Howshallsheknowtheworshipwewoulddoher?
Thewallsarehigh,andsheisveryfar。
Howshallthewoman’smessagereachuntoherAbovethetumultofthepackedbazaar?
FreewindofMarch,againstthelatticeblowing,Bearthouourthanks,lestshedepartunknowing。
Goforthacrossthefieldswemaynotroamin,Goforthbeyondthetreesthatrimthecity,Towhatsoe’erfairplaceshehathherhomein,Whodowereduswithwalthofloveandpity。
Outofourshadowpass,andseekhersinging——
“IhavenogiftsbutLovealoneforbringing。”
Saythatwebeafeeblefolkwhogreether,Butoldingrief,andverywiseintears;
Saythatwe,beingdesolate,entreatherThatsheforgetusnotinafteryears;
Forwehaveseenthelight,anditweregrievousTodimthatdawningifourladyleaveus。
BylifethatebbedwithnonetostanchthefailingByLove’ssadharvestgarneredinthespring,WhenLoveinignoranceweptunavailingO’eryoungbudsdeadbeforetheirblossoming;
Byallthegreyowlwatched,thepalemoonviewed,Inpastgrimyears,declareourgratitude!
ByhandsupliftedtotheGodsthatheardnot,Byfitsthatfoundnofavorintheirsight,Byfacesbentabovethebabethatstirrednot,Bynamelesshorrorsofthestiflingnight;
Byillsforedone,bypeacehertoilsdiscover,BidEarthbegoodbeneathandHeavenaboveher!
IfshehavesentherservantsinourpainIfshehavefoughtwithDeathanddulledhissword;
Ifshehavegivenbackoursickagain。
Andtothebreastthewaklinglipsrestored,Isitalittlethingthatshehaswrought?
ThenLifeandDeathandMotherhoodbenought。
Goforth,Owind,ourmessageonthywings,Andtheyshallheartheepassandbidtheespeed,Inreed-roofedhut,orwhite-walledhomeofkings,Whohavebeenhelpenbytherintheirneed。
Allspringshallgivetheefragrance,andthewheatShallbeatasselledfloorclothtothyfeet。
Haste,forourheartsarewiththee,takenorest!
Loud-voicedambassador,fromseatoseaProclaimtheblessing,mainfold,confessed。
Ofthoseindarknessbyherhandsetfree。
Thenverysoftlytoherpresencemove,Andwhisper:“Lady,lo,theyknowandlove!”
ABALLADOFJAKKOHILL
Onemomentbidthehorseswait,Sincetiffinisnotlaidtillthree,BelowtheupwardpathandstraightYouclimbedayearagowithme。
LovecameuponussuddenlyAndloosed——anidlehourtokill——
Aheadless,armlessarmoryThatsmoteusbothonJakkoHill。
AhHeaven!wewouldwaitandwaitThroughTimeandtoEternity!
AhHeaven!wecouldconquerFateWithmorethanGodlikeconstancyIcutthedateuponatree——
Herestandtheclumsyfiguresstill:
DampwiththemistofJakkoHill。
Whatcameofhighresolveandgreat,AnduntilDeathfidelity!
Whosehorseiswaitingatyourgate?
Whose’rickshaw-wheelsrideoverme?
NoSaint’s,Iswear;and——letmeseeTo-nightwhatnamesyourprogrammefill
Wedriftasundermerrily,AsdriftsthemistonJakkoHill。
Princess,beholdourancientstateHascleandeparted;andwesee’TwasIdlenesswetookforFateThatboundlightbondsonyouandme。
Amen!HereendsthecomedyWhereitbeganinallgoodwill;
SinceLoveandLeavetogetherfleeAsdrivenmistonJakkoHill!
THEPLEAOFTHESIMLADANCERS
Toolate,alas!thesongToremedythewrong;——
Theroomsaretakenfromus,sweptandgarnishedfortheirfate。
Butthesetear-besprinkledpagesShallattesttofutureagesThatwecriedagainstthecrimeofit——
toolate,alas!toolate!
“Whathaveweeverdonetobearthisgrudge?”
WastherenoroomsaveonlyinBenmoreFordocket,duftar,andforofficedrudge,Thatyouusurpoursmoothestdancingfloor?
