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

Wide through her realm she walked, and glad or lorn     She mused. So, loitering, it chanced one morn     When lone she sat upon a mountain height,     One sudden stood anear, whose dark eyes bright     Upon her shone. Pallid his face, and red     His smileless lips. "Who art thou?" Lilith said,     And faint a hidden pain her hot heart stirred,     When low, and rarely sweet, his voice she heard.     She looked, half-pleased--and half in strange surprise     Shrank 'neath the gaze of those wild, starry eyes.     "Oh, dame," the stranger said, "where waters leap     Bright glancing down, I rested oft, where steep     Thy Eden o'er, bare-browed, a peak uprose.     Naught craving bloom or fruitage--nay, nor those     Frail joys Adam holds dear. One only boon     I sought of all his heritage. Fair 'neath the moon     I saw thee stand; and all about thy feet     The night her perfume spilled, soft incense meet.     Then low I sighed, when grew thy beauty on my sight,     'Some comfort yet remains, if that I might     From Adam pluck this perfect flower. Some morn--     If I (some dreamed-of morn, perchance slow-born)     This flawless bloom, white, fragrant, lustrous, pure     For ever on my breast might hold secure.'     Yea, for thy love, through darkling realms of night     I followed thee, sharing thy fearful flight     Unseen. Lo, when thy timid heart, behind     Heard echoing phantom feet upon the wind,     'Twas I, pursuing o'er the day's last brink;     Wherefore, I now am here. O Lilith, think     How over-much I love thee, and how sweet     Were life with thee! O weary naked feet,     With me each onward path wilt thou not tread?     Or, if thou endest here thy quest," he said,     "Let me too bide with thee."     Made answer low     Lilith thereto: "Meseems not long ago     One stood at Eden's gate like thee. But thy face     Is darker, red thy lips. Of kingly race     I know thee. Say, whence comest thou, O prince?"     "Nay, then," he sighed, "an outcast I, long since     From Heaven thrust out; yet now, the curse is past,     Nor mourn I Heaven lost, if at the last     Thy love I win. Yea, where thou art, I know     Is Heaven. And bliss, in sooth" (oh, soft and low,     He said), "lives ever in thy smile."     His speech     Thus ended. And toward the sandy beach     He passed. Though long her eyes the stranger sought     Where curved the distant shore, she saw him not.     Soft through the trees the mottled shadows dropped     When Lilith in her pleasance sat. Half-propped     'Gainst mossy trunk her slender length. Her hair     In sunny web, enmeshed her elbows bare.     Slowly the breeze swayed the mimosas slight     As Eblis pushed aside the bent boughs light.     "O dame," he said, "it seemeth surely meet     Earth's richest gifts to lay at Lilith's feet;     Therefore I said 'unto the fairest one,     Things loveliest beneath the shining sun     I bring.' Since of all crafts in this young earth     I am true master, unto her whose worth     So much deserves, I bear this marble sphere,     Whose hollowed husk, well polished, gleaming clear,     Hides rarest fruit." Therewith the globe he showed,     The half whereof smooth-sparkling was: Half glowed     With carven work; embossed with pale leaves light,     And delicately sculptured birds in flight,     And clustered flowers frail. Lilith drew near     With beaming eyes, and laid the graven sphere     Against her smiling lips; o'ertraced the vine     That circled it with fingers slim. "Mine, mine     Is it, O prince?" she cried. "I know not why     Its beauty doth recall the winds' long sigh     That surged among the palms.    Methinks is dead     Some summer-tide, that in its own sweet stead     Hath left upon the stone its imaging."     Eblis replied: "On earth, is anything     More fair? If such thou knowest, Lilith, speak.     That I, for thee, surely would straightway seek.     Say, if indeed thou findest anywhere,     On land or sea, created things so rare?"     And Lilith answered, "On this earth so round,     Naught else so lovely anywhere I found.     So shames it meaner work--so had I said--     But see yon nodding palm that droops its head     Low sighing o'er the wave. Bring me a bough     So feathery-fine. Turn thy white sphere! Now     On its cold, fair surface, Eblis, canst thou     Such branches carve, or tender fronds, that we     Bright waving on the cocoa, these may see?"     And Eblis wrought till grew upon the stone     Such airy boughs as on the cocoa shone.     Then Lilith cried: "Skilled craftsman, proven thou!     