarce ruffled in the blast! Be still and seem as though we had not heard And he will sing the more." . . . Oh, stillness vast. Wherein nor voice nor wing of throstle stirred! II. 'Ah, let us dream! . . . And, being welcomed there. With gentle words low-murmured in the ear: "Wait thou with us until our Lord draw near, Who will appoint thee," — many a spirit _ fair Came greeting him; and songs were in the air: Till he, forgetting self, all fain to hear, Cried: "Soft your voices are and silver clear! "Shall not these bards the very laurel wear?" Then silence fell . . . Even as a wind that ails The iinderboughs where buds were held from bloom, The Lord passed through .... Rose such a voice as thrills The dullest ear: "Great Dante, out of gloom "Delivered long! — Crowned poets on the hills!— A poet comes to worship: give him room!" (15) RUBAIYAT OF SOLOMON, Third King of Israel. 1015—977 B. c. SCROLL I. Labor without End. I. Hear what the Preacher, son of David, saith All is but vanity and idle breath ! What profit hath a man for labor done? For all is vanity from birth to death. II. Man's generations pass — remaineth none But earth abideth still ; also the sun Ariseth, goeth down and to his place Whence he arose, hasteth the shining one. III. The wind that goeth South a little space, Toward the North, turneth about his face; Whirling continually returneth he And in his circuits doth the earth embrace. 1 8 RUBAIYAT OF SOLOMON. IV. Lo, all the rivers run into the sea Yet is the sea not full ! — therefrom set free, Into the place from whence the rivers run Do they return, each one in his degree. V. For all is labor underneath . the sun : Man cannot utter it; the eye of none Is satisfied with seeing, nor the ear Yet filled with hearing that Vv^hich hath been done. VI. The thing that hath been, shall again appear. Of what may it be rumored far or near : See! — this is new I — a miracle rev^ere! Foolish are they that speak and they that hear. Desolation of the Wise. I. Hear, Israel ! I the King of David's line, Preached in Jerusalem of things divine. I gave my heart to seek and search them out, By wisdom moved to make all knowledge mine. RUBAIYAT OF SOLOMON. I9 11. Seeking within the temple and without, — Concerning all things yet was I in doubt. God giveth unto man this travail sore, So to be exercised and tossed about. III. I have seen all the works done heretofore And know that vanity is all their store. That which is crooked cannot be made straight, I'hat wanting aught cannot be numbered more. IV. I with my heart communed : What shall abate ""Ty glory? I am come to great estate. Above all men of knowledge I am chief : Yea, in experience my heart is great! V. All is vexation! as the flying leaf Wisdom and folly pass, — their time is brief. Behold, much wisdom maketh desolate! Iiicreasing knowledge man increaseth grief. 20 RUBAIYAT OF SOLOMON. SCROLL IL Vanity of Greatness. I. Go to, my heart ! thee will I prove with mirth. Enjoy thy pleasure; take thy fill of earth; To madness and to mirth thyself resign : — This, too, is vanity and nothing worth. IL Say thou of all delights : Lo, they are mine ! Therewith I sought to give myself to wine. That I with w^isdom might my heart ac- quaint I let my steps to folly's ways incline. IIL So, laying hold on folly wath restraint Of wisdom, — while the laborers made com- plaint I sought to know that which w^as good for them ; What maketh to rejoice and what to faint. IV. Greater wms I than all of royal stem : Neither might any man my works condemn : RUBAIYAT OF SOLOMON. 21 Also I had possessions over all Aforetime dwelling in Jerusalem. V. Houses I had within the city wall ; Upon the hills much cattle great and small; Gardens with pools and orchards manifold Whose watered trees all kind of fruit let fall. VI. I gat me servants, — none their number told, Born in my house : silver I had and gold And the peculiar treasure of the kings And provinces : — did none their gifts withhold. VII. I gat me the delight that music brings: Women and men — yea, every voice that sings! All instruments, the greatest and the least : Their sound v/as like the roar of mighty wings. VIII. On the delights of men my heart did feast; Neither desire of sweets nor pleasure ceased ; Also my wisdom still remained with me. So I was great and greatly I increased! 22 RUBAIYAT OF SOLOMON. IX. Within my courts did all men bow the knee; I hid not what mine eyes desired to see; My heart rejoiced at every work begun — That joy in labor should my portion be. X. Then did I look on all my labors done, The works my hands had finished — every one. Their memory was as the winds that flee: There was no profit underneath the sun! Wisdom and Folly. I. To wisdom, madness, folly turned I then : After the king what work is left for men ? Or how shall joy in labor them incite What is already done to do again ? II. Wisdom excelleth folly far as light Excelleth darkness. If the sun be bright How are the foolish blinded ! Yet the wise May in his presence walk, nor veil the sight. RUBAIYAT OF SOLOMON. 2^ III. The fool in darkrxcss walketh. Lo, mine eyes Perceived this also : Underneath the skies Is one event that happeneth to all, — Neither can wisdom any help devise. IV. Then said I in mine heart : It doth befall To me, who builded high the city wall, As to the fool In what have I surpassed? If foolish or if wise, shall none recall? For all shall be forgotten as the blast That smote the tree, or as a shadow cast Upon the field— a raven going by. The wise man dieth as the fool at last. VI. Therefore I hated life : Or low or high, Nothing but vanity could I descry. Grievous is this : Man's time of labor past, His works shall perish and his memory die. 24 rubaiyat of solomon. Portion without Labor. I. I hated all on which my store was spent — My palaces, my places of content, — Yea, all the books I wrote that men might know How great was I — of these I did repent. 11. The man that cometh after me will show My works for his and on my greatness grow : So, with my light his darkness to disguise, He reapeth for himself where I did sow. HI. Therefore I went about with many sighs, Desiring to despair! . . A man most wise In equity, yet leaveth his estate To one who all his labor did despise. IV. What profit doth the laborer await? His days are sorrows and his travail great : Even in the night he resteth not, — his eyes Beholding still the things he did create. rubaiyat of solomon. 2^ The Gifts of God. I. For man is nothing better than to eat And drink and make his soul with labor sweet. It is God's hand, whereby we walk aright That I may feast, no man hath swifter feet! II. If any man find favor in His sight, He giveth wisdom, knowledge and delight : Yet to the wicked giveth travail sore, And for the sinner's good doth sin requite. III. This is the sinner's labor evermore : To gather and heap up nor spend the store. What though the sun ariseth, crowned w^ith might? His eyes are downward, — how should he adore ! 26 RUBAIYAT OF SOLOMON. SCROLL IIL Times and Seasons. I. To everything- its season : There shall be A time to every purpose and decree; A time to live, to die, the Preacher saith ; A time to plant and to pluck up the tree. IL A time to kill and to revive the breath, To heal the stricken heart that sorroweth, To break down and to build, to suffer pain, To weep, to laugh, to mourn because of Death. IIL A time to dance, to gather in the grain; Stones to cast down and stones upon the plain To gather up that kings may there abide; A season to embrace and to refrain. IV. A time to get, to keep, to cast aside, To rend the robe, to sew, to walk in pride. To speak and not to speak, to love, to hate, To war, to rest in peace well satisfied. RUBAIYAT OF SOLOMON. 2/ V. What profit hath a man in his estate, Not knowing who shall enter at his gate, Inheriting that which his hands have wrought ? Howbeit, God giveth man this travail great! VI. He hath made all things beautiful,— hath brought Each in his time to grow or come to nought, From the beginning even to the end; Yet none have found Him out of all who sought. vn. There is no good I know but to depend On labor, to rejoice and to befriend The poor, the sick, the widow in distress, Do good and eat and drink and none offend. VHI. It is the gift of God wherewith to bless Them that fear Him and walk in uprightness. His work shall be forever : nothing more Can any put thereto, nor make it less. 28 RUBAIYAT OF SOLOMON. IX. That which hath been, is now: Shall men im- plore The dead to rise, whom they to burial bore? Or plead with Death that he should make redress ? God doth require the past and all restore. Equity in Judgment. I. Under the sun I saw the Judgment-place : There wickedness had lifted up his face; Yea, in the place where righteousness should dwell The judges did iniquity embrace. II. Then said I in my heart : God judgeth well The good that fear, the wicked that rebel ; The time for every purpose He doth know, — Who lack in wisdom, who therein excel. III. God might manifest to all below How poor is man's estate! Instructed so And having knowledge, they themselves might see That they are beasts and into darkness go. RUBAIYAT OF SOLOMON. 29 IV. Subject to one commandment and decree, Even as the beasts that perish man shall be : That which befalleth them doth him be- fall : All have one breath and in their death agree. V. All are of dust, to dust return they all : They go unto one place, beyond recall. So that a man hath no pre-eminence Over the ox that dieth in the stall. VI. The spirit of a man hath excellence : It goeth upward to the place from whence It came: and shall he not rejoice herein? The spirit of a beast goeth not hence. VII. Then I perceived that nothing good hath been Save to be glad and keep himself from sin. Neither let man to knowledge make pre- tence, But joy in labor for his portion win. 30 RUBAIYAT OF SOLOMON. SCROLL IV. Oppressors. L When to my meditations I returned, Under the sun oppressions I discerned. Behold the tears of such as are oppressed ! To comfort them my heart within me burned. IL Oppressors in authority were dressed : Therefore I praised the dead which are at rest More than the Hving which are yet ahve. Better, who hath not Hved, nor evil guessed! in. Then I considered all for which men strive: Lo, they that thrive not envy them that thrive. The fool in idleness his hands will fold, Eat his own flesh nor keep himself alive. IV. Better with quietness a handful hold. Than, both hands full, and yet be unconsoled. What joy in labor will the rich derive Who vex their spirits but to gather gold ? RUBAIYAT OF SOLOMON. 3 1 The Miser. I. I saw but vanity under the sun : Then I considered further . . . There is one, Alone, who hath no second, neither child Nor brother, and no labor doth he shun. 11. With heaping riches are his eyes beguiled. Whom hath he fed? what neighbor reconciled? Neither saith he : This only have I done : I have bereaved my soul and am reviled. Union in Labor. I. Two laboring together have reward : For if one falleth, fainting on the sward, The other lifteth him upon his feet. Work without fellowship is work abhorred. II. If two shall lie together they have heat. Yea, two a strong oppressor may defeat : Not quickly broken is a three-fold cord ;- Therefore is brotherhood in labor sweet. 32 rubaiyat of solomon. The Multitude. I. A king, grown old will let no man advise Better a child from prison, poor and wise. One Cometh out of poverty to reign : One, born a king, will no .possessions prize. 11. Then I considered all that seek for gain, — The second ones that in their stead obtain : They come, they go, of men there is no end — They that have been and they that yet remain. III. They also that come after, they who rend The robe because one dieth, — even his friend Who did rejoice in him and praise ordain. Shall, with the multitude to death descend ! RUBAIYAT OF SOLOMON. 33 SCROLL V. The Place of Worship. L Go to the house of God, yet keep thy feet From seeking out the most exaUed seat. Be thou more ready holy things to hear Than to give sacrifice of oil and meat. IL Fools offer sacrifice and nothing fear, Not knowing they are evil. Draw thou near To God, but not with hasty utterance: He is in Heaven : do thou on earth revere. in. So let thy words be few: Shall one advance By multitude of words? Or, if perchance Through multitude of business one shall dream, Can a fool's prophecy God's word enhance? IV. Hold not thy vows to God in light esteem : If thou defer to pay them thou shalt seem Even as the fools in whom no joy He hath. That which thou owest pay : thy vows redeem. 34 RUBAIYAT OF SOLOMON. V. Better thou shouldst not vow than suffer scath Because of Hes! Let truth attend thy path. Forbid thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin Lest God destroy thy hbors in His wrath. VL Lo, dreams and divers vanities have been! But think not thou thy flesh from death to win. All are cut down as weeds in time of math. Fear God : be clean without and clean within. God's Omniscience. I. When to oppress the poor the proud agree, And in a province wicked judges be — Perverting judgment, overthrowing right With violence, be certain God doth see. IL Higher than they His ministers of light, Who in His courts the griefs of men recite, Yea, higher than the highest one is He Who overlooketh judgment day and night! rubaiyat of solomon. 35 Wealth and Poverty. I. The earth for every man doth profit yield, The king himself is served by the field. Who loveth silver is not satisfied With silver, though he hath great store con- cealed. 11. He that abundance loveth, having tried Earth's luxuries nor been of aught denied, Desireth more and cannot be at peace Till all be spent and poverty abide. III. And if, by any chance, men's goods increase They are increased that eat them: What re- lease Have they from toil? What pleasure do they gain Save the beholding ? How shall sorrow cease ? IV. Whether the laboring man eat or refrain His sleep is sweet : but they who have domain Sleep not. Behold, this is an evil sore That any, to their hurt, should wealth retain! ^6 RUBAIYAT OF SOLOMON. V. Riches kept for their owners are no more Than hurt to him who gathered in the store. His son is born with nothing in his hand, Because of evil travail gone before. VI. Naked he came for whom the swaddling band Was ready, — naked still, at Earth's demand, Shall he return and carry nought away. This also, is an evil in the land. VIL He, that hath labored for the wind, will stay No longer than the wind. Lo, every day — While sorrow, sickness, wrath he must withstand, — He eateth bread in darkness and dismay! Happiness. I. Behold, this have I seen and understood ! For one to eat and drink and take the good Of all his labor, this is man's estate. Yea, and to dwell with men in brotherhood. RUBAIYAT OF SOLOMON. 2)7 II. God giveth each his portion soon or late: If one have wealth and riches without rate, So let him eat and drink even as he should : Remembering little, for his joy is great. 38 RUBAIYAT OF SOLOMON. SCROLL VL Possessions not Enjoyed. L Under the sun an evil I have found : One man for wealth and honor is renowned, — All that his soul desired he hath achieved : Yet are his days and nights with sorrow crowned. IL He perisheth — his hunger unrelieved; A stranger eateth what his hands received. Evil is this disease: that one abound Whom of his power to eat God hath bereaved. Life without Honor. L If any man not good shall live on earth And, after, have no burial — wanting worth. Though he an hundred children should be- get Better than he is an untimely birth. RUBAIYAT OF SOLOMON. 39 11. He Cometh in with vanities beset. Under the sun walketh in darkness yet, Laboreth not, delighteth not in mirth, Departeth and his name all men forget. One Place for All. I. Yea, though he live a thousand years twice told, A fool will never any good behold ! Do not all men go to one place at last, As sheep that shepherds drive into the fold? II. To labor for the mouth and yet to fast, Knowledge to win, yet no event forecast, Even so it is with all. The poor and old Who nothing have, in nothing are surpassed. Walking by Desire. I. Better are seeing eyes than wandering feet. Men, walking by desire, vexation meet. Is not man known? Can he his Maker cheat. Or yet contend before the judgment seat? 40 rubaiyat of solomon. Evil and Good. I. Seeing that things do vanity increase And till his death no man may find release, In what is he the better ? Let him eat, Enjoy his portion and abide in peace! 11. Who knoweth what for man is good and meet All his vain days, — the bitter or the sweet? What shall be after him when life shall cease — Spent as a shadow^ in the time of heat ? RUBAIYAT OF SOLOMON. 4^ SCROLL VIL A Good Name. L Better than precious ointment a good name ; ^ More sweet than spikenard is a just man's fame. Glad was the day in which the man-child came; More glad the day of death, if without shame. Wisdom in Sorrow. I. Better is grief than feasting : Go thy way Unto the house of mourning,— there survey The end of all mankind : for it is well The living to his heart this truth should lay. IL Sorrow excelleth laughter : None may tell What hour he also with the dead must dwell. By sadness of the countenance, the heart Is turned to God that did from Him rebel. 