Lilith. The Legend Of The First Woman. Book IV.

To that fair Elf-child other summers came;     But Lilith walked, heart-hungered, filled with shame,     Naught comforted. And in that shadow-land     She sorrowing bore, in after-time, a band     Of elfin babes, that waked dim echoes long     Forgotten there, and ghastly bursts of song.     Then Lilith saddened more, for that she knew     The curse was fallen now. And cried she through     Fast-falling tears, "Oh, me most desolate,     That shall not know in any time the fate     Of happier mothers! Nay, nor cool touch     Of baby hands. Oh, longed-for, loved so much!     Alas, my babes, ere yet hour-old ye fly,     Out-spreading shining wings with jeering cry,     Afar from me. Most hapless I, from whom     The crown of motherhood, yet white with bloom,     Falls blighted! Close in these empty arms fain     Would I clasp my babes! My tender pain     But once could ye not solace? Nay, 'tis vain;     I shall not kiss their lips, nor hear again,     As gladder mothers may, low-rippling, sweet,     The laughter children bring about their feet.     Oh, soulless ones, can ye not wait awhile,     'Till on your loveless lips I wake one smile?"     But merrily out-laughed the phantom crew;     On shining pinions white, swift seaward flew,     Or upward rose, slow-fading in the blue;     Or lured her trembling, green morasses through.     And 'mong the frothy waves they vanished fast;     Or shrieked with glee borne on the wintry blast,     And wilder raised their warlock song.     While fairer grew each day that elfin throng.     To pluck the mangoes brown, fair Lilith sped     One morn. Quick throbbed her heart. On mossy bed     Lay all her babes. With face like morning, shone     One there, and wide her yellow hair out-blown     As 'twere in play. Red-flushed her cheeks, and deep     About her lips the baby smiles. Asleep     Was one, white-gleaming, pure as pearl unseen     In sunless caves, close-shut. And one did lean     Against his fellow, lithe, sun-flushed and brown,     With rings of jetty hair that low adown     His bosom streamed. And one there was, whose dream     O'erflowed with laughter. And one did seem     Half-waking. One, with dimpled arms in sleep     Thrust elbow-deep in moss, that sure did weep     Ere yet he slept, and on his cheek scarce dried     The wilful tears.     Then low, pale Lilith cried     As near she drew, down-bending tender eyes:     "And are ye here, my babes; and will ye rise     If I but break your sleep?" His naked feet     One faintly moved as low she leant; and warm     His slumbrous breath stirred 'gainst her circling arm,     And slow aneath his closed lids slipped a waft     Of wind, that loosed a trickling tear. Its craft     The mother-heart forgot thereat. "At last,     Close to my breast, my babes," she cried, and fast     Laughing, outstretched her eager hands and strong.     Then lay with empty arms.     The elfin throng     Breasted the pulsing air with mocking song.     "Alas," she said, "could ye not give one kiss--     One tender clasp of hands! And must I miss     Your throbbing hearts from my cold, barren breast,     Ye soulless ones, that flout my lonely rest?"     There, prostrate, long lay Lilith, and there, late     'Mid dew-fall, Eblis found his stricken mate.     "O Eblis, say o'er me what curse hangs bare,     For now no more," she said, "this realm seems fair.     Its fruits grow bitter, all its light falls chill.     With thee, my prince, poor Lilith mates but ill--     Earth-born, with angel linked. Alas, is left     No joy to me, of my sweet ones bereft.     Methinks soft baby lips might erewhile drain     From Lilith's famished heart its wildest pain.     Wherefore, my Eblis, it were wise to seek     Surcease of grief. That Lilith, is so weak     Who wedded thee; and that she sinned, knew not.     Yet, if we part, mayhap may follow naught     Of other ills."     "Sweet love," he laughed, "o'er-late     Thou art so timorous. At Eden's gate     Not so, what time the angel barred her way     My Lilith stood. Shelter within my arms. Oh, say,     Was not our young love sweet? Hath it grown cold?     With me thou sharest endless life; nor old,     Nor shrivelled, shalt thou be. And not one trace     Of earth's decay (sure doom of thy sad race)     Shall taint thy babes. For lo, I give     Thy soulless ones immortal youth. They live     Without a pang. And yet, methinks the cry     Of Earth adown the ages sounds, when die     Its babes; and mothers bend dumb lips above,     And fold still hands, that answer not their love.     