首页 >出版文学> M119>第31章

第31章

  Butwhohadsappeditatthesource,Withscarlettoherpride!
  Hebroughtherwaningheartas’twereNewmessagefromtheskies。
  Andhebetrayed,andleftonherTheburdenoftheirsighs。
  Infloodshertendermemoriespoured;
  Theyfoamedwithwavesofspite:
  Shecrushedthem,highherheartoutsoared,Tokeephermindalight-
  Thecrawlingcreature,calledinscornAwoman!——withthispenWesignapaperthatmaywarnHiscrowingfellowmen-
  WereadthemlessonofapowerTheyslightwhodouswrong。
  ThatbitterhourthisbitterhourProvokes;byturnsthestrong!-
  Thatwewerewomanonceisknown:
  ThatweareJusticenow,Aboveoursex,abovethethrone,Menquakingshallavow。
  ArchduchessAnneascendingflew,Herheartoutsoared,butfeltThedemonofhersexpursue,Incensingortomelt。
  ThosecounterfloodsbelowatleapStillinherbreastblewstorm,AndfartheruptheheavenlysteepWrestledinangels’form。
  TodisentangleoneclearwishNotofhersex,shesought;
  AndwomanishtowomanishDiscernedinlightedthought。
  WithLouis’chanceitwentnotwellWhenatherselfsheraged;
  Awoman,ofwhommenmighttellShedoted,crazedandaged。
  OrelseenamouredofasweetWithdrawn,avengefulcrone!
  Andsay,whatfigureatherfeetIsthisthatuttersmoan?
  TheCountessLouisfromherheadDrewveil:’GreatLady,hear!
  MyhusbanddeemsyouJusticedread,IknowyouMercydear。
  ’Hiserroruponhimmayfall;
  Hewillnotbreatheanay。
  Iamhishelplessmateinall,Exceptforgracetopray。
  ’Perchanceonmehischoiceinclined,TogehisHouseanheir:
  Ihadnotmarriagewithhismind,Hiscounselcouldnotshare。
  ’IbroughtnoportionforhiswealButthisoneinstincttrue,Whichbidsmeinmyweaknesskneel,ArchduchessAnne,toyou。’
  ThefrowningLadyuttered,’Forth!’
  Herlookforbadedelay:
  ’Itisnotminetoweighyourworth;
  Yourhusband’sothersweigh。
  I
  ’Hencewiththewomaninyourspeech,’
  FornothingitavailsInwoman’sfashiontobeseechWhereJusticeholdsthescales。’
  Thenbentandwenttheladywan,WhosegirlishnessmadegreyThethoughtsthatthroughArchduchessAnneShatteredlikestormyspray。
  Longsatshethere,asflamethatstresToholdonbeatingwind:-
  Hiswifemustbethefoolofwes,Orcunninglydesigned!
  Shesatuntilthetempest-pitchInhertornbosomfell;-
  HiswifemustbeasubtlewitchOrelseGodlovesherwell!
  OldKrakenreadamissepennedByhisgreatLady’shand。
  Hercondescensioncalledhimfriend,Toraisethecrestshefanned。
  SwiftlytowherehelayencampedItflew,yetbreathedaloofFromwoman’sfeeling,andhestampedAheelmorelikeahoof。
  ShewroteofMercy:’ShewaslothToohardtogoadafoe。’
  Hestamped,aswhenmendreanoathDelstranscribebelow。
  Shewrote:’Wehavehimhalfbytheft。’
  Hiswrinklesglistenedkeen:
  AndseetheWinterstorm-cloudcleftToluridskiesbetween!
  WhenreadoldKraken:’ChristourGuide,’
  Hiseyeswerespikesofspar:
  Andseethewhitesnow-stormdideAboutanicystar!
