Collected Works (Vol. I)

174 THE TEMPLE OF THE HOLY GHOST Then we left his carcase with the stealthy tread Reverent, in presence of the silent place; Then you burned, afire, caught up the ghastly head, Looked like Hell right into it, and spat} upon the face ! O Madonna of the Golden Eyes! ‘‘Come with me,” you whispered, ‘‘ come, and let the moon Lend her light to madden us through the hours of pleasure ; Let thedayspring pass and brighten intonoon! Yet no limit find our love, nor passion find a measure !” O Madonna of the Golden Eyes! Dawn brought reason back, and the violet eyes are sadder :-— O they were golden once, and I call them golden still ! Dawn has brought remorse, the sting of a foul swamp-adder— I hate you! beast of Hell! Love’s manacle ! O Murderess of the hateful eyes ! I have snapped O and you fix them on me! your lips curse now—’tis fitter ! Snarl on ! eat out your heart with the poison that is its blood. Speak! and her lips move blasphemies cruel and bitter. Slow the words creep forth as a sleepy and deadly flood. They glitter, those Satanic eyes ! now. with ‘‘ Beast! I gave you my soul and my body to.all your lust ! feast ! I am damned in Ilell for the kisses we sucked from death ! Now remorse is yours, and love is fallen in dust-— I shal] seek Him again for its sacramental breath ! Yes, fear the gold that glitters from these eyes !” She took a dagger, and I could not stir. She pierced my silent fascinated breast. She held me with the deadly look of her. I cried to Mary in the House of Rest : ‘‘Q Madonna of the Virgin eyes!” * * * I pierced him to the very soul: I took His whole life’s love to me before he died: Mad kisses mingled that enduring look Of death-caught passion: in his death he cried, ‘OQ Madonna of the Golden Eyes !” LOVE AT PEACE. Tre valleys, that are splendid With sun ere day is ended And love-lutes take to tune, See joyless and unfriended The perfect bowstring bended, Whose bow js called the moon. They sce the waters slacken And all the sky’s blue blacken, While in the yellow bracken Love lies in death or swoon. The stars arise and brighten ; The summer lightnings lighten, Faint and as midnight mute. Afar the snowfields ughten The iron bands that frighten No fairy’s tender foot. Across the stiller river Stray flowers of ice may shiver, Before the day deliver The murmur of its lute. The sleep of bird and flower Proclaims that Tleaven has power To guard its gentlest child. The lover knows the hour, And goes with dew for dower To wed in woodland wild. The silvern grasses shake, And through the startled brake Glides the awakened snake, Untamable and mild.