第2章

Herislandshere,inSouthernsun,ShallmourntheirKaiulanigone,AndI,inherdearbanyanshade,Lookvainlyformylittlemaid。

ButourScotsislandsfarawayShallglitterwithunwontedday,AndcastforoncetheirtempestsbyTosmileinKaiulani’seye。

Honolulu。

XXXI—TOMOTHERMARYANNE

Toseetheinfinitepityofthisplace,Themangledlimb,thedevastatedface,Theinnocentsufferersmilingattherod—

AfoolweretemptedtodenyhisGod。

Hesees,heshrinks。Butifhegazeagain,Lo,beautyspringingfromthebreastofpain!

Hemarksthesistersonthemournfulshores;

Andevenafoolissilentandadores。

GuestHouse,Kalawao,Molokai。

XXXII—INMEMORIAME。H。

IKNEWasilverheadwasbrightbeyondcompare,Iknewaqueenoftoilwithacrownofsilverhair。

Garlandofvalourandsorrow,ofbeautyandrenown,Life,thathonoursthebrave,crownedherhimselfwiththecrown。

Thebeautiesofyoutharefrail,butthiswasajewelofage。

Life,thatdelightsinthebrave,gaveithimselfforagage。

Fairwasthecrowntobehold,andbeautyitspoorestpart—

Atoncethescarofthewoundandtheorderpinnedontheheart。

Thebeautiesofmanarefrail,andthesilverliesinthedust,Andthequeenthatwecalltomindsleepswiththebraveandthejust;

Sleepswiththewearyatlength;but,honouredandeverfair,Shinesintheeyeofthemindthecrownofthesilverhair。

Honolulu。

XXXIII—TOMYWIFE(AFragment)

LONGmustelapseereyoubeholdagainGreenforestframetheentryofthelane—

Thewildlanewiththebrambleandthebrier,Theyear—oldcart—tracksperfectinthemire,Thewaysidesmoke,perchance,thedwarfishhuts,Andramblers’donkeydrinkingfromtheruts:—

Longereyoutracehowdeviouslyitleads,Backfromman’schimneysandthebleatingmeadsTothewoodlandshadow,tothesylvanhush,Whenbutthebrookletchucklesinthebrush—

BackfromthesunandbustleofthevaleTowherethegreatvoiceofthenightingaleFillsalltheforestlikeasingleroom,Andallthebankssmellofthegoldenbroom;

Sowanderonuntiltheevedescends。

Andbackreturningtoyourfirelitfriends,Youseetherosysun,despoiledoflight,Hung,caughtinthickets,likeaschoolboy’skite。

Herefromtheseatheunfruitfulsunshallrise,Bathethebaredeckandblindtheunshieldedeyes;

TheallottedhoursaloftshallwheelinvainAndintheunpregnantoceanplungeagain。

Assaultofsquallsthatmockthewatchfulguard,Andplucktheburstingcanvasfromtheyard,Andsenselessclamourofthecalm,atnightMustmaryourslumbers。Bytheplunginglight,Inbeetle—haunted,mostunwomanlybowerOfthewild—swervingcabin,hourbyhour……

Schooner’Equator。’

XXXIV—TOMYOLDFAMILIARS

DOyouremember—canwee’erforget?—

How,inthecoiled—perplexitiesofyouth,Inourwildclimate,inourscowlingtown,Wegloomedandshivered,sorrowed,sobbedandfeared?

Thebelchingwinterwind,themissilerain,Therareandwelcomesilenceofthesnows,Thelaggardmorn,thehaggardday,thenight,Thegrimyspellofthenocturnaltown,Doyouremember?—Ah,couldoneforget!

AswhenthefeveredsickthatallnightlongListedthewindintone,andhearatlastTheever—welcomevoiceofchanticleerSinginthebitterhourbeforethedawn,—

Withsuddenardour,thesedesiretheday:

Sosanginthegloomofyouththebirdofhope;

Sowe,exulting,hearkenedanddesired。

Forlo!asinthepalaceporchoflifeWehuddledwithchimeras,fromwithin—

Howsweettohear!—themusicswelledandfell,AndthroughthebreachoftherevolvingdoorsWhatdreamsofsplendourblindedusandfled!

