The
Mystery of Choice
By Robert W. Chambers
DEDICATION.
There is a nuzid, demure as she is wise,
With all of April in her winsome eyes,
And to my tales she listens pensively,
With slender fingers clasped about her knee,
Watching the sparrows on the balcony.
Shy eyes that, lifted up to me,
Free all my heart of vanity;
Clear eyes, that speak all silently,
Sweet as the silence of a nunnery—
Read, for I write my rede for you alone,
Here where the city’s mighty monotone
Deepens the silence to a symphony—
Silence of Saints, and Seers, and Sorcery.
Arms and the Man! A noble theme, I ween!
Alas! I can not sing of these, Eileen—
Only of maids and men and meadow-grass,
Of sea and fields and woodlands, where I pass;
Nothing but these I know, Eileen, alas!
Clear eyes that, lifted up to me,
Free all my soul from vanity;
Gray eyes, that speak all wistfully—
Nothing but these I know, alas!
R. W. C.
April,
1896.
INTRODUCTION.
I.
Where
two fair paths, deep flowered
And
leaf-embowered,
Creep
East and West across a World concealed,
Which
shall he take who journeys far afield?
II
Canst
thou then say, “I go,”
Or
“I forego”?
What
turns thee East or West, as thistles blow?
Is
fair more fair than fair—and dost thou know?
III.
Turn
to the West, unblessed
And
uncaressed;
Turn
to the East, and, seated at the Feast
Thou
shalt find Life, or Death from Life released.
IV.
And
thou who lovest best
A
maid dark-tressed,
And
passest others by with careless eye,
Canat
thou tell why thou choosest? Tell, then; why?
V.
So
when thy kiss is given
Or
half-forgiven,
Why
should she tremble, with her face flame-hot,
Or
laugh and whisper, “Love, I tremble not”?
VI.
Or
when thy hand may catch
A
half-drawn latch,
What
draws thee from the door, to turn and pass
Through
streets unknown, dim, still, and choked with grass ?
VII.
What!
Canst thou not foresee
The
Mystery?
Heed!
For a Voice commands thy every deed!
And
it hath sounded. And thou needs must heed!
R. W. C.
1896.
Contents
The Purple Emperor
Pompe Funèbre
The Messenger
The White Shadow
The Key to Grief (not listed in the original table of contents)
A Matter of Interest
Envoi
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