And I listen until I hear From fathomless depths of the sky Malediction! malediction ! May the lightnings of heaven fall As the day of fear and affliction, As the day of anguish and ire, With the burning and fuel of fire, In the Valley of the Sea! From the "DIVINE TRAGEDY," by H. W. Longfellow. 332 : THE DAUGHTER OF HERODIAS. OTHER! I bring thy gift; Take from my hand the dreaded boon, I pray! Hath left upon my soul its living trace, Never to pass away, Since from these lips one word of idle breath Blanched that calm face; O mother, this is death! : What is it that I see From all the pure and settled features gleaming? Reproach! reproach! My dreams are strange and wild; Mother! hadst thou no pity on thy child? Lo! a celestial smile seems softly beaming On the hushed lips, my mother, canst thou brook Alas! at yestermorn My heart was light, and to the viol's sound I gayly danced, while crowned with summer flowers, And swiftly by me sped the flying hours, And all was joy around: Not death! O mother, could I say thee nay? Take it my heart is sad, And the pure forehead hath an icy chill; I dare not touch it, for avenging Heaven Hath shuddering visions to my fancy given, And the pale face appalls me, cold and still, With the closed lips. O, tell me, could I know That the pale features of the dead were so ? I may not turn away From the charmed face; and I have heard his name Even as a prophet by his people spoken. And that high brow, in death, bears seal and token Of one whose words were flame: O holy teacher! couldst thou rise and live, Away with lute and harp, With the glad heart forever, and the dance! Never again shall tabret sound for me! O fearful mother! I have brought to thee The silent dead, with his rebuking glance, And the crushed heart of one to whom are given Lucy Hooper. 334 |