Mustbabusdotheirworkonpolishedteak?
Areball-roomsfittestfortheinkyouspill?
Wastherenoothercheaperhousetoseek?
YoumighthaveleftthemallatStrawberryHill。
Weneverharmedyou!Innocentourguise,Daintyourshiningfeet,ourvoiceslow;
Andwerevolvedtodiversmelodies,Andwewerehappybutayearago。
To-night,themoonthatwatchedourlightsomewiles——
Thatbeameduponusthroughthedeodars——
Iswanwithgazingonofficialfiles,Anddesecratingdesksdisgustthestars。
Nay!bythememoryoftunefulnights——
Nay!bythewitcheryofflyingfeet——
Nay!bytheglamourofforedonedelights——
Byallthingsmerry,musical,andmeet——
Bywinethatsparkled,andbysparklingeyes——
Bywailingwaltz——byrecklessgallop’sstrain——
Bydimverandasandbysoftreplies,Giveusourravishedball-roombackagain!
Or——hearkentothecursewelayonyou!
Theghostsofwaltzesshallperplexyourbrain,AndmurmursofpastmerrimentpursueYour’wilderedclerksthattheyinditeinvain;
AndwhenyoucountyourpoorProvincialmillions,TheonlyfiguresthatyourpenshallframeShallbethefiguresofdear,dearcotillionsDancedoutintumultlongbeforeyoucame。
Yea!“SeeSaw“shallupsetyourestimates,“DreamFaces“shallyourheavyheadsbemuse,Becauseyourhand,unheeding,desecratesOurtemple;fitforhigher,worthieruse。
Andallthelongverandas,eloquentWithechoesofascoreofSimlayears,Shallplagueyouwithunbiddensentiment——
Babblingofkisses,laughter,love,andtears。
Soshallyoumazedamidoldmemoriesstand,Soshallyoutoil,andshallaccomplishnought,AndeverinyourearsaphantomBandShallblareawaythestaidofficialthought。
Wherefore——anderethisawfulcursehespoken,Castoutyourswarthysacrilegioustrain,Andgive——eredancingceaseandheartsbebroken——
Giveusourravishedball-roombackagain!
THEBALLADOFFISHER’SBOARDING-HOUSE
Thatnight,whenthroughthemooring-chainsThewide-eyedcorpserolledfree,ToblunderdownbyGardenReachAndrotatKedgeree,ThetaletheHughlitoldtheshoalTheleanshoaltoldtome。
’TwasFultahFisher’sboarding-house,Wheresailor-menreside,AndthereweremenofalltheportsFromMississiptoClyde,Andregallytheyspatandsmoked,Andfearsomelytheylied。
TheyliedaboutthepurpleSeaThatgavethemscantybread,TheyliedabouttheEarthbeneath,TheHeavensoverhead,FortheyhadlookedtoooftenonBlackrumwhenthatwasred。
Theytoldtheirtalesofwreckandwrong,Ofshameandlustandfraud,TheybackedtheirtougheststatementswithTheBrimstoneoftheLord,AndcracklingoathswenttoandfroAcrossthefist-bangedboard。
AndtherewasHanstheblue-eyedDane,Bull-throated,bareofarm,WhocarriedonhishairychestThemaidUltruda’scharm——
ThelittlesilvercrucifixThatkeepsamanfromharm。
AndtherewasJakeWithouth-the-Ears,AndPambatheMalay,AndCarboyGintheGuineacook,AndLuzfromVigoBay,AndHonestJackwhosoldthemslopsAndharvestedtheirpay。
AndtherewasSalemHardieker,AleanBostonianhe——
Russ,German,English,Halfbreed,Finn,Yank,Dane,andPortuguee,AtFultahFisher’sboarding-houseTherestedfromthesea。
NowAnneofAustriasharedtheirdrinks,Collingaknewherfame,FromTarnauinGaliciaToJuanBazaarshecame,ToeatthebreadofinfamyAndtakethewageofshame。
Sheheldadozenmentoheel——
Richspoilofwarwashers,Inhoseandgownandringandchain,Fromtwentymariners,And,byPortLaw,thatweek,mencalledherSalemHardieker’s。
Butseamenlearnt——whatlandsmenknow——
ThatneithergiftsnorgainCanholdawinkingLighto’LoveOrFancy’sflightrestrain,WhenAnneofAustriarolledhereyesOnHanstheblue-eyedDane。
SinceLifeisstrife,andstrifemeansknife,FromHowrahtotheBay,AndhemaydiebeforethedawnWholiquoredouttheday,InFultahFisher’sboarding-houseWewoowhileyetwemay。
ButcoldwasHanstheblue-eyedDane,Bull-throated,bareofarm,AndlaughtershookthechestbeneathThemaidUltruda’scharm——
ThelittlesilvercrucifixThatkeepsamanfromharm。
“YouspeaktoSalemHardieker;
“Youwashisgirl,Iknow。
“Ishipmineselfsto-morrow,see,“UndroundtheSkawwego,“South,downtheCattegat,byHjelm,“ToBesserinSaro。”
Whenloverejectedturnstohate,Allillbetidetheman。
“YouspeaktoSalemHardieker“——
Shespokeaswomancan。
Ascream——asob——“Hecalledme——names!”
