THE

WATCHERS

TORCH-BEARERS

OF

THE

SKY

OF

WORKS

NOYES

ALFRED

COLLECTED

POEMS

"

THE

Vols.

MISRULE

LORD
OF

CHRISTMAS

BELGIAN

THE

EVE

WINE-PRESS

SHADOWS

WALKING

Prose
"

TALES

TAVERN

MERMAID
THE

OF

SHERWOOD

THE

ISLAND

ENCHANTED

OTHER

POEMS

AND

AN

DRAKE:

EPIC

ENGLISH

POEMS

THE

OLD

FLOWER
OF

GOLDEN

THE

THE

NEW

HYNDE

MORNING

WATCHERS

Torch-Bearers

The

"

SKY
OF

THE

JAPAN

TORCH-BEARERS

THE

WATCHERS
OF

THE

SKY

BY

ALFRED

NOYES

YORK

NEW

FREDERICK

A.

STOKES

PUBLISHERS

COMPANY

Copyright,

FREDEHICK

All

rights

STOKES

A.

foreign

in

the

United

by

COMPANY

that

including

reserved,

into

Printed

1922,

of

translation

languages

States

of

America

PREFATORY

NOTE

"
3

This

self,is

also

which

is

unity

suggested

the

in

of

scope

prologue.

The

has

epic

its

and

purpose

it-

in

complete

trilogy, the

discovery

of

unity

"

first of

the

scientific

of

story

it is

while

volume,

own

endeavour

"

CM

the

single

the

through

centuries;

pioneers

falling

passing

science

of
the

torch

into

when,
their

saw

hand

from
and

the

after

great

ments
mo-

labour,

long

accumulated

significant order

hand

to

facts

sometimes

"

in

the

of

form

law

revolutionised

that

the

.a

world

"" whole

of

thought

have

"

intense

an

C/D

human

interest,

the

creative

with

these

cover

belong

moments

the

not

with
whole

essentially

of

imagination

concerned,
to

and

that

my

any

impossible

field

376342

or

It

poetry.
poem

to

make

is

to

is

chiefly

attempt
a

new

PREFATORY

The

good

to

take

me

an

the

"Watchers

trial

Madre
made

attempts

to

elucidate

of

torch

driven

to

then

loo-inch
this

that

young

volume

night,and

plunges
the

things, with

an

what
passes

point
man

of

means

attempt
had

to

gone

Tycho

to

into exile with

the very
a

of

the first

purpose.

tale,partly by

view

of

into

revolution

by Copernicus; but, within

lyric,there is

at

own

night

summit

when

first tale in this volume

brought about

eye

to

picture of

to

was

the

"

new

prologue

my

middle

the

what

on

the

of

give

for

Sky," began

the

Mountains,

telescope. The

the

of

unforgettable experience

was

The

mind

shape during

definite

the Sierra

model,

the firstvolume, dealing

privileged to spend

was

to

in my

been
and

years;

with

has

theme
many

Lucretian

science.

modern

of

the

after

poetic system,
out

NOTE

an

incidental

give

bird's-

before.

The

Brahe, who,

his tables of the stars,

of death

named
vi

hands

them

Kepler.

over

Kepler,

PREFATORY

their

with

NOTE

arrives

help,

laws, and corresponds with

drama

human

endeavoured

the

around

his

ue pur

by

Too

name.

succumbed

the

to

It

reliable

attributed
his death.

M.

Ponsard,

subject,succumbed

to

his final

with

du

pied

scene

la

tourne."

affair than
to

his

the

easy

Galileo's
and

that.
method

in my

poem,

the

of

cry,

rejected

course,

first

was

after

years

in his

play

the extent

of

Galileo

on

the

making

"frappant

recantation

Even

Landor

of

making
scars

pictures are
it may

hasty reader

was

far

tragically complicated

entirelylegendary

these familiar

the

end

have

terre,"and crying, "pourtant elle

subtle

more

writers

hundred

of

gathered

historian,and

Galileo

to

has

many

is,of

much

to

temptation

si muove!"

every

historical

more

that

tensely
the in-

"

life I have

be attributed

can

literature

poetic

whose

of

great

own

Galileo

depict with

to

than

accuracy

his

at

be well
that

to
not

for

succumbed
him

If

Milton.
to
me

it is because

vii

display

be
to

found
assure

I have

PREFATORY

endeavoured
I

to

tried

have

NOTE

present

to

the

suggest

in this section

of motive

There

concerned.

retain

to

series

of

the

legend

without

ters
let-

chiefly

characters

certain

of "e

significanceI

this

; and

complications

of course,

was,

poetic significancein
si muove"

by

the

between

passing

justpicture.

more

pur

have

deavoured
en-

torical
violating his-

truth.
In

the

was

born, and

the

the

story

to

on

The

again.

that

"Tales

of

certain

poets

Tycho

and

flowed

similar

Tavern"

discoverers

their stories told in

of narrative

Bearers"

and

form

all the

Brahe, Kepler,
of science

wrote

of

and
a

viii

velopmen
de-

book,

of

another
a

central

combination

Torch-

naturally into

more

view

where

"The

lyricalverse.

in

is

earlier

an

brought together round

were

idea,and

of

carry

observatory

adopted

M\ermaid

the

sections

modern

I have

form

Newton

death

subsequent
the

from

kind

Galileo's

of

year

the

many

fact
other

considerable

that

neers
pionum-

PREFATORY

Kepler

whose

"

meetings

scheme

between

the most

Sir

visit of

and

method

shallow

it

in

the

of

human

as

for
of

it has

above

battle

that quest

where,

in the

universe

beauty are

It

beauty.
a

may

the

at

has

in modern

and

more

even

be

for

Poetry

seeking

truth, sometimes

would

something

aspect.

been

deadly

affirm, the

convey

long

the

are

prison.

were

indicated

of

'Kepler, and

often

possibleto

constant

poetry,

to

poetry

scheme

its most

times,

carry

too,

precisionof expression and,

its own

more

and

splendour

light in

helped,

beautiful

Galileo

to

the

least make

of the

of

and

Wotton

Henry

as

and

nius
ge-

are

those

by

famous

if science

opposites

at

fantastic

was

science

the visit of Milton

Even

interest.

general

which

and

"

extraordinary
the

blazing

in the works

indeed, primarily poetic

was,

in

imbedded

Those

her of poems.
of

NOTE

the

pense
ex-

possible

to

stage farther,to the point

great

revealed

reunited.

rhythmical
by

science,
If poetry

ix

of the

laws
truth

can

do

and

this,

PREFATORY

it will

be

not

itself,and

without

of

has

religion

which

it

ago,

years

be

poetry,

purer

for

to

ideas

which

the

province

but, in

man;

by science, and
events

mind

which"
refuses

must

to

for

that

the

all

laws

in

"that

It is
to

of

as

and

the

grand

of

God

of

sequence

result
its

are

"the

"

of blind
new

own

It is easy
faith

post-

revealed

affirmed
the

only
in
with-

not

ways

nature

discover

attempt.

those

attempt

the

the

on

terms

be

it

worthy

carry

new

Darwin

accept

hope

to

race.

the

may

it is

ever

of science

as

"

chance," poetry
grounds

in

justificationof

Copernican
to

"where

express

stay of the human

sure

that

prophesied

destinies,"to help

fire,and

eternal

in

something

will-o'-the-wisps. Forty
Arnold

of its high

often

Matthew

would

in

unfeignedly believe, and

can

following

the

dogmatic

world

for

chaos, craving

strange

of

modern

the

left

order

old

in

world.

shattered

science

to

its part

playing

of the

passing

value

some

be

it will

reconstruction
The

NOTE

to

sume
as-

shallow.

PREFATORY

It is

practisea reallyshallow

easier to

even

that there is

annunciation

the skin of

beneath

science

there; and if,in

rest

is made

to

show

diminished

or

before

and

the
the

after
so

only

that

overwhelmed
that

has

to-day
"

poetry
the

has

torch

at

of

Space

and

XI

been

are

in

so

"

nor

can

not

the "fifteen

passed

review

it is

only

common

faced;

and

least endeavoured

science

of

deep-set boundary-mark
darkness

by

inch

attempt

an

spiritualvalues

opposite argument

after

follow

new

telescopeof Herschel,

easy

an

poetry

nor

this poem,

universes"

hundred

skeleton

is neither

man

Neither

profound.

modern

The

devitalisingpessimism.

and

to

NOTE

in

Time.

to

that

its

own

immense

CONTENTS

PAOB

Prologue

I.

II.

III.

Copernicus

20

36

Brahe

Tycho

Kepler

102
.

IV.

.,
.

Galileo

131
........

V.

VI.

Newton

184

Herschel

William

Conducts

.231
.

VII.

Sir

John

Herschel

Remembers
244
.

Epilogue

272
....

,.

PROLOGUE

OBSERVATORY

THE

AT

noon,

mountain's

the

upon

purple

height,
Above

and

pine-woods

the

clouds

the

it

shone

No

than

larger

of

dome

white

small

the

shell

Left

the

by

fledgling

when

wren

wings

are

born.

By

it

night

And,

joined

with

its

the

of

company

became

light,

constant

heaven,
a

star.

needle-point

It

sent

Held
Than

more

all

subtler

of

light, minute,

could

the

through

message

significance

for

the

darkness

that

not

dwarf

out,

Yet

remote,

it.

the

abyss,

seeing

would

eye

blot

it

TORCH-BEARERS

THE

Alive

all the

with

heaven

in

High

it

shone,

thoughts, and hopes, and

dreams

Of

man's

mind.

adventurous

there, I

Up
The
Of

explorers

of the

That

sky, the pioneers

made

science,now
darkness

knew

ready

to

attack

again, and

once

win

new

worlds.
To-morrow

night they hoped

to

crown

the

toil
Of

twenty

The

War

noblest
had

drawn

Designing
Could

years,

delayed

Your

great

darker

by

They

weapons.

sky

man.

had

been

But

no

gun

this.

night"
"

so

wrote

their chief

"

try
new

Milton's
power

made

them.

the

upon

away

"To-morrow

Our

turn

ever

weapon

outrange

"we

and

telescope,the hundred-inch.
'optic tube'

has

grown

in

TORCH-BEARERS

THE

Is

rough

our

But

guess.

of

speak

never

this.
You

know

our

They'd miss the

press.

one

result
To

thousand

'three

flash

millions'

round

than

twenty

the world."

To-morrow

night!

For

more

years,

had

They

Ten

thought
had

years

One-fourth,

gone,

of man's

more,

or

planned and worked.

and

ing
work-

brief

life,
those

made

Before

they

Their

hundred-inch

solid

tons

of

glass,

reflector, the

clear

pool,
The
To

polished
hold

And,

the

even

flawless

pool that it

perfect image of
now,

secret

some

be

must

star.

flaw

"

none

knew
Until

to-morrow's

Where

was

so

the

much,

test

"

gambler

"

[4]

might
that

waste

it all.

would

stake

OF

WATCHERS

THE

Time, patience,treasure,
The

of

cost

Either
Was

fuel

Once

in

flame

the

lifetime

to

fools

what

Despite

find

that

again,

All

their

youth

life-stuff!

or

single throw?

"

to
a

on

it, they'd not

gold

in

SKY

of this

the

work.

one

man

of

believe

his

science,
ice-cooled

blood,
There

this drama.

comes

fails,he fails

If he
He

Utterly.
For

fresh

at

least

will

beginnings.

have

time

no

Other

no

men,

doubt,
Years

will

hence,

use

the

footholes

that he

cut

In

those

precipitous cliffs,and

reach

the

height,
But

he

will

never

see

it."
So

The

light words

of

that

for

me,

letter seemed

to

hide
The

passion

The

crowning

of

lifetime,and

moment

of its

[5]

I shared

hope and

fear.

THE

Next

TORCH-BEARERS

day, through whispering

palm

Up
That

to

Had

set

With

rode

we

foot-hills,
dreaming desert-hills

the

to

their

assuage
each

peach

sun-kissed

tawny
and

delicious

own

orchards.

orange

the thin white

drought

slope ablaze

Up

Along

aisles of

and

up,

trail that wound

and

climbed

And

zig-zagged through
mountain

The

grey-green

sage,

crawling,

went

car

the

till the

shining

plain
Below

it,like

Houses

and

airman's

an

orchards

map,

dwindled

unrolled.
to

white

specks
In

midget

Once,

as

cubes and

we

squares

rounded

of tufted green.

that

steep curve,

one

made

The

We

head

saw

swim

at

the

canyoned gulf

through thirtymiles

Elvishly small, sharp

as

[6]

of lucid

crumpled

low,
be-

air

petal

WATCHERS
Blown

OF

the stem,

from

nine

for

Slowly

we

SKY

yard

the

Lazily driftingon
Up

THE

blue

warm

miles

along

that

wound

to

reach

sail

away,
sea.

spiral trail
lucid

the

height
Above

the
of

clouds, where

dome

that white

shell,

No

wren's

Of

dying day.

but

now,

took
eagle's,

an

The

the flush

sage-brush all

died

out,
And

all the
us

southern

growths,

round

and

now,

Firs of the

north, and

strong, storm-rooted

pines
Exhaled

Reversing
They

keener

at last,
fragrance; till,

all the

laws

towered

like

of lesser

giants round

hills,
us.

ness
Dark-

fell

Before

we

reached

the

mountain's

naked

height.

Over
The

us, like some

great cathedral

observatory loomed
[7]

against

dome,
the

sky;

THE
And

TORCH-BEARERS

the dark

mountain

with

its

headlong

gulfs
Had

lost all memory

For

all those

the

of

cloudless

world

below;

of

throngs

ing
glitter-

stars

all those

And

of

the

abyss

space

Is

powdered

burning

Of

glimmerings where

its

with

and

sun,

milky dust, each

the

sun

every

darkling planets,

own

"

grain

lord

all

those

lights
in

Met,

Lights

on

darker

deep, the lightsof earth,

the sea,

lightsof invisible towns,

from
Trembling and indistinguishable

In

those

black

gulfs around

stars,

the mountain's

feet.

Then,

into the

glimmering dome,

with

bated

breath,
We

Saw

entered,and, above
that

majestic weapon

Uptowering
Through

one

us, in the
of the

like the shaft of

arched

rift of

some

light

huge

gun

sky.
Dark

[8]

gloom

at

its base

WATCHERS

OF

naked

With

THE

the

arms,

SKY

all

that

crew

day

long
sweated

Had

to

their

Waited

elfin

night

captain'sword.
switchboard

The
With

for this

ready

make

lamps

and

white

of

shone

red,

and

keys

Whence,

at

finger'stouch, that

monstrous

tube
Moved

like

dowered

creature

with

from

peer

deep

to

deep.
Below

The

life

will,

and
To

clock-machine

that

it

slowly,

pulsed

throb

by

throb,
Timed

to

the pace

the

of

Drove

the titanic muzzle

Fixed

to

the

chosen

revolving earth,
and

on

star

that

on,

else

would

glide
Out

of

its field of vision.

So, set
Balanced

against

the

swung,

[9]

wheel

of

free

time,

it

TORCH-BEARERS

THE
Or
The

So

find

rested,while, to
dome

that

housed

smoothly that the

it,like

of

moon

sky
volved,
re-

hardly knew

watchers

through
within; till,

moved

They

realms

new

the

mering
glim-

the

pines

doors,
saw

Like

Indian

Then,

at

dark

the

They

Its muzzle

procession of

warriors, quietly stealingby.

word, the mighty

and

aimed

at

dipped

weapon

point of

small

one

light
star.
seeming insignificant

One

The

Mounting

the

ladder, while

chief,

held

we

our

breath,
Looked

through

the

Then

thanks

His
"A

prominence

on

heard

we

and

God,

to

eye-piece.
him

it in

hide

do

you

cried the

jest.

Jupiter!"
"

They
"What

laugh

mean?"

chief,
[10]

"

"It's

laughed,
moving,"

TORCH-BEARERS

THE

Than

mortal

had

eyes

before

seen

from

earth,
and

O, beautiful
that

Was

phrase

silver

one

all dreams

beyond

clear

the

of

starry

tune

Dimly
The

discoverer"

"old

Galileo's

Which

first

revealed, dissolvinginto clouds

in

"Jupiter stands

Though

of

fabric

imagined

all the

universe.

our

heaven

sycophants

stand

will

and

bark

him,"

at

he

cried,
the

Hailing

before

truth

he, too,

went

down,
Whelmed

in

the

of

cloudy wreckage

that

dream.

So

one

by

one

looked,

we

the

who

men

served

Urania,
A

The
A

and

beautiful

swarthy
meaning

the

eagerness
faces

that

the

dull

in

Vulcan's

from

men

in
too

[12]

the

forge.

darkness

long

mechanic

had

lit

missed

maze

WATCHERS

Of

labour

OF

this blind

on

SKY

THE

earth, but found

it

now.

Though

only

far

Hopelessly
Its

moment's

above,

with

naked

wandering melody
it gave
and

consecration

only

There,

their

its

toil

joy.
eyes

and

red-shirted,grimed

and

dark-smouldering

throats,

Blue-dungareed,
smeared
With

engine-grease

and

sweat,

they gathered

round

The

foot

of

that dim

ladder;

each

ing
mutter-

low
As

he

down,

came

his wonder

at

what

he

for

the

saw

To

those

who

waited,
"

picture

brush
Of

Rembrandt, lightedonly by

Above

them,

where

the

the rift

giant

muzzle

thrust
Out

through

the dim

arched

throbbed,
[13]

roof, and

ly
slow-

TORCH-BEARERS

THE

the

Against

slowly moving

of

wheel

the

earth,
chosen

their

Holding

star.

like

There,
Perched

the

on

side

dark

that

of

an

elf,

slanting

tower

The

Italian

mechanician

watched

the

moons,

That

Italy discovered.

American,
they
To

One

by

English, French,

and

Dutch,

climbed

wonder

the

see

one,

their

that

own

blind

hands
Had

helped
At

To

adjust

achieve.

to

the

while

midnight

clock-machine,

they paused
I

wandered

out

Alone,
The

into

the silence

silence?

On

of

that

the

night.

lonely height

heard
Eternal

For,

as

voices ;
I looked

into the

gulf beneath,

WATCHERS

Whence

THE

OF

vanished

lightshad

all the

almost

SKY

now,

The

seemed

mountain

dark

whole

have

to

lost its earth

And

be

to

sailing

like

ship through

heaven.
All

round

surged

it

the

sea-like

mighty

sound

soughing pine-woods,

Of

and

ebb

vast

one

flow
Of

absolute

aloof

peace,

from

earth's

all

pain,
So

calm,

seemed

quiet, it

so

the

cradle-

song,

The

deep

soft

Over

its youngest

And,

as

Became
O

the

universe

child, the

soul

of

listened,that

an

you,

And

of

breathing

invocation

that

move

on

like

your

/Eolian

and
loftier

light

in

voice

prayer:

mountain

light

among

thoughts
Of

Into

heaven, translatingour
immortal

song,

man.

mortality

is there

not

one

dwell
the

THE

Among
This

TORCH-BEARERS
that

you

music

to

fightfor truth?

dark

long

turn

can

now

Not

to

one

touch

With

this

beauty

Doomed

defeat

to

that which

To

see?

neither

to

its nine

Wars

have

we

boltered

Of

light,

man

all

was

saw

we

could

soul

nor

eyes

with

yet

miles

unconquerable,

nearer

The

sung.

the stars.

to

blind,

blood-

kings
epic

an

no

you

and

defeat

Climbing

Have

spiritof

for what

"

the

for

"

Doomed

Move

battle

the

victory of

little

This

long

to

then,of

song,

those who

music

for

strove

their thrones.

that nobler

war?

light,but could

not

dream
Even

of

this

victory that they helped

to

win,
Silent

discoverers,lonelypioneers,

Prisoners
Who
Of

and

handed
those
the

exiles,martyrs
on

who,

the

step

fire,from
by

night
[16]

of

the

age

step, drove

to

truth
age;

back

struggled,year

And

THE

OF

WATCHERS

on

year,

stars, of

sovran

SKY

for

one

more

glimpse
the

Among

their

law,

guide;
Of

searching inward,

who

those

the

saw

rocks

Dissolving into
Those

abyss,and

new

far

planetary systems

Atoms, electrons,whirling
To

build

and

Of

those

who

unbuild

to

within,
their way

on

solid world

our

conquered,

saw

inch

by

difficult

inch,
dreams,

of

Dreamers

of law

of this realm

freedom

The

for

builders

the

man

of

our

hope,
The

the

while

Who,

up

of

dynastsdrenched

the

in

Wrestle

with

To

one

the world

save

still small

circle

of

like Heracles

death

stricken

touch

this

moving

of

lamp
old

child.

Is there
To

wounds,

blood,

with

Would

the binders

and

healers

universe

[17]

of

no

song

law

THE

With

TORCH-BEARERS

light, the glimmer

ultimate
dawn

great
Which

that

of

over

ruined

our

altars

shall

yet

break
In

splendour, and

purer

From

darker

dreams

mankind

restore

than

Lucretius

even

knew

To

that

vision

of

the

world.

How

should
those

Which,

find

men

which

Power

one

it?

guides

Only

through

each

separate

doors

opening inward,

in

soul
each

Give

within

Living
Or

known,

Meets

there
in

Before

life,not

was

one

and

that

all

found

each

alone

God.

eternal

moved

of

be

to

till,looking inward,

the unknowable

And

That

each

Soul

that

to

access

man

like

light

light
me

can

there,
"

exalt

Love,

human

all weakness

[IS]

and
into

divine,

power,

"

COPERNICUS

THE

idly

gossiped

neighbours

the

at

door.

Copernicus
His

lay

little

dying

overhead.

of

friends,

throng

with

startled

eyes,

in

together,

Whispered

that

house

dark

of

dreams,
From
He

which

used

to

by

dim

one

the

watch

crevice

Nuremberg

wall

the

stars.

"His
From

in

at

book

last;

but

has
who

come

would

dare
To

let

him

see

it

now?"
"

have

"They
Though

Rome

approved

look,
[20]

in

full,

altered
this

it!

ace,
pref-

WATCHERS

dream!"
"He

'has

discoveries

his

that

Declares

SKY

THE

OF

are

"

asked

thousand

tear

out

those

if it has

times

come;

Could

we

pages?"
"

"He'd
shall be

"What

done, then?""
"Hold

That

it back

awhile.

in

room

priest'svoice

the

was

suspect.""

the

above.
He

May

set

Those

it.

forget

may

his mind

at

last sacraments

rest, and

bring

him

peace."
"

Then, stealingquietly to that

They opened
The
Who

lean

it

and
little,

deathbed

white

made

world

our

saw

of
a

door,

upper

within

Copernicus

world

without

an

end.

There,

in that

narrow

room,

they

saw

his

face

Grey, seamed

with

thought, lit by

lamp;

They

saw

those

glorious eyes
[2,]

single

TORCH-BEARERS

THE

Closing, that

looked

had

once

beyond

the

spheres
And
Into

Beside
Two

knelt

him

At

shadows.

like bowed

women,

dissolve

night.

boundless

firmaments

ancient

our

seen

his

feet,
An

The

Franciscan

cowled
the

Shone

At his

him.

physicianwatched

old

while

murmured,

light
the chalice.

faintlyon

All
The

head,

fragrance

of

the wine

still.

grew

like

was

faint

flowers,
first

The

fields.

Then,
His

like

breath

dying soldier,that

uncertain,

to

and

the

Death.

But

back,
[22]

leave

must

others,while

Copernicus whispered, in
"Yes, it is

celestial

far

...

last command

Is yet

those

of

the

fight

victory far,
a

you

fevered
must

dream,

hold

him

OF

WATCHERS

in the

There,
Until
Use

To

I know
all your

and

see

Have

doorway,

for

the work

is

they not

little

one

it

live

I must

of

copy

brought

while,

rightly done.

doctor.

weapons,

touch

SKY

THE

book.

my

yet?

They promised
It should

be here

by nightfall.
One

And

hasten

Have

they

not

and

has
one

it

brought

me.

safe,for

die then.

I could

What

not

deceive

Printed

And

go

back

hold

can

of you

till dawn.

Death

Do

it.

me

delayed

must

other

My

use

them?

"

know

use.

be

would

Will

safe,

it
to

men

remberg.
Nu-

from

yet?

not

filled.
ful-

some

go

tell them

that my

strength is running

out?
Tell

them

that book

would

hand

[23]

be

an

angel's

TORCH-BEARERS

THE

easier

In

mine,

little lantern

an

in

see, I hid

You
Under

too

It may

go

pillow

its

small

struggling light so
bushel, and

life's brief

day,

As

now

it,when

the

afraid,perhaps,

was

it

lightsthat guide

The

noon

not

the need

see

down.

night shuts
might

confuse

the

for

us

long

I fear

In the

I could

Of

see

head,

my

engulfing dark.

the

forever.

out

for

of

souls

men.

But
At

now

we
first,

And

take

see

three

contented

bask

what

stages in

our

in

our

daylight shows

life.
sun

us

for

the

truth.
Then

we

How

all

To

discover,in
day long

the

midnight grief,

some

sunlight blinded

depths beyond, where

all

our

us

knowledge

dies.
That's

where

way

lose

their

in doubt.

