Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: The poetical works of Alfred Tennyson. Source: Wellcome Collection.
Provider: This material is part of the Elmer Belt Florence Nightingale collection. The original may be consulted at University of California Libraries.
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![MADELINE. And ever when tlie moon was low, And the slirill winds were up and away, In the white curtain, to and fro, She saw the gusty shadow sway. But when tlie moon was verj' low. And wild winds bound within their cell. The shadow of the poplar fell Opon her bed, across her lu'ow. She only said, '.' The night is dreary, He Cometh not, she said ; She said, I am aweary, aweary, I would that 1 were dead ! All day within the dreamy house, The doors upon their hinges crcak'd ; The blue ily sung in the pane ; the mouse Behind the mouldering wainscot shriek'd. Or from the crevice peer'd about. Old faces glimmer'd thro' the doors. Old footsteps trod the upper floors. Old voices called her from without. She only said, '' JVIy life is dreary, He cometh not, she said ; She said, I am aweary, aweary, I would that I were dead ! The sparrow's chirrup on the roof. The slow clock ticking, and the sound Which to the wooing wind aloof The poplar made, did all confound Her sense ; but most .she loathed the hour When the thick-moted sunbeam lay Athwart the chambers, and the day Was sloping toward his western bower. Then, said she, I am very dreary, He will not come, she said ; She wept, '' I am aweaiy, aweary, 0 God, tliat I were dead ! TO Clear-headed friend, whose joyful scorn, Edged with sharp laughter, cuts atwain The knots that tangle human creeds. The wounding cords that bind and strain The heart until i±, bleeds, Ray-fringed eyelids of the morn Roof not a glance so keen as thine : If aught of ])roiihecy be mine, Thou wilt not live in vain. II. Low-cowering shall the Sophist sit; Falsehood shall bare her plaited brow : Fair-fronted Truth shall droop not now With shrilling shafts of subtle wit. Nor martyr-flames, nor trenchant swords Can do away that ancient lie ; A gentler death shall Falsehood die. Shot thro' and thro' with cunning words, Weak Truth a-leaning on her crutch, Wan, wasted Truth in her utmost need Thy kingly intellect shall feed. Until she be an athlete bold, And wear}' with a finger's touch Those writhed limbs of lightningspeed; Like that strange angel which of old, Until the breaking of the light, Wrestled with wandering Israel, Past Yabbok brook the livelong night. And heaven's mazed .signs stood still In the dim tract of Penuel. MADELINE. Tiiou art not steep'd in golden languors, No tranced summer calm is thine. Ever varying Madeline. Thro' light and shadow thou dost range, Sudden glances, sweet and strange, Delicious spites and darling angers. And airy forms of flitting change. Smiling, frowning, evermore, rhou art perfect in love-lore. Revealings deep and clear are thine Of wealthy smiles : but who may know Whether smile or frown be fleeter ? Whether smile or frown be sweeter. Who may know ? Frowns perfect-sweet along the brow Light-glooming over eyes divine. Like little clouds sun-fringed, are thine, Ever varying Madeline. Thy smile anil frown are not aloof From one another. Each to each is dearest brother ; Hues of the silken sheeny woof Momently shot into each other. All the mystery is thine ; Smiling, frowning, evermore, Thou art perfect in love-lore, Ever varying Madeline.](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b20452597_0022.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
