Lilith - the legend of the first woman.pdf

LILITH THE LEGEND OF THE FIRST WOMAN

BY

ADA LANGWORTHY COLLIER

D.

BOSTON LOTHROP AND COMPANY FRANKLIN AND HAWLEY STREETS

COPYRIGHT, D. LOTHROP

1885.

& COMPANY.

PREFACE. That Eve was Adam s second wife was a common Rabbinic speculation. Cer commentators on Genesis adopted this view, to account for the double account of the creation of woman, in the sacred text, first in Genesis i. 27, and second in Genesis xi. 18. And they say that Adam s first wife was named Lilith, Abra but she was expelled from Eden, and after her expulsion Eve was created. There ham Ecchelensis gives the following account of Lilith and her doings be of are some who do not regard spectres as simple devils, but suppose them to to have had their origin from a mixed nature part demoniacal, part human, and tain

"

:

of the devils. This fable has been Lilith, Adam s first wife, by Eb.is, prince transmitted to the Arabs, from Jewish sources, by some converts of Mohamet from Cabbalism and Rabbinism, who have transferred all the Jewish fooleries to to Adam a wife formed of clay, along with Adam, and Male and female created He them. on the Scripture Baring Gould, Legends of the Patriarchs and Prophets. In the popular belief of the Hebrews, a female spectre in the Lilith or Lilis. The old shape of a finely dressed woman, who lies in wait for, and kills children. Rabbins turned Lilith into a wife of Adam, on whom he begat demons and who

the Arabs.

They gave

"

called her Lilith, resting

:

has power to lie with men and kill children who are not protected by amulets with which the Jews of a yet later period supply themselves as a protection against The Talmudists say that Burton in his A natomy of Melancholy tells us her.

still

"

:

a wife called Lilis, before he married Eve, and of her he begat nothing but devils." A commentator on Skinner, quoted in the Encyclopedia Metropolitana, says that the English word Lullaby is derived from Lilla, abi ( begone,

Adam had

In the demonology of the Middle Ages, Lilis was a famous witch, and ) Web Faust." introduced as such in the Walpurgis night scene in Goethe s

Lilith

!

"

is

ster s Dictionary.

Our word Lullaby Anon.

is

derived from two Arabic words which

mean

"

Beware

of

Lilith!"

Lilith, the

supposed wife of Adam, after she married Eblis, is said to have ruled Legends of the Patriarchs and Prophets. Baring

over the city of Damascus. Gould.

From

these few and meagre

which are

all

that

any source whatever, has poet feels

made

in

quite

the

details

of a

fabled existence,

the author has been able to collect from

justified

The sprung the following poem. dissenting from the statements

in

as preceding extracts, and has not drawn Lilith 5

PREFACE.

6 there

The

the

represented

Damascus, the

betrayer

of the

Lilith

poem

To that And about

themselves.

human tongue can

transferred to the

is

her

utter

poets and

the

in

purpose.

ous

then

rule,

work must

Lilith

"

alas

more

beautiful

"

has a high moral

under

fall

this rigor

door

the

at

trembling hand indeed.

public opinion with a

the

declare that

critics

knock

will

word

sweetest

Some

lullaby.

their

children.

the abode of poets

is

true literary art inculcates a lofty lesson If

ruled

of

wrapt the humanizing element

is

embodied

and everywhere

still,

the murderer

men,

country which

shadow-world.

who

sovereign

bloodthirsty of

If

the

of

poem

have either moral aim or lesson of any kind ( which observe, gentle critic, it is by no means asserted that it has), it is simply to show that the strongest intellectual powers contain

no elements adverse to the highest and the affectional nature.

exercise

purest

of

in its true condition, the noblest,

That,

the most cultured intellect, and the loveliest, sublimest moral

and emotional

qualities,

web

together weave the

that clothes

The posses

the world s great soul with imperishable beauty. sor of

highest

be

capacity will

intellectual

also

true

speak, whose

Lilith

let

woman

the

intellect is

earliest world.

mother-heart

It

is

That

one.

may be

revivified

will

the

in

Earth in

s

respond survival

in the

pathetic

whose hope, whose Eden living

dropped

rest

from

the

unrecorded

to

the

song of the one word lullaby,

of that

figure

passed to

of

one whose

another.

the terrors of superstitious peoples,

sweetest

of

For the

the poet s hope that the chords of the

universal

childless

of truest affection.

life

of

capable

The woman

highest developments in the latter qualities.

That Pagan

utterance.

home,

Whose name now lingers in

Lilith,

re-baptized

the pure waters of maternal love, shall breathe to heathen

and

Christian

Earth

still

motherhood

alike,

throbbing through

its

that

most

sacred

tender lullaby.

love

A. L. C.

of

TO VALERIA. and

ancient

some

that

stuffs

queen BROIDERIES

Wore; nor gems that warriors hilts encrusted; Nor fresh from heroes brows the laurels green

;

Nor bright sheaves by bards

To

earth

Only

s

I

plucked,

to cull

Down dropped Too broken Or

else I

for

may happen those

So poor indeed,

Themselves

But

bring not these.

scattered blades from harvests gleaned

thin,

Erewhile

I

great granaries

;

thee

or from their strong, firm hands

about their feet with careless laugh,

home

gathering, these

more useless than the

have garnered them.

Amid the loose-bound sheaf And fairer seeming make blood-red,

And now Thou

wilt

to please.

demeaned

others had

that

lit

the

not scorn

Nor even deem

the

tribute

foolish 7

s

they seem

offering,

flowers gleam.

gift

waving

are knotted through

the

lest

stray

the

strands, chaff.

idle

Yet,

Unworthy, and so shame Love

Lilies

entrusted

eld

of

I

bring,

field,

the golden I

now

grain.

yield,

flowers vain.

DEDICATION.

8

So take

and

it,

seem, think

It

still

if

too slight, too small

a bloom that

tis

grew anear,

In other Springtime, the old garden wall.

The heedless

And

left

the hands that tended

"Because

No

and

more,

That round

it

Sweeter to

feet

little

are

are

it

Read

so,

Think

From You "Lo,

dear heart

gone away

pass

an olden echo, wandered long

a low bed where

neath the westering sun

your lone heart ever she is gone, and cannot more be mine," she is not wed, now, "She is not changed

The

And

sang.

Say She never

said

if

her cradle bed.

left

The

Still

shine

with the print of her wee

pillows

So, mother-heart, this song,

I

that

grass,

rather white-souled one,

Nay,

;

say,

nigh

This simple song

summer-tides."

tis

by,

trampled down the beaded me it is than musky spray

Of Southland; and dearer than days In other

it

Then

bee and you.)

the

to

it

passed

unseeing,

world,

remember, dear.

will

flower you (That pale blue

where through

you sang above

strain

An

my

head."

still

rings

baby bed,

that clings gift mayhap, bring. About old days forgotten long, and dead. idle

This loitering

Perchance

tale, tis

Yet love thou

And

hold

it

Valeria,

sad,

it,

for

dear,

take.

and hath not any mirth, the weak singer s sake, though yet

is

little

worth,

TO VALERIA. This tale of Elder-world

Of years To-day

No

s

that in

dull

their

:

of

9

earth s

grave

17,

1884.

prime,

so long have tuneful

ear, through poets echo hears, nor mocking friar

July

first

s

lain,

rhyme

strain.

BOOK

I.

LILITH. BOOK an angel

as

PURE

I.

dream shone Paradise.

s

hemmed

Blue mountains

it

round; and airy

sighs

Of

rippling waters haunted

And wayward

Dim

it.

o erflecked

paths

glades,

with

shimmering

shades,

And

tangled dells,

Hung

and wilding pleasances,

moist with odors strange from scented trees. o erbrimmed

sounds

Sweet

the

place

;

and

rare

perfumes, Faint as far sunshine,

fell

In that

hues,

Wrapt

fair

land,

flawless

all

days

in

mong all

verdant glooms. leafage green

endless summer-sheen.

Bright eyes, the violet waking, lifted up

Where bent

And

the

The wild-woods There

roses,

Kept happy

No

lily

folded buds,

her deep, fragrant cup;

gainst

many

voiceless nuns

deep

in

tryst with

a leafy spray knelt

down

to pray.

greenest mosses swathed, tropic

blooms, sun-bathed.

sounds of sadness surged through listening trees 13

:

i

LILITH.

4

The waters babbled low Made answer, murmurous

the

;

The Of

jonquils wore

nor

;

Nor

in

the tasseled plumes

fell

Upon

;

chill

white

daisies clustered

breath grew

the wild

croft

dewy

Sweet

all

the

wind the

listless

The

slender palm uprears,

The

first

of

womankind

gracious shape

forest

the

one

Fairest

sweet Lilith

stood,

that glorified the wood.

Like netted sunshine

fell

bare,

her lustrous hair;

rosy flush of young pomegranate bells

Dawned

-on her cheeks

Sleep the

Upon

;

and blue as

a leopard,

Beneath his looked,

feet.

swart

Adam

crouched low in

Not once

in

shifting shadows dusk, and more O, Love," she said, "no

So sweet this,

is

life,

anger,

place

Lilith s

With

methinks,

dells

gazed intent its

her wistful,

nor sought

in lone

With bent

Forget-me-nots, her eyes.

Brows, sullen-creased,

In

stirred.

gainst the morning sun

About her rounded shoulders warm and

"

day

;

jargonings of nested bird,

the

Straight as the shaft that

He

the

with music every woodland way

And sweet When light

The

;

as satin soft

broad-leaved corn.

the

O erflowed

A

errant bees

nor paled the hue

face

downcast eyes

strange let

us

surprise.

contend!

should end.

our garden bright, why dost thou claim

Ever the highest place, the noblest name ? Freely to both our Lord gave self-same sway

LILITH.

O er

things.

living

Love,

thou

15

art

gone astray!

Twin-born, equal stature, kindred soul Are we like dowed with strength. Yon stars that of

;

roll

Their course above, down-looking on

my

face,

base. See yours as fair; in neither aught Thy wife, not handmaid I, yet thou dost say, that s

I

first

Eden

in

Thou, then, hast sway.

rule.

mutely follow thee ? Run at thy bidding, crouch beside thy knee ? Lift up ( when thou dost bid me ) timid eyes

Must

my Adam,

I,

Not so "Mine

Lilith

will

own,"

dwell

in

Adam made

?

Paradise."

answer

twere

"

soft,

best

Thou

didst

Content

forget

such

ills

wake, the keeper of

I

Of equal stature ? Yea recall those Nay, Love !

;

When we Yon Its

length beneath

Neath thy

We

snarled,

the

rest.

place. ?

lately vanished eves,

leopard lowly stretched at lazy

noontide

Of self-same grace

together plucked the

At thee she

Oft,

in

my

plantain

leaves;

my command

soothing hand.

disdaining half, to sheathe

soft pleading

eyes her milk-white teeth.

Love, in other times, in sheltered nook, scattered

pearly millet by

the

brook.

Quick mine odors fine blooms Upspringing sifts o er pale Hateful thy chidings grow; each breeze doth bring

Lo

thine

lay barren in the sand.

:

LILITH.

16

Ever thy plaints

thy fretful

These many days

I

Know,

Thereat he

weary

alone

I

Lilith,

rule

thy sighs;

Paradise."

and quick

rose,

murmuring.

of

at

The fawning leopard gambolled So

the

fell

With coming Lone lay the

And As

ail

the winds were

all

sick

to

sometimes

at

s

strife.

rife.

loss

paled.

heart; the sunshine failed;

breathed in silvery dells alone

falling waters

hidden

side.

land with sense of dull

The days grew

A

his

at

dark shadow of Earth

first

evil

every stride

moan

starlit

you

have

neath

seen,

household

eaves,

Mong

scents of

The swallows Home-flying

And

all

Springtime, in the

budded

circling blithe, with slant

leaves,

brown wing,

with tender chattering,

fleet,

the place o errun with nested

love

So have you come, when leaves hung crisp above silent door. Yet not again, I ween,

The

Those shining wings, cleaving the

Nor heard the

Only Spake

To

of

air,

have seen

the gladsome swallows twittering there

empty the

Lilith

The

starlit

Nor

the

nests,

low-hung and bare,

scattered brood.

So lonely were

Nor

grown her once loved haunts. nights,

dim

fair

slow-dropping fragrant dew,

groves

when

dawn

came

shifting

through.

Far mong the

hills

the wood-doves

moan

she heard,

LILITH. Or Or

17

some nearer copse, a startled bird the white moonshine mong green boughs o in

;

er-

head

Wrought her

full

*

heart to tears.

Sweet

peace,"

she said, "Alas

lies

At

her silence, and to

slain!"

With musing worn, she brake last

"

Beyond

these walls

Islands low-fringed,

I

Adam

know

or bare

;

spake

not what

:

may be

or tranquil

sea,

Spaces unpeopled, wastes of burning sands,

Green-wooded

Or realms

of

belts,

summer

enclasping

lands,

dusky pines, or wolds of snow,

Or jagged ice-peaks wrapt Or shadowy oceans lapped

in

purple glow,

sheen

in fadeless

Yet there were Paradise, were Lilith queen. To dally with my lord I was not meant ;

To

soothe his idle whims,

Warm

in

Nor deep

my in

milk-white subtle

above him bent, his repose,

lull

arms,

kisses

drown

his

woes.

Wherefore, since here no more dwells love, I To seek my home in other lands. For why

Should Lilith wait since

Adam

More dear he holds than But answer

For

faint

soft

s

Lilith

made Adam

at

empty

state

desolate the

fly

"

?

word,

his

dying love, yet coldly stirred Its ashen cerements Nay, love, our home "

:

Within these garden walls

lies

safe.

Wouldst roam

1

8

LILITH.

Without?

One

Sweet peace, by

little

or miss

loss,

loss,

thou restore

wilt

evermore ?

it

"

goodly Eden, Adam, safely bide, But I, for peace, nor love, nor "In

she cried,

life,"

"

Submit

to

Allegiance

Unto our Lord

thee.

my homage

true;

Oft have I watched the

Pursuing

mists

own

athwart yon peaks,

to touch their shining veil

In happy days ere Love,

So now, farewell

Adown

I

alone.

coves and winding creeks,

oft past

Have thought

his

!

outspread,

was dead;

alas,

Ere the new day shall break

their

gleaming track, my way I take." She turned; but ere the gate that looked without She reached, one fleeting moment paused in doubt

Upon

a river

s

brink.