Didst thou, then, make my cocoa-tree? Thy bough     Pale graven give the grace of its green crown     When through it night winds gently slip adown.     No charm of color, nor of change, nor glow     Of blue noon sky, thy carven work doth show;     Let dusk bees visit it--or sip the breath     From thy chill marble buds." Then, Lilith saith,     "Eblis hath wroughten noblest on this earth."     He answered quick, "Poor bauble, little worth     To Lilith! Ope thy slighted husk, reveal     The miracle thy rough rind doth conceal!"     He touched a hidden spring, and wide apart     The riven sphere showed its white hollow heart,     And in the midst a gem; the which he laid     Within her hand. "Behold," he said, "I made     Most fair for thee this lustrous blood-red sard,     And deftly traced its gleaming surface hard     With carvings thick of bright acacias slim,     Pomegranates lush and river-reeds. Its rim     A spray of leaves enchased, white as with rime     Night fallen. 'Slow drags the lagging time,'     I said, 'till one day shines upon the breast     Of her, whose perfect beauty worthiest     It decks, this gem.' The token, Lilith, take;     If lovelier there be, for Eblis' sake     Keep silent; yet with me, oh Lilith, go     Awhile from thine own land. Then shall I know     The gem finds favor in thine eyes."     Then she     Turned from her pleasance and all silently     Passed to the sea, across the yellow strand     That, glimmering, ringed her shadowy land.     "Oh cool," he said, "the lucent waves that fret     The barren shore, and curl their scattered spray wet     'Gainst thy hand. Come! my longing pinnace waits     To bear thee far. Her slender keel now grates     Upon the beach; and swift her shapely prow     Will skim the deep, as swallows' fleet wing. Thou     Seest! comely and strong it is. For thee     Its golden sails, its purple canopy.     With skin of spotted pard, I cushioned it.     Ere the fresh breeze doth die, light let us flit     Across the sea. No craft so proud, so staunch,     Goes glancing through the foam.    I safely launch     Her now, and speed to fairy isles. Come thou     With me."    And glad she crossed the burnished prow;     And 'mong the thick furred rugs sat down. "Oh craft,     Fair fashioned, lightly built, speed far," she laughed;     "To other lands bear Lilith safe."     As sailed     They idly on, her slender hand she trailed     Among the waves, and sudden cried, "Indeed,     A craft stauncher than thine floats by. What need     Hath it of helm, or prow, or silken sail,     Sure harbor finding when the ocean gale     Fast drives it onward?" A nut she drew, round,     Rough, coarse-husked, forth from the wave. "Lo, I found,"     She said, "this boat well built. The cocoa-tree     Cast it amid the foam. Its pilot free,     The summer wind; its port, the misty shore     Of ocean isles. It fades from sight. 'No more,'     We say, 'it sails the wild uncertain main,'     But when the drifting days are gone, again     We turn our prow, and reach the barren isles     Where, stranded as we went, the nut. Now smiles     Above; a bending tree. Aloud we cry,     'A miracle is wrought!' We draw anigh.     Behold, the cocoa, towering, doth spring     Forth from the brown nut's heart. About it cling     Sweet odors faint; and far stars trembling peep.     When through its bowers cool the breezes creep.     Strong, indeed, thy boat, well builded! I wis     There be yet other craft as firm, Eblis,     That o'er these trackless waters boldly glide.     Brave Nautilus afar, doth fearless ride,     With sails of gossamer. So, too, doth spread,     To summer airs, his silken gleaming thread,     The water-spider fleet, free sailor true     That in the sunshine floats, beneath the blue,     Glad skies. And through the deep, all sparkling, slip     A thousand insect-swarms, that, rippling, dip     Amid the merry waves. Bright voyagers     That roam the sultry seas! Look, the wind stirs     Our creaking sails! Thy pinnace flying o'er     The ocean's swell, fast leaves the fading shore;     Yet faster still the Nautilus sails by,     And darts the spider quick. And swifter fly     The insect-fleets among the foam; yet think     Not when among the billows wild doth sink     Thy bounding boat, I fear. Nor would I slight     Thy skill, that made it strong, and swift, and light,     And trimmed it gayly, for my sake."     Now near     A jutting shore Prince Eblis drew, where sheer     The brown rocks rose. And just beyond, a slim     Beach of white sand curved to the ocean's brim.     