Louis Untermeyer, ed. (1885–1977). Modern British Poetry. 1920.
John Davidson18571909A Ballad of Hell
‘A
Oh, unexpected, dear appeal!’
She struck a happy tear away,
And broke the crimson seal.
No help in heaven; the dead-man’s bell
Must toll our wedding; our first hearth
Must be the well-paved floor of hell.’
Her eyes like ghostly candles shone;
She cast dread looks about the place,
Then clenched her teeth and read right on.
Here must I rot from day to day,
Unless I wed whom I abhor,
My cousin, Blanche of Valencay.
I’ll take my life; it must be so.
Meet me in hell to-night, my queen,
For weal and woe.’
She girded on her golden belt,
She took her jewelled ivory fan,
And at her glowing missal knelt.
She broke her fan, her belt untied;
With leather girt herself instead,
And stuck a dagger at her side.
Till sleep had fallen on all the house.
She never flinched; she faced her doom:
They two must sin to keep their vows.
And, stooping, crept by hedge and tree;
Her rose-bush flung a snare of scent,
And caught a happy memory.
She tore the sward in her distress;
The dewy grass refreshed her face;
She rose and ran with lifted dress.
Once when the moon came out and stood
To watch; the naked road she crossed,
And dived into the murmuring wood.
A live thing shrieked; she made no stay!
She hurried to the trysting-oak—
Right well she knew the way.
And drove her dagger home and fell,
And lay like one that takes her rest,
And died and wakened up in hell.
And near the centre took her post;
From all sides to her ears there came
The dreary anguish of the lost.
Comely, and tall, and black as jet.
‘I am young Malespina’s bride;
Has he come hither yet?’
‘Is Malespina here?’
‘Not he! To-morrow he must wed
His cousin Blanche, my dear!’
‘Not he! it was a plot’ … ‘You lie.’
‘My dear, I never lie outright.’
‘We died at midnight, he and I.’
She, gathered up in one fierce prayer,
Took root in hell’s midst all alone,
And waited for him there.
Amidst the wail, the uneasy stir.
The blood-stained flame that filled the dome,
Scentless and silent, shrouded her.
But when she felt his perfidy,
She marched across the floor of hell;
And all the damned stood up to see.
She shook him off; she cried, ‘Away!’
‘My dear, you have gone mad, I think.’
‘I was betrayed: I will not stay.’
A stranger thing was never seen:
The damned stood silent to a man;
They saw the great gulf set between.
And flowers sprang up about her feet
She entered heaven; she climbed the stair
And knelt down at the mercy-seat.
Welcomed that soul that knew not fear.
Amazed to find it could rejoice,
Hell raised a hoarse, half-human cheer.