Ex Libris 
 C. K. OGDEN I 
 
 THE LIBRARY 
 
 OF 
 
 THE UNIVERSITY 
 OF CALIFORNIA 
 
 LOS ANGELES
 
 Messrs. Longmans intend this book 
 to be sold to the Public at the adver- 
 tised price, and supply it to the Trade 
 on terms which will not allow of 
 discount.
 
 /
 
 THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD
 
 ISaflantgne 
 
 PAI.I.ANTVNK. HANSON ANI> CO. 
 
 I !>K. llfK'.H AND I.ONUON
 
 THE 
 
 LIGHT OF THE WORLD 
 
 OR 
 
 THE GREAT CONSUMMATION 
 
 SIR EDWIN ARNOLD, K.C.I.E., C.S.I. 
 
 AUTHOR OF "THE LIGHT OF ASIA," ETC. 
 
 THIKD EDITION 
 
 LONDON 
 
 LONGMANS, GREEN, AND CO. 
 1891 
 
 All rights reserved
 
 College 
 Library 
 
 PR 
 
 DeDfcateO 
 
 TO 
 
 THE QUEEN'S MOST EXCELLENT MAJESTY. 
 
 109202?
 
 proeme. 
 
 THE SOVEREIGN VOICE SPAKE, ONCE MORE, IN MINE EAR : 
 " WRITE, NOW, A SONG UNSTAINED BY ANY TEAR ! " 
 
 "WHAT SHALL i WRITE ? " i SAID : THE VOICE REPLIED : 
 
 " WRITE WHAT WE TELL THEE OF THE CRUCIFIED ! " 
 
 " HOW SHALL I WRITE," I SAID, " WHO AM NOT MEET 
 ONE WORD OF THAT SWEET SPEAKING TO REPEAT ? " 
 
 " IT SHALL BE GIVEN UNTO THEE ! DO THIS THING ! " 
 ANSWERED THE VOICE : " WASH THY LIPS CLEAN, AND SING ! "
 
 CONTENTS, 
 
 PAGE 
 
 AT BETHLEHEM i 
 
 BOOK THE FIRST : 
 
 MARY MAGDALENE 39 
 
 BOOK THE SECOND : 
 
 THE MAGUS 91 
 
 BOOK THE THIRD : 
 
 THE ALABASTER BOX 
 
 BOOK THE FOURTH : 
 
 THE PARABLES 161 
 
 AT TYRE .193 
 
 BOOK THE FIFTH : 
 
 THE LOVE OF GOD AND MAN . . . .203 
 
 BOOK THE SIXTH : 
 
 THE GREAT CONSUMMATION . 253
 
 Cije ILtgJjt of ti)e TOoriti, 
 
 AT BETHLEHEM. 
 
 So many hills arising, green and grey, 
 
 On Earth's large round ; and that one hill to say : 
 
 " I was His bearing-place ! " On Earth's wide breast 
 
 So many maids ! and She of all most blest 
 
 Heavily mounting Bethlehem to be 
 
 His Mother ! Holy Maid of Galilee ! 
 
 Hill, with the olives and the little town ! 
 
 If rivers from their crystal founts flow down, 
 
 If 'twas the Dawn which did Day's gold unbar, 
 
 Ye were beginnings of the best we are, 
 
 The most we see, the highest that we know, 
 
 The lifting heavenward of Man's life below. 
 
 A 
 
 A
 
 2 THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. 
 
 Therefore, though better lips ye shall not lack, 
 
 Suffer, if one of modern mood steals back 
 
 Weary and wayworn, from the Desert-road 
 
 Of barren Thought; from Hope's Dead Sea which 
 
 glowed 
 
 "VVith's Love's fair mirage ; from the Poet's haunt, 
 The Scholar's lamp, the Statesman's scheme, the vaunt, 
 The failure, of all fond Philosophies, 
 Back unto Thee, back to thy olive-trees, 
 Thy people, and thy story, and thy Son, 
 Mary of Nazareth ! so long agone 
 Bearing us Him Who made our Christendom, 
 And came to save the Earth, from Heav'n, His home. 
 
 So many hill-sides, crowned with rugged rocks ! 
 So many simple shepherds keeping flocks 
 In many moonlit fields ! but, only they 
 So lone, so long ago, so far away 
 On that one winter's night, at Bethlehem,
 
 AT BETHLEHEM. 3 
 
 To have white Angels singing lauds for them ! 
 
 They only hinds wrapped in the he-goat's skin 
 
 To hear Heaven's music, bidding Peace begin I 
 
 Only for those, of countless watching eyes, 
 
 The " Glory of the Lord " glad to arise ; 
 
 The skies to blaze with gold and silver light 
 
 Of seraphs, by strong joy flashed into sight ; 
 
 The wind, for them, with that strange song to swell, 
 
 By too much happiness incredible. 
 
 That tender Anthem of good times to be 
 
 Then at their dawn not daylight yet, ah me ! 
 
 " Peace upon Earth ! Goodwill ! " sung to the strings 
 
 Of lutes celestial. Nay, if these things 
 
 Too blessed to believe have seemed, or seem, 
 
 Not ours the fault, dear Angels ! Prove the dream 
 
 Waking and true ! sing once again, and make 
 
 Moonlight and starlight sweet for Earth's sad sake ! 
 
 Or, if Heaven bids ye lock in silence still 
 
 Conquest of Peace, and coming of Goodwill,
 
 4 THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. 
 
 Till times to be, then oh, you placid sheep ! 
 
 * 
 
 Ah, thrice-blest shepherds ! suffer that we creep 
 
 Back through the tangled thicket of the years 
 
 To graze in your fair flock, to strain our ears 
 
 With listening herdsmen, if, perchance, one note 
 
 Of such high singing in the fine air float ; 
 
 If any rock thrills yet with that great strain 
 
 We did not hear, and shall not hear, again ; 
 
 If any olive-leaf at Bethlehem 
 
 Lisps still one syllable vouchsafed to them ; 
 
 If some stream, conscious still some breeze be stirred 
 
 With echo of th' immortal words ye heard. 
 
 What was it that ye heard ? the wind of Night 
 Playing in cheating tones, with touches light, 
 Amid the palm-plumes ? Or, one stop outblown 
 Of planetary music, so far flown 
 Earthwards, that to those innocent ears 'twas brought 
 Which bent the mighty measure to their thought ?
 
 AT BETHLEHEM. 
 
 Or, haply, from breast-shaped Beth-Haccarem, 
 The hill of Herod, some waft sent to them 
 Of storming drums and trumps, at festival 
 Held in the Iduimean's purple hall ? 
 Or, it may be, some Aramaic song 
 Of country lovers, after parting long 
 Meeting anew, with much " goodwill," indeed, 
 Blown by some swain upon his Jordan reed ? 
 Nay, nay ! your abbas back ye did not fling, 
 From each astonished ear, for swains to sing 
 Their village- verses clear ; for sounds well known 
 Of wandering breeze, or whispering trees, or tone 
 Of Herod's trumpets. And ye did not gaze 
 Heart-startled on the stars (albeit the rays 
 Of that lone orb shot, sparkling, from the East 
 Unseen before) ; for these, largest and least, 
 Were fold-lamps, lighted nightly : and ye knew 
 Far differing glory in the Night's dark blue 
 Suddenly lit with rose, and pierced with spike
 
 6 THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. 
 
 Of golden spear beam. Oh, a dream, belike ! 
 
 Some far-fetched Vision, new to peasant's sleep, 
 
 Of Paradise stripped bare ! But, why thus keep 
 
 Secrets for them ? This bar, which doth enclose 
 
 Better and nobler souls, why burst for those 
 
 Who supped on the parched pulse, and lapped the 
 
 stream ? 
 
 And each, at the same hour, dreams the same dream ! 
 Or, easier still, they lied ! Yet, wherefore, then 
 " Rise, and go up to Bethlehem," and unpen 
 To wolf and jackal all their hapless fold 
 So they might " see these things which had been told " 
 In Heaven's own Voice ? And Heaven, whate'er betide, 
 Spreads surely somewhere, on Death's farther side ! 
 This sphere obscure, viewed with dim eyes to match, 
 This earthly span gross, brief wherein we snatch, 
 Rarely and faintly, glimpses of Times past 
 Which have been boundless, and of Times to last 
 Beyond them timelessly ; how should such be
 
 AT BETHLEHEM. ; 
 
 All to be seen, all we were made to see ? 
 
 This flesh fallacious, binding us, indeed, 
 
 To sense, and yet so largely leaving freed 
 
 That we do know things are we cannot know, 
 
 And high and higher on Thought's stairways go 
 
 Till each last round leads to some sudden steep 
 
 Where Eeason swims, and falters ; or must leap 
 
 Headlong, perforce, into the Infinite, 
 
 How should we say outside this shines no light 
 
 Of lovelier scenes unseen ; of lives which spread 
 
 Pleasant and unexpected for the Dead, 
 
 As our World, opening to the Babe's wide eyes 
 
 New from the Womb, and full of birth's surprise ? 
 
 How should this prove the All, the Last, the First ? 
 
 Why shall no inner, under, splendours burst 
 
 Once twice the Veil ? Why put a marvel by 
 
 Because too rich with hope ? Why quite deny 
 
 The Heavenly story, lest our doubtful hearts 
 
 Which mark the stars, and take them for bright parts
 
 8 THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. 
 
 Of boundless Being, ships of life that sail 
 In .glittering argosies without a tale, 
 Without a term aye, of that shoreless Sea, 
 The scattered silver Islets, drifting free 
 To destinies unmeasured see, too, there 
 By help of dead believing eyes, which were, 
 The peoples of the stars ; and listen, meek, 
 To those vast voices of the stars, which speak 
 If ever they shall speak in each man's tongue ? 
 
 And, truly, if Joy's music once hath rung 
 From lips of bands invisible, if any 
 Be they the Dead, or of the Deathless Many 
 Love and serve Man, angelical Bef rienders, 
 Glad of his weal, and from his woe Defenders, 
 If such, in Heaven, have pity on our tears, 
 Forever falling with the unmending years, 
 High cause had they at Bethlehem, that night 
 To lift the curtain of Hope's hidden light,
 
 AT BETHLEHEM. 9 
 
 To break decree of silence with Love's cry, 
 
 Foreseeing how this Babe, born lowlily, 
 
 Should past dispute, since now achieved is this 
 
 Bring Earth great gifts of blessing and of bliss ; 
 
 Date, from that crib, the Dynasty of Love ; 
 
 Strip his misused thunderbolts from Jove ; 
 
 Bend to their knees Koine's Caesars ; break the chain 
 
 From the slave's neck ; set sick hearts free again, 
 
 Bitterly bound by priests, and scribes, and scrolls ; 
 
 And heal with balm of pardon, sinking souls ; 
 
 Should Mercy to her vacant throne restore, 
 
 Teach Eight to Kings, and Patience to the Poor ; 
 
 Should by His sweet name all names overthrow, 
 
 And by His lovely words, the quick seeds sow 
 
 Of golden equities, and brotherhood, 
 
 Of Pity, Peace, and gentle praise of good ; 
 
 Of knightly honour, holding life in trust 
 
 For God, and Lord, and all things pure and just ; 
 
 Lowly to Woman ; for Maid Mary's sake
 
 io THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. 
 
 Lifting our sister from the dust, to take 
 
 In homes her equal place, the household's Queen, 
 
 Crowned and august who sport and thrall had been ! 
 
 Of arts adorning life, of Charities 
 
 Gracious and wide, because the impartial skies 
 
 Eoof one race in ; and poor, weak, mean, oppressed, 
 
 Are children of one bounteous Mother's breast, 
 
 One Father's care : emancipating man, 
 
 Should, from that bearing-cave, outside the Khan, 
 
 Amid the kneeling cattle, rise, and be 
 
 Light of all lands, and splendour of each sea, 
 
 The Sun-burst of a new Morn come to Earth, 
 
 Not yet, alas ! broad Day, but Day's white birth 
 
 Which promiseth ; and blesseth, promising. 
 
 These from that Night ! What cause of wondering 
 
 If that one Silence of all Silences 
 
 Brake into Music ? if, for hopes like these 
 
 Angels, who love us, sang that song, and show 
 
 Of Time's far purpose made the " great light " glow ?
 
 AT BETHLEHEM. n 
 
 Wherefore, let whosoever will drink dry 
 His cup of Faith ; and think that, verily, 
 Not in a vision, no way otherwise 
 Than those poor shepherds told, there did arise 
 This portent. Being amidst their sheep and goats, 
 
 
 
 Lapped careless in their pasture-keeping coats, 
 
 Blind as their drowsy beasts to what drew nigh, 
 
 (Such the lulled ear, and such the unbusied eye 
 
 Which ofttimes hears and sees hid things !) there spread 
 
 The " glory of the Lord " around each head, 
 
 A light not moon-glow, nor the grey of Night 
 
 Nor lightning-flash, nor lit like any light 
 
 By earthly sense beheld, but fetched from beam 
 
 Of that concentral Sun whereby Suns gleam, 
 
 Which kindles spheres, and has for dusk full Noon, 
 
 Shining behind the Blue, past Sun and Moon, 
 
 And making hyaline of sether clear 
 
 Where, with new eyes, souls free of Death and Fear 
 
 In range incomprehensible, and ray
 
 12 THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. 
 
 Of limitless illuming, see alway 
 
 Authentic Being ; outside Life's close bars, 
 
 By Life's light blotted, as at noon the stars. 
 
 Such sight spreads bright behind that blindness here 
 
 Which men name "seeing ;" and such Heav'n-Dawn dear 
 
 (As it had reason by such Day to follow !) 
 
 Broke, be it deemed, o'er hill and over hollow, 
 
 On the inner seeing, the sense concealed, unknown, 
 
 Of those plain hinds glad, humble, and alone 
 
 Flooding their minds, filling their hearts ; around, 
 
 Above, below, disclosing grove and ground, 
 
 The rocks, the hill, the town, the solitude, 
 
 The wondering flocks, a-gaze with grass half-chewed, 
 
 The palm-crowns, and the path to Bethlehem, 
 
 As sight angelic spies. And, came to them 
 
 The " Angel of the Lord," visible, sure, 
 
 Known for the Angel by his presence pure 
 
 Whereon was written Love, and Peace, and Grace, 
 
 With beauty passing mortal mien and face,
 
 AT BETHLEHEM. 13 
 
 His form declaring him. We should not seek, 
 As they, too, sought not, any voice to speak 
 The titles of the Chief of those who stand 
 Euling our Planet, 'neath th' encircling Hand 
 Which scatters suns and stars athwart the Blue 
 As sowers fling the seed. We should know, too, 
 The great and tender eyes, sad with our sinning, 
 Glad when we strive aright, 'ware of Beginning, 
 And ending, and the Reasons, and the Path ; 
 That gracious, potent, Friend who wisdom hath 
 Of whence all come, and whereunto all go ; 
 (He, in Gethsemane, did see him so !) 
 The embodied, blinding, loveliness of all 
 Which, of Earth's dearest Dead, our hearts recall, 
 To perfectness transfigured and combined, 
 In heavenly type of utmost Humankind. 
 Not robed, not sandalled, as the painters limn, 
 But past all dreams, till we wake, seeing him ; 
 And, then, as natural, as dear, as known
 
 14 THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. 
 
 As to the Babe its Mother's brows bent down. 
 
 Wingless ; for where these live there blows no wind, 
 
 Nor aught spreads, gross as air, nor any kind 
 
 Of substance, whereby spirits' march is stopped ; 
 
 Nothing so heavy as the snow-flower dropped 
 
 Feather-like on the wild swan's feather ; or dip 
 
 Of swallow in the streamlet ; or Love's lip 
 
 Kissing her Dead. Oh, certes ! not of men, 
 
 Yet, blending form with spirit ; nay, and then, 
 
 Supreme, majestical ! for terror fell 
 
 With worship, on their hearts, the writings tell ; 
 
 So that the Angel of the Earth had need 
 
 To comfort them, speaking these words, indeed : 
 
 " FEAR NOT ! FOR BEHOLD I BRING YOU GOOD TIDINGS 
 OF GREAT JOY, WHICH SHALL BE TO ALL PEOPLE." 
 
 "FOR UNTO YOU IS BORN THIS DAY IN THE ClTY OF 
 DAVID, A SAVIOUR, WHICH is CHRIST THE LORD."
 
 AT BETHLEHEM. 15 
 
 "AND THIS THE SIGN UNTO YOU ! YE SHALL FIND 
 THE BABE WEAPPED IN SWADDLING CLOTHES, LYING IN A 
 
 MANGER." 
 
 Might he not speak so, if, in truth, we heard 
 
 Our Angel, and the Lord's ; with simple word 
 
 Easy and sweet, as to her little son 
 
 A nursing mother ; or when Night is done 
 
 Dawn's soft breath whispering plain : " Lo ! I am 
 
 Day!" 
 
 But, of those things which the Bright One did say, 
 So high, so new, so glad, so comforting, 
 " Good tidings of great joy to you I bring ! " 
 The echo, not the meaning of his speech 
 Lives ; and men tell it sadly, each to each, 
 With lips, not hearts ; sadly, from tongue to tongue, 
 The Ages, unpersuaded, pass along 
 The dulcet message, like a dream bygone 
 Which was for happy sleepers, but is flown.
 
 1 6 THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. 
 
 "We bleed, and hate, and suffer, and are blind, 
 Uncomprehending ; yet, if one will mind, 
 That light is shining still on Life's far side ; 
 And the Apostle, and Heaven's Angel, lied, 
 Or else, from Heaven that night th' Evangel fell : 
 " Beginnings of the Golden Times we tell ! " 
 Now is the New Law opened ! Mary's Son 
 Hath opened it, and, when full years are run, 
 Peace shall be, and Goodwill, and Mercy shed 
 Over all flesh and spirit, quick and dead ! 
 The Consummation comes, the purposed Bliss ; 
 Earth was for Now ; her glad days spring from this ! 
 
 Nor only that one Angel (if we dare 
 Eeceive) for " suddenly was with him there 
 A multitude of heavenly ones," who throng 
 The silvery gleam, all singing that same song 
 Of Peace and Love ; all for our Planet's sake 
 Praising ELOI.
 
 AT BETHLEHEM. 17 
 
 (Tis the Name He spake 
 111 th' Aramaic, at His Mother's knee, 
 In white-walled Nazareth of Galilee, 
 Lisping first speech ; and after, on His Cross ; 
 But we have sore misused, to all men's loss, 
 The great word " God," speaking th' Unspeakable 
 With daily lips, and doing nowise well 
 To give thereby parts, passions, qualities 
 To the All-Being, Who hath none of these ; 
 Mingling weak mortal thoughts of " Sire " and " King " 
 In " God the Father ; " and, so worshipping 
 An idol, served with muttered spell and moan, 
 Baser than brass, and duller than dead stone ; 
 A graven image of that Glorious All 
 Who hath no form, and Whom His Angels call 
 By never-uttered names, and Whom to see 
 Not once hath been, and never once shall be : 
 Who doth, in universal rule, possess 
 Majesty, beauty, love, delightfulness ;
 
 1 8 THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. 
 
 The Omnipresent, Conscious, Joy. 'Twere well, * 
 If name must be with Mary's Son to spell 
 This unspoiled Word, mystical, free of dread, 
 Ancient and hallowed ; and by those lips said 
 Which knew its meaning most, and called " God " so, 
 " ELOI " in the Highest.) 
 
 Heaven a-glow ! 
 And the mild burden of its minstrelsy : 
 
 PEACE BEGINNING TO BE, 
 
 DEEP AS THE SLEEP OF THE SEA 
 WHEN THE STARS THEIR FACES GLASS 
 
 IN ITS BLUE TRANQUILLITY ; 
 
 HEARTS OF MEN UPON EARTH, 
 
 FROM THE FIRST TO THE SECOND BIRTH, 
 TO REST AS THE WILD WATERS REST 
 WITH THE COLOURS OF HEAVEN ON THEIR BREAST. 
 
 LOVE, WHICH IS SUNLIGHT OF PEACE, 
 AGE BY AGE TO INCREASE,
 
 AT BETHLEHEM. 19 
 
 TILL ANGEK AND HATE ARE DEAD 
 AND SORROW AND DEATH SHALL CEASE ; 
 " PEACE ON EARTH AND GOODWILL ! " 
 SOULS THAT ARE GENTLE AND STILL 
 
 HEAR THE FIRST MUSIC OF THIS 
 
 FAR-OFF, INFINITE BLISS ! 
 
 So or in such wise those rude shepherds heard 
 The Angels singing clear ; when, not one word 
 Wiser ones caught that night solemn and still 
 Of their high errand : "PEACE! GOODWILL ! GOODWILL! " 
 
 All ! think we listened there, 
 
 With opened heart and ear, 
 And heard, in truth, as these men say they heard, 
 
 On flock, and rock, and tree 
 
 Eaining such melody ; 
 Heaven's love descending in that loveliest word,
 
 20 THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. 
 
 " PEACE ! " Not at first ! not yet ! 
 
 Our Earth had to forget 
 Burden of birth, and travail of slow years ; 
 
 But now the dark time done ! 
 
 Daylight at length begun ! 
 First gold of sun in sight, dispelling fears ! 
 
 PEACE, pledged, at last, to Man ! 
 
 Oh ! if there only ran 
 Thrill of such surety through one human soul, 
 
 Would not the swift joy start 
 
 From beating heart to heart, 
 Lighting all lands, leaping from pole to pole ? 
 
 PEACE, PEACE to come ! to be ! 
 If such were certainty 
 Far-off, at length, at latest, any while, 
 "What woe were hard to bear ?
 
 AT BETHLEHEM. 21 
 
 "What sorrow worth one tear ? 
 Murder would soften ; black Despair would smile. 
 
 But, heralded on high ; 
 
 From midnight's purple sky 
 Dropped like the sudden rain which brings the flowers ; 
 
 PEACE ! Aye to dwell with men ; 
 
 No strife, no wars ! And, then, 
 The coupled comfort of those golden hours, 
 
 GOODWILL ! Consider this, 
 
 What easy, perfect bliss 
 If, over all the Earth the one change spread 
 
 That Hate and Fraud should die, 
 
 And all, in amity, 
 Let go rapine, and wrath, and wrong, and dread ! 
 
 What lack of Paradise 
 If, in angelic wise,
 
 22 THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. 
 
 Each unto each, as to himself, were dear ? 
 
 If we in souls descried, 
 
 Whatever form might hide, 
 Own brother, and own sister, everywhere ? 
 
 All this, not whispered low 
 
 To one heart, full of woe 
 By reason of blood-reddened fields of Earth, 
 
 By sight of Fear and Hate, 
 
 And policies of State, 
 And evil fruits which have from these their birth : 
 
 But, through their ears, to us 
 
 Straitly imparted thus 
 "With pomp of glittering Angels, and their train ; 
 
 And radiance of such light 
 
 As maketh mid-day night, 
 And heavenliest speech of Heaven, not heard again
 
 AT BETHLEHEM. 23 
 
 Till these things come to pass ! 
 
 Nay, if it be alas ! 
 A Vision, let us sleep and dream it true ! 
 
 Or sane, and broad-awake, 
 
 For its great sound and sake, 
 Take it, and make it Earth's ; and peace ensue ! 
 
 So, when the Angels were no more to see, 
 Ee-entering those gates of space, whose key 
 Love keeps on that side, and on this side Death 
 Each shepherd to the other whispering saith, 
 Lest he should miss some lingering symphonies 
 Of that departing music, " Let us rise 
 And go even now to Bethlehem, and spy 
 This which is come to pass, showed graciously 
 By the Lord's Angels." Therewith hastened they 
 By olive-yards, and old walls mossed and grey 
 Where, in close chinks, the lizard and the snake 
 Thinking the sunlight come, stirred, half-awake :
 
 24 THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. 
 
 Across the terraced levels of the vines, 
 Under the pillared palms ; along the lines 
 Of lance-leaved oleanders, scented sweet ; 
 Through the pomegranate-gardens sped their feet : 
 Over the causeway, up the slope, they spring, 
 Breast the steep path, with steps unslackening ; 
 Past David's well, past the town-wall they ran 
 Unto the House of Chimham, to the Khan ; 
 Where mark them peering in, the posts between, 
 Questioning out of breath if birth hath been 
 This night, in any guest-room, high or low ? 
 The drowsy porter at the gate saith " No ! " 
 Shooting the bars ; while the packed camels shake 
 Their bells to listen, and the sleepers wake ; 
 And to their feet the ponderous steers slow rise, 
 Lifting from trampled fodder large mild eyes. 
 " Nay ! Brothers ! no such thing ! yet there is gone 
 Yonder, one nigh her time, a gentle one ! 
 With him that seemed her spouse of Galilee ;
 
 AT BETHLEHEM. 25 
 
 They toiled at sun-down to our doors but, see ! 
 No nook was here ! Seek at the cave instead ; 
 We shook some barley-straw to make their bed." 
 
 Then to the cave they wended, and there spied 
 
 That which was more, if truth be testified, 
 
 Than all the pomp seen thro' proud Herod's porch 
 
 Ablaze with brass, and silk, and scented torch, 
 
 High on Beth-Haccarem ; more to behold, 
 
 If men had known, than all the glory told 
 
 Of splendid Caesar in his marbled home 
 
 On the white Isle, or audience-hall at Koine 
 
 With trembling princes thronged. A clay lamp swings 
 
 By twisted camel-cords, from blackened rings, 
 
 Showing with flickering gleams, a Child new-born 
 
 Wrapped in a cloth, laid where the beasts, at morn 
 
 Will champ their bean-straw : in the lamp's ray dim 
 
 A fresh-made Mother by Him, fostering Him 
 
 With face and mien to worship, speaking nought ;
 
 26 THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. 
 
 Close at hand Joseph, and the ass, hath brought 
 
 That precious twofold burden to the gate ; 
 
 With goats, sheep, oxen, driven to shelter late. 
 
 No mightier sight ! yet all sufficeth it 
 
 If we will deem things be beyond our wit 
 
 To prove Heaven's music true, and show Heaven's way, 
 
 How, not by famous kings, nor with array 
 
 Of brazen letters on the boastful stone, 
 
 But " by the mouth of babes," quiet, alone, 
 
 Little beginnings planning for large ends, 
 
 With other purpose than fond man attends, 
 
 Wisdom and Love in secret fellowship 
 
 Guide our World's wanderings with a finger-tip ; 
 
 And how, that night, as these did darkly see, 
 
 They sealed the first scrolls of Earth's history, 
 
 And opened what shall run till Death be dead. 
 
 Which Babe they reverenced, bending low the head, 
 First of all worshippers, and told the things
 
 AT BETHLEHEM. 27 
 
 Done in the plain, and played on Angels' strings. 
 Then those around wondered and worshipped, too, 
 And Mary heard but wondered not anew 
 Hiding this in her heart, the heart which beat 
 With blood of Jesus Christ, holy and sweet. 
 
 Also, not marvelling, albeit they heard, 
 Stood certain by those three swart ones appeared 
 From climes unknown ; yet, surely, on high quest 
 Of what that Star proclaimed, bright on the breast 
 First of the Earn, afterwards glittering thence 
 Into the watery Trigon ; where, intense, 
 It lit the Crab, and burned the Fishes pale. 
 Three Signiors, owning many a costly bale ; 
 Three travelled Masters, by their bearing Lords 
 Of lands and slaves. The Indian silk affords, 
 With many a folded braid of white and gold, 
 Shade to their brows ; rich goat-hair shawls did fold 
 Their gowns of flower' d white muslin, midway tied ;
 
 28 THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. 
 
 And ruby, turkis, emerald stones of pride 
 
 Blazed on their thumb-rings; and a pearl gleamed 
 
 white 
 
 In every ear ; and silver belts, clasped tight, 
 Held ink-box, reeds, and knives, in scabbards gemmed ; 
 Curled shoes of goat-skin dyed, with seed-pearls 
 
 hemmed, 
 
 Shod their brown feet ; hair shorn ; lids low, to think 
 Eyes deep and wistful, as of those who drink 
 Waters of hidden wisdom, night and day, 
 And live twain lives, conforming as they may, 
 In diligence, and due observances, 
 To ways of men ; yet, not at one with these ; 
 But ever straining past the things that seem 
 To that which Is the Truth behind the Dream. 
 Three princely wanderers of the Asian blood 
 Perchance, by Indus dwellers ; or some flood 
 That feeds her from Himala's icy dome ; 
 Or, haply, to those Syrian palm-trees come
 
 AT BETHLEHEM. 29 
 
 From Gunga's banks, or mounts of Malabar 
 Which lift the Deccan to its sun, and far 
 Eampart-like fringe the blue Arabian Sea. 
 True followers of the Buddh they seemed to be, 
 The better arm and shoulder showing bare 
 With each ; and on the neck of each, draped fair 
 A scarf of saffron, patched ; and 'twixt the eyes, 
 In saffron stamped, the Name of mysteries 
 OM ; and the Swastika, with secrets rife 
 How man may 'scape the dire deceits of Life. 
 
 These three stood by, as who would entrance make ; 
 And heard the Shepherds' tale ; and hearing, spake 
 Strange Indian words one to another ; then sent 
 Command. Their serving-men, obedient, 
 Cast loose from off the camels, kneeling nigh, 
 Nettings and mats, and made the fastenings fly 
 From belly-band, and crupper-rope, and tail ; 
 And broke the knots, and let each dusty bale
 
 3 o THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. 
 
 Slide from the saddle-horns, and give to see 
 
 Long hoarded treasure of great jewellery, 
 
 And fragrant secrets of the Indian grove, 
 
 And splendours of the Indian looms, inwove 
 
 With gold and silver flowers ; " for now," said they, 
 
 " Our eyes have found this thing sought day by day ; 
 
 By the all-conscious, silent sky well-known, 
 
 And, specially, of yon white star foreshown, 
 
 Which, bursting magically on the sight, 
 
 Beckoned us from our homes, shining aright, 
 
 The silver beacon to this holy hill. 
 
 Mark if it sparkles not, aware and still, 
 
 Over the place ? The astral houses, see ! 
 
 Spake truth : our feet were guided faithfully. 
 
 'Tis the Star-Child, who was to rise and wear 
 
 A crown than Suleiman's more royal and rare, 
 
 ' King of the Jews.' Grant an approach to us 
 
 Who crave to worship Him." 
 
 Now, it fell thus
 
 AT BETHLEHEM. 31 
 
 That these first to Jerusalem had passed ; 
 And sojourned there, observing feast and fast 
 In the thronged city ; oft of townsmen seen 
 In market and bazaar ; and, by their mien 
 Noted for lordliest of all strangers there, 
 Much whispered of, in sooth, as who read clear 
 Shadows of times to come, and secrets bright 
 Writ in the jewelled cypher of the Night. 
 So that the voice of this to Herod went 
 Feastful and fearful ; ever ill-content 
 'Mid plots and perils ; girt with singing boys, 
 And dancing girls of Tyre, and armoured noise 
 Of Caesar's legionaries. Long and near, 
 In audience-hall, each dusky wayfarer 
 Questioned he of their knowledge, and the Star, 
 What message flashed it ? Whether nigh or far 
 Would rise this portent of a Babe to reign 
 King of the Jews, and bring a crown again 
 To weeping Zion, and cast forth from them
 
 32 THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. 
 
 The Roman scourge ? And, if at Bethlehem, 
 As with one voice, priests, elders, scribes aver, 
 Then let them thither wend, and spy the stir, 
 And find this Babe, and come anew to him, 
 Declaring where the wonder. " 'Twas his whim," 
 Quotha : " to be of fashion with the stars, 
 (Weary, like them, of gazing upon wars) 
 To shine upon this suckling, bending knee 
 Save unto Csesar uncrooked latterly." 
 
 Thence came it those Three stood at entering 
 Before the door ; and their rich gifts did bring : 
 Red gold from the Indian rocks, cunningly beat 
 To plate and chalice, with old fables sweet 
 Of Buddh's compassion, and dark Mara's powers 
 Round the brims glittering ; and a riot of flowers 
 Done on the gold, with gold script to proclaim 
 The noble Truths, and Threefold mystic Name 
 OM, and the Swastika ; and how man wins
 
 AT BETHLEHEM. 33 
 
 Blessed Nirvana's rest, being quit of sins, 
 
 And, day and night, reciting, " Oh, the gem ! 
 
 Upon the Lotus ! Oh, the Lotus-stem ! " 
 
 Also, more precious than much gold, they poured 
 
 Eare spices forth, unknitting cord on cord ; 
 
 And, one by one, unwinding cloths, as though 
 
 The merchantmen had sought to shut in so 
 
 The breath of those distillings : in such kind 
 
 As when Nile's black embalming slaves would bind 
 
 Sindon o'er sin don, cere-cloth, cinglets, bands, 
 
 Eoll after roll, on head, breast, feet, and hands, 
 
 Eound some dead king, whose cold and withered palm 
 
 Had dropped the sceptre; drenched with musk and 
 
 balm, 
 
 And natron, and what keeps from perishing ; 
 So they might save after long wandering 
 The body for the spirit, and hold fast 
 Life's likeness, till the dead man lived at last. 
 
 Thus, from their coats involved of leaves and silk 
 
 c
 
 34 THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. 
 
 Slowly they freed the odorous thorn-tree's milk, 
 
 The grey myrrh, and the cassia, and the spice, 
 
 Filling the wind with frankincense past price, 
 
 With hearts of blossoms from a hundred glens 
 
 And essence of a thousand Rose-gardens ; 
 
 Till the night's gloom like a royal curtain hung 
 
 Jewelled with stars, and rich with fragrance flung 
 
 Athwart the arch ; and, in the cavern there 
 
 The air around was as the breathing air 
 
 Of a queen's chamber, when she comes to bed, 
 
 And all that glad Earth owns gives goodlihead. 
 
 Witness them entering, those Three from afar 
 Who knew the skies, and had the strange white Star 
 To light their nightly lamp, thro' deserts wide 
 Of Bactria, and the Persic wastes, and tide 
 Of Tigris and Euphrates ; past the snow 
 Of Ararat, and where the sand- winds blow 
 O'er Itursea ; and the crimson peaks
 
 AT BETHLEHEM. 35 
 
 Of Moab, and the fierce, bright, barren reeks 
 From Asphaltites ; to this hill to thee, 
 Bethlehem-Ephrata ! Witness these three 
 Gaze, hand in hand, with faces grave and mild, 
 Where, 'mid the gear and goats, Mother and Child 
 Make state and splendour for their eyes. Then, lay 
 Each stranger on the Earth, in th' Indian way, 
 Paying the " eight prostrations ; " and was heard 
 Saying softly, in the Indian tongue, that word 
 Wherewith a Prince is honoured. Nimbly ran, 
 On this, the people of their caravan 
 And fetch the gold, and laid on gold the spice, 
 Frankincense, myrrh : and next with reverence nice 
 Foreheads in dust, they spread the precious things 
 At Mary's feet, and worship Him who clings 
 To Mary's bosom, drinking soft life so 
 Who shall be Life and Light to all below. 
 " For now we see," say they, departing : " plain 
 The Star's word come to pass ! The Buddh again
 
 36 THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. 
 
 Appeareth, or some Boddhisat of might 
 Arising for the West, who shall set right, 
 And serve, and reconcile ; and maybe, teach 
 Knowledge to those who know. "We, brothers, each, 
 Have heard yon shepherds' prattling ; if the sky 
 Speaketh with such, Heaven's mercy is drawn nigh ! 
 Well did we counsel, journeying to this place ! 
 Yon hour-old babe, milking that breast of grace, 
 The World will praise and worship, well-content." 
 
 Then, fearing Herod, to their homes they went 
 Musing along the road. But he, alway 
 Angered and troubled, bade his soldiers slay 
 Whatever man-child sucked in Bethlehem. 
 Lord ! hadst Thou been all God, as pleaseth them 
 Who poorly see Thy God-like self, and take 
 True glory from Thee for false glory's sake ; 
 Co-equal Power, as these too bold blaspheme, 
 Ruler of what Thou earnest to redeem ;
 
 AT BETHLEHEM. 37 
 
 Not Babe Divine, feeling with touch of silk 
 
 For fountains of a mortal Mother's milk 
 
 With sweet mouth buried in the warm feast thus, 
 
 And dear heart growing great to beat for us, 
 
 And soft feet waiting till the way be spread 
 
 Whereby what was true God in Thee should tread 
 
 Triumphant over woe and death to bliss, 
 
 Thou, from Thy cradle would'st have stayed in this 
 
 Those butchers ! with one Angel's swift decree, 
 
 Out of the silver cohorts lackeying Thee, 
 
 Thou hadst thrust down the bitter Prince who killed 
 
 Thine innocents ! Would'st Thou not ? Was't not 
 
 willed ? 
 
 Alas ! " Peace and Goodwill " in agony 
 Found first-fruits ! Eama heard that woeful cry 
 Of Rachel weeping for the children ; lone, 
 Uncomforted, because her babes are gone. 
 Herod the King ! hast thou heard Ptachel's wail 
 Where restitution is ? Did aught avail
 
 38 THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. 
 
 Somewhere ? at last ? past life ? After long stress 
 Of heavy shame, to bring forgetfulness ? 
 If such grace be, no hopeless sin is wrought ! 
 Thy bloody blade missed what its vile edge sought ; 
 Mother, and Child, and Joseph safe from thee 
 Journey to Egypt, while the Eastern three 
 Wind homewards, lightened of their spice and gold ; 
 And those great days that were to be, unfold 
 In the fair fields beside the shining sea 
 Which rolls, 'mid palms and rocks, in Galilee ; 
 As I if I have grace hereafter sing, 
 Telling the dream which came about this thing, 
 What time, with reverent feet, I wandered there 
 Treading Christ's ground, and breathing Christ's sweet 
 air.
 
