Poems (Bacon)/The wanderers

by Josephine Daskam Bacon

THE WANDERERS

The PrinceA Man-at-ArmsA GypsyScene: The Edge of the Forest

THE PRINCESo then, I am crowned to-morrow?

MAN-AT-ARMSSo then, I am crowned to-morrow? Yes, my lord.

PRINCEHow fleet the time runs by! But yesterday I played in the fountain with the great white hound. My old, old nurse that died . . .My old, old nurse that died . . .But all is changed. I am a man now?

MAN-AT-ARMSI am a man now?So it seems, my lord.

PRINCEAnd I am king to-morrow. And I am king to-morrow. Ah, dear saints! This is the saddest day of all my life. Farewell, farewell, sweet Yesterday! Farewell, Thou once so sweet To-morrow! Thou for me Shalt no more beckon down the widening road That flows through all the forests and the fields, That flowers into the sunset and the sea! Henceforth companioned by the same To-day, The dull, cramped state, the tired formality, False thoughtfulness and feigned remembrances, I yoke my life to one recurring task, No sooner done than all 's to do again! I would I were a child with one white hound That lapped the fountain. . . .That lapped the fountain. . . .Wherefore do you sigh? Why are you sad? You need not be a king.

MAN-AT -ARMSMy lord, I love you.

PRINCEMy lord, I love you. I know it. Oh, my friend, Listen, and I will tell you. Only you Are friendly-souled in all this cruel court; And that is strange, for you must ever dog me, That I go not afield nor roam the woods. Why may I not?

MAN-AT-ARMSWhy may I not?My lord, it is forbidden.

PRINCEWhy may I not?My lord, it is forbidden. But why?

MAN-AT-ARMSI know not. What would you tell me, sir?

PRINCEWhy, this. Why, this. Last night I leaned far out the tower To catch the smell o' the woods and hear the birds Quiet their young to sleep, and watch the stars Slip one by one to sight, and feel the wind, That blows so soft at night, come floating by. And on my ear there fell a sudden song: So throstle-sweet it was, so faëry-gay, My heart stood still to hear it. It rose high, And all my soul rose with it; it sank low—My cheeks were wet with tears.My cheeks were wet with tears.I tell you, friend, My years slipped from me like a mantle dropped. I felt the wonderful, the wild, sweet dreams That blessed those nights when I, a little boy, Trembled a moment on the forest brink, Then flung myself into its dusky arms, Swung in the billowy boughs and pressed the moss, Drank from the pool beside the spotted deer, And at the murmurous swaying of the pines Wept in my childish sleep for joy too great.(The Gypsy song is heard.)

   Oh, the goodwife turns the wheel at home,     And the bird will keep her nest,    But it 's ah me! for the world 's to see     Or ever my heart have rest!

PRINCEThere, there! You heard it? Ah, unhappy prince! For me the green earth spreads her fields in vain, The forest pleads in vain with dusky arms: I shall die caged.I shall die caged.Ah, do you see him there?

MAN-AT-ARMSSee whom, my lord?

PRINCESee whom, my lord? The stranger in the wood. How brown, how bright! How gallantly it swings, That tattered robe! And see his gleaming chain, His scarlet berries! His scarlet berries! Nay, I will not go! Nay, if you touch me I shall kill you! Nay, I will speak with him if I die for it! He turns his eye upon me—He turns his eye upon me—Ah, dear saints! I mind me of my mother suddenly, That died for sorrow when she brought me forth To chain me to a throne. Ah me, ah me! When did my mother die?

MAN-AT-ARMS When did my mother die?The queen, my lord, Left life behind her at the early dawn, Just as the spring was coming on.

PRINCEJust as the spring was coming on. And where?

MAN-AT-ARMSHow can I tell?

PRINCE<>PRINCEI know you will tell true.

