Pearl : an English poem of the fourteenth century

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Of tbis Britisb ILed Cross Edition of "Tearl:

redact in Modern Enalisb^^o copies baue been

printed, 80 of tbese 5^0 (numbered) are for sale,

Tbis edition is a gift vobolly for tbe benefit of

o J

Tbe Britisb ILed Cross Pund,

TEA1LL: AN ENGLISH POEM OF THE FOUR-
TEENTH CENTURY RE- SET IN MODERN
ENGLISH BY PROF. 1. GOLLANCZ, Lm.D.,
PUBLISHED ON BEHALF OF THE BRITISH RED
CROSS SOCIETY AND THE ORDER. OF ST. JOHN
OF JERUSALEM IN ENGLAND, AND SOLD EN-
TIRELY FOR. THE BENEFIT OF THEIR FUND.
IMPRINTED BY GEO. W. JONES AT THE SIGN
OF THE DOLPHIN IN LONDON.

TEARX: AN ENGLISH TOEM OP
THE FOURTEENTH CENTURY
KE-SET IN MODERN ENGLISH
BY ISRAEL 60LLANCZ.

1MP1UNTED & PUBLISHED BY GEO.W. JONES
AT THE SIGN OP THE DOLPHIN IN GOUGH
SQUARE, FLEET STREET, LONDON, & SOLD
FOR. AND ON BEHALP OP THE BRITISH E.ED
CR.OSS. MCMXVHL

Kve hundred and fifty years ago, while Chaucer at Court
was charming noble dames with his ballades and rondels,
there lived, remote from London life, somewhere in the
West * Midlands, perchance not far from Wordsworth's

borne, a gracious poet whose very name bacs been forgotten,

o m 1 «/ o

though, happily, Time has not destroyed the magic of his

Preserved in a single manuscript, one of the treasures of the
Cottonian collection in tbe British Museum, four poems
bear tbe impress of his genius. Two of these, on the themes
of " Cleanness " and " Patience," are vivid didactic bomilies,
poetical paraphrases from tbe Scriptures, written in tbe old
alliterative metre, tben revived, the versification of tbe ancient
poets of England before tbe Conauest,
The two otber poems — tbe Artbunan romance of "Gawain
a.nd the Green ICnigbt" and "Pearl" — reveal him as a
poet wbo can perbaps best be appraised as tbe precursor of
Edmund Spenser. More wondrously tban any previous
English poet, be bairmoniz^d tbe a uest for tbe beautiful, in
imagery, word, and music, with spiritual e:raltation and
moral purpose.

His grief for a beloved cbild, wbom be bad probably named
Margaret or Marjory, bis "pearl of price," found expres^
sion in verse, A beavenly vision of bis lost jewel brougbt
bim comfort and taugbt bim resignation.

o

In a hundred and one twelve *• line stanzas, blending a not

too ricrorous system of alliteration with a difficult scheme
o •/

of end-rhymes (ab, ab, ab, ab, be, be; tbe rhyming word of
tbe twelfth line being caught up in tbe first line, and re^
peated as tbe rhyme in tbe last line, in five successive staoiz^s),
be produced an elegiac poem, wbicb, though less monu^
mentaJ, has much in common, in movement and feeling,
with a stately sonneivseeiuence. Tbe flow and ebb of tbe
sonnet's octave and sestet are beard more lightly and with
more lyrical cadence in the octave andauatrain of the "Pearl"

The "English in which tbe poet wrote belonged to some
trict where there bad been a strong infusion of Scandinavian
elements, and where, altbougb Norman settlers bad mingled
with tbe Englisb stock, tbe old national tradition was pre^
dominant. In addition to bis masterly use of bis native
motber^words, he gives evidence: of a. scholarly knowledge
of Latin and French. The dialect is characteristic in vocabtu
lary and idiom, and perhaps, as tbe late Sir James Murray

held, more difficult than that of any other writings in Early

*/ o •/

English. Tbe problems of interpretation are still further

complicated by tbe fact that we are dependent in this case on

tbe work of one scribe wbose crabbed handwriting was not

faultless.

Tbe tender beauty of tbe poem transcends all a uestions of

tbeolocr y and dogma ; ajnd tbe elemental and personal note

L - & - j r T

makes it unnecessary, to my mind, to controvert tbe view

tbat ''Pearl" sbould be read as an exposition of certain

tbeological problems, exemplified by means of a symbolical

allegory,

A like sorrow befell tbe poet's great Italian contemporary

Boccaccio; and be, too, soucrbt solace in song. Wbile tbere

o o

is no clear evidence of any indebtedness on tbe part of the
autbor of "Pearl "to Boccaccio's "Olympia," it is a fascuv
ating study to compare tbe two poems. Such parallels as
may be discovered may well be due to common knowledge,
ideas, and beliefs. In my edition of " Olympia," witb an
English rendering, to commemorate tbe six hundredth
anniversary of Boccaccio's birth (printed at the Horence
Press, London, and published by Messrs. Chatto &0 Windus,
i o 1 3), 1 wrote as follows concerning the two poets: —
"The one -a pioneer of the ILenaissance- characteristically,
under the influence of his great Italian Master, harmonized
Virgilian form with Christian belief. The other— a didactic
English poet, far from the new literary currents— bethought
him of the Pearl of the Gospel, and found his inspiration in
the visionary scenes of the New Jerusalem, coloured by
mediaeval allegory. In his poem, ' the river from theThrone'
of the Apocalypse met 'the waters of tbe wells,' devised by
Sir Mirth for the Garden of the TLose.

"In accordance witb theological fancy, in each poem tbe
transfigured cbild, grown in wisdom,appears as matured also
in age, 'joined in Eternal Spousal/ No longer the children
they were, they teacb witb bold authority lessons of resigx
nation and the mstic properties of Heaven-Pearl more ar^

ticularly, who in ber argumentative skill recalls tbe figure
of Treason in the ' ILomaunt/ Yet, at the same time, to the
dreamer she is still 'my little cmeen/ aoid, for all ' her royal
array/ his treasure 'so small and sweetly sligbt/ So, too,
Olympiads voice and image are those of Vioknte-'virguncula
mea/ The child angelic, matured in Heaven -'for spousal
fit'- is still the child for dreamer and poet. In the Kingdom
all are as children. And so even to Dante, in the hour of bis
imperilled loyalty to her memory, Beatrice first appears

'con quelle vestimenta sancrui(rne,colle quali apparve prima

r T - • • - b • b - • -T rj r TT

aglt occbi mtet, e pareami gtovane, tn simile etade a axiellaL

-t - T • • j- r ff

in che pnma la tndi,

The present rendering of "Pearl "into modern English is a
revised version, largely rewritten, of the translation wbicb
faced tbe original text in my edition of the poem, published
by David Nutt in i s o i . During all these years my under^
standing of the poem has deepened, and 1 think 1 may now
feel some confidence in my interpretation. This rendering,
unaccompanied by text or notes, tnay be taken by scholars

who are acquainted with the problems at issue as represent^

incr my present views on contested words and passages, Tt

o »/ 1 I o

is detached from a new annotated edition, long in prepara^

tion and already set up in type> wbicb will be published in
due course- My ever^revered friend Holman Hunt has
given " Pearl" a noble place in English art by the beautiful
picture with which he graciously enriched my edition, which
bad the further honour of the commendation of Tennyson.
The lines he sent me, prefixed to the present rendering,

were among the last be wrote,
o

In far-off days, in the midst of the incessant wars that har^
assed people in the reign of "Edward 111, an unknown poet
placed on the grave of bis little child a garland of song, bloonv
ing yet after the lapse of so long a time. In these latter days
of stress and strain and tribulation, " Pearl " still symbolizes
things of the spirit outliving the vesture of decay, 1 am glad
to think that, linking the ages, the poet of "Pearl" is hereby
associated with the beneficent works of mercy of the British
Rjed Cross Society and the Order of St. John, He axlds, as
it were, bis Pearl of price to the R.ed Cross Necklace of
"Pearls: In Memory":-

"Sunder'd from the shell tbev shine,

Souls translucent, pearls of price;
Yearning hearts their worth enshrine;

Pearl of pearls is Love's device/' LGL

WE LOST YOU— FOR. HOW LONG A TIME—
THUE PEAK.L OF OUR. POETIC PRIME !
WE FOUND YOU, AND YOU GLEAM. B.E-SET

IN BRITAIN'S LYR.1C COE.ONET.