Then, last,as
a

shrink, and

men

death

draws

night
[24]

nearer,

comes

WATCHERS

In

majestic shadow

whose

all

So,

God,

see

pondered

life

my

men

reconciling all.

Knowledge,

Absolute

SKY

THE

OF

that

on

scheme
the

this earth

makes

Which

of

centre

all

worlds,
around

wheeled

and

Lighted

by

sun

and

moon

And

that great

crystalsphere wherein

men

thought
lesser

of

Myriads

stars

were

fixed

like

lamps,
Each

in

its

place,

mighty glittering

one

"

wheel

Revolving
Night

round

after

this dark

night, with

abode
even

of

man.

they

pace

moved,
Year

after year,

Their

order,

or

alteringby

not

their

one

point,

stations,those fixed

stars

In

that

Still

revolving firmament.

pointed

to

the

Pole.

sphere,
[25]

The
Fixed

Plough
in

their

THE
How

else

TORCH-BEARERS
that

explain

unchanging

vast

wheel?

How,

but

Were

huger

By
Ten

thousand

It would

from

leagues an

seem

one

hour

lights
earth

our

gulf that, if they

not

our

divided

suns,

immense

so

those lesser

by thinking all

among

moved
selves,
them-

hair's-breadth

to

eyes.

Utterlyinconceivable,I know;
And

yet

daily

we

kneel

boundless

to

Power

And

build

This

did

hope

our

not

daunt

on

me,

that

Infinitude.

then.

Indeed,

saw

Light

upon

chaos.

Many

in lucid

music

discordant

dreams

Began
For

to

move

what

could

be

now.

bafflingthan

more

the

thought
That

those

enormous

heavens

earth

[26]

must

circle

THE

TORCH-BEARERS

could

Earth

be their

not

Was

centre.

the

sun

Their

this

Was

then, as Pythagoras held?

lord

sovran

earth,

great

so
'stablished,

so

secure,

planet also?

Around

Did

If

sun?

the

it also
this

move

true, my

were

friends,
No

in this world's

revolution
that blind

Not

affairs,

where

maelstrom

imperial

Rome
into the

down

Went

that

All

dark, could

thought

we

so

knew.

we

engulf
We

who

believed
In

who

walked

with

proud

central

stage,

majesty,we

own

our

gods
As

sons

younger

Round

which

on

this

the

whole

bright firmament

revolved
For
Like
Lost

especialglory,must

our

ants

in

upon

our

we

creep

midget ball

of dust

immensity?
I could

[28]

not

take

OF

WATCHERS

SKY

withheld

lightly.

darkness

That

THE

my

book
For

many

And

approved

Rome

it

brought

clearly saw,

me

have

"

they

not

yet?
"

tremendous

this

That

until

year,

could

music

not

drown

supernal music

The

still

Or

quench

light that shone

soul,
when

Christ

born.

was

For

the

the

of

who,

if

lost

one

could

star

lead

the

kings
To

God's

Son, would

own

shrink

from

following these
To

His

eternal

throne?

This
We

know, the

soul

of

man

can

the

at

least

through

soar

heaven.

It is

our

own

wild

wings

that

dwarf

the

world
To
Take

nothingness
courage,

true,

beneath

then.

Let

us.

If its

own

the

soul

thought

be

THE

Not

all the

Can

ever

No.

TORCH-BEARERS

immensities
its

quench

This

fire.

celestial

own

night

new

little minds

of

needed,

was

that the

soul

Might
To
I

its full
that

saw

Have

this

At

in

speak the

truth

arise

death,

of

face

it?

brought

not

I knew.

What

delays

book?
Tell

afraid.

am

So,

I must

and

kingdom

own

stature.

they
my

its

conquer

the

hour,

last

the

me

friends.

truth,my
Church

yet

may

withhold
Her

who
A

Not

sanction.

the

Church,

those

think

little darkness

helps

her.
Were

They

but

would

do

this true,

If the poor

well.

light we

win

Confuse
Let

all

or

our

blind

wisdom

us, to

the

Light

perish.
[30]

of

lights,

affirm

SKY

where

Darkness,

greater

THE

OF

WATCHERS

the

true

one

Church
Shall

all her

after

And

of

loss

doubt, perhaps,

of

age

an

many

agonies

to

come,

See

host

processional

this

of

splendours

burn

Like

round

tapers

her

altar.
So

Not
I

but

myself,

for

caught

bearers

of

The

goal

which

their
And
But

Those
I dare

Those

who
not

unborn.

who

who

fore,
be-

went

could

they strained.

speak

not

see

caught

fire,

carried
there

torch

the

The

age

those

fire from

the

to

the

for

it,only
those

are

will

that

carry

fail them.

others,
"

Dead, pointing

little way

for

wait

it

on

to

the

future.

it,I know,

victory.

Looking

fallen, with

to

beyond

their

back,
arms

see

stretched
out-

THE

TORCH-BEARERS

Far,
Before
With

the

built

Egyptians

those

dark

funnels

back,

far

their

pyramids

pointing

the

to

north,
which

Through

the

Pharaohs

their

from

desert tombs
Gaze

all

Some

wandering

night long

the Polar

upon

Arab

crept

Star,
death

from

to

life
Led

by

Plough

the

pearl.

Long, long

those

across

wastes

of

ago

have

"

they

not

bi

ought

it

yet?
book?

My

"

finished

it

summer's

one

night,
And
I

felt my

meant

all

print those

prelude,hinting at
darkens

Which
I

The

to

blood

all

beating into
verses

that

our

in my

song.

book,

deeper night

knowledge.

Then

thought

measure

moved

too

lightly.
Do

[32]

you

recall

WATCHERS

Those

Elsa?

verses,

SKY

THE

OF

They

would

pass

the

time.
How

happy

night

the

was

that

wrote

song!"

Then,

like

mother

Cathay,

Before

They

the

saw

moving

stood

They
And
On

With

his fire

felt the

domes

of

And

Rams
strove

fan ;

Chinese
ashes

pearl and

brown

and
"

hands,

wall.

fade,
fall
of

towers

in

failed

[33]

"

jade.

Araby,

the desert

Scorpions
and

day

of

shadowy

to

ago.

began,

deeper slumber

They traced,upon
Their

fount

their

upon

saw

slim

long

so

Cathay,
world

the western

Eclipsed,as by
They

he wrote,

in far

child,

her

crooning to

the words

Murmured

In old

raised

shadows

head

her

And,

bowed

those

of

one

sand,

of the
to

sky,

understand.

TORCH-BEARERS

THE

their

Before

shifting sand

The
Their

hieroglyphs

In

of the

Bagdad
Haroun

read

The

is

tower

Their

Orion

their

They
Its
A

moon.

built

tower,

thousand

legends, for

lights
hour.

an

down, the Caliph dead,

lamp

in

baked

They

The

erased,

are

wrecked

with

rust.

glittersoverhead,

Babylon,

And,

rune;

purple nights,

astrolabes

Aladdin's

In

the

to

watched

sages

And

all

were

Raschid

Al

Where

forgot their

naked

desert

Their

effaced

footprints were

dark
saw

year,

inscribed

clay;

thereon

moving finger write

Mene,

mightier

shadow

And

is

clay

tablets of the

eclipsesof their day;

the

Mene,

Babylon,
their

by

year

is in the dust

clay

on

their

cloaks
in

sun.

their

Babylon.

[34]

light,

II

TYCHO

HEY

BRAHE

thought

him

magician,

Tycho

Brahe,
lived

Who

on

that

island

strange

in

the

Sound,
Nine

miles

from

Elsinore.
His

The

Mermaid

Inn

the

legend
that

year

reached
speare
Shake-

died.

Fynes

Moryson

had

brought

his

travellers'

tales
Of

Wheen,
Tycho

His

great

the

heart-shaped

isle

where

made

discoveries,

and,

dwarf,

[36]

with

Jeppe,

his

WATCHERS

And

THE

OF

SKY

Christine, the

flaxen-haired

peasant

girl,
Dreamed

his

twenty
For

dreams

great

five-and-

for

years.

lit that

he

there

lanthorn

of

the

law,

Uraniborg; that

fortress of the

With

flying

Pegasus

above

truth,
its

loftiest

tower,
in

its

Watching,

the

While,

roofs, like wide

enchanted

eyes

brightest windows

in

the

world,
Opened

the

upon

miles

Nine

stars.

from

Elsinore, with

all those

ghosts,
There's

magic enough

cliffed

Six

miles

in that!

But

white-

Wheen,
in

girth,with

crowds

of

back
hunch-

waves

Crawling

all

round

it, and

windows,
[37]

those

struck
moon-

THE
Held

its

TORCH-BEARERS

magic, too;

own

for

By his mysterious alchemy

Had

enriched

so

Tycho

Brahe

dreams

of

soil, that when

the

the

king
wished

England

Of

to

buy

it, Denmark

king

on

asked
A

price too great

for any

us," they said,"in

"Give

scarlet

earth.
cardinal's

cloth

Enough
Of

to

at

every

piece,a right rose-noble

every

Then

it,and,

cover

kings

all that

can

buy

of

corner,
too

Wheen

is

bought

it

yours.

Only,"

said

they,

"a

merchant

once;

And,

when

he

to

came

claim

it,goblins

flocked
All

round

him,

from

its

forty goblin

farms,
And

mocked

him, bidding

him

take

away

the stones

That

he

had

bought,

for

his."

[38]

nothing

else

was

OF

WATCHERS

These

THE

fables.

things were

SKY

They

also

were

true.

They thought
The

him

astrologer,who

Perhaps

he

was.

magician, Tycho Brahe,

gold.

of

the mask

wore

There's

magic

find and

follow

in

the

truth ;
And

only those

Can

work

who

its miracles.

Tycho sought
that strange

From

its laws

year

in

the

boyhood

truth
he

when

heard

The

great eclipseforetold
the very

and,

Appointed,

at

Beheld

weirdly punctual shadow

Across
With

the

the sun,

thoughts

minute

boy

Of

thick

at

Copenhagen,

red

creep

the birds

evening.
Picture

The

even,

bewildering all
of

day

the

on

him,

with

that

on

his

day,

mane

hair, thrusting his freckled

face
Out
Of

of his upper

glass

he

window, holding

blackened

flame

[39]

above

his

the

piece

candle-

THE
To

watch

Wane

TORCH-BEARERS

ember

that orange

into

it is true.

Men

whispered there,

By searchingin

foretell

can

sky

ash.

smouldering

He
"So

in the

the

heavens,

the future."
In the street

Below

him, throngs

babbling

were

of

the

plague
That

might

might

or

not

follow.
He

To

make

himself

the

that

of

master

resolved

deep

art

know

And

be known.

might

what

He

Of

Stadius,with

Night

after

his tables of the

night, among

and

Climbing

bought

the

the books
stars.

gabled roofs,

creeping through

world

unknown

Save

to

the

roosting stork, he

learned

to

find
The

constellations,
Cassiopeia'sthrone,

The

Plough stillpointing to

The

sword-belt

of Orion.

[40]

the Polar

There

Star,

he watched

WATCHERS

The

of

movements

OF

THE

SKY

the

planets, hours

on

hours,
And

wondered

at

of it all.

the mystery

All this he did in secret, for his birth

Was

noble,

and

such

wonderings

were

sign
Of

low

estate, when

Tycho

kinsmen

hoped

Brahe

was

young;

And

all

his

that

Tycho

Brahe

Would
And
Let

live,serene
horses; or,

if honour

must

be won,

flow

from

superfluousglory

the

blood

Where

still be

might

his

they, among

as

shed ;

dogs

fields
or

from

those courts

Where

But

lie.

statesmen

Tycho

sought

the truth.

So, when
To
More

they sent

Leipzig, for
worthy

him

such
of

in his tutor's

studies

his

as

they

charge
held

princely blood,

he

searched

The

Almagest; and, while

Measured

the delicate

his

angles of

[41]

tutor

slept,

the stars,

TORCH-BEARERS

THE
Out

of his

His

only

with

window,

his compasses,

Even

instrument.

with

this rude

aid
He

found

That

so

and

more

ancient

an

many

burned

he

more

record
to

wrong

find the

truth.

One

night

at

home,

as

Tycho

searched

the

sky,
Out

Fixing
Upon

point

one

him,

lowered

star,
the

from

his

in

compasses

upon

loftier

some

Startled
He

window,

of his

hand,

planet, one

ripple of laughter

garden

walk

peered

compass,

below.
into

the

dark
And

saw

"

Christine,the blue-eyed peasant

girl,
With

bare

brown

feet,standing among

the

flowers.

She

held

what

seemed

an

apple

in

her

hand;
And,

in

voice

that

Aprilled
[42]

all his

blood,

TORCH-BEARERS

THE

this

"But
If I

can

failed

Tycho

now

it."

throw

she tried and

Twice

Or

I wonder

"

that

catch

to

failed;
slippery

sphere.
He
The

ripe red lipsthat parted

deep

those

And

the

as

laughed,

all the

where

eyes

she

stars

drowned.

were

At

supple body swaying below,

the

saw

she

caught it; and

he

time

third

vanished,
hand,

her

Waving

little

floatingmoth,

into
pine-trees,

the

Between

the

dark

warm

night.
He

turned
his

Under

For
Of

pillow

the door
Otto

"What's

that

opened,
his

this?

What's

to

the

quickly thrust

forbidden
and

the

fruit;

hot

red

father,glowered

Brahe,

The

Limped

and

into his room,

at

face

him.

this?"

furious-eyedold

bedside,pulled

out,

[44]

man

the mystery

And

stared

THE

OF

WATCHERS

the strangest

upon

troubled

Eden,

That

ever

And

delicatelyenchased

The
In

celestial

small

SKY

heavy

"

of Eve

apple

bronze,

as

silver

with

stars,

globe that Tycho bought

Leipzig.
Then

This

moon

burst

the storm

'pothecary's prentice

struck

his head

on

work,

cheap-jack

These

calendar-maker's

gypsy

tricks
of any

the mother

damn

Would

Knutsdorp

squire,
And

like

his father

crown

Quarrel

quarrel

on

stag of

followed

ten.

that

from

night,
Till

of his ancient

Tycho sickened

And, wandering through

his
Found

the

name;

about

woods

home,
on

hill-top,ringed

with

fragrant

pines,
A

little open

glade

Thither, at night,he
And

there

he

told

of

whispering

stole

to

watch

the oldest tale

[45]

ferns.

the
on

stars

earth

THE
To

TORCH-BEARERS

that watched

one

beside

him,

whose

one

eyes

Shone

with

beautiful

love, more

true

than

the stars,

daughter

earth, the

of

peasant-girl,

Christine.

They

there, in

met

the

dusk,

on

his

last

night
At

home,

They

he

before

knee-deep

stood

to

went

Wittenberg.
the

among

ing
whisper-

ferns,
And

said

good-bye.
"I shall

"And

would

Their

them

shame

return," he said,
their

for

folly, who

set

pride

the stars,

above

Christine,and

you.

At

Wittenberg

More

chances
those

Are

still

or

I shall find

Rostoch

and

knowledge.

more

All

worlds
to

conquer.

yet;

[46]

We

know

nothing

The

books

THE

OF

WATCHERS

They

fables.

with

crammed

are

SKY

foretell

Here
But
On

eclipse,and

an

of them

most

there
out

were

Jupiter and

dawning
month

or

only one,

The
Of

to

the

Whereby

and

And

that's

knowledge

stars

"

watch

way,

of the law
to

so

read

the destinies

nations, only
to

one

steered,and

are

perhaps

future, even
men

more

Saturn.
There's

And

moon,

them,

one

sure

way,

them, and

watch

record
The

truth

and

know,

we

not

lies

the

we

dream.

and

Divide

them, though

the hills

sea

us,

every

those

Among
Your

I watch

while

Dear,

eyes

night

eyes

can

meet

glories. Every night

constant

and

our

mine, upraised to that bright

realm,
Can,

in

I shall

one

come

moment,
back

speak
with

across

knowledge

power,

[47]

the world.
and

with

TORCH-BEARERS

THE

And

you

will

"

for me?"

wait

answered

She
In

starlightof

the

silence,with

her

him

eyes.

II

the skies

watched

He

at

Wittenberg.

The

plague
Drove

him
them

But,

Rostoch,

to

and

watched

he

there ;

there,

even

the

plague

little

of

minds
At

Beset him.
noble

His

wedding-feasthe

met

who

Manderup,

countryman,

asked,
mocking

With

courtesy,

whether

Tycho

Brahe
Was
At

ready yet

to

fairs.

country

practisehis
The

black

guests, and

art

Tycho,

laughed ;
Whereat

the

swaggering Junker blandly

sneered,
"If

fortune-tellingfail,
dance,
[48]

Christine

will

Thus

tambourine

"

SKY

THE

OF

WATCHERS

struck

he

hip,"

on

pose.

"Her

feet will

pretty

of

pack that booth

yours."

They fought, at midnight, in

with

wood,

swords.

And
Blue

not

from

spark
the

lightbut those

of

clashingblades.

that

leapt

Tycho

had

lost

His

and

moon

For, in

furious

one

Dashed

stars

like

awhile, almost his life;

bout, his enemy's

scribble of

blade

lightninginto

the

face
Of

Brahe,

Tycho

left him

and

spluttering

blood,
Groping through

wood

that dark

with

stretched
out-

hands,
To

fall in

death-black

swoon.

They
To

Rostoch

; and

mirrored

That
Seared

as

when

patch

carried

Tycho

saw

of mutilated

by fire,between

eyes

[49]

him
at

back
last

flesh,

,the frank

blue

THE
And

firm

TORCH-BEARERS
mouth

young

where,

like

living

flower

Upon

stricken

some

tree,

youth lingered

still,
He'd

but
shrink

In

fear,

from

him
in

worse,

or

would

Christine

thought,

one

pity.

An

end

had

the

glory of

come

Worse

than

old

all

to

age,

youth.
Urania
Into

would

Her

mortal's

Yet, as
He

for

own,

the

made

And

let her

not

He

arms.

; and

ever

days went

himself

lover

silver,shaped

stray
remain

must

for

alone.

ever,

face

the

mask

of

by, to
delicate

world,
gold

that minstrels

like those

wear

At

carnival

in

Venice,

or

Disguising its disguiseof

Wooes

And

as

when

and

nameless

when
mortal

prince

this world's
coil

[50]

love,

from

day, with

flesh,
far away.

its blaze

THE

TORCH-BEARERS
had

Copernicus
Move?

Was

kindled.

the

Did

the

sun

this

earth

of

centre

our

scheme?
And

Tycho told him, there

To

know

the

is but

truth, and

one

that's

way

to

sweep

aside
All

cobwebs

the dark

And

and

watch

Each

smallest
the

Upon

learn

of

that

old

sophistry,

moving alphabet,

silver character

skies

inscribed
them

themselves, noting

down,
Till
In

on

day

find

we

phrases, with

The

all its

Like

He

great

some

was

epic

great
he

"Hainzel,"

taking shape

meaning; and,

beauty

hard-won

With

them

last,

at

of that celestial book

unfold

harmonies

poet'suniversal

song.

magician, Tycho

Brahe.

said, "we

no

have

magic

wand,
But
Even

what
with

the truth
a

can

compass,

give

through

window,
[52]

If

us.

we

find

bedroom

WATCHERS

half

That
Think

the

SKY

is wrong,

glitteringAlmagest

what

you,

THE

OF

noble

might

conquests

be

ours,

Had

instruments."

but nobler

we

showed

He

with

Quivering

first rude

his

eagerness,

plan
For

that

quadrant,

great

"

the wooden

not

toy
Of

old

Huge
In

but
Scultetus,
as

its divisions

"It could

battering-ram, and

Roman

be

kingly weapon,

as

any

fine

goldsmith'swork.

built,"said Tycho,

"but

the

cost

Would

buy

dozen

culverin

for

your

wars."
Then

fired

Hainzel,

by Tycho's burning

brain,

Answered,
to

On

make

and

kingdoms

it.

We've

war

wage

Chaos,

They

"We'll

chose

his

the

of the

cunningest artists

town,

[53]

night."
of

the

TORCH-BEARERS

THE

jewellers, carpenters,

Clock-makers,

and

smiths,
afire with

all

setting them

And,

Tycho's

dream,
Within

dream

his

month

oak

was

and

brass.
Its beams

Its arch

iron.

with

Banded

cubits,solid oak,

fourteen

were

polished

was

brass

marked

Were

exquisite divisions

five thousand

Whereon

the

show

to

minutes

of

score

of

degrees.

So

and

huge

it was,

heavy

men,

Could
In

hardly drag

Hainzel's

and

fix it

and

its

place

garden.
Many

Tycho

to

Hainzel,

out

of

shining night,
that

maze

of

flowers,
Charted

the

stars,

discovering point by

point,
[54]

How

records

all the

Of

this

erred,

fame

above

hovering

master,

new

the

until

the

schools

Like

strange

threatened

hawk,

the

ing
creep-

dreams
Of
To

all

the

Aristotelians, and

set

their

mouse-holes

began

twittering "Tycho

Brahe!"

Then

Tycho

Brahe

home,

came

find

to

Christine.

Up

that

to

glade

whispering

he

ferns

of

sped,
At

the first wink

Hesperus.

of

He

In

under

shadow,
little

The
He

golden

wondered,

the

darkest

mask

upon

will

she

pine,
his

shrink

stood
hide

to

face.

from

in

me

fear

Or

loathing?

And,
Before

as

he

Will

wondered,

she
like

him.

[55]

even

come

at

all?

light she moved

TORCH-BEARERS

THE

"Is it

you?"-

Christine,"

"Christine!
He

whispered, "It

Playing
Do

jestupon

I, the mountebank,
It's only

you.

frightened.

be

not

is

behind

here

am

mask!

it."

Her

red

and

lips parted,

them

between

shone,
The

little teeth

like

white

pomegranate

seeds.
He

her

saw

frightened eyes.
Then,

Her

arms

round

went

him,

and

with
her

cry,

eyelids

closed.

Lying againsthis heart,she

Against

his

lips,and

set

claimed

her
him

lips
for

her

own.

IV

One
Home
His

frostynight,as Tycho
to

eyes,

the dark

old

and

saw

bent his way

abbey, he upraised

portent

[56]

in the

sky.

THE

OF

WATCHERS

familiar

SKY

patch

of

blue,

There,

in its most

Where

Cassiopeia'sfive-fold glory burned,

quivered, a huge

brilliance

unknown

An

star

before, a strange

Unseen

To

visitant

new

lieved,
be-

the world

unchangeable, as

heavens

the creation.

Since

Could

Night

after

Growing

and

White

the

at

colour

changing
and
first,

as

it grew;

large as Jupiter;

month, yellow, and larger

in the third

And,

that miracle

watched

night he

be born?

stars

new

yet;
Red

in the fifth

month, like Aldebaran,

And

larger even

than

Bluish

like

Saturn;

In the

Lyra.

seventh,
and

it dulled

whence

dwined
Little
Into

the dark

Whence

But,

till after eight months

by little,

abysmal

it arose,

while

blue

of

the wonder

it blazed

brought
[57]

above

more

night,
died

away.

him, Tycho

THE

Those

TORCH-BEARERS

records

delicate

of

hundred

two

nights
To

his

in

There,

Copenhagen.

golden

mask,
At

Only

old

what

Dancey,

told

books

French

the

believed

Pratensis,who

with

supper

him, Tycho

Ambassador,

met

rainbow-

gay

In satin hose

and

doublet, supple

and

Brown-eyed,

and

bearded

soft black

with

thin,

tuft

Neat

as

blackbird's

wing,

"

spirit as

keen
And
Of

swift

as

France

all the starry trails

on

thought.
He

The
Above

mystery
that

the

saw

of all

golden

deep

genius

and

simple fire,

in those eyes

vizard.

Tycho
His

wine-cup, brimming
with

And

bade

"

raised

they thought

"

purple dreams;
them

drink

to

Queen

[58]

their

triumphant

THE

"Now

TORCH-BEARERS

I recall

also

Hipparchus

saw

the comets,

where

Not

Pliny

how

the

Elder

strange
not

said,
star,

new

the

where

Rosa

bloom

fade, but

And

in that

solid

crystalsphere

nothing changes."

Where

Tycho
The

his

of

record

smiled,

watchings.
"But

know

Must

print

must

it?" said

"Print

this,"cried

all

showed

and

the

world
"You

Dancey.

it."

Tycho, turning

that

golden

mask

On

friends.

his

both

"Could

I,

noble,

print
This

traffickingwith

They'd

hound

out

me

Urania

in

of

Denmark!

or

brain,

book?