All coming time

she

In one swift glance A weird romance

saw.

Wherein she traced great peoples yet unborn,

New

springing cycles,

strange lands cleft with tarn

Or

pleasant vale, and green plains stretching And quiet bays, and many a shingly bar,

And And

troubled seas, elfin

Or

bursts

Uncertain, "Against

The

stars,

with bitter perils past,

shapes that jeering

With scornful of

faces,

far,

leering

flitted

lips

that

fast

smiled,

laughter through that vision wild.

then,

she

stood,

half

loth

yon deepening sky, new-lit. Dear home, thou

She fondly sighed.

to

turn.

how dimly burn art

so

fair!"

LILITH.

19

Then sudden she was ware

The angel near her paused, whose watchful care Guards Eden s peaceful bounds. Serene, his air So tender-sweet, so pure the gentle

face,

She scarce dared look upon its subtle grace. Sad were his eyes; his words, rebuking, fell the

as

Soft

Anger and pride

Thy All

feet

Behold

!

st

lead the

afar,

through distant ways

evil

days.

At yonder southern gate

now my

waits even

Thou can The

in

reluctant,

decreed.

is

shall

dell.

sleeping

these gates bar

lest

From peace

forever out.

Lilith

in

clear,

go not hence,

sister,

"My

moonshine

not

which hath

tell

Nay;

highest place.

princely mate.

nor,

in

our far land

indeed, whose

hand

Hath grasped the noblest fame nor yet divine Whose brows enwound with honor, brightest shine. ;

In pleasant labor lurks no thought of

The

greatest

The

heart

s

loss

warm

oft

brings the

pulse

feels

pain

;

noblest gain

not

one

;

throb

of

strife,

And Love

is

holiest

crown

of

human

life.

Ere thou didst sleep, beyond the rim of night I heard a voice that sang. The carol light, Scarce earth-born seemed.

So sweet the matchless

strain,

cadence weird, lowly to breathe again, Wrapt echo, listening, half forgot; and o er Its

20

LILITH.

And The

o

as joyous

er,

notes

free

birds

unprisoned soar,

And

rose.

the

in

silence

Across the seas, across the night,

O

sinless

whose clear voice

soul,

Gainst the blue verge of

The happy song Of

Whose Ah,

of

Love

:

rings

blithely Lilith

the

!

Thou

sings

tint

hast

no hint

or of

Sin s rough ways, heaven climb, through darkest maze.

turmoil,

feet to

sure the

Lilith,

O

love.

wide,

cried

Tis

stars!

thou wearest.

divine

light

Of storm or

I

love

that basely weighs,

That stoops to count its gifts, and hoarding, Such and so many, these indeed are mine

says,

;

I

hold

This

is

treasure

my

not love; thee.

Deceiving

nor covet thine

dear,

borrowed

Thrift in

tis

Love giveth

free

;

dress,

largess

With open hand, clean as the whitest day; Yea, that

Beyond

it

gave, forgetteth

it

straightway.

these walls dwells bliss that lives not here

When thou hast bartered peace, outshining clear And storm-tossed wide, art wildly driven hence, The

outer world gives thee

no recompense.

Each shining sphere

that

trembles in

Hath

own

familiar

orbit

Nor doth

true

the

its

planet pale

Reel wanton down,

No

twining vine,

its

best

self

;

for

lift

space

place.

gems

smallest

tendril,

Ere taught thee so

Doth

the

that

blue

star

the to

night smite.

or springing shoot

bud and

upward

into

leaf

and root

light,

?

LILITH. Yet climbing

That shrines

fellow.

its

"

The dark Bear

roots drink

So pattering rains and healthful juice slow drains

neath the mould

Deep

and with

;

and flow

leaf

stainless,

sacred right

not the

scorns

still,

21

Noblest the soul that

self

secret

their

above

r

the

toil

soil.

hath most forgot

;

Strongest the self which hath most

humbly wrought

Purest the

serene,

soul

that

in

full

light

God

Unquestioning, enwrapt,

will

Bleeding, Is

doth glean.

thy tender feet

;

And

tread their stony ways.

And wedded

love.

field

s

have seen worlds far hence

I

;

sweet

and rude,

love, grown cold

More bitter-seeming makes dull solitude. and light and warm Security is sweet ;

The young

heart beats, close shut from every

Lilith

"

Yet,"

answered slow,

"

in

that

still

harm."

night

Lord, passed from our sight, Lo this fair spot words? Hast thou forgot his

Ere He, the garden

Made

for

your pleasance

Oh, twin-horn

Of I

soul give.

pair

Together

Nay;

The compact. way

;

see

ye

whom Hath

Hath she

the

in

Adam who I

not,

place

Lilith

shall

sought

aught doth break

Therefore, unhindered

far hence.

it

Bear equal sway

herein.

tis

mar

richly dight with grace

unto

rule.

?

Offended?

;

So

!

and stature

O er all that live A solitary reign

My

s

let

not vex his

me soul

take

LILITH.

22

With

fretful plaints,

Far,

far

Thy

feet

where unknown

away,"

ere

"Yet

pass,

stars shall roll,

she sighed.

linger.

That greet thine

ear.

Lilith,

list

Slow cycles

these

glad will

bounds

sounds pass on

And

in the time-to-be-bright years, grow wan Old planets fade, new stars shall dimly burn, But not to Eden s peace shalt thou return.

Oft from thy yearning heart glad hope shall fruit

Thy

Certain,

of

life

small

!

Thou

bloom

all

sere

and

comfort bides, when joy

In Great or Less.

Sorrow

lift

Grim Sorrow hast not seen

;

fail.

pale.

is

gone,

waits to lead thee on.

her pallid face.

In thy most troubled dream she had no place Nay, I depart," she said, with lips grown chill. "

"

"

"

Fearless and free, exiled, I

may

"No

not hinder

thee,"

soul unwilling here

but princess the

may

still."

Angel sighed ever

;

bide."

Slow swung the verdant gates neath saddest eyes. Lilith forever lost fair Paradise.

BOOK

II

BOOK stealing

II.

through the shade, and skirting

SOFT

swift

The

walls

Lilith

Or

of

fled

peril

Paradise, through

f ar

by

;

nor stopped

the

night

s

Loud beat her

chill.

rift

wayside lurked.

The Grew

dark

deadly snare

lest

heart,

as

air

through

the

wind Echoed, unseen, pursuing

feet,

Adown the pathway And reached a weird,

the

of

behind.

mist she

strange land at

passed, last.

When morning flecked the dappled sky with red, And odors sweet from waking flowers were shed, Lilith

With

beheld a plain, outstretching wide, distant mountains seamed.

Afar, a silvery tide

The

blue

Dim

islands

shore kissed.

And

in

that

tropic

glow

shone, palm-fringed, and low.

In nearer space, like scarlet Strange birds, or

mong

the 25

arrows flew

reedy fens, or through

26

LILITH.

Tall

of

trees,

Now

unknown

seaward

Lilith

leafage,

Her hollowed hand above For she

was

with

spent

glancing,

passed, and the

went.

bent

stooping,

and quaffed;

wave,

Loud

wanderings wide.

laughed

She then, beholding on that silent shore Rare shells, that still faint in their pink

bore

lips

Wild ocean-songs; and precious stones, that bright That dim sea s marge, deep in the land of night Thick strewed.

Then Loud

glad, "

crying there,

O

she lifted shining eyes,

now

Lilith,

arise,

Great queen-triumphant See how wildly Before me lies my realm And from its !

!

sensuous,

Soft,

My

new

spirit drinks.

Hath Eden

s

self.

as

life

fair

air

ruddy wine,

Nor beauty

so divine

Look, where upon the sands

The

garish mosses spread with dainty hands, Like goblin network fine, each fairy frond.

And dusky And hang

trees

shut in broad fields beyond,

long trembling garlands, age-grown-gray,

From topmost boughs adown,

And

Ring summer chimes.

Mong

And

soft

in

tender leaves, great spikes of

About the pools

And And

athwart the

day;

sweet amid these wilds, bright dewy bells

the

fragrant

dells,

scarlet

flaunt

errant wild bees

haunt

thick with bramble-blooms pink petals starred,

dew-stained

buds

of

blue,

the

velvet

sward.

LILITH. sea

Scarce ripple stirred the

;

27

and inland wend

Far bays and sedgy ponds and rolling rivers bend. land of leaf and fruitage in the glow Of palest glamours steeped. And far and low ;

A

Great purple

Of

Shine

and further

isles;

sunset-tinted

that

hills,

day.

dim

softly

O

"

gainst the

a rim

still

world,

new

found,"

she

said,

treasures

"With

flowers

with

paths

odors

mong

rare,

shed,

For whose dear sake

And

and

heaped I

came o

danger

er flinty ways,

mong brambly

fraught;

sprays,

With

bleeding

feet,

and

fade

fast.

shoulders

thorn-pierced

deep.

But

perils

My

Eden

past, lost

no

more."

As one who dreams, she These

mountain

heights,

And I will weep And sweet and low For now I know said, "

these

level

plains,

are

mine."

She ceased, and inland quickly turned. Fair shine fruits or blossoms thick-set, Strange lightly tossed "

Low

at

my

feet."

Therewith, a dusk globe, crossed

With golden bands, from bent boughs, stripped

she.

Through

The gleaming sphere

And

thirsting cried

These

fruits

its

nectrous juices drew,

grown drunken thorny combs that

as one

unknown,

in

:

"

Mine

shine,

LILITH.

28

Or gray-green

spikes that glow,

Fain would

pluck,

I

dull

on the sands.

out-reaching eager hands,

Save that a marvel grows of ruddier rind Out-flinging fruity breath

Beneath harsh spines

My

upon the wind,

Nor

half-hid.

spouse such nectars

wilful

fine.

drains

Nor gains

His patient care the fruitage rare, these plains That heaps unheeded. Nay, nor bearded grains goodly land, where Lilith

this

Golding

reigns."

So passed the glad years on-, and o er her home woods and mountains, its clear streams

Its

to

roam,

The inmost throb

She loved. She

felt

amid the

Of Nature

And

s

grass.

of

Each

work she knew

;

Nature

heart

s

daintiest

part

each gain, each

reverent watched on high the

loss.

cross

starry

Gleaming, mute symbol in that southern dome Of One the Promised One of days to come.

The

rifted

sea-shell

on the shingly beach

She scanned, pitying each inmate gone.

Named.

Mong

beetling crags, the

Light-footed, went.

Under

the

Or, idly,

in

Each

sea-bird s

home,

the foam

cocoa-palms, her fingers dipped,

Much

marveling to see where featly slipped Beneath the waves scaled creatures, crimson-dyed

Or luminous:

Barred-yellow,

purple pied,

LILITH. opaline, or

Rose-tinted,

Sun

kiss

s

with stain,

dight

when through

Rich as the rainbow streaks,

The

29

Much wondered

falls.

the rain

when

she

bright

By sedgy pools, flamingoes stalked. And light The startled ostrich bent his headlong flight

O er

And on

desert bare.

Trooped

the

woody height The date s green

velvet-brown.

zebras,

crest

Beneath, the peaceful camels lay at

rest.

And

boughs

slender-straight camelopards the

lush-green leaves thereon to browse.

Down-drew, the

Or

mong oozy

oft

Fearless she went,

The Or

bogs,

when

water-courses by, the

in

And

in

or through the fens,

low,

mong reedy dens

huge creatures

slept,

jungles spotted panthers crept,

the

thickets

wound

deadly serpents

Like blossomed wreaths, their coils upon the ground. All forms of

life

she saw; with tenderest care

Uplifting humblest sprays,

Pierced

the

or blooms

deep heart of Nature

s

most

rare.

subtlest lore,

Touched highest knowledge, probed the inmost core Of hidden things. She tracked each circling world

And

the

wide sweep of billows

Each page

the

In lotus blooms,

Or

traced,

The

lightly

Master writ she read, or,

mong

star-lettered,

night unwinds

furled

the storm-clouds whirled;

on the flaming

toward

curled.

close

the

scroll

southern pole.

LILITH.

30

And sometimes

wiling idle

days, she

wove

In quaint device, gems from her treasure-trove,

Rare garlanded, or Soft emerald,

set

sapphire

in

flashing zone

and many a stone

pale,

Out-gleaming amethyst.

Her

yellow hair

Among, the glinting diamonds shone. And there The sultry topaz burned. And laughing, twined She round her bare white throat red rubies shrined In pearls.

Or she among the haunts would rove That sheltered island birds; or in the grove, Or mong the rocky cliffs, where dainty nests They

fashioned

swift.

She

scaled

seaward

the

crests,

And on

the sands

piled

turtle

eggs,

when

About hoarse-shrieked the water-fowl; or Of plovers fell among the tangled glens,

Or

lonely bitterns

boom came o er

the

all

call

fens.

So traversed she her realm, when mangoes green Baobabs by, showed freshest hues; and sheen

Of

silver

Of

that far

touched acacias slight; and lone The solitary aloes, dreamed. The moan

And

through

sea against the shore brake that

She roamed and Till

one dawned

soft.

blossom-burdened land as far,

oft

sweet sped the passing days.

fairest,

in

whose noon-tide haze

Sweet slumbering she lay-, and dreamed-steeped Half conscious, caught the tinkle of a rill

still,

LILITH. In

far-off

More

Paradise.

31

silver

clear

Across her thoughts, as once she loved to hear, Rippled the waters, low against the stones

Where poised moans

gemmed

dragon-flies

and sudden

;

Shook mong blue flags. Waked, vague unrest And tender yearning rose within her breast, And longing love, that she ne er more might When late upon her parting day smiled chill, Pensive she gazed upon the darkling land, feet o er-passed the shining

With lingering

And

still.

strand,

on an o erhanging ledge, The sea o erlooking. Far the horizon s edge sat

silent

Athwart her gaze a rim of blue hills cleft, Whereat she sighed. "So rose, ere I them

So smiled, the dim hills round wherefore recall, when But I

Dreams vanished

gone

?

left,

my Eden home. far

And now

I

roam,

since long time

dead Is

that

Where

fair

soft

past,

about

As summer winds

fain

I it

would lay

it

low

memories sweet may blow

the fallen

leaves

among."