Ihavesincethencontendedandrejoiced;

AmidthegloriesofthehouseoflifeProfoundlyentered,andtheshrinebeheld:

YetwhenthelampfrommyexpiringeyesShalldwindleandrecede,thevoiceofloveFallinsignificantonmyclosingears,WhatsoundshallcomebuttheoldcryofthewindInourinclementcity?whatreturnButtheimageoftheemptinessofyouth,FilledwiththesoundoffootstepsandthatvoiceOfdiscontentandraptureanddespair?

So,asindarkness,fromthemagiclamp,ThemomentarypicturesgleamandfadeAndperish,andthenightresurges—theseShallIremember,andthenallforget。

Apemama。

XXXV

THEtropicsvanish,andmeseemsthatI,FromHalkerside,fromtopmostAllermuir,OrsteepCaerketton,dreaminggazeagain。

Farsetinfieldsandwoods,thetownIseeSpringgallantfromtheshallowsofhersmoke,Cragged,spired,andturreted,hervirginfortBeflagged。About,onseaward—droopinghills,Newfoldsofcityglitter。Last,theForthWheelsamplewaterssetwithsacredisles,AndpopulousFifesmokeswithascoreoftowns。

There,onthesunnyfrontageofahill,Hardbythehouseofkings,reposethedead,Mydead,thereadyandthestrongofword。

Theirworks,thesalt—encrusted,stillsurvive;

Theseabombardstheirfoundedtowers;thenightThrillspiercedwiththeirstronglamps。Theartificers,Oneafterone,hereinthisgratedcell,Wheretherainerases,andtherustconsumes,Felluponlastingsilence。ContinentsAndcontinentaloceansintervene;

Aseauncharted,onalamplessisle,EnvironsandconfinestheirwanderingchildInvain。ThevoiceofgenerationsdeadSummonsme,sittingdistant,toarise,Mynumerousfootstepsnimblytoretrace,And,allmutationover,stretchmedownInthatdenotedcityofthedead。

Apemama。

XXXVI—TOS。C。

IHEARDthepulseofthebesiegingseaThrobfarawayallnight。IheardthewindFlycryingandconvulsetumultuouspalms。

Iroseandstrolled。Theislewasallbrightsand,Andflailingfansandshadowsofthepalm;

Theheavenallmoonandwindandtheblindvault;

Thekeenestplanetslain,forVenusslept。

Theking,myneighbour,withhishostofwives,Sleptintheprecinctofthepalisade;

Wheresingle,inthewind,underthemoon,Amongtheslumberingcabins,blazedafire,Solestreet—lampandtheonlysentinel。

Tootherlandsandnightsmyfancyturned—

ToLondonfirst,andchieflytoyourhouse,Themany—pillaredandthewell—beloved。

Thereyearningfancylighted;thereagainIntheupperroomIlay,andheardfaroffTheunsleepingcitymurmurlikeashell;

ThemuffledtrampoftheMuseumguardOncemorewentbyme;IbeheldagainLampsvainlybrightenthedispeopledstreet;

AgainIlongedforthereturningmorn,Theawakingtraffic,thebestirringbirds,TheconsentaneoustrilloftinysongThatweavesroundmonumentalcornicesApassingcharmofbeauty。Mostofall,ForyourlightfootIwearied,andyourknockThatwasthegladreveilleofmyday。

Lo,now,whentoyourtaskinthegreathouseAtmorningthroughtheporticoyoupass,Onemomentglance,wherebythepillaredwallFar—voyagingislandgods,begrimedwithsmoke,Sitnowunworshipped,therudemonumentOffaithsforgotandracesundivined:

Sitnowdisconsolate,rememberingwellThepriest,thevictim,andthesongfulcrowd,Theblazeofthebluenoon,andthathugevoice,Incessant,ofthebreakersontheshore。

