— i nted or A NOTE 500 only pr f

and E ach numbered as

BY

F . H . S A L T U S .

PR I N T E D Y . W . O LT O N BU F FA LO N Y B C M U , , . . F R O M

T H E S P IR IT O F T H E AU TH O R

’ ” N ow am th e c u l H o S lza a o ws ong st o nt ess osts f ,

T O

TH O M S S TE PH E S CO LLIE R A N ,

WITH H EAVEN LY L OVE

A N D GR ATITU D E:

T h e buds o h th e w r o o f ope , fl o e s f j y ,

’ A nd l ri ch rui w r a d a ll ife s f t, e e t ste Whi le time wa s twining round my brow

’ A w wre a tk—D ea tlz s c r a l sno y o on .

E C O N T N T S .

Life

L e - o acqu r W rk z

O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O

S le ep

H ands

Goya

T o Hele na

Lo ve S ong T he Ide al

’ A Co urtesan s Whim E scurial T h b ud M D T o . e a . ] S . , S now S ong D efrauded S ouvenir Answers Je na The Old S tre et in Limoges A S oul M ay Linger There Fo r Thee Austerlitz Tete -a-Tete T he Awakening M y Faith xii CONTENTS.

Pro file D olce far Nie nte T o Yulma Ce rtainty A

A Fragme nt C o nfe ssion S onnet Improvisé Linda and Pasquin M o o n- Music Turqueri e S onne t

Fant ais ie

S o nne t

’ Papa s Asle ep

A ffinitie s

S o nnet

Bah !

Pe rfume My Love r S onne t Pe rhaps Frothings : Mille rs and Coque tt e s T o My Fathe r o n H is Birth day Influe nce S ouve nir H e nry Irving “ E D o H e L . . avenp rt as aml t ” As O thello As Macbeth CONTENTS.

L D e o R 1 11 E . . av np rt as ichard As R iche lieu As S ir Gile s

Carl Maria Von We be r Charles Gouno d T0 S arah Bernhart Geovanni T agliapietra T o Victo r Hugo Charle s Baude laire Fer rdinand Hiller Gérard de Nerval

’ The H eart s S ad S ong Landscape Zaida

Moo ds o f Madnes s Tete aTete

Columbia to Cuba xiv CONTENTS.

T he Jungfrau D ream o f Ice S o nne t S o ng S onnet T wo Love S tories S onne t E yes S onne t Kisses Language Punishment R ome By Moonlight

La Griz ette

T o Napole o n S mall Minds S o nne t T o Anna S altus T h e D ying S ta r The No rth S e a Maid Go o d Friday T he Gnome Fantasy Thine E ye s T o Marie B Nebulo sa Flo we rs of the H are m E fTe t de Neige S o uve nir CONTENTS. XV

’ Napoleon s Gift

Ye llow T he Mo nkey Moo ds of Madness Bambo o T o a S pider Heinrich H e ine The Japanese Fan An Answe r T oo Late

DREAMS AFTER SUNSE T.

Wise is he who a man and a chooser

’ Spurns Life s book and its pages of days ;

’ wh o Wise is he is n o m an s accuser,

no r Who laughs n ot , sin gs not , nor prays .

Wise is he wh o sees all like a muser

o f Through vague tenebrous shadows greys .

o n i i Be content and live , nothing cla m ng,

Shun the mass and their impoten t creeds . See with eye neither laudin g nor blaming

o f o r Acts crime magnificent deeds ,

0 Neither asking, nor h ping, nor aiming

o f For j oys that are barren seeds .

If we lived through long epochs and ages,

If we saw but a century of peace ,

Had we time to calm murmurs and rages ,

H ad we time to make wickedness cease ;

We might barter our faith to the sages ,

We might force evil thoughts to decrease .

But we live but an hour and learn not

If that hour will be short o r be long

o n Shall we rush ahead , shall we turn not,

Shall o ur voice be a sigh o r a son g ?

n ot no t Shall we love , nor hate , n or spurn not , Who can guide to the right from the wrong ? Can we live without error or blunder ? Can we know when to come an d to go ?

’ Why love , when Death s sickle asunder Cleaveth down ev ’ry love with a blow ?

If the spring turns to winter, why won der , - o rif rose s give way to the snow

Every sunset in colorful glory

Must bow to the menacing night ;

Every moon in its opal sheen , hoary,

’ Is chased by the dawn s kiss of white ; From chaos there Spran g but one story Our story of ruin an d blight

of Can we aught the infinite borrow,

Can we plunge in the secrets of glooms ?

th - Can we unveil e formless to morrow ,

’ Can we sniff at the future s pe rfumes ?

Can we say that in j oy o r in sorrow We will reach the pale portals o f tombs ?

- Yet like lost lambs , wolf scented , we tremble ;

We know not, yet would know and groan ;

We worship o ur gods and assemble

In temples of m arble and stone ; f We pray , hope, ear , lie and dissemble, Yet we err through Life ’s vortex alone ! DREAMS AFTER SUNSE T.

So is wise he who nothin g remembers ,

Who c an banish , forget and ignore ; l Who c an crush o ut the s lo w b urning embers

Of fire -thoughts that burned well in yore ;

Who alike blends the Mays with Decembers ,

o f Who cares naught the past to restore .

Wise is he who regrets not his gladness ,

His blisses of childhood n ow dead ; Wise is he who can laugh at his madness

’ When youth s ardor ruled heart an d ruled head ; Wise is h e who finds pleasure in sadness

o f In the memories tears that were shed . L A c E R K oU WOR .

— LACQUER WORK .

’

—l T he e i t l c y I ov Is In Japan ,

’ With streets spread o ut like a lady s fan ;

High towers of porcelain , white and blue ,

’ o f O ertop the cottages bamboo .

e e Pagodas lacquered enchant my y ,

Their kaolin steeples pierce the sky .

Rare birds , with plumage all gold and red ,

’ o e r m Chirp sweetest melodies y head .

of Strange idols , carved , costume quaint,

on out Grin blandly me from their paint .

A music , not sad , yet dreamy , swells

’ k s ilv r Its rhythm eeps time with y bells . at at a as at d My lovely i ol is hidden here ,

With inch - lon g eyes and a gaze sincere ;

Her feet are so small she cannot walk ,

Her breast is as white as snow o r chalk ; l Her laugh is like sunshine , ful of glee,

And her sweet breath smells like fresh - made DREAMS AFTER SUNSE T.

A S KY DREAM .

one I dream t, lovely summer night ,

That a wee robin , swift and bright ,

In through my window fluttered ;

An d as I watched it in surprise ,

I t gazed upon m e with soft eyes , And these words slowly uttered

Excuse me for my long delay ,

I have been miles upon my way,

An d really have not tarried ;

I am so tired I can not speak ,

But take this letter from my beak , An d see who ’s to be married !

Then flyin g o ff through shadows

It rested in my garden n ear ;

I hardly breathed to listen ,

And in my open han d I saw ,

Still overcome by nameless awe ,

A lovely s unbea m glisten ! S K Y A DREAM.

And written there in flaming lines,

o f With specks light an d mystic signs ,

I read with eyes delighted , That the great weddin g of the sun

With the chaste moon , had j ust begun ,

' A fi d ' I h ad been invited

A nd in a postscript I was told

to The letter in my han d hold ,

And when the clock struck seven ,

To seek the fragrant woodlan ds , where

The dewy roses scent the air ,

An d look up into Heaven .

S o forth I went , and saw with pride ,

The pale moon blushing like a bride ,

Draped in a cloud - veil tender ;

Escorted by the sun , whose glare

Shone on her face , supremely fair,

In fascinating splendor .

Behind them trooped in gorgeous state

And fiery robes the planets great ,

Their ministers and sages ;

o f And far beyond , in skies flame, With twinkling eyes and bright feet came

The stars, their merry pages ; DREAMS AFTER SUNSE T

to o While brilliant meteors , , were there ,

Roaming about the radiant air,

Most luminous and splendid ; And awful comets everywhere

Trailed round the scintillating pair,

With long tails nicely blended .

o f Then hosts lesser lights gleamed forth ,

The constellations of the North ,

Venus an d Ursus Maj or ;

T o compliment the happy sun , Jest with the moon and have fine fun

By trying to en rage her .

But she remained upon her throne

Of purple clouds by light winds blown , Serene and without passion

While to the hosts of minor stars , The sun threw beams and golden bars

In generous , kingly fashion .

w The bride had j e els rare and bright ,

Presents from some far satellite ,

o f And rin gs , the gift Saturn ;

While Sirius sent a ruby ray ,

ne lz ee To wear for morn ing g lg ,

n Of most delicious patter .

Sombre shadow , sad , MOOD OF MADNESS. I I

-M D OO OF MADNESS .

Death heard at last my ceaseless prayer

For peace , and stifled all her sighs ;

The one I did no t love ; my fair

not t o Fond wife I could learn prize ,

Lay dead with roses in her hair,

Lay dead with pity in her eyes .

Pity for me who loved her not ,

Pity fo r me who m arred her life ;

who o f lot I was weary my ,

- whowas I haunted by that wife,

one That sweet who my sin s forgot ,

Who - calmed the hell hates in me rife .

I murdered her by pain and dread , I drugged the youn g love in her frame ;

Before m e n ow she lieth dead ,

An d yet I feel no burnin g shame .

we d I merely hate the h our we ,

i I merely know I ga ned my aim . I 2 DREA MS AFTER SUNSE T.

She died when died the sullen day,

Her breath was caught by wondering night,

O ut in the dism al twilight grey,

Her martyred soul foun d rest in flight .

I laughed to see h er fade away .

I laughed to see her cheeks grow white .

And yet with all her heart of hearts

She worshipped me in noble ways ,

A love that n o misgivin g parts ,

A love that weeps , and soothes and prays ,

A love like balm upon great smarts ,

o f H ot l oves nights , calm loves of days .

When priests had gone , when all was still ,

’ c o fli n s I shut her in her gloom ,

o ne And then with out pitying thrill , .

Urged by the awful m agnet , doom , I placed her dainty body chill

Under a sofa in the room .

And over it I made a bed O f silks and flowers and spices rare ; Aroun d the gloomy room I spread A hundred lights o f dazzling glare ;

- - Lights perfume reeking, incense fed , Lights gold and wavy like her hair ! D N E S S MOOD OF MA . 13

An d on a table crushed with gold ,

o f - With plate and glass hand work fin e,

With fruit and dainties all its hold ,

se t I rich food an d crimson wine .

Sweet wines o f fire to warm the cold ;

ut er o f The t cold hearts like mine . at a at a a I loved a creature with great eyes

’ Like startled fawn s , alive with light,

o f Purple and passionate dyes , f Tipped with an awful flame o night .

A beauty with a world o f sighs

o n - To lavish my life lon g blight .

And I had loved her thro ’ long days

With fien dish loves that wild dreams gave ; Mirrored my soul was in the rays

Of he r - black eye souls, and a slave

o f Was I , when her sweet words praise

ho t to Set my , tingling flesh crave .

on And the night my wife had died ,

She came to sup with me and feast ;

She , flushed with splendor, I , with pride,

Laughed as we kissed , while mirth increased , l ’ There by the lone y corpse s side .

The last o f all my thoughts ; the least . DREAMS AFTER SUNSE T.

’

And thro that summer midnight blue,

The moon poured in its tranquil rays ,

- b e s ilve re d Like steel , cold of hue

’ ho t Down on the lamp s , smoking blaze .

o f - fierc e r The fumes blood wine grew ,

re - The air echoed Bacchic lays .

My pompous , peerless beauty leaned ,

- Wine drugged and yearnin g on my breast,

H er thin , long silken lashes screened

’

The wonders of her eyes unrest . While sudden in me rose the Fien d !

While from me shivering flew the Blest .

3I: at at

Lust reveled in the tainted air,

And mocked the spirit and her sighs ,

While she I did n ot love , my fair

no t Fond wife I could learn to prize ,

Lay dead with roses in her hair,

Lay dead with pity in her ey es . 15

HANDS .

a — de r the hand that chases pain away ,

h o f Wit the soft touch Florence Nightingale ,

’ e no t And dear is fri ndship s hand that should fail ,

But ho w ah , often does Its grasp betray !

There are firm hands that in mad battle slay ,

s Hand that spread midnight poisons , parched and pale, k Low, venal ones , whose pens li e serpents trail ,

o . And holy ones that succ r, soothe, allay

Sweet is the pressure o f an honest hand ;

Tender and true when dying parents bless ,

men Awful , when livid with murder stand , N ! oble, when thousands some great wrong suppress But I love most the little hand that fan ned

My heart to love when all was wretchedness . 16 DREAMS AFTER SUNSE T.

’ NOAH S ARK .

Y A N INCIDEN T I N M C HILD HOOD .

I remember once a Christmas day,

ro s e to When , though drowsy still , I Z see

What Santa Claus , in his kindly way,

Had brought from Toyland to give to me .

O My poor ld nurse was sleeping sound ,

An d the room was very still an d dark ,

But o n th e table I quickly found

’ o f A pile toys and a big Noah s Ark .

s o I knew I did wrong in acting ,

But I was a little wayward chit, And my nursie snored so very loud

That I put the gas up one wee bit ;

I opened the lid with greatest care ,

’ Twas hard to m ove, for it was brand

And the first I spied was a Polar bear,

- And a lovely, gray tailed kangaroo .

I 8 DR EA MS AFTER SUNSE T.

I wanted to give them a great surprise ,

on - And fed them ginger snaps and rusks .

But I forgot all about it then , For down in this lovely Ark I found

A serpent that stings poor Indian men ,

A brindled cow and a spotted hound .

I don ’t know how long I ’d been that night

Playing with tiger and lamb and bear ,

But when I turned it was broad daylight ,

And I saw my papa smiling there .

3k

Now I am old , with sad regret ,

I see life pass from me, dull and dark , But through years o f pain I linger yet

’ On the memories fon d o f that Noah s Ark ! GO YA . I 9

! GOYA .

- Thy bitter brush was lightnin g tipped , A nd dipped

of o f In blacks night, in golds day ;

o f The violent nightmares thy whim ,

- Pain dim ,

Were wont in hideous worlds to stray ,

of i In troubled seas fr ght to swim .

b etin e d o f Thine hues , g with tears gall , Recall

’ T ue horrors o f the Schwarzwald s eves ; The mystery of eerie skies

— Lo w , plies

Over thy canvas , moan s and grieves f o . A ghastly music, born sighs

Behold the tint o f' clouds that swoon ! The moon

on fishle s s t Leers a , phan om lake ;

Gaunt , threatening shadows hellward loom . The gloom

ie 1828 . A celebrated Spanis h painter and caricaturis t . D d R 2 0 DREAMS A FTE SUNSE T.

Chills the damned glance of fiends who slake

Their thirsts with mud , whom fires consume .

Ever the nacarat gleams of fire ,

Red , dire,

Light the wild wonders of thy work ;

Vision s that pall , with colors cursed ,

N o w burst

o r On riven gaze , lie and lurk , The last more harrowing than the first !

Yet in thy better, happier hours ,

Fair flowers ,

- Fruits , and queen bodied virgins smile

From out a golden florid paint,

Dream - faint

Chimeras , born to calm awhile

The terrors of thy ceaseless plaint .

Thy dark - orbed siren s of Seville Can thrill

’ The maj os velvet j acket gleams ;

’ Or, from Gran ada s sculptured halls , There falls

The soft , pale light of marble dreams

Thy dormant Muse forgets her galls . GO YA . 2 1

See there again the plaza full ! The bull

Swel ters in foam i ng sweat and gore ;

T he e of cho ten thousand throats,

Parched , dotes

" hefi in b f - Ova t . y g east Stri e sore,

A people every quiver notes .

fun We see the grand and brutal , The sun

r on Pou ing its rays eager girls ,

’ ’ - th Slow eyed, who beg espada s skill

T o kill ; But torture first the bull in furls

Of silk , before his blood turns still .

f lo o f old Color ul g ries Spain , Long lain

For ages in the glooms of time , e Thou hast reviv d with potent brush , The flush i Of all that golden , glor ous clime,

’ and lush With tintings masterful .

Some sad, vague, cloistral solitude , As viewed 2 2 DREAMS A FTER SUNSE T.

By mutinous moonbeams , greeting clouds , Shows sights our modern fancies shun

A nun ,

- e Robed in lon g , white , cross streak d shrouds ,

Waiting till vesper mass be done .

She steals without in gardens dark , The spark

Of watching eyes directs her feet ; Her chaplet ’s beads ’neath cowl of

- Love drunk ,

’ kis t Are s upon her bosom s sweet ,

A fragile form in sin has sunk .

The shiverin g shadows of the rack ,

Dark , black ,

o n Loom thy canvas , where , in fear,

Some pallid sufferer is dragged ,

- Iron gagged ,

Through corridors , dank , humid , drear,

- With j agged stone , dirt mingled , flagged .

The venoms of thy musings foul Oft scowl

Savagely from their colored cloaks . 2 3

Like Ribera, thy genius rare

Of prayer,

of The myths n oisome thought invokes ,

For i what was vile thou madest fa r .

Great drearrrer! let ~ th . , y sleep be light The bright Aurora of revivin g art

’ r Will warm thy soul s fo saken rest .

Thou , blest

o f With gems of fancy and heart , Will live in Spain amon g the best !

A R 18 2 . M D ID , 7 24 DREAMS AFTER SUNSE T.

A TO H ELEN .

’ Whene er I gaze upon thy beauteous face ,

Of Free from the touch all terrestrial taint ,

With soft smiles haloed , like a praying saint ,

’ o f A beaming scrap Paradise s grace , Within its charming contour I can trace

A long - lost look that memory scarce can paint

Something ethereal and divinely faint ,

o ur That cannot appertain unto race .

I feel that by some wondrous avatar,

strange metempsychosis most sublime , ‘Some

Bright Aphrodite , rising from the sea,

Has gazed upon thee from her love -lit star ;

And , eager to transmit her ch arms to time,

Has made Greek Helen breathe again in thee .

2 6 DREAMS AFTER SUNSE T.

’ Will cheer life s care with new delights ,

o ur And move souls to tears hereafter .

Surely all j oy bears bitter fruit,

Is n ot that Past recalled with sorrow,

Now , that thy kiss would filth pollute,

And I for murder die to -morrow ! T H E L IDEA .

I DEAL .

’ T oil On t , poor muser , to attain hat goal

Where Art conceals its grandest, noblest prize ;

Count every tear that dims your achin g eyes ,

Count all the years that seem as days , and roll

The death - tides slowly on ; count all your sighs ;

Search the wide , wondrous earth from pole to pole ,

Tear unbelief from o ut your martyred soul ;

des ondenc WIS 8 Succumb not, chase p y, be ; l

Work , toil , and struggle with the brush or pen ,

Revel in rhyme, strain intellect and ken ;

’ Live on and hope despite man s sceptic leers ; ' ’ I e Praise the d al with your every breath ,

a n Give it life , youth and glory , blood d tears, — And to possess it pay its tribute Death . 28 DREAMS A FTER SUNSE T.

’ A COURTESAN S WH IM .

no us verra is nu da ha u t ei s u e en a E t j e j q s b s , ” u t ute votre e a n no me t en tera i t as Q e o p , p . - M O LIE R E .

To calm desires that in my soul increase ,

o f Delicious boys with poems blond hair,

- Supple, dusk eyed , whose eager kisses rare

Are sweet as dew , n o longer bring m e peace .

o f e fl e minat e I tire the charm of Greece ,

n These Apollo ian men with broad breasts bare ,

Superbly statuesque , supremely fair ; ‘ A o g d himself would tempt not my desire .

But in vague ways I most insanely yearn

To m eet some lean , dwarfed , fetid , hairy thing

o f With loathsome skin and bulging eyes rheum , Then with wild sighs to make the monster burn With Love ’s delight and bid his hot arms cling

Around m y beauty in the perfumed gloom . O L ESC RIA . 2 9

ESCURIAL .

Grand e s pulchre of royal hates , “dank grave Of bitter thoughts m orose , of cares an d spleens , Cyclops of granite,where at midnight rave

Through gelid crypts the souls of kin gs and queens ,

What art th ou In thy dismal desert, save

’ The silent phantom of Spain s bygone scenes

’ Does not gri m Philip s spirit haunt the naves Of thy stern cloisters with his mind ’s gan grenes

! o h - Oh , walls of groans , blood hewn aisles and domes !

