Wild Knight and Other Poems — The Wild Knight
THE WILD KNIGHT
The wasting thistle whitens on my crest, The barren grasses blow upon my spear, A green, pale pennon: blazon of wild faith And love of fruitless things: yea, of my love, Among the golden loves of all the knights, Alone: most hopeless, sweet, and blasphemous, The love of God: I hear the crumbling creeds Like cliffs washed down by water, change, and pass;
I hear a noise of words, age after age, A new cold wind that blows across the plains, And all the shrines stand empty; and to me All these are nothing: priests and schools may doubt Who never have believed; but I have loved.
Ah friends, I know it passing well, the love Wherewith I love; it shall not bring to me Return or hire or any pleasant thing-- Ay, I have tried it: Ay, I know its roots.
Earthquake and plague have burst on it in vain And rolled back shattered-- Babbling neophytes!
Blind, startled fools--think you I know it not?
Think you to teach me?
Know I not His ways?
Strange-visaged blunders, mystic cruelties.
All!
all!
I know Him, for I love Him.
Go!
So, with the wan waste grasses on my spear, I ride for ever, seeking after God.
My hair grows whiter than my thistle plume, And all my limbs are loose; but in my eyes The star of an unconquerable praise: For in my soul one hope for ever sings, That at the next white corner of a road My eyes may look on Him....
Hush--I shall know The place when it is found: a twisted path Under a twisted pear-tree--this I saw In the first dream I had ere I was born, Wherein He spoke....
But the grey clouds come down In hail upon the icy plains: I ride, Burning for ever in consuming fire.
THE WILD KNIGHT
_A dark manor-house shuttered and unlighted, outlined against a pale sunset: in front a large, but neglected, garden.
To the right, in the foreground, the porch of a chapel, with coloured windows lighted.
Hymns within.
_ _Above the porch a grotesque carved bracket, supporting a lantern.
Astride of it sits CAPTAIN REDFEATHER, a flagon in his hand_.
REDFEATHER.
I have drunk to all I know of, To every leaf on the tree, To the highest bird of the heavens, To the lowest fish of the sea.
What toast, what toast remaineth, Drunk down in the same good wine, By the tippler's cup in the tavern, And the priest's cup at the shrine?
[_A Priest comes out, stick in hand, and looks right and left.
_] VOICES WITHIN.
The brawler ...
PRIEST.
He has vanished REDFEATHER.
To the stars.
[_The Priest looks up.
_] PRIEST [_angrily_].
What would you there, sir?
REDFEATHER.
Give you all a toast.
[_Lifts his flagon.
More priests come out.
_] I see my life behind me: bad enough-- Drink, duels, madness, beggary, and pride, The life of the unfit: yet ere I drop On Nature's rubbish heap, I weigh it all, And give you all a toast-- [_Reels to his feet and stands.
_] The health of God!
[_They all recoil from him.
_] Let's give the Devil of the Heavens His due!
He that made grass so green, and wine so red, Is not so black as you have painted him.
[_Drinks.
_] PRIEST.
Blaspheming profligate!
REDFEATHER [_hurls the flagon among them.
_] Howl!
ye dumb dogs, I named your King--let me have one great shout, Flutter the seraphim like startled birds;
Make God recall the good days of His youth Ere saints had saddened Him: when He came back Conqueror of Chaos in a six days' war, With all the sons of God shouting for joy ...
PRIEST.
And you--what is your right, and who are you, To praise God?
REDFEATHER.
A lost soul.
In earth or heaven What has a better right?
PRIEST.
Go, pagan, go!
Drink, dice, and dance: take no more thought than blind Beasts of the field....
REDFEATHER.
Or ...
lilies of the field, To quote a pagan sage.
I go my way.
PRIEST [_solemnly_].
And when Death comes....
REDFEATHER.
He shall not find me dead.
[_Puts on his plumed hat.
The priests go out.
_] REDFEATHER.
These frozen fools....
[_The Lady Olive comes out of the chapel.
He sees her.
_] Oh, they were right enough.
Where shall I hide my carrion from the sun?
[_Buries his face.
His hat drops to the ground.
_] OLIVE [_looking up.
