And  chaplets  pallid  as  snow
On  the  twisted  blackthorn  blaze —


ST.   MARK'S  EVE  6i

Coronals,  garlands,  sprays
Like  fresh,  moon-silvered  snow  ?

Basil
Did  you  hear  from  Highbeach  tower
The  mellow  quarter-chime —
From  the  belfry  of  Highbeach  tower
Did  you  hear  the  music  of  Time,
Like  silken  banners  unfurled  ?
From  the  ancient  and  hallowed  bower
Of  the  virginal  bride  of  the  world,
Did  you  hear  the  melodious  hour
Like  broidered  banners  unfurled —
With  the  dulcet  and  virginal  power
Of  Time,  the  bride  of  the  world  ?

Vivian
I  saw  the  blackthorn  blaze
Like  wreaths  of  moonlit  snow.
62  ST.   MARK'S  EVE

Where  the  budded  leaf  delays

And  the  violet  woodlands  glow ;

From  Highbeach  steepled  tower

I  heard  the  quarter-chime —

From  the  ancient  and  hallowed  bower

Of  the  beautiful  virgin,  Time,

I  heard  the  melodious  vesper  hour

And  the  sprightly  quarter-chime.
Then  the  blackbird  finished  his  song

On  a  penetrant,  resolute  note ;

Though  the  thrush  descanted  long,

For  he  knows  no  tune  by  rote —

With  sighs  descanted  long

Of  the  sorrow  he  aches  to  tell ;

With  sobs  and  shuddering  moans,

Like  one  that  sings  in  Hell,

He  laced  the  phantom  over-tones

Of  the  mellow  vesper-bell :


ST.   MARK'S  EVE  63

Some  terror  he  fain  would  tell,

But  he  never  can  strike  the  note :

So  the  thrush  descanted  long,

While  the  blackbird  finished  his  song.
And  the  woodwele's  laughter  ceased

In  his  ash-green  gurgling  throat

On  the  fringe  of  the  tones  released

By  the  vibrant  vesper-bell —

The  forest  laughter  ceased

In  the  wake  of  the  twilight  bell.
And  high,  so  high,  from  the  dusky  sky

The  last  lark  breathless  fell.