Asfarasthesefromtheirancestralshrine,Sofar,soforeign,yourdividedfriendsWander,estrangedinbody,notinmind。

Apemama。

XXXVII—THEHOUSEOFTEMBINOKA

[AtmydeparturefromtheislandofApemama,forwhichyouwilllookinvaininmostatlases,theKingandIagreed,sincewebothsetuptobeinthepoeticalway,thatweshouldcelebrateourseparationinverse。WhetherornothisMajestyhasbeentruetohisbargain,thelaggardpostsofthePacificmayperhapsinformmeinsixmonths,perhapsnotbeforeayear。Thefollowinglinesrepresentmypartofthecontract,anditishoped,bytheirpicturesofstrangemanners,theymayentertainacivilisedaudience。Nothingthroughouthasbeeninventedorexaggerated;theladyhereinreferredtoastheauthor’smusehasconfinedherselftostringingintorhymefactsorlegendsthatIsaworheardduringtwomonths’residenceupontheisland。—R。L。S。]

ENVOI

Letus,whopartlikebrothers,partlikebards;

Andyouinyourtongueandmeasure,Iinmine,Ournowdivisiondulysolemnise。

Unlikethestrains,andyetthethemeisone:

Thestrainsunlike,andhowunliketheirfate!

Youtotheblindingpalace—yardshallcallTheprefectofthesingers,andtohim,Listeningdevout,yourvaledictoryverseDeliver;he,hisattributefulfilled,Totheislandchorushandyourmeasureson,Wednowwithharmony:sothem,atlast,Nightafternight,intheopenhallofdance,Shallthirtymattedmen,totheclappedhand,Intoneandbrayandbark。Unfortunate!

Paperandprintaloneshallhonourmine。

THESONG

LETnowtheKinghiseararouseAndtosstheboskyringletsfromhisbrows,Thewhile,ourbondtoimplement,Mymuserelatesandpraiseshisdescent。

I

Brideoftheshark,hervalourfirstIsingWhoontheloneseasquickenedofaKing。

She,fromtheshoreandpunyhomesofmen,Beyondtheclimber’ssea—discerningken,Swam,ledbyomens;anddevoidoffear,Beheldhermonstrousparamourdrawnear。

Shegazed;allroundhertotheheavenlypale,Thesimpleseawasvoidofisleorsail—

Soleoverheadtheunsparingsunwasreared—

Whenthedeepbubbledandthebruteappeared。

Butshe,secureinthedecreesoffate,Madestrongherbosomandreceivedthemate,And,mendeclare,fromthatmarineembraceConceivedthevirtuesofastrongerrace。

II

HersterndescendantnextIpraise,Survivorofathousandfrays:—

Inthehalloftongueswhoruledthethrong;

Ledandwastrustedbythestrong;

Andwhenspearswereinthewood,Likeatowerofvantagestood:—

Whom,nottillseventyyearshadsped,Unscarredofbreast,erectofhead,Stilllightofstep,stillbrightoflook,Thehunter,Death,hadovertook。

III

Hissons,thebrotherstwain,Ising,OfwhomtheelderreignedaKing。

NoChilderiche,yetmuchdeclinedFromhisrudesire’simperiousmind,Untilhisdaycamewhenhedied,Helived,hereigned,heversified。

ButchieflyhimIcelebrateThatwasthepillarofthestate,Ruled,wiseofwordandboldofmien,Thepeacefulandthewarlikescene;

Andplayedaliketheleader’spartInlawfulandunlawfulart。

HissoldierswithemboldenedearsHeardhimlaughamongthespears。

HecoulddeducefromagetoageThewebofislandparentage;

Bestlaytherhyme,bestleadthedance,Foranyfestalcircumstance:

Andfitlyfashionoarandboat,Apalaceoranarmourcoat。

NonemoreavailedthanhetoraiseThestrong,suffumigatingblaze,Orknotthewizardleaf:nonemore,UpontheuntroddenwindwardshoreOftheisle,besidethebeatingmain,Tocurethesicklyandconstrain,Withmutteredwordsandwavingrods,Thegibberingandthewhistlinggods。