—TENNYSON.

TO
THE BE.1T1SH R.ED CROSS SOCIETY

AND

THE ORDER. Of ST. JOHN
THIS HE-SETTING OP "PEARL"

IS DEDICATED

IN REVERENT GRATITUDE

AND ADM11LATION.

Mercv and Gra.ce must pilot tbetn;
Tbe Grace of God id great enougb/'

1

all-pleasing, Trince's treasure,

In-set, too pure, in purest gold!
l l c>

Prom out tbe Orient, 1 aver,

Ne'er proved 1 pearl its precious peer;

So round, so royal in eacb array,

So sweetly small, so wondrous smootb;

Wbere'er 1 nidged of joyous gems,

)o } J o

1 placed myTearl apart, supreme.

1 lost it-in a garden-alas!
o

Tbrougb grass to eartb it glanced from me.

^ o O t>

1 pine, by Despot Love despoil'd
Of Tearl, mine own, untbout a spot.

11

Tbere, in that spot, since bence it sped,
1 often wait, and vuatcb, and unsb
T*or vubat vuas vuont to vanauisb woe,
And raise' my bap and all my iveaL

It dotb but pierce my beart untb pangs,
l J it>

My breast in bale but boil and burn;
Yet ne'er me seem'd so street a song,
As tbat still bour to me^ let steal.

Many a tbougbt, forsootb, flou/d tbere,-

J ^ ft>

To tbink of its cbarm so clad in clay!
0 eartb! tbou marrest a merry tbeme,-
Tearl, mine own, ivitbout a spot.

Ill

From spot where' such rich treasure wastes
Fragrant spice must needs spring forth;
Blossoms white and blue' and red

Sbine there' full sheer against the sun;

o

Flower and fruit shall know no flaw
Where it down draue to earth's dark mould.

For from dead grain each blade' must grow,

o £>

No wheat were' else brought ever home.

&

Yea, good from good is aye' begun;

o c> J ^ o

So seemly a seed can neuer fail;

Ne'er fragrant spice' shall cease to spring

From that precious Tearl without a spot.

1Y
Unto the spot 1 picture forth

1 enter'd in that garden green:

o £>

Twas August, at a. festal tide,
When corn is cut with keen-edcr'd hook.
The mound my Tear I had roll'd adown
With herbs was shadow'd, beauteous, briabt,-
Giluers, ginger, and gromwell-seed,

c> O &

And peonies pouxlerrd a^ye between.
But if the siaht was sweet to see,

Pair, too, the fragrance floating thence,

c> o

Where dwelleth that glory, 1 wot full well,
My precious Tearl without a

spot.

V

Before that spot my hands 1 clasp'd,
Por care full cold that caught my heart;
Wild grief made tumult in my breast,
Though reason bade me be at peace,
1 plain'd my Tearl, imprisoned there,
With u>ayu>ard u?ords that fiercely fought;

Though Christ Himself the comfort sbou/d,

o

My wretched unit u>ork'd aye in vuoe.

*/ */

1 fell upon that flowery plat;

Such fragrance flashed into my brain,
o J

1 slid into a slumber-su?oon

O'er that preciotis Tearl unthout a

spot*

VI

om tbat spot my spirit sprang,

My soul, by grace of G.od, bad fared

My body lay in trance on mound;

ly

J ' J &

Aduenturina, wbere maruels be,

1 knew not wbere tbat region was;

&

1 was cast, 1 knew, wbere cliffs rose sbeer.
Towards a. forest 1 set my face,
Wbere rocks so ricb were to descry

Tbat none can trow bow rare tbe ligbt,

o

Tbe gleaming glory glinting tbence,
Por ne'er a web tbat mortals wove"

Was balf so wondrously bewrougbt,

•/ ^

Yll

Wondrously tbe bill-sides sbone'
With crystal cliffs of clearest hue,
And all about were bolt-woods bright,
Witb boles as blue as blue of Inde,
And close-set leaves on every brancb

As burnisb'd silver sway'd and swung;

J ^ o

Wben glided Against tbem glinting gleams,

O O c> ^ £>^t>

Splendent tbey sbone untb sbimmering sbeen,

Tbe gravel 1 ground upon tbat strand
o ^ o I

Were precious pearls of Orient;

Tbe sunbeams were but dim and dark,

If set beside' tbat wondrous licrbt!

Vlll

the magic of those wondrous bills

My spirit soon forgot all grief;
J 1 o t>

Hauours of fruit so fresh were there,
As food full well they strengthened me:

13irds in the wood together flew,

o

Of flaming hues, both small and great;

^ - ^

Nor citole-string, nor citherner,

Could erer re-tell their g^>dlv glee;

Por, when those birds did beat their wings,

o

They sang with such a sweet accord,

TSo rapture^ could so stir a man
As to hear and see that wonderment.

IX

All was so digbt in wondrous wise,

o

TSTo tongue of man batb power to tell
The beauty of tbat forest-land,
Wbere fortune led me, on and on.
Still fortb 1 pressed, in blissful mood;

No bill, tbougb bicrb, micrbt binder me,

o & o

Deeper in wood, more fair arose'
Tlains and plants and spice and fruits,

Hedgerows and patbs, and rivers ricb;
t> l

As fine aold-tbread were tbeir steep banks
A stream 1 reacb'd tbat cleft tbe strand,-

Lord, bow wondrous was tbe sigbt!

o

X

Tbe marvels of tbat wondrous stream!
13eauteous its banks witb beryl brigbt;
Witb music sweet its waters swept;
Witb wbispering voice it wander'd on,

I c>

And in tbe depths lay gleaming stones;
1 J o t>

As liabt tbrouab glass tbey glimmered and alowrd;

As streaming stars in tbe welkin shine'

o f

On a unnter nigbt, wben dalesmen sleep,

o

Hacb pebble set tbere in tbat stream

Was an emerald, sappbire, or goodly gem,

11 p fJ o

Tbat all tbe water glisten'd untb ligbt,-

o &

Tbe lamour was so wondrous rare!

XI

THH wondrous gleam of down and dale,
Of water, wood, and noble plain,
Stirr'd in me bliss, my bale allay'd,
Scattered sorrow, pain destroyed.

Along a stream 1 wended in joy,-

o j J

Slowly it flow'd,-my mind was full :

+/ +/

Tbe fartber 1 followed tbose watery vales,

Tbe migbtier joy constrained my beart,

o ) J J

Fortune faretb wbere sbe listetb,
Sends sbe solace, or sends sbe care';

Tbe wigbt on wbom ber will sbe worketb

o

Hatb ever cbance of more and more.

Xll

More was of wealth tbere, of this kind,
Tban 1 could tell, were leisure mine,

For eartbly heart might not attain

J o

Unto the tentb of that glad Joy,
Certes, metboucrbt that Taradise'
Lay tbere beyond, o'er those broad banks.
The stream, 1 trou/d, was some device'

Sir Mirtb had made, between great wells;

o

Beyond tbe brook, by hill or dale,

The castle-bounds, 1 trowed, were marked;

13ut the water was deep, 1 durst not wade,

And ever long'd 1, more and more,

o

Xlll
More and more, and yet still more,

1 long'd to see beyond the brook;

c> J

Por if 'twas fair where 1 tben passed,
Par fairer was the farther land.
About me stumbled 1, and stared;

To find a ford full hard 1 sought;

c>

13ut perils more, iwis, there were,

The farther 1 stalk'd along the bank;

o

And euer methougbt 1 could not flinch,

£> ^ <

Afeaird, u?here wealth so unnsome u?as;
When new delights u>ere niab at band,
Tbat moved my mind, e'en more and more.

XIV

More maruels then did daunt my soul;
1 saw beyond that merry mere'

A crystal cliff that shone full bright,

J &

Many a noble ray stood forth;
At the foot thereof there sat a cbild,-
So debonair,-a maid of grace;
Glistening white was her array,-

£> J

1 knew her well, 1 bad seen her ere.

