LIBRARY OF CONGRESS, -^06-^ ©^ap,?"^. . iu|t^ng]^t fa* Slieli'Mk^f If UNITED STATES OF A3IEIIICA. IN THE GODS SHADOW ) BY GEORGE MACDONALD MAJOR NEW-YORK PRINTED AT THE DE VINNE PRESS 189I 81 Copyright, 1891, by George Macdonald Major. "In the Gods' Shadow" and "The Background of Mystery " have lain in my desk for the past three years. Some time I had expected leisure and inclination to revise them, — but upon re-perusal lately they seemed lacking in unity of construc- tion or possibly are essentially unpoetical ; at least I felt that I could not work out the idea I had in my own mind. It is prob- ably folly to print what is unsatisfactory even to one's self, but I could not consign them to oblivion without some little epitaph to mark their grave. The text for that epitaph will be culled from the critics. Ja?tuary 25, 1891. 3llrgunicnt Gallus Pollio, a Roman gentleman of eminent ancestry, having loved the lady JULIA, marries her and discards his mistress ViSTlLLlA. After three years the latter, discovering that Julia has become a convert to the religion of Christ, betrays her to the pagan priests upon the occasion of the annual sacrifice and festival given by the Pollio family. This she does in the hope of regaining the affec- tion of Gallus, but only accomplishes thereby his death and her own. ^cr^on^s?* Chorus of Priestesses. Chief Priest. Priests. Gallus Pollio. Julia, his wife. Vistillia, formerly his mistress. Flaccus, brother to Vistillia. Neighbors in attendance, and Bacchantes. gintiocatton. A lady in imperiojis beauty vaiii Reminds me ever of the partial Muse Who scoffs his love who loves her most and sues To be the Jiumblest vassal in her train. She scorns sobbed prayer's and the incurable pain Of burning, haunting thought, that vainly ivoos Expression, since she does all aid refuse, Or fiiocks with echoes of elusive strain. What have I done that she should chase me thus — At wakening Morn, still Noon and whispering Eve? What unpurged crime, save loving her too well, Thus to be doomed of song the Sisyphus, Or Tantalus, when Hope has turned to leave ? O Muse, grant Just one song imperishable ! Januarv 22, 1888. IN THE GODS' SHADOW. A hill set apart for sacrificial pjirposes on gro7inds of Callus Pollio. Chorus of priestesses and priests in attendance, and while the neighbors, dressed in holiday attire, are assembling, the action begins. Time — Morning, €j)om.£f of ^ric^tc^sc!^» First Priestess. The day has arisen In beauty and hght; The sunshiny heaven, The dew-beaded sods, No shadows imprison, No hint of the night. As Nature were given The smiles of the gods, 7 8 3In tl)t ©oB^' on^' i)ai3otB, 27 Temptations to destruction and base deaths. Therefore let each one question his own soul, And try his spirit, if with simple faith, And love and deep repentance for ill thoughts, Pure purpose and intent to live aright. He kneels and offers to the heart-reading gods His prayer and praise ; and let such be assured The gods to him are listening and grant prayers. And all that comes to him, however clothed In what strange raiment, even though of pain, Comes mercifully, and sent forth of gods To prove him and to make his after life More precious. And to such Death makes not Life A trembling slave that fears the Master's call. But resting on the favor of the gods Gives up his breath, like one whom Glory seeks With hands and heart ready for any fate. The sacrifice is offered and the Priests advance sitiging : First Priest. Should there be any one here Wicked in hand and in heart, Straying afar from thy fear, Gods, or have fallen apart From thy worship and service, forgive And let the ofifendincr soul live. 28 3In t\)t <&oW &oi30' on^' «S>^aiiotD, 45 Foulness or aught uncleanliness of soul — I now bear punishment as those who have Transgressed their law, yet not the less to thee, The instrument by whom the gods afflict me, Will come in their due time affliction too, In that thy hand hath smitten without pity. Being alike in guilt, and with smooth words, Each as the cat's paw, velvet to the touch, Hides in its cushion the sharp piercing claw, Cutting a jagged sorrow in my soul, Worse than keen tusk or tearing claw. Aye, know Even now I am avenged ; the draught of woe Which thou so heartlessly wouldst have me quaff The gods give thee. Ga//us. Thou speakest as with power. What meanest thou ? what threat lies in that word ? Vistillia. Thou hast despised my love for one less warm. Callus. Beware ! Let not thy lips forswear thy life. Vistillia. The cold, chaste beauty that holds thee enthralled Scarce loves thee — on mere sufferance stands thy love. Callus. Durst thou ! — Oh, even thou shouldst fear my hate ! 