Lilith, doth not indeed my love outweigh     Caresses missed from phantom babes? Astray     From Eden long, here in this fair domain     To bide; and through long cycles fearless reign     Methinks were joy. In summer sheen     Wide spreads thy land. The marge of islets green     The palm-trees skirt. Soft shine the dusk lagoons     And inland mountains. Mirk the jungle's glooms,     And fair thy fertile plains. Oh, sweet the glow     When we together watch the day, that low     Among the winds lies still. Shut lilies blow     While here we wait. Come, for they fain would show     Their golden hearts. Or, love, with me to float     Were it not sweet, through flowery bays remote,     Past coves and peaks? Or pierce yon ocean's verge,     And through wild tumbling waves our sails to urge?"     "Yea, sweet is love," she said, "and sweet to roam     By listless currents lulled; or 'mid the foam     Low dip our feathery oars," she sighed, "yet sore     Is still the mother-heart that hears no more     The lisping tongues. And sad, when baby smiles     Have left it desolate. And baby wiles     Shall cheer it never more."     "Yet," Eblis said,     "Lilith, no longer mourn. For I have read     Upon a scroll as samite glistening white,     All coming fate, close hid from human sight,     Great peoples yet shall dwell in these dusk lands.     Then shall thy children, shadowy bands     That fly thy fond caress, with them abide     In closest fellowship. And though they hide     Sometimes from human ken their better selves,     Still loved, remain these tricksy elves.     Though yet indeed some quips and pranks they play,     'Tis but a jest, men know, when far away     The flickering marsh-fires swift they light     And children follow their false tapers bright     Among the spongy bogs. The ship-lad smiles,     When distant 'mid the waves the phantom isles     Rise green. 'Tis but a harmless jest that sets     On lonely plains, domes, mosques, and minarets,     And o'er the desert sands, mirage uplifts     When glimmering waves shine through deep rifts     Of crested palms.     "Still dearer they when wide     To undiscovered lands men boldly ride     Across new seas, and turn their venturous prows.     When tempests shriek, and wet about their brows     The salt spray dashes fierce, one, watching, cries,     'Good mates, no storm I fear, for yonder rise     The Elf-babes 'mid the foam. Ye goblin crew,     That sail these unknown seas, we follow you     To harbor safe. Ho, ho! With beckoning hands,     Wind-driven, loud they cry--My mates! the lands,     The golden lands we seek, are ours!'     "In Earth's brown bosom pent, the hardy wight     Long in deep caverns dwells; and hard doth smite     The rocky caves. Nor sees the golden spoil     Through weary days of wasted, lonely toil.     From his wild eyes, far-flying hides the prize,     Till desperate, angered, worn, aloud he cries:     'Vain, vain! The caves my labor answer not,     Nor yellow threads, that gleam in any grot.     Hard, cruel, silent hills, my strength ye mock,     And seal your treasures close in flinty rock;     So, after toilsome years, sweet wife, I bring     To thee no sparkling love-gift. Nay, nor anything     To cheer our failing time.'     "Then round him hears     He sturdy blows, and listening, almost fears     He dreams. But swift the echoes rise, and still     More loudly roll, and quick replies the hill.     Reverberant, through all the caverns round,     The uproar swells, and fills the world with sound.     Then lists he once again. 'With lusty shocks     Your hammers ring against the hard-ribbed rocks--     Goblins!' he boldly shouts, 'smite! smite! ye bring     My treasure forth, dark-beating goblin wing     Among the gleaming caves, whose dusk veins hold     The gold. At last! At last, the ruddy gold!'     "And lone, in stricken fields, the husbandman     Sits pale, with anxious eyes that hopeless scan     The burning sky. Hot lie the glimmering plain     And uplands parched. 'Behold, the bending grain,     Fair in the springtide, now is dead; and dry     The brooks. If yet the rainfall fail, we die     Of famine sore. No bleating lambs I hear in fold     Safe shut, nor lowing kine; nor on the wold     The whir of mounting bird: Nor thrives about me     Any living thing. So seemeth, end must be     Of striving. Since all the land is cursed,     What matter if by famine scorched, or thirst,     We die?' he saith.     "And thick the warlock swarm     Above his head, wide-spreading dark wings warm,     Fast flitted by. The waiting fields he stands     Among. And laughing, claps exultant hands.     'Good speed ye, Sprites! that bring the welcome cloud     And pile the vapors thick,' he shouts aloud.     Oh! sweet shall bloom again the bending grain,     And clothe afresh the wide, the wasted plain.     