_] Captain, are you from church?
I saw you not.
REDFEATHER.
No, I am here.
[_Lays his hand on a gargoyle.
_] I, too, am a grotesque, And dance with all the devils on the roof.
OLIVE [_with a strange smile.
_] For Satan, also, I have often prayed.
REDFEATHER [_roughly_].
Satan may worry women if he will, For he was but an angel ere he fell, But I--before I fell--I was a man.
OLIVE.
He too, my Master, was a man: too strong To fear a strong man's sins: 'tis written He Descended into hell.
REDFEATHER.
Write, then, that I [_Leaps to the ground before her.
_] Descended into heaven....
You are ill?
OLIVE.
No, well....
REDFEATHER.
You speak the truth--you are the Truth-- Lady, say once again then, 'I am _well_.'
OLIVE.
I--ah!
God give me grace--I am nigh dead.
REDFEATHER [_quietly.
_] Lord Orm?
OLIVE.
Yes--yes.
REDFEATHER.
Is in your father's house-- Having the title-deeds--would drive you forth.
Homeless, and with your father sick to death, Into this winter, save on a condition Named....
OLIVE.
And unnameable.
Even so; Lord Orm-- Ah!
do you know him?
REDFEATHER.
Ay, I saw him once.
The sun shone on his face, that smiled and smiled, A sight not wholesome to the eyes of man.
OLIVE.
Captain, I tell you God once fell asleep.
And in that hour the world went as it would;
Dogs brought forth cats, and poison grew in grapes, And Orm was born....
REDFEATHER.
Why, curse him!
can he not Be kicked or paid?
OLIVE [_feverishly_].
Hush!
He is just behind There in the house--see how the great house glares, Glares like an ogre's mask--the whole dead house Possessed with bestial meaning....
[_Screams_] Ah!
the face!
The whole great grinning house--his face!
his face!
His face!
REDFEATHER [_in a voice of thunder, pointing away from the house_].
Look there--look there!
OLIVE.
What is it?
What?
REDFEATHER.
I think it was a bird.
OLIVE.
What thought you, truly?
REDFEATHER.
I think a mighty thought is drawing near.
[_Enter THE WILD KNIGHT.
_] THE WILD KNIGHT.
That house....
[_Points.
_] OLIVE.
Ah Christ!
[_Shudders.
_] I had forgotten it.
THE WILD KNIGHT [_still pointing_].
That house!
the house at last, the house of God, Wherein God makes an evening feast for me.
The house at last: I know the twisted path Under the twisted pear-tree: this I saw In the first dream I had ere I was born.
It is the house of God.
He welcomes me.
[_Strides forward.
_] REDFEATHER.
_That_ house.
God's blood!
OLIVE [_hysterically_].
Is not this hell's own wit?
THE WILD KNIGHT.
God grows impatient, and His wine is poured, His bread is broken.
[_Rushes forward.
_] REDFEATHER [_leaps between_].
Stand away, great fool, There is a devil there!
THE WILD KNIGHT [_draws his sword, and waves it as he rushes_].
God's house!
--God's house!
REDFEATHER [_plucks out his own sword_].
Better my hand than his.
[_The blades clash.
_] God alone knows What That within might do to you, poor fool, I can but kill you.
[_They fight.
OLIVE tries to part them.
_] REDFEATHER.
Olive, stand away!
OLIVE.
I will not stand away!
[_Steps between the swords.
_] Stranger, a word, Yes--you are right--God is within that house.
REDFEATHER.
Olive!
OLIVE.
But He is all too beautiful For us who only know of stars and flowers.
The thing within is all too pure and fair, [_Shudders.
_] Too awful in its ancient innocence, For men to look upon it and not die;
Ourselves would fade into those still white fires Of peace and mercy.
[_Struggles with her voice.
_] There ...
enough ...
the law-- No flesh shall look upon the Lord and live.
REDFEATHER [_sticking his sword in the ground_].
You are the bravest lady in the world.
THE WILD KNIGHT [_dazed_].
May I not go within?
REDFEATHER.
Keep you the law-- No flesh shall look upon the Lord and live.
