# Records of Woman: with Other Poems/Edith

EDITH,
A TALE OF THE WOODS.
Du Heilige! rufe dein Kind zurück! Ich habe genossen das irdische Glück, Ich habe gelebt und geliebet. Wallenstein.
The woods—oh! solemn are the boundless wood  Of the great Western World, when day declines, And louder sounds the roll of distant floods,  More deep the rustling of the ancient pines; When dimness gathers on the stilly air,  And mystery seems o'er every leaf to brood, Awful it is for human heart to bear  The might and burden of the solitude!
Yet, in that hour, midst those green wastes, there sate One young and fair; and oh! how desolate! But undismay'd; while sank the crimson light, And the high cedars darken'd with the night. Alone she sate: tho' many lay around, They, pale and silent on the bloody ground, Were sever'd from her need and from her wo,  Far as Death severs Life. O'er that wild spot Combat had rag'd, and brought the valiant low,  And left them, with the history of their lot, Unto the forest oaks. A fearful scene For her whose home of other days had been Midst the fair halls of England! but the love  Which fill'd her soul was strong to cast out fear, And by its might upborne all else above,  She shrank not—mark'd not that the dead were near.
Of him alone she thought, whose languid head  Faintly upon her wedded bosom fell; Memory of aught but him on earth was fled,  While heavily she felt his life-blood well Fast o'er her garments forth, and vainly bound With her torn robe and hair the streaming wound, Yet hoped, still hoped!—Oh! from such hope how long  Affection wooes the whispers that deceive, Ev'n when the pressure of dismay grows strong,  And we, that weep, watch, tremble, ne'er believe The blow indeed can fall! So bow'd she there, Over the dying, while unconscious prayer Fill'd all her soul. Now pour'd the moonlight down, Veining the pine-stems thro' the foliage brown, And fire-flies, kindling up the leafy place, Cast fitful radiance o'er the warrior's face, Whereby she caught its changes: to her eye,  The eye that faded look'd through gathering haze, Whence love, o'ermastering mortal agony,  Lifted a long deep melancholy gaze,
When voice was not: that fond sad meaning pass'd— She knew the fulness of her wo at last! One shriek the forests heard,—and mute she lay, And cold; yet clasping still the precious clay To her scarce-heaving breast. O Love and Death! Ye have sad meetings on this changeful earth, Many and sad! but airs of heavenly breath Shall melt the links which bind you, for your birth
Is far apart.
Now light, of richer hue Than the moon sheds, came flushing mist and dew; The pines grew red with morning; fresh winds play'd, Bright-colour'd birds with splendour cross'd the shade, Flitting on flower-like wings; glad murmurs broke  From reed, and spray, and leaf, the living strings Of earth's Eolian lyre, whose music woke  Into young life and joy all happy things. And she too woke from that long dreamless trance, The widow'd Edith: fearfully her glance
Fell, as in doubt, on faces dark and strange, And dusky forms. A sudden sense of change Flash'd o'er her spirit, ev'n ere memory swept The tide of anguish back with thoughts that slept; Yet half instinctively she rose, and spread Her arms, as 'twere for something lost or fled, Then faintly sank again. The forest-bough, With all its whispers, wav'd not o'er her now,— Where was she? Midst the people of the wild,  By the red hunter's fire: an aged chief, Whose home look'd sad—for therein play'd no child—  Had borne her, in the stillness of her grief, To that lone cabin of the woods; and there, Won by a form so desolately fair, Or touch'd with thoughts from some past sorrow sprung, O'er her low couch an Indian matron hung, While in grave silence, yet with earnest eye, The ancient warrior of the waste stood by, Bending in watchfulness his proud grey head,  And leaning on his bow.
