The law by which it prospers so: Yes, yes, a tree which must ascend,— No poison-gourd foredoomed to stoop! The draught to blossoming gladness fast, While sweet dews turn to the gourd's hurt, And bloat, and while they bloat it, blast, As from the first its lot was cast. I gaze By unexhausted power to bless, One altar-smoke, so pure !-to win Priest, doctor, hermit, monk grown white With prayer, the broken-hearted nun, The martyr, the wan acolyte, The incense-swinging child,-undone God, whom I praise; how could I praise, And bargain for his love, and stand, II.-MADHOUSE CELL. PORPHYRIA'S LOVER. THE rain set early in to-night, She shut the cold out and the storm, And kneeled and made the cheerless grate Blaze up, and all the cottage warm; Which done, she rose, and from her form Withdrew the dripping cloak and shawl, And laid her soiled gloves by, untied Her hat and let the damp hair fall, And, last, she sate down by my side And called me. When no voice replied, She put my arm about her waist, And made her smooth white shoulder bare, And all her yellow hair displaced, And, stooping, made my cheek lie there, For love of her, and all in vain ; That moment she was mine, mine, fair, A thing to do, and all her hair In one long yellow string I wound I warily oped her lids; again Laughed the blue eyes without a stain. And I untightened next the tress That all it scorned at once is fled, And all night long we have not stirred, And yet God has not said a word! THROUGH THE METIDJA TO ABD-EL-KADR. As I ride, as I ride II. To our Chief and his Allied, Who dares chide my heart's pride Or are witnesses denied Through the desert waste and wide Do I glide unespied As I ride, as I ride? As I ride, as I ride, III. When an inner voice has cried, The sands slide, nor abide (As I ride, as I ride) O'er each visioned Homicide That came vaunting (has he lied?) To reside-where he died, As I ride, as I ride. As I ride, as I ride, IV. Ne'er has spur my swift horse plied, As I ride, as I ride, Shows where sweat has sprung and dried, -Zebra-footed, ostrich-thighed How has vied stride with stride As I ride, as I ride! |