Clarel/Part 1/Canto 38

38. The Sparrow
After the hint by Rolfe bestowed, Redoubled import, one may ween, Had Nehemiah's submissive mien For Clarel. Nay, his poor abode-- And thither now the twain repair-- A new significance might bear. Thin grasses, such as sprout in sand, Clarel observes in crannies old Along the cornice. Not his hand The mower fills with such, nor arms Of him that binds the sheaf, enfold. Now mid the quiet which becharms

That mural wilderness remote, Querulous came the little note Of bird familiar--one of them So numerous in Jerusalem, Still snared for market, it is told, And two were for a farthing sold-- The sparrow. But this single one Plaining upon a terrace nigh, Was like the Psalmist's making moan For loss of mate--forsaken quite, Which on the house-top doth alight And watches, and her lonely cry No answer gets.--In sunny hight Like dotting bees against the sky What twitterers o'er the temple fly! But now the arch and stair they gain, And in the chamber sit the twain. Clarel in previous time secure, From Nehemiah had sought to lure Some mention of his life, but failed. Rolfe's hintful story so prevailed, Anew he thought to venture it. But while in so much else aside Subject to senile lapse of tide, In this hid matter of his past The saint evinced a guardful wit; His waning energies seemed massed

Here, and but here, to keep the door. At present his reserve of brow Reproach in such sort did avow, That Clarel never pressed him more. Nay, fearing lest he trespass might Even in tarrying longer now, He parted. As he slow withdrew, Well pleased he noted in review The hermitage improved in plight. Some one had done a friendly thing: Who? Small was Clarel's wondering.