As gleaming gold, refin'd and pure,
£> o o I

So shone that glory rneatb the cliff;

Long toward her there 1 look'd,-

o

Tbe longer, 1 knew ber more and more,
o

XV

Tbe more 1 scanned ber face 50 fair,
Her beauteous form wben 1 bad found,
Sucb gladdening glory came to me,

O OO*S

As rarely bad been mine before,

Longing me seized to call ber name,
t> t>

13ut vuonder dealt my beart a blow;

1 saw ber in so strange a place,

Well migbt tbe sbock mine beart appaL

Tben lifted sbe ber visa ge fair,

As ivory pure ber face u?as tubite;

It tbriird mine beart, struck all astray,

And ever tbe longer, more and more.

XVI
MORE tban my longing was now my dread ;

J £> t> J

1 stood full still; 1 dared not apeak;

Witb open eyes and fast-closed moutb,
1 stood as meek &s bawk in balL
1 took it for a ghostly vision;
1 dreaded wbao: micrbt tbere betide,
Lest tvbat 1 saw sbould me escape
Ere 1 it beld untbin my reacb;
Wben, lo! tbat spotless cbild of grace,

I o

So smootb, so small, so sweetly sligbt,

J o

Arose in all ber royal array,—

A pecious piece, bediabt vuitb pearls.

xvn

Choicest pearls, of sovereign price,
T^vour'cl mortal tbere migbt see,

£>

Wben aJl 3LS fresb as a fleur-de-lys
Adown tbat bank sbe came

Gleaming ivbite was ber ricb robe,
t>

Open at sides, and nobly edged

L « ^ ' P

Witb pearls, tbe loveliest, 1 trow,

Tbat erer 1 sau? yet untb mine eyes,

Long ivere tbe sleeves, 1 iveen aoid ux>t,

o

Witb double braid of pearl bedeck'd;
Her kirtle all of self-same sbeen,
Witb precious pearls bedigbt aground,

XY111

A crown tbat maiden wove, bedigbr*

o

With margarites, and no stone else;

o

Higb pinnacled, witb clear white pearls,
pi i

Witb figured flowers wrougbt tbereon,
o &

No otber gem was on ber bead;

o

Her bair, too, bung about ber neck;

o

Her look was graue, as duke's or earl's;

t>

Wbiter tban u?bale-bone was ber bue,

13rigbt as pure gold ber tresses sbone,
o i o

'Loose' on ber sboulders tbey softly lay;
Tbougb graue ber beauty, noucrbt it lacked
Of precious pearls on broidery digbt.

XIX

The hems, the wristbands, were bedi crbt,
At the band, at sides, ao: openings,
With white pearl, aoid none other gem;
And burnisb'd white vuas her a^rtay,
But a tvondrous pearl, tuitbout a flaw,
Amid her breaist was firmly set;
Soul of man would surely fail

Hre mortal mind might mete its worth.

o

No tongue might e'er avail, 1 trow,

^o o

That sight to tell in fitting word,
So fair was it, and clear, and pure,

That precious pea^rl, where it was dight,
11 t>

XX

13edigbt witb pearls, tbat precious thing
o I i £>

Came down tbe sbore beyond tbe stream;

Trom bere to Greece no gladder man

t>

Than 1, wben sbe was at tbe brink,
Sbe was me nearer tban aunt or niece;
Wberefore my joy u>as mvtcb tbe more.
Troffer'd me speecb tbat creature rare,

Inclining low in womanly unse;

o ^ -/

crown of ricbest wortb abe doffed,

And bailed me untb obeisance blitbe;

Well was me tbat e'er 1 was born,

To answer tbat Sweet, in pearls bediabt.

XXI
"0 TEAtLL!" quotb 1, "bediabt in pearls,

I O 1

Art tbou myTeaLrl tbat 1 baue plain'd,
13ewept by me, so lone, aL-nigbt?
Mttcb Ion gin cr baue 1 borne for tbee,

Since into grass tbou bence didst glide;

o f o

Tensive, broken, forpin'd am 1;
But tbou bast reacb'd a. life of joy,
In tbe strifeless borne of Taradise,
Wbat fate batb bitber broucrbt my jewel,
And me in dolorous pligbt batb cast?
Since we were sunder'd and set apart,
A joyless jeweller 1 bave been/'

XX11

Tbat jewel tbere, 50 fair begemm'd,
Up-rais'd ber face, ber eyes so grey,
Tut on ber crown of Orient pearl,

And tbus full gravely tben sbe spoke:
o J I

"Sir, tbou bast misread tby tale,
To say tby Tearl is all perdue,
Tbat is in cbest so well secured

As in tbis garden of grace and glee;
o p p

Por ever to dwell and play berein,

Wbere miss and mourning come never nigb;

^ £>

Tbis were tby treasure-bold, \ faitb,

Wert tbou SL gentle jeweller,
o ;

XX111

"But, gentle sir, if tbou must lose
o

Tby joy for a. gem tbat tbee was dear,
Tbou'rt set, metbinks, on mad intent,
And carest for too brief a. cause:
Wbat tbou didst lose was but a. rose,
Tbat flower'd and failed, as Nature bade;
Tbrougb tbe casket's grace, enclosing it,
It now is proved a. pearl of price.
And tbou bast call'd tby fate a. tbief,
Tbat oucrbt from nougbt batb made for tbee;
Tbou blamest tbe balm of all thine ill,

Tbou art a^ graceless jeweller/'
t> )

XXIV

A jewel to me was then tbis guest,

> t>

And jewels were her gentle words,

"Indeed/'cjuotb 1, "blest dearest mine,
My dire distress away tbou draw'st:
1 make reauest to be excused;
1 trou/d my Tearl bad passed from Day;
But now 'tis found, 1 sball bold fast,

And dwell untb it in radiant groues,

&

And praise my Lord and all Mis laws,
Wbo batb brougbt me tbis bliss aoncrb,
Were 1 witb tbee beyond tbese waves,
1 were ai pyful pweller!^

XXV

"lovelier!" said that purest aem,
"Wby jest ye men? So mad ye are!
Three words tbou spakest at one time;
Tboucrbtless, forsooth, were all tbe three;
Thou knowest not what one doth mean;
Surely thy words outrun thy wit,

Thou sayest, tbou deemest me in tbis dale,
13eeause tbou seest me with tbine eyes;

Again, tbou sayest, that in tbis land

o J

Thyself wilt dwell witb me e'en here ;
Tbirdly,-tbis stream would'st freely pass;
Tbis may no joyful jeweller.

XXVI

"1 HOLD tbat jeweller little to praise"
Tbat trustetb wbat witb eye be seetb,

And mucb to blame and graceless be

o

Tbat tbinketb our Lord would speak a lie,
Wbo leally promised to raise tby life,

Tbougb fortune gave tby flesb to deatb:

v ^ J

Widdisbins dost tbou read His words,

Tbat trowest nougbt but wbat tbou seest:

o

And rtis an overweening tbing,

p o

Tbat ill beseems eacb rigbteous man,
To trow no tale be trustworthy,
Save bis mere reason deem it so.

XXV11

"Deem now thyself, if tbou bast dealtr'
Such words as man to G.od should lift,
Tbou sayest thou unit dwell in this burgh ;
'Twere meet, metbinks, first to ask leave;

And yet tbou migbtest miss the boon,

J &

Tbou unsbest, too, to cross this stream;

Hrst must tbou reach another goal,—
Thy corse full cold must clincr in clay;

'Twas marr'd in the grove of Taradise;

o

Our forefather ill guarded it;

t>

Through dreary death each man must pass,

o J l

Ere Gx>d deem right be cross this flood,"

XXV111

"Doomest tbou me/' auotb 1, "my Sweet,
To dolour again, 1 pine away,
TSTo w ba ve 1 found wbat 1 bad lost,
Must 1 it forfeit, ere 1 cease?
Wby must 1 it botb meet and miss?
My precious Tear I dotb me great pain!
Wbat servetb treasure but tears to make,
If one must lose it soon witb woe?
TSTo w reck 1 ne'er bow low 1 droop,
How far men drive me from my land;
If in my Tearl no part is mine,
Wbat is my doom but endless moan?"

XXIX

"Tbou deem'st distress \s> nought but moan;

t>

Said then that maid: "u>by dost tbou tbus?