 BOOK I.
 
 MARY MAGDALENE. 
 
 CLEAR silver water in a cup of gold, 
 
 Under the sunlit steeps of Gadara, 
 
 It shines His Lake the Sea of Chinnereth 
 
 The waves He loved, the waves that kissed His feet 
 
 So many blessed days. Oh, happy waves ! 
 
 Oh, little, silver, happy Sea, far-famed, 
 
 Under the sunlit steeps of Gadara ! 
 
 Fair is the scene still, tho' the grace is gone 
 Of those great times when nine white cities dipped 
 Their walls into its brink, and steel-shod keels 
 Of Roman galleys ground its sparkling sands ; 
 And Herod's painted pinnaces, ablaze 
 With lamps, and brazen shields, and spangled slaves, 
 
 Came and went lordly at Tiberias ; 
 
 41
 
 42 THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. 
 
 And merchant-ships of Ghor, and fisher-boats, 
 
 From green Bethsaida and Chorazin, drove 
 
 Pearl-furrows in the sapphire of its sleep : 
 
 And, by its beach, where the cranes wade mid-leg, 
 
 And long reeds lisp, and milky ripples roll 
 
 The purple- banded shells ; and wind-fall'n flowers 
 
 Of date and oleander dye the rim 
 
 Of blown foam rosy, wended by, league-long, 
 
 The caravans of Egypt, treasure-stuffed, 
 
 To proud Damascus, or thronged Sepphoris, 
 
 Or Accho's quays. Or, Caesar's spearmen rode 
 
 Terrible with the eagles, bringing news 
 
 Of life and death from Borne. Or strode austere, 
 
 Contemptuously, flaunting phylacteries, 
 
 The Pharisee and Scribe. Or, noise of slaves, 
 
 Sweating beneath the litter's gilded poles, 
 
 Told where there passed some languid Palace dame 
 
 Fresh from the bath ; or prcetor, girt with rods : 
 
 Or there went by, upon its rocky brim,
 
 MARY MAGDALENE. 43 
 
 The high-capped Median bringing stallions in ; 
 The Indian traders with the spice and silk, 
 The negro-men from Gush, and Elamites, 
 And Bed Sea sailors, and from shores of Nile 
 The blue-gowned, swart, Egyptian ; for they filled 
 From all Earth's regions, in those bygone days, 
 The pathways by its waters : frequent feet 
 Of Tyrian traders, and dark Desert-men 
 Booking upon their camels, with wild eyes 
 Glittering like lance-points ; and Sidonians, 
 Syrians and Greeks and Jews ; a motley world 
 Treading th' enamelled borders, where the vines 
 Ban clustering, and the almond's crimson snow 
 Bained upon crocus, lily, and cyclamen 
 At feet of feathery palms, and tamarisks 
 Alive with doves and steel-bright halcyons. 
 And green and rich rose then the terraced fields 
 This coast and that ; and loud the water-wheels 
 Poured the cool crystal of the stream and lake
 
 44 THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. 
 
 Over a thousand gardens ; and an air 
 
 Fresher than now ;, with breath of moistened 
 
 growths 
 
 Pomegranate, citron, fig tempered the heats 
 Blown from the wilderness. And, more than now, 
 Beauteous the mountains soared, with girdling woods, 
 Homesteads, and villages, and melon-fields 
 Hanging between the rocks, and, side by side, 
 Temples of Jove and Pan, with synagogues 
 Of Israel's Jah. But, opening then, as now 
 To let swift Jordan stay "his eager flood 
 Under their sunny peaks, foregoing there 
 The speed he took from Hermon ; glad to spread 
 Broadened to lake, fringed with wild figs, and flags, 
 Peopled with pelicans and fish ; and fain, 
 A little, to forget how he must glide 
 From river into bitter, barren, mere ; 
 Must pass, from waving willows, and cool nooks 
 Of water-lilies, to lie salt and dead,
 
 MARY MAGDALENE. 45 
 
 Sucked by the Sun, under hot Edom's crags, 
 In that red hollow of the Sea of Lot. 
 
 Now all is changed all save the changeless things 
 The mountains, and the waters, and the sky 
 These, as He saw them, have their glory yet 
 At sunrise, and at sunset ; and when noon 
 Burns the blue vault into a cope of gold. 
 And ofttimes, in the Syrian Spring, steals back 
 Well-nigh the ancient beauty to those coasts 
 Where Christ's feet trod. That Lily which He 
 
 loved 
 
 And praised for splendour passing Solomon's 
 The scarlet martagon decks herself still, 
 Mindful of His high words, in red and gold, 
 To meet the step of Summer. Cyclamens 
 Lift their pale heads to see if He will pass ; 
 And amaryllis and white hyacinths 
 Pour from their pearly vases spikenard forth,
 
 46 THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. 
 
 Lest He should come unhonoured. In His paths 
 Still, as of old, the lowly crocus spreads 
 A golden carpet for Him ; and the birds 
 Small almoners of Heaven, as once He said, 
 Who fall not unregarded trill their hymns 
 Of lively love and thanks in every thorn. 
 Only what Man could do, Man hath well done 
 To blot with blood and tears His track divine, 
 To sweep His holy footsteps from His Earth. 
 In steel and gold, splendid and strong and fierce, 
 Host after host under that Mount has marched 
 "Where He sate saying : " Blessed the peace-makers ! " 
 In rage and hatred host with host has clashed 
 There where he taught, " Love ye your enemies ! " 
 Banners which bore His cross, have mocked His cross, 
 Scattering His land with slain ; till now, at last, 
 Truly the sword, not peace, is what He brought ! 
 For love of Him nation hates nation so 
 That at His shrine the watchful Islamite
 
 MARY MAGDALENE. 47 
 
 Guards Christian throats ! Dead lie His once fair fields ; 
 
 Barren the fallows where His Sower sowed ; 
 
 None reaps the silver harvests of His Sea ; 
 
 None in the wheat-row roots the ill tares out. 
 
 The hungry land gasps empty in the glare ; 
 
 The vulture's self goes famished ; the wolf prowls 
 
 Fasting, amid the broken stones which built 
 
 The cities of His sojourn. Wild birds nest 
 
 Where revels once were loudest. All are gone 
 
 Save for those names never to pass away 
 
 Capernaum, Bethsaida, Magdala, 
 
 The nine white towns that sate beside His Lake. 
 
 Vanished the stately stoas, lofty fanes ; 
 
 Vanished the walls, the towers, the citadels ! 
 
 Titus and Omar wrought fair Palestine 
 
 No hurt like His who gave her hallowed ground 
 
 The fatal benediction of His feet ! 
 
 Love's house is desolate for love of Love ! 
 
 The waters glass no sail ; the ways have shrunk
 
 48 THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. 
 
 Into a camel-path ; the centuries 
 
 With flood and blast have torn the terrace bare 
 
 Where the fox littered in the grapes. Ask not 
 
 Which was " His City " 'mid this ruined life ! 
 
 None surely knoweth of Capernaum 
 
 Whether 'twas here, or there. Perchance He dwelt 
 
 Longest and latest at this nameless mound 
 
 Where, on the broken Column, nests the stork ; 
 
 Where knot-grass with its spikes, and bitter balls 
 
 Of trailing colocynth, and nebbuk-thorns 
 
 Bind as they will the marble wrecks, and weave 
 
 Shelter for shy jerboas, and the snake. 
 
 So still, so far away, so quite forsook, 
 
 His City's burial-place, the painted grouse 
 
 Lays her eggs there in carved acanthus-leaves, 
 
 And crickets chirp where Caesar's year is writ. 
 
 Yon Arab, with the matchlock and the spear, 
 
 Glancing askance for Afreets haunt the spot 
 
 Murmurs : " Peace be to you ! This is Tell-Hum ! "
 
 MARY MAGDALENE. 49 
 
 Desolate most of all, with one starved palm 
 And huddle of sad squalid hovels, thou, 
 El-Mejdel ! burned a-dry beneath black crags> 
 Choked with thick sand, comfortless, poor, despised, 
 Who stretched beforetimes to the adjacent Lake 
 Proud fortress-arms, and Lady of the plain, 
 Holding the keys of glad Gennesaret, 
 Took tribute of all passers. Vainly praised 
 For thy strong Tower, soaring so high, now laid 
 Lost in the dust yet wert thou marked to live, 
 Stamped for immortal memory by one Name, 
 Hers who "loved much," and had her home in thee, 
 Mary of Magdala. 
 
 There 'twas I saw, 
 
 Or seemed to see, that night in Palestine, 
 Lodging in Mejdel, what is written now ; 
 Lodging at Mejdel on a night of balm 
 When all the stars on high had sister- stars
 
 50 THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. 
 
 Mirrored in Galilee's dark purple tide ; 
 And the land lay, a-dream it lived again ; 
 And all the past rolled back, and out of Heaven 
 Almost the fancy dared to hear that song : 
 
 PEACE BEGINNING TO BE, 
 DEEP AS THE SLEEP OF THE SEA 
 WHEN THE STARS THEIR STILL GLEAMS GLASS 
 IN ITS BLUE TRANQUILLITY : 
 HEARTS OF ALL UPON EARTH, 
 FROM THE FIRST TO THE SECOND BIRTH, 
 TO REST AS THE WILD WATERS REST 
 WITH COLOURS OF HEAVEN ox THEIR BREAST. 
 
 LOVE, WHICH IS SUNLIGHT OF PEACE 
 AGE BY AGE TO INCREASE, 
 TILL ANGER AND HATE ARE DEAD, 
 AND SORROW AND DEATH SHALL CEASE ; 
 " PEACE ON EARTH AND GOODWILL ! "
 
 MARY MAGDALENE. 
 
 SOULS THAT ARE GENTLE AND STILL 
 HEAR THE FIRST MUSIC OF THIS 
 FAR-OFF, INFINITE BLISS ! 
 
 THE third Spring after Jesus Christ had passed : 
 In the fifth rnoon, when Galilee is green, 
 And the palm shakes fresh feathers to the wind, 
 Came, through the gates of Magdala, at eve, 
 Spearmen and swordmen ; and, on armoured steeds, 
 The Eoman knights, and lictors with their rods ; 
 The train of Pontius Pilate, moving North 
 To answer, before Caesar, wrongs alleged 
 In rescript of the Lord Vitellius, 
 Legate of Syria. On Gerizim's height 
 Grievously had he broke Samaria, 
 Chastising well, at first, rebellious folk ;
 
 52 THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. 
 
 But in his after wrath, it was put forth 
 
 He wronged the clemency of Home, and wrought 
 
 Treason to Ca3sar. " Therefore must he go 
 
 To meet, at throne-steps of Tiberius, 
 
 Those his accusers " wrote Vitellius ; 
 
 Thus 'twas the Procurator wended North. 
 
 And, as along the margin of the Lake 
 The wind swept cold, the Imperial Eelegate 
 "Would that night, with his wife, lie in the 
 
 walls. 
 
 Thereat rose question where in Magdala 
 Meet room was for a Roman Consular 
 Of the high Samnite race of Telesine, 
 Judsea's Governor, thro' ten- strong years, 
 And, maybe, yet to rule all Syria, 
 If Caesar purges. Also, for his spouse 
 Procula ; from the Claudian line ; ill-apt 
 To couch patrician limbs in leathern tent,
 
 MARY MAGDALENE. 53 
 
 Eeared to the ivory and the gold, or share 
 Peasant's coarse shelter. And the townsmen said : 
 " One house we have where this great Lord might 
 
 lie 
 
 Between the walls of Magdala might halt 
 Well-honoured. Tis the Lady Miriam's 
 Who dwelleth yonder by the north Sea-gate ; 
 Yon stone Khan, with the carved door and the 
 
 palms. 
 
 Many fair chambers, and a garden-court 
 With marbles paved, and falling waters 'freshed, 
 And cedar work from Tyre, and well-girt slaves, 
 The Eoman there shall find." 
 
 So it befell 
 That Pilate lodged with Mary Magdalene. 
 
 And there were those who heard what Pilate 
 
 spake, 
 Upon the leewan leaning sad that night,
 
 54 THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. 
 
 Unbilled by lute, or Syrian dance, or plash 
 
 Of fountains tinkling on the painted stones. 
 
 For sleep came not ; and she, beside him, said 
 
 Claudia Procula " My Lord doeth ill 
 
 To keep sick vigil, when soft beds are spread, 
 
 And guards are set, and even Galilee 
 
 Lends so fair shelter that henceforth in Borne 
 
 We shall think gentlier of th' injurious land." 
 
 " In Eome ? Ah, Rome ! " stern Pontius cried : " but 
 
 Borne 
 
 Held not my thought, great Claudia ! nor these hogs 
 We herded with our spear-points, pricking them 
 Time after time to grunt. Ceesar is just, 
 And Csesar will not judge me heedlessly 
 Friend of Sejanus, and for ten years here 
 Keeping the heel of Borne on Herod's neck 
 At word of vile Samaritans. But I 
 All day long, as we rode out from the plain 
 Of Esdraelon from Samaria
 
 MARY MAGDALENE. 55 
 
 To Nazareth ; and, threading Nazareth, 
 
 With horse and foot and litters, clattered on 
 
 Under the Horns of Hattin, and so down, 
 
 Through that dark-shadowed Valley of the Dove, 
 
 To this green hollow, where the Jordan gains 
 
 Peace for a day, before he hastens on 
 
 To foam and fret and die as rivers die, 
 
 And men die, helplessly ; I had in mind 
 
 The Man I did adjudge unrighteously. 
 
 Know'st thou, fair wife ! that was His dwelling-place, 
 
 The poor, white, clustered town amid the hills 
 
 Where we clomb up from Kishon, and you saw 
 
 The hoopooes run in the rye Solomon's birds, 
 
 Which knew the name of God ! Would I had known 
 
 On that ill day at the Prsetorium ! 
 
 By Pan ! I tell thee all the way He came, 
 
 The pale, sweet Man ; the Man that was ' the King,' 
 
 And did adjudge us, His judiciaries. 
 
 I saw Him at Gerizirn, where I smote
 
 56 THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. 
 
 Those dogs of Sychar very pitiful 
 
 Marking the blood. And then, as if He paced 
 
 Effortless over bare Gilboa, 'twas He 
 
 Gazed on me at Megiddo, and Jezreel ; 
 
 And Shunern and Chesulloth, always pale, 
 
 Always with that high look of godlike calm, 
 
 Those eyes of far perception those mild eyes 
 
 I saw that morn in the Praetorium ; 
 
 Accursed hour ! more in my thoughts than Rome !-r- 
 
 When Sanhedrists and Priests, with Caiaphas 
 
 To lead the learned rabble, broke my sleep, 
 
 And brought, that I should doom Him, that one Man 
 
 Whom, of all Jews, I hated not, nor scorned. 
 
 And when I asked, ' What accusation 
 
 Have ye against this One ? ' and bade them judge 
 
 According to their law (which under Eome 
 
 Held no more power to kill), they, wanting blood, 
 
 Must have me hear how He perverted minds, 
 
 Decried our tax, would pull the Temple down,
 
 MARY MAGDALENE. 57 
 
 And make Himself a King. 'Sooth ! to make Kings, 
 
 And unmake, was for Caesar's self alone ; 
 
 Wherefore, to keep unbroke our Eoman peace ; 
 
 And yet to spare this Man, I led Him in 
 
 Away from those that clamoured, to my hall, 
 
 Thinking to clear Him, when His trembling lips, 
 
 Inside the Agrippeum, gave me ground 
 
 To make it good at Eome, and guard the peace, 
 
 Yet choke those hounds from their most innocent 
 
 prey. 
 
 But as I questioned Him upon these things, 
 And asked, " Art Thou, indeed, King of the Jews ? " 
 Lo ! He, with such a mien as one should have 
 Wearing the purple, spake full royally, 
 ' Aye ! as thou sayest, a King ! ' and, no word more ! 
 Still I went on : ' Speakest Thou nought to me 
 Whose nod can send Thee hence to live or die ? 
 Art thou King of the Jews ? ' And the Man said, 
 ' Yea ! King ! yet not of any earthly realm :
 
 58 THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. 
 
 To this end was I born, and therefore came 
 
 King of all Kings, because I witness Truth.' 
 
 Then asked I, ' What is Truth ? ' He answered nought ; 
 
 Or I was wroth, and hearkened not : hot scorn 
 
 Shook me, to hear that horde of circumcised 
 
 Howling for blood outside my Palace-gates. 
 
 So, yet anew, thinking to stay their lust 
 
 With some ignoble gobbet, I came forth 
 
 And from my Bema spake : ' Ye have the right 
 
 Now, at your Passover, that I release 
 
 Some one condemned : See ! I set this Man free ; 
 
 And give for your good sport another prey 
 
 Also called Jesus Jesus Bar-Eabban ! ' 
 
 The vile herd shouted, ' Set us free the thief ! ' ' 
 
 And Claudia moaned : " I, too, remember well ! 
 I saw Him from my lattice, and His eyes 
 Burned themselves on my heart. Truly a King 
 Of Truth if anywhere such kingdom be ! "
 
 MARY MAGDALENE. 59 
 
 " By Hercules ! " the Koman yet went on 
 
 " I would that I had hearkened, asking that 
 
 Which none hath answered ; not the Samian ; 
 
 Nor he of Citium ; nor the oracles ; 
 
 Nor any Augur, out of any bird ; 
 
 Nor the high Flamens, nor dread Jove himself. 
 
 Who knows whence gleamed the lire of those strange 
 
 eyes 
 
 Which had no fear, nor any bitterness, 
 But seemed to look beyond us, glad to die ? 
 They drove me forth again, angry and sick, 
 Crying : ' I find no fault in Him, at all ! " 
 
 And Claudia sighed : " There was no fault at all ! '' 
 
 " Thence sent I Him to Antipas. That fox 
 Worried with claws of spite my patient one 
 But would not bite. So came He back to me ; 
 And sitting there upon the Gabbatha,
 
 60 THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. 
 
 With Eome and Justice by I might have saved ! 
 
 What was for me to fear ? Thrice before that, 
 
 Once when I brought the silver eagles in, 
 
 Though all Jerusalem yelled at my gates ; 
 
 Once, when I spent those pious shekels, stored 
 
 In their most holy treasury, to fetch 
 
 Fair water from the pools of Solomon, 
 
 That they might drink clean swill ; and once again, 
 
 When I hung up, in the Herodeum, 
 
 The gilded shields of Csesar ; I did set 
 
 These Jewish swine at nought. But then, oh, then ! 
 
 I faltered, paltered, yielded ; Claudia ! yea, 
 
 I played worse traitor to my Eoman soul 
 
 Than aught e'er done to Caesar. I, who read 
 
 That daybreak, on my scroll, how Socrates 
 
 In the sweet Greek with loftiest scorn of life 
 
 Condemned the Athenian judges to live on, 
 
 And took, triumphant, from their guilty lips, 
 
 Gift of his hemlock ! Oh, thou great, grave face !
 
 MARY MAGDALENE. 61 
 
 That journey'dst with me all this mindful day, 
 
 Amid thy watching hills of Galilee ; 
 
 Why did'st Thou not reply ? I might have saved ! 
 
 Why would' st Thou not reply ? I would have saved ! 
 
 Moreover, wife ! did'st thou not send to me 
 
 Me, whom my Father told of Julius, 
 
 And how he bled, and how Calphurnia dreamed 
 
 That message of thy vision, saying, ' Lord ! 
 
 Deal thou in nothing with that innocent one, 
 
 For I have suffered much in sleep this night 
 
 Because of Him ? ' ' : 
 
 And Claudia answered : " Aye ! 
 I sent thee word : for, in the morning watch, 
 When dreams glide truest thro' Sleep's gate of horn, 
 There came upon mine eyes in slumber sealed, 
 Shadow or semblance of the fairest form, 
 Presence most sweet and most majestical, 
 Seen amongst men. Nay, not of men it seemed,
 
 62 THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. 
 
 For white Apollo, in our Atrium, 
 
 Wrought of the Thracian marble, was to this 
 
 The high gods pardon ! but a satyr ! r Blood 
 
 Crimsoned His brow in beaded drops, from where 
 
 A crown of thorns pricked deep ; and bloody holes 
 
 Marked either open palm, and either foot. 
 
 Yet, by the exceeding gladness of His face ; 
 
 By His assured, benign, serenity ; 
 
 These were, I knew, to some royal rights He had 
 
 But as imperial purple. Ah, the ray 
 
 Shed from those gentle eyes, flushed my stilled soul 
 
 With such a glow of glory, such delight 
 
 Of sudden seeing, as if I had been 
 
 An Apennine, touched singly by the sun, 
 
 Dyed rose-red by some earliest shaft of Dawn, 
 
 While all the other peaks were dark, and slept. 
 
 But soon my greatness faded ; while I stretched 
 
 Eager quick hands of worship unto Him, 
 
 And fell upon my knees, for love, and fear,
 
 MARY MAGDALENE. 63 
 
 And reverence and wonder ; lo ! He spake 
 
 Solemnly, and in accent known, it seemed, 
 
 More to my heart than ear ; not in our tongue, 
 
 Nor any tongue, except what stars, and seas, 
 
 And the low voice of Night will sometimes use ; 
 
 Saying full mildly or He seemed to say : 
 
 ' This morn, thy Lord if Heaven's way changeth not 
 
 Will wrongfully adjudge Me unto death 
 
 Who am the lover of men, of him, thee, all, 
 
 And come to be Beginning of a time 
 
 When Peace shall reign and men see Angels near, 
 
 And perfect Love shall cast out Fear, which hath 
 
 The torment. But, not knowing well of this, 
 
 They, of whose blood I am, will spill My blood ; 
 
 And he, if this dream help not, shall abet, 
 
 Delivering Me to die upon the Cross 
 
 For policy and Caesar's Roman peace. 
 
 Whence, for all flesh deliverance, and the Light ; 
 
 But for thee tears and woe, and for thy Lord
 
 64 THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. 
 
 The burden of a shame, sinking his soul, 
 
 The burden of a name, intolerable, 
 
 Accurst thro' all the Ages, hated, scorned, 
 
 Long after I forgive and comfort him. 
 
 Wake from thy sleep, then ; bid him list to thee 
 
 Saying what I have said ! ' 
 
 " So, with a start 
 
 I brake the bonds of slumber, and I heard, 
 In place of that sweet voice, majestic, calm, 
 Making my terror tender angry roars 
 As if of hungered beasts, men who cried out, 
 ' Crucify this one ; free us Bar-Babban ! ' 
 And drawing nigh my latticed window, saw, 
 Oh, Jove ! Him of my vision, passing down 
 Godlike, but not yet crowned with cruel thorns, 
 Nor pierced in hand or foot. What should it mean ? 
 Was that the Syrian with those searching eyes 
 My warner in the dream ? Trembling to see,
 
 MARY MAGDALENE. 65 
 
 I snatched my tablets, drove the point i' the wax 
 Hasteful, as thou. didst note ; and wrote the word 
 Eheu ! thou would'st not heed ! " 
 
 And Pontius bent 
 
 His proud brows down, and muttered : " On my heart 
 Thy stylus pricked but vainly ! Csesar's wrath 
 Were but the idle wind which stirs my hair, 
 If I had only back that Man, that hour ! 
 Forever and forever have they passed ; 
 And now, and yesterday, and all my days 
 Something which is not shame, and is not grief, 
 Nor womanish tenderness at blood and death 
 Being soldier as I am, not apt to melt 
 Nor penitence, strange to my Stoic mind 
 Which knows what hath been, must be ; but the pang 
 Of a strong spirit that betrayed itself ; 
 Rage for the act reflection pardons not ; 
 The sting of playing slave to Destiny ;
 
 66 THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. 
 
 Bite at my soul more sharp than fangs of those ; 
 Whisper, as though to mock me from myself, 
 Mine own past words, the words I flung at them 
 ' That which is writ, is writ ! ' Thou wottest what fell : 
 The Patient One, who came to witness Truth, 
 To rule without a throne, without just gods ! 
 The Purple, or the Eagles, or the Spears 
 Stood on my Paved Way, with their Cut-throat, there, 
 Side by side, nowise blenching ; while they picked 
 A life to grace their festival Thou knowest 
 They chose Bar-Kabban. Thereupon I asked, 
 ' What will ye that I do with this your King ? ' 
 They howled : ' The Cross ! the Cross ! ' and I let go 
 Their leash, and He was scourged, and mocked, and 
 
 decked 
 With that sharp crown thou sawest gemmed with 
 
 blood, 
 
 As I do sadly mind and, o'er His back 
 Some evil-witted Hebrew flung, in spite
 
 MARY MAGDALENE. 67 
 
 A red paludamentum, laticlave 
 
 To robe His sovereignty. Yet, even thus, 
 
 Sick at the midriff with my wrath I stood ! 
 
 Something I risked to save myself and Him. 
 
 'Twas while they clamoured : ' Give the Man for 
 
 death ! 
 
 Tis due ! He made Himself a Son of God ! ' 
 Was't, then, Apollo, masquing here below ? 
 Or some Olympian ? great Latona's brood 
 At play-games 'midst us ? and we scourging Him 
 That should have reared the altars ? On such thought 
 Fain had I learned from those unlying lips 
 What it might mean ; and drew Him in again, 
 To private speech, and questioned ; ' Whence art Thou ? ' 
 No answer did He deign, till I had stormed : 
 ' Answerest me nought, who have the power of Thee ? ' 
 High Jove ! but then He answered, stripping me, 
 With sweet commanding scorn, of pride and might ; 
 And making me, and Caesar, and our whips,
 
 68 THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. 
 
 Blind bondsmen to some dread decree He knew 
 
 Driving us, like the moon which drags the tides, 
 
 Helplessly up and down the beach of things. 
 
 ' Thou hast, ' quoth He, ' no power of Me at all 
 
 Except it had been given thee from above : 
 
 Therefore is thy sin lighter ! ' Seest thou, Wife ? 
 
 Here was thy Galilaean pitied me ! 
 
 Found for His hangman pleas ! At that fresh speech 
 
 Stamping Him praetor, me His prisoner, 
 
 I had more will to ransom ; and I spake 
 
 Leading Him forth again : ' He is your King ! ' 
 
 Hoarsely they hooted : ' Caesar is our King ! 
 
 No King save Caesar ! If thou let Him go 
 
 Thou art not Caesar's Friend ! ' 'Twas there I failed ! 
 
 They held so much against me ; many griefs ; 
 
 The last, that blood I mingled, over-hot, 
 
 With the fools' sacrifice. And then, at Rome 
 
 Our Emperor nursed some grudges. Nigh to fall 
 
 Was great Sejanus ; and those Roman streets
 
 MARY MAGDALENE. 69 
 
 To see the statues haled to the melting-pot, 
 
 That kitchen wenches might have pans and plates 
 
 From him that had stood second in our world. 
 
 I did not dare ! the knaves my firm soul struck 
 
 Through that one corslet-joint I could not patch ; 
 
 I did not dare ! Me Miserum ! I took 
 
 Water, and washed my hands before the herd, 
 
 And cried : ' The blame of this just blood be yours ' ' 
 
 The rabble answered : ' Yea ! on us, on us, 
 
 And on our children be His blood ! ' Oh, Dis ! 
 
 'Grave those words deep on thy dark muniments, 
 
 If Hades be, and black assizes sit, 
 
 That, age by age, yon Hebrew priests may pay 
 
 Fair share of my accoinpt ! I could not wash 
 
 My conscience clean ! The water, to my eyes, 
 
 Kan foul and grimy to the golden bowl 
 
 From each palm, vainly laved. So did He pass 
 
 To lofty death, and I to life defamed. 
 
 What can they do, who hate me most, at Eome
 
 70 THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. 
 
 One little part as deadly as this hurt 
 I wrought against myself ? " 
 
 And Claudia groaned : 
 
 " He passed 'mid many portents it was told. 
 Folks spake of darkness, earthquakes ; in the midst 
 Of their proud Temple in the Adytum 
 The veil suddenly rent ; of cries to Heaven 
 Uttered, and that way answered. Didst thou hear 
 The talk ran that He had not died at all, 
 Or, dying, glided back to life again ; 
 Was seen ; ate, drank, walked, talked Man among 
 
 men 
 
 Or if not Man (which could not be !) then shape, 
 Larva, or Lemur, or some unnamed thing, 
 Visible, seeming whatsoe'er Life seems ; 
 And, lastly, 'scaped from sight ? Those whom He left, 
 A band of honest ones, give stoutly forth 
 He was caught up in clouds, snatched to the Blue.
 
 MARY MAGDALENE. 71 
 
 And, day by day, my slave-girls say, this grows, 
 Making a sect, which hath no dread of Death ; 
 But will spend life and breath, and gold, and pains 
 To succour any wretch ; because they hold 
 This Christ did die for him grows, good my Lord ! 
 Not only here, but in the coasts, and Isles ; 
 And toucheth Athens, and hath crept to Eome." 
 
 " There, too ? " broke Pontius, " must I find at Eome, 
 
 Despite the stony tomb, the guards we set, 
 
 My soldier's word ; the spear, stabbed socket-deep, 
 
 That face which fills each night with dreams for me ? 
 
 Will He run over-sea whose tireless step 
 
 Outstrips my swiftest war-horse, mends my stride 
 
 On every march, pitches my camp with me, 
 
 Sits with me in my tent, my judgment-hall, 
 
 My banquet-room, my bed-place ? watches me 
 
 With those great eyes which do not hate, nor blast, 
 
 But send a keen light to my inmost self
 
 72 THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. 
 
 Where I read : ' This is Pontius, Fortune's slave 
 
 Foi Caesar's fear.' 'Sooth ! why should I have played 
 
 Butcher to Caiaphas ? Note, Claudia ! 
 
 That blood of Julius, spilt to enfranchise Eome, 
 
 Bequeathed Augustus and Tiberius ; 
 
 And this pure blood, belike, sown in Death's field, 
 
 May breed some different crop than peace and ease, 
 
 Things fall so wry with Earth, sometimes I think 
 
 Thy Galilsean erred not ; that men's powers 
 
 Are lent them out of some Imperium, 
 
 Shadowy, majestic, unopposable, 
 
 Wronging all wrongers till they render right, 
 
 'Stablished behind the Thrones; where Fate's pipe 
 
 blows 
 
 And we must dance the step, or be shoved by. 
 Know any of ye here of any wight 
 Who loved this Nazarene, and followed Him, 
 And cleaves, distraught, to such wild fancy yet 
 That Cross, and Spear, and grave-stone did not end ? "
 
 MARY MAGDALENE. 73 
 
 " Great Sir ! " a Syrian hand-maid gave reply ; 
 " This is the house is called ' Megaddela's,' 
 Named, as some will, from Magdal, where we lie ; 
 And others from the braided locks she wore 
 Who lives House-mistress here ; the long hair tressed 
 The Harlot's way. They told us, in the town, 
 This Dame, much honoured now for noble works 
 Was devil-haunted, and the wildest wench 
 Of Galilee, before the Nazarene 
 
 Tamed her, and taught her ; and she grew His Friend, 
 Closest amid the faithful. Is't thy will 
 We bid her to the Presence ? " 
 
 Pontius said : 
 
 " I might command, for still I bear my seal ; 
 Authority sits yet upon my lip ; 
 But here and now, I soften. Say to her 
 The Procurator, guest and friend, entreats 
 Speech with the Lady Miriam."
 
 74 THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. 
 
 Thus met 
 
 She who most loved Him, he who rendered Him 
 To death : Pontius and Mary ! For, anon, 
 The bar slides backward of the Woman's Court, 
 And, on the stairway of the leewan, stood 
 One tall, and proud, and fair ; albeit, past grief 
 Had dimmed the lustre of those large dark eyes 
 Bent upon Pilate. Rich the Jewish blood 
 Glowed through the sunburnt ivory of her face 
 Unveiled for salutation lending show 
 Of colour to the thinned uncoloured cheek, 
 But leaving pale as pearl-lined ocean shell 
 The full white neck, and where neck rose to breast 
 The tender margins of the bosom, bound 
 By silver-bordered cymar, crossed ; and pale 
 As moonlight's heart the low smooth forehead, framed 
 Under the black-waved hair ; forehead and hair ; 
 And eyebrows, bent like the new moon ; full lids ; 
 Silk lashes long and curved, shadowing with touch
 
 MARY MAGDALENE. 75 
 
 Of softest melancholy that worn place 
 
 Where the tears gather all declaring her 
 
 A Daughter of the Sun, in those climes born 
 
 Where light and life are larger. Ah, and marked 
 
 With stamp of those strong passions of the East 
 
 Where Nature has her pangs and throes not more 
 
 Than Man, cradled upon her burning breast, 
 
 Tender and quick. There are the Dawns of Love 
 
 Enkindling hearts with instant golden glow 
 
 Like morning in the desert ; there Love's Noons 
 
 Consuming, all-revealing, shadowless ; 
 
 With fiery fervour draining young hearts dry 
 
 As mid-day drinks the streams ; and there Love's Eves 
 
 Swift-sinking from the fierce fit to the lull, 
 
 From sun-blaze, by brief dusk, to tranquil stars, 
 
 And satisfied, still Night. Earthquakes and floods, 
 
 Withering Simooms, and winds that tear the Seas 
 
 To milky madness ; find their counterparts 
 
 In those own children of the Light, who live
 
 76 THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. 
 
 And love and hate with pulse at quicker beat. 
 
 Such heart- storms gone on that high countenance 
 
 Had writ their passage, but not left her marred. 
 
 Eather, like some majestic Mount she showed 
 
 In Cathay or Japan,* whose lofty bulk 
 
 Kaged once, all flame ; which broke its boundaries, 
 
 And, torn and red and furious, scattered round 
 
 Levin, and lava-slime, and barren ash, 
 
 Blighting what lay below. Then came the hush ; 
 
 And that which was all terrible, grew fair. 
 
 The Hill of Hell is Crest of Paradise ! 
 
 The cup which on its head steamed scarlet reek 
 
 And spilled forth fires, wears in the cloudless Blue 
 
 A silvery rim of snows ; the fevered breast 
 
 Slumbers in comforted, unbroken, calm, 
 
 With placid bands of gilded clouds girt round, 
 
 And hues of sunrise and of sunset soft 
 
 * The lines ensuing were written at the foot of the famous extinct 
 volcano, Fuji San, near Tokyo, in Japan.
 
 MARY MAGDALENE. 77 
 
 On the scorched rocks. Where molten channels ran 
 
 Streams of sweet mountain crystal babble down 
 
 Embellishing black glen, and fissured cliff, 
 
 Deep hollows where sad Winter hides away 
 
 From Summer, with the snow still in her lap ; 
 
 And shoulders of sharp crags and windy shelves, 
 
 With laughing light of flowers, and sparkling threads 
 
 Of the white falling water, and green glades 
 
 Where wild birds have their home, and plumy ferns 
 
 Wave for them, and the iris decks their nests 
 
 With flutter of her purple velvet flags. 
 
 And, in the happy plain, that Mountain's foot 
 
 Stands feared no more, but worshipped, watched, and 
 
 praised 
 
 For comeliness exceeding, and large gifts 
 Of cooling airs, and shadows cast around, 
 And wandering cloud-banks with their welcome rains 
 Gathered and garnered ; fringed with villages 
 And wandering flocks, and vines, and clustering groves
 
 78 THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. 
 
 "Whose roots, in death and desolation fixed, 
 
 Make loveliness of loss, and grace of wreck. 
 
 So did that Lady show a peace and charm, 
 
 A gracious presence, brought from passions stilled, 
 
 From tempests of the blood, for ever hushed : 
 
 Fairer, maybe, as she stood there, serene, 
 
 Than in those bygone days, the evil days 
 
 When Galilee, down to its utmost edge, 
 
 And all the South, was loud in talk of her 
 
 Who walked in woven gold, and wore her braids 
 
 A Queen of Sin crowning the shameless brow 
 
 With diadem of tresses, tied with pearls ; 
 
 And set her henna-scented feet on necks 
 
 Of Greek and Latin lovers. 
 
 Now, most meek 
 
 The prou J, pale, bended face ; the folded palms, 
 The knees touching the pavement, as she said : 
 " The Roman Lord, who may command, hath prayed
 
 MARY MAGDALENE. 79 
 
 Speech with his servant. She must needs obey, 
 Hostess and subject. I am Miriam ! " 
 
 " Wottest thou who I am ? " asked Pontius. 
 
 The flame of those old fires a little leaped ; 
 The fair hill shook again with bygone storms 
 One moment, while she murmured : " Time hath been 
 When, with a curse, or by my girdle-knife, 
 The answer of thy handmaid had been given. 
 Now I have grace to say I hate thee not, 
 But pray His peace for thee. Did He not pray 
 ' Father, forgive them ! ' Yea, I know thee well ! 
 'Twas thou didst send my Master to the Cross ! " 
 
 " Hast thou forgiven, who didst love Him so 
 That which my well-worn soul, careless of blood, 
 Pardons not to itself ? " quoth Pontius. 
 
 And Mary said : " I oould not love Him so, 
 Nor rightly worship Him, nor live to-day
 
 8o THE LIGHT OP THE WORLD. 
 
