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Whom the heavens loved in vain。
As he sang of Balder beautiful；
Whom the heavens could not save；
Till the world was like a sea of tears
And every soul a wave。
〃There is always a thing forgotten
When all the world goes well；
A thing forgotten； as long ago；
When the gods forgot the mistletoe；
And soundless as an arrow of snow
The arrow of anguish fell。
〃The thing on the blind side of the heart；
On the wrong side of the door；
The green plant groweth； menacing
Almighty lovers in the spring；
There is always a forgotten thing；
And love is not secure。〃
And all that sat by the fire were sad；
Save Ogier； who was stern；
And his eyes hardened； even to stones；
As he took the harp in turn；
Earl Ogier of the Stone and Sling
Was odd to ear and sight；
Old he was； but his locks were red；
And jests were all the words he said
Yet he was sad at board and bed
And savage in the fight。
〃You sing of the young gods easily
In the days when you are young；
But I go smelling yew and sods；
And I know there are gods behind the gods；
Gods that are best unsung。
〃And a man grows ugly for women；
And a man grows dull with ale；
Well if he find in his soul at last
Fury； that does not fail。
〃The wrath of the gods behind the gods
Who would rend all gods and men；
Well if the old man's heart hath still
Wheels sped of rage and roaring will；
Like cataracts to break down and kill；
Well for the old man then
〃While there is one tall shrine to shake；
Or one live man to rend；
For the wrath of the gods behind the gods
Who are weary to make an end。
〃There lives one moment for a man
When the door at his shoulder shakes；
When the taut rope parts under the pull；
And the barest branch is beautiful
One moment； while it breaks。
〃So rides my soul upon the sea
That drinks the howling ships；
Though in black jest it bows and nods
Under the moons with silver rods；
I know it is roaring at the gods；
Waiting the last eclipse。
〃And in the last eclipse the sea
Shall stand up like a tower；
Above all moons made dark and riven；
Hold up its foaming head in heaven；
And laugh； knowing its hour。
〃And the high ones in the happy town
Propped of the planets seven；
Shall know a new light in the mind；
A noise about them and behind；
Shall hear an awful voice； and find
Foam in the courts of heaven。
〃And you that sit by the fire are young；
And true love waits for you；
But the king and I grow old； grow old；
And hate alone is true。〃
And Guthrum shook his head but smiled；
For he was a mighty clerk；
And had read lines in the Latin books
When all the north was dark。
He said； 〃I am older than you； Ogier；
Not all things would I rend；
For whether life be bad or good
It is best to abide the end。〃
He took the great harp wearily；
Even Guthrum of the Danes；
With wide eyes bright as the one long day
On the long polar plains。
For he sang of a wheel returning；
And the mire trod back to mire；
And how red hells and golden heavens
Are castles in the fire。
〃It is good to sit where the good tales go；
To sit as our fathers sat；
But the hour shall come after his youth；
When a man shall know not tales but truth；
And his heart fail thereat。
〃When he shall read what is written
So plain in clouds and clods；
When he shall hunger without hope
Even for evil gods。
〃For this is a heavy matter；
And the truth is cold to tell；
Do we not know； have we not heard；
The soul is like a lost bird；
The body a broken shell。
〃And a man hopes； being ignorant；
Till in white woods apart
He finds at last the lost bird dead：
And a man may still lift up his head
But never more his heart。
〃There comes no noise but weeping
Out of the ancient sky；
And a tear is in the tiniest flower
Because the gods must die。
〃The little brooks are very sweet；
Like a girl's ribbons curled；
But the great sea is bitter
That washes all the world。
〃Strong are the Roman roses；
Or the free flowers of the heath；
But every flower； like a flower of the sea；
Smelleth with the salt of death。
〃And the heart of the locked battle
Is the happiest place for men；
When shrieking souls as shafts go by
And many have died and all may die；
Though this word be a mystery；
Death is most distant then。
〃Death blazes bright above the cup；
And clear above the crown；
But in that dream of battle
We seem to tread it down。
〃Wherefore I am a great king；
And waste the world in vain；
Because man hath not other power；
Save that in dealing death for dower；
He may forget it for an hour
To remember it again。〃
And slowly his hands and thoughtfully
