They were born poor, lived poor, and poor Bear the brunt, in a minute pay glad they died: life's arrears Adverse, each from the other heavenhigh, hell-deep removed,Should rush into sight at once as he named the ineffable Name, And pile him a palace straight, to pleasure the princess he loved! Would it might tarry like his, the beautiful building of mine, Zealous to hasten the work, heighten Or else the wonderful Dead who have their master his praise! And one would bury his brow with a blind plunge down to hell, Burrow awhile and build, broad on the roots of things, 15 Then up again swim into sight, having based me my palace well, Founded it, fearless of flame, flat on the nether springs. passed through the body and gone, But were back once more to breathe in an old world worth their new: What never had been, was now; what was, as it shall be anon; And what is, shall I say, matched both? for I was made perfect too. 40 All through my keys that gave their sounds to a wish of my soul, All through my soul that praised as its wish flowed visibly forth, All through music and me! For think, had I painted the whole, Why, there it had stood, to see, nor the process so wonder-worth: Had I written the same, made versestill effect proceeds from cause, 45 Ye know why the forms are fair, ye hear how the tale is told; It is all triumphant art, but art in obedience to laws, Painter and poet are proud in the artist-list enrolled: But here is the finger of God, a flash of the will that can, 50 Existent behind all laws, that made them and, lo, they are! And I know not if, save in this, such gift be allowed to man That out of three sounds he frame, not a fourth sound, but a star. Consider it well: each tone of our scale in itself is naught: It is everywhere in the world-loud. soft, and all is said: Give it to me to use! I mix it with two in my thought: 55 And there! Ye have heard and seen: consider and bow the head! Well, it is gone at last, the palace of music I reared; Gone! and the good tears start, the praises that come too slow; For one is assured at first, one scarce can say that he feared, That he even gave it a thought, the Rejoice we are allied To that which doth provide 25 Would we some prize might hold we did best! 65 And not partake, effect and not receive! Possessions of the brute, gain most, as Who gives, than of his tribes that take, I Let us not always say, must believe. Then, welcome each rebuff 30 "Spite of this flesh to-day I strove, made head, gained ground upon the whole!" As the bird wings and sings, Let us cry, "All good things 70 Are ours, nor soul helps flesh more, now, than flesh helps soul!" Therefore I summon age To grant youth's heritage, Life's struggle having so far reached its term: Thence shall I pass, approved1 Shall life succeed in that it seems to fail: A man, for aye removed 75 Whose flesh has soul to suit, want play? new: Whose spirit works lest arms and legs Fearless and unperplexed, To man, propose this test Thy body at its best, 45 How far can that project thy soul on its lone way? Yet gifts should prove their use: I own the Past profuse Of power each side, perfection every turn: Brain treasured up the whole; 50 Leave the fire ashes, what survives is gold: Should not the heart beat once, "How good to live and learn?" Not once beat, "Praise be thine! I see the whole design, I, who saw power, see now Love perfect too; A whisper from the west "This rage was right i' the main, That acquiescence vain: 100 O'er which, from level stand, The low world laid its hand, The Future I may face now I have proved Found straightway to its mind, could the Past." Enough now, if the Right And Good and Infinite 115 value in a trice: Ay, note that Potter's wheel, That metaphor! and feel 150 Be named here, as thou callest thy hand Why time spins fast, why passive lies our thine own, Was I, the world arraigned, Were they, my soul disdained, 125 clay, What entered into thee, That was, is, and shall be: 160 Right? Let age speak the truth and give Time's wheel runs back or stops: Potter us peace at last! and clay endure. They this thing, and I that: whom shall Try thee and turn thee forth, sufficiently |