Part 4

“I will bid The seraphim to pray to Him for mates!” Cried Adam, in a fervour that all Heaven Should share the knowledge dazzling. “Yea, let Him Cast down his hosts in slumber and withdraw A woman angel from each winged side, So that they cast away their writhing swords Far from them and rejoice, as we rejoice, To share a life with dearer life than theirs.” They spurred each other on, and laughed to think Of the divine delight when God should hear Their wondrous rede; and then together turned Where Paradise, like a low silver cloud, Fretted the dawn. But now to them there flew Out of the waxing sky a messenger, Who bade them keep their faces to the void And nevermore approach the sinless paths Their innocent feet had trod before they fell. “Wisdom hath spoken, and it is decreed”-- With unimpassioned voice the angel spoke-- “That now ye thieves of wisdom through your span Shall suffer first and bear the eternal fruit Of your unnatural sin. And when the years Have worn and withered you and broke you down, Since Time hath now dominion over you, Then shall you die and turn again to dust From which the Almighty, in too generous mood, Did lift you up. Begone--your way lies there! And know that since the parents’ sin must be On children visited for evermore, Ye shall have seed and bring the race of man Upon this earth to taste the bitter drink That ye have brewed for every human lip.” “But we have much to tell our God!” cried Eve; While he, the servant of Omnipotence, With level tones indifferent, broke to them That never more their Maker should they see. Thereon he spread his wings, and in the light Of the red morning opened, petal-wise, His gorgeous pinions, like a new-born flower All opal tinted. So he flew away, And soon was lost to sight upon the clouds That day had fringed with fire.

A little while The pair stood very silent; then young Eve, Mother of all men, from her wide blue eyes Shaking the tear, that like a diamond hung One moment on her lashes, smiled and set Her arms about our primal father’s neck. “Be of good cheer; we have each other still, My own brave heart!” said she; “and what this death Shall prove, concerning which the angel spake, We know not and we fear not; for ’tis sure That death can never be so strong, or good, Or radiant and enduring and supreme As love, that we have won to light our way And guide us through all deserts and all griefs. And since He will not let us speak to Him, Or tell Him of our treasure, it shall flow For babes and sucklings. With their mother’s milk I’ll teach my little children how to love.”

WHERE MY TREASURE IS

Eternal Mother, when my race is run, Will that I pass beneath the risen sun, Suffer my sight to dim upon some spot That changes not.

Let my last pillow be the land I love With fair infinity of blue above; The roaming shadow of a silver cloud, My only shroud.

A little lark above the morning star, Shall shrill the tidings of my end afar; The muffled music of a lone sheep-bell Shall be my knell.

And where stone heroes trod the Moor of old; Where ancient wolf howled round a granite fold; Hide thou, beneath the heather’s new-born light, My endless night.

TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES

Some long lines of poetry have been rewrapped in this text edition.