Prodigiouslytheydidthedeedsofflesh:
Descending,theywouldtouchthelowesthere:
Andshe,thatlightedformofblueandgold,Whomtheseasgave,allearth,allearthembraced;
Exultinginthegreathaulsofhermesh;
Desiredandhated,desperatelydear;
Mosthumanofthemwas。Nomorepursue!
Enoughthattheblackstorycanbetold。
Itpreachestotheeminentlyplaced:
Forwhomdisastrouswreckageisnighdue,Paintsomen。Trulytheyourthrobberhad;
Thepassionsplumping,passionsplayingleech,Cunningtotrickusfortheday’sgoodcheer。
OuruncorrectedhumanheartwillswellTonotionsmonstrous,doingsmadAsbillowsonafoam-lashedbeach;
Borneonthetidesofalternatingheats,Willdrugthebrain,willdoomthesoulaswell;
CalltheclosedmouthofthatharshfinalPowerTospeakinjudgement:Nemesis,thefell:
OfthosebrightGodsassembled,offspringsour;
Thelastsurngontheupperseats;
AswithmenReasonwhentheirheartsrebel。
Ah,whatafruitlessbreederisthisheart,Fullofthemingledseeds,eacheatingeach。
Notwiserofourmarkthanatthestart,Itsurgeslikethewrath-facedfatherSeaTocounteringwinds;aforceblind-eyed,Onendlessroundsofaimlessreach;
Emotionforthesourceofpride,ThegroundsoffaithinfityAboveourflesh;itscrangsurgingspeech,Inspiringprayer;byturnsalumpSwungonatime-piece,andbyturnsAqueringenergytojumpForseatsangelical:itshrinks,ityearns,Loves,loathes;isflameorcinders;lastlycloudCappingasullencrater:andmankindWeseecloud-capped,anarmyofthedark,Becauseofthystraightleadershipdeclined;
Atheelsofthisorthatdelusespark:
NowwhenthemultitudinousracespressElbowtoelbowhourlymore,Athickenedhost;whennowwehearaloudLifefortheverylifeimploreAsignalofasionedmark;
Lightofthemind,themind’sdiscourse,Therationalingraciousness,Theebyacknowledgemententhroned,Totameandleadthatblind-eyedforceInharmonyofharnesswiththecrowd,Forpaymentoftheirdues;asyetdisowned,Savewheresomedutifullonecreature,vowedToholywork,deemsittheheart’sintent;
Orwhereasilkencircleewsitcowled,Theseemingfigureofconcordance,bentOnsatiatingtyrantlustOrbarrenfitsofsentiment。
ThouwiltnothaveourpathsbefouledBysimulation;areweletoew,Theheavensshallseeuscleanofourowndust,Beneaththybreezyflittingwing:
Theymaketheirmirroruponfacestrue;
Andwheretheywinreflection,lucidheaveTheundertidesofthishotheartseenthrough。
BeneficentlywiltthouclipAlloversteppingsoftheplumed,Thepuffed,andbidthemaskerstrip,Andintothecrownedwindbagthrust,Tearingthemortalfromthetalthing,Alightningo’erthehalf-illumed,Whotobasebrute-dominioncleave,Yetmarkeffects,andshuntheflash,Tilltheirdrowsedwitsabeamconcee,Tospyawoundwithoutagash,Themagicinaturnofwrist,AndhowareweddedheartandheadregaledWhenWito’erFollyblowsthemort,AndtheirhighnoteofunionspreadsWidefromthetimelywordwithconquestcharged;
ctoriouslaughter,ofnoloudreport,Ifheard;derisionasdinelyveiledAsterribleImmortalsinrose-mist,Gentothesionofarrestedmen:
WhereattheyfeelwithinthemweaveCommunityitscloserthreads,Andaretoourfraternalstateenlarged;
Likewarmfreshbloodistheirenlenedken:
Theylearnthatthouartnotofaliensort,Speakingthetonguebypershissed,Orofthefrostyheightsunsealed,Orofthevainwhosimplespeechdistort,OrofthevapourspointingontonoughtAlongcoldskies;thoughsharpandhighthypitch;
Aswhensolehomewardthebelatedtreads,Andhearsaloftaclamourwailed,ThatoncehadseemedthebroomstickwitchHorridlyolatingcloudfordrought:
He,fromtherubofmindsdispersingfears,Hearsmigrantsmarshallingtheirmidnighttrain;
Homeliestorderinblackskyappears,Notlessthaninthelightedllagesteads。
Sodothosehalf-illumedwaxcleartoshareAcrythatisourcommonvoice;thenoteOffellowshipuponaloftierplane,Aboveembattledcastle-wallandmoat;
Andtoningdropsasfrompureheavenitsheds。
Sothouforwashingaphantasmalair,Forthysweetsingingkeynoteofthewise,Laughter——thejoyofReasonseeingfadeObstructionintoEarth’srenewingbeds,Beneaththestrokeofhergoodservant’sblade-
Thenceforthartastheirearth-starhailed;
Gainoftheyears,conjunction’sprize。
ThegreaterheartinthyappealtoheadsTheysee,thouCaptainofourcilFort!