The clouds sweep black. Ha, ha! Against my cheek     The big drops fall. Merry the goblins shriek.     Behold, they mount, they sink, they rise again.     Ho, friendly elves, that bring the longed-for rain!'"     Thereat, he, smiling, ceased. And when soft crept     The listening stars across the sky, they slept     Untroubled, 'neath the mango-trees.     But when midway     The night was spent, Prince Eblis waking lay.     Soft Lilith's breathing 'mong the droopt leaves stirred.     And he, sore troubled, mused on every word     That Lilith spake ere yet they slept. In all     Foreseeing much of ill that might befall     Their love. "O, queenly soul! Of finer grain     Thou art than angels are. And more in brain     Than man, I hold thee. Sooth, yet taints thee still     One touch of womankind. And since so chill     She finds her babes, must I forego my vow?     For one flaw, Hope's clear crystal break? Oh, how     Ally her cause with mine! So doth she long     For human love--a baby hand is strong     To hurl my empire down. From her soft heart     Red, baby lips can drain revenge, and start     Unbidden tears. And pity wakes to life     When 'mong dead embers she sits lone, and strife     Is done.     "Then, at Regret's dull heels, lo, fast,     Retrieving follows. Happy days long past     She will recall. If so for love she yearn,     Back to her early home once more will turn,     Pardoning her wilful lord. And he again     Shall win the woman I so love, and fain     Would hold forever. Lilith, thou one balm     Of my lost soul in all this world! Shall calm     My sufferings, or love me, any one, save thee,     When thou in Adam's arms forgettest me?     My only love! Nay, then, 'twere surely wise     To shut these baby faces from her eyes,     New seeds of wrath to sow, her hate so feed     That all her rankling wounds afresh shall bleed.     And in her ears 'Good Adam!' will I cry,     Lest she forget Eden she lost thereby.     Yea, 'Adam!' I will laugh. Till her red lips with guile     O'erflow. And she shall curse him loud.    With subtlest wile     Safe won, then shall she ever be mine own.     Soul-bound to me in hate, more terrible than death     In hate, that long outlasts Love's puny breath--     O cunning craft, that with the self-same blow     Forever wins my love, and smites my foe!     "Last night, when Lilith slept, lest I might mar     Her dreams, from our green couch I rose, and far     Passed silent. Know I not the spell that draws     My feet unwilling, Edenward. Its laws     I may not brave to rend my foe. Nor there     The Angel pass, unseen. The night so fair,     As prone among the glistening leaves I lay,     On Adam shone. Not sad, as on a day     Erstwhile he seemed. And I could almost swear     The sound of silvery laughter on the air     Fell soft. And a fleet footfall 'mong the flowers     Scattered the dew. Yet 'mid those silent bowers     Naught else I saw or heard save rippling flow     Of waters, and the moonshine white. Oh, low     Speak, Eblis, lest aloud the night may tell     Thy secret to the stars. Yet it were well     If lies the hidden cure for Lilith's woe     Close shut in Paradise.     "All would we know,     If we, close hid without those verdant walls,     Together watched. What fate soe'er befalls     I care not, if with me she bide."     Down bent     He o'er her hair, thick with the night-dew sprent.     Soft kissed it, crying, "Love, the morn shines bright.     Waken, my Lilith, now. Through lands of night     Our happy course afar doth ever wend;     Past smiling shores where mighty rivers bend,     Past cove and cape and isle, and winding bay     And still blue mists, that hang athwart the day."     Thereat she rose, and joyously they sped     By broad lagoons where musky odors shed     New blooms. About them coiled long wreaths of vine,     And slim lianas drooped, and marish lichens fine.     And fared they on o'er many a slanting beach     And mountain crest; past many an open reach     And forest wild--till over Paradise     They saw the stars, clear, tender, loving, rise.     Then 'neath the screen of those rose-girdled walls     They hid without, listing the waterfalls,     Or bird belated, twittering to its nest.     So still the spot, the very grass to rest     Seemed hushed.     The garden-close, a clinging rose o'ercrept.     Its lustrous stem without that drooping swept     Thick set with buds as tintless as the snows     On sunless hills, when wild the north wind blows.     Lilith a-tiptoe stood; upreaching, caught     The swaying boughs. Her eyes with longing fraught     Close scanned her old deserted home. Then came     Upon her spirit sadness, as if blame     Unuttered breathed through those remembered glades     And touched the odors moist 'mong mirky shades.     