A sad , drear monotone of echoes roams

Guadarramian From heights around thy gloom ,

’ The frozen prayers Of T orquem ada s slain ! ! Cursed be thy silence , monstrous , chilly tomb

ro t ! Crumble and , gray fiend of stone and pain 30 DREAMS AFTER SUNSE T.

T H E B A D s . U . . TO J . , M D

FO T T U F R IS A Q E IDELIS .

o ur f our Towering above su ferings and woes , f Thou standest calm and stead ast , with good cheer

’ To those who , swooning in Pain s bitter throes ,

Implore thin e aid to shield them from the bier ;

Thine aid that death itself has learnt to fear,

When driven backward by thy skillful blows .

uar es t Thou g d Life , and with a proud disdain ,

H urls t down its foemen in the hot dispute ;

And , with thy watching eyes that n ever wane ,

o f - Thou , by the horrors the Death bed , mute ,

Crus he s t out sorrow to the utter root ,

Oh proud and mighty conqueror o f Pain !

o f Thy soft hand pours mandragora balm ,

Upon the wounds and wretchedness o f men ;

Vagu e hells of tormen t by thy will turn calm ;

of Fevers fire are softened by thy ken ,

While men with joy gaze on thy face, as when

Some Arab in scorched desert meets a palm . T O s . o j . THEBA M. . 3 1

N o task too arduous hast been spu rn ed by thee ,

N o pain s o VIvid that thou hast no t cured ;

a No ill so dire but f des by thy decree ,

No hopes so faltering but hast reassured ;

o f Great heart gold , what hast thou not endured

“ T o spre ad tFy blessings o n humanity !

’ luc k s t Thou p the thorns from fair and fragile flowers ,

’ And from blue eyes thou turn st the deathly cloud ; i While through the sad , mysterious midn ght hours ,

The hopeful sufferer breathes thy name aloud ;

An d awful visions of the grave and shroud ,

Flee from his fancy by thy subtle powers .

’ o f The fiends pain n e er fright thee by their curse,

’ Thou m o ck s t their anger in thy giant might ;

They, at thy coming, cower and disperse ; — Where they give darkness thou hast given light ;

’ Thou , who hast stru ggled with life s gall and blight ,

’ ! o f ! Aye neath the pale , grim shadow the hearse

o f fo r The floods Lethe thirst fresher gore,

The tomb yawns wide and hun gers for its prey ; f The yells o Death frustrated on its shore,

no t : Bid thee abide , but thou wilt obey

Pursuing still thy combat with decay ,

Born to succeed , to strengthen , to restore . 3 2 DREAMS AFTER SUNSE T.

See the pale poets , while their muse divine ,

e o f Goads on their brain with ros s soft son g,

Lavish their riches like a fertile mine ,

Upon the world in accents suave and stron g . Can all their verse a simple life prolon g ? What are their puny deeds compared to thine ?

See the red flashing of the sword and steel , The tramp of glitterin g armies sent to kill !

’ o f Hear the wild music the bugles peal , ! The ranks mowed down , the chief advancin g still

- What bloody roles these butcher heroes fill ,

Rea l! Tell m e , oh thou who wert ordain ed to

’ o f See the grand legions the painters art ,

Revels o f color and of poesy blent ! How can their beauty numb a mortal smart ? What peace or rest have they to su fferers len t ? Hast thou not brought to weeping homes content ? Hast thou n ot gladdened many a droopin g heart ?

Yes , thou hast given life and all of life ,

Life , radiant , h opeful , passionate and sweet .

The seeds of ruin , with dank miasm rife ,

Now bloom as flowers , and cling unto thy feet , While utter praise from fervent lips will greet

And hail thee victor in the unequal strife .

34 DREAMS AFTER SUNSE T.

SNOW SO NG .

In dreams I hear a music made of snow ,

Harmonic chilly idyl of cold sound ;

- Its echo twin in polar stars is found ,

It moans to still white moons its utter woe .

- - Gaunt ghost musicians by the frost gods crowned ,

- D runk upon icicles an d snow drops , glow

With dismal thought in frigid murmurs drowned .

I hear ice melodies through dreamland flow .

n Sou ds like a dark , cold pond , inviting rime ,

S ounds like the freezing, vague , uncertain chime

o f Of distant bells through airs endless mist,

Clangin g unconsciously to fates above ; r Cold as egrets of some frustrated tryst ,

Cold as the kiss of lips that know n o love . D E FR A D E D U . 35

DEFRAU DED .

e sa i On far Seren ly il n g ,treacherous seas ,

’ o f m I slumbered , dreaming y mother s smiles , S While gently urged by the umatran breeze,

- We passed green groups of hazy, palm thronged isles .

I heard the hissing h orror of the storm

on o ur That spent its fury helpless barque,

’ A nd , thro the enormous night , I saw a form

Of leering lightning shock ! then all was dark .

Dazzled and stunned , to sure destruction hurled ,

I awoke , mid dizzy billows , bruised , alone , L ost in a m oaning hell , a watery world ,

f i The tortured bu ffet o the gr m Cyclone .

ne For dolorous hours o paltry spar an d frail , Gave ease to rigid hands an d pantin g breath ;

I o f f felt the weakness each muscle ail ,

In clamorous darkness I awaited death .

B ut m , as I felt its y fingers creep f Upon me , tossed there like some worthless cha f, R 36 DREAMS AFTE SUNSE T.

o r No pan g of terror made me pray weep ,

But the wild tempest heard my grander laugh .

For I , about to die , in shroud of foam ,

Whose carrion in blue voids would leave no path ,

Thou ght of the churchyard worms in my far home , An d how defrauded they would writhe in wrath ! E SO UV NIR .

SOUVENI R .

‘ ‘ T he fo res t fi utt e rs with a breath of May ; ’ T he sun slants softly thro a mist of greens

Upon my arm a gentle beauty leans ;

Through labyrinths o f swaying leaves we stray

Like the sweet Spring, we too, are fresh and gay ,

And envy no t the lot of kings and queens

ur ale c are To veil o love n o p intervenes .

’ to o ur There is no n ight love s perfect day .

We walk and dream and dream again , and see

The brown birds watching as in mute surprise .

Lan uld o f g , we feel blue scraps mellow skies

r Blend with o u sense in silent harmony .

An d I , loved , loving, see upturned to me,

o f t wo The luring Splendor lustrous eyes .

T E R M A IN 1 S . G , 874. DREAMS AFTER SUNSE T.

ANSWE RS .

An angel fair and bright ,

Knocked at my heart on e night . It asked Is love still there to bless ?

I answered , Yes .

An angel sweet as day, Paused at my heart to say Does thy firm faith relieve distress ? “ I answered , Yes .

Another angel came ,

Touchin g my soul to flame , D oes pity still thy fancy bless’ ?

“ ” I answered , Yes .

A last fond angel said , With white wings o ’er me spread “ D oes hope still in thy bosom glow ?

” I answered , No . 39

JENA .

OCT O B ER

Prussian eagle in its eerie screamed ,

’ And , from the sandy plains in war s array ,

Dense hordes of stolid , boorish soldiers streamed

To meet the men o f Rivoli that day ;

The martial hosts yearning to smite and slay ,

Stood there defiant with bare swords that gleamed,

And in calm , haughty insolence , they seemed

Like hun gry condors watchin g for their prey .

- an The Titan fray began, d with disdain d The laureled grena iers of France marched on , m ’ Stern an d aj estic , through the bullets rain ,

- won Until the corpse clogged field was nobly . While the astounded Vandals fled in vain

Before the co ld sneer o f Napoleon DREA MS AFTER SUNSE T.

T H E OLD STREET IN LIMOGES .

o ld Yes, here it is , the dear street,

A maze of picturesque decay,

As charming n ow , as quaintly sweet ,

As in the dull years passed away .

Fo r progress it can break no lance , But every ston e brings back to me The glamour of dead days in France

And thoughts of what no m ore may

! Ah while afar beyond broad seas ,

’ I struggle thro the bitter years ,

It slumbered on in solemn ease ,

o f Unconscious my smiles or tears .

But I , when worn by restless care ,

Recalled its beauty like a balm ,

Its memory blessed me everywhere , m And purified me with its cal .

Yet tho ’ my footsteps seem estranged

Upon the pebbly pavements here ,

DREAMS A FTER SUNSE T.

Franz ois And , too , the old gendarme,

He has grown gray , but lively yet ,

At Gravelotte he l ost an arm ,

’ They ve p aid him with a red rosette .

A i nd as I view the unchanged scene ,

I seem a sad ghost of the past , That hovers o ’er a spot serene

And from my eyes the tears fall fast .

And I , dear street, beloved so well ,

Com e with my sorrows and a sigh ,

Once more within thy light to dwell ,

An d in thy gabled shade to die . A 5 0U L M A Y L H INGER T ERE . 43

A SOUL MAY LINGER TH ERE .

“ Tread no t upon thehumble roadside flower ;

Who knows the secrets its soft core contains ? Perhaps the soul of some dead friend remains

our Hidden within its petals , and power

Can never fathom all its pangs and pain s,

When under heedless feet its sen ses cower ;

o r Nor yet conceive its j oy , when f an hour,

Some tender hand to pluck Its beauty deigns .

i The vo celess soul that dreams there evermore,

th Saved from e haggard ruin of a tomb , Will then In gracefulness our care implore ;

And in our trust a lovelier hue assume ,

While th e sweet memory of a friend of yore, Breathes forth its love in poems of perfume ! 44 DREAMS AFTER SUNSE T.

FOR TH EE .

T O MA RIE B

For thee was always my awakening thought ,

For thee the prayer that soothed me ere I slept ,

For thee the smiles that Hope but seldom brought,

r Fo thee the many bitter tears I wept .

For th ee my life I gladly would cast down ,

’ And for thy love would pay Death s fatal price, Thou my sweet consolation and my crown

Thou my despair, my hope , my Paradise .

For thee, oh my unsullied , stainless goal ,

I live to - day ! an d for o ne perfect kiss From thy warm lips I would give forth my soul

And life in worlds hereafter and in this .

For thee , from sin I would not even shrink ,

For thee , I would n ot tremble before death ,

’ Fo r thee I d perish , if I once could sink

o f An d die upon the perfume thy breath . FOR THEE . 45

Thou art my hope, my future , and my past ,

Thou art my sweetest torture and delight ,

Thou art my only love , the first , the last ,

Thou art my radiant dawn , my starry night .

’ rn Spu n ot my passion that will e er abide,

Boundless an d vast and con stan t as the sea, But rather pity in thy conscious pride

A love more strong than Death itself, for thee . DREAMS AFTER SUNSE T.

AUSTERLITZ .

On to the goal the impatient legions come ! Ulm haloes with success an army ’ s might

o f Far mid the mists and gloom Austrian night , ! Hear the advancing steeds , the ominou s drum

Europe cowers shuddering , and strong kings are dumb

a A C esar leads a n ation to the fight ,

' And o er the allied camps the flamin g light Of his great star strikes the rude masses numb !

u Five h ndred thundering cannon boom and glow ,

A sun of victory on the keen steel slants ,

There on the gore - strewn plains of pine an d snow

Russ clutches Gaul in labyrinths of lance ,

’ While o er the hurrying hell o f war and wo e

Floats the Imperial , bloodstained flag of France . 47

E E —A E E T T T T .

drea I med a beauteous an gel came to me , “ And cried aloud , Oh sleepin g man , arise ,

Fo r - thou thrice blest , art now about to see

The Eternal God with thine unhallo ive d eyes !

ame A shadow passed before m e , and He c ,

Silent and stern within the awful night ,

10 ! m And beneath a coronet of fla e,

’ Min e eyes beheld a biaeous t/i ing of f rig/zt/ DREAMS A FTER SUNSE T.

TH E AWAKE NI NG .

Her arms lie bare about his neck , and still

In dream , her lips half open with a sigh As though to woo her dream some sweet e All slowly her enthrall d senses fill ,

As valley waters from a mountain rill

’ b o s o m d t reas ures lie Swollen by storm . Her l

Encircled by his arms , an d still sweeps by

’ The swellin g tide into the Deep s deep will .

’ A nd - ln - he , too , dreams Love s night hidden day

Until th e shallows , murmuring, rise and leap , An d lap th e spirit within that sweet clay

Against his breast . Then lips that trysting keep ,

Unconsciously , nearer and closer lay

Till sudden kisses burst the bonds of sleep .

DREAMS A FTER SUNSE T.

v .

This I know and feel ; an d tremble as I cherish

f - The rail love cloyed wonder dreamingin my arms , An d the thought alone that such a prize might perish

B leats my senses with the fever of alarms .

v 1.

For if she should die and friends knew what befell me ,

They would haunt my woe and poignant grief sincere ,

And with solemn voice beside the corpse would tell me ,

Of eternity and some far better sphere .

VII .

They would tell me that m ost radiant and immortal ,

She would wait for me despite the fears of tomb ;

’ o n And that the grim gray threshold of Death s portal ,

We could meet again our transport to resume .

VIII .

o f Takin g kisses white snows from mountains chilly ,

Stealin g murmurs from the music of the sea ,

T aking perfume from the rose or from the lily ,

I s like taking her fond memory from me .

I x .

o f She is all and all me , love hath no limit

o And I scorn to b und a passion equal mine ,

o f It was born her, and she alon e can dim it ,

Until then its flame shall calmly , nobly shine . T . M Y FAI H 5 ?

X .

no And I need ministering angel hovering round me ,

To protect me and t o turn me from despair ;

o ut For my love has found her and she has foun d me ,

And when dead we cann ot sympathize elsewhere .

x1

of What care I after life when I have lost her,

,

What is there that can her loveliness replace ,

o f c an What kind germ hope my soul ever foster, When mine eyes see not the splendor of her face ?

x11.

I shall find her, yes , I doubt it n ot , but splendent ,

And in haloes o f great glory and great light ;

old o ld d But the , love , so noble and transcen ent,

no t nI ht Will rise again to penetrate my g .

) ( III .

N b u ra e rt h at , if she sho ld die , I need no p y blesses ,

And n o soothing hymn could cure a wound like this ,

o f Being reft all the balm of her caresses ,

l e And the soft , sad , slumbering si enc of her kiss .

XIV .

I wo uld sooner fight with Death my unfair duel , And live on despite this fatal horoscope ;

For the pain I would endure would be less cruel ,

Than the horrid , bitter promise of such hope . T 5 2 DREA M s A FTER S ONSE .

XV .

r Fo I need her now , when Love all love assuages ,

When o ur youth and ardor mutually blend ;

t And I mock the dim , gray Fu ure of dead ages ,

And I need n o life h ereafter to befriend .

XV I .

Yes , I need her n ow with all her grace and splendor,

With her ebon eyes that beam with love and prayer ;

I am thirstin g for the contact of her , tender,

An d the strange , delirious perfume of her hair .

X VII .

And should Death essay her gentle breath to sunder,

no t n n I would hope not , pray , knowi g all were vai ,

o r That we never more should meet above under,

’ That our spirits ne er would fuse and blend again .

X VIII . I would find new strength and soul should Death bereave

N O pale tear o f pain would glisten in my eye ;

I would love enough to let her spirit leave me , h And would live without a ope , without a sigh . 53

PROFILE .

” f e Half of a ace lov I , superbly Greek !

The other half ignore , and would not know

Its charms or its deceits ; why should I seek

The fair uncertainties that sight might show ,

When to min e eyes a perfect profile , sleek

o f And softly languorous artistic flow ,

mile th fro m fro nt to S in splen did curves cheek ,

Rubied between by lips o f luscious glow

N o ! in rapt contemplation I prefer

T o az e u on N au lian g p its p mould , and stir

My chaos o f mad m us ings to revere

The peerless purity o f such a face ;

’ Fo r God had sculptured from an angel s tear ! This pale, proud profile of sublimest grace 54 DR EAMS AFTER SUNSE T.

DOLCE FAR NIENTE .

C HARA C TERS

ON F D O N A L O N z o . D A SERA INA .

: E SCENE S VILLE .

’ ’ R oom i n S era na s villa : bour o s i es ta : elos ea blinds fi f , lz /zt S era na is s een recli ni n on a s o a s i i n a /z rbe . i s e t g j g f pp g .

D on A lonz o on a ca na é o os ite R oom urnished i n modern p pp . f

S a nis/z s t le F lowers bi rd-ca es a i a no uita rs p y . , g , p , g .

on o A l z . ’ ho t Tis very .

Yes , very .

on o A l z . And th e sun Its fiery course o f heat h as not yet run ;

All Seville town the calm siesta keeps .

Save m e . S era na fi .

And pray why n o t ? 55

A n o lo z . My soul n e ’er sleeps

Since first my dazzled eyes beheld thy charms ,

o f s Thy pearly teeth , the Paros thine arm ,

r Thy f agrant hair .

to Hush , hush , it is o warm

T o lavish praise s on my face and fo rm ; Had you n ot better smoke a cigarette

o And sip this sherbet, which is fr zen yet ?

o f r Flavored with citron , m ade Sie ra ice

o ers s /zerbet ( f ) .

on o A l z .

N o , no , its sweet cannot my tongue en tice ;

When I have seen ho w daintily you sip li Its savory edge , and how y our scarlet p,

- b ' i ts e Touched y whit and perfumed freshness , glows

Like to a rosebud peeping from th e snows .

S era na fi .

Charmin g indeed ; considering the heat ,

‘ ’ Your graceful Muse with Vega s could compete .

But pray lie still , and calm such ardent fire . e Love is not pretty when we both p rspire ,

a So w it , I beg, un til the twilight breeze

Flutters its balm amon g y o n oran ge trees ;

’ o e r Then when the an ger of the sun is ,

’ Perchance we ll talk of love an d something more . DREAMS AFTER SUNSE T.

on o A l z .

S e rafina o f ! Alas , dear my soul

I reach to - day a lon g - expected goal ;

’ ’ Thro three sad years for this o ne hour I ve prayed I ’ve spent a fortune in the serenade ! I give to you each night You know my pain ,

a My patience , woe and j e lousy ! in vain For three lon g years have we two striven to m eet

t And make in blissful fac our dreams complete .

’ a a re Your cru el p thrusts me from your door,

’ ma a re Your heartless laughs when I implore,

’ o ld a ueii a And , your , to my utter woe ,

- fo e Is still to day my m ost relentless .

And yet I could not wait three longer years ;

You o n i n a could n ot lin ger p in and tears ,

So , covered with the shield of your consent .

’ I ve d ared t o realize my fond intent ;

’ ' a uena Your , gagged , lies cursin g us down stairs ,

’ Your ma are in the church is at her prayers ;

e e bem ’ o u A forg d l tter, . but as y bid ,

’ Now sends your n oble pa a re to Madrid And here at last we meet for the first time m To reap a love which Hope h as ade sublime .

S era fina .

Yes , dear Alon zo , we have sorely striven

T o gain this hour of utter j oy and heaven ;

I of thy proud audacity am fond ,

DREAMS AFTER SUNSE T.

bravi o u When twenty put y unto flight .

Upon my balcony I saw it all ,

no t And prayed unto the Saints you would fall .

’ Twas then I saw your lithe and agile grace ,

And all the terror pictured o n your face

Made you so pale and beautiful I vow ,

. S i n . s I swore to love you as I love you now ( g . )

’ U n a ta n una mula ta L a . s a s i a e uita r p y ( y g . )

- t I cannot sing to day wi h any zest ,

This odious heat h as all my sense Oppressed .

Take the guitar, Alonzo , improvise

Some dreamy ditty to my dreamy eyes .

Alon zo (wiping bi s brow)

Really , my love , the weather warmer grows .

’ ver Tis y hot , but I will n ot oppose

Your gracious wish : what had I better sing ?

S erafi na

’ no t e — Tis much matt r , darling , anything .

on o s in s Al z ( g ) . Whene ’er I gaze into thy wondrous eyes I see What Paradise

” F a n . i ts wi t/z Izea t Will be . )

S era n a fi .

Charming indeed , but speak , Alonzo dear ,

o n la z a A rum or the p met my ear ,

A frien d has told me that y ou only thought L DO CE FAR NIENTE . 59

: ou - Of In ez that y gave her ear rings , wrought

In gold and j asper ; that she has a fan

’ Of peacock s plumes yo u bought at Alaran ;

o u Also that y her slightest wish obeyed ,

An d that last Sunday , in a serenade

‘ t o r h e r ou n Given , y r te or n otes were heard !

" How does It happen she is thus preferred ? m To own y love I often h ave been blamed . A gypsy girl ! you ought to be ashamed !

on o A l z .