42 RUBAIYAT OF SOLOMON". III. The wise man chooseth still the better part, But if, within the house of mirth, thou art Among the fools, better than song shall be The wise rebuke that woundeth as a dart. IV. As crackling thorns, under the pot, set free Their sparks that straightway into darkness flee, Even so the laughter of the fool doth start ; And all his works with vanity agree. Patience under Oppression. I. Oppression maketh mad. Who shall with- stand By wisdom the despoilers of the land ? Lo, gifts destroy the heart! Wouldst thou befriend? With recompense of labor fill the hand. XL Than the beginning better is the end. Better to bear with patience than contend ; — To stoop and toil beneath the weary load. Than, proud in spirit, scorn the neck to bend. RUBAIYAT OF SOLOMON. 43 III. Let not the evil deed to anger goad : In the fool's bosom seeds of anger sowed Bear thorns for harvest. Be thou wise in wrath Lest God destroy thee from His high abode. IV. Say not: Behold the world great sorrow hath Which was not so before ! Men suffered scath Aforetime even as now : Lighten their load ; — For them and for thyself make smooth the path. Wisdom a Defence. I. Wisdom is good with an inheritance For by it there is profit, if perchance Men see the sun, nor blindly make pre- tence. How shall they miss the way who so advance ? 44 RUBAIYAT OF SOLOMON. 11. Wisdom is a defence and a defence Is money, being gained with innocence. But wisdom giveth life and maketh great. Therefore is knowledge full of excellence. III. The work of God consider; Lo, thy fate Is in His keeping! Who can make that straight Which He hath crooked made, or aught destroy Before His time for making desolate. IV. Be thy prosperity a time of joy: But if adversity thy thoughts employ, Consider: God hath knowledge when to bless : Nor will the gold endure without alloy. There is that perisheth in righteousness. There is that liveth long and doth oppress. Be thou not wise nor righteous overmuch. Lest thou destroy thyself and nought possess. RUBAIYAT OF SOLOMON. 45 VI. Nor overmuch be wicked. See thou clutch No neighbors' goods ; nor with thy finger touch Things that defile, even as the foolish would : — Before their time to die sin slayeth such. VII. Thou shouldst take hold of this, for it is good. Fear God and hve with all in friendlihood. Yea, also, not from this withdraw thine hand : — They shall come forth who evil have withstood. VIII. Strengthened with wisdom a wise man shall stand Against ten chosen men — a mighty band From out the city. Though a man be just He cannot say : No evil have I planned : IX. For all do sin and in their folly trust . . . Hear not the words that curse thee lest thou must One of thy very servants reprimand, — Through whom thy curses were as arrows thrust. 46 rubaiyat of solomon. Searching for Wisdom. I. This have I proved by wisdom. Though I said: I will be wise, yet wisdom from me fled. Lo, that which is far off, exceeding deep, Who can find out and bring to light instead ! 11. As one who seeking wisdom, cannot sleep I did from sloth my nights and mornings keep : That I the reason of all things might know, — Why men in folly sow, in madness reap? III. Than death more bitter that enticing foe Whose heart is snares and nets; who reacheth so Her hands, as bands they girdle men around. As for that woman's house, therein is woe! RUBAIYAT OF SOLOMON. 47 IV. Who pleaseth God escapeth: They abound Whom she hath snared. Behold, this have I found : Among a thousand counting one by one, One man of grace, for purity renowned! Among a thousand women found I none. My soul found only this when all was done : God made men upright, — yea, with beauty crowned ! But after strange inventions they have run. 48 RUBAIYAT OF SOLOMON. SCROLL VIIL The King. I. Who as the wise man, by considering, Can give interpretation to a thing? Wisdom will make the countenance to shine Change his bold face, — thereto all meekness bring. IL The oath of God regarding, be it thine To keep the king's commandment nor incline To hasten from his sight. Stand thou not in With evil men when they his hurt design. IIL He doeth what he pleaseth and wherein He hath transgressed who may rebuke the sin Or any punishment to him assign ? The wise discern when judgment should begin. rubaiyat of solomon. 49 Sentence Delayed. I. Because to every purpose time is set And till his season judgment halteth yet, Therefore the misery of man is great. For lack of knowledge doth despair beget. 11. No man hath power to bid the spirit wait Till he shall death desire : nor with debate Arrest the falling sword. And in that war Is no discharge, — all share the self-same fate. III. Neither shall wickedness deliver nor The fear of God. Builder and counsellor Shall perish with whatever is begun, — The laborer and that he labored for. IV. When I applied my heart, that which was Hone I saw : yea, every work beneath the sun. If one will rule, cometh a season when He ruleth to his hurt, beloved of none. 50 RUBAIYAT OF SOLOMON. V. The wicked who had come and gone again From where the place was holy, saw I then Buried, forgotten where they so had wrought, — Their strength put by that was the strength of ten. VI. Because a sentence rendered is not brought To speedy execution, seeming nought, Set to do evil are the sons of men : And innocence is sold and judgment bought. Judgment Mis-applied. I. ThougH one do evil many times nor cease From doing evil and his days increase, It shall be well with them, I surely know That fear the face of God who giveth peace. II. But with the wicked it shall not be so. Who fear not God nor yet in wisdom grow : Neither shall man himself his days pro- long. That as a moving shadow come and go. RUBAIYAT OF SOLOMON. 5! III. This is a vanity : Amidst the throng There be just men who will not compass wrong. It happeneth to these whom none condemn As they were wicked men — oppressors strong. IV. Again there be who dip the garment's hem In guiltless blood nor any evil stem : As they were righteous even from their birth, Honored they dwell within the tents of Shem. V. Then I perceived the beauty and the worth That shall abide : Men have upon the earth No better thing than this, God giveth them — To eat and drink ! And I commxCnded mirth. The Work of God. I. When I applied mine heart to know aright (For there is One that neither day nor night 52 RUBAIYAT OF SOLOMON. Hath rest, nor seeth slumber with his eyes), The work of God w'as hidden from my sight. 11. For whether He doth bid the mountains rise Or bringeth clouds or maketh broad the skies Or spreadeth out the sea or givetH light, It is His work : therein is no man wise. RUBAIYAT OF SOLOMON. 53 SCROLL IX. Life and Death. I. For I considered : There is no man great : Righteous and wise, the works their hands create Are in the hand of God. What shall be- fall— Perceiving not — they cannot love nor hate. IL For one event coming alike to all, To righteous and to wicked, great and small. Clean and unclean, — them that bring sac- rifice And them that lead no ox from out the stall. IIL To them that swear and swear not, that en- tice The hearts of men to evil with a price. Madness is theirs : at last they, stumbling, fall Among the dead, with whom is no device. 54 rubaiyat of solomon. The End of All. I. For there is hope of one who liveth yet : A hving dog, should any foe beset, Is better than a hon that is dead. How should that carcass any fear beget? 11. The living know the measure of the bed Where they shall lie, but they that sleep in- stead Can know not anvthino- nor have reward. They are forgotten as the worm they fed. III. Also shall they whose hearts w^ere in accord And they who hated, lie beneath the sward, One in corruption, to corruption wed. None to another saith : My kingf and lord I Joy in Life. I. Yet go thy v/ay and eat thy bread with joy. Yea, drink thy wine with merriment; employ Thine hands in service, at thy lord's be- hest. God will accept thy w^orks nor thee destroy. RUBAIYAT OF SOLOMON. 55 11. White as the snows of Hermon be thy vest; Let not thy head lack ointment of the best. Live joyfully with her, thy chosen wife :— Thy labor shall be sweet and sweet thy rest. in. Better than sw^ord or sacrificial knife, The tools of labor,— neither stirring strife, Nor causing grief nor giving babes af- fright. War not and be thy fields with plenty rife. IV. And since thou knowest not when death shall smite, Do what thou hast to do wath all thy might : For in the grave is neither hope nor life Nor work nor understanding nor delight. Time and Chance. I. Then I returned and saw^ under the sun Not to the swift, what time the race is run, 56 RUBAIYAT OF SOLOMON. But to the steadfast — toiling span by span : Nor to the strong the battle that is won. 11. The wise lack bread; riches forsake the man Of perfect understanding: Neither can The skillful one get favor in his need. All happeneth by chance, — there is no plan! III. Man knoweth not his time nor giveth heed. As fishes that are taken wdiere they feed In evil nets, as birds where fowlers ran To set the snare, — so men whom follies lead. The Rew^\rd of Wisdom. I. This wisdom have I seen that seemetH great: There was a little city; to its gate A great king came w^ho did encamp there- by, Determining to make it desolate. RUBAIYAT OF SOLOMON. 5/ 11. Therefore, besieged with bulwarks great and high, The few therein might not that host defy. Now did one, poor and wise, deUverance plan, And saved the city, — nor did any die. III. While they rejoiced their wine as water ran, Howbeit none remembered that same man! Humble and poor, in misery he died. Yet he is wise who doeth what he can. IV. Then said I : Only wisdom shall abide ; Strength is to age and feebleness allied : Not less the poor man's wisdom men de- spise. And, without listening, his words deride. V. In quiet heard, the sayings of the wise Are more than his who ruleth men with cries And shoutings from the palace-porches wide, — Destroying good and slaying men with lies. 58 RUBAIYAT OF SOLOMON. SCROLL X. The Wisdom of Discretion. Dead flies will make the precious ointment stink. So one of whom no man doth evil think, Will for a little folly honor sell, And mix with bitter herbs his daily drink. IL A wise man's heart guardeth his right hand well. The evil heart that prompteth to rebel At the left hand will guide the fool astray, Who, that he is a fool, to all will tell. in. And if the ruler whom thou shouldst obey In spirit rise against thee, see thou stay; For yielding pacifieth all offence: Nor do thou to his charge thy folly lay. RUBAIYAT OF SOLOMON. 59 IV. Yet evil Have I seen proceeding thence : Folly is set in dignity from whence The rich are thrust ; servants on horses sit And princes walk, nor any gifts dispense. V. He that for other men doth dig a pit, Shall, as a stumbling ox fall into it. Whoso doth break a hedge, him serpents bite: Nor shall the Judge his punishment remit. VI. W-hoso removeth landmarks from the sight, With his own field his neighbors to unite. Shall suffer hurt thereby; one cleaving wood Shall be endangered : set thine axe aright. VII. And if he whet not iron as he should Then must he put more strength to make it good. Wisdom is profitable to direct, — Against the sharpened axe no tree hath stood. 6o RUBAIYAT OF SOLOMON. - VIII. Surely unless enchantment take efifect . Serpents will bite, nor any man respect : So is the babbler when he babbleth lies : None may from slanderers himself protect. IX. Gracious the mouth of him whose words are wise : One, knowing nought, much evil may sur- mise ; A fool himself will swallow with his lips, That so his foolishness he may disguise. X. Even as one who in the darkness trips. Mischievous madness doth his mind eclipse And also he is full of words, — a man Can nothing find, who in that water dips. XL \Miat shall be after him whose life began hi folly, and who laboreth as he can, Wearying all : on every path he slips,- Which way to go he hath no wit to plan. rubaiyat of solomon. 6l Government. I. Woe unto thee, O lapxd, when for thy king Thou hast a child! Then will thy princes cling As leeches, and the law of God trans- gress — Eating all night : It is an evil thing. II. Blessed art thou, O land, whose long distress Thy king, a son of nobles, doth redress : Thy princes, in due season banqueting, Shall eat for strength and not for drunkenness. Neglect. I. Though thou build greatly, so that all men say *Tt is a palace: here the princes stay," Yet afterw^ard be slothful, day by day It droppeth through and all its beams decay. 62 rubaiyat of solomon. Feasting. I. A feast is made for laughter; yea, and wine Increaseth merriment. Thy guests assign Each to his place ; and if the cost be thine, Money will answer all. Eat nor repine. The Wisdom of Secrecy. I. Not even in thy thought curse thou the king, Nor in thy chamber whisper anything Against the rich man : lest a bird take wing Carry thy voice and all the matter sing. RUBAIYAT OF SOLOMON. 63 SCROLL XL Charities. Cast bread upon the waters, go thy ways And thou shalt find it after many days. With seven, with eight divide, lest God decree A time when thou shah faint, with none to raise. 11. If clouds be full of rain, they as a sea Empty themselves on earth; and if the tree Fall to the North or South, in that same spot Whereon it falleth, there the wood shall be. IIL He that the wind observeth, soweth not. He that regardeth clouds the winds begot On high, shall reap not that which hath been sown. Can man their purpose and their path allot ? 64 RUBAIYAT OF SOLOMON. IV. What is the spirit's way thou hast not known : Nor how, one being with child, the bones are grown Within the womb. With God alone is power, — Howbeit His works to thee He hath not shown. V. Sow in the morning, in the evening hour Thine hand withhold not: Cometh heat or shower, Yet here or there the harvest shall be mown. Thou knowest not whether this or that will flower. Light and Darkness. I. Truly the light is sweet. When night is done, It is a pleasant thing to see the sun. Live many years, rejoice in all : But none Shall count thy days of darkness, one by one ! rubaiyat of solomon. 65 Judgment to Come. I. Rejoice, O young man in thy youthful days, Let thy heart cheer thee, — still on folly gaze: Walk in the vision of thine eyes and be Content with vanity and foolish praise. II. But know, for all these things God judgeth thee : Therefore put sorrow from thine heart and see The evil of thy flesh. Be all thy ways, For them that follow, from the pitfalls free. 66 RUBAIYAT OF SOLOMON. SCROLL XIL The Spirit. L In youth remember thy Creator now While evil days come not nor sayest thou : I have no pleasure in them : Neither sigh : What good remaineth? God hath stripped the bough. IL Or ever yet the evil years draw nigh, Or sun or light or moon within the sky Be darkened not, nor clouds return again After the rain, what time the clouds went by. IIL The keepers of the house shall tfemble when The day approacheth and the mighty men Shall bow themselves; then shall the grinders cease : Those at the window shall be darkened then. IV. Doors shall be shut and in the streets be peace : None at the grinding shall the meal increase : RUBAIYAT OF SOLOMON. 6/ He shall rise up when the bird's voice doth call, — From that commandment shall be no release. V. They that love music — yea, her daughters all!— Shall be brought low ; and also they that fall Along the way, afraid of what is high. Fears shall confront and dangers shall appall. VI. The almond tree shall flourish nor deny Its bitter fruit. The grasshopper shall lie A burden on the breast ; desire shall fail : Yet he perceiveth not that he must die. VII. Because a man, stricken in years and frail Goeth to his long home, the mourners wail About the streets and none with them con- dole. Against that foe what weapon shall prevail ? VIII. That which is broken cannot be made whole. Turn thou or ever God require thy soul. 68 RUBAIYAT OF SOLOMON. Or loose the silver cord that bindeth fast Spirit with flesh, or break the golden bowl. IX. The broken pitcher by the fountain cast, The wheel beside the cistern : At the last Dust shall return to earth, — thou to thy goal. God gave to thee a spirit, — this thou hast. The Preacher. Behold the vanity of vanities — The folly and the sum of secresies ! For all is vanity, the Preacher saith : Moreover he was wise in mysteries. 11. That he might solace one wdio laboreth All day and in the evening sorroweth, The people — yea, the poor! — he sought to teach. Counsel is sweet and knowledge comforteth. RUBAIYAT OF SOLOMON. 69 III. Them to refrain from sin he did beseech. With words acceptable, their hearts to reach, He set in order proverbs old and new — That they should render justice each to each. IV. Wise words as goads with valor men imbue : They are as nails, fastened when builders hew. That, by the master of assemblies thrust, (Given from one shepherd!) keep the timbers true. V. My son, be thou admonished : Folly must Be taught of wisdom : — Be thy sayings just. Of making many books there is no end. Study is weariness, — for flesh is dust. VI. Hear the conclusion of the matter: Spend Thy days with God; He only doth befriend. Men to that Judge must every secret trust, Whether the work be worthy or offend. DELIVERANCE. "Jl DELIVERANCE. Prefatory: Addressed to Francis F. Browne, Editor The Dial; Poet, Critic and Friend. Stramge zveeds the ocean-paths redeem Me-seems of Summer flowers they dream, And tremble zviih desire to share That glory of tlie orchids fair That have no bitterness to dree. They are as poems yet to be, Whose haunts may none but poets guess. Or if, on sandy reaches bare, Futile and frail and blossomlcss. Washed clean of salt, the red they wear By any wonderful decree — As fountain naiades, possess A faint, elusive loveliness — Not one shall with the rose compare! II. Belike, where never billows szvell. With monsters of the deep they dwell. Glimmer in phosphorescent light, Nor know of stars and spaces white. Yet, by some whirlwind, black of blee, Whose mighty arms take up the sea. Mayhap they shall be lifted high. For great deliverance none too slight, — Borne through the all-embracing sky Where rush the raptured spirits bright That out from battle-trenches flee, — Cast down, in golden light to lie. Dimly to dream and sweetly die And be, as poems, lost to sight! FROM A FAR CONTREE. 