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Let him give his blood at last and get his heaven！
VIII。
All or nothing； stake it！ Trust she God or no？
Thus far and no farther？ farther？ be it so！
Now； enough of your chicane of prudent pauses；
Sage provisos； sub…intents and saving…clauses！
IX。
Ah； ‘‘forgive'' you bid him？ While God's champion lives；
Wrong shall be resisted： dead； why； he forgives。
But you must not end my friend ere you begin him；
Evil stands not crowned on earth； while breath is in him。
X。
Once more…Will the wronger； at this last of all；
Dare to say； ‘‘I did wrong；'' rising in his fall？
No？…Let go then！ Both the fighters to their places！
While I count three； step you back as many paces！
AFTER。
Take the cloak from his face； and at first
Let the corpse do its worst！
How he lies in his rights of a man！
Death has done all death can。
And； absorbed in the new life he leads；
He recks not； he heeds
Nor his wrong nor my vengeance； both strike
On his senses alike；
And are lost in the solemn and strange
Surprise of the change。
Ha； what avails death to erase
His offence； my disgrace？
I would we were boys as of old
In the field； by the fold：
His outrage； God's patience； man's scorn
Were so easily borne！
I stand here now； he lies in his place：
Cover the face！
THE GUARDIAN…ANGEL。
A PICTURE AT FANO。
I。
Dear and great Angel； wouldst thou only leave
That child； when thou hast done with him； for me！
Let me sit all the day here； that when eve
Shall find performed thy special ministry；
And time come for departure； thou； suspending
Thy flight； mayst see another child for tending；
Another still； to quiet and retrieve。
II。
Then I shall feel thee step one step； no more；
From where thou standest now； to where I gaze；
…And suddenly my head is covered o'er
With those wings； white above the child who prays
Now on that tomb…and I shall feel thee guarding
Me； out of all the world； for me； discarding
Yon heaven thy home； that waits and opes its door。
III。
I would not look up thither past thy head
Because the door opes； like that child； I know；
For I should have thy gracious face instead；
Thou bird of God！ And wilt thou bend me low
Like him； and lay； like his； my hands together；
And lift them up to pray； and gently tether
Me； as thy lamb there； with thy garment's spread？
IV。
If this was ever granted； I would rest
My bead beneath thine； while thy healing hands
Close…covered both my eyes beside thy breast；
Pressing the brain； which too much thought expands；
Back to its proper size again； and smoothing
Distortion down till every nerve had soothing；
And all lay quiet； happy and suppressed。
V。
How soon all worldly wrong would be repaired！
I think how I should view the earth and skies
And sea； when once again my brow was bared
After thy healing； with such different eyes。
O world； as God has made it！ All is beauty：
And knowing this； is love； and love is duty。
What further may be sought for or declared？
VI。
Guercino drew this angel I saw teach
（Alfred； dear friend！）…that little child to pray；
Holding the little hands up； each to each
Pressed gently；…with his own head turned away
Over the earth where so much lay before him
Of work to do； though heaven was opening o'er him；
And he was left at Fano by the beach。
VII。
We were at Fano； and three times we went
To sit and see him in his chapel there；
And drink his beauty to our soul's content
…My angel with me too： and since I care
For dear Guercino's fame （to which in power
And glory comes this picture for a dower；
Fraught with a pathos so magnificent）…
VIII。
And since he did not work thus earnestly
At all times； and has else endured some wrong…
I took one thought his picture struck from me；
And spread it out； translating it to song。
My love is here。 Where are you； dear old friend？
How rolls the Wairoa at your world's far end？
This is Ancona； yonder is the sea。
MEMORABILIA。
I。
Ah； did you once see Shelley plain；
And did he stop and speak to you
And did you speak to him again？
How strange it seems and new！
II。
But you were living before that；
And also you are living after；
And the memory I started at…
My starting moves your laughter。
III。
I crossed a moor； with a name of its own
And a certain use in the world no doubt；
Yet a hand's…breadth of it shines alone
'Mid the blank miles round about：
IV。
For there I picked up on the heather
And there I put inside my breast
A moulted feather； an eagle…feather！
Well； I forget the rest。
POPULARITY。
I。
Stand still； true poet that you are！
I know you； let me try and draw you。
Some night you'll fail us： when afar
You rise； remember one man saw you；
Knew you； and named a star！
II。
My star； God's glow…worm！ Why extend
That loving hand of his which leads you
Yet locks you safe from end to end
Of this dark world； unless he needs you；
just saves your light to spend？
III。
His clenched hand shall unclose at last；
I know； and let out all the beauty：
My poet holds the future fast；
Accepts the coming ages' duty；
Their present for this past。
IV。
That day； the earth's feast…master's brow
Shall clear； to God the chalice raising；
‘‘Others give best at first； but thou
‘‘Forever set'st our table praising；
‘‘Keep'st the good wine till now！''
V。
Meantime； I'll draw you as you stand；
With few or none to watch and wonder：
I'll say…a fisher； on the sand
By Tyre the old； with ocean…plunder；
A netful； brought to land。
VI。
Who has not heard how Tyrian shells
Enclosed the blue； that dye of dyes
Whereof one drop worked miracles；
And coloured like Astarte's eyes
Raw silk the merchant sells？
VII。
And each bystander of them all
Could cri