by Donald Lainson, [email protected].
MAE MADDEN
by Mary Murdoch Mason
With an introductory poem, by Joaquin Miller.
The wheel of fortune guide you,?The boy with the bow beside you?Run aye in the way, till the dawn of day?And a luckier lot betide you.
Ben Jonson.
A DREAM OF ITALY.
AN ALLEGORY INTRODUCING "MAE MADDEN."
I.
We two had been parted, God pity us, when?The stars were unnamed and when heaven was dim;?We two had been parted far back on the rim?And the outermost border of heaven's red bars:?We two had been parted ere the meeting of men?Or God had set compass on spaces as yet.?We two had been parted ere God had set?His finger to spinning the spaces with stars,--?And now, at the last in the gold and set?Of the sun of Venice, we two had met.
II.
Where the lion of Venice, with brows afrown,?With tossed mane tumbled, and teeth in air,?Looks out in his watch o'er the watery town,?With a paw half lifted, with his claws half bare,?By the blue Adriatic, in the edge of the sea,?I saw her. I knew her, but she knew not me.?I had found her at last! Why, I had sailed?The antipodes through, had sought, had hailed?All flags, had climbed where the storm clouds curled,?And called from the awful arched dome of the world.
III.
I saw her one moment, then fell back abashed?And filled full to the throat. . . . Then I turned me once more So glad to the sea, while the level sun flashed?On the far, snowy Alps. . . . Her breast! Why, her breast Was white as twin pillows that allure you to rest;?Her sloping limbs moved like to melodies, told?As she rose from the sea, and she threw back the gold?Of her glory of hair, and set face to the shore. . . .?I knew her! I knew her, though we had not met?Since the far stars sang to the sun's first set.
IV.
How long I had sought her! I had hungered, nor ate?Of any sweet fruits. I had tasted not one?Of all the fair glories grown under the sun.?I had sought only her. Yea, I knew that she?Had come upon earth and stood waiting for me?Somewhere by my way. But the path ways of fate?They had led otherwhere. The round world round,?The far North seas and the near profound?Had failed me for aye. Now I stood by that sea?While a ship drove by, and all dreamily.
V.
I had turned from the lion a time, and when?I looked tow'rd the tide and out on the lea?Of the town where the warm sea tumbled and teemed?With beauty, I saw her. I knew her then,?The tallest, the fairest fair daughter of men.?O, Venice stood full in her glory. She gleamed?In the splendor of sunset and sensuous sea;?Yet I saw but my bride, my affinity,?While the doves hurried home to the dome of Saint Mark?And the brass horses plunged their high manes in the dark,
VI.
Was it well with my love? Was she true? Was she brave?With virtue's own valor? Was she waiting for me??O, how fared my love! Had she home? Had she bread??Had she known but the touch of the warm-tempered wave??Was she born upon earth with a crown on her head;?Or born like myself, but a dreamer, instead??So long it had been! So long! Why the sea,?That wrinkled and surly old time-tempered slave,?Had been born, had his revels, grown wrinkled and hoar?Since I last saw my love on that uttermost shore.
VII.
O, how fared my love? Once I lifted my face?And I shook back my hair and looked out on the sea;?I pressed my hot palms as I stood in my place?And cried, "O, I come like a king to your side?Though all hell intervene." . . . "Hist! she may be a bride! A mother at peace, with sweet babes on her knee!?A babe at her breast and a spouse at her side! . . .?Have I wandered too long, and has destiny?Set mortal between us?" I buried my face?In my hands, and I moaned as I stood in my place.
VIII.
'Twas her year to be young. She was tall, she was fair?Was she pure as the snow on the Alps over there??'Twas her year to be young. She was fair, she was tall?And I knew she was true as I lifted my face?And saw her press down her rich robe to its place?With a hand white and small as a babe's with a doll,?And her feet--why, her feet, in the white shining sand,?Were so small they might nest in my one brawny hand.?Then she pushed back her hair with a round hand that shone?And flashed in the light with a white starry stone.
IX.
Then, my love she was rich. My love she was fair.?Was she pure as the snow on the Alps over there??She was gorgeous with wealth, "Thank God, she has
Continue reading on your phone by scaning this QR Code
Tip: The current page has been bookmarked automatically. If you wish to continue reading later, just open the Dertz Homepage, and click on the 'continue reading' link at the bottom of the page.
Continue reading on your phone by scaning this QR Code
