,,philosophies ,,by ,,ronald ,,ross ,k4,c4,b41 ,f4,r4,c4,s41 ,d4,sc41 ,,ll4,d41 ,f4,r4,s41 ,c4,b4 ,,london ,,john ,,murray1 ,,albemarle ,,street1 ,w4 #aibc ,,first ,,edition4444444 ,september1 #aiaj ,reprinted44444 ,december1 #aiaj ,reprinted44444 ,june1 #aiaa ,reprinted44444 ,august1 #aibc ,,all ,,rights ,,reserved ,printed in ,great ,britain by ,hazell1 ,watson ,viney1 ,ld41 ,london and ,aylesbury4 ,,preface ,these verses were written in ,india between the years #ahha and #ahii1 mostly during my researches on malaria4 ,friends who have read that part of them which is called ,in ,exile complained that they could not easily follow the movement of it2 and as ,i am now publishing the poems together with a text-book on malaria--and also because ,i desire very strongly to rid my mind of this subject which has occupied it for twenty years--,i take the opportunity to give such explanation of the work as ,i can find expression for4 ,in #ahha ,i joined the military medical service of ,india1 and was called upon to serve during the next seven years in ,madras1 ,bangalore1 ,burma1 and the ,andaman ,islands4 ,having abundant leisure1 ,i occupied most of it in the study of various sciences and arts1 in all of which ,i attempted some works to the best of my ability4 ,for this ,i make no excuse to my conscience1 since to my mind art and science are the same1 and efforts in both1 however poor the result may be1 are to be commended more than idleness4 ,near the end of the seven years1 however1 ,i began to be drawn toward certain thoughts which from the first had occurred to me in my profession1 especially as to the cause of the widespread sickness and of the great misery and decadence of the people of ,india4 ,racked by poverty1 swept by epidemics1 housed in hovels1 ruled by superstitions1 they presented the spectacle of an ancient civilisation fallen for centuries into decay4 ,one saw there both physical and mental degeneration4 ,since the time of the early mathematicians science had died2 and since that of the great temples art had become ornament1 and religion dogma4 ,here was the living picture of the fate which destroyed ,greece1 ,rome1 and ,spain2 and ,i saw in it the work of nescience--the opposite of science4 4 4 4 ,returning to ,britain in #ahhh1 ,i qualified myself for pathological researches1 and about #ahij or #ahia entered upon a careful study of malarial fever1 in the hope of finding out accurately how it is caused and may be prevented4 ,on ,august #bj1 #ahig1 ,i was fortunate enough to find the clue to the problem--which1 ,i believe1 would not have been discovered but for such good fortune2 and the next year ,i ascertained the principal facts which ,i had been in search of4 ,these poems are the notes of the wayside4 ,as for ,in ,exile1 ,i do not remember the date--but it was early in the course of the labour--when my thoughts began to shape themselves into a kind of sonnet of three short stanzas4 ,it was a pleasure and relief after the day's work to mould them thus1 for each set of stanzas required a different balance and structure within its narrow limits1 and was1 so to speak1 inscribed on small squares of stone1 to be put away and arranged thereafter4 ,later1 when my researches had attained to success1 a sudden disastrous interruption of them compelled me to set aside the verses also1 and it was not until nine years afterwards that ,i found time to arrange them for rough printing4 ,they were then put nearly in the order of writing1 some fragments being finished but most omitted4 ,i have blamed myself for this1 because the omissions give to the whole a more sombre cast than is natural to me1 or than ,i had intended2 but now ,i judge ,i was right in it4 ,the poem1 such as it is1 is not a diary in verse1 but rather the figure of a work and of a philosophy4 4 4 4 ,i find ,i cannot rise with those who would