  ’Shetrustedhimtounderstand,’
  Shewrote,andfurtherprayedThatpolicymightruletheland。
  OldKraken’slaughterneighed。
  Herwordshetook;hernodsandwinksTreatedaswoman’sfog。
  Theman-dogforhismistressthinks,Notlessherfaithfuldog。
  ShehuggedacloakoldKrakenripped;
  Disguisetohimheloathed-
  Yourmercy,madam,showsyoustripped,Whileminewillkeepyouclothed。
  Aroughill-solderedscarinhasteHerubbedonhischeek-bone-
  Ourpolicythemanshalltaste;
  Ourmercyshallbeshown。
  ’CountLouis,honourtoyourraceDecreestheCouncil-hall:
  You’scapetheropebyspecialgrace,Andlikeasoldierfall。’-
  Iamamanofmanysins,Whoforonertuedie,CountLouissaid——Theyplayatshins,Whokick,wasthereply。
  Uprosethedayofcrimsonsight,ThedaywithoutaGod。
  AtmorntheherosaidGood-night:
  Seetherethatstainonsod!
  AtmorntheCountessLouisheardYounglightsinginthelark。
  Ereeveitwasthatotherbird,Whichbringsthestarlessdark。
  Toheavenshevowedherself,andyearnedBesideherlordtolie。
  ArchduchessAnneonKrakenturned,Allwhiteasadeadeye。
  IfIcouldkillthee!shriekedherlook:
  IflightningsprangfromWill!
  AnoakenheadoldKrakenshook,Andshemightthankorkill。
  ThepridethatfencedherheartinmailBymortalpainwastorn。
  Forthfromherbosomleapedawail,Asofababenew-born。
  Shecladherselfincourtlyuse,AndonewhoheardthemprateHadsaidtheydiffereduponewsWherestatecraftraiseddebate。
  Thewretchdetestedmustshetrust,Theservantmasterown:
  Confidetogodlesscausesojust,AndforGod’sblessingmoan。
  Austerelysheherheartkeptdown,Herwoman’stonguewasmuteWhenvoiceofPeople,voiceofCrown,Incannonhelddispute。
  TheCrownonseasofblood,likeswine,Swamforefootatthethroat:
  Itdrankofitsdearveinsforwine,Enoughifitmightfloat!
  Itsankwithpiteousyelp,resurgedElectricalwithfear。
  OhadsheonoldKrakenurgedHerwordofmercyclear!
  OhadtheywithCountLouisbeenAccordantinhisplea!
  CursedarethewomenvowedtoscreenAheartthatallcansee!
  ThegodlessdroveuntoagoalWasworsethanledefeat。
  DidvengeanceprickCountLouis’soulTheydressedhimlusciousmeat。
  WormswillthefaithlessfindtheirliesIntheclosetreasure-chest。
  WithoutaGodnodaycanrise,Thoughitshouldslayourbest。
  TheCrownitfurledadraggledflag,Itsheathedabrokenblade。
  BeholditstriumphinthehagThatleswithlooksdecayed!
  Andlo,themanofoakenhead,Ofsoldier’shonourbare,Hefledhisland,butmosthefledHisLady’sfrigidstare。
  JudgedbytheissuewediscernGod’sblessing,andthebane。
  CountLouis’dustwouldfillanurn,Hisdeedsarewanggrain。
  Andshethathelpedtoslay,yetbadeTosparethefatedman,Greatwerehererrors,butshehadGreatheart,ArchduchessAnne。
  QueenTheodolindhasbuiltIntheearthafurnace-bed:
  TheretheTraitorNailthatspiltBloodoftheanointedHead,Redofheat,resolvesinshame:
  Whiteofheat,awakestoflame。
  Beat,beat!whiteofheat,Redofheat,beat,beat!
  MarktheskeletonoffireLighteningfromitsthunder-roof:
  SocomesthisthatsawexpireHimwelove,forourbehoof!
  Redofheat,Owhiteofheat,ThisfromofftheCrosswegreet。
  Brown-cowledhammermenaroundNervetheirnakedarmstostrikeDeathwithResurrectioncrowned,Eachuponthatcruelspike。
  Redofheatthefurnaceleaps,Whiteofheattransfiguredsleeps。
  HardagainstthefurnacecoreHoldstheQueenherstreamingeyes:
  Lo!thatthingofpiteousgoreInthelapofradiancelies,Redofheat,aswhenHetakes,Whiteofheat,whomearthforsakes。
  Forthwithit,andcrushingringIronhymns,formentohearEchoesofthedeedsthatstingEarthintoitsgraves,andfear!
  Redofheat,Hemakeththus,Whiteofheat,acrownofus。
  ThisthatkilledThee,kissedThee,Lord!