73 FROM A FAR CONTRfiE. He lighted^ and louted^ and bent his knee But never his visor uphfted he : ''Sweet Ladye — too sweet for a mortal to be — So please you, mount blithely and ride with me." They paced where the knights held the tourney great, (The swords in their hands were a leaden weight!) ; They rode till they rode through the postern gate : None saw them returning or soon or late. Said one : *'He came out from a far contree *'A lordlier Presence may no man see." One vowed him a king : But they all agree That never his visor uplifted he. And will she abide where the salt seas beat? Sit high on a throne when the proud lords meet? Ride merrily forth on a palfrey fleet? — Ah, waly^ and w^oe for the Ladye sweet! [Princess Charlotte: Heir to British crown: 1796-1817,-] ^ Alighted. "* Bowed. ^ Alas, 74 RUBAIYAT OF SOLOMON. THE LADY GWYNETH. A Romance of Midland England. Four- teenth Century. Dialect preserved: Spelling mostly modernized. Part I. Was never one of mortal mold, Withouten guile, save Mary's son. Knight Eardwulf slew Earl Athelwold Who had his lady's favor v^on. Was never sinner woman-born, That did not woeful penaunce dree: Between the middle night and morn A grimly dwarf did Eardwulf see. A sullen goblin \\M and wight, With mantel red and gleaming mail I trow it was his wone to fight And cause the sons of men to quail ! "Rise up, rise up fromward thy bed, ^ Rise up straight-forth and come with me; For thou shalt be my thrall," he said, *'A thousand fathom under sea. THE LADY GWYNETH. 75 "Before the forge there shalt thou swink, To shape the sword for treacherous deed, The tears shall salt thy draffy drink And thou on horrid flesh shalt feed." ''How gat ye leave my soul to slay And drag me down with fiends to den?" "Oh, thou hast long forborne to pray Or honor him who died for men! "Thou are pollute with brother's death : Ne didst thou keep thy marriage-oath, For thou wert false to fair Gwyneth Or ever she had broken troth." Uprose Knight Eardwulf from his rest, In gloomy cote himself he dight, Ne not with baldrick dipt his breast, But gat him, groaning, with the spright. It was not horse whilk they bestrode, It was no beast of flesh and bone : Withouten whip or spur he yode. He neighed as he were Satan's own. A demon-creature shod with flame. He strak the flint as he were wode : A fire from out his nostrils came. As coals his burning eyeballs glowed. 76 RUBAIYAT OF SOLOMON. Most like the rolled thunder-wain That pounding of his mighty feet. As one thrust through with mortal pain, So did Knight Eardwulf loudly greit. ''O Mother Mary, virgin w^hite, Gif thou art queen of earth and sky, Save thou my soul, defoulen quite. Ere cursed place it cometh nigh!" Nathless did none that creature let : Eftsoons earth shook and yawmed wide. Together all his hooves he set And through the sliftered hill gan slide. Oh, dreary, dreary was the way Dowai to the goblin's prison-pen ! Well deep and steep it went astray, All slippy with the blood of men ! And dolesome, dolesome was the din Up-roaring from the pit foreby : — I wis, all men had feared sin To hear yon earthling clepe and cry! Oh, he hath left the flowery haunt, The fresh, green herb, the silvern strand, And he must herd with demons gaunt That hurl the scathly levin-brand ! THE LADY GWYNETH. 77 And he with girning elf must carp, Full oft the hell-born creatures feed; And he must forge the weapons sharp That maken goodly knights to bleed! *'Ye wilsome spright, now tellen true Gif long I tarry here and yearn !" "Oh, thou shalt bide till welkin blue With sun at middle-night shall burn ! ''And thou shalt bide till grisly Death Is starven in his castle-keep; And thou shalt bide till false Gwyneth Shall come and on thy bosom weep ! "And thou shalt bide till Athelwold Hath won meek maiden Mary's smile, Hath gotten armor all of gold And kissed the man withouten guile!" Part n. Oh, sweet the holy chaunterie Where masses oft bin said, And sweet the breath of Charitee Out-praying for the dead! yS RUBAIYAT OF SOLOMON. Full sweet when service-bells do ring The voice of monk and nonne : **Kyrie Eleyson!" so they sing: *'Have mercy, Mary's son!" And veray sweet the love, I weet, Our lady hath for all: But Jhesu's love is honey-sweet, That saveth great and small ! Hath dured a year, a weary year, A twelf -month and a day, Syn Athelwold, with sundered spear For-cleft in combat lay. Syn low he slept in dim chapelle, Most pityful to see ! Ne heard the noise of clanging bell Wherefrom the devils flee. His weapons good beside him put, Disturbled nought his rest, — The fire and earth at head and foot. The salt upon his breast. About his froren body stood The waxen candles white: AVhile monks upheld the holy rood And prayed from morn till night. THE LADY GWYNETH. 79 Ah, knight so brave, to He in grave, Unhouseled, slain in ire! Ah, save him, Christ, who died to save! — How must he feel the fire ! A bitter year, a rueful year, Gwyneth, on bended knee. Hath called on Mary-mother, dear, Whose prayers mote set him free. Each morn her flesh the scourge hath felt And she hath fasted oft, — For penaunce worn the thorny belt To hurt her body soft. Gif haply she aggrace might win, Hath slept on jagged scree : Now she is cleansed of her sin And houseled worthilee. Upon the cross where Jhesu hung Oh, she hath sworen well. To wake this night the dead among, All in the lone chapelle ! And she will pray for Athelwold Asleep beneath the stone. And she will pray for Eardwulf bold Wherver he may wone. 8o RUBAIYAT OF SOLOMON. Deep in the middle of the night — Was neither moon ne star : Gan shine a great and dredely hght — High up it was and far. As though a-thwart the welkin wude God's hand a sun had whirled, So did that selcouth dawn abide, — It raught from sky to world. Rolled off the carven stone that lay Full long on knightly breast ! As he had slept but yesterday, Rose up the dead from rest. Stood up from stead of shrouded bed The ghostly Athelwold : "Laud be to Mary's son!" he said, ''That is so sweet and bold ! "Within my breast a living breath He brealhyd soft and deep : — Stark-starven lyeth grisly Death All in his castle-keep! "Long in the furnace did I burn. Long time in anguish greit, For that I wedded wyf did turn With counsail evil-sweet. THE LADY GWYNETH. 8 1 "Algates I heard amid the din From gobhn-land foreby, Where they must wrawle that nursle sin, Knight Eardwulf weep and cry. "And now he prayed to Mary maid And now did long for death, And now — sore-shent with demon-blade He namyd fair Gwyneth. "This hour was stalwart angel sent, And he was blithe and grand, — Me out of hellish trap he hent, And griff of devil's hand. "O lady, thou hast gotten grace ! Rise up from bended knee; Go thou, and seek that wretched place — • Deep-delven under sea. "Lead up that poor, mis-happy knight, — Him cheer with wyvely kiss. Gif he with wrothful elf must fight, I shame to bide in bliss?" Oh, holy-sweet the chaunterie Where oft the mass is said, And sweet the heart of Charitee — That beateth for the dead ! 82 RUBAIYAT OF SOLOMON. Full sweet to hear at dawn of day The voice of monk and nonne : "Christe Eleyson?" do they say: **Thou crucified one!" And sweet the love that bendeth knee Above the buried breast: But they, that for the living dree, Sweet Jhesu loveth best. Part III. So ugsome bin the fiends of night, So terryble and swart of blee, They haten sight of hallowed light, From sound of blessed bell they flee. Yet in their Dismal, w^ell I ween Is One whose love can never sleep. Gif He should make them fair and clean, For joy the savyd souls would leap. The lady girdeth for the quest ; Claspeth the beads Knight Eardwulf gave; Hideth the rose within her breast He gatheryd from a martyr's grave. THE LADY GWYNETH. 83 She steppeth out, she peereth far : — It is a fearsome night and black: Beholdeth neither moon ne star, Ne fire of marsh ne glow-worm track. She turneth South, she turneth West, She turneth to the North Contree : Across some hidden mountain's breast A blood-red road she gins to see. Good sooth their courage must not fail, Who follow Mary's dearworth son! I wis it is some devil's trail, — Yet will the lady w^alk thereon! Alas, she listeth harrying feet Of wolves on wold and wastorel! Loud scritcheth many a demon fleet That hath his wonning deep in hell. Across the sky a wand doth roar ; Ne in its bed will ocean keep : A frightsome wave doth burst a-shore And over heath and hillock sweep. Against her heart the waters beat, — The lady suppeth bitter brine; From out the lift a spiteful sleet, Fell-cruel, stingeth face and eyne. 84 RUBAIYAT OF SOLOMON. Nathless she telleth rosarie, Her precious rose she guardeth well : Brave as Samt Winifred is she, Whom neither prince ne sword might quell. Thrice-blessed Jhesu heareth prayer : The Eagre rolleth back a-pace; Bloweth a soft and gentle air As she were in some flowerie place. Oh, sikerly, the far chapelle, With blissful wights is thronged full! Loud, loud doth ring the beaten bell With never mortal nigh to pull! Me-seemeth Mary, throned a-height. Her contrite daughter loveth well : — Agasted flee the fiends of night; They enter at the doors of hell. Fore-nenst that rift bin set the cross: Black, black the doors a-low that lead! Who follow there must tholen loss; I wis, of many wounds they bleed ! Soothly Gwyneth hath gotten grace! She entereth in where demons strive : They hurl them over head-long place. No villainie they durst contrive. THE LADY GWYNETH. 85 Abhorreth she to wander down From happy hearth and castle-tower, From holy shryne and busy town, From meadow green and bird in bower. Up-cometh many a noise of dread :— r- Within the cloven mountain pent, Her heart is heavy as the lead, Sharp rocks her tender flesh have rent. Her belt of thorn hath fallen free ; The rose is from her bosom caught ; Gone is her blessed rosarie — Each bead of holy olive wrought. Weepeth the ladye: ''Gif to-night ''I perish here in derneful stead, Knight Eardwulf, toren from delight Must bide till trump shall wake the dead!" Deep-groaneth she and maketh moan : ''Thou Holy Ghost whom all do fear — Disdaining not in Hell to wone — Help me to save mine husband dear!" Beameth a glory overhead Her steep and perilous path to show : Uneath a ruddy light doth spread From where the roaring forges glow. 86 RUBAIYAT OF SOLOMON. Oh, she hath crossed that brig- o' sand That spanneth Satan's pitchy lake, And she hath won to gobHn-land, Ne will, for all its horrors quake ! — Hath passed where loathly beasts abound (On spilth they feed of battle bold!) And that unseely knight hath found That slew the gentle Athelwold ! With many tears him kisseth she, She holdeth fast his grimy hand : *'0 husband, thou must come with me To smell the flowers of Engle-land! "Thou shalt be fed on wastel-bread — Ne drink wroth-hail with cursed spright. That precious blood, on Calvary shed, Will flow a-f resh to wash thee white !'* Quoth wicked goblin, dour and grim : ''Though Mary's self should deave mine ear. Or ever she should loosen him, His heart should feel the stithied spear ! "Forth get thee up to Christen strand ! But gif thou shrink the coals to tread, Or gif thou sink through brig o' sand, Thou'rt mine till trump doth start the dead !" THE LADY GWYNETH. 8/ *'0 Dwarfie, smeared with the rud! I gess, before ye ravyned here, Ye well were drunken on the blood That did not spill from wolf or deer. ''I rede ye seek the pitying One! Mayhap, full riche in goodly-head, He pardoneth even elves for-done, Gif they repent their murders red : — "Sithence they too are fallen men, And He is still their loving Lord. But this, mine husband, well I ken Mine houseled soul his life shall wardl'* Oh, they have crossed the stenchy land, Where flaming beasts unquenched lie, Have trodden many a hurled brand. Nor gotten any hurt thereby! About her knight the lady sweet Hath lockt her arms lest he should trip, And they have crossed, with flying feet. That brig where-through the guilty slip! But oh, the steep and sliding scarp !— ^ Nathless tway thewy hands most white, Y'thrust with cruel nails and sharpe, Upliftea them from height to height. 88 RUBAIYAT OF SOLOMON. The whiles a tendre voice they hear: "Gif that in sootlifast love ye keep, True knight and lady lief and dear. In Heaven ye shall my lilies reap!" Oh, they have spied the singing bird That springeth up at break of day ; And they the sweet, sweet bell have heard That calleth Christen folk to pray! Have seen the smoking censer borne Where singers worship Mary's son : — *'Christe Eleyson!" still they mourn; ''Save us, thou crucified one!" And they have kneleden hand in hand Well savyd from the wrack of hell : God keep His herd on everie strand From treacherie and murder fell ! White, white the doors that upward lead, And white bin they that pass thereby; — Snow-white the pitying ones that bleed Lest any sinful soul should die. But who so wonderous white as He That wonneth with the demons deep? When He hath made them bright of blee I trow, for joy, they loud must weep ! Withouten ween He loveth all : But aye shall faithful man and wife With Mary walk in snowy pall, With Jhesu break bread of life. THE LADY GWYNETH. 89 GLOSSARY. Agasted — Aghast. Aggrace — Grace. A-height— On high. Algates — Always. Baldrick — Belt for weapons. Bin — Plural or pp. of be singular. Blee — Complexion, appearance. Brig — Bridge. Chaunterie — Chapel for masses. Clepe — Call for aid. Christe Eleyson— O, Christ, have mercy. Dearworth — Most precious. Derneful — Solitary, mournful. Dight — Dressed. Dismal — A noun, signifying hell. Disturbled — Disturbed. Dour — Unyielding. Draffy— Filthy. Dredely — Inspiring awe. D'ree — To sufifer. Eagre or Eygre — A great tidal wave. Eftsoons — Quickly. Foreby — Very near. For-cleft — Cut through. For-done — Ruined. Fore-nenst — Over against. Froren — Cold, frozen. Gif— If. Girning — Grinning as with a snarl. Goodly-head — Goodness and beauty. Greit — Weep. Griff — Grip, grasp. Grimly — Ferocious. Grisly — Terrible. Harrying — Roaming for prey. Hent — Snatched. Houseled — Having partaken of the Lord's Supper. Kyrie Eleyson — O, Lord, have mercy. Let — Hinder. Levin-brand — Lightning. Lift— Sky. Lief— Kindly. 90 RUBAIYAT OF SOLOMON. Nathless — Nevertheless. Nursle — Nurse, cherish. Pall — A coronation robe. Quell— To kill. Raught — Reached. Rede — Advise. Rud — Thick gore, blood. Scarp — A steep slope. Scathly — Hurtful, deadly. Scree — Rough pebbles. Scritch — To shriek wildly. Selcouth — Miraculous. Shent — Slashed, cut. Sikerly — Surely. Soothly — Truly. Soothfast — Loyal. Sliftered — Riven, split. Spright — Goblin: disembodied spirit. Stark-starven — Stripped and dead. Starven— Dead. Stead — Place. Stithied — Forged upon an anvil. Sv^ink — Toil. Swart — Black. Sj'U — Since. Tholen — To suffer. Thunder-wain — Thunder- wagon. Ugsome — Revolting, hideous. Uneath — Underneath. Unseely — Utterly miserable, wicked, Wastel-bread — Made of finest wheat flour. Wastorel — Waste land. Whilk— Which. Wilsome — Obdurate. Wight — a — Nimble (n.), a spirit. Withouten ween — Doubtless. Wode— Mad. Wone, n. — Wont, custom. Wone, V. — To dwell. Wonning — Dwelling, abode. Wrack — Destruction. Wroth-hail — Converse of wassail. Wrawle — To wail as a cat or panther. KANSAS BIRD SONGS. A MOCKING-BIRD. I. Yon mocking-bird that singing soars, Borrows his Httle music-scores And mimics every piping tone By sylvan lovers lightly blown To make his morning gladness known,— Till down that molten silver pours, Globule on globule, fast and faster : Dare any blame the blithe tune-master Who counts all minstrelsy his own? II. But daylight ended,— then indeed, As jet by jet a wound will bleed His very singing self breaks through ! Even so (lost Eden shut from view), Some wildered soul to sighing new, When human lips first touched the reed— Heart-pierced with rending love and sorrow- Breathed notes too god-like sweet to borrow. So, poet, shall it be with you. The Century Magazine. Twentieth Century Classics. 92 RUBAIYAT OF SOLOMON. THE THRUSH. Through half a June day's flight Upon the prairie, thirsting for the showers The cactus-blooms and prickly poppies white, The fox-gloves and the pink-tinged thimble- flowers Drooped in the Lord's great light. Now suddenly, straight to the topmost spray Of a wild plum-tree (I thereunder lying), Darted a thrush and fifed his roundelay Whimsey on w^himsey, not a stave denying. Quoth I : "From regions measureless miles away, *'He hears the soughing winds and rain-clouds flying; And gathering sounds my duller ears re- fuse, He sets the rills a-rush This way and that to ripple me the news (Right proud to have his little singing say!), And brings the joy to pass with prophesying." So gladly trilled the thrush ! n. Soon was I made aware Of his small mate that from the Judas-tree THE PURPLE FINCH. 