soar above reason in the chase of something supernal4 ,infinities and absolutes are still beyond us2 though we may hope to come nearer to them some day by the patient study of little things4 ,our first duty is the opposite of that which many prophets enjoin upon us--or so ,i think4 ,we must not accept any speculations merely because they now appear pleasant1 flattering1 or ennobling to us4 ,we must be content to creep upwards step by step2 planting each foot on the firmest finding of the moment2 using the compass and such other instruments as we have2 observing without either despair or contempt the clouds and precipices above and beneath us4 ,especially our duty at present is to better our present foothold2 to investigate2 to comprehend the forces of nature2 to set our state rationally in order2 to stamp down disease in body1 mind1 and government2 to lighten the monstrous misery of our fellows1 not by windy dogmas1 but by calm science4 ,the sufferings of the world are due to this1 that we despise those plain earthly teachers1 reason1 work1 and discipline4 ,lost in many speculations1 we leave our house disordered1 unkept1 and dirty4 ,we indulge too much in dreams2 in politics which organise not prosperity but contention2 in philosophies which expressly teach irrationalism1 fakirism1 and nescience4 ,the poor fakir seated begging by the roadside2 with his visions--and his sores6 ,such is man4 4 4 4 ,an old philosophy this--like the opposite one4 ,the poem gathers itself under it and attempts to use the great symbols of that wonderful ,land1 the drought1 the doubt1 the pains of self1 the arid labour1 the horrors of whole nations diseased1 the crime of ,nescience1 parodying ,god's words1 and the victory of ,his thunder and rain4 ,the dated stanzas near the end1 except the first two lines of the second quatrain1 were written the day after the discovery of the parasites of malaria in mosquitos4 ,there are some repetitions1 and ,i fear worse faults2 but it is too late to mend them4 ,i am much indebted to ,mr4 ,john ,masefield and ,mrs4 ,masefield for assisting me in the correction of the proofs4 ,,the ,,author4 ,,december #b1 #aiji4 ,,contents ,,preludes ,,india444444444444444444444444444444 #a ,,thought4444444444444444444444444444 #b ,,science4444444444444444444444444444 #b ,,power444444444444444444444444444444 #c ,,dogma444444444444444444444444444444 #d ,,froth444444444444444444444444444444 #d ,,liberty4444444444444444444444444444 #e ,,the ,,three ,,angels4444444444444444444 #e ,,apologues ,,return44444444444444444444444444444 #f ,,the ,,star ,,and ,,the ,,sun444444444444444 #f ,,the ,,world',s ,,inheritors4444444444444 #g ,,death-,,song ,,of ,,savagery4444444444444 #i ,,ocean ,,and ,,the ,,dead44444444444444444 #aj ,,ocean ,,and ,,the ,,rock44444444444444444 #aa ,,the ,,brothers44444444444444444444444 #ab ,,alastor4444444444444444444444444444 #ac ,,labours ,,sonnet44444444444444444444444444444 #ae ,,vision44444444444444444444444444444 #af ,,thought ,,and ,,action44444444444444444 #ah ,,the ,,indian ,,mother444444444444444444 #bj ,,ganges-,,borne44444444444444444444444 #bj ,,indian ,,fevers4444444444444444444444 #ba ,,the ,,star444444444444444444444444444 #ba ,,petition444444444444444444444444444 #bb ,,in ,,exile ,,part ,i44444444444444444444444444444 #bc ,,desert4444444444444444444444444 #bc ,,part ,,ii4444444444444444444444444444 #bf ,,vox ,,clamantis444444444444444444 #bf ,,self-,,sorrows4444444444444444444 #bi ,,exile44444444444444444444444444 #cj ,,part ,,iii444444444444444444444444444 #cb ,,soul-,,scorn444444444444444444444 #cb ,,resolve444444444444444444444444 #cc ,,desert-,,thoughts4444444444444444 #cc ,,the ,,gains ,,of ,,time44444444444444 #ce ,,invocation444444444444444444444 #cf ,,despairs44444444444444444444444 #cg ,,part ,,iv4444444444444444444444444444 #ch ,,induration444444444444444444444 #ch ,,wisdom',s ,,counsel444444444444444 #ci ,,impatience444444444444444444444 #dj ,,world-,,sorrows444444444444444444 #dj ,,philosophies4444444444444444444 #da ,,lies444444444444444444444444444 #dc ,,truth-,,service ,,and ,,self-,,service4 #dc ,,wraths4444444444444444444444444 #de ,,vision ,,of ,,nescience444444444444 #de ,,part ,v44444444444444444444444444444 #df ,,the ,,deeps4444444444444444444444 #df ,,loss444444444444444444444444444 #dg ,,part ,,vi4444444444444444444444444444 #di ,,death44444444444444444444444444 #di ,,part ,,vii444444444444444444444444444 #ea ,,the ,,monsoon44444444444444444444 #ea ,,reply44444444444444444444444444 #ec ,p,,ans ,,man44444444444444444444444444444444 #ee ,,life4444444444444444444444444444444 #ef ,,world-,,song4444444444444444444444444 #ef ,transcriber's ,notes can be found at the end of this e,book4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,preludes ,,india ,here from my lonely watch-tower of the ,east ,an ancient race outworn ,i see-- ,with dread1 my own dear distant ,country1 lest ,the same fate fall on thee4 ,lo here the iron winter of curst caste ,has made men into things that creep2 ,the leprous beggars totter trembling past2 ,the baser sultans sleep4 ,not for a thousand years has ,freedom's cry ,the stillness of this horror cleaved1 ,but as of old the hopeless millions die1 ,that yet have never lived4 ,man has no leisure but to snatch and eat1 ,who should have been a god on earth2 ,the lean ones cry2 the fat ones curse and beat1 ,and wealth but weakens worth4 ,o ,heaven1 shall man rebelling never take ,from ,fate what she denies1 his bliss8 ,cannot the mind that made the engine make ,a nobler life than this8 ,madras1 #ahha4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,thought ,spirit of ,thought1 not thine the songs that flow ,to fill with love or lull ,idalian hours4 ,thou wert not nurtured 'mid the marish flowers1 ,or where the nightshade blooms1 or lilies blow3 ,but on the mountains4 ,from those keeps of snow ,thou sest the heavens1 and earth1 and marts and towers ,of teeming man2 the battle smoke that lours ,above the nations where they strive below2-- ,the gleam of golden cohorts and the cloud ,of shrieking peoples yielding to the brink-- ,the gleam1 the gold1 the agony1 the rage2 ,the civic virtue of a race unbow'd2 ,the reeling empire1 lost in license1 sink2 ,and chattering pigmies of a later age4 #ahha-b4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,science ,i would rejoice in iron arms with those ,who1 nobly in the scorn of recompense1 ,have dared to follow ,truth alone1 and thence ,to teach the truth--nor fear'd the rage that rose4 ,no high-piled monuments are theirs who chose ,her great inglorious toil--no flaming death2 ,to them was sweet the poetry of prose1 ,but wisdom gave a fragrance to their breath4 ,alas6 we sleep and snore beyond the night1 ,tho' these great men the dreamless daylight show2 ,but they endure--the ,sons of simple ,light-- ,and1 with no lying lanthorne's antic glow1 ,reveal the open way that we must go4 #ahha-b4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,power ,caligula1 pacing thro' his pillar'd hall1 ,ere yet the last dull glimmer of his mind ,had faded in the banquet1 where reclined ,he spent all day in drunken festival1 ,made impious pretence that ,jove with him1 ,unseen1 walk'd1 talk'd and jested2 for he spoke ,to nothing by his side2 or frown'd2 or broke ,in answering smiles2 or shook a playful rim ,of raiment coyly4 #8,earth1' he said1 #8is mine-- ,no vapour4 ,yet ,caligula1 brother ,jove1 ,will love thee if he find thee worthy love2 ,if not1 his solid powers shall war with thine ,and break them1 ,god of ,cloud4' ,the courtiers round1 ,as in the presence of two deities1 bent ,in servile scorn3 when1 like a warning sent1 ,an utterance of earthquake shook the ground1 ,awful1 but which no human