The Heralds
Days came and went round Nora's couch:
If there was need of aught to tell
That gentle hands attended well,
Her mild and altered mien could vouch.
Weeks came and went, and every day
Brought better news from out the valley:
Each tiding-tongue was glad to say
The troops, the cause, all seemed to rally.
And Esther's heart, though still her sire
Was captive in the royal camp,
Saw Hope re-fan her smouldering fire
Within the cloud's desponding damp.
'Twas evening, and she watched the gleam
Of moonlight over hill and stream;
Though winter now was wellnigh through,
And springtime promised soon to blow,
Still, all the scene which met her view
Lay in a gleaming robe of snow.
She sat and gazed upon the stars,
As on a banner there unfurled,
And wondered if each sparkling world
Was shocked like this with martial jars, —
If through those tranquil, silver skies
Stern warriors bent devoted eyes
In worship on the planet Mars.
She mused, — when Hulda's waking hand
Was laid upon her resting arm,
And, looking up with mild alarm,
She saw within the moonlight stand
Another, whose brave feet had paced
Through paths of snow in breathless haste.
" I come " — this was her hurried word,
She scarcely seemed for breath to pause —
" To you, for I have often heard
Your heart is with our patriot cause:
You have swift horses at command,
And have, perchance, some trusty hand
By whom a message may be borne:
The word I bear must reach our band
Before to-morrow morn. "
" Speak on! " the startled hearer cried:
" It shall, no matter what betide! "
" Our enemy a plan has laid —
I got the news, it boots not how —
By which our camp shall be betrayed,
And all our noble army made
To bite the dust, or basely bow.
This was their threat; — and even now
Their rapid horsemen form in line,
And ere the dawn 'tis their design
To strike the fatal blow.
This is the news: I pray you speed:
The hour is short, and dire the need:
I have no time to answer more;
But if our noble chief would know
The source from which these tidings flow,
Then tell him boldly, undeterred,
'Tis Lydia Darrach's faithful word,
Which served him once before. "
" Thanks, noble heart! " young Esther cried,
And flung her daring tresses wide:
" Spite every danger or mishap,
Ere yon low moon shall disappear,
The news shall reach our General's ear
Though death stood in the gap! "
Waiting no more to hear or say,
The herald took her homeward way.
" Now, Ugo! " — this was Esther's call, —
" Bridle the swiftest steed in stall,
Fly with the news you just have heard,
And let our chieftain know the word. "
" A steed! " he answered; " but suppose
The road should be beset with foes,
The boldest rider scarce would do
To bear such needful tidings through.
No, no: I have a better way, —
One quite as swift, and far more sure;
Nor horse nor man my course shall stay,
I shall be mounted so secure. "
She stared at him with puzzled brow,
But he nor look nor answer stayed;
She heard the rattling which he made
Within the dusky hall below;
She saw him dash across the snow,
Until he gained the frozen river,
Watched him a moment bending low,
Then, like an arrow from the bow,
Beheld his flying figure go
On skates, with many a flash and quiver,
As if the glistening ice and steel,
In lightning, would his speed reveal.
The smile applauded the device:
She watched him, with a glad surprise
Until he vanished from her eyes.
But suddenly, with fear renewed,
She stood in anxious attitude: —
That messenger upon the ice.
It might, and yet might not, suffice.
If highways held the foeman wolf,
The river also had its gulf,
And 'twas the season when the sun
Old Winter's work had half undone;
The snowy eaves were thawed at noon,
The thinning ice must vanish soon;
The moon, too, hung with sinking disk;
Her light would shortly be at end.
No, no: it would not do to send
One messenger on such a risk:
All must be staked to win or lose;
In such a cause, who stayed to choose?
In haste she ordered out the sleigh:
None heard the maid her purpose say:
'Twas not for others' ears discussed,
For there was none whom she would trust,
Save Hulda, and her duty lay
Round suffering Nora night and day.
Alone she mounted, without pause,
To save, perchance, her country's cause:
Away, away, the light car flew;
The hoofs flung up the powdery snow;
Swift as a river seemed to flow
The road beneath, where, slipping through
The crispy foam with whistling shrieks,
The runners left their glistening streaks.
