Part 10 (2/2)

”If thou love me,” they said, ”if thou be true, Thou shalt have fame, and love, and music too!”

Entranced I kiss'd the lips that I adore.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Letter IX TO-MORROW]

LETTER IX.

TO-MORROW.

I.

O Love! O Love! O Gateway of Delight!

Thou porch of peace, thou pageant of the prime Of all G.o.d's creatures! I am here to climb Thine upward steps, and daily and by night To gaze beyond them, and to search aright The far-off splendour of thy track sublime.

II.

For, in thy precincts, on the further side, Beyond the turret where the bells are rung, Beyond the chapel where the rites are sung, There is a garden fit for any bride.

O Love! by thee, by thee are sanctified The joys thereof to keep our spirits young.

III.

By thee, dear Love! by thee, if all be well-- And we be wise enough to own the touch Of some bright folly that has thrill'd us much-- By thee, till death, we may regain the spell Of wizard Merlin, and in every dell Confront a Muse, and bow to it as such.

IV.

Love! Happy Love! Behold me where I stand This side thy portal, with my straining eyes Turn'd to the Future. Cloudless are the skies, And, far adown the road which thou hast spann'd, I see the groves of that elected land Which is the place I call my paradise.

V.

But what is this? The plains are known to me; The hills are known, the fields, the little fence, The noisy brook as clear as innocence, And this old oak, the wonder of the lea, Which stops the wind to know if there shall be Sorrow for men, or pride, or recompense.

VI.

I know these things, yet hold it little blame To know them not, though in their proud array, The flowers advance to make the world so gay.

Ah, what a change! The things I know by name Look unfamiliar all, and, like a flame, The roses burn upon the hedge to-day.

VII.

The gra.s.s is velvet. There are pearls thereon, And golden signs, and braid that doth appear Made for a bridal. This is fairy gear If I mistake not. I shall know anon.

Nature herself will teach me how to con The new-found words to thank the glowing year.

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