The Eve of Saint Mark

THE EVE OF SAINT MARK -

Upon a Sabbath-day it fell;

Twice holy was the Sabbath-bell

That call'd the folk to evening prayer;

The city streets were clean and fair

From wholesome drench of April rains;

And, on the western window panes,

The chilly sunset faintly told

Of unmatur'd green vallies cold,

Of the green thorny bloomless hedge,

Of rivers new with spring-tide sedge,

Of primroses by shelter'd rills,

And daisies on the aguish hills.

Twice holy was the Sabbath-bell:

The silent streets were crowded well

With staid and pious companies,

Warm from their fire-side orat'ries,

And moving with demurest air

To even-song and vesper prayer.

Each arched porch and entry low

Was fill'd with patient folk and slow,

With whispers hush, and shuffling feet,

While play'd the organ loud and sweet. -

The bells had ceas'd, the prayers begun,

And Bertha had not yet half done

A curious volume, patch'd and torn,

That all day long, from earliest morn,

Had taken captive her two eyes

Among its golden broideries;

Perplex'd her with a thousand things,-

The stars of Heaven, and angels' wings,

Martyrs in a fiery blaze,

Azure saints in silver rays,

Moses' breastplate, and the seven

Candlesticks John saw in Heaven,

The winged Lion of Saint Mark,

And the Covenantal Ark

With its many mysteries,

Cherubim and golden mice. -

Bertha was a maiden fair,

Dwelling in the old Minster-square;

From her fire-side she could see

Sidelong its rich antiquity,

Far as the Bishop's garden-wall;

Where sycamores and elm-trees tall,

Full-leav'd, the forest had outstript,

By no sharp north-wind ever nipt,

So shelter'd by the mighty pile.

Bertha arose, and read awhile

With forehead 'gainst the window-pane.

Again she try'd, and then again,

Until the dusk eve left her dark

Upon the legend of St. Mark.

From plaited lawn-frill, fine and thin,

She lifted up her soft warm chin,

With aching neck and swimming eyes,

And daz'd with saintly imageries. -

All was gloom, and silent all,

Save now and then the still foot-fall

Of one returning homewards late

Past the echoing minster-gate. -

The clamorous daws, that all the day

Above tree-tops and towers play,

Pair by pair had gone to rest,

Each in its ancient belfry-nest,

Where asleep they fall betimes

To music of the drowsy chimes. -

All was silent, all was gloom

Abroad and in the homely room:

Down she sat, poor cheated soul!

And struck a lamp from the dismal coal;

Lean'd forward with bright drooping hair

And slant book full against the glare.

Her shadow, in uneasy guise,

hover'd about, a giant size,

On ceiling-beam and old oak chair,

The parrot's cage, and panel square;

And the warm angled winter screen,

On which were many monsters seen,

Call'd doves of Siam, Lima mice,

And legless birds of Paradise,

Macaw, and tender Avadavat,

And silken-furr'd Angora cat.

Untir'd she read, her shadow still

Glower'd about as it would fill

The room with wildest forms and shades,

As though some ghostly queen of spades

Had come to mock behind her back,

And dance, and ruffle her garments black.

Untir'd she read the legend page

Of holy Mark, from youth to age,

On land, on sea, in pagan chains,

Rejoicing for his many pains.

Sometimes the learned Eremite

With golden star, or dagger bright,

Referr'd to pious poesies