Oh, enviable star in heaven
That looked through that still crystal even,
And saw how those two heralds went,
Each on the same high mission bent, —
One on a road of ice below,
One on a streamlike road of snow,
The locks of each flung backward far,
And trailing like a meteor star:
Oh, ne'er before sped soul with soul
In holier race for earthly goal!
Just as the last hill-top was neared,
And the swift horses slackened pace,
A voice, as if it broke through space.
Pealed to the welkin as it cheered,
Announcing the last danger cleared: —
'Twas Ugo's wild, triumphant mirth,
Ringing as it would circle earth.
And thus the two young heralds met,
In spite of foes about them set,
In spite of dark and wintry weather,
And to the grateful patriot chief,
In burning language plain and brief,
Delivered their great news together;
And soon the horses, flecked with foam,
Well pleased, were turned again for home
While Ugo took the guiding rein,
Thus held the maid her musing vein: —
" Now the moon has left her track,
Dropt behind the mountain-bars;
Paly shine the cold white stars,
And the pale earth answers back;
All the world a shadow lies,
Darkly, breathless, deathly still,
While above us hang the skies,
Throbbing to our throbbing eyes,
Till the fancy almost hears
Something of the strains that thrill,
Passing through the happy spheres.
Yonder the great Northern Wain
Rings across the azure plain,
Nightly rolling toward the goal
Of the ever-steadfast Pole:
Every steed in that great car
On his forehead wears a star,
Proud with bells upon his mane.
Sweetest of the chimes of heaven
Is yon clustered sister-seven,
In their turret's misty height,
Like a stem of lilies white, —
Our sweet valley Pleiades,
Ringing perfume on the breeze.
Ring, sweet sisters, clearer still:
My heart listens for the thrill
From your sacred belfrey-cell:
Pour your chime; but, ah, the knell
Floats from off your silver lips
For that lost one in eclipse!
Lost! — ah, no: she is not lost;
Her song was too fine and sweet
With your singing to compete;
On some more celestial coast
She is now the angels' boast,
With her joy forever told,
In a tower of shining gold.
Ring, sweet stars of heaven, anew,
And my heart will sing with you;
Ring! — oh, ring! — that I may hear
And feel that heaven is sometimes near. "
Thus Esther in her happy breast
The pleasure of her soul confest;
For she was glowing with a sense
(Although the thought had scarcely heed)
That she had done a sacred deed
Which was its own sweet recompense.
The singing sleigh, the horses' tread,
Slow pacing homeward at their will,
The flowing road that backward sped,
The stars that chased her overhead,
Like heavenly guardians with her still,
The crystal air, but not too chill,
All soothed her with a gentle calm,
As if a cool and tender palm
Were on her tranquil forehead prest
To woo her into peaceful rest.
And Ugo held in dreamy spell
The reins which seemed about to fall;
But homeward steeds remember well
The road which leads them to their stall.
All nature seemed as it were fanned
With Slumber's cool and downy pinions;
But, hold! — the steeds are at full stand!
Around them close the foeman's minions!
Is she awake, or does she dream?
The sword-flash that before her stirs,
The scarlet coat, the helmet's gleam,
The bursting laugh of rude derision.
A rough voice shouting, " Prisoners! "
A soldier at each horse's rein,
And Ugo dragged among the train, —
All this proclaims it is no vision.
The boy is loud, — he will not stay:
A boy is he, armed soldiers they.
" What men are ye, " she strove to say,
" Who dare to stop a lady's way?
I charge ye, off! Unbind the boy! "
Whereat the captain's voice replied,
Close at the startled maiden's side,
" Lady, we wish not to annoy
Further than strictest duty calls:
Be not alarmed: if aught befalls
Amiss, the fault shall not be ours. —
We serve the cause of higher powers:
Though it seem hard, and you condemn,
Our prisoner, you must go to them. "
He took the reins, and said no more:
With mounted men to guard them down,
Even past her own unhappy door
She went a captive to the town.
