III
—\"AndhowexplainsthyAncientMindhercrimesuponhercreatures，Thesefallingsfromherfairbeginnings，woundingswheresheloves，Intoherwould—beperfectmotions，modes，effects，andfeaturesAdmittingcramps，blackhumours，wandecay，andbalefulblights，Distressintodelights？\"
IV
—\"Ah！know\'stthounothersecretyet，hervainlyveileddeficience，Whenceitcomesthatallunwittinglyshewoundsthelivessheloves？
Thatsightlessarethoseorbsofhers？—whichbartoheromniscienceBringsthosefearfulunfulfilments，thatredravagethroughherzonesWhereatallcreationgroans。
V
\"Shewhispersitineachpatheticstrenuousslowendeavour，Wheninmotheringsheunwittinglysetswoundsonwhatsheloves;
Yetherprimaldoompursuesher，faultful，fatalissheever;
Thoughsodeftandnightovisionisherfacilefinger—touchThattheseersmarvelmuch。
VI
\"Deal，then，hergropingskillnoscorn，nonoteofmalediction;
Notlongontheewillpressthehandthathurtsthelivesitloves;
Andwhileshedaresdead—reckoningon，indarknessofaffliction，Assistherwherethycreaturelydependencecanormay，Forthouartofherclay。\"
TOLIFE
Olifewiththesadsearedface，Iwearyofseeingthee，Andthydraggledcloak，andthyhobblingpace，Andthytoo—forcedpleasantry！
Iknowwhatthouwould\'sttellOfDeath，Time，Destiny
Ihaveknownitlong，andknow，too，wellWhatitallmeansforme。
ButcanstthounotarrayThyselfinraredisguise，Andfeignliketruth，foronemadday，ThatEarthisParadise？
I\'lltunemetothemood，Andmummwiththeetilleve;
AndmaybewhatasinterludeIfeign，Ishallbelieve！
DOOMANDSHE
I
Theredwellsamightypair
Slow，statuesque，intense
AmidthevagueImmense:
Nonecantheirchronicledeclare，Norwhytheybe，norwhence。
II
Motherofallthingsmade，Matchlessinartistry，Unlitwithsightisshe。
Andthoughhereverwell—obeyedVacantoffeelinghe。
III
TheMatronmildlyasks
Athrobineveryword
\"Ourclay—madecreatures，lord，HowfaretheyintheirmortaltasksUponEarth\'sboundedbord？
IV
\"ThefateofthoseIbear，Dearlord，prayturnandview，Andnotifymetrue;
ShapingsthateyelesslyIdareMaybeIwouldundo。
V
\"SometimesfromlairsoflifeMethinksIcatchagroan，Ormultitudinousmoan，AsthoughIhadschemedaworldofstrife，Workingbytouchalone。\"
VI
\"World—weaver！\"hereplies，\"Iscanallthydomain;
ButsincenorjoynorpainDothmyclearsubstancerecognize，Ireadthyrealmsinvain。
VII
\"World—weaver！whatISGrief？
AndwhatareRight，andWrong，AndFeeling，thatbelongTocreaturesallwhoowetheefief？
WhatworseisWeakthanStrong？\"
VIII
—Unlightened，curious，meek，Shebroodsinsadsurmise
—SomesaytheyhaveheardhersighsOnAlpineheightorPolarpeakWhenthenighttempestsrise。
THEPROBLEM
ShallweconcealtheCase，ortellit
Wewhobelievetheevidence？
Hereandtherethewatch—towersknellitWithasullensignificance，Heardofthefewwhohearkenintentlyandcarryaneagerlyupstrainedsense。
Heartsthatarehappiestholdnotbyit;
Betterwelet，then，theoldviewreign;
Sincethereispeaceinit，whydecryit？
Sincethereiscomfort，whydisdain？
Notenotthepigmentthewhilethatthepaintingdetermineshumanity\'sjoyandpain！
THESUBALTERNS
I
\"Poorwanderer，\"saidtheleadensky，\"Ifainwouldlightenthee，ButtherebelawsinforceonhighWhichsayitmustnotbe。\"
II
—\"Iwouldnotfreezethee，shornone，\"criedTheNorth，\"knewIbuthowTowarmmybreath，toslackmystride;
ButIamruledasthou。\"
III
—\"To—morrowIattackthee，wight，\"
