314

PHILOSOPHER.—LIMITS.

PHILOSOPHER.

PHILOSOPHERS are lined with eyes within,
And, being so, the sage unmakes the man.
In love, he cannot therefore cease his trade;
Scarce the first blush has overspread his cheek,
He feels it, introverts his learned eye
To catch the unconscious heart in the very act-
His mother died, — the only friend he had,
Some tears escaped, but his philosophy
Couched like a cat sat watching close behind
And throttled all his passion. Is't not like
That devil-spider that devours her mate
Scarce freed from her embraces?

LIMITS.

WHO knows this or that?

Hark in the wall to the rat:

Since the world was, he has gnawed;

Of his wisdom, of his fraud

What dost thou know?

In the wretched little beast

Is life and heart,

Child and parent,

Not without relation

To fruitful field and sun and moon.
What art thou? His wicked eye
Is cruel to thy cruelty.

INSCRIPTION. THE EXILE.

315

INSCRIPTION FOR A WELL IN MEMORY OF THE MARTYRS OF THE WAR.

FALL, stream, from Heaven to bless; return as well; So did our sons; Heaven met them as they fell.

THE EXILE.

(AFTER TALIESSIN.)

THE heavy blue chain

Of the boundless main

Didst thou, just man, endure.

I HAVE an arrow that will find its mark,
A mastiff that will bite without a bark.

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