Some envious churl has vilified my loves ;

’ I n e er gave I n e z t but a pair of gloves

T o s o o u hide her hands ( very large y know) ,

An d that is all ; at times I used to go f To see her su ferin g mother at her house .

S e rafina do But , , not kn it your brows , — I had no love fo r Ine z , for her eyes

Are blue and watery, and I do not p rize

Her hair, which is not silken , soft and black a Like yours , and does not tumble down her b ck .

Besides , you must have learned from divers hints

ho w How red her nose is and much she squints .

I S e rafina should be j ealous , dear,

Fo r why I pray is Juan s o often here

H e sends y o u p resents almost every day ;

Why does h e court y o u in this insolent way ? M DREA S AFTER SUNSE T.

Juan , my dear, is but a family friend ,

An d to my love would never dare pretend .

o u I do not see what y are j ealous at ,

D o ’ i s . a m an who wears a green cravat ! Your mad love blinds you

on o A l z . Well I do regret

My vile suspicions .

You are my own

o f The wild flower my soul , my only pride .

on o A l z .

I long to perish by thy side .

S era na fi .

o n o A l z .

hI a rve l!

My sweet king !

Love 's light !

My little Quixote !

S era na fi . My own knight !

of Come to my arms thou best beloved all , L 6 1 DO CE FAR NIENTE .

’ ’ ! ueri ao Arouse g at my passions call ,

who o ft Thou in dream s I have so caressed , Now pour thy love upon my burnin g breast !

A lon zo (not s tirring);

Oh yes , to taste thy kisses sweetest balm !

fl Soft as th e sight o f some long searched for palm

s i moum In sultry deserts ravaged by .

Ah yes ! to breathe the lily - like perfume

. ! Of thy irradian t tresses Com e , yes , come

t o fo r Haste my arm s , I am passion numb !

S era na m otion es s fi ( l ) .

Kneel at my feet and tell me I am fair,

Unbraid the scented poem of my hair,

Come , sweet Alonzo , come

I cannot stir ,

’ o n Rest my lips thy lips hot, sensuous fur ; Let no j oy tarry we have found at last

In this sweet present ; bury up the past .

S e rafina Come , , come .

It is “ too hot

For me to move ; come y ou to me; ah ! what ?

You do c at not , like , hurry from your seat

T o pay your tremblin g hom age at my feet 6 2 DREAMS AFTER SUNSE T.

on o A l z .

o f to me Light my soul , should you approach

H o w can my torpid brain fierce love words broach ?

Come unto me an d prove to me my bliss .

I never thought your love would come to this !

o n ea na e I am so easy this p ,

And I so comfortable here , I say ; You will n ot come

S era na fi .

me No, you should come to .

Juan ere this would have been far more free .

on o Al z .

- And blue eyed Inez , too , for were she here ,

Her love at least would show itself sincere .

Come .

Come !

on o A l z .

Come yourself .

S era na fi .

I will not .

on o Al z . Indeed ?

s ta Well , y , and take the siesta that you need . L N DO CE FAR NIE TE .

S e ra na fi .

’ Tis good advice , Alon zo , that you give ;

I really need a slumber, as I live ,

o An d as y ur boiling passions grow so tame ,

I think that you had better do the same .

An d then you love me not ?

S era na fi .

I love you more,

But , really, this is n o tim e to adore .

’ I ll doze an hour .

And willingly will I ’ f We ll talk o love together by an d by .

May your repose be sweet , my dearest love .

“ My hope !

on o A l z . My faith !

My heart !

era na S fi . My dove ! ot/t s ee B l p .

66 DREAMS A FTER SUNSE T.

CE RTAINTY .

Far through the endless corridors o f dream

- I wander, gloom wrapped , seeking truth and light , e Faith that I crave, Love that can mor than seem ,

Food for my Soul , release from utter Night .

Fo r I am tainted with a sad distrust , A viperous itching not to see or hear !

’ The arid desert o f my body s dust

o f Has ever spurned the solace a tear .

to I long lose my wish to not believe ,

o f ! And riot in fresh floods feeling lost , Alas my thoughts like heavy cerements cleave

- f o . Unto my corpse mind , frigid as frost

The gracious phantom o f a holy love

’ ’ ’ Leads me thro Life s dead dream , and D ream s bright

The radiance pure , immaculate thereof

Is with gran d cheer and noble promise rife .

That love sustains , it breathes , it beams , it is ,

’ An d guides me tottering thro the grays o f gloom ;

I follow humble , passive , knowing this ,

— r That I shall find it Heaven o a tomb . ‘ ’ ‘ Celle que j a i le plus aim ée

’ Avait la taille d une almée,

au c il De gros yeux bleus long noir .

U n e t teint de rose de n eige ,

’ C o mme l A l ne et le Correge

- le e o t u Seuls dans r ve n p voir .

Ses cheveux plus bruns qu e ébene

' T rainaie nt comm e nu manteau de rein e

un a ux Sur corps divins contours .

S a e t bouche était petite rose , On e fit dit deux feuilles de rose

’ Oil um nichait essaim d amours .

Ses deux mains tenaient dans la mien

Dans le baiser s a fraiche haleine ff Avait des e luves de feu .

S a un x - oém e voix était dou p ,

“ ’ E t quand elle me disait j e t aime

J e me sentais devenir Dieu 68 DREAMS A FTER SUNSE T.

A FRAGMENT .

The creepin g stars shone in th e blu e still night

o f With lustrous opulence beam , while clouds ,

Fitful and fl e ec y fled like full - sailed ships

’ Thro seas o f air ; the lan guid moon rose up

In silver shoals o f light ; and I reclined

Pen sive and weighted down by earthly woes ,

o ak Lost in the shadows of a dreamy ,

Striving to weave fair tapestries o f hope

o f In threads silken thought within my mind , Battling ’gainst spleens and seeking to evade

t n The sombre twiligh s of my sorrowi g brain .

I heard sweet songs , sun g by a cloud of birds ,

To dyin g sun set in the drowsy east ;

x And I , like them , felt an ious in my gloom ,

To win by music the pale love of stars .

Like tears u pon the fa c e of night new stars

Came o ut and twinkled ; while I saw th e moon

Stranded upon a copse of ghastly pines . GM E N T A FRA .

to i I I sought dissipate my pa ns n song,

And hu shed with melody the birds whose notes

no t o wn Were as soft and liquid as mine .

o f afire A son g love I sang, my soul

Was dying with fierce famine of great love .

’ T h e ake d n l - , , n moo , pa e , silver veined , stood still ,

And listened with its white bland face of calm . Sudden when Si ngi n g forth my soul in strains

Of mystic harmonies , and loveful tones ,

A figure of a laughin g gi rl emerged

From oaken solitudes and came to me .

As wh en a cloud o f light propelled by suns

Bursts on the sky all blushing with surprise ,

to - She came me, nude , trailing haired and fair,

o f A flush Indian sun upon h er face ,

With tremulous poesy in her downcast eyes ,

With queenly t re a di ngs o f a queenly foot

And coyly toying with the rich green fern ,

i She drew sweet blossoms from her tw sted hair .

u ro lific o f The np seeds hate , and all

o fo r t My stubb rn scorn man hat thrived and grew ,

m c allo irs e And pasture found within y h art ,

i o f Vanished like m st before a stroke sun .

s o f Great wild desire Sprang up in flame thought ,

Beading with damp my love untutored brow . DREAMS AFTER SUNSE T.

I cleft my min d from poetry ’s vague shores

Where it was harborin g , an d thought no more

Of barren beaches in untraveled worlds ,

o f The bleak stern bergs boreal solitude , And all the mysteries of melodious dreams

That haunted me with sorrow till she came ,

But rose an d tottered toward her, while great hope , Like to a meteor fallin g thro ’ the gloom

’ h e r Flas t o my soul with light that dazzled me .

- The night seas moan their cold loves to the stars ,

Bold billows , amorous , dash an d splash upon

The beach they love with kisses hot of fo am

’ t And e er re ire uncomforted and sad ,

To beg again , to be again refused

Why should I not , with poetry an d youth ,

Approach this star of flesh , this living dream ,

t o o f Try deceive the unlashed eye fate , And cheat with arrogance its now sleepy power

’ ’ And kiss those rose -cheeks pearled of fl eurfae ly s ?

and Why should my love shrink back be afraid ,

When all that love is tangled in her sm ile , And fired by arrowy glances from her eyes

kis s in s That court my g ? So mused I , and rash ,

Called her by signs o f longing languorous love .

For hours the music o f my lo w appeals N A FRA GM E T.

- o f Rose to the moon eyed creature my wish ,

-fl e s hed My white Leman , with great wondering eyes

th e - o f Clad in golden armor her hair, — And that alone nude , beautiful and white .

’ T e mp es t s of dark storms of tears

in I lavished my supplicating trance .

Soul is a fire ; love is its strongest flame, f Both did I o fer, aye but once to know

n o f r The ca dent pressure her youn g, st ong arms,

And lip her kisses backward to her mouth .

I sung and sung the same o ld song o f love

’ The same song sung in Aiden s purple nights ,

The song beloved of moon s before our time .

Old songs that trembled like en amored stars ,

I sang with lips more passionful than eyes,

With hot and crimson stammerings of love .

The reeling gold of her loose tresses flung

Over the star - light o f her gazin g eyes

Was dashed aside ; and to my lips she prest The living coral of her lips all ho t

o f t With pains and pleasures my sof est son g . I looked up wildly in the flashing night

fl avo ro us Of her great eyes , and drank the flood ,

The subtle nightshade of her lingering kiss , S U N S E T 7 2 DREAMS A FTER .

’ o er While us in the mellow blue , the m oon ,

o f - Celestial lighthouse storm driven clouds ,

Smiled all its gold upon our golden lives .

s unful Long days , loud with a thousand songs ,

m o onful Lon g nights , calm with a thousand flowers , Visions and vistas of seraphic halls

o n Passed by in thought , as her lips I reeled , Throwin g my life away like lees Of wine !

A R Y J A N U 12 , 1874 .

74 DREAMS AFTER SUNSE T.

E SO NN ET I MPROVIS .

Tu rirais gentiment, coquette j ouvencelle ,

e e t Si j te murmurais doucem ent tout bas ,

’ ue e Q mon coeur t appartient , que j te trouve belle ,

’ u un un E t q baiser mignon vaudrait noir trépas .

e t Ah , oui , tu sourirais , la brune étincelle ,

e un Jaillirait de tes yeux , si j faisais pas ,

’ d e s é re r Pourquoi me permets tu p , ma cruelle ,

’ ’ e ne m aim e s Quand j t adore tant , si tu pas ?

T on coeur est donc fermé a triple cadenas ?

s - c e un ? M ai , est bien coeur Non , une citadelle ,

’ ’ u il d as s a ut Q faut prendre a grand renfort de bras .

’ le e fidele J en ferai doux si ge , alert, armé , ,

e Pour conquérir ton coeur, mais si j tombe , hélas ,

Daigneras tu panser ma blessure m ortelle ? L S INDA AND PA QUIN.

! LINDA AN D PASQUI N .

“ P I E E A S AN SH L G ND .

Hail t o thee ! noble sunny land o f Spain !

Lan d of delirious loves : land where the brain

- ’ Of giddy youth with feverish sap o e rflows :

t h e Land where inn er soul with passion glows ,

Fed by th e dainty sweetness of the grape ,

e That luscious n ectar sourc , from whence escape

The fiery fumes of fiercest lust , an d sin ,

Which mortals gloat , an d pride to revel in .

Fair land o f love ! fair lan d o f j oy and song !

’ Where m aiden s a rde nt kiss is sweet and long ;

- Land where the beauteous coal eyed péris dwell ,

Whose vaulted , adamantine bosoms swell

With overwhelming riotous unrest ,

A last fond relic of the Moorish zest ,

’ Which courses m adly thro their purple veins ,

An d never ebbs by cloy, and never wanes .

Lan d where the savory pungen t win e o f gold

Sparkles in limpid witchery untold ,

m ritten b th e auth o r th en s ixt en ears f T h e first po e w y , e y o age . DREA MS AFTER SUNSE T.

Kindling chaotic amorous desire ,

Stirred by its glowing fumes of liquid fire ,

Which gayly ch ant a gurgling Bacchic hymn ,

’

When trickling from the goblet s m assive brim .

Land where soft dainty languors scent the breeze ,

’ Wafted from maiden s breath to fan the trees ;

’

Where ev ry bird that owns a pearly note ,

Trills it with rapture from its feathered throat ,

With warbling grace , to thank its loving God ,

Fo r havin g placed it on thy genial sod .

Lan d of the valiant Cid ! land o f the s word !

' Land o f the j uicy fig ! tis thee I laud ! Land where the sun glints on the chilly steel ! h T rice n oble art thou , proud , antique Castille .

Oh happy land where joyou s echoes ring,

o f ! Lan d the brave an d fair of thee I sing .

My lay is but a legend drear, an d sad , A tale of fancy weird— if not of mad

- o f A lon g lost echo a byg one time . A tale of horrid horror— yet no crim e

’ ’ t h e o e rfl owin Is added to world s g list .

This legend came and went , as , when the mist

’ Lingers and floats over the mountain s brow ,

o ne Fading ben eath the sun , no kn ows how ;

And yet this Spanish story quaint and vague ,

to Strikes the vital chord , like pest and plague , L A N D P A s I N INDA oU . 77

t The sickened heart wi h uncouth tremor fills ,

’ And ev ry listen ing fibre awes , and thrills , For nothin g stranger than this wild conceit

’ o to Has chanced the w rld s absorbing eye meet .

’ d off Guadal m vrr s Loope the q golden strand ,

fluc tuan t By perfumed breezes softly fanned ,

’ Rests fair Seville ; the swarthy Spaniard s pride ,

Where silvery rippling streamlets err and glide, r ’ “ Molten from out the avine s wastes of snow,

lo w Dashin g imperious with a gurglin g ,

’ In argent sheen , thro vin e clad dell and lea ,

T o min gle with the placid cobalt sea .

’ Piercin g the gian t Sierra s gloom and shade ,

’ o e r A dazzling sun shon e the leafy glade ,

' Blending i ts flo o ds - o f ~ light and aureate rays

’ - With coming night s soft lilac tinted haze .

s o f Here, on the outskirt the city stood

of A cottage , built rough Cordova wood ,

o f Half hidden in a maze fragrant flowers ,

Which , deftly creepin g up from sunny bowers , o ’ En twine , an d nestle round the win d w s sill ,

And all the air with balmy odor fill .

’ A patio s spacious court , where fountain s play

Jutting forth foamy floods of crystal spray , DREAMS AFTER SUNSE T.

o ld Is decked with porcelain tilings , and quaint ,

Of mottled hue , and irridescen t paint ,

o f A lasting vestige the dusky Moors .

’ a The zulej o s beauty still allures ,

' A stranger s eye by rich and varied tint ,

’ When shining softly in the sun s keen glint .

fl o we r- A maiden from the wreathed window gazed .

Her two large flashing orbs with passion blazed .

Aye , passion reveling in every gleam — Passion of touchy fle s h passion o f dream

’ Passion which could have turned Hell s bile so sweet,

That any , willing , would its torments meet, f If only once before the suf ering hour, ’ ! Rapt , they could feel her eyes Circean power

Fairest and noblest o f Seville was she

Fairl— o f for her lucen t locks ebony ,

Each glorious , undulating silken tress ,

’ She wreathed and braided for her love s caress .

Far better than a Queen was Linda crowned ,

t o For her black hair trailed nearly the ground , — An d almost touched her dainty foot s o small

’

That a man s closed palm could have held it all .

’ Still at her open window Linda s eye ,

’ Scanned ev ry cavalier that loitered by ; L S INDA AND PA QUIN. 79

And anxious waited for th e dusky night

To speed the blessed hour of her delight ,

For well she knew that in her willing arms ,

Her lover soon would taste her regal charms .

’ A t las t ni a o n ght s shy rays Seville fell ,

’ The o ld Cathedral s rusty iron bell

Tolled o n the air with heavy mournful drone

Its mellow harmonies o f monotone

Ringing that vesper hour had come again ,

T o o f rouse the pious chord holy Spain .

- An d as the lon g veiled sinners sped to pray ,

b - Seville could count another y gone day,

’ While from the Heaven s canopy afar,

The stars shone on the gilded Alcazar .

f t he o h n So t was so t in g air, serene the ight ;

’ The pale moon s opal fulgor , chaste and bright ,

- Tinted the lilac colored roofs with glare,

An d shed its phantom suaveness o n the Square ;

An d as it shon e with magic virgin power,

Deep clan ged the stirring midnight holy hour, And as the last dull echo faintly b’ oomed Out on the noiseless air—there sudden loomed A young and gallant looking Cavalier

- - Whose pronged steel tipped spurs , rang bell like DREAMS A FTE R SUNSE T.

’ ’ ‘ Whene er they struck the pavement s rugged stone ,

Blending metallic with his baritone ,

o n As he paced , clad in a mantle gray ,

o f Humming the chorus some ballad gay . ’ — Firm o n a polished rapier s hilt his hand

Gracefully rested , while the shade he scanned ;

His suelte , an d manly form was tightly wrapped Close in a flowin g mantle ’s fold— while capped

With a sombrero , and its trailing plume ,

The youthful figure eager pierced the gloom , As from his carmin e lips he idly blew

o f Thick smoky clouds opalescent hue .

o f Scarce had the dying bell midnight tolled , When Don Pasquino round his body rolled k ’ His trailing cloa , and thro the stilly street h Was eard the sounds of flying footsteps fleet .

’ Thro curved windin g lane , and alley dark ,

Lightless and drear, save when the spark

Of silvery starlets twinkled overhead ,

The ardent lover to his trystin g sped .

’ Past ghastly kirk , an d convent s chilly shade ,

Onward he strode, clasping his trusty blade ;

’ ’ While thro the city s lonely squares he passed , A nd from the Opaque gloom emerged at last

82 DREAMS A FTER SUNSE T.

’ Fo r two fond hearts when cloyed by am rous rage — On Earth live moments but in Heaven an age !

When from the erotic tran ce the pair awoke , On bended knee the noble Pasquin spoke

uie rda Linda q , hear my fervent prayer,

Undo thy glorious wealth o f ebon hair ;

Let it descend in wavy floods o f sheen

’ O er the rich , glossy , crimson nectarin e

o f O f thy soft cheek , bedimmed by tears lust ,

Down o n that throbbing breast which I can trust

' o f e t To ch oke and kill m e in its folds j .

Strangle my sobs within its playful net .

Consent I pray thee Linda, quick unloose ,

’ Then , let m e madly drink thy kisses j uice ,

o f Sweeter by far than nectar the vine ,

ar De er to me than gems from Oural mine , And let me inhale thy hot an d perfumed breath

Clasped in thy arms , let Heaven come in Death !

But now the night was waning into day ,

Pasquino donned once more his mantle gray ;

Stooped low to kiss again his mistress fair,

And scent the odor of h er wavy hair .

Then sure to - morrow th ou wilt come ; she cried

As to his waist , his glitterin g sheath he tied . L A N D P A S I N QU . _ INDA

t I kn ow not what strange fancies fill my hear ,

But sigh to see thee o n this morn depart ;

’ n Strange bur ing fever simmers thro my brain ,

I feel mysterious throbs in every vein ;

My frame is hot with love , while many a whim , m And fancies vague, yeyes with lan guor dim

’ — I m sore unwell fear no t it is with cloy

M fo r y love thee is free from all alloy ,

h o t My breath is quick and , and my dull eyes , When glancin g not upon the form I prize

S o madly , close in riotous repose ;

Dreaming my bosom by thy kisses glows .

Pasquin o smiled : The morning ray s come fast,

’ Another kiss my darling, tis the last

s o But let it be so lon g, so deep , true ,

That its sweet roscid thrill , and perfumed dew , — — s m li s a nd Will bles y p ; animate my frame , ” c an Till I another sweeter one claim .

The mad kiss echoed : and the lover lept

From the high balustrade , and swiftly crept

Over the garden wall , while brisk and clear,

’ o n His distan t footsteps fell Linda s ear .

‘

Across the plaza smoking a cigar,

Pasquino wandered towards the Alcazar,

o n Gazing with rapture its Moslem grace ,

’ ’

Tho haunted still by Linda s fairy face . DREAMS AFTER SUNSE T.

