Classic and Contemporary Poetry
A STORY OF DOOM: BOOK 8, by JEAN INGELOW Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: Then one ran, crying, while niloiya wrought Last Line: He and his father, to the marriage feast. Subject(s): Marriage; Weddings; Husbands; Wives | ||||||||
THEN one ran, crying, while Niloiya wrought, 'The Master cometh!' and she went within To adorn herself for meeting him. And Shem Went forth and talked with Japhet in the field, And said, 'Is it well, my brother?' He replied, 'Well! and, I pray you, is it well at home?' But Shem made answer, 'Can a house be well, If he that should command it bides afar? Yet well is thee, because a fair free maid Is found to wed thee; and they bring her in This day at sundown. Therefore is much haste To cover thick with costly webs the floor, And pluck and cover thick the same with leaves Of all sweet herbs -- I warrant, ye shall hear No footfall where she treadeth; and the seats Are ready, spread with robes; the tables set With golden baskets, red pomegranates shred To fill them; and the rubied censers smoke, Heaped up with ambergris and cinnamon, And frankincense and cedar.' Japhet said, 'I will betroth her to me straight;' and went (Yet laboured he with sore disquietude) To gather grapes, and reap and bind the sheaf For his betrothal. And his brother spake, 'Where is our father? doth he preach to-day?' And Japhet answered, 'Yea. He said to me, "Go forward; I will follow when the folk By yonder mountain-hold I shall have warned."' And Shem replied, 'How thinkest thou? -- thine ears Have heard him oft.' He answered, 'I do think These be the last days of this old fair world.' Then he did tell him of the giant folk: How they, than he, were taller by the head; How one must stride that will ascend the steps That lead to their wide halls; and how they drave, With manful shouts, the mammoth to the north; And how the talking dragon lied and fawned, They seated proudly on their ivory thrones, And scorning him: and of their peaked hoods, And garments wrought upon, each with the tale Of him that wore it -- all his manful deeds: (Yea, and about their skirts were effigies Of kings that they had slain; and some, whose swords Many had pierced, wore vestures all of red, To signify much blood): and of their pride He told, but of the vision in the tent He told him not. And when they reached the house, Niloiya met them, and to Japhet cried, 'All hail, right fortunate! Lo, I have found A maid. And now thou hast done well to reap The late ripe corn.' So he went in with her, And she did talk with him right motherly: 'It hath been fully told me how ye loathed To wed thy father's slave; yea, she herself, Did she not all declare to me?' He said, 'Yet is thy damsel fair, and wise of heart.' 'Yea,' quoth his mother; 'she made clear to me How ye did weep, my son, and ye did vow, "I will not take her!" Now it was not I That wrought to have it so.' And he replied, 'I know it.' Quoth the mother, 'It is well; For that same cause is laughter in my heart.' 'But she is sweet of language,' Japhet said. 'Ay,' quoth Niloiya, 'and thy wife no less Whom thou shalt wed anon -- forsooth, anon -- It is a lucky hour. Thou wilt?' He said, 'I will.' And Japhet laid the slender sheaf From off his shoulder, and he said, 'Behold, My father!' Then Niloiya turned herself, And lo! the shipwright stood. 'All hail!' quoth she, And bowed herself, and kissed him on the mouth; But while she spake with him, sorely he sighed; And she did hang about his neck the robe Of feasting, and she poured upon his hands Clear water, and anointed him, and set Before him bread. And Japhet said to him, 'My father, my beloved, wilt thou yet Be sad because of scorning? Eat this day; For as an angel in their eyes thou art Who stand before thee.' But he answered, 'Peace! Thy words are wide.' And when Niloiya heard, She said, 'Is this a time for mirth of heart And wine? Behold, I thought to wed my son, Even this Japhet; but is this a time, When sad is he to whom is my desire, And lying under sorrow as from God?' He answered, 'Yea, it is a time of times; Bring in the maid.' Niloiya said, 'The maid That first I spoke on, shall not Japhet wed; It likes not her, nor yet it likes not me. But I have found another; yea, good sooth, The damsel will not tarry, she will come With all her slaves by sundown.' And she said, 'Comfort thy heart, and eat: moreover, know How that thy great work even to-day