" Luti said, and her laugh was dread,
And her eyes dilated wild--
"That the fair new love may her bridegroom prove,
And the father shame the child!
And her eyes dilated wild--
"That the fair new love may her bridegroom prove,
And the father shame the child!
Elizabeth Browning
"
The river floweth on.
XVII.
Then Luti spake behind her,
Outspake she bitterly--
"By the symbol light that lasts to-night,
Wilt vow a vow to me? "
Nuleeni gazeth up her face,
Soft answer maketh she--
"By loves that last when lights are past,
I vow that vow to thee! "
The river floweth on.
XVIII.
An earthly look had Luti
Though her voice was deep as prayer--
"The rice is gathered from the plains
To cast upon thine hair:[4]
But when _he_ comes his marriage-band
Around thy neck to throw,
Thy bride-smile raise to meet his gaze,
And whisper,--_There is one betrays,
While Luti suffers woe. _"
The river floweth on.
XIX.
"And when in seasons after,
Thy little bright-faced son
Shall lean against thy knee and ask
What deeds his sire hath done,--
Press deeper down thy mother-smile
His glossy curls among,
View deep his pretty childish eyes,
And whisper,--_There is none denies,
While Luti speaks of wrong. _"
The river floweth on.
XX.
Nuleeni looked in wonder,
Yet softly answered she--
"By loves that last when lights are past,
I vowed that vow to thee:
But why glads it thee that a bride-day be
By a word of _woe_ defiled?
That a word of _wrong_ take the cradle-song
From the ear of a sinless child? "
"Why?
" Luti said, and her laugh was dread,
And her eyes dilated wild--
"That the fair new love may her bridegroom prove,
And the father shame the child! "
The river floweth on.
XXI.
"Thou flowest still, O river,
Thou flowest 'neath the moon;
Thy lily hath not changed a leaf,[5]
Thy charmed lute a tune:
_He_ mixed his voice with thine and _his_
Was all I heard around;
But now, beside his chosen bride,
I hear the river's sound. "
The river floweth on.
XXII.
"I gaze upon her beauty
Through the tresses that enwreathe it;
The light above thy wave, is hers--
My rest, alone beneath it:
Oh, give me back the dying look
My father gave thy water!
Give back--and let a little love
O'erwatch his weary daughter! "
The river floweth on.
XXIII.
"Give back! " she hath departed--
The word is wandering with her;
And the stricken maidens hear afar
The step and cry together.
Frail symbols? None are frail enow
For mortal joys to borrow! --
While bright doth float Nuleeni's boat,
She weepeth dark with sorrow.
The river floweth on.
The river floweth on.
XVII.
Then Luti spake behind her,
Outspake she bitterly--
"By the symbol light that lasts to-night,
Wilt vow a vow to me? "
Nuleeni gazeth up her face,
Soft answer maketh she--
"By loves that last when lights are past,
I vow that vow to thee! "
The river floweth on.
XVIII.
An earthly look had Luti
Though her voice was deep as prayer--
"The rice is gathered from the plains
To cast upon thine hair:[4]
But when _he_ comes his marriage-band
Around thy neck to throw,
Thy bride-smile raise to meet his gaze,
And whisper,--_There is one betrays,
While Luti suffers woe. _"
The river floweth on.
XIX.
"And when in seasons after,
Thy little bright-faced son
Shall lean against thy knee and ask
What deeds his sire hath done,--
Press deeper down thy mother-smile
His glossy curls among,
View deep his pretty childish eyes,
And whisper,--_There is none denies,
While Luti speaks of wrong. _"
The river floweth on.
XX.
Nuleeni looked in wonder,
Yet softly answered she--
"By loves that last when lights are past,
I vowed that vow to thee:
But why glads it thee that a bride-day be
By a word of _woe_ defiled?
That a word of _wrong_ take the cradle-song
From the ear of a sinless child? "
"Why?
" Luti said, and her laugh was dread,
And her eyes dilated wild--
"That the fair new love may her bridegroom prove,
And the father shame the child! "
The river floweth on.
XXI.
"Thou flowest still, O river,
Thou flowest 'neath the moon;
Thy lily hath not changed a leaf,[5]
Thy charmed lute a tune:
_He_ mixed his voice with thine and _his_
Was all I heard around;
But now, beside his chosen bride,
I hear the river's sound. "
The river floweth on.
XXII.
"I gaze upon her beauty
Through the tresses that enwreathe it;
The light above thy wave, is hers--
My rest, alone beneath it:
Oh, give me back the dying look
My father gave thy water!
Give back--and let a little love
O'erwatch his weary daughter! "
The river floweth on.
XXIII.
"Give back! " she hath departed--
The word is wandering with her;
And the stricken maidens hear afar
The step and cry together.
Frail symbols? None are frail enow
For mortal joys to borrow! --
While bright doth float Nuleeni's boat,
She weepeth dark with sorrow.
The river floweth on.
