Volume I Part 30 (2/2)

Fallen on the palm, down cheek and chin-- ”That poet now has entered in The place of rest which is not sin.

”And while he rests, his songs in troops Walk up and down our earthly slopes, Companioned by diviner hopes.”

”But _thou_,” I murmured to engage The child's speech farther--”hast an age Too tender for this orphanage.”

”Glory to G.o.d--to G.o.d!” he saith: ”KNOWLEDGE BY SUFFERING ENTERETH, AND LIFE IS PERFECTED BY DEATH.”

THE POET'S VOW

O be wiser thou, Instructed that true knowledge leads to love.

WORDSWORTH.

THE POET'S VOW.

PART THE FIRST.

SHOWING WHEREFORE THE VOW WAS MADE.

I.

Eve is a twofold mystery; The stillness Earth doth keep, The motion wherewith human hearts Do each to either leap As if all souls between the poles Felt ”Parting comes in sleep.”

II.

The rowers lift their oars to view Each other in the sea; The landsmen watch the rocking boats In a pleasant company; While up the hill go gladlier still Dear friends by two and three.

III.

The peasant's wife hath looked without Her cottage door and smiled, For there the peasant drops his spade To clasp his youngest child Which hath no speech, but its hand can reach And stroke his forehead mild.

IV.

A poet sate that eventide Within his hall alone, As silent as its ancient lords In the coffined place of stone, When the bat hath shrunk from the praying monk, And the praying monk is gone.

V.

Nor wore the dead a stiller face Beneath the cerement's roll: His lips refusing out in words Their mystic thoughts to dole, His steadfast eye burnt inwardly, As burning out his soul.

VI.

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