Upon her, and that day a boy was born, And thus our lonely lover rode away, And sitting down to such a base repast, I heard a groaning overhead, and climb'd The moulder'd stairs (for everything was vile) And in a loft, with none to wait on him, Found, as it seem'd, a skeleton alone, Raving of dead men's dust and beating (hearts. A dismal hostel in a dismal land, A flat malarian world of reed and rush! But there from fever and my care of him Sprang up a friendship that may help us yet. For while we roam'd along the dreary coast, And waited for her message, piece by piece I learnt the drearier story of his life; And, tho' he loved and honour'd Lionel, Found that the sudden wail his lady made Dwelt in his fancy: did he know her worth, Her beauty even? should he not be taught, Ev'n by the price that others set upon it, The value of that jewel he had to guard? Suddenly came her notice and we past, I with our lover to his native Bay. This love is of the brain, the mind, the That makes the sequel pure, tho' some of us Tho' not with such a craziness as needs A cell and keeper), those dark eyes of hers - For such a craziness as Julian's seem'd So sweetly and so modestly she came To greet us, her young hero in her arms! "Kiss him," she said. "You gave me life (again. He, but for you, had never seen it once. Talk of lost hopes and broken heart! his (own Sent such a flame into his face, I knew Some sudden vivid pleasure hit him there. But he was all the more resolved to go, To come and revel for one hour with him And Julian made a solemn feast: I never From column on to column, as in a wood, Sat at a costlier; for all round his hall Not such as here. - an equatorial one, Great garlands swung and blossom'd; and (beneath, Heirlooms, and ancient miracles of Art, Chalice and salver, wines that, Heaven (knows when, Had suck'd the fire of some forgotten sun, Others of glass as costly. -some with gems Ah Why need I tell you all?-suffice to say Wonder'd at some strange light in Julian's (eyes (I told you that he had his golden hour), And such a feast, ill-suited as it seem'd To such a time, to Lionel's loss and his, And that resolved sell-exile from a land He never would revisit, such a feast So rich, so strange, and stranger ev'n than (rich, But rich as for the nuptials of a king. And stranger yet, at one end of the hall Two great funereal curtains, looping down, Parted a little ere they met the floor, Well then - our solemn feast we ate (and drank, And might (bleness Have jested also, but for Julian's eyes, And something weird and wild about it all: What was it? for our lover seldom spoke, Scarce touch'd the meats; but ever and anon A priceless goblet with a priceless wine Arising, show'd he drank beyond his use; And when the feast was near and end, he (said: the wines being of such no "There is a custom in the Orient, friendsI read of it in Persia - when a man Will honour those who feast with him, he (brings And shows them whatsoever he accounts Pausing here a moment, all The guests broke in upon him with meeting (hands And cries about the banquet Beautiful! Who could desire more beauty at a feast?" The lover answer'd, "There is more than (one Here sitting who desires it. Laud me not Before my time, but hear me to the close. This custom steps yet further when the (guest Is loved and honour'd to the uttermost. For after he has shown him gems or gold, He brings and sets before him in rich guise That which is thrice as beautiful as these, The beauty that is dearest to his heart'O my heart's lord, would I could show you,' (he says, 'Ev'n my heart too.' And I propose to-night To show you what is dearest to my heart, And my heart too. But solve me first a doubt. I knew a man, nor many years ago; He had a faithful servant, one who loved His master more than all on earth beside. He falling sick, and seeming close on death, His master would not wait until he died, And fed, and cherish'd him, and saved his (life. I ask you now, should this first master claim His service, whom does it belong to? him Who thrust him out, or him who saved his (life?" This question, so flung down before the (guests, And balanced either way by each, at length When some were doubtful how the law (would hold, Was handed over by consent of all Fair speech was his, and delicate of phrase. And he beginning languidly - his loss Weigh'd on him yet - but warming as he (went, Glanced at the point of law, to pass it by, | Then Julian made a secret sign to me Slow-moving as a wave against the wind, With roses, none so rosy as himself- As for a solemn sacrifice of love So she came in:-I am long in telling it. I never yet beheld a thing so strange, While all the guests in mute amazement And slowly pacing to the middle hall, Hard-heaving, and her eyes upon her feet, But him she carried, him nor lights nor feast About him, look'd, as he is like to prove, "My guests," said Julian: „you are hon- Ev'n to the uttermost : in her behold Of all my treasures the most beautiful, And then some other question'd