The complete poetical works of George Eliot. Family edition. Fully illustrated with new wood-engravings. With border by J. D. Woodward

Front matter

PORTRAIT OF GEORGE ELIOT. THE COMPLETE POETICAL WORKS OF GEORGE ELIOT ■ FAMILY EDITION Fully Illustrated with New Wood-engravings. With Border by J. D. Woodward. NEW YORK FREDERICK A. STOKES & BROTHER COPYRIGHT, 1888, BY FREDERICK A. STOKES & BROTHER. CONTENTS. TAGE THE LEGEND OF JUBAL, ... 7 AGATHA, 35 ARMGART, 5 1 HOW LISA LOVED THE KING, . . 95 A MINOR PROPHET, . . . . 117 BROTHER AND SISTER, . . . 129 STRAD1VARIUS, I39 A COLLEGE BREAKFAST-PARTY, . . I47 TWO LOVERS, 175 SELF AND LIFE CONTENTS. "SWEET EVENINGS COME AND GO, LOVE," 185 THE DEATH OF MOSES, . . . l8g ARION, I96 " O MAY I JOIN THE CHOIR INVISIBLE," 201 THE SPANISH GYPSY. When Cain was driven from Jehovah's land He wandered eastward, seeking some far strand Ruled by kind gods who asked no offerings Save pure field-fruits, as aromatic things, To feed the subtler sense of frames divine That lived on fragrance for their food and wine : Wild joyous gods, who winked at faults and folly, And could be pitiful and melancholy.

He never had a doubt that such gods were ; He looked within, and saw them mirrored there. Some think he came at last to Tartary, And some to Ind ; but, howsoe'er it be, His staff he planted where sweet waters ran, And in that home of Cain the Arts began. Man's life was spacious in the early world : It paused, like some slow ship with sail unfurled Waiting in seas by scarce a wavelet curled ; Beheld the slow star-paces of the skies, And grew from strength to strength through centuries ; Saw infant trees fill out their giant limbs, And heard a thousand times the sweet birds' marriage hymns. In Cain's young city none had heard of Death Save him, the founder ; and it was his faith That here, away from harsh Jehovah's law, Man was immortal, since no halt or flaw In Cain's own frame betrayed six hundred years, But dark as pines that autumn never sears s THE LEGEND OF JUBAL.

His locks thronged backward as he ran, his frame Rose like the orbed sun each morn the same, Lake-mirrored to his gaze ; and that red brand, The scorching impress of Jehovah's hand, Was still clear-edged to his unwearied eye, Its secret firm in time-fraught memory. He said, " My happy offspring shall not know That the red life from out a man may flow- When smitten by his brother." True, his rate Bore each one stamped upon his new-born face A copy of the brand no whit less clear ; But every mother held that little copy dear. Thus generations in glad idlesse throve, Nor hunted prey, nor with each other strove ; For clearest springs were plenteous in the land, And gourds for cups ; the ripe fruits sought the hand, Bending the laden boughs with fragrant gold ; And for their roofs and garments wealth untold Lay everywhere in grasses and broad leaves : They labored gently, as a maid who weaves Her hair in mimic mats, and pauses oft And strokes across her palm the tresses soft, Then peeps to watch the poised butterfly, Or little burthened ants that homeward hie.