No More Learning

And many murmured, "From this source
What red blood must be poured! "
And some rejoined, "'T is even worse;
What red tape is ignored! "
All cursed the Doer for an evil
Called here, enlarging on the Devil,--
There, monkeying the Lord!

IX.

Some said it could not be explained,
Some, could not be excused;
And others, "Leave it unrestrained,
Gehenna's self is loosed. "
And all cried "Crush it, maim it, gag it!
Set dog-toothed lies to tear it ragged,
Truncated and traduced! "

X.

But HE stood sad before the sun
(The peoples felt their fate).
"The world is many,--I am one;
My great Deed was too great.
God's fruit of justice ripens slow:
Men's souls are narrow; let them grow.
My brothers, we must wait. "

XI.

The tale is ended, child of mine,
Turned graver at my knee.
They say your eyes, my Florentine,
Are English: it may be.
And yet I've marked as blue a pair
Following the doves across the square
At Venice by the sea.

XII.

Ah child! ah child! I cannot say
A word more. You conceive
The reason now, why just to-day
We see our Florence grieve.
Ah child, look up into the sky!
In this low world, where great Deeds die,
What matter if we live?




A COURT LADY.


I.

Her hair was tawny with gold, her eyes with purple were dark,
Her cheeks' pale opal burnt with a red and restless spark.

II.

Never was lady of Milan nobler in name and in race;
Never was lady of Italy fairer to see in the face.

III.

Never was lady on earth more true as woman and wife,
Larger in judgment and instinct, prouder in manners and life.

IV.