Then passed her tender thoughts, and loud and glad As our morn wakens, strong that yesternight slept sad, She sang.

The song triumphant upward

Unsorrpwed by

As

fresh

AS

the

the

blithe

soft

full,

dreams

free,

skylark

s

or thoughts

mellow notes did strain,

swelled, of

eld

rise

anear the skies:

LILITH.

32

High, high, bold Eagle, soar; watch thy flight, above thy cragged rock. Below thee, torrents roar, Down-bursting wild with angry shock Upon the vales. O proud bird, free, I

My

spirit,

Far

mounting, follows thee,

follows

Still

thee,

still

follows

thee.

O Sea so wide! Sea shore. thy waves ere yet they find thy 1 "hear thy sullen tide neath the beetling cliffs with muffled roar. Afar, afar, O moaning Sea, My roving soul still follows thee, Still follows thee, still follows thee.

roll

.

Break

Thy The

O Whirlwind black O strong! the crouching land scorching breath fierce burns And thou dost sweep along raveled clouds. O Whirlwind, see My

spirit

Still

rising,

follows

thee,

follows thee, still follows thes.

Nay, nay! My dauntless soul, O Eagle, soars, higher than thy wing, And wider still than roll Thy waves, and further than thy shores, O Sea O Sea spirit flees

Still

My

No more

it

follows,

follows

thee.

Whirlwind, more strong than thou

My

soul,

fearless leaps to thine embrace brow thy stern, wrinkled touch and soothingly, vassal art thou still to me, no more, Whirlwind, follows thee.

that

And

Ooth tender

And That

LILITH. and darkened

Swift changed her mood,

As sometimes in an The sudden dusks o So

fell

That

33

sunny place

open,

crinkling waters run,

er

And

her thoughts to music. she

grieves,

her face.

in

That

sang.

one

as

lay

weirdly

soft,

clear,

The babbling waves made murmurous pause Fair land

(

The Sun,

she sang

thy I

),

lover,

to

hear

:

O sun-steeped realm of mine, hath his farewell kiss.

only pine

While dim stars shine.

Strong

is

Falls soft

Day-god yet upon thy faltering

thy

!

his

parting kiss

lips.

O

land,

Thou I

hast a bliss ever miss.

Fast comes the night, and warm, for thy dear sake, curtain dusk, thy lonely rest. I only wake

The shadows

My Fair land,

From my

plaint

my lover cold, doth careless take shut lips his flight. Here leaves me lone

My moan My heart She ceased.

As

And

make.

to

But

still

failing sunshine Lilith,

listening,

Yet dream-like,

far,

to

make,

to

break.

the song did float

soft,

in

heard again

and

fade,

woodland glade. so wild,

that

tinkling

so

shrill,

rill

LILITH.

34 In Paradise.

A

And

o er her

sadness bitter-sweet,

as

spirit swept neath the green

palms

crept

The

A

wind,

bird

To

shelter

Turned

And

low-sighing,

torn pinion safe,

Lilith s

so,

faint.

lifts,

As from

striving

to

lone

soar

Edenward once more

drooping thoughts.

brooding, homeward

Uprose she then, slowly went again.

nest

BOOK

III.

BOOK

III.

through her realm she walked, and glad

WIDE

or lorn

She mused.

When

So,

she

lone

One sudden

Upon

chanced one morn

upon a mountain

sat

height,

anear, whose dark eyes

stood

Pallid

her shone.

His smileless

it

loitering,

"Who

lips.

his

art

bright

and red

face,

Lilith said,

thou?"

And faint a hidden pain her hot heart stirred, When low, and rarely sweet, his voice she heard. and half

She looked, half-pleased

in strange surprise

Shrank neath the gaze of those wild, starry eyes. dame," the stranger said, "where waters leap "Oh, Bright glancing down,

Thy Eden

o

I

joys

er,

Adam

sought of

I

saw thee stand

The

fruitage

One

holds dear.

his

I

all

oft,

where steep

bare-browed, a peak uprose.

Naught craving bloom or Frail

rested

;

heritage.

and

all

Fair

nay,

nor those

only boon

neath the

moon

about thy feet

night her perfume spilled, soft incense meet.

Then low

I

sighed,

when grew thy beauty on my

sight,

Some comfort

yet

remains, 37

if

that

I

might

LILITH.

38

From Adam pluck

Some morn

this perfect flower.

(some dreamed-of morn, perchance slow-born)

If I

This flawless bloom, white, fragrant, lustrous, pure For ever on my breast might hold secure. Yea, for thy love, through darkling realms of night followed thee,

I

sharing thy fearful flight

Lo, when thy timid

Unseen.

heart,

behind

Heard echoing phantom feet upon the wind, Twas I, pursuing o er the day s last brink ;

How

now am

I

Wherefore,

over-much

Were

life

with

love

I

thee

!

O

here.

weary naked

With me each onward path

me

"Let

wilt

thou endest here thy

if

Or,

and how sweet

thee,

O

too bide with

Lilith, think

feet,

thou not tread?

quest,"

he

said,

thee."

Made answer low thereto

Lilith

One Is

stood at

thee.

lips.

he sighed,

"

Nay,

thy face

Of kingly race comest thou, O prince ? whence Say,

red thy

darker,

know

I

Meseems not long ago Eden s gate like thee. But "

:

then,"

From Heaven

an outcast

"

thrust out;

long since

I,

now, the

yet

"

curse

is

past,

Nor mourn

Thy Is

love

I

I

Heaven.

Heaven

win.

And

lost,

if

at

Yea, where thou bliss,

in

sooth

the art,

said),

"lives

ever in

thy

I

"

low,

He

last

smile."

(oh,

know soft

and

LILITH.

39

His speech sandy beach

Thus ended.

And toward

He

Though long her eyes

passed.

the

the

stranger

sought

Where curved

the distant shore, she saw

him

not.

through the trees the mottled shadows dropped When Lilith in her pleasance sat. Half-propped Soft

Gainst mossy trunk her slender length. Her hair enmeshed her elbows bare.

In sunny web,

Slowly the breeze swayed the mimosas slight Eblis pushed aside the bent boughs light.

As

"O

he

dame,"

Earth

said,

richest

s

Therefore

gifts

loveliest

Things I

bring.

I

am

true

of

all

Hides

rarest

crafts

in

bear this marble sphere,

I

Therewith the globe he showed, was Half glowed

fruit."

half whereof smooth-sparkling ;

:

embossed with pale leaves

delicately sculptured

clustered flowers

With beaming

young earth

this

husk, well polished, gleaming clear,

With carven work

And And

feet;

unto her whose worth

master,

So much deserves,

The

Lilith s

at

beneath the shining sun

Since

Whose hollowed

lay

unto the fairest one,

said

I

seemeth surely meet

"it

to

eyes,

birds

frail.

and

laid

in

Lilith

the

light,

flight,

drew near graven sphere

o ertraced the vine Against her smiling lips That circled it with fingers slim. Mine, mine ;

"

LILITH.

40 Is

O

it,

"

prince

she

?

"

cried.

know

I

beauty doth recall the winds

Its

Some summer-tide, Eblis replied

More

fair?

That

"

:

If

for

I,

that

in

upon the stone

left

On

Methinks

own sweet

its

its

why

long sigh

That surged among the palms.

Hath

not

dead

is

stead

imaging."

is

earth,

anything such thou knowest, Lilith, speak.

would straightway seek.

thee, surely

indeed thou findest anywhere, Say, On land or sea, created things so rare if

And

On

"

Lilith

answered,

this

earth

"

?

so

round,

Naught else so lovely anywhere I found. So shames it meaner work so had I said But see yon nodding palm that droops

Low So

On

sighing o er the wave.

feathery-fine. its

cold,

Bring

me

Turn thy white sphere

fair

surface,

Eblis,

its

head

a bough !

Now

canst thou

Such branches carve, or tender fronds, that we Bright waving on the cocoa, these may see ? "

And Such

Then

till grew upon the stone boughs as on the cocoa shone.

Eblis wrought

airy

Lilith

cried

"

:

Skilled

craftsman,

proven

thou! Didst thou, then,

make my

cocoa-tree

Pale graven give the grace of

its

?

Thy bough

green crown

When through it night winds gently slip adown. No charm of color, nor of change, nor glow Of blue noon

sky, thy

carven work doth show

;

LILITH. Let dusk bees

From

visit

or

it

marble

41

breath

the

sip

Then, Lilith saith, Eblis hath wroughten noblest on this earth." He answered quick, "Poor bauble, little worth chill

thy

buds."

"

To Lilith Ope thy slighted The miracle thy rough rind

He The

Most

And

midst a gem; hand.

for

fair

deftly

traced

he

lustrous

this

Night

till

said,

her,

"I

made

blood-red sard,

of

acacias slim,

bright

river-reeds.

white

Its

rim rime

as with

Slow drags the lagging time, one day shines upon the breast

whose perfect beauty worthiest

It

decks, this gem.

If

lovelier

Keep

said,

laid

gleaming surface hard

its

spray of leaves enchased, fallen.

which he

the

"Behold,"

thee

Pomegranates lush and

I

"

!

touched a hidden spring, and wide apart sphere showed its white hollow heart,

With carvings thick

Of

doth conceal

riven

And in the Wkhin her

A

reveal

husk,

!

there

silent;

yet

The

be,

token, Lilith, take

with me, oh

Awhile from thine own land.

The gem

finds favor in

thine

;

sake

for Eblis

go

Lilith,

Then

I

shall "

eyes.

Then she Turned from her pleasance and Passed to the That,

sea,

glimmering,

across

all

silently

the yellow strand

ringed her shadowy land.

know

LILITH.

42

"Oh

he

cool,"

The barren

and

Gainst thy hand.

To

bear thee

Upon

the

far.

beach

Will skim the

Come Her and

my

!

golden

With skin

its

sails,

of

now

grates

her shapely prow

swift

swallows it

is.

fleet

wing.

Thou

For thee

purple canopy. I

spotted pard,

Ere the fresh breeze doth

No

Across the sea.

wet

longing pinnace waits

slender keel

as

deep,

that fret

curl their scattered spray

comely and strong

Seest! Its

;

lucent waves

"the

said,

shore,

cushioned

die,

so

craft

light

it.

us

let

flit

proud, so staunch,

Goes glancing through the foam. I safely launch Her now, and speed to fairy isles. Come thou With

And

me."

prow

And mong

glad

crossed the

she

burnished

;

the

thick

rugs sat down.

furred

"

Oh

craft,

Fair fashioned, lightly built, speed "To

other lands bear Lilith

far,"

she laughed

;

safe."

As

sailed

They idly on, her slender hand she trailed the

Among

A

craft

Hath

it

waves, and sudden cried,

stauncher than thine floats by. of

or silken

helm, or prow,

"

Indeed,

What need sail,

Sure harbor finding when the ocean gale Fast drives

it

onward?"

A

nut she

drew,

Rough, coarse-husked, forth from the wave. found,"

round, "Lo,

I

LILITH. She

it

boat well

"this

said,

Cast

Of ocean

We

say,

cocoa-tree

pilot free,

misty shore

port, the

No

fades from sight.

wild uncertain main

the

sails

it

Its

its

It

isles.

The

built.

amid the foam.

The summer wind;

43

more, ,

But when the drifting days are gone, again We turn our prow, and reach the barren isles

Where, stranded as we went, the Above; a bending tree. Aloud we *

A

miracle

is

the

Behold,

wrought

cocoa,

We

!

towering,

Forth from the brown nut

Sweet odors

When

faint; its

through indeed,

Strong,

and

s

Now

nut.

smiles

cry,

draw anigh. doth spring heart.

far stars

About

it

cling

trembling peep.

bowers cool the breezes creep. well

thy boat,

builded

!

I

wis

There be yet other craft as firm, Eblis, That o er these trackless waters boldly glide. Brave Nautilus

With

of

sails

To summer The

in

Glad

skies.

the

doth fearless

gossamer.

airs,

water-spider

That

A

afar,

silken

his

sunshine

the

!

that,

all

sparkling, slip

rippling,

dip

Look, the wind

Thy pinnace fast

true

Bright voyagers

sultry seas!

Our creaking sails The ocean s swell,

ride,

doth spread,

beneath the blue,

through the deep,

merry waves.

That roam the

sailor

floats,

thousand insect-swarms,

Amid

too,

gleaming thread,

free

fleet,

And

So,

flying

stirs

o er

leaves the fadirfg shore;

LILITH.

44

Yet faster

still

And

darts

the

The

insect-fleets

the

Nautilus

sails

among

Not when among the

by,

And

spider quick. the

swifter fly

foam;

billows

wild

think

yet

doth sink

Thy bounding boat, I fear. Nor would I slight Thy skill, that made it strong, and swift, and light, And trimmed it gayly, for my sake."

Now

A

jutting shore

The brown Beach

of

Prince

rocks rose.

near

Eblis drew, where sheer

And

white sand curved

just to

beyond, a slim

the ocean s brim.

Thereto he came, and high upon the strand Drew the boat s keel. "Welcome, fair queen,

to

land

That Eblis

said. fain would show rules," he Thee what thou hast not seen in the warm glow Of thy glad home. This blighted shore of mine

No

"I

verdure hath,

Mong

drooping

nor bloom, boughs.

nor

Far

that

fruits

inland

gloom

shine

lone

peaks

O er

blackened meads; or from their bare cones leaps

Gaunt, crackling flame; or crawl like ashen veins

The smouldering fires across the stricken plains. Deep in these yawning caves black shadows lie That

shall

Enter! I

be

Know

lifted

never more.

thou what treasure

gathered other

time."

Come, by the

I

sea

Therewith showed he

LILITH.

