The Arctic Queen

OENE, of all the chilly Arctics, queen, Ascended to her everlasting throne Built on the steadfast centre of the world, And waited for the middle hour of night, Now swiftly coming, to convene her court. Set in an ocean of perpetual calm Was the fair island honoured by her reign; Slowly around her rolled the Frigid Zone, Dim in the mystic moonlight far away,-- A silvery ring, circling her nearer realm With the pale lustre of its snowy walls, Defending from all storm and sudden change The sea which bathed the island's level shores. She sat upon her throne, and none might tell Whether her limbs the lambent lustre cast Upon the pearls of which it was composed, Or they cast beauty on her glowing form. Around her feet a pavement spread, inlaid Of squares of roseate sea-shells, set about With purple gems, unknown in other lands;-- Thence, winding paths, sprinkled with golden sand, Ran out, through bowers of flowers and fields of green To meet the sea.

Low in the South the Moon Shone full against the island. The North-star, Sparkling and blazing like a silver sun, Stood at the Zenith, as a lamp hung out From heaven to charm the endless Arctic night;-- And thus a soft profusion of pure light, More exquisite than sunshine, fell abroad. Unnipped by daintiest frosts, in every field Flowers crowded thick; and trees, not tall nor rude, With slender stems upholding feathery shade, Nodded their heads and hung their pliant limbs In natural bowers, sweet with delicious gloom.

Queen OENE sent her luminous glance afar: Fine rays of tintless light played round her head, Crowning her beauty with mysterious glory. She gazed away, beyond the tranquil sea, To distant mountains of unchanging snow, And still beyond, to where full many a tower And fortress reared their walls of gleaming ice On the dim verges of her vast domains.

Scarcely had she in silence throned herself, Ere from the trees, or flower-coves of the shore, Or gliding in from idling on the sea, Her maids of honor came, a virgin train, Like a bright constellation clustering round The central star, most glorious of them all. One, in a crimson blossom, torn away From its far moorings, nestled at her ease, Was seen slowly to skim the silver lake; While the huge flower seemed of itself propelled, Save that, by chance, a flushed and saucy face, Peeped from the waves, showing a little imp Who tugged at its stout stem with willful toil. KOLONA's limbs and bosom roseate glowed As the slant moonlight through the crimson flower Bathed her with blushes; but, when on the strand She lightly sprang, flinging her tresses back, A southern maiden would have deemed her pale. Too rich for pallor was the polished glow Of her lithe figure; while, in either cheek, The red veins glimmered; dark blue were her eyes; Her tresses, like deep shadows, made more fair The light which they enhanced, glancing within.

The first to touch the white feet of the Queen And place herself at her right hand, was she. Others came soon; all bright, all beautiful, With deep blue eyes, and sweet mouths set in smiles. Long chains of jewels rare were, round their necks, Twined many times; these, flickering, rose and fell With the soft breath their full, graced bosoms drew. From waist to knee of each a tunic dropped In many folds, woven in changing hues Of birds' gay plumage, and fringed deep with gems, Which they with artless and unenvying pride, Would fain have made, each, most magnificent.

They gathered round their Queen, as midnight neared. Suddenly, with the hour, there came a change Over the moonlight and the courtly scene. OENE upon the pavement pressed her feet, And out the North-Lights sprang, to do her will, From secret caverns underneath its pearls. O'er all the land she bade them come and go; Each battlemented iceberg on the deep Of other seas, and every snowy hall, And every citadel by frosts upreared, Were lighted with wild splendors, as the troupes Of messengers rushed swiftly to and fro. The people of the Arctics knew their Queen Summoned her subjects to the Presence then By wavering tints which played beneath the Star, And the great speed with which the North-Lights flew. They hurried even to the Temperate Zone. A band of phantom spirits took wings and flew Far to the southern sky, a fluttering crowd. A warrior, yellow garbed, with fiery spear, Bestrode a frantic steed, and looked not back Till he alighted on a distant hill. With scintillant flames some perched on towers remote Or bore green banners o'er the mirroring sea, Or flitted through dim valleys, bright and fast, Casting their flickering shadows down the deep And awful solitudes of Arctic lands.

Such of her people as had aught to ask Of favor or redress, from air and earth, Came now, bringing petitions, councils, gifts. Some slid on twinkling star-beams through the air, Some sailed in shallops over the light waves, And all who came had presents for their Queen,-- Rare tints which they had caught just as the Moon Peered o'er the shoulder of the mighty Thug.-- Those dwelling in the caverns of the sea Brought up the gayest jewels they could find, And pearls from underneath their low-based bergs Deep in the green waves, that, with thunderous sound, Did lull the giants of the North to sleep.

There came, as time rolled by, from the far verge Of her vast realm, the rugged guardian ghouls, Stationed in fortresses and waging war On all encroachers from the hated South. These had wild forms and gaunt; their dress was rude-- Skins of the white bear fastened to their loins. They bore long, glistening spears, and deadly clubs Wrenched from the spines of monsters of the sea. Their gifts were rude as they, and yet their Queen Unbent the radiant quiet of her brow, Gazing with favor on these proofs of valor. Tales of achievements dread, of battles, deaths, Had they to speak, while, with pleased ear intent, Their sovereign listened.