MAN-AT-ARMSMy lord, the queen, your mother, grew distraught, And ere her time was come she crept at night Between her watchers while they drowsed, and found A glade among the hills that spring had kissed, And underneath green boughs she laid her down.

PRINCEAnd I was born there?

MAN-AT-ARMS<>MAN-AT-ARMSAye, my lord. Below The first faint budding bough we found you there.

PRINCEYou should have told me this. You should have told me this. See, he comes near! (To the Gypsy.) God save you, sir!

GYPSY(To the Gypsy.) God save you, sir!I lie within his hand.

PRINCEWhere go you?

GYPSYWhere go you? Where the cool brown river runs, Over the shining pebbles, through deep pools The setting sun turns first to molten gold, Then hues with pigeons' breasts, purple and pink, Then fills with inky shadows where the moon Plunges at midnight. Plunges at midnight. 'Neath the glimmering stacks Below the waiting stars I dream good dreams, And catch the sky's faint blush, and bathe in the brook, And tread the firm green grass and follow the clouds, Till drowsy noon.Till drowsy noon.I sing before her door, And the farmer's wife brings honey to me, and bread And milk beneath the pink, sweet apple-boughs.

PRINCEWill you not sing to me? (Gypsy sings.)

   The king he wooed the Gypsy maid    And kissed her to the throne;   She fell asleep, but blood runs deep,    And the forest claims its own!

MAN-AT-ARMSLeave us, I say!

PRINCELeave us, I say! You shall not threaten him!

MAN-AT-ARMSGo, or I strike!

PRINCEGo, or I strike!Where is your love for me?

MAN-AT-ARMSSir, if my care for you had matched my love We two had long ago been far from here. With every moment's lingering, my lord, I move one step the nearer to my death: Will you not come?

PRINCEWill you not come? I cannot.

MAN-AT-ARMSWill you not come? I cannot.Then for me Life is not long, it seems. I pray you, sir, Remember always that I loved you well! (Gypsy sings.)

   Ah, vain for him the diadem,    Heavy the scepter's load,   For he was lord o' the windy wood,    And prince o' the winding road!

PRINCEI come, I come! I come, I come! Nay, weep not so, good friend! This is no fault of thine; for you and me God's plan is kindly. Never did I loose The hare entrapped or set the song-bird free But I had faith that He would serve me so! Come with me: little love have they for us In that hot, weary glitter of the court. Hast thou not seen the new queen grudge at me And nurse her son to scorn me? And nurse her son to scorn me? Let them reign! We 'll make a dearer court. We 'll make a dearer court. The trees shall bend And bow to us, but not with flattery; The little leaves shall whisper, but their lisp Is clean of lies and slander; the sleek deer Shall lead their tender fawns to kiss our hand, Nor plot us evil with the soft caress; The wind and rain shall be our councilors, Nor urge us to do war, nor press the poor, Nor waste our souls in bitter rivalries, Nor match a petty kingdom with great powers That smile at us for folly. That smile at us for folly. Let them reign!(Gypsy sings.)

   And it 's we will fling the world away,    And reap where God has sowed,   And we 'll roam for ay the windy wood,    And wander the winding road!

PRINCEFriend, must I go alone?

MAN-AT-ARMSFriend, must I go alone? My lord, these hands Lifted you first from where you lay and smiled Beside the dead queen 'neath the hawthorn-tree. I walked beside the horse when first you rode, I set the hawk upon your little arm, I have lain years before your door at night. The death I stay to meet were not so hard As life without you.

PRINCEAs life without you.Will you follow me?

MAN-AT -ARMSTo the death, my lord!

PRINCETo the death, my lord! Why, then, good friends, your hands! We three are bound for the woods: God needs some souls To love the world as he made it. To love the world as he made it. Come with me!(They enter the forest; the Gypsy song is heard.)

   Oh, the goodwife turns the wheel at home,    And the bird will keep her nest.    But it 's ah me! for the world's to see     Or ever my heart have rest!