 As always I must live, on the dear food 
 Of His true lips, nor trust to go to Him 
 The way He went, if I forgot His word 
 ' Love ye your enemies.' Remembering that 
 I bear to look upon thee, Roman Lord ! 
 Remembering what we heard Him say at last : 
 ' Forgive them, for they know not what they do.' " 
 
 " Kay, but I knew ! " quoth Pontius : " whereunto 
 Prayed thus thy Rabbi ? what new God had He ? 
 What God hast thou, greater than Jove to nod, 
 And so undo past deeds which have been done, 
 And as thou sayest ' forgive ' ? " 
 
 " That which befalls," 
 She gave reply, " befalls not otherwise 
 Than as it hath been willed. He made us know 
 There cometh to the ground no little fowl, 
 No sparrow of the house-top, but its end
 
 MARY MAGDALENE. 81 
 
 Was cared for ; and the flowers, and lowly grass, 
 
 Which are to-morrow for the wayside fire, 
 
 Have raiment fore-provided them to wear 
 
 Brighter than Solomon's. If not one life 
 
 Goes anywhere to death, save for good use, 
 
 And by the over-arching Power allowed, 
 
 Under vast Law of Love, He most of all 
 
 Died for Love's sake, and was ordained to die, 
 
 Whom thou didst doom. Yet thou thyself wast 
 
 doomed 
 
 To do Love that sad service, slaying Him 
 Who could not die, but freeth all from death : 
 For we have seen Him, strong, and beautiful, 
 And living on the farther shore of Death. 
 Therefore we hate thee not, but pity thee ; 
 And those like thee whose evil prospers good ; 
 And pray for thee, since Love alone helps Hate 
 To 'scape the whips "that scourge it into Eight, 
 And bring it by long penance into peace
 
 82 THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. 
 
 Unwittingly ; under a greater Name 
 
 Than what thou namest, and thy Eomans serve." 
 
 " Yea ! " Pontius mused : " He spake to me of 
 
 power 
 
 Lent from above, and not from Jove, or Borne ! 
 What hindered that I should not use it, then, 
 To have thy peace this night in place of irk ? 
 To taste full greatness of thy feebleness, 
 Not groan with littleness of majesty ? " 
 
 She answered : " That which hindered was thyself 
 More feared of Caesar, than of wrongf ulness ; 
 And that which hindered was thy lust to win 
 Favour of men instead of praise from Heaven, 
 Whose still Voice whispered thy vexed will in vain. 
 He spake to us : ' Lay up no treasures here, 
 Where moth and rust corrupt, and thieves do steal ; 
 But lay it up in Heaven ! ' '
 
 MARY MAGDALENE. 83 
 
 Pilate brake in : 
 
 " Meherde ! I would give much sesterces 
 To buy that ill time back, albeit, before, 
 Death never spoiled my slumbers ! What saidst thou, 
 That, slaying Him, we could not kill ? Thy brow 
 Weareth no brand of madness, yet thy speech 
 Sounds rank unreason ! " 
 
 " Have I leave," she asked, 
 " For my great Master's sake, to speak more near ? " 
 
 " I pray thee very humbly," Pontius said, 
 " To speak as thou shalt deign." 
 
 Thereat she rose 
 Stateliest, and light of living Love and Truth 
 
 
 
 Made fairer her fair face, kindled her eyes 
 To heav'nlier lustre, while she told the things 
 Which had befallen after Calvary.
 
 84 THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. 
 
 How, surely, with the sad days ending there 
 
 New days were dawned, and hopes unknown to Earth. 
 
 How He walked here, the shadow of Him Love, 
 
 The speech of Him soft Music, and His step 
 
 A Benediction ; making sick folk whole, 
 
 The lame to walk, the lepers to go clean, 
 
 And taking back the dead from Death, by might 
 
 Of some deep secret which He had of Heaven. 
 
 Until, at that hard triumph of the Cross, 
 
 In hour, and way, and by th' appointed hands 
 
 He Himself passed, mild and majestical, 
 
 Through Death's black gate, whose inner side none saw 
 
 Before He set it wide, golden and glad, 
 
 Conqueror for us of the Unconquerable. 
 
 Also, along these coasts, what works He wrought 
 
 Many most mighty works and how He taught 
 
 The nearness of eternal things, the law 
 
 Of perfect Sonship ; being Son of God 
 
 By eminence of manhood ; King of Kings
 
 MARY MAGDALENE. 85 
 
 By royalty o'erpassing realms and crowns. 
 
 Also, she told beautiful words He spake, 
 
 Words of bright mercy and of boundless peace 
 
 With wisdom wondrous, clad in simplest speech 
 
 As scent, and silver leaves, are shut, and seed, 
 
 For golden gardens under suns to come, 
 
 In the upfolded flow'r-cup. " Which blest buds," 
 
 Spake she : " shall blossom ever more and more 
 
 For all flesh living, till the full fruit rounds, 
 
 And there be ' Peace on Earth Peace and Goodwill ! ' ' 
 
 But many drew into the marbled Court 
 Silently, one by one, hearing those words 
 Fearless and sure, spoke high to Pontius. 
 For, 'twas as though the Angels' song anew 
 Found echo in our air. And, 'mid them came 
 Leaving his kneeling camel at the gate 
 A swarthy stranger in the Eastern garb, 
 Girdled and turbaned, as those use who wend
 
 86 THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. 
 
 In the far-toiling caravans of Hind. 
 
 Beverent and wrapt he stood; and, when she ceased, 
 
 Drew swiftly from his breast a silken roll 
 
 Tied with a silvered thong, and, bending low, 
 
 Laid this at Mary's foot. 
 
 But Pilate leaped 
 
 Fierce, from his place ; with visage white and writhed. 
 " Call them to horse ! " he cried, " for I will ride 
 To Sepphoris, before the Sun is high, 
 If spurs can prick ! One other watch spent here 
 Will brand me Nazarene ! " Therewith he flung 
 Furiously forth, buckling his Eoman sword, 
 And strode down to the margin of the Lake, 
 While in the street, with sleepy stumbling tread, 
 Spearmen and slaves slow gathered for the march. 
 
 But over Galilee, the first rays spread 
 Tender and pearly of that Dawn, who takes
 
 MARY MAGDALENE. 87 
 
 No taint of Earth, whereon her white feet walk. 
 
 The hills of Gadara were ridged with rose, 
 
 And every wimpling wavelet of the Sea 
 
 Eolled a light edge of silver on the gloom. 
 
 A blue belt widened ; and the beam, which broke 
 
 Between the Morning-star and Night's last clouds, 
 
 Even while it showed the wind-flower's stainless cup, 
 
 And the red lily, waiting for her Lord, 
 
 Gleamed on the greaves of Pilate, gemmed his helm 
 
 With dancing flecks, and lit his studded shield 
 
 With soft forgiving splendours. And that breeze 
 
 Which is the breath of Day, waking the world, 
 
 Stirred with no gentler waft the innocent plumes 
 
 Of water-linnets, rousing in the reeds, 
 
 Than the proud purple of his martial cloak 
 
 Clasped with the brazen eagles. And, he mused, 
 
 One sandal in the ripples of the Lake, 
 
 Which did not shun his foot : " Aye, by the gods ! 
 
 She spake of this ! ' He makes His Sun to shine
 
 88 THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. 
 
 On evil and on good ! ' Who makes ? We held 
 'Twas young Apollo, driving steeds of gold, 
 That made. Not Caesar, eertes ! for whose wrath 
 I sold myself to Eabbi Caiaphas. 
 Yet blows this breeze as tender on my cheek 
 As if 'twere hers of Magdal, who hath sinned 
 And lives the sweetlier ! Yon all-seeing Sun, 
 Hastening above the verge, dips not again 
 To mark me standing in the waves He loved ! 
 Those waves, with wet lips, kiss my wrongful foot ; 
 The blind blooms waft me fragrance ! Wherefore fear ? 
 Why tremble ? Yet, a Son of Heaven ! A King ! 
 Would I had heard His answer ! Would I knew 
 What portion mine must prove, if these things grow 
 And Rome should pass, and huge Olympus' self 
 Be emptied of its gods ! " 
 
 Thereat he turned 
 To stride his snorting war-horse ; and the Day
 
 MARY MAGDALENE. 89 
 
 Broadened in glory over Galilee, 
 
 Forgetting no man's roof ; giv'n out of Heaven 
 
 Alike to all, to warm and comfort all. 
 
 And, in the whispering palms, and waving grass, 
 
 Once more that lovely promise seemed to sound : 
 
 HEARTS OF ALL UPON EARTH, 
 FROM THE FIRST TO THE SECOND BIRTH, 
 TO REST AS THE WILD WATEHS REST, 
 WITH THE COLOURS OF HEAVEN ON THEIR BREAST.
 
 BOOK IL
 
 THE MAGUS. 
 
 THE writing of the silken roll was this, 
 In Syriac set fair ; with much soft phrase 
 Of salutation, and high courtesies 
 Precedent : then she read : 
 
 " One nowise meet- 
 Except for humbleness and gravity 
 To kiss the latchet of her shoe who walked 
 Closest and dearest of His nearest friends, 
 With Jesus, called The Nazarene, doth pray 
 Speech of the Lady Miriam. He comes, 
 By eight hard moons, from Indus to this sea 
 In quest of it ; last quest of waning life, 
 Seeing thy servant numbereth fourscore years, 
 Ill-apt for journeyings. A slave lays these 
 
 93
 
 94 THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. 
 
 Before thy feet ; himself, thy slave, awaits, 
 Making the Eight Prostrations." 
 
 Hearing that, 
 
 Upon the morrow, for his errand's sake, 
 And for his years, and for fair courtesy, 
 She gave good answer, writing how her gates 
 Stood wide for such an one, and she herself 
 His handmaiden. 
 
 Thereat, with goodly train 
 Of serving-men and beasts caparisoned, 
 Camels and riding asses to her door 
 Came this far-travelled Elder ; entered in 
 With silvered brows bowed low, and thin worn 
 
 hands 
 
 Clasped meekly, palm to palm, before his breast 
 The Indian way. Upon the pavement there 
 He placed his forehead, and, in soft wise, spake :
 
 THE MAGUS. 95 
 
 " Art thou that Miriam of Magdala 
 Whose name is borne to us with Name of Him 
 That was the Teacher here ; and wrought great works ; 
 And died at last the death upon the Cross, 
 Three spring-times back, thyself beholding this ? " 
 
 And Mary said : " My name with His great Name 
 Was no more worthy to keep company 
 Than the pale fire-fly with the risen sun ! 
 Yet am I she who in His glorious light 
 Through two years dwelled, and breathed the blessed air 
 Sweet with His breath, and in these happy ears 
 
 * 
 
 Took the great music of His wisdom. Sir ! 
 How shall this stead you ? and what purposes 
 Brought thy most honourable feet so far ? " 
 
 He made reply : " I alone live, of Three 
 Who many winters past, came to thy land 
 Led by a strange white Star, burst suddenly 
 New from the spangled purple of the Night :
 
 96 THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. 
 
 And, while we read the sky, our knowledge grew . 
 That this beamed token of a Teacher born 
 Illumining the world, as that great Star 
 Shot its fair splendours far : But loving Light, 
 And always seeking Light as taught of Buddh 
 We journeyed hither from our Indian hills 
 Wending to Bethlehem ; and found that Babe 
 Whom thou hast known as Man, divinely signed 
 By praise and portent to be Whom we sought. 
 So, at those little feet we laid our gifts, 
 Worshipping, and we looked upon the face 
 Tender and pure of Her that bore the Babe ; 
 Then, warned betimes of Herod's dark design, 
 Homeward returned. There, while the years went by, 
 Came, presently, borne by the Caravans, 
 Word of this Wonder grown ; and, to our minds, 
 The gold and silk and myrrh of all their bales 
 Counted but dross to what was wafted us 
 Of loftiest wisdom and large doctrines given
 
 THE MAGUS. 97 
 
 To mend the old. But those that came with me 
 Beforetimes, died ; desiring to know this ; 
 And I myself die soon, which is not feared 
 By such as follow great Lord Buddha's Law. 
 Yet had I will unquenchable to learn 
 The setting of that Star of Men, whose rise 
 My younger eyes beheld. Therefore, once more 
 Over this weary way my steps have passed, 
 To hear before I die. And, when men said 
 In Magdal, by the Lake Qf Galilee, 
 She dwelleth, who did love and serve Him most, 
 My face I turned, sweet Lady ! to thy gate, 
 And, by thy graciousness emboldened now; 
 I make my prayer." 
 
 " What prayer ? " soft she replied, 
 Lifting, and leading him with tender hand, 
 As daughter doth her sire, to that raised seat 
 Upon the leewan.
 
 98 THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. 
 
 Then he said : " Mine ears 
 Hunger to know, what thou canst best impart, 
 The deeds thy Jesus did, the words He spoke, 
 The ways He walked, the manner of His days, 
 And of their close, and what it is they tell, 
 Strange and unheard before, how, after death 
 He was seen living. Talk of such new things 
 Came to us by the merchants, making trade 
 From ours to yours. One sate upon a Mount 
 Which hangs above thy town ; and heard Him speak 
 Words to a multitude, whose echoes faint 
 All so far-off were heavenly ; like the musk 
 Which keeps his fragrance through a thousand leagues. 
 One, selling spices in Jerusalem, 
 Caught, as he lay at Bethany, some waft 
 Of some wight, fetched to breath again, being dead ; 
 An ' Eleazar,' townsman of the place : 
 And yet another, wending from the sea, 
 Met Him in Tyre, and had it from the mouth
 
 THE MAGUS. 99 
 
 Of a Sidonian woman, how He healed 
 
 Her child being distant far with one strong word. 
 
 Yet, more than any marvels, would I learn 
 
 What truths He taught beyond those truths we 
 
 know 
 
 Of our Lord Buddha. Such my humble prayer, 
 And hither have I journeyed, hoping this." 
 
 The light of larger love than shines for Earth 
 Made beautiful her eyes, while at his knee 
 She bowed ; and kissed his hands ; and reverently 
 Spake : " Surely thou art one He would have praised, 
 Desiring truth ; and He hath bidden us 
 Declare what truth we know. Small wit I have 
 To tell a tenth part of the sweetness poured 
 From those dear lips ; yet, what I saw and heard 
 Gladly shall I 'recite. Sojourn, I pray, 
 Here, with thy servants, for a space ; and take 
 Rest from that too long road ! "
 
 TOO THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. 
 
 Thus did it fall 
 
 That, day by day for six fair friendly days, 
 The Lady and the Indian Magus sate 
 In gentle converse : Mary nowise loath 
 With Memory's spell to fetch the good hours back 
 When He was near ; and that grave Eastern sage 
 Listening more close, to catch the least of it, 
 Than lover for the last words of the loved. 
 And where they sate the place was suitable 
 For lofty talk. A cool, white paven Court 
 Shut by high walls from noise of the bazaar, 
 With fountains tinkling on the veiny stones ; 
 And trickling basins, where the silvery fins 
 Of fishes fanned ; and crimson lotus-cups 
 Lolled on the water ; and papyrus spread 
 Her filmy fingers ; and in painted jars 
 Citron and oleander spread around 
 Delicious odours ; and, with fearless wing, 
 The friendly silken swallow, nest-building,
 
 THE MAGUS. 101 
 
 Came and went lightsome, through the latticed stone ; 
 
 Where rounded arches let the blue sky in 
 
 And one might see a topmost palm-branch wave. 
 
 There, on the soft-piled carpets, sadly-glad, 
 
 Told she the Master's story, as I tell. 
 
 " What was, in the beginning of these things, 
 Scantly I know by hearing ; and such word 
 As, sometimes, from the brothers of my Lord, 
 Or from His Mother, fell. But those not apt 
 Greatly to speak ; since, well-nigh to the end, 
 Small honour found He in His father's house : 
 And She who bore Him blessed beyond all 
 Of mortal mothers bore a load besides 
 Of love and fear, wonder and reverence, 
 So heavy on her heart that her still lips 
 Were locked as if an Angel held them close. 
 Only you saw, if Heaven should seek on Earth
 
 102 THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. 
 
 Fit Mother for its Messenger of grace, 
 
 Fit womb to lock such precious treasure safe, 
 
 These were the eyes, communing with the skies 
 
 That was the face, tender and true and pure ; 
 
 There was the breast, beautiful, sinless, sweet 
 
 This was the frame, majestic, maidenly 
 
 And these the soft strong hands, and those the arms, 
 
 And those the knees, bent daily in meek prayer 
 
 Whereto the Eternal Love would needs commit 
 
 The flower of Humankind to bud and blow. 
 
 " I, who have been that which He found me, hide 
 My stained cheeks in my hands, speaking of her 
 Who showed so noble, humble, heavenly, 
 So virginal and motherly ; so fair, 
 The Eose of Women. Sir ! if thou should'st pluck 
 A thousand lilies here in Galilee 
 One would show whitest silver ; one would have 
 Most gold at heart. And, Sir! if thou should'st fetch
 
 THE MAGUS. 103 
 
 A thousand pearls up from thy Arab Sea 
 
 One would gleam brightest, best ! The queenliest gem, 
 
 The choicest bloom, would happen suddenly ; 
 
 Unlocked for ! What hath made them perfect, none 
 
 Wotteth, no more than where the fount will rise 
 
 Amid a hundred hollows of the grass 
 
 Whence the stream starts ; no more than which shall 
 
 be 
 
 Of cedar-apples shed by myriads 
 When sea-winds shake the groves on Lebanon 
 The chosen one to shoot, and grow, and spread 
 A roof of dark green glory o'er the hill. 
 In such wise, as I dare to deem, He came 
 Of purest Mother Perfect Child, begot 
 Divinelier, surely, than we know ; arrived 
 In this world, of the many worlds, by path 
 Leading to birth as new, as sweet, as strange 
 As what His dear feet opened past the Tomb. 
 If we should strive to say in mortal speech
 
 104 THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. 
 
 Where He was Man, and why much more than Man, 
 The earthly words would mar the Heavenly truth. 
 Love tells it best in her simplicity ; 
 And Worship in his deepest silences. 
 
 " Thou knowest of the Birth, and how there fell 
 Lauds out of Heaven to hail Him, and high songs 
 Of peace, and comfortable years to come : 
 And of the bitter Prince ; the murdered babes, 
 The cry of childless mothers. How they fled 
 Mary and Joseph to the Land of Nile, 
 By Hebron and by Ziph, sore-toiling south 
 Over the Brook of Egypt. On their way 
 'Tis told the palm-trees stooped to give them fruit ; 
 That dragons of the Desert slid their scales 
 Shamed to be deadly into cleft and den : 
 That robbers, by the road, flung spear and sword 
 Down on the sand, and laid their fierce brows there, 
 Convinced of evil by mere majesty
 
 THE MAGUS. 105 
 
 Of Babe and Mother. And dry Eoses bloomed 
 
 Back into beauty, when their garments brushed 
 
 The Eose-bush ; and a wayside sycamore 
 
 Beneath whose leaves they rested, moved his boughs 
 
 From noon till evening with the moving sun 
 
 To make them shade. And, coming nigh to On 
 
 Where stands the House of Ea, its mighty god, 
 
 Cut in black porphyry, prodigious, feared, 
 
 Fell from his seat. But if all this be so 
 
 I wot not. 
 
 " Two years sojourned they by Nile : 
 Then Herod died, and Archelaus ruled 
 Judsea, and Antipas in Galilee ; 
 And to the parts of Galilee they came, 
 Home to then- city, white-roofed Nazareth." 
 
 The Indian said : " I passed by Nazareth, 
 Eiding from Esdraelon that steep path 
 Where your hills open."
 
 106 THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. 
 
 " Thou hast thereby seen " 
 Mary replied : " the place which was His own 
 Those thirty years of holy quietude 
 When He was growing to His manhood fair, 
 And the birds knew Him, and the fields, and flowers ; 
 But His world knew Him not. For we, and all 
 Went foolish, wondering at Jerusalem, 
 And Eome and Athens ; not the little town 
 More great than these by that one lowly hut. 
 And thou hast thereby viewed what face His Earth 
 Morning and eve turned towards Him, showing Him 
 More love than we, by silent loveliness. 
 Thou saw'st, from His own hill, how Carmel plunged 
 Its broad foot in the tideless hyacinth Sea, 
 And how, to eastward, glad with groves and streams, 
 Eose Tabor, rounded like a breast ; what leagues 
 Of grey and golden plains, fading to blue, 
 Stretched beyond Kishon, under Endor, Nain, 
 Down to Megiddo with her twofold peak,
 
 THE MAGUS. 107 
 
 And Gilboa, dry and smooth ; and Sulem's slope ; 
 And, between Sulem and soft Tabor, glimpse 
 Of Jordan's speed, with sunlit ramps beyond 
 Fencing the Desert. These did feed His eyes : 
 Here was His world, almost the all He saw. 
 The Sun, whose golden mandate well He knew, 
 Showed Him no more than this, of all His Earth ; 
 The Stars, watching Him grow a star, to save, 
 Lighted no larger tract for His mild eyes. 
 Only that white town and those hills around, 
 Carmel and Tabor, as thou sawest them rise ; 
 And here the Lake, and there the shining Sea. 
 Yet, from thy camel's saddle, thou could'st note 
 How fair and gracious was the land, made good 
 With grass and blooms, and clad in fruitful green, 
 Pasture and tilth ; and every channel fringed 
 With rosy lanes of oleander sprays ; 
 And every hollow thick with oak, and fig, 
 Palm, and pomegranate where the tree-doves coo,
 
 io8 THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. 
 
 The crested hoopoe flits ; the roller-bird 
 Lights the dark thicket with his burning blues ; 
 The water-tortoise winnows the clear stream ; 
 The white cranes watch their shadows in the pool ; 
 The fish leap, red and silver ; and the fox 
 Plays with her cubs, 'mid lines of trellised vines 
 Climbing the crags. A goodly land and still, 
 Habited by a people, pastoral, 
 Simple and poor ; owning for wealth their skies, 
 Their Sea, their streams, and mountains." 
 
 " Nay ! I saw,' : 
 
 The Magus said : " with eyes rejoiced, your hills 
 Which follow well the sorrowful burnt rocks 
 Belting Jerusalem." 
 
 " Aye ! " she went on 
 " Thither, each year, at time of Passover, 
 He wended with His parents ; and would see
 
 THE MAGUS. 109 
 
 Gannim and Sichem where the lowland creeps, 
 
 Under the uplands, into narrowed green, 
 
 Like lake made river ; with those crests for coasts 
 
 Ebal, Gerizim ; and by Gibeah 
 
 And Bethel, and the Valley of the Thorns, 
 
 To Scopus to the brow where, white and gold, 
 
 Under sloped Olivet, the Temple rears 
 
 Her stately glory. And the Child would pass 
 
 Into the City's midst, and mingle there 
 
 With Jew and Gentile, in the thronged bazaar ; 
 
 Would mark, above the sanctuary gate, 
 
 Herod's great Eagle ; and the keen steel spears 
 
 Of Eoman Annius, or Coponius, 
 
 Glitter around the black Prsetorium. 
 
 Would know His time come nigh with Zion's shame, 
 
 And note the Pharisee and Sadducee, 
 
 Priest, scribe, and lawyer, feeding hungry souls 
 
 With husks of law. Nay, and would oft repair 
 
 Within the Temple ; and was one day found
 
 no THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. 
 
 Astrayed, sitting amid the Rabbim there 
 Hillel, and Shammai, and Gamaliel, 
 Ben Zacchai, Ben Uzziel, wise Nakdimon, 
 Arimathsean Joseph all our best 
 Hearing and asking questions. Yet none knew, 
 For all their wisdom and their wintry hairs, 
 That sweet Boy in the Syrian Country-frock, 
 With heavenly eyes and mouth of music, sent 
 To put aside the ancient scrolls, the Law, 
 The Hagathdth and Halacdth ; to break 
 Their chains, and into living spirit melt 
 Their dead cold letter." 
 
 " Ever back He came 
 Glad so I deem to sunlit Galilee : 
 Not bowing, not consenting, nowise bound 
 To that hard God, served in Jerusalem, 
 Jehovah of the Law, the jealous Lord 
 "Who ' eye for eye, and tooth for tooth ' decreed,
 
 THE MAGUS. in 
 
 And loved the bloody sacrifice, and wrought 
 Good to His Tribes, but ill to enemies. 
 Day by day, wandering in those folded hills, 
 A statelier Temple in His heart He built ; 
 A happier altar reared ; a truer God 
 Enshrined ; that Presence and that Power Who fills 
 All hearts with what is Life and what is Love, 
 And what endures when seen things pass away : 
 Nameless ; or if, for human needs, we name, 
 Then from the narrow treasury of our tongues 
 The highest, holiest, dearest, closest, best 
 Of Earth's weak words. Ofttimes, in later hours 
 When lack was of some name, He called that Spirit 
 Which is the All, and makes the wide seas roll, 
 The blue sky bend, the clustered planets shine, 
 The dead things come to life, the live things live ; 
 That Being, which, ever with Him, was as He, 
 And, largest, fullest, in His own sure soul 
 Dwelt immanent ' Our Father.' "
 
 112 THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. 
 
 Softly brake 
 
 The Magus in : " Om, Amitaya ! Oh, 
 The Immeasurable ! What word but doeth wrong 
 Clothing the Eternal in the forms of Now ? 
 Our great Lord Buddha would not name Him once, 
 As much, as little, ' Mother,' ' Lover/ ' Friend,' 
 As ' Father ; ' being not He nor she, nor aught 
 Which may be compassed by an earthly word ; 
 But Thinker, Thought, Maker and Made, in one ! " 
 
 " My Friend is wise with many years, and lore 
 Of the large East," she said. " If no name be 
 Will not the weak souls say ' nought is to name ' ? " 
 
 " They say so ! they will say so ! " answered he, 
 " Yet is the Parabrahm unspeakable ! " 
 
 " Tell me a little how thy Scriptures call 
 This Parabrahm" she said.
 
 THE MAGUS. 113 
 
 The Indian mused, 
 
 And then replied : " We have a scroll which saith 
 ' Worship, but name no name ! Hind are those eyes 
 Which deem tti unmanifested manifest, 
 Not comprehending Me in My True Self, 
 Imperishable, viewless, undeclared. 
 Hidden behind My magic veil of shows 
 I am not seen at all. Name not My Name ! ' 
 Also a verse runs in our Holy Writ : 
 ' Richer than heavenly fruit on Vedas growing ; 
 
 Greater than gifts ; better than prayer or fast ; 
 Such sacred silence is ! Man, this way knowing, 
 
 Comes to the utmost, perfect, Peace at last ! ' 
 Yet pause not, gracious Daughter ! for mine ears 
 Drink with an unslaked thirst thy precious tale." 
 
 " ' God is a Spirit ! they who worship Him 
 In spirit and in truth must worship Kim ! ' 
 
 He spake that, too ! " Mary went on, and then 
 
 H
 
 1 1 4. THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. 
 
 " Thus ligged He as we gathered all those years 
 
 In Nazareth : and Joseph died ; and need 
 
 Came that He take, with all humility, 
 
 The load of common lives. So in that town 
 
 Hard by the fountain ; in the house I know, 
 
 (Oh me ! I passed with Pappus by its porch ; 
 
 We in the gilded litters, He at toil !) 
 
 His trade He plied, a Carpenter ; and built 
 
 Doors, where folk come and go, unto this hour, 
 
 Not wotting how the hands which wrought their 
 
 doors 
 
 Unbarred Death's gate by Love's high sacrifice ; 
 Tables whereon folks set their meat, and eat, 
 Heedless of who was ' Bread of Life,' and gave 
 Such food that whoso eateth hungereth not. 
 And in those little lanes of Nazareth 
 Each morn His holy feet would come and go 
 While He bore planks and beams, whose back must 
 
 bear
 
 THE MAGUS. 115 
 
 The cruel cross. And, then, at evening's fall 
 
 Resting from labour, with those patient feet 
 
 Deep in white wood-dust, and the long curled shreds 
 
 Shorn by His plane, He would turn innocent eyes 
 
 Gazing far past the sunset to that world 
 
 He came from, and must go to ; nigh to Him, 
 
 Nigh unto us, albeit we see it not ; 
 
 Whereof Life is the curtain, and mute Death 
 
 Herald and Doorkeeper. One eve, they say, 
 
 The shadow of His outstretched arms, cast strong 
 
 By sun-down's low-shot light, painted a cross 
 
 Black on the wall ; and Mary, trembling, drew 
 
 Her garment o'er the lattice. But He spake : 
 
 ' Near unto Me is near to loss and death ; 
 
 And far from Me is far from Life and gain ! ' 
 
 There is a maid of those that love Him here 
 
 Sings on the minnim a poor song of this, 
 
 If thou wilt hear ; while those about us bring 
 
 Olives and grapes, and we a little rest."
 
 1 16 THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. 
 
 Thereat, a Hebrew girl tied back her sleeve, 
 Tuning the strings, and, to their melancholy, 
 Sang softly of " The Shadow and the Light." 
 
 " Meek and sweet in the sun He stands, 
 
 Drinking the cool of His Syrian skies ; 
 Lifting to Heaven toil-wearied hands, 
 Seeing His Father with those pure eyes. 
 
 " Gazing from trestle, and bench, and saw, 
 
 To the kingdom kept for His rule above ; 
 Oh, Jesus, Lord ! we see with awe ; 
 Ah, Mary's Son ! we look with love ! 
 
 " We know what message that Eventide 
 
 Bore, when it painted the Eoman cross, 
 And the purples of night-fall prophesied 
 The hyssop to Him, and to us the loss.
 
 THE MAGUS. 117 
 
 " The crown which the Magi brought to her, 
 
 It made a vision of brows that bleed ; 
 And the censer, with spikenard, and balm and myrrh, 
 It lay on the wall like the Sponge and Reed. 
 
 " But now Thou art in the Shadowless Land, 
 
 Behind the light of the setting Sun ; 
 And the worst is forgotten which Evil planned 
 And the best which Love's glory could win is won." 
 
 " Yet, on His seldom-saddened countenance " 
 Mary went on " no shadows lay ! He saw 
 By sunlight and by starlight, steadfastly, 
 That radiance of the kingdom, that high noon 
 Of Life and Love, which, shining inwardly, 
 Hath never any night. Therein He dwelt 
 Prince of the Heavenly purple ; Heir and Son 
 Of spheres eternal and invisible, 
 Where meek souls sit the highest, and the poor
 
 n8 THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. 
 
 Are richest, and the pure in heart are Lords. 
 And, ever in His spirit, sage and calm 
 That which we name not habited, the sense 
 Of an abiding Presence, Fatherly, 
 Motherly, Friend-like, Lover-like ; more dear 
 Than dearest ones on Earth, more near than blood 
 To the beating heart, or neck- vein to the neck ; 
 More boundless than the immeasurable blue ; 
 More mighty than a thousand-bolted Jove 
 Throned on some new Olympus, whose vast head 
 Smiteth the stars ; more sweet to love and serve 
 Than dulcet-speaking mistress ; more to trust 
 Than truest friend ; more tender than the arms 
 Of nursing mother ; more forgiving, fond, 
 Kindred, and kind, than Father. Yea, Great God 
 Making us gods and taking us to Him. 
 
 " Wherefore, grace spread around Him, and fair peace 
 Coming and going ; and the air grew glad
 
 THE MAGUS. 119 
 
 Whithersoever He would pass ; and gaze 
 
 Of townsfolk, and of women at the well 
 
 Not knowing wherefore, followed Him ; and tongues 
 
 Were stilled, not knowing why, if He did speak. 
 
 For then, already, grew that mystery 
 
 Of wisdom in Him, and that word which seemed 
 
 Higher than Earth's. Afterwards, people told 
 
 Strange tales of those hid days, how, at His toil, 
 
 Touching a plank, it stretched to rightful length, 
 
 Or shortened, at His will the dead wood quick 
 
 To live again and serve Him. How He made 
 
 Birds out of clay, and clapped His hands, and lo ! 
 
 They chirruped, spread their wings, and flew away ; 
 
 And how in month of Adar, Syrian boys 
 
 Playing in Nazareth as thou hast seen 
 
 With girdled frocks, striped tunics, and feet bare 
 
 Found Him, and crowned Him with white lily-buds, 
 
 And put a stick of lilies in His hand, 
 
 And set Him on the hillside, bending knee
 
 120 THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. 
 
 In merry worship, and made whoso passed 
 Halt and bow lowly, crying : ' Hither come, 
 Worship our King, then wend upon thy way ! ' 
 
 " Surely, as thus we heard, at Nazareth 
 Full soft and holy sped the happy time 
 In the white hut, hard by that well, where yet 
 Wives come and go with pitchers, dawn and eve, 
 Who came and went with Him, and helped Him draw 
 Fair water thence, and bear it, dutiful, 
 To where His Mother wrought her household chares 
 Silent, and wondering what should fall ; and doves 
 Sunned on the roof their silver wings, and vines 
 Climbed, glad to glorify His lowly door. 
 Within thou wottest well what little rooms, 
 What chest of wood, gay-painted ; on a shelf 
 What quilted beds uprolled ; what pans and cups 
 Copper, and brass and clay, ranged duly round 
 With great jar at the back, by flag-leaves shut
 
 THE MAGUS. 121 
 
 To keep the water cool. And when Night fell 
 Hatchet and saw and nails laid in their place, 
 And the low table spread with peasant's food, 
 Rice and the libban, and a common bowl. 
 Afterwards, peaceful sleep yet, had men eyes 
 Sleep watched by wondering eyes of wakeful stars, 
 And guarded, out of that new-opening Heaven 
 By glorious Angels, golden sentinels, 
 Keeping Him safe, whose words shall save the world."
 
 BOOK III. 
 
 Ube Hlabaster
 
 THE ALABASTER BOX. 
 
 NEXT morn, upon the marble leewan met 
 Soft salutations paid, and praise, and thanks 
 " What hast thou in thy hand," the Indian asked, 
 " Which thou dost gaze upon so fixedly ? " 
 
 For, sitting with her long hair loose, and eyes 
 Bent downwards, Mary in her clasped palms held 
 A broken box of Alabaster, shards 
 Of some rare casket, cut from satin stone, 
 Where the wrecked beauty of the precious work 
 Yet shone with lovely lustre ; milk-white rock 
 Veined rose and gold, and thinned, diaphanous, 
 So that light filtered through its fragments pale, 
 
 And, past them, the close clinging fingers showed. 
 
 125
 
 126 THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. 
 
 " Good Friend ! " the Lady Miriam began " thy 
 
 Hind 
 
 Which hath those rivers with the sands of gold, 
 And hills of lazulite, and fisheries 
 Whence the great pearls are gotten, could not buy 
 With all its precious store of Orient wealth 
 The treasure of this broken box from me ! 
 Sweeter than spikenard odours, lingering still 
 On each white remnant of the wondrous toil, 
 Hangs the dear memory of a day more sad, 
 More glad, more proud, more shameful more to 
 
 mourn, 
 
 More to rejoice in than all other days 
 Of all thy handmaid's years. Nay, but my life 
 Rather began when this fair thing found end ! 
 'Twas an Egyptian labour, cut with pains 
 From the streaked stone, and wrought, as thou shalt see, 
 By matchless master-craft, to make a gift 
 For Csesar ; since the Emperor owned it first ;
 
 THE ALABASTER BOX. 127 
 
 And next it fell to Kufus, but he gave 
 The beauteous marvel at his banquet board 
 To one that sold it for a hundred slaves ; 
 So came it to Pandera. Did they tell 
 Sending thee hither thee so grey and grave 
 What Miriam once had been ? " 
 
 The Indian sage 
 
 Gave gentle answer : " If mine ears have heard 
 Evil of thee, my heart would quite forget, 
 Which hath no room, to-day for any thought, 
 Not good and grateful, of my Lady's grace." 
 
 " Aye ! but " she sighed " evil was good for me ! 
 I lived, in all this land the boldest, worst, 
 Who braided up her hair the harlot's way. 
 That beauty Nature gave me I abased, 
 Selling it with a loveless heart to win 
 Wealth, and rich raiment, and the knees of men.
 
 128 THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. 
 
 Oh me ! my days splendid and sinful ! Earth 
 
 Emptied her stores to pleasure me ; they brought, 
 
 To buy my smiles, their Tyrian purple webs, 
 
 Their Myrrhine cups, their silks, their sards, their nard, 
 
 Drachmas, and darics, shekels, sesterces ; 
 
 And slaves to fan my sleep, and gilded chairs 
 
 To bear me to the Temples and the feasts. 
 
 I, that am still and sane to-day, have led 
 
 Eevels so mad the shamed stars drew the clouds 
 
 Over their argent faces ; Chinnereth 
 
 Burned with our cressets ; and the water-way 
 
 Ean to its brink red with our chalice dregs. 
 
 And Syria groaned and fierce Samaria surged, 
 
 And wild mobs clamoured round the Palace-gates 
 
 While in these arms Caesar's drugged satraps dreamed, 
 
 Praetor, and Procurator. Nay ! hear all ! 
 
