VIII.
Now Mark comes on with the caravan
Singing blithely as he can.
To the inns he makes no speed,
Quietly lets the oxen feed.
Mark brings home for Katherine
Precious cloth of substance rich;
For father dear, a girdle sewn
Of silk so red.
For Servant Anne
a gold cloth bonnet
To deck her head,
And kerchief, too
with white lace on it.
For the children are shoes
with figs and grapes.
There’s gifts for all,
there’s none escapes.
For all he brings
red wine, so fine,
From great old city
of Constantine.
There’s buckets three
in each barrel put on.
And caviar
from the river Don.
Such gifts he has
in his wagon there,
Nor knows the sorrow
his loved ones bear. [[64]]
On comes Mark,
knows not of worry;
But he’s come
Give God the glory!
The gate he opens,
Praising God.
“Hear’st thou, Katherine?
Run to meet him!
Already he’s come,
Haste to greet him!
Quickly bring him in to me.
Glory to Thee, my Saviour dear,
All the strength has come from Thee.”
And she “Our Father” softly said
Just as if in dream she read.
The old man the team unyokes,
Lays away the carven yokes.
Kate at her husband strangely looks.
“Where’s Anna, Katherine?
I’ve been careless!
She’s not dead?”
“No, not dead,
But very sick and calls for thee.”
On the threshold Mark appears,
Standing there as torn by fears.
But Anna whispers, “Be not afraid,
Glory to God, Who my fears allayed.
[[65]]
Go forth, Katherine,
though I love you well,
I’ve something to ask him,
something to tell.”
From the place
fair Katherine went;
While Mark his head
o’er the Servant bent.
“Mark, look at me,
Look at me well!
A secret now I have to tell.
On this faded form
set no longer store,
No servant, I, nor Anna more,
I am——”
Came silence dumb,
Nor yet guessed Mark
What was to come.
Yet once again her eyelids raised
Into his eyes she deeply gazed
’Mid gathering tears.
“I from thee forgiveness pray;
I’ve penance offered day by day
All my life to serve another.
Forgive me, son, of me,
For I—am thy mother.”
[[66]]
She ceased to speak.
A sudden faintness
Mark did take:
It seemed the earth
itself did shake.
He roused—
and to his mother crept,
But the mother
forever slept.
[[67]]
