SONG. (From "Tis Pity she's a Queen.”—A.D. 1610.) ACT IV. SCENE 2. The LADY MARGARET, with SUSAN and LUCY; LADY M. at her embroidery frame, singing. Girls, when I am gone away, On this bosom strew Only flowers meek and pale, And the yew. Lay these hands down by my side, Let my face be bare; Bind a kerchief round the face, Smooth my hair. Let my bier be borne at dawn, Summer grows so sweet, Deep into the forest green Where boughs meet. Then pass away, and let me lie There alone with face upturn'd, One sweet day. While the morning light grows broad, While noon sleepeth sound, While the evening falls and faints, Susan. Whence had you this song lady? Out of the air; From no one an it be not from the wind That goes at noonday in the sycamore trees. -When said the tardy page he would return? Susan. By twelve, upon this very hour. L. Mar. Look now, The sand falls down the glass with even pace, The shadows lie like yesterday's. Nothing Is wrong with the world. You are a part of it, I stand within a magic circle charm'd I touch, Waiting till doomsday come [Knocking heard] The messenger! Quick, I will wait you here, and hold my heart Ready for death, or too much ravishment. [Exeunt both Girls.] How the little sand-hill slides and slides; how many Red grains would drop while a man's keen knife drawn Across one's heart let the red life out? Susan. [returning] Lady! L. Mar. I know it by your eyes. O do not fear To tell all punctually: I am carved of stone. BY THE WINDOW. Still deep into the West I gazed; the light Clear, spiritual, tranquil as a bird Wide-winged that soars on the smooth gale and sleeps, Was it from sun far-set or moon unrisen? Whether from moon, or sun, or angel's face It held my heart from motion, stayed my blood, Along the blind charm'd way to nothingness, Lull'd the last nerve that ached. It was a sky Made for a man to waste his will upon, To be received as wiser than all toil, And much more fair. And what was strife of men? And what was time? Then came a certain thing. Are intimations for the elected soul |