Complete Novels of E Nesbit

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Complete Novels of E Nesbit Page 634

by Edith Nesbit


  By the infinite patient anguish,

  By the never-ceasing prayer,

  By the thoughts that cut like a living knife,

  By the tears that are never dry,

  Take what he died to win You —

  God, take Your victory!

  We have watched on till the light burned low,

  And watched the dawn awake;

  We have lived hardly and hardly fared

  For our sons’ sake.

  All that was good in Thy earth,

  All that taught us of Heaven,

  All that we had in the world

  We have given.

  We pray with empty hands

  And hearts that are stiff with pain.

  O God! O God! O God!

  Let the sacrifice not be vain.

  This is his blood, Lord, see!

  His blood that was shed for Thee;

  Thy banner is dyed in that red tide

  Lord, take Thy victory!

  God! give Thine angels power

  To fight as he fought,

  To scatter the hosts of evil,

  To bring their boastings to naught —

  Gabriel with trumpet of battle . . .

  Michael, who wields Thy sword . . .

  Breathe Thou Thy spirit upon them,

  Put forth Thy strength, O Lord.

  See, Lord, this is his body,

  Broken for Thee, for Thee . . .

  My son, my little son,

  Who leapt and laughed on my knee.

  INASMUCH AS YE DID IT NOT . . .

  If Jesus came to London,

  Came to London to-day,

  He would not go to the West End,

  He would come down our way;

  He’d talk with the children dancing

  To the organ out in the street,

  And say he was their big Brother,

  And give them something to eat.

  He wouldn’t go to the mansions

  Where the charitable live;

  He’d come to the tenement houses

  Where we ain’t got nothing to give.

  He’d come so kind and so homely,

  And treat us to beer and bread,

  And tell us how we ought to behave;

  And we’d try to mind what He said.

  In the warm bright West End churches

  They sing and preach and pray,

  They call us “Beloved brethren,”

  But they do not act that way.

  And when He came to the church door

  He’d call out loud and free,

  “You stop that preaching and praying

  And show what you’ve done for Me.”

  Then they’d say, “O Lord, we have given

  To the poor both blankets and tracts,

  And we’ve tried to make them sober,

  And we’ve tried to teach them facts.

  But they will sneak round to the drink-shop,

  And pawn the blankets for beer,

  And we find them very ungrateful,

  But still we persevere.”

  Then He would say, “I told you

  The time I was here before,

  That you were all of you brothers,

  All you that I suffered for.

  I won’t go into your churches,

  I’ll stop in the sun outside.

  You bring out the men your brothers,

  The men for whom I died!”

  Out of our beastly lodgings,

  From arches and doorways about,

  They’d have to do as He told them,

  They’d have to call us out.

  Millions and millions and millions,

  Thick and crawling like flies,

  We should creep out to the sunshine

  And not be afraid of His eyes.

  He’d see what God’s image looks like

  When men have dealt with the same,

  Wrinkled with work that is never done,

  Swollen and dirty with shame.

  He’d see on the children’s forehead

  The branded gutter-sign

  That marks the girls to be harlots,

  That dooms the boys to be swine.

  Then He’d say, “What’s the good of churches

  When these have nowhere to sleep?

  And how can I hear you praying

  When they are cursing so deep?

  I gave My Blood and My Body

  That they might have bread and wine,

  And you have taken your share and theirs

  Of these good gifts of mine!”

  Then some of the rich would be sorry,

  And all would be very scared,

  And they’d say, “But we never knew, Lord!”

  And He’d say, “You never cared!”

  And some would be sick and shameful

  Because they’d know that they knew,

  And the best would say, “We were wrong, Lord.

  Now tell us what to do!”

  I think He’d be sitting, likely,

  For someone ‘ud bring Him a chair,

  With a common kid cuddled up on His knee

  And the common sun on His hair;

  And they’d be standing before Him,

  And He’d say, “You know that you knew.

  Why haven’t you worked for your brothers

  The same as I worked for you?

  “For since you’re all of you brothers

  It’s clear as God’s blessed sun

  That each must work for the others,

  Not thousands work for one.

  And the ones that have lived bone-idle

  If they want Me to hear them pray,

  Let them go and work for their livings

  The only honest way!

  “I’ve got nothing new to tell you,

  You know what I always said —

  But you’ve built their bones into churches

  And stolen their wine and bread;

  You with My Name on your foreheads,

  Liar, and traitor, and knave,

  You have lived by the death of your brothers,

  These whom I died to save!”

  I wish He would come and say it;

  Perhaps they’d believe it then,

  And work like men for their livings

  And let us work like men.

  Brothers? They don’t believe it,

  The lie on their lips is red.

