She winded on the castle horn,
She clamored long and bold,
For she was way-spent and forlorn
And she was sore a-cold.
And she stood lonely in the snow.
Vague quiet filled the air....
From heaven's roof looked down aloof
The stars, with steady stare.
She heard the droning drift of snow
And the wolf-wind on the hill....
No other sound.... For leagues around
The night was very still.
She cried aloud in sudden fright,
"Open! Warder ho!
Here is a pilgrim guest to-night
Who can no farther go."
The steady beat of mailed feet
In angry answer rang
Along the floor. The castle door
Gave in with iron clang
And the warder strode into his tower
And saw her standing there
Weary, like a storm-tossed flower,
And, like an angel, fair.
"Here is no lodging for the night,
No bread and wine for thee,
No ingle bright, no warm firelight,
No cheerful company.
"Here is no inn nor any kin
Of thine to harbor guest,
Nor thee to house will any rouse
Out of his ancient rest."
Unearthly, dark, nocturnal things
With faint and furtive stir
Hovered on feather-muffled wings
Round the fair face of her
As she made answer wearily:
"Ah! open now the gate.
Though I was fleet with willing feet,
I have come very late.
"Yea, though I came through flood and flame,
Through tempest, flood, and fire,
And left the wind to trail behind
The wings of my desire,
"And though I prayed the stars for aid
And seas for wind and tide,
And though God gave me goodly pave
And ran, Himself, beside...
"Aye, though my feet have been thus fleet,
Unto one heart, I know,
Whose sleep is still beneath the hill,
My coming has been slow."
And he bent gently down above,
A soft light in his eye...
"Is not the holy name of Love
The name men call thee by?
"Ah, Love, I know thee, for thy face
Is other-worldly fair;
A great light of some heavenly place
Is on thy shining hair.
"But thou, Love, who canst tread the stars,
Whose seat is by God's throne,
Why wilt thou bend thee to the dust
And walk the dark alone?
"Thy ways are not our mortal ways.
Hast thou nought else to do
Than wander with thy dream-lit face
Our glimmering darkness through?"
But Love made answer, and her voice
Was as God's voice to him;
As tall and fair she towered there
As heavenly seraphim...
"Open the gate! for Love shall dwell
Even among the dead
And in the darkest deeps of hell!
Open! For God hath said!"