This

disgrace
Of

work,

with

hands

no

mattei

why,
No

matter

how,

in

one

dwell

[60]

who

ought

to

WATCHERS

Fixed

to

Would

OF

THE

the solid upper

be

never

SKY

friends,

sphere, my

forgiven."
stared

Dancey
In

that mask

him, sphinx-like,and

Outstared

Soon

but

amazement,

mute

through

all

Europe,

like

gold

of

inscrutable.

the

blinded

moths,
Roused

by

lantern

the

Among

in old

palaces

mouldering

of

tapestries

thought,
Weird

and

fables woke

fluttered

to

And

wild-eyed

The

Italian,Frangipani, thought

The

lost

hunted

Electra, that had

the

Among

sages

Pleiads, and

them

and

for

left her

fro,

truth,

the

star

throne

plunged

the

into

night
Like

veiled

Troy

town

burned.

was

The

when

mourner,

German

painter, Busch,

of

Erfurt,

wrote,
"It

was

comet,

made

[61]

of

mortal

sins;

TORCH-BEARERS

THE

poisonous mist, touched

of

the wrath

by

God
which

fire;from

To

earth

on

All

descend

would

there

of

manner

evil

plagues and

"

sudden

death,
and

Frenchmen

famine."

Theodore

Beza

in Calvin's

His

black

gown,

grim

and

thumped

Preachers

pulpit tore
vowed

and

raved.

the

it was

Star

That
To

led the
mark

It had

Magi.

the world's

and

end

returned

now

the

Judgment

Day.
in this

Then,
Of

hubbub, Dancey

Denmark,

"There

is

told the

king

knows

the

who

one

truth"

Your

subject Tycho

Brahe, who, night by

night,
Watched

and

recorded

all that truth

could

see.

It would

If

Tycho

bring honour
could

to

all

forget his
[62]

Denmark,

rank

sire,

awhile,

WATCHERS

OF

THE

SKY

And

print these great discoveries

For

all the world

Urging him,
Of

all

His

is the

one

hand,

kinsmen

please His

echoed,

Majesty

and

tain-head
foun-

pure

nobility. Pray forget your

noble

To

"Truth

Brahe

Tycho

king's own

letter in the

book,

read."

to

So
Received

in

"If you

rank."
wish

ourselves,forget

rank."

Your

"I
"Your

will," said Tycho

reasoning has

convinced

Brahe;
I will

me.

print
My

book,

All

you

'De

Stella.'

Nova

have

said

And

to

concerning

prove

temporal

rank

And
I

this eternal

marry,

truth

you

love

so

to-day," they foamed,

"

well,
but

all

their mouths
Were

stopped
their

"I

marry

own

and

stuffed

and

sealed

with

words,

to-day my

"

own

[63]

true

tine."
love, Chris-

TORCH-BEARERS

THE

thought

They

him

magician, Tycho

Brahe.

Perhaps

he

There's

was.

magic

all aiound

us

In rocks and
hidden

Deep

in the minds

trees, and

springs of magic.
He

The

rock

of men,

that strikes

find them

aright, may

he

where

will.

And

tasted

Tycho

There

was

happiness

prince

in his hour.

Denmark

in

in

those

days;
when

And,

he

heard

how

other

kings

desired
The
He

of this

secrets

said, "This

new

astrology,
in

man,

after

years,

will

bring
Glory
He

Denmark,

to

is

Dane.

honour

Give

Wheen,
[64]

him

to

her

prince.

this

isle of

WATCHERS

And

him

make

have

gold

let

THE

OF

his

SKY

discoveries

great

there.
him

Let
And

build

So

Tycho

to

buy his instruments,

and

his house

his

observatory."

this island where

set

with

Whispering

lived

he

wizardry; and,

its

in

heart,
He

lightedthat
built himself

And

Uraniborg,
city of

strange

of the

that wonder

of the

the

truth,

fortress

lanthorn

for

world,

the heavens.

Around
A

mighty rampart

And

twenty

Its

law,

twenty-two

feet in thickness

feet
at

it

ran

high,

the base.

angles pointed north, south,

east

and

this

wall,

west,
With

gates and

Were

fruitful
and

And,

turrets

and, within

orchards, apple,

and

cherry,

pear;

sheltered

in

their

midst

from

all but

sun,

garden, warm

and

busy with singingbees.

[6s]

TORCH-BEARERS

THE

There,

flaxen-haired

his

hour,

an

many

Christine,

Sang
Or

to

Magdalen,
child,her first-born,

her

her

watched

flower

playing, a

the

among

flowers.
Dark

of that

in the centre

the

Arose
Two

of

magic

them

had

upon

the

great

Brahe.

Tycho

of

towers

of bliss

zone

windows

in their

roofs

Opening
And
A

library of

And

and

many

many

legend,many

mellow

dawning

truth in

Of

Araby.

Under

subterranean

With

sixteen

and

of old Greece

sages

willed,

made

golden book;

Of

he

these observatories

under

Poets

he

sky where'er

Egypt, or
all of these

crypt

for

Rome,
dream

the dusk
he

made

alchemy,

furnaces; and,

under

this,

well, so deep, that Jeppe declared

He

sank

He

had

tapped

the

central

fountains

of

the

world,
And

drew

his

magic

from

springs.
[66]

those cold

clear

TORCH-BEARERS

THE

Christine

which

Through

and

Brahe

Tycho

dawn

at

Could

the

see

white

sails

the

drifting on

Sound
Like

orchard.

their

petals from

the

To

He

built

printing house
those

Poems,

and

Still

be born

to

the

Beyond
A

his

for

his

books,
the

of

sky,

Uraniborg.

to

rampart

workshop

noble

for

deep legends

at

north,

the

north

arose

To

instruments.

the

south
A

Alive

with

clucking hens; and,

southward

on

house

great

And

round

rambled

yard

To

farm-house

thatched

low

called

another

for his

it

further

hill,he

yet

made

larger instruments,
of

Stiernborg, mountain

the

stars.

And,

on

Statues

his
with

towers

and

golden

turrets,

verses

[68]

in

Tycho

the

set

praise

WATCHERS

Of

famous

OF

the bearers

men,

From

Ptolemy

Then,

in

that

THE

to

the

SKY

the

of

torch,

Copernicus.

new

storm-proof

mountain

the

of

stars,
He

set

splendour

all their

in

new-made

of

brass

His

for the assault

armouries

Circles

zodiacs

Quadrants

of

In

with

solid-

great

brass, ten

parallactic rules,made

azimuth;

clocks

that large

And

heaven,

"

azimuth, armillary spheres,

in

Revolving

Brass

of

with

brazen

cubits

rings-;
broad,

revolve

to

wheels;

an

globe strengthened by

labe;
astro-

oaken

beams
He

made

at

Augsburg.
All

But

had

Denmark

his

prince

gold
in

he

those

spent;
great
%

days;
in

And,

his

brain,

the

dreams

of

Tycho

Brahe
Kindled

thirst for

glory.
[69]

So

he made

TORCH-BEARERS

THE

of the

And

Keeper

Of

Oldenburg

And

fitlythan
though

And

lands

Chapel

where

buried;
all

and

the

kings

said

for he

kings

these

rents,

entrust

bones

their

More

sundry

were

could

whom

"To

of

the Lord

Tycho

paced,

to

him

laws;

immortal

mortal, knew
at

the stars,

read

who

silent

night, the

halls of

heaven."

VI

He

There,

great

was

his

on

island,for
the

watched

He

magician, Tycho
score

Brahe.
of years,

skies,recording star

on

star,
For

future

Perfected
The

ages,

and, by patient toil,

his great tables of the sun,

the

moon,

planets.

There,
For
A

any

history,sons

little clan

And

of

and

sons

[70]

happy

far

daughters rose,
Christine;

love, around

Tycho thought,when

too

am

dead, my

WATCHERS

Will

rule

And

yet

OF

and

work

doubt

THE

Uraniborg.

in my

would

SKY

trouble

him,

he

for

knew

The

children

would

Christine

of

still be

held

world.

the

Ignoble, by

Disciples
and

Young-eyed

came,

bearers

swift, the

of

the

torch

From
And

city to Uraniborg,

many

Brahe

Tycho

received

like

them

king,
them

bade

And

light

their

torches

at

his

all

his

fire.

The

King

Scotland

of

with

came,

court,

eight days

dwelt

And

in

Brahe's

Tycho

domain,

Asking

him

Whose

answer,

many

none

and

riddle,deep
the

dark,

less,a king should

know.

What
To

boots
rule

it
part

on

of

this

earth

earth,

and

to

be

not

to

king,
know

THE

The

TORCH-BEAKERS

worth

of

his

he

realm, whether

own

rule

As
The

of

centre

Or

whether,

This
Of

the

the

this would

dwarf

all

king became

But, in

Quiet

as

the

of

stars?
but the

hail

can

the

soul,
truth,

slay it.

Tycho Brahe,

to

hall, when

raised' his

chuckle

grain

subject for eight days.

the crowded

Jeppe

lost

glory

So
The

worlds;

innumerable

should

truth

Though

moving,

peasant, that

or

all

of

Copernicus proclaimed,

as

among

king

be still

his realm

centre

itself be

earth

dust

For
In

vice-gerent,and

God's

matted

he had

head,

gone,

with

glee,

gurgle

of

joy

in

dark

rock-

pool,
When

the first ripple and

wash

of the firs!

spring-tide
Flows

bubbling

under

the

dry

ened
sun-black-

fringe
Of

seaweed, settingit

In

magical colours, like

all afloat

[72]

again,

merman's

hair.

WATCHERS

has

"Jeppe

OF

THE

thought," the

SKY

gay

dents
stu-

young

cried,
Thronging

him

round, for

all believed

that

visions

the

Jeppe
had

feyj and

Was

strange

of

truth.

"What

is the

thought, Jeppe?"
"I

Croaked
a

think

can

"But

Jeppe.

I have

no

thoughts,"

made

myself

song."

"Silence,"they cried,"for Jeppe

the

ingale!
night-

Sing, Jeppe!"
his great head

And, wagging
the

Before

crooned

said

"Is

Can

earth
this

and

fro

eyes,

he

THE

"What!"

deep dark

fire,with

to

SONG

the
a

OF

JEPPE

king,

bird

uncharted

bee?

or

boundless

ours

[73]

realm

of

THE

Drone

TORCH-BEARERS

thro' the

sky, with

leagues of struggling

sea,

Forests,and hills,and towns,

and

palace-

towers?"

"Ay,"

said

"1

the

dwarf,

have

watched

from

Stiernborg's

crown

Her

dark

far

rim

uplift against

the

sky;
while

But,

while

And,

soars,

men

the

say

stars

down;

go

earth

sails,men

the stars

say

by."

go

An

earth

tale!

elvish

Ask

Jeppe,

That's

why

the dwarf!

his eyes

look

He

knows.

ling
fey ; for,chuck-

deep,
Heels

head

over

As

all

men

amongst

go ; but

most

the
are

stars

sound

he

goes,

asleep.

King, saint,sage,
Even

Act

as

those

that

count

this miracle

it true,

touched

all.

[74]

them

not

at

TORCH-BEARERS

THE

said the

"Here,"

have

where?

"O,

dwarf,

it!"

found

not

and

echoed

music

"here."

infinite circle hath

"This

line

no

bound

to

it;
that

Therefore

deep

is

centre

strange

everywhere.
the

Let

earth

thro'

soar

heaven,

that

centre

abideth;
Or

In

to

holds

true.

heart

the

pit, His

the

plunge

of

dying bird,

still

covenant

the

Master

hideth;
In

the

of

soul
in

"and

king,"

said

dwarf,

the

soul, too."

my

VII

Princes
A

little

In wonder
Or

when

Envy

and

and

courtiers

knowledge,
at

they
hate

saw

him

the
for

and

beauty
them.

to
to

more

many

Tycho's gold

few

came,

silver
of

seek
gape

mask;

his towers,

WATCHERS

SKY

THE

OF

Thus
The

small

That

cloud

grey

broke

in storm

at

last.

croaked

"Beware,"

When

like

guests

beside

head

Lifting his shaggy

sky,

distant

the

upon

arose

had

these

Jeppe,
fire,

the

"Master,

gone,

beware!"
And

Tycho

the

of

blue

frank

would

eyes

laugh.
Even

he

when
him

His

Witichius

playing

false
like

anger,

Died

found

breeze,

momentary

dreaming

the

on

deep;

for

Tycho

Brahe

Turned

to

nobler

riddle,
"

"Have

you

thought,"
He

asked

Is moved

his young
to

that

disciples,"how
strange

the

rhythm

we

shall

have

sea

call

the tides?

He

that

can

this

answer

his

name

Honoured
While

among

Pegasus

the

bearers

flies above

of

the

torch

Uraniborg.

TORCH-BEARERS

THE

delayed

was

the

By

hours

three

The

neap-tide.

to-day

more

or

fishermen

the

on

coast

Are
Post

They

wrong.

never

hoc, perhaps, not

Through

all the

That

white

old

it by the

time

hoc; and yet

propter

changes
clock

of

of the

sky

and

sea

tered
the bat-

with

ours

moon.

face

Does

infallible.

seem

There's
The
I

sailors
have

on

the

coast

pondered

often

of

love-songtoo,

Sweden

it.

sing,

Your

courtly

poets

Upbraid

In

moon

But

moon.

these

know

men

The

inconstant

the

and

most

sea

are

constant

lovers,and they move

Hear

measure.

the

words
And

Bind

tell me,

them

if you

can,

what

together." Then,

silver chains
in

voice

as

low

And

rhythmical

as

the

song:

[78]

sea,

he

spoke

that

SHEPHERDESS

THE

Reproach
cannot

The

banks

That

left naked

lead

Between

is but

her

Follow

Then

waves

unlock

And

to

the

pine,

wait

gate,

singing foam

like flocks of silver

sheep

the

deep,

from

rambling valleys press

into

Behind

of

lovely footstepshome.

rustlinginland

Come

moon,

soon.

hour

the full flood of

And

stars.

glory shine

her

one

hands

her

Before

the

to

fragrant boughs

your

there

Know

see

you

bars,

fretful

into harbour

us

Dear, when

delay;

shepherdess, the

sea's white

Shall

SEA

shoaling bay,

sand, the

of

ebb

The

sails'

our

the

see

SKY

THE

OF

yet

not

You

their

You

cannot

And

see

She

THE

OF

WATCHERS

heavenly shepherdess.

their

rises with

them?

see

mistress

her

Lift your
in

the skies.

silver bow.

[79]

eyes

TORCH-BEARERS

THE

I feel the tide

And

thought

every

Follow

lead

Shall

hope

dream

and

stream.

tide,

hastens

his bride.

to

shepherdess,the

sea's white

The

and

the universal

on

wanderer

The

flow;

to

call,and homeward

her

Borne

begin

harbour,

into

him

moon,

soon.

VIII

He

was

But

great magician, Tycho

not

that

great

so

Brahe,

could

he

read

the

heart

Or

rule the hand

of

princes.
his friend

When

Frederick

King

the

Prince

young

reigned;

Christian

And, round

died,

him, fool and knave

made

mon
com-

pour

their

cause

Against

the

magic that could

gold
Into
Had

gulf of

grown

stars.

too

This

proud.

contempt,

[so]

Tycho
He

held

Brahe
them

in

OF

WATCHERS
So

they believed

SKY

THE

spoke, their

he

for,when

thoughts
Crept

Felt it was
And
Gold

foolish,for

it hated

so

that

could

above

towered
he

Did

him.

fool

he

spend

not

spend

it,

quickly

as

he?

as

there

Were

spaniels. Junkerdom

his feet like

at

not

estates

great

bestowed

upon

him
In

wisdom's

that from

name,

of

the dawn

time
Had

been

he

would

And

right of Junkerdom?

the natural

bequeath

not

them

his

to

heirs,

Christine,

of

children

The

unfree

an

woman?

"Why

you,

sire,even

you," they

told

the

king,
"He

has

made

He

read

for

you,

laughing-stock.That

the

night when

you

scope
horo-

were

born,

Printed,and

bound

it in green

[81]

velvet,too,

"

THE

Read

it.

The

whole

world

laughs

it.

at

said

He

That

TORCH-BEARERS

Venus

the

was

that

star

ruled

your

fate,
And

Venus

would

destroy

Tycho

you.

Brahe

Inspired
That

royal

your

kept

father

youth

your

long

so

the

with
in

fear

leading-

strings,
fear that every

The

be

Would

pretty

So

Circe.

your

hedgerow
he

flower

thought

to

avenge

Our

To

indeed,

whom,

tine,
peasant-girl Chris-

this

of

mockery

plays the

he

faithful

swine,

Knowing
Would

full well

win

never

Darkened

above

Who

dwelt

One

seeming

his

gold

and

silver

nose

another."
Thus

the

and

those

Uraniborg,

within

it,till

happy

day,

marked

[82]

one

when

evil

sky

day,
Tycho

THE
could

Who

TORCH-BEARERS

understand.

not

"Not
Said

Tycho,

I shall have

"for

all,I hope,"

think, before

marked

thousand."

"To
When

shall

we

the

reap

die,

end?

what

all this

fruits of

toil?

Show

its uses."

us

"In

Said

Tycho

the time

Brahe, "perhaps

to

come,"

hundred

years,

Perhaps

thousand,

when

our

own

poor

names

quite forgotten,and

Are
On

sure

one

Will,

at

upon

Be

for

shut

Their

point

some

Moving

eyes

day,

certain

of

in

shall

an
see

the

torch-bearers

contact,

this chaos.
ever

kingdoms dust,

our

see

Though

iron

sleep,

the

kingdom

light

our

eyes

of

the

law,
undiscovered

OUT

cosmos.

They

shall

itA

new

creation

risingfrom
[84]

the

deep,

see

WATCHERS

OF

THE

SKY

Beautiful, whole.
We

Disjointednotes

of

Year

we

All

after year,
we

that

people
hear

could

They

choir.

In

that far-off

time,

known

not

shall

them,
like music

Moving

hear

patientlyrecord

have

we

that

men

supernal

some

gather.

can

like

are

to

single end."

understand:

not

this life that

sought
Only
And
Of

bear

to
so

the

they made
Brahe

Tycho

and

torch

hand

it on;

report that all the dreams

fruitless;perilous,

were

too,
Since

he

avowed

that any

Would

fall,in distant

Little

by

His
Of

rents

gross

fruit

years,

to

they

alien hands.

little,Walchendorp
from

Tycho

neglects.

withdrew

Brahe, accusing him

The

Chapel

kilde

Was

fallinginto

ruin.

bore

Tycho

[85]

Brahe

at

Ros-

THE

Was
He

TORCH-BEARERS

rebuild

must

That

the Bones

of

Keeper

the

Frederick

Oldenburg.

of

help

to

gave

the

All

Chapel.

gifts

in

him

hi*

task,
turned

Were

dark

one
stumbling-blocks;till,

day,

called

He

to

disciplesround

his young

him

there,
And
Lit

in that mellow

by

And

dying

the

before

mind

the

Through

libraryof dreams,
poured

sunset,

them, bidding

his heart
them

windows

wide-open

well.
fare-

as

he

of

the

spoke
whisper

the sorrowful

heard

They
sea

Ebbing
"An

flowing around

and

end

come," he

has

Uraniborg.
said, "to

all

we

planned.

Uraniborg
Your
On

has

Alma
you,

her

her

drained

Mater

must

now

guests;

on

all,
[86]

me;

treasury dry.
close her gates

and,

worst

of

WATCHERS

On

dear, who

most

one

THE

OF

SKY

made

this

place

my

home.
For

you

are

young,

your

homes

all to

are

win,
And

would

you

all have

rate
sepa-

your

gone

ways

In

while; and, though

brief

I think

you

love

Your

college

of

the

skies, it

could

not

mean

All

that

it meant

to

those

called

who

it

'home.'

You

that

have

brief
Will

This

worked

with

for

me,

one

year,

quite forget Uraniborg.

never

the

room,

sunset

gilding

all

those

books,
The

and
star-charts,

The

long bright evenings by

Of

Tycho

The

talk

you

Brahe
that

that old celestial

were

opened

sung,

[87]

the winter

globe,
fire,

fruitless;perilous
heaven,

the

songs

THE

Yes,

Will

even,

with

TORCH-BEARERS

think,

the

tricks

played

you

Jeppe,
when

somehow,

yourselves

are

ing
grow-

old,
hallowed

Be

into

beauty,

touched

with

tears,
For

will

you

wish

be

they might

yours

again.

These

have

been

mine

for

five-and-twenty

years,

And

than

more

you,

"

the

work,

the

heart

will

I shared

dreams
With

these,

and

others

here.

My

break
To

leave

them.

But

the

appointed

time

has

come

As

it must

come

to

all

men.

You
Have

watched

too

many

constant

and
stars

dream
That

heaven

or

earth, the destinies

[88]

of

men

I
to

WATCHERS

Or

OF

the

nations, are

SKY

THE

An

chance.

of

sport

end

Comes

to

through blindness,age,

all

us

or

death.
If mine

must

come

Bearing

the

fall

Until

torch

it from

takes

Who

the

at

in

exile,it

as

far

shall find

as

of

me,

and

bear

can

the

feet

me

ner,
run-

young

carries

it,

it

out

sight,

of

I shall

Into

the great

new

age

Into

the great

new

realms

know,
not

must

then, swift-footed, let

Come,

not

me

tread.

see

you

youth

and

stand
before

Waiting

me,

with

crowned

joy,
At

For

the
I

next

almost

am

Something
say

I have

turning. Take

ready

I have

it from

now

to

my

fall.

achieved, yes, though

it,
not

loitered

hand,

on

that

[89]

fieryway.

THE
And

TORCH-BEARERS
the

if I front

In centuries

Than

with

come,

of dread

more

destroyers,it is

because

be of use, remembered

and

my

Will

to

of the wise

judgment

appraised,

is dead.

hate

all their

When

this work

I say

Not

the blind

the

rumour,

glory

the

work,
of

fame

or

it.

These

observations
little

Are

of

in

enough

hundred

seven

sight

stars

those

of

great

hosts

Which

around

nightly wheel

us,

though

hope,
Yes,

I still

hope,

in

some

more

generous

land
To

make

Little
The

my

thousand

enough,

men

up

know,

that follow

"

me,

before
a

I die.

midget's

with

more

work!

delicate

art

May

add

their

tens

of

thousands; yet

my

sum

Will

save

them

just

that

years

[90]

five-and-twenty

TORCH-BEARERS

THE

Look

for

Of

the

at

cliffs,under

high

those

darkness

the

in

me

foot

drifted

the

leaves.

That's
For

where
are

we

hide

we

proud, and

very

Before

the world

There

have

last,we

at

been

be

must

find us, in

can

pioneers,
sought

our

graves.

compensations.

have

seen

In

perhaps than

darkness,more

sunlight blinds

When

Guessed
And

Of
The

at

glory past

only mine
those

the

systems

of

three

Ptolemaic,

held

yet be proven

This

earth

of

all those

have

range,

mine.

universe,

We
the

not

tain-tops;
moun-

night was

the

see

schools,

yet may

lord

sovran

wheeling spheres.

find

Ourselves

marked

Movements

Acceptance
Are

is

mortal

all the

by

false.

ours

the

on

our

because

May

Of

them

can

eyes

moving

the

among
of it

planets that forbid

wholly.

round

Some

the sun,

[93]

if

of these
we

can

trust

WATCHERS

Our

of

years

THE

OF

SKY

There

watching.

stranger

are

dreams.

radical,Copernicus,

This

whom

Of
All
If

talked

I often

with

of these movements

The

That

this

In

foundations,is

its

And

around

leap

of

assume
cure
se-

planet also,

the

sun.

This

take

so
'stablished,

huge earth, so

moves

reconciled,

centre, and

itself for

sun

declares

you,

should

we

"

priest,

be

can

hypothesis only

"

the

thought

think

cannot

is yet

too

it.
for

great

me.

I have
Some

doubt

no

of his

Copernicus
In

some

that

Ptolemy

planets move
is

around

to

nearer

things. But

wrong.

was

the

sun.

the truth

the

planets we

have

watched

Still wander

Therefore,

from

my

the

system,

best

[93]

course

which

that

he

includes

signed.
as-

the

TORCH-BEARERS

THE

Of

I hold

both,

This

earth

of

yet be

may

declared

Jeppe

as

ours,

true.

proven

one

day,
So
To

that

simply
move,'

let the

But

let the

Around

let it be

so

And

laughed, is

we

the

planets move
with

sun

still,

around

their

its

planets

all

with

From

that

Saves

them

plunge

move

into

least
kind
man-

saves

for ten

voyaging

the

at

know, and

we

enormous

from

sun;

earth.

This
Accords

big

too

centre

all

central

our

'much

the

night;

thousand

years

boundless

Through
of

Saves
As
Are

without

by

from

the

one

drowned

all

that

agony

beacon-fires

That

me

be

of
of

loss,
faith

in blackness.

I beseech
Let

sight

land;
them

one

darkness

proven

darkness

wrong,

lightly.
[94]

you,

before
If

at

you

last you

then,
take
find

OF

WATCHERS

The

SKY

against

facts

proven

THE

me,

take

the

Let

the

plunge.
Launch

darkness.

that

into

out

lamps
Of

the

heaven,
knew

we

Die

that

hearth-fires

glowing

out

while

behind

you,

your

brows,

the

freshening

wind
Blows
The

on

that

of truth

stars

and

overhead

lead

you
from

you

see

your

home.

this

I love

island,

every

"

brook,

Hazel-wood,

little

and

glen,

fish-pond;

every

and

hoped

know,

bough
And

To

blossom
die

That

here.

sends
world

My
That

use

garden;

that

in

But

it is

not

chance,

wandering

me

through

the

again.
perhaps

made

me,

is

ended;

breaks
As

and

the

power

me."
he

[95]

spoke, they

saw

TORCH-BEARERS

THE

The

tears

his

bowed

He

face.

his

upon

head
silent in the darkened

left them

And

They

his face

saw

room.

more.

no

The

self-same

all their

Tycho, Christine,and

hour,

children,

left
for

island-home

Their

took

They

few

And

that

His

legacy

To

of the stars,

precious record

most
to

the

future.