BymoreelusesavagesassailedOneachascendingstage;untiredBothinnerfoeandoutertocutshort,Andblowtochaffpretendersvoidofgrist:
Showingoldtiger’sclaws,oldcrocodile’sYard-grinofeagergrinders,slimtosight,Likeformsinrunningwater,oftwhensmiles,Whenpearlytears,whenfluentlipsdelight:
Butneverwiththeslayer’smalicefired:
Aslittleasinformsaninfant’sfistClenchedatthesneeze!ThouwouldstbuthaveusbeGoodsonsofmothersoil,wherebytogrowBranchingonfairerskies,onestatelytree;
BroadofthetilthforfloweringattheCourt:
Whichisthetreeboundfasttowaveitstress;
Ofstrengthcontrolledsheerbeautytobestow。
Ambrosialheightsofpossibleacquist,Wheresoulsofmenwithsoulofmanconsort,AndalllookhighertonewlovelinessBegottenofthelook:thymarkisthere;
Whileonourtemporalgroundale,RightlythoughfearfullythouwieldestswordOffinertempernowanumberedlearnThattheyresistingtheethemselvesresist;
Andnotthybiggerjoytosmiteanddre,Promptthedenseherdtobutt,andsetthesnareWitchingthemintopitfallsforhoarseshouts。
Morenow,andhourlymore,andoftheLordThoulead’stto,doththisrebelheartdiscern,WhenpinchedasceticandredsensualistAlternatelyrecurrentfreezeorburn,Andofitsoldreligionsithasdoubts。
Itfearstheelesswhenthouhastshownitbare;
Lesshates,partunderstands,normuchresents,Whentheprizedobjectsithasraisedforprayer,Forfitfulprayer;——repentancedreadingfire,Impelledbyaches;theblindnesswhichrepentsLikethepoortrampledwormthatwrithesinmire;-
Aresoundedbythee,andthoudarestprobeOldinstitutionsandestablishments,Oncefortressesagainstthefloodsofsin,Forwhattheirworth;andquestioninglyprodForwhytheystanduponaracingglobe,Impedingblocks,lessusefulthantheclod;
Theirangeloutofthem,ademonin。
Thishalf-enlightenedheart,stilldoomedtofret,Tohurlatvanities,todriftinshameOfgainorloss,bewailingthesurerod,Shallofpredestinationwedtheeyet。
SomethingitgathersofwhatthingsshoulddropAtentranceonnewtimes;ofhowthricebroadTheworldofmindscommunicate;howAstragglingNatureclassedinschool,andscoredWithstripesadmonishing,mayyieldtoploughFruitfullestfurrows,norforwangtameBefeebleonanEarthwhosegentlercropIsitsmostling,inthemindthatsteers,ByReasonled,herwayoftreeandflame,Beyondthegenufleonsandthetears;
UponanEarththatcannotstop,Whereupwardisthesibleaim,AndeverweespythegreaterGod,Forsimplepointingatagoodadored:
Proofofthecloserneighbourhood。Headon,Swordofthemany,lightofthefew!untwistOrcutourtanglestillfairspaceiswonBeyondabriaredwoodofausterebrow,BelievedofdiscordbythytimelywordAtintervalsrefreshinglife:forthouArtverifyKeeperoftheMuse’sKey;
Thyselfnovacantmelodist;
Onlowerlandelecteevenasshe;
Holding,asshe,alldissonanceabhorred;
Adsingtohermeasuredstepsinflow;
AndteachinghowforbeingsubjectedfreePastthoughtoffreedomwemaycometoknowThemusicofthemeaningofAccord。
