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From the fixed place of Heaven she saw
Time like a pulse shake fierce

Through all the worlds. Her gaze still strove
Within the gulf to pierce

Its path; and now she spoke as when
The stars sang in their spheres.

The sun was gone now; the curled moon
Was like a little feather
Fluttering far down the gulf; and now
She spoke through the still weather.
Her voice was like the voice the stars
Had when they sang together.1

(Ah sweet! Even now, in that bird's song, Strove not her accents there,

Fain to be hearkened? When those bells
Possessed the mid-day air,

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While every leaf that His plumes touch

Saith His Name audibly.

"And I myself will teach to him,

I myself, lying so,

songs I sing here; which his voice Shall pause in, hushed and slow,

And find some knowledge at each pause, Or some new thing to know."

(Alas! We two, we two, thou say'st! Yea, one wast thou with me

That once of old. But shall God lift To endless unity

The soul whose likeness with thy soul Was but its love for thee?)

"We too," she said, "will seek the groves Where the lady Mary is,

With her five handmaidens, whose names

Are five sweet symphonies,

Cecily, Gertrude, Magdalen,
Margaret and Rosalys.

"Circlewise sit they, with bound locks

And foreheads garlanded;

Strove not her steps to reach my side Down all the echoing stair?)

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"I wish that he were come to me, For he will come," she said.

"Have I not prayed in Heaven?

Lord, Lord, has he not pray'd?

on earth,

Are not two prayers a perfect strength? And shall I feel afraid?

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1 Cf. note on Milton's Hymn on the Nativity,

1. 119.

To fashion the birth-robes for them Who are just born, being dead.

"He shall fear, haply, and be dumb: Then will I lay my cheek

To his, and tell about our love,
Not once abashed or weak:

1 the Holy Ghost

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"They come by the hill-verge from Boyne Bar, Sister Helen,

And one draws nigh, but two are afar." "Look, look, do you know them who they are, Little brother?"68

(O Mother, Mary Mother, Who should they be, between Hell and Heaven?)

"Oh, it's Keith of Eastholm rides so fast, Sister Helen, For I know the white mane on the blast." "The hour has come, has come at last, Little brother!"

(O Mother, Mary Mother, Her hour at last, between Hell and Heaven!) 77

"He has made a sign and called Halloo! Sister Helen, And he says that he would speak with you." "Oh tell him I fear the frozen dew,

Little brother." 82 (O Mother, Mary Mother, Why laughs she thus, between Hell and Heaven?)

"The wind is loud, but I hear him cry,
Sister Helen,
That Keith of Ewern's like to die."
And he and thou, and thou and I,

Little brother."89 (O Mother, Mary Mother, And they and we, between Hell and Heaven!)

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"But he says, till you take back your ban, Sister Helen,

His soul would pass, yet never can." "Nay then, shall I slay a living man, Little brother?" (O Mother, Mary Mother, A living soul, between Hell and Heaven!) 119 "But he calls forever on your name, Sister Helen,

And says that he melts before a flame." "My heart for his pleasure fared the same, Little brother." (O Mother, Mary Mother, Fire at the heart, between Hell and Heaven!) 126 "Here's Keith of Westholm riding fast, Sister Helen, For I know the white plume on the blast." "The hour, the sweet hour I forecast,

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Little brother!" (O Mother, Mary Mother, Is the hour sweet, between Hell and Heaven?)

"He stops to speak, and he stills his horse, Sister Helen;

But his words are drowned in the wind's course."

136 "Nay hear, nay hear, you must hear perforce, Little brother!" (O Mother, Mary Mother, What word now heard, between Hell and Heaven ?)

"Oh, he says that Keith of Ewern's cry,
Sister Helen,

Is ever to see you ere he die."
"In all that his soul sees, there am I,

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Little brother!" (O Mother, Mary Mother, The soul's one sight, between Hell and Heaven !)

"He sends a ring and a broken coin,

Sister Helen, And bids you mind the banks of Boyne." "What else he broke will he ever join, 151 Little brother?" (O Mother, Mary Mother, No, never joined, between Hell and Heaven!)

"He yields you these and craves full fain, Sister Helen,

You pardon him in his mortal pain." "What else he took will he give again,

Little brother?" (O Mother, Mary Mother, Not twice to give, between Hell and Heaven!) 161

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"Oh it's Keith of Keith now that rides fast, Sister Helen,

For I know the white hair on the blast." "The short, short hour will soon be past, 172 Little brother!" (O Mother, Mary Mother, Will soon be past, between Hell and Heaven!)

"He looks at me and he tries to speak, Sister Helen,

But oh! his voice is sad and weak!" "What here should the mighty Baron seek, Little brother!"

(O Mother, Mary Mother,

Is this the end, between Hell and Heaven?) 182

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