And memory has the power To re-create them from the dust. They remind me, too, Of martyred Dorothea, Who from celestial gardens sent To him who scoffed and doubted. Of Christ and the Sultan's daughter? That is the prettiest legend of them all. Prince Henry. Then tell it to me. But first come hither. Lay the flowers down beside me, And put both thy hands in mine. Elsie. Early in the morning The Sultan's daughter Walked in her father's garden, Prince Henry. Just as thou hast been doing She wondered more and more Who was the Master of the Flowers, And made them grow Out of the cold, dark earth. 66 In my heart," she said, 'I love him; and for him Would leave my father's palace, Prince Henry. Dear, innocent child! How sweetly thou recallest The long-forgotten legend, That in my early childhood It reappears once more, As a birth-mark on the forehead When a hand suddenly Is laid upon it, and removed! Elsie. And at midnight, As she lay upon her bed, She heard a voice Call to her from the garden, And, looking forth from her window, Out of my Father's kingdom Have I come hither: I am the Master of the Flowers. My garden is in Paradise, And if thou wilt go with me, Shall be of bright red flowers." A golden ring, And asked the Sultan's daughter If she would be his bride. And when she answered him with love, His wounds began to bleed, And she said to him, "O Love! how red thy heart is, Thou art my elected bride!" And the Sultan's daughter Followed him to his Father's garden. Prince Henry. Wouldst thou have done so, Elsie? Elsie. Yes, very gladly. Prince Henry. Then the Celestial Bridegroom Will come for thee also. Upon thy forehead he will place, Not his crown of thorns, But a crown of roses. In thy bridal chamber, Like Saint Cecilia, Thou shalt hear sweet music, And breathe the fragrance Of flowers immortal! Go now and place these flowers Before her picture. A Room in the Farm-house. Twilight. URSULA spinning. GOTTLIEB asleep in his chair. Ursula. Darker and darker! Hardly a glimmer Of light comes in at the window-pane; Or is it my eyes are growing dimmer? I cannot disentangle this skein, Gottlieb (starting). The stopping of thy wheel When suddenly the wheels stood still, Elsie" in my ear! It startled me, it seemed so near. Ursula. I was calling her: I want a light. Bring the lamp, Elsie. Dost thou hear? Gottlieb. Where are Bertha and Max? Ursula. They are sitting with Elsie at the door. She is telling them stories of the wood, And the Wolf, and Little Red Ridinghood. Gottlieb. And where is the Prince? Ursula. In his room overhead; I heard him walking across the floor, As he always does, with a heavy tread. ELSIE comes in with a lamp. MAX and BERTHA follow her; and they all sing the Evening Song on the lighting of the lamps. EVENING SONG. O gladsome light Of the Father Immortal, And of the celestial Sacred and blessed Jesus, our Saviour! Now to the sunset Father omnipotent! Of worship and wonder! Prince Henry (at the door). Amen! Ursula. Who was it said Amen? Elsie. It was the Prince: he stood at the door, And listened a moment, as we chaunted I have often seen him there before. Ursula. Poor Prince! Gottlieb. I thought the house was haunted! Poor Prince, alas! and yet as mild And makes me such fine bows and arrows, And the red squirrels in the wood! Bertha. I love him, too! Gottlieb. Ah, yes! we all Love him, from the bottom of our hearts; He gave us the farm, the house, and the grange, He gave us the horses and the carts, And the great oxen in the stall, The vineyard, and the forest range! We have nothing to give him but our love! Bertha. Did he give us the beautiful stork above On the chimney-top, with its large, round nest Gottlieb. No, not the stork; by God in heaven, As a blessing, the dear white stork was given; But the Prince has given us all the rest. God bless him, and make him well again. |