93 Dropped softly, flitting here and flitting there, And would not seem to hear or seem to see. He, in that upper air, All mindful of her wayward wandering, (Primrose and creamy-petaled larkspur bending And yellow blossomed nettle, prone to sting!), ^ r A A Shook out his red-brown wmgs as for descend- ing But lightly settled back, the more to snig, ''O bird!" I sighed, "thy heedless love befriend- ing . "With that celestial song-burst— whirhng swift As Phaeton's chariot-rush ! — Should my dear angel's voice so down- ward drift Quick would my music-lifted soul take wing!" t 1 ^ Now had earth's happiest song a heavenly end- ing, — Sped, with his mate, the thrush. The Century Magadne. THE PURPLE FINCH. I. While lurked the coyote in his root-bound bur- row, Through haunts of the hare and the badger gray, 94 RUBAIYAT OF SOLOMON. Where never the share of a plow turned fur- row, I, gathering silk-flowers, went my way. Wide-rimmed were the trumpets of sil- ver blue, Their slim tubes slipping out wet with honey : Thence blown by the winds through the spaces sunny, White butterflies high as the elm-tops flew. 11. The ground-squirrel under the elders scam- pered Or wheeled to show me his gold-brown bars : Not I with the eggs of the pedee tampered. Nor caught the green beetles that blazed like stars. The shy, scarlet birds where the low boughs meet Looked out and went on w^ith their w^histling merry, Till down came the finch from the sun-burnt prairie. And silenced them all w^ith a chanson sweet. THE PURPLE FINCH. 95 III. So secret is he, not a boy discovers That home he has built for the nesthngs dear ; So softly he carols, the hawk that hovers Intent upon murder, can hardly hear. Now trimming his crimson in coverts dim, , Now perching wherever his mood was suited He sang in the sumac velvet-fruited. Or sprang to the oak of the twisted hmb. IV. Till ''Higher! mount higher!" I cried, ''dear pleader : i •>> The sum of delights shall be granted thee! Therewith, from the height of the one dead cedar, The linnet sped out like a soul set free. Ah, why need the souls of the blest fly far!— Pure honey the humming-bird moth went sipping ; Pale gold was the sky where the sun was dipping; Came out the new moon and a great, white star ! The Century Magamjie. g6 RUBAIYAT OF SOLOMON. CHE-WINK. I. Sing me another solo, sweet, — I have learnt the one by rote; The endless, merry-go-round repeat Of the tuneful, tender, teasing note: ''Che-wink ! che-wink ! Che-wink ! che-wink 1'^ A moment's rest for the tired throat — Just long enough for a heart to beat — And at it again: "Che-wink! che-wink!" 11. O, bird, dear bird with the outspread wings And little to chant about ! — When death reaches over the wrecks of things To stifle the soft, delighted shout : ''Che-wink! che-wink! Che-wink! che-wink!" And, all unruffled by dread or doubt, Your musical mite of a soul up-springs. Will you still go crying: "Che-wink! che- wink?" III. Little I know, but this I hold : If the rushing stars should meet, — Their crystal spheres into chaos rolled, Let only this one pure voice entreat : THE RED-BIRD. 97 "Che-wink ! che-wink ! Che-wink! che-wink!" Great Love would answer the summons sweet And a universe fresh as the rose unfold. So at it again: "Che-wink! che-wink!" The Century Magamne. Tzuentieth Century Classics. THE RED-BIRD. I. Blithe bird of the beautiful plumage — bred Where cottonwoodSj tossing their branches, shed Their seeded snows on the mossy bed — Did you dip your wings in that crimson tor- rent, When the dragon of Anarchy, all abhorrent, Cam.e over the border . . . and Kansas bled ? II. When wolves went prowling — each out of his den. When Pawnee and Kaw hid their squaws in the glen. While down from the West rode the fierce Cheyenne, — 98 RUBAIYAT OF SOLOMON. Did you frighten those braves with your school- boy whistle? For they fled, as they came, over poppy and thistle, Nor murdered the babes of the white-faced men. III. Be the weather never so cold, we hear Your voice in the tree-tops, trombone-clear : "Come out in the bitter!" — "Now what do you fear?" But ever your challenge, bright trumpeter va- ries: ''Come hither!" — "Come hurry!" — "Come see the green prairies!" "Wild roses !" — "Primroses !" — - "Blue vetches!"— "S-o n-e-a-r!" IV. A Kansan I knew who was dear and brave; He lived but to cherish, — he perished to save. Unworthy was I of the love he gave : But flit where he marched over hill and hollow, I would rise and follow — would follow — follow. To hear you chant on a soldier's grave. THE RED-BIRD. 99 V. Sing on, lovely warbler of thicket and plain! *'Was never a martyr who sorrowed in vain !" *'0, hark!"— "He is sending His rain!"— "His rain!" "He will load with corn all the wharves and ferries !" "But first he will sweeten the nettle-tree ber- ries, And comfort his birds with the golden grain I" ^or^' lOO RUBAIYAT OF SOLOMON. ABIGAIL BECKER. Written by solicitation of Capt. E. P, Dorr, of Buffalo, N. Y., who had previously been the means of securing, for Mrs. Becker, a gold medal from the N. Y. Life-saving Society, a gift of -$1,000 from Buffalonians, and a grant from the Canadian Parlia- ment of $1,000, in land. Mrs. Becker, a Canadian, was by descent half Scotch, half German, of gi- gantic stature (6 ft., 2 in.), and possessed of a mag- nanimity only equaled by her bravery. This poem, originally published in The Century Magazine, was soon after incorporated into the Canadian High School Reader, and is also to be found among American Selected Recitations. The narrative is ex- act in all its details. A. T. J. Wreck of the Schooner Conductor, off Long Point Island, Canada West, near Buffalo, Nov. 1853- The wind, the wind where Erie plunged Sou'west, blew, blew from land to land. The wandering schooner dipped and lunged, — Long Point was close at hand. Long Point — a swampy island-slant, Where, busy in their grassy homes. Woodcock and snipe the hollows haunt And muskrats build their domes. Where gulls and eagles rest at need ; Where, either side, by lake or sound, King-fishers, cranes and divers feed And mallard ducks abound. ABIGAIL BECKER. lOI The lowering night shut out the sight: Careened the vessel, pitched and veered ; Raved, raved the wind with main and might, — The sunken reef she neared. She pounded over, lurched and sank: Between two sand-bars settling fast Her leaky hull the waters drank, And she had sailed her last. Into the rigging, quick as thought. Captain and mate and sailors sprung, Clambered for life, some vantage caught And there all night they swung. And it was cold, oh, it was cold ! The pinching cold was like a vise; Spoondrift flew freezing, — fold on fold It coated them with ice. Now when the dawn began to break, Light up the sand-path drenched and brown, To fill her bucket from the lake Came Mother Becker down. From where her cabin crowned the bank Came Abigail Becker, tall and strong. She dipped and lo ! a broken plank Rode rocking close along. 102 RUBAIYAT OF SOLOMON. She poised her glass with anxious ken : The schooner's top she spied from far; And there she counted seven men That clung to mast and spar. And oh, the gale! the rout and roar! The blinding drift, the mounting wave! A good half-mile from wreck to shore With seven men to save ! Sped Mother Becker : ''Children ! wake ! ''A ship's gone down! they're needing me! Your father's off on shore ! the lake Is just a raging sea ! "Get wood, cook fish, make ready all !" She snatched her stores, she fled with haste, In cotton gown and tattered shawl, Barefoot across the waste. Through sinking sands, through quaggy lands, And nearer, nearer, full in view, Went shouting through her hollowed hands : ''Courage! we'll get you through!" Ran to and fro, made cheery signs. Her bonfire lighted, steeped her tea, Brought driftwood, watched Canadian lines Her husband's boat to see. ABIGAIL BECKER. IO3 Cold, cold it was, oh, it was cold! The bitter cold made watching vain : With ice the channel laboring rolled, — No skiff could stand the strain. On all that isle, from outer swell To strait, between the landings shut, Was never place where man might dwell Save trapper Becker's hut. And it was twelve and one and tw^o And it was three o'clock and more : She called : "Come on ! there's nought to do But leap ! and swim ashore !" Blew, blew the gale; they did not hear. She waded in the shallow sea, She waved her hands, made signals clear : **Swim ! swim ! and trust to me !" ''My men," the captain cried, "I'll try : 'The woman's judgment may be right; For swim or sink, seven men must die If here we swing to-night." Far out he marked the gathering surge ; Across the bar he watched it pour; Let go and on its topmost verge Came riding in to shore. I04 RUBAIYAT OF SOLOMON. It Struck the breaker's foamy track: Majestic wave on wave up-hurled, Went grandly toppling, tumbling back As loath to flood the world! There blindly whirling, shorn of strength, The captain drifted, sure to drown; Dragged seaward half a cable's length. Like sinking lead went down. Ah, well for him that on the strand Had Mother Becker waited long! And well for him her grasping hand And grappling arm were strong! And well for him that wind and sun And daily toil for scanty gains Had made such daring blood to run Within such generous veins. For what to do but plunge and swim? Out on the sinking billow cast. She toiled, she dived, she groped for him, She found and clutched him fast. She climbed the reef, she brought him up, She laid him, gasping on the sands. Built high the fire and filled the cup, — Stood up and waved her hands! ABIGAIL BECKER. IO5 Oh, life is dear ! The mate leaped in : "I know," the captain said, ''right well, *'Not twice can any woman win A soul from yonder hell!" "I'll start and meet him in the w^ave." ''Keep back !" she bade. "What strength have you? "And I shall have you both to save, — Must work to pull you through !" But out he went. Up shallow sweeps Raced the long white caps, comb on comb : The wind, the wind that lashed the deeps, Far, far it blew the foam. The frozen foam w^ent scudding by,— Before the wind, a seething throng, The waves, the waves came towering high ! They flung the mate along. The waves came towering high and white, They burst in clouds of flying spray ; There mate and captain sank from sight And clinching, rolled away. O, Mother Becker, seas are dread. Their treacherous paths are deep and blind! But widows twain shall mourn their dead If thou art slow to find ! I06 RUBAIYAT OF SOLOMON. She sought them near, she sought them far ; Three fathoms down she gripped them tight : With both together, up the bar She staggered into sight. Beside the fire her burdens fell : She paused the cheering draught to pour, Then waved her hands: ''All's w^ell! all's well! "Come on! Swim! swim ashore!" Sure life is dear and men are brave : They came, they dropped from mast and spar; And who but she could breast the wave And dive beyond the bar! Dark grew the sky from East to West And darker, darker grew the world: Each man from off the breaker's crest To gloomier deeps was hurled. And still the gale went shrieking on; And still the wrecking fury grew, And still the woman, w^orn and wan Those gates of death went through! — As Christ w^ere walking on the weaves And heavenly radiance shone about. All fearless trod that gulf of graves And bore the sailors out I ABIGAIL BECKER. IO7 Down came the night, but far and bright, Despite the wind and flying foam, The bonfire flamed to give them Hght To trapper Becker's home! Oh, safety after wreck is sweet, And sweet is rest in hut or hall! One story Life and Death repeat : — God's mercy over all! Next day men heard, put out from shore, Crossed channel-ice, burst in to find Seven gallant fellows sick and sore, A tender nurse and kind; Shook hands, wept, laughed, were crazy glad! Cried : ''Never yet on land or sea "Poor, dying, drowning sailors had A better friend than she! ''Billows may tumble, winds may roar. Strong hands the wrecked from death may snatch. But never, never, nevermore This deed shall mortal match!" Dear Mother Becker dropped her head; She blushed as girls when lovers woo : "I have not done a thing," she said, "More than I ought to do!" The Century Magazine. I08 RUBAIYAT OF SOLOMON. SEA-TROUT. I. Blithe young fishermen were they Who many a chantey knew. I'heir snow-sailed shallop crossed the bay As a flower cast forth to drift astray ; But one would wed on the coming day And they were a merry crew. 11. Bride and bridemaids full of glee Stood laughing by the gate : ''Their lines shall riot far and free. Shall capture your beautiful tribes, O, sea! And rich at night will the bridegroom be,- Returning slow and late." III. "Rise, O, trout, from the hollows cold Where quinnat and red fish hide! All out of the wonderful deeps cajoled, And out of the dim sea-gardens trolled, — The groom shall buy from a purse of gold, A ring for the happy bride." SEA-TROUT. 109 IV. Out on the sea was a squall at play (The winds no merriment lack!) ; And there was a shallop caught astray, As a flower it drifted into the bay . . . . The singing fishermen, where were they? For only the boat came back ! Where was the glittering wealth foretold— Cajoled from under the sea ? Away with its beautiful tribes it rolled! Where, rich with the salt, its flowers unfold, There fin of silver and scale of gold Are rioting far and free! The Continent. INTERLUDES. MY LITTLE WIFE. My little wife's a world too sweet For such a man as I am : But she's a Trojan — hard to beat As Hector, son of Priam ! A winsome, wilful morsel, she: Brought up to grace a palace, She ran away to marry me, — Half love, half girlish malice. She never has repented though: We built a cot in Jersey : She wore delaine and calico, And I wore tweed and kersey. So great our love it bridged across Whatever might divide us. ■However went the gain or loss We felt as rich as Midas. I helped her with the brush and broom Her morning labors aiding : She followed to the counting-room, — Made out my bills of lading. MY LITTLE WIFE. Ill And once, when sick of chills I lay She balanced up the pages; Did all my work from day to day, And brought home all my wages. Then I was just a shipping clerk, — Old firm of Graves and Gartner: Till, after long and weary work, They took me in as partner. So year on year went gaily round While we grew rich and richer, Until, in every spring we found, We dipped a golden pitcher. When Gartner left, grown old and lame, I bought him out completely; Made wife a partner; changed the name To Wheatly, Graves and Wheatly. A silent partner ? Not at all ! With genius more than Sapphic, She improvised — that lady small — The poetry of traffic. And, flitting through our offices. With word and smile admonished : "We'll work no metamorphoses To make a lie look honest." 112 RUBAIYAT OF SOLOMON. Meantime the business grew and grew With not a cloud to daunten : Till wife, who wanted tea like dew Sent me a-drift for Canton. No sooner was I well at sea, Than with a whirl insanic, Down came that flood of seventy-three, And shook the world with panic. Then many a house as strong as life Was caught and torn asunder : Till Graves came trembling to my wife And said: "We're going under!" Wife saw the gulf but kept her poise; Disposed of plate and raiment, Sold all her jewels (but the boys!), And met the heaviest payment. So Graves and she, with work and wit, With care and self-denial. Upheld the firm, — established it The surer for the trial. Through all the strife they paid the hands Full price, — none saw them falter. And now the house, rock-founded, stands As steady as Gibraltar. A LOVER TO HIS LADY. II3 But wife keeps with us, guards us through Like Miriam watching Moses; She drinks her tea as pure as dew And sells it — fresh as roses! Yes, she's a Trojan ! Hard to beat As all the sons of Priam : But bless you ! she's a world too sweet For such a man as I am! The Continent. A LOVER TO HIS LADY. L This earth was never so fair and sweet So merry and sweet before, Since glaciers wasted away with heat And nestlings learned to soar. Since the orchis blew and the palm-tree grew And the balm its blood-red blossoms bore. H. For where was Love when the land was new ? He swam with the reptile then, With the auroch roamed, with the vulture flew And woned in the lion's den. 114 RUBAIYAT OF SOLOMON. Till straight to the light he sprang in flight And sang his way to the souls of men. III. Since then, my Queen, there is no more night : Whenever the day seems done Some lover goes scaling the crag-built height And tells of a dawn begun : Goes mounting afar from cloud to star And loud and long he laughs in the sun. IV. They throng the heavens, so many they are — Those earth-born lovers true. Who planted the vine by the salt-sea bar And the fig where thistles grew ; Who cleared the fen and the cave-bear's den, Who drave out the wolf and the tiger slew. V. We also delve in desert and glen, We labor in sun or sleet ; For Love, that wones in the hearts of men, Will have his world complete With the fig-tree and balm, with the rose and palm, Till it grows forever and ever sweet ! A LOVER TO HIS LADY. II5 VL Dear Heart, when whirling winds grow cahn And seas have fallen asleep, When hills are holy with harp and psalm And roll of harmonies deep. When the blest earth cries to the frownless skies And down its cliffs hears the answers leap, VII. When beasts are gentle and men are wise And Love has had his will, When the angels look through all disguise And laugh to find no ill, True lovers will gaze on the flowery ways Where now but a barren heath we till; VIII. And calling: ''O, ye, of the olden days Who set these lilies a-row! Is Love more sweet where the twelve suns blaze Than Love in the world below?" — They shall hear us far from our own fleet star : ''More sweet ! more sweet ! climb hither and know 1" Il6 RUBAIYAT OF SOLOMON. EPITHALAMIUM. I. For the dawning of Love, lo, a universe waits ! The blush runs up higher, the darkness abates ; Out strikes a white arm bursting wide the red gates And purple runs down through the heather : Over all, while the happy seas laugh Far flashes God's heliograph : "Be ye wedded and travel together !" 