Seen in these scattered notes their date that claim O for some winnowing wind, to the empty air O for some friend, or more than friend, austere, 145 150 155 160 To the bright fact, my day, my risen sun! O promise and fulfilment, both in one! O bliss, already bliss, which naught has shared, 165 Whose glory no fruition has impaired, And, emblem of my state, thou coming day, Why do I wait? What more propose to know? 170 My conscience in my impulse let me find, Justification in the moving mind, Law in the strong desire; or yet behind, Say, is there aught the spell that has not heard, A something that refuses to be stirred?" 175 "In other regions has my being heard Of a strange language the diviner word? Has some forgotten life the exemplar shown? 180 Ye impulses, that should be strong and wild, Beguile me, if I am to be beguiled." 66 Or are there modes of love, and different kinds, There are who say thus, I held there was one, 185 So love should come on his victorious way. 190 If light at all, can light indeed be there, Yet half the land in light, and half in darkness lie? Can love, if love, be occupant in part, 195 Hold, as it were, some chambers in the heart; Tenant at will of so much of the soul, Not lord and mighty master of the whole? "Montaigne, I know in a realm high above And as in spring, for one consummate hour 200 205 The birds with liveliest plumage trim their wing, "How charming to be with her! Yet indeed, 210 215 220 After a while I find a blank succeed: After a while she little has to say, I'm silent too, although I wish to stay; 225 Ah! but I ask, I do not doubt, too much; The naught-else-seeking, naught-essaying soul. 230 Hence are these fears and shiverings on the verge; By books, not nature, thus have we been schooled, Wiser tradition says, the affections' claim Will be supplied, the rest will be the same. 235 I think too much of love, 'tis true: I know It is not all, was ne'er intended so; Yet such a change, so entire, I feel, 'twould be, So potent, so omnipotent with me; My former self I never should recall, 240 Indeed I think it must be all in all." “I thought that Love was winged; without a sound, His purple pinions bore him o'er the ground, Wafted without an effort here or there, He came and we too trod as if in air: 245 To upbear his lagging footsteps, lame and slow, 250 And ease him of his quiver and his bow? " 66 Erotion! I saw it in a book; Why did I notice it, why did I look? "He is not vain; if proud, he quells his pride, 255 260 And somehow really likes to be defied; Gives way at once, and leaves you to succeed." 66 Easy it were with such a mind to play, And foolish not to do so, some would say; One almost smiles to look and see the way: But come what will, I will not play a part, Indeed, I dare not condescend to art." 66 Easy 'twere not, perhaps, with him to live; "Like him I do, and think of him I must; What is my fate who am not there to please? Me he has left; already may have seen One, who for me forgotten here has been; And he, the while is balancing between. If the heart spoke, the heart I knew were bound; 285 What if it utter an uncertain sound?" “So quick to vary, so rejoiced to change, "Absence were hard; yet let the trial be; His nature's aim and purpose he would free, And in the world his course of action see. O should he lose, not learn; pervert his scope; 290 295 O should I lose! and yet to win I hope. 300 I win not now; his way if now I went, 66 Gone, is it true? but oft he went before, And came again before a month was o'er. Gone - though I could not venture upon art, 305 He had such ready fancies in his head, And really was so easy to be led; One might have failed; and yet I feel 'twas pride, And can't but half repent I never tried. 310 Gone, is it true? but he again will come, Wandering he loves, and loves returning home." Gone, it was true; nor came so soon again, 315 320 From early morning to advancing dark, He toiled and labored as a merchant's clerk. Three years his heavy load he bore, nor quailed, Then all his health, though scarce his spirit, failed; Friends interposed, insisted it must be, 325 Enforced their help, and sent him to the sea. Alas! why quitted? Say that charms are naught, 330 335 And loving faithfulness a chance of every day? |