Classic Poem

The Queen of Thule loved a lord
As poor as poor could be:
Her people pled with her to wed
The Prince of Orcadie.

She thought her strength of love at length
Would make their wishes fade;
And night by night the lovers met
Deep in a forest-glade.

A streamlet like a wind-blown lyre
Now paused, now murmured soft;
The moon came like a lily on fire
With love, and watched them oft.

She played eaves-dropper to their talk;
From heaven she bent her head,
And in her star-attended walk
She pondered what they said.

Why is the Queen alone to-night?
" Come, come, " she cries, " to me.
O wind, breathe low! — 'Tis Harold! — No;
The Prince of Orcadie!

" What brings you here? " " A pliant fate
Puts you into my hand;
So yield you now: Heaven knows my vow
To rule you and your land. "

" You told me that you loved me, sir;
And sure it made me rue
That you must pine; for love of mine
Can never be for you.

" Sir, you must leave me. " " Thus, alone?
That were a gentle deed! "
" What make you here? " " I chased the deer
All day upon my steed.

" Three dark brown hinds I killed, and then —
My heart still pants withal —
I killed a gallant stag of ten:
His horns may grace your hall. "

" I like you not, dark man; your brow
Is heavier than the night.
Away, away! Come, Harold, now,
And end my woman's fright! "

" Cry louder, Queen; your voice must rend
The grave, or find instead
The trump of doom if you would send
A message to the dead.

" An hour we fought; the fight was hot —
I flung away the sheath:
Here on my sword his blood lies cold;
His corpse, upon the heath. "

" Why did you this? " " For love of you. "
" Then with your wicked sword
Mix my life's flood with that sweet blood
Of him my soul adored. "

" Not so; I did your people's will:
Now you must be my wife. "
" What! murder on my heart's door-sill
My only love, my life,

" Then rouse up with your bloody sword
The love you have bereft,
And straight demand my heart and hand!
Is there no lightning left? "

" My Queen, I saw his thievish glance,
The untimely smile, the fear;
I saw his vision like a lance
Pierce him who had your ear.

" I marked him gaze till he could feast
His eyes your eyes upon,
Like that ecstatic orient priest
Who watches for the dawn.

" And when your whisper blessed his ears,
I saw his soul rejoice,
Like some far traveller who hears
The dusky Memnon's voice.

" And when your hand touched his for joy,
Or in the press by luck
Blown like a lily, I saw the boy
Reel like one lightning-struck.

" And when your breath of Eastern spice — — "
" O God, give o'er! " cried she.
" Such sights, " he said, " would melt raw ice
To fiery jealousy.

" What more? I struck young Harold dead
In fair fight at a stone,
Whereon I laid his golden head;
And there he lies alone.

" Two streams meet there and softly prate
Of all their wandering ways,
Like children when their hearts are great
With deeds of holidays.

" They heeded not when we two fought;
They heed not that pale lord — — "
" Is it his blood that wanders there
Upon your dreadful sword? "

She took the sword; it made her reel;
Her tears came in a flood;
They fell upon the ruddy steel,
And mingled with the blood.

Then with her raven hair she wiped
The tear-drenched blood away;
A moonbeam strayed along the blade,
And left it cold and gray.

" Now, hell-brand, do your work! " she cried,
And ran him through and through.
The sword stood quivering in his side,
But still his breath came true.

" Prince, are you dead? " she hoarsely said.
He smiled upon the Queen:
" No, I am dying for your love,
As I have always been;

" So, give me now your hand to kiss. "
She gave the Prince her hand.
" This steel is cold; take, now, good hold,
And pluck away the brand. "

She plucked it out and let it fall;
His soul had not yet passed;
" The sword I slew with, slays me too, "
He said, and gripped it fast.

And then he ground between his teeth,
" Before my soul can part,
This thirsty sword must have a third, "
And stabbed her through the heart.

In snowy white the pale moon rolls
As in a winding-sheet
Three corpses pale; and three new souls
Are at the judgment seat.