And life return’d, Life, but with all its memories of the dead,  To Edith's heart; and well the sufferer learn'd Her task of meek endurance, well she wore The chasten'd grief that humbly can adore, Midst blinding tears. But unto that old pair, Ev'n as a breath of spring's awakening air, Her presence was; or as a sweet wild tune Bringing back tender thoughts, which all too soon Depart with childhood. Sadly they had seen  A daughter to the land of spirits go, And ever from that time her fading mien,  And voice, like winds of summer, soft and low, Had haunted their dim years; but Edith's face Now look'd in holy sweetness from her place, And they again seem'd parents. Oh! the joy, The rich, deep blessedness—tho' earth's alloy, Fear, that still bodes, be there—of pouring forth The heart's whole power of love, its wealth and worth
Of strong affection, in one healthful flow, On something all its own!—that kindly glow, Which to shut inward is consuming pain, Gives the glad soul its flowering time again, When, like the sunshine, freed.—And gentle cares Th' adopted Edith meekly gave for theirs Who lov'd her thus:—her spirit dwelt, the while, With the departed, and her patient smile Spoke of farewells to earth;—yet still she pray'd, Ev'n o'er her soldier's lowly grave, for aid One purpose to fulfil, to leave one trace Brightly recording that her dwelling-place Had been among the wilds; for well she knew The secret whisper of her bosom true, Which warn'd her hence. And now, by many a word Link'd unto moments when the heart was stirr'd, By the sweet mournfulness of many a hymn, Sung when the woods at eve grew hush'd and dim,
By the persuasion of her fervent eye, All eloquent with child-like piety, By the still beauty of her life, she strove To win for heaven, and heaven-born truth, the love Pour'd out on her so freely.—Nor in vain Was that soft-breathing influence to enchain The soul in gentle bonds: by slow degrees Light follow'd on, as when a summer breeze Parts the deep masses of the forest shade And lets the sunbeam through:—her voice was made Ev'n such a breeze; and she, a lowly guide, By faith and sorrow rais'd and purified, So to the Cross her Indian fosterers led, Until their prayers were one. When morning spread O'er the blue lake, and when the sunset's glow Touch'd into golden bronze the cypress-bough, And when the quiet of the Sabbath time Sank on her heart, tho' no melodious chime Waken'd the wilderness, their prayers were one. —Now might she pass in hope, her work was done.
And she was passing from the woods away; The broken flower of England might not stay Amidst those alien shades; her eye was bright Ev'n yet with something of a starry light, But her form wasted, and her fair young cheek Wore oft and patiently a fatal streak, A rose whose root was death. The parting sigh Of autumn thro' the forests had gone by, And the rich maple o'er her wanderings lone Its crimson leaves in many a shower had strown, Flushing the air; and winter's blast had been Amidst the pines; and now a softer green Fring'd their dark boughs; for spring again had come, The sunny spring! but Edith to her home Was journeying fast. Alas! we think it sad To part with life, when all the earth looks glad In her young lovely things, when voices break Into sweet sounds, and leaves and blossoms wake: Is it not brighter then, in that far clime Where graves are not, nor blights of changeful time,
If here such glory dwell with passing blooms, Such golden sunshine rest around the tombs? So thought the dying one. 'Twas early day, And sounds and odours with the breezes' play, Whispering of spring-time, thro' the cabin-door, Unto her couch life's farewell sweetness bore; Then with a look where all her hope awoke, "My father!"—to the grey-hair'd chief she spoke— "Know'st thou that I depart?"—"I know, I know," He answer'd mournfully, "that thou must go To thy belov'd, my daughter!"—"Sorrow not  For me, kind mother!" with meek smiles once more She murmur'd in low tones; "one happy lot  Awaits, us, friends! upon the better shore; For we have pray'd together in one trust, And lifted our frail spirits from the dust, To God, who gave them. Lay me by mine own, Under the cedar-shade: where he is gone Thither I go. There will my sisters be, And the dead parents, lisping at whose knee
My childhood's prayer was learn'd, the Saviour's prayer Which now ye know, and I shall meet you there, Father, and gentle mother!—ye have bound The bruised reed, and mercy shall be found By Mercy's children."—From the matron's eye Dropp'd tears, her sole and passionate reply; But Edith felt them not; for now a sleep, Solemnly beautiful, a stillness deep, Fell on her settled face. Then, sad and slow, And mantling up his stately head in wo, "Thou'rt passing hence," he sang, that warrior old, In sounds like those by plaintive waters roll'd.
"Thou'rt passing from the lake's green side,  And the hunter's hearth away; For the time of flowers, for the summer's pride,  Daughter! thou canst not stay.
Thou'rt journeying to thy spirit's home,  Where the skies are ever clear; The corn-month's golden hours will come,  But they shall not find thee here.
And we shall miss thy voice, my bird!  Under our whispering pine; Music shall midst the leaves be heard,  But not a song like thine.
A breeze that roves o'er stream and hill,  Telling of winter gone, Hath such sweet falls—yet caught we still  A farewell in its tone.
But thou, my bright one! thou shalt be  Where farewell sounds are o'er; Thou, in the eyes thou lov'st, shalt see  No fear of parting more.
The mossy grave thy tears have wet,  And the wind's wild moanings by, Thou with thy kindred shalt forget,  Midst flowers—not such as die.
The shadow from thy brow shall melt,  The sorrow from thy strain, But where thine earthly smile hath dwelt,  Our hearts shall thirst in vain.
Dim will our cabin be, and lone,  When thou, its light, art fled; Vet hath thy step the pathway shown  Unto the happy dead.
And we will follow thee, our guide!  And join that shining band; Thou'rt passing from the lake's green side—  Go to the better land!"
The song had ceas’d—the listeners caught no breath, That lovely sleep had melted into death.