 Not Latins only ; no, nor Greeks alone ; 
 
 Nor Jew, nor Idumasan ; for my name, 
 
 My golden infamy, grew East and West,
 
 THE ALABASTER BOX. 129 
 
 Till Eome and Athens heard ; and Tyre and Crete ; 
 
 And Cyprus ; and the Isles, and Media, 
 
 Not less than Magdal and Tiberias, 
 
 Talk of the Miriam of Galilee, 
 
 The Harlot with the long black braided hair 
 
 Who melted hearts in spiced pomegranate wine 
 
 Than Alexandrian Queen more prodigal, 
 
 And laughed their wealth to want, and trod their 
 
 pride 
 
 Under her 'broidered sandals ; and took toll 
 Of goods and gear, wasting in one wild bout 
 The Temple's wealth ; till, like that rose-faced One 
 Of Memphis, I had reared a pyramid 
 With but one block from each who fawned on inc. 
 Sir ! such was I, that play thy hostess here, 
 With these white shards, which saved me, in my lap. 
 Reverend and grave thou show'st : if thy will be 
 Now to depart, hearing these stained lips speak, 
 
 Thou shalt have praise, not blame, from Miriam." 
 
 i
 
 130 THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. 
 
 " Child !" soft he said : " I hail the stately ship 
 Safe from all storms, anchored in quietness ! 
 I hail the fair white hind, flower of these woods, 
 Fled from the wolves of sense, which tore her flesh ! 
 I hail the gentle Eiver, stayed and vexed 
 By crag and ledge, smooth-gliding at the last, 
 'Mid fruitful fields and dropping blooms, to find 
 Calm consummation in the accepting Sea ! 
 I hail thy heavenly beauty, purged, to prove 
 Grace and not Plague to men ! Oh, thou that art 
 Thine own high Conqueror, and hast set foot 
 On the Eight Noble Paths, an old man's lips 
 Low at thy hem, praise thee and honour thee ! 
 Yet, tell me, Lady ! how the new days came." 
 
 " He would have spoken so ; so did He speak, 
 So speaking He did heal me ! " murmured she ; 
 Then said aloud " Learn thou that Nazareth 
 Cast forth her glory, flung her star away ;
 
 THE ALABASTER BOX. 131 
 
 Forgot those good years when His fellowship 
 
 Made her air sweeter and her heavenly sky 
 
 Diviner, those fair years when all might hear 
 
 The mallet of ' The Carpenter ' at work, 
 
 While in His holy soul He built the frame 
 
 Of Truth's high kingdom here fitted the beams 
 
 Of such a Temple as the Eternal Love 
 
 Would dwell in. One ill Sabbath, when He came 
 
 Journeying by Sychar, new from seeing John 
 
 John the Forerunner, who had surely said 
 
 ' This is the Christ to be ! ' He entered in 
 
 That synagogue thou sawest on the hill ; 
 
 And stood to read.* The Chazzan drew the scroll 
 
 Forth from the silken curtains of its ark, 
 
 Unrolled the great Megillah to the page 
 
 Marked for the day, giving Esaias out, 
 
 And, from the Prophet, Jesus spake these words : 
 
 * The ground on which this synagogue stood at Nazareth was for 
 some time owned by the Author, with the purpose of establishing a 
 hospital there, which but partially succeeded.
 
 132 THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. 
 
 ' THE SPIRIT OF THE LOKD is UPON ME. BECAUSE HE 
 IIATII ANOINTED ME TO PREACH THE GOSPEL TO THE 
 POOR : HE HATH SENT ME TO HEAL THE BROKEN-HEARTED ; 
 TO PREACH DELIVERANCE TO THE CAPTIVES, AND RECOVER- 
 ING OF SIGHT TO THE BLIND ; TO SET AT LIBERTY THEM 
 THAT ARE BRUISED, TO PREACH THE ACCEPTABLE YEAR OF 
 
 THE LORD.' 
 
 " This He did read, and spake, in majesty, 
 That which was true, as afterwards all knew, 
 ' I am your Promised Prophet, Priest and King ! ' 
 Whereat they stormed, brake into bitter wrath, 
 Drave forth their Rabbi with the heavenly face, 
 Had will to kill Him, being but ' Carpenter ' 
 Who made Himself Messiah ; had fierce mind 
 To fling Him down the steep ; but He passed through, 
 And went His way. 
 
 " That was the day we rode 
 Up from Sebaste towards Tiberias,
 
 THE ALABASTER BOX. 133 
 
 And, on my wrist a damning splash of blood 
 From throat of one my angry lover stabbed 
 At mid-feast, in the madness of the wine. 
 'Twas there, at Kenna, 'mid my thickest sins, 
 Eed outwardly with murder, inwardly 
 Black to the heart's core with wild wickedness, 
 Dwelt in by all the seven dark devils of Hell, 
 I saw my Lord ! Oh, first I saw my Lord ! 
 And, Sir ! I heard His voice. Was one we knew 
 Steward to Herod (for my revellers 
 Were men of Antipas) who stayed Him there 
 Bent for Capernaum from Nazareth 
 Praying swift succour for a dying child, 
 And urging fervently. While we made halt 
 To witness, tenderly the Master turned 
 With look ineffable, and gazed ; and spake : 
 'Go! Thy Sonliveth!' 
 
 " Whom I saw, with eyes
 
 134 THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. 
 
 Which never have forgot, nor will forget 
 
 Till Heaven's day shows me Him again was one 
 
 Of a commanding stature * beautiful 
 
 Bearing such countenance, as, whoso gazed, 
 
 Must love, or fear. "Wine-colour shone His hair 
 
 Glittering and waved, an aureole folded down, 
 
 Its long rays lighted locks, which fell, and flowed, 
 
 Fair-parted from the middle of His head, 
 
 After the manner of the Nazarites. 
 
 Even and clear His forehead ; and the face 
 
 Of dignity surpassing, pure and pale 
 
 As the Greek's marble, but flushed frequently 
 
 With the bright blood of manhood. Nose and mouth 
 
 Faultless for grace, and full and soft the beard, 
 
 Forked, of the hazelled colour of His hair : 
 
 The great eyes blue and radiant ; mild as sky 
 
 Of spring-time after rain, yet terrible 
 
 As lightning leaping sudden from that sky, 
 
 * Taken from the letter of Lentulus.
 
 THE ALABASTER BOX. 135 
 
 When He rebuked. In admonition calm ; 
 In tender hours each word like music's soul 
 Heard past the sound ! Not of ttimes seen to smile, 
 More oft to weep ; yet of a lofty cheer 
 Commonly nay, of playful raillery 
 And swift wit, softened with sweet gravity. 
 Straight-standing like a palm-tree ; hands and limbs 
 So moulded that the noblest copy them : 
 Among the Sons of Men fairest and first. 
 
 " Friend ! shall you think one remnant of myself, 
 One shred of that wild will was Miriam's, 
 One pulse of the quick blood wont to be stirred 
 By passion, and the goodly shapes of men 
 Moved me, when, on the sight of Him, I left 
 My litter, and my Lover, and my Life, 
 And followed in His footsteps ? Pray thee, know 
 Mortal desire as well might reach at stars 
 As woman's eye, and woman's wish climb up
 
 136 THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. 
 
 To such far height of starry majesty ; 
 
 By that impassable blue of Holiness 
 
 Endlessly separate ! But love ? Oh, aye ! 
 
 Swift, strong, supreme, consuming, final love ! 
 
 With such a worship filled, such reverence, 
 
 The heart had knees, and bowed ; the soul had eyes 
 
 Which veiled themselves at gaze ; the mind had mind 
 
 To die for Him ; the body burned to grow 
 
 His temple. Heart, soul, body, mind, all His 
 
 For ever and for ever ! at first sight, 
 
 In some fair newer World, shown possible 
 
 At that first sight. And in such world I live 
 
 From that time, on the road of Galilee, 
 
 When in my breast the seven dark devils dwelt, 
 
 And round my wrist the blood of Pappus clung : 
 
 And that old life seems like a feather dropped 
 
 From free bird's wing mine, yet no longer mine : 
 
 And in the air of sweet new life I soar 
 
 Singing and soaring with the joy He taught.
 
 THE ALABASTER BOX. 137 
 
 " Wherefore, I followed to Capernaum, 
 One in His lengthening train the last and least 
 Unnoticed ; for I cast aside my webs 
 Of Coan, and my torques of Eoman gold 
 At Kenna and put on the mitpachath 
 Rddid and tsaiph, dressed as our peasants use 
 Along the Lake. So did I see Him teach 
 Day after day ; and in the Synagogue 
 Behind the women's lattice, heard the Law 
 Read to the congregation by such lips 
 As lit its mighty line with meanings new, 
 Like when the Moon swims, full, into the Night, 
 And what was dark grows clear, and what was void 
 Peopled ; and, white and straight, the road regained 
 Winds plain and easy through the illumined land. 
 Also I saw them bring the sick to Him, 
 The maimed and miserable, and wretches torn 
 With plaguing devils, less to dread than mine ! 
 Whom all He healed, comforting them with words
 
 138 THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. 
 
 Of sovereign power, calming their cries and griefs ; 
 
 As when the Mother's bosom charms to smiles, 
 
 Before its tears are dry, an infant's wail. 
 
 A woman lay in Simon's house, alight 
 
 With fever's fire. I saw Him take her hand, 
 
 Quiet the leaping blood, still the hot heart, 
 
 And lift her, cool and whole. I heard Him teach, 
 
 Sitting in Simon's boat, moored by those sands 
 
 Which fringe Bethsaida making plain and known 
 
 That farther Kingdom, nigh unto us all, 
 
 Yea, ' at our very gates.' And, when He passed 
 
 At nightfall to the Mountain, communing 
 
 With Heaven, which loved Him, and His own high 
 
 soul, 
 
 Under the stars less touched by taint than they ! 
 It was as though another golden Sun 
 Set from our eyes : till darkness fled again 
 And brought back Dawn, and that diviner light 
 Shed from Him.
 
 THE ALABASTER BOX. 139 
 
 " Ah, the Kingdom ! We, of old, 
 Being the people of this land, had served 
 If service were that God of Abraham 
 Mild to His own, but smiting enemies, 
 Hewing them hip and thigh, for Israel : 
 That Lord of Moses, awful on the Mount 
 With thunders, and red lightnings, and the Law : 
 Seen in the Burning Bush ; riding the storm ; 
 A jealous, dreadful, distant God. We lived 
 Obeying if we did obey for fruit 
 Of earthly goods ; or, if in after time, 
 Then, for our children's children. But He taught ; 
 And, lo ! ourselves to share ! Another world 
 Hidden within, without, beyond ! He took 
 Terrors away, and showed us Life for Death, 
 Mercy for sacrifice, and Love for Law. 
 For that dread JAH, ruling o'er Israel, 
 A Father Universal, marking not 
 Gentile from Jew, or fair from swart, or great
 
 HO THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. 
 
 From small ; but holding all alike ; and heard 
 
 An ever-present Lover, Lord, and Guide 
 
 In conscience and the silence of the breast. 
 
 Perfect and Pure, and loving love of such ; 
 
 And willing all men such ; but waiting long, 
 
 Far-suffering, large, compassionate, aware ; 
 
 Making suns rise on evil and on good, 
 
 Eaius fall on just and unjust. Look ! one word ! 
 
 And like the walls of Jericho which fell 
 
 To music, or a sunshine-parted cloud, 
 
 He burst the bars ; He lightly lifted up 
 
 Earth's painted veil, and showed us, close beyond, 
 
 Infinite, clear, eternal life, decreed 
 
 Not for to-morrow, or hereafter no ! 
 
 Already round, and in, and over us, 
 
 Already ours to enter and possess ; 
 
 Always existing, always nigh ; shut off 
 
 Some little while by sense, which having eyes, 
 
 Sees not ; and, hearing, hears not ; for some while
 
 THE ALABASTER BOX. 141 
 
 By body darkened. But He said : ' Fear not 
 Those who can kill the body, and, on that, 
 Have nothing they can do ! ' So did we learn, 
 Walking in those dear footsteps, scorn of Death 
 Which could not keep its Dead, if He bade yield, 
 But is Life's gate-porter, holding the keys 
 To larger Worlds and larger : ' Many mansions 
 Are in My Father's House ! ' this would He say 
 With great eyes on the stars. 
 
 " Thus did He bring 
 
 Our glad souls daily, by His glorious words, 
 Into the Kingdom of the Spirit. There 
 The sorrowful and shamed are comforted ; 
 The humble are exalted ; and the meek 
 Inherit good. The pure in heart see God ; 
 The merciful find mercy. Those that wept 
 Dry their glad eyes; the peacemakers have 
 praise ;
 
 142 THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. 
 
 And they who hungered after righteousness 
 
 With righteousness are filled. No dream ! no draught 
 
 Of Fancy's frenzied wine-cup ; ecstacy 
 
 Of musing drugged with Faith's fine mandragore ! 
 
 But the words true as daylight ; plain and straight 
 
 The way as paths in meadows ; clear the voice 
 
 Calling to airs celestial, as of Morn 
 
 Bidding with breezy lips the World awake. 
 
 Surer than any joy the heart can know 
 
 Bliss of that sudden hour when each for each 
 
 Knows Heaven so nigh ! Only to let go Earth, 
 
 To let go, listen, love, and have : for then 
 
 The Kingdom came ! Came ! and we did not need 
 
 To merit, or to seek, or strive, or wait : 
 
 We needed but to know Him one with God, 
 
 And we with Him, and then His peace was ours ! 
 
 We heard Him utter ' Fear not, little flock ! 
 
 It is your Father's joy to give to you 
 
 The Kingdom.'
 
 THE ALABASTER BOX. 143 
 
 " Journeying hither didst thou mark 
 The two-horned hill which overhangs our Sea, 
 Hattin ? And, how, beneath his nearer peak 
 Spreads a fair upland, rimmed with rounded banks 
 Where nebbuks glisten, and dark junipers, 
 Rose-laurels blow, and mallows ; and soft grass 
 Carpets with lily-sprinkled green the spot ? 
 One day, before the Dawn, thither He went 
 And drew His Twelve with Him, those who should be 
 Close to His counsels. Then, He named them His 
 To come and go in all the cities here 
 Preaching The Kingdom and beyond : and be 
 Beginnings of a new-established State, 
 Greater than States, and governing all States ; 
 Which should not have for boundaries the seas, 
 Mountains or streams, nor any border-line 
 By bloody sword-point traced ; and should not have 
 Armies nor tributes, treasuries nor crowns. 
 But, overleaping races, realms, and tongues,
 
 144 THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. 
 
 Thrones, zones, and dominations, lands, and seas, 
 Should clasp in one wide confine all those hearts 
 Which seek and love the Light, and hail the Light 
 Shining from secret Heaven, by Him revealed 
 First-born of Heaven, first soul of Human souls 
 That touched the top of Manhood, and from height 
 Of godlike, pure, Humanity reached God. 
 To this end was He sent, for this made known 
 Life beyond death, Love manifest through Law, 
 And God no name, no angry judge, no ' Jah,' 
 But Spirit, worshipped in the spirit ; One 
 With His sweet spirit, and with ours, through His ; 
 Unseen, unspeakable, not to be known 
 By searching ; being beyond all sight, speech, search ; 
 But Lord and Lover of all living things, 
 King of the Kingdom ! 
 
 " And a multitude 
 Followed Him to the Mountain, gathering
 
 THE ALABASTER BOX. 145 
 
 By troops and companies, on bank and mead, 
 
 Heedless of Earth, to hear His heavenliest words, 
 
 Till all the grass was blotted with great bands 
 
 Of gladsome people, clad for holiday, 
 
 Like divers-coloured flowers ; and, all around, 
 
 Dark eager faces of ten thousand folk 
 
 Men, women, children made a sunlit throng 
 
 So thick, so talk- full, on the asphodel, 
 
 The frightened eagles fled their crags the snake 
 
 Slid to his hole, the wolf and panther hid 
 
 Ashamed of blood. But gentle things of Earth, 
 
 The crowned lark, and the dove, and mountain-hare, 
 
 'Ware of some new good word thro' man to them 
 
 Listened in thickets. And the Morning donned 
 
 Amice of summer gold her loveliest 
 
 To meet His holy footsteps on the Hill. 
 
 And there, from that fair Sinai, with voice 
 
 Sweeter than Morning's breath He gave to us 
 
 The New Commandments.
 
 146 THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. 
 
 " Eight are blest He taught 
 Of that dim Kingdom, which men thought would 
 
 march 
 
 In worldly pomp, bringing Messiah girt 
 With the Lord's sword, triumphant ; His right hand 
 Teaching Him terrible things ; all Earth to hail 
 Israel re-throned with scarlet and with gold ; 
 The Sea to pour her pearls and corals forth 
 At foot of David's Heir ! And, lo ! the truth ! 
 The Kingdom come on that soft mountain-slope, 
 Not with the battle-trumpets, not with neigh 
 Of war-horse flecked with purple foam, and neck 
 Clothed with the thunder ; but by this mild voice 
 Telling how lowly souls shall be the Lords 
 Of the New Kingdom ; and the sorrowful, 
 The meek, the seekers after righteousness, 
 The merciful, the just, the peacemakers, 
 And they who for their brother's sake, and Eight, 
 Have suffered persecution. Oh, Sir ! think ;
 
 THE ALABASTER BOX. 147 
 
 In that one mountain morning at one word 
 All our World changed ! Poverty rich ! sick hearts 
 Comforted ! those who weep to laugh and sing ! 
 This Earth the Anteroom to neighbouring Heaven ; 
 Wise souls its salt ; pure souls its lamps, set high 
 Like cities upon hills, like candlesticks 
 Lighting the house ! ' So let them shine,' He said : 
 ' That men see your good works, and glorify 
 Your Father in the heavens ! ' Next He did teach 
 How the quick Spirit makes true living Law, 
 Under the letter : how the unkind thought 
 Hath, knifeless, murdered ; how the altar-gift 
 Lies vain and hateful when the hand which gives 
 Hath wrought some brother wrong. ' Leave there ' He 
 
 said, 
 
 ' Thy gift before the altar ! go thy way, 
 Be reconciled with him : then bring thy gift ! ' 
 Deep in our midmost He laid bare the seeds 
 Of wrongfulness ; bade us wrench root away,
 
 148 THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. 
 
 Not idly pinch a blossom ; since the eye 
 
 Which lusteth, and the wish that would, have wrought 
 
 The full sin, short of sinning. Therewithal, 
 
 Grave words of grace for women, marriage-bonds 
 
 Not to be lightly loosed : nay, and no oath 
 
 Oft-taken, since Truth's oath is ' Yea ' and ' Nay,' 
 
 And all words spoken go to one great ear. 
 
 Next, sternly-sweet, he snatched the hasty blade 
 
 From black Eevenge ; bade vanquish Hate by Love ; 
 
 Resist not evil ; turn the other cheek 
 
 To whoso smites ; cherish an enemy 
 
 That, peradventure, he may grow to friend ; 
 
 If not, then, being of our Father's mind 
 
 Who hath no enemies, but makes His dawns, 
 
 Each time He makes them, for the good and ill, 
 
 Giving to graceless ones, till they learn grace, 
 
 ' Perfect, as He is perfect.' Then, He taught 
 
 Almsgiving modesty, simplicity 
 
 And solitude to praying : spake Himself
 
 THE ALABASTER BOX. 149 
 
 That we may speak upon our knees, and know 
 
 Enough is said to that Divinest mind 
 
 Which saw our needs, and did provide for them 
 
 Ere the lips stirred. Furthermore, soft He talked 
 
 Of this world's fleeting treasures ' where the moth 
 
 And rust corrupt ; and thieves break thro', and steal,' 
 
 Counted beside true wealth of worthy deeds, 
 
 Of loving service rendered, and fair days 
 
 Lived blameless, like to sweet airs passing by. 
 
 Also, for foolish quest of fitful gain, 
 
 For meat, and drink, and raiment, and much heed 
 
 Of earthly gear, tenderly shamed He us, 
 
 Pointing with finger at those little birds 
 
 Perched nigh, or lightly flitting. ' See ! ' said He, 
 
 ' Your Father feedeth them, who gather not,' 
 
 And, therewith, from his foot a scarlet stalk 
 
 Of martagon He plucked, with wind-flowers, 
 
 (Oh, happy blossoms ! blown to help Him teach) 
 
 Bidding us mark how great King Solomon,
 
 150 THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. 
 
 For all his glory, was not clad like those ; 
 And how, if grass on the lone mountain-side 
 Grows unforgotten, garlanded so rich 
 From Heaven's full almonry ; and thrush, and finch 
 Feed daily from Heaven's hands, it could not be 
 Man should go bare, poorer than fowls of air, 
 Sadder than field-blooms. ' Ye have need of these,' 
 Gently He said : ' and these things shall be given : 
 But seek ye first the Kingdom ! seek ye first 
 The treasure of the Kingdom, righteousness ! 
 Other things shall be added.' 
 
 " Therewithal, 
 
 He told how we should seek ; not thrusting in 
 As if Heaven heard the loudest cry ; as though 
 The gateway of the Kingdom must be forced, 
 And a path pushed over the fallen ones ; 
 But foremost by Eenunciation, first 
 By good will to be last, by help, not haste ;
 
 THE ALABASTER BOX. 151 
 
 By eagerness not to be saved, but save. 
 ' Judge not, that ye, too, be not judged ! ' He said : 
 ' For, as ye judge ye must be judged.' And then, 
 Proclaimed how none seek vainly : soon or late 
 The seeker finds, the asker hath ; the knock 
 Makes the latch lift, whose ever be the hand. 
 ' Else ' tenderly He smiled, and wistful gazed 
 On mothers suckling black-eyed babes, and sires 
 Holding their brown boys high to see and hear, 
 Halving some barley-crusts ' else were you men 
 Being evil ; and so gentle, not the less, 
 To these your children ; kinder to bestow 
 Than the Bestower ! more to praise than God ! ' 
 At this as who well knew what idle things 
 Children will ask and men he drew, in light, 
 Plain as the Sun's long gold across the Lake, 
 Our road to follow : ' WHAT YE WOULD THAT MEN 
 SHOULD DO TO YOU, DO YE LIKEWISE TO THEM ! 
 THE LAW is THIS, THE PKOPHETS THIS ! '
 
 1 52 THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. 
 
 " We came 
 
 Flocking behind Him, down that Mount's green side, 
 And through the Vale of Doves, past Hattin's peak, 
 Over Bethsaida to Capernaum, 
 A joyous people, heart-whole with His words ; 
 Like sheep knowing their shepherd, gladly led 
 To fold from pasture. 
 
 " More than all He wrought 
 Journeying, or in His city, those dear words 
 Uttered upon the Mount, stripped my soul bare, 
 Showed me myself. Yet He would make us see 
 Power hand in hand with Wisdom and with Love : 
 For, next morn, down our silver Mere He sailed 
 To Nain, by Endor ; where a rugged road 
 Winds, under Tabor, to the village-gate, 
 By tangled sidra-trees, and sepulchres 
 Cut in the rock for the old dead and new. 
 And, when we neared the gateway, lo ! a throng
 
 THE ALABASTER BOX. 153 
 
 Wailing, with covered mouths, dust on their heads, 
 
 Clad in sad garments bore a dead man forth, 
 
 The one son of a widow. She, a-mort, 
 
 Broke with such woe as hath no help on earth, 
 
 Followed the painted coffin where he lay 
 
 Who was her glory and her good in life, 
 
 With those young, helpful, loving hands tight-bound 
 
 Never to help again ! and sweet boy-face 
 
 Swathed in the grave-cloth, sightless. But her eyes 
 
 Fixed on his face thro' the fast-trickling tears 
 
 Which still she wiped away, lest sorrow cheat 
 
 Love from one last dear moment of the Dead. 
 
 Whom Jesus marked ; and, while we held aloof, 
 
 (Since 'tis uncleanness if one touch a corpse,) 
 
 He laid His gentle palm upon the bier, 
 
 And bade its bearers stand. Then, speaking sweet 
 
 To that sad Mother, ' Weep no more ! ' He said, 
 
 And gazed upon the Dead gazed gathered up 
 
 Pity and Power and Grace in one great look,
 
 154 THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. 
 
 Which beamed so tender and so masterful 
 
 Hardly we marvelled at what next befell : 
 
 For, while the hushed crowd closed, softly we heard, 
 
 ' Arise, young Man ! I say.' The Dead sate up, 
 
 And with his own hand drew the face-cloth off, 
 
 And stared ; and murmured words ; and reached his arms 
 
 To Jesus, and stepped, trembling, from the bier. 
 
 And, while fear fell upon us, lo ! the Boy 
 
 Led, living, to his Mother, and her arms 
 
 Locked round him ; not the dark walls of the Tomb ! 
 
 But only Jesus of that multitude 
 
 Silent, and calm, and smiling. 
 
 " Then I knew 
 
 My Master and my Lord, and, all my heart 
 Burned so with worship that the blessed flame 
 Purged it of sin, and shame, and sorrow, left 
 Only the gold behind of grateful ache 
 To praise and thank and love and honour Him ;
 
 THE ALABASTER BOX. 155 
 
 To follow Him with humblest service still 
 
 Through life and death. That night He lay at meat 
 
 In Simon's house, in my own city here, 
 
 It stands there yonder with the three white domes 
 
 And, 'midst the others, I, too, entered in, 
 
 Bearing my box, the costliest thing I owned, 
 
 Holding much precious spikenard, subtly pressed 
 
 From flower and root of delicatest growth 
 
 By some far river in thy distant Hind." 
 
 " I know " the Buddhist said " that sumbul tree, 
 The ' jatamansi.' And our Indian Bee 
 Stays in her flight, full-laden, but to plunge 
 Honey-drunk in the perfumed wealth of it." 
 
 " Sir ! it is sweet as were all words from Him ; 
 The pity of Heaven made fragrance ! When I stood 
 Unnoticed at His feet, dropping hot tears 
 Which ran on them, wiping my tears away
 
 156 THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. 
 
 With these unbraided hairs, ashamed to moist 
 Such sacred palms with water from such source, 
 I would not merely lift the seal of silk 
 That shut the casket's lid, and spill the spice, 
 Lest somewhere, afterwards, some others use 
 My box, His box, for something ill again. 
 But on the stones I broke the dainty work, 
 And from these ruined fragments poured forth all 
 Over His feet, with many a fervent kiss 
 Adoring, and anointing. Then, there spread 
 The long-imprisoned spirit of that balm 
 To every quickened nostril at the feast, 
 And he, that was its Master, spake half-heard 
 ' My guest, the Prophet, being such, should wist 
 Who and what manner of a wench it is 
 Which toucheth him, for she is Miriam ! ' 
 And I, who in my pride and sin of old . 
 Had cursed the Pharisee ; grown wiser now, 
 Humbler, and conscious of my shame, and cleansed
 
 THE ALABASTER BOX. 157 
 
 From my seven devils gathered meek these shards 
 And prayed him pardon, and was turned to go." 
 
 " More grace thou hadst, fair Daughter ! than thy 
 
 Jew," 
 Broke in the Indian. 
 
 " Nay, Sir ! but I saw, 
 
 Blacker than Simon, how my sins must show 
 At those white feet ! Then my Lord, piteously, 
 Gazed on me, took my wrist, and drew me back ; 
 And, while I kneeled beside Him glad to drop 
 My long black guilty hairs over mine eyes 
 Searchingly spake He : ' Simon ! answer me ! ' 
 
 ' Eabbi ! speak on,' the Pharisee replied. 
 
 " My sweet Lord said : ' There lived a creditor 
 Had debtors twain : one owed five hundred pence ;
 
 158 THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. 
 
 The other fifty. Having nought to pay 
 
 He did forgive them both. How sayest thou ; 
 
 Which debtor loved him best ? ' 
 
 " ' I shall suppose/ 
 
 Murmured the Feast-master : ' 'twas he to whom 
 The Creditor remitted most.' 
 
 * 
 
 " My Lord 
 
 Smiled and spake soft: 'Aye, thou hast rightly 
 
 judged ! 
 
 Look on this woman well ! I being thy guest 
 Lacked foot- water of thee ; she made it good, 
 Washing my feet with tears : lacked linen cloths 
 To wipe them ; and she made it good with locks 
 Of untressed hair : lacked guest-kiss on the cheek ; 
 She with a hundred kisses made it good, 
 Rained on my feet, and then a hundred more ; 
 Not ceasing from the time I entered in :
 
 THE ALABASTER BOX. 159 
 
 Lacked on my head that oil which should anoint, 
 
 But she upon my feet hath spilt the wealth 
 
 Of kingly spikenard. Wherefore, this I say ; 
 
 Her sins her many sins are wiped away, 
 
 Even as from these my feet her tears were wiped ; 
 
 FOR SHE LOVED MUCH ! But where forgivingness 
 
 Is little, love is little.' Oh, with that, 
 
 Made He from Simon, and upon me bent 
 
 Those eyes that mastered Death at Nain ; those eyes 
 
 That melted at the children on the Mount ; 
 
 Those eyes, like stars, with love for radiant beam. 
 
 And ah ! beyond all music ever heard 
 
 Fell dulcet on mine ears : ' Go thou in peace ! 
 
 Thy faith hath saved thee ! Go in peace ! Thy sins 
 
 Are all forgiven ! ' 
 
 " They who sate at meat 
 Muttered thereat : ' Who is this Nazarene 
 Also forgiveth sins ! Who ? '
 
 160 THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. 
 
 " But He turned 
 
 Tenderly once again ; and spake again, 
 ' Thy faith hath saved thee ! Go in peace ! Thy sins 
 Are all forgiven ! ' 
 
 " And, from that glad hour, 
 Followed I Him, and ministered to Him ; 
 And found myself alive who had been dead, 
 And saved by Love, who dwelt so lovelessly."
 
 BOOK IV. 
 
 parables.
 
 THE PARABLES. 
 
 " OFTTIMES, dear Lady ! while I listened close " 
 Next morn, the Indian said : " loath, by rash stop, 
 To mar such noble music I had will 
 To tell thee how the great Tathagata 
 Spake many things in one mind with thy Lord. 
 Methought I heard our holy Books unroll, 
 Line after line, as thou didst featfully 
 Kecite those sayings on the Mount. He, too, 
 Bade us not hate, but love ; and conquer Hate 
 With Love ; and let light cares of Life go by 
 Careless, because it is a show, which cheats ; 
 And earthly treasures fade ; and he is rich 
 Who lays up riches, in the Eealrn beyond, 
 Of deeds done well, and gentle service wrought, 
 And days without injuriousness. Mark, too, 
 Our Buddha would not know of enemies
 
 164 THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. 
 
 More than thy Master. He commanded us, 
 ' If one upon the left shall wound thy hand, 
 And one upon the right shall bathe thy hand 
 With sandal-oil, and kiss it, bear to each 
 The same mild heart ! So shall the smiter love, 
 Or if not vainly hate thee ! ' Charity, 
 Mercy, and meekness, taught he : for Love's sake 
 Utmost renunciation. Once, it fell 
 Buddh to a starving tigress gave his flesh ; 
 Not fearing loss, for never can Love lose. 
 Yet, truly, nowise have we known before 
 "Wisdom so packed and perfect, as thy Lord's, 
 Giving that Golden Eule that each shall do 
 Unto his fellow as he would have done 
 Unto himself; for, then, this Earth were Heaven, 
 And equity in every breast throned King. 
 Also, right joyous goes His doctrine ; glad 
 'Mid Life's sad charms, and swift vicissitudes, 
 And Death's unshunned and hard perplexities
 
 THE PARABLES. 165 
 
 Which make us bear to live. But, Buddha held 
 Life was long sorrow, ignorantly prized, 
 Grievously reassumed from change to change ; 
 Whirling sad souls upon The Wheel, unsaved, 
 Until they stay it, staying lust of days ; 
 Ceasing to drink the false salt wave which breeds 
 Worse thirst a wilder Trishna : quit of quests, 
 And gliding, passionless and purged and sane, 
 Back to that Infinite where Silence lives. 
 OM MANI PADME ! ' from the lotus-leaf 
 The Dewdrop sliding to the shining Sea, 
 When Sunrise comes ! ' " 
 
 But Mary's great eyes gleamed, 
 Crying : " Oh, Sir ! in those good opening days . 
 We were as glad as maids at marriage-time ; 
 As jocund as the bird that hangs his heart 
 Bursting with song midway 'twixt Earth and Heaven, 
 And hath, to ravish it, the sky all his
 
 166 THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. 
 
 Up to the utmost blue, and, green below, 
 
 The Earth his, down to that one dearest nook, 
 
 The little happy hollow in the grass 
 
 Where his mate listens on her warm grey eggs 
 
 In woven nest. So owned we two wide worlds, 
 
 Following behind Him, over Galilee. 
 
 Nay, and those never knew my Master's mind, 
 
 Nor touched the golden hem of what He taught, 
 
 Nor tasted honied lesson of His lips, 
 
 Who drew not from the treasure of those lips 
 
 Joyance to make him glad to live or die ! 
 
 Wistful and woeful may well go, I know, 
 
 The days of those who, driven by the winds 
 
 Of strife, and avarice, and lust of eye, 
 
 Chase, what shall never be attained on Earth, 
 
 Contentment with the joys which are of Earth. 
 
 Who knows, but Miriam of Magdala, 
 
 How the red bubbles, bursting on the wine, 
 
 Foretell, at the cup's bottom, bitterness ?
 
 THE PARABLES. 167 
 
 Truly, such souls are like our ' gal-gal ' * here 
 If thou hast seen it, the wild artichoke, 
 Which putteth forth brave branches in the spring, 
 Dying at autumn into dusty globes 
 That break, and fall, and roll, all helplessly, 
 Ten score together in a leaping crowd, 
 O'er hill and vale, bounding like things possessed ; 
 Till the thorns take them, or the wrathful sea. 
 The Desert-rider reins his frightened beast, 
 As ' the accursed ' whirls, and cries in scorn : 
 ' Oh ! gal-gal ! whither goest thou to lodge ? ' 
 And the dry, miserable, ball replies : 
 ' Where the wind lodgeth for the night, I lie ! ' 
 
 " But we, who learned of Him the happy way, 
 Whom never once again Earth's winds can drive, 
 What is it if we die ? whose eyes have seen 
 There is no Death ! What is it if we live 
 
 * Called by the Arabs of Palestine d-alcMb.
 
 1 68 THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. 
 
 A little woe-begone, when He hath passed 
 Patiently all our path, changing its stones 
 To rubies, and to rose blooms all its thorns, 
 "With bright blood of His vainly- wounded feet ? 
 What lover of Him shall be sad again 
 Seeing the Father through Him, touching hands 
 Of that large love which reaches out from Heaven, 
 In His pierced palms ? He told us not one bird 
 Folds failing wings, and shuts bright eyes to die, 
 But That which gave their stations to the stars, 
 And marked the Seas their limits, and the Sun 
 His shining road, signed soft decree for this, 
 And did in pity plan kind consequence. 
 ' Yet you' lightly He spake 'are of more worth 
 Than many sparrows ! ' Oh, good Friend ! that soul 
 Hath done with sadness which knows Christ aright ; 
 Not as Fear reads, but as quick Love reveals. 
 Also 1 think the worst shall scarcely miss 
 At end of evil, when Despair will lead
 
 THE PARABLES. 169 
 
 Souls to His feet, which would not come for Love. 
 Hardly, I hope, shall bloody Herod fail, 
 Nor Judas, who betrayed Him with the kiss, 
 Nor Pilate, who, for Ciesar, saw Him slain ; 
 Nor any, at the last ; since Grace and Power 
 Unmeasured, which forbid men's hearts to hate, 
 Themselves can never hate, nor finally, 
 See their sweet purpose foiled. 
 
 " But, in those days, 
 
 We were the Children of the Bride-chamber, 
 That could not fast, nor weep ! Joy walked with us ! 
 Mark with thine eyes what Land this is in spring ! 
 The meadows cloth of gold, damasked and decked 
 With silk-leaved country-blossoms, and the hills 
 Girt with green forests, and with budding vines ; 
 Their feet set deep in barley-fields and groves 
 Of fig and olive ; where another world 
 Of sunshine-loving people live the Doves,
 
 170 THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. 
 
 The painted finches, and the crested larks, 
 
 Brook- tortoises, and storks, with busy swarms 
 
 Of banded bees,, crickets, and creeping things, 
 
 Nowise forgotten, taking share of Earth. 
 
 He led us Lord of lovely pastorals 
 
 Through these fair paths, grown to seem Paradise, 
 
 Heaven being so near. Women and children drew 
 
 Bright with the light of Love's new kingdom come 
 
 Into His train ; and gave Him laughing guards 
 
 Of little ones, who clustered round His knees 
 
 Wiser and bolder than we others were 
 
 Of dark-eyed wistful Syrian wives and maids 
 
 Glad to be poor, because He loved the poor 
 
 And made them wealthy with His word. The Lake, 
 
 The lonely peaks, the valleys, lily-lit, 
 
 Were synagogues. The simplest sights we met 
 
 The Sower flinging seed on loam and rock ; 
 
 The darnel in the wheat ; the mustard-tree 
 
 That hath its seed so little, and its boughs
 
 THE PARABLES. 171 
 
 Widespreading ; and the wandering sheep ; and nets 
 Shot in the wimpled waters, drawing forth 
 Great fish and small : these, and a hundred such, 
 Seen by us daily, never seen aright, 
 Were pictures for Him from the page of life, 
 Teaching by parable. 
 