Fell from the lifted lyre；
And the owls moaned from the mighty trees
Till Alfred caught it to his knees
And smote it as in ire。
He heaved the head of the harp on high
And swept the framework barred；
And his stroke had all the rattle and spark
Of horses flying hard。
〃When God put man in a garden
He girt him with a sword；
And sent him forth a free knight
That might betray his lord；
〃He brake Him and betrayed Him；
And fast and far he fell；
Till you and I may stretch our necks
And burn our beards in hell。
〃But though I lie on the floor of the world；
With the seven sins for rods；
I would rather fall with Adam
Than rise with all your gods。
〃What have the strong gods given？
Where have the glad gods led？
When Guthrum sits on a hero's throne
And asks if he is dead？
〃Sirs； I am but a nameless man；
A rhymester without home；
Yet since I come of the Wessex clay
And carry the cross of Rome；
〃I will even answer the mighty earl
That asked of Wessex men
Why they be meek and monkish folk；
And bow to the White Lord's broken yoke；
What sign have we save blood and smoke？
Here is my answer then。
〃That on you is fallen the shadow；
And not upon the Name；
That though we scatter and though we fly；
And you hang over us like the sky；
You are more tired of victory；
Than we are tired of shame。
〃That though you hunt the Christian man
Like a hare on the hill…side；
The hare has still more heart to run
Than you have heart to ride。
〃That though all lances split on you；
All swords be heaved in vain；
We have more lust again to lose
Than you to win again。
〃Your lord sits high in the saddle；
A broken…hearted king；
But our king Alfred； lost from fame；
Fallen among foes or bonds of shame；
In I know not what mean trade or name；
Has still some song to sing；
〃Our monks go robed in rain and snow；
But the heart of flame therein；
But you go clothed in feasts and flames；
When all is ice within；
〃Nor shall all iron dooms make dumb
Men wondering ceaselessly；
If it be not better to fast for joy
Than feast for misery。
〃Nor monkish order only
Slides down； as field to fen；
All things achieved and chosen pass；
As the White Horse fades in the grass；
No work of Christian men。
〃Ere the sad gods that made your gods
Saw their sad sunrise pass；
The White Horse of the White Horse Vale；
That you have left to darken and fail；
Was cut out of the grass。
〃Therefore your end is on you；
Is on you and your kings；
Not for a fire in Ely fen；
Not that your gods are nine or ten；
But because it is only Christian men
Guard even heathen things。
〃For our God hath blessed creation；
Calling it good。 I know
What spirit with whom you blindly band
Hath blessed destruction with his hand；
Yet by God's death the stars shall stand
And the small apples grow。〃
And the King； with harp on shoulder；
Stood up and ceased his song；
And the owls moaned from the mighty trees；
And the Danes laughed loud and long。
BOOK IV
THE WOMAN IN THE FOREST
Thick thunder of the snorting swine；
Enormous in the gloam；
Rending among all roots that cling；
And the wild horses whinnying；
Were the night's noises when the King
Shouldering his harp； went home。
With eyes of owl and feet of fox；
Full of all thoughts he went；
He marked the tilt of the pagan camp；
The paling of pine； the sentries' tramp；
And the one great stolen altar…lamp
Over Guthrum in his tent。
By scrub and thorn in Ethandune
That night the foe had lain；
Whence ran across the heather grey
The old stones of a Roman way；
And in a wood not far away
The pale road split in twain。
He marked the wood and the cloven ways
With an old captain's eyes；
And he thought how many a time had he
Sought to see Doom he could not see；
How ruin had come and victory；
And both were a surprise。
Even so he had watched and wondered
Under Ashdown from the plains；
With Ethelred praying in his tent；
Till the white hawthorn swung and bent；
As Alfred rushed his spears and rent
The shield…wall of the Danes。
Even so he had watched and wondered；
Knowing neither less nor more；
Till all his lords lay dying；
And axes on axes plying；
Flung him； and drove him flying
Like a pirate to the shore。
Wise he had been before defeat；
And wise before success；
Wise in both hours and ignorant；
Knowing neither more nor less。
As he went down to the river…hut
He knew a night…shade scent；
Owls did as evil cherubs rise；
With little wings and lantern eyes；
As though he sank through the under…skies；
But down and down he went。
As he went down to the river…hut
He went as one that fell；
Seeing the high for