Buthe,thoughthuswithhandandheadHeruled,commanded,charmed,andled,AndthusinvirtueandinmightToweredtocontemporarysight—

Stillinfraternalfaithandlove,Remainedbelowtoreachabove,Gaveandobeyedtheaptcommand,Pilotandvassaloftheland。

IV

MyTembinok’frommenliketheseInheritedhispalaces,Hisrighttorule,hispowersofmind,Hiscocoa—islandssea—enshrined。

Sternbeareroftheswordandwhip,Amasterpassedinmastership,Helearned,withoutthespurofneed,Towrite,tocipher,andtoread;

FromallthattouchonhisproneshoreAugmentshistreasuryoflore,EagerinageaserstinyouthTocatchanart,tolearnatruth,TopaintontheinternalpageAclearerpictureoftheage。

Hisage,yousay?Butah,notso!

Inhisloneisleoflongago,AroyalLadyofShalott,Sea—sundered,hebeholdsitnot;

Heonlyhearsitfaraway。

ThestressofequatorialdayHesuffers;herecordsthewhileThevapidannalsoftheisle;

Slavesbringhimpraiseofhisrenown,Orcackleofthepalm—treetown;

TherarershipandtherareboatHemarks;andonlyhearsremote,Wherethronesandfortunesriseandreel,Thethunderoftheturningwheel。

V

FortheunexpectedtearsheshedAtmydeparting,mayhislionheadNotwhiten,hisrevolvingyearsNofreshoccasionministeroftears;

Atbookorcards,atworkorsport,HimmaythebreezeacrossthepalacecourtForeverfan;andswellingnearForevertheloudsongdiverthisear。

Schooner’Equator,’atSea。

XXXVIII—THEWOODMAN

INallthegrove,norstreamnorbirdNoraughtbesidemyblowswasheard,Andthewoodsworetheirnoondaydress—

Thegloryoftheirsilentness。

Fromtheislandsummittotheseas,Treesmounted,andtreesdrooped,andtreesGropedupwardinthegaps。ThegreenInarbouredtalusandravineByfathoms。BythemultitudeTheruggedcolumnsofthewoodAndbunchesofthebranchesstood;

Thickasamob,deepasasea,Andsilentaseternity。

Withloweredaxe,withbackwardhead,Latefromthisscenemylabourerfled,Andwitharavelledtaletotell,Returned。Somedenizenofhell,Deadmanordisinvestedgod,Hadclosebehindhimpeeredandtrod,Andtriumphedwhenheturnedtoflee。

Howdifferentfellthelineswithme!

WhoseeyeexploredthedimarcadeImpatientoftheuncomingshade—

Shyelf,ordryadpaleandcold,Ormysticlingererfromofold:

Vainly。Thefairandstatelythings,Impassiveasdepartedkings,Allstillinthewood’sstillnessstood,Anddumb。TherootedmultitudeNoddedandbrooded,bloomedanddreamed,Unmeaning,undivined。ItseemedNootherart,nohope,theyknew,Thanclutchtheearthandseektheblue。

’MidvegetablekingandpriestAndstripling,I(theonlybeast)

Wasatthebeast’swork,killing;hewedThestubbornrootsacross,bestrewedTheglebewiththedislustredleaves,Andbadethesaplingsfallinsheaves;

BurstingacrossthetangledmathAruinthatIcalledapath,AGolgothathat,lateron,Whenrainshadwatered,andsunsshone,Andseedsenrichedtheplace,shouldbearAndbecalledgarden。Hereandthere,IspiedandpluckedbythegreenhairAfoemoreresolutetolive,Thetoothedandkillingsensitive。

He,semi—conscious,fledtheattack;

Heshrankandtuckedhisbranchesback;

Andstrainingbyhisanchor—strand,Capturedandscratchedtherootinghand。

Isawhimcrouch,Ifelthimbite;