 " For, nowise else, 
 
 Taught He the people ; since a light is set 
 Safest in lanterns ; and the things of Earth 
 Are copies of the things in Heaven, more close, 
 More clear, more near, more intricately linked, 
 More subtly, than men guess. Mysterious, 
 Finger on lip, whispering to wistful ears, 
 Nature doth shadow Spirit. Subjects, kings, 
 Diversities, degrees, prophets, and poets : 
 Lovers, together drawn invisibly 
 Like orbs that cleave across the Void ; the babe 
 Who, coming helpless, finds its mother's breast,
 
 172 THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. 
 
 Safe nursery and sweet food ; the seed which dies 
 
 That it may live, laughing with lightsome blade 
 
 Death's dread away ; the Darkness which would daunt 
 
 Save that it shows what Day concealed the stars ; 
 
 The sleep which gives us back the body's strength , 
 
 But leaves the dreaming soul sleepless and 'ware ; 
 
 Comforting nightly with grave's counterfeit ; 
 
 Death without dying living, but not Life ! 
 
 The steadfast onward-moving march of change 
 
 In use and beauty ; yea ! and what obstructs 
 
 Of harm and evil, for our World must grow 
 
 By Love's slow conquest of the stubborn will, 
 
 Free to will wrongly : these be parables 
 
 For ever murmuring wider wonders, hints 
 
 Of what hides inner, deeper. What is Like 
 
 Is Likely ; and the Life to come will be 
 
 Of such a fashion as this Life to-day 
 
 Writes in still symbols. Did we deem our fields 
 
 Tilled for no crop save what the sickle reaps ?
 
 THE PARABLES. 173 
 
 He made them show how Heaven's wise husbandry 
 Sets good seed growing ; parts the tares and wheat ; 
 Winnows the chaff away. Did some man find 
 Hid shekels in a field, old buried gold 
 Forgot of mouldering owner in the tomb 
 And buy the field, selling, for joy thereof, 
 All that he had ? He made us therefrom see 
 How sweet it is to want all sweetnesses, 
 Winning the Sweetest ; * and how cheap to own 
 What's priceless at a price ; how light to part 
 With all we clove to once, gaming thereby 
 The treasure of the Kingdom. Did there come 
 Pearl-merchants out of Persia, trafficking 
 All their white findings for one moonlight gem, 
 Fished fortunate in Ormuz, or by reef 
 Deadly and ragged, of the Sea of Suph ; 
 Meet to adorn the neck of Caesar's wife ? 
 
 * Cf. St. August. Confess., " Quam suave mi/a subito factum est 
 carcre suavitate, ct quas amittere metus fucrat jam dimittere gundium 
 erat ; Oh Vera Tu, et Summa Suavitas /"
 
 174 THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. 
 
 He made them teach us how to fling aside 
 Small pearls for great. That corn, sown secretly, 
 Unseen at eve, but, when we passed at morn, 
 Greening the headlands, 'twas His text to tell 
 How still and sure the good deed grows i' the dark ; 
 And shall not fail of fruit in his full time. 
 The shepherd whom we met in Gadara 
 Joyously striding as he brought to fold 
 That one lost lamb out of the hundred sheep 
 On his own shoulders, leaving lone, meanwhile, 
 The ninety and nine, safe in fat pasturage, 
 Passed piping on, not knowing he was grown 
 Type for us of the Eternal Love which seeks 
 Strays of the flock ; and will not have them lost 
 For all its saints, and will not spare its toil, 
 'Mid thorns and thickets, till it find, and save ; 
 Then makes more joy in Heaven for one lost sheep 
 Brought home, than all the folded ewes and rams 
 Knee-deep in grass of Paradise. And, once
 
 THE PARABLES. 175 
 
 New from Peroea, o'er the star-lit sea 
 Sailing with Simon to His city's gates 
 We spied a marriage-party : torch, and lamp, 
 And cresset, flaring with great cedar-knots, 
 Dancing like fire-flies through Capernaum 
 To jocund music of much pipe and drum. 
 But for the Bridegroom tarried certain maids 
 Had slumbered ; let their lamps die ; and their wail 
 ' Alalalai ! no light ! and, lo, he comes !' 
 Was loud, because the wedding-doors stood closed. 
 Small thought those slothful damsels had, their rout, 
 Hither and thither hurrying, gowns ungirt, 
 Lamps swinging lightless, and th' uncared-for cry, 
 ' Oil ! Sisters ! Lend us oil ! ' should thesis give 
 For fable of the Wise and Foolish ones ; 
 The souls that wait and watch ; the souls that drowse, 
 Letting Life's wick burn down ; till midnight comes, 
 And here's the Bridegroom, with his feastful friends, 
 But look ! no light ! and entrance quite forbid !
 
 1 76 THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. 
 
 ' Watch, therefore/ spake He, ' for ye know nor day, 
 Nor hour ! ' 
 
 " Yet most He loved to teach of Love. 
 Wherefore, when tale was of a certain man 
 Dwelling (we knew him) by Tiberias, 
 That had two sons : and one, the Prodigal 
 Who asked his portion, gathered it, and went 
 To some far country, where he wasted all 
 In riotous living ; till the ill-times fell, 
 And he had nought, and herded swine, and filled 
 His belly with the husks. Sitting at meat 
 In Simon's house, our Master took this tale, 
 And featly decked it forth with Wisdom's wealth, 
 Eelating how that son ' came to himself ' 
 And cried : ' I will arise, and go unto 
 My Father, and will say that I have sinned, 
 Sinned against Heaven, and, Father ! before thee, 
 And am not worthy to be called thy son,
 
 THE PARABLES. 177 
 
 Only thy hireling servant ! Make me that ! ' 
 Then he arose, and came. And, oh ! what heart 
 Throbbed not amongst us, while the Master told 
 Tenderly, meaning all the World to hear, 
 How yet a long way off his Father saw, 
 Saw him, and had compassion ? Nay, he ran, 
 And fell upon his neck, and kissed the boy 
 Mouth to mouth ; Father's lips on Son's lips pressed, 
 Staying his words of sorrowful self-blame 
 With dear impatience ; leading us to learn 
 That God's love runneth faster than our feet 
 To meet us stealing back to Him and peace, 
 And kisses dumb our shame, nay, and puts on 
 The best robe, bidding angels bring it forth, 
 While Heaven makes festival ; for Angels' meat 
 Is happiness of Man. 
 
 " In such wise, He 
 
 Plucking His themes, as Syrian girls pull flowers, 
 
 M
 
 1 78 THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. 
 
 To spell dear names and speak the gentlest words, 
 From common wayside things in Galilee 
 Taught us by Parable." 
 
 The Indian cried, 
 
 " Thou Wise One ! who didst sojourn in the Wild ; 
 And feed the swine from fairest hands ; and ache 
 With hunger for thine own fine food of Truth, 
 With waste of Love and Life ; and didst arise, 
 And find forgiving arms, and take that kiss 
 Silencing shame ! Now doth thy bright soul wear 
 A better beauty than dead Pappus saw, 
 Or love-sick Praetors ! Whence are words to thank 
 These words which teach me where thy Jesus filled 
 The leaf of wisdom in, and wrote for men 
 The name Lord Buddha would not say nor spell ? 
 Sweet stories, nathless, might thy servant cite 
 From Buddha's lips, teaching, as these do teach, 
 By speech of Ganges, not of Galilee,
 
 THE PARABLES. 179 
 
 How good seed grows to good, ill seed to ill, 
 Secretly ; and the Treasure of the Law 
 How well it is to buy it at World's cost 
 If all this World were chrysolite, and ours ; 
 And how Death is not, being new life masked, 
 Lest we long overmuch to die, and lose 
 Purpose of Earth : but Change, for ever Change ! 
 From seed, by darkness, to the blade again ; 
 From Life, by rest and recompense, to Life, 
 From forms, by Karma, to some other form ; 
 Which wheel shall whirl, till the awakened soul 
 Like a caged callow eagle, passion-caught, 
 Knows itself ; and, indignant, spreads its wings 
 For that unbounded Quiet where is Home. 
 Thus did Buddh teach ; and high Ahinsa's rule 
 To do no wrong, but bear wrongs patiently. 
 Yet this to conquer Ignorance ; to break 
 From sense ; to find that farther, truer World 
 Which shines thou sayest it beyond the seen.
 
 l8o THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. 
 
 Yea ! this to serve the Self, and save the Soul, 
 
 Reaching Nirvana, where, what seemed so dear, 
 
 Love, lieth dumb as Hate ; Life dead as Death ; 
 
 And the vast voice of endless Ecstacy 
 
 Is silence, and its Day eternal dream. 
 
 Who reigneth at that centre of the cirque 
 
 Him named he not, nor would he lift to Him 
 
 Prayers which were vain, if th' All-Knowing loves, 
 
 If th' All-Loving knows. Denying not, 
 
 Affirming not ; but finding no word fit 
 
 Saving the Wordless, the Immeasurable : 
 
 But thou, reporting from thy Master's mouth, 
 
 On that Void stretching from thought's farthest flight 
 
 As far into the purple deeps of Night 
 
 As the last star and farther dost inscribe 
 
 This mighty name of ' Love,' and biddest believe 
 
 Not law, not fate, not fore-ordained course 
 
 Hath moulded what we are, and built the Worlds ; 
 
 But living, regnant Love ; dimly discerned
 
 THE PARABLES. 181 
 
 In glories of this house of Earth we own, 
 
 Paved with green meads and seas, and roofed with 
 
 Heaven ; 
 
 Dimly discerned in lovely shows that live 
 To whisper lovelier wonders ; youth and strength, 
 The light of lustrous limbs, and laughing eyes ; 
 Man's might and woman's beauty ; clouds and flowers, 
 Jewels and birds, and all fair things for use. 
 Nor will thy matchless Master have this Love 
 Marred any way by evil ; any whit 
 Hindered by hating. Hate and Evil hang, 
 So must I gather but as darkness hangs, 
 When Dawn, which broadens, is not rosy yet. 
 It shall not fail to gleam, dispelling glooms. 
 And, for the lingering of that Sun of Love 
 Which is to brighten all, 'tis Night ! we dream ! 
 And Time and Doubt portions of that false dream 
 Nor would thy Master have one little life 
 Forgotten of this Love Divine. He sees
 
 1 82 THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. 
 
 His Father's universes clustering close 
 
 Round the poor bird which dies to minister 
 
 With winds that fan it, and with dews that bathe ; 
 
 Those viewless forces, holding worlds at work, 
 
 Subservient to the meanest thing, in life, 
 
 And death, and after dying. Therefore, more, 
 
 Much more to Man, Earth's Lord, and King of things, 
 
 Also, who enters, if I gather well 
 
 Into this Kingdom, in thy Master's train, 
 
 Hath, for its secret, not to love himself ; 
 
 Nor seek to save himself ; nor lonely wend 
 
 Over dead duties and affections slain, 
 
 Towards such Nirvana ; but to cherish still 
 
 His neighbour as himself ; and save his soul 
 
 By losing heed of it, in heedful care 
 
 That all his doings profit men, and help 
 
 The sorrowful to hope, the weak to stand : 
 
 With heart, soul, mind, and strength loving this God, 
 
 Whom yet I reach not, tho' the foot of thought
 
 THE PARABLES. 183 
 
 Treads step for step with Christ in Galilee. 
 
 How fits with such a God the loveless strife 
 
 Of all things living ? In the jungle, look ! 
 
 What slaughter ! and without it not a meal 
 
 For the young vultures, or the, tiger-cubs. 
 
 Nay, over all thy Realm of Love this rules ; 
 
 Each slays a slayer, and in turn is slain. 
 
 How fits, with Love, this, and the wrongs of men 
 
 Too desperate for any right to atone ; 
 
 The woes too hard ever to recompense ; 
 
 The dried, but dreadful, unforgotten, tears ; 
 
 The agonies intolerable, yet seen, 
 
 Yet suffered (thou didst say so) by that Power 
 
 Who tends the little bird, but gives it o'er 
 
 Helpless and piping to the falcon's beak ? 
 
 If these things need not be, doth He not play 
 
 With the poor Earth ? Shall it not fling Him back 
 
 His after bliss, indignant ? If aught lets 
 
 And He that made them cannot help His Worlds
 
 184 THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. 
 
 Or, only by slow schemes, and painful paths, 
 Shall we not scorn to call Him powerful ; 
 Or ask to see Him nearer, and know more ?" 
 
 " Wise Friend ! " she sighed, " that which thou sayest 
 
 to-day 
 
 Was over-eager said. One of our Twelve, 
 One golden morning when the Earth seemed His 
 By reason of those glorious works, and Heaven 
 A Garden parted by the Blue, whose key 
 Hung at His girdle pressed Him close, and spake : 
 ' Show us the Father, Lord ! ' But He replied, 
 With grave eyes looking greatly past our light, 
 ' No man, at any time, hath seen Him ! None ! 
 Nor shall ye see Him nearer than by Me 
 Who am His Son ! ' And, on another day, 
 Spake He : ' So long hast thou been with Me here, 
 And not yet known Me, Philip ? Who hath seen 
 Him that was sent, hath seen the Sender.' Sir !
 
 THE PARABLES. 185 
 
 We did suppose, what thy large learning holds, 
 
 The Unnamed thereby shown the Infinite, 
 
 Incomprehensible, Unspeakable, 
 
 For ever and for ever unapproached, 
 
 And yet, for ever and for ever near 
 
 In loving immanence ; revealed on earth 
 
 Doubtfully, as the minds of parents are 
 
 To ungrown children ; most of all revealed 
 
 In days and deeds, in holy life and death, 
 
 And new life after death, of Christ our Lord. 
 
 But manifest so did we read Him here, 
 
 In whatso mirrors Love, the nursing Dove 
 
 Fasting to feed her couplets ; the lone ewe 
 
 Battling against the eagle for her lamb ; 
 
 The eagle's self, fierce to find meat to bear 
 
 Back to her nestlings ; and the peasant-sires 
 
 Toiling that little ones fare well at home ; 
 
 And mothers with the sucklings at their breasts, 
 
 And children tending joyously the old ;
 
 1 86 THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. 
 
 And he who helps the poor, and he that shares 
 
 Last measure of dates in the mid wilderness 
 
 With one that starves : each tender deed and true, 
 
 Each word, thought, sacrifice, which helps the world, 
 
 Bj loving-kindness, use, and charity ; 
 
 Nay, ' even one cup of water,' thus He said, 
 
 ' Given in My name/ hring glimpse of God, and lead 
 
 Nearer and nearer to the Heart of Love. 
 
 Which shall be justified, when all is known, 
 
 And the Eternal Wisdom whispers, glad, 
 
 Its secret to the Soul, laughing to learn 
 
 Death was so friendly, and the toils of life 
 
 So fruitful for all living things ; and pain 
 
 Seed of long pleasure ; and our worst of woes 
 
 So like the foolish anguish of the Babe 
 
 Whereat the Mother, loving most, smiles most. 
 
 " Moreover, not by narrow Eeason's ray 
 Shall this be ever compassed, but by light
 
 THE PARABLES. 187 
 
 Larger and brighter, shining from the heart. 
 
 And, in the house once, at Capernaum, 
 
 His Twelve, disputing who was first, and chief 
 
 He took a little child, knit holy arms 
 
 Round the brown, flower-soft boy ; and smiled arid said : 
 
 ' Here is the first and chiefest ! If a man 
 
 Will be the greatest, see he make himself 
 
 Lowest and least ; a servant unto all ; 
 
 Meek as My small disciple here, who asks 
 
 No place, nor praise ; but takes unquestioning 
 
 Love, as the river-lilies take the sun, 
 
 And pays it back with rosy folded palms 
 
 Clasped round My neck, and simple head reclined 
 
 On his Friend's breast.' 
 
 " And, at another time, 
 
 When the pleased Mothers of the Lake would bring 
 Their infants to His knee ; to touch that hand 
 Which touched the hands of Angels, and to take
 
 1 88 THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. 
 
 Blessing from lips which spoke for Heaven; those 
 
 Twelve 
 
 Rebuked them, knowing not. But Jesus said : 
 ' Suffer the little ones to come to Me ! 
 Forbid them not ! Heaven's Kingdom is of such.' 
 And then went on : ' Whoso shall not receive 
 The Kingdom as a little child, that Man 
 In no wise entereth in ! ' Friend ! should we err 
 Deeming He meant the simplest souls see most ? 
 Is there not wisdom in the witless Babe ? 
 New-coming to this life, so wonderful, 
 Finding, without his pains, without his will, 
 The tender Mother waiting ; the sweet stream 
 Of breast-milk flowing ; and his soft place made ; 
 With sunlight for his days ; and stars and moon 
 To gem the curtains of his sleep ; and flowers 
 To tempt his feet to walk ; and birds to teach 
 Carols of country joy when he would sing ; 
 The child doth question nought, but takes this wealth
 
 THE PARABLES. \ 
 
 Lavished upon him in the dawn of life 
 With quiet opening heart, glad to be glad. 
 So doth he grow and learn, yet shall not learn 
 Ever a higher wisdom than to cling 
 Close to the loving bosom kept for him, 
 Content to trust, careless to understand." 
 
 The grey sage said, with wrinkled brow bent low, 
 " Great is thy grace, oh, Lady Miriam ! 
 Eight surely hast thou won from those true lips 
 Learning's last word ! Tis written in our books 
 Of Parabrahm, to shame all pride of mind, 
 ' He is unknown to those who think they know ; 
 And known to whoso know they know Him not.' 
 Yet, as thy fair speech ran, much wondered I 
 That, teaching how this heavenly Love hath heed 
 Of all tiesh living ; how we sons of men 
 Lie in its lap, all children, dear alike, 
 Elder and younger ; near and far ; white, black ;
 
 ,190 THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. 
 
 The Jew, Greek, Syrian, and Sidonian, 
 Arab, Egyptian : nay, and Indian ; 
 Thy Jesus did not quit, some little while, 
 His slender world shut here ; those peasant-hearts 
 Poorly perceiving Him ; those narrow brows 
 Knitted against Him in false Nazareth ; 
 And that proud, bitter, murderess on the hill, 
 Slayer of Prophets, red Jerusalem, 
 'Which, as we heard, did spill His blameless blood. 
 Why wended not His holy feet to them ? 
 To us ? to any ? who had listened well ; 
 And, glad with light of such bright missioning, 
 Crowned Him a King, indeed ; and given Him Earth 
 To fill and foison with His Father's will ? " 
 
 She answered : " Once, from green Gennesaret 
 Passed He, with certain, to the neighbouring coasts 
 Of Tyre ; and would not have that any knew, 
 But could not veil His greatness. Thou hast seen
 
 THE PARABLES. 191 
 
 Perchance, or from far-travelled merchant heard 
 
 How stately sits, how strong, how beautiful 
 
 That city on her Island of the Sea, 
 
 Tyre of the temples, girt with mighty walls, 
 
 Which glass themselves like rocks, majestical, 
 
 In the green wave laving their feet ; filled full 
 
 With ships that come and go, white birds of the sea 
 
 Flown from the farthest verges of the earth, 
 
 Spreading or folding wing ; and noise of oars 
 
 And ropes, and singing of the merchantmen. 
 
 There stood He, on the stair of Melicerth 
 
 God of the City while there came and went 
 
 Folk, as I think, from all the East and West ; 
 
 Another world of men and women ; loud 
 
 With traffick, and strange tumults, and new tongues ; 
 
 And gay with many-coloured garbs. We saw 
 
 The thronged streets paved with coral ; booths and shops 
 
 Bursting with store ; long strings of camels ; slaves 
 
 Bearing red jars of byssus, sealed for Koine ;
 
 192 THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. 
 
 Hewn cedar logs for Greece ; honey, and oil, 
 
 Barley and balm and calamus ; great bales 
 
 Of gum and cassia ; with blue-broidered work. 
 
 And Tyrian girls danced by, before His eyes, 
 
 Clad in the purple peplums ; beating skins 
 
 Of drum and cymbal ; wreathed with myrtle flowers, 
 
 Singing their wild way down to Ashtoreth, 
 
 The hundred-breasted Goddess of the Moon, 
 
 Worshipped with blood. Mild stood the Master there 
 
 Watching the busy bright-hued heathen life, 
 
 With eyes like those sea- waters, showing half, 
 
 Half hiding the deep wonders underneath. 
 
 Whom, as He gazed, with, who shall tell what thoughts ? 
 
 A woman, in the Greek dress, did accost 
 
 Plucking His robe, and crying : ' David's Son ! 
 
 I know Thee masterful and merciful, 
 
 Have pity on my child ! A devil rends 
 
 Her tender flesh ; but Thou, if Thou would'st come, 
 
 Could'st heal, and bring Thy servants peace and weal.'
 
 THE PARABLES. 193 
 
 Then He, grieved for the gilded wickedness 
 
 Of that fair city, fain for Galilee ; 
 
 Answered : ' First must the children's mouths be filled ! 
 
 It is not well to take the children's bread, 
 
 And cast it to the dogs ! ' At that, her eyes 
 
 Flashed with quick wit of anguish, and she cried : 
 
 ' Truth, Lord ! but crumbs fall, and the dogs may eat 
 
 The children's leavings ! ' Then beamed forth anew 
 
 That high look on His face, which comforted : 
 
 ' For this thy saying go in peace ! ' He spake ; 
 
 ' Thy little Maid is healed ! ' " 
 
 And she was healed ! 
 
 BREAK off, a little (he, who sings, entreats) 
 
 To mark the Master treading Tyre's proud streets ; 
 
 For then, of all the days of all our years, 
 
 Since tale was kept of human hopes and fears, 
 
 N
 
 194 THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. 
 
 Since first, through mists of eld, we mark Man climb 
 From flint and bronze to arts and aims sublime, 
 Subduing Earth, and stripping from the Sea, 
 By lordlier might, its power and mystery ; 
 And gaining, race by race, with painful strife, 
 Slow steps to Law, and sweeter modes of life : 
 Then, of all days, Times past and Times to be 
 Met touched and parted ; taking silently 
 Such eye-glance as the Grecian boys might snatch, 
 One from another, in that antique match 
 When the enkindled torch went sparkling round, 
 And each fleet runner o'er the flying ground 
 Spent his last breath and strained his sinking limb 
 To bring it, safe and swiftly, on to him 
 Who new, and girt and eager waited near 
 That lighted brand one more quick stage to bear. 
 Then did this New Age from the Old Age take 
 Life's flambeau up ; and with strong fingers shake 
 The sinking fire, and strike away the ash
 
 AT TYRE. 195 
 
 Of Pagan blackness ; making fresh rays flash 
 
 Whiter and brighter than what erst had beamed 
 
 When Attic grace and Latin lordship seemed 
 
 To hold our Earth for ever. Ponder well 
 
 What this white Tyre was, when the Writings tell 
 
 Jesus stood silent in her crowded ways ; 
 
 Master and Victor, more than if the blaze 
 
 Of steel-clad legionaries at His heels 
 
 Had burst her gates ; and rattling chariot- wheels 
 
 Had borne Him, splashed with scarlet conquest, high 
 
 Over her purple Punic Empery. 
 
 See, in the Prophet's scroll, how proud she sate, 
 
 Queen of the heathen, at her strong Sea-Gate : 
 
 "Oh thou !" rhe saith "at entrance of the Sea 
 
 Merchant for many peoples ! haughtily 
 
 Wearing thy perfect beauty ; with ships wrought 
 
 Of fir from Hermon, and of cedars brought 
 
 From Lebanon ; and, for thine oars uncounted 
 
 Oak-trees of Bashan ; and thy benches mounted
 
 196 THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. 
 
 With ivories of Chittim ; and thy sails 
 
 Sendal of Egypt, bellying to the gales 
 
 With broidered fringe, and blue and purple, pressed 
 
 From byssus of JEolia ! Skilf ullest 
 
 On all the waves thy tiinoneers in thee, 
 
 Thy grey-haired pilots, sailing every sea ! 
 
 Zidon and Arvad made thee mariners ; 
 
 Gebal thy caulkers ; Lud and Phut and Perse 
 
 And Gammadim, thy men of battle tall, 
 
 Who hanged their helms and bucklers on the wall, 
 
 Gems for thy terrible beauty ! Tarshish sent 
 
 Silver and tin to be thine ornament : 
 
 Javan and Tubal brought thee slaves, and brass 
 
 To mould thy market-vessels ; those who pass 
 
 Out of Togarmah fetched thee, for thy fairs, 
 
 Mules and their riders ; stallions stout and mares : 
 
 Dedan did traffick many a horn with thee 
 
 Of milky elephant, and ebony 
 
 From isles of Suph ; Syria thronged trader, too,
 
 AT TYRE. 197 
 
 For corals, emeralds, agates ; and the blue 
 
 Of sea-fishes ; thy mouth was fed with grain 
 
 Of Judah, out of Minnith's golden plain ; 
 
 With honey, oil, and balm ; with spice from Hind ; * 
 
 And green Damascus would not be behind 
 
 For wine of Helbon, and white wool ; and Dan 
 
 Sent thee bright iron ; and the Ionian 
 
 Wine-pots and women-slaves. Kedar did graze 
 
 Her flocks to feast thee : for thy power and praise 
 
 Sheba and Raamah poured forth gums and gold ; 
 
 Haran and Canneh, Asshur, Chilmad old, 
 
 Blue cloths and broidered work ; and chests bound round 
 
 With cords of cedar wood wherein was found 
 
 Glorious apparel, wove with gilded thread, 
 
 And the worm's glistening film !" 
 
 So it is said 
 The ships did sing of her, on all the seas. 
 
 * " Pannag " is, no doubt, the Sanscrit pannaya, meaning " aromatic 
 herbs."
 
 198 THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. 
 
 Lovely and strong, in her twin majesties 
 Of spear and oar, she shone upon her Isle, 
 Eeplenished, very splendid. But the toil 
 Of tearful captives drove her glittering keels 
 Swift o'er the waves ; at mills and water-wheels 
 Lydian and Lybian slaves, to keep her great, 
 Groaned their lost lives away with tears and sweat ; 
 And dark and cruel at the altar-stair 
 Of dread Astarte, priests, their red arms bare, 
 For glory of the Goddess, pierced soft throats 
 Of Tyrian boys and girls ; and, girt with coats 
 Of sacrifice, mingling its wine and blood, 
 Stained the white marble scarlet, where she stood. 
 And Woman had no place, nor parity, 
 Nor grace, with that lewd Lady of the Sea : 
 But, bought and sold, the maiden bloomed, to live 
 A Temple-thrall, and her dusk beauty give 
 Loveless, unloved. And the fierce statutes taught 
 Hatred to Foes ; and vile advantage, wrought
 
 AT TYRE. 199 
 
 By whatsoever wrong, or force, or fraud 
 Might spoil the Stranger. 
 
 In such midst our Lord 
 Patiently pacing, surely come to be 
 Gentle Destroyer of this Heathenry ; 
 Teacher of truth, which, spreading slow, shall shake 
 The many-breasted Goddess down ; and make 
 The captives free, and tear the accursed knife 
 From priestly grip ; and change to Queen and Wife 
 The trafficked Temple-harlot ; aye ! and bring 
 The Eoman to his last of governing ; 
 The Greek proud of his glorious Gods to hear 
 Over ^Egean hills that voice of fear 
 Wailing " Great Pan is dead ! " And from the 
 
 tongue 
 
 Of Caesar's self, hereafter shrewdly wrung 
 By scath and loss, compel that yielding cry 
 Vicisti, Galilcee !
 
 200 THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. 
 
 Now, go by 
 
 Those throngs of Tyre, the old ill deeds and days- 
 Heedless and unaware ! seeing Him gaze 
 Wistfully from their Temple-steps. No thought 
 How the mild eyes and silent steps have brought 
 End and Beginning ! 
 
 Yet hath come the End ! 
 Hath dawned Beginning ! 
 
 Doth no ear attend ? 
 
 The sea- waves, softlier in the harbour swinging, 
 Take part with the sea-breezes, lightly singing : 
 
 PEACE BEGINNING TO BE, 
 DEEP AS THE SLEEP OF THE SEA, 
 WHEN THE STARS THEIR FACES FIND 
 IN ITS BLUE TRANQUILLITY : 
 HEARTS OF MEN UPON EARTH,
 
 AT TYRE. 201 
 
 THAT EESTED NOT FKOM THEIR BIRTH, 
 TO REST AS THE WILD WATERS REST 
 WITH COLOURS OF HEAVEN ON THEIR BREAST. 
 
 LOVE, WHICH IS SUNLIGHT OF PEACE, 
 AGE BY AGE TO INCREASE, 
 TILL ANGERS AND HATREDS ARE DEAD, 
 
 AND SORROW AND DEATH SHALL CEASE. 
 " PEACE ON EARTH AND GOODWILL ! " 
 SOULS THAT ARE GENTLE AND STILL 
 HEAR THE FIRST MUSIC OF THIS 
 FAR-OFF, INFINITE BLISS !
 
 BOOK V. 
 
 TTbe %ov>e of (Boo ano
 
 THE LOVE OF GOD AND MAN. 
 
 NEXT day, within the House at Magdala, 
 
 Sitting in fair discourse, the Indian said : 
 
 " I know that thou must pass to bid me see 
 
 Thy Master done to death by evil men, 
 
 Blind to the light, in hard Jerusalem ; 
 
 I think that thou wilt tell how, ere He died 
 
 (Who could not die thou sayest and did not die, 
 
 If thou hast seen Him living, being slain ;) 
 
 He took back, twice and thrice, those keys from Death 
 
 Which lock the gates of darkness on mankind, 
 
 Till when His own hour came, Death ministered, 
 
 Meek servitor, leading that holy soul 
 
 Thither where it must go ; and willed to go, 
 
 So He might finish what He was to be : 
 
 In all things Man (thou sayest), yet in all things 
 
 205
 
 206 THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. 
 
 Divinely touching Heaven, fulfilling life, 
 
 And conquering ('twas thy word) the Unconquerable. 
 
 Now, gracious Lady ! since these things be strange, 
 
 And 'tis a new day which my dim eyes see 
 
 Broader and brighter than could shine, I deemed, 
 
 Till Buddh came back ; humbly I pray of thee 
 
 Who dwelledst near this light, and hast this light 
 
 Large in thy happy eyes, and pure and clear 
 
 In thine assured spirit make more plain 
 
 What was thy Master's teaching with what Law 
 
 Set He the Old Law by ? Whence take ye all 
 
 Whose faces met His face, the calm, the joy 
 
 Of such strong comfort as I mark, and praise, 
 
 And marvel at, and fain would understand ? " 
 
 " Swift is the heart to seize," Mary replied 
 " Slow is the tongue to utter things so high ! 
 Hadst thou walked once with Him in Galilee, 
 Seen His face once ; once, from His lips divine
 
 THE LOVE OF GOD AND MAN. 207 
 
 Heard those commanding, certain, kind, clear words 
 
 Which answered ere we dared to ask, and spake 
 
 Straight to the thought, as if our souls went stripped, 
 
 Or wore for raiment crystal ; thou hadst known 
 
 As we did know who loved and followed Him 
 
 He was in all things such as we were Man ; 
 
 Yet, being Man, in nowise like to us : 
 
 Oh ! no more like, than yonder palm-blossom 
 
 Dropping its sudden plumelet from the crown 
 
 To spread and feather into golden rain 
 
 Is like the root, the stem, the branch, the leaf 
 
 Whence, all at once, it burgeoned. Thou hadst known 
 
 How speech must fail, seeking to circumscribe 
 
 The purport of His mighty message here 
 
 With unavailing words ; as if one dipped 
 
 A hand to empty deep green Galilee. 
 
 Only, if yet again that voice could sound, 
 
 Itself would be its own interpreter, 
 
 And lift thee to those heights of Love unseen
 
 208 THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. 
 
 Where dwell our spirits, safe above the clouds ; 
 Would light thy gladdened eyes \vith what lights ours, 
 Through Life, through Death, into the bliss beyond ! 
 
 " Yet, for thy sake, and for His sweet Name's praise, 
 I will essay : 
 
 " Once, at Jerusalem, 
 
 While eager multitudes drank in His words, 
 The Sadducees had questioned Him ; and asked 
 Touching a Jewish wife, whose husband died 
 Leaving no children ; and, by Moses' law, 
 The second brother took her : and, again 
 Dying, the third ; and, so the fourth, and fifth, 
 Down to the seventh. Latest the woman dies 
 Childless by all of all the equal spouse. 
 ' Whose wife at resurrection shall she be, 
 All seven wedding her, and issue nought ? ' 
 So posed they, mocking at the Life to come. 
 But Jesus shamed them ; showed them Holy Writ
 
 THE LOVE OF GOD AND MAN. 209 
 
 Forever in their false mouths proving God 
 Lord not of dead but living ; bade them know 
 Better His power, and plan, and mystery ; 
 And multitudinous mansions of Love's House ; 
 And this World little, and high Heaven so large 
 Where neither marriage is, nor mortal wish, 
 Nor selfish, lying tongues, speaking false speech 
 Of love ; nor eyes that lose their lustrous light 
 With tears and vigils ; nor the dread to part 
 Which, under warm gold of Love's folded wing, 
 Makes lovers shudder ; nor true love mistook, 
 Nor ill love entertained ; nor ever doubt, 
 Where destined spirits meet ; nor ever death 
 Of love new-born, heart-holds abandoning, 
 But love undying, undivided, pure, 
 Perfect ; in finer bonds, and nigher, bound, 
 Dearer delights and deeper joys ; free souls 
 Linked as the Angels are, whose breath is Love, 
 And, for their sex another wonder.
 
 2io THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. 
 
 " One, 
 
 Which was a Pharisee, said, tempting Him ; 
 Or, haply, learning Moses shrunk too small 
 To fill the new vast splendours opened so 
 ' Tell us the chief commandments of the Law ! ' 
 Then, as a jewel-merchant spreads forth gems, 
 And takes from all his treasures of the Deep, 
 The two great gleaming pearls of all the pearls 
 To set them, matchless, in the encircling gold 
 Shining apart ; from all their Law He plucked 
 These two chief precepts, sternly answering : 
 
 'THOU SHALT LOVE THE LORD THY GOD WITH ALL 
 THY HEART, AND WITH ALL THY SOUL, AND WITH ALL 
 THY MIND.' 
 
 " ' This is the First and Great Command/ He said, 
 ' And like unto it that which folio we th it : 
 
 ' TlIOU SHALT LOVE THY NEIGHBOUR AS THYSELF.'
 
 THE LOVE OF GOD AND MAN. 211 
 
 " ' All the Law hangs, and all the Prophets hang, 
 On these commandments,' spake He, 'on these 
 two!'" 
 
 " So did our Lord, out of their own mouths, judge 
 Those hypocrites. He told how this Life makes 
 Veil and dim vestibule of larger life, 
 Eternal, boundless ; and what statutes twain 
 Sway the commingling Kealms so manifest : 
 Wherein, who loves his brother, seen and known, 
 Loves God unseen, unknown ; and who, by faith 
 Finds the far Father in the close sweet Son, 
 Is one with both. Yet Faith, ofttimes He taught, 
 Was nowise bare believing ; since belief 
 Comes hard or easy, as minds go : and He 
 Not once ungentle to bewildered minds 
 Seeking for truth, and fearful lest they take 
 A wrong road in the maze spake graciously 
 Even to one who, craving mercy, cried :
 
 212 THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. 
 
 ' Lord ! 1 believe ! help Thou mine unbelief ! ' 
 What Faith He asked of whoso entered in 
 The slave may have in bondage, if he lifts 
 Eyes of sad hope ; th' unlettered hind may have 
 Who, at his toil, hungers for better bread 
 Than what toil buys ; the little child may have 
 Content to love and trust ; all souls shall have 
 Which, when the light shines, turn themselves to light 
 As field-flowers do ; and, like the flowers of the field, 
 Are glad of the great sun for the sun's sake ; 
 And, being evil, are for good ; being weak 
 Will give what thews they own for Righteousness, 
 Will lay what gifts they may at Love's fair feet, 
 And follow, with quick step or slow, through faults, 
 Through failures, through discomfitures, through sins, 
 The march of that majestic King whose flag, 
 Distant and dim, they hail, and with true hearts 
 Though will be wilful and though flesh be weak 
 Burn to obey. These are Heaven's men-at-arms
 
 THE LOVE OF GOD AND MAN. 213 
 
 In van or rear ; informed or ignorant 
 
 Of whither battle rolls, and what shall prove 
 
 Its issue ; and, for them, whether high spoils 
 
 Of Victory at last the Leader's eye 
 
 'Ware of their wounds or some forgotten grave 
 
 Where they that gained Him glory sleep unnamed : 
 
 Always to orders loyal, standing fast 
 
 In what post be assigned ; in life and death 
 
 Eight-minded, but not blameless ; loving God 
 
 With lowly heart, and earnest, striving soul 
 
 Which trusted, seeing darkly ; loving man 
 
 For brotherhood, and God that lives in man ; 
 
 Such have the faith, to such is much forgiven. 
 