if she came Another, if the boy were hers: but she To all their queries answer'd not a word, Which made the amazement more, till one (of them Said, shuddering, Her spectre!" But his Replied, in half a whisper,,,Not at least But Julian, sitting by her, answer'd all: So bound to me by common love and loss What! shall I bind him more? in his behalf, Not only showing? and he himself pro- That my rich gift is wholly mine to give. "Now all be dumb, and promise all of you Not to break in on what I say by word Or whisper, while I show you all my heart." And then began the story of his love As here to-day, but not so wordilyThe passionate moment would not suffer (that Past thro' his visions to the burial; then ce Down to this last strange hour in his own (hall; And then rose up, and with him all his Once more as by enchantment; all but he, Take my free gift, my cousin, for your (wife, And were it only for the giver's sake, Lest there be none left here to bring her I leave this land for ever." Here he ceased. Then taking his dear lady by one hand, Rush'd each at each with a cry, that rather For some new death than for a life renew'd; To their charm'd circle, and, half-killing With kisses, round him closed and claspt But Lionel, when at last he freed himself So frighted our good friend, that turning And saying,,,It is over: let us go" There were our horses ready at the doors- He past for ever from his native land; We bade them no farewell, but mounting And I with him, my Julian, back to mine. (these WAGES. GLORY of warrior, glory of orator, glory of song,, Paid with a voice flying by to be lost on an endless sea The wages of sin is death: if the wages of Virtue be dust, Would she have heart to endure for the life of the worm and the fly? To rest in a golden grove, or to bask in a- summer sky: Give her the wages of going on, and not to die. THE HIGHER PANTHEISM. THE sun, the moon, the stars, the seas, the hills and the plains Is not the Vision he? tho' He be not that which He seems? For all we have power to see is a straight staff bent in a pool; FLOWER in the crannied wall, I pluck you out of the crannies; Hold you here, root and all, in my hand, LITERARY SQUABBLES. And pinch their brethren in the throng, When one small touch of Charity Could lift them nearer God-like state Is perfect stillness when they brawl. IDYLLS OF THE KING. DEDICATION. THESE to His Memory-since he held them (dear, Perchance as finding there unconsciously And indeed He seems to me Scarce other than my own ideal knight, Who reverenced his conscience as his king; Whose glory was, redressing human wrong; Who spake no slander, no, nor listen'd to it; Who loved one only and who clave to her-" Her-over all whose realms to their last isle, Commingled with the gloom of imminent (war, The shadow of His loss drew like eclipse, Darkening the world. We have lost him: he (is gone: We know him now: all narrow jealousies In that fierce light which beats upon a (throne, And blackens every blot: for where is he, A lovelier life, a more unstain'd, than his ? To fruitful strifes and rivalries of peaceSweet nature gilded by the gracious gleam Of letters, dear to Science, dear to Art, Dear to thy land and ours, a Prince indeed, Beyond all titles, and a housebold name, Hereafter, thro' all times, Albert the Good. Break not, O woman's-heart, but still en(dure; Break not, for thou art Royal, but endure, Remembering all the beauty of that star Which shone so close beside Thee, that ye (made One light together, but has past and leaves The Crown a lonely splendour. May all love, His love, unseen but felt, o'ershadow Thee, The love of all Thy sons encompass Thee, The love of all Thy daughters cherish Thee, The love of all Thy people comfort Thee, Till God's love set Thee at his side again! THE COMING OF ARTHUR. LEODOGRAN, the King of Cameliard, Had one fair daughter, and none other child; And she was fairest of all flesh on earth, Guinevere, and in her his one delight. For many a petty king ere Arthur came Ruled in this isle, and ever waging war Each upon other, wasted all the land; And still from time to time the heathen host Swarm'd overseas, and harried what was left. And so there grew great tracts of wilderness, But man was less and less, till Arthur came. Wherein the beast was ever more and more, For first Aurelius lived and fought and died, And after him King Uther fought and died, But either fail'd to make the kingdom one. And after these King Arthur for a space, And thro' the puissance of his Table Round, Their king and head, and made a realm, and Drew all their petty princedoms under him, (reign'd. And thus the land of Cameliard was waste, Thick with wet woods, and many a beast (therein, And none or few to scare or chase the beast; So that wild dog, and wolf and boar and bear Came night and day, and rooted in the fields, And wallow'd in the gardens of the king. And ever and anon the wolf would steal The children and devour, but now and then, Her own brood lost or dead, lent her fierce (teat |