  They’ll never believe till He comes again,

  Or till we rise from the dead!

  The Poems

  Sycamore House, High Street, Dymchurch, Kent — one of the six houses the author rented in Dymchurch during her years with the ‘Skipper’

  LIST OF POEMS IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER

  TO TWO WOMEN.

  TEKEL

  THE MOAT HOUSE

  SONG: MY SWEET, MY SWEET

  SONG. SOFT IS THE GROUND UNDERFOOT

  SONG. GOOD-BYE, MY LOVE, MY ONLY DEAR

  SONG. OH, LOVE, I LEAVE

  SONG. OH, BABY, BABY, BABY DEAR

  SONG. DAY IS FAIR, AND SO IS SHE

  SONG. I HAD A SOUL

  UNOFFICIAL

  PESSIMISM

  GHOSTS

  THE DEAD TO THE LIVING

  THE SPHINX

  QUIETA NE MOVETE

  MICROCOSM

  THE HUSBAND OF TO-DAY

  THE WIFE OF ALL AGES

  TWO VOICES

  VIES MANQUÉES

  A LAST APPEAL

  OVER AND DONE

  OVER AND UNDONE

  CHRISTMAS

  NEW YEAR SONG

  THE SINGING OF THE MAGNIFICAT

  LOVE’S SUICIDE

  CHRISTMAS ROSES

  A CHOICE

  A LIFE’S STORY

  ABSOLUTION

  CUL-DE-SAC

  THE MOORS

  SONG. A MONTH OF GREEN AND TENDER MAY

  RICHBOROUGH CASTLE

  AUGUST

  THE LAST ENVOY

  BAB
Y’S BIRTHDAY

  JANUARY

  CHILDREN’S PLAYGROUNDS IN THE CITY

  THE DEPTHS OF THE SEA

  TO HIS LADY, IMPLORING HER TO BE TRUE

  AT THE FEAST

  SPRING SONG

  NEW YEAR

  A STAR IN THE EAST

  PARTING

  TWO CHRISTMAS EVES

  FOR THE NEW YEAR

  THE FERRY

  LOVERS’ QUARRELS

  WHEN!

  SONG. WE LOVED, MY LOVE, AND NOW IT SEEMS

  QUAND MÊME

  LOVE AND KNOWLEDGE

  HOPES

  A BROWN STUDY

  A GOOD-BYE

  UNTIL THE DAWN

  RESURGAM.

  MARCH VIOLETS.

  HOP PICKING.

  HALLOWE’EN.

  THE LOVER TO HIS LASS.

  BEFORE PARTING.

  LANDSCAPE AND SONG I.

  LANDSCAPE AND SONG II.

  LANDSCAPE AND SONG III.

  LANDSCAPE AND SONG IV.

  LANDSCAPE AND SONG V.

  LANDSCAPE AND SONG VI.

  LANDSCAPE AND SONG VII.

  LANDSCAPE AND SONG VIII.

  LANDSCAPE AND SONG IX.

  LANDSCAPE AND SONG X.

  LANDSCAPE AND SONG XI.

  LANDSCAPE AND SONG XII.

  LANDSCAPE AND SONG XIII.

  BRIDAL BALLAD.

  THE GHOST.

  THE MODERN JUDAS.

  THE SOUL TO THE IDEAL.

  A DEATH-BED.

  THE LOST SOUL AND THE SAVED.

  AT THE PRISON GATE.

  THE DEVIL’S DUE.

  LOVE IN JUNE.

  THE GARDEN.

  PRAYER UNDER GRAY SKIES.

  A GREAT INDUSTRIAL CENTRE.

  LONDON’S VOICES SPEAK TO TWO SOULS — WHO THUS REPLY:

  THE SICK JOURNALIST.

  TWO LULLABIES.

  BABY SONG.

  LULLABY.

  AN EAST-END TRAGEDY.

  HERE AND THERE.

  MOTHER.

  A BALLAD OF CANTERBURY.

  MORNING.

  THE PRAYER.

  THE RIVER MAIDENS.

  ON THE MEDWAY.

  THE BETROTHAL.

  A TRAGEDY.

  LOVE.

  THE DESIRE OF THE MOTH FOR THE STAR.

  WORSHIP.

  SPLENDIDE MENDAX.

  LOVE SONG.

  THE QUARREL.

  CHANGE.

  THE MILL.

  RONDEAU.

  A MÉSALLIANCE.

  THE LAST THOUGHT.

  APOLLO AND THE MEN OF CYMÉ.

  AT THE PRIVATE VIEW.

  A DIRGE IN GRAY.

  THE WOMAN’S WORLD.

