214 A GARDEN OF PLEASURE 



rose-hued and fire-hearted even in that 

 clear midnight, the Crown of Love out- 

 shone the very stars in heaven. And I 

 cried, 'Oh my little one, let us reach 

 down to us the Crown of Love.' And 

 then they stretched out their arms, 

 though the love-crown hung so far 

 above. . . . And suddenly the sky was 

 overcast and heavy clouds hid all the stars. 

 And a shuddering blast swept past through 

 the wood spreading wide the child's long 

 hair .... and the fair fruits and the 

 garlands fell from the Christmas Tree, and 

 the rose leaves were blown away and 

 scattered, and the place was filled with a 

 wild storm of sweetness. 



One only diadem remained, while all the 

 rest had faded, even as an evening mist 

 shimmering through the ruined roses; and 

 the wind shook the trees, so that the 

 Love-crown floated down to us. But even 

 then as with eager hand we seemed to 

 grasp them, the flowers were not ; but the 

 thorns of the Crown of Pain pierced 

 through the mother's heart as she clasped 

 it close, and the rose leaves became drops 