  TouchedThee,andwetouchit:dear,Darkitis;adored,abhorred:
  lest,yetmostsaintedhere。
  Redofheat,Owhiteofheat,Inithellandheavenmeet。
  IbeholdourmorningdayWhentheychasedHimoutwithrodsUptowherethistraitorlayThirsting;andthebloodwasGod’s!
  Redofheat,itshallbepressed,Whiteofheat,onceonmybreast!
  Quick!thereptileinmeshrieks,Notthesoul。Again;theCrossBurnthere。Oh!thispainitwreaksRaptureis:painisnotloss。
  Redofheat,thetoothofDeath,Whiteofheat,hascaughtmybreath。
  Brandme,biteme,bitterthing!
  ThusHefelt,andthusIamOnewithHiminsuffering,OnewithHiminbliss,theLamb。
  Redofheat,Owhiteofheat,Thusisbitternessmadesweet。
  NowamI,whobearthatstampScorchedinme,thelingsignSoleonearth——thelightedlampOfthedreadfulDaydine。
  Whiteofheat,beatonitfast!
  Redofheat,itsshapehaspassed。
  Outinangrysparkstheyfly,TheythatsentencedHimtobleed:
  Pontiusandhistroop:theydie,Damnedforeverforthedeed!
  Whiteofheatinvaintheysoar:
  Redofheattheystrewthefloor。
  Furyonit!haveitsdebt!
  ThunderontheHillaccurst,Golgotha,beye!andsweatBlood,andthirstthePassion’sthirst。
  Redofheatandwhiteofheat,Champitlikefierceteeththateat。
  StrikeitastheagescrushTowers!forwhileashapeisseenIamralled。Quenchitsblush,Del!ButitcrownsmeQueen,Redofheat,asnonebefore,Whiteofheat,thecircletwore。
  LowlyIwillbe,andquail,Crawling,withabeggar’shand:
  OnmybreastthebrandedNail,Onmyheadtheironband。
  Redofheat,arenonesobase!
  Whiteofheat,noneknowsuchgrace!
  Intheirheaventhesaintedhosts,Robedinoletunflecked,Gazeonhumankindasghosts:
  Idrawdownaraydirect。
  Redofheat,acrossmybrow,Whiteofheat,ItouchHimnow。
  Robedinolet,robedingold,Robedinpearl,theymakeourdawn。
  WhatamItothem?BeholdWhatyearetome,andfawn。
  Redofheat,behumble,ye!
  Whiteofheat,Oteachitme!
  Martyrs!hungrypeaksinair,Rentwithlightnings,cladwithsnow,Crownedwithstars!youstripmebare,Pierceme,shameme,stretchmelow,Redofheat,butitmaybe,Whiteofheat,someenvyme!
  Opooreners!God’sowngiftsHaveadelfortheweak。
  Yea,theveryforcethatliftsFindsthevessel’ssecretleak。
  Redofheat,Iriseo’erall:
  Whiteofheat,Ifaint,Ifall。
  ThoseoldMartyrssloughedtheirpride,Takinghumblenesslikemirth。
  IamtoHisGlorytied,IthatwitnessHimonearth!
  Redofheat,myprideofdust,Whiteofheat,feedsfireintrust。
  Kindlemetoconstantfire,Lestthenailbebutanail!
  Gemewingsofgreatdesire,LestIlookwithin,andfail!
  Redofheat,thefurnacelight,Whiteofheat,fonmysight。
  NeverfortheChosenpeace!
  Know,bymetormentedknow,NevershallthewrestlingceaseTillwithouroutlastingFoe,Redofheattowhiteofheat,RollwetotheGodhead’sfeet!
  Beat,beat!whiteofheat,Redofheat,beat,beat!
  LadieswhoinchainsofwedlockChafeatanunequalyoke,Nottonightingalesgehearing;
  Betterthis,theraven’scroak。
  DownthePradostrolledmyseigneur,Armatlordlybowonhip,Fingerstrimminghismoustachios,Eyesforpiratefellowship。
  Homesatshethatownedhimmaster;
  LiketheflowerbenttogroundRain-surchargedandsun-forsaken;
  Heedlessofherhairunbound。
  SuddenatherfeetaloverPalpitatingkneltandwooed;
  SeemedaverygiftfromheavenTothestarvedofcommonfood。