THESUPPLANTER
ATALE
I
Hebendshistravel—tarnishedfeetTowhereshewastesinclay:
Fromday—dawnuntilevehefaresAlongthewintryway;
Fromday—dawnuntileverepairsUntohermoundtopray。
II
\"ArethesethegravestoneshapesthatmeetMyforward—strainingview?
Orformsthatcrossawindow—blindIncircle,knot,andqueue:
Gayforms,thatcrossandwhirlandwindTomusicthrobbingthrough?\"
III
\"TheKeeperoftheFieldofTombsDwellsbyitsgateway—pier;
HecelebrateswithfeastanddanceHisdaughter\'stwentiethyear:
HecelebrateswithwineofFranceThebirthdayofhisdear。\"
IV
\"Thegatesareshutwheneveningglooms:
Laydownyourwreath,sadwight;
To—morrowisatimemorefitForplacingflowersaright:
Themorningisthetimeforit;
Come,wakewithusto—night!\"
V
Hegroundshiswreath,andentersin,Andsits,andsharestheircheer。
\"Ifainwouldfootwithyou,youngman,Beforeallothershere;
IfainwouldfootitforaspanWithsuchacavalier!\"
VI
Shecoaxes,clasps,norfailstowinHisfirst—unwillinghand:
Themerrymusicstrikesitsstaves,Thedancersquicklyband;
AndwiththedamselofthegravesHedulytakeshisstand。
VII
\"Youdancedivinely,strangerswain,SuchgraceI\'veneverknown。
Olongerstay!BreathenotadieuAndleavemeherealone!
Olongerstay:toherbetrueWhoseheartisallyourown!\"
VIII
\"Imarkaphantomthroughthepane,Thatbeckonsindespair,Itsmouthalldrawnwithheavymoan
HertowhomonceIsware!\"
\"Nay;\'tisthelatelycarvenstoneOfsomestrangegirllaidthere!\"
IX
\"IseewhiteflowersuponthefloorBetroddentoaclot;
Mywreathwerethey?\"—\"Nay;lovememuch,Swearyou\'llforgetmenot!
\'Twasbutawreath!FullmanysuchArebroughthereandforgot。\"
***
X
Thewatchesofthenightgrowhoar,Heriseserethesun;
\"NowcouldIkilltheehere!\"hesays,\"ForwinningmefromoneWhoeverinherlivingdaysWaspureascloisterednun!\"
XI
Shecowers,andhetakeshistrackAfarformanyamile,ForevermoretobeapartFromherwhocouldbeguileHissensesbyherburningheart,Andwinhisloveawhile。
XII
Ayear:andheistravellingbackToherwhowastesinclay;
Fromday—dawnuntilevehefaresAlongthewintryway,Fromday—dawnuntileverepairsUntohermoundtopray。
XIII
AndtherehesetshimtofulfilHisfrustratefirstintent:
Andlayuponherbed,atlast,Theofferingearliermeant:
When,onhisstoopingfigure,ghastAndhaggardeyesarebent。
XIV
\"OsurelyforalittlewhileYoucanbekindtome!
Fordoyouloveher,doyouhate,Sheknowsnot—caresnotshe:
OnlythelivingfeeltheweightOflovelessmisery!
XV
\"Iownmysin;I\'vepaiditscost,Beingoutcast,shamed,andbare:
Igiveyoudailymywholeheart,Yourbabemytendercare,Ipouryouprayers;andayetopartIsmorethanIcanbear!\"
XVI
Heturns—unpitying,passion—tossed;
\"Iknowyounot!\"hecries,\"Norknowyourchild。Iknewthismaid,Butshe\'sinParadise!\"
AndswiftlyinthewintershadeHebreaksfromherandflies。
SAPPHICFRAGMENT
\"Thoushaltbe—Nothing。\"—OMARKHAYYAM。
\"Tombless,withnoremembrance。\"—W。SHAKESPEARE。
Deadshaltthoulie;andnoughtBetoldoftheeorthought,ForthouhastpluckednotoftheMuses\'tree:
AndeveninHades\'hallsAmidstthyfellow—thrallsNofriendlyshadethyshadeshallcompany!
CATULLUS:XXXI
(AfterpassingSirmione,April1887。)
Sirmio,thoudearestdearofstrandsThatNeptunestrokesinlakeandsea,WithwhathighjoyfromstrangerlandsDoththyoldfriendsetfootonthee!
Yea,barelyseemsittruetomeThatnoBithyniaholdsmenow,ButcalmlyandassuringlyAroundmestretchesthomelyThou。
IsthereascenemoresweetthanwhenOurclingingcaresareundercast,And,wornbyalienmoilsandmen,Thelonguntroddensillrepassed,Wepressthepinedforcouchatlast,Andfindafullrepaymentthere?
Thenhail,sweetSirmio;thouthatwast,Andart,mineownunrivalledFair!
AFTERSCHILLER
Knight,atruesister—loveThisheartretains;
Askmenootherlove,Thatwayliepains!
CalmmustIviewtheecome,Calmseetheego;
Tale—tellingtearsofthineImustnotknow!