Andthenthefraybegan。
AnoathfromSalemHardieker,Ashriekuponthestairs,Adanceofshadowsonthewall,Aknife-thrustunawares——
AndHanscamedown,ascattledrop,Acrossthebrokenchairs。
*
InAnneofAustria’stremblinghandsThewearyheadfelllow:——
“Ishipmineselfsto-morrow,straight“ForBesserinSaro;
“UndthereUltrudacomestome“AtEaster,undIgo“South,downtheCattegat——What’shere?
“There——are——no——lights——toguide!”
Themutterceased,thespiritpassed,AndAnneofAustriacriedInFultahFisher’sboarding-houseWhenHansthemightydied。
ThusslewtheyHanstheblue-eyedDane,Bull-throated,bareofarm,ButAnneofAustrialootedfirstThemaidUltruda’scharm——
ThelittlesilvercrucifixThatkeepsamanfromharm。
ASTHEBELLCLINKS
AsIlefttheHallsatLumley,rosethevisionofacomelyMaidlastseasonworshippeddumbly,watchedwithfervorfromafar;
AndIwonderedidly,blindly,ifthemaidwouldgreetmekindly。
Thatwasall——therestwassettledbytheclinkingtonga-bar。
Yea,mylifeandherswerecoupledbythetongacoupling-bar。
Formymistymeditation,atthesecondchangin-station,Sufferedsuddendislocation,fledbeforethetunelessjarOfaWagnerobbligato,scherzo,doublehandstaccato,Playedoneitherpony’ssaddlebytheclackingtonga-bar——
Playedwithhumanspeech,Ifancied,bythejigging,joltingbar。
“Shewassweet。”thoughtI,“lastseason,but’tweresurelywildunreasonSuchtinyhopetofreezeonaswasofferedbymyStar,Whenshewhispered,somethingsadly:’I——wefeelyourgoingbadly!’“
“Andyouletthechanceescapeyou?”rappedtherattlingtonga-bar。
“Whatachanceandwhatanidiot!”clickedthevicioustonga-bar。
Heartofman——oh,heartofputty!HadIgonebyKakahutti,OntheoldHill-roadandrutty,Ihad’scapedthatfatalcar。
Buthisfortuneeachmustbideby,soIwatchedthemilestonesslideby,To“YoucallonHerto-morrow!”——fuguewithcymbalsbythebar——
YoumustcallonHerto-morrow!”——post-horngallopbythebar。
Yetafurtherstagemygoalon——wewerewhirlingdowntoSolon,Withadoublelurchandrollon,bestfootforemost,ganzundgar——
“Shewasverysweet。”Ihinted“Ifakisshadbeenimprinted?”——
“’Wouldha’savedaworldoftrouble!”clashedthebusytonga-bar。
“’Beenacceptedorrejected!”bangedandclangedthetonga-bar。
Thenanotionwildanddaring,’spitetheincometax’sparing,Andahastythoughtofsharing——lessthanmanyincomesare,Mademeputaquestionprivate,youcanguesswhatIwoulddriveat。