45

Hid mong the high heaped rocks a dusky Where never sunshine fell. A dismal spot

Where dank

grot

sea-weeds coiled and cold the

the

Swept through. And Before her webs of woven

stooping, Eblis

downward fold

in

stuff,

air

rolled

Of purple sheen, enwrought with flecks of gold. Great wefts of scarlet and of blue, thick strewn With

pearls, or

And drifts And warps of Wound round of

with discs of jacinth stone

cleft

silky

Eblis

Orient hues.

"Among

I

light

Wide

her neck a scarf of amber.

and proud he cried, the still loom of night,

Its smooth folds sweeping flowed

these

;

woof and samite white,

in

hills,

wrought for Lilith

s

;

And

all.

pleasing,

bright

trail

of

morning hues silver dews

Hereon have set

fair

traceries

of

cloud-shine

And

far

vales.

these webs, in blended

Have spun

And

noontide shades and

the

of

tints

Glow with sweet thoughts

The

Dawned

these?"

And And much

low she cried,

"Beside

A To

Hage

it

my

"Oh,

wondrous

me.

But

knee one morn,

reared.

subtler music

Its

or colors

fine

otherwhere rare

her eyes a swift delight,

in

pleaseth

And

thee.

of

Hast thou such fabrics seen,

As

textures

gliding

its

skin

yet,"

she

sight,

said,

hooded head

shape so near

moved, than velvet

the

is

my

dull

Could catch.

Its

I

gently

Watching the

light that o er its

heaped

ear strake, coils

brake

LILITH.

46 In glittering waves.

Flame

silent

Before

my

Fair

is

slept,

startled

The

it.

its

in

quick

small, wise

glance,

dance

baleful

gaze quivering did wake.

woven, yet the snake

soft

thy woof,

Out-dazzles

Within or

beetle

that

boom

doth

out among the tangled gloom, wide wing above thy weft, or trail

Its dull life

Lift

his

His splendor

and thy poor web

there,

Yea, the red wayside

The

girdled bee,

Than

that

softer

is

woven

finest

lily

still,

will

pale

;

doth snare

more

fair

But tenderly

cloth."

She smoothed the gleaming

folds.

"

Much

pleaseth

me, Natlhess,"

He

she said,

tapestries

of

"

such

fleeces

Then brought

loveliness."

fine,

well

wrought

In colors soft as woodland mosses

tinge,

Or glow of autumn blooms: Heavy with fringe Of downward sweeping gold arras, where through ;

Showed mottled

stripes,

Broad zones of

red,

or arabesques

Of dropping leaves. he said, The storm-tossed billows round these "Lilith,"

Twere hard

these

I

spun daintily. Such twisted weft or woven

She

said,

Would

"is

give

unto

due thanks.

But yesterday Bright in

Eblis,

the

I

of

blue,

and tender grays, and hue

strand."

whom

I

rolled

"when

caves, behold to

find

"Oh,

kind,"

fain

His gorgeous

train

saw the peacock spread

;

sun gleamed his small crested head;

LILITH.

47

His haughty neck wrinkled to green and blue, And since I needs must truly speak, I knew

Not color

as

rich

his

and

:

The

curious nest among The busy weaver-bird plaits

And And

have seen

I

the branches green,

in

and out

its

thou

since

pliant

thick leaves,

of

meshes weaves

twere hard

sayest

;

match

to

thy

fine,

woven

Strong,

fabrics,

His cunning wefts.

watch the weaver twine

Though

still,"

she said,

"think

not I

scorn thy

gifts,

Their worth

Then

is

Eblis

Prince

Eblis;

greater than

deeper

in

my

for

I

wot

tongue

can

say."

cave led her a

the

little

way,

And showed

a stately screen of such fine

One almost felt the breeze The pictured boughs. And

Of

seemed

art

part

o er the stirless lake

wimpling waters sudden brake and flowers the willows on its brink

Dreamed

Among

that

to

the

scarlet,

swift,

shining-clean from

summer showers;

And Eblis said, Cold praise a friend should spare This picture true. Certain naught else will dare "

Vie with such

beauty."

Archly Lilith took from her bright hair, and lightly shook I loving, touch," The dewdrop from its heart.

The

rose

"

She

said,

"these

petals

smooth.

O,

Eblis,

such

LILITH.

48

Give to thy painted blooms;

cool

its

give

sheen

Of morningtide, the mossy, lush leaves green That fold

When

Give

round.

it

its

Nay, fairer

rose

my

still

dallieth.

than gilded screen,

Though Thereat

smiled Eblis bitterly.

parting

Perchance

One who

it

be limned with perfect

it

One

fragrant breath,

faint,

with the fickle breeze

he

gift,"

it

ween."

a dainty thing

"

said,

other time

in

I

art,

bring

"I

;

recall

will

long and patiently through

strove

all

These days to win thy praise." An oval plane Of crystal gave he her; of fleck or stain

Of

Clear-gleaming.

The

He

"

laughed,

Aught Gazed

else in

Her pink

ivory carven

And when

frame.

is

the beauty

Fair

is

"Divine,"

Canst claim

enshrines.

Lilith again

her face beholding there,

flushed cheeks, her yellow streaming hair.

Quick came her breath. "

it

And

fairer?"

the glass,

fine

she looked,

the

"

O

prince,"

Bid those

stranger.

she slowly said,

lips

so red

Speak once to Lilith. For methinks the voice Of such in music flowed. Let me rejoice "

Therein."

He.

O

That lends

No

is

"Lovelier

Behold, sweet

It

"

else

had

counterfeit

glorious

not.

cried

not on this earth wide! tis

Lilith,

my

!

thine

own pure

face

happy mirror perfect grace Bid

other happiness

I

thou thine image speak elsewhere seek,

!

LILITH. If

the

And

soft

answered gravely,

Lilith

Master indeed of

Eblis.

Red

whispers be of

she

tale

49

"

I

know

crafts

all

ma"

thee,

thou

and marble sphere, and

Sard,

Of pinnace

well

light

And decked

agile prow wroughten were by thee

And, beauteous to see, Fine woven weft and web, and the tall screen

O errun Of

full

fair.

with painted bloom, crystal, with gleam

Lilith s

thou madest these.

face

Mayhap

and asp likewise didst tint didst wrap The green about my rose, and richly fringe Beetle

My

or peacock

cocoa-tree,

With dazzling hues. But now

Lilith

Thou

far

art

didst

train

tinge

Methought thou wert a prince,

should humbly kneel,

since

higher than she deemed,

Madest these wondrous

As she would

s

things."

kneel, she

And

if

thou

lowly

drew anigh. made them

now

But he

And she Nay, I Low questioned, Eblis, tell me who then, did make Them all. Who set the creeping hooded snake And stealthy pard within the thorny brake, And spread the sea, and wreathed the waterfall With foam? Who reared the hoar hills, towering "

Cried, shrinking,

not."

"

tall

Above

the lands

He groaned He was he :

If

I

"

"

?

O

is.

With eyes wild Lilith,

ask

me

flashing,

low

My

foe

my

frame

not.

Trembles with wrath

but faintly breathe his awful

name."

LILITH.

50 Lilith

"

replied,

Of every

craft

Meseemeth, master true is

He."

Forth the two

From

that drear cavern passed.

Ere the water

brim

s

gained, he plucked the wilding reeds, that slim Stood by a brook. My pipe I make, one strain

They

"

Harmonious

to

Nor

wake.

Shalt thou such fresh

yet again

Methinks thou hast not known

He

A It

laid

pipe unto his

his

rung.

softer

fell,

in

mine

time."

The

far hills through

and

wild

yet

like

any and blew

lips,

blast, wild, piercing, sweet.

And

Music

notes hear.

clear.

ceased. With drooping eyes, Once I did hear song as wildly clear, as sad," she said, "In mine own realm." And as she spoke, dark dread "

It

A

The sky grew with

He

cried

"

;

Reeks with the

Back

a coming storm.

seek refuge ere rain

"

!

to his ocean-cave.

And

fast

There

They watched the piling clouds. The baffled billows broke upon

Them

"Oh,

haste,"

dreary waste

this

they sped

safe,

o erhead

With angry roar the

rushed the shrieking storm.

rocks.

O er

Wild through the

grot

Wandered

the prisoned wind, a troubled ghost that

sought Repose. Or low did moan, and trembling, wail, Like some sore-hearted thing that hideth, pale,

LILITH. And

not front the

dare

day

51

and wilder

;

still,

In chords melodious,

swelled or sank, until

She sighed,

weird harp among the caves,

this

"Oh,

Strange players hath It

Now

rises.

For loud as one that raves,

!

more sweetly fade away

mellow notes than thy thin

Its

He

said, "mayhap

strain

my

may

Thou I

art."

would

The storm she

return,"

is

past

Unkind mine own land

to

;

And

said.

day,"

when wind

please,

reeds.

Doth not outpipe my slighted "

One

"

pipes."

o er

Eblis

the

strand

Led

And homeward

her.

That

swiftly

through

turned his prow

silent

the

waves did plow.

swirling

"

But when they parted, Eblis mused, No gift soever winneth her, rich though It

be and seemly. fear

of

Into this pure I

Through Of future gain before ill,

enter;

I

know

soul,

or by goal

set.

it

So came

He

to

her pleasance yet again.

A

flame

he bore,

that

Leaped high above a brazier Its sweet, white, scented wood quick lapping o

er.

With darkened face Eblis above her hung. This hath, than my poor pipe, a keener tongue," "

Smileless

and

stern,

how

the

wild,

List

Eats through It

is,

that

the

serves

he

said.

crisp,

"Oh,

crackling ruby

tender boughs.

me

well

dame,

,

A

flame

trusty

knave

and loud doth rave

LILITH.

52

As

When

caged.

tiger

do

I

With angry fangs leaps on It

now

His

She

servant back.

faithful

Should

Lilith

the the

But

see,

Eblis calls

when

Lilith,

thou hast found.

it

I

too will

fear?

"

falls

"

?

Nay,

Believe

bind

it,

"

nay,"

A

way

me, since

prince.

Unfaltering, these eyes

Have watched when

And

free,

prey.

and drew her white neck up.

thy slave

is

it

thy feet, dost fear

at

fire

cried,

To tame It

till

sleeps harmlessly,

The red

set its

storm-clouds

rushing

heaped

skies,

black whirlwind, with loud, deafening roar, or whirled against the shore

Beat the torn waves;

The tumbling The shrinking

billows, with

And

land.

fierce

lips

that

wreathed

the

bit

lightnings

split

The cloud with thunder dread the

Upon

:

sea the water-spout.

or wildly burst Shall

She fear thy flame, who feared not mate Art thou for Share,

Eblis,"

great-souled

answered he.

one.

first these?"

"

His

Thou wouldst

"Fit

fate

not meanly

shrink,

Though his strong heart did fail. O Lilith, think The crown of clustered worlds thou mayest find, If thou with him who loveth thee wilt bind !

Thy Than

life."

eagle

"Nay,

far

happier seems to

caged, the wild lark

soaring

me free,"

LILITH. She

said.

to

They That

53

And through her rose-pleached alleys And tender music made the sea. voice

guileful

strayed

yet slow his wooing sped

;

Those summer days. But when were dead And brown the crisping leaves, "Oh, love," he "

Of

all

the

should

die,

thy love

Sleeps yet

My

centuries,

heart open wide.

Thy shut Though I Lilith.

Oh,

fain

Its

sweet perfume,

would

I

parting

up thy tender eyes

;

In their blue depths doth happy morning Tis

they be

if

night

drink.

From me no longer shrink,

?

lift

said,

thou rarest bloom,

rise

;

closed."

She

softly

sighed;

And ancient strife recalling, thus replied When dwelt a prince discrowned, well satisfied ? And fallen, loving, still art thou a prince, And otherwhiles might sorrow bring me, since :

"

It

might hap thou wouldst much desire her realm,

Were

Lilith thine

When Love

lies

;

for

princes

Is

so,

alas,

helm

the

craft

But Love

is

weak,

upon the sands

dashed, while one, on-looking, wrings her hands.

Such days Perchance (If

the

moored, and bid the shallop seek

Across the waves new lands.

And

seize

I

will

have outlived.

Like Adam, thou

seek to bind the loosed.

Then how

one hath drunken wine of liberty)

Shall

she,

Be glad

athirst, "

?

rejoice

;

no longer

free,

LILITH.

54 "My

she

then,"

We

"large-hearted

and royal bounty save Lilith s wish

law,

That fronts yon That other time

Hereon

said,

thee,

Nor knoweth "Why,

he

love,"

Full dowers

answered,

we read

in

Eblis, it

gives, alone."

the polished stone

"on

write,

hill,

lives,

full

and

clear,

day,

say,

are

graven all those early vows whispered low aneath the summer boughs,

Write every word.

That so the stone

be

shall

Ever a witness mute twixt thee and me.

Then For

shall

know thou

I

Thou

hast

thou

if

after-days,

write

said,

seekest

said,

Did

seal.

set

his

the

And

He

oft,

stone,

graved Eblis, So wedded they:

of

she

walked,

thrall

All

and thereon

In hand the wide world roamed.

Abode.

me no

now."

Then on

As she had

in

make compact.

hours,

questioned.

ere

and hand

Or

in

her land

yet on earth

Or he loosed

with

mirth

Her And

yellow hair, his

gainst

warm

;

;

As through Her fingers

his

She saw

his

in

down-streaming o er his arm cheek her breath came sweet and

dusky locks caressing played and shadows, half afraid,

slim;

wild eyes.

Or paths remote They

trod,

watching the white clouds rise

and

float

LILITH. Or by

Athwart the sky.

Or

the

neath the lotus bough,

Or

dragon-trees

And

55 listless

main,

slow paced the twain.

spread their cool leafy screen.

faint crept odors through the

mangroves green, upon the sandy shore. Love-tranced, unheeded, swiftly passed them o er Glad summer days till one hour softly laid

Where paused

the

pair

:

At

Lilith s

From

feet

distant

a

That looked upon

From

fair,

lone babe, that strayed

Dreamland

other climes,

its

far.

face.

So might one deem Or,

it

might seem

a rose-leaf blown apart,

Down-fluttered there, to gladden Lilith

s

heart,

BOOK

IV.

