The good wife's sons come home again But the lore of men that ha' dealt with men But the faith of men that ha' brothered men By more than easy breath, And the eyes o' men that ha' read wi' men Rich are they, rich in wonders seen, But poor in the goods o' men; So what they ha' got by the skin o' their teeth They sell for their teeth again. For whether they lose to the naked life They tell it all to the weary wife Her hearth is wide to every wind (Out with great mirth that do desire In with content to wait their watch THE SEA-WIFE And some return by failing light, And some in waking dream, For she hears the heels of the dripping ghosts That ride the rough roof-beam. Home, they come home from all the ports, The living and the dead; The good wife's sons come home again HYMN BEFORE ACTION THE earth is full of anger, The seas are dark with wrath, High lust and froward bearing, Deaf ear and soul uncaring, We seek Thy mercy now! The sinner that forswore Thee, The fool that passed Thee by, Our times are known before Thee— Lord, grant us strength to die! For those who kneel beside us HYMN BEFORE ACTION If wrong we did to call them, By honour bound they came; Let not Thy Wrath befall them, But deal to us the blame. From panic, pride, and terror, Cloak Thou our undeserving, In silence and unswerving Ah, Mary pierced with sorrow, E'en now their vanguard gathers, Lord God of Battles, hear! TO THE TRUE ROMANCE1 Thy face is far from this our war, I shall not find Thee quick and kind, And touch Thy garments' hem: Through wantonness if men profess Thee perfect, wise, and just. Since spoken word Man's Spirit stirred Beyond his belly-need, What is is Thine of fair design In thought and craft and deed; 1 Copyright, 1893, by D. Appleton & Co. |