A Romance of the Ganges

Seven maidens 'neath the midnightStand near the river-seaWhose water sweepeth white aroundThe shadow of the tree;The moon and earth are face to face,And earth is slumbering deep;The wave-voice seems the voice of dreamsThat wander through her sleep:The river floweth on.

What bring they 'neath the midnight,Beside the river-sea?They bring the human heart whereinNo nightly calm can be,--That droppeth never with the wind,Nor drieth with the dew:Oh, calm in God! thy calm is broadTo cover spirits too.The river floweth on.

The maidens lean them overThe waters, side by side,And shun each other's deepening eyes,And gaze adown the tide;For each within a little boatA little lamp hath put,And heaped for freight some lily's weightOr scarlet rose half shut.The river floweth on.

Of shell of cocoa carvenEach little boat is made;Each carries a lamp, and carries a flower,And carries a hope unsaid;And when the boat hath carried the lampUnquenched till out of sight,The maiden is sure that love will endure;But love will fail with light.The river floweth on.

Why, all the stars are readyTo symbolize the soul,The stars untroubled by the wind,Unwearied as they roll;And yet the soul by instinct sadReverts to symbols low--To that small flame, whose very nameBreathed o'er it, shakes it so!The river floweth on.

Six boats are on the river,Seven maidens on the shore,While still above them steadfastlyThe stars shine evermore.Go, little boats, go soft and safe,And guard the symbol spark!The boats aright go safe and brightAcross the waters dark.The river floweth on.

The maiden Luti watchethWhere onwardly they float:That look in her dilating eyesMight seem to drive her boat:Her eyes still mark the constant fire,And kindling unawaresThat hopeful while, she lets a smileCreep silent through her prayers.The river floweth on.

The smile--where hath it wandered?She riseth from her knee,She holds her dark, wet locks away--There is no light to see!She cries a quick and bitter cry--"Nuleeni, launch me thine!We must have light abroad to-night,For all the wreck of mine."The river floweth on.

"I do remember watchingBeside this river-bedWhen on my childish knee was leanedMy dying father's head;I turned mine own to keep the tearsFrom falling on his face:What doth it prove when Death and LoveChoose out the self-same place?"The river floweth on.

"They say the dead are joyfulThe death-change here receiving:Who say--ah me! who dare to sayWhere joy comes to the living?Thy boat, Nuleeni! look not sad--Light up the waters rather!I weep no faithless lover whereI wept a loving father."The river floweth on.

"My heart foretold his falsehoodEre my little boat grew dim;And though I closed mine eyes to dreamThat one last dream of him,They shall not now be wet to seeThe shining vision go:From earth's cold love I look aboveTo the holy house of snow."The river floweth on.

"Come thou--thou never knewestA grief, that thou shouldst fear one!Thou wearest still the happy lookThat shines beneath a dear one:Thy humming-bird is in the sun,Thy cuckoo in the grove,And all the three broad worlds, for theeAre full of wandering love."The river floweth on.

"Why, maiden, dost thou loiter?What secret wouldst thou cover?That peepul cannot hide thy boat,And I can guess thy lover;I heard thee sob his name in sleep,It was a name I knew:Come, little maid, be not afraid,But let us prove him true!"The river floweth on.

The little maiden cometh,She cometh shy and slow;I ween she seeth through her lidsThey drop adown so low:Her tresses meet her small bare feet,She stands and speaketh nought,Yet blusheth red as if she saidThe name she only thought.The river floweth on.

She knelt beside the water,She lighted up the flame,And o'er her youthful forehead's calmThe fitful radiance came:--"Go, little boat, go soft and safe,And guard the symbol spark!"Soft, safe doth float the little boatAcross the waters dark.The river floweth on.

Glad tears her eyes have blinded,The light they cannot reach;She turneth with that sudden smileShe learnt before her speech--"I do not hear his voice, the tearsHave dimmed my light away,But the symbol light will last to-night,The love will last for aye!"The river floweth on.

Then Luti spake behind her,Outspake she bitterly--"By the symbol light that lasts to-night,Wilt vow a vow to me?"Nuleeni gazeth up her face,Soft answer maketh she--"By loves that last when lights are past,I vow that vow to thee!"The river floweth on.

An earthly look had LutiThough her voice was deep as prayer--"The rice is gathered from the plainsTo cast upon thine hair:But when he comes his marriage-bandAround thy neck to throw,Thy bride-smile raise to meet his gaze,And whisper,--There is one betrays,While Luti suffers woe."The river floweth on.

"And when in seasons after,Thy little bright-faced sonShall lean against thy knee and askWhat deeds his sire hath done,--Press deeper down thy mother-smileHis glossy curls among,View deep his pretty childish eyes,And whisper,--There is none denies,While Luti speaks of wrong."The river floweth on.

Nuleeni looked in wonder,Yet softly answered she--"By loves that last when lights are past,I vowed that vow to thee:But why glads it thee that a bride-day beBy a word of woe defiled?That a word of wrong take the cradle-songFrom the ear of a sinless child?""Why?" Luti said, and her laugh was dread,And her eyes dilated wild--"That the fair new love may her bridegroom prove,And the father shame the child!"The river floweth on.

"Thou flowest still, O river,Thou flowest 'neath the moon;Thy lily hath not changed a leaf,Thy charmed lute a tune:He mixed his voice with thine and hisWas all I heard around;But now, beside his chosen bride,I hear the river's sound."The river floweth on.

"I gaze upon her beautyThrough the tresses that enwreathe it;The light above thy wave, is hers--My rest, alone beneath it:Oh, give me back the dying lookMy father gave thy water!Give back--and let a little loveO'erwatch his weary daughter!"The river floweth on.

"Give back!" she hath departed--The word is wandering with her;And the stricken maidens hear afarThe step and cry together.Frail symbols? None are frail enowFor mortal joys to borrow!--While bright doth float Nuleeni's boat,She weepeth dark with sorrow.The river floweth on.