Andstraightmyeyesweretouchedwithsight。

Isawthewoodforwhatitwas:

Thelostandthevictoriouscause,Thedeadlybattlepitchedinline,Sawsilentweaponscrossandshine:

Silentdefeat,silentassault,Abattleandaburialvault。

ThickroundmeintheteemingmudBrierandfernstrovetotheblood:

ThehookedlianainhisginNoosedhisreluctantneighboursin:

Therethegreenmurdererthroveandspread,Uponhissmotheringvictimsfed,Andwantonedonhisclimbingcoil。

ContendingrootsfoughtforthesoilLikefrighteneddemons:withdespairCompetingbranchespushedforair。

GreenconquerorsfromoverheadBestrodethebodiesoftheirdead:

TheCaesarsofthesylvanfield,Unusedtofail,foredoomedtoyield:

Forinthegroinsofbranches,lo!

Thecancersoftheorchidgrow。

SilentasinthelistedringTwocharteredwrestlersstrainandcling;

DumbasbyyellowHooghly’ssideThesuffocatingcaptivesdied;

SohushedthewoodlandwarfaregoesUnceasing;andthesilentfoesGrappleandsmother,strainandclaspWithoutacry,withoutagasp。

Herealsosoundthyfans,OGod,Heretoothybannersmoveabroad:

Forestandcity,seaandshore,Andthewholeearth,thythreshing—floor!

Thedrumsofwar,thedrumsofpeace,Rollthroughourcitieswithoutcease,AndalltheironhallsoflifeRingwiththeunremittingstrife。

Thecommonlotwescarceperceive。

Crowdsperish,wenormarknorgrieve:

Thebuglecalls—wemournafew!

Whatcorporal’sguardatWaterloo?

WhatscantyhundredsmoreorlessIntheman—devouringWilderness?

WhathandfulbledonDelhiridge?

—See,rather,London,onthybridgeThepalebattalionstrampleby,Resolvedtoslay,resignedtodie。

Count,rather,allthemaimedanddeadIntheunbrotherlywarofbread。

See,rather,undersultrierskiesWhatvegetableLondonsrise,Andteem,andsufferwithoutsound:

Orinyourtranquilgardenground,Contented,inthefallinggloom,Saunterandseetherosesbloom。

Thatthesemightlive,whatthousandsdied!

Alldaythecruelhoewasplied;

Theambulancebarrowrolledallday;

Yourwife,thetender,kind,andgay,Donnedherlonggauntlets,caughtthespud,Andbathedinvegetableblood;

Andthelongmassacrenowatend,See!wherethelazycoilsascend,See,wherethebonfiresputtersredAteven,fortheinnocentdead。

Whyprateofpeace?when,warriorsall,Weclankinharnessintohall,AndeverbareupontheboardLiesthenecessarysword。

Inthegreenfieldorquietstreet,Besiegedwesleep,beleagueredeat;

Labourbydayandwakeo’nights,Inwarwithrivalappetites。

Theroseonrosesfeeds;thelarkOnlarks。ThesedentaryclerkAllmorningwithadiligentpenMurdersthebabesofothermen;

Andlikethebeastsofwoodandpark,Protectshiswhelps,defendshisden。

UnshamedthenarrowaimIhold;

Ifeedmysheep,patrolmyfold;

Breathewaronwolvesandrivalflocks,ApiousoutlawontherocksOfGodandmorning;andwhentimeShallbow,orrivalsbreakme,climbWherenoundubbedciviliandares,Inmywarharness,theloudstairsOfhonour;andmyconquerorHailmeawarriorfalleninwar。

Vailima。

XXXIX—TROPICRAIN

ASthesinglepangoftheblow,whenthemetalismingledwell,Ringsandlivesandresoundsinalltheboundsofthebell,Sothethunderabovespokewithasingletongue,Sointheheartofthemountainthesoundofitrumbledandclung。

Suddenthethunderwasdrowned—quenchedwasthelevinlight—

Andtheangel—spiritofrainlaughedoutloudinthenight。

Loudasthemaddenedriverravesintheclovenglen,Angelofrain!youlaughedandleapedontheroofsofmen;

