Collected Works (Vol. III)

108 GARGOYLES The King-Ghost wears a crown of hopes forgotten ; Dead loves are woven in his ghastly robe ; Bewildered wills and faiths grown old and rotten And deeds undared his sceptre, sword, and globe. Keep us, O Mary maid, What time the King-Ghost goes arrayed ! The Hell-Wind whistles through his plume- less pinions ; Clanks all that melancholy host of bones ; Fate’s principalities and Death’s dominions Echo the drear discord, the tuneless tones. Keep us, dear God, from ill, What time the Hell-Wind whistles shrill. The King-Ghost hath no music but their rattling; No scent but death’s grown faint and fugitive; No light but this their leprous pallor battling Weakly with night. Jord, shall these dry bones live? O keep us in the hour Wherein the King-Ghost hath his power ! The King-Ghost girds me with his gibbering creatures, My dreams of old that never saw the sun. He shows me, in a mocking glass, their features, The twin fiends “ Might-have-been” and ‘¢ Should-have-done.” Keep us, by Jesu’s ruth, What time the King-Ghost grins the truth ! The King-Ghost boasts eternal usurpature; For in this pool of tears his fingers fret I had imagined, by enduring nature, The twin gods ‘‘ Thus-will-I”’ and “* May- be-yet.”” God, keep us most from ill, What time the King-Ghost grips the will ! Silver and rose and gold what flame re- surgesP What living light pours forth in emerald waves?P What inmost Music drowns the clamorous dirges? -—Shrieking they fly, the King-Ghost and his slaves. Lord, let Thy Ghost indwell, And keep us from the power of Hell ! Amen. Kneel down, dear maiden o’ mine, and let your eyes Get knowledge with a soft and glad surprise ! Who would have thought you would have had it in you? Say nothing ! On the contrary, continue!