  THE LIGHTHOUSE.

  TO A YOUNG POET.

  THE TEMPTATION.

  THE BALLAD OF SIR HUGH.

  FEBRUARY.

  APRIL.

  JUNE.

  JULY.

  NOVEMBER.

  ROCHESTER CASTLE.

  RUCKINGE CHURCH.

  RYE.

  THE BALLAD OF THE TWO SPELLS.

  IN MEMORIAM

  PHILIP BOURKE MARSTON.

  RONDEAU TO AUSTIN DOBSON.

  RONDEAU TO W. E. HENLEY.

  TO WALTER SICKERT.

  OLD AGE.

  THE THINGS THAT MATTER.

  THE CONFESSION.

  WORK.

  THE JILTED LOVER TO HIS MOTHER.

  THE WILL TO LIVE.

  THE BEATIFIC VISION.

  MUMMY WHEAT.

  THE BEECH TREE.

  IN ABSENCE.

  SILENCE.

  RAISON D’ETRE.

  THE ONLOOKER.

  THE TREE OF KNOWLEDGE.

  AT PARTING.

  SONG. I HEAR THE WAVES TO-NIGHT

  RENUNCIATION.

  THE VEIL OF MAYA.

  SONG. THE SUNSHINE OF YOUR PRESENCE LIES

  TO VERA, WHO ASKED A SONG.

  THE POET TO HIS LOVE.

  THE MAIDEN’S PRAYER.

  SONG. LOVE ME LITTLE, LOVE ME LONG

  THE MAGIC FLOWER.

  LA DERNIERE ROBE DE SOI.

  THE LEAST POSSIBLE.

  EN TOUT CAS.

  APPEAL.

  ST. VALENTINE’S DAY.

  CHAGRIN D’AMOUR.

  BRIDAL EVE.

  LOVE AND LIFE.

  FROM THE ITALIAN.

  OUT OF THE FULNESS OF THE HEART THE MOUTH SPEAKETH.

  SUMMER SONG.

  THE LOWER ROOM.

  SONG. THE SUMMER DOWN THE GARDEN WALKS

  MAY SONG.

  TO IRIS.

  BIRTHDAY TALK FOR A CHILD. (IRIS.)

  TO ROSAMUND.

  FROM THE TUSCAN.

  MOTHER SONG.

  THE ISLAND.

  POSSESSION.

  ACCESSION.

  THE DESTROYER.

  THE EGOISTS.

  THE WAY OF LOVE.

  TO ONE WHO PLEADED FOR CANDOUR IN LOVE.

  THE ENCHANTED GARDEN.

  THE POOR MAN’S GUEST.

  IN THE SHALLOWS.

  AND THE RAINS DESCENDED AND THE FLOODS CAME.

  THE STAR.

  THE PRODIGAL SON.

  DESPAIR.

  THE TEMPTATION.

  SECOND NATURE.

  DE PROFUNDIS.

  AT THE GATE.

  VIA AMORIS.

  RETRO SATHANAS.

  THE OLD DISPENSATION.

  THE NEW DISPENSATION.

  THE THREE KINGS.

  AFTER DEATH.

  CHLOE.

  INVOCATION.

  THE LAST BETRAYAL.

  A PRAYER FOR THE KING’S MAJESTY.

  TRUE LOVE AND NEW LOVE.

  DEATH.

  IN MEMORY OF SARETTA DEAKIN.

  A PARTING.

  THE RETURN

  FOR DOLLY WHO DOES NOT LEARN HER LESSONS

  QUESTIONS

  THE DAISIES

  THE TOUCHSTONE

  THE DECEMBER ROSE

  THE FIRE

  SONG. NOW THE SPRING IS WAKING

  A PARTING

  THE GIFT OF LIFE

  INCOMPATIBILITIES

  THE STOLEN GOD.

  WINTER

  SEA-SHELLS

  HOPE

  THE PRODIGAL’S RETURN

  THE SKYLARK

  SATURDAY SONG

  THE CHAMPION

  THE GARDEN REFUSED

  THESE LITTLE ONES

  THE DESPOT

  THE MAGIC RING

  PHILOSOPHY

  THE WHIRLIGIG OF TIME

  MAGIC

  WINDFLOWERS

  AS IT IS

  BEFORE WINTER

  THE VAULT

  SURRENDER

  VALUES

  IN THE PEOPLE’S PARK

  WEDDING DAY

  THE LAST DEFEAT

  MAY DAY

  GRETNA GREEN

  THE ETERNAL

  THE POINT OF VIEW: I.

  THE POINT OF VIEW: II.