BOOK that

TO

But

summers came

other

Elf-child

fair

Lilith walked,

IV.

filled

heart-hungered,

;

with

shame,

Naught comforted. And in that shadow-land She sorrowing bore, in after-time, a band Of

elfin

babes,

waked dim echoes long

that

Forgotten there, and ghastly bursts of song. Then Lilith saddened more, for that s-he knew

The

curse was fallen

Fast-falling

tears,

That

not

shall

And me most

now.

"Oh,

know

in

cried

she

through

desolate,

any time the fate

Of happier mothers Nay, nor cool touch Of baby hands. Oh, longed-for, loved so much! !

Alas,

my

babes, ere yet hour-old ye

fly,

Out-spreading shining wings with jeering cry,

Afar from me.

The crown Falls

Would

of

blighted I

!

clasp

Most hapless

I,

from

whom

motherhood, yet white with bloom, Close in these empty arms fain

my

babes!

My

tender pain

But once could ye not solace ? Nay, tis vain I shall not kiss their lips, nor hear again, 59

;

LILITH.

60

As gladder mothers may, low-rippling, sweet, The laughter children bring about their feet. Oh, soulless ones, can ye not wait awhile, Till on your loveless lips I wake one smile

"

?

But merrily out-laughed the phantom crew shining pinions white, swift seaward flew, ;

On

Or upward rose, slow-fading in the blue Or lured her trembling, green morasses through. ;

And mong

the

Or shrieked

with glee borne on

And

wilder raised

While

all

Lay

the

the wintry blast,

warlock song.

their

mangoes brown,

elfin

her babes.

With face

throng.

Lilith

fair

Quick throbbed her heart.

sped

On mossy

bed

morning, shone

like

there, and wide her yellow hair out-blown Red-flushed her cheeks, and deep twere in play.

About her

Was

one,

lips

the

baby

white-gleaming,

smiles.

pure

In sunless caves, close-shut.

Against

With His

they vanished fast;

grew each day that

fairer

To pluck One morn. One As

frothy waves

his

rings

fellow, of

jetty

as

Asleep pearl

And one

unseen did lean

and brown, hair that low adown

lithe,

bosom streamed.

sun-flushed

And one

there

was,

whose

dream

O erflowed

with laughter.

And one

did seem

Half-waking. One, with dimpled arms in sleep Thrust elbow-deep in moss, that sure did weep

LILITH. Ere yet he

The

and on

slept,

61

cheek scarce dried

his

tears.

wilful

Then

cried

Lilith

low, pale

As near she drew, down-bending tender eyes: "And

If

my

ye here,

but break your

I

One

are

moved

faintly

and

babes;

will

sleep?"

rise

and warm

low she leant;

as

ye

His naked feet

His slumbrous breath stirred gainst her circling arm, And slow aneath his closed lids slipped a waft

Of wind,

that

loosed a trickling tear.

The mother-heart Close to

my

thereat.

forgot

my

breast,

babes,"

Its

"At

craft

last,

she cried, and fast

hands and strong. Laughing, outstretched her eager arms. Then lay with empty

The the

Breasted

air

pulsing

elfin

throng

with mocking song.

ye not give one kiss One tender clasp of hands And must I miss Your throbbing hearts from my cold, barren breast,

"Alas,"

she

"could

said,

!

Ye

soulless

ones,

my

that flout

lonely

rest?"

There, prostrate, long lay Lilith, and there, late Mid dew-fall, Eblis found his stricken mate. "O

say o er

Eblis,

For now no

me what

more,"

she

curse

said,

hangs bare, realm seems

"this

fair.

Its

fruits

With

grow

thee,

my

bitter,

all

prince, poor

its

light

Lilith

falls

chill.

mates but

ill

LILITH.

62 with

Earth-born,

No

to

joy

Methinks

From

me,

Lilith s

Surcease

Yet,

my

my

Eblis,

we

Of other

thee

part,

;

Not

mayhap may

not.

follow naught

love,"

he laughed,

At Eden

s

"o

er-late

gate

what time the angel barred her way

so,

My

weak

so

Lilith, is

and that she sinned, knew

timorous.

so

art

Lilith stood.

Was

were wise to seek

ills."

"Sweet

Thou

it

That

of grief.

Who wedded if

left

is

Alas,

sweet ones bereft.

baby lips might erewhile drain famished heart its wildest pain.

soft

Wherefore,

linked.

angel of

Shelter within

our young

not

love

my

arms.

Hath

sweet?

Oh, it

say,

grown

cold?

With me thou sharest endless

Of earth Shall

nor old, not one trace

decay (sure doom of thy sad race) For lo, I give thy babes.

s

taint

ones immortal youth.

soulless

Thy

life;

And

Nor shrivelled, shalt thou be.

They

live

Without a pang. And yet, methinks the cry Of Earth adown the ages sounds, when die Its babes; and mothers bend dumb lips above,

And

fold

Lilith,

still

hands, that answer not their love.

doth not indeed

my

love

outweigh

Caresses missed from phantom babes?

From Eden

To

bide

;

long,

here

in

this

fair

and through long cycles

Astray

domain

fearless reign

LILITH. Methinks were

And And

In summer sheen

joy.

Wide spreads The palm-trees

the winds

Among

While here we Their golden

Were

lies

Or,

glooms,

low

for they fain

would show

me

with

love,

blow

lilies

to

float

not sweet, through flowery bays remote,

it

wild

through

pierce yon ocean s verge,

Or

Past coves and peaks?

And

s

day, that

Shut

still.

Come,

wait.

green dusk lagoons

Oh, sweet the glow

plains.

hearts.

islets

Mirk the jungle

together watch the

When we

of

the

shine

Soft

skirt.

fertile

thy

The marge

thy land.

inland mountains. fair

63

waves

tumbling

our

sails

to

"

?

urge

sweet

"Yea,

Is

love,"

currents

listless

By

Low

is

she

sighed,

And sad, when baby And baby wiles desolate.

left

Shall

cheer

it

it

never

more."

"Yet,"

"

Lilith,

Upon

no longer mourn.

a scroll as

coming

fate,

samite close

For

That

shall fly

thy

children,

Eblis

said,

have read

I

glistening white,

hid from

Great peoples yet shall dwell

Then

sore

smiles

lisping tongues.

Have

All

"yet

mother-heart that hears no more

the

still

The

she

oars,"

sweet to roam

mid the foam

or

lulled;

dip our feathery

"and

said,

in

human these

sight,

dusk lands.

shadowy bands

thy fond caress, with them abide

In closest fellowship.

And though

they hide

LILITH.

64

Sometimes from human ken Still

their

better selves,

remain these tricksy yet indeed some quips

elves.

loved,

Though

and pranks

they

play,

Tis but a

men know, when

jest,

The

flickering

And

children follow their false

marsh-fires

Among the spongy When distant mid Rise green.

swift

The

bogs.

far

away

they light tapers

bright smiles,

ship-lad

waves the phantom

the

isles

Tis but a harmless jest that sets

On lonely plains, domes, mosques, and minarets, And o er the desert sands, mirage uplifts When glimmering waves shine through deep rifts Of crested palms. "

To

Across new seas

When The

men

The

and turn

spray dashes

boldly

their venturous prows.

fierce,

mates, no storm

Elf-babes

That

,

sail

harbor

one, watching, cries,

I fear,

mid the foam.

these

unknown

safe.

Ho, ho

The golden lands we In Earth

Long

in

s

!

yonder

Ye

goblin crew,

we

rise

follow you

With beckoning hands,

My

seek,

brown bosom

for

seas,

Wind-driven, loud they cry

"

when wide ride

tempests shriek, and wet about their brows

salt

Good

To

dearer they

Still

undiscovered lands

are

mates ours

pent, the

deep caverns dwells;

!

the lands,

!

hardy wight

and hard doth smite

LILITH. The rocky

Through weary

From

Nor

caves.

sees the

days of

golden spoil toil.

wasted, lonely

far-flying hides the

wild eyes,

his

65

prize,

he cries desperate, angered, worn, aloud answer labor The caves not, my Vain, vain!

Till

Nor yellow

cruel, silent

Hard,

And

that

threads,

seal your

hills,

in

gleam

my

any

strength ye in

treasures close

flinty

grot.

mock, rock

So, after

toilsome years, sweet wife,

To To

no sparkling

cheer our failing time.

He He

sturdy blows, and listening, almost fears dreams. But swift the echoes rise, and

thee

loudly

roll,

round him hears

and quick all

Reverberant, through

;

bring

Nay, nor anything

love-gift.

"Then

More

I

:

replies

the

still

hill.

caverns round,

the

The uproar swells, and fills the world with sound. With lusty shocks Then lists he once again. Your hammers Goblins

My

he boldly shouts,

!

!

smite

!

ye bring

dark-beating goblin wing gleaming caves, whose dusk veins hold

the

At

gold.

"And

lone,

Sits pale,

last

At

!

in stricken

last,

fields,

the ruddy gold

the

!

husbandman

with anxious eyes that hopeless scan

The burning

And

smite

treasure forth,

Among The

against the hard-ribbed rocks

ring

sky.

Hot

uplands parched.

lie

the

glimmering plain

Behold, the bencjmg grain,

fuKI7ERSIT7!

LILITH.

66 Fair in

The

the

Of famine Safe

Any Of

shut, nor

No

rainfall

lowing kine

Fast

die

hear in fold

I

nor on the wold

;

:

Since

land

the

all

is

cursed,

by famine scorched, or

if

he

thirst,

saith.

the

thick

warlock swarm

head, wide-spreading dark wings warm,

his

flitted

The waiting

by.

And

Among.

we

fail,

bleating lambs

"And

Above

and dry

;

Nor thrives about me mounting bird So end must be seemeth, thing.

What matter die?

dead

is

of

living

striving.

We

yet the

If

sore.

The whir

now

springtide,

brooks.

that

Sprites!

ye,

he stands

exultant hands.

claps

laughing,

Good speed

fields

bring

welcome

the

cloud

And

pile

the

Oh! sweet

And The The

clothe

afresh

the

fall.

big drops

listening

Untroubled,

the

Ha, ha the

!

aloud.

stars

ceased. across the

neath the

grain,

wasted plain. Against

goblins

my

cheek

shriek.

they rise

they sink,

elves, that bring the

Thereat, he, smiling,

The

wide,

Merry

they mount,

Ho, friendly

shouts

bloom again the bending

clouds sweep black.

Behold,

he

vapors thick,

shall

again.

longed-for rain

And when sky,

they

soft

crept

slept

mango-trees.

But when midway

The

night was

spent,

Prince

!

Eblis waking lay.

LILITH. Lilith s

Soft

67 the

mong

breathing

leaves

droopt

stirred.

Slid he,

That

sore

mused on every word

troubled,

spake ere yet they

Lilith

Foreseeing much

of

Their love.

queenly soul

Thou

"

O,

finds

For one

hold thee.

I

flaw,

Hope

s

Of

!

finer

grain

brain

in

taints thee

Sooth, yet

And

all

befall

And more

womankind.

of

her babes,

In

slept.

might

than angels are.

art

Than man, One touch She

that

ill

since

so

still

chill

forego my vow?

must

I

clear

crystal

Oh, how

break?

Ally her cause with mine!

So doth she long For human love a baby hand is strong To hurl my empire down. From her soft heart Red, baby lips can drain revenge, and start

Unbidden

And

tears.

wakes

pity

When mong dead embers Is

she

to life

sits

lone,

and

"Then,

at

Regret

s

dull

heels,

lo,

fast,

Retrieving follows.

Happy days

long past

She

so for love

she yearn,

will

Back

to

If

recall.

home once more

her early

Pardoning her wilful Shall

win the

forever.

Of

soul

my

lost

sufferings,

When

thou in

lord.

woman

Would hold

My

strife

done.

or

in

I

Lilith, all

love

Adam

so

s

this

And love,

will

turn,

he again

and

fain

thou one balm world!

Shall

calm

any one, save thee, arms forgettest me? me,

LILITH.

68

My

only love! Nay, then, twere surely wise shut these baby faces from her eyes, New seeds of wrath to sow, her hate so feed

To

That

And

her rankling wounds afresh shall bleed.

all

Good Adam

*

her ears

in

Lest she forget Eden she

Adam!

Yea,

I

will

will

!

lost

I

cry,

thereby.

her

Till

laugh.

red

lips

with guile

O erflow.

And

she

then

Safe won,

Soul-bound to

him

curse

shall

With

loud.

wile

subtlest

she ever be mine own.

shall

me

more

in hate,

than death

terrible

In hate, that long outlasts Love s puny breath cunning craft, that with the self-same blow

Forever wins

my

and smites my foe

love,

night, when Lilith slept, lest Her dreams, from our green couch

Passed

My 1

may

Know

silent.

feet

Edenward.

unwilling,

not brave

not the

I

rend

to

On Adam Erstwhile

shone.

soft.

Scattered

of

silvery

And the

sad,

And

he seemed.

The sound Fell

Not

as I

dew.

Nor so

night

leaves

Yet

and

far

draws

there fair,

I

lay,

on a day could almost swear

laughter on the

a fleet footfall

rose,

laws

foe.

The Angel pass, unseen. The As prone among the glistening

I

spell that

Its

my

might mar

I

"Last

!

mong

mid those

air

the

silent

flowers

bowers

LILITH.

69

Naught else I saw or heard save rippling flow Of waters, and the moonshine white. Oh, low Speak,

If

to

secret

Thy

lies

Close

aloud the

lest

Eblis,

the

Yet

stars.

shut

we,

close

care not,

woe

s

would we know, verdant walls,

hid without those

Together watched. I

were well

Paradise.

in

"All

If

it

hidden cure for Lilith

the

if

with

What me she

fate

soe er befalls

bide."

Down

He Soft

o er her hair, kissed

tell

may

night

thick with

the

"

it,

Love,

crying,

bent

night-dew sprent. the

morn

shines

bright.

Waken, my Lilith, now. Through lands Our happy course afar doth ever wend

of

night

;

Past smiling shores where mighty rivers bend, Past cove

and cape and

And

blue

still

mists,

isle,

that

and winding bay

hang athwart the

day."

and joyously they sped broad lagoons where musky odors shed By New blooms. About them coiled long wreaths

Thereat she

rose,

of

vine,

And slim lianas drooped, and marish lichens fine. And fared they on o er many a slanting beach And mountain crest; past many an open reach And forest wild till over Paradise They saw the

stars,

clear,

tender,

loving,

rise.