With wistful gaze, she traced each bosky dell,     Each winding path. And sweet youth's memories fell     About her.     Then was she ware of Adam, slow     Pacing the pleasance-ways. With ruddy glow     Fresh shone his cheeks, and crisp his hair out-blown     By wanton winds. His lips were mirthful grown.     Once he made pause hard by the coppice green     That hid the watcher. Once the leafy screen     So near he passed, from the overhanging edge     He brushed a rose. The hindering hedge     Quick through, in sudden blessing slim white hand     Fain had she reached. "O Eden mine! Dear land,"     She sighed. And springing warm the tender tide     Of teardrops gemmed the roses at her side.     So greets the weary wanderer once more     His early home. The lintels worn, the door     Age-stained; the iris clumps, in sheltered nook;     The mill-wheel rotting o'er the shrunken brook;     The sunny orchard, sloping west; and far     And cold, above his mother's grave, a star--     Then quick unbidden tears, the heart's warm rain,     O'erflow his soul, and leave it pure again.     So Lilith backward turned to holier days,     Watching through misty tears where trod those ways     Her feet in other times.     Sudden and sweet     Came down those paths a glimpse of flying feet;     A sound of girlish laughter smote the air.     In jealous rage, Lilith uprose to dare     The guarding Angel's wrath. But, silver clear,     The mocking laugh of Eblis caught her ear.     "Thou hast forgot," he said, "this peaceful land,     Living, thou canst not enter."     But her hand     Grasped once again the roses' shining strand,     And 'neath her guileful touch, like scarlet flame     The snowy flowers burned. So, first Earth's shame     Around them set the spikd thorns.     Long there     Pale Lilith looked, as coldly still and fair     As carven stone. Then, with a fierce despair,     A sense of utter loss, downbending there,     With fingers hot she tore the hedge apart     And laid thereto her face. With sorer smart     She gazed again. For now, the twain at rest     Were laid. Pure as a dream, Eve's sinless breast     A babe close pressed. One pink foot, small and warm,     Among the leaves was hid. One dimpled arm     Aneath her head.     Low Eblis sneered. "I wot     In young Eve's arms my Lilith is forgot.     Oh, soon," he said, "these earth-worms changeful turn--     From the oped rose when red the shut buds burn."     But wild eyes on the babe she fixed. "Oh, blind,"     She cried, "was I. Yea, if the wanton wind     Doth mock, I will not chide. Was it for this     I wandered far, and bartered Eden's bliss?     For this have lost the very bloom of life?     So Adam comfort finds, not knowing strife!     Look you, that fragile thing at Adam's side--     I heed her not. But Lilith is denied     The treasure she so careless doth possess.     See how the babe, scarce waking, doth caress     The mother! Look! Oh, hear the mother croon     Above her child! Ah, Eblis, love, I swoon--     I shall not know such joy. Alas, to me     No babe shall come! Accursd may she be,     Cursed Adam too. Thrice heavy on the head     Of this poor babe my wrong be visited."     So, trembling, she brake off.     "Fast fades the light,     Sweet love. Once more to our dark realm of night     Let us return," he said.     As on fared they     With merry jest, Eblis gan cheer the way.     "Nay, otherwhiles mirth pleased," she said. "Knowest thou     What name she bears, who dwells in Eden now?     When Lilith went, long tarried Adam lone?"     She said. Replied he, "All to me is known     Since that same hour you parted. What befell,     To thee as we wend onward I will tell.     "Calm morn in Eden streaked the skies with red,     And flushed the waiting hills above the grassy bed     Where Adam, joyless, saw new rise the sun,     Unwinding golden webs night-vapors spun     Athwart low meads. Slow, droning murmurs sent     The waking bees, with bloom and fragrance blent.     Unheeded poured her music blithesome Day     The reedy brooks beside and shallows gray.     For lone to Adam seemed the place, and cold;     The landscape dumb, as one aneath the mould.     For Lilith's sake, no more was Eden fair.     Bloomless the days, the nights bowed down with care.     Oft pacing pathways dim, he saw the gleam     Of strange-faced flowers beside the purling stream,     Or toyed with circling leaves; or plucked the grass,     And watched through rifted trees the clouds o'erpass;     Wide roaming, heard the waters idly break     Far 'gainst the curving beach.     "And grieving, spake,     'Oh, sweet with thee each hour--each wilding way,     And sweet the memory of each gathered spray.     