One warrior ghoul With crispy locks and frosty eyes, and breath Chiller than death's,--naked, as scorning e'en To wear the trophies of his fierce renown-- Before the Presence stood, and told in haste,-- As half impatient of the wish to boast, Yet proud to serve so well--how he was called WOLE, guardian of old Thug;--how from the South Came, ploughing slowly through the unwilling sea, A ship, crowded with mortals from that land; How, boldly, in defiance of commands Sent out by skirmishing Frosts, they still drew near, Passing the outer line of her domains; Daring to come, with their invading eyes, Where never mortals else had looked and lived. He told,--and here he glanced, upon his friends, Eyes of bright scorn--how the imperious ship Passed safely Tug and Dor, though all the guards Shot barbs of ice, and filled the air with fine, Invisible needles, piercing their pained flesh, And tore their stiffening sails with sharp-teethed winds; How, still, the ship pressed on where He kept watch, Ready to do new service for his Queen: How, as it closer came, he fixed his eyes Relentlessly upon it, till nor hand, Nor foot, nor eyelid of the fated crew Had power to stir, nor even the sails to flap, While banded winds which he sent forth, still drove The doomed ones onward to the eager shore, Where every soul had perished, one by one.

"Thou hast done well, old WOLE," Queen OENE said.

Stepping a pace in front of her companions, With bashful cheek, but with a kindling eye-- "'Tis not for one like me to have a thought In thy rare presence, Queen," KOLONA said,-- "Yet I would dare to tell thee what I saw Only a moon ago, when a wild freak Possessed me to go voyaging alone, Across the sea, to find what curious things The other shore might hold. My lily bark, Being too frail for such a venturous cruise I borrowed GONDOR's boat of nautilus' shells, Put up my lua-leaf sail and swiftly sped Across the ocean, till this level isle Grew smaller than a star. The air grew cold:-- I almost shivered in my bird's-down mantle; But when I neared the opposing shore, the sight Of all its snowy scenery, repaid me. Coasting along at leisure, on a cliff Which overhung the sea, I saw appear A being, whom I knew at once as Man.-- One of that mortal race which we have kept Forever, since our chronicles began, With war assiduous, from our inner realms, Still undefiled by their invading feet. The choking hurry of my noisy heart Told me the truth. At first I would have fled, But, being unperceived by him, I lingered,-- Inquisitive and wilful that I am. Thenceforth, sweet Queen, I never can forget The face of this one man which I have seen. Triumph was on his brow, and yet not that So much as doubt and earnest questioning. Something arose into his eyes and shone Which must have been his Soul; it searched the deep, The earth, the sky, with bright and troubled gaze; And then, glanced forward with so still a look, It seemed that it, perforce, would vanish space, And bring our secret world within its ken; Yet, with no cruelty or wantonness, Such as we hear gleamed from the cunning eyes Of those fierce hordes who, centuries ago, Came in their boats and strove to conquer us. Knowledge was what it craved, with truth it burned; A majesty we cannot name, expressed Its power within his features. Then I felt That, could I bring him to thy gracious feet He would reveal to us that mystery The dream of which so oft hath troubled us, Breaking upon us, like the light of Heaven, Too high for us to fix its source--that spoke Of an eternal, comprehensive Life, The thought of which doth haunt us. In return We could bestow the knowledge which he craved, And link his name with ours through all the earth, Fearless of harm from one who only craves The crown of Genius for his soul-lit brow. Almost I rowed my shallop to his feet; Almost I offered to convey him hither, Yet feared so much, O, Queen, thy just displeasure, That I forbore.

"Long time he, gazing, stood; And when he turned, 'twas with so deep a sigh The sound awakened in me strange regret, Endless reproach, and grief before unknown. Art angry with thy maiden, peerless Queen?"

Over the lustrous forehead of OENE A shadow came, and deepened in her eyes.

"I might have slain thee both, if thou hadst ventured; For it is part of our ancestral law, The most immutable, to guard ourselves, With our severest powers, from envious Man. Yet, as thou sayest, he might have fed our hearts With sweet immortal food--aye, given us souls, If such things be,--worth half my priceless realms. No more--no more! KOLONA! take thy place!"

As a soft flower shrinks from the coming night, Amid protecting leaves, KOLONA shrank, Amid her tresses, from her sovereign's eyes, So gloomy yet so kind; and mutely stood Amid the bright and coyly wondering train.

A band of sprites, armed with sharp, silver spears, With pearl-encrusted garb and gleaming sandals, Dwelling low down the land, even amid men, The Queen's advance guard, giving due alarm Of all attacks, taking short flights by night, And reconnoitering the southern world,-- Had sent a group to counsel with their Queen. These, now, had much to say of an adventure Which took them almost to the Tropic Zone:-- How they had blighted fruit; and mildews cast Over the fields; and blasted flowering trees; Nipping the hopes of gaudy butterflies, Doting on honeyed flowers to fill their mouths; Chilling the saucy birds within their nests; Ruining the rainbow hues of many a garden; Pricking the insect world with their fine spears, And disappointing mortals of their wish.