Thereto he came, and high upon the strand     Drew the boat's keel. "Welcome, fair queen, to land     That Eblis rules," he said. "I fain would show     Thee what thou hast not seen in the warm glow     Of thy glad home. This blighted shore of mine     No verdure hath, nor bloom, nor fruits that shine     'Mong drooping boughs.    Far inland gloom lone peaks     O'er blackened meads; or from their bare cones leaps     Gaunt, crackling flame; or crawl like ashen veins     The smouldering fires across the stricken plains.     Deep in these yawning caves black shadows lie     That shall be lifted never more. Come, I     Enter! Know thou what treasure by the sea     I gathered other time." Therewith showed he     Hid 'mong the high heaped rocks a dusky grot     Where never sunshine fell. A dismal spot     Where dank the sea-weeds coiled and cold the air     Swept through. And stooping, Eblis downward rolled     Before her webs of woven stuff, in fold     Of purple sheen, enwrought with flecks of gold.     Great wefts of scarlet and of blue, thick strewn     With pearls, or cleft with discs of jacinth stone;     And drifts of silky woof and samite white,     And warps of Orient hues. Eblis light     Wound round her neck a scarf of amber. Wide     Its smooth folds sweeping flowed; and proud he cried,     "Among these hills, in the still loom of night,     I wrought for Lilith's pleasing, all. And bright     Have spun these webs, in blended morning hues     And noontide shades and trail of silver dews--     Hereon have set fair traceries of cloud-shine     And tints of the far vales. The textures fine     Glow with sweet thoughts of thee. And otherwhere     Hast thou such fabrics seen, or colors rare     As these?" Dawned in her eyes a swift delight,     And low she cried, "Oh, wondrous is the sight,     And much it pleaseth me. But yet," she said,     "Beside my knee one morn, its hooded head     A Hag reared. Its gliding shape so near     To subtler music moved, than my dull ear     Could catch. Its velvet skin I gently strake,     Watching the light that o'er its heaped coils brake     In glittering waves. Within its small, wise glance,     Flame silent slept, or quick in baleful dance     Before my startled gaze quivering did wake.     Fair is thy woof, soft woven, yet the snake     Out-dazzles it. The beetle that doth boom     Its dull life out among the tangled gloom,     Lift his wide wing above thy weft, or trail     His splendor there, and thy poor web will pale;     Yea, the red wayside lily that doth snare     The girdled bee, is softer still, more fair     Than finest woven cloth." But tenderly     She smoothed the gleaming folds. "Much pleaseth me,     Natlhess," she said, "such loveliness." Then brought     He tapestries of fleeces fine, well wrought     In colors soft as woodland mosses' tinge,     Or glow of autumn blooms: Heavy with fringe     Of downward sweeping gold; arras, where through     Showed mottled stripes, or arabesques of blue,     Broad zones of red, and tender grays, and hue     Of dropping leaves. "Lilith," he said, "when rolled     The storm-tossed billows round these caves, behold     I spun these daintily. 'Twere hard to find     Such twisted weft or woven strand." "Oh, kind,"     She said, "is Eblis, unto whom I fain     Would give due thanks. His gorgeous train     But yesterday I saw the peacock spread;     Bright in the sun gleamed his small crested head;     His haughty neck wrinkled to green and blue,     And since I needs must truly speak, I knew     Not color rich as his: and I have seen     The curious nest among the branches green,     The busy weaver-bird plaits of thick leaves,     And in and out its pliant meshes weaves;     And since thou sayest 'twere hard to match thy fine,     Strong, woven fabrics, watch the weaver twine     His cunning wefts. Though still," she said, "think not     I scorn thy gifts, Prince Eblis; for I wot     Their worth is greater than my tongue can say."     Then Eblis deeper in the cave led her a little way,     And showed a stately screen of such fine art     One almost felt the breeze that seemed to part     The pictured boughs. And o'er the stirless lake     Dreamed the swift, wimpling waters sudden brake     Among the willows on its brink--and flowers     Of scarlet, shining-clean from summer showers;     And Eblis said, "Cold praise a friend should spare     This picture true. Certain naught else will dare     Vie with such beauty."     Archly Lilith took     The rose from her bright hair, and lightly shook     The dewdrop from its heart. "I loving, touch,"     She said, "these petals smooth. O, Eblis, such     Give to thy painted blooms; give its cool sheen     Of morningtide, the mossy, lush leaves green     That fold it round. Give its faint, fragrant breath,     When with the fickle breeze it dallieth.     