Forefathers of the thornless garden, there Shadowing the snow-limb'd Eve from whom she came. 4. Here will I lie, while these long branches sway, Who am no more so all forlorn, As when it seem'd far better to be born To labour and the mattock-harden'd hand, Than nursed at ease and brought to understand That makes you tyrants in your iron skies, Cold fires, yet with power to burn and brand His nothingness into man. 5. But now shine on, and what care I, Who in this stormy gulf have found a pearl The countercharm of space and hollow sky, To save from some slight shame one simple girl. 6. Would die; for sullen-seeming Death may give In our low world, where yet 'tis sweet to live. It seems that I am happy, that to me A purer sapphire melts into the sea. 7. Not die; but live a life of truest breath, Maud made my Maud by that long lover's kiss, Life of my life, wilt thou not answer this? 'The dusky strand of Death inwoven here With dear Love's tie, makes Love himself more dear.' 8.. Is that enchanted moan only the swell Of the long waves that roll in yonder bay? And hark the clock within, the silver knell Of twelve sweet hours that past in bridal white, But now by this my love has closed her sight My own heart's heart and ownest own farewell; And ye meanwhile far over moor and fell Has our whole earth gone nearer to the glow Of your soft splendours that you look so bright? I have climb'd nearer out of lonely Hell. Beat, happy stars, timing with things below, Beat with my heart more blest than heart can tell, Blest, but for some dark undercurrent woe That seems to draw-but it shall not be so : XIX. 1. HER brother is coming back to-night, 2. My dream? do I dream of bliss ? O when did a morning shine So rich in atonement as this For my dark-dawning youth, Darken'd watching a mother decline And that dead man at her heart and mine : For who was left to watch her but I? Yet so did I let my freshness die. |