The Complete Poetical Works of Samuel Taylor Coleridge Volume II Part 55

The dazzle of the jewels that play'd round you 10 Hid the beloved from me.

_Thekla._ Then you saw me With your eye only--and not with your heart?

_Max._ This morning, when I found you in the circle Of all your kindred, in your father's arms, Beheld myself an alien in this circle, 15 O! what an impulse felt I in that moment To fall upon his neck, to call him father!

But his stern eye o'erpowered the swelling pa.s.sion-- It dared not but be silent. And those brilliants, That like a crown of stars enwreathed your brows, 20 They scared me too! O wherefore, wherefore should he At the first meeting spread as 'twere the ban Of excommunication round you, wherefore Dress up the angel as for sacrifice, And cast upon the light and joyous heart 25 The mournful burthen of his station? Fitly May love dare woo for love; but such a splendour Might none but monarchs venture to approach.

_Thekla._ Hush! not a word more of this mummery.

You see how soon the burthen is thrown off. 30

[_To the COUNTESS._

He is not in spirits. Wherefore is he not?

'Tis you, aunt, that have made him all so gloomy!

He had quite another nature on the journey-- So calm, so bright, so joyous eloquent. [_To MAX._ It was my wish to see you always so, 35 And never otherwise!

_Max._ You find yourself In your great father's arms, beloved lady!

All in a new world, which does homage to you, And which, wer't only by its novelty, Delights your eye.

_Thekla._ Yes; I confess to you 40 That many things delight me here: this camp, This motley stage of warriors, which renews So manifold the image of my fancy, And binds to life, binds to reality, What hitherto had but been present to me 45 As a sweet dream!

_Max._ Alas! not so to me.

It makes a dream of my reality.

Upon some island in the ethereal heights I've lived for these last days. This ma.s.s of men Forces me down to earth. It is a bridge 50 That, reconducting to my former life, Divides me and my heaven.

_Thekla._ The game of life Looks cheerful, when one carries in one's heart The inalienable treasure. 'Tis a game, Which having once reviewed, I turn more joyous 55 Back to my deeper and appropriate bliss.

In this short time that I've been present here, What new unheard-of things have I not seen!

And yet they all must give place to the wonder Which this mysterious castle guards.

_Countess._ And what 60 Can this be then? Methought I was acquainted With all the dusky corners of this house.

_Thekla._ Ay, but the road thereto is watched by spirits, Two griffins still stand sentry at the door.

_Countess (laughs)._ The astrological tower!--How happens it 65 That this same sanctuary, whose access Is to all others so impracticable, Opens before you even at your approach?

_Thekla._ A dwarfish old man with a friendly face And snow-white hairs, whose gracious services 70 Were mine at first sight, opened me the doors.

_Max._ That is the Duke's astrologer, old Seni.

_Thekla._ He questioned me on many points; for instance, When I was born, what month, and on what day, Whether by day or in the night.

_Countess._ He wished 75 To erect a figure for your horoscope.

_Thekla._ My hand too he examined, shook his head With much sad meaning, and the lines methought, Did not square over truly with his wishes.

_Countess._ Well, Princess, and what found you in this tower? 80 My highest privilege has been to s.n.a.t.c.h A side-glance, and away!

_Thekla._ [647:1]It was a strange Sensation that came o'er me, when at first From the broad sunshine I stepped in; and now The narrowing line of day-light, that ran after 85 The closing door, was gone; and all about me 'Twas pale and dusky night, with many shadows Fantastically cast. Here six or seven Colossal statues, and all kings, stood round me In a half-circle. Each one in his hand 90 A sceptre bore, and on his head a star; And in the tower no other light was there But from these stars: all seemed to come from them.

'These are the planets,' said that low old man, 'They govern worldly fates, and for that cause 95 Are imaged here as kings. He farthest from you, Spiteful, and cold, an old man melancholy, With bent and yellow forehead, he is Saturn.

He opposite, the king with the red light, An arm'd man for the battle, that is Mars: 100 And both these bring but little luck to man.'