And as he soared in fancies born of air,

’ - o e r A well known voice resounded the square , ! Oh la amigo , what art doin g here ? Santa Maria ! can it be a tear I see in thy blue eye my loyal friend ?

Some tale o f love no doubt ; come tell the end

A lz am r To me , thy old and faithful o ;

I can console thee , as I have before .

Let us away , arouse thee from this trance,

’ ' At Pipo s , there s a supper, and a dance

S -o listen frien d Pasquino , cease to pine,

u s old Come let quaff the rich Spanish wine ,

That cheers the soul , an d forces out the wit ,

And surely will dispel this gloomy fit .

’ - Besides , to night , so runs Seville s report

’ Four almées from the sultan s harem brought ,

Will dance a quaint and novel saraband :

- Such as has never in this ill starred land ,

Been rivaled by our native Spanish girls ,

In spite of winning grace , and lascive twirls .

o ff - Come , come , shake this mystery ill timed , The convent bells for m atin prayers have chimed

Thy black - eyed Dulcinea dreams of thee

’ ’ ‘ ’ P rh — a ae m ” aps in another s arms but y i . w Scowl n ot so fiercely , kn owest ell I j est

’ t Pray cease that vacant stare , and heed my ques .

DREAMS AFTER SUNSE T.

Him in her arms , an d with a drunken stare ,

’ ’ Watched the young n oble neath the candle s glare , An d gently with his auburn ringlets toyed

Till with her glandered kisses tired and cloyed ,

Her sn aky grasp h e from his neck unwound ,

And balm in sleep , for all his sorrows found .

lewdis h Two weary days in orgies , feasts ,

’ The friends in Pipo s den , like savage beasts , X Sipped the fire eres , till the writhin g brain ,

Revolted bitter from the stringent drain .

Their gayest sonn ets seemed both flat and sad ,

’ fl e e c e d And of ev ry duro that they had , The couple left the hole with nerveless feet

And tottered slowly to the quiet street . The evening breeze fannin g his aching head Pasquino bade his friend farewell— and sped

’ Towards Linda s home, while as he paced alon g

He hummed the fragments of a ribald song .

Though mazed with liquor, h e could still discern

c o tward The road , an d every winding turn ;

But still his speech was quaverin g an d thick , — His heart was in a glow his brain was sick .

Scaling the patio wall , and balustrade ,

Temulent Pasquin , fearless , undismayed

n - Entered with trembli g step the well known room ,

Where naught illumed the deep and heavy gloom , L A N D P A S I N INDA QU . 87

Save the gair lustre o f a flickering lamp

’

Which vacillated n eath his heavy tramp .

” T wo s! ! day two lonely nights he murmured low, Have I been absent ! —what a cruel blow !

’ I think I h ei r my Linda s breath : she sleeps

And in her dreams for lost Pasquino weeps ; “ That rotten wine , he moaned , my sense has dazed ;

ai And , stumblin g towards the bed , the curt n raised .

Yes ; there she lies , in all her beauty grand , Her cru cifix clasped in her lily hand !

Her lustrous eyes slumbering in sweet repose , Her tresses falling in voluptuous flows !

Desire intense these regal charms Inspi red

’ By this fair sight Pasquino s lust was fired ;

’ H e saw naught save the moment s wild delight ,

m o ve d b a r o ut And y dor fierce, blew the light ,

’ ’ While o er fair Linda s sleeping form he bent

’ And Xeres fumes flame to his passi on lent

For drun k alike with wine , and drunk with bliss ,

Like molten lava fell each fiery kiss,

While all the martyr saints of holy Spain ,

a To check his frenzy would h ve cursed in vain .

’ His wavy mind heard Linda s amorous scream ,

’ H is ey e distinctly saw A er ey es wild gleam

Of ardent might , and ecstacy supreme .

H e saw and felt it all , that wild , wil d dream , 88 DREA MS AFTER SUNSE T.

— Till pleasure was a pain and , worn of zest

He sank inert upon her granite breast .

And there by cruel memories rent an d torn ,

He lay unconscious till the early morn .

The sun ’s first beams shining on fair Seville

’ Awoke Pasquino , and tho drowsy still ,

H e rose , and stirred his weary sluggish frame,

o f Which bore the iron trace care and shame .

x Placidly dreamin g , from all care e empt ,

Lay beauteous Linda , wreathed in floods unkempt Of raven hair falling in ringlets sleek

Upon her shoulders fair, an d dimpled cheek .

So , Pasquin o lightly lept upon the floor

But as h e dressed , there cam e before the door

A cowled and wrinkled priest , of mien severe

— O f All draped in black aspect sad and drear . “ — he Youn g man what business brings you here said .

And frowning , added , pointin g to the bed

Why dost thou thus this lady here molest ;

Pray tell me stran ger, what is thy bequest

Most holy father , can I be so free

T o ask why such strange questions come to me ?

Yonder reclinin g lady is my bride ;

And last night only I slept by her side .

Youn g man , with trembling voice the priest replied ,

Against the holy church thy tongue h as lied .

DREAMS AFTER SUNSE T.

— Sunken and grim closed are those nitid eyes ;

’

That supple , plian t form ne er more shall rise .

Death my young friend is a most fearful scourge . ! But hark I hear the distan t funeral dirge,

Whose dreamy cadence thrills the morning air,

o f o ne Sung for the lasting peace so fair,

Whose soul has fled up to a happier sphere ,

” two cla s Whose body for y has rotted here .

The horrid tale in all its awful truth ,

Stung like a scorpion on the shuddering youth ,

Who now recalled full well the scene gone by,

And sank upon his knees with painful cry ,

’ Gazed at the priest , an d at the one he d lost ,

With maniac leer, then on his bosom crossed l His trembling arms , and fe l upon the floor

With \ ne o convulsive sob , to rise no m ore ! — MOON MUSIC. 91

— MOO N MUSIC .

Blond moonbeam s shine in symphonies o f light

Upon the surface of a sleeping lake,

Blue shadows , deep in dorman t depths opaque

Flit under dainty ripples , moonlit, bright ,

o f Aroun d , the myriad voices the night

’ Blend with the m oon s vague son g, and make s Wonderful concert of soft tun es , that break

t oneful : In foam , in sheen , in soulful flight

Sound like the kiss o f wave upon a pearl

sh - t f Soun d like the - fle hrill o an amorous girl

i s no Mus c so dreamlike ubtle , that ear

o f c an Save that muser enj oy Its balm ,

Soun d like the murmur of a falling tear

Soun d like a twilight hush of endless calm . 92 DREAMS AFTER SUNSE T.

T URQU ERIE .

K T O M Y ANDJ AR .

! ’ Allah tis sweet thy blue steel to caress,

Cold , glittering as a star,

And in warm palms its rubied haft to press ,

Oh beau tiful Kandj ar .

I love to follow on its living sheen ,

Each undulate , graceful curve ,

An d count the florid arabesques between ,

That fuse and coil and swerve .

From hilt to tip one pure and shining line ! They charm my enamored eyes

’ Allah be praised , thy Prophet s word divine

Along each keen side lies .

- Friend of my warring life , what makes to night Thy flawless splen dor fade ? Dost thou need Giaour blood to burn more bright ?

Speak , proud and fearless blade .

DREAMS AFTER SUNSE T.

SONNET .

’ e Petit lutin d amour, dans ta grace mutin ,

e t s édius le Tu sais charmer les sens tu coeur . E t les j oyeux éclats de ta voix argentine ,

R é s onne ut gentiment de j oie e t de bonheur .

Sous le j ais animé de tes yeux j e devine

’ ’ D ado rable s d inn o c e nte trésors candeur,

E t le ta taille qui sous satin se dessin e ,

’ é d e nivrante Promet des volupt s langueur .

T o n coeur m e gnon pourtan t est froid comme

’ e un s e ffac e Sur ta l vre baiser facilement ,

' E t 5 ma passion tu u aj o ut e s pas foi

ri h ur n e e Ta g e veut pas qu lle soit partagée , e Mais si j e te tenais une heure pr s de moi ,

Galat heé Ton sein de marbre palpiterait . FANTAISIE .

FANTAISIE .

—“ a e in t r tarb ouke d Dr p d ligh obes , with noul ,

h to m I love , alf dreamin g, ad ire

’ My chibouque s round an d polished bowl ,

’ And watch the glow of opium s fire .

ac arat l N , go den , from my soul

Its sensuous crackling c an Ins pIre

Rare fancies , which my mind console, m When fadin g in each s oky gyre.

An Indian temple , massive , grand ,

’ Loom s fore my sight , an d towers In air

’ b a so re e re r s Erected y hand ,

Of architecture strangely rare . While near its sculptured portals stand

Cohorts of slaves , and almées fair,

- Dancing their quaint tuned saraband ,

- With bronze tanned skin , and floatin g hair .

I rove within the Shiraz vale ,

Where onyx fountains j ut an d play ,

Where budding roses , pink and frail ,

’ B enfl rorid neath their floods of spray ; DREAMS AFTER S UNSE T.

I slumber midst the lilies pale I ’ listen to th e linnet s lay, f The subtle powers I quaf , unveil

o f Sweet dreams everlasting day .

Far in a mosque I can discern ,

’ ’ Vis c hno u s and Siva s altars high ; I see the sacred fires that burn

flam ele ts With quivering to the sky .

dolm an e d I see the Guebers stern ,

o d Worship their igneous g , and try

With contrite hearts to win and earn ,

The honor by his hand to die .

I soar in dreams , and ravished hear,

Sung by som e bard of Gulistan ;

rho allak A soothin g to the ear , An echo of the caravan

Which passes by , morose and drear ,

Out from the town ; while , mute , I scan

kand are d The j guards , with uncouth gear ,

Pacing the streets of Ispahan .

’ e On fair Corea s shell d stream , My fancy floats without restraint ;

Pagodas , wrou ght in porcelain , teem

O n every side , of fabric quaint .

R DREAMS AFTE SUNSE T.

’ An d fore the shrines, so chill and swart

’ s uff rin Kneel g sinners , bent by care ,

- As on the rough hewn steps , the mart

h us tle Begin s its , and its blare .

’ The opium s Spirit , ah my quest ,

Changes the scene t o fair Seville

- Where alamedas , sun love blessed ,

The atmosphere with perfumes fill ,

While j et - eyed damsels err or rest

Beneath the shade of trellised vill ,

Taunting their gallants to a test,

An d time with cigarillos kill .

Chia a Along the j , as I stroll , Vesuvius belches forth its fire

I tro nl But can free , untrammeled

Deep in its j aws , and brave its ire . e With wing d feet from pole to pole ,

The spirits lead and never tire .

The depth of depths is then my goal , The inner world is mine entire !

’ o f Th embattled turrets the Rhin e ,

nd no w Sombre a breme, greet my sight ’ O e rh ead the lucent asters shine ,

Shedding their calm opalin e light . FANTAISIE .

e I see within , late with wine ,

o f The earnest face dame and knight , Quaffing the nectar of the vine n Narrati g tales of love and fight .

t Th e Wi hout; I see mystic dells ,

fire - The frisky , h aired gnomes at play

’ I hear the dorf - kirk s mellow bells

’ ’ I wand rin hear the g minstrel s lay .

- The Elfen King his host expels ,

To gambol till the dawn o f day

While ouphs an d fairies brew their spells,

And toothless witches seek their prey .

’ On E gypt s arid wastes , the Sphinx

no w - Startles my mind , opium drunk

thou ht un ve d My chain of g r gy by links ,

on Deep the dreggy Nile is sunk . e I h ar the snorting of the lynx ,

’ ’ The egret s shriek , the crane s dull crunk , The mammoth eye of Memnon winks

- Chillin g my ken , smoke worn and shrunk .

’ I see huge Cheops tortu ous crypt,

Its labyrinths so chilly dark :

- I see its antique vaults tim e nipped , Its shriveled mummies stiff and stark I OO DREAMS AFTER SUNSE T.

The ibex and the sacred script ,

’ o dd The Copt s hierarchic mark ,

The iron urnle t s j ewel - tipped

o f And cinerous wealth dust and chark .

- Fleeing cloud wrapped , refreshed , I pass

From out the sod o f colcothar : To view the giant Kremlin ’s mass

’ ’ Novgorod s domes , and Kazan s star .

Here hirsute mouj iks rough and crass ,

Swear by their saints , and by their Czar

’ ' o f s O er ev ry mug creamy Kva ,

They tipple with their Kaviar .

My b almful drug lends power to sate The novel yearns for which I ache

e Its g nii , as I meditate

My thirst for airy whims can slake .

And with their skill , by gods innate ,

’ O er worlds an d spheres my spirit take,

- Until my sleep cloyed eyes nictate,

And I from my mad wanderin g wake .

102 DREAMS A FTER SUNSE T.

PAPA ’S ASLE EP

’ I m little Tot, an d every day

When light peeps through the shutter,

I get up happy, fresh and gay ,

Ready for bread and butter .

But first I beg Go d in my prayers

T O have me in his keeping, And then I softly creep down stairs

While everyone is sleeping .

For I am five years Old , an d go

About the house at pleasure ;

My papa calls me pet ; I know

’ ’

I m mamma s darling treasure .

S O I find papers on the mat,

And see what has been written , And then I breakfast with the cat And feed my little kitten

A wicked pussie, black as ink ,

o ne O Without bit f mercy, ’ L PAPA S A S EEP . 103

Wh o scratches me before I think,

o Old And bites my po r nursie .

But still I love it when it purrs ,

o r Much more than j am honey ,

“ ‘ Fo r when I dress it up in furs

s o And rags , it looks funny !

t And then I have a lit le pup ,

Whose hair is frizzled nicely ,

’ ' u An d he s awake when I get p, ’ c At six O clock pre isely .

We play together for an hour, He ’s wolf and I am shepherd And then I build a big block tower

For Dollie and my leopard .

in And I have soldiers dressed mail ,

T o set upon the table ;

While pussie kills them with her tail ,

As fast as she is able .

Then up the stairs I slyly creep ,

Doggie behind me leaping ,

’ And in my papa s bedroom peep, Where he is soundly sleeping ; I$4 DREAMS A FTER SUNSE T.

s And though he never move his eyes,

I s ometimes think h e sees me ;

s o And when he snores loud , he tries T O frighten m e and tease me .

But I am not afraid at all ,

s o He looks nice and cosy , And so close to his side I crawl

T O tickle his fat no sie ;

An d then , before I h alf have done ,

never He never, misses

To catch me when I try to run , And sm other me with kisses !

106 DREAMS A FTER SUNSE T.

SO NNET .

The garden , crowned by soft and fragrant June ,

Blooms nonchalant beneath the mute, blue sky .

fl ee c In y shoals the stainless clouds pass by .

’ Each poplar quivers to a linnets tun e .

o f The souls roses by the zephyrs strewn ,

Perfume the air in myriads ere they die ,

And seem in redolent agony to lie , O Lackin g the benediction f the moon .

An aureole Of light tints every tree ,

O f Nature unsullied dreams her dream love ,

Wooing the sun unto her nuptial bowers ,

And , in the emerald distance , I can see

’ A maiden , white as Aphrodite s dove Pass like a queen amid her sister flowers ! BAH! 107

BAH !

I .

v I see ten thousand men ad ance,

With musket , cannon , glave and lance ;

They fight until the soil is red ,

to And half have gone meet the dead .

at a

- While In a village church , not far away ,

I hear the austere , bearded preacher say ,

Poor mortals here below ,

God flo w Praise from whom all blessings .

II .

I see a mother hold her child ,

d file A shrunken thing by croup e d.

She counts its sobs , she counts its sighs,

And in her nerveless arms it dies .

i k 6k 6?

- r no t While In the village chu ch , far away ,

I hear the austere , bearded preacher say,

Poor mortals here below ,

Go d fl o w Praise from whom all blessings . 108 DREAMS AFTER SUNSE T.

III .

éunn I see a fertile , y town ,

on Fruitful mountain slope and down .

and few Pest passes ; a remain ,

To registrate the cruel bane .

at

- no t While in the village church , far away , d I hear the austere, bear ed preacher say,

Poor mortals here below,

Praise Go d from whom all blessings flow .

I I O DREAMS AFTER SUNSE T.

MY LOVER .

I know that beauty incarnate is my own ,

That languid sunbeams slumber in my eyes ,

- o n That n o gem glitterin g Queen Asian thron e , e With my unique and peerless splendor vi s .

P hr né While Venus , y , Aspasia , h ave not shown

Such rare perfection in such perfect guise .

- Yet no sweet love word ever lulled my ear,

I pass in my magnificence unwed .

Men that might win me , seized by some vague fear,

Tremble at my approach and turn the head ,

c And even dumb beasts to whom all folk are lear,

o n Ca wild eyes m e and crouch down in dread .

I understand the awful mystery n ow ,

' o ur Beyond mind s conception , so supreme

no t o r That I dare rebel question how ,

An au gust presence in a shadowy dream

Told me its grandeur, and hath made m e bow

s eem Humble and mute before the things that .

’ I know my radiant beauty s flawless worth ,

’ ’ My tresses ebon and my great eyes light, L M Y O VER . 1 1 1

ff o f Are price and O ering no mortal birth ,

An d were not fashioned fo r the ravished sight

Of amorous beings on this common earth ,

fo r But a lover Of far loftier right .

I haste t o meet - h im when the swift rain drips

’ Thr o o fern and f rest , palpitan t and warm ,

o n I feel his passionate kisses my lips ,

When sensuous winds caress my swayin g form .

’ I note his j ealousy by the moon s eclipse,

i His roused mistrust in every madden ng storm .

Fo r me the gold auroras bud and bloom , w He doth possess my spirit every here ,

I wait his advent in the m ad s im oum

His messages Of love burn space an d air . In dawn ’s great glamour and in night ’s grave gloom

in e is - to I am k t rapture moods share .

'

H e shakes the trembling earth at my command ,

c an n One glance Of mine calm his puissa t ire,

I hold the fate Of nation s in my hand ,

As weak and fragile as a rotting briar ,

And in the livid , lurid lightning grand

’ I see his eyes gleam on me thro the fire .

s The great sea, l ike a paniel at my feet ,

’ Bounds up and fawns where er I chance to go , 12 S U N S E 1 DREAMS AFTER T.

The sheen o f perfect stars is only m eet

o f Amid the perfumes my hair to glow ,

My regal lover, should my eyes entreat ,

Would to me immortality bestow .

’

Thought s veil of darkness has been cast aside,

I dare n ot doubt, I can but tremble and see f With aw ul fear, yet with a speechless pride

That this inevitable thing must be ,

I kn ow my beauty has been deified ,

I know that God is amorous of me .

1 14 DREAMS AFTER SUNSE T.

PERHAPS .

Are we poor mortals confidently sure

o ur That it is right to say friends are blest,

When they have left us for a tomb impure , And go to what is called eternal rest ?

o ur Should we maintain as truth within souls , That they are indefectibly content ?

That they have vanished to celestial goals , And grieve to hear us woefully lament ?

Must we of simple faith forever trust

That utter peace is given to decay ?

Must we believe men mutely turn to dust , And are inanimate till the Judgment Day ?

! Ah no, alas an d those we worshiped so,

Buried in dim , sepulchral crypts an d chill ,

May be alive in ways we little know , ff ! May think , may love , may yearn , may su er still

Awful and silent an guish may have dwelt

In flesh inert , the world no longer kn ows , P E R H A PS. 1 15

s And horrible Inferno may be felt ,

Ere sweet annihilation brings repose .

F o r the c offi ne d all numberless and dead ,

o f Freed from this life Of Odium and sin ,

wr i a e May ithe w th m dness in th ir earthy bed ,

Cons cious when putrefaction cloth begin !

o ne The we loved the most , in graveyards dark ,

s ob u May and sh dder at the fatal term ,

When over withered limbs unclean and stark ,

Lazily crawls the first dark eyeless worm .

! And ah , the agony that they may feel

The terror o f such solitude ! the hells

no Of thought word or image may reveal ,

- In tortured brains where hope no longer dwells .

v Quick , wild appeals and prayers would then be ain ,

ls Christ hears them not, the universe dumb,

lie And they may immovable in pain ,

Awaiting laggard rot that will not come . at ’k 3k i‘: 4k 4:

’ o u Therefore , Oh ye bereaved , whene er y see

The forms once cherished placed ben eath the sod ,

of ma Think with chilled , beating hearts what y be ,

And praise in your despair no callous God ! 1 16 DREAMS AFTER SUNSE T .

FR T H I N GS : O MILLERS AN D COQUETTES .

