Part 26

Yet I sing not the song of old, Ere I knew whence the echo came, Ere I opened the door of gold; But the music sounds just the same.

Then take warning, and turn away Do not ask of that hidden thing, Do not guess what the echoes say, Or the meaning of what I sing.

VERSE: HEARTS

A trinket made like a Heart, dear, Of red gold, bright and fine, Was given to me for a keepsake, Given to me for mine.

And another heart, warm and tender, As true as a heart could be; And every throb that stirred it Was always and all for me.

Sailing over the waters, Watching the far blue land, I dropped my golden heart, dear, Dropped it out of my hand!

It lies in the cold blue waters, Fathoms and fathoms deep, The golden heart which I promised, Promised to prize and keep.

Gazing at Life's bright visions, So false, and fair, and new, I forgot the other heart, dear, Forgot it and lost it too!

I might seek that heart for ever, I might seek and seek in vain;-- And for one short, careless hour, I pay with a life of pain.

II.

The Heart?--Yes I wore it As sign and as token Of a love that once gave it, A vow that was spoken; But a love, and a vow, and a heart Can be broken.

The Love?--Life and Death Are crushed into a day, So what wonder that Love Should as soon pass away-- What wonder I saw it Fade, fail, and decay.

The Vow?--why what was it, It snapped like a thread: Who cares for the corpse When the spirit is fled? Then I said, "Let the Dead rise And bury its dead,

"While the true, living future Grows pure, wise, and strong" So I cast the gold heart, I had worn for so long, In the Lake, and bound on it A Stone--and a Wrong!

III.

Look, this little golden Heart Was a true-love shrine For a tress of hair; I held them, Heart and tress, as mine, Like the Love which gave the token See to-day the Heart is broken!

Broken is the golden heart, Lost the tress of hair; Ah, the shrine is empty, vacant, Desolate, and bare! So the token should depart, When Love dies within the heart.

Fast and deep the river floweth, Floweth to the west; I will cast the golden trinket In its cold dark breast,-- Flow, oh river, deep and fast, Over all the buried past!

VERSE: TWO LOVES

Deep within my heart of hearts, dear, Bound with all its strings, Two Loves are together reigning Both are crowned like Kings; While my life, still uncomplaining, Rests beneath their wings.

So they both will rule my heart, dear, Till it cease to beat; No sway can be deeper, stronger, Truer, more complete; Growing, as it lasts the longer, Sweeter, and more sweet.

One all life and time transfigures, Piercing through and through Meaner things with magic splendour, Old, yet ever new: This,--so strong and yet so tender,-- Is . . . my Love for you.

Should it fail,--forgive my doubting In this world of pain,-- Yet my other Love would ever Steadfastly remain; And I know that I could never Turn to that in vain.

Though its radiance may be fainter, Yet its task is wide; For it lives to comfort sorrows, Strengthen, calm, and guide, And from Trust and Honour borrows All its peace and pride.

Will you blame my dreaming even If the first were flown? Ah, I would not live without it, It is all your own: And the other--can you doubt it?-- Yours, and yours alone.

VERSE: A WOMAN'S LAST WORD

Well--the links are broken, All is past; This farewell, when spoken, Is the last. I have tried and striven All in vain; Such bonds must be riven, Spite of pain, And never, never, never Knit again.

So I tell you plainly, It must be: I shall try, not vainly, To be free; Truer, happier chances Wait me yet, While you, through fresh fancies, Can forget;-- And life has nobler uses Than Regret.