ΤΟ CLEAR-HEADED friend, whose joyful scorn, Edged with sharp laughter, cuts atwain The knots that tangle human creeds, The wounding cords that bind and strain The heart until it bleeds, Ray-fringed eyelids of the morn Roof not a glance so keen as thine: Thou wilt not live in vain. Low-cowering shall the Sophist sit; Falsehood shall bare her plaited brow: Fair-fronted Truth shall droop not now With shrilling shafts of subtle wit. Nor martyr-flames, nor trenchant swords A gentler death shall Falsehood die, Shot thro' and thro' with cunning words. Weak Truth a-leaning on her crutch, Wan, wasted Truth in her utmost need, Until she be an athlete bold, And weary with a finger's touch Those writhed limbs of lightning speed; Wrestled with wandering Israel, Past Yabbok brook the livelong night, And heaven's mazed signs stood still In the dim tract of Penuel. MADELINE. THOU art not steep'd in golden languors, No tranced summer calm is thine, Ever varying Madeline. Thro' light and shadow thou dost range, Smiling, frowning, evermore, Revealings deep and clear are thine Of wealthy smiles but who may know Whether smile or frown be fleeter ? Whether smile or frown be sweeter, VOL. I. Who may know? C 18 Frowns perfect-sweet along the brow Like little clouds sun-fringed, are thine, Ever varying Madeline. Thy smile and frown are not aloof From one another, Each to each is dearest brother; Hues of the silken sheeny woof Momently shot into each other. Ever varying Madeline. A subtle, sudden flame, By veering passion fann'd, About thee breaks and dances; When I would kiss thy hand, The flush of anger'd shame O'erflows thy calmer glances, And o'er black brows drops down A sudden-curved frown: But when I turn away, Thou, willing me to stay, Wooest not, nor vainly wranglest; All my bounding heart entanglest Then in madness and in bliss, Thy taper fingers amorously, Again thou blushest angerly; |