THE RUSSIAN FUGITIVE 239 THE RUSSIAN FUGITIVE * Composed 1830.-Published 1835 [Early in life this story had interested me, and I often thought it would make a pleasing subject for an opera or musical drama. -I. F.] In 1837 this poem was placed among those grouped as "Yarrow revisited, etc." In 1845 it was transferred to the "Miscellaneous Poems."-ED. PART I ENOUGH of rose-bud lips, and eyes * Peter Henry Bruce, having given in his entertaining Memoirs the substance of this Tale, affirms that, besides the concurring reports of others, he had the story from the lady's own mouth. The Lady Catherine, mentioned towards the close, is 2 the famous Catherine, then bearing that name as the acknowledged Wife of Peter the Great.W. W. 1835. The title of this poem in the MS. copy by Mrs. Wordsworth is— INA, THE LODGE IN THE FOREST, A Russian Tale. + Compare S. T. Coleridge's verses, To a Lady "Tis not the lily-brow I prize, Nor roseate cheeks, nor sunny eyes, A thousand-fold more dear to me The gentle look that Love discloses,- Woman! when I behold thee flippant, vain. And Keats' lines beginning Also Wordsworth's Jewish Family, 11. 25-28.—Ed. ED. 1835. 1835. 15 IO Earth wants not beauty that may scorn A likening to frail flowers; Yea, to the stars, if they were born 1 For seasons and for hours. Through Moscow's gates, with gold unbarred,2 Stepped One at dead of night, Whom such high beauty could not guard From meditated blight; By stealth she passed, and fled as fast Nor stopped, till in the dappling east Seven days she lurked in brake and field, At length, in darkness travelling on, "To put your love to dangerous proof No answer did the Matron give, No second look she cast, 5 THE RUSSIAN FUGITIVE 1 She led the Lady 1 to a seat Beside the glimmering fire, Bathed duteously her wayworn feet, The cricket chirped, the house-dog dozed, And on that simple bed, Where she in childhood had reposed, Now rests her weary head. 241 35 When she, whose couch had been the sod, 40 Had breathed a sigh of thanks to God, Who comforts the forlorn; While over her the Matron bent Sleep sealed her eyes, and stole Feeling from limbs with travel spent, Refreshed, the Wanderer rose at morn, And soon again was dight In those unworthy vestments worn 45 50 And "O beloved Nurse," she said, "My thanks with silent tears Have unto Heaven and You been paid: 55 Now listen to my fears! 1 1837. "Have you forgot "—and here she smiled "The babbling flatteries You lavished on me when a child Disporting round your knees? I was your lambkin, and your bird, Your star, your gem, your flower; Light words, that were more lightly heard In many a cloudless hour! She led her Lady VOL. VII 1835. R 60 "The blossom you so fondly praised Is come to bitter fruit ; A mighty One upon me gazed; I spurned his lawless suit, And must be hidden from his wrath:1 Will guide me in my forward path; "I cannot bring to utter woe Your proved fidelity." "Dear Child, sweet Mistress, say not so! 75 For you we both would die." "Nay, nay, I come with semblance feigned Yet, being inwardly unstained, With courage will depart." "But whither would you, could you, flee? A poor Man's counsel take; The Holy Virgin gives to me A thought for your dear sake; 80 85 PART II THE dwelling of this faithful pair 1 1835. And I must hide me from his wrath. MS. THE RUSSIAN FUGITIVE And pine-trees made a heavy shade And there, sequestered from the sight, And midway in the unsafe morass, A single Island rose Of firm dry ground, with healthful grass The Woodman knew, for such the craft That never fowler's gun, nor shaft Of archer, there was tried; A sanctuary seemed the spot From all intrusion free; And there he planned an artful Cot With earnest pains unchecked by dread The bold good Man his labour sped She moulds her sight-eluding den His task accomplished to his mind, Creep forth, and through the forest wind Few words they speak, nor dare to slack Till they have crossed the quaking marsh, |