THE LAY OF THE BROWN ROSARY
131
"I have sinned," quoth he, "I have sinned, I wo "—
And the tears ran adown his old cheeks at the thought;
They dropped fast on the book; hut he read on the same,—
And aye was the silence where should he the Name,
As the choristers told it.
And the tears ran adown his old cheeks at the thought;
They dropped fast on the book; hut he read on the same,—
And aye was the silence where should he the Name,
As the choristers told it.
The rite-book is closed, and the rite being done,
They who knelt down together, arise up as one:
Fair riseth the bride—Oh, a fair bride is she,—
But, for all (think the maidens) that brown rosarie,
No saint at her praying!
They who knelt down together, arise up as one:
Fair riseth the bride—Oh, a fair bride is she,—
But, for all (think the maidens) that brown rosarie,
No saint at her praying!
What aileth the bridegroom? He glares blank and wide—
Then suddenly turning, he kisseth the bride—
His lip stung her with cold: she glanced upwardly mute:
"Mine own wife," he said, and fell stark at her foot
In the word he was saying.
Then suddenly turning, he kisseth the bride—
His lip stung her with cold: she glanced upwardly mute:
"Mine own wife," he said, and fell stark at her foot
In the word he was saying.
They have lifted him up,—but his head sinks away,—
And his face showeth bleak in the sunshine, and grey.
Leave him now where he lieth—for oh, never more
Will he kneel at an altar or stand on a floor!
Let his bride gaze upon him!
And his face showeth bleak in the sunshine, and grey.
Leave him now where he lieth—for oh, never more
Will he kneel at an altar or stand on a floor!
Let his bride gaze upon him!
Long and still was her gaze, while they chafed him there,
And breathed in the mouth whose last life had kissed her,
But when they stood up—only they! with a start
The shriek from her soul struck her pale lips apart—
She has lived, and forgone him!
And breathed in the mouth whose last life had kissed her,
But when they stood up—only they! with a start
The shriek from her soul struck her pale lips apart—
She has lived, and forgone him!
And low on his body she droppeth adown—
"Didst call me thine own wife, beloved—thine own?
Then take thine own with thee! thy coldness is warm
To the world's cold without thee! Come, keep me from harm
In a calm of thy teaching! "
"Didst call me thine own wife, beloved—thine own?
Then take thine own with thee! thy coldness is warm
To the world's cold without thee! Come, keep me from harm
In a calm of thy teaching! "
She looked in his face earnest long, as in sooth
There were hope of an answer,—and then kissed his mouth;
And with head on his bosom, wept, wept bitterly,—
"Now, O God, take pity—take pity on me!—
God, hear my beseeching? "
There were hope of an answer,—and then kissed his mouth;
And with head on his bosom, wept, wept bitterly,—
"Now, O God, take pity—take pity on me!—
God, hear my beseeching? "