Nay, fairer still my rose than gilded screen,     Though it be limned with perfect art, I ween."     Thereat smiled Eblis bitterly. "I bring     One parting gift," he said, "a dainty thing;     Perchance in other time it will recall     One who strove long and patiently through all     These days to win thy praise." An oval plane     Of crystal gave he her; of fleck or stain     Clear-gleaming. Of ivory carven fine     The frame. And when she looked, "Divine,"     He laughed, "the beauty it enshrines. Canst claim     Aught else is fairer?" And Lilith again     Gazed in the glass, her face beholding there,     Her pink flushed cheeks, her yellow streaming hair.     Quick came her breath. "O prince," she slowly said,     "Fair is the stranger. Bid those lips so red     Speak once to Lilith. For methinks the voice     Of such in music flowed. Let me rejoice     Therein." "O glorious counterfeit!" cried     He. "Lovelier is not on this earth wide!     Behold, sweet Lilith, 'tis thine own pure face     That lends my happy mirror perfect grace     It else had not. Bid thou thine image speak!     No other happiness I elsewhere seek,     If the soft tale she whispers be of me."     And Lilith answered gravely, "I know thee,     Eblis. Master indeed of all crafts thou--     Red Sard, and marble sphere, and agile prow     Of pinnace light well wroughten were by thee     And decked full fair. And, beauteous to see,     Fine woven weft and web, and the tall screen     O'errun with painted bloom, crystal, with gleam     Of Lilith's face--thou madest these. Mayhap     Beetle and asp likewise didst tint--didst wrap     The green about my rose, and richly fringe     My cocoa-tree, or peacock's train didst tinge     With dazzling hues. Methought thou wert a prince,     But now Lilith should humbly kneel, since     Thou art far higher than she deemed, if thou     Madest these wondrous things." And lowly now     As she would kneel, she drew anigh. But he     Cried, shrinking, "Nay, I made them not." And she     Low questioned, "Eblis, tell me who then, did make     Them all. Who set the creeping hooded snake     And stealthy pard within the thorny brake,     And spread the sea, and wreathed the waterfall     With foam? Who reared the hoar hills, towering tall     Above the lands?" With eyes wild flashing, low     He groaned: "O Lilith, ask me not. My foe     He was--he is. Trembles with wrath my frame     If I but faintly breathe his awful name."     Lilith replied, "Meseemeth, master true     Of every craft is He."     Forth the two     From that drear cavern passed. Ere the water's brim     They gained, he plucked the wilding reeds, that slim     Stood by a brook. "My pipe I make, one strain     Harmonious to wake. Nor yet again     Shalt thou such fresh notes hear. Music like mine     Methinks thou hast not known in any time."     He laid his pipe unto his lips, and blew     A blast, wild, piercing, sweet. The far hills through     It rung. And softer fell, yet wild and clear.     It ceased. With drooping eyes, "Once I did hear     A song as wildly clear, as sad," she said,     "In mine own realm." And as she spoke, dark dread     The sky grew with a coming storm. "Oh, haste,"     He cried; "seek refuge ere this dreary waste     Reeks with the rain!" And fast they sped     Back to his ocean-cave. There safe, o'erhead     They watched the piling clouds. With angry roar     The baffled billows broke upon the rocks. O'er     Them rushed the shrieking storm. Wild through the grot     Wandered the prisoned wind, a troubled ghost that sought     Repose. Or low did moan, and trembling, wail,     Like some sore-hearted thing that hideth, pale,     And dare not front the day; and wilder still,     In chords melodious, swelled or sank, until     She sighed, "Oh, this weird harp among the caves,     Strange players hath! For loud as one that raves,     It rises. Now more sweetly fade away     Its mellow notes than thy thin pipes." "One day,"     He said, "mayhap my strain may please, when wind     Doth not outpipe my slighted reeds. Unkind     Thou art." "The storm is past; to mine own land     I would return," she said.    And Eblis o'er the strand     Led her. And homeward silent turned his prow     That swiftly through the swirling waves did plow.     But when they parted, Eblis mused, "I know     No gift soever winneth her, rich though     It be and seemly. Into this pure soul,     Through fear of ill, I enter; or by goal     Of future gain before it set."     So came     He to her pleasance yet again. A flame     Leaped high above a brazier that he bore,     Its sweet, white, scented wood quick lapping o'er.     