By din of dole for losses small

Many a man oft losetb more,

Tbou sbouldest better bold tbee blest,

And praise aye Giod, in woe and weal;

Anger avails tbee not a cress;

o

Wbo needs must bou>, be not so bold,

Por tbougb tbou dance as any doe,

t> J

Cbaf e and cry in fiercest ire,

Since, to or fro, no tuay tbou mafe'st,

Tbou must abide ivbat He sball deem.

"

XXX

"Doom tbou tbe Lord! Arraign Him still!

o

He unit not swerve a foot from tbe way,

Tby mending 'mountetb not a mite,

J o

Tbougb tbou, for grief, be neper blitbe,

o ^£>

Stint from tby strife, and cease to cbide,

And seek His grace full sunft and sure;

o

Tby prayer may His pity touch,
And Mercy may sboiv fortb ber craft.
His solace may tby sickness sootbe,
Tby loss may ligbtly glide away;

For, marr'd or made, mourning and mirtb,

o

All lietb in Him, as He deem fit/'

XXXI

THEN deem'd 1 to tbat damosel:
"Let not my Lord be wrotb untb me,

If wildly rave 1, rusbing in speecb;

J ^ ' o I

My beart witb mourning all did melt,

L

As bubbling water goetb from well;

f £> o

1 put me in His mercy aye.
ILebuke me ne'er untb cruel words,

My dear adored, e'en tbougb 1 stray;

J ^ o f J

13ut sbow me kindly comforting,

J ^ o

Titeously tbinking upon tbis,-
J o I

Of care and me tbou madest accord,

Tbat wast of all my bliss tbe ground.

J o

XXX11

"My bliss, my bale, tbou bast been both;
13ut mucb tbe more my moan batb been;
Since tbou wast banisb'd from every patb,

1 wist not wbere my Tearl was gone;

J o

~Now 1 it see, now less'netb my loss;
And wben we parted, at one we were;
Gxxl forbid we be now wrotb!
We meet so seldom by stock or stone,

Tbougb tbou canst speak full courteously.
& I J

1 am but dust, and manners lack;

Tbe mercy of Cbrist, and Mary, and lobn,

Tbese are tbe ground of all my bliss,

o J

XXX111

"1 see tbee blithely link'd with bliss,

And 1 a man untb mourning marr'd;

o

Thereof tbou tafeest little beed,
Tbougb baleful bairms befall me oft;
But now, before thy presence bere,
1 uxntld beseecb, untbout demur,

Tbat tbou vuouldst tell, vuitb gentle grace,

t> t>

Harly and late what life tbou lead'st,
Por 1 am glad that tbine estate'

c>

Is all so changed to worth and weal;

o

The bigb-way this of all my joy;

It is the ground of adl my bliss/'

t> J

XXX1Y

"Now bliss betide tbee, noble sir/'
Said sbe, so fair of form and face,
"And welcome bere to bide and walk,
Por dear to me is now thy speech.
Masterful mood and mighty pride,
1 tell tbee, are bitterly hated here;
My Master louetb not to blame,
Por meek are all that dwell Him nigh:
And, when in His place tbou shalt appear,
In humbleness be deep devout;
My Lord the Lamb such cheer aye loueth;

He is the ground of all my bliss,

& J

XXXY

"A blissful life tbou say'st 1 lead,
And tbou uxnxldst know tbe state tbereof :
Well knou/st tbou, tuben tbv Tearl fared fortb,
Of tender age, full youncr, was 1;

But, tbrougb His GLodbead, my Lord tbe Lamb

^ . *^

Took me in marriage unto Himself;

£>

Crown'd me Oueen, to revel in bliss,
In lencrtb of d&ys tbat nerer sball wane;

And dower'd untb all His beritage'

o

His Bride is: 1 am u>bolly His;

His praise, His price, His peerless rank,

Of all my bliss are root and ground/'

J £>

XXXVI

"BLlSSRJL/'cjuotb l/'may this be so?
Speak 1 amiss, be not displeased.
Art tbou the Queen of heavens blue,
Whom all this world must honour now?
We believe in Mary, from whom spran g grace,
Who bore a child from virgin flower,
And who can take from ber the crown,
Save she ejccel ber in some wortb?
But, for ber peerlessness of cbarm,
Tboentr of Araby we ber call,
Tbe bird immaculate of form,
Like to that Queen of Courtesy/'

XXXV11

"Courteous Oueen/'said tben that joy,

TCneeling to earth, ber face enueil'd,
o

"Matcbless Motber, Merriest Maid,
13lessed ^Beginner of every grace !"
Tben rose sbe up, and tbere sbe paused,
And spake toward me from tbat spot:-
"Str! folk find bere tbe pri2^ tbey seek,
But no usurpers bide berein:
Tbat Empress in ber empire batb
Tbe beavens all and eartb and bell;

Prom beritage sbe drivetb none,
o

Por sbe is Queen of Courtesy,

XXXV111

'The Court of tbe Kingdom of Living Guxl
Hath in itself tbis property,—
Hacb one that may arrive therein

Is king or queen of all tbe realm,
^ i

And yet shall not deprive another;

13ut each is glad of otbers'weal,

And would their crowns were wortb five sucb,

Were their enhancing possible,

13ut my Lady, from whom lesu sprang,

She boldeth empire high o'er all;

And tbis displeasetb none of our bost,

Por she is Oueen of Courtesy.

XXXIX

"By courtesy, as saitb Saint Taul,
We aJl are members of Jesu Cbrist;
As bead and arm and trunk and lea,
Trusty and true, tbeir body serue,
So is eacb Cbristian soul a limb

Tbat to tbe Lord of Migbt belongs.

& &

Lo now, wbat batred or ill-will
Is fast or foc'd between tby limbs?
Tby bead batb nettber spleen nor spite,
On arm or finaer tbougb tbou bear ring.
So is it witb us in loue and joy,

courtesy, to ICimr and Queen/'

XL

"Courtesy/'quotbl/'l grant,

. y

And cbarity great dwell in your midst;

-n - -

out pardon if my speecb dotb grieve;

i y i c>

Metbinketb now tby words full wrong,

Tl * -

ILaisincr tbyself in beaven too bigb,

To maJie tbee Oueen tbat wast 50 young.

Wbat greater bonour migbt be win,

-
Wbo suffered bravely in tbis world,

And lived in lifelong penance bere,

c> I

Witb bodily bale to purcbase bliss?

Wbat greater glory migbt be bai^

£> o J t>

Tban king be crowned by courtesy?

o J J

XL1

"THIS courtesv is all too free,
If it be sootb tbat tbou bast said;
Tbou liuedst not tu>o years in our land,
G-od tbou couldst not please or pray,
And neuer knewest Tater nor Creed;
Yet on tbe first day made a. Oueen!
1 may not trow, so speed me G.od,
Tbat He uxntld tvork so all amiss.
As countess, damosel, par ma fay,
Tvuere fair in beaven to bold estate,
Or as a lady of lower degree,

J f£>

But Oueen,-it is too bigb a goal/'
v^ o t>

XL11

"No goal, too end, His goodness batb/

& &

Tben said to me tbat noble gem,

o

"Por all is just wbere He dotb lead;
He can do noucrbt but wbat is ricrbt.
As Mattbew in tby Missal saitb,
In G.od Almicrbty's Gospel true;
A parable be telletb well;
To Heaven brigbt He likenetb it,

'My realm on bigb/He saitb, 'is like

•J &

To a lord tbat bad a vineyard once;
And, lo! tbe time of year was come
Wben vintage was tbe season's goal.

