第6章

LORDARNALDOS

Quienhubiesetalventura？

Thestrangestofadventures，Thathappenbythesea，BefelltoLordArnaldosOntheEveningofSt。John;

Forhewasoutahunting

Ahuntsmanboldwashe！

WhenhebeheldalittleshipAndclosetolandwasshe。

Hercordswereallofsilver，Hersailsofcramasy;

AndhewhosailedthelittleshipWassingingatthehelm;

Thewavesstoodstilltohearhim，Thewindwassoftandlow;

ThefishwhodwellindarknessAscendedthroughthesea，AndallthebirdsinheavenFlewdowntohismasttree。

ThenspaketheLordArnaldos，（Wellshallyouhearhiswords！）

"TellmeforGod\'ssake，sailor，Whatsongmaythatsongbe？"

Thesailorspakeinanswer，Andanswerthusmadehe;

"IonlytellmysongtothoseWhosailawaywithme。"

WETHATWEREFRIENDS

WethatwerefriendstonighthavefoundAsuddenfear，asecretflame:

IamonfirewiththatsoftsoundYoumake，inutteringmyname。

ForgiveayoungandboastfulmanWhomdreamsdelightandpassionsplease，AndlovemeasgreatwomencanWhohavenochildrenattheirknees。

MYFRIEND

IhadafriendwhobattledforthetruthWithstubbornheartandobstinatedespair，Tillallhisbeautylefthim，andhisyouth，Andtherewerefewtolovehimanywhere。

Thenwouldhewanderoutamongthegraves，Andthinkofdeadmenlyinginarow;

Or，standingonacliffobservethewaves，Andhearthewistfulsoundofwindsbelow;

Andyettheytoldhimnothing。SohesoughtThetwitteringforestatthebreakofday，OronfantasticmountainsshapedathoughtAsloftyandimpenitentasthey。

AndnexthewentinwonderthroughatownSlowlybydayandhurriedlybynight，AndwatchedmenwalkingupthestreetanddownWithtimorousandterribledelight。

Weary，hedrewman\'swisdomfromabook，Andponderedonthehighwordsspokenofold，Pacingalamplitroom:butsoonforsookThegoldensentencesthatlefthimcold。

After，awomanfoundhim，andhisheadLayonherbreast，tillheforgothispainIngentlekissesonamidnightbed，Andwelcomedroyalwingedjoyagain。

Whenlovebecamealoathing，asitmust，Heknewnotwheretoturn;andhewaswise，Beingnowold，tosinkamongthedust，Andresthisrebelheart，andclosehiseyes。

IDEAL

WhenallmygentlefriendshadgoneIwanderedinthenightalone:

BeneaththegreenelectricglareIsawmenpasswithheartsofstone。

YetstillIheardthemeverywhere，Thosegoldenvoicesoftheair:

"Friend，wewillgotohellwiththee，Thygriefs，thyglorieswewillshare，Andruletheearth，andbindthesea，Andsettenthousanddevilsfree;"

"Whatdostthou，stranger，atmyside，Thougauntoldmanaccostingme？

Away，thisismynightofpride！

OnlunarseasmyboatwillglideAndIshallknowthesecretthings。"

Theoldmananswered:"Woebetide！"

SaidI"Theworldwasmadeforkings:

TohimwhoworksandworkingsingsComejoyandmajestyandpowerAndsteadfastlovewithroyalwings。"

"Owatchthesefoolsthatblinkandcower，"

Saidthatwiseman:"andeveryhourAscoreisborn，adozendies。"

SaidI:"InLondonfadestheflower;

ButfarawaythebrightblueskiesShallwatchmysolemnwallsarise，Andalltheglory，allthegraceOfearthshallgatherthere，andeyesWillshinelikestarsinthatnewplace。"

Saidhe。"IndeedofancientraceThoucomest，withthyhollowscheme。

Butsail，Oarchitectofdream，TolandsbeyondtheOceanstream。

Wherearetheislandsoftheblest，AndwhereAtlantis，whereTheleme？"

MARYMAGDALEN

Oeyesthatstripthesoulsofmen！

TherecametometheMagdalen。

Herbluerobewithacordwasbound，HerhairwithLentenliliescrowned。

"Arise，"shesaid"Godcallsforthee，Turnedtonewpathsthyfeetmustbe。

LeavethefeverandthefeastLeavethefriendthoulovestbest:

Forthoumustwalkinbarefootways，TogivemydearLordJesuspraise。"

ThenansweredI"SweetMagdalen，God\'sservant，oncebelovedofmen，Whydidstthouchangeoldwaysfornew，Thytrailingredforcordedblue，Rosesforliliesonthybrow，Richsplendourforabarrenvow？"

Gentleofspeechsheansweredme:

"Sir，Iwassickwithrevelry。

True，Ihavescarredthenightwithsin，Apaleandtawdryheroine;

ButonceIheardavoicethatsaid\'Wholivesinsinissurelydead，ButwhosoturnstofollowmeHathjoyandimmortality。\'"

"OMary，notforthis，"Icried，"Didstthourenouncethyscentedpride。

NotforatasteofendlessyearsOrbarrenjoyapartfromtearsDidstthoudesertthecourtsofmen。

Tellmethytruth，sweetMagdalen！"

Shetrembled，andhereyesgrewdim:

"ForloveofHim，forloveofHim。"