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they do； though the words are ugly。'
'Ah！ but if you had tried it as I've tried it； you would know
better； Eric。'
'I think I should； dear。 But it's too late now。 I must just go and
see。 There's no other way left。'
The terrible cough came again。 As soon as the fit was over； with a
grand despair in his heart； Robert went from behind the screen。
Ericson was on a couch。 His head lay on Mary St。 John's bosom。
Neither saw him。
'Perhaps；' said Ericson； panting with death； 'a kiss in heaven may
be as good as being married on earth； Mary。'
She saw Robert and did not answer。 Then Eric saw him。 He smiled；
but Mary grew very pale。
Robert came forward； stooped and kissed Ericson's forehead； kneeled
and kissed Mary's hand； rose and went out。
》From that moment they were both dead to him。 Dead； I saynot lost；
not estranged； but deadthat is； awful and holy。 He wept for Eric。
He did not weep for Mary yet。 But he found a time。
Ericson died two days after。
Here endeth Robert's youth。
CHAPTER XXV。
IN MEMORIAM。
In memory of Eric Ericson； I add a chapter of sonnets gathered from
his papers； almost desiring that those only should read them who
turn to the book a second time。 How his papers came into my
possession； will be explained afterwards。
Tumultuous rushing o'er the outstretched plains；
A wildered maze of comets and of suns；
The blood of changeless God that ever runs
With quick diastole up the immortal veins；
A phantom host that moves and works in chains；
A monstrous fiction which； collapsing； stuns
The mind to stupor and amaze at once；
A tragedy which that man best explains
Who rushes blindly on his wild career
With trampling hoofs and sound of mailed war；
Who will not nurse a life to win a tear；
But is extinguished like a falling star：
Such will at times this life appear to me；
Until I learn to read more perfectly。
HOM。 IL。 v。 403。
If thou art tempted by a thought of ill；
Crave not too soon for victory； nor deem
Thou art a coward if thy safety seem
To spring too little from a righteous will：
For there is nightmare on thee； nor until
Thy soul hath caught the morning's early gleam
Seek thou to analyze the monstrous dream
By painful introversion； rather fill
Thine eye with forms thou knowest to be truth：
But see thou cherish higher hope than this；
A hope hereafter that thou shalt be fit
Calm…eyed to face distortion； and to sit
Transparent among other forms of youth
Who own no impulse save to God and bliss。
And must I ever wake； gray dawn； to know
Thee standing sadly by me like a ghost？
I am perplexed with thee； that thou shouldst cost
This Earth another turning： all aglow
Thou shouldst have reached me； with a purple show
Along far…mountain tops： and I would post
Over the breadth of seas though I were lost
In the hot phantom…chase for life； if so
Thou camest ever with this numbing sense
Of chilly distance and unlovely light；
Waking this gnawing soul anew to fight
With its perpetual load： I drive thee hence
I have another mountain…range from whence
Bursteh a sun unutterably bright。
GALILEO。
'And yet it moves！' Ah； Truth； where wert thou then；
When all for thee they racked each piteous limb？
Wert though in Heaven； and busy with thy hymn；
When those poor hands convulsed that held thy pen？
Art thou a phantom that deceivest men
To their undoing？ or dost thou watch him
Pale； cold； and silent in his dungeon dim？
And wilt thou ever speak to him again？
'It moves； it moves！ Alas； my flesh was weak；
That was a hideous dream！ I'll cry aloud
How the green bulk wheels sunward day by day！
Ah me！ ah me！ perchance my heart was proud
That I alone should know that word to speak；
And now； sweet Truth； shine upon these； I pray。'
If thou wouldst live the Truth in very deed；
Thou hast thy joy； but thou hast more of pain。
Others will live in peace； and thou be fain
To bargain with despair； and in thy need
To make thy meal upon the scantiest weed。
These palaces； for thee they stand in vain；
Thine is a ruinous hut； and oft the rain
Shall drench thee in the midnight； yea the speed
Of earth outstrip thee pilgrim； while thy feet
Move slowly up the heights。 Yet will there come
Through the time…rents about thy moving cell；
An arrow for despair； and oft the hum
Of far…off populous realms where spirits dwell。
TO * * * *
Speak； Prophet of the Lord！ We may not start
To find thee with us in thine ancient dress；
Haggard and pale from some bleak wilderness；
Empty of all save God and thy loud heart：
Nor with like rugged message quick to dart
Into the hideous fiction mean and base：
But yet； O prophet man； we need not less；
But more of earnest； though it is thy part
To deal in other words； if thou wouldst smite
The living Mammon； seated； not as then
In bestial quiescence grimly dight；
But thrice as much an idol…god as when
He stared at his own feet from morn to night。8
THE WATCHER。
》From out a windy cleft there comes a gaze
Of eyes unearthly which go to and fro
Upon the people's tumult； for below
The nations smite each other： no amaze
Troubles their liquid rolling； or affrays
Their deep…set contemplation： steadily glow
Those ever holier eye…balls； for they grow
Liker unto the eyes of one that prays。
And if those clasped hands tremble； comes a power
As of the might of worlds； and they are holden
Blessing above us in the sunrise golden；
And they will be uplifted till that hour
Of terrible rolling which shall rise and shake
This conscious nightmare from us and we wake。
THE BELOVED DISCIPLE。
I
One do I see and twelve； but second there
Methinks I know thee； thou beloved one；
Not from thy nobler port； for there are none
More quiet…featured； some there are who bear
Their message on their brows； while others wear
A look of large commission； nor will shun
The fiery trial； so their work is done：
But thou hast parted with thine eyes in prayer
Unearthly are they both； and so thy lips
Seem like the porches of the spirit land；
For thou hast laid a mighty treasure by；
Unlocked by Him in Nature； and thine eye
Burns with a vision and apocalypse
Thy own sweet soul can hardly understand。
II
A Boanerges too！ Upon my heart
It lay a heavy hour： features like thine
Should glow with other message than the shine
Of the earth…burrowing levin； and the start
That cleaveth horrid gulfs。 Awful and swart
A moment stoodest thou； but less divine
Brawny and clad in ruin！till with mine
Thy heart made answering signals； and apart
Beamed forth thy two rapt eye…balls doubly clear；
And twice as strong because thou didst thy duty；
And though affianced to immortal Beauty；
Hiddest not weakly underneath her veil
The pest of Sin and Death which maketh pale：
Henceforward be thy spirit doubly dear。9
THE LILY OF THE VALLEY。