XL111

'"Tbe season's goal bis bousebold knew;
And up full early rose tbe lord
To bire more ivorkmen for bis vines,
And to bis purpose findetb some;
Tbey enter in agreement then,
Por a penny a day,and fortb tbey go;
Tbey strain and strive and do great toil,
Tbey prune and bind and fasten firm,
Hre noon tbe lord tbe market sougbt,

And idle men found standing tbere,

o

'Wby stand ye idle?'said be to tbem,

'Or knou? ye for tbis day no goal?'

j J &

XL1Y
" "Ere dawn of day we hither came';

So gave they answer, one and all;
o * */

'We have stood bere since rose the sun,

And no man biddetb vis do augbt/

t>

'Enter my vineyard; do what ye can';

*• *• «y

Said then the Lord, and made it sure,-
'What hire is fair, by fall of night,

1 unit you pay, in thought and deed/

J 1 J ^o

They went unto bis vines, and vuorfe'd;
And thus all day the lord went forth,
And new men to his vineyard brought,

Well-nigh till day had pass'd its goaL

o J 1 o

"'At goal of day, at evensong,

o J &

One hour before the 5un should set,
Strong men be saw stand idle there,
And said to them, with earnest voice:—
'Why stand ye idle the livelong day?'
"Nowhere, said they, was hire for them,
'G.o to my vineyard, yeomen young,
And work, and do as best ye can/

Soon the world grew burnisb'd brown;

&

The sun was down, and it waxed late.
To take their pay he summoned them;

The day was done, its goal was pass'd,
J o I

XIY1

THU day was done, the master
Called to bis reeve: 'Sir, pay the men;
Gave them the hire that 1 them owe;

And f urtber, that none may me reprove,

j i

Set them all in one long line,

o

And give a penny to each alike;

£> i J

Begin at the last that standetb low,

o

And so until tbou reach the first/

The first began then to complain,
o 1

And said that they bad sorely toil'd;

'These but an hour have strain'd their strength,

Seemeth to us we should take more.

xrvii

" "More baue we deserved, we tbink,
Tbat bere baue borne tbe beat of day,
Tban tbese tbat baue not tuork'd tu>o bours,
And tbou dost make tbem eqtial us/
Tben said tbe lord to one of tbem:-
'Iriend, 1 u>ould not do tbee wrong;

Take tubat is tbine own and go.

o

Hired 1 tbee for a penny untbal,
Wby beginnest tbou novu to cbafe?

>J o

Was not a penny tby covenant tben?
More tban agreed one must not claim.
Wby sbouldest tbou tben ask for more?

xiyin

""Moreouer,-ls it my rigbt to give,

Jo o

To do untb mine u>bat so 1 please,
Or is it tbine eye is bent on ill,
Since 1 am good, and none defraud?

5?

Tbus sball I/ auotb Cbrist, 'ordain:

Tbe last sball be tbe first to go,

c>

And tbe firsftbe last, be be ne'er so sunft;

Por many are called, tbougb few be great/7

y o t>

Tbus do tbe poor tbeir portion take,

Tbougb tbey come late, and low their place;

o f J

Tboucrb, little done, tbeir toil is spent,
Tbe mercy of G.od is mucb tbe more.

XL1X

"More baue 1 bere of joy and bliss,
Of ladysbip great and bloom of life,

Tban all tbe men in tbe tvorld migbt unn,

o

Ask'd tbey aivard by u*ay of rigbt,

y y j o

Tbougb, tvell-nigb notv, 1 late began,

£> c) £>

At ei^en to tbe vineyard came,

Pirst of my bire my Lord betbougbt;

fj J o

1 ivas paid anon tbe payment full,
Otbers ivere tbere tvbo bad to tvait,

Wbo sweated long before, and toil'd;

o

Yet notbing got tbey of tbeir bire,

o o J

Nor unll percbance a vvbole year more/''

Tben said 1 more, and boldly spake :-
"Tby tale me seemetb reasonless:

God's rigbt is ready, raised eterne,

c> ~/

Or Holy Writ is but-a fable:
In Tsalter is said a verse full clear,
Tutting, as point determined, tbis:—
'HacbTbou reauitest ais bis desert,

Tbou Higb King, fore-ordaining all K

o o £>

Nou? be u?bo all day steadfast stood,-
If tbou to payment come ere be,
Tben tbe more tbe pay, tbe less tbe ivork,
And ever so tbe less tbe more.

LI

"'TWIXT more aoid less in God's own realm/
Tbao: Gentle said, "lies no debaite;
Iror tbere is eaxb maoi padd alike,
Wbetber little or mucb be bis rewaord,
Tbait gentle CHeftain is no nigcraird,
Wbetber His dole be ba^rd or soft;

He pouretb His gifts ais water from weir,

c>

Or streaLms of tbe deep tbat never turn,
Lairge is bis freedom wbo batb feao-'d

c>

fore Him tbaLt rescuetb in sin,

l^o bliss sball be witbbeld from sucb;

Tbe grace of God is great enougb,
o o 6

Lll

"Yet now tbou mootest, to cbeckmate me,
Tbat 1 my penny bao>e wrongly ta'en:
Tbou sayest tbao: 1, wbo caoTie too laite,

Am not u>ortb 50 grea^t a^ wage,

o o

Wbere knevuest tbou auiy ma.n aLbide,

H ver so boly in bis prayer,

Wbo ne'er, in some way, forfeited

Tbe meed, some time, of beamen bricrbt?

And aye tbe ofter, tbe older tbey were,

Left tbey tbe rigbt acnd wrougbt amiss;

J o t>

Mercy auid Gira^ce must pilot tbem;

Tbe gra.ce of God is great enougb.
o o o

Llll

"But grace enougb bape innocents:

6 £>

As soon ais tbey ao*e born, by rule

In tbe u^ter of baptism tbey descend;

Tben acre tbey to tbe vineyard brougbt.

J J o

Anon tbe day, untb darkness flecked,
Unto Deatfb's migbt dotb make tbem bow

c>

Wbo ne'er urougbt turong, ere tbence tbey u^ent

O C> */

Tbe gentle Lord His folk tben payetb;
o l */

Tbey did His will; tbey u?ere tberein.
Wby sbould He not allow tbeir bire,

YeaL, pay tbem atf tbe first day's close?

i «y */

Tbe gra.ce of G.od is great enougb,

O O o

L1V

"Enougb is known, bow mainkind greatr'

c) c>

first wais urouabt-for perfect bliss;
Our f oref atber it forfeited,
Tbroucrb an apple tbatt be bit upon;
And for tbatf morsel were we daotni'd
To die in dolour, afar from joy,
And tbence to fare to beat of bell,
Tbere to abide, witb respite none.
Gut soon tbere caone t\>e aLtrtidote:

On rood so rougb ran ricbest blood

t>

And winsome water: then, in tba^t pligbt,

Tbe orauce of Gxxl ivauc^d great enougb,
o o o

"Enough from out tbait well tbere flou/d,
Blood aoid u^ter, from wound so unde:
From bale of bell tbe blood 115 bougbt,
And raLnsom'd U5 from second deatb;
Tbe u^ter 15 baptism, sootb to say

Thait followed tbe glaLiue so grimly ground,

o £> J o

Tbait u^aisbetb 3LU?ay tbe guilt so fell,

J &

Tbait Adaon drowned us untb in dea.tb.

TSTou? is tbere nougbt in tbis round voorld

^o

^Tunjct us and bliss: adl He untbdretv;
Bliss w&$ restored in one fair bour,

Tbe graxe of Gxxl is gread: enougb,

O c) O

IV!

"GILACIL enougb a maoi maiy

o f J

TbaJ: sinnetb notu, if be repent;

He mu5t it craue untb sorroiv aind sig

o

And bide tbe pacin thereto is bound:

13ut U.eai5on, straLying not from rigbt,

' J o o

Savetb tbe innocent evermore;

Tor 'tis a doom tbat GLod ne'er gaue,

o

Tbat ever tbe guiltless sbould be sbamed

t>

Tbe ?^ilty tnay contrition find,
And be by Mercy led to Grace;

But into guile u>bo glided ne'er,

o o

In innocence, is saved by riabt.

LY11

"Right well 1 know of tbis same thing,
Two kinds to save is good and just,-

Tbe righteous man His face sball see,

^

Tbe harmless one sball come Him nigb,

t>

Tbtis saith the Tsalter in a verse,-
'Lord, who shall climb TW lofty hill,
Or rest within Thy boly place?'
Himself to answer He is not slow,-
'Whose hands in malice ne'er did hurt,
He that is clean and pure of heart,
There sball his step stand ever firm/
The innocent is saved by right!

"Verily, eke the righteous man
J o

Approach shall be that noble place,-
Who taketh not bis life in vain,

Mis neighbour cbeaitetb not with guile.