 " It may be there shall come in after days 
 When this Good Spell is spread some later scribes, 
 Some far-off Pharisees, will take His law, 
 Written with Love's light fingers on the heart, 
 Not stamped on stone 'mid glare of lightning-fork
 
 214 THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. 
 
 Will take, and make it code incorporate ; 
 And from its grace write grim phylacteries 
 To deck the head of dressed Authority ; 
 And from its golden mysteries forge keys 
 To jingle in the belt of pious pride ; 
 And change its heavenly cherishing tenderness 
 To warrant for the sword, the chain, the flame, 
 Lending hard Hate the sacred seals of Love, 
 And crying : ' Who believes not, perishes ! ' 
 It may be some that heard Him day by day, 
 Lacking the ears to hear, or losing hold 
 Of larger thought perplexed interpreters 
 Shall, in the times to be, do Him much wrong 
 With right intent ; saying our sweet Lord taught 
 Dark tangled schemes of sad salvation ; God 
 Making Earth ill ; which went awry ; was lost 
 For sin ; was forfeit to the wrath of Heaven ; 
 Which for it must exact a victim ! slew 
 The Son of Heaven Himself, willing and free ;
 
 THE LOVE OF GOD AND MAN. 215 
 
 And by His blood, self-shed and innocent, 
 
 Washes Earth's sins away, propitiates 
 
 That hungry anger of the offended Law. 
 
 So I have known some teach nay, faithful ones 
 
 Reciting solemn sentences, and words 
 
 Of sorrowful foretelling, when He knew 
 
 How Love, for love of Love, must die, to prove 
 
 Love never dies ; no more than Heaven extorts 
 
 Sin's satisfaction from glad pangs of Love. 
 
 Nay ! if 'twere John himself should teach such God 
 
 And call Him Christ's, I should remember, too, 
 
 How, when John bade Him call down lightning-bolts 
 
 Consuming those Samaritans who drave 
 
 Him and the Twelve away He softly spake : 
 
 ' I came to save men's lives, not to destroy ! ' 
 
 But, if it be ; and from His darkest words 
 
 This passeth, that, albeit ' God is Love,' 
 
 As He did say, this thing was also said : 
 
 God, from the Guiltless drew the fine of guilt,
 
 216 THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. 
 
 And, in constraining names of ' Just ' and ' Good/ 
 
 Wrought red injustice, and dealt grievously ; 
 
 Bethink thee of our race, a chosen race 
 
 From ancient days ; but swaddled, suckled, nursed 
 
 In school of ' sacrifice : ' at Passover 
 
 Sprinkling our doors with blood ; at bearing-time 
 
 Buying our leave to enter once again 
 
 The Temple-courts, and show a child to God, 
 
 With butchery of those two soft turtle-doves ; 
 
 Their pearled necks bleeding, while the mother 
 
 kneels. 
 
 Also, in Tisri, on ' Atonement Day,' 
 Our High-Priest, lifting up the Temple's veil, 
 Walks gory with his dripping knife in hand, 
 And, slaughtering the bullock and the ram 
 Comes with two goats ; and one Jehovah hath 
 And one Azazel : winning each by lot 
 Cast in that shambles. And, Jehovah's goat 
 Rightfully murdered seven times must he dip
 
 THE LOVE OF GOD AND MAN. 217 
 
 His fingers in the blood, and scatter it 
 
 Over the Mercy-Seat. Azazel's goat, 
 
 Bearing the ' scarlet tongue ' between its horns, 
 
 And laden with those sins beasts wot not of, 
 
 One leads into the wilderness, to die 
 
 Innocent, for the people ; die forlorn, 
 
 Famished, on fire with thirst, knee-deep in slime 
 
 And salt-crusts of the dreadful Sea of Death. 
 
 How should we learn, horribly nurtured so, 
 
 To cast no blood upon the Mercy-Seat 
 
 In this fresh Temple of the living Love ? 
 
 Oh, Sir ! the stream, so clear, high on the Mount 
 
 Takes colour from the hags and channel-stones 
 
 Whereby it hastens to the expectant plains ; 
 
 And many winding ways this Heavenly flood 
 
 Must find, belike, before old Law no more 
 
 Stains the new crystal of its purity 
 
 With memory of bad, bitter, bloody, shrines 
 
 And savage Kighteousness, and jealous Jah !
 
 218 THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. 
 
 " It may be this shall hap ! How should I know ? 
 Yet do we know, who loved and followed Him, 
 Never such hard words fell from those true lips, 
 "Which would not have the young man call Him good, 
 Eeplying, ' None is good ! Not one, save God !' 
 Love's glory not Love's gore redeems the "Worlds ! 
 The gateway of His Kingdom He did shut 
 On them who named His name, but let the sick 
 Lie helpless ; and the naked go unclad ; 
 The fatherless uncared-for ; prisoners 
 Unvisited ; the woe-begones of Earth 
 Unsuccoured ; vainly dreaming to love God 
 Who did not love their brothers ; those who held 
 Talents, and wrapped them in the napkin; churls 
 Who pardoned of great debts took by the throat 
 A fellow-servant for some little due, 
 And narrowly exacted all ; unkind, 
 Forgetting the Forgiver. But for Faith 
 Which if it could would cling ; and if it could
 
 THE LOVE OF GOD AND MAN. 219 
 
 Would comprehend ; and, comprehending not, 
 Stumbled, yet loved and strove, to that He flung 
 The golden doors wide open, crying : ' Come, 
 Thrice blessed of My Father ! What ye did, 
 In that sweet secret doing of true heart, 
 Unto the least of these My brethren, ye 
 Have done it unto Me ! ' 
 
 " ' Of true heart ' mark ! 
 For, what were wrought in purpose of reward 
 Though the high goal be Heaven, wins us no Heaven, 
 Wins wages only of this World and men ; 
 The portion of the hypocrites. To love 
 Our lovers, and to give to them that give ; 
 And to bestow, and to abstain, for praise, 
 The sinners do it, and the publicans ; 
 So would He teach. But, in our daily alms 
 And, in our prayers ; to keep them maidenly, 
 Veiled ; making private what poor grace they own,
 
 220 THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. 
 
 Holding them secret 'twixt ourselves and Heaven ; 
 
 Not letting this hand know what that hand doth ; 
 
 And nowise ever to ask pay for Love, 
 
 Since Love is paid in loving. Yet, He taught, 
 
 Love could not lose by utmost sacrifice, 
 
 Nay, but that gain would come, must come ! much 
 
 gain ! 
 
 And pleasures past all seeing of the eye, 
 Hearing of ear, imagining of mind 
 Quickened to topmost fancy. This, for sphere 
 Of spirit ; where the things prepared for us 
 Poorly foreshadowed in Earth's happiest Now 
 Would daze the heart to know. Still, deem thou not 
 Our holy Master put the body by 
 As though 'twere clog and curse ! Not mean, nor base, 
 But of Heaven's best upbuilding is this House 
 Fashioned for man ; the city of nine gates, 
 Wonderful, subtle, sacred ; to be kept 
 Fair and well-garnished ; graced with ornament
 
 THE LOVE OF GOD AND MAN. 221 
 
 Outside and in ; and wardened worthily 
 
 That, in its ordered precincts, Angels' wings 
 
 May float and fold ; and body help the soul 
 
 As soul helps body. Never once with us 
 
 Scorned He the meats and drinks, sights and delights 
 
 Which flesh doth ask : ' Your Heavenly Father knows 
 
 Ye need these things/ He said ; and ofttimes sate 
 
 At wedding-festival and banquet-board. 
 
 But, while the kind Earth hath a place for all, 
 
 Joys came unsought He said to whoso lives 
 
 Heedless of joy. ' Love thyself last ! Drink deep 
 
 The nectared anodyne of selflessness ! 
 
 Feast full upon the diet Angels eat 
 
 Pity and Help and Vast Compassion ! Seek 
 
 The pathway of the Kingdom ; finding that 
 
 Other things shall be added ! Griefs shall come, 
 
 Pain, hardships, death, it may be, on the path ; 
 
 Yet turn not back ! hand once upon the plough, 
 
 Drive the brave furrow forward, eyes intent
 
 222 THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. 
 
 On the share's point ! trust Heaven for recompense 
 Forgetting recompense ; trust God for due 
 Of bodily things, and for soul's due of peace 
 Foregoing both ! ' ' Some of you they shall put ' 
 Spake He ' to death ; and not one single hair 
 Shall perish of your heads ! ' " 
 
 The Buddhist said : 
 
 " I hear thee tell me plain how Jesus taught 
 Life beyond this life, timeless, infinite ; 
 As little parted from the world we see 
 As daytime is from dream-time, when we drowse, 
 And think 'tis night, with sunrise on our lids. 
 Taught that our sorrows are but children's frets 
 Because there bends, o'er seen things and unseen, 
 Swaying that Kingdom, which hath Love for law, 
 A Father's hand, bountiful, pitiful, 
 Known by the Son's hand, which we reach and touch ;- 
 His true Name being nameless ; conquering
 
 THE LOVE OF GOD AND MAN. 223 
 
 Slowly for reasons all things to Himself. 
 Likewise, that whoso will may enter in 
 Now and forever to full freedmanship 
 Of Love's fair Kingdom, having Faith, which is 
 Not wisdom, understanding, creed, belief, 
 Nor sinlessness by Yogis vainly sought 
 In deedlessness but earnest will to stand 
 On Love's side ; eager heart to see the Good 
 And serve the Good, and hail the Light, and help 
 The spreading of the Light ; aiming to grow 
 ' Perfect as He is perfect.' So the dew 
 Globes on a grass-blade ; shaped as is the Star, 
 Shooting star-rays, obeying starlike laws ! 
 Now do these lucent^words kindle a lamp 
 Brighter than what we took from Buddha's lore ; 
 He bade us spurn Self, set the Self aside 
 Ahankara seek always to sink back 
 Safe to the Infinite ; and, for such end, 
 Break from the sense, with all its sorceries ;
 
 224 THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. 
 
 Forego delights, disdain what most men prize, 
 Life's light allurements, tender things of Time, 
 Soft lips of love, sweet lisp of little ones 
 Making heart's music in the house ; praise, fame, 
 Wealth, domination. But thou showest us 
 The subtle spirit, making good its way 
 From world of sense and self to selfless world, 
 Not by hard stress of lone philosophies, 
 Nor scorn of joys, nor sad disparagement 
 Of life and living things as shadows vain ; 
 But nearer road and new ! by heart to see 
 Heaven closest in this Earth we walk upon, 
 God plainest in the brother whom we pass, 
 Best solitudes 'mid busy multitudes, 
 Passions o'ercomc, when master-passion springs 
 To serve and love and succour. Ah ! the dream ! 
 Full fair, could it but last in waking hours ! 
 Could men but hear the Angels' song anew, 
 And learn to sing it, making ' Peace on Earth ! ' "
 
 THE LOVE OF GOD AND MAN. 225 
 
 " Sir ! but it lasts ! " she said " with whoso sees 
 As we have seen and heard. No dream at all, 
 But simple, glad, and easy verity ! 
 I pray thee note how He would call Himself 
 The ' Son of Man.' Is't not the way with Kings 
 To bear for style and title first and most 
 Their kingdom's name, prouder than crown 'or 
 ring, 
 
 * 
 
 Or high imperial purple ? This our King, 
 Who, had He willed, might sit in majesty 
 Out of all reach, in court invisible 
 Of undiscovered Paradise ; unmoved, 
 'Mid Angels and Archangels ministering, 
 Throned Son of God ; with archipelagos 
 Of orbs for silver islands of His Eealm ; 
 Dwelled, seest thou this, with us in Galilee ; 
 And, lowly, took for Empire ' Men,' a Man ? 
 Consider what it is that He was Man ! 
 If one proclaimed the wisest and the best
 
 226 THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. 
 
 That ever lived in all our lands, and years, 
 
 ' The way to God is by the road of men ; 
 
 Find thy far Heaven in near humanity ; 
 
 Love thy seen brother as thyself ! Thereby 
 
 Thou lovest Him unseen, Who is the All ! ' 
 
 What answer should we make? Should we not 
 
 say, 
 
 ' Some few our eyes have seen, lovers and friends, 
 Tender and true ; once, twice, and thrice we knew 
 Hearts gentle, just, and pure; and there have 
 
 been 
 
 If annals lie not excellent good souls 
 Giving themselves for kindred, country, right ; 
 Wise teachers, worthy soldiers, foremost minds 
 Whose names are sweet upon the lips of Time 
 For service dearly wrought and selfless deeds ; 
 Yet, never was there none might say, at height 
 Of topmost virtue, " See in Me that God 
 Elsewise unseen ! For My sake find in Man
 
 THE LOVE OF GOD AND MAN. 227 
 
 Heaven's glory hiding ; and for My sake love 
 The least of these My brethren, since the least 
 Hath God in him or shall have ! " ; Oh, our 
 
 best 
 
 Left us still sighing : ' All this petty world 
 Is full of spoiled and spoilers ; strangers, foes, 
 Hating and hated ; rending each from each 
 By force or fraud the means to li ve ; low souls 
 Base, void, unlovely ! What should make us love 
 This poor forked fellow-worm, plagued with vile 
 
 needs, 
 
 By savage passions scourged, whose brittle life, 
 Commenced in helplessness, runs its vain round 
 Of meats, drinks, sleeping, striving ; then sinks back, 
 Helpless again, to that clay whence he came ? 
 Where shall we find Heaven's image in these brows 
 Ape-like and low ? these faces foul with lusts ? 
 Those hands with guiltless blood dyed red, those 
 
 eyes
 
 228 . THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. 
 
 Aflame with greed and anger : nay, and worse, 
 Those false, deceiving hearts that cog and cheat, 
 The smooth, reputed, hypocrites who smile 
 And, with the serpent's glitter, drag his sting ? 
 What peak, at loftiest, had our breed attained 
 Where we might stand and see the stars come 
 
 close ? 
 
 Where glowed one human glory bright enough 
 To feed the fond desire, the hopeless hope 
 That somewhere, at beginning, Man did touch 
 Divinity ; and, somewhere, at his end, 
 Might pass a purged thing -to the Infinite ? 
 
 " This hath my Lord and Master satisfied ! 
 This, from the mouths of doubters and unfaith, 
 Forever hath He taken ! Ah ! the worst, 
 Th' un worthiest creature of us, crawling Earth, 
 If he but knew what bliss hath happened here, 
 What sudden splendour of inheritance,
 
 THE LOVE OF GOD AND MAN. 229 
 
 What unexpected purple, undeserved, 
 Hath lighted, making him the kith of Kings, 
 Would lift his head from the life-dust he licks, 
 And, in the. sunshine of new, happy, hope, 
 Spread jewelled wings of joy as when we see 
 The dull grey worm, hid in uncomely shell, 
 Burst it, and soar a lightsome butterfly 
 Burning and blossoming, all gold and blue. 
 I even I the wilful one, and wild, 
 Because He did forgive, because my feet 
 Are clean with treading in His steps, because 
 I heard His gracious words ; and saw Him live, 
 And saw Him die, and saw Him after death 
 Alive, triumphant, Lord of Life and Death ; 
 Come to His Kingdom, and not gone from us : 
 I Miriam of Magdala rejoice 
 With what exceeding joy thine eyes have marked, 
 Standing persuaded that no height, nor depth, 
 Nor present things, nor things to be, nor powers,
 
 230 THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. 
 
 ISTor pangs, shall separate us from His grace. 
 And, for myself, and all the Earth, and thee, 
 Have no grief left, and cannot suffer grief, 
 Being woman, and my Lord and God a Man. 
 For, listen yet again ! This Godlike one, 
 This spotless, stainless, sinless, blameless Christ, 
 Whom none did once convince of one small 
 
 swerve 
 
 From perfectness ; nor ever shall ! so strong 
 The elements obeyed Him ; so divine 
 The devils worshipped ; so with virtue charged 
 The touch of Him was health ; so masterful 
 The dead came back upon His call ; so mild 
 The little children clustered at His knee, 
 And nestled trustful locks on that kind breast 
 Which leans to-day on God's Consider, Sir ! 
 A human heart beat there ! a human brain 
 Pondered, and pitied, and was sorrowful 
 Behind that sovereign brow. The blood of us,
 
 THE LOVE OF GOD AND MAN. 231 
 
 Of women and of men coursed, crimson, warm, 
 In those rich veins ! Nay, and He ate our meats 
 And drank our drinks, and wore the dress we 
 
 wore ; 
 
 And His hair fluttered in the breeze which stirred 
 Peter's, and John's, and mine. So, now, hence- 
 forth 
 
 This wonder lasts, that what, in all the worlds, 
 Was highest, holiest, purest, noblest, best, 
 More taintless than the Morning-Star, more kin 
 To Heaven than light of Heaven, or proudest 
 
 plumes 
 
 Of Angel and Archangel That is Man ! 
 That one supreme, consummate, faultless life, 
 It was a human life, begun with us, 
 Continued 'midst us, ended as we end 
 In woe and weakness, thence emerged to be 
 A Glory sitting equal in the sky 
 With God's own glory, everlastingly
 
 232 THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. 
 
 That by which we are judged, and that whereby 
 The race of Man claims place and patrimony ; 
 Oh, more than all ! that for whose holy sake, 
 By whose most sovereign grace, for whose sweet 
 
 deed 
 
 The sins which reddened Earth are washed away 
 Whiter than wool, the debts which loaded Earth 
 Are paid by Love's kiss on the lips of Law, 
 Tenderly silenced. Now, the whole Earth hears 
 (Or shall hear surely shall hear at the last, 
 Though men delay, and doubt, and faint, and fail) 
 That promise faithful : ' Fear not, little flock ! 
 It is your Father's will and joy to give 
 To you the Kingdom ! ' 
 
 " Wherefore, if there live 
 Brothers too low to love, too base to serve, 
 Too evil to forgive ; if aught in Man 
 So abject seem and so to brute allied
 
 THE LOVE OF GOD AND MAN. 233 
 
 Nice natures scorn the kinship; think that Christ 
 Knew also these, and measured these, and made 
 His daily sojourn 'midst them ; and was swift 
 To succour them and cheer ; and bore with them, 
 Never once holding any lowly soul 
 Less dear to Heaven than high and saintly souls, 
 Never conceding once that one stray sheep 
 Lean, foul, and fleeceless in the thorns of Sin 
 Should die, unfolded, for the safe nock's sake. 
 Thus, then, weakly I strive to answer thee : 
 Jesus our Lord hath lived and died and lived ; 
 And, now, in Suns, and Stars, and amplest Heaven, 
 When Angels name us they must name Him, too, 
 Since He was Man is Man. And for His sake 
 No more 'tis hard to love what He hath loved, 
 Nor strange to tread, in footmarks of His feet, 
 This path which leads, by love of Man, to where 
 Through Earthly Service rendered, duties wrought 
 In meekness, purity, and charity
 
 234 THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. 
 
 Always our Helper, He awaits. Awaits 
 
 To tell what best He knew the secret deep 
 
 How the Divine hides in the Undivine, 
 
 How near to good is evil. Waits to say : 
 
 ' Enter ye in, who nursed Me, lying sick, 
 
 And fed Me, being hungered ; gave Me robes 
 
 When I was naked, wiped My tears away 
 
 In heavy-hearted days, and pitied Me, 
 
 And helped Me, cast in prison with the thieves ! ' 
 
 And, when we answer : ' Oh, dear Lord ! but, 
 
 how 
 
 Saw we Thee sick, or hungered, or unclad, 
 Or sad, or cast in prison ? ' Christ shall say : 
 ' Inasmuch as ye did it to the least 
 Of these My brothers, it was done to Me ! 
 Aye ! 'twas to Me, and 'twas to God through 
 
 Me 
 
 Ye gave that cup of water ! I lay sick 
 With him ye succoured ; I was languishing
 
 THE LOVE OF GOD AND MAN.' 235 
 
 In prison with the broken hearts ye cheered ; 
 That was My nakedness ye covered up 
 Clothing My Poor ; I was the babe ye fed ; 
 I was that widow whom ye visited ; 
 Share My joy now, who helped My Father then ! 
 Enter ye in ! ' 
 
 " Moreover, Sir ! I deem 
 We are so made we but discern what's high, 
 What's great, what's noble, what's best worthy 
 
 love, 
 
 When it comes visible, incarnate, nigh : 
 Beauty were but a name, except it burned 
 Authentic in red glory of the Eose, 
 Or in loved form and face desirable : 
 And Virtue needs must put white raiment on, 
 And walk in sight, ere men bend knee to her. 
 Souls, ere they soar, ask help, to spread a wing 
 From firm ground here ; th' ideal real, the dream
 
 236 THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. 
 
 True in the daylight. But with Christ to love, 
 "With Him to show us what lay lost in us 
 Man by His birth, God by His Deathlessness, 
 For His sake all the race of men grows great, 
 Old laws are spent ! what need command us more 
 With crash of Sinai's thunder, not to rob, 
 To murder, covet, bear false witness ? Those 
 Were chains for Hatred ; Love is done with 
 
 them! 
 
 Love, standing with the children, at His knee, 
 Spells the new lesson that the neighbour wronged, 
 The poor left comfortless, the foeman slain, 
 Were kinsmen used unkindly, lovers lost ; 
 Being one household, with one Father, God, 
 One eldest brother, Christ. ' How often, Lord ! 
 Shall one offend me, and shall I forgive ? ' 
 Asked Peter : ( until seven times ? ' And He said : 
 ' Seventy times seven pardon ! ' Not the sin ! 
 He made no peace with that ! The pure in heart
 
 THE LOVE OF GOD AND MAN. 237 
 
 Alone see God ; and very terrible 
 Blazed His bright wrath 'gainst all the wrong- 
 doers, 
 
 Oppressors of His poor, self-lovers, scribes 
 Who darken knowledge, sinners loving sin, 
 Impenitent. But, when he turns, turn thou ! 
 And, if he shall not turn, hate him no more 
 As though Christ had not come, a second time 
 To break those Stones of Moses, and to write 
 On every shard of his enlarged Law 
 The new, great, golden statute : WHAT YE WOULD 
 THAT MEN SHOULD DO TO YOU, DO YE TO THEM ! " 
 
 " So taught Lord Buddh," the Indian said, " but I 
 Hail larger teaching here. It shall not be, 
 Henceforward, that the wise man reins his wrath 
 For quietness of mind, self-mastery, 
 Or high disdain of who offends, being held 
 Only some shadow in the phantom-nautch
 
 238 THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. 
 
 Of Maya, some illusionary show 
 
 Of sense-life ; but, because Love's tolerance 
 
 Fulfils the law, and self would wrong itself 
 
 Hurting the wronger, who is kin to self, 
 
 So die all mortal strifes, wars without truce, 
 
 Quarrels unreconciled ; the cruel feuds 
 
 Of house with house, and tribe with tribe, and 
 
 race 
 With neighbouring race, nursed darkly in dull 
 
 veins 
 
 And handed down, a bloody heritage, 
 From age to age. Such ill shall cease, I deem, 
 Where this ray passeth of the nobler light. 
 Slowly shall dawn, I think, a broader time 
 When, punished worst by lofty clemency, 
 The manslayer shall learn he cannot slay 
 The slain one's right to pardon, nor Man's right 
 To pity and to comfort, while we kill. 
 The oppressor shall not so oppress himself
 
 THE LOVE OF GOD AND MAN. 239 
 
 To shut his soul from share of better things 
 
 When justice reigns. Kevenge shall sheathe his 
 
 knife, 
 
 Leaving his private grief to public means, 
 Which, ceasing not to exact, shall know no hate. 
 Surely, herewith, a new World might begin 
 From this thy faultless Lord, showing all folk 
 His brothers ; dear, for such high brotherhood, 
 And for what lurks like Him, hid in their clay. 
 Love, than Hate mightier, taking happy fire 
 From thy fair Christ, might kindle as times roll 
 In crores on crores of hearts, the beam divine 
 Of that vast patience which is type of Heaven's, 
 Sending its sunshine upon good and ill. 
 Yet one point lacks ! There shall not fall, at first, 
 Great earthly comfort here ! Sheep among wolves, 
 Naked 'mid sharpened blades, His messengers 
 Must pass ; and suffer bitterness ; and be 
 Despised, reviled, brought to the cross and stake ;
 
 240 THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. 
 
 Losing this sweet seen Earth for Heav'n unseen. 
 
 It needed that He showed them, showed to us 
 
 More than a man may : proved it visible 
 
 This hidden "World, where wages shall be paid ; 
 
 No sleep, no dream, no mystic cheat to tempt 
 
 Souls death wards, down the narrow Road of Right ; 
 
 But verity close, palpable, and clear 
 
 If we had eyes to see, plain certitude 
 
 As solid as the summer's purple grapes, 
 
 As rich roast meats ; as miser's gold ; as lips 
 
 Dewed with the honey of youth, rose-ripe and 
 
 new, 
 
 For whose sake lovers let the world go by ; 
 As likely as to-morrow, not yet come, 
 But surely coming ; nay, more sure than that, 
 Since, if such be at all, it is to-day 
 And all days, this abiding, fuller Life 
 Beyond, and round, and in, and under things, 
 Shut from us now by curtain of the flesh
 
 THE LOVE OF GOD AND MAN. 241 
 
 Whose edge Death lifts. Saidst thou He took Death's 
 
 place 
 And pushed the black folds back; and made us 
 
 know ? " 
 
 She answered not, but, with obeisaunce, rose ; 
 Passed swiftly through that latticed door which led 
 From the paved Court into the Women's rooms ; 
 And presently returned, holding the hand 
 Of a pale Maid, who wore the Hebrew dress 
 Tsaiph and Cethdneth gown and gathered shirt 
 Of fine Egyptian linen ; all in white 
 Girt with an dbntt wove in gold and white, 
 Its tassels threaded pearls ; and on her head 
 The tsaniph, tied with pearls. But most you 
 
 marked 
 
 The exceeding paleness of that grave fair face 
 Which was as if white marble breathed, and had 
 Black tresses banded on it, and large orbs
 
 242 THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. 
 
 Of jetty gems inlaid for eyes ; and lips 
 
 Carved of faint-coloured coral ; and ever pressed 
 
 As though they held some secret word to say 
 
 And must not part, lest breath of it break forth : 
 
 Yet with her pallor, something strange of joy 
 
 In the bright glance revealed, and gentle mouth 
 
 Where flitting under subtle-shadowed curves 
 
 A light smile always played, so tender-sad 
 
 It seemed to mock at sadness. Calm and soft 
 
 Issued the Aramaic of her speech 
 
 In salutation, while she bent, and said : 
 
 " Peace be with thee ! " And the grey Magus stood 
 
 Folding his palms across his breast ; and gazed 
 
 With fear and wonder on her countenance 
 
 So secret-full, albeit so fresh and young ; 
 
 Murmuring : " On thee be peace ! " 
 
 " It dwells with her 
 Now, and for evermore " quoth Miriam
 
 THE LOVE OF GOD AND MAN. 243 
 
 " Passing all understanding ! She hath seen 
 What none else sees ; and journeyed to a Land 
 Whence none returns, and heard with living ears 
 What the Dead say ; for this is Shelomith, 
 Whom Jesus raised from death in Galilee, 
 Daughter of Jair. She lodgeth with us here, 
 His handmaid, and the friend of all His friends, 
 Living His Virgin, till He call her hence." 
 
 Thereat fell silence, while the Indian sage 
 Gazed more intent ; and Shelomith's great eyes 
 Roamed, searching in the sky for sights unseen. 
 
 Mary went on : " Once, in Capernaum, 
 He sate at meat with Matthew ; and there came 
 The Rabbi Jair Eosh-Halcken^th Chief 
 Of synagogue ; who fell before His feet, 
 Beseeching from His love and mightiness 
 Help for a daughter, twelve years old. She lay
 
 244 THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. 
 
 Dying by this time, perad venture, dead ; 
 
 His only daughter, dearer than heart's blood 
 
 And Jesus rose and went ; we following. 
 
 But, while our throng threaded the long bazaars, 
 
 Woe-begone Jair leading the way ; the folk 
 
 In booths and shops upstarting from their trades 
 
 And trafficking, to see their Eabbi's hand 
 
 Clasped in the Master's, and that hurrying crowd 
 
 Gather, from khan and well and synagogue ; 
 
 Look ! there runs up, wild with his grief and 
 
 speed, 
 
 One from the Euler's house. Tears course adown ; 
 He rends his skirt ! he cries : ' The Maid is 
 
 dead! 
 
 Trouble no more the Master ! ' Rabbi Jair 
 Beats on his breast, and moans. But Jesus said 
 ' Fear not ! only believe ! She shall be whole ! ' 
 And Jair, drear, gazing on the gracious lips 
 Which spake such comfort inconceivable
 
 THE LOVE OF GOD AND MAN. 245 
 
 Came to his gate. By this the wailing women 
 Screamed round the door, with flutes and drums, and 
 
 flung 
 
 Dust on their heads, lamenting ' Wel-wel-gh ! 
 Ah, his resource ! his glory ! Oh, Gazelle ! 
 That shalt not drink our water-brooks again, 
 NOT leave the lilies fairer for thy feet ! 
 Oh, tender, broken, palm-tree ! Wel-wel-$i ! ' 
 Thou knowest, Sir ! how sorrowful is death. 
 But He, staying their clamour, gently said : 
 ' Weep not ! she is not dead ; she doth but sleep 
 I will awake her ! ' This they laugh to scorn, 
 Well wotting she is dead. Then entered He 
 With Peter, John, and James ; and, beside these, 
 The Kabbi with his wife. Our Shelomith 
 Lay on her pallet, white and still as snow, 
 The grave-cloth bound about her hair ; the myrrh 
 Scattered upon her breasts ; her little palms 
 Pressed meek together ; pale lips done with breath ;
 
 246 THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. 
 
 Worn eyelids, weary with the fever, dropped 
 Shutting the eyes from life ; black lashes laid 
 Close to cheek's alabaster surely dead ! 
 Not hearing any more the Father's cry : 
 ' My Shelomith ! would I had died for thee ! ' 
 Not feeling any more the Mother's tears 
 Passionate on her brow. But Jesus touched 
 The chill and stiffening hands ; looked steadfastly 
 In the still face ; then giving soft command, 
 Stronger than Death's, ' Damsel, arise ! ' He 
 
 cries, 
 
 ' Talitha, cumi ! ' And her spirit came, 
 And she arose and walked ; and ate of meat ; 
 While those around laid hands upon their mouths, 
 Astonished with a great astonishment." 
 
 Anew fell silence, while the Magus drew 
 Nearer by paces three, to see this Maid 
 Living, that had been dead, who knew the things
 
 THE LOVE OF GOD AND MAN. 247 
 
 Which no flesh knows, and bore them wistfully 
 In calm bright eyes, and placid smiling lips. 
 
 Then spake he : " Is it lawful if I ask 
 What memory holdest thou of that black time ? " 
 
 Shelomith, after pause, replied : " He bade 
 We should not greatly speak of what was wrought ; 
 And, if I speak, something is wont to fall 
 Like a thick curtain, shutting off my mind, 
 With all it knows, from you that know it not. 
 I pray you give me grace if I speak nought ! " 
 
 And Mary said : " Beseech you pardon her ! 
 She must not speak ! It is not well for Life 
 To learn too soon the lovely secrets kept 
 For them that die. Look on her face, and see 
 What close content, and private peacefulness 
 Gleam through it from the lighted heart within !
 
 248 THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. 
 
 Now hast thou witnessed what thou didst desire, 
 That other World shown visible and near ; 
 Not sleep ; not dream, not cheat, but verity ! " 
 
 The Indian said : " I worship her, and praise 
 The greatness of thy potent Lord ; and thank 
 Thy pains. Yet was it very Death, indeed, 
 Not trance, nor swoon ? In closest moments here 
 Hath she told nought of those new things she saw ? " 
 
 " Sometimes," Mary replied, " when we have walked 
 Amid the tombs, or seen go wailing by 
 The mourners with their painted bier, and noise 
 Of funeral music, Shelomith will smile 
 And whisper to herself, in words half-caught, 
 Dreamily, comforting the Dead, it seems : 
 ' Thou happy Sister : blessed Brother ! safe ! 
 Who will not hear His Voice ! And yet, sweet ! 
 sweet !
 
 THE LOVE OF GOD AND MAN. 249 
 
 Tender-sweet sounded it, although it called 
 My spirit back so far ! Now, weep not so, 
 Ye living ones ! Ye, too, shall pass ! and, then 
 To grow so new and different ! What is't ? 
 Will men still call it ' dead ? ' We lie a-bed ; 
 And sleep ; and seem, on all our nights, to die- ; 
 But the soul wakes, and plays between the bars, 
 Like a caged bird. Afterwards, body wakes, 
 And soul's asleep, or hiding ! What surprise 
 For these who go feet foremost to the grave, 
 To learn the dream was Daytime, Light was 
 
 Night, 
 
 Gliding soft-gliding to that greater Life, 
 Which always was so near ; only a skin 
 To cast aside, like the enamelled snake, 
 And then the fresh gold and the glittering 
 
 blues ! 
 
 Dear God ! how wonderful those colours were 
 I had not marked before and, yet, not new !
 
 250 THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. 
 
 Those lands and seas I never saw before, 
 
 And, still, 'twas Galilee and Gadara ! 
 
 Those high kind faces never, surely, known ; 
 
 And yet, I played with them before they 
 
 'died' 
 
 Before I ' died ! ' to find them waiting me, 
 So many, and so many, and such joy ! 
 So glad and natural ! Till that Voice rang 
 Gentle and mighty which all worlds obey 
 ' Talitha, cumi ! ' ' Come back, Shelomith !' 
 Then I obeyed, coming reluctantly, 
 And breathed this Earth again: He touching 
 
 me ! 
 Oh, Wailers ! dance and sing for your wise 
 
 dead 
 
 Who do not listen to 'Aldlalai ! ' 
 Ah, fair Lord ! pardon mine unwilling feet ! 
 Still I came back ! and I will live, and hush, 
 Till Thou sayest : ' Talitha ! ' ' Now, come again ! '
 
 THE LOVE OF GOD AND MAN. 251 
 
 " So have I heard her murmur," Mary said. 
 
 But, when the Maid low salutations paid 
 Passed once again the latticed door, none spake. 
 And silently the Buddhist kissed the hem 
 Of Mary's gown, departing silently.
 
 BOOK VI. 
 
 Great Consummation.
 
 THE GREAT CONSUMMATION. 
 
 " IF Death " the Indian said " be dead, indeed," 
 (That sixth day in the House at Magdala) 
 " Be dead in knowing that one human soul 
 Once laid this flesh aside, and went, and came, 
 Taking it up again ; as she avers 
 Whose deep eyes stayed my speaking yesterday, 
 Then am I answered ! Then thy Master wrought 
 Better than Buddh, showing the world beyond 
 Where men shall find their treasure of good works 
 Laid up in trust, awaiting ; loss made gain ; 
 The Kingdom come : unless, in truth, 'twere dream 
 Thy Maid had of the marvels and the Voice, 
 And thy Lord of His knowledge spake 'She 
 sleeps ' 
 
 Such sleep, belike, not life nor death, but swoon 
 
 255
 
 256 THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. 
 
 In some dim region where the dying halt 
 As locked the senses of thy Widow's son 
 In Naiii ; unto this wisest Master known 
 At eye-glance ; and He did but break a trance." 
 
 " Good Friend ! I think Truth was the merchandise 
 Thy camels toiled to fetch this weary way 
 From Hind to Jordan," Mary answered him, 
 " Else were I loath to say what I shall say 
 Telling thee farther of a living one 
 Healthful to-day, with colours of quick blood 
 Euddying his cheek, and bright hair clustering ; 
 No stronger step on Carmel's steepest side ! 
 No rower on our lake- wave lustier ! 
 Who lay four nights a dead man in the tomb ; 
 But on the Master's call, came forth therefrom 
 Bound limb and loin with grave-cloths, hands and 
 
 feet, 
 Forth from the pit, I say, into the Sun
 
 THE GREAT CONSUMMATION. 257 
 
 Bound with those bands, as we had laid him there 
 
 Four days before, to moulder with the worm ; 
 
 ' We ! ' for this dead man, living now, and hale 
 
 Is El' Azar of Bethany, well known 
 
 In all these parts my Brother. And I saw 
 
 Those garments of the grave stripped swiftly off, 
 
 And what we put there pale, and cold, and lean, 
 
 .A body broke by ten days' fever-fits 
 
 Stride over that black threshold, fair and fresh, 
 
 Into the daylight, at my Master's word. 
 
 Last year he sojourned long in Magdala ; 
 
 Yet 'tis not well he should be marked ! He walks 
 
 A wordless, gentle, wistful man, aware 
 
 Of more than may be said in any speech ; 
 
 Not of our world, though in it, well-content 
 
 To wait Heaven's way in all things. Time will be 
 
 The truth shall widely spread ; now it is best 
 
 We seal our lips, and watch him silently 
 
 Coming and going, manifesting God.
 
 258 THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. 
 
 " Yet, for thy sake, I speak, more freely speak 
 Because what I must tell thee, at the close, 
 Of wonder, glory, conquest, comfort, joy 
 Of Consummation crowned, and passage pierced 
 Blissful, triumphant from high sacrifice 
 To heavenly peace and confirmation strong, 
 Destroying Doubt and Death, cometh more sure 
 To thee, as heretofore to me and us, 
 With knowing this. We were in Gadara, 
 And I remember 'twas a summer's eve, 
 Amid the yellow daisies of the Lake 
 The children gathered round Him, brought from far 
 Only that He might touch them. 'Twas that hour 
 When He rebuked His Twelve, saying, 'Suffer 
 
 these 
 
 To come to Me ! the Kingdom is of such ! 
 Who shall receive it as a little child 
 Entereth therein. ' So sitting, with a babe 
 Asleep upon His breast, and on His knee
 
 THE GREAT CONSUMMATION. 259 
 
 One round-eyed ' Angel of the Kingdom,' nursed 
 
 Full fatherly : a shallop drove its keel 
 
 Sharp on the tinkling shingle, and thence gave 
 
 My Brother to our band. For I had told 
 
 At Bethany how great the Master was ; 
 
 How wise, how holy, how compassionate. 
 
