FROM "SAINT PAUL" Lo, as some bard on isles of the Aegean Lovely and eager when the earth was young, Burning to hurl his heart into a paean, Praise of the hero from whose loins he sprung; He, I suppose, with such a care to carry, Wander'd disconsolate and waited long, Smiting his breast, wherein the notes would tarry, Chiding the slumber of the seed of song: Then in the sudden glory of a minute Airy and excellent the proem came, Rending his bosom, for a god was in it, Waking the seed, for it had burst in flame. So even I athirst for his inspiring, I who have talk'd with Him forget again, Yes, many days with sobs and with desiring Offer to God a patience and a pain ; Then through the mid complaint of my confession, Then through the pang and passion of my prayer, Leaps with a start the shock of his possession, Thrills me and touches, and the Lord is there. Lo, if some pen should write upon your rafter MENE and MENE in the folds of flame, Think you could any memories thereafter Wholly retrace the couplet as it came ? Lo, if some strange intelligible thunder Sang to the earth the secret of a star, Scarce could ye catch, for terror and for wonder, Shreds of the story that was peal'd so far. Scarcely I catch the words of his revealing, Hardly I hear Him, dimly understand, Only the Power that is within me pealing Lives on my lips and beckons to my hand. Whoso has felt the Spirit of the Highest Cannot confound nor doubt Him nor A LAST APPEAL O SOMEWHERE, somewhere, God un. known, Exist and be ! I am dying; I am all alone; I must have thee ! God! God! my sense, my soul, my all, Saw'st thou the faint star flame and fall? IMMORTALITY So when the old delight is born anew, O nights how desolate, O days how few, And no man metes it in his hollow hand A LETTER FROM NEWPORT φαίη κ ̓ ἀθανάτους καὶ ἀγήρως ἔμμεναι αἰεὶ ὃς τότ ̓ ἐπαντιάσεἰ ὅτ ̓ Ἰάονες ἄθροοι εἶεν. THE crimson leafage fires the lawn, The pil'd hydrangeas blazing glow; How blue the vault of breezy dawn Illumes the Atlantic's crested snow! 'Twixt sea and sands how fair to ride Through whispering airs a starlit way, And watch those flashing towers divide Heaven's darkness from the darkling bay! Ah, friend, how vain their pedant's part, Their hurrying toils how idly spent, How have they wrong'd the gentler heart Which thrills the awakening continent, Who have not learnt on this bright shore What sweetness issues from the strong, Where flowerless forest, cataract-roar, Have found a blossom and a song! Ah, what imperial force of fate Links our one race in high emprize! Nor aught henceforth can separate Those glories mingling as they rise; For one in heart, as one in speech, At last have Child and Mother grown, Fair Figures! honoring each in each A beauty kindred with her own. Through English eyes more calmly soft Looks from gray deeps the appealing charm; Reddens on English cheeks more oft The rose of innocent alarm ; Our old-world heart more gravely feels, Has learnt more force, more self-con trol; For us through sterner music peals The full accord of soul and soul. But ah, the life, the smile untaught, More sheeny-plum'd, more gay and free; On no nymph's marble forehead sits Proudlier a glad virginity. So once the Egyptian, gravely bold, For with his voice the tears had sprung,"They die not, these! they wax not old, They are ever-living, ever-young!" Spread then, great land! thine arms afar, Thy golden harvest westward roll; Banner with banner, star with star, Ally the tropics and the pole; There glows no gem than these more bright From ice to fire, from sea to sea ;, Blossoms no fairer flower to light Through all thine endless empery. RENUNCIANTS Edward Dowden SEEMS not our breathing light? Sound not our voices free? Bid to Life's festal bright No gladder guests there be. Ah stranger, lay aside Cold prudence! I divine The secret yon would hide, And you conjecture mine. Nay, nay, I wrong thee with rough words; still be Serene, victorious, inaccessible; TWO INFINITIES A LONELY way, and as I went my eyes Could not unfasten from the Spring's sweet things, Lush-sprouted grass, and all that climbs and clings In loose, deep hedges, where the primrose lies In her own fairness, buried blooms surprise The plunderer bee and stop his murmurings, And the glad flutter of a finch's wings Outstartle small blue-speckled butterflies. Blissfully did one speedwell plot beguile My whole heart long; I lov'd each separate flower, Kneeling. I look'd up suddenly-Dear God! There stretch'd the shining plain for many a mile, The mountains rose with what invincible power! And how the sky was fathomless and broad! And yet I dream'd of a fair land Forget my vision sweet and vain, A MAY SONG A LITTLE while my love and I, What though the end of all be come, The latest hour, the latest breath, This is life's triumph, and its sum, The aloe-flower of love and death! And yet your kisses wake a life Shall I not know? Shall I not heed? Shall I not rush from out the night Ah, the black moment comes ! Draw Lady Currie ("VIOLET FANE") Before the mowing of the hay, Twin'd daisy-chains and cowslip-balls, And caroll'd glees and madrigals, Before the hay, beneath the may, My love (who lov'd me then) and I. For long years now my love and I Tread sever'd paths to varied ends; We sometimes meet, and sometimes say The trivial things of every day, And meet as comrades, meet as friends, My love (who lov'd me once) and I. But never more my love and I Will wander forth, as once, together, Or sing the songs we us'd to sing Some word forgot we us'd to say A FOREBODING I Do not dread an alter'd heart, I dread that drifting slow apart- The dear endeavor of their soul. |