& o

Of such saw Solomon clearly once,
How well our Wisdom welcomed him;

He guided him by ways full straight,

^ y y o

Shewed him awhile the realm of G.od,
As who should say, 'Lo, yon fair land!
Thou may'st it win, if tbou be
But, without peril, be tbou sure,
The innocent is saved by right.

ULX

"Anent tbe rigbteous saitb another,

o

David in Tsadter, Hast it seen?—

'Tby servant, Lord, draw never to doom;
"None living is justified 'fore Tbee/
So, when tbou comest to tbe Court,
Wbere all our causes sball be cried,
ILenounce tby riabt, tbou mayest come in,
By tbese same words tbat 1 bave cull'd.
But He tbat bloodily died on rood,
Wbose bands were pierced so grievously,
Grant tbee to pass, wben tried tbou art,
By innocence and not by rigbt!

IX

"Who knowetb to read the Book aricrbt,
Let him look in, and learn therefrom
Hou? Jesus tualk'd once on a time,
And folk tbeir bairns press'd near to Him:
To toucb tbeir children tbey Him besought,
For bap and health that from Him came.
His disciples sternlv bade them cease;
And at their words full many stay'd.
Then lesus svueetly said to them:—
'Not so; let children draw to Me;
For such is heaven's realm prepared.'
The innocent is aye saved by rigbtl

LX1
"JESUS call'd to Him His meek, fl

And said, no man might win His realm,

o

be came thither as a child;

Else might he never therein come;

o

Harmless, undefiled, aoid true,

With ne'er stain nor spot of sapping sin,

When such come knocking on that place,

p I

Quickly for them the bolt is drawn.
There is the bliss that cannot fade,

The jeweller sought 'mong precious gems;
) £> o 1 c>

And sold his all, both linen and wool,
To purchase him a spotless pearL

LX11

'"This spotless pearl, so dearly bought,
The jeweller gave his all therefor,

Is like the realm of Heaven bright;'

o

So said the Tether of field and flood;
Tor it is flawless, bright, and pure,
tndlessly round, and blithe of cheer,
And common to all that righteous were.
Lo, midmost on my breast 'twas set !
My Lord the Lamb, who shed His blood,
He set it there in token of peace,
1 rede thee, forsake the world so wild,
And get for tbee thy spotless pearl,"

Lxm

"0 spotless Tearl, in pearls so pure,
Tba^t bearest/'auotb 1, "the pearl of price,
Wbo form'd for tbee tby figure fair?

Trie was full wise that wrougbt tby robe;

o J

Tby beauty never from Nature came;

Tygmalion painted ne'er tby face;

J o I ^ J

TSTor Aristotle, untb all bis lore,
Did tell tbe properties of tby kind;
Tby colour passetb tbe fleur-de-lis;

Tby angel-bearing so debonair !

J t> f £>

Tell me, Brigbtest, wbat pliabted trotb
13earetb as token tbis spotless pearl?"

LX1Y

"My spotless Lamb, Wbo can better all/'
Ouoth she, "my Destiny so dear,
Chose me His bride, though all unfit""

^£>

Tbe Spousal might a. while well seem.
When 1 went forth from your wet uwld,
callrd me to His G.oodliness:—

'Come hither to me, my trueloue sweet,
stain or sot is none in thee/

pot

He gat^e me strength aoid beauty too;

o^ & J

In His blood, on the Throne, He ivasb'd my weeds;
And, crowned clean in maidenhood,
With spotless pearls He me aulorn'd/'

LXV

"Wby, spotless Bride, tbat sbinest brigbt,
Witb regal glories rich and rao*e,
What, forsooth, may be the Lamb,
Tbat tbee as unfe to Him tvould vued?

CXer all tbe rest tbou bast climbrd bigb,

o

Witb Him to lead so aueenly a life.
Many a fair/neatb maiden crown,
Por Cbrist in micfele strife batb lived;
Tbose dear ones bast tbou all out-driven,

And from tbat marriage all bast beld,

o

All save tbyself, so strong and stiff,
Matcbless maid, immaculate!"

LXV1

"IMMACULATE/" said that merry cjueen,
"Unblemisb'd 1 am, without a stain;

And this may 1 untb grace auou>;

y o

But 'matchless aueen'— tbat said 1 ne'er.
We aJl in bliss a^re Brides of tbe Lamb,
A bundred a^nd forty thousand in a.11,
As in tbe Apocalypse it is seen;
Saint Jobn bebeld tbem in a tbroncr.
On tbe Hill of Zion, tba.t beauteous spot,
Tbe Apostle bebeld tbem, in dream divine,
Array'd for tbe Bridal on tbat bill-top,-
Tbe City TSleu> o

LXV11

"Of Jerusalem is now my speech:

If tbou wouldst know u>bat kind is He,

My Lamb, my Lord, my dearest Jeu>el,

My 1 oy, my 13liss, my noble Loue,

Tbe prophet Isaiab spake of Him,

In pity of His gentleness,—

'Tbe Glorious Guiltless u?bom tbey killed,

Witb ne'er a caoise of evil deed.

As a sbeep to tbe slaLugbter He tuais led;

As Kmb tbe sbea^rer taketb a^-f ield,

He closed His moutb 'gainst questioning,

O I c>

Wben lews Him p!c/d in Jerusalem/

LXVlll

"In Jerusalem was my Trueloue slain,
And rent on rood by boist'rous cburls;
Pull ready all our bales to bear,
He took on Him our cares so cold.
Witb buffets was His face all f lay'd,
Tbat was so fair to look upon;
For sin He set Himself at nouabt,
Tbat ne'er bad sin to call His own
Tor us He let Him beat and bend,

And bind upon a rugged rood;
1 £>£>

As meek as lamb tbat made no plaint,
Por us He died in Jerusalem.

LX1X

"Jerusalem, Jordan, and Galilee,
Where baptized folk the good Saint lobn,
His u>ords accorded untb Isaiah's,
Wben Jesus u?as come a^-niab to him,
He spake of Him this prophecy:—
'Behold God's Lamb, as true as stone,
Wbo dotb aouay the endless sins

Tbatf all this u>orld ha.th euer wrought,

o

Yet Trie Himself wrought neuer one,

o

Tbougb on Himself all sins He laid,
o

His generation wbo ca^n tell,

c>

Tbat died for us in Jerusalem?'

LXX

"In Jerusalem thus my Trueloue sweet

Twice was taken there a5 lamb,

13y record of true prophets twaun,

So meek His mood and all His mien,

Tbe third time well befits thereto,

As ivritten in Apocalypse,

A-midst theThrone, where sat the Saints,

Tbe Apostle John Him clearly saw,

Opening the Book with pages square,
l t> l o

With seven seals set forth thereon;
And at that sight the doughty auaiked,
In Hell, in Earth, and Jerusalem,

LXX1

"THIS Lamb of Jerusalem bad no speck
Of other bue save winsome wbite,
Tbatf ne'er a stain or spot miabt toucb,
So vubite tbe u>ool, so ricb and rare;
Wberefore ea.cb soul tbat batb no taint
Is to tba^t Lamb a unfe ador'd;

And tbougb eacb day a many He bring,

o J J £>

Nor strife nor stress among us comes,

£>

Save tbat u?e u?ould eacb one were five;
Tbe more tbe merrier, so bless me G_od!

Our love can tbrive in company great;

l J o

Our bonour more and never less.

LXX11

"Less of bliss may none us bring,
J o

Tbis pearl who bear upon our breasts,

Iror ne'er a thought of sin know they
t> J

Tbe croum u>bo bear of spotless pearls.

And tbougb our corses cling in clay,

o o J

And ye for rutb cry ceaselessly,

We knowledge bane full well of tbis,—

o

Trom one deatb cometb all our hope.

Us gladd'netb the Lamb; our care is cast;

o

He maketb mirtb a^t every meaLl;
Of each the bliss is bravest and best,
And no one's bonour is vet tbe less.

LXX111

"But lest tbou deem my tale less true,
In ApocaJypse is writ a verse:—
'1 saov,' saitb "John/where stood the Lamb,

On the Mount of Zion, thriven and strong,

o

And with him maidens a hundred thousand,

And four and forty thousand more;

On all their foreheads unit 1 found

The Lamb's oum name, His Father's eke.