Into
the

ship

instruments,

of the smaller

They vanished, leaving on

Only

In their

ever.

the

night

ghostlycliffs

dark, distorted,dog-likeshape

one

them, sobbing,under

watch

its matted

hair,
"Master, have

forgottenJeppe,

you

your

dwarf?"

IX

He

was

And

great

yet his

Could

never

magician,Tycho Brahe,

magic,

under

change

his

hills

[96]

changing skies,

heart,or

touch

the

WATCHERS

OF

far

countries

those

Of

SKY

THE

the

with

tints of

home.

And,
He

after

Prague

to

came

wandering,

of

month

many

and, though

with

open

hands

Rodolphe received him,

A

jEneas,

new

(For

so

exiled

called

they

like

exiled

an

the

for

him),

king,

truth

heal

could

none

the wounds

That

bled

familiar

that

With

Ebbing

lull his

within, or

Doggedly

still he laboured

Crept

with

on,

of

whisper

aching

the

waves,

Uraniborg.

flowing around

and

grief to sleep

point by point,
and

heart

burning

brain,
Until
The

his table of the stars

thousand

that he

reached

had

hoped,

to

crown

his

toil.

But

Christine

heard

him

murmuring

in the

night,
"The

work,

the work!

in vain!

[97]

Not

to

have

lived

THE

Into
I

whose

TORCH-BEARERS

hands

thought

find

to

Waiting

him

it all?

standing by

the

way,

splendour

from

my

with

the

the

seize

to

I entrust

can

hand,
The

swift, young-eyed

runner

torch.

Let

Before
And

heard

on

Another

Of

appointed

soul."

made

broke

the

to

that

by

day,

the

invisible

that

fall

not

me

and

Tycho

to

exile,guided through

Europe

Or

let

certain

vain,

Power

the

him

it

yield

yet

For,

live in

not

me

came

dark

the

starlightin his
which

hand

eyes,

guides

the

world.
He

asked

him,

could

Alone

as

the

ask, asked

For

Tycho's hard-won

His

tables

Almost
And

as

of
one

the
who

yet unconscious

with

runner

as

torch

the

right

natural

life-work, those

He

stars.

told

him,

that he

[98]

gave

his

name

It is I;
told ;

name

sults,
re-

TORCH-BEARERS

THE

often

work, and

Or

little

Odd

if

As

talked

he

phrases

whispered

himself,

to

caught

unawares

his

on

in

lips
kind

of

dream.

Yet

Around

dispersed

clouds

the

I believe

death-bed, and

his

little

that strange

with

joy
Which

death, he

in

comes

saw

the

ing
unchang-

stars.

Christine

She

there.

was

in her

him

held

arms.

think, too, that

knew

he

his

work

was

safe.
An

And

whispered,

"

know

Perhaps
A

he

before

hour

what

he

echo

from

smiled

at

meant

me,

hardly

"

broken

fragment

And

died, he

of

old

some

yet I seemed

to

the

familiar

know.

past,

thought,

It haunts

me

still :

'Come

then, swift-footed,let

stand,

[100]

me

see

you

WATCHERS

Waiting before
and

This
For

am

me,

SKY

crowned

with

youth

joy;

is the
I

THE

OF

turning.

Take

ready, ready

it from

hand.

my
'

now,

[101]

to

fall.'

Ill

KEPLER

JOHN

Susannah,

wife

chimney

watched

corner,

His

the

from

KEPLER,

her

sleeves

blue

bowl.

with

rolled

back

Making
The

salad

in

tufts

thick

big

of

his

black

rebellious

hair

Brushed

sleek

into

trim

his

submission;

beard

Snug
Between

round

soft

the

as

the

white

body

wings

of

of

his

thrush

fan-shaped

ruff

(His best, with

of

fine

the

lace

border)

spoke

guests

Expected

and

his

quick

grey

humorous

eyes,

His

firm

red

whimsical

mouth,
[102]

pleasure-loving

WATCHERS

And

all those

Were

THE

OF

elvish

lit with

SKY

his face,

twinklingsof

Only between

eagerness.

his

brows,
beneath

Perplexed

of

load

subtle

that

dreams,
Two

delicate

brooded.

shadows

Sir

Wotton's

Henry

letter

breathed

Italy is prohibitingmy

That

muttered.

He

it mean?

does

"What

book,"
damns

if Austria

"Then,

hint

it

too,
Susannah

mine,

Between

the

we

be forced

may

and

truth

exile.

to

choose

When

he

comes,

He'll

tell

Can

only

Is

steered

Ambassadors,

more.

me

write
to

in

cipher,while

heaven

by

our

murderers

I suppose,

world
and

thieves ;

But,

if he'd

wrapped

his

friendlywarnings

up

In

verse

or

two, I

might

work

[103]

have

done

more

THE

These

TORCH-BEARERS

last three

Sue?"

days, eh,
uLook,

"What

beautiful

hearts

John,"

said

she,

of lettuce!

Tell

Will

English

me

now

How

shall

it?

mix

your

guest
Turn
As

nose

crisp and
the

Of

his

up

dandelion

at

these?

as

young

leaves

They've just

tang

bitterness

in

their

milk

that

gives

relish
And

makes

and

all sweet;

that's

philosophy,

John.
Now

these

"

spring

onions!

Would

his

Excellency
Like

sugared

rose-leaves

better?"
"He's

Not

ambassador

an

He'Jl

like

only,

cottage

so

I'll put

their
a

arrogant

toadstool

poet,

I think

salad."
"A

I hate

poet, John !

little insect

in."

[104]

ways!

WATCHERS

SKY

THE

OF

dear

"Poets,
into

divided

Can

be

One

that, by virtue
in

Lives
A

of

blown

bubble,

"

half-grown brain,

sillyworld

kinds,

clear

two

heart,

of

his

making,

own

which

in

by himself,

he

flits
And
For
Or

dizzily bombinates, chanting 'I,I, I,'

there

the

is

nothing

in

the

hell

beneath,

pronoun.

Bring

earth, or

above

heavens
but

to

goes

swell

His

personal
dreadful

His

dearest
You'll

The
And
A

him

some

news

is burned

friend

death,

to

"

see

insect strike

monstrous

shape himself

rubric,with

into

red

eyes.

one

attitude

an

capital I,
You'll

see

him

use

The

coffin for his

His

'I, I, I' instructinghaggard

Concerning
Of

his

pedestal,hear

odd

ego.

Does

him

mouth

grief
he

love, it's *I,I, I' Narcissus, love,

[105]

chirp

TORCH-BEARERS

THE

in those

Myself, Narcissus, imaged

For

that

the love-notes

all

eyes;

sounds

he

are

made
the

After

he

does

another.

hind-leg across

By grating one
Nor

passionategrasshoppers,

of

fashion

learn

sound

to

that mellower

'You,'
Until

bubble

his

and

bursts

him

leaves

drowned,
An

insect

But

in

there's

soap-sud.
kind, whose

another

still

mind

moves

In

vital concord

So

that

Pulse
And

it thinks

with
in

into natural

caught

yet

the soul

music, and
A

song.

by

up

of

things;

its

thoughts

separate

the

voice,

surrounding

choirs,
There,

in the harmonies

Losing himself, he
"John,

I'm

to

Universe,

his soul

saves

alive."

afraid!""

"Afraid
"Afraid

of the

of

put those

what, Susannah?""

Ducklings

[106]

on

to

roast.

TORCH-BEARERS

THE

made

And

end

an

of

had

He

mystery.

brought
A

hearing

Who,
In

his

from

message

of

to

menaces

new

the

urged

Europe,

wisdom-loving king
the

light

illustrious

Kepler

England.

There,

now

To

make

his

his

thought

speech would

And

in

home

"My
"I

have
the

And

friend," said Wotton,

old

in those

moved

strongholdsof

night,

heard

mutterings.

strange

It is

not

years

many

Since

be free.

both

burned.

Bruno

There's

trouble

ing
brew-

too,
For

Who

one

you

made

know,

that curious

think, the

tine
Floren-

"

optic tube."

"

'You

The

man

at

Padua, Galileo?"

mean

"

"Yes."

[108]

WATCHERS

"They

will

OF

not

dare

THE

SKY

need.

or

Proof

or

disproof
Rests with

their

eyes."
"

"Kepler,
Of

those

Had

who,

ago,

years

see?

not

heard

not

you

hundred

fifteen

and would

eyes

have

Eyes quickly

close

When

souls

dark."

"

and younger

Other

be it.

"So

the

prefer

Perhaps that's why

God

eyes

will

see.

the young

gave

spice
Of

elders

devilry. They'll go look, while

gasp;

And,

the Devil

when

and

Truth

go

hand

in

hand,
God

help

You

their enemies.

will send my

thanks,

My

grateful thanks, Sir Henry,

to

your

king.
To-day
It would
Would

cannot

answer

difficult.

be very
find it hard

Say nothing yet

I must

you.

to

before

leave

My
her

her."

[109]

think.

wife

native land.

THE

TORCH-BEARERS

Then,
Their

mind

His

For,
To

when

bloomed.

talked, another

he

which

dead

world's

the

and

out,

branches

hide

Susannah, Kepler poured

from

secret

to

May

our

spring began

winter; and,

was

in the

boughs
Of

delicious

his

thoughts,

feathered

like

choirs,
old

Bits of

rhyme,

the

from

scraps

Sabine

farm,
Celestial
And

Much

flutteringmorsels
was

Shepherd

the

from

phrases

from

fantastic.

All

genius

knows

King,

Catullus

sang.

touched

with

steal

from

was

light
That

only

to

heaven.

He

spoke

Of

knowledge,"

of

poetry,

as

called

the
it

time
''flowering

"thought

in passionate

tune

With

those
moon

great

and

rhythms

sun;

[no]

that

steer

the

WATCHERS

Thought

in

OF

THE

concord

such

SKY

the

with

soul

of

things
That
And

it

man's
of

In

only

can

like

move,

tides and

beating heart, and

own

stars,

the

wings

birds,

law, whose

Therefore

service

it often

only

leaps

sets
to

free."

them

the

truth

his

bride

we

seek,
Clasping it,as
In

darkness,

And

so, in

To

truth,

ere

lover

the sage

music,
at

clasps

light his lamp.

can

might

men

point,

many

find

the

where

road
sages

grope.
One
To

day,
write

To

all

new

how

Showing

Plato

greater

the

would

arise

philosophy, he said,
music

is the

windings

of

golden
the

clue

world's

dark

maze.

Himself
In

his

had
own

used

book,

it,partly proved
"

the

World.

[in]

Harmonies

it,too,
of

the

TORCH-BEARERS

THE

'All
To

discover

the years

that

"Revealed

earth

on

said,
Planets

music.

by

way

one

he

harmony,"

ordered

this great

points

move

like

accord

subtle

In

of

notes

great

one

song

Audible
The

only

Artificer,

the

to

There's

Artist.

Eternal

grief, no

no

pain,
But
A

music

follow

"

microcosmic

Can

it

simply
of

pattern

show

as

the

clue,

whole
in

somewhere

you,

"

its

golden

scheme,
The
Their

of

use

all such

exquisite

discords; and,

last,

darkness

Then

solution.

at

breaks

Into

light,love's

diviner

Through

death

to

agony

life,and

evil

climbs
builds

up

heaven.

Have

you

Those

golden

not

heard,

in

mathematics

[112]

some

great

making

phony,
sym-

clear

WATCHERS

The

victory

OF

of

THE

soul?

the

SKY

Have

not

you

heard

The

opening?

heavens

very

Do

those

fools
"

Who

thought
at

For

me

infidel

an

still smile

then,

me

trying

read

to

the

in

stars

of

terms

song,

their

Discern

By

My

orbits,

proportions?

musical

Let

folly at least revealed

tances,
dis-

their

measure

them

those

smile,

three

great

laws;
Gave
To

the

me

set

in

Beyond

golden

the

the

great

of the

vases

temple

new

bounds

of

methods, doubtless, as

And

the world's

The

dust

Or

scholars

Glance

at

will

wisdom

gather

turn

the

my

musical

of

God

my

Egypt.
They

My

Egyptians,

the

shuts
on

all my

pages

will
years

forget
go

its music

by,
out.

harmonies

listlessly,

phrases, and

pass

on,

TORCH-BEARERS

THE

Not

troubling even

Yet

to

read

those

they'll accept

Latin

one

page.

results

great

as

mine.

I call them

Who

mine.

climbed

How
my

can

ladder

help exulting,
music

of

the

to

skies
And
Or

found, by accident,
by

the

Which

inspiration

built
three

First, how

His

laws:

the

let them

that

of

world

call

it so,

Power

of

those

music,

"

speed

of

planets

round

the

sun

Bears
As

proportion, beautifully precise

music,

to

that

Next,

distances;

silver

their

although

they

to

seem

swerve

aside
From

those

Their

paths

plain circles
were

not

of

old

Copernicus

rhythmical

less

and

exact,
But

followed

always

that

most

exquisite

curve

In

its

most

perfect form,

the

pure

ellipse;

THE
How

TORCH-BEARERS

strange

The

and

thistles grow

Where

it all

far away

seems

that little isle

upon

Tycho's great Uraniborg

Yet,

for

Into

decay

Who

and

looked

corridors,

its hearth."

on

quickly

up,

it fell
one

its crumbling

lit the fire of memory

Wotton

was

was.

once

before

years,

ruin, there

about

crept

And

sad

few

now.

"I think

"

I have

heard

Something

of that.

You

mean

Jeppe,

poor

his dwarf.

Fynes Moryson,

at

the

Mermaid

Inn

one

night
Showed
On

curious

most

manuscript, a

yellow parchment,

scrawl

here

crusted

and

there
With

sea-salt,or

the

salt of

those

thick

tears

like

Creatures
could

It had

Jeppe,

the

crooked

dwarf,

weep.

been

found, clasped

in

crooked

hand,
Under

the cliffs of

Wheen,
[116]

crooked

hand

WATCHERS

That

OF

time

many

THE

had

SKY

beckoned

passing

to

ships,
Hoping

find

to

some

would

who

voyager

take
A

letter

its master.

to

The

And

jeered

him,

till

Jeppe

laughed

threw

stones

them.

at

And

at

sailors

Jeppe,

now

who

too,

and

dead,

was

one

knew

Fynes

Moryson,

had

found

and

him,

brought home
That

crooked

curious

scrawl.

Fynes Englished

it

Out

of

its barbarous
have

'Master,

you

Danish.

Thus

it

forgotten Jeppe,

ran

your

dwarf,
Who

used

And

feed
is

There
And
I too

to

lie beside

from

your

the

own

big log-fire
hand?

The

hall

dark,
are

no

voices

now,

the

sea-gullscrying

am

crying, Master,

"

only

round
even

the

wind

Uraniborg.
I,

Because

THE

TORCH-BEARERS

there

is

lightin

No
And

faces

white

sails

the

It is

that I knew

I watched

Master,
The

window.

any

all the

fire upon

no

night,

are

leaving

you

dwindling

hearth,

gone.

us.

into

saw

sea-gull's

wings,
Then

melting

among

lay

And

dug

And

the wild

flowers

all
on

dark.

was

the

cliff

nails into the stiff white

my

called

Brahe.

Tycho

you,

chalk

You

did

hear;

not

But

foam, and

into

gulls

and

round

jackdaws, wheeling

head,

my

Mocked

with

me

Tycho Brake, and

Tycho

Brahe!

You

And,

were
now

I, that

am

You

used

And

head

great magician, Tycho

that

they

"

laugh

too

at

big

for

and

pen

["*]

away,

you

the crooked

only Jeppe,
to

driven

have

Brahe;

dwarf,

his matted

heavy

"

take

hair,
your

Here

send

And

it

by

lion

free,

the

to

King
the

knows,

who

mouse

Tycho

you,

save

may

"

Brahe.'

"had

now," said Kepler,

is free

"He

sailor

it down

write

gnawed

that
The

and

Scotland,

Of

I will

study.

in your

SKY

THE

OF

WATCHERS

he

lived
He

would

have

for

sent

Jeppe

to

join him

there
At

death

Prague.

But

and

King.

The

your

in which

years

forestalled

he watched

that

him,

planet

Mars,
His

patient

notes

and

records,

all

were

mine;

And,

By

Made
It

mark

you,

one

fact

even

he

clipped

hair's-breadth,so

pure

might

had

have

circle of that
baffled

us

drowned

[119]

or

that

trimmed

his

sults
re-

planet'spath
for

an

age

and

THE

All

our

To

he

He

saw.

comfortably

Are

crude

Eyes

may

Why

mar

For

darkness.

light in

new

what

So

TORCH-BEARERS

and

have

might

have

erred,

the tune,

instruments

fine

so

not

dislocate

of

seeming

point

Why

too.

why

slight clash

one

In

held

easily,

so

said,'My

fallible.

he

But

quiesce?
ac-

world,

with

fact

faith?'
But

though

no,

might

stars

he

swerve,

held

his course,

Recording only
Until

death

what

closed

could

his eyes
them.

Then,
I added

mine

Strange

as

and
the

see

saw,

light

in
of

his

to

results,

wild

one

day

to

gleam,
born

one

blind,
A

subtler

concord

Profounder

tones

Those

broken

"Faintly
In

music,

and
and

ruling them
of

harmony

melodies
far

into

in verse,

that

[120]

resolve

song

I, too,

away,

heard

and

again."

have

golden

"

seen

clue

WATCHERS

OF

THE

you

speak,"

said

Whereof

all true

There

is

That,

in

W.otton.

"In

song,

hidden

SKY

bad

Even

logic.

the

wrings

poets,

the

rhyme
of

neck

thought,
Is like
An

subtle calculus

instrument

New

Far

of

harmonies,
things

and

the true,

to

discovery. It reveals

analogies.

new

in

not

near,

It

links

unnatural

chains,
But
The
I

in those

plodding
caught

accords

true

which

yet

reason,

the world.

unify
of

glimpses

some

still escape

this

mystic

power

In

verses

On

Tycho,
yours

of your

cannot

But

'I know

and

that

elegy
of

quatrain

great

"

quite

made
these

that

own,

it

recall

the Latin

roughly

mine

words,
in

words

like

that

am

dust, and
[121]

daily die;

THE

Yet,

TORCH-BEARERS

I trace

as

rhythmic spheres at

those

night,
I

stand

Thunderer's

before the

throne

on

high
And

feast on

version

My

in the halls of

nectar

lacks

the

of

glory

light.'

lines

your

."

But
.

"Mine

too

was

version,"

Kepler laughed,
"Turned

into

Latin

from

old

Ptolemy's

Greek;
For,
Is

justto

pass

undimmed

An

half

in verse,

even

joy, I think,

of the

the torch

hand

from

splendour.

to

hand

But, last night,

I tried

Some

music

That

was

all my

I had

own.

wandering

in

dream

distant

some

world.
I have

often

dreamed

it.

Once

it

the

was

moon.

wrote

that

down

in

prose.

dead,
[122]

When

am

TORCH-BEARERS

THE

How
To

Nor

she led me,

that strange

world

how

the

Upon

Winged

walked,

afar,

in that wild

glen

star.

sunset

floated

creatures

of

boughs

rose-red

those

Under

tell

cannot

violet

bloom,

irised

'Twixt

For

On

And

With
To

The

that

Hesper,

though,

I roamed

as

as

of

world

the

faithful

ours.

Beauty,
on

earth,still held

one

in

that radiant

all these

what

flowers;

unknown

the way

saw

Earth

plume;

in that enchanted

nothing

Followed

Only

on

angel-eyed,
with

crowned

and

plume

Human-hearted,
And

unknown

forms

delicate

With

slumber,
land,

earth-born

senses

Hesperians knew,

lanthorn

[1*4]

mand;
com-

of

her

law

sealed

OF

WATCHERS
mine

Was

half

Then,
I

To
Dark

at

take

trees

that burned
their

dream

Yet, when
Back

of

I saw,

The

The

I dared

on

awful
to

walk

me

once

eyes.

her fields

re-birth
miracles

them,

loth to break

spell of that strange dream,

[125]
"

flowers of earth."

held

moment

led

wise;

those wild

birds and

own.

where

in that strange

I looked

Silence

their

planet,

souls,with

Hardly
As

this my

on

What

me

things

common

the world

thought

in realms

known.

has

ours

as

opals

move

that lanthorn
to

like

night;

at

could

account

men

like

loves

Till these became

As

flowers

of

flight;

beings that

No

wonder,

flocks

birds

lure

too.

with

home

strange

saw

Great

Hesper

on

SKY

THE

THE

TORCH-BEARERS
"One

Said

Wotton
and

proof the more,"

last,"that

at

songs

fly

To

truth ; for this fantastic vision

Of

life in other

Either

Or

mount

can

spheres,awakes

of yours
in me,

slumbering knowledge

that

rates,
Soc-

of

strange premonition that the years

some

Will

prove

From

all

Your

quest for

This

it true.

music

knowledge

far

us

that faith in law.

creeds,except

our

leads

how

"

it rests

on

that!
How
The

the

sure

temple,

in

if truth

is that

soul

days

three

the

destroy

truth

will

build
A

nobler

In all

temple;

things.

and

Even

order

that

reigns

atheist builds

your

his

doubt

On

that strange
and

In

faith;destroys his

heaven

God

absolute

faith

that

his

own

thought

is

true

To

law, God's

lanthorn

feet;
[126]

to

our

stumbling

WATCHERS

And

OF

THE

SKY

despite himself,

so,

he

worships

God,
For

where

and

"It is
Said

souls

true

heaven."

God

are

"

ancient wisdom.

an

there

are,

Kepler, "under

Long ago,"

the

Eastern
glittering

sky,
The

shepherd king looked

at

up

those great

stars,

hosts,and cried Gceli

ordered

Those

Dei!

Gloriam

Though
Who'd

ape

there be

Lucretius, and

Epicureans, little they know

Who,

narrant

even

in

utter

to-day

some

believe

selves
them-

of him

his

darkness, bowed

head,
To

something nobler

than

the

gods

of

Rome

Reigning beyond

the darkness.

They
The

And

law, the music of these ordered

straightdeny

accept
worlds

the law's first postulate,

[127]

TORCH-BEARERS

THE
That

nothingness nothing

of

out

be

can

born,
Nor

things from

greater

Can

less.

music

rise

chaos, as they

from

By

chance

In

Serpentarius rose?
when

That
I

played

at

was

I told

boy, with

them, then,
time

Out

anagrams.

said that star

of

to

spare,

Latin

my

name

Johannes

Keplerus

I tried

again, but

I took

Struck

in akuleo.

Serpens

that sinister

came

trusted

by this,

it to chance.

playing cards, and

some

phrase

wrote

on

each
One
To

letter of my

shuffle

them;

Then

name.

and,

at

began

every

shuffle,I

read
The
To

in
letters,
see

what

their

order, as they

meaning

chance

came,

might give

to

them.

Wotton,

the

gods

and

goddesses must

have

laughed
To

see

the weeks

I lost in

[128]

studyingchance;

OF

WATCHERS

had

For

scattered

THE

SKY

cards

those

the

into

black

Epicurean eternity,I'll
still be

They'd

swear

playing

leap-frog

at

the

dark,
And

show

Those

yet-

you'd

but

mix

to

bushel

To

And

sense.

talk,you'd think

wittols

And

of

hear

to

glimmer

no

of

shake

letters in

roundly

them

the

pour

Greek

good

Odyssey

for

an

age

disputantswhat
One

sack

or

so,

out.

last,I told,

At

Those

my

wife

had

said.

night
tired and

When

With

pondering

was

all my

their

on

a-dust

mind

atoms,

was

called
To
A
I

supper,
most

and

she

placed before

delicious salad.

thought aloud,'that

Green

hearts

of

me

'It would

if these pewter

lettuce,tarragon,

thyme,
[129]

there

appear,'
dishes,

slips of

TORCH-BEARERS

THE

With

drops
in

Had

From

all

The

eternity,one

serve

them

as

and

been

sure

invisible hand

sweet

Would

gulf

of

salt.

grains of

vinegar

of water,

bottomless

and

boiled egg,

Slices of hard

oil,

flyingabout

certain

day

Happy

Chance

salad.'

'Likely enough,'
My
Nor

wife
so

replied,'but

well

laughed.

in, "I've

good

so

as

mine,

'

dressed.'

They
Broke

not

made

voice

Susannah's
better

The

one.

receipt
Came

from

the

Golden

Lion.

have

dished

Ducklings and
say

peas

and

grace."

[130]

all.