46 3In t^t <$o3;s' €)I)aDotD, Vis ti Ilia. Nay, prove it to thyself, if thou wouldst see. She meets thee not with raptures as of old. Nor eyes enkindled eloquent with love, Renewing youth and hope on each occasion With a fresh gladness, nor a wistful face Where hunger yields to final satisfaction To greet thy coming home. About her lies An air of chill abstraction as of one Indifferent, or who dwells in other worlds. Her body here but all her thoughts and spirits Alien, and her eyes on other scenes. Or even as one awaking from a couch, Sleep-walking. Does she ever praise thee now ? Neighbors and friends and all who know thee well Praise thee — does e'er their praise awake her pride ? The things thou lovest, are they made her care ? Surely it well becomes a Roman wife. Who holds the praise of far-off men and times Worthless or trivial balanced in the scale With commendation from the man she loves, Their children, or a-building happy homes — It well becomes her as the bridal wreath Blossomed and wound around her shining hair To make her husband's hopes hers, and his tastes Hers, and to see through his eyes and to feel Her heart and his throb pulse for pulse, not two But one indissolubly united heart; 3In tije (tolls' «S)l)aootD, 47 Twin blossoms springing from a common stem And welded by contiguous growth to one. Gallus. The gods have made thee variant with thyself, Mouth against heart, for this, though filled with hate And evil surmise that the gods who guard Pure souls against the craft of evil minds, Have used to limn with nice precision, my wife, In whom there is no difference in the least From thy true picture of a perfect wife, No wanderer from her home nor save indeed As all true hearts delight in good men's praise, Anxious to please the thoughts of aught save me. From whom her joys and honors radiate, In whom her thoughts and highest hopes are cen- tered ; Therefore, this knowing, steeled against suspicion. The sickly spleen of thy vile jealousy On my invulnerable faith Makes no impression more than yeasty waves Upon the iron-hard prow that cuts them through But even if thy surmisings were all true, I love her more than ever I loved thee. Vis ti Ilia. She loves another more than she loves thee. And so the gods avenge me on thy wrong. 48 3In t\)t <0oDs' 'S)i^aiiott). Gallus. My love may laugh at this. Oh weakly false, She who is "cold" and "chaste" and "chill," be sure The .current of her blood runs ever thus, Seeking no paramour or guilty love. Vis ti Ilia. By all the gods I swear I speak the truth : She loves a malefactor more than thee. Galhis. Name him — attire this most improbable lie In hell's worst cunning, but its livery Would fit so ill, the figure were grotesque. Vis ti Ilia. Ah, lynx-eyed mole when lovers are compared ! Trusting that will not harbor fear nor see ! Gallus, thou fightest an almighty rival — A woman's religion — the proverbial zeal, Of a young convert's fresh and novel faith, Before which fade all love and hopes of men. Nor wisdom of gray hairs nor strength of arm, Power nor the quick agility of youth Nor honors nor the sweetest gifts of Earth Have power to cope with the enthusiasm New converts feel, but smitten to death and slain Ingloriously, and even a mother's love 3In t^t oDS' '§>i)aDoh). Julia. I see a shining path, and at the end A great light burning. I must follow on, Drawn onward by my inelectable fate. Gallus. How is my heart made desolate, and my home. And bitter all the service of my life. Almost as if my gods had failed my hope. Jtdia. At any time have e'er thy gods found voice Answering thy prayers, or held an unstopped ear To pity or preserve ? At any time Hath the dim plastic future mapped itself Before their incorporeal sight aright. That seer, priest, virgin, fasting or by vigils Alone on lonely mountains, or strong prayers, Weeping for sin, induced thy gods to speak Through them of days yet distant? Gods of stone, Chiseled by cunning hands from quarried blocks; Idols of wood of which the hewer stood Who felled it from the green umbrageous trees, And meditated, leaning on his ax : " This part shall fire consume to give me warmth. Cooking my food ; this part the carver's craft Shall fashion me a god " — a dead, dried stick, Without the sappy life it had in the forest, 3In ti)c ^oDjs' oW "g)^anotti. And drove me in an agony of fear, Hatred, despair, and broken heart for sin At Christ's feet, where, like some wild animal Held firmly in the victor's net, I struggled — Struggled against God's strong compelling love, Struggled against the pleading eyes of Christ — Until one