Stephen crane: the black riders and other lines

AYE, BY THE HEAVENS, IT WAS A BALL OF GOLD.

Xxxvi

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I MET A SEER.

HE HELD IN HIS HANDS

THE BOOK OF WISDOM.

“SIR,” I ADDRESSED HIM,

“LET ME READ.”

“CHILD—“ HE BEGAN.

“SIR,” I SAID,

“THINK NOT THAT I AM A CHILD,

“FOR ALREADY I KNOW MUCH

“OF THAT WHICH YOU HOLD.

“AYE, MUCH.”

HE SMILED.

THEN HE OPENED THE BOOK

AND HELD IT BEFORE ME.—

STRANGE THAT I SHOULD HAVE GROWN SO SUDDENLY BLIND.

Xxxvii

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ON THE HORIZON THE PEAKS ASSEMBLED;

AND AS I LOOKED,

THE MARCH OF THE MOUNTAINS BEGAN.

AS THEY MARCHED, THEY SANG,

“AYE! WE COME! WE COME!”

Xxxviii

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THE OCEAN SAID TO ME ONCE,

“LOOK!

“YONDER ON THE SHORE

“IS A WOMAN, WEEPING.

“I HAVE WATCHED HER.

“GO YOU AND TELL HER THIS,—

“HER LOVER I HAVE LAID

“IN COOL GREEN HALL.

“THERE IS WEALTH OF GOLDEN SAND

“AND PILLARS, CORAL-RED;

“TWO WHITE FISH STAND GUARD AT HIS BIER.

“TELL HER THIS

“AND MORE,—

“THAT THE KING OF THE SEAS

“WEEPS TOO, OLD, HELPLESS MAN.

“THE BUSTLING FATES

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“HEAP HIS HANDS WITH CORPSES

“UNTIL HE STANDS LIKE A CHILD

“WITH SURPLUS OF TOYS.”

Xxxix

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THE LIVID LIGHTNINGS FLASHED IN THE CLOUDS;

THE LEADEN THUNDERS CRASHED.

A WORSHIPPER RAISED HIS ARM.

“HEARKEN! HEARKEN! THE VOICE OF GOD!”

“NOT SO,” SAID A MAN.

“THE VOICE OF GOD WHISPERS IN THE HEART

“SO SOFTLY

“THAT THE SOUL PAUSES,

“MAKING NO NOISE,

“AND STRIVES FOR THESE MELODIES,

“DISTANT, SIGHING, LIKE FAINTEST BREATH,

“AND ALL THE BEING IS STILL TO HEAR.”

Xl

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AND YOU LOVE ME

I LOVE YOU.

YOU ARE, THEN, COLD COWARD.

AYE; BUT, BELOVED,

WHEN I STRIVE TO COME TO YOU,

MAN’S OPINIONS, A THOUSAND THICKETS,

MY INTERWOVEN EXISTENCE,

MY LIFE,

CAUGHT IN THE STUBBLE OF THE WORLD

LIKE A TENDER VEIL,—

THIS STAYS ME.

NO STRANGE MOVE CAN I MAKE

WITHOUT NOISE OF TEARING.

I DARE NOT.

IF LOVE LOVES,

THERE IS NO WORLD

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NOR WORD.

ALL IS LOST

SAVE THOUGHT OF LOVE

AND PLACE TO DREAM.

YOU LOVE ME?

I LOVE YOU.

YOU ARE, THEN, COLD COWARD.

AYE; BUT, BELOVED—

Xli

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LOVE WALKED ALONE.

THE ROCKS CUT HER TENDER FEET,

AND THE BRAMBLES TORE HER FAIR LIMBS.

THERE CAME A COMPANION TO HER,

BUT, ALAS, HE WAS NO HELP,

FOR HIS NAME WAS HEART’S PAIN.

Xlii

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I WALKED IN A DESERT.

AND I CRIED,

“AH, GOD, TAKE ME FROM THIS PLACE!”

A VOICE SAID, “IT IS NO DESERT.”

I CRIED, “WELL, BUT—

“THE SAND, THE HEAT, THE VACANT HORIZON.”

A VOICE SAID, “IT IS NO DESERT.”

Xliii

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THERE CAME WHISPERINGS IN THE WINDS

“GOOD-BYE! GOOD-BYE!”

LITTLE VOICES CALLED IN THE DARKNESS:

“GOOD-BYE! GOOD-BYE!”

THEN I STRETCHED FORTH MY ARMS.

NO—NO—“

THERE CAME WHISPERINGS IN THE WIND:

“GOOD-BYE! GOOD-BYE!”

LITTLE VOICES CALLED IN THE DARKNESS:

“GOOD-BYE! GOOD-BYE!”

Xliv

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I WAS IN THE DARKNESS;

I COULD NOT SEE MY WORDS