Lilith — Context and Discussion

e the gate that looked without She reached, one fleeting moment paused in doubt Upon a river’s brink. In one swift glance All coming time she saw. A weird romance Wherein she traced great peoples yet unborn, New springing cycles, strange lands cleft with tarn Or pleasant vale, and green plains stretching far, And quiet bays, and many a shingly bar, And troubled seas, with bitter perils past, And elfin shapes that jeering flitted fast With scornful faces, leering lips that smiled, Or bursts of laughter through that vision wild. Uncertain, then, she stood, half loth to turn. “Against yon deepening sky, how dimly burn The stars, new-lit. Dear home, thou art so fair!” She fondly sighed. Then sudden she was ’ware The angel near her paused, whose watchful care Guards Eden’s peaceful bounds. Serene, his air So tender-sweet, so pure the gentle face, She scarce dared look upon its subtle grace. Sad were his eyes; his words, rebuking, fell Soft as the moonshine clear, in sleeping dell. “My sister, go not hence, lest these gates bar Lilith forever out. From peace afar, Anger and pride shall lead through distant ways Thy feet reluctant, in the evil days. All is decreed. At yonder southern gate Behold! waits even now my princely mate. Thou can’st not tell which hath in our far land The highest place. Nay; nor, indeed, whose hand Hath grasped the noblest fame; nor yet divine Whose brows enwound with honor, brightest shine. In pleasant labor lurks no thought of pain; The greatest loss oft brings the noblest gain; The heart’s warm pulse feels not one throb of strife, And Love is holiest crown of human life. Ere thou didst sleep, beyond the rim of night I heard a voice that sang. The carol light, Scarce earth-born seemed. So sweet the matchless strain, Its cadence weird, lowly to breathe again, Wrapt echo, listening, half forgot; and o’er And o’er, as joyous birds unprisoned soar, The free notes rose. And in the silence wide, Across the seas, across the night, I cried: O sinless soul, whose clear voice blithely rings ’Gainst the blue verge of stars! ’Tis Lilith sings The happy song of love. O Love! the tint Of light divine thou wearest. Thou hast no hint Of storm or turmoil, or of Sin’s rough ways, Whose feet to heaven climb, through darkest maze. Ah, Lilith, sure the love that basely weighs, That stoops to count its gifts, and hoarding, says, ‘Such and so many, these indeed are mine; I hold my treasure dear, nor covet thine;’ This is not love; ’tis Thrift in borrowed dress, Deceiving thee. Love giveth free largess With open hand, clean as the whitest day; Yea, that it gave, forgetteth it straightway. Beyond these walls dwells bliss that lives not here? When thou hast bartered peace, outshining clear And storm-tossed wide, art wildly driven hence, The outer world gives thee no recompense. Each shining sphere that trembles in blue space Hath orbit true—its own familiar place. Nor doth the planet pale that gems the night Reel wanton down, the smallest star to smite. No twining vine, tendril, or springing shoot Ere taught thee so; for bud and leaf and root Doth its best self lift upward into light, Yet climbing still, scorns not the sacred right That shrines its fellow. “So pattering rains The dark roots drink—and healthful juice slow drains Deep ’neath the mould; and with their secret toil Bear stainless, leaf and flow’r above the soil. Noblest the soul that self hath most forgot; Strongest the self which hath most humbly wrought; Purest the soul that in full light serene, Unquestioning, enwrapt, God’s field doth glean. I have seen worlds far hence; thy tender feet Bleeding, will tread their stony ways. And sweet Is love. And wedded love, grown cold and rude, More bitter-seeming makes dull solitude. Security is sweet; and light and warm The young heart beats, close shut from every harm.” “Yet,” Lilith answered slow, “in that still night Ere He, the garden’s Lord, passed from our sight, Hast thou forgot his words? ‘Lo this fair spot Made for your pleasance; see ye mar it not, Oh, twin-born pair! So richly dight with grace Of soul and stature; unto whom the place I give. Together rule. Bear equal sway O’er all that live herein.’ Hath Lilith sought A solitary reign? Hath she in aught Offended? Nay; ’tis Adam who doth break The compact. Therefore, unhindered let me take My way far hence. I shall not vex his soul With fretful plaints, where unknown stars shall roll, Far, far away,” she sighed. “Yet ere these bounds Thy feet pass, linger. Lilith, list glad sounds That greet thine ear. Slow cycles will pass on And in the time-to-be-bright years, grow wan; Old planets fade, new stars shall dimly burn, But not to Eden’s peace shalt thou return. Oft from thy yearning heart glad hope shall fail. Thy fruit of life lift bloom all sere and pale. Certain, small comfort bides, when joy is gone, In Great or Less. Grim Sorrow waits to lead thee on. Sorrow! Thou hast not seen her pallid face. In thy most troubled dream she had no place”— “Nay, I depart,” she said, with lips grown chill. “Fearless and free, exiled, but princess still.” “I may not hinder thee,” the Angel sighed; “No soul unwilling here may ever bide.” Slow swung the verdant gates neath saddest eyes. _Lilith forever lost fair Paradise._