moment when my heart was changed, And love flowed in, and Christ was all in all, With sin and fear and unbelief behind. And holiness and hope, eternal hope, God's love and final triumph over sin. And peace before, around, within, above. What marvel from my soul's life history then, I worship Christ, who died to purchase me. Ga//us. 1 worship Jove, Mars, Venus, all the gods And goddesses, the piety of Rome, Our ancestors and fathers gave a name — Gods of the hills, the valleys, and the streams, The breathing hollows and the listening air, Woods and the mighty blue, o'er-arching heavens. Oh, serve the thorn-crowned specter of the Cross If it beseem religion unto thee. But why not reverence too the other gods ? The Triune God is God of gods, whose word Spake into being the cycling universe, Which from him throned in inaccessible sheen. 3In t})t »SoD^' 'S»;^aiiotD. 6^ Borrows light and heat and every motive power, And will not give his glory to thy gods. Callus. What then ? If I kneel down to other names, Calling him Jove ; the Zeus of the Greeks — Seers of the pestilent circumcised say Jahveh — Although their herd of trembling followers Forbear to speak th' Incommunicable Name ; Thou call'st him Jesus — is he less a god Or shorn divinity if thou shouldst homage The gods or incense the imperial statue ? Julia. Oh, tempt me not ! in vain it is to ask. Gallus. If I praise Pan on reeds and with sweet savors. For ewes that bring forth safely ; if I pray Pomona for the fullness of the year, Red apples and huge grapes that look in the sun Bursting with blood for fatness ; if of Neptune I crave safe passage o'er the rutilant foam, And thy God only has the power to hear, Shall my sobbed prayer die fruitless in my heart Because directed wrong ? Nay, rather hold The heart being right, this strife of names and honors The God of gods smiles at, and hears alike The grateful soul that prays to Jove or Jesus. 64 3In t^e »Soti;6' or\fi' "©IjaDotD, 69 For Christ the Eternal Will clothe me with power, And the sorrows I mourn all Will die in an hour. But when Death springs to sever Earth's last prop and thee, O skeptic, forever Thy torment will be ! PHesf. They nailed Christ to the Tree — Had he strength to come down ? In his side was a spear, On his head a mock crown. He cried out with fear — What hope then for thee ? Julia. Ere ever the sea had its currents, Or the mountains sat firm on their base, Or the day had the sun for its guardian, Or the stars had their torches and place. From the infinite hoar everlasting The eternal sure purpose outran That God the Creator should ransom The sins of the creature man ; And so like a bird o'er its nestlings, With wide-hovering wings stretched abroad, Was love brooding o'er the abysm. Even love from the full heart of God. 70 3ln tf)t (S>oJ}fi' €)I)aiiotD. And so from the very beginning, In the regions beneath and above, Love fondled the scarred hands of suffering, And Mercy was twin-born with Love ; Whence down the long vista of ages. By prophecy, ritual, and type, The message was sung of His advent Who should come when his season was ripe. O world-wide, expectant tradition, Since ever the race began. Of a God who should come down from heaven In the flesh and the form of a man. For the seed the Creator had planted Had borne him a monstrous fruit, And accursed blossoms were grafted Upon an impeccable root. In outbreaking sin and rebellion In blasphemy, venom, and hate Were the race whom the Lord had created And blessed in an innocent state ; And the Lord looked down from his dwelling, And who to his holy throne For the race could make expiation Or e'en for his own sins atone ? None save an immaculate Being Of infinite value and worth. That owed not a creature's allegiance. Could ransom the sin-cursed earth. 3In ti)t oh). 71 Oh, only a God could ofifer A sacrifice so complete That Law still could triumph in heaven Yet Justice and Mercy meet ; That evil should still be punished, Yet the sinner be pardoned by law, And the serfdom of sin be broken, And the kingdom of God without flaw. Christ descended from heaven To die for his own ; His sufferings atone For the sins of his people, his elect are forgiven ; By the nail-print, the thorn-crown, the blood- shed, the thrust Of the spear, are all shriven The sinners repentant who in them put trust. FriesL Away ! we will not hear this blasphemy. Convey her to the magistrate. Julia is removed, and Priest addresses Chorus : What saith the god that spoke through thee to this ? Chorus. The vision is confused — it is not time. Priest. Canst thou see nothing ? is she not foredoomed ? 72 3In tJ)C (Sofls!'