624 II. THE REVELATION An idle poet, here and there, Looks round him; but, for all the rest, Is duller than a witling's jest. ΙΟ The blessed damozel1 leaned out And the stars in her hair were seven. Her robe, ungirt from clasp to hem, For service meetly worn; Herseemed she scarce had been a day The wonder was not yet quite gone (To one, it is ten years of years. It was the rampart of God's house 1 lady 2 It seemed to her, 626 - nay, peace! you cannot tell, What is this, between Hell and Heaven?) "Oh the waxen knave was plump to-day, Sister Helen; 21 How like dead folk he has dropped away!" "Nay now, of the dead what can you say, 25 Little brother?" (O Mother, Mary Mother, What of the dead, between Hell and Heaven?) "See, see, the sunken pile of wood, Sister Helen, Shines through the thinned wax red as blood!" "Nay now, when looked you yet on blood, 32 Little brother?" (O Mother, Mary Mother, How pale she is, between Hell and Heaven!) "Now close your eyes, for they're sick and sore, (O Mother, Mary Mother, What rest to-night between Hell and Heaven?) "Here high up in the balcony, Sister Helen, The moon flies face to face with me. "Aye, look and say whatever you see, Little brother."47 (O Mother, Mary Mother, What sight to-night, between Hell and Heaven?) "Outside it's merry in the wind's wake, "I hear a horse-tread, and I see, Sister Helen, Three horsemen that ride terribly." "Little brother, whence come the three, Little brother?" (O Mother, Mary Mother, Whence should they come, between Hell and 63. Heaven?) "They come by the hill-verge from Boyne Bar, Sister Helen, And one draws nigh, but two are afar." "Look, look, do you know them who they are, Little brother?"68 (O Mother, Mary Mother, Who should they be, between Hell and Heaven?) "Oh, it's Keith of Eastholm rides so fast, Sister Helen, For I know the white mane on the blast." "The hour has come, has come at last, Little brother!" (O Mother, Mary Mother, Her hour at last, between Hell and Heaven!) 77 "He has made a sign and called Halloo ! Sister Helen, And he says that he would speak with you." "Oh tell him I fear the frozen dew, Little brother." 82 (O Mother, Mary Mother, Why laughs she thus, between Hell and Heaven?) "The wind is loud, but I hear him cry, Little brother."89 (O Mother, Mary Mother, And they and we, between Hell and Heaven!) "Three days ago, on his marriage-morn, Sister Helen, He sickened, and lies since then forlorn." "For bridegroom's side is the bride a thorn, Little brother?" (O Mother, Mary Mother, Cold bridal cheer, between Hell and Heaven!) 98 "But he says, till you take back your ban, Sister Helen, His soul would pass, yet never can.” "Nay then, shall I slay a living man, Little brother?" (O Mother, Mary Mother, A living soul, between Hell and Heaven!) 119 "But he calls forever on your name, Sister Helen, And says that he melts before a flame." "My heart for his pleasure fared the same, Little brother." (O Mother, Mary Mother, Fire at the heart, between Hell and Heaven!) 126 "Here's Keith of Westholm riding fast, Sister Helen, For I know the white plume on the blast." "The hour, the sweet hour I forecast, 130 Little brother!" (O Mother, Mary Mother, Is the hour sweet, between Hell and Heaven?) "He stops to speak, and he stills his horse, Sister Helen; But his words are drowned in the wind's course." 136 "Nay hear, nay hear, you must hear perforce, Little brother!" (O Mother, Mary Mother, What word now heard, between Hell and Heaven ?) "Oh, he says that Keith of Ewern's cry, Is ever to see you ere he die." 144 Little brother!" (0 Mother, Mary Mother, The soul's one sight, between Hell and Heaven!) "He sends a ring and a broken coin, Sister Helen, And bids you mind the banks of Boyne.' "What else he broke will he ever join, 151 Little brother?" (O Mother, Mary Mother, No, never joined, between Hell and Heaven!) "He yields you these and craves full fain, Sister Helen, You pardon him in his mortal pain." "What else he took will he give again, Little brother?" (0 Mother, Mary Mother, Not twice to give, between Hell and Heaven!) 161 628 "He calls your name in an agony, Sister Helen, That even dead Love must weep to see." "Hate, born of Love, is blind as he, 165 Little brother!" "Oh it's Keith of Keith now that rides fast, For I know the white hair on the blast." "He looks at me and he tries to speak, But oh! his voice is sad and weak!" (O Mother, Mary Mother, Is this the end, between Hell and Heaven?) 182 "Oh his son still cries, if you forgive, Sister Helen, The body dies, but the soul shall live." "Fire shall forgive me as I forgive, Little brother!" (O Mother, Mary Mother, As she forgives, between Hell and Heaven!) 189 "Oh he prays you, as his heart would rive, Sister Helen, To save his dear son's soul alive." "Fire cannot slay it, it shall thrive, Little brother!" "He cries to you, kneeling in the road, 196 200 Little brother." (O Mother, Mary Mother, The way is long, between Hell and Heaven!) "A lady's here, by a dark steed brought, So darkly clad, I saw her not.” 207 Little brother!" (O Mother, Mary Mother, What more to see, between Hell and Heaven!) "Her clasped hands stretch from her bending head, Sister Helen; 226 With the loud wind's wail her sobs are wed." "What wedding-strains hath her bridal-bed, Little brother?" (O Mother, Mary Mother, What strain but death's between Hell and Heaven?) Little brother!" (O Mother, Mary Mother, Woe-withered gold, between Hell and Heaven!) |