 And El' Azar sped, running through the reeds ; 
 
 And thrust past peasants, mothers, and the Twelve ; 
 
 And kneeled and prayed : ' Good Master ! wherewithal 
 
 Shall I gain Life eternal ? ' Jesus said : 
 
 ' Call Me not " good ! " None is all good save One ! 
 
 Thou knowest the Commandments ' at those words 
 
 Reciting Moses. Quoth my Brother, then, 
 
 ' All these have I observed from my youth up ! ' 
 
 And Jesus, seeing, loved him ; kissed his head 
 
 As Eabbis will when scholars answer well ; 
 
 But bade him go his way, sell all his goods, 
 
 And give his shekels to the poor, and buy 
 
 Treasures in Heaven. Thereat El' Azar turned
 
 26o THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. 
 
 Sad, for he was a Kuler, owning vines, 
 Milch-kine and olive-yards. Yet, that kind kiss 
 Lay strong upon him ; and he did this thing, 
 And gave much wealth, and lived for better 
 
 gold, 
 
 And grew the Master's friend, faithful and close, 
 Ministering, when we came to Bethany. 
 
 " Thus fell it ; near to His last Passover 
 That El' Azar lay sick ; and we did send 
 Messengers saying : ' Lord ! the man Thou lov'st 
 Lies sick to death.' But, that day came He not, 
 And that day died my Brother ; and next day 
 He would not come : He had His purposes ! 
 They told us how He said : ' El' Azar sleeps ; 
 I go to waken him from sleep ; ' and, next, 
 When one made answer : ' Lord ! but if he sleep 
 He shall do well ! ' the Master plainly said : 
 ' Our friend is dead : for your sakes I am glad
 
 THE GREAT CONSUMMATION. 261 
 
 I was not there, since now ye shall believe ; 
 Let us rise up and go ; and make him live ! ' 
 
 " But we, in Bethany, had borne our dead 
 Unto his tomb. It was a cavern cut 
 On the hill's face, with winding steps let down 
 Into the darkness, to a sepulchre 
 Hewn chamber-wise out of the vaulted rock. 
 A great stone ypldl sealed the entrance-place, 
 And shut him with his father's bones. Meseems, 
 When thou didst journey here to visit us, 
 Coming, by Bethphage, o'er Olivet 
 Near to that point where proud Jerusalem 
 Burns at the northward bend all white and 
 
 gold 
 
 Thy beasts trod by the spot. And, being nigh 
 The City's gates, many Jews came to us 
 For friendship, and to mingle tears o'er him. 
 Suddenly rumour grew the Lord drew near :
 
 262 THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. 
 
 My sister rose to seek, and quick returned 
 Whispering, ' Yea, He is here, and calleth thee ! ' 
 And while we hastened many following us 
 She told me, on the road, all which had fall'n ; 
 How she had said distraught that, even now, 
 What He might ask God's power would grant to 
 
 Him; 
 
 How Jesus answered : ' He shall rise again ! ' 
 And she had sighed : ' True, Lord ! I know, I 
 
 know ! 
 
 When end of all things comes ; at the Last Day ! ' 
 On which He spake ; the words dwell in my 
 
 heart ! 
 
 ' I AM THE KESURRECTION AND THE LIFE ; HE THAT 
 
 BELIEVETH IN ME, THOUGH HE WERE DEAD, YET SHALL 
 HE LIVE. 
 
 'AND WHOSOEVER LlVETH AND BELIEVETH IN ME 
 SHALL NEVER DlE.'
 
 THE GREAT CONSUMMATION. 263 
 
 " Yet, then we understood not ! And I fell 
 At those dear feet with no hope lightening 
 My heavy-burdened breast. Too late ! Too late ! 
 Why had He tarried, only seven leagues off, 
 Who might have healed ; and El' Azar so loved ? 
 ' Lord, hadst Thou but been here ! ' brake from rny 
 
 lips, 
 
 ' My brother had not died ! ' Then, as I think, 
 To see our tears, and all those mourning folk ; 
 And know our lamentation one salt drop 
 In this World's brimful Sea of misery ; 
 Bethinking how, by night and day ; near, far, 
 Eyes stream, hearts crack, and homes are laid in 
 
 waste 
 
 For terror of this secret-footed Death 
 Which comes unseen, and slayeth silently ; 
 And hath not answered once, though myriads ask : 
 ' What art thou ? Wilt thou give us back our 
 
 Dead?'
 
 264 THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. 
 
 Bethinking Him of this, compassionate, 
 Folding all human sorrows in His heart, 
 Our Heavenly Master groaned in spirit ; shook, 
 A-tremble with that vast Love, gathering 
 Against His breast all such as weep on Earth. 
 ' Where have ye laid him ? ' sighed He. When I 
 said, 
 
 
 
 ' Lord ! come and see ! ' the gracious eyes were 
 
 wet 
 With tears which comfort all tears. 
 
 " Jesus wept. 
 
 " So, to the Tomb we came. The grey slab made 
 Its monstrous door, where tread of guest falls not, 
 ISTor knock is answered, but the Dead within 
 Keep speechless company, and, in the dark 
 With none to visit them save rat and worm ; 
 Nothing befalling but a bone which drops ;
 
 THE GREAT CONSUMMATION. 265 
 
 Moulder together, all a-dust and dry ; 
 
 Saying no word, disconsolate, undone, 
 
 Staring with empty eyes at olive-roots 
 
 Whose fruit they used to pluck for others now ! 
 
 Saying no word ! Husband and Wife and Child, 
 
 Brother and Sister, who were wont to mix 
 
 Lips, hands, and hearts in Earth's warm fellowship, 
 
 Silent and separate, on noisome beds. 
 
 Oh, till He lived did we not dread our Dead 
 
 So still, so altered, so unlovely, so ? 
 
 Nay ! when He spoke : ' Roll Me this stone away ! ' 
 My sister sobbed : ' It may not be { dear Lord ! 
 Tis four days gone ! by this time stinketh he ! ' 
 
 " ' Roll Me the stone away ! ' He said again : 
 ' Spake I not unto thee that thou should'st see 
 The glory of God ? ' Then, eight young men of 
 
 thews, 
 With ox-yokes and the olive-poles, pushed back
 
 266 THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. 
 
 The leaning rock ; and the black adit gaped 
 
 As 'twere the mouth of Tophet, horrible ! 
 
 The throng drew off; the very sunshine seemed 
 
 Loath to re-enter, lighting first two steps 
 
 Of the dark stairway, and the hollowed roof 
 
 "Where a bat clung and cried, and spiders hung 
 
 In broken empty webs, and foul flies crept. 
 
 Next, Jesus, no more weeping, but His eyes 
 
 With pity and love and power irradiate, 
 
 Drew close, and set His holy fearless foot 
 
 On that grim threshold, and did pray this prayer : 
 
 ' Father ! I thank Thee Thou hast heard Me here ! 
 
 I know Thou hearest alway ; but because 
 
 The people standing nigh shall hereby see 
 
 That Thou hast sent Me, I did ask, and Thou 
 
 Hast answered ! ' Then from lowest notes, His 
 
 voice 
 
 Eose clear, commanding : ' El' Azar ! come forth ! ' 
 Cried He, imperious. Oh, and in that gloom
 
 THE GREAT CONSUMMATION. 267 
 
 Ensued a stir, a noise of rustled cloths, 
 
 A footfall on the stairway ! EF Azar 
 
 The dead man cometh forth ! Like unto one 
 
 Who slumbers in his summer-room, and hears 
 
 Commingled with deep happy dreams, a tone 
 
 He knows and loves call him to play ; and leaps 
 
 Upon his feet, and girds his coat, and hastes 
 
 With light steps, laughing and lids not yet 
 
 wide ; 
 
 So El' Azar ! so, half asleep to see, 
 Dazed, unexpectant ; but alert, aware, 
 My Brother ! stumbling somewhat for his bonds, 
 And one free hand fumbling the face-cloth back 
 To spy the Master, stepped forth lustily 
 Glowing with glad new life, wholesome, and fair ; 
 The crimson of his lips and of his cheeks 
 Full-coloured ; eyes alight, foot firm, voice strong, 
 Loud and assured. But we, all dumb, for fear 
 And joy and thanks and wonder, held our breaths,
 
 268 THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. 
 
 Not moving, till we heard the Master say : 
 ' Loose him, and let him go ! '" 
 
 Next, da} 7 by day 
 
 She told the story of those later days, 
 How He did pass unto Jerusalem, 
 Wending to die, because such death should bring 
 Fruit of His fair life, and high grace for men. 
 How, spying the proud City, as He rode 
 Meek, on an ass, with children for His guards, 
 And glad hosannahs wakening the hills, 
 He sorrowed for His splendid murderess 
 Throned on her rock, crowned with the great w r hite 
 
 Dome, 
 
 And girt with Kedron and the guardian hills ; 
 Sighing : " Jerusalem ! Jerusalem ! 
 Slaying the Prophets, stoning those that come 
 Messengers to thee ! If, in this thy day, 
 Thou hadst but known ! thou, Zion ! hadit but heard
 
 THE GREAT CONSUMMATION. 269 
 
 The things belonging to thy peace ! How oft 
 
 I would have gathered all thy children in 
 
 As a hen clucks her chickens to her wings ; 
 
 But thou would'st not ! And, now behold thy House 
 
 Is left unto thee desolate ! " She told 
 
 How to that House one last sad while He passed ; 
 
 Sate in the Temple, saw its goodly Courts, 
 
 Its nine gates laid with gold ; its corner-stones 
 
 Rose-red, and white and black, fetched from afar 
 
 For Israel's God, each block a desert-crag 
 
 Sculptured to beauty ; and the golden grapes 
 
 Over the golden doors, each shining bunch 
 
 The stature of a man ; its cedar- work ; 
 
 Its alabaster stairs ; that purple veil 
 
 Soon to be rent, shutting the " Holiest " in ; 
 
 The Ark, the Cherubim with shielding wings ; 
 
 The vain, void, Altar whence the God was gone. 
 
 For, " seest thou these great buildings ? " so He spake, 
 
 " One stone upon another doth not stand
 
 270 THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. 
 
 Of all its stones which shall not be cast down 
 
 In times that come ! " And, then amid His friends 
 
 Told she the sojourning at Bethany ; 
 
 The last sleep on the breast of Olivet ; 
 
 The treason of the man of Keriaoth, 
 
 Selling for thirty pieces that sweet blood 
 
 Which buys our bliss ; the sad Last Supper set, 
 
 Secret and holy, in the City's midst, 
 
 Where He did break them bread, and pour them 
 
 wine, 
 
 And wash the feet of all the Twelve even his 
 Who must betray Him, his stained with new 
 
 dust 
 
 Of coming from the house of Caiaphas, 
 And counting out the shekels. For Love hath 
 No measure in his magnanimities, 
 And, " perad venture," Mary said, " even he 
 After self-loathing, and Aceldama 
 Hath somewhere, by strange grace, some place again,
 
 THE GREAT CONSUMMATION. 271 
 
 With bitter heart-pangs purged, near to his Lord ; 
 
 Who chose him at the first, and at the last 
 
 Washed him, well-knowing of the wicked kiss. 
 
 For as the sin so is the suffering, 
 
 And Judas needs must ache with Jesus' cheek." 
 
 Next, she recited how, that last dread night 
 
 Eve of the Cross He passed, as all men pass, 
 
 Into His anguish to Gethsemane. 
 
 " For, it were not to be a man," said she, 
 
 " If once, and briefly, and with trailing wings, 
 
 Soul did not bid the body fond farewell 
 
 At hour when soul comes to the throat, and flits 
 
 Glad of past days, and greatly moved to part. 
 
 One time must be, in all the lives which live, 
 
 When strength sinks into weakness, faith desponds, 
 
 And fair hope swoons, and for a little while 
 
 No star shows where the path winds ; not one gleam 
 
 From all those promised Angels who have gone, 
 
 And know the way, and should be there to make
 
 2/2 THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. 
 
 The Valley of the Shadow safe with hands 
 
 Familiar, at first touch, in thickest dark. 
 
 He, Sir ! " she said ; " ev'n He ; for whom rayed 
 
 Worlds 
 
 Watched, with unwinking silver eyelashes, 
 That sad night of their little sister- world ; 
 He, who had twenty myriad Shining Ones 
 With golden plumes at poise, fluttering to fly 
 Swift if it might have been to wipe His brow 
 Clear of the bloody sweat, and comfort Him, 
 And catch Him to His Kingdom prayed full sore : 
 The God consenting while the Mortal shrank 
 ' Abba ! all things are possible with Thee ! 
 Sorrowful is My spirit, unto death ! 
 If it may be, let this Cup pass from Me ; 
 If this Cup may not pass away from Me 
 Except I drink it, let Thy will be done ! ' " 
 
 And, afterwards, the Treason ; the foul kiss
 
 THE GREAT CONSUMMATION. 273 
 
 " Hail, Master ! " and the tender answer, " Friend ! 
 Betrayest thou Me with kissing ? " torches' glare ; 
 Swords, staves ; as if to take a thief by night 
 The Hour, and Power, of Darkness. " El' Azar 
 Saw all," she said ; " he was the ' young man ' there 
 Following for love, wearing that ' linen cloth,' 
 Whom they did strip and seize." On that, the 
 
 Priests, 
 
 The Sanhedrim, the Judgment, (all she told 
 Heretofore unto Pilate) Pilate's wrath ; 
 The scourge ; the mocking purple cloak ; the crown 
 Jewelled with blood ; the path to Golgotha ; 
 The cruel Cross (oh, Tree, which made its wood, 
 Who planted thee ? Did birds nest in thy boughs, 
 And sunshine light thy leaves ?) the cruel Cross ; 
 The savage rending nails ; the scroll ; the sponge ; 
 The cry, " Eloi lama sabacthani ! " then, 
 His death-word, " It is finished," and the death, 
 
 And spear-blade deep into His dead side plunged ; 
 
 s
 
 274 THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. 
 
 And the Centurion, crying : " Verily, 
 This was a Son of God ! " 
 
 " Oh ! we were fain 
 
 For sorrow and for shame" said Miriam 
 " Who stood to see Him die ! Never so low 
 Bowed the bright Sun, stooping to bathe his gold 
 In whelming waves ; never so meek, and lost, 
 Faded the splendour of the Morning-Star 
 Before that Morning which it heralded, 
 As He did humble and abjure Himself 
 In moment of arriving majesty 
 Consenting on the Cross to hang and die. 
 Had we not seen did we not know Heaven's 
 
 might 
 
 Servant and succour to Him ? plumed bands 
 Of Presences invisible, intent, 
 Upon His lightest sighing, loyally 
 To go and come, bearing Him embassage ?
 
 THE GREAT CONSUMMATION. 275 
 
 Oh, measure what a love, if thou canst mete, 
 
 The immortal pity of that soul serene, 
 
 Pitiless only to its body, firm 
 
 To hold it uncomplaining, patient, still, 
 
 Close to the Cross ; of one mind with the nails, 
 
 With the dull senseless wood for sake of men, 
 
 And great salvation of all flesh to be. 
 
 Not summoning once, with one swift sinking thought, 
 
 The rescue that had rushed on wings of fire 
 
 From North and South and East and West, to aid. 
 
 Not suffering once not when the fever raged 
 
 Worst in His veins, and thirst blackened His lips, 
 
 And those whom He had come to teach and save 
 
 Gave Him no better thanks than bitter gibes 
 
 Not suffering Death, who waited weepingly 
 
 For leave to strike to hasten one small step 
 
 Quicker for Him, than for the thieves who hung 
 
 On either hand ! All this to wring no word 
 
 From Him most innocent and pardoning
 
 276 THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. 
 
 Except the tender mandate, sadly sighed 
 
 To Mary Mother, wailing at His feet : 
 
 And the sick gasp, ' I thirst ! ' and spirit's spasm, 
 
 ' Father ! dost Thou forsake Me ? ' and the cry 
 
 Of Victory's anguish : ' IT is FINISHED ! ' 
 
 " And measure if the mind can ever mete 
 That sorrow of us standing by who saw 
 Our Master, Master over Death and Pain, 
 Lord of all Angels, and all devils droop 
 Unhelped ; we who so loved Him, helplessly 
 Gazing far-off held from His bleeding feet 
 By Pilate's spears, and guards of Caiaphas, 
 And Eoman soldiers casting lots to share 
 His sacred vestments : Measure what a pang 
 Tore us, and mocked our faith, and made our 
 
 hopes 
 
 Fall, leaf by leaf ; like last leaves, when the blast 
 Of winter strips the vineyard grey and bare !
 
 THE GREAT CONSUMMATION. 277 
 
 Nay, but not mine ! Truly I tell you, Sir ! 
 I loved Him so ! I worshipped so ! I knew 
 So well in inmost mind He could not die, 
 And would not die, and was not less than God ; 
 And should make good to all, in His good time, 
 The meaning, and the means, and mystery ; 
 And be that King they wrote Him on the scroll ; 
 That while mine eyes ran tears too thick, to see 
 His dear face, and my fingers clenched themselves 
 Into my palms, as if they were the nails 
 Piercing His hands ; I went not otherwise 
 Than full-assured it would be well at last. 
 
 " Yet, measure if thy mind can measure this 
 How lost we stood, defeated, abject, shamed, 
 Those Twelve with Judas one ; and all the rest 
 Fled at Gethsemane and I ; and she 
 Who bore Him ; and the women ministering ; 
 And some poor, few, sad, fearful friends aloof
 
 278 THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. 
 
 Afraid to grieve, because of those stern spears ; 
 Shut from the shaking Cross, whispering their 
 
 woe 
 
 Lest Galilsean country tongues bewray, 
 And they be known like Peter for His sheep. 
 Only this left of those high-nourished dreams 
 About the times to follow Galilee 
 When He should sit upon His Kingdom's throne, 
 And rule the land, and give to Israel 
 The Eoman Eagles driven screaming off 
 Days of King David's majesty again, 
 Solomon's splendours more than Solomon's ! 
 Only this left of larger phantasies 
 When we looked higher saw Him judging Earth 
 At God's right hand ; aye ! by those pleasant 
 
 fields 
 
 Of Dalmanutha, and the green sea-shores 
 Drunk, like the children of the Bride-chamber, 
 With His new wine of love begged for the seats
 
 THE GREAT CONSUMMATION. 279 
 
 This side and that side of His Koyalty, 
 
 Over the heads of Angels. And now this ! 
 
 For our King's drink the hyssop on the sponge ! 
 
 For our King's purple the slow-trickling blood ! 
 
 For our King's courtiers the writhing thieves 
 
 This side and that ! for our King's Ministers 
 
 Those legionaries with the savage spears ! 
 
 For our King's praises gibes of passers-by ! 
 
 For our King's throne the cruel torturing Tree ! 
 
 We who in those glad days of Galilee 
 
 Left all and followed Him, certain and sure 
 
 The Angels' song was true, Heaven's joy was come 
 
 Visible, lovable, approachable, 
 
 In this sweet, well- beloved Son of Man : 
 
 That we had seen and heard the Power of God 
 
 Made Mercy, made Forgivingness, made Peace ; 
 
 And elemental enemies, and Death 
 
 Dropping their old ill masks to manifest 
 
 All things in all the spheres servants to Him,
 
 280 THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. 
 
 Lovers of Man, and secret Ministers : 
 
 We to stand weeping there His sad, shamed, 
 
 Church 
 
 The last scorned ruins of the large scheme planned 
 To take the whole world by the hand of Love, 
 And make all flesh One Father's family. 
 Ah, never since tears rolled since human hearts 
 Beat quick with hope, to break in black despair, 
 Lay Love so wingless, Faith so quite forlorn 
 As that dread day, on guilty Golgotha ! " 
 
 She paused: the great drops welling from her 
 
 eyes 
 
 But lit behind by such a ray as breaks 
 Across the April rain, and paints the Bow. 
 
 "Yet thou" she said "who knowest stars in 
 
 Heaven, 
 Which are not gone because we see them not,
 
 T.HE GREAT CONSUMMATION. 281 
 
 Shalt learn in that dark hour was clearest shown 
 The eternal lustre of my Lord's sweet Star. 
 
 " It was our Sabbath-eve. By set of Sun 
 Arimathaean Joseph craved and gained 
 The grace to lay Him in his Sepulchre 
 Fresh-hewn, where no man ever yet was laid, 
 Shut in a garden. And did bring Him there 
 Tenderly taken from the bloody Cross, 
 Wrapped in fine sindon, and strewn round about 
 With myrrh and aloes gifts for burial 
 From Nakdimon the Eabbi ; as much spice 
 As should a King's grave sweeten. And they set 
 A great stone to the entrance of the Tomb. 
 And I with one more watched them set the 
 
 stone, 
 
 But might not come at Him, to make Him fair, 
 Because a guard of soldiers kept the place ; 
 Also, it was the Sabbath.
 
 282 THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. 
 
 " So night passed ; 
 And all that next slow day ; and night, again. 
 
 " Then, while the first day of the week was dark, 
 Alone I wended to His Sepulchre, 
 Bearing fair water, and the frankincense, 
 And linen, that my Lord's sweet body sleep 
 Well, in the rock. And, while my woeful feet 
 Passed through the gate, and up the paved ascent 
 Along the Second "Wall, over the Hill, 
 Into that Garden, hard by Golgotha, 
 The morning brightened over Moab's peaks, 
 Touched the great Temple's dome with crimson 
 
 fires, 
 
 Lit Ophel and Moriah rosy-red, 
 Made Olivet all gold, and, on the pools 
 In Hinnom laid a sudden lance of flame. 
 And, from the thorn-trees brake the waking-songs 
 Of little birds ; and every palm-tree's top
 
 THE GREAT CONSUMMATION. 283 
 
 Was full of doves that cooed, as knowing not 
 How Love was dead, and Life's dear glory gone, 
 And World's hope lay there in the Tomb with Him ; 
 Which now I spied ; that hollow in the rock 
 Under the camphire leaves. Yet, no guards there 
 To help me roll the stone ! nay, and no stone ! 
 It lay apart, leaving the door a-gape, 
 And through the door, as I might dimly see, 
 The scattered wrappings of the Burial-night, 
 Pale gleams amidst the gloom. Not waiting, 
 
 then, 
 
 Deeming our treasure taken wickedly 
 I sped ; and came to Peter, and to John ; 
 And cried : ' Our Lord is stolen from His grave, 
 And none to tell where He is borne away ! ' 
 Thereat, they ran together, came, and saw ; 
 And entered in ; and found the linen cloths 
 Scattered ; the rock-bed empty ; and, amazed, 
 Back to their house they went. But I drew nigh
 
 284 THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. 
 
 A second time, alone ; heart-broken now ; 
 The bright day seeming blackest night to me, 
 The small birds mockers, and the City's noise 
 Waking within the walls hateful and vain : 
 Why should Earth wake, the Son of Man asleep ? 
 Or, that great guilty City rise and live, 
 With this dear Lord, dead, in her stony skirts ? 
 Fled, too, my last fond hope, to lay Him fair, 
 And kiss His wounded feet, and wash the blood 
 From His pierced palms, and comb His tangled hair 
 To comeliness, and leave Him like a King 
 To His forgetful Angels. Weeping hard, 
 With these thoughts ; like to snake-fangs, stinging 
 
 me, 
 
 My left hand on the stone I laid, and shut 
 The eager sunshine off with my right hand, 
 Kneeling, and looking in the Sepulchre. 
 It was not dark within ! I deemed, at first, 
 A lamp burned there, such radiance mild I saw
 
 THE GREAT CONSUMMATION. 2 
 
 Lighting the hewn walls, and the linen-bands ; 
 
 And in one corner, folded by itself, 
 
 The face-cloth. Coming closer, I espied 
 
 Two men who sate there, very watchfully 
 
 One at the head, the other at the foot 
 
 Of that stone table where my Lord had lain. 
 
 Oh ! I say ' men ' I should have known no men 
 
 Had eyes like theirs, shapes so majestical, 
 
 Tongues tuned to such a music as the tone 
 
 Wherewith they questioned me: 'Why weepest 
 
 thou?' 
 
 ' Ah, Sir ! ' I said : ' my Lord is ta'en away, 
 Nor wot we whither ! ' and thereat my tears 
 Blotted all seeing. So, I turned to wipe 
 The hot drops off : and, look I Another one 
 Standing behind me, and my foolish eyes 
 Hard gazing on Him, and not knowing Him ! 
 Indeed, I deemed this was the Gardener 
 Keeping the Trees and Tomb, so was He flesh ;
 
 286 THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. 
 
 So living, natural, and made like man. 
 
 Albeit, if I had marked if any ray 
 
 Of watchful hope had helped me such a look, 
 
 Such Presence, beautiful and pure ; such light 
 
 Of loveliest Compassion in His face, 
 
 Had told my beating heart and blinded eyes 
 
 WHO this must be. But I my brow i' the 
 
 dust 
 
 Heard Him say softly : ' Wherefore weepest thou ? 
 Whom seekest thou ? ' A little marvelled I 
 Still at His foot, too sorrowful to rise, 
 He should ask this, the void grave gaping near, 
 And He its watchman : yet His accents glad ; 
 Nay, each word sweet with secret resonance 
 Of joy shut in it ; and a tender note 
 Of lightness, like the gentle raillery 
 Which lovers use, dissembling happiness. 
 Nathless, not lifting up my foolish head, 
 ' Sir ! ' said I, ' if 'tis thou hast borne Him hence,
 
 THE GREAT CONSUMMATION. 287 
 
 Tell me where thou hast laid Him. Then will I 
 Bear Him away ! ' ' 
 
 " What answer came to that ? " 
 Fetching deep breath, the Indian asked, 
 
 And she 
 
 Her white arms wide outraught as if she saw 
 His feet again to clasp ; her true knee bent 
 As He were there to worship ; her great eyes 
 Shining with glow of fearless, faithful love, 
 As if, once more, they looked Him in the face, 
 And drank divinest peace, replied, elate : 
 " Ah, Friend ! such answer that my sadness turned 
 To gladness, suddenly as grey is gold 
 When the Sun springs in glory ! such a word 
 As made my mourning laugh itself to nought 
 Like a cloud melting to the Blue ! such word 
 As, with more music than Earth ever heard,
 
 288 THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. 
 
 Set my swift dancing veins full well aware 
 
 Why so the Day dawned, and the City stirred, 
 
 And the vast idle world went busy on, 
 
 And the birds carolled, and, in palm-tree tops, 
 
 The wise doves cooed of love ! Oh, a dear word 
 
 Spoke first to me, and, after me, to all, 
 
 That all may always know He is the Lord, 
 
 And Death is dead, and new times come for men ; 
 
 And Heaven's ways justified, and Christ alive, 
 
 Whom we saw die, nailed on the cruel Cross ! 
 
 For, while I lay there, sobbing, at His feet, 
 
 The word He spake my Lord ! my King ! my 
 
 Christ ! 
 Was my name : 
 
 'MAEY!' 
 
 " If I say the Dead 
 
 Catch tone of some such melting tenderness 
 When first their lovers in the new Life flock
 
 THE GREAT CONSUMMATION. 289 
 
 And greet and kiss them, telling them sweet things 
 
 Of bliss beyond, and Love crowned Conqueror ; 
 
 If I should speak of children, dreaming ill, 
 
 And then grown 'ware it is the dear safe breast 
 
 Of their fond Mother which they fret upon : 
 
 If I should liken hopeless mariners 
 
 Snatched sudden from black gulfs ; or men condemned 
 
 Eansomed from chains, and led to marriage-feasts ; 
 
 With the swift comfort of that instant change, 
 
 All must fall short ! No language had I then ; 
 
 No language have I now ! Only I turned 
 
 My quick glance upward ; saw Him ; knew Him ! 
 
 sprang 
 Crying : ' Rabboni ! Lord ! my Lord ! dear Lord ! ' " 
 
 Thereat, within the house in Magdala, 
 Fell silence, Mary on her knees at prayer
 
 290 THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. 
 
 Lost for a little unto earthly things ; 
 And he, who came so far, and came so late, 
 To know what setting had the fair white Star 
 Seen over Bethlehem clasping dark palms 
 Across his breast, and humbly bowed to hail 
 Her, of all women after one most blest, 
 Most honoured, and most honourable ; whose love, 
 Washing her sins away with holy chrism 
 More precious than much spikenard, won hereby 
 The first word ever spoke from Heaven's own mouth 
 Plain to Earth's ears, to tell us Death has died, 
 And Love shall save all that will trust in Him. . 
 
 " Oh ! thou most happy Lady ! " presently 
 The Indian said : " I praise and worship thee, 
 Messenger of thy Master to all Lands !- 
 Surely thy name shall be, in times to come,
 
 THE GREAT CONSUMMATION. 291 
 
 Sweet on the lips of all men ; and thy sex, 
 
 Thy sisters lifted into larger grace, 
 
 For thy great sake, and for this mighty thing 
 
 Done to thy tenderness and constancy 
 
 Laud thee, and joy in thee, who dost make known 
 
 To saintliest souls not less than sinning souls 
 
 The Woman's queenly part in this World's plan ! 
 
 I do perceive since Age, which dims the eye, 
 
 Opens the inward vision there shall spread 
 
 News of these high ' Good Tidings ; ' growing gleams 
 
 Of this strange Star we followed to the fold. 
 
 I do discern that, forth from this fair Life, 
 
 And this meek Death, and thine arisen Christ, 
 
 Measureless things are wrought; a Thought-Dawn 
 
 born 
 
 Which shall not cease to broaden, till its beam 
 Makes noon of knowledge for a gathered World, 
 Completing what our Buddha left unsaid ; 
 Carpeting bright his noble Eight-fold Way
 
 2 9 2 THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. 
 
 With fragrant blooms of all-renouncing love, 
 And bringing high Nirvana nearer hope, 
 Easier and plainer ! Spake thy living Lord 
 More than the name ? Cam'st thou to touch of 
 Him?" 
 
 Mary replied : " It seems a little thing, 
 Now, seest thou, when so great a thing is told 
 That, being a Son of God and Man, He knew 
 Life's hidden springs, and called the spirit back 
 At Nain, and after, at Capernaum ; 
 Or stayed the worm at work in Bethany, 
 Where, for God's glory, He gave whole again 
 The bodily house, quick-mended, to His friend, 
 To El' Azar, my brother. But, mark well ! 
 Here was the body of the life beyond 
 That we shall wear when flesh is laid aside ; 
 Which these unworthy eyes did look upon ! 
 No eye shall see it, save by mystery
 
 THE GREAT CONSUMMATION. 293 
 
 Making flesh spirit, or the spiritual 
 Take fleshly shape awhile. 
 
 " When I was fain 
 
 To fling my arms around His knees, and pour 
 My hair upon His feet, and eat, eat, eat 
 His garment's hem with kissing ; measuredly 
 He stayed me, saying : ' Touch Me not ! not yet 
 Am I ascended to My Father ! Go ! 
 Speak to My brethren ; say that I ascend 
 Unto My Father, and to yours, My God, 
 And your God.'" 
 
 " Was He seen again of men ?" 
 The Buddhist prayed. 
 
 " Many whiles ! " answered she : 
 " Three times on that First Day, and, afterwards 
 In His old paths by silver Galilee ;
 
 294 THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. 
 
 And on the Mountain, where He met His own, 
 And made them cheer celestial. Last of all 
 He showed in full midst of Jerusalem, 
 Amongst th' Eleven, nail-marks on hands and feet 
 Kose-red, and spear-gash scarring the white side : 
 And ate of fish and honey from their board ; 
 Then blessed, and led them forth to Olivet ; 
 And passed as if, they said, a waiting cloud 
 Keceived Him out of sight." 
 
 " Centurion ! " 
 
 The Indian cried : " set there to see Him die : 
 Truly the 'Son of God!'" 
 
 PEACE BEGINNING TO BE, 
 DEEP AS THE SLEEP OF THE SEA, 
 WHEN THE STARS THEIR FACES GLASS 
 IN ITS BLUE TRANQUILLITY :
 
 THE GREAT CONSUMMATION. 295 
 
 HEARTS OF MEN UPON EARTH, 
 NEVER ONCE STILL FROM THEIR BIRTH, 
 
 TO REST, AS THE WILD WATERS REST, 
 
 WITH THE COLOURS OF HEAVEN ON THEIR BREAST ! 
 
 LOVE, WHICH IS SUNLIGHT OF PEACE, 
 AGE BY AGE TO INCREASE, 
 TILL ANGERS AND HATREDS ARE DEAD, 
 
 AND SORROW AND DEATH SHALL CEASE : 
 " PEACE ON EARTH AND GOODWILL ! " 
 SOULS THAT ARE GENTLE AND STILL 
 HEAR THE FIRST MUSIC OF THIS 
 FAR-OFF, INFINITE BLISS ! 
 
 THE END. 
 
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 EDINBURGH AND LONDON.
 
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 BAGEHOT (Walter). BIOGRAPHICAL STUDIES. 8vo. izs. 
 
 - ECONOMIC STUDIES. 8vo. los. 6d. 
 
 - LITERARY STUDIES. 2 vols. 8vo. 285. 
 
 - THE POSTULATES OF ENGLISH POLITICAL ECONOMY. 
 Crown 8vo. zs. 6d. 
 
 A PRACTICAL PLAN FOR ASSIMILATING THE ENGLISH 
 
 AND AMERICAN MONEY AS A STEP TOWARDS A UNIVERSAL 
 MONEY. Crown 8vo. 2s. 6d. 
 
 BAGWELL (Richard). IRELAND UNDER THE TUDORS. (3 vols.) 
 Vols. I. and II. From the first invasion of the Northmen to the year 1578. 
 8vo. 325. Vol. III. 1578-1603. 8vo. i8s. 
 
 BAIN (Alex.). MENTAL AND MORAL SCIENCE. Crown 8vo. IQJ. 6J. 
 
 - SENSES AND THE INTELLECT. 8vo. ly. 
 EMOTIONS AND THE WILL. 8vo. 155. 
 
 - LOGIC, DEDUCTIVE AND INDUCTIVE. Part I. Deduction, 
 4J. Part II., Induction, 6s. 6d. 
 
 - PRACTICAL ESSAYS. Crown 8vo. 25. 
 
 BAKER (James). BY THE WESTERN SEA : a Novel. Cr. 8vo. 35. 6d. 
 
 BAKER. EIGHT YEARS IN CEYLON. With 6 Illustrations. Crown 
 8vo. 35. 6d. 
 
 - THE RIFLE AND THE HOUND IN CEYLON. With 6 Illustra- 
 tions. Crown 8vo. y. 6d. 
 
 BALL (The Rt. Hon. T. J.). THE REFORMED CHURCH OF IRE- 
 LAND (1537-1889). 8vo. 7-r. 6d. 
 
 HISTORICAL REVIEW OF THE LEGISLATIVE SYSTEMS 
 
 OPERATIVE IN IRELAND (1172-1800). 8vo. 6s. 
 
 BEACONSFIEKD (The Earl of). NOVELS AND TALES. The 
 Hughenden Edition. With 2 Portraits and n Vignettes, n vols. Crown 
 8vo. 42J. 
 
 Endymion. 
 Lothair. 
 
 Coningsby. 
 
 Venetia. 
 
 Henrietta Temple. 
 Contarini Fleming, &c. 
 
 Alroy, Ixion, &c. 
 The Young Duke, &c. 
 Vivian Grey. 
 
 Tancred. Sybil. 
 
 NOVELS AND TALES. Cheap Edition, n vols. Crown 8vo. is. each, 
 boards; is. 6d. each, cloth.
 
 PUBLISHED BY MSSS. LONGMANS, GREEN, & CO. 5 
 
 BECKEK (Professor). CALLUS ; or, Roman Scenes in the Time of Augus- 
 tus. Post 8vo. 7-r. 6d. 
 
 CHARICLES ; or, Illustrations of the Private Life of the Ancient Greeks. 
 Post 8vo. 73. 6d. 
 
 BELL (Mrs. Hugh). WILL O' THE WISP : a Story. Crown 8vo. y. 6d. 
 
 - CHAMBER COMEDIES. Crown 8vo. 65. 
 
 BLAKE (J.). TABLES FOR THE CONVERSION OF 5 PER CENT. IN- 
 TEREST FROM ^ TO 7 PER CENT. 8vo. 121. 6d. 
 
 BOOK (THE) OF WEDDING DAYS. Arranged on the Plan of a Birthday Book. 
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 and Quotations for each Day. Compiled and Arranged by K. E. J. REID, 
 MAY Ross, and MABEL BAMFIELD. 410. 2is. 
 
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 Library Edition. With 8 Maps and Charts, and 118 Illustrations, 8vo. 2is'. 
 Cabinet Edition. With Map and 66 Illustrations, Crown 8vo. js. 6d. 
 Cheap Edition. With 66 Illustrations, Crown 8vo. 3^. 6d. 
 School Edition. With 37 Illustrations, Fcp. 2S. cloth, or $s. white parchment. 
 Popular Edition. With 60 Illustrations, 410. 6d. sewed, is. cloth. 
 
 - SUNSHINE AND STORM IN THE EAST. 
 Library Edition. With 2 Maps and 114 Illustrations, 8vo. 2is. 
 Cabinet Edition. With 2 Maps and 114 Illustrations, Crown 8vo. 7.1. 6d. 
 Popular Edition. With 103 Illustrations, 410. 6d. sewed, is. cloth. 
 