With darkened face Eblis above her hung.     "This hath, than my poor pipe, a keener tongue,"     Smileless and stern, he said. "Oh, dame,     List how the wild, crisp, crackling ruby flame     Eats through the tender boughs. A trusty knave     It is, that serves me well, and loud doth rave     As tiger caged. When I do set it free,     With angry fangs leaps on its prey. But see,     It now sleeps harmlessly, till Eblis calls     His faithful servant back. Lilith, when falls     The red fire at thy feet, dost fear?" "Nay, nay,"     She cried, and drew her white neck up.    "A way     To tame it thou hast found. Believe me, since     It is thy slave I too will bind it, prince.     Should Lilith fear? Unfaltering, these eyes     Have watched when rushing storm-clouds heaped the skies,     And the black whirlwind, with loud, deafening roar,     Beat the torn waves; or whirled against the shore     The tumbling billows, with fierce lips that bit     The shrinking land. And the wreathed lightnings split     The cloud with thunder dread: or wildly burst     Upon the sea the water-spout. Shall first     She fear thy flame, who feared not these?" "Fit mate     Art thou for Eblis," answered he. "His fate     Share, great-souled one. Thou wouldst not meanly shrink,     Though his strong heart did fail. O Lilith, think!     The crown of clustered worlds thou mayest find,     If thou with him who loveth thee wilt bind     Thy life." "Nay, far happier seems to me     Than eagle caged, the wild lark soaring free,"     She said. And through her rose-pleached alleys strayed     They to the sea. And tender music made     That guileful voice; yet slow his wooing sped     Those summer days. But when were dead     And brown the crisping leaves, "Oh, love," he said,     "Of all the centuries, thou rarest bloom,     Thy shut heart open wide. Its sweet perfume,     Though I should die, fain would I parting drink.     Sleeps yet thy love? From me no longer shrink,     My Lilith. Oh, lift up thy tender eyes;     In their blue depths doth happy morning rise;     'Tis night if they be closed."     She softly sighed;     And ancient strife recalling, thus replied:     "When dwelt a prince discrowned, well satisfied?     And fallen, loving, still art thou a prince,     And otherwhiles might sorrow bring me, since     It might hap thou wouldst much desire her realm,     Were Lilith thine; for princes seize the helm     When Love lies moored, and bid the shallop seek     Across the waves new lands. But Love is weak,     And so, alas, the craft upon the sands     Is dashed, while one, on-looking, wrings her hands.     Such days I have outlived. Like Adam, thou     Perchance will seek to bind the loosed. Then how     (If one hath drunken wine of liberty)     Shall she, athirst, rejoice; no longer free,     Be glad?"     "My love," he said, "large-hearted lives,     Full dowers thee, and royal bounty gives,     Nor knoweth law, save Lilith's wish alone."     "Why, then," she answered, "on the polished stone     That fronts yon hill, write, Eblis, in full day,     That other time we read it clear, and say,     'Hereon are graven all those early vows     We whispered low aneath the summer boughs,'     Write every word. That so the stone shall be     Ever a witness mute twixt thee and me.     Then shall I know thou seekest in me no thrall     For after-days, if thou make compact. All     Thou hast said, write now."     Then on the stone,     As she had said, graved Eblis, and thereon     Did set his seal. So wedded they: and hand     In hand the wide world roamed. Or in her land     Abode. And oft, of hours, ere yet on earth     He walked, she questioned.    Or he loosed with mirth     Her yellow hair, down-streaming o'er his arm;     And 'gainst his cheek her breath came sweet and warm;     As through his dusky locks caressing played     Her fingers slim; and shadows, half afraid,     She saw in his wild eyes.     Or paths remote     They trod, watching the white clouds rise and float     Athwart the sky. Or by the listless main,     Or 'neath the lotus bough, slow paced the twain.     Or dragon-trees spread their cool leafy screen.     And faint crept odors through the mangroves green,     Where paused the pair upon the sandy shore.     Love-tranced, unheeded, swiftly passed them o'er     Glad summer days: till one hour softly laid     At Lilith's feet a fair, lone babe, that strayed     From distant Dreamland far. So might one deem     That looked upon its face. Or, it might seem     From other climes, a rose-leaf blown apart,     Down-fluttered there, to gladden Lilith's heart.