The Night Land

"And I cannot touch her face

And I cannot touch her hair,

And I kneel to empty shadows--

Just memories of her grace;

And her voice sings in the winds

And in the sobs of dawn

And among the flowers at night

And from the brooks at sunrise

And from the sea at sunset,

And I answer with vain callings ..."

It was the Joy of the Sunset that brought us to speech. I was gone a

long way from my house, walking lonely-wise, and stopping often that I

view the piling upward of the Battlements of Evening, and to feel the

dear and strange gathering of the Dusk come over all the world about me.

The last time that I paused, I was truly lost in a solemn joy of the

Glory of the Coming Night; and maybe I laughed a little in my throat,

standing there alone in the midst of the Dusk upon the World. And, lo!

my content was answered out of the trees that bounded the country road

upon my right; and it was so as that some one had said: "And thou also!"

in glad understanding, that I laughed again a little in my throat; as

though I had only a half-believing that any true human did answer my

laugh; but rather some sweet Delusion or Spirit that was tuned to my

mood.

But she spoke and called me by my name; and when I had gone to the side

of the road, that I should see her somewhat, and discover whether I knew

her, I saw that she was surely that lady, who for her beauty was known

through all of that sweet County of Kent as Lady Mirdath the Beautiful;

and a near neighbour to me; for the Estates of her Guardian abounded

upon mine. Yet, until that time, I had never met her; for I had been so oft and

long abroad; and so much given to my Studies and my Exercises when at

home, that I had no further Knowledge of her than Rumour gave to me odd

time; and for the rest, I was well content; for as I have given hint, my

books held me, and likewise my Exercises; for I was always an athlete,

and never met the man so quick or so strong as I did be; save in some

fiction of a tale or in the mouth of a boaster.

Now, I stood instantly with my hat in my hand; and answered her gentle

bantering so well as I might, the while that I peered intent and

wondering at her through the gloom; for truly Rumour had told no tale to

equal the beauty of this strange maid; who now stood jesting with so

sweet a spirit, and claiming kinship of Cousinhood with me, as was

truth, now that I did wake to think.