Come, John,

TORCH-BEARERS

THE

take

inquisitorsthere, to

the

Before

his

trial

At

threescore

and

years

is

There

ten.

threat
Of

torture, if his

The

his eyes

truth

lips will
have

seen.

know

You

You

know

That

and

he

Could

I,

Deny

the

You

too.

me,

who

are

Cross

which

to

believe

will
the

of

faith.

earthly love,

all

away

father,

my

never

enemies

put

deny

not

nailed

this

flesh?

he, who,

Could

all those

night when

the

on

heavens
above

Opened

with

us,

their

circling

worlds,
with

Knelt

weight
Forget
You'll

the
not

me,

of

crushed

that

beneath

glory,

Maker

of that

believe

it.

glory now?

Neither

would

the

Church,
Had

not

his

enemies

springs
[132]

poisoned

all

the

WATCHERS

And

OF

fountain-heads

THE

SKY

truth.

of

It

is

not

Rome
That

but

him,

summons

Magini,

Sizy,

Scheiner,

That

blind, pedantic

all the

Lorini,

him

envy

his

crew

and

fame,

hate

his

works

For

dwarfing

theirs.
Must

Only
My

five

nights

And,

as

ago

and

father

garden

be

things always

is born?

truth

When

such

I,

walked

we

in

here

together,
the

Convent

the

dusk

turned

everything

to

dreams,
We

dreamed

together

of

his

work

well

done

And

happiness

That

even

His

enemies,

to

be.

We

then, muttering
those

did

dream

not

above

enemies

his
whom

book,
the

truth

Stings

into

him.

hate,

were

plotting

to

destroy

Yet

THE

TORCH-BEARERS

something

shadowed

his
"The

words

"

black

how

We

heavy.
this

have

shall

wine

good

year,"
"

all

"Yes,

ripening. See, Celeste,

are

grapes

And

recaU

him.

ripe,"

grows

work,

life-

said, "your

too,

Dear

father.

Your

book

Are
is

happy

you

and

printed,

the

know

to

now

world

new

born?"
He

his

shook

head,

sadly,

little

thought.
"Autumn's

too

grow

ripe

And

fall,and

then

endings.

of

full

winter."

comes

"Not
I

said, "for

heaven.

Think,

Never,"

Fruits

those

who

for

you!
their

write

names

In

ages

No

one

Without

all

father, through

now

can

ever

watch

remembering

that
you.

starry

Your

sky
."

fame
.

THE

OF

WATCHERS

SKY

And

stopped

He

laid

me,

hand

his

there

upon

my

arm,

And

standing

darkness

the

in

dead

with

leaves

around

Drifting

and

him,

his

bare

grey

head

complete humility, his

Bowed

in

Shaken

and

"Celeste,

low,

said

he
of

beware

like

that.

voice
in prayer,

one

Say truth,

not

fame.
If there
It

be

any

springs

from

happiness
truth

earth,

on

alone,

the

truth

we

live
In

Too

and

act

thought

there

and

many

worlds

to

this

grain

Fame,

on

looked

have

up

seen

talk of fame
of

dust

on

earth.
the

among

stars,
The

trumpet

The

great

In

silence!

of

gnat

sun-clusters

Celeste,

that

moving

thinks
on

Yes, that's fame,

to

halt

their way
but

truth,

TORCH-BEARERS

THE

and

Truth

its laws

there
That's

The
Gate

one

weakness

man

fight

He

is

through

all

strength.

to

one

forces, and

password
after

to

swings

gate

he

holds

eternity.
back

heavens.

sentry

halts

him,

and

Say truth, Celeste, not

flaming sword.

no

fame."

"No,
A

and

face

may

turns

universal

the
No

up

world.

made

With

even

where

the
His

constant,

are

better

word,"

told

for

I'll say

"I'll

him.

say

love."
He

took

my

face

between

hands

his

and

said"

His

face

all

dark

between

me

and

the

stars"

''What's
of

love, Celeste, but

this

dear

face

truth

Upturned

to

heaven."
He

left me,

and

heard,

WATCHERS

this

man

soul

whose

dedicate

Was

SKY

later, that

hours

twelve

Some

THE

OF

Truth,

to

threatened

was

now

torture, if his

With
The

I tell you
Because

help him,

to

deny

not

loved.

he

truth

lips did

all these

understand

must

you

things

him;
And

even

those

Only
Who
So
And

tell you

how

all

this hate

made

his

for

I.

truth,

began.
Even

He

have

as

his quest

"

hear

witnesses

his heart-beats

heard

me

if you

him,

plausible outside

never

let

doubt

may

you

enemies

from

of

first,

the

those

almost-

minds
Who

chanced

upon

some

thing in

new

the

dark
And

could

Always,
So

not

the

when

he

its

see

law

meaning,

illumining

heard

of

that

glass
[i37]

for he

saw,

it within.

strange

optic-

TORCH-BEARERS

THE

Which

And

When

their

in

hit
his

that

vividly

how

O,

made

He

chance.

by

Only

other

that

where

reason,

he

near,

it out

thought
By

distance

the

brought

day

telescope;
back,

comes

Senate

the

robes

gorgeous

it

upon

stood
him

Beside

bare

the

Scanning

Venetian

high
blue

tower,
showed

that

sea

speck

no

Of

that

on

Then,

sail.

one

by

one,

bade

he

them

look;
And

by

one

and

sails

Brown

they gasped,

one

red,

"a

miracle."

fleet of

fishing

boats,
See

See

how

the

their

bows!
the

how

bright

foam

bare-legged

around

bursts

sailors

walk

the

decks!

Then,
The

quickly looking
vision, ere

it tricked

saw

Was

empty

sea

up,

again.

as

if to

them,

catch
all

they

THE

old

These

for

This

blood.

of

thought
hour

one

if he

pander,

all else must

which

Even

dreamed

men

the

was

To

TORCH-BEARERS

to

dull

those

see

hoped
eyes

blaze
At

his discoveries.
*

And

them, "wolves";
He

them.

humoured

yet he
to

called

he

Wolves,"

stooped

them.
them

Promised

advantages,

more

and

talked
As

elders do

and

Weakness,

You

children.

to

yet

could

do

man

any

it

call

may

more,

Alone, against a world,

To

guard

He

has
has

had

he

to

defend

Among

trust

his life

All
truth

to

read
the

it,taking

could, behind

or
superstition,

has

guard,

fought

Wherever

He

weanling

some

Desperately
Of

ages?

future

for

such

with

ruins

horoscopes

stars

in favour

[140]

old

fallen

of

old

to

keep
with

cover

trees

thought.
his work

his

prince.

WATCHERS

I tell you
What

this that

he

was

must

understand

in him.
in

wrong

It may

these

be

things,

and

pay

dreadful

His

SKY

may

you

inconstant

seems

That

THE

OF

penalty.

mind's

But

explore

must

you

and

great

ranges,

plains

lonely

know

him,

as

I know

to

children,

peaks
Before

you

How

could

he

talk

him

now.

in

but

words
That

understand?

children

not

said

some

That

Have

Himself

God

made

has

His

glory

dark
For

men

My

father

to

bear
has

it.

done

his human

In
this.
War

That

filmed
did

My
Of

With

not

that

the

was

men's

eyes.

dream

They

hear

father, when
opening

old

those

sphere

up
new

things near.

he

hinted

the

heavens

power

of

at

his
for

hope
mankind

bringing

far

THE

burned

heart

My

TORCH-BEARERS
I heard

as

but

him;

they

blinked
Like

owls

at

Then

noonday.

him

saw

turn,

Desperately,

humour

to

from

them,

thoughts
Of

heaven

to

thoughts

of

warfare.

My

and

whispered, with

And
As

lord

dear

own

who

one

father

glory

looked

has

night

that

Late

to

came

in his

face

things

on

me

too

beautiful

To

aloud,

breathe

"Come

out,

Celeste,and

see

miracle."
I followed

Looking

along

him.

He

showed

outstretched

his

me,

hand,

star,
A

point

It

was

He

of

the

bade

me

lightabove
star

called

our

olive-trees.

Jupiter.

And

again, but through

look

then
his

glass.
I feared

to

look

at

first,lest

[142]

I should

see

WATCHERS

wonder

Some

felt the

SKY

mortal

for

meant

never

too, had

He

THE

OF

fear, but

not

same,

eyes.

awe,

if his hand

As

this world

Between

the

laid

upon

and

heaven.

were

Then

I, too,

...

Small

the

as

bead

smallest

veil

of

saw,

mist

that

clings
To

spider'sthread

dawn,

at

the

floating

disk
Of
And

been

had

what

it,with

near

star,
disk

no

planet

now,

that eyes

could

see,

Four

before.

needle-pointsof light,unseen

"The

Jupiter,"

of

moons

he

whispered

low,
"I have

watched

night
A

system

they moved,

as

from

night;

to

like

our

fourfold

Their

them

own,

although

lightsand

shadows

the world
make

so

strange
Must

"

as

think

"

be

dreamed,
[-43]

mightier

than

we

TORCH-BEARERS

THE

Titan

And

Earth

planet.

begins

yes,

the

heavens

there,

this

night,

dwindle;

to

fade

are

ing
open-

now.

Perhaps

up

lonely

some

soul

Gazes

at

And

earth, watches

wonders,

as

dawning

our

wonder."

we

In
We

knelt

together

and

vanity

Before
Of

fickleness
had

his enemies

Rome

that

dark

Very
The

moon,

of

the

had

he

see

princes.

provoked

against him,

to

strange

wrath

given

the

name

Medicean

Of
In

stars

those

to

honour

of

Prince

Cosmo.

court

of

France

to

The

Upon

the

of

map

Even

more

brilliant,and

After

the

Of

France.
name

reigning

They

heaven.

him

find

and
did

moons

lasting place
letter

another

most
not

aroused

This

seek

Beseeching

to

four

to

call

came

star

it Henri

brilliant

prince

the

family

wish

OF

WATCHERS

This

Bourbon.

Of

SKY

THE

dissipate

would

the

glory.
they preferred his

No,

of

name

proper

Henri.

read

We

it

laughter,

with

Weeping

the

together in

garden here,
dreaming

never

then

this, this,this, could

That

little

stir the

hearts
Of

to

men

envy.

O, but afterwards,
The

the

of

blindness

who

men

thought

themselves

His

The

enemies.

who

men

knew

never

him,
The
And

that had

men

called

it

by

set

up

thing
and

his name,

of

straw

wished

to

burn
Their

image

Men?

Were

and

in

himself

they men

or

one

wild

children?

fire.

They

refused
Even

to

look

through
[H5]

Galileo's

glass,

TORCH-BEARERS

THE

Lest

them.

seeing might persuade

Even

that sage,
That

Aristotelian,Julius Libri,

great

his breath

Holding

there, like

fractious

child
Until

his cheeks

Were

burstingon

purple, and

grew

his

brow,

the veins
he would

swore

die
Sooner

than

look.
And

Not

that poor

babe

monstrous

his

long thereafter,kept

and

word

died,
Died

of his

Whereat

pent rage,

own

lord

my

and

I have

as

father

heard.

shook

his

head

And,

smiling,

somewhat

sadly
"

oh,

you

know

That

smile

Than

of

his

even

deadly

his,more

reasoning
"

to

the

false

murmured,

"Libri, dead,
Who
He

called
swore

the

of Jupiter absurd!

moons

he would

not

earth,

[146]

look

at

them

from

TORCH-BEARERS

THE

sycophants bark

all the

Though

him.

at

In

Pisa,

Florence, Bologna, Venice, Padua,

have

Many

silent and

Are

Most

them

of
saw

the

seen

These

moons.

Do

uncertain.
could

not,

you

wonder?

when

even

nesses
wit-

they

them,

Distinguish Mars

from

Jupiter.

Shall

we

side
With
I
At

Heraclitus

think, my

Kepler,

the

times

only laugh

stupidity.
of

leaders

thousand

will

we

this immeasurable

Picture
A

Democritus?

or

college here.

our

I have

offered

them

the

proof
Of

their

own

They

eyes.

sleep here,

like

gorged snakes,
Refusing

even

to

look

Or

telescope. They

Is

all

in

books,

at

think

and

planets, moons,
philosophy

that

the

truth

found
Neither

in nature,

nor

the

[148]

Universe,

is

OF

WATCHERS

in

But

comparing

SKY

THE

How

texts.

would

you

laugh
Had

heard

but

you

Grand

the

Before

first

our

Duke,

philosopher

trying

tear

to

down
And

argue

Now

by

the
his

planets

new

weird

own

of

out

logic

heaven,
closed

and

eyes

And

by magic spells."

now

How
them

Despising
Even

for

For,

giant
the

when

It's

little?
to

could

despise
reels

giant

he

help

error

an

midge;

beneath

some

stroke
Of

the

fate,

And

will

swoop

him,

upon

and

Cluster

clouds

buzzing

do

feed

what

his

upon

midges

bleeding wounds,

can

to

sting

him

blind.

These

human
their

They

have

not

missed

chance.

have

that

midges

sun.

missed

no

smallest

spot

upon

TORCH-BEARERS

THE

mother

My

found
To

father.

All

all

their

doubtless

And

have

they

"

"

dear

my

married

not

was

his

children, then,

thoughts

evil,

are

too;
him

judged

that

who

But

sought

ever

to

know

Whether,
Of

sometimes

evil

as

virtue

virtue, nobler

Might

man

semblance

outward

that

wear

this

in

cloak

the

wears

of

sin?

Yes,

even

These

who

you

thoughts

are

love

me,

born

of

believe

may
my

tainted

own

heart;
And

yet I write

And

whisper

Here,

them
His

from

in my

them, kneeling
to

who

One

Cross,

upon

blesses
the

bare

cell
me

grey

wall.

So,

if you

love

By

helping

me,

him.

bless

me

Make

also, you,
plain

to

all

you

meet

What

part

his enemies

have

played

in

this.

How

some

THE

OF

WATCHERS

SKY

altered

somehow,

one,

the

command
Laid
So

him

on

it reads

that

Never

all those

to-day

think

to

breathe

or

vowed

if he

as

by Rome,

ago,

years

that

round

this

earth

Moves

with

its

sister-planets round

the

sun.

'Tis
As

he

true

if this

With

His
And

promised

truth

God's

laws;

Dialogues, reasoning
the last word

gave

Saying

that

Before

the

human
power

to

write

'stablished

were

eternal

not

to

and

for

equally
he

so

it,and

enemies

have

the

Against

Simplicio

to

Pope,

were

against,

down

bow

must

reason

of God.

twisted
and

to

even

this

sneer

cunningly declared

be Urban.

Why,
There

wrote

Simplicio,

And

His

speak

or

three

dolphins

Page,

['SO

on

my

the

friend,
title-

TORCH-BEARERS

THE

Each

with

The

had

censor

in its mouth.

another

tail of

the

not

this,

seen

and

they

swore

It held

hidden

some

Then

meaning.

they

found
The

sprawled

Landini

printed
tried

Florence

his

at

another

truth

any

press.

charge.
I

Of

all

on

books

the

They

dolphins

three

same

that

they

afraid

not

am

bring

can

against

him;
But, O,

my

friend,

than

more

fear

their

lies.
I do
But
Even
But
And

This

O,

I do
of

fear

the

vanity
not

weak

the

that I

His

lie with
wrongs

of

our

men;

who

half-way
credence.

on

God;

Holiness,

man,

rush

resentment

cunning
half

justice of

the

Urban;

Urban,
in

the

fear

not

earth

resent,

may
to

meet

Vanity!
arise

from

war's

and

Greed,

THE

OF

WATCHERS

SKY

and

all envy,

pomp,

most

hate,
Are

born

of

that;

while

love

for

humble

dear

one

heart,
with

Beating

man,

between

two

wounds

and

thieves,
Proves

all

than

more

His

miracles
Crucified

Our

Say

that

Knock

at

Urge

him

to

long

to

the gates
to

leave

no

more.

be

the

Son

that

him;

see

of

mercy,

the

of

God.
prayers

my

night

judgment

and

now

day.
with

God
And

strive

If he

Fight

for

him

in

their

be

right, the

courses.

stars

Let

him

old

grey

bow
His

poor,

dishonoured, glorious,

head
Before

this storm,

and

then

come

home

me.

O, quickly,

or

I fear

'twill be

too

late ;

to

TORCH-BEARERS

THE

For

am

But

must

dare

live
that

know

And

Do

dying.

he

again,

is safe.

leave

not

this;

his hands

hold

to

tell him

not

him, helpless

and

half

rack

and

blind,
half

and

father

Half

child,

to

cord.
the

Christ

though

you

all

By

within

him,

save

you,

you;

And,
me

ceased

to

love

now,

faithful

One

have

may

Shall

watch

And

heaven

shadow

in your

beside

you

unfold

own

last hour

till all shadows

to

bless

you

die,
I

where

failed.
II

(Scheiner writes
What

think

you

that

Castelli, after the

to

of

Galileo

now,

Ajax should

defy

your

like

Trial.)

Your

hero

The

lightning? Yesterday
stand

[154]

saw

him

THE

These

TORCH-BEARERS

extreme

Great

courses.

Dropped

like

He

right under.

sank

into

cur

heroic

soul

of terror,

sea

Then

he

came

up

gasping,

Ready

to

deny, abjure, recant,

swear,

Anything, everything! Foolish, weak, old

man,

had

Who

been

dared

And

so

proud

teach

to

his

of

discoveries,

his betters.

How

we

grinned
To

see

kneeling there

him

and

whispering,

thus,
lips, bending

his

old

head:

grey

Galilei,born

(ilfGalileo
A

white

his

Through

Florentine,

Kneeling

now

before

seventy

years

of

age,

having before

you,

mine

eyes,

And

touching

with

my

hands

the

Holy

Gospels,
Swear

that

always

have

believed, do

now,

And

always

will

believe what

[156]

Holy

Church

WATCHERS

and

held

Has

THE

OF

preached

SKY

taught

and

to

me

believe;
And

'whereas

now,

rightlyam

accused,

Of heresy, having falselyheld

To

of

be the centre

And

sun

Universe,

our

i'ynot

also that this earth

But

the

the centre,

moves;

illogically
desire

I most

Completely to

this dark

expunge

reasonablyconceived.

So

Detest

and

should

That

these

curse

abjure,

now

and

errors;

know

suspicion,

another,

swear

friend

or

foe,

Holding

selfsame heresy as myself,

the

I will denounce
In

him

place I

whatsoever

So

help

to

Inquisitor

chance

and

God,

me

the

to

these

be.
His

Holy

Gospels,
Which

with

my

hands

I touch."
You

His

promise

to

denounce.

will

observe

Beware,

telli!
What

think

you

of your

[i57]

Galileo

now?

Cas-

TORCH-BEARERS

THE

III

(Castelli writes, enclosing Schemer's

letter, to

Campanella.)
think

What

Samson

And

he

laid

has

hands

his
Like

This," that

I?

pillarsof

trembling

more

one

the

on

world,

our

such

utterance

as

this
Will

overwhelm

all.

us

O, Campanella,
You
As
You
In

that

know
Galileo

too

know

that

the

Yet

I
has
I

there

are

to

faith,

our

been.

always

believe, as

Catholic

one

loyal

am

he

believes,

Apostolic Church;
times

many

when

could

wish

That

tear

All

this

Samson

blind

some

indeed

would

down

proud temporal fabric, made

with

hands,
And

that,once

more,

we

Lord,
[158]

suffered

with

our

WATCHERS

THE

persecuted,crucified

Were

I tell you,
When

Campanella,
faced

Galileo

veil

OF

with
that

on

Him.

day

Cardinals,

our

for

rent

was

SKY

in

There,

me.

one

flash,
I

the eternal

saw

Into

tragedy,transformed
I

terms.

new

the

saw

Christ

once

more,

the

Before

Him

Denied
Never

has

God

To

court

of

again; and,

once

all my
in

Peter

Pilate.

soul

humbly

so

Christ, as

as

when

there

for

me,

knelt

that

sad

old

man

Bowed

his grey
years

To

head,

and

knelt

"

at

seventy

"

acquiesce, and

shake

the

world

with

shame.
He

shall

strive

not

cry! Strange, is

or

it

not,
How

nearly
hate

Quoted

Scheiner

"

even

amidst

his

think

this

"

the

Prophets?

world

[159]

Do

we

TORCH-BEARERS

THE

hails

rejected,"

"Despised,

ancient

the

greatly bettered, that

So

cry,

God

our

no

more?

IV

(Celeste writes

her

to

father in his imprisonment

Siena.

Dear

father, it

will

Until

home

see

I would

you

have

not

at

)
thousand

seem

and

again
doubt

you

years

well.

that

this

all

time

prayed

I have
A

of

copy

And

yet it

To

be

Your

your

for

of use,

sentence.

gladdened

me,

by taking

on

saw

grieved ;

was

I found

for

way

myself

Therefore,

penance.

continually.

you

fail

if you

in

this,
If

forget it

you

The
Will

"

trouble
do

of

and

indeed,

remembering

it
"

save

your

you

child

it for you.

Ah,
How

to

willingly would

could

your

[i 60]

she

do

Celeste

more

endure

OF

WATCHERS

straiter

To

SKY

lives in

she

prison than

now

free.

set you

prison," I

"A

yet, if you

And

THE

not

be

I used

to

'twould

here,

were

said*

have

so.

When

you

were

pent

were

at

in

Rome,

say,

"Would

That

he

You

wish.

at

are

fulfilled

God

Siena!"
Siena

; and

now

say

he

Would

at

were

Arcetri.
So

Little

angels can
by little,

Each

day, by

new

some

perhaps

be wooeol
of

prayer

mine

or

yours,
To

bring you

Some

of the

few

You

wholly

to

flyingdays

other

see, these

back

Nuns

and

me,

save

that yet remain.

their

each

have

friend,
Their
To

patron

whom
but

Have

Saint,their

they

tell their

ever

near

joys

and

devoto,

griefs;

only

you,

dear

father,and

[161]

if you

TORCH-BEARERS

THE
"

Were

only

near

I could

me,

Your

garden

looks

The

unpruned

want

if it missed

as

lean

branches

mrore.

no

love.

your

against

the

wall

To

look

The

for you.

walks

wild

run

with

flowers.
Even

watch-tower

your

wait

for

good

this

to

seems

you;

the

And, though

fruit

is

not

so

year

(The

vines

hurt

were

by hail,I think, and

thieves

Have

climbed

the

wall

for

often

too

the

pears),
The

of

crop

Your

hand

to

peas

good,

is

gather

and

find

We
A

must

plump

some

dovecote, too,

young

return.

In my
at

the

pigecns.

make

feast for your

Here

waits

it.
In the

You'll

only

small

Convent, better watched

yours,

[162]

plot,
than

TORCH-BEARERS

THE

shrunk

henceforth

Is

that

into

narrow

space

myself inhabit.

Which

Yet
the

in

Even

dark,

her

I found

tears

against

my

arms

around

my

face,
childish

soft

thin

Her

neck,

love

Asking
If

at

me,

should

we

whispering

voice

her

And

this

last,to

tell her

true,

again.

meet

faith

her

shaken

dying
un-

Her

Had

love,

in

trust

what

in

me

judges

my

held;
And,

as

Like

I felt her
child

fingersclutch
"Tell

drowning,

hand,

my
me

the

truth," she said,

lose

"Before

the

light

of

your

dear

face""
It seemed
see

so

strange

that

me

[164]

dying

she

could

WATCHERS

I had

While

OF

lost

THE

SKY

"tell me,

her,
"

before

go-"
Love,"

in

"Believe

all my

was

could

soul

breathe.
I

heard

Only

answer.

no

her

felt

hand
and

mine

Clasp

hold

tighter. Then

it

she

died,
And

left

to

me

darkness.

my

Could

guess
At

glories,in this deeper night,

unseen

Make

discoveries

new

of

profounder

realms,
Within

the

soul?

could

O,

find

Him

there,
Rise

to

Him

And

make

through His
His

will

harmonies
own!

my

This
I

know
way

His

law

already,

that

of law

"

in

much,
some

at

least,

strange

"

implies

His

that

[165]

love; for, failing

THE

TORCH-BEARERS

discordant,and

All grows

than

Ignobler

His

the

primal

children.

So

day

One

find

to

Power

I trust
for

her, waiting

me

still,
When

all

made

things are

new.

I raise this torch

Of

It is

knowledge.

with

one

right

my

hand,
And

dark

the

sap

that

keeps

burning

it

flows
Out

heart; and yet,

of my

It shows

all my

for

only darkness.

me

Was

Did

forget the

subtler

truth

pride,obscure

in my

And,

faith,

of

the

wrong?

Rome

world's

one

light?
Did

I subordinate

Our

swiftlier-moving God?

to

this

moving

O,
Once,

than

And

at

once

least,you

knew

my

earth

Celeste,
far

I ;

she is

dead, Castelli,she
[i66]

is dead,

more

OF

WATCHERS

SKY

THE

VI

(Viviani,

later, writes

years

many

to

friend in

England. )
I

was

went

And

his last

him,

to

at

him

offered

When,

disciple,as
seventeen

the

say
of

years

hands

my

voicing

you

and

mind

true

age,
to

eyes

and

use,

heart

of

Rome,
Castelli,his

Father

Wrote,

for

master,

my

friend,

faithful

most

that

compassionate

plea;
noblest

The
Is

darkened;

So

delicate

that Nature

eye
one

And

opened

But,

out

The

first ethereal

That

that

all other

than

of

exquisitelydowered,

so

in pow-er

More

the

eyes

even

promise

my

it beheld
in ages

of all

eyes

England,

crowns

made

ever

master

that

gone
are

to

then, there
of

come.

shone

light

dead.

