Collected Works (Vol. III)

LOVE-SONGS 57 And now the sea is loose and loud; Tremendous the typhoon Sweeps from the westward as a shroud, Wrapping some great god in a cloud, Abolishing the moon. And faster flying and faster still They gallop fast and faster. ‘© Turn, turn thy rein!” she shrieked again, “°Tis edged with sore disaster.” He looked her through with sight and will :— The pale bride knew her master. And now the skies are black as ink, The nightmare shoreward springs ; The lightning stoops to let them drink. They hold each other close, and think Unutterable things. The roar of earthquake stuns the ear ; The powers volcanic rise, Casting the lava red and sheer A million miles in ether clear Beyond the labouring skies. Ghastlier faces bend around And gristlier fears above. They see no sight: they hear no sound ; But look toward the chill profound End and abyss of love. The water and the skies are fallen Far beyond sight of them. All earth and fire gasp and expire: The night hath lost her starry host, Shattered her diadem. Eternity uplifts its brink To bar the wizard wings. The lightning stoops to let them drink. They silently espouse, and think Unutterable things. The nightmare neighs! The untravelled ways Are past on fervid feet. The limits of the limitless Flash by like jewels on a dress, Or dewdrops fallen in wheat. ‘“Q love! O husband ! I did not wish to go? And now—what rapture can express This ?>—do you feel and know?” The girl’s arms close in a caress $ Her lips are warm aglow ; She looks upon his loveliness :— The night has frozen the old stress; His mouth is cold as snow ! Did you guess But closer to the corpse she links, And closer, closer clings. Her kiss like lightning drops and drinks. She burns upon his breast, and thinks Unutterable things. Now half a moment stayed the steed; And then she thought he sighed ;— And then flashed forward thrice the old speed :— And then she knew he had died. But closer to him clings she yet, And feeds his corpse with fire, As if death were not to forget And to annul desire. And therefore as the utter space Sped past by hour and hour, She feeds her face upon his face Like a bird upon a flower. ‘* Awake, awake ! for love's own sake! I grow so faint and cold ; I charge thee by the bridal bed, The violet veins, and the lips full red, And the hours of woven gold!” And colder now the bricde’s lips grow And colder and yet colder, Until she lies as cold as snow, Her head against his shoulder. The nightmare never checked its pace. The lovely pair are gone Together through the walls of space Into oblivion.