T HE MILLER .

sweeps about the lantern ’s

With wondering wing ;

no An d has sting , knows not Death is in the Poor thing

T E O H L VER .

knows n ot she is a coquette , And yet will fling

His life just blossoming,

please her idle whim , her luring Poor thing !

1 18 DREAMS A FTER SUNSE T.

INFLU ENCE .

I fear to guess why such a morbid mood

Should in my callous spirit slowly grow, But I have felt within me madly glow

An utter greed for desolate solitude .

Phantasmal fancies , bizarre and unwooed , Have urged me with resistless force to go

Where chill winds over cemeteries blow, d An d where among dank tombs the stran ge bir s brood .

Vague hands , invisible , have often led M y vacillating steps to such drear ways ,

I kn ow not wherefor, but in deep dismay,

’ O f Whene er I roam amid the hosts dead , I feel beside me in the spectral haze

O f The wan , attendant skeleton Gray . U SO VENIR . 1 19

SOUVENIR .

no that Imagine m breathless hour,

- ’ ‘ ’ W heri lovers thro the glimmering start !

Light steppin g t o the o mbre d bower a Where be uty trysts , to yield the dower,

who Which he deserves wins the heart .

e o f Mine , lov liest all , reclines, Looped in white fragrant folds— and dreams r One little arm in the other twines ; Her bosom ’s soft and round designs

- Show in the gas light sheltered beams .

’ s s Th o even leepin g, till she waits , For when I enter— turn the key

Her passioned sigh her dream relates ,

’ o e r re And her heart , the sphe d mates — Heave for my kisses and for me .

Her parted lips , her breath divine ,

Her soul unfettered, still I claim

— ’ For when I wake her she is mine , And I would rather life resign

’ Than ne er to feel it in her frame . 1 20 DREAMS AFTER SUNSE T.

Soft on the nest , and by her side ,

’ dro o I first p faint , with Love s amaze

’ Then , neath her torse , my arm I glide ,

Kiss to her lips the coral tide

to Kiss her eyes the sapphire gaze .

’ Tis all of Heaven , and all of Earth , To feel the rousin g poignant trust

Flame like a star, whose ardent birth

Might drain the spheres , to utter dearth ,

firm am e nt And burn a to dust .

That fulgid fervor welds us both ,

That lightning storm melts core to core ;

We n eed no pledge , demand no oath ,

Our hearts are throbbing troth to troth , O o

we i . l ve , we love , we know no more I

— — ’ ’ The morning gleams I go tis o er ;

The breeze comes fresh the lattice through ,

I hear the distant billows roar,

And ah ! they sigh upon the shore ;

o f Like memories my nights with you .

1 2 2 DREAMS AFTER SUNSE T.

L . DAVENPO RT .

A S T HAM LE .

Doubt plows deep furrows in thy restless brain ,

Filled with dull seeds that brin g no definite fruit ;

a With f ncies troubled , vague , irresolute,

It swerves to sweet , and strives to hush its pain !

Sure, and not sure , it vacillates again

no w Now fired by faith , sullen as a brute

In stupor ; while thy galled heart sad an d mute ,

fitful ! Struggles and doubts , oh pale and Dane

Interpreter of thoughts so grandly penned , Thy toil hath crowned them with an aureole

o h ! ! Of charm ; H amlet , lover, hater , friend

A rt With Art thine aim , with supreme as goal ,

o f The rich rare glories thy genius blend ,

Completing all in o ne great flood of soul ! “ ” S LL E L A . 1 2 . . DA VENPOR T O THE O 3

E . L . DAVENPORT .

" A S ’ O T E O H LL .

Oh , how my soul blooms up and clings to thine ,

’ When from the distant Turks thou c om s t t o claim

o f With artless diction and with pulse flame , Thy Desdemon a 's eager love benign !

Thy heart of bron ze by twenty wars untame , h T robs with delicious passion , leoline

’ Of force , yet like a child s in charm ; thine aim

Aspires t o cull what she would fai n resign !

But when Iago with foul phrasing tells

’ The bitter lies no scorn c an e er assuage ;

H o w thy swart face reveals the hidden H ells

That seeth e within thee , and mad tumult wage !

Then as thy frenzied an ger grandly swells , I love to hear the splendors of thy rage ! 1 24 DREAMS AFTER SUNSE T.

L . DAVE NPO RT .

A BE S MA C T H .

Ambition , like a cancer, rots thy breast ,

With furious spasms , while remorseful fear,

o f Whispers peril in thy coward ear,

o re s t Oh ! superstitious than e with dreams pp .

’ ’ n e e d s t Thou thy callous lady s hint austere ,

T o fully crush thy conscience and unrest ,

When in thy grave eyes one last pitying tear, Dries up and scorches hellward at her quest !

The shade of Shakespeare hovers through the gloom

o f Of vanished centuries , in the vale Death ;

It sees its buds o f fancy blossom and bloom

By thy fond art to flowers , and its stron g breath ,

Calls un to thee in rapture from the tomb ,

“ ’ ! ” Oh , son of mine , thou art my heart s Macbeth

1 26 DREAMS AFTER SUNSE T.

E . L . DAVEN PORT .

A S E U RIC HELI .

Thou art that puissant man who could withstand

The will of kings , who paved a gory way

’ Up to fame s temple : destined to command

With rigid brows , with cruel , crafty sway .

n o t France felt his might and dared disobey,

- When , scarlet robed , imperious , and gran d

He held her white throat in his bony hand ,

Stained with the blood o f Cinq - Mars an d Chalais !

History revived breathes in thy language terse

Thy brow is gray with shadows o f foul racks ;

Tiger then fox , thine iron passions wax

Strong, and tower up like some black plumed hearse !

’ For e en when hurling forth thy churchly curse , I see behind thee gleam the headman ’s axe ! “ ” L . L . 1 2 E . DA VENPOR T A S SIR GI ES 7

E . L . DAVENPO RT .

A S S I R GILES .

’ Ne er yet have passions with fierce pangs intense,

to Loomed up so grandly livid , defy With withering hate the awed and hollow sky As thin e ! they haunt the hot an d harrowed sense

With throes o f wonder ; from m ad lips thy c ry

Of rage , turns foam in its magnificence

Of utter anguish , while thy lurid eye

Glints through its blood in agonies immense !

o f ! Thou Kin g Tragedy, unique , superb

What triumph thin e to force stron g wills to start ! H ow sweet for thee to see the masses curb Their tremulous heads all haloed by thine art !

And feel the power the skeptic to disturb ; Thou peer of Garrick with a Talma’s heart ! 1 28 DREAMS A FTER SUNSE T.

CARLO S SOBRINO .

Though youn g in years , thou hast the sacred flame

’

In thee pure Gottschalk s dreamy graces shine , / is thine The soul of Liszt and Rubin stein ,

Fraternity with Chopin thou canst claim .

Plante and Thalberg both in thee combine ,

The highest sphere is thy ambitious aim ,

o f And thou can st tread the rugged paths fame ,

u Blessed by thy muse , melodio s an d divine .

Modest art thou , and fired by studious zeal ; t But ime will lead thee to the cherished goal ,

For thou hast feeling , sympathy , and soul ,

’ An d all thy master s meanin g th ou dost feel .

Therefore pursue thy way with fearless mind ,

And thou shalt be like all of these combined .

130 DREA M S AFTER SUNSE T

I PIETRO B IGNARD .

True art within your mind has found a shrine ,

Where fire and feelin g beautifully blend ;

T o role every n obility you lend ,

And skill with taste most soulfully combine .

R a oul sublime an d Gona rra benign

Find by your voice new beauty to commend ,

’ And faithless U go s pitiable end

’ Is , as the master s melodies , divine .

Your brow is decked and laureled by sweet fame , \ ’ An d i n art s annals your resplendent name

’ Will e er be greeted and will flourish long ;

For n ow an earn ed repose has come at last ,

And in the future , even as in the past ,

o f Admiring throngs will hail you King Song . K L TO A R FORM ES. 13 1

TO KARL FO RMES .

the vo lc e that slumbers in thy breast

’ Was once a Titan s , when the world was young,

While the grand echo o f the songs he sung

s Is n ow by thee in maj esty posse s e d .

The longings of the world it has expre s sed

In marvelous accents , and with puissant tongue ;

An d 10 ! it seems that thy great soul has wrun g

s The secrets from the demons and the ble t .

car And , when its grandeur falls upon mine ,

‘ o f ne o Full divi st p wer, in flawless ease ,

In chants sublime with mighty passions weighed ,

Ravished , I pause , and wondering, seem to hear,

o f Blent with the laugh Mephistopheles ,

The voice o f Peter preaching his Crusade ! 132 DREAMS AFTER SUNSE T.

CARL MARIA VO N WEBER .

’ Great dreamer, from the Schwarzwald s dreaded night ,

Thy spirit brought strange sounds to haunt o ur ears ;

Concerts sublime that teemed with ghostly fears , f And wondrou s strains that fill the soul with right .

But , with the dawn , thy muse leaps to the light ,

Dippin g white wings in hope that soothes and cheers ;

o ur Again , in sadder ways , it claims tears ,

Until thy waltzes to the dance invite .

Oh , perfect poet of the son gful heart , Thou hast combined in laughter and in pain

The varied moods within all bosoms rife .

And with a peerless grace and stainless art ,

Enchanter of the senses and the brain , Thy genius shows u s life and all of life !

1 34 DREAMS AFTER SUNSE T.

TO SARAH B ERN HART .

I hail you , holy an d en trancing nun !

o f Model sanctity and faith supreme,

You are of piety the living dream ,

Vestal , your soul is purer than the sun .

You are a thousand prayers all blent in one ! An gelic banners roun d your fair head stream ! Aureoles o f saintly glory on you beam !

o u You , y , alon e , on Earth have Heaven begun !

o And when I see you in your various r les ,

r-s You acred face hurls back all fears of hell , And with a faith intense mine eyelids close !

Then , I believe in most celestial goals ,

My thoughts upon religious matters dwell ,

For you are peace , and candor, and repose ! GE 0 VA ! WV] TA GLIAPIE TRA 135

GE OVA N N I T A GLIA PIE T R A .

I N F O T AV RI A .

Y ou sun g the n oble and the perfect part

’ Cas tille s a Of King with passion and with gr ce,

’ All Donizetti s spirit lit your face ;

The notes came trembling from your very heart .

I listened , raptured , to your flawless art ,

the To all mellow tone s that charmed the space, An d in your modulation I could trace

The magic source that made the warm tears start .

And as I gazed a strange an d m arvelous sound

’ Fell o n my ear at the finale s close

“ A sound that came alon e from heavenly lands ,

And then I un derstood , in wonder bound ,

’ o e r e Th at the grand , melodious tumult ros

’ t The ghos ly applause of Donizetti s hands . 6 R E 13 DREAMS AFTE SUNS T.

! TO VICTO R HUGO .

P O P T U IM R M .

Hail unto thee grand literary giant ! Great voice that rings am on g us like a thunder

Impeccable , unique , without a blunder, ! To all in Nature comprehensive , pliant

- In thy rare art , immense and self relian t ,

o ld Thy pure verse rends crumbling creeds asunder,

Genius supreme , strange and immortal wonder,

We love thy omniscient heart , thy soul defiant !

o f We love th e chan ges thy spirit tender,

Serene , maj estic bard with grave brows hoary !

o f The fortress thy will kn ows no surrender,

o f Poet , philosopher song and story,

no w Both foe and friend celebrate thy splendor, And unborn ages will proclaim thy glory !

! o n re e i in a lette r fro m him ;U p c v g .

S N S E 1 38 DREAMS AFTER U T.

FERDINAN D H ILLER .

T o - day thou standest laureled before all , Deep in the hearts of multitudes enshrined !

o f The soul music hovers in thy mind ,

And hastens on white pinions at thy call .

Thy great conception s manifold enthrall , And in the story of thy life we find

On e flawless record gloriously signed , And towers of strength that will n ot swerve or

’

Whene er thy strains are wafted to my ear,

bf t Full most sub le meanin g , sweet and strong,

I see in dream s the Rhenish vales in bloom , And with keen ravishment I seem to hear The mighty genius of old German son g Sin g to the stars beneath the Schwarzwald 's gloom ! E D E N E R VA L G RARD . 1 39

E D E G RARD NERVAL .

' ‘ gentle life was o ne lo ng spirit - dream !

Pale envy on thy white soul left n o stain !

M augre ingratitude , neglect , disdain ,

’ Thou he ld s t all men in sovereign esteem !

’ Poor wanderer through the earth s broad ways , thy theme

Was one of utt e rp e ac e ; thy charming strain

o ur t Lulled with delicious balm m en al pain , ! Greek in its Art , an d in its Faith supreme

Poet , the muse that such soft accents gave — To this bad wo rlch stronger than antique creeds

a Lives in our hearts , where n ught her beauty m ars .

so As thy calm life has been , is thy grave ,

Tranquil and sweet amid the flowers and reeds, Serene beneath the splendor o f sad stars ! 140 DREAMS A FTER SUNSE T.

LAN DSCAPE .

settin g sun begilds th e sand ,

- The pink tipped wavelets fall an d rise ,

Murmurless , as the rays expand

Their gold - streaked splendor through the

A beach of shells and oolites rare ,

' Receives the Ocean s cool embrace ;

Above , the osprey cleaves the air, f Soaring with curves o febrile grace .

No cot , no sward , n o trace of m an , No passing sail to intervene

Blue billows far as eye can scan ,

’ i Red heavens float ng o er the scene .

1 2 4 DREAMS AFTER SUNSE T.

LANDSCAPE .

— A mountain chain each sno w-bathed peak l Craggy and shapefu , drinks the mist .

- Below the cloud mark , eagles seek

- kis s t Their eyries by the sleet winds .

o f Mighty Titanic towers rock ,

Huge Lylac qs raised by giant h ands

T o climb to heaven , and to mock The power of God on holy strands

Lay crushed an d sundered , overturned ,

o f Chaos granite , earth and ston e

t Vas grave preadamite, well earned

F r f r o those who shaped it o a throne .

And when Night , hushful , inks the chain

’ With darkness , then the torrents roar

Soundeth like gian t lun gs in pain ,

n r f Cursi g their God fo sins o yore .

The souls and spirits of a race

’ s u fl e r Damned for all ages there ,

o f And caged in stone , bereft grace ,

Await their j udgment with despair . 143

ZAI DA .

Si e e il p y, languorous , time to beguile ,

’ h arnac s k Wrapped in a sil , indolent , rests i' Za da the princess of Egypt , whose j ests f Show all the pearl and the rose o her smile .

Eunuchs stand nigh to her waiting her quests ,

o n There far beyon d the rippleless Nile ,

Sluggishly dreams the uncouth crocodile ,

’ Dreamily rise the fair princess breasts .

f Thinks she o Maleb and closes her lids .

See yonder dus t n ear the gray pyramids !

is - Her Maleb coming the sand cloud attests , i' Za da has seen it and watched it awhile .

n w fiu t ant See o the c u wealth of her breasts , f See now the pearl and the rose o her smile . QUATRAIN .

’ A flowe re t culled by the Almighty s

Fell from His han d to Earth , It fluttered gently downward to the

And Italy had birth .

146 DREAMS AFTER SUNSE T.

’ Here s to that which soon or late ,

urne th T n oble men to brutes ,

Maketh vile what once was great . m Sip the nectar, thru th e lutes ,

fo r Rotting tree rotten fruits , Here ’s a toast to Hate !

Drink and drain , oh men of dust

’ Fill the toxic tankard s brim ,

Sin is sharp , it will not rust,

Howl the splendors of its hymn ,

Hell will clutch ye , gaunt an d grim

Ye who pledge to Lust .

’ Here s to th at which gnaws unseen ,

’ o f Thro all flesh a path blight ,

o r Gloamin g on the wench queen ,

t o Aidin g crime spoil and smite . Grim at day an d mad by night Here ’s a health to Spleen !

Naught of pure on Earth is left .

Dead are H onor, Faith and Hope .

Sin is King, and men bereft

Perish by the axe and rope .

D renc ht with night they dare not cope ,

’ Here s a pledge to Theft . MOODS OF MADNESS. 147

’ See the black wine s bubbling flood ,

c an Baal chuckle , Satan sneers ,

Hell yawns drowsily in mud .

Tell me wh at o n Earth appears

t o b o o t s Thus cause our and leers,

are pled ging blood .

’ Here s to Love and spare the stink ,

Gaudy flower with rot at core ,

’ Blooming on Hell s very brink ,

Mortals woo it , pray , implore ,

- Virgin skinn ed and heart of whore ,

Yet the world will drin k .

Famished fiends of fire and slime ,

Fill the awful bowl again ;

Quick , be spry , another time ,

i n Wa Pour nt and pour in Bane,

’ Here s to Passion and to Pain ,

’ Devils ! here s to Crime .

Fill again , men will not rest ,

i Blur with win e the r arid eyes ,

Sow the cancers in the breast ,

- Nearest where the heart blood lies ,

Teach fools how a leper dies , Let them drink to Pest ! 148 DREAMS AFTER SUNSE T.

Make the fetid cauldron flow ,

Murder reigns and men are slaves ,

There is place for more below,

Make fresh win e and dig new graves ,

Hear the bellowing crowd that raves ,

’ Here s to War and Wo e !

Search , I bid ye , pool and slough , Pour the gall from adders ’ stings

’ vo w In the wine , tis sour I ,

o f By the lying tongue kings ,

Now we n eed more bitter things ,

Men drink perj ury n ow !

’ ’ Here s to everything that s vile ,

Envious critic , crafty priest ,

’ fl atte re r s Faithless friend and wile ,

o f Bite of snake and hoof beast ,

o f Last , but the list not least ,

’ ’ Here s to woman s smile .

One more pledge , and drain it well ,

Pour the nightshade in the bowl ,

o ur As an gry anthems swell ,

Draw damnation to the soul , ! Up drink , drink the bitter whole , H ere ’s a pledge to Hell !

1 0 S U N S E T 5 DREA MS A FTER .

Why wouldst thou thoughtless Spurn the easing sweet

f -toucht I of er to thy spleen , waiting life

o f f - ? Of patient yearn , ba fled , heart hushed strife

Are not thy crying love - lusts sharp as knife

Dreamy as music ; hot as lava heat ?

Why , when I beg thee at thy tiny feet

? — — Dost thou refuse when body bosom rife ,

’ u ans we rin s Thy am ro s g my bold queries meet .

’ t ? If thy hear s fancy willeth , why delay

’ ’ For will it doth ; with youth s and craving s might

’ i Those r ot j oys , acme of world s delight

’ — s o Rest with thy simple soul s yea , ignite

n o f Crude , m orda t flames ardor, that can stay , An d check all sweeter blisses by their sway d Until dreams olden can a new ream cite ,

- s a t e c an d Till whims blood is fi d fa e away . L ANDSCAPE . 1 5 1

LAN DSCAPE .

“

' A s ky o f flame; the Ganges scorched

Sluggish and rippleless lolls by :

Marvels of stone , pillared and porched ,

i i o n Thrust the r p ed cupolas high .

’ o f - Almées eye k hol tinted , dance A mantling whirl beneath a palm , Where cloyed inert in haschisch trance

- A bronze Skinned Raj ah tempteth calm .

With garb striated , black as ink ,

Two Delhi virgins fan with zest ,

The musin g prince , whose senses sink

o f In promised dreams Zendavest .

’ Kus s ir s The melody , rich , deep

Fille t h with son g the arid air :

Cradled by rockin g rhythms, sleep

In hamac frail comes unaware .

alat e ~ s oft The kaat and sherbet p ,

Tip his hot tongue with cool surprise, 152 DREAMS AFTER SUNSE T.

mbrel An o shades , while far aloft

’ - The attar gulls sharp perfumes rise .

The subtle fragrance charms the birds

- Gold feathered . as they bless its sweet And warble unknown graceful words

Rhymin g with Sun , with Scent , with Heat .

154 DREAMS AFTER SUNSE T.

TH E PREACH ER .

A O C U RT ESAN SP EA KS .

’ Deep in the temple s gloom with j oy supreme ,

o f I listened to the music his voice ,

o f o ur ' The life meek Savior was his theme,

The agony on Calvary his choice .

Rapt an d entranced , I felt a holy power

’ Lift from my mind the pall of sin s eclipse , And drank the words that fell for one sweet hour

In warm persu asion from his sacred lips .