If there was need of aught to tell
That gentle hands attended well,
Her mild and altered mien could vouch.
Weeks came and went, and every day
Brought better news from out the valley:
Each tiding-tongue was glad to say
The troops, the cause, all seemed to rally.
And Esther's heart, though still her sire
Was captive in the royal camp,
Saw Hope re-fan her smouldering fire
Within the cloud's desponding damp.
'Twas evening, and she watched the gleam
Of moonlight over hill and stream;
Though winter now was wellnigh through,
And springtime promised soon to blow,
Still, all the scene which met her view
Lay in a gleaming robe of snow.
She sat and gazed upon the stars,
As on a banner there unfurled,
And wondered if each sparkling world
Was shocked like this with martial jars, —
If through those tranquil, silver skies
Stern warriors bent devoted eyes
In worship on the planet Mars.
She mused, — when Hulda's waking hand
Was laid upon her resting arm,
And, looking up with mild alarm,
She saw within the moonlight stand
Another, whose brave feet had paced
Through paths of snow in breathless haste.
" I come " — this was her hurried word,
She scarcely seemed for breath to pause —
" To you, for I have often heard
Your heart is with our patriot cause:
You have swift horses at command,
And have, perchance, some trusty hand
By whom a message may be borne:
The word I bear must reach our band
Before to-morrow morn. "
" Speak on! " the startled hearer cried:
" It shall, no matter what betide! "
" Our enemy a plan has laid —
I got the news, it boots not how —
By which our camp shall be betrayed,
And all our noble army made
To bite the dust, or basely bow.
This was their threat; — and even now
Their rapid horsemen form in line,
And ere the dawn 'tis their design
To strike the fatal blow.
This is the news: I pray you speed:
The hour is short, and dire the need:
I have no time to answer more;
But if our noble chief would know
The source from which these tidings flow,
Then tell him boldly, undeterred,
'Tis Lydia Darrach's faithful word,
Which served him once before. "
" Thanks, noble heart! " young Esther cried,
And flung her daring tresses wide:
" Spite every danger or mishap,
Ere yon low moon shall disappear,
The news shall reach our General's ear
Though death stood in the gap! "
Waiting no more to hear or say,
The herald took her homeward way.
" Now, Ugo! " — this was Esther's call, —
" Bridle the swiftest steed in stall,
Fly with the news you just have heard,
And let our chieftain know the word. "
" A steed! " he answered; " but suppose
The road should be beset with foes,
The boldest rider scarce would do
To bear such needful tidings through.
No, no: I have a better way, —
One quite as swift, and far more sure;
Nor horse nor man my course shall stay,
I shall be mounted so secure. "
She stared at him with puzzled brow,
But he nor look nor answer stayed;
She heard the rattling which he made
Within the dusky hall below;
She saw him dash across the snow,
Until he gained the frozen river,
Watched him a moment bending low,
Then, like an arrow from the bow,
Beheld his flying figure go
On skates, with many a flash and quiver,
As if the glistening ice and steel,
In lightning, would his speed reveal.
The smile applauded the device:
She watched him, with a glad surprise
Until he vanished from her eyes.
But suddenly, with fear renewed,
She stood in anxious attitude: —
That messenger upon the ice.
It might, and yet might not, suffice.
If highways held the foeman wolf,
The river also had its gulf,
And 'twas the season when the sun
Old Winter's work had half undone;
The snowy eaves were thawed at noon,
The thinning ice must vanish soon;
The moon, too, hung with sinking disk;
Her light would shortly be at end.
No, no: it would not do to send
One messenger on such a risk:
All must be staked to win or lose;
In such a cause, who stayed to choose?
In haste she ordered out the sleigh:
None heard the maid her purpose say:
'Twas not for others' ears discussed,
For there was none whom she would trust,
Save Hulda, and her duty lay
Round suffering Nora night and day.
Alone she mounted, without pause,
To save, perchance, her country's cause:
Away, away, the light car flew;
The hoofs flung up the powdery snow;
Swift as a river seemed to flow
The road beneath, where, slipping through
The crispy foam with whistling shrieks,
The runners left their glistening streaks.