Andthesleeperssprangintheirbeds,andjoyedandfearedasyoufell。

Youstruck,andmycabinquailed;theroofofitroaredlikeabell。

Youspoke,andatoncethemountainshoutedandshookwithbrooks。

Youceased,andthedayreturned,rosy,withvirginlooks。

Andmethoughtthatbeautyandterrorareonlyone,nottwo;

Andtheworldhasroomforlove,anddeath,andthunder,anddew;

Andallthesinewsofhellslumberinsummerair;

AndthefaceofGodisarock,butthefaceoftherockisfair。

Beneficentstreamsoftearsflowatthefingerofpain;

Andoutofthecloudthatsmites,beneficentriversofrain。

Vailima。

XL—ANENDOFTRAVEL

LETnowyoursoulinthissubstantialworldSomeanchorstrike。Beherethebodymoored;—

ThisspectacleimmutablyfromnowThepictureinyoureye;andwhentimestrikes,Andthegreenscenegoesontheinstantblind—

Theultimatehelpers,whereyourhorseto—dayConveyedyoudreaming,bearyourbodydead。

VailimaXLI

WEuncommiseratepassintothenightFromtheloudbanquet,anddepartingleaveAtremorinmen’smemories,faintandsweetAndfrailasmusic。Featuresofourface,Thetonesofthevoice,thetouchofthelovedhand,Perishandvanish,onebyone,fromearth:

Meanwhile,inthehallofsong,themultitudeApplaudsthenewperformer。One,perchance,Oneultimatesurvivorlingerson,Andsmiles,andtohisancientheartrecallsThelongforgotten。Erethemorrowdie,Hetoo,returning,throughthecurtaincomes,Andthenewageforgetsusandgoeson。

XLII

SINGmeasongofaladthatisgone,Say,couldthatladbeI?

MerryofsoulhesailedonadayOvertheseatoSkye。

Mullwasastern,Rumontheport,Eiggonthestarboardbow;

Gloryofyouthglowedinhissoul:

Whereisthatglorynow?

Singmeasongofaladthatisgone,Say,couldthatladbeI?

MerryofsoulhesailedonadayOvertheseatoSkye。

Givemeagainallthatwasthere,Givemethesunthatshone!

Givemetheeyes,givemethesoul,Givemetheladthat’sgone!

Singmeasongofaladthatisgone,Say,couldthatladbeI?

MerryofsoulhesailedonadayOvertheseatoSkye。

Billowandbreeze,islandsandseas,Mountainsofrainandsun,Allthatwasgood,allthatwasfair,Allthatwasmeisgone。

XLIII—TOS。R。CROCKETT(OnreceivingaDedication)

BLOWSthewindto—day,andthesunandtherainareflying,Blowsthewindonthemoorsto—dayandnow,Whereaboutthegravesofthemartyrsthewhaupsarecrying,Myheartremembershow!

Greyrecumbenttombsofthedeadindesertplaces,Standingstonesonthevacantwine—redmoor,Hillsofsheep,andthehowesofthesilentvanishedraces,Andwinds,austereandpure:

Beitgrantedmetobeholdyouagainindying,Hillsofhome!andtohearagainthecall;

Hearaboutthegravesofthemartyrsthepeeweescrying,Andhearnomoreatall。

Vailima。

XLIV—EVENSONG

THEembersofthedayareredBeyondthemurkyhill。

Thekitchensmokes:thebedInthedarklinghouseisspread:

Thegreatskydarkensoverhead,Andthegreatwoodsareshrill。

SofarhaveIbeenled,Lord,byThywill:

SofarIhavefollowed,Lord,andwonderedstill。

ThebreezefromtheenbalmedlandBlowssuddentowardtheshore,Andclapsmycottagedoor。

Ihearthesignal,Lord—Iunderstand。

ThenightatThycommandComes。Iwilleatandsleepandwillnotquestionmore。

Vailima。