is done. Sir, thy great ship is finished, and the folk (For I, according to thy will, have paid All that was left us to them for their wage) Have brought, as to a storehouse, flour of wheat, Honey and oil -- much victual; yea, and fruits, Curtains and household gear. And, sir, they say It is thy will to take it for thy hold Our fastness and abode.' He answered, 'Yea, Else wherefore was it built?' She said, 'Good sir, I pray you make us not the whole earth's scorn. And now, to-morrow in thy father's house Is a great feast, and weddings are toward; Let be the ship, till after, for thy words Have ever been, "If God shall send a flood, There will I dwell;" I pray you therefore wait At least till He DOTH send it.' And he turned, And answered nothing. Now the sun was low While yet she spake; and Japhet came to them In goodly raiment, and upon his arm The garment of betrothal. And with that A noise, and then brake in a woman slave And Amarant. This, with folding of her hands, Did say full meekly, 'If I do offend, Yet have not I been willing to offend; For now this woman will not be denied Herself to tell her errand.' And they sat. Then spoke the woman, 'If I do offend, Pray you forgive the bondslave, for her tongue Is for her mistress. "Lo," my mistress saith, "Put off thy bravery, bridegroom; fold away, Mother, thy webs of pride, thy costly robes Woven of many colours. We have heard Thy master. Lo, to-day right evil things He prophesied to us, that were his friends; Therefore, my answer: -- God do so to me; Yea, God do so to me, more also, more Than he did threaten, if my damsel's foot Ever draw nigh thy door."' And when she heard, Niloiya sat amazed, in grief of soul. But Japhet came unto the slave, where low She bowed herself for fear. He said, 'Depart; Say to thy mistress, "It is well."' With that She turned herself, and she made haste to flee, Lest any, for those evil words she brought, Would smite her. But the bondmaid of the house Lift up her hand and said, 'If I offend, It was not of my heart: thy damsel knew Nought of this matter.' And he held to her His hand and touched her, and said, 'Amarant!' And when she looked upon him, she did take And spread before her face her radiant locks, Trembling. And Japhet said, 'Lift up thy face, O fairest of the daughters, thy fair face: For, lo! the bridegroom standeth with the robe Of thy betrothal!' -- and he took her locks In his two hands to part them from her brow, And laid them on her shoulders; and he said, 'Sweet are the blushes of thy face,' and put The robe upon her, having said, 'Behold, I have repented me; and oft by night, In the waste wilderness, while all things slept, I thought upon thy words, for they were sweet. 'For this I make thee free. And now thyself Art loveliest in mine eyes; I look, and lo! Thou art of beauty more than any thought I had concerning thee. Let, then, this robe, Wrought on with imagery of fruitful bough, And graceful leaf, and birds with tender eyes, Cover the ripples of thy tawny hair.' So when she held her peace, he brought her night To hear the speech of wedlock; ay, he took The golden cup of wine to drink with her, And laid the sheaf upon her arms. He said, 'Like as my fathers in the older days Led home the daughters whom they chose, do I; Like as they said, "Mine honour have I set Upon thy head!" do I. Eat of my bread, Rule in my house, be mistress of my slaves, And mother of my children.' And he brought The damsel to his father, saying, 'Behold My wife! I have betrothed her to myself; I pray you, kiss her.' And the Master did: He said, 'Be mother of a multitude, And let them to their father even so Be found, as he is found to me.' With that She answered, 'Let this woman, sir, find grace And favour in your sight.' And Japhet said, 'Sweet mother, I have wed the maid ye chose And brought me first. I leave her in thy hand; Have care on her, till I shall come again And ask her of thee.' So they went apart, He and his father, to the marriage feast. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...A BLESSING FOR A WEDDING by JANE HIRSHFIELD A SUITE FOR MARRIAGE by DAVID IGNATOW ADVICE TO HER SON ON MARRIAGE by MARY BARBER THE RABBI'S SON-IN-LAW by SABINE BARING-GOULD KISSING AGAIN by DORIANNE LAUX A TIME PAST by DENISE LEVERTOV ECHO AND THE FERRY by JEAN INGELOW GLADYS AND HER ISLAND; AN IMPERFECT TALE WITH DOUBTFUL MORAL by JEAN INGELOW |
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