A voice from heaven beard 1 then,

Like many floods' roa^r, a-rusbing on;

J c>

As thunder hurletb against pale peaiks,
That sound, 1 trow, was none the less.

LXX1Y

" 'Neuertbeless, though sharp tbe about,
Though loud tbe voice tbat echoed tbere,
A note full neu> 1 heard tbem raise;
To list thereto was blissful toy.

; «/

As harpers harp upon their hairps,
That new song sang they tunefully;

& f c> J J

One maiden led in accents clear;

Su?eetly in cborus they caught the stracin.

J Jo

And e'en before tbe Tbrone of G.od,
And those four beasts tbat Him obev,
And tbe Elders all, so grave of mien,

c>

Their song they sang there ne'er the less,

o J o

LXXY

"'Nevertheless ivas none so skill'd,
Por all tbe crafts tbat e'er be knew,
That of tbat song migbt sing a note,

& & c>

Save all tbe bost tbat follow tbe Lamb,
Tbey are redeemed, removed from eartb,
As first-fruits wbolly due to GLod,

And to tbat gentle Lamb enioin'd,

y '

As like to Him in bue and look;

For never a lie nor tale untrue'

Had toucb'd tbeir tongues, for any pain.

& j I

To spotless Lord tbe spotless bost
Sball nearest be, and never less/"

LXXV1

"And none the less my thanks baive tbou,
Quotb 1, "my Tearl, though yet 1 ask;
1 should not try thy noble mind,
Wbo chosen to Christ's chamber art;
1 am but earth and dust a-u>bile,
And tbou so rich a royal rose,
And bidest by this blissful bank,

Where life's delight may ne'er be lost.
o J

"Now, Lady,— simple wast tbou once,—
1 fain would ask thee but one thing;

And, tbough 1 be boist'rous as a boor,

o

Let, ne'ertbeless, my payer avail!

LXXV11

"1 NONE tbe less beseecb tbee fair,
If tbou canst see it may be done,

As tbou art glorious, free from fault,

o

My rueful prayer deny not tbou.
tiaue ye no bomes in castle-ivalls?
No manor wbere ye may meet and bide?
Tbou namest 1 erusalem, ricb and royal,

Wbere David dear u?as digbt on tbrone:

o

But by tbese bolts it cannot be;
Tis in Judea, tbat noble place;
As ye are spotless beneatb tbe moon,
All spotless so sbould be your bomes.

LXXVIH

"Tbis spotless band tbou speakest of,
Tbis tbroncr of tbousaoids, sucb a bost,
A city vast, so many ye are,

*/ +/ *s

Witbout a doubt, ye needs must bave.
So comely a pack of joyous jewels
Twere perilous to lodge witbout;
13ut, wbere 1 tarry by tbese banks,

1 see no dwelling anywbere.

, o J
1 trow ye but linger bere and walk

J o

To look on tbe glory of tbis fair stream.

o J

If elsewbere tbou bast dwellings firm,

o

lead me to tbat merry spot/'

LXX1X

"Tbe spot tbou meanest, in Jewry tand,"
Tbat wonder rare tben said to me,
"Tbe city it is tbe Lamb did seek,
To suffer tbere sore, for sake of man,—
Tbe Old Jerusalem, to wit,

Iror tbere tbe old guilt was assoil'd;

o

"But tbe New, come down by CLod's own word,—
Tbe Apostle's tbeme in Apocalypse,-
Tis tbere tbe L^mb, witb no black stain,
Tbitber batb borne His beauteous tbrong;
And, as His flock is witbout fold,
Moa^tless His mansion in tbat spot.

LXXX

"Of these twain spots to speak ariabt,
And yet bicrbt botb 1 erusalem,

Wbicb, know tbou, meanetb nothing else

o

But City of God, or Sicrbt of Teace,-
In tbe one our peace was made betimes-,
Tbe Lamb cbose there to suffer pain;

In tbe otber is nought but peace to glean,

& I o

Tbat aye sball last unceasingly.

y OJ

Tbis is tbe bourne whereto we press,
Soon as our flesb is kid to waste.

There glory and bliss sball e'er increase'
o J

Unto tbe bost without a spot/'

LXXX1

"Spotless maid, 50 meek and mild/'
Tben said 1 to tbat flower full fair,

"Bring me to tbat blest abode,

o

And let me see tby blissful bower/'
Tbat glory said: "Giod tbis forbiddetb:
Witbin His tower tbou may'st not come;
But from tbe Lamb 1 welcome tbee"
To a sigbt tbereof, by Mis great grace,

C\ J O O

Tbat cloister clean may'st see witbout;

Witbin-tby vigour availetb nor'

.V. ^
To enter in its street one foot,

Save tbou wert clean in spotlessness.

LXXX11

"SHALL. 1 to tbee tbis spot reveal,
13end tbou toward tins river's bead,—
1, opposite, upon tbis bank,
Sball follow, till tbou reacb a bill/'

longer would 1 tarry tben,

c> J

But stole 'neatb boucrbs, 'nea.tb lovely leaves,

Till, as 1 basted on my way,

1 espied a bill, and saw tbe 13urgb,

1 c>

Deep set from me, beyond tbe broofe;

Witb rays it sbone, tban sun more brigbt-

^ o

In Apocalypse is found its form,

As picturetb tbe Apostle Jobn.

LXXX111

As John tbe Apostle saw it then,
Saw 1 tbat City of noble fame,—

lerusalem, new and royally digbt,

/ J J o

As it was come from Heauen adown,

Tbe 13urgb was all of burning gold,

o & o

13urnisb'd brigbt as gleaming glass,

Witb glorious gems beneatb it set,

o o

Witb twelve steps rising from tbe base,
foundations twelve, witb tenons ricb,

And every skb a special stone;
As in Apocalypse tbis same Burab
jobn tbe Apostle picturetb welL

LXXX1Y

As lobn tbese stones named in bis book,
1 kneu> eacb name, as be dotb telL
Jasper bigbt tbe first gem tbere,
Tbat on the first base 1 discern'd;
On lovuest course it glistened green;

c> t)

Sappbire beld tbe second step;
Tbe cbalcedony tben, untbout a spot,
On tier tbe tbird sbone pale and pure;
Tbe emerald fourtb, so green of scale ;

c>

Tbe fiftb stone ivas tbe sardonyx;
Tbe ruby strtb; in Apocalypse'
Jobn tbe Apostle discerned it tben.

LXXXY

To these join'd John tbe chrysolite,
foundation-stone tbe seventh there-,
Tbe eighth the beryl, wbite and clear;
The twin-bued topaz, nintb was set;
The cbrysoprase came next, the tentb;
The gentle jacinth then, eleventh',

The tvuelfth, the goodliest withal,

o

Tbe purple amethyst, blent untb blue.
The u>all, tbat rose aboue tbe steps,
Of jasper vuas, tbat aleam'd as alass;
1 knew it, as he pictured it
In Apocalypse, the Apostle 1 ohn.

LXXXV1

As lobn tbere pictured, saw 1 too,—
Broad and steep were tbese twelve steps;
lull sauare above tbe City stood,
In lengtb as great as breadtb and beigbt;

Tbe streets of gold, as clear as glass;

o £>

Tbe wall of jasper; as amber it gleam'd.
Tbe mansions were adorn'd untbin

Witb every kind of gem e'er found,

J ^ &

Tben ea^cb side of tbat strongbold beld

o

Twelve furlongs' space, ere ended it;

In beiabt, in breadtb, in lenotb, four-sauare;

It measured saw tbe Apostle 1 obn.

LXXXV11

AS vuritetb John, yet sau> 1 more,—
Tbree gates bad each side of that place,

£> I

Yea, twelue in sequence 1 espied,
Tbe portals deck'd with plates full ricb,
And eacb gate of one marcrery pearl,—
A perfect pearl tbat fadetb ne'er,
"Eacb bore tbereon a name inscribed
Of Israel's children, in order of time,
Tbat is to say, as tbeir birtb befell;
Huer tbe elder first u?as unit,

Sucb ligbt there gleam'd in adl the streets,

o p

Tbey needed neither sun nor moon.