Well

recall
That

day
breath

of

days.

There

was

no

faintest

TORCH-BEARERS

THE

his

Among

garden

They

cypress-trees.

dreamed

Dark,

on

sky

the first

And

When,

star

quietly as

Moving

beautiful

too

unseen,

trembling overhead,

was

for tears,

from

messenger

his

through

heaven,

own

purer

realm,

Amongst

the shadows

man,

young

with

of

mortal

our

strange

world,
his

light on

face

Knocked
His

He,
To

livingsoul

one

read

the

Was

led

He

looked

Galileo's

of

By

the hand

on

earth
of

starry soul

on

Galileo

And

turning on

risingto
him

man,

of

noon,

after

it;but it pulsed within

And

power

his hand

the blaze

In
wrote

with

God,

prison door.

Galileo,touched

Irrecoverablydark.

of

this blind

his

through Italy to

Of dark, dark, dark, amid

He

hous".

Milton.

was

name

the

the door

at

him

days,
then;

his feet
those

[1*8]

unseeing eyes

WATCHERS

him,

to

Of

"You

told

he

Often

SKY

and

seen

so

worlds,

many

Said

THE

heaven

searched

had

That

OF

how

in those

me

grave

your

me."

found

have

last sad

months

island

young

poet

brought
Peace

him,

to

with

the

knowledge that,far

off,
In

lands,

other

Was

the

had

he

claimed
pro-

gathering power.
Soon

His

truth

prison,and

Florence, his

the

after,death
city that
of

town

he

unlocked

loved,

flowers,whose

gates

in life

He

was

You

forbid

write

to

to

pass,

received

from

me

him

dead.

his

England, that

name

Is
And

now

among
in his

name

the

mightiest in

I thank

the

you.

And

was

very

young

world,

when, long

[169]

am

old ;

ago,

I stood

Where
And

THE

TORCH-BEARERS

beside

his poor

denied

hate
I have

His
In

marble

At

Santa

Was

Croce,

read

and

grave

epitaph;

an

silently,
a

moon

those

twilight of

the dread

where

aisles
decree

against him.
Now,

Let

even

arising,like
the

on

him

slowly

seen,

fame

purer

dishonoured

defend

me

against two
victims:

two

wrongs,

first,the

Church
Whom

vilified for

have

many

master's

my

doom;
And

second, Galileo, whom

Because
He

they

His

with

might
have

think

they reproach

that in his blind

great

one

old

age

eagle's glance

cowed

the

judges, played

hero,

raised

his

hands
Above

his

head,

and

posturing

like

mummer

Cried

(as one

After

his

Out

empty

rumour

recantation

of this wild

"

now

declares)

yet, it moves!

confusion,fourfold
[170]

wrongs

THE

TORCH-BEAKERS

If he gave

Of

Urban's

How

How

Simplicio

to

composite

their

well
in

all characters

are

find

authors

know

you

"

thought

one

books,

here

colours

and

there,
And

both

paint

and

saints

villains

from

themselves.

No

This

matter.

Make

Urban.

was

it

clear.

Simplicio
Are

means

aroused

by

The

simpleton.

ridicule

to

saints
human

most

wrath.
Urban

was

once

This

his friend.

hint

of

ours

Kills all of that.

The

doors

of

And

Love

and

many

an

so

close

mortals

we

Knowledge

on

the

world.

And

for

so,

the

age,

of

name

Christ

Has

been

misused

by

man

to

mask

man's

hate.
How

should
who

the

Church

loved

[172]

escape,

then?

WATCHERS

OF

SKY

THE

j
4

My

!% Than

of

many

had

he

know

master,

those

friend

truer

no

of

servants

true

the

Church,
and

Fathers

in

priests who,

their

lowlier

sphere,
Moved

cardinals

her

than

nearer

to

the

held

her

Christ.
These

the

were

Rome,

very

and

keys.
Those

who
the

Would

charge

Rome

with

hatred

of

light
charge

the

with

sun

darkness, and

accuse

This

of

dome

sky

all

for

blood-red

the

wrongs

That

men

commit

beneath

it.

Art

and

their

sole

song

That

found

her

once

in

Europe

shrine
And

sanctuary

But

there's

friend,

absolve

this other

her

from

charge

that

stain.

against

my

THE

And

TORCH-BEARERS

Galileo.

master,

By friends,made

It is

brought

sharper by

their

pity and

grief,
The

charge

And

so

refused

that he
his

denied

his martyrdom

high

own

faith.

Whose
His

friends',his

Protestant

faith,
"

followers',or

his own?

Faced

by

the

that

torture,

sublime

old

man

Was

still

faithful

Catholic,

and

his

thought
Plunged

Protestant

his

than

deeper

lowers
fol-

knew.

His
But
As

aim
to

confound

humbly

That

to

not

was

there

strike

his enemies.
Castelli

as

is

or

nothing

blow

He

at

Rome

believed

Celeste
absolute

but

that

Power

To
He

his

which

With

confronted

him.

this

bowed
his

Church

his

head, acknowledging

light
[-74]

that

OF

WATCHERS

Was

darkness;

affirming,all

but

Ptolemy's light was

That
Read

the

more,

darker

even

yet.
who

Milton,

Protestant

own

your

SKY

THE

derived
His

mighty

from

argument

master's

my

lips:
the

"Whether
Rise

earth,

the

on

them

Leave

to

in heaven

predominant

sun

earth

or

rise

above; Him

God

the

on

sun;

and

serve

fear."

Just

in

as

when

boyhood,

master

my

watched
The
At

Pisa; and, by

the

in

swinging lamp

that, although

Found

miracle

the

pulse,

great

bronze

swung

ever-shortening

Through

his

finger on

one

there

cathedral

yet

spaces,

it

moved
More

slowly, and
times

He
Those

so

still swung

in

equal

straight devised
pulse-clocks
fevered

bed

another

boon

which

by

to

man,

many

THE

Our

TORCH-BEARERS

doctors

dreamed

use;

piece,
time-

that

of

too,
Whose

swinging

punctual

pendulum

on

earth
Measures
Talks
Like

the

peacefully

grandad

old

an

to

dim

the

in

There,

ages,

the

and

fire

tales,

foretelling

all the

but,

come;

by

to-day

full of ancient

endless

Remembering
Eternities

children

to

and

periods,

starry

while

cathedral,

he

knew

his

tawny

well,
That

dreaming

youngster,

with

mane

Of

red-gold hair, and

What

clouds

odorous

deep
of

ethereal

incense

eyes,
him

round

rose;

Was

conscious

the

in

dimness,

of

great

throngs
Kneeling

around

him;

shared

in

his

own

heart

The

music

and

Q, salutarls
There

was

the

hostia!
no

mortal

"

silence
so

and

the

cry,

now,

conflict in his mind

Between

his dream-blocks

And

far

one

SKY

lute,
things abso-

and

his Celeste.

of

"Return,

return'," the voice

All

things co-existed,and

these

the

the

like

comprehended,

Were

all,

of

absolute

voice, most

suffering,callingnight and day

with

Feeble

THE

OF

WATCHERS

less

swinging

lamp,

//

bade

he

Often

Read

old

The

most

one

sad

o-f it

by

him

to

in that

me,

Giojello, of

of

cathedral

that great

Within

his soul.
house

desolate
of

jewel

light,

letter,till he
and

heart,

knew
he

while

walked
His

garden, leaning

I think
For

As

would

had

if she

"Now,

my

arm,

quite forgot that

he

he

on

with

quietly

sent

this

was

little

an

hour

winter's

times

there ;
it

murmur

it,half

at

to

self,
him-

ago:

gift

fruit

send

you,

wall,

father,

from

our

southward

of

THE

TORCH-BEARERS

convent's

Our

flower,

rarest

Christmas

rose.

At

this

cold

it should

season,

please

you

much,
how

Seeing
You

must

accept

its

but, with
thorns,

the

rose,

which

bring

mind

to

Lord's

Our

it is ;

rare

bitter Passion.

own

Its green

leaves

the

Image

that

hope

through

His

Passion

we,

After

this winter

find the

May
In

of

beauty

mortal

our

of

life,

eternal

an

spring

heaven."

Praise

the martyr,

me

Some

great

new

of whose

out

hope

is

heart

to

born,

agonies

but

not

the

fool

Who

starves
can

And

his

prove

what

eyes

see

intellect

confirm

throughout

the

world.

Why

must

code,

he

follow

the

idiot

schoolboy

THE

To

push

TORCH-BEARERS

new

blindfold

out, in the

pawns

play
Of

those
the

last

months, and

checkmate,

not

Church

But

those

that

hid

His

truth

was

all

behind

her.

lieved
be-

He

her

with

harmonious

own.

How

could
Must

he

To

affirm

On

many

But

choose

them?

between

die

point,he

less

was

of much
that

movements

denied?

that himself

discord

far

surer

The

he

that

he

we:

forget.

we

he

saw

than

sure

but

could

judge
By

fixed

some

the

point

in space.

chose

sun.

this be absolute?

Could

He

Could

he

then

with

all

be

sure

That

this great

sun

did

not

its

worlds
Move

round

deeper

became

[i 80]

centre?

What

WATCHERS
Of

OF

SKY

then?

Copernicus

your

THE

Could

he

be

sure

Of

unchanging

any

whence

centre,

to

judge
This

The

myriad-marching universe,but
absolute

throne

of

one

God.

Affirming
Rock, his

Eternal
Became

this

uncertainties

own

certain, and

more

"

his

although

lips
Breathed

not

syllableof it,though

he

stood
Silent

as

The

very

He

held

earth

that also seemed

silence

to

it moves!

thundered, yet

what

he

still,

so

secured

knew,

his

work

Through

feeble

hands

like

mine,

in

other

lands,
Not

least in

England,

For, partly through

When

his great

as

your

music

skies,
[181]

I think

you

poet,

rolled

as

upon

know.

believe,
your

TORCH-BEARERS

THE

New

thoughts

the

in

kindled

were

general

mind.
'Twas

first great

The

gained

Milton

that your

Arcetri

at

celestial

his

of

glimpse

realm.

Picture

him,

Closing

his

He

might

The

still a

"

glorious eyes

that

"

light,

our

dark,

in the

"

their

Many

sun-fire.

of

wheeling universe,

this

behold

planets gilding

With

prisoner

ethereal

horns

pure

immortal

phrase
In

his

work,

own

the

first upon

Lived

I have

as

lips

pondered it,
of

him

whose

eyes

darkened

Were

too, Milton

first, in whom,
"

found

Samson

That
As

Agonistes,

have

many

himself,

not

thought, but

my

dear

master

dead.
These

are

part

of

England's

memories

now,

The

music

When,

blown

in the year

upon
of

her

sea-brightair

Galileo's

death,

WATCHERS

Newton,
Was

And

OF

born

to

it,

carry

Long

lift

since

the

as

heard

said

Tycho

"carry

torch

this

of

that

light,

of

sons

splendour

'Kepler,

to

SKY

the

of

mightiest

the

THE

it

out

sight,
Into

the

Into

the

great
great

new

new

age
realm

must

must

know,

not

not

tread."

of

NEWTON

IF

On

'twas

farther,

saw

shoulders,"

giant

because
the

wrote

stood
of

king

thought,
Too

his

of

proud

line

great

the

slight

to

toils

Of

his

turned

to

their

their

fond

altar, drawing

all

He

forebears.

dim

past,
Their

And

fading

knelt

Their

as

and

victories

at

strengths

an

his

into

own;

and

so

feats,
de-

went

forth
With
To

all

win

their
new

glory
victories

shining
for

[184]

the

in

age

his

face,
to

come.

WATCHERS

where

So,

THE

OF

SKY

had

Copernicus

destroyed

the

dream
We

called

where

world;

our

Galileo

watched
Those

ancient

where

night;

vaster

thin

tremendous

that

Kepler

isolated

Only stray fragments,

Of

melt,

smoke

blue
Into

firmaments

heard

chords

music

which

should

one,

Newton

arose

bind
All

things

anew

in

And

carried

on

their

fire.

Around

lingering fumes

Through
of

Lit

by

The

reeled

him

of hate and

clouds

doubt,
the

afterglow

dissolute

of the

throngs

of

Civil
that

War,

Walpurgis

night
Where

all

Danced
the

In

the

with

cynical spiritsthat deny

the

vicious

lusts

that

drown

soul

flesh
swine.

too

gross

for

Circe

or

her

TORCH-BEARERS

THE

in

But,

his

heard

he

heart,

instant

one

voice.

'with the

"On

torch

once

all

make

more,

things new,
Build

the

savt

world."

the

the

but

Ah,

earth, and

and

heaven

new

patience, the

infinite

long

months

Lavished

tasks

on

that,to

Were

never
insignificant,

With

great

results,or

the
to

even

common

eye,

crowned

be

with

earth's

rewards.
but

Rembrandt

Could
in

those

Making

his

have

painted him,

hours
first

Alone, there, in

analysisof light
darkened

his

Cambridge

room

At
The

Trinity!
secret

Could

he

glow,

the

have

painted, too,

mystery,

and

the

power,

The

sense

of

all the

thoughts

spires
[186]

and

unseen

THE

Then

TORCH-BEARERS

indigo, trembling softly into blue;

Then

and

green

side

yellow, quivering

by

side;
Then

mellowing richly into red.

orange,

the

in

Then,

the

to
once

Each

made

small

hole

round

Like

he

screen,

first;and

it

through

passed

more

coloured

separate

He

ray.

let

it

strike
Another
Bent

prism

at

of

glass,and

different

angle

The

red the least,the violet

But

all in scale

As

and

ray

path,

the

most;

order, all precise

Last, he

in music.

notes

its

from

hue

each

saw

And, passing through

took

it all those

lens,

coloured

rays,

Drew
On

them
that

dark

together again, remerging

screen,

in

one

white

all

spot of

light.
So, watching, testing,proving, he resolved
The

seeming random

glories of

[188]

our

day

WATCHERS

Into

OF

SKY

and

harmony,

constant

THE

in the whiteness

of the

Compounded,

all the

colours

He

raindrops

How

how

saw

found

sunlight sleep
of the world.

in

clouds

the

of

heaven
the

Breaking

that sevenfold

light,revealed

arch
Of

colours, ranged

as

on

dark

his

own

the

mountains

screen,

Though
and

now

they spanned

wild

seas.

where

Then,

that old-world

order

had

gone

down

Beneath

Gleams

of

the

Fraught

with

"

"

hope
That

darker

beheld

deluge, he
great

new

order

meaning

new

and

and

called
re-

deeper

"

which

covenant

God

made

with

all

mankind

Throughout
My

bow
may

all

in the

generations: I will
cloud,

know

[189]

that

set

henceforth

ye

THE

How

TORCH-BEARERS

than

deeper

the

of

wreckage

your

dreams

Abides

law, in beauty and

My

in power.

II

Yet

He,

that

for

pay

the

the

sudden

must

too,

of the

exquisite balance

price.

mind,
stood

He

alone

Bewildered,
On

at

of

assault

fools

this,his first discovery.

"I have

The
To

substantial

most

follow

vain

blessing of

Or

read
at

To

no

shadow.

So

few

thought.

So

more.

one

quiet

my

I would

Attempt

lost

can

fain

understand,
ready

are

many

once

and

swoop

sting.

Indeed

would

withdraw

For
In

ever

from

philosophy."

grief, the mightiest mind

So

he

of

that

wrote
new

age.

Let

those

who'd

stone

the

Roman

Curia

WATCHERS

For

OF

THE

griefs that

all the

Remember

dark

the

SKY

knew

Galileo
that

hours

well-nigh

quenched
splendour

The

with

That

spirit.

He

could

sleep.

not

Yet,

that

of

that

the

patience of
the

seek

still must

God

in

Splendour

man

whence

it came,

midnight hours

Through

of

and

mockery

defeat,
In

loneliness

He

laboured

How,

and

hopelessness and

after

had

He

on.

to

power

no

when

years,

many

tears,

he

see

was

dead,
Out

this

of

discovery

new

should

men

make
An

instrument

to

And, delicatelydividing
Divine

what

Extort

red

Or

measure

the

He

bent

himself

And

the

from

iron

molten
to

nearer,

that
seeing,first,

farthest

stars

white

rays,

their

in their

metals
secrets

the

explore

beauty burned,
heart
in

of

the

sun.

lowlier,tasks;

those deflected

[191]

Mars,

rays,

TORCH-BEARERS

THE

it

Though
Of

the

only by

were

colour, imperceptible

Must

dim

made

He
That

the
his

first

vision

own

of

new

faintest bloom

to

our

eyes,

Galileo's

glass,

of the

weapon

telescopewhich
reflecting

sky,
"

should

hold
In

its

The

deep mirror,

undistorted

in

as

image

of

breathless

pool

star.

Ill

In
Like

that

deep night
blind

in

giant

Galileo

where

dreams

groped

find what

to

power

Held

and

moons

planets

to

their

constant

road

Through

vastness,

ordered

like

moving

fleet;
What

law
not

Or

married

so

them

that

kept

their

they could

clash

sunder, but

still

rhythmic

pace

As

if those

ancient

tales indeed

[192]

were

true

WATCHERS

And

OF

great

some

angel

THE

SKY

helmed

each

gliding

sphere;
had

Many

sought

had

Many

answer.

an

caught
truth; and

the

of

Gleams

yet,

when

as

torch

above

Is waved

And

But

For

all those

chaos,

in

And

them

skies

our

law

that

bound

them

all

one,

soul

them

to

that

That

awful

which

unity upraised
made

and

guides

all.

Newtori, dreaming

in

his

orchard

there
Beside

all

eagle-spiritsoared,

one

one

through

Did

fused,
con-

fragmentary glimpses, whirled

till

the

faces, aU

knits

that

nation, so

night,

at

of

streams

single law

ordered

an

Found

The

the

not

Into

In

wild

shows

multitude

the

dreaming Witham,
[i93]

see

the

moon

TORCH-BEARERS

THE

like

Burn

gold

huge

in

apple

the

boughs
wonder

And

fall

not

moons

fruit?

like

Or

should

why

he

did

those

as

see

old

fairy-talesthat

(Those

tales declare

gather

and

form

fire

Till,

in

whole

the

jewel, they pack

one

bright world)
A

fruit

ripe

fall

from

immortal

some

tree

Of

knowledge,

he wondered

while

at

what

height
Would

this

earth-magnet

lose

its

darkling

power?
Would

not

earthward, though

the fruit fall

it grew

High

o'er

the

hills

as

yonder brightening

cloud?
Would

not

the selfsame

power

that

plucked

the fruit
Draw

the white

moon,

then, sailingin

blue?

[i94]

the

THE

With

TORCH-BEARERS

vision,and

But

let

dreamer

no

all worlds

reveal

dream

in

one.

that his great

work

Sprang, armed,

like Pallas

from

the Thunderer's

brain.
With

infinite

patience he

must

test

clear

courts

and

prove

His

vision

in

now,

those

of

Truth
Whose

absolute

(bemocked by

laws

lower
shal-

minds
As

less than

dreams,

less than

the faithless

faith
That

fears

the

lest Truth

Truth,

should

slay the dream)

Are

man's
heaven

For

there's

one

guide

to

his

transcendent

;
no

wandering splendour

in the

soul,
But
With

Back

the

in

highest heaven

absolute
to

reality.

that Fount

of

of all is
None

Beauty

pain.
[196]

can

but

one

climb

through

WATCHERS

OF

he

Long, long

THE

SKY

first the

toiled,comparing

curves

by the cannon-ball

Traced

and

it soared

as

fell
that

With

road

curving

great

the

across

sky
Traced

by

the

sailing moon.
earth

Was

them

Holding

their

to

loadstone
dark

paths by that

force

Whose

mystery
a

Yet,

men

cloaked

have

beneath

nrame?
when

he

came

to

test

and

he

prove,

found

That
Her

all the great

deflections

cadences

shining

of

from

the

moon,

the

path

direct,
Were
Of

utterly inharmonious
that dark

Measured
For

from

three

his

force, at

long

hope

earth's
years,

with

such

own

Newton

the

law

distance

centre.

ing,
act-

withheld

THE

Until

TORCH-BEARERS

that

light

brought

w.as

France,

from

New

when

day

light,new

in

hope,

small

one

ing
glisten-

fact,
Clear-cut
Loaded
Of

as

with

light

all

that

and

diamond;

any

to

like
significance,

shows

where

him

the

point

constellations

burn.
Picard

in

Who

France

is herself

Had

glory

to

her

name

all lands

light among

earth's diameter

measured

With

all

"

once

"

more

exquisiteprecision.
To

Those

few

Were

corrected

less than

the

throng,

ciphers, his results,

nothing; yet they changed

the world.
For

seized

Newton

them

and, with

bling
trem-

hands,
his

work

Began

to

Then,

then,

as

problem

out

on

the

of

heaven, and

page

anew.

figures

those

turned
To

The

hieroglyphs
moving

moon,

with

[198]

awful

he

beheld

cadences

Even

the

into

Falling

ordained,

law

and

foot

the

to

his

path

hand

his

second,

shook
And

the

dropped

He

cried

pencil.

those

to

"Work

it out

around

him;

me,"

for

the

for

weight
Of

that

And,

celestial
his

on

Were

overwhelmed

music

those

page,

Thrones

and

him;
glyphs
hiero-

burning

and

Principalities

Powers
.

For

far

Beyond
We

beyond, immeasurably
our

call

he

sun,

the

that

saw

of

river
that

Way,

Milky

far
suns

glittering

host
the

Powdering

night,

each

of

grain

solar

blaze
Divided
Too

wide

from
for

its

neighbour

thought

to

by

measure;

gulf
each

sun

Huger

than

worlds,

ours,

with

its

own

fleet

of

THE

and

Visible
That

invisible.

seemed

Through

Those

dispersed

bright throngs

like

defeated

host

blindly wandering skies,now,

the
Of

TORCH-BEARERS

at

word

dreamer, height

great

one

o'er

height

revealed
Hints
In

of

boundless

Around
The

He

intricacies

one

burning

could

order, and

vaster

not

of

centre,

deeper

throne

of God.

sleep. That

moved

on

harmony
than

all

suns,

whose
intellect,

wings
Dared

the

ultimate

heights of Space

Time

and

Sank,

cold

like

wounded

eagle,

with

dazed

eyes

Back,

headlong

throb
What

on

shaft
also

through

the

clouds

earth.

had

pierced

pierced
[200]

him?

That

which

to

WATCHERS

His

great forebears

They

THE

OF

"

the hate

around

flocked

SKY

him,

of little

and

men.

they flung

their dust

Into

dust

How

and

sensitive eyes

the

could

blind

That

brain,what

delicate

see

pricklinggrain

one

his vision and

out

put

so

to

them.

If

Could

laughed

so

torment

weakness!

How

the mind

That

seemed

us, dwindles!

dwarf

to

Is he

mad?
So

Nor

buzzed

the

mental

wheels

dust, nor
could

Even

for

fools, whose

grit, nor

ponderous

stones,

nor

rocks

irk
instant.

an

Newton

could

not

But

all that careful

Was

blindly fostered by well-meaning folly,

And

great

Canvassed
all

For

sane

could

sleep,

malice

folk like Mr.

his

Samuel

and

weakness

design

slept sound

night.

little Samuel

with

his rosy

[201]

Pepys

face

TORCH-BEARERS

THE

Came

chirping

Like

into

coffee-house
the

robin, "Sir,

plump

day

one

unhappy

state

Last

I had

week

With

Newton

Isaac

Mr.

Of

letter from

complainings,

strange

much.

grieves me

him,

rilled

curious

very

hints,
Such

as,

grieve

to

common

are

say,

signs
I

"

it often

observed

have

of

"

to

worse

come.

that

said

He

could

he

neither

eat

nor

sleep
Because

he

of all the embroilments

Hinting

he

Then

enemies.

nameless

at

in,

was

begged
pardon,

My

Physicians
'Tis

very

strangely.

very

would

confirm

sad.
.

me

I believe
in my

last

Only

fears.

night,

found

Among
By

"

my

whom

papers

d'you

certain

think?

Halifax

[202]

lines
"

My

composed
lord

of

TORCH-BEARERS

THE

That

touch

Which

of

rank

only

that

grace,

airier

give.

can

'Tis
That

nobly praised should

so

one

matter!
I

"

sad

very

well, no

"

told, sir,

am

elegance

that

troubles

these

all

began
At

Cambridge,

his

when

manuscripts

were

burned.
He

had

All

through

been

in

working,
the

his

night; and,

curious

in the

way,

morning

greyness
Went

down

to

chapel, leaving

lighted candle.

sadly

Littered

sloven
with

You

altar

to

papers,

his

imagine

can

his

on

desk

it,
"

Muse,

cups,

and

greasy

plates
Of

would
His

food.

untouched

Monday's

was

told

that

he

eat

breakfast, sir, on

morning,
Such

am

his absent

wayl
[204]

Tuesday

THE

OF

WATCHERS

SKY

he

When

He

Named

for

Diamond,
his

(his

Diamond

that

found

overturned

Was

burned

the

patch

near

ashes.

to

him

to

the

quick,
about

fawned

terrier

his

when

Though,

his work

All

candle.