H e told the ever new an d wondrous tale ,

In puissant ways that made the fibers thrill ,

And swayed the congregation mute and pale ,

o f By the magnificent empire his will .

de e ros tartle d I felt my heart like some , leap

Within me , when with pious words that toss

And tear down unbelief, and make men weep ,

H e told the awful story of the Cross . T H E PREA CHER. 1 55

o f The fire faith glowed in his noble face,

It seems as if some scrap o f Heaven were sent

T o Wi move him th its glory an d its grace ,

s o He was so grand , so pure , eloquent !

nc l U hidden tears fi med his seraphic eyes ,

When in an ecstacy o f prayer sublime

’ : ! He cried Oh sinners, He whose love ne er dies Now bids ye all repent while there is time ! ”

He ceased ; he knelt ; the multitude all thrilled ,

In silence from the tabernacle passed ,

n But I , who was with thoughts co flictin g filled ,

n Stupidly stood and li gered to the last .

Then in my dazzled min d there slowly came

- s tron co nvic tio n o f The g some great distrust ,

o f There rose a sense infamy and shame ,

- A new born feeling of intense disgust .

F r o that same man who could such thoughts conceive ,

’ o f Wo e Who spake in that sweet voice Christ s great ,

' ’ H a d lzz rea me or M S lust t/za l S dbba flz eve f ,

' o ’ A A d was to meet me i n a Dagm . 156 DREAMS A FTER SUNSE T.

NIAGARA .

Chaos and void of worlds preadamite !

L lac s o f B ab e lian ! y q clouds , towers of air

- Maelstroms of seething elements , shade night,

Immensities of space , ignescent glare

! Of shiftin g meteors , dire , terrific , bright Bewildering grandeurs of a rising prayer !

fo r God heard your cries formal life , and light ,

- Pellucid , star sprent heavens glimmered , fair !

A world was born , vast shapes , grand seas were fused

In perfect symmetry , and naught accused

’ The Lord of folly, save Niagara s l and ,

Whose soul rebelled an d mocked a gift of mud ;

fire - o f So smote He it with glaive firm hand , The wound brings forth white cataracts of blood !

1 58 DREAMS A FTER SUNSE T.

SONN ET .

In great grand worlds above, my spirit soars ,

o ur Above turbid spheres , above in air : Roaming insatiate through the planet ’s glare

! to To sombrous vales sunless , moonless shores !

— In cloud -cathedrals prays it and implores The vital virile vim to win the rare

o f Prized benison reachin g region s , where

o f The souls fancy hide their precious stores .

! - Above above ! errs on my spirit thought ,

r fo r Spu red on to search things unseen , untaught ,

- Tremulous , hope girt , it pursues its flight Through skies crepuscular of lurid glow Bearin g back marvels from beyond the Night To feed my mind awaiting them below ! COL UMBIA TO CUBA . 159

! COLUMBIA TO CUB A .

k - wi l of i of d Har to a s d stress and sa ness ,

That soar on the blood - weighted air ; Hear the arrogant Spaniard in m adness ff Blend his laugh with thy su erin g prayer .

Hear his insolent anthems of gladness ,

Mock thin e agonized rendin g of hair .

t Thou has fought, and hast hoped , and hast waited ,

Oh Cuba, and still thou art stron g,

’ Thou hast curbed neath the wrath unabated, f Of tyrants who sco f at thy wron g . f Thou hast su fered their frenzies un sated ,

Thou hast bowed by their scourge and their thon g .

n We are wea ed of crime and of blunder,

We are wearied of darkness and gloom ;

We are worn of this rapine and plunder,

’ And the Spaniard s insatiable - tomb ;

While our ears are made deaf by their thunder,

Of cannon that crash an d that boom .

n ar u a unta s s i Originally written in Spanis h for th e Lo e St C b J A o ciat o n . and rente b th em in 8 d y 1 73 . 160 DREAMS AFTER SUNSE T.

o f Through the wail and the win d thy slaughters ,

Through the rise and the flow o f thy tears ;

’ T ho u im lo re s t o er g p our aid the waters ,

’ b e s t And thou g us to solace thy fears .

bewaile s t Thou thy lost sons and daughters ,

’

And thy green fields untilled thro the years .

Thou h ast given thy charm and thy beauty ,

Thou hast given thy body as dower ;

Thou hast languished core - stricken in duty

T o a rotten and dissolute power ;

T ho u has t l swooned in their clutch , and their booty

Though helpless they strive to deflower .

o f no w The red bann er Spain is flying , Her legions are thirstin g for lives We still hear the wan patriots crying

To martyrs who groan in their gyves ,

We are deafened by shrieks from the dying ,

o f We are blind by the glitter knives .

But enough of such tears and lamenting,

For the hour sounds to stifle all sighs ;

’ o e rwhelm To thy proud foes unrelenting ,

T o combat , to revolt , to despise ;

Thou hast lingered enough in repentin g,

’ Tis the time to awake , to arise .

M 162 DREA S AFTER SUNSE T.

’ o f We are tired the Spaniard s hot curses ,

We are tired o f their murderous threats ;

Their o ld roster of insults still nurses

Great fevers o f hates and regrets ;

Let us pay them with shrouds and with hearses ,

o ur Let the red blood then cancel debts .

’

Thro our can non sm oke shall ye the splendid ,

o f o ur Bright white standard acclaim ,

And the blue o f that flag will be blended

oh With thy heavens Cuba , th e same ,

o f While the wrath its crimson descended ,

Shall gleam through the blood and the flame .

B ut o f enough such talk and presuming ,

’ Tis no time to delay or inquire ;

’ ‘ Tis the hour the dark garb fo r assuming

Of a vengeance whose blows will prove dire ; We must answer thee Spain with the booming

O f cannon an d flashing of fire .

So succumb not to tears and despairing ,

- Oh Cuba, down trampled , defied ;

We will choke the wild beasts that are tearing ,

The flesh from thy blood - streamin g side ;

o u r Swoon n ot yet for armies are bearing,

That help which for years we denied . L CO UMBIA TO CUBA . 163

- ble s s t thy island then , sun and florid ,

T o o n thy homes the murmuring sea ,

o ur We will drag war chariots horrid ,

’ Thro thy legions o f foemen that flee ;

We will dry the deep wounds o n thy forehead a And procl im thee Great , Honored and Free . 1 64 DREAMS AFTER SUNSE T.

T H E JUNGFRAU .

! - Magnet of Ice white eyed , suprem e , immense ! Thy grand imperial whitenesses of awe

Blur all my songful thought , and potent , draw

' Into thy bosom s glooms my wanderin g sense ;

Rapt by the sheen diaphanous , intense

Of thy white virgin beauty , free of flaw .

’ Thy stiff cold tears of s dain that n ever thaw All promise death as choicest recompense

To me , if I but cling to thee and climb

Thy giant breasts of frosts , thy flanks of rime , Or scale thy treacherous steeps to topmost peaks And brave thy avalanche ’s dreaded flow !

Then shall I find what all my body seeks , A tomb sublime in seas o f endless sn ow !

166 DREAMS AFTER SUNSE T.

o n Titanic domes massive temples rose ,

’ Like a young giant Virgin s niveou s breast ,

- Chilling, soul thrillin g in their stern repose ,

As if defying gods , by gods unblest ;

and c re s t While pillars , columns , worked of plinth I ,

firm e s t Upheld the mass with strength , rugose .

And all was ice and all was white ; n o air, ! No earth , no flame ; all frigid , rigid cold

An icen labyrinth of gran d despair .

old The sad n ecropolis of a race now ,

for s innin s Damned anterior g manifold , By one chill glance of God ’s avenging stare !

The trees of solid ice had leaves of snow ;

Huge , pendent icicles from heights unseen

is Tw ted in uncouth shapes , while to and fro

o f e t - Swun g skies silv r fros , steel color, keen ,

o f Superbly m onotone phantom gleen ,

’ Veiling a pallid moon s blear , brumal glow !

Lon g lines of statues guarded every street ,

o f With cloaks rime , with trailing beards of hail ,

Frigidly gazing, with blank eyes discreet ,

From rough and icy socles , mute and pale ,

Waiting to tell their agonizing tale ,

Waiting some sympathizing face to greet . M OF I CE DREA . 167

And all was still : a silence kin to pain

t And desolate as dea h , sad , vague , austere ,

Save when the ech o o f some spirit - strain

- o f Murmured half frozen melodies fear . The ghastly moon would pause and disappear

u s a a Through h eles he vens , an d would come ag in .

’ o f ic Oh , twas a grand and mighty dream e !

o f : A poem white sn ows sublimest , grave,

Whose very dreariness would souls entice ,

fl us ht Souls and sick of terrene heats , who , brav e

Go d Would eagerly renounce our , and crave

r A tomb in this pale, pee less paradise !

An d I h ad seen it all ; my spirit paced

Those broad , bleak thoroughfares of gray and white .

No air h ad- I - to brea the ; my lungs were braced

o f With belts freezin g vapor, fresh and light ;

And,as I wandered on from site to site ,

My thoughts of fire this mortal chill effaced .

For well do I recall my dream , and see

‘ town The strange , fantastic of ice and rime ;

I still discern each palace , porch , and tree

That reared its splendor in this boreal clime ;

And I remember how , from tim e to time ,

n fo r I strove to cool my maddeni g love thee . 1 68 DREAMS AFTER SUNSE T.

SO NNET .

I fain would find the home my sorrows crave ,

A rocky shelter in some chill , still spot

Live, cenobite estranged , within a grot

Near sombrous firs ; where Alpine tempests rave

With roots to suck , and hot raindrops to lave

ro t My thirst ; secluded , would I live and

dru e t ' fo ul In gg , glad in my chosen lot ! Though still a boy , to tamper with the grave

Learn what I know , know what I learned an d sought , u o f Plow thro gh the sterile wilderness thought ,

o ld Muse on the myriad mysteries of ,

’ Curse every day an d hope twill be my last ,

’ o e r h o f Dream my wis ful life , its dreams gold , — Dream o f Eternity and o f the past !

When S ickness comes We strive to find our A las ! death has no

It is a sham . SONNE T.

SON NET .

' I once could weep when women wept ; their tears

t o f o r Whe her j oy or pain , love for me ,

fo r Moved all the meekness of my soul ; fears ,

'And terrene guiles had spared me ; I was free

‘ o f An d pure h oliest thought , yet young in years .

My lips breathed freshn ess and its sympathy .

The coreless skeleton of Time no w leers

o f Upon the threshold my soul . I see

o f Callous , indifferent , scenes blood and crime,

' oof des ar the The p p i , wicked upward climb ;

My trusts in love and youth I long have spurned ,

- My sinnin g life tides slowly D eathward creep ,

But o h ! ho w has my skeptic spirit yearned

T o shed one simple tear when women weep ! 1 7 2 DREAMS A FTER SUNSE T.

TWO LOVE STORIES .

The wan moon silvers with pale , sullen sheen

- A rose wreathed arbor near the sleepy Rhine ,

o f Which , like a wounded snake Damascene ,

o f Trails its dull length through leagues hops and vine .

A woman with cold , loveless eyes stands there ,

Spurning , as would the shadows of the shores ,

bo - A gentle y, with blonde an d wind loved hair, Wh o at her haughty feet his soul outpours .

She turns her head a cold smile to conceal , No pity curves her perfect lips to grace !— I Ah , God hear the ominous click of steel

His blood is hot upon her hateful face .

II .

A bi z a rre throng o f masks shouts loud and long ;

Great rockets seek the stars in fiery foam ,

While quip and j est an d laughter, kiss and song ,

o f Hail the first scintillan t carnival Rome .

1 74 DREAMS AFTER SUNSE T.

SON NET .

I of a fiend the heart had , thou as God

i - Good and most len ent , merciful soul kind ,

Forgave my mutiny and rebel mind ;

! ro d Aye when thy hand could wield the avenging ,

When at thy will thou couldst have crushed to sod ,

(Barren and foul of thou ght like mine , where blind

I culled the dirt I threw thee , hadst thou pined

’ T o hurl thy s dains upon my cringing n od

That all avowed !) yet thou wert nobly good , ’ As neath thy scathing gaze abashed I stood ,

Penitent , pallid by fierce shames , but thou — Pardoned me all m y heinous sin and more ; Does not the yielding wood of sandal bough Perfume the cruel axe that strikes its core ? i E YES. I 75

EYES .

‘ S ére ne blue eyes , m Seraphic , calm and li pid eyes , Reflection of a Paradise ! I gaze within their sapphire depths an d think

o r H ow like a bark my love might float sink ,

If. they should will it in such wise ;

t o And their chaste beauty seems me , ! Like some great , dreamy, treacherous sea

Thou ghtful gray eyes ,

Crepuscular, grave , gloomy eyes ,

m o l s s Bale as_ the o d e Northern skies ! I gaze within their cloudy depths and see

How all my love might wrecked and shattered

If they should will it in such wise ;

Cold an d tran sparen t as the ice ,

no . They feel n o passion , know vice

Radian t black eyes ,

Wonderful , scintillant black eyes , ’ ! Love s magnetizing , burning prize I gaze within their flashing depths and find 1 6 7 DREAMS AFTER SUNSE T.

The dainty , languid temptress of my mind ,

If they should will it in such wise ;

But their effulgence m urmure th

Of stran ge, mad passions , bringing death !

Winsome brown eyes ,

Light , laughin g, innocent brown eyes , Wherein a woodlan d idyl lies ! I gaze within their lucid depths and mark

The light that from my soul m ay chase the dark ,

If they sh ould will it in such wise ; The soul of some Greek dryad fair Has surely found its Eden there !

S ombre green eyes , s Strange , haunting , my tic , siren eyes , Teeming with promise and surprise ! I gaze within th eir misty depths and see

The eyes of Messalina dark on me ,

’ Whene er they will it in such wise ;

- Snake like , intolerant and warm , They seem to hiss with passion ’s storm !

Colorful eyes ,

Weird , variable, wonder eyes , Wherein a shadowy rainbow flies ! I gaze within their dazzling depths and love

1 78 D REAMS A FTER SUNSE T

SONNET .

out From the deep dark glooms of doubt and pain ,

’ - Thy love s star radiance , n ascent , soon shall shine , Splendent o f carnal glamour from thy brain

b e hue d Like precious stones in tints divine ,

That hide in dazzlin g depths a soul lon g lain ,

A spirit crystallized , infused , benign !

’

The gem ign ores its soul s deep glowin g vein ,

Thy soul ignores the gem - love that is thine !

But I! have come t o fray the path to spheres W hose secret thrills , whose diz zy height endears ,

Fo r I will revel in their glorious gloom ,

Born t o enj oy the wonders o f thine eyes

o f The riot splendors their vague perfume ,

Thy soft and amorous symphonies o f sighs K ISSES. I 79

KISSES .

“ ' re o f The s a kiss Nature charmin g,

’ to The fond mother s kiss her child .

’

The babe s fancied fears disarmin g,

o f s o By the touch her lips , mild

o f S That visions leep , alarming , f Fade ast from its mind beguiled .

i n o re th A kiss that g reason ,

o f Is the kissing roused desire .

’ t o Tis blind a future treason , And does naught of the past inquire For “ lust in season

Has the heat and the strength of fire .

’ There s a kiss o f noble pleasure

’ The lover s kiss to his bride .

An embrace that hearts c an treasure

With feelin gs o f j oy and o f pride ;

c an Till later , those hearts measure f The full flood o the marriage tide . 180 DREAMS AFTER SUNSE T.

There ’s a kiss as warm and winning

To the sense as golden wine ;

’ Tis the kiss of love beginning,

For whose magic , lips pout and pine ;

God pardons the bliss of sinnin g ,

For its essence is right divine .

’ — There s a kiss the kiss o f partin g ;

An unwelcome , sad embrace , When unchecked tears are darting

’ O er a pallid , anxious face , As the moment nears for startin g

’ O er treacherous seas and worlds of space .

’ There s a kiss of anguish , horrid ,

When Death comes to claim its prey ;

When blanched are cheeks once florid , When mourners kneel round and pray ;

o n That kiss a chilly forehead ,

When a loved life ebbs away .

1 8 2 DREAMS AFTER SUNSE T.

N PUNISHM E T .

The spirit of Darkness , when this shapeless sphere ,

Sped through vast spaces , barren , cold and lightless ,

Proud of its empire over chaos sightless , “ Cried unto God , Thy power I do not fear !

No will of thin e can my black glory mar, I shall exist supreme above and under !

And as it spake the heavens were rent asunder, While high in lumin ous air there dawned a star ! ROME. 183

ROM E .

Ruin rot their raging rule have rolled

’ o e r o f Rebellions , the glories thy dead !

not o f Recall regal dreams carnage red,

i Revels and tr umphs , routs and robes of gold ,

Revert no vain regret on splendors fled ;

Rude, rushing time , with rigid , ruthless cold ,

Ravishing , reckless , rusts thy royal head ;

- Ravages sanctuaries once rose souled .

' Rest ! in the rank recesses o f each dome

h - R ! o g r v , i m est and towwn re ered a sp rit ho e Ready wilt find hen worlds have passed away,

Regions of air an d odorous realms of sky .

o f Restored in spheres everlasting day ,

’ Rome thou shalt never know what tis to die ! 18 4 DREAMS A FTER SUNSE T.

BY MOON LIGHT .

to Through flowers and fern she hurries the tryst,

Love words in softest Tuscan , murmured low,

Pour through the coral o f her lips unkissed Our pent up passions with the same soul glow !

’ o n all While the road , before passers eyes ,

A rival in love , my master in all art ,

Tito Costanza bleeds and prays and dies ,

My keen stiletto in his hateful heart .

1 86 DREAMS AFTER SUNSE T.

TO NAPOLEO N .

E ' FT E . E R M U S A T S E O A ER READING MAD D M M IRS .

All carping fools that dream they h ave grown wise ,

Molest thy memory by a puny sneer,

- Snake like , at last , their noisome heads they rear,

And on thy splendor look with j aundiced eyes .

C They all thee tyrant in a thousand cries ,

While every deed of thine evokes their fear ;

o f While bowing before thee, wonder this sphere,

And at a name that never dies . ltrembling

Ah , let them in their coward stupor prate ,

mindlet s And all the ignorance of their show,

Unconscious how contemptible they are ,

For worlds unborn will claim thy fame as great,

o f Su preme , unsullied all minds we know ,

Crowned by the glory o f thy bat tle - star ! LL S SMA MIND . 1 87

SMALL MINDS .

i ' ’ ’ I I n a u e le s et zts es rz ts 12i con s t a t e n t le s z m e e c ti on s des ch s d ee u vr y q p p 9 p rf ef e . fl — O LT A IR E V .

When will the names of great men rest in peace ,

And be revered as they deserve on earth ?

When will the mongrel horde o f cavilers cease

T o soil their memory and denounce their worth ?

Will the Greek symmetry o f th ei r perfect thought Be ever ravaged by the modern Huns ?

Can naught restrain these lesser beings , fraught

n With bitter hatred for dead , mighty o es ?

- Shall impotent , gall fed critics , balked of fame , In envious wrath lay down Neronian law ?

And tu rn t o ridicule some soaring name That shows a brilliant diamond ’s lightest flaw ?

! An easy task , forsooth Delicious themes ,

T o ff sco at what is grand and pure and far,

But to my eyes their mad persistence seems

fire - fl Like some pale y j ealous of a star . That might be

I 9O DREAMS A FTER SUNSE T.

TO ANNA SALTUS .

Thou shouldst n ot , Christian lady , bend to grief,

And blame this heartless world fo r ills o f thine ;

Thou knowest well that brillian t suns do shine ’ — Behind this life s dark c lo ud z they bring relief

And pitying rays for all thy sighs , that pine

’ And long lament ; thou pro v s t it by belief

' In God s omnipotence and love divine ,

Knowing that earthly cares below are brief .

God loves thy past , and gives thee grace to bear T he ’ pains and anguish of the world s sad cold ,

T o few proves He thy proud heart strong and rare ,

T o few thy virtues does His might unfold ,

But still He gives thee grand and generous share , ! Thy smile like sunbeams and thy love like gold . THE D YING S TAR . 1 9 1

TH E DYI NG STAR .

’ F rom th e Ru s s i an o Z e ua z dit f e /z .

li h—t When g first gleamed upon this sphere ,

Ages ago , my form was born ;

But fate says I must disappear :

T o - night from heaven I shall be torn .

My luminous life , so pure and free ,

Must pass t o nebulous disgrace ;

While far above I now c an see

t o m The star ordained take y place .