11. Now long be your journey, O, bridegroom and bride ! Be the peace of your spirits whatever betide As the peace of still waters where lilies abide That fail not the winters to weather, — As the peace of fair Sharon, so blest When the Master at noon-day took rest Where the brooks ran in shadow together ! III. Press on through green valleys if so it may chance. Over hills where each cataract hurls a white lance. EPITHALAMIUM. II7 Across the crevasses where glaciers advance, — To chnib or to halt who knows whether? Then back through the snows - Where the eidelweiss blows And you find a warm shelter together. IV. Lightly pass where the dark prophets dwell in their caves Wailing : ''Dread will it be when the hurricane raves !'' *'Look out for the torrent ! its death-dealing waves. Are as tigers, no mortal can tether." Laugh out : "At their will let them leap : ''Love is lordlier still, — we shall keep Afloat while we ferry together." V. Never heed the small souls you will happen to meet, Complaining: "Alas! there is cold!" — "There is heat !" *'You must tread the sharp rocks, they will tor- ture the feet 1" Laugh on : "Let them cut through the leather : "And, if we must clamber unshod, It will be of the goodness of God That we clamber full sweetly together." Il8 RUBAIYAT OF SOLOMON. VL O, hearken ! Such music of speech you sliall hear, — Voices, echoes of voices all crying: *'Good cheer!" And clasping small fingers eternally dear, — Care floating away as a feather, You will lovingly answer the call : "Merry cheer! come and feast one and all; Let us breathe the world's rapture to- gether." VII. But the Master is certain to summon His own ; And one will be taken and one left alone : Your late-budding roses will wither unblown, With the low, purple bells of the heather. They will blight, they w'ill shrivel and fade: But deep in the safety of shade Their roots search for sweetness together. VIII. Ah, the one that is left — slipping out from dis- guise. Will hear the loved voice crying: "Sweetheart, arise ! THE CHILD. 119 •There is dew on the grass, there is light in the skies, There are shouts between upper and nether; , 1 -j 'Speed hither, O, bridegroom and bride Immortal !— who says ye have died ?^ ^^ High as heaven come journey together!' " THE CHILD. I. How long shall the child be yours To cherish and hold With a tenderness all untold — The dimples, the lovely contours, The infantile, exquisite hues Where the rosy and white interfuse, The smile and the soul that allures? Ah, who will dare venture to say : "To-morrow shall be as to-day. This sweetness forever endures?" II. How long shall the child be yours? From the sun out-rolled, The earth in its orbit of gold, Our light and our life secures 120 RUBAIYAT OF SOLOMON. With a vigor that shall not lag Till the wheels of the great sun drag And chaos the glory obscures. Yet who will have courage to say : "Whatever else passes away The planet forever endures?" III. How long shall the child be yours? Through the night and the cold ? Oh, Love with an utterance bold, The gladness and glory assures! **The fashion of earth may pass With the flower and the springing grass, The tomb all flesh immures : But none shall be able to say "The spirit is one with the clay Whose darkness forever endures." IV. How long shall the child be yours? . . When the heavens are rolled As a scroll — all the stars being old, And the fiat destruction insures. Yet you and the child most sweet- Angelic, of stature complete — Will follow the heavenly lures Hand in hand up the infinite way, While singing, the seraphim say: "Most holy is Love that endures." KING DAVID. 121 "KING DAVID." Prince Edward of York, aged five years. (Written during the South African War.) I. ''King David," whose sires, by the grace of God, Ruled more than a thousand years ago, May number his years by the pendulum-rod Swung merrily five times to and fro. He is ready to wrestle or race or row And he talks the talk of the sailors, — oh, Not wicked, of course, but — rather odd! A rollicking boy, by the grace of God! II. ''King David" is young, by the grace of God, He blinks at his forefathers all in a row : The laddie, through wearisome books must plod, — Just think ! such a long, white mark to toe, Three steps away from a throne you know ! While over the ocean the swift ships go And skies rain daisies on every clod! Yet he laughs and he learns, by the grace of God. 122 RUBAIYAT OF SOLOMON. III. ''King David" will reign by the grace of God When the tides roll in : — O tides, be slow ! Sw^ing many a year, O swaying rod ! Ere, mightily bending his good cross-bow, His knights by his side and the seas at flow, He shall swear, as a true King must, I trow, To cling to his heritage, every rod And rule it a-right — by the grace of God. IV. **King David" is loved, by the grace of GoD, Wherever the valorous Britons go ; The walls of Jericho tremble and nod When all together their trumpets blow! Proud England, seeing the w^ounds they show, Out-weeping and smiling, murmurs low — Full tenderly kissing the crimson sod : *'Ye are all my kings, by the grace of God!" V. "King David" is kin, by the grace of God, To Jonathan's boys, — they fancy so : They are hardly as meek as the man who trod The mountain of Horeb long ago; BUGLER DUNN. 1 23 But they care for their cousins, whether or no; And they call across while the great winds blow : **Sweet health to 'King David !' Peace hallow the sod Where the wise queen rules, by the grace of God!" The Youth's Companion. BUGLER DUNN. I. O drummer-boy, nations have heard of your fame ! The four winds went shouting and singing your name : It soared on the wings of a miracle-flame, It flashed from Colenso to Dover: A fire leaping out from the heart of the sun, V/ent writing on clouds of the honor you won, When under you trembled the earth Bugler Dunn, And chariots of battle rolled over ! 124 RUBAIYAT OF SOLOMON. II. *'We crossed the Tugela, the child in our van : We held him back, thrust him back, man after man : A ball tore his arm but he laughed as he ran — Changed hands, not a bugle-note wanting. No peril could tempt him his duty to shun : Twice-wounded, we send him to you, Sergeant Dunn : We all love our drummer, — be proud of your son. An army his merit is vaunting." III. Good sooth, you had only your guerdon to claim! "Now what shall I ask of the Queen in your name?" Said good Princess Christian, that bountiful dame : "Please to send me back soon?" Ah, you rover ! So eager to dash at the Boer with his gun, In front of your fusiliers, sharing the fun! But turn round and love him, when fighting is done. And the thunders of God have passed over ! VINCENT ARCHER. I25 IV. O lad of Colenso, long burn the white flame That burst through the war-cloud revealing your name! Till boys, going downward to sorrow and shame Start back and look up at the wonder, — Spring forward and follow you, facing the gun, Or gather green laurels at home. Bugler Dunn, While over them flashes that fire of the sun, And blue-bells and beauties bloom under! VINCENT ARCHER. I. Great battles are won without sabre or gun : Right well may a father rejoice in his son, Who leaps out to play, when his duty is done, Glad-hearted, defiant of evil ! He scatters good seed to the wind and the rain : It roots in the stubble, it thrives on the plain, It lives through the winter — snow flying amain ! And God saves the wheat from the weevil. 126 RUBAIYAT OF SOLOMON. II. Behold then, my hero! — None blazoned his fame : Mayhap the white angel, recording his name, Wrote plainly thereafter : **A soul without blame." Not ten years old, shy as a plover, He knew about angels . . . His mother was one! He watched the boys rush to their game in the sun — ''Come out," they all shouted, *'and share in the fun!" He shook his head, blushing all over. III. If I were Apollo and played the great lyre On Olympus, to all the bright gods and their sire, I would sing of the boy through a halo of fire : — Unselfish, devoted and tender. To care for three children save him there was none : His part to make merry, no trouble to shun. To comfort his father when labor was done, All manner of service to render. MAMIE S KISSES. 12/ IV. A-trundling the baby, for pleasure he came, Tvv^o little ones tumbling and spoiling the game — Believe me his mother, where gates are aflame, Called out to each heavenly rover; Smiled proudly and sweetly: **Look! that is my son !" And you and I knew in our hearts every one, iTheir deep-seeing eyes were with tears over- run, Though they laughed with delight looking over ! MAMIE'S KISSES. [Mary Earned.] I. "Kiss me, Mamie!" so they teased her, Every guest to laughter stirred. But not one among them pleased her,— Shy as any woodland bird. Then they offered ribbons, dresses, Watches, golden filagree: Still she shook her sunny tresses — Turned and smiled and came to me. 128 RUBAIYAT OF SOLOMON. 11. ''Ah," they said, "you little Tartar ! "Is your naughty will so strong? She's a poet : will you barter Mamie's kisses for a song?" Now I hold that nothing worse is Than to vex a child for fun; So I said : "I'll write the verses : "Will you kiss me, pretty one?" III. Then the little maid grew bolder, Heeded not the mocking mirth : Freely let me lift and hold her — Daintiest creature on the earth! Breath like winds the flowers caressing, Soft lips lightly touching mine, Left thereon for endless blessing Kisses sweet as muscadine. IV. Now may earth and Heaven blending- All below and all above — Evermore her cause defending — Bless the little girl I love! A SMALL PESSIMIST. 12g What she wins or what she misses, Love or sorrow, peace or strife, Sweeter than her own sweet kisses, First and last be Mamie's hfe. The Bright Side."^ A SMALL PESSIMIST. Scene : — Glen Elgin Falls, Lowth, Canada West. Time, 1845. I. Three girls — little lovers of sunlight and rain, Ran off to the hills in a flurry: "Or else we might drown in the creek or the drain," Said Miranda; "and look at that poisonous crane ! *'Folks say if he bites, you will die of the pain. Let's go and get out of the worry." II. We went till we found a red thorn-apple tree, — Such apples no grocer could sell you : Delicious to eat and enticing to see. But Miranda grew solemn as solemn could be: *A popular young folks' paper published by John B. Alden previous to the Chicago fire, and for a time edited by the Author. 130 RUBAIYAT OF SOLOMON. "I shake like a leaf! I'm so scared!" whis- pered she; *'0 girls, I have something to tell you ! III. ^There's a Spirit that flies when the sky is all blue, — You can't see a cloud if you try to ! — East, West, North and South, like the wan- dering Jew : I have heard it so often I know it is true. He is looking this moment for me and for you, And there isn't a cave we can fly to. IV. *'Take hold of my hands : I am all of a chill 1 He's a terrible, terrible Spirit! Folks say when he sees little girls on a hill By a thorn-apple tree — if they've eaten their fill- He comes and he kills them ! We'd better keep still: If we only just squeak he can hear it." V. Sobbed Dorothy Jane: *'We coulc! run if we tried ; "We are all of us quicker than weasels." Then we leaped to our feet: "Let us run! let us hide!" A SMALL PESSIMIST. I3I And we ran and we ran, for the world was so wide, Down the slope, through the hollow, across the divide. Right over the burdocks and teazels. VI. Now there was a factory down by the race, — Alas, it is sixty years older ! Where we ''handed in ends" (pray, was that a disgrace?) : Up the stairs, to the belfry — oh, wild was the chase ! — To the ridge-pole ! — was ever so secret a place ? And there we sat, shoulder to shoulder. VII. *'0, girls, let me tell you ! It isn't a lie. It's the truth," said Miranda the tragic. "If when you've been frightened (it's easy to try), You can feel a pulse beating right under your eye. In just twenty minutes you're going to die!" And down fell the tears by some magic. VIII. Now this was too much for poor Dorothy Jane: "You may stay here and scare one another, Or die if you want to! — nobody '11 complain. 132 RUBAIYAT OF SOLOMON. You'll be bitten, I s'pose, by that poisonous crane : Most likely you'll all double up with the pain ! As for me, I'll go home to my mother." IX. "But we haven't — been — scared!" said Mi- randa to me, "So we're safe, — though I think it's a won- der. It was dangerous under that thorn-apple tree, For the sky was so blue any spirit could see; And painters and wolves could have eaten all three. Or it might have been — earthquake — or thunder." BEAUTY. [For Catherine Manierre and Other Little Ladies.] In a lovely dream-garden Child Beauty one day Met Bliss, the Queen-Fairy whom dreamers obey. Said Beauty : "Come kiss me ! and what shall we play?" BEAUTY. 133 ''Let US play you are thinking, my dear," smiled the Queen : ''While I wave my light wand of the hazel- tree green, Whatsoever you think shall fly out and be seen." Beauty laughed and thought rainbows: — they floated in light! There was never a cloud, but they must have been right. For the pale city-children clapped hands at the sight. Then she mused about morning and what the winds bring When, rushing, they set the bird-cradles a-swing, — Toss the gauzy, slight insects nor tarnish a wing. Out came darning-needles, rich beetles and bees (Caught wading in dusty gold up to their knees), Purple emperor-butterflies floating at ease, And shining white mother-moths, — who could guess where They flew out or blew out to make 'people stare ? — As you would and I would if we had been there 134 RUBAIYAT OF SOLOMON. Now who could be thinking out curious things Forever? — with feelers and stingers and wings ? Beauty thought little beggars (she might have thought kings!). They swarmed without number: — and ah, they looked old, Lean, ragged and wretched, lame, hungry and cold! They quarreled, they snatched, they were saucy and bold! Cried Beauty: ''Dear Bliss, do not wander away: "All these will be angels, one beautiful day! O, see! they are angels! Come back: let us play!" [The garden! the garden! — Does any one know Where its rosemaries, balsams and eglantines grow? To find it how far must a poor cripple gof^^ COMING HOME. 135 COMING HOME. A six-year's child I climbed the gate All round the world to see: ''Oh, why does mother stay so late? Where can she, can she be?" I saw the pool as grey as lead, Blue Iris near the brink, The rough-railed pasture, sorrel-red, The meadow, clover pink. I saw the yellow sands where lay My periwinkles brown, Silver Cayuga wind away And purple mists fall down. I saw the flume, the waterfall, The white and flying foam, Yet missed the dearest sight of all, My mother — coming home! It surely, surely would be night! The lady four-o'clocks Unwound their silky ribbons bright, Shook out their party frocks. 136 RUBAIYAT OF SOLOMON. The miller-moth went high and higher, Went round and round about; The sun's broad face was red as fire He was so tired out. So down he sank behind the brush, — I thought he dropped a spark, Right after such a crimson blush Ran kindling through the dark. A spark, a blush, a smoky blaze Began to creep and turn. To climb and cling, — a hundred w^ays To burn and burn and burn. Oh, was it truly fire? I thought, Or people of the air. With mantles from the sunset caught And fiery, floating hair? My heart beat hard with fancy- fright : "Should mother come that way, And should they snatch her, hold her tight, What would we, would we say? "Their shiny cloaks, how far they blow ! They'll wind her round and round. She'll never think, she'll never know. She'll never hear a sound : COMING HOME. 137 ''Not even should we call and call, They'll take her up so high! They'll hide her, wrap her, burn her all 'Way through the blazing skyl" Out gushed my tears — the silly child ! Such bitter grief I had: First thing I knew, there mother smiled, And all my world was glad ! O, mother! mother! thought is swift: 'But, who would count the hours, Since lightly blew that snowy drift Right in among the flowers? Ah, not so long ago — not long, You passed the lowly gate! I know your love is sweet and strong; Why zvill you stay so late! What use to me the grey and blue, The rosy and the white, The silks of Summer, fair of hue? It surely will be night! You, you I want! I call your name, All round the world I see: So whirled away in holy flame- Where can you, can you be? o 8 RUBAIYAT OF SOLOMON. Hush, foolish one, heart-struck with fear! The sorry thought let go. You look so far, she comes so near, Soft-smiling, still and slow! Not rushing fires that skyward fling, Though wide they be and wild, Not Life nor Death, nor anything Will keep her from her child. Turn round and face the heavenly sight; Spring to the loving breast! O, sweet surprise! O, dear delight! All kissed away to rest! Goodform. Poets and Poetry of Buifalo. POSTLUDES. CHRISTMAS-DAY. I. Friendless and ragged and old Wretched and wicked was I, — A woman to harry and hate! And if I had made so bold As to seek for a place to die — Open to all the sleet — Dragging my black-bruised feet Near to a rich man's gate, His dogs had howled me away: Aye, even on Christmas-Day! 11. But vipers may crawl in the street : That morning they let me stay Not far from Trinity's door, While the chiming bells did beat And the proud went in to pray. I heard the choir-boys sing : "Glory to God our King!" And the great-voiced organ roar "Their Christ is risen," I said, "Mine sleeps forever instead! 