Elizabeth Barrett Browning
A Romance Of The Ganges
I.

Seven maidens 'neath the midnight
       &nbspStand near the river-sea
Whose water sweepeth white around
       &nbspThe shadow of the tree;
The moon and earth are face to face,
       &nbspAnd earth is slumbering deep;
The wave-voice seems the voice of dreams
       &nbspThat wander through her sleep:
       &nbsp       &nbspThe river floweth on.

II.

What bring they 'neath the midnight,
       &nbspBeside the river-sea?
       &nbspThey bring the human heart wherein
No nightly calm can be,—
That droppeth never with the wind,
       &nbspNor drieth with the dew:
Oh, calm in God! thy calm is broad
       &nbspTo cover spirits too.
       &nbsp       &nbspThe river floweth on.

III.
The maidens lean them over
       &nbspThe waters, side by side,
And shun each other's deepening eyes,
       &nbspAnd gaze adown the tide;
For each within a little boat
       &nbspA little lamp hath put,
And heaped for freight some lily's weight
       &nbspOr scarlet rose half shut.
       &nbsp       &nbspThe river floweth on.

IV.

Of shell of cocoa carven
       &nbspEach little boat is made;
Each carries a lamp, and carries a flower,
       &nbspAnd carries a hope unsaid;
And when the boat hath carried the lamp
       &nbspUnquenched till out of sight,
The maiden is sure that love will endure;
       &nbspBut love will fail with light.
       &nbsp       &nbspThe river floweth on.

V.

Why, all the stars are ready
       &nbspTo symbolize the soul,
The stars untroubled by the wind,
       &nbspUnwearied as they roll;
And yet the soul by instinct sad
       &nbspReverts to symbols low—
To that small flame, whose very name
       &nbspBreathed o'er it, shakes it so!
       &nbsp       &nbspThe river floweth on.
VI.

Six boats are on the river,
       &nbspSeven maidens on the shore,
While still above them steadfastly
       &nbsp       &nbspThe stars shine evermore.
Go, little boats, go soft and safe,
       &nbspAnd guard the symbol spark!
The boats aright go safe and bright
       &nbspAcross the waters dark.
       &nbsp       &nbspThe river floweth on.

VII.


The maiden Luti watcheth
       &nbspWhere onwardly they float:
That look in her dilating eyes
       &nbspMight seem to drive her boat:
Her eyes still mark the constant fire,
       &nbspAnd kindling unawares
That hopeful while, she lets a smile
       &nbspCreep silent through her prayers.
       &nbsp       &nbspThe river floweth on.

VIII.
The smile—where hath it wandered?
       &nbspShe riseth from her knee,
She holds her dark, wet locks away—
       &nbspThere is no light to see!
She cries a quick and bitter cry—
       &nbsp"Nuleeni, launch me thine!
We must have light abroad to-night,
       &nbspFor all the wreck of mine."
       &nbsp       &nbspThe river floweth on.

IX.

"I do remember watching
       &nbspBeside this river-bed
When on my childish knee was leaned
       &nbspMy dying father's head;
I turned mine own to keep the tears
       &nbspFrom falling on his face:
What doth it prove when Death and Love
       &nbspChoose out the self-same place?"
       &nbsp       &nbspThe river floweth on.

X.

"They say the dead are joyful
       &nbspThe death-change here receiving:
Who say—ah me! who dare to say
       &nbspWhere joy comes to the living?
Thy boat, Nuleeni! look not sad—
       &nbspLight up the waters rather!
I weep no faithless lover where
       &nbspI wept a loving father."
       &nbsp       &nbspThe river floweth on.

XI.

"My heart foretold his falsehood
       &nbspEre my little boat grew dim;
And though I closed mine eyes to dream
       &nbspThat one last dream of him,
They shall not now be wet to see
       &nbspThe shining vision go:
From earth's cold love I look above
       &nbspTo the holy house of snow."
       &nbsp       &nbspThe river floweth on.


XII.

"Come thou—thou never knewest
       &nbspA grief, that thou shouldst fear one!
Thou wearest still the happy look
       &nbspThat shines beneath a dear one:
Thy humming-bird is in the sun,
       &nbspThy cuckoo in the grove,
And all the three broad worlds, for thee
       &nbspAre full of wandering love."
       &nbsp       &nbspThe river floweth on.

