To receive what a man may waste, desecrate, never quite lose. So sank he along by the tent-prop, till, His creation's approval or censure: I stayed by the pile Of his armor and war-cloak and garments, he leaned there awhile, And sat out my singing, one arm round the tent-prop, to raise His bent head, and the other hung slacktill I touched on the praise 220 I foresaw from all men in all time, to the man patient there; And thus ended, the harp falling forward. Then first I was 'ware That he sat, as I say, with my head just above his vast knees Which were thrust out on each side around me, like oak roots which please To encircle a lamb when it slumbers. I looked up to know 225 spoke as I saw, I report, as a man may of God's workall's love, yet all's law. Now I lay down the judgeship he lent me. Each faculty tasked To perceive him has gained an abyss, where a dewdrop was asked. Have I knowledge? confounded it shrivels at Wisdom laid bare. 245 If the best I could do had brought solace: In the star, in the stone, in the flesh, in he spoke not, but slow the soul and the clod. 250 I am fain to keep still in abeyance (I laugh By the pain-throb, triumphantly winning as I think) But I sink the pretension as fearing a man may o'ertake God's own speed in the one way of love: I abstain for love's sake. What, my soul? see thus far and no farther? when doors great and small, Nine-and-ninety flew ope at our touch, should the hundredth appal? In the least things have faith, yet distrust in the greatest of all? 265 Do I find love so full in my nature, God's ultimate gift, That I doubt his own love can compete with it? Here, the parts shift? Here, the creature surpass the Creator,the end, what Began? Would I fain in my impotent yearning do all for this man, And dare doubt he alone shall not help him, 270 who yet alone can? Would it ever have entered my mind, the bare will, much less power, To bestow on this Saul what I sang of, the marvelous dower Of the life he was gifted and filled with? to make such a soul, Such a body, and then such an earth for insphering the whole? 275 And doth it not enter my mind (as my warm tears attest), These things being given, to go on, and give one more, the best? Ay, to save and redeem and restore him, maintain at the height This perfection, succeed with life's dayspring, death's minute of night? Interpose at the difficult minute, snatch Saul the mistake, Saul the failure, the ruin he seems now, -and bid him awake 280 From the dream, the probation, the prelude, to find himself set Clear and safe in new light and new life, -a new harmony yet To be run and continued, and endedwho knows?-or endure! The man taught enough by life's dream, of the rest to make sure; intensified bliss, 285 And the next world's reward and repose, by the struggles in this. From thy will, stream the worlds, life and nature, thy dread Sabaoth: I will?-the mere atoms despise me! Why am I not loth To look that, even that in the face too? Why is it I dare Think but lightly of such impuissance? What stops my despair? This;-'tis not what man Does which ex alts him, but what man Would do! See the King-I would help him but cannot, the wishes fall through. 296 Could I wrestle to raise him from sorrow, grow poor to enrich, To fill up his life, starve my own out, I would-knowing which, I know that my service is perfect. Oh, speak through me now! Would I suffer for him that I love? So wouldst thou-so wilt thou! 300 So shall crown thee the topmost, ineffablest, uttermost crown And thy love fill infinitude wholly, nor leave up nor down One spot for the creature to stand in! It is by no breath, Turn of eye, wave of hand, that salvation joins issue with death! 305 As thy Love is discovered almighty, almighty be proved Thy power, that exists with and for it, of being Beloved! He who did most, shall bear most; the strongest shall stand the most weak. 'Tis the weakness in strength, that I cry for! my flesh, that I seek In the Godhead! I seek and I find it. O Saul, it shall be |