But at his side a lovely lady stood, The star upon her head was soft and bright, And that was Venus, the bright star of joy.

On the left hand, lo! Mercury, with wings. 105 Quite in the middle glittered silver-bright A cheerful man, and with a monarch's mien; And this was Jupiter, my father's star: And at his side I saw the Sun and Moon.

_Max._ O never rudely will I blame his faith 110 In the might of stars and angels! 'Tis not merely The human being's Pride that peoples s.p.a.ce With life and mystical predominance; Since likewise for the stricken heart of Love This visible nature, and this common world, 115 Is all too narrow: yea, a deeper import Lurks in the legend told my infant years Than lies upon that truth, we live to learn.

For fable is Love's world, his home, his birth-place; Delightedly dwells he 'mong fays and talismans, 120 And spirits; and delightedly believes Divinities, being himself divine.

The intelligible forms of ancient poets, The fair humanities of old religion, The Power, the Beauty, and the Majesty, 125 That had their haunts in dale, or piny mountain, Or forest by slow stream, or pebbly spring, Or chasms and wat'ry depths; all these have vanished.

They live no longer in the faith of reason!

But still the heart doth need a language, still 130 Doth the old instinct bring back the old names, And to yon starry world they now are gone, Spirits or G.o.ds, that used to share this earth With man as with their friend;[649:1] and to the lover Yonder they move, from yonder visible sky 135 Shoot influence down: and even at this day 'Tis Jupiter who brings whate'er is great, And Venus who brings every thing that's fair!

_Thekla._ And if this be the science of the stars, I too, with glad and zealous industry, 140 Will learn acquaintance with this cheerful faith.

It is a gentle and affectionate thought, That in immeasurable heights above us, At our first birth, the wreath of love was woven, With sparkling stars for flowers.

_Countess._ Not only roses, 145 But thorns too hath the heaven; and well for you Leave they your wreath of love inviolate; What Venus twined, the bearer of glad fortune, The sullen orb of Mars soon tears to pieces.

_Max._ Soon will his gloomy empire reach its close. 150 Blest be the General's zeal: into the laurel Will he inweave the olive-branch, presenting Peace to the shouting nations. Then no wish Will have remained for his great heart! Enough Has he performed for glory, and can now 155 Live for himself and his. To his domains Will he retire; he has a stately seat Of fairest view at Gitschin; Reichenberg, And Friedland Castle, both lie pleasantly-- Even to the foot of the huge mountains here 160 Stretches the chase and covers of his forests: His ruling pa.s.sion, to create the splendid, He can indulge without restraint; can give A princely patronage to every art, And to all worth a Sovereign's protection. 165 Can build, can plant, can watch the starry courses--

_Countess._ Yet I would have you look, and look again, Before you lay aside your arms, young friend!

A gentle bride, as she is, is well worth it, That you should woo and win her with the sword. 170

_Max._ O, that the sword could win her!

_Countess._ What was that?

Did you hear nothing? Seem'd, as if I heard Tumult and larum in the banquet-room. [_Exit COUNTESS._

FOOTNOTES:

[647:1] In this and in Max's reply to it I have taken more liberty than in any other part of the play--except perhaps in Gordon's character of Wallenstein [Act III. Scene ii]. In truth, Max's reply after the first nine lines is almost my own, as are the first seven lines of Thekla's description. The remainder I take a little pride in as a specimen of translation, fully equal, and in diction and rhythmic feeling superior, to the original. _S. T. C._ _MS. R_.

[649:1]

No more of talk, where G.o.d or Angel Guest With Man, as with his friend, familiar used To sit indulgent.

_Paradise Lost_, ix. 1-3. _1800_, _1828_, _1829_.

LINENOTES:

[2] _Max (stepping backward)._ 1800, 1828, 1829.

[5] _you_ 1800, 1828, 1829.

[17] _father_ 1800, 1828, 1829.

[26] _his_ 1800, 1828, 1829.

[54] inalienable] unalienable 1800, 1828, 1829.

[After 56] [_Breaking off, and in a sportive tone._ 1800, 1828, 1829.