140 RUBAIYAT OF SOLOMON. III. ''I have no spices to bring-, Nor oil on his feet to shed Though an angel should lead me in. However the glad chimes ring, My Lord lies murdered and dead, — Buried and makes no sign!" — That moment a hand caught mine, Forced open the fingers thin : — In haste, as I turned my head, The beautiful vision fled. IV. Lo! there — fire-tried and fine — Lay gold for a half year's bread. With a red rose fresh and sweet! I answered the chant divine: ''He is risen! is risen!" I said: ''O, lift your heads ye gates! For the King of Glory waits!" And my soul rose up to meet The Lord of the hungry and cold. The Christ of the wicked and old. Goodform. AT THE FORD. I4I AT THE FORD. The crossing washed with turbulent waves, The footing sHght, the sight a-strain : — Is yonder isle the place of graves, All dimly seen through pelting rain? The spume has soaked my vesture through: From stone to stone, with none to aid, In haste my lampless cell to view, I leap and w^ill not be afraid. Low rolls the nimbus overhead; Sharp thunder breaks, — earth shakes with noise ; Glitters that sheeted spectre dread Whose lightest finger-touch destroys. Let loose from every cloud at last With tumult dire the fire-ghost flies. And lo, the roaring torrent passed. An open grave before me lies ! Though dank and dark and spaded deep, I will not heed, — I need not care: These fleshly senses cast asleep. Their captive slipping from the snare. 142 RUBAIYAT OF SOLOMON. O, subtle Spirit, thou shalt be Potent as heat and fleet as Hght, — A storm-escaping splendor, free To make the outer spaces bright ; To flash through inter-stellar ways Where spins the host of ghostly suns : — Long furnace-fined from mortal gaze, They lure the feet of blessed ones. Dead! dead! where fell the lightning-slroke! Their hoards, their homes, their hopes a-dust ; The worlds whereon they dwelt a-smoke And into formless ruin thrust, — Oh, yet they build, they nothing lack! No evil charms, no harms befall : Nay ! but for these the heavens were black, Who, love-illumed, illumine all ! Flit forth, sweet sprite, to long delight : Thou, too, shalt glow with holy fire; Shalt traverse suns all spirit-white, Whose dross-consuming flames expire; Shalt soar through elemental jar Where each in gloom his doom awaits ; Shalt guide the trembling loiterers far And comfort them with delicates. 143 "A NEW COMMANDMENT." [For Mary E. White.] I. "Children, love one another," One said: — We climbing and clinging obey, And whether we lead or are led In His wonderful, beautiful w^ay. Up-looking we whisper and say : " 'Strait and narrow' yet wide as the day Oh, wide as God's love is this excellent way !" 11. Even so the archangels who stand "In the midst" by His holy white throne, Soared thither strong hand clasping hand, Nor entered His presence alone. Their thousands, of number unknown — Every creature who laughs or makes moan, Crying: "Worthy! Most worthy!" shall stand by His throne. 144 RUBAIYAT OF SOLOMON. COMFORTED. "Eyes that have wept see clear." E. B. Brozmiing. I. Up I rose when the babe was gone ! *'How shall my soul the silence meet? How shall I — sick for the buried grace — Cover the beautiful face and feet. Yield to the night my flower of dawn?" {The dews of the Lord are sweet!) 11. Blew His winds till the skies were bare! Under His Heaven four rivers run. Saw I their foam on the dark shore break — Flake upon flake, each flake a sun; O, my Beloved, thy paths were fair! {His night and His day are one!) MADE MANIFEST. I. O, Master of the banquet, suice we thirst, Give us to drink according to our need! Spilth of the vineyards w^hen their full grapes burst, Rank juice of acrid herbs, or honeyed mead, MADE MANIFEST. I45 Or mountain-waters drained Through fissured rocks from fountains un- profaned : — II. Whether the draft be clear as innocence, Turbid as drift of valley-scourging floods, Purple as pools when battle-clouds are dense And all is carnage, red as Judas-buds That blushed with fear and shame When, fain to die, sweet Jesu's murderer came. III. Yet black at last shall be the hellebore! Then shall we push all wide the jasper gate And pass, disdaining Death : — Forevermore Endowed with holy love and holy hate, — Set free and unafraid Of depth or height or any creature made. Ah, heed thou not our feeble, petulant cries! Pour as we need, whatever we desire. Thou didst for us, aforetime, span the skies : There shall we track thee by the paths of fire 146 RUBAIYAT OF SOLOMON. Where-through, with thee, we came; And weep and say "Our Father!" — void of blame. DOORS OF OLIVE. I. Oh, the palace hewn of stone Pure as mountain snows, Where the King receives His own At the daylight's close! — Beams of cedar, olive doors, Planks of fir to line the floors, Chambers set in ivory towers, Lavers wrought about the brim, Carven-work of open flowers, Palms and cherubim. IL Lo, the splendor of the sight Where His beacon glows! Thither, at the fall of nigh4;, One came breathing woes : Knocking at the outer gate, — "Lord, behold me where I wait ! All about Thy fair abode Hear the wandering lions roar: Fear is on me as a load : Open, Lord, the door!" DOORS OF OLIVE. I47 III. Answered one : "Thy crying spare : Should the door unclose, Soldiers of the King are there, Arrows at their bows — Set to pierce the evil heart: How shouldst thou escape the smart? If thou enter, child of shame, Myrrh and mandrakes thou must bring; Thou must name His very Name: Trouble not the King." IV. Ah, the courts and porches white — Pillars set in rows! Ah, the roofs of silver bright Clean as driven snows! Sobbing: *'Lord, behold I wait! Wilt Thou not my grief abate? Meet for lion's food am I : Yet my sinking soul restore; Bid me enter ere I die : Open, Lord, the door!" V. "Nay," one cried: "Behold, the King "To His banquet goes! Clusters of the grape they bring. Soon the doors will close. 148 RUBAIYAT OF SOLOMON. All their mid-day labors done — Girt with robes of linen spun — Here His sons and daughters meet. Who shall mar their holy sport ? Yet, to hear their laughter sweet, Wait thou by the Court." VI. Swells the music through the night, As a sea it flows! Bloom the windows, full of light, Each a golden rose! Sorely weeping: ''Lord, I wait: *'l have heard Thy Love is great, — Hear me in Thine House of Rest. Lord, I love thee! Can I more? Let me die upon Thy Breast : Open, Lord, the door." VIL Answered still the voice: "Forbear! "Who shall heed thy w^oes?" In His banquet chamber fair Then the King uprose; To the sacred portal came : "One," He said, "has named My Name, At the outer gateway knocks. Heedless of the lion's roar :" — Set His hand upon the locks, — Opened wnde the door. DOORS OF OLIVE. 149 VIII. Oh, the wonder of the sight! Three by three in rows, . Stood the soldiers clad in white. Arrows at their bows : In their midst a crowned One Clothed upon as with the sun. Who so lowly as the King? All the kisses of His mouth Are like odors of the Spring Blowing from the South! IX, Girt with rich pomegranate bowers, Snowed upon with snows, Olive doors in ivory towers, Chambers of repose! Boards of fir and cedar made. Spread with gold and overlaid; Lavers wrought with leaf and vine- Lily-work from brim to brim; Open flowers and carvings fine, Palms and cherubim! Northwestern Christian Advocate. 150 RUBAIYAT OF SOLOMON. A CHRISTIAN. [William Collins Jones, aged 66.] I. *'Show us a Christian that we may believe," — The young men mocked. Then from their midst one came: "Lord, be it mine to win that precious name ! I love thee : wilt thou not my love receive ?" Answered that Prince of Peace: 'Thyself be- reave That others may be fed; by furnace-flame Thrice-heated earn their bread; suffer no shame To touch the innocent ; for sinners grieve. So wilt thou bring me gold without al- loy, Spices and pleasant fruits and wines new-pressed. To prove thy love, God will thy flesh destroy, — With pangs unutterable thy patience test.'* Then lifted he his voice and sang for joy. So passed that Christian . . . Oh, to share his rest! FIELD AND GARDEN. FOOD-SEEKERS. I. A wide- winged butterfly, Upon the white flowers of a bitter weed Settled to satisfy his noon-day need. Through sunshine far and high His kindred wavered but he took no heed : Pretty it was to watch his dainty greed. II. A wondrous beetle came — All emerald green, save that upon his back There blazed a mimic sun; and in his track, Lured by the dazzling flame, A lace-wing fluttered— purple, gold and black. Of pleasure for them all there was no lack. III. Down dropped a bird that flies Near to the clouds yet perches for his seed And sings and sings God's little choir to lead. I lifted up mine eyes: "Dear Lord, Thy fragile creatures richly feed! Content me, also, with Thy bitter weed." The Youth's Compamon. Poets and Poetry of Buffalo. 152 RUBAIYAT OF SOLOMON. THE SENSITIVE BRIER. [A procumbent perennial, American genus Schrankia, found on the rolling prairies of Kansas and other southeastern states. Be- cause of the exceeding loveliness and unsur- passable fragrance of its flowers, it is popu- larly known as The Sensitive Rose.] When sweetly breathed the budded rose In new-made majesty and grace, Did not the Master for a space A holy stillness interpose, — Forbidding any wind to brush Her clasping petals? . . . Ere they stirred While yet her whispered name, half-heard, Sank silenced in that heavenly hush, Did He not turn to fashion thee, O, babe-like flower! and smile to see, — Deep-musing on the Christ to be? II. Pales in thy woof the rainbow^s red ; Her gold adorns the raveled veils Where-through thy blessed breath exhales; Her lucid dews are on thee shed. So sweet! so sweet! — The beds of spice ONE OF MANY. 153 Whereon our fair, first mother slept, No daintier drops of honey kept To feed the bees of Paradise. Lo, where thy shrinking leaves retreat At coming of the sinner's feet ! Yet will thy soft forgivings greet. III. Ah, if the Lowly One might pass And yonder blowing roses all Their fragrant loveliness let fall To cushion smooth the thickening grass. How would I haste thyself to choose From all the pure! and lifting high These most abundant blossoms, sigh : "Thou who canst virtue give nor lose, With whom the burdened ones find rest, — The while I touch thy seamless vest, Gaze but on these and I am blest 1" Truth. ONE OF MANY. Behold a silver-glistening track Across this freshet-furrowed sand. Where crept a worm not long ago, Straightforward, never turning back, 154 RUBAIYAT OF SOLOMON. Discerning neither friend nor foe! Called to iiprear some temple grand, Some miracle-work serenely planned — World-masonry where all was wrack! — This way he passed : And dragging so His length (renovvned for movement slack!), Far as a spider's thread might blow He many an inch of empire spanned. . . . Not less the nestlings make demand, For singing birds must nothing lack. And worms are dull — oh, dull and slow! But if he perished v.^ho can know,— Or why he perished understand? FLOWERS AND A WEED. In my garden there grew the Sweet-Pea, fair to see! Hardly sweeter in Eden can be The scent of the blossoms that heal. Wing, banner and keel guard and hold the fine gold That it will not reveal Till you kneel and make search for the treas- ures untold, While you reel As you feel FLOWERS AND A WEED. 1 55 How the pure odors steal Through the brain with a subtle soft power From the wee fairy-bower of the flower! There my grave Salpiglossis, dear Quaker, did make her A drab satin gown ; Yet could not quite keep the shy rose-color down When the fleet breeze did shake her. Flamed in red my Dianthus; My long-tube Centranthus Wore exquisite pink like the tint of a shell : But she paled while you gazed, as refusing to tell W^ith too ardent a glow W^hat was throbbing below In that virginal heart, — though you loved her right well! And under That wonder The babe Gilia-tricolor sunned her ; Secure in blest innocence, creeping from shade, Faced the Lord in His firmament, no- wise afraid ! And I said: 'T will cede "To no vagabond weed. An inch of the soil that the Beautiful need. Let them march on the highways, Or slink through the by-ways, — 156 RUBAIYAT OF SOLOMON. Poor hoboes and beggars the world has agreed. / think they are anarchists — dreadful of deed !" II. Saw you ever the green earth on fire with desire To be one with the things that aspire? With the red-bird that burns as he flies? With brave and bright spirits of grace, cleaving space On their way to the skies Where the orbits of comet and star inter- lace? Even so You will know How Nasturtiums a-glow Their manifold splendors up-bore As flames when the furnaces roar. Yet, engirt with those heats — vision-dazing, out-blazing The suns where they set, Unhurt, cool with dew, dwelt my meek Mig- nonette, Rich in virtues past praising! Near by, wnth her spices, The Pink, that entices. Sent many a blithe, honey-sipper away Half-drunken, wing-heavy and reeling astray. FLOWERS AND A WEED. I57 Not the less, had a blight Swept all these in the night, Left them bloodless and budless, bent, sod- den and gray, One flower In that hour Had not needed to tremble and cower : Oh, still had my garden a Paradise seemed, While, fragrance-diffusing, my Violet dreamed ! "They must die !" was my creed. **Who my darlings impede! — The Red-root, the Jimpson of poisonous breed, The Sand-burr you handle With dread and that scandal The yellow-faced Nettle that stabs till you bleed !— Each far-trampling, grass-trampling, Coxey- ite weed! III. There my Heliotrope like a saint, death-faint Feared that radiant azure to paint Where Faith sees Love's mansion of rest; Yet for all her pale doubting did bear, un- aware, A Heaven in her breast; And we leaned and we longed in that Heaven to share. 158 RUBAIYAT OF SOLOMON. Be your quest East or West You will bid not a guest, To your banquet of flowers, who will dare Wear the hues of my Phlox, past com- pare: As if sunrise itself had descended and blended Its cinnabar-red That fades, througli all shades till the last blush has fled — In a snow-dazzle ended, But as for my Pansies, Though I tossed you the stanzas — Chrysalides bursting with fancies more bright Than great August butterflies, basking in light— I could never report Half the beautiful sport Of their violet, crimson, bronze, orange and white ! Hov\' bluing, Imbruing Their petals in purple, accruing Elf-gold from the underworld vastness, they hid To keep safe from my murderous clutch (oh, they did!), Just one of that breed To aversion decreed, FLOWERS AND A WEED. 1 59 Out of muddy, low places crept in at his need ! Nay! his wretched coat flaunting, His poverty vaunting — Up-stood with the lovely, their dancing to lead, That saucy, intrusive, small scamp of a Weed! IV. Him I spied out at last — bending down with a frown: Behold, the bold brows of the clown Wore the crown of a heritage true ! Flowers of heavenly hue — oh, he dared to be seen Jeweled only with dew ! Though here smiled an empress and there laughed a queen And he knew The winds blew Through his rags with a whew! But out of those jewels shot sparks As of planets that light up the darks After sunset, when little ones, turning their yearning Wide eyes to the skies. Discerning, say softly: *'God's great angel flies "And sets His lamps burning!" l6o RUBAIYAT OF SOLOMON. Ah, Nature, most loyal, Proclaimed her tramp royal, — His Most Serene Highness (ten titles be- side!) : Scoff not ! lest the King of all kings you de- ride ! "Thrive here with the rest, Honored, loved as the best;" So I wept : "When I bloom where the Holy abide, "White-growing, Peace knowing, In God's very presence out-blowing, Should some of His Seraphim happen my way And see me — a sinner, yet crowned — they will say : "Lo, He suffers a weed With His fair ones to feed ! All its poison drained out when He caused it to bleed, — With a tender, sweet daring. Its firm roots up-tearing! Now, set in His garden, what more can it need? For He loves it ! He loves it ! He planted the seed!" Kansas State Social Science Federation Booklet. DULCISSIM^. SPIRIT OF BENEDICTION. [Jane W. Kendall, Providence, R. L] Oh, Love must lay her viol down To silence wed, Wan Life put off her starry crown. Lost earth forego all dear renown, Beloved, if thou art dead! IL Thou wert the flower of friendliness, Of tender ruth That will not any evil gness. Of charity that yearns to bless, Of holy-hearted truth. III. Will God thy Heart of Hope deny, — Slay Love's desire? Lo, where thy pure dove-offerings fly ! Thine altar gifts with spikenard lie A-smoke in fervent fire! 1 62 RUBAIYAT OF SOLOMON. IV. Sweet, when we pass as spirits may, Through skies all clear, Turn first, the face we knew, our way, That we may weep for joy and say: Behold, our friend is here! V. Then smile and all thine angel-grace To us reveal : So lead us to thy chosen place, The while thy clinging arms embrace, Thy lips our welcome seal. Providence Journal. AN EVANGELIST. [Melissa Lendrum Johnson, Traverse City, Mich.] I. Ah, lovely advocate of good, Sweet pleader in the house of prayer, Strong heart of gracious womanhood. Wife, m.other, neighbor — prone to share Our griefs and half our burdens bear, — AN EVANGELIST. 