XIII.

"Why, maiden, dost thou loiter?
       &nbspWhat secret wouldst thou cover?
That peepul cannot hide thy boat,
       &nbspAnd I can guess thy lover;
I heard thee sob his name in sleep,
       &nbspIt was a name I knew:
Come, little maid, be not afraid,
       &nbspBut let us prove him true!"
       &nbsp       &nbspThe river floweth on.

XIV.

The little maiden cometh,
       &nbspShe cometh shy and slow;
I ween she seeth through her lids
       &nbspThey drop adown so low:
Her tresses meet her small bare feet,
       &nbspShe stands and speaketh nought,
Yet blusheth red as if she said
The name she only thought.
       &nbsp       &nbspThe river floweth on.

XV.

She knelt beside the water,
       &nbspShe lighted up the flame,
And o'er her youthful forehead's calm
       &nbspThe fitful radiance came:—
"Go, little boat, go soft and safe,
       &nbspAnd guard the symbol spark!"
Soft, safe doth float the little boat
       &nbspAcross the waters dark.
       &nbsp       &nbspThe river floweth on.

XVI.

Glad tears her eyes have blinded,
       &nbspThe light they cannot reach;
She turneth with that sudden smile
       &nbspShe learnt before her speech—
"I do not hear his voice, the tears
       &nbsp       &nbspHave dimmed my light away,
But the symbol light will last to-night,
The love will last for aye!"
       &nbsp       &nbspThe river floweth on.

XVII.

Then Luti spake behind her,
       &nbspOutspake she bitterly—
"By the symbol light that lasts to-night,
       &nbspWilt vow a vow to me?"
Nuleeni gazeth up her face,
       &nbspSoft answer maketh she—
"By loves that last when lights are past,
       &nbspI vow that vow to thee!"
       &nbsp       &nbspThe river floweth on.

XVIII.

An earthly look had Luti
       &nbspThough her voice was deep as prayer—
"The rice is gathered from the plains
       &nbspTo cast upon thine hair:
But when he comes his marriage-band
       &nbspAround thy neck to throw,
Thy bride-smile raise to meet his gaze,
And whisper,—There is one betrays,
       &nbspWhile Luti suffers woe."
       &nbsp       &nbspThe river floweth on.

XIX.

"And when in seasons after,
       &nbspThy little bright-faced son
Shall lean against thy knee and ask
       &nbspWhat deeds his sire hath done,—
Press deeper down thy mother-smile
       &nbspHis glossy curls among,
View deep his pretty childish eyes,
And whisper,—There is none denies,
       &nbspWhile Luti speaks of wrong."
v       &nbsp       &nbspThe river floweth on.

XX.

Nuleeni looked in wonder,
       &nbspYet softly answered she—
"By loves that last when lights are past,
       &nbspI vowed that vow to thee:
But why glads it thee that a bride-day be
       &nbspBy a word of woe defiled?
That a word of wrong take the cradle-song
       &nbspFrom the ear of a sinless child?"
"Why?" Luti said, and her laugh was dread,
       &nbspAnd her eyes dilated wild—
"That the fair new love may her bridegroom prove,
       &nbspAnd the father shame the child!"
       &nbsp       &nbspThe river floweth on.

XXI.

"Thou flowest still, O river,
       &nbspThou flowest 'neath the moon;
Thy lily hath not changed a leaf,
       &nbspThy charmèd lute a tune:
He mixed his voice with thine and his
       &nbspWas all I heard around;
But now, beside his chosen bride,
       &nbspI hear the river's sound."
       &nbsp       &nbspThe river floweth on.

XXII.

"I gaze upon her beauty
       &nbspThrough the tresses that enwreathe it;
The light above thy wave, is hers—
       &nbspMy rest, alone beneath it:
Oh, give me back the dying look
       &nbspMy father gave thy water!
Give back—and let a little love
       &nbspO'erwatch his weary daughter!"
       &nbsp       &nbspThe river floweth on.

XXIII.

"Give back!" she hath departed—
       &nbspThe word is wandering with her;
And the stricken maidens hear afar
       &nbspThe step and cry together.
Frail symbols? None are frail enow
       &nbspFor mortal joys to borrow!—
While bright doth float Nuleeni's boat,
       &nbspShe weepeth dark with sorrow.
       &nbsp       &nbspThe river floweth on.