  MARY OF MAGDALA

  THE HOME-COMING

  AGE TO YOUTH

  IN AGE

  WHITE MAGIC

  FROM THE PORTUGUESE

  THE NEST

  THE OLD MAGIC

  FAITH

  THE DEATH OF AGNES

  IN TROUBLE

  GRATITUDE

  AT THE LAST

  FEAR

  THE DAY OF JUDGMENT

  A FAREWELL

  IN HOSPITAL

  PRAYER IN TIME OF WAR

  AT PARTING

  INVOCATION

  TO HER: IN TIME OF WAR

  THE FIELDS OF FLANDERS

  SPRING IN WAR-TIME

  THE MOTHER’S PRAYER

  INASMUCH AS YE DID IT NOT . . .

  LIST OF POEMS IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER

  A-D E-H I-L M-O P-S T-V W-Z

  A BALLAD OF CANTERBURY.

  A BROWN STUDY

  A CHOICE

  A DEATH-BED.

  A DIRGE IN GRAY.
/>   A FAREWELL

  A GOOD-BYE

  A GREAT INDUSTRIAL CENTRE.

  A LAST APPEAL

  A LIFE’S STORY

  A MÉSALLIANCE.

  A PARTING

  A PARTING.

  A PRAYER FOR THE KING’S MAJESTY.

  A STAR IN THE EAST

  A TRAGEDY.

  ABSOLUTION

  ACCESSION.

  AFTER DEATH.

  AGE TO YOUTH

  AN EAST-END TRAGEDY.

  AND THE RAINS DESCENDED AND THE FLOODS CAME.

  APOLLO AND THE MEN OF CYMÉ.

  APPEAL.

  APRIL.

  AS IT IS

  AT PARTING

  AT PARTING.

  AT THE FEAST

  AT THE GATE.

  AT THE LAST

  AT THE PRISON GATE.

  AT THE PRIVATE VIEW.

  AUGUST

  BABY SONG.

  BABY’S BIRTHDAY

  BEFORE PARTING.

  BEFORE WINTER

  BIRTHDAY TALK FOR A CHILD. (IRIS.)

  BRIDAL BALLAD.

  BRIDAL EVE.

  CHAGRIN D’AMOUR.

  CHANGE.

  CHILDREN’S PLAYGROUNDS IN THE CITY

  CHLOE.

  CHRISTMAS

  CHRISTMAS ROSES

  CUL-DE-SAC

  DE PROFUNDIS.

  DEATH.

  DESPAIR.

  EN TOUT CAS.

  FAITH

  FEAR

  FEBRUARY.

  FOR DOLLY WHO DOES NOT LEARN HER LESSONS

  FOR THE NEW YEAR

  FROM THE ITALIAN.

  FROM THE PORTUGUESE

  FROM THE TUSCAN.

  GHOSTS

  GRATITUDE

  GRETNA GREEN

  HALLOWE’EN.

  HERE AND THERE.

  HOP PICKING.

  HOPE

  HOPES

  IN ABSENCE.

  IN AGE

  IN HOSPITAL

  IN MEMORIAM

  IN MEMORY OF SARETTA DEAKIN.

  IN THE PEOPLE’S PARK

  IN THE SHALLOWS.

  IN TROUBLE

  INASMUCH AS YE DID IT NOT . . .

  INCOMPATIBILITIES

  INVOCATION

  INVOCATION.

  JANUARY

  JULY.

  JUNE.

  LA DERNIERE ROBE DE SOI.

  LANDSCAPE AND SONG I.

  LANDSCAPE AND SONG II.

  LANDSCAPE AND SONG III.

  LANDSCAPE AND SONG IV.

  LANDSCAPE AND SONG IX.

  LANDSCAPE AND SONG V.

  LANDSCAPE AND SONG VI.

  LANDSCAPE AND SONG VII.

  LANDSCAPE AND SONG VIII.

  LANDSCAPE AND SONG X.

  LANDSCAPE AND SONG XI.

  LANDSCAPE AND SONG XII.

  LANDSCAPE AND SONG XIII.

  LONDON’S VOICES SPEAK TO TWO SOULS — WHO THUS REPLY:

  LOVE AND KNOWLEDGE

  LOVE AND LIFE.

  LOVE IN JUNE.

  LOVE SONG.

  LOVE.

  LOVE’S SUICIDE

  LOVERS’ QUARRELS

  LULLABY.

  MAGIC

  MARCH VIOLETS.

  MARY OF MAGDALA

  MAY DAY

  MAY SONG.

  MICROCOSM

  MORNING.

  MOTHER SONG.

  MOTHER.

  MUMMY WHEAT.

  NEW YEAR

  NEW YEAR SONG

  NOVEMBER.

 

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