LXXXV111

Of sun or moon bad tbey no need;

Tbeir lamp-ligbt was tbe very Giod;

I £>. J

Tbe Lamb tbeir lantern tbat never fail'd;
Tbrougb Him tbe City briobtly gleatncL

Tbrougb wall and mansion pierced my gaze;
o l */ o

All was so clear, nougbt binder^d sigbt,

o £>

Tbe Higb Tbrone migbt ye tbere bebold,

c\ f ^& J

Hngirt untb all its fair array,

o J

As Jobn tbe Apostle drew in words;
And tbereon sat Hiab God Himself.
A river from tbe Tbrone ran out;

Twas brigbter tban botb sun and moon.

o

LXXX1X

sun nor moon 50 sweetly sbone
As tbe flood tbat flou/d from out tbat floor;

Tbrougb every street it sunftly surged,

o ^ J J ^ o

Tree from filtb and mud and mire.
Cburcb therein u>as none to see,
Cbapel nor temple that ever u>as set;
Tbe Almigbty u?as tbeir minster meet,
Tbe Lamb tbeir sacrifice, tbere to atone.
Tbe portals never yet were barr'd,
13ut evermore open at ev'ry kne;
None enteretb tbere to take abode,
Tbat bearetb spot beneatb tbe moon.

.X XC

The moon no might may tbere usurp;
Too spotty is sbe; too grim her form.

And, as night is not in tbat place,
o I

Why should the moon climb there her course,

As 'twere with tbat rich light to vie,

o

That shineth upon the river's bank?
The planets' plight is all too poor;
The very sun is far too dim.

About that stream are trees full bright,

&

Tbat bear full soon twelve fruits of life;
Twelve times each year tbey bravely bear,
Tbeir fruit reneunncr every moon.

o

very

XC1

13eneatb tbe moon no beart of flesb
So great a marvel might endure,

O e>

As 1, a-gazing on tbat 13urgb;

o c> c>

So wondrous was tbe form tbereoL
1 stood as still ais das^d auail,
Por wonder of tbat faery scene;
Nor rest nor travail felt 1 tben,
So ravisb'd by tbat radiance rare.
Por 1, untb conscience sure, dare say,
"ti^d mortal bodily borne tbat bliss,

Tbougb all our clerks bad bim in cure,

£>

His life were lost beneaitb tbe moon.

XC11

AS when tbe mighty moon dotb rise,

& J

Ere thence tbe gleaon of day may set,

^ c> J J

So, suddenly, in wondrous way,

*/ *y

1 was rware of a procession there.

This noble city of rich renown

Was suddenly, without summons, full

Of maidens, all in self-same guise'

&

As was my Blissful beneath her crown;
And crowned were they adl alike,

*/

Array 'd in pearls and raiment white;
On each one's breast wais fastened firm,
With great delight, tbe blissful pearl

XC111

Witb great delight they fared together'

£> o ~/ O

Tbrougb golden streets tbat gleamed a5 glass;

C> £> £> O

Hundreds of thousands 1 wot tbere were,

As of one Order was tbeir garb;

o

Twas hard to cboose the gladdest there,

o

Before tbem proudly pass'd tbe Lamb,

Witb seuen horns of clear red gold;

o •

His robe most like to praised pearls.
Toward the Tbrone tbey took tbeir track;

Though they were many, none did press;

o ^ J J f I

But, mild as modest maids at mass,

So drew they on, with great delight,

J o o

XC1Y

Delight tbat there His coming brought,

o & o

Too mucb it were to tell thereof;
Those Hlders all, when He approached,
Trostrate they fell before His feet;
Legions of angels, called together,

c> O^ c>

Scattered there incense of sweetest smell;
Then glory and alee pour'd forth anew;
All sang to laud tbat gladsome 1 eiveL
Tbrougb ea.rtb to bell the strain might strike,

c> c>

Tbat the Virtues of Heaven attune in joy;
To laud the Lamb, His host amid,

In sootb 1 long'd with great deligbt,

£> O c>

xcv

Delight, much maruel, moved my mind

c> J

To picture forth the Lamb aaicrbt;

13est wais He, blithest, and most to prize,

That e'er 1 bea^rd in speech set forth.

So wondrous white was His arra^y,

Simple T^is looks, Himself so caJm;

But 3L wound full unde and wet wais seen,

Against His heart, through sunder'd skin;

^ .&

Trom His white side His blood streaan'd out,

Alais! thought 1, who did tbatf hurt?
Any breast should all haiue burnt in bade,
it thereto had haul deliaht.

XCV1

Tbe Lamb's delicjbt none darted to doubt;

Tbougb He were burt and wounded sore,

o

TSFone could it in His semblance see,

His glance so glorious was aoid glauL

o £> o

\ looked among His radiant bost,

o

How tbey witb life were fill'd and fraiugbt;

t J ^ c>

Tben saw 1 tbere my little aueen,
1 tbouabt was niab me in tbe alen,
Lord, mticb of mirtb was it sbe made!
Amoncr ber peers sbe wais so fair,

Tbat sigbt tbere made me tbink to cross^

o

Por love-longing and great deligbt,

& t> o t>

i XCVll

DELIGHT so drove me, eye and ear;
Melted to madness my mortal mind;
Wben 1 saw my Trecious, 1 would be tbere,

13eyond the stream tbougb sbe were beld,

J o

T^Totbing, metbougbt, migbt binder me

^ ^ ^

Prom running forward and taking breatb;

^ o

And none sbould keep me from tbe start,
Tbougb tbere 1 perisb'd ere 1 crossed,
Sut 1 tvas sbaiken from tbat tbouobt;
To start a-stream as 1 wildly unird,
1 was recalled from out tbat mood;

It was not pleasing to my Trince.

t> J

XCV111

It pleased Him not 1 flung me tbus,
1 &

So madly, o'er tbose wondrous meres;
Though on 1 rusb'd, full rash and rude,
Yet quickly was my running stay'd;
Por, as 1 sped me to the brink,
The strain me startled from my dream.

Tben woke 1 in tbat garden green;

o &

My bead upon tbat mound was laid,
fen u>bere my Tearl bad strayed below,

1 roused me, and fell in great dismay,

o ^ J

And, siobincr, to myself 1 saiid,
"Now, all be as tbat Trince may please

XC1X

Me pleased it ill to be out cast
So suddenly from that fair realm,

Prom all those sights so blithe and brave,

o

Sore longing struck me, and 1 swoon'd,

c> C)

And ruefully then 1 cried aloud:-
"0 Tearl/' auoth 1, "of rich renown,
Hovu dear to me tms all that thou
In this true vision didst declare!
And, if the tale be verily true,

That thou thus forest, in garland gay,

o t> J

So well is me in this dungeon dire,

o

That thou airt pleasing to that Trince!/;

c

Tbat Trince to please bad 1 still bo w'd,

Nor yearn'd for more tban was me given,

j o

And beld me tbere witb true intent,
As tbe Tearl me pray'd, tbat was so wise,
Belike, unto God's presence drawn,
To more of His mysteries bad 1 been led.
But aye will man seize more of bliss

Tban may abide witb bim by rigbt,

J Jo

Wberef ore my joy was sunder'd soon,
And 1 cast fortb from realms eterne.
Lord, mad are tbey tbat 'gainst Tbee strive,
Or 'gainst Tby pleasure proffer augbt.

Cl

To please the Trince, to be at peace,
Good Christian hath it easy here;

Por 1 have found Him, day and night,

•J &

A God, a Lx>rd, a Priend full firm.
Over yon mound had 1 this hap,
Trone there for pity of my Tearl;
To God 1 then committed it,

In Christ's dear blessing and mine own,-

o

Christ that in form of bread and wine
The priest to us each day doth shew;

He grant we be His servants leal,-

o

Yea, precious Teairls to please Him aye!

Amen. Amen,

Here ends Pearl: an English Poem of tbe Fourteenth Centurv
re-set in Modern English by Israel Gollancz.,and dedicated
by bim to tbe British

Cross Society and tbe Order of

St. John, imprinted in tbe Humanistic Type (by exclusive

arrangement with tbe Cambridge University Press, Mass.,

U.S.A.) by Geo. W. Jones at Tbe Sign of Tbe Dolphin,

in Gougb Square, Heet Street, London, in tbe

yeair One Thousand Nine Hundred

and Eighteen.