Chapter 3

_Enter_ ESTRILD _and_ SABRINA.

SABRINA.

But will my father come not? not today, Mother?

ESTRILD.

God help thee! child, I cannot say. Why this of all days yet in summer’s sight?

SABRINA.

My birthday!

ESTRILD.

That should bring him—if it may.

SABRINA.

May should be must: he must not be away. His faith was pledged to me as king and knight.

ESTRILD.

Small fear he should not keep it—if he might.

SABRINA.

Might! and a king’s might his? do kings bear sway For nought, that aught should keep him hence till night? Why didst thou bid God help me when I sought To know but of his coming?

ESTRILD.

Even for nought But laughter even to think how strait a bound Shuts in the measure of thy sight and thought Who seest not why thy sire hath heed of aught Save thee and me—nor wherefore men stand crowned And girt about with empire.

SABRINA.

Have they found Such joy therein as meaner things have wrought? Sing me the song that ripples round and round.

ESTRILD (_sings_):—

Had I wist, quoth spring to the swallow, That earth could forget me, kissed By summer, and lured to follow Down ways that I know not, I, My heart should have waxed not high: Mid March would have seen me die, Had I wist.

Had I wist, O spring, said the swallow, That hope was a sunlit mist And the faint light heart of it hollow, Thy woods had not heard me sing, Thy winds had not known my wing; It had faltered ere thine did, spring, Had I wist.

SABRINA.

That song is hardly even as wise as I— Nay, very foolishness it is. To die In March before its life were well on wing, Before its time and kindly season—why Should spring be sad—before the swallows fly— Enough to dream of such a wintry thing? Such foolish words were more unmeet for spring Than snow for summer when his heart is high; And why should words be foolish when they sing? The song-birds are not.

ESTRILD.

Dost thou understand, Child, what the birds are singing?

SABRINA.

All the land Knows that: the water tells it to the rushes Aloud, and lower and softlier to the sand: The flower-fays, lip to lip and hand in hand, Laugh and repeat it all till darkness hushes Their singing with a word that falls and crushes All song to silence down the river-strand And where the hawthorns hearken for the thrushes. And all the secret sense is sweet and wise That sings through all their singing, and replies When we would know if heaven be gay or grey And would not open all too soon our eyes To look perchance on no such happy skies— As sleep brings close and waking blows away.

ESTRILD.

What gives thy fancy faith enough to say This?

SABRINA.

Why, meseems the sun would hardly rise Else, nor the world be half so glad of day.

ESTRILD.

Why didst thou crave of me that song, Sabrina?

SABRINA.

Because, methought, though one were king or queen And had the world to play with, if one missed What most were good to have, such joy, I ween, Were woful as a song with sobs between And well might wail for ever, ‘Had I wist!’ And might my father do but as he list, And make this day what other days have been, I should not shut tonight mine eyes unkissed.

ESTRILD.

I wis thou wouldst not.

SABRINA.

Then I would he were No king at all, and save his golden hair Wore on his gracious head no golden crown. Must he be king for ever?

ESTRILD.

Not if prayer Could lift from off his heart that crown of care And draw him toward us as with music down.

SABRINA.

Not so, but upward to us. He would but frown To hear thee talk as though the woodlands there Were built no lordlier than the wide-walled town. Thou knowest, when I desire of him to see What manner of crown that wreath of towers may be That makes its proud head shine like older Troy’s, His brows are bent even while he laughs on me And bids me think no more thereon than he, For flowers are serious things, but towers are toys.

ESTRILD.

Ay, child; his heart was less care’s throne than joy’s, Power’s less than love’s friend ever: and with thee His mood that plays is blither than a boy’s.

SABRINA.

I would the boy would give the maid her will.

ESTRILD.

Has not thine heart as mine has here its fill?

SABRINA.

So have our hearts while sleeping—till they wake.

ESTRILD.

Too soon is this for waking: sleep thou still.

SABRINA.

Bid then the dawn sleep, and the world lie chill.

ESTRILD.

This nest is warm for one small wood-dove’s sake.

SABRINA.

And warm the world that feels the sundawn break.

ESTRILD.

But hath my fledgeling cushat here slept ill?

SABRINA.

No plaint is this, but pleading, that I make.

ESTRILD.

Plead not against thine own glad life: the plea Were like a wrangling babe’s that fain would be Free from the help its hardy heart contemns, Free from the hand that guides and guards it, free To take its way and sprawl and stumble. See! Have we not here enough of diadems Hung high round portals pillared smooth with stems More fair than marble?

SABRINA.

This is but the Ley: I fain would look upon the lordlier Thames.

ESTRILD.

A very water-bird thou art: the river So draws thee to it that, seeing, my heart-strings quiver And yearn with fear lest peril teach thee fear Too late for help or daring to deliver.

SABRINA.

Nay, let the wind make willows weep and shiver: Me shall nor wind nor water, while I hear What goodly words saith each in other’s ear. And which is given the gift, and which the giver, I know not, but they take and give good cheer.

ESTRILD.

Howe’er this be, thou hast no heed of mine, To take so little of this life of thine I gave and would not see thee cast away For childishness in childhood, though it shine For me sole comfort, for my lord Locrine Chief comfort in the world.

SABRINA.

Nay, mother, nay, Make me not weep with chiding: wilt thou say I love thee not? Hark! see, my sire for sign! I hear his horse.

ESTRILD.

He comes!

SABRINA.

He comes today!

[_Exeunt_.