Oh, enviable star in heaven
That looked through that still crystal even,
And saw how those two heralds went,
Each on the same high mission bent, —
One on a road of ice below,
One on a streamlike road of snow,
The locks of each flung backward far,
And trailing like a meteor star:
Oh, ne'er before sped soul with soul
In holier race for earthly goal!
Just as the last hill-top was neared,
And the swift horses slackened pace,
A voice, as if it broke through space.
Pealed to the welkin as it cheered,
Announcing the last danger cleared: —
'Twas Ugo's wild, triumphant mirth,
Ringing as it would circle earth.
And thus the two young heralds met,
In spite of foes about them set,
In spite of dark and wintry weather,
And to the grateful patriot chief,
In burning language plain and brief,
Delivered their great news together;
And soon the horses, flecked with foam,
Well pleased, were turned again for home
While Ugo took the guiding rein,
Thus held the maid her musing vein: —
" Now the moon has left her track,
Dropt behind the mountain-bars;
Paly shine the cold white stars,
And the pale earth answers back;
All the world a shadow lies,
Darkly, breathless, deathly still,
While above us hang the skies,
Throbbing to our throbbing eyes,
Till the fancy almost hears
Something of the strains that thrill,
Passing through the happy spheres.
Yonder the great Northern Wain
Rings across the azure plain,
Nightly rolling toward the goal
Of the ever-steadfast Pole:
Every steed in that great car
On his forehead wears a star,
Proud with bells upon his mane.
Sweetest of the chimes of heaven
Is yon clustered sister-seven,
In their turret's misty height,
Like a stem of lilies white, —
Our sweet valley Pleiades,
Ringing perfume on the breeze.
Ring, sweet sisters, clearer still:
My heart listens for the thrill
From your sacred belfrey-cell:
Pour your chime; but, ah, the knell
Floats from off your silver lips
For that lost one in eclipse!
Lost! — ah, no: she is not lost;
Her song was too fine and sweet
With your singing to compete;
On some more celestial coast
She is now the angels' boast,
With her joy forever told,
In a tower of shining gold.
Ring, sweet stars of heaven, anew,
And my heart will sing with you;
Ring! — oh, ring! — that I may hear
And feel that heaven is sometimes near. "
Thus Esther in her happy breast
The pleasure of her soul confest;
For she was glowing with a sense
(Although the thought had scarcely heed)
That she had done a sacred deed
Which was its own sweet recompense.
The singing sleigh, the horses' tread,
Slow pacing homeward at their will,
The flowing road that backward sped,
The stars that chased her overhead,
Like heavenly guardians with her still,
The crystal air, but not too chill,
All soothed her with a gentle calm,
As if a cool and tender palm
Were on her tranquil forehead prest
To woo her into peaceful rest.
And Ugo held in dreamy spell
The reins which seemed about to fall;
But homeward steeds remember well
The road which leads them to their stall.
All nature seemed as it were fanned
With Slumber's cool and downy pinions;
But, hold! — the steeds are at full stand!
Around them close the foeman's minions!
Is she awake, or does she dream?
The sword-flash that before her stirs,
The scarlet coat, the helmet's gleam,
The bursting laugh of rude derision.
A rough voice shouting, " Prisoners! "
A soldier at each horse's rein,
And Ugo dragged among the train, —
All this proclaims it is no vision.
The boy is loud, — he will not stay:
A boy is he, armed soldiers they.
" What men are ye, " she strove to say,
" Who dare to stop a lady's way?
I charge ye, off! Unbind the boy! "
Whereat the captain's voice replied,
Close at the startled maiden's side,
" Lady, we wish not to annoy
Further than strictest duty calls:
Be not alarmed: if aught befalls
Amiss, the fault shall not be ours. —
We serve the cause of higher powers:
Though it seem hard, and you condemn,
Our prisoner, you must go to them. "
He took the reins, and said no more:
With mounted men to guard them down,
Even past her own unhappy door
She went a captive to the town.
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