SaidSickness。\"YetIswearIbearthylittlearknospite，Butambidenterthere。\"
IV
—\"Comehither，Son，\"IheardDeathsay;
\"IdidnotwillagraveShouldendthypilgrimageto—day，ButI，too，amaslave！\"
V
Wesmileduponeachotherthen，AndlifetomeworelessThatfellcontouritworeerewhenTheyownedtheirpassiveness。
THESLEEP—WORKER
Whenwiltthouwake，OMother，wakeandsee
Asonewho，heldintrance，haslabouredlongByvacantroteandprepossessionstrong
Thecoilsthatthouhastwroughtunwittingly;
Whereinhaveplace，unrealizedbythee，Fairgrowths，foulcankers，rightenmeshedwithwrong，Strangeorchestrasofvictim—shriekandsong，Andcuriousblendsofacheandecstasy？
Shouldthatmorncome，andshowthyopenedeyesAllthatLife\'spalpitatingtissuesfeel，Howwiltthoubearthyselfinthysurprise？
Wiltthoudestroy，inonewildshockofshame，Thywholehighheavingfirmamentalframe，Orpatientlyadjust，amend，andheal？
THEBULLFINCHES
BotherBulleys，letussingFromthedawntillevening！
ForweknownotthatwegonotWhentheday\'spalepinionsfoldUntothosewhosangofold。
WhenIflewtoBlackmoorVale，Whencethegreen—gownedfaerieshail，RoostingnearthemIcouldhearthemSpeakofqueenlyNature\'sways，Means，andmoods，—wellknowntofays。
Allwecreatures，nighandfar（Saidtheythere），theMother\'sare:
YetshenevershowsendeavourToprotectfromwarringswildBirdorbeastshecallsherchild。
BusyinherhandsomehouseKnownasSpace，shefallsa—drowse;
Yet，inseeming，worksondreaming，WhilebeneathhergropinghandsFiendsmakehavocinherbands。
Howherhussif\'rysucceedsSheunknowsorsheunheeds，AllthingsmakingforDeath\'staking！
—Sothegreen—gownedfaeriessayLivingoverBlackmoorway。
Comethen，brethren，letussing，Fromthedawntillevening！
ForweknownotthatwegonotWhentheday\'spalepinionsfoldUntothosewhosangofold。
GOD—FORGOTTEN
Itoweredfar，andlo！IstoodwithinThepresenceoftheLordMostHigh，Sentthitherbythesonsofearth，towinSomeanswertotheircry。
—\"TheEarth，say\'stthou？TheHumanrace？
ByMecreated？Saditslot？
Nay:Ihavenoremembranceofsuchplace:
SuchworldIfashionednot。\"
—\"OLord，forgivemewhenIsayThouspak\'sttheword，andmad\'stitall。\"
\"TheEarthofmen—letmebethinkmeYea！
Idimlydorecall\"SometinysphereIbuiltlongback（Midmillionsofsuchshapesofmine）
SonamedItperished，surely—notawrackRemaining，orasign？
\"Itlostmyinterestfromthefirst，Myaimsthereforsucceedingill;
Haplyitdiedofdoingasitdurst？\"
\"Lord，itexistethstill。\"
\"Dark，then，itslife！FornotacryOfaughtitbearsdoInowhear;
OfitsownactthethreadsweresnaptwherebyItsplaintshadreachedmineear。
\"Itusedtoaskforgiftsofgood，Tillcameitsseveranceself—entailed，Whensuddensilenceonthatsideensued，Andhastillnowprevailed。
\"Allotherorbshavekeptintouch;
Theirvoicingsreachmespeedily:
ThypeopletookuponthemovermuchInsunderingthemfromme！
\"Anditisstrange—thoughsadenough
Earth\'sraceshouldthinkthatonewhosecallFrames，daily，shiningspheresofflawlessstuffMustheedtheirtaintedball！
\"Butsay\'stthou\'tisbypangsdistraught，Andstrife，andsilentsuffering？
DeepgrievedamIthatinjuryshouldbewroughtEvenonsopoorathing！
\"Thoushould\'sthavelearntthatNottoMendForMecouldmeanbutNottoKnow:
Hence，Messengers！andstraightwayputanendTowhatmenundergo。\"
Homingatdawn，IthoughttoseeOneoftheMessengersstandingby。
—Oh，childishthought！YetoftitcomestomeWhentroublehoversnigh。