Chapter 8 No.8

Princes and courtiers came, a few to seek

A little knowledge, many more to gape

In wonder at Tycho's gold and silver mask;

Or when they saw the beauty of his towers,

Envy and hate him for them.

Thus arose

The small grey cloud upon the distant sky,

That broke in storm at last.

"Beware," croaked Jeppe,

Lifting his shaggy head beside the fire,

When guests like these had gone, "Master, beware!"

And Tycho of the frank blue eyes would laugh.

Even when he found Witichius playing him false

His anger, like a momentary breeze,

Died on the dreaming deep; for Tycho Brahe

Turned to a nobler riddle,-"Have you thought,"

He asked his young disciples, "how the sea

Is moved to that strange rhythm we call the tides?

He that can answer this shall have his name

Honoured among the bearers of the torch

While Pegasus flies above Uraniborg.

I was delayed three hours or more to-day

By the neap-tide. The fishermen on the coast

Are never wrong. They time it by the moon.

Post hoc, perhaps, not propter hoc; and yet

Through all the changes of the sky and sea

That old white clock of ours with the battered face

Does seem infallible.

There's a love-song too,

The sailors on the coast of Sweden sing,

I have often pondered it. Your courtly poets

Upbraid the inconstant moon. But these men know

The moon and sea are lovers, and they move

In a most constant measure. Hear the words

And tell me, if you can, what silver chains

Bind them together." Then, in a voice as low

And rhythmical as the sea, he spoke that song:

THE SHEPHERDESS OF THE SEA

Reproach not yet our sails' delay;

You cannot see the shoaling bay,

The banks of sand, the fretful bars,

That ebb left naked to the stars.

The sea's white shepherdess, the moon,

Shall lead us into harbour soon.

Dear, when you see her glory shine

Between your fragrant boughs of pine,

Know there is but one hour to wait

Before her hands unlock the gate,

And the full flood of singing foam

Follow her lovely footsteps home.

Then waves like flocks of silver sheep

Come rustling inland from the deep,

And into rambling valleys press

Behind their heavenly shepherdess.

You cannot see them? Lift your eyes

And see their mistress in the skies.

She rises with her silver bow.

I feel the tide begin to flow;

And every thought and hope and dream

Follow her call, and homeward stream.

Borne on the universal tide,

The wanderer hastens to his bride.

The sea's white shepherdess, the moon,

Shall lead him into harbour, soon.