LILITH.

70

Then

neath the screen of hid without,

They Or bird

belated,

So

the

still

those rose-girdled walls

listing the

twittering

the

spot,

waterfalls,

to

nest.

its

to

very grass

rest

Seemed hushed. The

a clinging

garden-close,

rose

o ercrept.

stem without that drooping swept Thick set with buds as tintless as the snows Its

lustrous

On

sunless

Lilith

hills,

a-tiptoe

when wild

north wind blows.

the

stood; upreaching,

caught

The swaying boughs.

Her eyes with longing fraught Close scanned her old deserted home. Then came

Upon

her spirit sadness,

as

if

blame

Unuttered breathed through those remembered glades And touched the odors moist mong mirky shades.

With

wistful

Each winding About her.

gaze, path.

she

traced each bosky

And

dell,

sweet youth s memories

Then was she ware

of

fell

Adam, slow

pleasance-ways. With ruddy glow shone his cheeks, and crisp his hair

Pacing the Fresh

out-

blown

By wanton winds. His lips were mirthful grown. Once he made pause hard by the coppice green That hid the watcher.

Once

the

leafy

screen

So near he passed, from the o erhanging edge He brushed a rose. The hindering hedge

LILITH. Quick through, Fain had she

71

sudden blessing slim white hand Dear Eden mine! "O reached.

in

land,"

And

She sighed.

springing

Of teardrops gemmed the

warm

roses

the

at

tender tide

her side.

So greets the weary wanderer once more His early home. The lintels worn, the door the

Age-stained;

The

mill-wheel

The sunny

And

cold,

iris

sheltered nook;

in

clumps,

rotting o er the

shrunken brook;

sloping west

orchard,

above his mother

;

and

far

grave, a star

s

Then quick unbidden tears, the heart s warm O erflow his soul, and leave it pure again. So

Lilith

backward turned

Watching through misty

Her

feet

in

rain,

to holier days,

tears

where trod those ways

other times.

Sudden and sweet

Came down

A

sound of

those

feet paths a glimpse of flying

girlish

laughter smote the

air.

In jealous rage, Lilith uprose to dare

The guarding Angel The mocking laugh "

Thou

hast

s

forgot,"

wrath.

But, silver clear,

of

Eblis caught her ear.

he

said,

Living, thou canst not

"

this

peaceful

land,

enter."

But her hand

Grasped once again the roses

shining strand,

;

LILITH.

72

And

neath her guileful touch, like scarlet

flame

The snowy flowers burned. So, first Earth Around them set the spiked thorns. Lilith

As carven

A

And

fingers

coldly

hot she

and

fierce

downbending

loss,

the

tore

her face.

thereto

laid

still

Then, with a

stone.

sense of utter

With

as

looked,

shame

there

Long Pale

s

fair

despair,

there,

hedge apart

With sorer smart

She gazed again. For now, the twain at rest Pure as a dream, Eve s sinless breast laid.

Were

A

babe

close

One pink

pressed.

small

foot,

and

warm,

Among

the

leaves was

One dimpled arm

hid.

Aneath her head.

Low In young Eve

Oh,

arms

s

he

soon,"

said,

Eblis sneered.

my

Lilith

"these

is

wot

"I

forgot.

earth-worms

changeful

turn

From the oped rose when red the shut buds burn." But wild eyes on the babe she fixed. "Oh, blind," She cried, "was I. Yea, if the wanton wind Doth mock, I wandered For

So

this

I

will

far,

have

Adam

Look

I

lost

you,

heed her

not.

fragile

not knowing

thing

But Lilith

at is

for

it

s

very bloom of

the

comfort finds, that

Was

not chide.

and bartered Eden

Adam denied

this

bliss? life? strife

s

!

side

LILITH. The

she

treasure

so

73

doth

careless

possess.

See how the babe, scarce waking, doth caress The mother! Look! Oh, hear the mother croon

Above her I

child

No babe shall come! Accurse d may Cursed Adam too. Thrice heavy on Of

this

So,

poor babe she

trembling,

Once more

love.

Let us

return,"

she be, the

head

visited."

off.

"Fast

Sweet

be

my wrong brake

swoon

me

to

Alas,

joy.

I

love,

Eblis,

know such

not

shall

Ah,

!

fades the

light,

dark realm of night

to our

he said.

As on fared they With merry "Nay,

jest,

otherwhiles mirth est

She

she bears,

Lilith

said.

who

dwells

Replied he,

to

"All

thee as

"Calm

And

we wend onward

morn

in

I

Eden streaked

flushed the waiting hills

Where Adam,

joyless,

in

Adam

went, long tarried

me

Since that same hour you parted.

To

"

Know-

thou

What name

When

cheer the way. pleased," she said.

Eblis gan

lone

"

?

is known What befell,

will

the

Eden now?

tell.

skies with red,

above the grassy bed

saw new

rise

the

sun,

Unwinding golden webs night-vapors spun Athwart low meads. Slow, droning murmurs sent

The waking

bees,

with bloom

and fragrance

blent.

LILITH.

74

Unheeded poured her music blithesome Day The reedy brooks beside and shallows gray. For lone

to

Adam seemed

The landscape dumb, For

Lilith s

Bloomless

the

place,

the

days,

and cold

;

one aneath the mould.

no more was Eden

sake,

the

as

fair.

bowed down with

nights

care.

Oft pacing pathways dim, he saw the gleam

Of strange-faced flowers beside the purling stream,

Or toyed

with circling leaves

And watched

;

or plucked the grass,

through rifted trees the clouds o erpass the waters idly break

;

Wide roaming, heard Far

gainst the

curving beach. "

(

And

And

spake,

grieving,

Oh, sweet with thee each hour

each wilding way,

each gathered spray. Could you not wait, dear love ? Or come once more Yea, till you come, vain doth great Nature pour

Her

sweet the

richest

Respondent

And

memory

He

gifts. fall,

the

of

and heard alone

paused,

wood-dove

?

s

plaintive

moan,

spent winds among the scented glades. Moss-couched beneath the glinting forest shades,

He

the

gazed,

when shadows o

er

the

hills

crept light,

like

Quick vanishing, phantom fingers white, Until on mead, and mere, and sounding shore Eden found voice, sad plaining, Never-more *

!

Long time he pondered on blue peaks remote When slow, as stranded ships that listless float,

LILITH. Moved by

75

Or

sunset clouds.

the

rack

the white

Swept o er the garden walls.

Would

"

Might

he

take,

Whom my

soul

follows

Thus ever mourned

so

Lilith,

said,

I

long you stay. alway.

sorrowing comfortless

he,

their track

so

that

;

In after days the Master, in the glow Of morning-tide, the mother of the race

Gave

for

solacement.

his

fair

"Oh,

Young Eve bent o

er

his

face

the

Ere

sleep.

down

the

glade

The

fawn leaps

startled

swift,

So

her glance dismayed

Such eyes

Questions the hunter, mute.

that

so winning,

so brown,

looked adown

shy Like vagrant tendrils, tossed Dark hair about her brows. And quaintly crossed soft,

When Adam

waked.

Her hands upon her

Less red the dart

breast.

That deepest cleaves the folded rose s heart, Than her round cheeks. Not hers the regal

Of

Lilith

The

the

lost,

slender throat

;

white

arms,

s

head. "

Stirs

Yet

pleasant dream, the summer

odorous

To Adam

s

soft,

s

mong seaward gardens

In southland hid life

;

bare,

lissom,

the elbows dimpled deep, whereto

Might scarcely reach Eve

Some

air

so,

gently,

as

spicy

through air

fair,

Eve straightway

unbidden came, to stay

LILITH.

76

Forever there.

Sure entrance

made she

then

Into that heart untenanted by thee. "

some olden house, from whose shut doors

So, to

One went

erewhile,

All

sees.

The

The moss-grown

roof,

empty

Amid

another comes.

pass

forlorn.

left

passed to other lands, Since here

whispers tenderly,

what harm

bides,

Good chance

?

floors

shadows round about him stands,

the

The owner I

casements

the

Missing the footsteps

And

Its

lowly threshold worn,

it

no more

on the

if

floor

were the clambering vine

About the porch with fingers deft to twine To draw the curtains, ope the door. For who

May know how soon these paths untended, through, He comes again, with weary, way-worn feet,

Who made Wherefore,

other days so sweet.

aforetime, I

enter now.

For whose dear sake

These vacant rooms, white,

And

Nor

Perchance together bide.

So Eve found refuge.

Whereby she

ruled.

Tender

make.

In her glad arms the

ended

Fell, as

there.

part again. love, the

spell

Peaceful the pair did dwell.

Fast fled the happy years,

He

fragrant, clean, I

when, world-wearied, he returns, we twain

till

babe

softly

Between them

they journeyed.

And

laid

a winsome

the

silence

maid."

deep

furthest

steep

crossed, that o er their shadow-world rose high.

They Then saw they

level

plains, their

home, anigh.

LILITH.

77

And

now, seeking her pleasance once again, They came to their own land. But all in vain His care. Silent she was, and oft did grieve, cried

Eblis wrathful

Till

Adam

holds dear,

art

To mate his sordid From summer land

"

:

Because

mourning?

ne er

turn

Eden walls?

to

loved

dost yearn

Or wouldst thou

soul?

man

"The

Belike,

Eve

this

Still

So

thee.

is

it

young

Eve

can

His pulses sway.

Her

fancies

To bend beneath Red-lipped and

she

Is

his

ever fickle she

soft,

Though he wist

?

deftly

will.

rules

Yet sweeter

not.

Than

archest

Thou

bearest of fadeless

smile

not passing fair

her daily care

is

it

wild,

she wears.

him

still,

frown

Lilith s

Great Soul

!

The

crown

For

life.

fleeting

dreams

In Paradise, beside the winding streams, Wilt thou resign such boon

Of

A

mold too firm for

Thou

?

Adam

s

art,

in

sooth,

In truth

love.

consorts best with thee though fallen Eden s lord to be, were with which wise, Say prince

Or,

the

shining high,

That fadeless burns, and Eblis

Were

it

With me

Our

the

star

lights

afar

purer soul,

not grand through endless to

chariot,

drive,

wide

?

?

spaces hurled

above a shrinking world

LILITH.

78

"For

I

when dawn

foresee

Dark days upon our

my

Wherefore,

Make With

choice."

kisses

foes, and hope is gone. Lilith, now, as seems thee good, Thereat she, turning where she stood,

hung about

"

Crying,

Thine,

reconciled.

Eblis,

his

neck,

thine

"

!

and smiled, So were they

BOOK

V.

BOOK

AND

For

And

fierce

else

Paradise returned,

within her,

bitter

hatred burned,

than aught dearer, seemed revenge

better,

She

to

oft

Lilith

V.

desired.

Much hoping

The coppice

she sought,

might be wrought in Eden.

evil

direful

oft

Upon the love that bloomed

Wide fair

Oft strayed

Eve;

Plucking the lotus;

the

or by

little

maid, beside,

sedgy moats,

From ribbed papyrus broad, frail fairy boats Deft fashioning. Or Adam, watching, smiled, With flowery wreaths engarlanding the child. And laughed the pair, intent on pleasant toil,

When

blithe the

Great globes of

O er

feathery broods,

To count the And far her It

upheaped her fruity spoil red and gold. Or roguish face child

or in the

small blue eggs, restless

feet

swift

further

space

she sportive bent;

glancing went.

chanced one day she watched the careless

Of vagrant

butterflies,

above a copse rose-wreathed; down-dropping, gaudy wings they sheathed

Uncertain, high,

Then

soft

flight

that circled light

81

LILITH.

82

Beside a darkling pool.

The copse anear

With yellow buds was strewn. She crept, deeming her little

And

here

softly

half-shut

hand

Might snare the fairest of that gleaming band. Yet ere she touched it, wide its wings outspread In

flight.

And the

Among

Without,

till

groves,

the

in

Deep

still

she,

swift

wearied,

mid-day shadows, lowly

stooped

Lilith.

And

sped

pursuing,

slept

the

maid

laid.

with ringers swift,

she

oped a small green rift, Among That she might see the child. The hedge was wet With starry blooms. Whereto her hand she set the

When

leaves

awaked, seeing each dainty frond ferns, dusk mirrored in the pond. The child came near the copse, much wondering: she

Of fragrant

From

smooth leaves sundering. And stooping o er the rift, she saw there, low glossy stems

the

Against the hedge, a face like drifted snow, And soft eyes, blue as violets show

Above the brooks

Upon

the

ground

Mute stood

Then nearer In

The

those

and hair that downward

;

in

rolled

glittering strands of gold.

the maid, naught fearing, but amazed.

drew,

blue

orbs.

and

lingering,

And

she gazed

smiling as she knelt,

stranger quickly loosed

her shining belt

LILITH. Of gems. Lit

Flawless each stone whose pallid gleam

silent

nooks,

Unheeded

pale

From

Its

or slept by far-off stream pearls with

shimmering

light,

distant oceans plucked, blue sapphires bright,

And diamonds The

83

rubies

and yellow topaz shed

fine,

sultry glow,

dull

jasper,

rare

Sardonyx,

and burning red

rosy-cold,

onyx white,

streaked with

chalcedon,

light.

Against her white breast that bright zone

Then

And

stretched

flashing forth,

it,

laid,

round her throat.

it

clasped

she

toward the maid,

A

luring strain

She sung, sweet as the pause of summer rain. So soft, so pure her voice, the child it drew nearer that green rift and low there-through She laughing stroked the down-bent golden head With her soft baby hands. And parting, spread Still

;

The

silken

And

kissed the

her

hair about

little

face,

temptress through the green-leaved

space.

Whereat Crying,

as

And

like

The

child,

Ere long

swift

"At

will

Lilith

snatched the babe and

from Eden

a fallen

Uncomforted. Since

Lilith

fell

star

last!

cease.

O far

fled,

bounds she sped, shone on her breast

at

O

s

last!

thy

peaceful rest

helpless mourn,

frail

Eve,

hapless mother, grieve,

from thee thy babe doth

bear!