Could you not wait, dear love? Or come once more?     Yea, 'till you come, vain doth great Nature pour     Her richest gifts.' He paused, and heard alone     Respondent fall, the wood-dove's plaintive moan,     And the spent winds among the scented glades.     Moss-couched beneath the glinting forest shades,     He gazed, when shadows o'er the hills crept light,     Quick vanishing, like phantom fingers white,     Until on mead, and mere, and sounding shore     Eden found voice, sad plaining, 'Never-more!'     Long time he pondered on blue peaks remote     When slow, as stranded ships that listless float,     Moved by the sunset clouds. Or the white rack     Swept o'er the garden walls.     "'Would I their track     Might take,' he said, 'Lilith, so long you stay.     Whom my soul follows sorrowing--alway.'     Thus ever mourned he, comfortless; that so     In after days the Master, in the glow     Of morning-tide, the mother of the race     Gave for his solacement.     "Oh, fair the face     Young Eve bent o'er his sleep. Ere down the glade     The startled fawn leaps swift, her glance dismayed     Questions the hunter, mute. Such eyes--so brown,     So soft, so winning, shy--that looked adown     When Adam waked. Like vagrant tendrils, tossed     Dark hair about her brows. And quaintly crossed     Her hands upon her breast. Less red the dart     That deepest cleaves the folded rose's heart,     Than her round cheeks. Not hers the regal air     Of Lilith lost, the white arms, lissom, bare,     The slender throat; the elbows dimpled deep, whereto     Might scarcely reach Eve's head.     "Yet soft, as through     Some pleasant dream, the summer's spicy air     Stirs odorous 'mong seaward gardens fair,     In southland hid; so, gently, Eve straightway     To Adam's life unbidden came, to stay     Forever there. Sure entrance then made she     Into that heart untenanted by thee.     "So, to some olden house, from whose shut doors     One went erewhile, another comes. Its floors     All empty sees. The lowly threshold worn,     The moss-grown roof, the casements left forlorn.     Amid the shadows round about him stands,     Missing the footsteps passed to other lands,     And whispers tenderly, 'Since here no more     The owner bides, what harm if on the floor     I pass? Good chance it were the clambering vine     About the porch with fingers deft to twine--     To draw the curtains, ope the door. For who     May know how soon these paths untended, through,     He comes again, with weary, way-worn feet,     Who made aforetime, other days so sweet.     Wherefore, I enter now. For whose dear sake     These vacant rooms, white, fragrant, clean, I make.     And when, world-wearied, he returns, we twain     Perchance together bide. Nor part again.'     So Eve found refuge. Tender love, the spell     Whereby she ruled. Peaceful the pair did dwell.     Fast fled the happy years, till softly laid     In her glad arms the babe--a winsome maid."     He ended there. Between them silence deep     Fell, as they journeyed. And the furthest steep     They crossed, that o'er their shadow-world rose high.     Then saw they level plains, their home, anigh.     And now, seeking her pleasance once again,     They came to their own land. But all in vain     His care. Silent she was, and oft did grieve,     Till Eblis wrathful cried: "Because this Eve     Adam holds dear, art mourning? Still dost yearn     To mate his sordid soul? Or wouldst thou turn     From summer land to Eden walls?     "The man     Belike, ne'er loved thee. So is it young Eve can     His pulses sway. Is she not passing fair?     Her fancies wild, it is her daily care     To bend beneath his ever fickle will.     Red-lipped and soft, she deftly rules him still,     Though he wist not. Yet sweeter Lilith's frown     Than archest smile she wears. Great Soul! The crown     Thou bearest of fadeless life. For fleeting dreams     In Paradise, beside the winding streams,     Wilt thou resign such boon? Thou art, in sooth,     Of mold too firm for Adam's love. In truth     A prince--though fallen--consorts best with thee     Say which were wise, with Eden's lord to be,     Or, shining high, the purer soul, the star     That fadeless burns, and Eblis lights afar?     Were it not grand through endless spaces hurled     With me to drive, above a shrinking world     Our chariot, wide?     "For I foresee when dawn     Dark days upon our foes, and hope is gone.     Wherefore, my Lilith, now, as seems thee good,     Make choice." Thereat she, turning where she stood,     With kisses hung about his neck, and smiled,     Crying, "Thine, Eblis, thine!" So were they reconciled.