Verses (Baughan)/The Briar Rose
THE BRIAR-ROSE
(After the Picture-series by Sir Edward Burne-Jones.)
’Tis the latest day of the latest year,
And the latest hour of the latest day.
The wan light swooneth as with fear
Around Truth’s prison hoary-grey;
Sweet Lady, she, and loved right dear—
But ah, the Briars,
The Thorns and Briars!
And to-night the stealthy Briars mean death
To Truth so long in thraldom pent;
This night, to suck her struggling breath
The last malignant shoot is sent.
And where is the love that delivereth
From the cunning Briars,
The clinging Briars?
Many have loved her, in many a guise,
From many a realm of heart and soul;
Each and all with one wisdom wise,
For they turn’d their steps to the one same goal,
One quest deepen’d their wistful eyes—
But (oh, the Briars,
The mighty Briars!)
One was the guerdon Fate decreed!
—Still, still, the unpenetrated wails
Lie safe (alas! may none succeed?)
Safe! and a foul joy writhes and crawls
In them that on the dead men feed,
The lusty Briars,
The full-fed Briars.
Day dies; Truth dies! But who is this?
O warrior, O latecoming Knight,
Welcome! . . . Ah, will he win or miss?
Calm are those eyes that burn so bright,
Helm’d are those brows with stedfastness,
Take heed, ye Briars,
Ye flaunting Briars!
See! see! what tho’ his hand is torn,
His lifted face with bloodstains wet,
What tho’ the thirsty spikes of thorn
Weave him a ghastly carcanet—
Steadily are his footsteps set
Amid the Briars,
And thro’ the Briars. . . .
O glorious Knight, securely brave!
Gain’d is the great oak door at last! . . .
Now anew he buffets the biting wave. . . .
The porch is pass’d, and the courtyard pass’d.
Yet round him—Christ! how the Briars rave,
The snaky Briars,
The venom’d Briars!
Now he treadeth the first high hall,
Where Judge and Poet, Scholar and King,
Loll in the web of a subtle thrall,
Stifled by wreaths that catch and cling.
Ay, catch and cling, for ye soon shall fall,
Ye cozening Briars,
Ye choking Briars!
What of the inner chamber there? . . .
O pitiful chamber, place of ruth!
Paven all with maidens fair,
Strewn with the bodyguard of Truth,
Caught, at her door, in the dreamy snare
Of the kissing Briars,
The smothering Briars!
Ah, Wisdom and fair Innocence,
Bound so fast in easeless ease!
Yet, holy heart, and love immense,
Linger not here to succour these;
Love Truth before her votaries!
On, thro’ the Briars,
The desperate Briars!
Oh, falter not, but set her free!
Break, break the Briars that round her twine!
Pierce they thy heart? What’s that to thee?
Welcome thou death, so life may shine
From Truth’s eyes, lifted gloriously
O’er the blossom’d Briars,
The sweet Rose-Briars!