THE VISION OF SIN. I HAD a vision when the night was late: A youth came riding toward a palace-gate. He rode a horse with wings, that would have flown, But that his heavy rider kept him down. Then methought I heard a mellow sound, Narrowing in to where they sat assembled As 'twere a hundred-throated nightingale, The strong tempestuous treble throbb'd and palpitated; Ran into its giddiest whirl of sound, Caught the sparkles, and in circles, Purple gauzes, golden hazes, liquid mazes, Flung the torrent rainbow round : Then they started from their places, Half-invisible to the view, Wheeling with precipitate paces To the melody, till they flew, Hair, and eyes, and limbs, and faces, Twisted hard in fierce embraces, Like to Furies, like to Graces, Dash'd together in blinding dew: And then I look'd up toward a mountain-tract, And link'd again. I saw within my head A gray and gap-tooth'd man as lean as death, Who slowly rode across a wither'd heath, " Wrinkled ostler, grim and thin! Here is custom come your way; "Bitter barmaid, waning fast! See that sheets are on my bed; Slip-shod waiter, lank and sour, At The Dragon on the heath! Let us have a quiet hour, Let us hob-and-nob with Death. " I am old, but let me drink; Bring me spices, bring me wine; I remember, when I think, That my youth was half divine. " Wine is good for shrivell'd lips, When a blanket wraps the day, When the rotten woodland drips, And the leaf is stamp'd in clay. "Sit thee down, and have no shame, Cheek by jowl, and knee by knee: What care I for any name? What for order or degree ? "Let me screw thee up a peg: Let me loose thy tongue with wine: Callest thou that thing a leg? Which is thinnest? thine or mine? |