KEATS. THE EVE OF ST. AGNES. I. ST. AGNES' Eve-Ah, bitter chill it was! Numb were the Beadsman's fingers while he told Like pious incense from a censer old, Seem'd taking flight for heaven without a death, Past the sweet Virgin's picture, while his prayer he saith. II. His prayer he saith, this patient, holy man; The sculptur'd dead on each side seem to freeze, To think how they may ache in icy hoods and mails. III. Northward he turneth through a little door, And scarce three steps, ere Music's golden tongue 5 ΙΟ 15 20 25 IV. That ancient Beadsman heard the prelude soft; The carved angels, ever eager-eyed, Stared, where upon their head the cornice rests, 30 35 With hair blown back, and wings put cross-wise on their breasts. V. At length burst in the argent revelry, The brain, new-stuff'd, in youth, with triumphs gay As she had heard old dames full many times declare. VI. They told her how, upon St. Agnes' Eve, Of Heaven with upward eyes for all that they desire. VII. Full of this whim was thoughtful Madeline: 40 45 50 55 The music, yearning like a God in pain, She scarcely heard: her maiden eyes divine, Fix'd on the floor, saw many a sweeping train Pass by-she heeded not at all in vain Came many a tiptoe, amorous cavalier, 60 And back retir'd, not cool'd by high disdain, But she saw not: her heart was otherwhere; She sigh'd for Agnes' dreams, the sweetest of the year. N VIII. She danc'd along with vague, regardless eyes, 65 70 IX. So, purposing each moment to retire, She linger'd still. Meantime, across the moors, Buttress'd from moonlight, stands he, and implores All saints to give him sight of Madeline, But for one moment in the tedious hours, That he might gaze and worship all unseen, Perchance speak, kneel, touch, kiss-in sooth such things have been X. He ventures in let no buzz'd whisper tell: Hyena foemen, and hot-blooded lords, Save one old beldame, weak in body and in soul. XI. 85 90 Ah, happy chance! the aged creature came, Shuffling along with ivory-headed wand, To where he stood, hid from the torch's flame, The sound of merriment and chorus bland: Saying, Mercy, Porphyro! hie thee from this place; They are all here to-night, the whole blood-thirsty race! 95 XII. "Get hence! get hence! there's dwarfish Hildebrand; He cursed thee and thine, both house and land: And tell me how "-"Good Saints! not here, not here : Follow me, child, or else these stones will be thy bier." XIII. He follow'd through a lowly arched way, XIV. "St. Agnes! Ah! it is St. Agnes' Eve- And be liege-lord of all the Elves and Fays, To venture so it fills me with amaze 125 But let me laugh awhile, I've mickle time to grieve." XV. Feebly she laugheth in the languid moon, But soon his eyes grew brilliant, when she told 130 135 XVI. Sudden a thought came like a full-blown rose, From wicked men like thee. Go, Go! I deem XVII. "I will not harm her, by all saints I swear," When my weak voice shall whisper its last prayer, Quoth Porphyro: "O may I ne'er find grace If one of her soft ringlets I displace, Or look with ruffian passion in her face: Good Angela, believe me by these tears; Or I will, even in a moment's space, Awake, with horrid shout, my foemen's ears, 140 145 150 And beard them, though they be more fang'd than wolves and bears.” XVIII. "Ah! why wilt thou affright a feeble soul? 155 Were never miss'd." Thus plaining, doth she bring 160 That Angela gives promise she will do Whatever he shall wish, betide her weal or woe. And pale enchantment held her sleepy-eyed. 170 Since Merlin paid his Demon all the monstrous debt. |