1 63 11. Frail helper of the tempest-tossed, Who guided many a wandering soul From desert ways by torrents crossed, To where the healing waters roll That make the loathsome leper whole, — III. Thou wert like Martha, serving much! No less, like Mary, thou didst choose The Master's seamless robe to touch. Low at his feet to hear and muse And all thyself in him to lose! IV. Beloved inheritor of grace: Thou art uplifted now so far, Thy lamp that lights celestial space Shines as a new-created star Where God's eternal glories are. V. Well didst thou keep it trimmed and fed Through many years — till one drew nigh : *'Behold, the bridegroom comes," he said; And gladness ran from earth to sky When, leading thee, the Lord passed by. 164 RUBAIYAT OF SOLOMON. VI. ''Henceforth they from their labors rest.'* Look down, O, joyful saint, and see How with his words of comfort blest, Our dearest solace still shall be To love him more for loving thee. Memorial Booklet. VICTIM AND VICTOR. [A. S. C, author of a lost poem entitled **His Bitter Wine," of which the three lines italicized herein are the only ones remembered.] I. Racked and rent and sick at heart, Sang a beauteous friend of mine : "Let my youth and strength depart,- All Life's sweetness I resign; While His w^ell-beloved sup. Leaning on the breast divine, If he reach to me the cup, / can drink His hitter wine." VICTIM AND VICTOR. 165 11. Ah, the long, red script of pain. Traced in heart's blood line by line! Subtly sent through every vein Went the treacherous anodyne, — Blighting sense and crazing thought. Sobbed that bruised friend of mine: "Shall He trouble me for nought? / can choose His hitter zvine/' III. Fleeing from the fires of doom, On her flesh their blackening sign, Where the silent waters gloom, ^ Sank that broken friend of mine. Saw me trembling on the brink ; Whispered from the gulfing brine : "He has given me to drink: / can bless His bitter wine." IV. Afterward I slept : One came Clad in silver raiment fine: In my dream I named her name : "Beautiful! O, friend of mine! Is it well with thee?" I said^ "Lo, upon the breast divine Well-beloved I lean my head! Fear not thou His bitter wine.'* 1 66 RUBAIYAT OF SOLOMON. ONE MERCIFUL. [Hattie Monroe, South Haven, Mich.] I. Sweet as the honey with the honey-comb Were all thy works, O, friend for whom we grieve ! Heart of compassion, angel of the home, — Fulfilling more than duty morn and eve : Samaritan who went abroad to see If any by the w^ayside needed thee! H. Thou who wert great of heart shall greater grow, And still the larger life include the less. Though seas go dry and rivers cease to flow. Yet will not memory fail nor tenderness. Envy and wrath must die : Love only shares Eternal life with Him whose name she bears. HI. Though round thee suns innumerable blaze. Though sether breathe out flowers thy smiles to woo. Though many a happy spirit cross thy ways And kiss thy lips as we were wont to do. Pity will turn thee back to seek thine own, Lest grief of theirs should be to thee unknown. HIS MINISTER. 1 67 IV. Nay! Heavenward pass! But in some holy calm The Word shall come and thou wilt sweetly heed : "Daughter, behold thy Loved, dispensing balm ! Visit thou them and consecrate the deed." Then wilt thou weeping answer: ''Lord, I go! 'Thou knowest I love them: grant they too may know!" HIS MINISTER. [Lydia Alden.] L "Should any spirit chance my way Upon some saving errand bent. And smile across and wave her hand — Pass as the wind nor dare to stay, Therewith I would be well content, Would wait and rest and understand," — I mused : but nothing could I say ; For as a ruined blossom, rent From God's great rose-tree, on the sand I lay within the washing tide — The strip all narrow, seas all wide! If He had sent His messenger Abroad, I could but look for her. 1 68 RUBAIYAT OF SOLOMON. II. Not through the airy void she came, From out the star-engendering blue, — Beside me verily she stood! As in a dream I knew her name And well her human sweetness knew, — That beauty of her maidenhood, The red-rose blush — Love's hallowed flame, The lips whose laughters breaking through Made bitter sweet and evil good. Upon the drifting thing she gazed, Brought back the flower none else had praised. By miracle to breathe and stir — So gathered to the heart of her. III. And oh, the wide, white brow upraised For giving thanks, while dark as night Lapsed the long billow victimless. Once more for me the sunlight blazed, — Set in a cup of malachite As there were still some loveliness. But she, full soon, with glory dazed (For she was precious in His sight!). Rose up, laid by her mortal dress. Put on the garment beautiful — More white than thrice-white fuller's wool — And so became God's minister .... But long, oh, long, I watch for her! THE LIFE BEAUTIFUL. 169 I THE LIFE BEAUTIFUL. [Harriet Permelia Jones, aged 74-] I. O, thou whose courage, Heaven-imbued, Was like the wind-blown cedar strong, Who toiled with patience unsubdued Nor grieved nor made complaint of wrong, Who asked no meed of gratitude Though tasks were hard and service long, — Well might we search our hearts to see If there some worthiness might be, — Loaded with benefits from thee! n. Thou didst not search nor seem to know If any failed in thankfulness; Returning yet again to show Some way of making labor less, And without recompense bestow Nor ever weariness confess. Beloved, art thou content to be Where all are happy, safe and free And none have any need of thee? I/O RUBAIYAT OF SOLOMON. III. No widowed mother to sustain? No hunger-vvolf to keep at bay From helpless orphans? Nought to gain For others ? — Lo, but yesterday One passed through all the floods of pain! Didst thou not meet him on the way? And did he not cry out to thee : **0, sister, thou art fair to see! And art thou come to comfort me?" IV. Ah, well we know if thou dost pass, Unchanged, to where the heavens are bowed While those beside the sea of glass Cast down their crowns and cry aloud. Thou canst but choose the paths of grass Where children walk in wind and cloud! Since Love that doth encompass thee Is deeper than the deepest sea. What thou desirest — that shall be. FRIENDS REMAINING. I. Long time have I traveled this round-the-world road; Long time I have carried this wearisome load : But why do these friends whom I happen to meet Reach out, as in pity, my steps to steady, And softly the comforting phrases repeat Folk use when they know there is evil to bode ? Why bring me the callas and violets sweet As though I were dead already? — al- ready. XL I know where the wasp and the bumble-bee dip In red and white clover — there blissfully sip; I know where the humming-birds flicker and drink That nectar of Hebe, honeyed and heady : What then? — Am I one to be frighted and shrink ? — Though a carnival-masquer my raiment should grip (I chancing to pause!) : 'Tass along! One would think You had lodged with the dead already !" — already. 172 RUBAIYAT OF SOLOMON. III. Ah, Beloved! — Will you tremble with wonder and fear To find me at rest?~Will you shudder and veer And follow the mummers from temple to mart ? Nay! How should your pulses be feeble and thready, So fed and so filled from a generous heart! You have counseled me, cherished me, given me cheer, Have praised me and loved me as that were a part Of your creed and I dead already! — al- ready. IV. Were I verily dead what could hinder to say? In a fleet caravel I should voyage away, To a golden, great Continent cry "All hail !" But oh, should there be some returning, swift eddy. Some swerve of the helm or some trick of the sail, Whereby I might float back — yea, enter the bay! — While we smiled on each other God's peace would prevail As though you were dead already ! — already. May 23, 1905. THE HEREAFTER. HIS VOICE. [Porter Jones, 2nd N. Y. Mounted Rifles.] I. In those most grievous years When cradled babes woke with the shock of drums And Hsteners mourned : ''So close the danger comes, "Our best beloved, even ours, must go!" Mine also went : — For what are women's tears That fear of them should work a nation woe? But I, in forests deep Where the wake-robin, smiling still ap- pears White-rosy after melting of the snow, Hid me with birds that in the shadow keep, Since mine it is to sing while others weep. II. There slowly news blew in Like thistle-seeds full softly taking root To wound forevermore the naked foot Of any school-boy rambler and to make 174 RUBAIYAT OF SOLOMON. The blushing flower he covets hard to win, But so it chanced that once, at dawn awake, — Thrilled with a soul-sent cry- That rent this robe of flesh worn all too thin— I rose up trembling: "Twice my name he spake ! "As I were by his bed I heard him sigh And knew his dying voice .... Ah, must he die?" III. "Answer and comfort me," Long after whispered I, and wept and wept : Then were the clouds from my dull eyeballs swept. Saw T, within the deep, disparted sky An army moving like a glittering sea . . . He, leaping from the ranks with hand flung high As victor's signal-flame And happy mouth where kisses well might be. Me had he kissed, — his legions half gone by (Did I not hear his voice that named my name?) But earth plucked back my soul and darkness came. AT FIRST. AT FIRST. 175 I. If I should fall asleep one day, AH over-worn, And should my spirit from the clay Go dreaming out the Heavenward way, Or thence be softly borne,— II. I pray you angels do not first Assail mine ear With that blest anthem oft [^hearsed: ^Behold, the bonds of death are burst! Lest I should faint with fear. III. But let some happy bird at hand The silence break : So shall I dimly understand ^ That dawn has touched a blossommg land And sigh myself awake. IV. From that deep rest emerging so, To lift the head And see the bath-flower's bell of snow The pink arbutus and the low Spring-beauty streaked with red. 176 RUBAIYAT OF SOLOMON. V. Will all suffice; no otherwhere Impelled to roam. Till some blithe wanderer, passing fair, Will smiling pause — of me aware — And murmur : "W^elcome Home !" VI. So sweetly greeted I shall rise To kiss her cheek, Then lightly soar in lovely guise. As one familiar with the skies Who finds and need not seek. The Century Magazine. Poets and Poetry of B^iffalo. AFTERWARD. I. I shall not find the heavens too bright, O, Loved, my Friend! When to thine islands of delight, Angelic, swift and clear of sight, Exultine J ascend. AFTERWARD. 1 77 II. There swimming in a silver space Unharmed of heat, — Their nodding flowers shall do us grace. Nay! suns must swerve to give us place When face to face we meet! III. Ah, then into the deep, dead Past, We two will sink ! Will clutch and hold each other fast, — Climb up from that salt sea at last, Stand trembling on the brink ! IV. Peer far into the dim abyss, Laugh out to find Not even earth may roll amiss! . . Turn round and with a clinging kiss Blend heart and soul and mind. V. Balsams and mints beneath our feet With violets white, A singing sound where thrushes meet Shall with the blowing winds make sweet Our islands of delight. 178 RUBAIYAT OF SOLOMON. VI. And they who come and go, or yet In peace abide, Will as the prophets shine — who met Our sorrowing Brother, ere was set The cross whereon he died. VII. We too shall glistening raiment wear, Exceeding white .... Lo, yet I breathe this desert air! Their prey the ravening lions tear, — / swooning at the sight! 1890. THEIR HEAVENLY HOUSE. I. No star among the stars can be More swift in flight Than is my ransomed soul set free: Through aether speeding far I see A world with summits w^hite. THEIR HEAVENLY HOUSE. 179 11. Thither I soar: — Up-swings amain Its morning sun! Through seven fair colors laughs the rain : I ween that is a beauteous plain Where yonder rivers run ! III. Down traveling as one in haste, By crag and mere, I brush the dewy mosses, laced With balmy plants of wood and v/aste (On earth I held them dear!) : IV. Small eye-bright, creeping princess-pine, Pure coolwort pale, Striped dragon-root and partridge-vine, With slim, red-yellow columbine That roots in crumbling shale. V. Here by the slipping falls I glean The bell-flower blue, Here snowy mandrakes look and lean, As searching for the hollows green Where first they drank the dew, — l80 RUBAIYAT OF SOLOMON. VI. What time, a child, I passed their way And all the vale Was cool with shade and flying spray That set the jewel-weed a-sway — So tall it was and frail. VII. Lo, here the drooping heeches hide Their giant brakes, And here the alder trees divide, Where babbling mountain brooks make wide The white-emblossomed lakes. VIII. Far-spreading to the level skies, Here, drift on drift. Red meadow-lilies sink and rise. For many a humming creature flies And Summer gales are swift. IX. A's doubtful of the way I turn, — Behold, above. Pellucid domes as bubbles burn! To reach that Holy House I yearn, I tremble — sick of love! THEIR HEAVENLY HOUSE. 151 X. There two abide in deep content: Soft sounds there be Where late their choral music went, Whose mountain-echoes, all unspent, Are like a singing sea. XL O, hark ! Within a raptured cry : ''She comes, full fair, Who heard, at night, the Master sigh And whispered, grieving : 'Here am I ! With me thy sorrows share!' XII. ''Oft with her burdens overweighed, Where snares abound. Erring and sinful — deep afraid, She followed him whom men betrayed. And pierced with many a wound. XIII. "Arise! His well-beloved greet, — Long needing rest! Has he not named our daughter sweet As flowers that kissed his wandering feet — In whom we too are blest ?" 1 82 RUBAIYAT OF SOLOMON. XIV. Not less I weeping answer: "Nay! "These many years, Save for your footprints in the clay I had not kept the narrow way!" . . Fast fall their happy tears ! Kansas PV Oman's Press Association. WITHOUT THE GATES. I. When, new^ in Heaven, I turn aside From friends long dear, And where the starry paths divide Within a holy shadow hide And to my Lord draw near, — II. Late mountain climber, sore distressed, Torn hands and feet, Lo, as a babe upon His breast, Rest, rest, immeasurable rest Will be my portion sweet! WITHOUT THE GATES. 183 III. As a full river Peace will flow : Till satisfied I sigh : *'Thy bliss I faintly know : *'Give me no less to share thy woe. And with thy lost abide." IV. Thence passing — evermore to be His messenger — How will His darkness cover me! O, leper most abhorred ! to thee My love shall minister, — Even to the uttermost of grief, Than death more dread :^ Till thou — of sinful ones the chief — Full sorely weeping, past belief, Shalt from the tombs be led. VI. Behold, without the city-gates The Master stands And thy desired coming waits ! There shalt thou pluck the honeyed dates With healed and hallowed hands, — 184 RUBAIYAT OF SOLOMON. VIL His words, throngh many a flowery place Repeating oft : A happy, happy child of grace, — Caressing winds upon thy face And infant-kisses soft. VIII. Hewer of sepulchres, make wnde The doorways dim, Where outcasts lurk whom men deride, There will my Lord and I abide : — I shall be safe with Him. A FLOWER OF PARADISE. ''Nozif a phantasy, A simple shape, an image of the brain, Is merely passive, docs not retroact. Is seen hut sees not." Elizabeth Barrett Brozvning. I. Long since, ere the bloom of my youth went by, The hand of a spirit was on me laid : ''Look now on the sun, nor be dismayed. A FLOWER OF PARADISE. 185 It rocks ! It pales ! — By the symbol high, The lord of the household soon must die." 11. Again (and now with a soft command) : "He has left his work ere the day is done; He drops from his place as a falling sun. Let there be no mourning in all the land While God, for your father, puts forth His hand. HI. *'To give him a welcome they gather afar On the mount where the chanting harpers meet, — The brothers he loved and the sisters sweet The sires who wander from star to star. The mothers who stay where the cherubim are, IV. ''With the sun-bright boy and the babes that first He kissed, when the loves and thoughts of them Were like rills that a fallen leaf could stem, Ptire waters, dripping where rocks had burst When The Father pitied his father-thirst." 1 86 RUBAIYAT OF SOLOMON. V. Then sank my soul in a sobbing flood (The grief of the young is a bitter sea!) : Till I sighed : "If only there fell on me — A trembling creature of flesh and blood — From the flowers of his Eden, a single bud!" VI. Down dropped my lids, as a friend had pressed, And a great light spread! (Let no one say That the Lord walks not in the cool of the day; For I verily know that a Christian blest Might pass, in that light, to his glad, long rest!) : VIL And out of ineffable silence came A child, who moved as the lilies will, In a holy gravity, white and still : Her eyes held mine: *'Is your love the same? "Did you know me once? Can you name my name?" VIIL Then my heart sprang up as a sun had burst, While the bergs of an ice-world, sinking deep, Forever and ever were sent to sleep : A FLOWER OF PARADISE. 187 *'0, Mary ! Mary !— the glory first, Then thou ... and the river to quench his thirst!" IX. How sure is the peace of the undefiled! As all my sins were a sealed book She looked on me as the seraphs look ; But the face where-through her spirit smiled, Was the dimpled face of an earth-born child. X. A rain fell into the new-made grave Where deep in the dust that dust was laid : Was ever a blossom that would not fade ? — Away on the hills God's banners wave . . . But oh, the smile and the look she gave! XL Turn thou and see— though the eyes be dim- The babes, the brothers and sisters far, The sires who travel from star to star, The sun-bright boys who are fleet of limb, The mothers who stay with the cherubim. 