Poems by George Meredith Volume Ii Part 22

A PREACHING FROM A SPANISH BALLAD

I

Ladies who in chains of wedlock Chafe at an unequal yoke, Not to nightingales give hearing; Better this, the raven's croak.

II

Down the Prado strolled my seigneur, Arm at lordly bow on hip, Fingers tr.i.m.m.i.n.g his moustachios, Eyes for pirate fellows.h.i.+p.

III

Home sat she that owned him master; Like the flower bent to ground Rain-surcharged and sun-forsaken; Heedless of her hair unbound.

IV

Sudden at her feet a lover Palpitating knelt and wooed; Seemed a very gift from heaven To the starved of common food.

V

Love me? she his vows repeated: Fiery vows oft sung and thrummed: Wondered, as on earth a stranger; Thirsted, trusted, and succ.u.mbed.

VI

O beloved youth! my lover!

Mine! my lover! take my life Wholly: thine in soul and body, By this oath of more than wife!

VII

Know me for no helpless woman; Nay, nor coward, though I sink Awed beside thee, like an infant Learning shame ere it can think.

VIII

Swing me hence to do thee service, Be thy succour, prove thy s.h.i.+eld; Heaven will hear!--in house thy handmaid, Squire upon the battlefield.

IX

At my b.r.e.a.s.t.s I cool thy footsoles; Wine I pour, I dress thy meats; Humbly, when my lord it pleaseth, Lie with him on perfumed sheets:

X

Pray for him, my blood's dear fountain, While he sleeps, and watch his yawn In that wakening babelike moment, Sweeter to my thought than dawn! -

XI

Thundered then her lord of thunders; Burst the door, and, flas.h.i.+ng sword, Loud disgorged the woman's t.i.tle: Condemnation in one word.

XII

Grand by righteous wrath transfigured, Towers the husband who provides In his person judge and witness, Death's black doorkeeper besides!

XIII

Round his head the ancient terrors, Conjured of the stronger's law, Circle, to abash the creature Daring twist beneath his paw.

XIV

How though he hath squandered Honour High of Honour let him scold: Gilding of the man's possession, 'Tis the woman's coin of gold.

XV

She inheriting from many Bleeding mothers bleeding sense Feels 'twixt her and sharp-fanged nature Honour first did plant the fence.

XVI

Nature, that so shrieks for justice; Honour's thirst, that blood will slake; These are women's riddles, roughly Mixed to write them saint or snake.

XVII

Never nature cherished woman: She throughout the s.e.xes' war Serves as temptress and betrayer, Favouring man, the muscular.

XVIII

Lureful is she, bent for folly; Doating on the child which crows: Yours to teach him grace in fealty, What the bloom is, what the rose.

XIX

Hard the task: your prison-chamber Widens not for lifted latch Till the giant thews and sinews Meet their G.o.dlike overmatch.

XX

Read that riddle, scorning pity's Tears, of c.o.c.katrices shed: When the heart is vowed for freedom, Captaincy it yields to head.

XXI

Meanwhile you, freaked nature's martyrs, Honour's army, flower and weed, Gentle ladies, wedded ladies, See for you this fair one bleed.

XXII

Sole stood her offence, she faltered; Prayed her lord the youth to spare; Prayed that in the orange garden She might lie, and ceased her prayer.

XXIII

Then commanding to all women Chast.i.ty, her b.r.e.a.s.t.s she laid Bare unto the self-avenger.

Man in metal was the blade.