She leaves thy loving arms, thy tender care.

LILITH.

84

Nor canst thou

When Ah,

far

follow anywhere

we go athwart

the

my

flight,

falling

night.

babe, close-meshed in yellow hair

little

Thou

liest

Much

comfort lives

pale

Fear

!

thou art so

not,

in

fair,

thee."

So ended

she,

And

onward, hostile lands among, passed Blue solitudes afar, till paused her feet,

Where

A

mong hoar

highest

mountain

fleet

uprose

climbing peaks,

crest.

was the third day

It

close.

s

In those untrodden ways there was no sound,

No sight No hum

of living thing, the barren heights around.

insect

of

Bare rocks alone,

As

with red stain of battle-fields unseen.

Far, far below,

And Crept

still

Lilith

The

soft

to

sat

sleep,

child

hast

there,

down.

"O

canst,

my

Afar from thee.

shining green.

a mountain

swift,

stream

where meadow grasses dream. the babe upon her knee,

smiles sweet

now thou

Thou

vales were

leaping downward

Wan, wayworn,

If

no whirring wing of bird. fissured, blotched and blurred

life,

all

Eve,"

!

she

See,

"on

me

Fondle her silken hair

or clasp

Paradise.

said,

Lo,

then!

her small hands thine Its

I

fair.

bear

transient

woe

en now forgets; and sweet and low In sooth, not long It babbles on my knee. Endure her griefs, and through my crooning song

Thy babe

e

LILITH.

85

She kisses me, recalling not the place Whence she has come. Nay, nor her mother

Long time stayed The

child s

Now

oft

And

the

among

The maid,

or

for

love

pure

in

Lilith

Each day she grew,

that

soft,

crags,

sin-sick

among

the

soul.

stole

fleet-footed,

lightly crossed

blithesome sang

healing balm,

on her

fell

face."

More calm

land.

like

s

fertile

plain.

the

growing grain That brake in billowy waves about her feet. But when the wheat full ripened was, and sweet,

She plucked and

A

ate.

sense of sorrow,

She wist not why.

Thereat a shadowy pain,

stirred

that

For

did surely seem

it

childish

brain,

Before her waking thought, with pallid gleam Of other days, dim pictures passed; of wood

And It

stream, beyond these mountain rims.

seemed, midway

And

stood,

a garden wide, a tree that bright

Like silver gleamed, and broad boughs light Like ripened wheat the fruit thereon, Uplifted.

When

low the

Then slow

the

At

side.

Lilith s

westering

sun upon

maid did

turn,

And

Down-looking, mused.

And

and

it

shone.

silent

stand

o er that mountain land,

Or

gaze that questioned

lifted if

in

pensive eyes,

any wise

She might perceive the land she longing sought; But of its stream, or garden, saw she naught. Thereat Lilith with white lips drew more near,

And

clasped

in

her

lithe

arms the child so dear,

^

Of 1KB

^3^

DHI7BESIT7J

86

LILITH.

And once Across

again fled swift, a shadowy shape,

A voice she My babe

And

fields.

green break

heard,

could not hush,

!

that

me my babe

Give

"

through

silence,

loudly wailed,

"

!

And

Lilith

paled,

And

listening, heard, borne ever on the wind,

The

tread

of

feet

Then westward

fast

following behind.

turned, where once

With Eblis she had trod

When Her

far

in

they wandered.

among new ways

other days,

Thitherward she bent

babe upon her breast, steps, Until with travel worn her noontide rest timid

She took.

the

And now

About them

And And

lay,

a

land of alien blooms

outwafting strange

perfumes.

quaint defiles, that sloped behind a bay

;

and curly vines that lay Thick clustered o er with unripe fruit and bent level

fields;

;

Above them Of

fragrant

limes

and spicy scent

Made

and of myrtle all the place sweet, and mid the trees, an open space

They

saw.

citron

Not

far

away a broad lagoon

Burned like a topaz neath a crescent moon, For day was parting. Even-tide apace Drew on, and chill the night dews filled the place.

Upon the waters dusky shadows And ashen-gray the broad leaves

clung,

drooping hung;

LILITH.

87

marish buds lay one that made shade Against the sudden dusk a duskier

Low mong

the

Despairing arms upflinging to the sky, Smiting the silence with unheeded cry "O

my

Alas,

To

Wife

mother, childless!

of

not even thou art

babe,

comfort me,

in

these

Shut out from Paradise.

last

bereft!

all

left

hopeless days,

Through unknown ways

sought thee sorrowing. Oh, once again, My Adam, come Is not this gnawing pain

I

!

Of punishment enow, that thou unkind Art grown? Ah, never more shall I thee find? I

cannot

No

Come leave me

but again, mine own.

live.

longer

In tears

Thy

Alone

ever was but weak.

I

Alas,

I

sweet,

mourning, desolate.

Oh, in tears

thee.

call

forgiving

I

wait

kiss!"

Ended she so

Her

plaint.

And

mong

the

glistening

hid

leaves

low, Lilith

yet fiercer clasped the

When

that lorn

child

mother, tear-stained, weeping, wild,

Poured forth her woe.

As one

that

wakes

to

life

From peaceful dreams, leaps quick amid the Of morning hours, so now the maid to pass From

Lilith s clasp,

arms

strove

hard.

And

loosed

strife

her

88

LILITH.

And And

turned her shadowed face with plaintive moan fond beseeching eyes, where her mother lay

lone.

But

Lilith

And

from her ears shut out the mother

With

hardening, seized the

wilful

child

again, s

pain

hands.

So passed she quick away. Across the dusky path, low fallen, lay Pale Eve, till clear she saw the dawn s pure ray, And as she looked, the voice of one she heard Anigh. "

Her

We

heart to sudden joy was

mine

Rise up,

own,"

Then

walk."

"

said,

So! Methinks

stirred.

no more apart

she arose, and cried,

Close hold me.

Parted long

he

"Dear

heart,

dreamed we were

I

time."

So went, the exiled pair

From home

thrust

out,

together

And oft they journeyed on To distant lands. And oft

everywhere.

with sufferings spent with

labor bent

Recalled the olden home, with brimming eyes, Hemmed in by mountains blue lost Paradise.

Meanwhile, to her own realm Lilith long since

Was I

O my prince, come, glad greeting Eblis. have most bravely done. Our foes full sore "

Are smitten now.

My

Thou

I

wilt

bestow,

guerdon o er and o er

ween, in kisses

As my own southland

s

breath.

For

warm I

great

harm

LILITH.

Eve

in

With

that hated pair.

Have wrought Lies

89

a far land,

thrust

feeble

out.

Alone,

Deserted. And whence angered Adam world I know not. Nay, nor what new

Nor even

Behold.

he

if

my

know no more

Soft

medicining- woe.

Uncheered by

love,

its

his

But see

Eve

breast the babe

Shall

flies

eyes

live. "

Sleeps on

moan

s

!

babe.

tender, sweet

And

she

caress,

The wilderness

is

hers."

And by

the sea,

Peaceful abode, long time content, the three,

Save that the child unmurmuring drooped.

Then

oft

above her

Lilith,

singing, stooped,

wake the baby smiles again About her wee, warm mouth. Vain wiles! And vain Her loving skill. All still she lay, and pale. Striving to

As one

at sea pines for a lonely vale

Besprent with cuckoo flowers;

the faint wild breath

Of cradled buds, among the cloven elms, and 1

saith,

1 shall not see that place beyond the seas,

Nor any more pluck red anemones In windless nooks.

So seemed the

As one

that

weeps above dead

and

frail

Then

pale

child,

joys.

Grew Lilith as those wasting lips she pressed And kissed the filmy eyes, and kissing, blessed The

child.

LILITH.

90

But Eblis touched the hand so worn, The faded, wasted face. "Happy, thou mother

Unseeing

he

her,"

said.

"This

lorn,

thing

fragile

To-day lies on thy breast. To-morrow s wing Hath brushed it from thy sight." Low Lilith sighed: "

this

Eblis, is

"My

But thou

From

art

Hast thou no

O

love,

If

she be

wise,

sore

this

child

love

s

This shriveled

more!"

if,"

she

young Eve

in

?

Nay

s

my

one

little

!

Lilith

saw,

again

summer

rain,

again I

resign

Nay, mine

ceased.

;

Till

"looked

for

craft shaft,"

bore

after,

the exiled pair o er

lands long seeking.

Of barren hills The twain she

And

northward

laid

like

arms,

may yet And yet, must

Weeping she

child far

Many

give,

"I

restore

life.

Alas,

mused,

But

The

live?

not Archangel s Death s nimble

;

or turns

life,

"Yet

The mother

No

I

say,

may

healed."

said.

The babe

Eblis,

child

realm thy recompense

my

Stays fleeting

The

O

whereby the

spell

louder cried,

and sure some hidden way

hap canst find.

"

He

And

death?"

it

from a crest

down.

At

rest,

was eventide.

low they spoke of hidden snares beside

Their unknown path, since unaware fared they Into this hostile spot. The dim wolds lay All

bare beneath

chill

stars.

And

far

away

LILITH. Were

of

belts

Like wrinkled

91

and dingy ocean shore, Cold was the land, and hoar

pine, lip.

Near by, its leafless boughs With wintry A thorn bush bent, with withered berries red. rime.

At

sight

The

ripe

fruit

"Oh,

not!

The land about It

seems to

art

nor long

is

is

friendly

tree

pluck and bring This solitude I fear;

But

she

Adam

said,

thee."

drear

"and "

answered,

thou, and not

I

said,

to

chill,"

me."

Sore famished It

will

I

me

leave

rejoicing,

From yonder

here.

bide

Eve,

"My

Adam,

thereof

far

Nay,

away

stay."

So parted he.

Not long alone was Eve. Upstarted she Dismayed. A woman, most exceeding fair, Beside her stood, with coils of yellow hair, blue eyes, calm as sleep among the hills As mountain lakes. Eve, frighted, shrank.

And Dim

rills,

Sweet

fell

the

stranger

words.

s

"My

sister,

one

here that glad salutes thee. And since done Is now my quest, and here my journey ends,

Is

I

bring a goodly

My

pathway,

gift.

For elsewhere wends

Eve. "Beside

a coppice green,

than silver sheen, Brighter than gold, purer a In a fair garden, once jewel shone.

With

it,

compared

in

all

the

world,

no stone.

LILITH.

92

And

low the Master set

She

When

whom

perceive on

will

shining clear

it

Against the hedge, saying,

she draws near

do bestow

I

This moteless gem, that fellow doth not know.

Soft

Now I without the copse that day was shone the jewel, as the moon amid

The

blue.

"

Where

And the

in

As emerald

I

white

as

rubies

its

odors spread.

its

Its

shining grains

ripe bright

Thou

thee,

wheaten tree

fair

ears,

And

looked again.

Full

saw

I

garden

breath of musk,

green.

as

Fragrant

And

the

in

midst stood a

in

gleamed

snow.

rifted

lo,

yellow wheaten

did

I

Though

saidst,

as

red,

thy fair hand, the

hid.

I

eat,

grain.

live.

No

pain

Hath marred

this

pleasant feast. I

"Then *

Desired thy gem.

On Eve I

their

And

said.

gifts. still

the

more

things most goodly pour But I am famished lone,

All

against

the hedge

the

stone

pure Night shed Rayed The which with trembling hand I seized, and fled like

a frozen tear the

Afar. "But

A

A

dream.

To Eve Set

Yea,

that

now upon my which

against the

it

I

will

soul

voice called loud, is

hers

hedge,

crumble

it

;

will

weighs sore

Straightway restore

lest

I,

that

quench

its

and quickly smite

bright light.

LILITH.

I

I

voice

stern

wait

Stay not at

cried.

Lest

not.

scourge thee

I

Ah, Eve, though long upon This jewel

Thine

behold,

rare,

Arise

But yesternight

closed.

careless

The

Mine eyes

dust e en from thy hand.

into

It

93

I

now

For

all.

sorely,

heart

my

!

I

go!

wore

restore

own!"

Then Eve

me

Give

cried

loud,

babe

my

"Ere

Where

!

is

heart break,

my

for

she,

whose

sake I

sorrowed

She

said,

all

these

the

years

little

through

And Apart upon In blended hues.

Gave back

And

Lilith laid

s

side,

the child. that ending quest

sees perilous, safe harbor

Among

dyed

stooping at Eve

As one Most

maid?"

tender sobs.

her breast her garment,

So

lo,

hills

green

at rest

and enters glad

therein,

Lilith was.

So passed she once again Into her land.

But Eve,

Long

pent,

Sweet

upon

kisses.

like rain

the child poured swiftly

And

again, twixt laugh

down

and frown

Divided, smoothed the baby face, and through

Her

hair she drew, fingers soft the silken

And

kissed again.

LILITH.

94

And

with

Recalled the stranger

Much

a vague

smile, the

s

surprise

mournful eyes,

marveling whence she fared.

And

said,

"As

pale

She seemed as bramble-blooms

in

When homeward Adam came, the Upon his knee, saying, "Erewhile An angel. So to me she seemed, She stood.

And

lo,

So

Eden

s

vale."

she

child

set

met

I

there

as

so yellow-haired, so fair;

tall,

she brought again the

babe."

Therewith

She ended

low.

So you deem Eve told.

And Upon

the

an angel,

"Doubtless

watching,

child.

And

saw a shadow

later, did

Those words, sad pondering

"so

sith

love,

And mused

he replied.

her,"

on

fall

recall fair,

so

tall."

But nothing uttered. In that land long time

They lingered. One day Eve She

lies!

Rouse but

Ah,

And

the

slow faded,

child "

frighted little

cried,

See,

one, unseal

awhile, ere

till

Adam,

those

still

eyes! "

waning daylight

For she discerned not yet The hour was near.

its

flies

!

doom, nor knew

But Adam, parting, drew

all

LILITH.

he might see the child. the lone hours through Eve, babbling, smiled

Beneath the thorn,

And

all

95

And blew

Adown. So wan.

"

The

lest

her

warm

night grows

breath o er the cheeks she said.

cold,"

"

Sleep

creeps

Dull on

She

my

The

babe.

night grows cold and

chill,"

said.

