Stephen crane: the black riders and other lines

FAIN WOULD I HAVE MINE EYES EVEN WITH THEIR EYES.

FOOL, GO PLUCK A BOUGH AND WEAR IT.

Liii

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I

BLUSTERING GOD,

STAMPING ACROSS THE SKY

WITH LOUD SWAGGER,

I FEAR YOU NOT.

NO, THOUGH FROM YOUR HIGHEST HEAVEN

YOU PLUNGE YOUR SPEAR AT MY HEART,

I FEAR YOU NOT.

NO, NOT IF THE BLOW

IS AS THE LIGHTNING BLASTING A TREE,

I FEAR YOU NOT, PUFFING BRAGGART.

Ii

IF THOU CAN SEE INTO MY HEART

THAT I FEAR THEE NOT,

THOU WILT SEE WHY I FEAR THEE NOT,

AND WHY IT IS RIGHT.

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SO THREATEN NOT, THOU, WITH THY BLOODY SPEARS,

ELSE THY SUBLIME EARS SHALL HEAR CURSES.

Iii

WITHAL, THERE IS ONE WHOM I FEAR;

I FEAR TO SEE GRIEF UPON THAT FACE.

PERCHANCE, FRIEND, HE IS NOT YOUR GOD;

IF SO, SPIT UPON HIM.

BY IT YOU WILL DO NO PROFANITY.

BUT I—

AH, SOONER WOULD I DIE

THAN SEE TEARS IN THOSE EYES OF MY SOUL.

Liv

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“IT WAS WRONG TO DO THIS,” SAID THE ANGEL.

“YOU SHOULD LIVE LIKE A FLOWER,

“HOLDING MALICE LIKE A PUPPY,

“WAGING WAR LIKE A LAMBKIN.”

“NOT SO,” QUOTH THE MAN

WHO HAD NO FEAR OF SPIRITS;

“IT IS ONLY WRONG FOR ANGELS

“WHO CAN LIVE LIKE THE FLOWERS,

“HOLDING MALICE LIKE THE PUPPIES,

“WAGING WAR LIKE THE LAMBKINS.”

Lv

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A MAN TOILED ON A BURNING ROAD,

NEVER RESTING.

ONCE HE SAW A FAT, STUPID ASS

GRINNING AT HIM FROM A GREEN PLACE.

THE MAN CRIED OUT IN A RAGE,

“AH! DO NOT DERIDE ME, FOOL!

“I KNOW YOU—

“ALL DAY STUFFING YOUR BELLY,

“BURYING YOUR HEART

“IN GRASS AND TENDER SPROUTS:

“IT WILL NOT SUFFICE YOU.”

BUT THE ASS ONLY GRINNED AT HIM FROM THE GREEN PLACE.

Lvi

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A MAN FEARED THAT HE MIGHT FIND AN ASSASSIN;

ANOTHER THAT HE MIGHT FIND A VICTIM.

ONE WAS MORE WISE THAN THE OTHER.

Lvii

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WITH EYE AND WITH GESTURE

YOU SAY YOU ARE HOLY.

I SAY YOU LIE;

FOR I DID SEE YOU

DRAW AWAY YOUR COATS

FROM THE SIN UPON THE HANDS

OF A LITTLE CHILD.

LIAR!

Lviii

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THE SAGE LECTURED BRILLIANTLY.

BEFORE HIM, TWO IMAGES:

“NOW THIS ONE IS A DEVIL,

“AND THIS ONE IS ME.”

HE TURNED AWAY.

THEN A CUNNING PUPIL

CHANGED THE POSITIONS.

TURNED THE SAGE AGAIN:

“NOW THIS ONE IS A DEVIL,

“AND THIS ONE IS ME.”

THE PUPILS SAT, ALL GRINNING,

AND REJOICED IN THE GAME.

BUT THE SAGE WAS A SAGE.

Lix

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WALKING IN THE SKY,

A MAN IN STRANGE BLACK GARB

ENCOUNTERED A RADIANT FORM.

THEN HIS STEPS WERE EAGER;

BOWED HE DEVOUTLY,

“MY LORD,” SAID HE.

BUT THE SPIRIT KNEW HIM NOT.

Lx

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UPON THE ROAD OF MY LIFE,

PASSED ME MANY FAIR CREATURES,

CLOTHED ALL IN WHITE, AND RADIANT.

TO ONE, FINALLY, I MADE SPEECH:

“WHO ART THOU?”

BUT SHE, LIKE THE OTHERS,

KEPT COWLED HER FACE,

AND ANSWERED IN HASTE, ANXIOUSLY,

“I AM GOOD DEED, FORSOOTH;

“YOU HAVE OFTEN SEEN ME.”

“NOT UNCOWLED,” I MADE REPLY.

AND WITH RASH AND STRONG HAND,

THOUGH SHE RESISTED,

I DREW AWAY THE VEIL

AND GAZED AT THE FEATURES OF VANITY.

SHE, SHAMEFACED, WENT ON;