N o hatreds in my soul prevail ;

’ I do not e en regret my light ;

But I regret the poet pale ,

i Who watched me lovingly each n ght .

He knew no t that my silvery beams

,

Could all his revery inspire ,

N o r ho w I caused his wanderin g dreams

T o glow with a poetic fire . 1 2 9 DREAMS AFTER SUNSE T.

no t H e will know that I am dead ,

Lost in eternity and time ;

And , to another in my stead ,

He will pour forth his songs sublime .

! o u Oh , Sister star if y , too , love ,

How you will suffer in the sky ;

For I have seen him live , above ,

o u While y are doomed to see him die .

I 94 DREAMS AFTER SUNSE T.

I GOO D FR DAY .

w des e d a n d re e t d H e as pis j c e of m en . — S A IA H xu ri I . 3 .

b Look ack , my soul , amazed and see

’ of The Man Sorrows midst a crowd ,

Bearing his cross to Calvary,

Assailed by imprecations loud .

Patient and meek , with eyes upturned ,

He sought forgiveness from above ,

who For those prayers and pity spurned ,

o f Regardless his pardoning love .

o f The Son God was crucified ,

’ His blood for man s salvation paid , While Jews reviled the precious tide

And mocked the King, a cross displayed . O guilt beyond m ost darin g thought

Their impious fathers ever framed ;

Which o n their race the curse has brought

Of unbelief still madly claimed .

Why has my God forsaken me ?

Death shadowed , the Savior cried GOOD FRIDA Y. 1 95

Rocks rent in answering agony ,

And tremblin g earth in groan s replied . The heavenly host in mute surprise

Watch the stupendous mystery ;

No j oyous sounds in Paradise,

i i And Chr st nvoking sympathy .

’ ’ o e rwhelmin Weighed down by sin s g load ,

The spotless Lamb for sinners dies ;

Go d An offering worthy of a ,

The incarnate Lord , the sacrifice .

o n o f bitte r rie f Still this day g ,

When shame should veil each guilty face , Faith offers all a sure relief

’

From Love s tru e source , Redeeming Grace .

’ ’ ss - u o e rs read Darkne j dea s hills p ,

o f The tears angels Jesus laved ,

i e Long bur ed saints rose from the d ad , ! The veil is ren t, the church is saved

The cross , the n ails , the thorn s , the spear,

and The scorn , the torture despair, Will at the last great day appear “

The crown and sceptre Christ will wear .

! c r Oh , bleeding Lamb by thy last y

to Still heard in faith from pole pole, In the deep ocean Blot o ut my sin s My soul will magni The risen Christ

198 DREAMS A FTER SUNSE T.

o ur The fortunes that fathers took ,

o ur - Are hidden in treasure nook,

An d on their brilliancy we look .

When the bright moon points down its lance

o n Of silver the woods in trance ,

t o t he We hurry dell to dance .

Over the mushrooms nestling there,

We play at leap -frog till the air

Rosy with dawn , becometh fair .

- - At hide an d seek amid the fern ,

We laughing pause and laughin g turn ,

While over us the pale stars burn .

An d if we m eet the dreaded toad ,

o n We slay the monster the road ,

o ur And drag him down to abode .

We love on silent eves to sail

- Upon the water lilies pale,

Down on the lakelet in the vale ,

on And see the lustrous moon high ,

Flooding with light the dreamy sky,

Guardin g us with her silver eye . THE GNOME . 199

But we are h appiest when we see Some maiden sleeping ’neath a tree

e Wrapped in delicious reveri .

Fo r then we know she cann ot pray ,

s o we i i n And se ze her dismay , An d steal her deathless Soul away ! 200 DREAMS AFTER SUNSE T.

FANTASY .

Through the blue and diaphanous sky,

I o nc e : saw a white cloud drifting by,

In rare floc c ulent purity ;

’

Like some an gel s immaculate plume ,

All unconscious of tempest an d gloom ,

’ Or the wide night s obscurity .

A S I watched the calm , delicate grace ,

o f Of this beautiful pilgrim space ,

As I sat mute and pondering ;

My soul envied its power to be free , And the marvelous sites it would see

In strange , distant lands wandering .

Gently urged , murmured I , by the breeze ,

o f It will cross green expanses seas ,

This frail substance etherial ;

And will see below soft Spanish stars ,

o f The grand bastions white Alcazars , And Alhambras imperial !

’ o e r I t will steal the drear Apennines , I o f Through its mist magnificent pines ,

o f Where the tower Ferrara gleams ,

202 DREA MS AFTER SUNSE T.

And from thence it m ay wander awhile

By the banks o f the lotu s - girt Nile

o n When the moon pours her rays it .

o Still pr pelled by the indolent gales ,

It will roam over Indian vales ,

And inh ale the rare flowers of them ;

O r, supremely exultant will soar

Over Delhi ! Benares ! L ah or e ! And the glitterin g towers of them !

- H o It will fly past th e blue Hoang ,

’ That thro cities of bamboo doth flow

When the full moon falls bright o n it ; And its nebulous spirit would love To be changed by the gods to a dove

o n And in rapture alight it .

Thus I mused on this fair summer day , As the cloud slowly drifted away

To the lands I had dreamed about ; But alas ! when I looked up I saw

o f With a pang unspeakable awe , Livid lightnin gs that gleamed about !

' All the brilliant sky s azure intense ,

Had grown turbulent , angry and dense ,

lunderful While the rough winds blew p , FANTA S Y. 203

An d the white an d the beautiful cloud ,

of Formed a part the tenebrous shroud ,

Of the grim tempest thunderful .

Like t o this is the musing supreme

“ Of the pGe t who only c an dream Of serene Ideality ; v Who awakes from fair ision s of grace,

T s e e o thrust in his innocent face, All the world ’s cold reality ! 204 DREAMS A FTER SUNSE T.

THIN E EYES .

I love thine eyes that beckon smiles : two souls Radiant with lustres flashing forth grand fires !

Their opulence o f glamour goads desires ;

Should sad words murmur, then their glance condoles .

’ o f A harmony tears , heart s manna, rolls

is ro s e d Down cheeks d , until a lip inquires

’ Grief s secrets ; then the first woe - ebb retires

In tranquil tides , alon e , the gaze consoles .

! ’ A smile reflection of the soul s bright sun ,

' Chases all chimeras of pain ; I shun

o f Dark grooves palsied thought , becharmed , I look

And rivet all mine essence in thine eyes ,

o f m o o nbathed Vague as the music a brook , ! Vague as great sultry clouds , as twilight skies

2 06 DREAMS AFTER SUNSE T.

NEBULOSA .

She who so madly loved the falling rain ,

- From clouds storm shattered , and the sable gloom

Of nights tempestuous , has for long years lain

With my lost hope and p assion in the tomb ;

But her etherial spirit in content ,

Now soars unfettered in its element .

When by th e sea the twilight sadly wanes , And when the gathering gray autumnal mist

Covers still beaches , and broad , barren plain s

With hazy , vaporous films of amethyst A figure that I indistinctly see

Through its vague depths , continually follows me .

on It passes near me long winter eves ,

When the soft snow , blurring the road from view ,

Descends in crystal flakes upon the leaves ,

Keepin g some stran ge and ghostly ren dezvous . I feel a phantom presence as it flies

Reluctantly through dull and sullen skies . L OS A NEB U . 207

When nights are starred , or in the splendent sheen

Of summer suns , I wait for it in vain ;

But over me I c an perc elve i t lean

s o f In the wift , tenebrous torrents the rain , f And with warm , drippin g arms , in ormless grace ,

c e u It lings to m in a s preme embrace .

fo r Her soul , imperishable all time,

o f Thus forms all that falls from heaven a part,

And through the years , intangible , sublime ,

Will keep fond memory vivid in my heart .

And that is why I love to wander s o

- and In this mist haunted land , seek again

to i n Her kisses wafted me the snow , Her tears that fall upon me ln the m m ! 208 DREAMS AFTER SUNSE T.

FLOWERS OF TH E HAREM .

KO E — L NDJ GU .

’ fl o wret o f Oh , fairest my love s parterre, e Kondj , thy silken brows are ebon crescents ;

I love the dreamy languorous quiescence,

o f Born tired passion and voluptuous care ,

That dawns upon thy breast , as white and pure ,

o f D um anh ofir As proud arched lilies the ,

’ Bathed in the moonlight s essence .

Z OU HR A .

The soulful bulbul prisoned in thy breast D raws my dream toward thee with divinest singing . Why should I gifts of pearls to pearl be bringing ?

o f Unfold th e n ecklace thine arms , my blest ,

o f An d lull me with the spices thy skin ,

o f While perfumed shapes attar, vague and thin ,

’ Are softly o er us wingin g .

E HA D ID J .

Oh , lissome and Albanian beauty min e , Thou art the river where my parched caresses Seek ’mid the wavy grasses of thy tresses

2 10 DREAMS AFTER SUNSE T.

EFFET D E NEIGE .

Sad silent flakes o f snow on lakes

Descend .

There is of white inblent with might

No end .

On e desert sheet o f ice an d sleet

Is seen ;

A frozen pond ; a moor beyond

Once green .

A road of ruts , two wooden huts ,

A mill ;

’ Beyond the meers , thro darkness , peers

A hill .

’ The dorf bells boom , thro ashy gloom

The time ,

’ ’ t o e r O er s ill abodes , dreary roads

Of rime .

No moon , no star ; the dawn is far ;

All sleep , G EFFE T DE NEI E . 2 1 1

Save mental pain and grief again

That weep .

of The grays of shade meet grays glade ,

’ All s dark ;

Of - watch do gs near, I trembling hear

The bark .

Out from the town the road adown

There lies , A form that lags in scanty rags

And dies .

The flakes still fall and cover all W White, hite

N o aid is by , unpitying sky 8 Is Night !

Down upon brooks , on forest nooks ,

On glens ;

Down on the mounds and freezing grounds

On fens .

Falleth the snow , persistent, slow

And sad ;

Naught to keep warm that helpless form ,

Grief- mad ! Long he wait , we are too late

’ He s dead .

flakes fall down upon all

So slow ; flakes crowd forming his

Of snow .

2 14 DREA MS A FTER SUNSE T

ATTAR GUL .

o f In the splendor the harem ,

' From Janina s market brought ,

Lies a beautiful Circassian ,

By an unkn own master bought .

She is dreaming of her Seignior,

o ld And she fears he may be ,

Some visier bowed down and wrinkled ,

Who will tempt her with his gold .

And she trembles at each footstep

Her quick ear detects without ,

While her lily cheeks turn crimson , And her mind is dark with doubt !

On divans of Alep satin ,

By four stalwart Nubians fanned ,

Leila counts her costly presents ,

And the rings that grace her hand .

fre e s There are dg deftly woven ,

Red tarbou shes sprent with pearls , A T T A R GU L . 2 15

Gems and essence , spice and izars ,

And great brilliants for her curls ,

w S eetest flowers in rich profusion ,

i Fore gn birds and luscious fruits ,

—Z ‘ e a h o s t Whil of slaves before her,

Thrum their soft, voluptuous lutes !

Her bright nails are pink with henn eh ,

’ She has tipped with k hol each lash ;

For they tell her he is comin g, And her eyes expectant flash !

“ ! ” Ah she cries , he must be beauteous ,

’ th e ir bloo m His youn g years are in ,

For I smell delicious attar,

’ T is like min e his loved perfume !

i i n i ts There lurks mag c fragrance,

o f Where the souls roses rest, An d the mortal that adores it By Mohammed ’s love is blest !

Then the satin curtains open And she gazes in surprise

On her sire, who stan ds before her,

t ! Wi h admiring, starry eyes a a a

In the splendor o f the har From Janina ’s market b Lies a beautiful Circassian By a worshiped master

2 18 DREAMS AFTER SUNSE T.

I add , and for this transient life below,

’ ’ ” Wz s aom I give th ee , above many men !

And I , with winning voice thus spake the fourth ,

Bequeath to thee of years an envied len gth ,

And in thy mind and body , calm or wroth , " Will S trefz llz ! I give thee powerful , endurin g g

- The dawn was breakin g, an d the sylph like host ,

it Smoothed its white win gs to seek the way came ,

- n When , like a pale and sin u hallowed ghost An uninvited fairy called her n ame !

I too , have gifts , she hissed , and touched the child ,

A rich , rare gift , and for its sake I come ,

o n unde file d For the brows that ye leave ,

I_plac e the awful crown of M AR T Y RDOM ! U N FA V ORED . 2 19

UNFAVORED .

A humble roadside flower in bloom

Enj oys its transient summer days ;

The night winds spare its suave perfume,

And soft suns wo o it with their rays :

‘ It lives but for a time , yet praise

on Is lavished it, and by whom ?

o ne By who in his wrathful hours ,

’ Counted my life less than a fl o we r s !

The star whose silver tints the night ,

Is blessed with j oys beyond our ken ;

s - It shed its soulful , placid light

Upon the devious paths o f men ;

to It is its duty be bright ,

o n o r And shine on snow, mire fen ;

Yet Go d wh o m ade it in his pride Abandons me without a guide !

The bird that sings in yonder nest , Has gifts most gracious to it given ;

o f The gift song, that warms the breast,

o f ! Song, which must be a part Heaven 2 20 DREAMS AFTER SUNSE T.

ble s s t Tell me , my spirit, art thou

With kindn ess such , though thou hast striven ,

Did H e , Creator, condescend

T o ? be to m e a God , a friend

No , no , I linger in the dark ,

Gn awed by great grief and cruel pain ,

- I am a shattered , sea tossed bark

’ Dashed into wreck o n Life s rough main ;

To save o r soothe n o holy spark Can Show me now a haven again !

Oh God , why count me in thy power,

? Less than thy bird , thy star, thy flower

2 2 2 DREAMS AFTER SUNSE T.

T HE MONKEY .

In fiendish malice , wickedness and mirth ,

Thou art in deed like man , great minds declare ,

not Thy wild , ferociou s instinct will spare ,

all A mutual fiend is in us from birth .

Thy leer perpetual finds no thing of worth ,

Mischief unto thy heart is ever rare ,

With ceaseless j abberin g thou dost soil the air,

Thou turbulent Eulen spiegel o f the earth !

Yes , thou canst laugh at man , and at thine ease,

’ For c he has worshiped th ee , and l oth adore

t Unto his day thy unknown , hidden powers .

! o f Yea where amid a world balmy trees ,

o f Clad in the glory a thousan d towers ,

The Indian sun sh owers fire upon Lahore .

k m l i s on e Te es o f n a Benare . M y p I d , ( ) MOODS OF MADNESS. 2 23

MOO DS OF MADNESS .

W O RDS .

’ n o e r In city Slums , haggli g filthy gold

And desperate , livid at the cards each day, uf And though I s fer agony un told ,

c an No loving hand ever lure me away .

In insolent debauch , when mad with wine , t I press some lewd , roughed cour esan to my breast,

no No friendly word , mother thought divin e,

Has ever the vice within my vein s suppressed . w And hen in drunken stupor, with wild eyes ,

‘ ‘ ' s o ul s ells m urde r My p in its sombre alarms ,

N o t o melody moves its darkness surprise,

no And worshiped Schubert h as longer charms .

t o Indifferent , callous all fate , disgraced

Lacking alone the hemp about my neck ,

’ I yawn thro life degraded and debased ,

’ ‘

o n m an . A parody , a mental wreck

Each night I make forced marches to the grave ;

T o soothe me n aught has faculty or art ,

t o And even sweet prayer al as , would fail save

My gangrened soul and my vindictive heart . 2 2 4 DREAMS A FTER SUNSE T.

B ut sometimes in great orgies of despair,

I chance to hear stran ge sympathetic words ,

That hold the power to mitigate my care ,

o f And lull me like the summer songs birds ,

Words that allure and fascinate my sense ,

That rise and soar like some Byzantin e dome ,

Sonorous , liquid , superb , immense ; “ ” “ Words like Jehovah , Rome . And when God wills that these rare sounds should fall

Like saintly benediction s on my ear,

’ I shout like warriors at the trumpet s call ;

- ro w clear My wine clogged brain expands , mine eyes g z .

Hurlin g my glass away with passion ate hate ,

u I curse the la ghing harlot at my Side ,

Some subtile influence supremely great ,

Reasons to me my manliness and pride .

ha T n with calm brows , in infinite delight

I rise and seek my long deserted hom e ,

Murmuring in rapture to the listening night “ ” “ ” “ Words like Jehovah , Calm , Aurora, Rome .

S N S E 226 DREAMS A FTER U T.

In a languorous , indolent spell ,

b e tél She sits chewing the luscious ,

And she dreams o f her Mandarin ;

' S o utchofi Of his forests in distant ,

. Of its o f mazes fern and bamboo,

That with him she would wander in .

And she dreams of his Kaolin towers ,

Of his fountains , his Kiosks and his bowers ,

An d his birds , and the songs of them ;

’ on - While near by , th e Hoang Ho s blue waves ,

o f She can hear the soft reeds her slaves,

o f And the turbulen t gongs them .

o f From the intricate depths the glade ,

From the leaves and encompassing shade ,

has heard a sound dear to her ; .She A ll the languor has fled from her eyes ,

And she waits like a bird in surprise ,

Knowin g well who is near to her .

t oo Her poor feet are tiny to walk , And sh e dare n ot the Emperor balk

By admitting a stranger n ear ;

c an But she , to the love of h er choice

Len d a signal in amorous voice ,

o f And can warn him danger near . BAMBOO . 2 27

Of a sudden the shadow of night,

Is cleft through with a great gleam of light ,

While hot blood wets the feet of her ;

o o f And fr m mazes tangled bamboo ,

o utc hofi Darts her wooer from distant S ,

T o k o f spea love an d en treat her . it 41 e: at a a

o f In the shade the yellow bamboo,

’ H wa- fi Lies Cathay s fairest Princess, S ,

fo r And she still her bridal prays .

But who the slave obeyed her demands , n Sta ds no longer with sword in his hands ,

M e now And to the idol prays . 2 2 8 DREAMS AFTER SUNSE T.

TO A SPI DER .

o f Quaint , agile thing, weird Caliban my wall , Tho u must the m arvelous miniature really be h Of mythical dragons fas ioned to appal , Who residence held in some forgotten sea !

Or yet , a more sacred , though irrelevant thing , Once worshiped as God where n ow the Tudas

’ Thou wert o f Giva s body -hues the kin g ;

’ ra s o f Or p p th e blushing chastity a rose .

floc c ulent I watch thee weave thy sinuous , web ,

Around the trunks of immemorial trees ; And often I h ave seen thy scintillan t tissues ebb

' o f uno fl e ns ive Vague tides silk roun d fleas .

Then , all thy feculent maj esty recalls

o f The n auseous mustiness forsaken bowers , The leprous nudity of deserted halls

o f The positive nastiness sullied flowers .

An d as I mark the colors yellow and black

That fresco thy lithe , dictatorial thighs ,

o n I dream and wander my drunken back , How God could possibly have created flies !

2 0 R 3 DREAMS AFTE SUNSE T.

And the mute , m arveling world ere thou didst go,

Saw thy gran d agony, and cried : Behold ! Can this dull Death a dissolution be

’ Nor thy mind s twilight had the brillian t glow, The splendor and the glamour and the gold

Of an aurora risin g from the sea . T H E A F A FA N ] NESE . 231

TH E FA N JAPANES E .

unn f ’ C ingly ashioned by an artist s hand ,

o f My frail, light stem delicate bamboo ,

S o f Upholds a pray dazzlin g plumes , whose

’ Is rivaled by no bird on Y e ddo s strand !

Upon my sandal ribs , when I expand , The daintiest arabesques enchant the view ! d Ruby pagodas , mandarins robe in blue,

Intricate curves an d virgin faces bland .

My beauty made t o serve and to delight

" ' ’ s l é ri di d T ai c o o n s Some p grand imperial ease ,

hot When Occidental winds blow fierce and ,

n Is doomed , alas , to fan , n ight after ight ,

In some dark , dismal town beyond the seas , The rough and musky cheeks of a cocotte ! 2 2 3 DREAMS AFTER SUNSE T.

AN ANSWER .