It struck

He

dog

tail)

Had

his

little

black

returned,

feet,

showed

no

He

anger.

was

heard

to

say,

'O

Diamond,

Diamond,

do

you

.'

know
.

But,

little

from

that

hour, ah well, we'll

say

no

more."

Halley

there

was

that

day,

and

spoke

up

sharply,
"Sir,

there

mean

"

"I

are

hints

and

hints!

Do

you

more?"

do, sir,"chirruped Samuel, mightily

pleased
[205]

TORCH-BEARERS

THE

To

find

"I

all eyes,

his

fear

That's

with
But

his fat face.

on

once,

intellects

"Good!

"

for

disordered, sir."

are

answer!

an

deal

can

that.

tell

he

first,"
quoth Halley, "why

me

wrote

That
"

letter,a week

Mr.

to

ago,

Pepys."
innocent

sir,"piped Samuel,

"Why,

of

the trap,

"I had
Last

in this coffee-house

argument

an

with

week,

certain

gentlemen,

the

on

laws
Of

chance,

what

fair

hopes

man

have

might
Of

and

throwing

six

at

dice.

happened

to

say

Isaac

That

Mr.

And

promised

Newton

was

I would

my

sound

friend,
him."

"Sir," said Halley,

"You'll

pardon

me,

but

forgot

to

tell

you

heard,

minute

since,

doors,
[206]

outside

these

modish

very
else

Or
A

melting

of the town,

woman

with

creature

black

bold

fashion,
eye,

doves; and, sir,

twin

like

bosom

of

lady

delicrous

most

SKY

THE

OF

WATCHERS

mouth
Like

dream

Turk's

She

Paradise.

of

cooed,
'Is Mr.

they denkd

That

her!"

to

you

greatly fear

within?'

Pepys

Off
"A

hint's
to

so

But,

"and

bed.

Newton,

Isaac

let

his embroilments

Whatever
With

hint," laughed Halley,

for

as

Pepys!

ran

hour

just one

of

me

say,

he solved

were,

long

thought, not

ago

The
To

problem
all of

but

out,

'That's

at

Leibnitz,when
old

once,

Newton,

as

none

challenge

published his

He

Europe.

Anonymously,
Cried

by Leibnitz

set

enemy

as

but Newton

he

result
saw

he

was,

From

it,

this claw

I know

the old

"

lion,in his midnight lair.'

[207]

THE

TORCH-BEARERS

VI

(Sir Isaac Newton

writes

Vincent

Mrs.

to

at

Woolthorpe.)
Your

letter,on

eightieth birthday,

my

wakes

violets, in

like

Memories,

this

London

gloom.
You

have

failed,for

never

score
than three-

more

years

To

send

these

greetings from

annual

the

haunts
Where

and

you

day

must

come

"

and

boy

were

it

gether.
girl to-

cannot

be

now

far"

When

I shall have
for

So

let

They

power

to

thank

you

them,

me

tell you

now

come

to

have

their
Like

no

that,all
me

with

my

life,

healing

in

wings

birds

happy

from

home,

woods

[208]

birds

from

the

WATCHERS

Above

the
with

When

THE

OF

SKY

where

Witham,

me

you

and

were

young.

Do

Old

walked

you

Barley

how

"

he

remember

you

tried

teach

to

us

drawing?
He

found

But

promise,

some

quite despaired of

believe,in

me.

Those

little sketches

Each

Christmas,
glimpse

There's

you,

that

sent

you

to

each

carrying

all

treasure

me

some

of home.
I love

one

that

the

shows

narrow

lane
Behind

the

schoolhouse, where

I had

that

bout
Of

schoolboy

fisticuffs. I

have

never

known
More

That

pleasure,I believe,than
black-haired

bully

and

when
won,

I beat
for

my

reward,
Those

April

smiles

from

you.

[209]

see

you

still

TORCH-BEARERS

THE

Standing

the

fox-gloves in

the

among

hedge;
just behind

And
There

was

you,

Rest-harrow,

it?

was

field,I

"

tangled

their

Yes;

know

flowers,

aromatic

of

patch

in the

roots

Pluck

the

at

harrow
Even

in

of
old

halt

harrow;

the

sharp

thought,
I

age.

breathe

never

their

scent

But
Over

back

am

in

boyhood, dreaming there

some

book,

among

Until

you

join me,

and

They

called

It

was

that

the
we

lazy, then.

me

diligentbees,

dream

together.

Oddly enough

fight that stirred

mind

my

to

beat

My

bully
school

Blind

The

at

the

rivalry,at

first.

Power

invisible
ourselves

By
that

such

fond

shapes

us

tricks
"

not

"

Punishes, teaches,leads
Like

head

books, and

his

children, all

our

us

gently

lives,until

[210]

on

we

grasp

THE

But

TORCH-BEARERS

holes

The

so,

We

which

through

clogged

water

it

dripped; and

day,

one

two

the

particlesin

the least

home

came

late

so

that

were

we

sent

Supperless

to

beds;

our

suffered

and

much

From

the world's

harshness,as

thought

we

it then.
God

Would

that

harshness

And

so

that

taste

now.

send

cannot

might

we

you

wish

what

you've

you'll

sent

to

thank

never

me;
me

more

For

those
year

send
use

To

poor
to

gifts I

have

sent

from

year.

another,

and

hope

that

you

can

it

buy yourself those

comforts

which

you

need

This

Christmas-time.
How

strange

[212]

it is

to

wake

WATCHERS

And

find

With

all

OF

that

half

endless

our

THE

SKY

has

century

youth.

They
Of

discoveries,prate

my

Too

late

to

help

done

Was

and

through

the

work

talk

to

undying

me

fame

I achieved

and

patience;

men

quick

sought

Who

of

Anything

me.

by,

gone

roads

for

glory

to

themselves

Were

capable

of

neither.

Their

hatred,

and

it often

Because

it vexed

my

So

For

give

me

I sit

here, alone, a sad

Sipping his orange-water,

Not

caring

But

any
any

dreaming

"

more

more

world

I have

all,now

it;

caring

me,

mind.

want

Not

won

hampered

This

Would

old

of

ceased

for

things we

to

sleep,

aught they
praise
dreamed

to

man,

nodding
for

ours

or

say,

blame;
of, long

ago,

In

childhood.
You

and

I had

laughed

away

THE

That

TORCH-BEARERS

and

boy

We

affair.

girl

too

were

poor

anything but laughter.

For

I
And

and

wedded

twice

you,

old;

am

twice

widowed,

still
all

Retain, through

joys

nearer

your

and

griefs,
The

old

Vaguely

affection.

blind

our

old

hands
for each

Grope

other

in this

deepening loneliness, to

And

say

"

that

Would

could

words

bye."
"good-

tell you

all

heart;

my

But

my

dark

growing

my

even

words

old.

grow

Perhaps
Written

not

long

ago,

may

these

lines,

tell

you

more.

have

no

in

skill

verse,

despite

the

praise
Your

kindness
I

gave

me,

wrote

["4]

once;

but

since

of

Thinking

THE

OF

WATCHERS

woods

the

among

you,

SKY

of

home,
heart

My

for friends,

Give

me,

Who

kept

Whose

Not

the

the

their

throne

those

The

simpler hopes

Not
Yet

eyes

keen

to

those

who'd

Whose
Dead

whose

swift

never

to

saw

and

tripyou

my

way,

pride

guide;
ill

and

good

mockery
dreams
so

scan

of

quick

man;
to

hurt,

in the dirt.

pluck
your

day,

to

capricious will;

own

wits,

cleverness
at your

day

about

'twixt

in

folk

true

only lightsthat

lines

the

those

from

intellectual

whose

Not

So

turn

they spoke;

the heavens

brought

Confuse

Not

word

very

quench

Then

them

own

my

quiet prayers,

those

Would

Let

them.

yours

Have

in

was

mystery

your

out,

last redoubt;
would

kill

heart, then prove

the

you

song

wrong.

THE

Give

those

me

Where

used

eyes

like

thoughts

know

to

angels

glitteringeyes,

Not

"

TORCH-BEARERS

and

come

go;

dimmed

nor

by

books,
But

through

eyes

'which

the

soul

deep

looks.

Give

the

me

That

soul

Has

and

love,

whose

the

brought

hands

face
and

for fame

strove

never

The

quiet

so

place;

heavens

about

day

many
my

way.

VII

Was

it

dream,

that

low

dim-lighted

room

With

Writing,

periwigged

of

phantom

Swift

Dean

beside

Beautiful
Of

dark

that

fire,to

Catherine

Newton's

one

Barton,

house, and

child?

[216]

he

loved,

once

the

his

"

light

half-sister'*

WATCHERS

OF

Yes, Catherine

Barton,

To
Of

this

face

SKY

THE

brave

am

enough

wistful

pale, unhappy,

ghost

departed friendship.

our

It

Savage

and

"Your

Holiness,"

mad,

snarling

as

you

kennel

called

was

of

sins,
with

me,

that smile

Which

even

on

me

ghost

your

would

quietly turn

"

Who

raised

And

I shall

You

write

It has

it up.

lay

never

to

terrors,

no

it while

I live.

me.

You

fame

of Newton

from

You

think

dear,

the

have

power

To

the

shield

Poor

ghost!

little

think

lie.

hold

the

keys
Not

There
His

Your

only

is

of

Parnassus, then, but

tale

abroad

public office
secret

to

lover.

that

Lord

[217]

owed

Newton

Halifax,

Coarseness,

know,

hell.

as

you

THE

Is my
And

I'll be

peculiar privilege.
let them

the

They

TORCH-BEARERS

who

wince

are

plain,
in

whispering

dark.

hinting

are

he

that

gained

his

public

post

Through
that

You

he

patron's mistress!
Yes,

The

and

blood;

knew

his

were

and

flesh

his

you,

that

coffee-house

hatched

I know

it
"

be

to

scotched,

Nay, killed, before

snuff-box

one

could

say

"snap,"
Had

not

cold

one

malevolent

face

been

there

Listening,

"

that

crystal-minded

lover

of

truth,
That

lucid

told

am

of

enemy

he

is

all

doing

lies, Voltaire.

much

"

to

spread

the

light
Of

Newton's
France.

great

discoveries, there,

in

TORCH-BEARERS

THE

This

truth

he

as

it, and

conceives

you'll

need
No

more

defence.

All

history then shall damn

his death-cold

lie
And

show

the

for

you

laughing child

you

were

Newton

When

his office.

won

For
You

say

have

you

Your

fear.

no

yourself
only

thought
Is

they'll soil

that

his

fame.

it.

For

Ah

yes,

they'lltry,
they'llnot

But

hurt

all time

to

come

there,firm

It stands

They

do

can

Will

not

hurt

Can

nothing

erase

that

at

marble

as

that the

as

pure.

and

sun

Not

last.

noble

and

Voltaire

even

Think

memory.

him
As

of

Of

some

viper writhing
great

statue.

tongue

[220]

at

the

Let

base

the

rain

venomous

of

WATCHERS

OF

wound

It cannot

who

you,

it may

as

it.
I

For

SKY

marble

against that

Flicker

THE

far

am

sit there

grieved

more

wondering

too

now,

late,
If it

robbed

heard

that

broke

his mind

had

Newton

hint

dark

suspicion,some

some

were

him

of

his

sleep,
And

almost

How

the

that

recall
had

Newton

mad.

gone

You

buzzed

town

up.

copy

that

me

letter

sad

which

he

wrote

To

Locke, wherein

The

hard

words

he

he

begs

had

him

to

forgive

spoken, thinking

Locke

tried

Had

women

to

embroil

as

he

says, with

piteous,humble

Some

him,

hint

of

letter.

scandal

that

Had

he

he

could

heard
not

breathe
To

you,

because

he honoured

[221]

you

too

well?

THE

TORCH-BEARERS
mind

His

tell.

cannot

greatly

was

troubled
With

other

things.

At

need

least,you

not

fear

That

Newton

it

thought

walked

He

true.

aloof,
Treading

deeper

world

stranger

than

ours.

Have

you

Even

to

In

and

eat

under

he

how

me

drink, when

miraculous

those

And,

told

not

new

this wild

would
he

forget
wrapt

was

discoveries
and

of shadow

maze

sun

Beheld

though

"

hand

The

the

not

Master

Player's

"

keys

from

which

His

organ

music

rolls,
Those

visible

symphonies

of wild

cloud

and

light
Which

clothe

the invisible world

for mortal

eyes.

have

the

heard

that

Leibnitz

court

[222]

whispered

to

WATCHERS

That

THE

OF

Newton

was

SKY

"atheist."

an

Leibnitz

knew

His

could

He

audience.

stoop
Fools

That

drives

knowledge
the

out

it.

to

said

have

wonder

from

world;

They'll

it

say

still,though

all the

dust's

ablaze
With

miracles

at

their

Now-

feet; while

ton's laws
that

Foretell

knowledge

one

day

has

taken

shall

be

song,

And

those

Truth

whom

to

her

heart

Find

that it beats in music.

Even

Has
His

full

own

Newton

of it.

glimmerings

victory;

but

this age
saw

never

least

at

he

knew
That

all the world

And,

if

men

found

was

linked

new

in

worlds

one

again ;

in years

come,

These

too

must

join the
[223]

universal

song.

to

THE

That's

TORCH-BEARERS

why

true

poets

will

cancel

him

love

; and

you'll

find
Their

love

They

are

the

Fame
And

sentinels

that

all

the

do.

can

House

of

from

quick challenging couplet

pen

Alexander

To

of

hate

the
Of

all that

is

Pope

those

enough

answer

whisperers

round

the

outer

doors.
There's

Addison,

The

very

music

when

too.

spiritand

thought
Of

moved

Newton

The

Spacious
eyed

Will

to

age

say,

to

Firmament.

he

Some

wrote

keen-

come

though

Newton

seldom

wrote

verse,

That

music

was

his

own

and

speaks

his

faith.

last, for

And,
in

those

who

God

[224]

doubt

his

faith

WATCHERS

And

man's

The

there

destiny,

immortal

granite

SKY

THE

OF

his

of

monument

mains
re-

great

own

work,
That
The

Wherein

Of
To

intellect,
the skies,

"Principia," pointing to

vast

intellectual

our

task

The

man's

of

cathedral

dark

of

"

Space and

the

make

ness
this wilder-

science, through

and

Time

king proclaimed

false appearances,

path straight

effect

from

to

cause,

Ujitil we
The

to

come

that

above,

Power,

First

Cause

of

the

beyond

all,

blind

machine,
The

Primal

Which

Power,

cannot

the

originating Power,

be mechanical.

He

ceYtainty.

Whence

affirmed

it
With

absolute

arises

all

This

order,

This

human

this unbroken

chain

of

law,

will, this death-defying love?

[225]

TORCH-BEARERS

THE
but

Whence,

from

divine

some

ent
transcend-

Power,
Not

less,but
it

Because

than

more
infinitely

their

Fountain

hearts

have

is

these,
their

and

Guide.
Fools

their

in

this

comes

throw

Why

said, "Whence

Power,
back

riddle

the

this

stage

one

more?"
And

from

Newton,

height

above

all

worlds
Answered

and

still:

answers

"This

Exists,and
Declares
An

by that

itself

Greater

than

'Tis

part,

is the mystery,
not

From

the
cause

lack
to

itself,a Whole

within

Unity

Sustaining all,binding
This

all worlds

in

here

and

palpable

of

links

cause,

within

but

that

exists.

That's

the

fact

miracle; postulates

any

impossible

one

Power

infinite

universe

unfathomable

[226]

mystery,

one.

now.

the chain
the

chain

TORCH-BEARERS

THE

that made

Power

Is

which

from

That

While

the

came,

us,

blank

in

-drowned

we

of

unconsciousness

all?
Does

it not

from

That

there

exists

the

things we

infinite space,

perceives
immediate

themselves, by His

in

Things

in

infinite sensory,

in His

pear
ap-

Being, incorporeal,

who
Living, intelligent,
As

know

presence

Of

Everywhere?

which

things,we

no

see

more

images only, flashed through

Than

and
To

brain
small

our

sensories?
What

But
The

pure

is all science

then

religion,seeking everywhere

true

many

The

nerves

eternal

commandments,

and

through

forms
power

that binds

all worlds

in

one?
It is man's

age-long struggleto
[228]

draw

near

OF

WATCHERS

His

His

law,"

task,in

boundless

A
As

SKY

thoughts, discern

His

learn

Maker,

THE

unfolding light

the

in

infinitude,

whose

and

of

law

love.

Abides
I

hope, and

our

know

how

not

work

joy.
seem

to

"But

to

may

"

others
So

my

eternal

our

wrote

mightiest

our

mind

"

myself
I

seem

there

While

the
to

pebble, coloured

great

ocean

of

day long

all

wandering

by

shell,

the wave,

truth, from

sky

sky

Stretches

He

that

sea-shore,gathershere

the

Upon
And

child

has

before

explored
defence

Neither

boundless,

him,

and

it now,
nor

tribute.

needs

plored."
unex-

of

His

me

own

work

Remains
so

his

monument.

near

[229]

He

rose

at

last

TORCH-BEARERS

THE

The

None
We

in

must

that

divine

Power

this

await

To

age!
a

none

can

on

carry

mightier

age

nearer

his

to

go;

fire

come.

VI

WILLIAM

HERSCHEL

WAS
In

it

Bath;

CONDUCTS

dream?

that

of

sea

crowded

that

"

cert-room
con-

laced

and

ruffles

coats;
And

William

in

Herschel,

his

powdered

wig,

Waiting
His

platform,

the

upon

choir

Linley's

and

conduct

to

He

orchestra?

stood

Tapping

his

music-rest,

lost

in

his

own

thoughts
And

(did

hear

or

them?)

dream

all

mine:

My
With

periwig's
grease

askew,
from

my

my

[231]

new

ruffle

stained

telescope!

were

THE

TORCH-BEARERS

Ach,
be

will

Caroline

How

to-morrow

vexed, although

she

grows

Almost

bad

as

for

work-shop

My

I, who

as

leave

cannot

evening.

one

I must
One

last recital

And

then

St.

at

farewell

"

Margaret's,
music.

to

Who
lives

Two

lead

can

once?

at

Yet
curious

Thrown

give

it has

"

taught

lights upon

much,

me

our

world,

to

that

pass

From

life

one

another.

to

Much

took

For

substance

shadow.

to

turns

shall

see

No

throngs

like this

again; wring

no

more

praise
Out
"

of

Let

their

those

it vain

hearts; forego
who

have

not

"

[232]

that
known

instant
it

joy

count

WATCHERS

souls

human

When

THE

OF

at

SKY

respond

once

to

yours.

Here,

brink

the

on

and

fortune

of

of

fame,
As

these

account

men

things, the

moment

comes

between

choose

I must

When

and

them

the

stars;
And

have

chosen.

Handel,
We

part

good

old

to-night. Hereafter,

friend,
I

must

watch

That

other

wand,

which

to

the

worlds

keep

time.

What

has

me?

decided

That

marvellous

night
When

With

all these

brain!

my

After

difficult it will be

ah, how

"

wonders

out

guide,

whirling through

"

Pump-room

Hot-foot,

to

of

concert

the

flutteringsea

[233]

home

came

of

fans,

TORCH-BEARERS

THE

Coquelicot-ribboned

and

belles

periwigged

beaux,
To

Newtonian

my

telescope.
The

his; but

Was

than

more

half

design

the

joy

my

own,

Because
A

new

it

the

was

one,

with

than

Better

an

work

best

hand,

own

my

six inches

eye

the

even

of

wide,

that

Newton

made.

Then,
And

it

I turned

as

the

deep

the

on

stillness

of

Gemini,
those

constant

lights,
Castor

and

Pollux, lucid

calm

the

Began

to

I saw,

O, first of

The

disk

Beyond

What

of my

our

will

of

new

they

Georgium

blood,

my

all mankind

saw

planet gliding there

tumults, in that

Herschel,
Nor

fever

pilot-stars,

realm

it?

christen

of peace.

Ach

"

not

no!

Sidus,

as

[234]

once

proposed;

TORCH-BEARERS

THE

Desert
No.

This

His

planet

new

majesty

orchestral

for the

music

my

has

is

only

to

new

much.

done

spheres.

Yet,

man.

as

my

friend

Declared

last

night, "Never

did

monarch

buy
Honour

bought
I

has

he

"

not

it.

that

think

and

cheaply";

so

it should

bear

ancient

some

name,

And

it like

wear

crown

deep, dark

some

name,

Like

Uranus,

known

How

strange

it

seems

to

"

gods.

remoter

this

buzzing

cert-room
con-

There's

Doctor

Burney bowing and, behind

him,

fox-eyed daughter Fanny.

His

Is it
These

crowding midgets, dense

bees

In

some

great

bee-skep?
[236]

as

dream,
ing
cluster-

Now,
A

as

the

grips them, and

silence

The

Throbbing.

faint

lift my

wand,

strings

gin,
be-

flicker

in

lights

gusts of sound.
Before

like

glimmering

me,

crescent

moon,

The

Its

dim

half

circle

the

choir

awaits

time.

appointed

own

of

Beside

Watching

From
of

my

wand,

buckled

shoes

his

Music

in

chin, the midget

hand,

bullfinch

Leans

that

now,

late
immacu-

white

bunch

lace

Under

The

and

plump

to

me

back

linnet

and

bass, that

rises,

tenor
a

king.

other

emperor,

indifferently,and

clears

his

throat
As

if to

While,

The

say,

"This

on

their

either

hand,

sumptuously

prelude leads
own

proud

bosomed

[237]

to

Me!"

thrones,

midget

on

queens,

THE

TORCH-BEARERS

and

Contralto

other's

Each

plumage.
Round

With
Of

immortal

an

jealously eye

soprano,

the

me

I grow

passion.

appalling mystery.

an

music

throbs
aware

We,

this

throng
Of

and

midgets, playing, listening,tense

still,

Are

sailingon

We

call

Ten

planet;

our

through

midget

ball of dust
will

have

sailed

space

thousand

this

leagues before

music

ends.

What

mean?
This

Oh, God,

it mean?

does

what

it

can

"

hushed

weird

ant-hill with

thousand

eyes;

These

midget

periwigs;

all

those

little

blurs,
Tier

over

tier,of faces,masks

Corruptible, hiding

each

dreams,
Its

tragi-comicdreams.
[238]

its

of

flesh,

hopes

and

WATCHERS

THE

OF

SKY

And
with

forgotten,mixed

be

Will

all this

throng

dust,crushed

out,

Or

that

their

Violins

crumbles.

tall organ

Outlast

is outworn

of music

this book

Before

hands

Other

players.

may

touch

That

but

harpsichord;

this

ere

planet

makes

journeys round

threescore

Another

These

have

will

listeners

breathing

its sun,
ished.
van-

Whither?
I watch

hands,

moving

my

and

they

grow

strange !
What

is it

How

came

this

moves

here,

What

body?
ghost,

to

am

I?
that

hear

voice
Of

infinite

Above

the
ye

compassion,

far

away,

throbbing strings,hark!
.

fort
Com-

If music

lead

I think

I shall

us

to
not

cry

lose

[239]

like

this,

it in the skies.

TORCH-BEARERS

THE

I do but

follow

As

long

ago

Its

golden mathematics; taught myself

The

understand

to

stone

one

dared

Before

law

secret

own

sought

lay

to

way

its

dream

to

another,

upon

that

might

build

My

City

Holy

To

of

I gave

Song.
How

all its branches.

myself
stared

they

at

me,

Those

of

men

sections,fluxions,all

algebra, conic

That

Pertained

to

I said

when
"sensibility,"

Let

music.

them

again.

stare

what
Kepler knew, by instinct,

Old

Desire
No

learn.

to

I have

to

now

leave

unvisited.

of heaven

tract

resolved

To-night,
"

The
see

music

beyond

Beyond
That

carries

this island

our

sun,

throng

the

thousand

Luminous

back

me

and

it again!
"

universe,

all those

Milky Way,

little wisps, faint

fans and

to

other

yond,
far, far be-

nebulae,

milky streaks
[240]

suns

of

fire;

from

Streaming

bright point;

one

others

spread

that

And

electric mist

of

like soft brushes

Some

SKY

THE

OF

WATCHERS

like

branch,

growing

others

systems;

discrete,
ripe, with

Keen,

back

drawn

kindled

scattered

abroad

to

dense

one

death,

fire,reborn,

into

be

Thence
And

into

forces

central

By

clusters; others

in

stars

once

in

more

icate
del-

spray

Faint

by

mist

the

as

bright dewdrop

one

breathed
At

and

dawn,

Each

wisp

Wide

as

yet

universe, a

night

our

like

universe

of

which

would
Less

Yet

than
we,
of

Around

is

sun

our

stars.