1 88 RUBAIYAT OF SOLOMON. NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL. AMERICA : ELECT AMONG NATIONS. I. Now who are these thronging thy gate? One knocks at thy door : "Behold, where my multitudes wait! They hunger and great is thy store! They have drunk of the fountai.iS of salt Where the red lions breed; They are leprous and fevered and halt, They are humbled and bruised as the reed." Is not this the Master indeed f Foot-zi'eary and zvorn The heat of the day he has home: Wilt thou comfort all these in their need? XL Wert thou not cast up from the sea To a banquet of blood? And are there not balsams for thee, Magnolias and laurels in bud? Th}^ harvests — who reckons their worth? — Wheat and corn in the seed : For the armies that trample the earth Who numbers thy cattle that bleed ? AMERICA: ELECT AMONG NATIONS. 189 Shall Christ for his desolate plead Nor move thee to bless F O, thou who art rich beyond guess. Turn back to thy records and read! III. Uplift them the Black and the Brown; Anoint the torn feet. Are they tronblers ? — of evil renown ? Yet cleanse them and they shall be sweet. Who murdered that Lover of Men? Not theirs was the deed. Should they wound thee in anger, what then ? He calls thee : O, serve him with speed ! Stand forth in thy beauty and feed His Poor unashamed. Full szveetly thy name shall be named And who shall thy glory exceed! The Outlook. 190 RUBAIYAT OF SOLOMON. THE SAVING OF AN EMPIRE. Inscribed to John Hay, U. S. Secretary of State. I. Said one among his counselors : '*My soul the battle-creed abhors : Yet to be Czar indeed, My neighbor's hate must I provoke, Lay on Manchuria my yoke — Cleave China for my need." Hearkened the angel of the yellow seas: ''And if thou plunder these — God's aneient, foolish, well-beloved folk — Canst thou His wrath appease?'* II. *'! sicken with desire," quoth he: "Needs must I reach the open sea, Drink up its winds like wine, — Send round my armored ships of oak To meet my rushing trains a-smoke, And make its harbors mine!" Answered the angel of the lesser seas : ''Armed are the Japanese, Jealous and fierce, a mighty Island-folk: And wilt thou slaughter these f' THE SAVING OF AN EMPIRE. IQl III. *'GoD keep our fatherland from wars!" Spake one among his counselors: "But tell me what prevents That I, on China's coast, evoke My world-defying thunder-stroke And stretch abroad my tents?" Sighed the great angel set to guard the seas : ''That thou niayst pillage these? Break in upon the homes of humble folk And kill their honey-bees^ IV. *'Nay! but they spurn the Christ!" said he*. "The blood of martyrs calls to me ! Hear ye my just decrees : Lead in my ships, their channels choke, And where Confucius loved and spoke Their holy city seize!" ''Howbeit to thee they, loathing, bend the knees, They worship whom they please: And dear to God are all His sinful folk; Art thou more just than these?'' 192 RUBAIYAT OF SOLOMON. Spake one far off : "O, Counselors, "Plague not the weak with wounds and wars And ravenings ill to meet! Through open doorways Peace invoke; Speak, as of old, the Master spoke, And win a welcome sweet." Cried the strong angel of the sheltered seas : ''Come ye mid comfort these With righteous traffic till the busy folk Laugh out and live at ease" VI. Again from far: "O, emperors, "Whose armies in a war of wars Your crimsoning flags unfold, — Albeit God's holy truce ye broke See that ye wield no thunder-stroke To cleave His empire old." Chanted the angel of the embattled seas: "Russian and Japanese — War if ye must hut spare His pagan folk Who strive their dead to please." VII. Among his pallid counselors One sighs : "Their greed the earth abhors, "Who haste to seize and hold. THE SAVING OF AN EMPIRE. 193 Alas! and who shall lift the yoke From Russia's poor? — their bareness cloak? Crush their revoltings bold?" Sorrowed that angel of the drowning seas : ''Corruption faints the breeze. By fort and hill who counts the slaughtered folk? What sunken ships are these?" VIII. O, thou, beside thy broken wall, An opium-slumberer held in thrall, Great-limbed and dull of sight, Rise, China! Not in battle-smoke Christ comes .... Be thine his easy yoke And thine his burden light. Sings the white angel treading down the seas : ''Nezu wine or bitter lees, Lo, God shall give to all His mighty folk As they shall give to these!" 194 RUBAIYAT OF SOLOMON. FORT RILEY. Through the efforts of General Philip Henry Sheridan, a tract of 20,000 acres along the Re- publican and Smoky Hill Rivers, Kansas, was set aside by Congress in 1886 as a perpetual training-ground for a National School of Cavalry and Artillery. This tract includes Col. Ogden's monument, which stands exactly upon the geographical center of the United States. I. Where the prairies under a zenith white Through the golden flowers of the "Sunny State," Have opened their wildering paths of Hght To the inmost heart of a nation great, The hills for the trampling squadrons wait. 11. Left bare in the billowy movements grand When the gods that rise from a fiery tide Beneath the roof of the crusted sand — Rocking the earth with their clamberings wide — Went shoving and shouldering seas aside, — FORT RILEY. 1 95 III. They stand a-Jaze in a glimmer of smoke Through a luminous ether soaring high, From the dusky thickets of elm and oak On guard where the calm, blue rivers lie, To the gray rock-brows that front the eye. IV. O, soldiers — loved by a soldier great — Ere the night-like shadow of war obscures, Ride in to your home through a golden gate. For the nation's inmost heart is yours As long as the heart of the world endures ! Yours, when the winds are fleet and sharp. That out of the ice-cold countries blow. When you gallop abreast over valley and scarp And follow the flight of the powdered snow, To scatter the lines of a phantom foe; VI. Yours when the hurrying springs return And up from the low^-land creeps the fire, While the withered sun-flowers crackle and burn And all in a blossoming glory aspire To the star-sown realm of their long desire; 196 RUBAIYAT OF SOLOMON. VII. Yours when the boughs of the red-bud glow In the mossy ravines where the thrushes sing, ^ Where the pink wood-sorrels and daisies grow And the fair-faced flowers of the compass swing On the slopes where the jubilant larks up- spring; VIII. Yours when the yucca lifts her head, As a princess might, while the troops go past, And the sensitive-roses and mallows — red As a patriot's life-blood oozing fast, Are under the hoofs of your horses cast! IX. But what of the heir of a Roman name — The young Republic stately and proud. Whose sons were swathed in a garment of flame. What time the head of the prophet was bowed And the Lord rode by in the thick, black cloud ? FORT RILEY. 1 97 X. And what of the people first and last — Saxon and Norman — Puritan-bred, Huguenot — whirled in a devil's blast, When Charles looked out and the night was red And his beautiful cities were heaped with dead? XL Peasant and anarchist, prince and serf (Cargo of sinking ships out-thrown!), African — tramping a blood-soaked turf, * Drift of the continents overgrown, Dust of the Orient hitherward blown! XIL When the toppling monarchies crashing fall (The world a-weary of purple state!) When the empire-gulfing waters all Up-gathering, tower in an eagre great, And Madness rides on the waves elate, — XIIL Far over the Freeman's country hurled : O, soldiers, loved by a chieftain tried As the mighty gods of the underworld (With the people beneath in a fiery tide), Arise and shoulder the seas aside! America. 198 RUBAIYAT OF SOLOMON. HAWAII. A Recognized Republic, Feb., 1894. I. « ''Let the zuaters divide/' said the Lord in His power, ''And the Armament be:" Then rose a white mist hke the hly in flower, Where Hawaii, set free, (With His fire in her heart,) stood before Him that hour And gathered her islands up out of the sea: ''As the rose they shall blossom/' said He. II. Be at peace, ye proud billows that haste to de- vour ; His Beloved is she! The rulers that trample the lilies in flower And their war-plagues decree, If they touch but Hawaii's gold borders shall cower : For out of the whirlwind His answer shall be When He spreadeth His light on the sea. "my IRISH." 199 III. O, Hawaii, the sunrise is on thee this hour! Be it spoken of thee: "She hallows her beautiful mountains that tower Where the cloud-shadows flee; She is white in His sight as a lily in flower; As gardens of spices her islands shall be — Most sweet in the midst of the sea!" Overland Monthly. "MY IRISH." [In Reverent Memory of Victoria the Good.] I. "Now thanks to my Irish!" out-spake the great Queen : "Hot-hearted, courageous and knightly, Away marched their infantry, gallant of mien, And oh, but their troopers were sightly ! They crossed the wide sea wdiere the vessels careen. They faced the thick bolts of Death, speeding unseen, — Ah, how shall I honor them rightly? 200 RUBAIYAT OF SOLOMON. II. "So vast is the reach of my empire terrene, My snows, North and South ghmmer whitely : Tides laugh where my beautiful isles intervene, Suns garnish my continents brightly, Full blithely shall African harvesters glean : But alas, for the wounded and slain!" sighed the Queen : "And how shall I honor them rightly!" III. "Go pluck me the pride of your island-demesne, Child-wanderers gentle and sprightly! To pin on my breast where the little ones lean That comfort me daily and nightly. To them I will talk of my Irish who screen My throne at such cost, — they shall learn," said the Queen : "Of heroes and honor them rightly. IV. "Bring hither their bugler, too young for that scene Where War plowed the furrows un- sightly : Yet ever his bugle rang out clear and keen MY IRISH. 2011 While, bleeding, he clung to it tightly. I will give him another of silvery sheen, And send the boy back to the front," smiled the Queen. "To prove that I honor him rightly. V. "God speed you, dragoon, fusilier and marine! Your lowliest soldier is knightly : With Roberts and Kitchener, — what do they mean Who speak of my Irish so lightly? No doubt but great Wellington, riding unseen, Went leading the ranks that are wearing the green : Shout, England and honor them rightly! VI. "Blow, blow, little bugler! your melody keen Oft sounded shall never ring tritely. Your bugle starts echoes from rock and ravine However you breathe in it slightly! Unscared sing the love-birds — their plumage they preen On the graves of My Irish : yet blow," spake the Queen, "Your music shall honor them rightly. 202 RUEAIYAT OF SOLOMON. VII. *'0, Ireland, so narrow the channel between The sea-^lls cross over it lightly! Your seeds have blown hither : See, deep in this green Your shamrock is blossoming whitely! Who says that I love not my Irish ? I ween It is little he knows of true love," quoth the Queen : "My heart breaks to honor them rightly !" AMERICA TO ENGLAND. [At Close of the South African War.] I. Hail, thou of whom false seers did prophesy Of late, upon the hills, with hands out- spread ! "Tremble, O, England ! Stretched athwart the sky, To drink thy blood the dragon War hath sped, To whom, erewhile, were knights and maidens fed: Tremble nor look for help. . . St. George is dead. AMERICA TO ENGLAND. 203 II. "Lo, proud Assyria to her greatness wed, Wise Egypt and Phoenicia none descry! Call if thou wilt, — no sleeper lifts the head : It is the roaring lion makes reply. Greater thy fall as thou art built more high : Art thou not dying? Harken! thou shalt die!" TIL Rent were the mountains when the Lord passed by- . . , Up-rose the wild-haired warriors, Island- bred, Who crushed against the spears, hearts drain- ing dry To keep thee fair and free for whom they bled. They leaped to life from where they made their bed : They had been fierce and fell, — their ghosts were dread ! IV. "Britain, be these our sons, to carnage led, Full loud of voice and swift as hounds in cry? 204 RUBAIYAT OF SOLOMON. For thee must they the leopard's pathway thread While darkening heaven the bearded vul- tures hie? O, Sweet, our Mother! Thee should they deny, Ourselves would smite them, warring eye to eye! V. **What though thy wandering feet the jungle try Where close the tigress creeps, her young unfed, Fast shall they follow, lest thou sink and sigh Wounded, for-done, with many foes bested ! Content thee ! their's the toil : turn thou and spread Thy board with milk and flesh and sacred bread !" VL Hail, England! Thou to more than greatness wed ! As for thy martyrs, evermore they cry Before his face who did the wine-p^ess tread : *'Holy is He who gave us leave to die For our Beloved ! Far her doves shall fly And Mercy brood between the sea and sky." PANAMA. 205 VII. Enriched with liHes shall thy years go by,— The TREE of trees thy shelter overhead: Behold, the leaves upon its branches high Are for the healing of the nations shed ! Twelve are its fruits — the purple and the red. Pluck thou and eat and be with sweetness fed. PANAMA : Home of the Dove-plant, or Holy Ghost Flower. L What time the Lord drew back the sea And gave thee room, slight Panama, "I will not have thee great," said He, But thou shalt bear the slender key Of both the gates I builded Me. And all the great shall come to thee For leave to pass, O, Panama ! [Flozmr of the Holy Ghost, white dove, Breathe szv^eetness zvhere He wrought in love!] H. His oceans call across the land ! ''How long, how long, fair Panama, Wilt thou the shock of tides withstand, 206 RUBAIYAT OF SOLOMON. Nor heed us, sobbing by the strand ? Set wide thy gates on either hand, That we may search through saltless sand May clasp and kiss, O, Panama! \_F lower of the deep-embosomed dove So should His mighty nations love!] III. Outpeal His holy temple-clocks ! It is thine hour, glad Panama : Now shall thy key undo the locks ; The strong shall cleave thy sunken rocks : Swung loose and floating from their docks, The world's white fleets shall come in flocks To thread thy straits, O, Panama! [Flcnuer of the tropics, snozuy dove, Forbid, unless they come in love.] IV. How feautiful is thy demesne! Search out thy wealth, proud Panama, Thy gold, thy pearls of silver sheen, Thy fruitful palms, thy thickets green, Load thou the ships that ride between: Attire thee as becomes a Queen, — The great ones greet thee, Panama. [FloTmr of the white and peaceful dove Let all •men pass who come in love.] The Century Magazine. A SONG OF PEACE. 207 A SONG OF PEACE. I. From out the flowering lilac-tree A singing sound saluted me : I said: "Is that the wren?" Or bird or spirit, still the voice So made my leaping heart rejoice, I sang: ''Declare, my tongue and pen, ''He comes! he comes! the Man of men!" 11. And all the lilac-blossoms white Breathed out their odors of delight To gladden field and fen : While through enraptured spaces high Where war's reverberations die, One called: "Prepare! ye nations ten! "Behold he comes ! the Man of men !'' III. O, world, with blood of slaughter wet, Are not the vials emptied yet That deluge hill and glen ? Through smoke of human sacrifice. Still must the cry of pleading rise : "We knew that thou wilt come . . . but when ? Earth groans for thee, thou Man of men !" 208 RUBAIYAT OF SOLOMON. IV. The listening lilacs white as snow That loveliness of him shall know : Sing low, enchanting wren. Lest we should lose some echo soft Swooning, reviving far aloft. Where, screened of God from mortal ken, Souls chant: ''Behold the Man of men!" V. No bursting bomb shall mar the feast ; No nation, as an hungered beast. Come snarling from the den; No armies, all dismembered, hear The shrieking wounded far and near; No wailing women answer then : When he shall come — the Man of men. VI. O, mourners, cover well your dead ! Into God's peace their souls have fled. Sw^eet, sweet, O, singing wren. Love's plenteous dews on vale and hill! There shall his lilies drink their fill ! Ah, crucify him not again! Behold, he comes ! the MAN^of men ! Kansas Federation of Women's Clubs. FINIS. In the uttermost hour, zvhen the singing is done (For a poet must slumber!) and over the sun Fall the veils of the firmanient, one by one, — Nozif fell me, all ye zvho are wise and young (The bell, oh, the bell hath a silver tongue When the blithe hand pulls!), may zve hear among Those far-away echoes a luord out-flung: ^'Let the spinning-wheel rest, for the fleece is spun : — What song hath the whirling spindle sungr 11. When, robed as the lilies, the noble and fair Pass on to the crowning — the cardinals there In their hats (but the head of the King is bare!), — Nozv tell me, all ye who are foolish and old (Oh, faintly — oh, slozvly the bell will be tolled By the palsied hand!), may a page be bold To cry: Here is thread for a loom to hold; *'And a small, pale singer, who climbs the stair, Hath need, great need of the cloth of goldr 2IO RUBAIYAT OF SOLOMON. Will that skein, by the reel from the spindle caught, Be zuarped and woven and all in-ivrought With shimmering pearls through the deep seas brought F Now tell me, all ye zvho are lifted high (The bell, oh, the bell! let the murmurs die While we listen — listen!), may one draw nigh And zmtch, as the weaving shuttles flyf Be clothed zvith that loveliness — passing thought f Yea, speak zvith the King as the King moves by? AUG 24 mb