— — — A s tudio a s moulderi ng fi re s keloes of books dea d liq/i t — a table covered wit/z volumes ma nus cri ts e/zemieal , p , i n

struments , etc.

tu ent A S d .

o f L Oh wondrous mystery Art and ore ,

I shrink beneath your mightin ess , in pain

: Of mental sweets while all I still ignore ,

o f Vast worlds subtle thought that flee my brain ,

Deride with virgin stubbornness , a soul

’ Qe rflus ht with science : while a frenzied ken ’ haYe s C to attain a thinker s cherished goal ,

An d learn all thin gs unknown to other men .

- I strive and toil in vain , eye worn and sick

Of shadowy prose veiling an occult theme . I lon g to feel a genial blood flow thick

- Through all my thought cowed body , in a stream

f t o O roused and virile j oyfulness , purge

A torpid maze o f thinkin gs : but alas ! I lack a will such buoyancy to urge

Much had I better count the hours that pass .

2 34 DREAMS AFTER SUNSE T.

Blending their argent shadows with the spray , Crestin g the rugged cliffs in wat ery glee

’ ’ But no w e en that j o y sickens : Nature s charms

Cann ot allure by planets or by flowers ,

’

Withered by all the world s deceitful harms ,

’

Spurn I a faith in God s assuagin g powers .

Stolid an d worn , in studies rapt, I dreamt

o f A surcease pale chagrin I could find ,

But fashioned wiser, view I with contempt

The verbose fodder crunched to feast my mind .

A n e n A g l.

Nay , youngling, say n ot so , for time

Has proven clement , and thy years

’ Count not as yet a mortal s prime .

Why shouldst thou tire of life , that cheers

When ably tasted , and when spen t h In oble toilings as thou hast , Nu rsing repose and calm co nten t Surely thy j oys are j oys that las t !

’ — m afire Tis false , they quem e me n ot y brain , Is goaded by their temp t ings to aspire

o f To spheres thought above , beyond my reach ,

’ o r Which no dry tome parchment can e er teach .

My rhapsodies are boundless , and my flight

Of fancies soars through ch aos and through night , AN ANS WER. 235

to o - Until my will , frail , pain checked , is crushed

By powers unknown , and all its fevers hushed .

art ! Student, rash and shouldst no t strive Thy feeble ponde rings to drive B eyo n d the limits drawn for man

’ on t os an By sapient h ands Earth p .

Rest thee awhile : or else i n Love

t o Mayst find the key bliss above .

tu ent S d .

no t o Speak of Love , fair visi n , I implore .

I dreamt its pangs I felt , but now ignore

v Its e ery meaning , though that myth I blessed

When , vain , elated loon , I first caressed

- o f A demon , seraph faced , maddenin g form ,

- - Whose hot , wet , Hell drugged kisses , lava warm ,

’ ' am rGuS ve lve t - t o With touchings , my core ,

- Stun g ; with such j oy lost fervor, that if more

And more of this soul - wavering delight

’ She had refused , I would by passion s might

Have stran gled out caresses from her breath ,

- s c o rc h t And would have burnt them kiss into Death . — “ Why did I not a budding love I gave — T o her already tainted grip z a slave

o ne To her , every wish was I ; but when , é In webb d ardors welded fiercely , then 236 DREAMS A FTER SUNSE T.

’ trait ro us —I The siren loved me was all , — Her Go d an d Universe and she the thrall !

And yet , with elfen subtlety, this maid

o f My love loves with infamy betrayed .

I no t . could kill her for my dirk atilt ,

’ Sank in her gallant s weasand to the hilt ; And ere the reeking blade I had withdrawn

To spill her lying blood , the wench had gone !

no w o f But my heart is ironed and free grief, And that is why I sneer at Love ’s belief !

Thou shouldst have pardon ed since, when time and years

o f d H ave stilled the torrent thy j aundice tears .

nawe th What whim unslaked , g thy nettled breast ,

’ c hecke th That stayeth heart s repose , that rest ?

lbve If is quenched the envious tide runs deep .

What are thy evil aims at night , when sleep ,

By febrile recollections baulked , has lost

Its soothing power ; when , on thy pillow tossed ,

The hours seem ages , an d the slumber sought

Unnerves and deadens every wish peace - fraught ? Can it be hate that grimes thy sleepless eves

- With foul mouthed yearn , and does the web it weaves

O f honeyed promise , ravel in thy mind A knot of ven geance arduous to unwind ?

238 DREA MS AFTER SUNSE T.

On whom

— n O thee .

Cherub , thy cautionin g cannot avail ,

o f I come no foul , rotten stock , to wail

’ o r And sorrow for ambition s sweet , pin e To hear the world ’s opinion on a line

Or phrasing that I pen , for I prefer

’ - To sip my life cup s mingled wine and myrrh ,

In silence , and from all the world conceal ,

The passions and emotions that I feel .

’ Call s t thou ambitious one wh o greeds to rule

o f A horde savage soldiers armed in steel , Who straggle to the fray as would a mule

’ Kicked at and battered by his master s heel ? ’ D e e m s t thou ambitious he whose subj ects bleed

And perish by his orders o n a field

Where belchin g cannon , deaf to race or creed , Vomit their terrors till the foemen yield ?

’ D e e m s t thou ambitious o ne in pomp arrayed h Wit slaves and cohorts at his erst command ,

- o f One who is wealthy pursed and stron g blade , One whose omnipotence awes sea and land ?

If so , he lacketh reason , less his life A N ANS WER. 239

’ Be one of leniency ; fo r tyrants sleep

Is sad and fatal , and a rancorous knife

o f Can sound the infamy hearts most deep .

n e A g l.

t o Thy soul is gelid emotion , and

e - i b Thy dogg d w ll , y listlessness unmanned ,

Spurns that which other men would die to gain .

of dreade s t Surely art born flesh , thou pain ,

Thou hast a love , a hate, a pride or fear,

Some woful loss has blighted thy career . H as lack of care and fondness made thee mad ?

tu nt S de .

N o dearth o f true affection have I had

A hidden grief perchance , but that will dwell

Within my vitals , till the heats of Hell

o ut Burn and consume it , when nerve and blood

c rc héd Are dried an d s o by the fiery flood .

t m A P iza n o . — I w Valiantly spoken , youth kno thy need .

’ lo ar s t to Thou g for gold , thy fantasy lead

o f In paths luxury, for hadst thou power, A fortun e an d a palace at this h our

a d Would clothe thy limbs , n would thy head protect,

a While h ppy , young and reckless , wouldst elect,

And choose thy mistresses , thy friends and slaves ,

Rich regal days , is what thy n otion craves . 2 40 DREAMS AFTER SUNSE T.

tu ent S d . — Spirit , thou liest n augh t of gold I ask I am n o wizard with a baffling mask

Screening a secret in each blear dull eye ;

All I demand is , as the days roll by , Leavin g me tranquil in my bitter gloom

- o f f To muse on thoughts oft weighed , a ter tomb . — Gold to my nature serveth no t its Chink Sounds dead upon my ear— and when I think

How other fools adore it , then I laugh ,

’ uafi And titter cynic o er the wine I q .

What can I need o f gold ? To win a friend ?

A man wh o follows m e , until I spend

The last cursed farthing , and who will declare

That although generous I was hard to bear,

Full of strange whims , proud , spiteful and perverse, S imply ’cause he had n aught and I the purse ? \ ’ er Nay , nay, no metal can e buy the scene

1n — a - I built dreams landscape autumn green ,

High lofty mountain s , tipped with nitid snow b — Tinted y purple heavens and , below,

c o t A , white , simple, hidden by a rin g

- Of firs and poplars , where the wood larks sing, And purl their j oyful hymns when sunbeams stream — Upon the rustling foliage : that my dream

Has been , but now, has faded , chased by cark ,

Leaving me Life , abhorrent , blank and dark .

DREA MS A FTER SUNSE T.

A silken forest o f blonde curls to toss

And tangle round thy fingers , till its gloss ,

Gair, yellow and exciting, tempt thy whim

In prurient ecstacies to plun ge and swim ,

’ - o e r As when the sea gull , cresting the wave

’ o n Dotes its bosom s foam , wherein to lave

Its fruitless passion , while its plaintive shriek

Implores a fickle love till wings are weak .

u d nt St e .

’ arnel s b u Spirit, a p g I cherish not ;

’ A strumpet markets o ut her body s rot A nd plays her foulest comedy to prove

An absent passion : can such mockery move

A m an to hanker for her venomed press ,

o f And pay with gold , the gall her caress ?

’ T hink s t thou for such pale drazels I would leave

firs My ; and room , and lecherous I would grieve And blubber like a striplin g for a whore The trifle of a hundred rakes before

C/t orus o n e s f A g l . The sunbeams spread Their fulgor red On grove and wood All Nature sings O f God all thin gs

’ o e rh e ad Below , ,

a Are f ir and good . AN ANS WER . 24s

The twilight falls ,

Our Master calls , His voice through night

R e s ound e th shrill ;

A rt s tuhbo rn still ? What fear appals

s O ! ha te thy flight .

What I loved most was Color, for my eye By varied tints and hues of Nature ’s dye

G - rew ravished . When the blinding sky blue pours

o n - Its sheen immaculate reed clad shores ,

The lucid water t o ucht with fulvid streams

O f -kis s t golden splendor, sun , glows and gleams .

’ Each bubblin g ripple , white as lady s hand

earled las tic ho t Dashes , p f p on the red sand o Of s me broad beach , with shells and alga sprent , G reen , brown , blue , yellow , stran gely blent !

’ And oh ! what velvet tints the elm - tree s bark

narr Rugose and g y , taketh , when the spark

’ O f fire - flie s nacarat twinkling lumes the trunk

o n the When huge curving boughs , linnets , drunk W ith graciou s melody , chirp , purl and trill

th ro atlet s t i i From downy , till he r vo ces fill

The silent wood , while bird and leaf and rush

Await that sacred hour, when , white of flush 2 44 DREAMS AFTER SUNSE T.

— - - The pryin g moon mist dotted , vapor ploughed ,

’ o f Escapes from neath its drapery cloud ,

An d delug e s the forest in its grace

’ ’ s lumb rin While , g n ear, the artist s placid face

Pale, by moon paler, dreams an d loves and lives

’ By Color s power , an d all the bliss it gives

I h t all thy roamings has thou had no gust ,

o r No like no distemper, taste or trust ?

’ Hast thou in God s grand temples prayed o r knelt ? Hast thou e ’er piety within thee felt ?

When , in the Mosque or Kirk the rites began ,

When quiverin g voices begged that sin s o f man Would lessen did n o inner chord awake ? Proud and triumphant , n oble didst not make

Some resolution , didst thy doubt repent

u Its sl ggishness , didst clam or to give vent

In virile action t o thy backward life

tu ent S d .

No thought as t his was in my bosom rife . All I enj oyed with ravish was the grace O f ’ Titian s glowing virgin s , and their face

- One , only face all holy , filled my heart

With sweets seraphic , an d would ease the smart — Of terrene unbelief : as lon g I gazed

- Upon his glorious paintin g , color crazed .

2 6 4 DREAMS AFTER SUNSE T.

o Their wrinkled heads , cl sed in th e massive frame ,

’ o n An d wink triumphan t the signer s name .

Rembrandt , sad shadows , altars and a pyx ! The horrent splendors of the crucifix ! — Portraits , and heads , bald , bearded j oy and woe

’ T o uc h t with a glow of winter s rime and snow .

! o f Watteau light , fickle airy whims oil ,

’ ’ A ball s coquette , a revelry s turmoil ,

Silk , satin , ribbons , flowers an d powdered hair,

A court , a garden , moonbeams here and there ;

’ o Wigged , sworded c urtiers , held twixt love and fight

The whole depicted , half in pink , half white !

Steen , with his simple brush has quemed m e vast ,

o f When , gay mind , I sought to rouse the past

’ Of Hollan d s dorps , an d view his village scenes A burgomeister on a table leans

Witlhn a cabin clean as falling flakes .

A kitten by the fire its naple t takes

- c Upon the floor, plump , peach che ked children play .

Near by , the buxom housewife knits away W ’ hile , o er a pewter tankard , cool with beer

The father smiles upon the ones s o dear

’ Ah pass ! that pain t brought tears : grim Goya s muse

Other far ghastlier dyes was wont to use .

’ Th Escurial sombre in its stony vale ,

Peopled within its crypt by spectres pale . S AN AN WER . 247

- t r a Blood clot ed pools , wan eyes and h ggard looks ,

- : Clouds gray as twilight , black rimmed rooks,

Gaunt ravens , shades of sorrow , rotting bones,

o f The shriek maiden ravished , and the groans

- Of tortured martyrs ; m arshes , fenny dank , — Hoidens wi th giggling j aws the iron Clank

- - fi h t s Of gyves rust eaten , bull g , gore and fire ,

Naught save the n oxious , horrent , and the dire . Fantastic Ribera would oft unhinge

o f r- Th e bolts fea barred thought , and tin ge His pallid corpses with that bluish touch That fills t h ’ expectant worm within with grutch

’ His cult was ugliness ; the master s hand

Fro m horrors brought forth Beauty at command

Beauty victorious in some bleeding Christ, Beau ty all potent in his Death unpriced !

N ow olo ra s m , C y other loves , submerged ,

o f - o In waves listlessn ess , by mind r ds scourged ,

’ ’ Cannot e en t o a moment s j oy g1ve birth ; f C I live indi feren t to its harm and worth ,

And no oil- dabbled picture chaste o r lewd Can tempt me b ack unto the muse I wooed

f Pagan o hardened fancies , canst thou sneer

’ s E en at thy tage of unbelief, when ear And soul are captured by some gentle strain Of soothin g melody ? hear ’st thou again 248 DREAMS AFTER SUNSE T.

Without a throb of feeling, tun es that rocked Thy infant form to slumber ? hast thou mocked

’ o f With senseless ton gue the balm Music s power,

That abstract love , by gods bequ eathed as dower ?

’ Hath thy heart fluttered when the church -bell s chimes Rang out their brazen wealth of holy rhymes ?

’ Has not the organ s mellow, measured voice , Ever an accent found to please thy choice

o f Angel , the tunes olden time bring back

Hosts of harmonious sorrows , sad and black

As envy : my imprisoned thoughts unbound

- Once more , and free , drink up their well known sound

But then I sudden veer, and flee them fast

- Cursin g the tell tale memories of the past . The music of my simmering thoughts console ‘ c My wret hedness , an d with my grief condole :

o f A music vague and sombre , born tears ,

A music grave and sad : a phantom leers

t e rrifie s Over each chosen note , and

- My soul quiescent as the Hell sounds rise . Weber alone—grim thinker—was inspired

From worlds most n ebulous , for he admired

o f The strident moanings the German night ,

o f f Seas stran ge melody , so wild of right

In all their magic rhythms , new and bold , w i Teeming with e irdit e s of style untold .

DREAMS AFTER SUNSE T.

Of life beyon d this life — can m an assume

T o solve t he secrets o f the after tomb ?

’

E er to tran sfuse the soul that in him lives , E ’er to define th e breath his mother gives ?

n Science is vast , and brain s by thought co sume,

But wh o can lift the veil of doubt and gloom

Screening the phantom future like a shroud ,

f and Leaving all m ortals ba fled , foiled cowed .

I cannot speak .

B e lievest thou

- In what

In powers supreme that fix and shift thy l ot,

That either wound or kill , sustain , create ,

T h at\rule f thy doin gs , and command thy ate ?

Spirit ! a sacrilege thou mayst suspect But hark thee ! all religion s I respect — As good an d w orthy , but believe in none .

- who Th e bronze skinned savage adores the sun ,

And bows before th e flam ant eye in fear f Should not be sco fed at , if his voice sincere ,

In simple wordings s welle t h o ut in prayer

T o on e that warms and feeds him by its glare . AN ANS WER . 2 5 1

The Parse e s kn eeling to their God o f Fire Ascend with cheerful s t eps a blazing pyre

T i o per sh faithful , girt with stron g belief ;

Do they no t m erit for their martyred grief

o f An envied life j oys in other spheres ,

” As consolat i o n for their worldly fears ? e Cannot a noble heart in Gr ek or Turk ,

o f In breast Jew, as well as Christian lurk ?

’

The struts and splendors of the Orient s rites , w Th e pageants , j e eled costumes , countless lights ,

The wailin g dervishes with sandaled feet ,

n The censers swin gi g with their perfumes sweet ,

e o f The sumptuous mosques , marv ls Eastern art , e The tekk s domed , chiseled in every part

With crafty hand , till ston e resembles lace , ff A glorious tribute , age cann ot e ace

to The velvet the ear,

Monotonous of rhythm , sad , austere ,

Yet soul vibrating, mystic , gravely sung,

By throat m elodious , and by fervent ton gue

’ i n The stately Iman s robed white and blue ,

z aims r t The , defenders , eunuchs , e inue ,

' and lo r m Steel , gold g y, pom p im ense ,

no t t o Does this speak to eye , to soul , sense,

t h e e Persuading all as loud muezzin dron s ,

“ ’ ” Allah is great , Mahomet s love aton es ; 2 2 5 DREAMS AFTER SUNSE T.

fl p ute d Should Moslem faith be j eered at, , cursed ,

o f If not the best creeds , is it the worst ?

o f Am I to m ock the rites Manitou ,

o f o r Vis ch nu ? The power Siva, Brahma ,

The stelled vales o f Delhi and Lahore

o f Still celebrate their mercies as yore .

Why should we modern unbelievers grin ,

’ An d chuckle o er a rite we call a sin

' ’ Q ue tz alc oaitl s priests and slaves adored

A brutal god of serpents , grimed , begored ,

’ While Norseland s brawny warriors sought the fray ,

’ - And corse strewn fj elds , to prove great Odin s sway , — Blood crime an d slaughter, be it , but they fought — An d slew with faith a faith that should be taught

o ur - who To poor shallow min ded priests , tell

In verbose sermon s that the pain s o f Hell

simi rs o n All h sh all endure , whilst Hell Earth Exists as well as Paradise from birth

Their faith is blind and tottering, bought by gold N ’ — Unwarmed by ature s charms their prattle cold ,

’ A nd nine of ten would use their S avior s curse

T o draw a farthin g in their greedy purse .

o f The faith chivalry , the art of Moor

Will to my fancy greater j oys procure

Than any creed , discussed by changing whim .

’ Religions depths are n ebulous an d dim ,

2 54 DREAMS A FTER SUNSE T.

l They p anned , and that a century would pass

Before a form symmetric graced the mass . The bliss of witnessing their task fulfilled — — Was not th eir lo t they knew it yet unstilled Were Faith an d Ardor— while the day they died

The lofty temple grew in strength and pride . Oh ! that is faith in art ! an d yet the name O f those heroic strugglers , lost to fame

Is n ow ign ored , save by some m onk austere ,

’ Who reads the church s archives once a year,

And wh o perchance may treasure in his mind ,

o f o ne The n ame who labored for mankind .

ha ntom P .

Art stran gely n ovel , for thou hast no quest

’ N o dre am s t wish , n o covet ; thou not at best

Of some fair vision , modeled in thy mind O f gnomish beauty, fulvid eyed , to blind

blinkin s o f Thy gaze by rapturous g , green tint , — Chasms o f smaragd lust o f boiling glin t

’ What ne e d s t thou ?

Naught .

’ What ne e d s t thou ?

Naught , I say roseate clouds dawn announce the day ; AN ANS WER? 2 55

Spirits of Good and Evil , here I swear

o f of That n aught happiness , and naught care

Can stir my lethargy ; my fibres mute e Love sle p alone , and food , as would a brute ;

For having lived and seen , my soul is sore ,

me of Mortals may call mad , and vile core But all I wish

Well speak poor heart o f stone !

tu ent S d . All that I wish is t o be left alone ! 2 6 5 DREAMS AFTER SUNSE T.

! TOO LATE .

O A S N G . o Joy st od upon my threshold mild and fair, With lilies in her hair ;

o I bade her enter as she turned to g , ” An d she said , No .

Fortune once halted at my ruined porch , And lit it with her torch ;

I asked her fondly, Have you com e to stay ? ” She answered , Nay .

Fame robed in spotless white before me came ; I longed her kiss to claim ;

ho w I told her her presence I revered . She disappeared !

— ! Love came at last how pure , how sweet

With roses at her feet . I begged her all her bounty to bestow ” She an swered , No .

F Since then Joy, ortune , Love and Fame Have come my soul to claim ;

I see them smiling everywhere,

But do not care .

J U N E , 1889 .

! n lif h u t n in man lan ua es o ver five th o u Duri g th e s h o rt e o f t e a tho r, wri i g y g g ” s an oe ms T o o ate was th e las t wr tten b him . d p , L i y