Milky Way

drowned,

to

these

seem

to

who

their

us

are

faintest

borne

on

drift of
one

dark

dust
one

own

galaxy

vast

The

In

our

indistinguishablespark

haze;
grain

TORCH-BEARERS

THE

Of

in

star-mist,lost

lost

one

feather

of

light,
Can

strength of

the

by

our

thought,

own

ascend
universe

Through
their

after

trace

growth
boundless

Through

universe;

time, their glory, their

decay;
And,

invisible

the

on

road

of

law,

more

firm

Than

granite,
and

length
Their
to

So,

who

master's

and

follow

the

great

Work-

law

small

things

to

up

great, may

one

learn

day
The

depth, past, present

come.

those

From

their

all

breadth,

and

height

through

range

structure

of

the

heavens, discern

the

whole

Within

the

part,

as

men

God.

[242]

through

Love

see

VII

SIR

JOHN

HERSCHEL

REMEMBERS

TRUE

of

type

his

all,

from

and,

though

ther's
fa-

own

hand
He

fire ;

the

caught

he

carried

it far
Into

regions

new

Of

yellow

To

those

and,

added

lupin,

host

fields

host

on

which

armies

bright

southern

from

his

father

knew,
the

Surely
Was

his

when,

lonely

Of

first

There,

task

pilgrim

beginnings
in

hour

crowning

the

of

his

all

accomplished,

the

to

and

Octagon

head

[244]

twilit
his

life
he

turned
re-

shrine
father's

Chapel,

with

youth.
bared

Those

the

himself,

keyboard,

books
had

lost hands

dear

and

glimmering

the

touched
touched

SKY

for his father

Grey, honoured
He

THE

OF

WATCHERS

touched

long

so

ago.

that

"Strange

these

things

inanimate

poor

outlast

them.

used

life that

The

This

hour

the

while

mind

Picture

Not

explored

the

music

breathed

what

stops;
else

on

what

thoughts

many

and

ranged.
picture passed before

living colours,painted

work

But

hands

through

memories

In

leave

mute,

were

His

You'll

his.

try

so?"

or

His

And,

of

to

here

me

An

friend

old

good

like

I should

Yes.

the

world

on

him

the

acclaimed,

there

gloom
the

great

crowned,

all that

went

before,the
[245]

years

of toil ;

TORCH-BEARERS

THE

The

of infinite

years

He

the

saw

His

father's

His

first

patience, hope, despair.

little house
first resolve

to

when

defeat,

all

where

began,
the

explore

telescopes

sky,
were

found
Too

for

costly

And

then

that

music-master's

and

dogged

purse;

all-conquering

will
"Be

Declaring,
A

better

than

it

I'll make

so.

the

even

best

my

own,

Newton

that

made."
He
Of

his first rude

saw

pasteboard,

And

"

With

"

lens

arduous

that

then,
and

with

telescope

tube

either

at

growth

end;
to

size

power

each

instrument,

new

as

his

edge
knowl-

grew;

And,

reward

to

each

growth,

Aunt

Caroline's

deeper

heaven.
He
When

saw

the
her

good
trim

turned

drawing-room,

dismay
as

by

ardry,
wiz-

Into

brother's

her

where

workshop,

SKY

THE

OF

WATCHERS

hands
and

Cut, ground

burnished,

hour

aching

on

hour,
Month

month,

after

of

mirrors

new

the

sky.

while

Yet,

from

dawn

dark

to

brother

her

moved
Around

that

Knowing

mirror, burnishing it.

new-cut

some

he

if

removed

once

his

hands
The

would

surface

and

be

dimmed

her

quiet hands

must

forego
Its heaven

for

ever,

would

raise
Food

to

his

lips;

or,

with

that

musical

voice

Which

once

sacrifice
Had

"

for

she, too,

her

fame,

offered

her

"

promised
the hours

[247]

she

whiled

away

THE

Reading
The

TORCH-BEARERS

how, long

Aladdin

ago,

djinns, by burnishing

raised
old

that

tered
bat-

lamp;
Or,

Cervantes,

from

Tilting

how

one

windmills, challenged

at

soul

crazy
a

purblind

world.

He

seized

her

saw

last

at

by

that

same

fire,
Burning
With

from

lightning-quickness, rushing
desk

Or

help, a sleeplessVestal, dowered

to

to

clock,

measuring

distances

the

Between

at

dead

of

night
and

lamp-micrometer

his

eyes.

He
A

her

saw

slim

in

shawled

mid-winter, hurrying
figure through

out,
drifted

the

snow,

To

help him;

her

saw

fall

with

stifled

cry,

Gashing

herself

upon

that

[248]

buried

hook,

OF

WATCHERS

And

struggling up,

THE

the blood-stained

of

out

SKY

drift,
To

with

greet him

smile.
"For

have
Six

muttered,

the surgeon

wound,"

This

weeks

we

So

these

nights

six

days

were

for her!

cloudy,

and

lost

all she said.

little,"
was

Sir

Another
Of

"would

hospital."

in

glad

am

soldier,

meant

Not
"I

any

flutes

little ironical

stop.

began

John pulled

to

goose-step

out

march

through

the

gloom.
He

saw

that

first "success"!

Ay,

call

it

so!
The

royal command,

"

the

court

desires

to

see

The

planet Saturn

On

Friday

night.

and

his marvellous

The

night,
[249]

skies, on

rings

Friday

TORCH-BEARERS

THE

black

Were

"Canute

clouds.

with

no

me

Canutes,"
their

Muttered

His

telescope. "You

shall

packed
un-

what

you

window;

and

see

see."

can

He

and

magician,

new

levelled

it

through

they saw
Marvellous!

"Wonderful!

Eh, what,
A

planet of

Lit

by

what!"
with

paper,

lamp,

Glorious!

in

hollow

ring,

paper

Windsor

of

Park,
ferns,where

the

Among

Herne

the Hunter

walks,
And

Falstaff

found

that

fairies

live

on

cheese.

Thus

all

clouds

above

the

"

The

thunder

The

Titan

Three

while,
satisfied;

were

of

the

pedals reaffirmed

planet, every

hundred

leagues

way.

[250]

"

minute, rolled
upon

his

awful

THE

beyond

far

For,

TORCH-BEARERS

solar

our

it

scheme,

showed
The

bound

that

law

planets binding

our

still

coupled

Those

which

suns

by

year

he

year

watched

Around

other

each

circling.
Had

distant

Some

comrade,

lost

own

our

the

among

stars?
Should

not,

we

one

day, just as

Kepler

drew

His

and

planetary music

From

all

its laws

records

faithful

those

Tycho

made,
Discern
The

at

drift of

vaster

Around

last what

what

vaster
stars

awful

music

from

Poles,

rules

deep
those

to

deep

wisps

of

light
Those

One

fifteen hundred

signal,even

Declared

now,

their worlds

universes
across

the

confederate

[252]

move?

dark,
with

our

WATCHERS

OF

For, carrying

The

From

the

abyss

SKY

secrets, which

many

now

we

swift messenger

Slowly decipher, one

Across

THE

comes

light that, flashing through the

universe

to

universe

The

singlereign of

law

We

shall break

those

up

measurab
im-

proclaims

that binds

them

and, in

rays

all.

their

lines
And

colours, read

the

history

of

their

stars.

Year

after year,
their

Awaiting

the slow

records

sure

grow.

shall

interpreter. They

see

it,
Our

in

sons,

that

far

day,

the

swift, the

strong,
The

triumphing young-eyed

runners

with

the torch.

No

deep-set boundary-mark

in

Space

Time
Shall

halt
has

or

daunt

them.

seen

[253]

Who

that

once

or

THE

How

truth

TORCH-BEARERS

leads

truth, shall

to

on

ever

dare
To

set

bound

to

knowledge?
"Would

So

"

thought
shrine

"Even

as

at

that

knew"

shadowy

"

the maker

the

With

the visitant

that he

of

soul's ear,

song

far

hear

can

off,the

unstricken

chords
To

which, by

Would

its

inner

own

father

that my

law,

knew

it

how

climbs,

younger

hands

Completed
How

from

his

own

the

planetary tune;

planet

that

his

own

eyes

found

mind

The

of

man

would

plunge

into

the

dark,

blindfold,find

And,

without

the

help

of

eyes
A

mightier planet, in

Then,

while

the

the

depths beyond."

reeds,with quietmelodious

pace

[254]

OF

WATCHERS

Followed

the

boy

the

Adams,

dream,
at

SKY

THE

as

in

picture passed,
his

Cambridge, making

vow

By

still

that

in

alone

lamp,

deep

that

night,
the

Beneath

battlements

crumbling

of

St.

John's,
To

know

Uranus,

why

planet

uttermost

known,
Moved

in

From

By

rhythm delicatelyastray

all the

golden

known

those

ordained

harmonies
of

measures

its

sister-

worlds.
Was

there

planet, far beyond,

unknown

an

Sailing through unimaginable deeps

And

it from

drawing

its

Then

Echoed

the

prophecy

path?

challenging chords
that

Sir

John

had

made,
Guided
We

by

have

Along

his

not

own

faith in Newton's

found it,but

the lines

of

our

we

feel it

analysisnow

[255]

law:
bling
trem-

TORCH-BEARERS

THE

As

from

Columbus,

once

shores

the

of

Spain,
Felt

the

continent.

new

Then,
A

between

race

Of

that

in swift
nations

two

Le

Of

in

his

rival,at the
to

France,

of

them

selfsame

hour

aware
un-

find it.
Not

Skies

prize

in

Verrier
each

England,

own

Resolved

for the

world.

new

Adams

fugues, began

might

be

by

the
for

swept

telescopenow!
ere

aeons

one

spark
those

Among
and

To

move,

myriads

both

were

found

seen

at

that

vast

distance

round

our

sun.

They

worked

by

faith in law

alone.

They

knew

The

wanderings

of great

knew

The

law

of Newton.

[256]

Uranus,

and

they

WATCHERS

By
Pencil

SKY

midnight lamp,

the

shut

hand,

in

THE

OF

in

four-walled

room,

Each

by

thought

pure

problem out,
Given
Of

that

law,

"

to

find

drew

which

that

his

work

must

the

their

and

mass

planet

place
his

from

course.

There

Each

throngs

no

were

applaud them.

alone,
of conflict laboured

the heat

Without

to

and

brain

Consuming

for

nerve;

on,

throngs

applaud
the flash and

Only
Never

the

Night

after

quiet

tinsel of their
with

runners

night they

day,

the torch.

laboured.

Line

on

line
Of

intricate

They

marshalled.
formed

From

figures,moving

battle

and
to

Their

all in

long

law,
columns

marched

battle,and

heard

[257]

no

sound

was

TORCH-BEARERS

THE

Of

defeat.

victory

or

through

snows

Bleak

the

as

drifts

marched

They
broke

that

Napoleon's

pride
And

through

drilled

They

desert.

vaster

their hosts

To

precisionof the mind

that divine

With

which

Were

second's

one

anarchy,

that

Throbbing through

worlds

year

is felt

music.

they toiled,

month

on

rich autumn

ciphers. One

for

precision which

Month

With

in

error

night

Brooding
In

over

Cambridge,

his

figuresthere

Adams

found

alone

them

moving

all
To

His

one

solution.

long

Than

any

With

neat

To

the

had

pages

merchant's

no

unseeing
more

to

eye

tell

ledger,yet they shone

epic splendour, and

like

trumpets

pealed ;
Three

hundred

million

path
[258]

leagues beyond

the

THE

Nine

TORCH-BEARERS

Pointed

that

to

Airy, opening

Bade

Challis
make

For

region

same

Then

To

till Le

waited

he

months

his

his

use

the

of

sky.

big sleepy lids,

telescope,

too

"

that honour

all his

Verrier's

proofs

all Le

Verrier, too,

late,

country's own
with

now

were

Galle

had

being German,

Who,

star-charts

his

ready
that

in

And,

region,

moved.

Had

found

planet!

monster

Honour
Honour

Who

to

found

England,
it

point
needle-

one

too, the cry

France!

to

began,

also, though she drowsed

at

Greenwich.
So

"

the

as

French

said, with

sting

some

in it
"

"We

gave

the

name

of

Neptune

to

our

prize
Because

our

neighbour England

sea."

[260]

rules

the

OF

WATCHERS

"Honour

THE

all," say

we;

battle

wins

all,honour

to

to

SKY

in

for,

these

wars,

Whoever

wins

But,

most

The

law

of

that

was

all.
who

found

their

feet,

him

lantern

to

"

thought could

first whose

the

Newton,

for

soar

beyond
The

bounds
saith

"Thus

human

of

the

This
What

In

it but

was

that

great

heard,
The

God

harmony

one

which

music

world

new

the

more

himself

had

"

chant

of

around

Moving

of

invisible."

things

Concerning

declare,

and

Nature

of

law

and

vision

those

reintegratedspheres

their

sun,

while

all

things

moved

deeper Light, revealed

Around

one

Beyond

all

Yet

darkly

all

vision, past
shadowed

forth

men

On

earth

in music
.

[261]

by law,

understandingj
for

dreaming

THE

TORCH-BEARERS

Music,
To

the

back

comes

in the end.

music

Of

all

Octagon

Then,

in the

the

dreamer

Chapel,

gloom
lifted

up

face, as

The

quivering

His

dream

Chanting
While,

all those

if to

His

to

stop

to

upon

the dusk

symphony,

new

all his

forebears.

rolled

organ

of that

great

planets on

"

the

their way

replying, height

stop

sun

o'er

height,
His

planets answered, voices of

THE

Light,

on

the

far

dream

SUN

planets that attend

faint

me!

Light!

But

for

me

"

the

fury and

the

fire.

My

maelstroms, the red

white-hot

that rend
Can

yield

stormi

me

them

still the

desire.

[262]

harvest

they

WATCHERS

I kiss with

SKY

sunward-lifted

light their

dew-drenched

With

THE

OF

flowers

faces.
their

crown

brows.

dusky

lightly,from

their

belaud

lightly, from

They praise me,

pleasant

places.
Their

birds
their

And

boughs.

lute

on

men,

their

golden

Apollo's

roll ;

his
that

breathed

lyre, have

watched

chariot

Hymned

and

pleasure.

have

They

me,

bright wheels,

but

mine

never

measure

million

leagues

of

flame

from

Pole

to

Pole.

Like

harbour-lights
before

I draw
a

Their

stars

grow

wide

me,

my

worlds

ten

thousand

leagues

day.

far
me.

the

blue

seas

like

April

eyes

adore

THE

TORCH-BEARERS

They follow, dreaming,

on

soundless

my

way.

How

should
my

What

I,

that

around

burning,
torments

am

wheel

who

they know,

bore

them,

what

or

power

I,
all those

with

worlds

around

me

turning,
Sail,every

from

hour,

sky

to

unplumbed

sky?
My

planets, these

live

embers

of

my

passion,
These

children

of

hurricanes

my

of

flame,
Flung

thro'

the

night,

for

midnight

refashion,
Praise, and forget,the splendour whence

they

came.

[264]

to

WATCHERS

OF

THE

Are

worlds

other

SKY

EARTH

that, in those

it a dream

Was

THE

that

ions,
bright domin-

sing,with lives

like

mine,
Lives

with

that

beating

and

hearts

broken

pinions
Aspire

fall,half-mortal, half-divine?

and

dust

grain of

those

among

glittering

legions
"

with

I, I only,touched

Am

O, silver sisters,from
Breathe,

yo\ur

again, your

once

joy and

tears?

regions,

azure

music

of the

spheres:
"

VENUS

nearer

To

sun,

clothe

my

rose

of

light arises,

glens with

flowers,
[265]

richer

clouds

of

THE

To

paint
And

TORCH-BEARERS

clouds

my

wreathe

and

Where

with

with

new

ever

mist

prises
sur-

rosier domes

my

towers;

praise their gods, a throng

to

now,

assembles

hopes and

Whose

other

worlds

trembles
But

sphere

no

but

has known.

mine

On

dreams

the

same

sunlight

warm

life,love, worship, these

are

mine

alone.

MARS

And

as

now,

dewdrops

in

the

dawn-light

glisten,
Remote

and cold

see

"

"

Earth

and Venus

roll.

We

signalledthem

"

in music!

Did

they

listen?
Could

they

not

hear

the soul?

[266]

those

whispers

of

TORCH-BEARERS

THE

To

sounds

enchant

Five

earth.

from

moons

skies.

my

SATURN

And

belt of rainbow

My
And

like molten

deeper yet,

white

seven

Hide

glory softly streams.

around

moons

beauty

vast

my

opal shining

twining
inter-

me

in

of

mist

dreams.

Huge

orbit;

is my

and

flickering

your

planet
A

mote

white

Yet,
For

in my

flecks your

that

that

sun,

faint

star;

magic pools, I

I have

ways

to

look

still
on

can

it;

scan

worlds

afar.

URANUS

And

deeper yet

"

twelve

twilight
[268]

million

leagues

of

OF

WATCHERS

Divide

mine

empire

SKY

THE

Saturn's

from

even

ken.
Is there

world

light is

whose

not

as

my

light,
A

world

midget

of

light-imprisoned

men?

Shut

found

that

vision

hath

me,

bright shadows, painted

hunt

They

inner

this

from

to

betray ;
And

know

hath

My

not

that, because

drowned

their

night

me,

giants walk

with

gods

in

boundless

day.

NEPTUNE

Plunge

through

immensity

anew

and

find

me.

Though

scarce

dying spark

see

"

[269]

your

sun,

"

that

THE

Across

TORCH-BEARERS

myriad leagues

it still

bind

can

me

To

path,

sure

my

and

steer

me

through

its

rhythms

the dark.

through vastness,

sail

hold

me,

Though

threescore

volume
Whose

and

could

in

my

sleep!

the

are

earths

might

and

music

that enfold

me?
Whose

is the

the

that

law

thro'

me

Deep?

THE

their song.

I hear

guides

SUN

They wheel

around

my

burning!
I know
I

that

their orbits;but what

with

all

those

worlds

path

have

around

I?
me

turning
Sail, every

hour,

ten

thousand

sky?
[270]

leagues of

WATCHERS

My

THE

OF

planets,these live

embers

I, too, filledwith

And

SKY

of

my

passion,

ntusic and

with

flame,
thro'

Flung

the

night, for midnight

refashion,
Praise
we

and

forget

the

came.

[271]

Splendour

whence

to

EPILOGUE

ONCE lonely

more

height

round

and

woke,

mountain's

the

upon

heard

me

the

sea-like

sound
Of

pine-woods,

as

the

night-wind

solemn

washed

Through

the

long

and

canyons

precipitous

gorges

Where

moaned

coyotes
their

Once

and

made

eagles

nest.

far,

more,

below,

far

saw

the

lights
Of

cities, at the

distant

Clustered

mountain's

constellations

like

Over

like

me,

feet,

the

dome

of

strange

some

shrine,
Housing
And

our

moving

great
on

new

its axis

[272]

of

weapon

like

moon

the

sky,

WATCHERS

Glimmered

OF

the

THE

SKY

Uraniborg.

new

Shadows
it and

monks, between

Like

the

passed
low

grey

walls
That

like

lodged them,

in

fortress

the

rocks,
Their

monastery

of

thought.
shadow

A
I

heard,
voice

"Year

once

an

more,

neared

me.

living

eager

after

the

year,

slow

records

sure

grow.

I wish

that old

How,

through
a

the

Broke

Copernicus
his

truth,

could

see

that

once

pelled
dis-

dream,
false

axle-trees

of

heaven,

destroyed
All
And

central

seemed
of

Laid

certaintyin
to

dwarf

the

universe,

mankind,

the

spirit

man

hold

on

law,

that

light,
[273]

Jacob's-ladderof

TORCH-BEARERS

THE

And

slowly, surely, step

mounting,

by

step,
into its

Entered

and

kingdom

of the

just as Tycho's tables

For

the bound

Within
Led

Kepler

So,

father

of

and

his

of

laws,

Herschels, with

the

son,

stars

galaxy

own

music

the

to

our

its power.

their charts
Of

hosts of

Those
Our

driftinguniverses, led

discoverers

new

to

have

We
And

yet

Dreams
can

In

"

only the
in

his

For

the

Through
were

Like

that

heart

them,

fool

his

even

brain

tick
a

of

the whirl

law

found

not

intellectual

isolated measure,

Amidst

mightier laws

yet

all worlds.

above

Enthroned

nebulae,

faint

those
fire-mists,

all those

descends

centre

universal

from

of

law,

chaos.

law.

Though

all

spheres

abysmal depths

all the

of

blown

dust before

colder

[274]

darker

wind

Space

TORCH-BEARERS

THE
On

those

To

future

clay

tablets could
dreamed

ages;

his

foresee
that

the

gift

groping

mind,
Dowered

with

brief

so

life,could

ever

range

With

divine

that

precision through

the

abyss?
that

when

Who,

maker

Two

Dutch

good

set

lenses in

tube, to

read

the time

the distant clock-tower

Upon

dream

Could

spectacle-

of

church,

of his

hundred-inch,

this, our

that shows
The

snow

the

upon

Whitening

and

polar

caps

darkening

of Mars
the

as

seasons

change?
Or
His

who

could

dream
of

moons

when

Galileo

Jupiter,

that

watched

from

their

eclipses
And

from

that

change

in

their

appointed

times,
Now

late,now

Farther

or

nearer

early,as
on

the

watching

its orbit

[276]

earth

rolled,

The

be reduced

Should

of

speed

immeasurable

to

SKY

THE

OF

WATCHERS

measure?

through

his

white

shaft

pure

Into

that

rainbow

prism,

broke

he

how

band,

dream

Newton

Could

When,

last

light at

the

should

men

gather
And

disentangleray by

The

colours

That

burn
since

Those

the stars,

of
in

delicate ray

those

but

heaven,

only

not

"

those

that

long

perished,

vanished

that

suns

eyes

still

can

behold,
The

strange
reaches

lost

light

still

earth

they died

Although

whose

stars

ten

thousand

years

ago.

Here,

night by

night,

innumerable

the

heavens

Speak

to

Write

on

an

eye

sensitive

more

the camera's

thousand

delicate

messages,

bright
[277]

lines

of

than

man's,

retina

dark

and

TORCH-BEARERS

THE

That

speak

How

shall

unknown

of elements

doubt, who

men

earth.

on

thus

read

can

the Book
Of

and

Judgment,
and

worlds
the

scan

His

From

Space

Time,

Analyse
And

both

transcend

that

long

passed

since

future, how

away,

they doubt

shall

power

their

whom

and

power

all creation

came?"

that, when

think

second

the

Herschel

tried
Those

great

in

hexameters

English

our

tongue,
A

nobler

Shone

shield

through
echoes

"There

he

than

the

and

song

depicted the earth,

the unwearied
moon

Achilles
made

knew

his

live:

sky, and
There

ever

the

and

the

opied
can-

sea-waves,

sun,

in their courses,

[278]

and

the

full-orbed

WATCHERS
All

OF

THE

that gem

configured stars

the

SKY
the circuit

of heaven,
Pleiads

Hyads

and

there and

were

the

giant

force of Orion,
There

revolving Bear,

the

they call,was

Circling

Wain

the

ensculptured,

high,

on

which

in

and

his

all

courses

regarding Orion,
Sole

of

shield

nobler

But

to

even

Those

not

to

in the ocean."

bathe

starry train that descends

the

us

for

us,

who

deeper sky;

know

constellations

how

burn,

far

away

wonder

the

bides

That

each

vast

sun

speed through

can

the

abyss
Age

after age

Each

on

With

its

swiftly than

more

its different
own

road,

alone

satellites;
yet,

eagle,

an

like

since

ours

Homer

sang,

Their

aspect

has

not

altered 1

flight
[279]

All

their

THE

Has

not

TORCH-BEARERS

the old

changed

yet

of the

pattern

Wain.
The

sword-belt

Nor

has

From

Orion

of

is

sundered.

not

broken

fugitivesplendour

one

yet

Cassiopeia's throne.
A

but

Are
How

as

thousand

yesterday,even

shall

doubt

men

these.

unto

His

years

over

empery

time
Whose
That

dwelling
we

For

can

is

deep

find Him

only

absolute

so

in

souls.

our

each

there, despite Copernicus,

may

find

The

and
There

And
All

of

centre

all

things.

There

lives

He

reigns.

infinite distance
infinite

into

nearness

majesty stoops

dust

to

infinite love
things in little,

Oh, beating wings, descend

grows,

in

again;

man
.

to

earth

once

more,

And
When

hear, reborn, the

I consider

the

desert

singer'scry:

heavens, the work

Thy fingers,
[280]

of

WATCHERS

The

and

sun

Thou

Though

the

hast
man

THE

OF

and

moon

SKY

the stars

which

ordained,

be

dust, I know

as

Thou

art

light

still

mindful of him;
And,

through

Thy

law, Thy

visiteth him.

THE

END

[28l]

UNIVERSITY

OF

THE
This

.t'G) "3,8

book

CALIFORNIA

UNIVERSITY

is DUE

on

8 5 19*3

" 1948
MAX

89

19471

NOV 5

NOV 281955
DEC 2 2 1956

MAY 2 41957
Form

aom-l,

L-9

'41(1122)

UMTIB23ITT

Of

LC3
LlbKAHT

AT

LOS

ANGELES

LIBRARY

the last date

stamped

below

000 555 481