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 - THREE VOYAGES IN THE 'SUNBEAM'. Popular Edition. With 
 346 Illustrations, 410. 2s. 6d. 
 
 BRAY (Charles). THE PHILOSOPHY OF NECESSITY ; or, Law in 
 Mind as in Matter. Crown 8vo. 5*. 
 
 BRIGHT (Rev. J. Franck). A HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 4 vols. Cr. 8vo. 
 Period I. Mediaeval Monarchy : The Departure of .the Romans to Richard III. 
 
 From A.D. 449 to 1485. 4^. 6d. 
 
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 Period III. Constitutional Monarchy : William and Mary to William IV. 
 
 From 1689 to 1837. 75. 6d. 
 Period IV. The Growth of Democracy : Victoria. From 1837 to 1880. 65. 
 
 BRYDEN (H. A.). KLOOF AND KARROO : Sport, Legend, and Natural 
 History in Cape Colony. With 17 Illustrations. 8vo. los. 6d. 
 
 BUCKLE (Henry Thomas). HISTORY OF CIVILISATION IN ENG- 
 LAND AND FRANCE, SPAIN AND SCOTLAND. 3 vols. Cr. 8vo. 24*.
 
 6 A CATALOGUE OF BOOKS IN GENERAL LITERATURE 
 
 BULL (Thomas). HINTS TO MOTHERS ON THE MANAGEMENT 
 OF THEIR HEALTH during the Period of Pregnancy. Fcp. 8vo. is. 6d. 
 
 THE MATERNAL MANAGEMENT OF'cHILDREN IN HEALTH 
 
 AND DISEASE. Fcp. 8vo. is. 6d. 
 
 BUTLER (Samuel). EREWHON. Crown 8vo. 5*. 
 
 - THE FAIR HAVEN. A Work in Defence of the Miraculous Element 
 in our Lord's Ministry. Crown 8vo. ?s. 6d. 
 
 LIFE AND HABIT. An Essay after a Completer View of Evolution. 
 
 Cr. 8vo. is. 6d. 
 
 - EVOLUTION, OLD AND NEW. Crown 8vo. IQJ. 6d. 
 
 - UNCONSCIOUS MEMORY. Crown 8vo. 7 s. 6d. 
 
 ALPS AND SANCTUARIES OF PIEDMONT AND THE 
 
 CANTON TICINO. Illustrated. Pott 410. IOT. 6d. 
 
 - SELECTIONS FROM WORKS. Crown 8vo. 75. 6d. 
 
 LUCK, OR CUNNING, AS THE MAIN MEANS OF ORGANIC 
 
 MODIFICATION ? Crown 8vo. 75. 6d. 
 
 - EX VOTO. An Account of the Sacro Monte or New Jerusalem at 
 Varallo-Sesia. Crown 8vo. los. 6d. 
 
 HOLBEIN'S ' LA DANSE '. 31. 
 
 CARLYLE (Thomas). THOMAS CARLYLE: a History of his Life. By 
 J. A. FROUDE. 1795-1835, 2 vols. Cr. 8vo. js. 1834-1881, 2 vols. Cr. 8vo. 7$. 
 
 CASE (Thomas). PHYSICAL REALISM : being an Analytical Philosophy 
 from the Physical Objects of Science to the Physical Data of Sense. 8vo. 155. 
 
 CHETWYND (Sir George). RACING REMINISCENCES AND EX- 
 PERIENCES OF THE TURF. 2 vols. 8vo. ais. 
 
 CHILD (Gilbert W.). CHURCH AND STATE UNDER THE 
 TUDORS. 8vo. isj. 
 
 CHISHOLM (G. G.). HANDBOOK OF COMMERCIAL GEOGRAPHY. 
 With 29 Maps. 8vo. i6s. 
 
 CHURCH (Sir Richard). Commander-in-Chief of the Greeks in the War 
 of Independence : a Memoir. By STANLEY LANE-POOLE. 8vo. 51. 
 
 CLIVE (Mrs. Archer). POEMS. Including the IX. Poems. Fcp. 8vo. 6s. 
 
 CLODD (Edward). THE STORY OF CREATION : a Plain Account of 
 Evolution. With 77 Illustrations. Crown 8vo. 35. 6d. 
 
 CLUTTERBUCK (W. J.). THE SKIPPER IN ARCTIC SEAS. With 
 39 Illustrations. Crown 8vo. IDS. 6d. 
 
 COLENSO (J. W.). THE PENTATEUCH AND BOOK OF JOSHUA 
 CRITICALLY EXAMINED. Crown 8vo. 6s. 
 
 COLMORE (G.). A LIVING EPITAPH : a Novel. Crown 8vo. 6s. 
 COMYET (L. N.). ATHERSTONE PRIORY: a Tale. Crown 8vo. zs. 6d. 
 
 CrONTN'GTON" (John). THE ^ENEID OF VIRGIL. Translated into 
 
 English Verse. Crown 8vo. 6s. 
 THE POEMS OF VIRGIL. Translated into English Prose. Cr. 8vo.6.j. 
 
 COX (Rev. Sir G. W.). A HISTORY OF GREECE, from the Earliest 
 Period to the Death of Alexander the Great. With n Maps. Cr. 8vo. js. 6d.
 
 PUBLISHED BY MESSRS. LONGMANS, GREEN, & CO. 
 
 CRAKE (Rev. A. D.). HISTORICAL TALES. Cr. 8vo. 5 vols. 2s. 6d. each. 
 
 Edwy the Fair; or, The First Chronicle 
 
 of ^Escendune. 
 Alfgar the Dane; or, The Second 
 
 Chronicle of -(Escendune. 
 The Rival Heirs : being the Third and 
 
 Last Chronicle of yEscendune. 
 
 The House of Walderne. A Tale of 
 the Cloister and the Forest in the 
 Days of the Barons' Wars. 
 Brain Fitz-Count. A Story of Wal- 
 lingford Castle and Dorchester 
 Abbey. 
 
 - HISTORY OF THE CHURCH UNDER THE ROMAN EMPIRE, 
 A,D. 30-476. Crown Svo. 75. 6d. 
 
 CREIGHTON (Mandell, D.D.) HISTORY OF -THE PAPACY DUR- 
 ING THE REFORMATION. 8vo. Vols. I. and II., 1378-1464, 32.?. ; Vols. 
 III. and IV., 1464-1518, 245. 
 
 CRUMP (A.). A SHORT ENQUIRY INTO THE FORMATION OF 
 POLITICAL OPINION, from the Reign of the Great Families to the Advent 
 of Democracy. 8vo. 75. 6d. 
 
 AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE CAUSES OF THE GREAT 
 FALL IN PRICES which took place coincidently with the Demonetisation 
 of Silver by Germany. 8vo. 6s. 
 
 CURZON" (Hon. George W.). RUSSIA IN CENTRAL ASIA IN 1889 
 AND THE ANGLO-RUSSIAN QUESTION. 8vo. ais. 
 
 DAWTE. LA COMMEDIA DI DANTE. A New Text, carefully Revised 
 with the aid of the most recent Editions and Collations. Small 8vo. 6s. 
 
 DELAKTD (Mrs.). JOHN WARD, PREACHER. Cr. Svo. 25. bds., as. 6d. cl. 
 
 SIDNEY : a Novel. Crown Svo. 6s. 
 
 THE OLD GARDEN, and other Verses. Fcp. Svo. 55. 
 
 DE REDCLIFFE. THE LIFE OF THE RIGHT HON. STRATFORD 
 CANNING : VISCOUNT STRATFORD DE REDCLIFFE. By STANLEY 
 LANE-POOLE. With 3 Portraits. Crown Svo. js. 6d. 
 
 DE SALTS (Mrs.). Works by : 
 Savouries a la Mode. Fcp. Svo. is. 6d. 
 Entries a la Mode. Fcp. Svo. 15. 6d. 
 Soups and Dressed Fish a la Mode. 
 
 Fcp. 8vo. is. 6d. 
 
 Oysters a la Mode. Fcp. Svo. is. 6d. 
 Sweets and Supper Dishes a la Mode. 
 
 Fcp. Svo. is. 6d. 
 Dressed Vegetables a la Mode. Fcp. 
 
 Svo. is. 6d. 
 Dressed Game and Poultry a la Mode. 
 
 Fcp. Svo. is. 6d. \ 
 
 DE TOCQUEVILLE (Alexis). DEMOCRACY IN AMERICA. Trans- 
 lated by HENRY REEVE, C.B. a vols. Crown Svo. i6s. 
 
 DOWELL (Stephen). A HISTORY OF TAXATION AND TAXES IN 
 ENGLAND. 4 vols. Svo. Vols. I and II., The History of Taxation, ais. 
 Vols. III. and IV., The History of Taxes, ais. 
 
 DOYLE (A. Conan). MICAH CLARKE : a Tale of Monmouth's Rebellion. 
 
 With Frontispiece and Vignette. Crown Svo. 35. 6d. 
 THE CAPTAIN OF THE POLESTAR ; and other Tales. Cr. Svo. 6s. 
 
 Puddings and Pastry a la Mode. Fcp. 
 Svo. 15. 6d. 
 
 Cakes and Confections a la Mode. 
 Fcp. Svo. is. 6d. 
 
 Drinks a la Mode. F"cp. 8vo. is. 6d. 
 
 Tempting Dishes for Small Incomes. 
 Fcp. Svo. 15. 6d. 
 
 Floral Decorations. Fcp. 8vo. 15. 6a. 
 
 Wrinkles anc! Notions for every House- 
 hold. Crown Svo. as. 6d.
 
 A CATALOGUE OF BOOKS IN GENERAL LITERATURE 
 
 DRAN"E (Augusta T.). THE HISTORY OF ST. DOMINIC, FOUNDER 
 OF THE FRIAR PREACHERS. With 32 Illustrations. 8vo. iy. 
 
 DUBLIN UNIVERSITY PRESS SERIES (The) : a Series of Works 
 undertaken by the Provost and Senior Fellows of Trinity College, Dublin. 
 
 Abbot's (T. K.) Codex Rescriptus 
 Dublinensis of St.Matthew. 410. 2is. 
 
 Evangeliorum Yersio Ante- 
 hieronymiana ex Codice Usseriano 
 (Dublinensi). 2 vols. Cr. 8vo. zis. 
 
 Allman's (0. J.) Greek Geometry from 
 Thales to Euclid. 8vo. IQS. 6d. 
 
 Burns-ide (W. S.) and Panton's (A. W.) 
 Theory of Equations. 8vo. I2J-. 6d. 
 
 Casey's (John) Sequel to Euclid's Ele- 
 ments. Crown 8vo. y. 6d. 
 
 Analytical Geometry of the 
 Conic Sections. Crown 8vo. -js. 6d. 
 
 Davies' (J. F.) Eumenides of .ffischylus, 
 With Metrical English Translation. 
 8vo. 7-r. 
 
 Dublin Translations into Greek and 
 Latin Verse. Edited by R. Y. 
 Tyn-ell. 8vo. 6s. 
 
 Graves' (R. P.) Life of Sir William 
 Hamilton. 3 vols. 15^. each. 
 
 Griffin (S. W.) on Parabola, Ellipse, 
 and Hyperbola. Crown 8vo. 6s. 
 
 Hobart's (W. K.) Medical Language of 
 St. Luke. 8vo. 165. 
 
 Leslie's (T. E. Cliffe) Essays in Politi- 
 cal Economy. 8vo. ios. 6d. 
 
 Macalister's (A.) Zoology and Morpho- 
 logy of Yertebrata. Svo. ios. 6d. 
 
 HacCullagh's (James) Mathematical 
 and other Tracts. Svo. 155. 
 
 Haguire's (T.) Parmenides of Plato, 
 Text with Introduction, Analysis, 
 &c. Svo. 75. 6d. 
 
 Monck's (W. H. S.) Introduction to 
 Logic. Crown Svo. $s. 
 
 Robert's (R. A.) Examples on the 
 Analytic Geometry of Plane Conies. 
 Crown Svo. 5.5. 
 
 Southey's (R.) Correspondence with 
 Caroline Bowles. Edited by E. 
 Dowden. Svo. 145. 
 
 Stubbs' (J. W.) History of the Univer- 
 sity of Dublin, from its Foundation 
 to the End of the Eighteenth Cen- 
 tury. Svo. I2S. 6d. 
 
 Thornhill's (W. J.) The yEneid of 
 Yirgil, freely translated into English 
 Blank Verse. Crown Svo. 7.5. 6d. 
 
 Tyrell's (R. Y.) Cicero's Correspond- 
 ence. 
 Vols. I., II. and III. Svo. each izs. 
 
 The Acharnians of Aristo- 
 phanes, translated into English 
 Verse. Crown Svo. is. 
 
 Webb's (T. E.) Goethe's Faust, Trans- 
 lation and Notes. Svo. 125. 6d. 
 
 The Veil of Isis ; a Series 
 
 of Essays on Idealism. Svo. ios. 6d. 
 
 Wiikin's (G.) The Growth of the 
 Homeric Poems. Svo. 6s. 
 
 EWALD (Heinrich). THE ANTIQUITIES OF ISRAEL. Svo. iss. 6d. 
 
 THE HISTORY OF ISRAEL. Svo. Vols. I. and II. 24J. Vols. III. 
 
 and IV. 2is. Vol. V. iSs. Vol. VI. i6s. Vol. VII. 215. Vol. VIII. i8s. 
 
 PARNEIiL (G. S.).-THE GREEK LYRIC POETS. Svo. i6s. 
 FARRAR (P. W.). LANGUAGE AND LANGUAGES. Crown Svo. 6s. 
 
 FIRTH (J. C.). NATION MAKING : a Story of New Zealand Savageism 
 and Civilisation. Crown Svo. 6.r. 
 
 FITZWYGRAM (Major-General Sir F.). HORSES AND STABLES. 
 With 19 pages of Illustrations. Svo. 5.?. 
 
 FORD (Horace). THE THEORY AND PRACTICE OF ARCHERY. 
 New Edition, thoroughly Revised and Re-written by W. BUTT. Svo. 14?. 
 
 FOUARD (Abbe Constant). THE CHRIST THE SON OF GOD. With 
 Introduction by Cardinal Manning. 2 vols. Crown Svo. 14*.
 
 PUBLISHED BY MESSRS. LONGMANS, GREEN, &> CO. g 
 
 FOX (C. J.). THE EARLY HISTORY OF CHARLES JAMES FOX. By 
 
 the Right Hon. Sir. G. O. TREVELYAN, Bart. 
 Library Edition. 8vo. i8s. \ Cabinet Edition. Crown 8vo. 6s. 
 
 FRANCIS (Francis). A BOOK ON ANGLING : including full Illustrated 
 Lists of Salmon Flies. Post 8vo. 155. 
 
 FREEMAN (E. A.). THE HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY OF EUROPE. 
 With 65 Maps. 2 vols. 8vo. 315. 6d. 
 
 FROTJDE (James A.). THE HISTORY OF ENGLAND, from the Fall of 
 Wolsey to the Defeat of the Spanish Armada. 12 vols. Crown 8vo. 2 zs. 
 
 THE ENGLISH IN IRELAND IN THE EIGHTEENTH CEN- 
 TURY. 3 vols. Crown 8vo. i8s. 
 
 SHORT STUDIES ON GREAT SUBJECTS. 
 
 Cabinet Edition. 4 vols. Cr. 8vo. 245. [ Cheap Edit. 4 vols. Cr. 8vo. 35. 6d. ea. 
 
 CAESAR : a Sketch. Crown 8vo. 35. 6d. 
 
 - OCEANA ; OR, ENGLAND AND HER COLONIES. With 9 Illus- 
 trations. Crown 8vo. zs. boards, 25. 6d. cloth. 
 
 - THE ENGLISH IN THE WEST INDIES; or, the Bow of Ulysses. 
 With 9 Illustrations. Crown 8vo. 25. boards, zs. 6d. cloth. 
 
 - THE TWO CHIEFS OF DUNBOY; an Irish Romance of the Last 
 Century. Crown 8vo. y. 6d. 
 
 THOMAS CARLYLE, a History of his Life. 1795 to 1835. 2 vols. 
 Crown 8vo. js. 1834 to 1881. 2 vols. Crown 8vo. 75. 
 
 GAIjLWEY(Sir Ralph Payne-). LETTERS TO YOUNG SHOOTERS. 
 (First Series.) On the Choice and Use of a Gun. Crown 8vo. 75. 6d. 
 
 GARDINER (Samuel Rawson). HISTORY OF ENGLAND, 1603- 
 1642. 10 vols. Crown 8vo. price 6s. each. 
 
 - A HISTORY OF THE GREAT CIVIL WAR, 1642-1649. (3 vols.) 
 Vol. I. 1642-1644. With 24 Maps. 8vo. 2is. (out of print). Vol. II. 1644- 
 1647. With 21 Maps. 8vo. 245. Vol. III. ' 1647-1649. [/ the Press. 
 
 - THE STUDENT'S HISTORY OF ENGLAND. Vol. I. B.C. 55-A.D. 
 1509, with 173 Illustrations, Crown 8vo. qs. Vol. II. 1509-1689, with 96 
 Illustrations. Crown 8vo. 45. Vol. III. 1689-1885, with Illustrations. 
 Crown 8vo. 45. Complete in i vol. Crown 8vo. 
 
 GIBERNE (Agnes). MISS DEVEREUX, SPINSTER. 2 vols. Crown 
 8vo. 175. 
 
 - RALPH HARDCASTLE'S WILL. With Frontispiece. Cr. 8vo. 55. 
 -- NIGEL BROWNING. Crown 8vo. 55. 
 
 GOETHE. FAUST. A New Translation chiefly in Blank Verse ; with Intro- 
 duction and Notes. By JAMES ADEY BIRDS. Crown 8vo. 6s. 
 
 FAUST. The Second Part. A New Translation in Verse. By JAMES 
 ADEY BIRDS. Crown 8vo. 6s. 
 
 GREEN (T. H.) THE WORKS OF THOMAS HILL GREEN. (3 Vols.) 
 Vols. I. and II. 8vo. i6s. each. Vol. III. 8vo. zis. 
 
 THE WITNESS OF GOD AND FAITH : Two Lay Sermons. Fcp. 
 
 8VO. 25. 
 
 GREVILLE (C. C. F.). A JOURNAL OF THE REIGNS OF KING 
 GEORGE IV., KING WILLIAM IV., AND QUEEN VICTORIA. Edited 
 by H. REEVE. 8 vols. Crown 8vo. 6s. each.
 
 io A CA TALOGUE OF BOOKS IN GENERAL LITERA TURE 
 
 GWILT (Joseph). AN ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ARCHITECTURE. 
 With more than 1700 Engravings on Wood. 8vo. 525. 6d. 
 
 HAGGARD (Ella). LIFE AND ITS AUTHOR: an Essay in Verse. 
 With a Memoir by H. Rider Haggard, and Portrait. Fcp. 8vo. y 6 ^- 
 
 HAGGARD (H. Rider). SHE. With 32 Illustrations. Crown 8vo. y. 6d. 
 
 ALLAN QUATERMAIN. With 31 Illustrations. Crown 8vo. y. 6d. 
 
 MAIWA'S REVENGE. Crown 8vo. zs. boards, zs. 6d. cloth. 
 
 COLONEL QUARITCH, V.C. Crown 8vo. 35. 6d. 
 
 CLEOPATRA : With 29 Illustrations. Crown 8vo. y. 6d. 
 
 BEATRICE. Crown 8vo. 6s. 
 
 - ERIC BRIGHTEYES. With 51 Illustrations. Crown 8vo. 
 
 HAGGARD (H. Rider) and LANG (Andrew). THE WORLD'S 
 DESIRE. Crown 8vo. 65. 
 
 HALLIWELL-PHILLIPPS (J. O.) A CALENDAROFTHEHALLI- 
 WELL-PHILLIPPS COLLECTION OF SHAKESPEAREAN RARITIES. 
 Second Edition. Enlarged by Ernest E. Baker. 8vo. IQJ. 6d. 
 
 OUTLINE OF THE LIFE OF SHAKESPEARE. 2 vols. Royal 
 
 8VO. 2IJ. 
 
 HARRISON (Jane E.). MYTHS OF THE ODYSSEY IN ART AND 
 LITERATURE. Illustrated with Outline Drawings. 8vo. 185. . 
 
 HARRISON (F. Bayford). THE CONTEMPORARY HISTORY OF 
 THE FRENCH REVOLUTION. Crown 8vo. 31. 6d. 
 
 HARTE (Bret). IN THE CARQUINEZ WOODS. Fcp. 8vo. is. bds., 
 is. 6d. cloth. 
 
 BY SHORE AND SEDGE. i6mo. is. 
 
 - ON THE FRONTIER. i6mo. is. 
 
 HARTWIG (Dr.). THE SEA AND ITS LIVING WONDERS. With 12 
 
 Plates and 303 Woodcuts. 8vo. IQJ. 6d. 
 
 THE TROPICAL WORLD. With 8 Plates and 172 Woodcuts. 8vo. los. f>d. 
 THE POLAR WORLD. With 3 Maps, 8 Plates and 85 Woodcuts. 8vo. los. 6d. 
 THE SUBTERRANEAN WORLD. With 3 Maps and 80 Woodcuts. 8vo. ios.6d. 
 THE AERIAL WORLD. With Map, 8 Plates and 60 Woodcuts. 8vo. los. 6tf. 
 
 HAVELOCK. MEMOIRS OF SIR HENRY HAVELOCK, K.C.B. By 
 JOHN CLARK MARSHMAN. Crown 8vo. 35. 6d. 
 
 HEARN (W. Edward).-THE GOVERNMENT OF ENGLAND: its 
 Structure and its Development. 8vo. i6.r. 
 
 THE ARYAN HOUSEHOLD : its Structure and ts Development.- 
 An Introduction to Comparative Jurisprudence. 8vo. i6s. 
 
 HISTORIC TOWNS. Edited by E. A. FREEMAN and Rev. WILLIAM HUNT. 
 With Maps and Plans. Crown 8vo. y. 6d. each. 
 
 Bristol. By Rev. W. Hunt. 
 Carlisle. By Dr. Mandell Creighton. 
 Cinque Ports. By Montagu Burrows. 
 Colchester. By Rev. E. L. Cults. 
 Exeter. By E. A. Freeman. 
 London. By Rev. W. J. Loftie. 
 Oxford. By Rev. C. W. Boase. 
 
 Winchester. By Rev. G. W. Kitchin. 
 New York. By Theodore Roosevelt. 
 Boston (U.S.). By Henry Cabot 
 
 Lodge. 
 York. By Rev. James Raine. 
 
 \_lnpi 'tf/ a ra iio/i .
 
 PUBLISHED BY MESSRS. LONGMANS, GREEN, fr> CO. n 
 
 HODGSON (Shadworth H.). TIME AND SPACE: a Metaphysical 
 Essay. 8vo. i6j. 
 
 - THE THEORY OF PRACTICE : an Ethical Enquiry. 2 vols. 8vo. 245. 
 
 - THE PHILOSOPHY OF REFLECTION. 2 vols. 8vo. 21 j. 
 OUTCAST ESSAYS AND VERSE TRANSLATIONS. Crown 8vo. 
 
 8s. 6d. 
 
 HOWITT (William). VISITS TO REMARKABLE PLACES. 80 Illus- 
 trations. Crown 8vo. 3^. 6d. 
 
 HTJLIjAH (John). COURSE OF LECTURES ON THE HISTORY OF 
 
 A1ODERN MUSIC. 8vo. 8s. 6d. 
 COURSE OF LECTURES ON THE TRANSITION PERIOD OF 
 
 MUSICAL HISTORY. 8vo. ror. 6d. 
 
 HTJME. THE PHILOSOPHICAL WORKS OF DAVID HUME. Edited 
 by T. H. GREEN and T. H. GKOSE. 4 vols. 8vo. 56^. 
 
 HUTCHINSON (Horace). CREATURES OF CIRCUMSTANCE: a 
 Novel. 3 vols. Crown 8vo. 255. 6d. 
 
 CRICKETING SAWS AND STORIES. With rectilinear Illustrations 
 
 by the Author. i6mo. is. 
 
 - FAMOUS GOLF LINKS. By HORACE G. HUTCHINSON, ANDREW 
 LANG, H. S. C. EVF.RARD, T. RUTHERFORD CLARK, &c. With numerous 
 Illustrations by F. P. Hopkins, T. Hedges, H. S. King, &c. Crown 8vo. 6s. 
 
 HUTH (Alfred H.). THE MARRIAGE OF NEAR KIN. Royal 8vo. sis. 
 
 INGELOW (Jean). POETICAL WORKS. Vols. I. and II. Fcp. 8vo. 
 
 I2s. Vol. III. Fcp. 8vo. 5.T. 
 LYRICAL AND OTHER POEMS. Selected from the Writings of 
 
 JEAN INGELOW. Fcp. 8vo. 2s. 6d. cloth plain, y. cloth gilt. 
 
 VERY YOUNG and QUITE ANOTHER STORY: Two Stories. 
 
 Crown 8vo. 6s. 
 
 JAMESON (Mrs.). SACRED AND LEGENDARY ART. With 19 Etch- 
 ings and 187 Woodcuts. 2 vols. 8vo. 205. net. 
 
 - LEGENDS OF THE MADONNA, the Virgin Mary as represented in 
 Sacred and Legendary Art. With 27 Etchings and 165 Woodcuts. 8vo. io.f. net. 
 
 - LEGENDS OF THE MONASTIC ORDERS. With n Etchings and 
 88 Woodcuts. 8vo. los. net. 
 
 - HISTORY OF OUR LORD. His Types and Precursors. Completed by 
 LADY EASTLAKE. With 31 Etchings and 281 Woodcuts. 2 vols. 8vo. aos. net. 
 
 JEFFERIES (Richard).-FIELD AND HEDGEROW. Last Essays. 
 Crown 8vo. js. 6d. 
 
 - THE STORY OF MY HEART : My Autobiography. Crown 8vo. y. 6d 
 
 JENNINGS (Rev. A. C.).-ECCLESIA ANGLICANA. A History of the 
 Church of Christ in England. Crown 8vo. js. 6d.
 
 12 A CATALOGUE OF BOOK'S IN GENERAL LITERATURE 
 
 JESSOP (Q. H.). JUDGE LYNCH: a Tale of the California Vineyards. 
 Crown 8vo. 6s. 
 
 GERALD FFRENCH'S FRIENDS. Crown 8vo. 6s. 
 
 JOHNSON (J. & J. H.). THE PATENTEE'S MANUAL; a Treatise on 
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 JORDAN (William Leighton). THE STANDARD OF VALUE. 8vo.6s. 
 
 JUSTINIAN. THE INSTITUTES OF JUSTINIAN ; Latin Text, with 
 English Introduction, &c. By THOMAS C. SANDARS. 8vo. i8s. 
 
 KALISCH (M. M.). BIBLE STUDIES. Part I. The Prophecies of 
 Balaam. 8vo. IQJ. 6ci. Part II. The Book of Jonah. 8vo. ioj. 6d. 
 
 KALISCH (M. M.). COMMENTARY ON THE OLD TESTAMENT ; with 
 a New Translation. Vol. I. Genesis, 8vo. i8s. , or adapted for the General 
 Reader, izs. Vol. II. Exodus, 155., or adapted for the General Reader, J2s. 
 Vol. III. Leviticus, Part I. 15^., or adapted for the General Reader, 8s. 
 Vol. IV. Leviticus, Part II. 15^., or adapted for the General Reader, 8s. 
 
 KANT (Immanuel). CRITIQUE OF PRACTICAL REASON, AND 
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 KENDALL (May). FROM A GARRET. Crown 8vo. 6s. 
 
 - DREAMS TO SELL ; Poems. Fcp. 8vo. 6.r. 
 
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 LEGER (Louis). A HISTORY OF AUSTRO-HUNGARY. From the 
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 LEWES (George Henry). THE HISTORY OF PHILOSOPHY, from 
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 14 A CATALOGUE OF BOOKS IN GENERAL LITERATURE 
 
 MACAULAY (Lord). ESSAYS (continued). 
 CRITICAL AND HISTORICAL ESSAYS. 
 
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 People's Edition, 2 vols. Crown 8vo. 8s. 
 
 Trevelyan Edition, 2 vols. Crown Svo.gs. 
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 Library Edition, 3 vols. 8vo. 
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 Addison and Walpole. 
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 Lord Bacon, 
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 SELECTIONS FROM THE WRITINGS OF LORD MACAULAY. 
 
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 THE LIFE AND LETTERS OF LORD MACAULAY. By the Right 
 
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 MACKAIL (J. W.). SELECT EPIGRAMS FROM THE GREEK AN- 
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 MACLEOD (Henry D.). THE ELEMENTS OF BANKING. Crown 
 
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 McCULLOCH ( J. R.). THE DICTIONARY OF COMMERCE and Com- 
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 MAC VINE (John). SIXTY-THREE YEARS' ANGLING, from the Moun- 
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 i6 A CATALOGUE OF BOOKS IN GENERAL LITERATURE 
 
 MAX MULLER (F.) INTRODUCTION TO THE SCIENCE OF RE- 
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 MAY (Sir Thomas Erskine). THE CONSTITUTIONAL HISTORY 
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 MURDOCK (Henry). THE RECONSTRUCTION OF EUROPE: a 
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 i8 A CA TALOGUE OF BOOKS IN GENERAL LITER A TURE 
 
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 RAWLINSON" (Canon Q.). THE HISTORY OF PHOENICIA. Svo. 245. 
 
 RENTDLE (William) and NORMAN (Philip). THE INNS OF OLD 
 SOUTHWARK, and their Associations. With Illustrations. Royal Svo. 28^. 
 
 RIBOT (Th.). THE PSYCHOLOGY OF ATTENTION. Crown Svo. 3 .t. 
 
 RICH (A.). A DICTIONARY OF ROMAN AND GREEK ANTIQUITIES. 
 With 2000 Woodcuts. Crown Svo. 75. 6d.
 
 20 A CATALOGUE OF BOOKS IN GENERAL LITERATURE 
 
 RICHARDSON" (Dr. B. W.). NATIONAL HEALTH. A Review of 
 the Works of Sir Edwin Chadwick, K.C. B. Crown 4^. 6d. 
 
 RILEY (Athelstr i). ATHOS ; or, The Mountain of the Monks. With 
 Map and 29 Illustiations. 8vo. sis. 
 
 ROBERTS (Alexander). GREEK THE LANGUAGE OF CHRIST 
 AND HIS APOSTLES. 8vo. 185. 
 
 ROGET( John Lewis). AHISTORYOFTHE 'OLD WATER COLOUR' 
 SOCIETY. 2 vols. Royal 8vo. 425. 
 
 ROG-ET (Peter M.). THESAURUS OF ENGLISH WORDS AND 
 PHRASES. Crown 8vo. los. 6d. 
 
 RONALDS (Alfred). THE FLY-FISHER'S ETYMOLOGY. With 20 
 Coloured Plates. 8vo. 14^. 
 
 ROSSETTI (Maria Francesca). A SHADOW OF DANTE : being an 
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 RUSSELL. A LIFE OF LORD JOHN RUSSELL. By SPENCER WALPOLE. 
 2 vols. 8vo. 36*. Cabinet Edition, 2 vols. Crown 8vo. iar. 
 
 SEEBOHM (Frederick). THE OXFORD REFORMERS JOHN 
 COLET, ERASMUS, AND THOMAS MORE. 8vo. i+r. 
 
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 lations to the Manorial and Tribal Systems, &c. 13 Maps and Plates. 8vo. i6s. 
 
 THE ERA OF THE PROTESTANT REVOLUTION. With Map. 
 
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 SEWELL (Elizabeth M.). STORIES AND TALES. Crown Svo. is. 6d. 
 each, cloth plain ; zs. 6d. each, cloth extra, gilt edges : 
 
 Amy Herbert. 
 The Earl's Daughter. 
 The Experience of Life. 
 A Glimpse of the World. 
 Cleve Hall. 
 
 Katharine Ashton. 
 Margaret Percival. 
 Laneton Parsonage. 
 Ursula. 
 
 Gertrude. 
 Ivors. 
 Home Life. 
 After Life. 
 
 SHAKESPEARE. BOWDLER'S FAMILY SHAKESPEARE, i vol. 8vo. 
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 with Photographs, Fcp, 8vo. los. 6d. 
 
 SHORT (T. V.). SKETCH OF THE HISTORY OF THE CHURCH OF 
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 PUBLISHED BY MESSRS. LONGMANS, GREEN, & CO. zi 
 
 SILVER LIBRARY, The. Crown 8vo. price 35. 6d. each volume. 
 
 She : A History of Adventure. By II. 
 Rider Haggard. 32 Illustrations. 
 
 Allan Quatermain. By H. Rider 
 Haggard. With 20 Illustrations. 
 
 Colonel Quaritch, Y.C. : a Tale of 
 Country Life. By H . Rider Haggard. 
 
 Cleopatra. By H. Rider Haggard. 
 With 29 Full-page Illustrations. 
 
 Hlcah Clarke. A Tale of Monmouth's 
 Rebellion. By A. Conan Doyle. 
 
 Petland Revisited. By the Rev. J. G. 
 Wood. With 33 Illustrations. 
 
 StrangeDwellings : aDescriptionofthe 
 Habitationsof Animals. By the Rev. 
 J. G. Wood. With 60 Illustrations. 
 
 Out of Doors. Original Articles on 
 Practical Natural History. By the 
 Rev. J. G. Wood, n Illustrations. 
 
 Familiar History of Birds. By Edward 
 Stanley, D.D. 160 Illustrations. 
 
 Eight Years in Ceylon. By Sir S. W. 
 
 Baker. With 6 Illustrations. 
 
 Rifle and Hound in Ceylon. By Sir 
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 Story of Creation : a Plain Account of 
 Evolution. By Edward Clodd. 
 With 77 Illustrations. 
 
 Life of the Duke of Wellington. By the 
 Rev. G. R. Gleig. With Portrait. 
 
 History of the Romans under the 
 Empire. By the Very Rev. Charles 
 Merivale. 8 vols. 
 
 Memoirs of Major-General Sir Henry 
 Havelock. By J. Clark Marshman. 
 
 Short Studies on Great Subjects. By 
 James A. Froude. 4 vols. 
 
 Caesar : a Sketch. Byjames A. Froude. 
 
 Thomas Carlyle : a Histo.-y of his 
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 2 vols. 1834-1881. 2 vols. 
 
 The Two Chiefs of Dunboy : an Irish 
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 James A. Froude. 
 
 Visits to Remarkable Places. By 
 
 William Howitt. 80 Illustrations. 
 
 Field and Hedgerow. Last Essays of 
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 Apologia Pro Yita Sua. By Cardinal 
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 Callista : a Tale of the Third Century. 
 By Cardinal Newman. 
 
 Loss and Gain : a Tale. By Cardinal 
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 Essays, Critical and Historical. By 
 
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 An Essay on the Development of 
 Christian Doctrine. By Cardinal 
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 The Arians of the Fourth Century. 
 By Cardinal Newman. 
 
 Verses on Various Occasions. By 
 
 Cardinal Newman. 
 
 Parochial and Plain Sermons. By 
 
 Cardinal Newman. 8 vols. 
 
 Selection, adapted to the Seasons of 
 the Ecclesiastical Year, from the 
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 Certain Difficulties felt by Anglicans 
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 Essays on Biblical and Ecclesiastical 
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 Discussions and Arguments on Various 
 Subjects. By Cardinal Newman. 
 
 An Essay in Aid of a Grammar of 
 Assent. By Cardinal Newman. 
 
 The Elements of Banking. By Henry 
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 A Voyage in the ' Sunbeam '. With 
 66 Illustrations, By Lady Brassey.
 
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 STANLEY (E.). A FAMILIAR HISTORY OF BIRDS. With 160 Wood- 
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 STEPHEN (Sir James). ESSAYS IN ECCLESIASTICAL BIO- 
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 STEPHEN'S (H. Morse). A HISTORY OF THE FRENCH REVOLU- 
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 STRONG (Herbert A.), LOGEMAN ( Willem S.) and WHEELER 
 
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 SUPERNATURAL RELIGION ; an Inquiry into the Reality of Divine Revela- 
 tion. 3 vols. 8vo. 365. 
 
 REPLY (A) TO DR. LIGHTFOOT'S ESSAYS. By the Author of ' Super- 
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 SYMES (J. E.). PRELUDE TO MODERN HISTORY: being a Brief 
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 TAYLOR (Colonel Meadows). A STUDENT'S MANUAL OF THE 
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 THOMPSON (D. Greenleaf ). THE PROBLEM OF EVIL : an Intro- 
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 A SYSTEM OF PSYCHOLOGY. 2 vols. 8vo. 365. 
 
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 SOCIAL PROGRESS : an Essay. 8vo. 75. 6d. 
 
 THE PHILOSOPHY OF FICTION IN LITERATURE : an Essay. 
 
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 merce. Royal 8vo. i uj. 6d. 
 
 WEYMAN (Stanley J.). THE HOUSE OF THE WOLF : a Romance. 
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 WHATELY (E. Jane). ENGLISH SYNONYMS. Edited by Archbishop 
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 WOOD (Rev. J. G.). HOMES WITHOUT HANDS ; a Description of the 
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