Days,whentheballofoursionHadeaglesthatflewunabashedtosun;
Whenthegrasponthebowwasdecision,Andarrowandhandandeyewereone;
WhenthePleasures,likewavestoaswimmer,Cameheangforraptureahead!-
Invokethem,theydwindle,theyglimmerAslightsovermoundsofthedead。
BeholdthewingedOlympus,offthemead,Withthunderofwidepinions,lightningspeed,Waftingtheshepherd-boythroughetherclear,Tobearthegoldennectar-cup。
Sofliesdesireatewofitsdelight,Whentheyoungheartistiptoeperchedonsight。
WemeanwhilewhoinhuesofthesickyearTheSpring-timepainttoprickusforourlost,Mountbutthefatalhalfwayup-
Whereonshuteyes!Thisisdecreed,ForAgethatwouldtoyouthfulheavensascend,Bypassionforthearms’possessiontossed,Itfallsthewayofsighsandhaththeirend;
Asparkgoneouttomoresepulchralnight。
GoodifthearrowyeagleoftheheightBethenthelittlebirdthathopstofeed。
LamefallsthecrytokindledaysOfradiantorbanddaringgaze。
Itdoesbutclankourmortalchain。
ForEarthreadsthroughherfelonoldThemany-numberedofherfold,Whoforwardtotteringbackwardstrain,Andwouldbethievesoftreasurespent,Withtheirgreyseasonsoured。
ShecouldwriteouttheirhistoryintheirthirstTohaveagainthemuchdevoured,Andbethebudatburst;
Inhoneyfancyjointheflow,WhereYouthswimsonasoncetheywent,AllchoiricforspontaneousgleeOfacteeagerlungsandthews;
Theynowbaredrootsbesidethererbent;
Whoseprilegethemselvestosee;
Theirplaceinyondertidewayknow;
Thecurrentglassperuse;
Thedepthsintentlysound;
AndsappedbyeachreturningfloodAcceptformonitorynourishmentThosewornropedfeaturesundercrustofmud,Reflectedinthesilverysmootharound:
Notlessthebranchingandhighsingingtree,Ahomeofnests,alandmarkandatent,Untiltheirhourforlosingholdonground。
EvensuchgoodharvestofthethingsthatfleeEarthoffershersubjected,andtheychooseRatherofBacchicYouthonebeamtodrink,Andwarmslowmarrowwiththesensualwink。
SoblocktheyathersourcetheMotheroftheMuse。
Whocheerfullythelittlebirdbecomes,Withoutafall,andpipesforpeckatcrumbs,Mayhaveherdolingstothelightesttouch;
Aswheresomecripplemusesbyhiscrutch,Unwittingthatthespiritinhimsings:
’WhenIhadlegs,thenhadIwings,Asgoodasanybornofeggs,Tofeedonallaerialthings,WhenIhadlegs!’
Andifnottoembracehesighs,ShegeshimbreathofYouthawhile,Perspecteofabreezymile,Companionablehedgeways,liftingskies;
SceneswherehisnesteddreamsupontheirhoardBrooded,oruptoempyreansoared:
Enoughtolinkhimwithadottedline。
Butcrangsforaneagle’sflight,TotopwhitepeaksandservewildwineAmongtherosyundecayed,BringonlyflashofshadeFromherfullthrobbingbreastofdayinnight。
Bywhattheycravearetheybetrayed:
Andcavernousisthatyoungdragon’sjaw,CrimsonforallthefieryreptilesawIntimenowcoveted,forteethtoflay,Oncemoreconsume,wereLiferecurrentMay。
Theytotheirmomentofdrawnbreath,Whichisthelifethatmakesthedeath,Thedeaththatmakesethereallifewouldbind:
Thedeaththatbreedsthespectredotheyfind。