Nor dreamed aneath The death

film

those

lids closed

hung.

A

wind uprose, and swept heaped, where lowly slept

Anlong the

dry leaves

The

Cold grew the night and colder,

child.

still,

till

Against the east the dawn glowed daffodil,

Above dun wolds white with new-fallen snow. So rose the day and widened into morning glow With rosy tints o erstreaked, and faintly blurred With flecks of cloud. Still

Dumb Eve

looked

down,

lay the child, nor stirred.

nor knew Death

s

pallid

vain.

Her

masque,

And

strove

to

wake

the

In

maid.

task

Was

done.

Soft

loosed the

dead from that cold mother

And

Lilith

the

And laid

as

she gazed,

babe

in

its

a gentle

o er the sleeper,

kneeling,

she

s clasp,

bed

chill

Straightened the limbs, and kissed the

And

grasp

little

did

head.

lean.

Forth from her breast she drew, close folded, green,

LILITH.

96

A

sheath of leaves, bright shining, lustrous

With

tears

Then

that

those

shut

leaves

wet

waxen hands she

those

in

And

slow.

oped

set.

low and

frail

Bloomed mid the Soft

O

**

Lilith

said,

tintless

For

But

I

thee,

But

I

sake,

thou canst take

will

bloom above

in

coming years, pure no more, no more, shall

Breath

pale.

forever desolate.

For thee fresh love For

sleeper

s

For thee new, happy days await,

am

I

pale

E en

Eve, one kiss bestow.

Pity on me.

snows a snow-drop

this

gainst

my

breast.

this

mould;

lips

unfold;

feel

the

warm

Nay, nor the baby arm

Soft clasping me. Nor see the feet that pass Like falling music, through the waving grass. Therefore, one pardoning kiss give e er I go

To my own land, beyond this realm of snow." And Eve, uprising, took the hand she gave, And weeping, kissed; and parted by that grave. Stood

Low

Adam,

after-time,

their feet

at

a

by

that

Wherein white flowers shone. "To

this

Where

small mound.

sheaf of leaves

Eve found,

Oh, like," she was one abloom within the bed

lies

the

She was, and

child. tall,

And cheeks soft And dewy eyes,

And

"

fair,

O, passing

said,

fair,

with yellow gleaming hair,

flushed as fresh pomegranate bells; like

violets

in

the

dells,

LILITH.

Who Who She

came.

silent

So,

fair

passed that stranger

And

loved our babe.

97

e er

I

well

was ware,

vanished."

Otherwhiles,

She

was,"

Eve

said.

fair,

who

Surpassing

Among the To her own

trod the

beyond

mists,

race

alien

"Of

a face princess, with

"A

pathway bright rim of night

the

land."

And

oft

in

after-time,

young arms, and chime Of voices round her came, and clasp of hands, And thick with baby faces bloomed the lands,

When

Cain had

lain

in her

remembering that one child the snowdrops, in a Northern wild.

Eve

silent

sat,

Among And Lilith

dwelt again in her

With Eblis

still

They

talked;

strayed far.

Then looking on

Laughed overhead.

Low

voiced,

She

said,

It

she

"From

comes.

An

And hand

So sweet the

sang.

Paradise,

elfin

hand

the sea, idle

song,

forgotten long,

echo that doth

Upward from summer

in

her phantom brood in glee

while

the

own land;

rise

seas to bending skies.

In coining days, from any earthly shore And sweet forever more It shall not fail. Shall

make my memory.

Pale Lilith

s

love

shall

That witching lightly

breathe again.

and olden pain

And

Lilith s

O er

every cradle wake that sweet

bitter

loss

strain

LILITH.

98

My memory

shall

still

While rings Earth

s

bloom.

sweet

cradle-song

Slow passed dim cycles by, and

new

swarmed-,

Strange peoples

cannot die

It

in

the

lullaby."

earth

nations

sprang

to

birth.

Then

first

Dread

mong

tales

Mong

of one

chilling

That dwelt

in

men

tented tribes

shuddering spake moved, an unseen shape,

that

A

and snow.

mists

spirit

lands beyond day s purple

swift, rift.

Phantom of presage ill to babes unborn, Whose fast-sealed eyes ope not to earthly morn. "We

heard,"

they

cried,

Elf-babes

"the

shrilly

scream,

And

loud the Siren

Then they Prayed for

When o er And fierce

s

song,

the

wild

icy

fjords

to

to

lived

cold

rise

white peaks,

her breast more near clasps

her heart.

Through her weird song That

gleam."

storms blot out the frozen creeks,

Draws her dear babe closer

lightnings

by low beds all night did wake, the day, and feared to see it break.

that

The Finnish mother

Still

when

And fall

it

in

her wild fear

o er and o er

echoes from that lore

when Time was young,

e er yet the rime

Of years lay on his brow. In that far prime Nature and man, couched neath God s earliest

Heard

clear-voiced spheres chant Earth s

sky,

first lullaby.

LILITH.

99

and long, Now, in the blast loud sings the Finn, wild her cradle-song Nor knows that faint through Yet sweetly

vanished Elf-babes

the

thrills

cry,

Nor dreams, as low she croons her lullaby, breathes through that sweet, lingering refrain

Still

the

Lilith

childless

and

to

life

again,

To

love,

As

that mother through the gathering storm

she wakes.

The

soft

strain

clearer

rings

sings:

the strong fagot, Pale Lilith comes! Wild through the murky air goblin voices shout. Hearest thou not their lusty rout ? Hark Pile

!

Lilith

Listen,

comes! my babe!

See how the dusk pines Tremble and crouch;

Over wide wastes borne, white are the snow-wreaths

And

blown, loud the drear icy fjords shudder and

comes Listen, my babe

Lilith

!

Hear the wild din, Fierce o er the linn, soars seaward away, sea-gull, affrighted, dark on the shores falls the wind-driven spray;

Ah!

The

And

moan;

!

Lilith

Listen,

comes my babe !

The shuddering Shivers.

It

!

ice

cracks!

LILITH.

TOO

Like a wild beast in pain,

cries

it

the

to

wrack

Of the storm-cloud o erhead. The sea answers back Dread Lilith comes Listen, my babe !

!

Near draws the wraith Ah,

fair,

Dull gleams her hair. fierce breath one, so cruel

strong

the

of

North

The

torches

heaven

of

Fell

Listen,

Cold Ah,

The The

are

lighting

thee

forth

!

comes! babe

Lilith

my

!

of

spirit

Snow,

fear thee! sports of my hunter, the white fox, the bear, spoils of our rivers are thine. Ah, then spare, Dread Lilith, spare The babe at my breast! I

Mercy, weird Lilith

!

Even

My Ah,

sleeping, babe lies so chill. See, the reindeer I give lift thy dark wings, that my darling may live Pale Lilith comes

!

!

!

Listen,

babe

my

!

Once, in the Northland, Pale crocus grew By half-wakened stream. It lay shriveled and low Ere the spring-time had come, in soft shroud of snow.

Sad

Lilith

Listen,

my

comes babe

!

!

Foul Vampire, drain not loved one

From my

The

life-current

My

heart

while

waking ?

red. I

O

Demon,

plead ?

Ah,

art

breaking Art thou

babe

!

LILITH. Lilith, I live

101

!

my babe

Closer

!

Far o er the dun wold,

Mid

the

Baby, behold mist and the snow,

fast,

fast,

and more

fast

In the teeth of the blast Pale Lilith Nearer,

Lilith

flies

at

last.

flies!

my babe

!

By Ganges still the Indian mother weaves Above her babe her mat of plantain leaves, And laughing, plaits. Or pausing, sweet and low

Her The

voice

while

Forgetting

blends with the river she

Of wandering

When

falls

fitful

that the Lilith

the

Faintly across

that

sings

the

love,

old,

old strain,

deathless pain

and throbs again

lives

tricksy

drowsy flow

s

Elf-babes

mocking cry

her crooning lullaby

Ah, happy babe, that here may sleep Where the blue river winds along, And sweet the trysting bulbu4s keep The night o er-brimmed with pulsing song. so, mine own, as legends In lands remote, beyond the

Not

The soulless babes Or vanish mong Or

oft

O er Or

of

the

Lilith

day, dwell,

cold mists gray.

in elfin glee they ride burning deserts blown

singing idly,

idly

Afar beyond Night

tell,

adrift,

glide s

purple

rift.

;

LIL1TH.

102

But thou,

babe, for thee shall grow nodding by the stream For thee, the poppy s sleepy glow; For thee, the jonquil s pallid gleam.

The

my

lilies,

;

My

baby, sleep! Against the sky pippul lifts its trembling crest. baby, hush each wailing cry, Close to the holy river s breast.

The

O

Not here shall come that pale wraith fair, Who, wandering once in Northern lands, Bore o er long reaches sere and bare The death-flower white, for baby hands. Fear

mine own, the Elf-babes

not,

shrill,

Nor Lilith tall, with brow of snow. They may not haunt thy slumbers still Where Ganges sacred waters flow.

Where

When

gnaw with white

reefs

coral

The yellow

surf,

Southern Cross o er placid

the

shines

teeth

cruel

and the torn billows seethe isles,

and singing, smiles, world s hidden pain dead a that Unheeding

The

Afric mother

sits,

Beats wildly rhythmic through her pure refrain,

And Low

A

lingers in

softly

Earth

s

still

an

echoed sigh sweet lullaby.

cradle-song

warning song of doom

Of

The Yet

terror

wild,

she

sings,

while bright gleams tells

to

Of Him who That healeth

a

song of woe,

down bending the

low,

Starry Cross above

her no tale of tender love lifteth all

after-time

a

cross

the wide world s sin

and

loss.

LILITH.

103

Ah, linger no longer mong blooms of the mangoes, Nor pluck the bright shells by the low sighing sea, Swift, swift, through the groves of the palms and acacias

Comes

the childless one, seeking for thee.

Lilith,

She will bind thee so fast in her yellow-gold hair Ah, hasten, my children, of Lilith beware !

cold are her cheeks as the spray of the wild sea, Red, red are her lips as the pomegranate s bloom Cold, cold are the kisses the phantom will give

Cold,

;

thee, kisses, that smell of the tomb. the sorceress with yellow-gold hair

Ah, cruel her Hist, hist!

Oh

!

She

tis

lullaby,

of

baby

Lilith

beware.

jungle, with false tales beguiling, thou her elfin babes scream overhead Close, close in her strong arms she bears my babe, smiling She hath sucked the soft bloom from the lips of my dead. Now far speeds the vampire, with yellow-gold flies

to

Ah, hear

the

st

!

;

hair

Oh

!

lullaby,

of

baby

Lilith

beware

!

my baby ? Nay, then, thy mother singing enfolds thee all safe from the snare Afar flit the Elf-babes mid gray, misty shadows, Afar flees the temptress with yellow-gold hair. Ah, heed not her songs in the still slumbrous air

Art frighted,

Low

Oh

!

lullaby,

When

of

baby

hawthorn-trees

Lilith

sift

beware

thick their rifted

The English mother o er her babe Where red the cross burns on the Unwitting,

pagan

Lilith

!

lives

again

snow,

sings

low;

ivied

fane,

;

LILITH.

io 4

And

softer

Still

faintly

nor feels the wailing pain

sings,

surging through that low refrain

Nor dreams

hears Love

she

Slow echoing through Earth

And

shadow

the

in

s

s

early

;

cry

sweet lullaby

song

that

of

cradle

her strain

cross,

Breathes sweetly; love, and hope, and ended pain. Softlier

while

About her

small

that

heart,

arm

closely

clings

mother peaceful sings

that

O

:

babe, my babe, the light doth fade baby, sleep, while I do keep Close watch, where thou art lowly laid. Sweet dreams shall steep thy slumber deep. !

My

Ah, little feet, be still at last Rest all the night, for day is past One watches thee from yon blue sky, ;

One watching

here

sings

lullaby,

Lullaby Sings lullaby. ;

Here on Lies

Sweet

O

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still

steals

As dewy little

Fear

One One

;

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breath, twixt lips as fresh, as new-born rose.

lips,

be

hushed

at

last

;

red,

;

naught, sweetheart, though day be past. looks adown from yon far sky, close

beside,

sings

lullaby,

Lullaby Sings lullaby. ;

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Comments of the Secular anil Religion!* Press. FIVE LITTLE PEPPERS AND HOW THEY GREW. A charming work. . . The home scenes in which these little Pep Will find prominent place . pers are engaged are capitally described. among the higher class of juvenile presentation books. Religious Herald. One of the best told tales given to the children for some time. . . The perfect reproduction of child-life in its minutest phases, catches one s Christian Advocate. attention at once. .

A

good book

place in the hands of every boy or

to

girl.

Chicago

Inter-Ocean.

SO AS BY FIRE. Will ba hai ed with eager delight, and found well worth reading. Christian Observer. Arkansas Evangel. An admirable Sunday-school book We have followed with intense interest the story of Davi.1 Folsom. . the influence A man poor, friendless, and addicted to drink the faithful care of aunt Phebe; all steps by of little Cricket; Woman at // ork. which he climbed to higher manhood. ;

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.

.

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THE PETTIBONE NAME. American fiction that has been pub Newsdealers Bulletin, New York. It ought to attract wide attention from the simplicity of its style, and the vigor and originality of its treatment. Chicago Herald. This is a capital story illustrating New England life. Inter-Ocean, It is

one of the

lished for

some

finest nieces of

time.

Chicago. The characters of the story seem

all

to

be studies from

life.

Boston

Post. It is

a

New

tvp, and show at

and its characters are true to the original Christian study and no little skill in portraiture.

Enjland careful

tale,

Work, New York. be commended to

To

readers for excellent delineations, sparkling style, The Watchman. bright incident and genuine interest A capital story; bright with excellent sketches of character. Conveys . In short, the book is in every p;ood moral and spiritual lessons. way well done. - Illustrated Christian Weekly. .

HALF YEAR AT BRONCKTON. A

live

boy writes:

or ever can "

"

This

is

about the best book that ever was written

be."

This bright and earnest story ought to go into the han^s of every boy is old enough to be subjected to the temptations of school life."

who

D.

LOTHBOP &

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