THE WILD KNIGHT [_sadly_].
Then I will go and lay me in the flowers, For He may haply, as in ancient time, Walk in the garden in the cool of day.
[_He goes out.
_] [OLIVE _reels.
_ REDFEATHER _catches her.
_] You are the strongest woman upon earth.
The weakest woman than the strongest man Is stronger in her hour: this is the law.
When the hour passes--then may we be strong.
OLIVE [_wildly.
_] The House ...
the Face.
REDFEATHER [_fiercely_].
I love you.
Look at me!
OLIVE [_turns her face to him.
_] I hear six birds sing in that little tree, Say, is the old earth laughing at my fears?
I think I love you also....
REDFEATHER.
What I am You know.
But I will never curse a man, Even in a mirror.
OLIVE [_smiling at him_].
And the Devil's dance?
REDFEATHER.
The Devil plotted since the world was young With alchemies of fire and witches' oils And magic.
But he never made a man.
OLIVE.
No; not a man.
REDFEATHER.
Not even my Lord Orm.
Look at the house now-- [_She starts and looks.
_] Honest brick and tiles.
OLIVE.
You have a strange strength in this hour.
REDFEATHER.
This hour I see with mortal eye as in one flash The whole divine democracy of things, And dare the stars to scorn a scavenge-heap.
Olive, I tell you every soul is great.
Weave we green crowns--how noble and how high;
Fling we white flowers--how radiant and how pure Is he, whoe'er he be, who next shall cross This scrap of grass....
[_Enter LORD ORM.
_] OLIVE [_screams_].
Ah!
REDFEATHER [_pointing to the chapel_].
Olive, go and pray for a man soon to die.
Good-day, my Lord.
[_She goes in.
_] LORD ORM.
Good-day.
REDFEATHER.
I am a friend to Lady Olive.
LORD ORM.
Sir, you are fortunate.
REDFEATHER.
Most fortunate In finding, sword on thigh and ready, one Who is a villain and a gentleman.
LORD ORM [_picks up the flagon_].
Empty, I see.
REDFEATHER.
Oh sir, you never drink.
You dread to lose yourself before the stars-- Do you not dread to sleep?
LORD ORM [_violently_].
What would you here?
REDFEATHER.
Receive from you the title-deeds you hold.
LORD ORM.
You entertain me.
REDFEATHER.
With a bout at foils?
LORD ORM.
I will not fight.
REDFEATHER.
I know you better, then.
I have seen men grow mangier than the beasts, Eat bread with blood upon their fingers, grin While women burned: but one last law they served.
When I say 'Coward,' is the law awake?
LORD ORM.
Hear me, then, too: I have seen robbers rule, And thieves go clad in gold--age after age-- Because, though sordid, ragged, rude, and mean, They saw, like gods, no law above their heads.
But when they fell--then for this cause they fell, This last mean cobweb of the fairy tales Of good and ill: that they must stand and fight When a man bade, though they had chose to stand And fight not.
I am stronger than the world.
[_Folds his arms.
_] REDFEATHER [_lifts his hand_].
If in your body be the blood of man, [_Strikes him.
_] Now let it rush to the face-- God!
Have you sunk Lower than anger?
LORD ORM.
How I triumph now.
REDFEATHER [_stamps wildly]_.
Damned, whimpering dog!
vile, snivelling, sick poltroon!
Are you alive?
LORD ORM.
Evil, be thou my good;
Let the sun blacken and the moon be blood: I have said the words.
REDFEATHER [_studying him_].
And if I struck you dead, You would turn to daisies!
LORD ORM.
And you do not strike.
REDFEATHER [_dreamily_].
Indeed, poor soul, such magic would be kind And full of pity as a fairy-tale: One touch of this bright wand [_Lifts his sword_] and down would drop The dark abortive blunder that is you.
And you would change, forgiven, into flowers.
LORD ORM.
And yet--and yet you do not strike me dead.
I do not draw: the sword is in your hand-- Drive the blade through me where I stand.
REDFEATHER.
Lord Orm, You asked the Lady Olive (I can speak As to a toad to you, my lord)--you asked Olive to be your paramour: and she-- LORD ORM.