meaning bore4 ,with glaring eyeballs narrowing in dismay1 ,the huddled creature fallen foaming lay1 ,glass'd in the liquid marbles of the floor4 #ahha-b4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,dogma ,to a poor martyr perisht in the flame ,lo suddenly the cool and calm of ,heaven1 ,and ,one who gently touch'd and tended1 came4 #8,for thee1 ,o ,lord1' he cried1 #8my life was given4' ,when thus the ,pitiful ,one3 #8,o suffering man1 ,i taught thee not to die1 but how to live2 ,but ye have wrongly read the simple plan1 ,and turn to strife the ,heav'nly gift ,i give4 ,i taught the faith of works1 the prayer of deeds1 ,the sacrament of love4 ,i gave1 not awe1 ,but praise2 no church but ,god's2 no form1 no creeds2 ,no priest but conscience and no lord but law4 ,behold1 my brother1 by my side in ,heaven ,judas abhor'd by men and ,nero next4 ,how then1 if such as these may be forgiven1 ,shall one be damn'd who stumbles at a text8' #ahha-b4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,froth ,this bubbling gossip here of fops and fools1 ,who have no care beyond the coming chance1 ,rough-rubs the angry soul to arrogance ,and puts puff'd wisdom out of her own rules4 ,true1 knowledge comes on all winds1 without schools1 ,and every folly has her saw3 perchance ,some costly gem from silliest spodomance ,may be unash'd2 and mind has many tools4 ,but still1 love here rains not her heav'nly dew1 ,nor friendship soothes the folly-fretted sense2 ,but pride and ignorance1 the empty two1 ,strut arm-in-arm to air their consequence1 ,and toil bleeds tears of gold for idle opulence4 #ahha-b4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,liberty ,when ,cassius fell and ,brutus died1 ,resentful ,liberty arose1 ,where from aloft the mountain snows ,she watch'd the battle's breaking tide2 ,and as she rent her azure robe ,darkness descended o'er the globe4 #8,break never1 ,night1' she cried1 #8nor bring ,before ,i come again the morn ,with all her heav'nly light1 for scorn ,of this base world so slumbering2 ,where men for thrice five hundred years ,their sin shall mourn1 and me1 in tears4' #ahhb4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,the ,,three ,,angels ,heav'n vex'd in heaven heard the ,world ,and all the grief thereof1 and sent ,the angel ,strength4 ,swift he unfurl'd ,his wings and flasht his sword and went3 ,but still the cry of ,earth rang to the firmament4 ,then gentle ,love1 most loved in heaven1 ,heav'n sent to ,earth4 ,his large eyes shone1 ,upcast with glory from ,god given1 ,and darkening downward from the ,throne ,he fell3 nor bated yet the far terrestrial moan4 ,then all the host of heav'n1 amazed1 ,cried1 #8,next let ,wisdom go and prove ,himself and conquer4' ,but he raised ,his face and answer'd1 #8,heav'n above1 ,like them1 alone ,i fail2 send with me ,strength and ,love4' #ahhb4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,apologues 99 99 99 99 99 ,,return ,muse1 in my boyhood's careless days ,my rev'rence for thee was not small1 ,altho' ,i roam'd by ,star and ,sea ,and left thee1 seeking other ways-- ,i left thee1 for ,i knew that all ,return by ,sea and ,star to thee4 ,not worthy he to hear thy song1 ,him thou thyself despisest most1 ,who dares not leave thee and arise ,to face the ,world's discordant throng2 ,since thou'rt best gain'd by being lost1 ,and ,earth is in thy ,heav'nly eyes4 #ahhf-g4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,the ,,star ,,and ,,the ,,sun ,in ,darkness1 and pacing the ,thunder-,beat ,shore ,by many ,waves1 ,no sound being near to me there but the hoarse ,cicala's cry1 ,while that unseen ,sword1 the ,zodiacal ,light1 ,falchion of ,dawn1 ,made clear all the ,orient1 wanning the ,silvery ,stars1 ,i heard the fine flute of the ,fast-,fading ,fire1 ,the ,morning ,star1 ,pipe thus to the ,glimmering ,glories of ,night1 ,and sing1 ,o ,world1 ,if ,i too must leave thee then who can remain8 ,but lo6 from the ,deep ,the ,thundering ,sun upsprang and responded1 ,i4 ,andamans1 #ahhf-g4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,the ,,world',s ,,inheritors ,god gazing down from ,heaven saw the ,world4 ,mighty1 himself a heav'n1 he fill'd the heavens4 ,his beard fell like a wasted thunder at eve1 ,and all his robe was woven with white stars1 ,and on his breast a star4 ,the ,world was dark4 ,deep in a forest there1 ,where not the rill that routed in the wood ,dared break the silence1 nor one murmur of night ,wound to the stagnant1 chill1 and listening air1 ,five children slumbering lay4 ,one ruddy as the red grapes of the south2 ,one duskier1 breather of more burning air2 ,one blue-eyed1 blond1 and golden-crown'd with locks2 ,one finely fashion'd in an even mould2 ,and one hard wrought as steel4 ,lord of the ,woods their ,sire2 enormous1 rough1 ,hair-tangled like the north-bear3 but his ,mate ,queen of a myriad palaces that shone ,with chalcedon and jasper1 justly wrought1 ,and gems of jewel'd stone4 ,who when he saw her won her2 loved her well2 ,by her abhor'd3 and so he slew her then1 ,and gazed upon her beauty dead1 and died ,himself1 lamenting his wild woods4 ,and these ,their wondrous offspring were4 ,europe1 ,a4,d4 #ejj4 ,the ,world beheld them and adored--adored1 ,and fear'd1 and sought to slay them2 for ,the battle-brood of gods is battle-born4 ,but they endured2 nor in the thunder found ,harm1 or the bolt of death4 ,and ,god look'd down and spake1 and thro' the ,earth ,the murmur ran1 terranean like the shock ,when central earthquakes jar1 until the ,deep ,foams tingling to the icd poles2 and said1 ,to these ,i give the ,world4 ,andamans1 #ahhf-g4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,death-,,song ,,of ,,savagery ,i have heard it--,i have heard the ,forest ,strive to bring me comfort1 and the ,ocean ,roll large-tongued consolation round me4 ,i have heard the weakling ,wildbirds crying1 ,and the wailing ,winds proclaim me brother4 ,i have heard these things and yet ,i perish4 ,from the ,flowers1 the myriad mouths of ,forest1 ,honey'd words have come1 and from the ,billows1 ,bursting1 issue of sweet cheering voices4 ,in this ,midnight and moon-glamour'd ,darkness1 ,winds and ,wildbirds crying give me pity2 ,but1 altho' ,i hear them1 lo6 ,i perish4 ,for a mighty ,voice rolls thro' my ,spirit1 ,crying1 ,as thou wert1 so art1 and shalt be1 ,ever and for ever and for ever1 ,son of ,midnight and moon-glamour'd ,darkness1 ,rayless1 lightless1 and thy ,one ,star faded1 ,child of ,night and ,ocean1 till thou perish4 ,andamans1 #ahhf-g4 ,epilogue to the author's romance ,the ,child of ,ocean4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,ocean ,,and ,,the ,,dead ,,the ,,dead3 #8,dost dare to rouse us from our sleep1 ,eternal1 given of ,god1 ,o ,deep8' ,,ocean3 #8,a thunder on your bones6 ,in life ,you waged with me your pigmy strife4' ,,the ,,dead3 #8,living1 but humble mariners we2 ,dead1 ,ocean1 what are we to thee8' ,,ocean3 #8,you hoped to find within your graves ,eternal refuge from my waves4' ,,the ,,dead3 #8,living1 we faced thee full of fears2 ,dying1 thy roar was in our ears4' ,,ocean3 #8,dead1 ,i will break your bones for ever4 ,man may forgive1 but ,nature never4' ,andamans1 #ahhf-g4 ,in #agdj the cemeteries of ,dunwich were laid bare by the sea4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,ocean ,,and ,,the ,,rock ,,the ,,rock3 #8,cease1 ,o rude and raging ,sea1 ,thus to waste thy war on me4 ,hast thou not enough assail'd1 ,all these ages1 ,fool1 and fail'd8' ,,ocean3 #8,gaunt and ghastly ,skeleton1 ,remnant of a time that's gone1 ,tott'ring in thy last decay ,durst thou still to darken day8' ,,the ,,rock3 #8,empty ,brawler1 brawl no more2 ,cease to waste thy watery war ,on my bastion'd ,bases broad1 ,sanctified by ,time and ,god4' ,,ocean3 #8,thou that best but to be1 ,scornest thou my energy8 ,not much longer lasts the strife4 ,i am ,labour1 ,i am ,life4' ,,the ,,rock3 #8,roar1 then1 roar1 and vent thy ,surge2 ,thou not now shalt drone my dirge4 ,dost imagine to dismay ,this my iron breast with ,spray8' ,,ocean3 #8,relic of primeval ,slime1 ,i shall whelm thee in my time4 ,changeless thou dost ever die2 ,changing but immortal ,i4' ,andamans1 #ahhf-g4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,the ,,brothers ,beneath ,socotra1 and before ,the mariner makes the ,libyan shore1 ,or him the ,doubtful ,cape beguiles1 ,black in the ,night two dreadful ,isles4 ,by ,allah chain'd to ,ocean's bed1 ,each shows above an awful head1 ,and front to front1 envisaged1 frown ,to frown retorts--by loud renown ,the ,brothers4 ,but no love between3 ,tho' bound1 they nurse a mutual spleen2 ,and1 when the thundering ,waves engage ,in battle1 vent immortal rage4 ,,darz3 #8,ho6 ,thro' the ,midnight learn my hate4 ,when ,god releases1 then thy fate4' ,,samh3 #8,when ,god unbinds thy fetter'd feet1 ,for mercy him1 not me1 entreat4' ,,darz3 #8,dost think1 because thy head is high1 ,that thou art more divine than ,i8' ,,samh3 #8,because thy looks are earthward given ,thou hatest one who looks to ,heaven4' ,,darz3 #8,because thou gazest at the ,sun ,think'st thou thou art the nobler one8' ,,samh3 #8,for them who with the ,stars converse ,there is no better and no worse4' ,,darz3 #8,so6 hold thy old philosophy6 ,truth and the ,world enough for me4 ,for humble ,truth was born on ,earth1 ,but ,lies1 forsooth1 have better birth6' ,,samh3 #8,i watch the white ,stars rise and fall2 ,i hear the vanish'd ,eagles call2 ,for me the ,world is but a ,sod2 ,i strive to see the eyes of ,god4' #ahhh4 ,the islands about which this legend is told are known as ,jezrat ,darz and ,jezrat ,samh1 east of ,cape ,gardafui--one high and the other low4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,alastor ',tis said that a noble youth of old ,was to his native village lost1 ,and to his home1 and agd sire2 ,for he had wander'd 7it is told7 ,where1 pinnacled in eternal frost1 ,apollo leads his awful ,choir4 ,awful1 for nought of human warms ,the agony of their song sublime1 ,which like the breath of ice is given ,ascending in vapour from all forms1 ,where gods in clear alternate chime ,reveal their mystery-thoughts to ,heaven4 ,nor in those regions of windless cold ,is fiery the ,sun1 tho' fierce in light2 ,but frozen-pale the numbd ,moon ,wanders along the ridges that fold ,enormous ,peaks1 what time the ,night ,rivals with all her stars the ,noon4 ,for there1 not dimly as here1 the ,stars1 ,but globd and azure and crimson tinct1 ,climb up the windless wastes of snow1 ,gold-footed1 or thro' the long-drawn bars ,of mountain mist1 with eyes unblink'd ,and scorn1 gaze down on the ,world below2 ,or high on the topmost peak and end ,of ranges stand with sudden blaze1 ,like ,angels born in spontaneous birth2 ,or wrap themselves in flame and descend ,between black foreheads of rock in haze1 ,slowly1 like grievd gods to earth4 ,and there for ever the patient ,wind ,rakes up the crystals of dry snow1 ,and mourns for ever her work undone2 ,and there for ever1 like ,titans blind1 ,their countenance lifting to ,heaven's glow1 ,the sightless ,mountains yearn for the ,sun4 ,there nightly the numbd eagle quells 7,full-feather'd to his feet of horn7 ,his swooning eye1 his eyrie won1 ,and slumbers1 frozen by frosty spells ,fast to the pinnacle2 but at ,morn ,unfetter'd leaps toward the ,sun4 4 4 4 4 4 ,he heard1 he saw4 ,not to the air ,dared breathe a breath2 but with his sight ,wreak'd on ,immortals mortal wrong1 ,and dared to see them as they were-- ,the black ,peaks blacken'd in their light1 ,the white ,stars flashing with their song4 ,so fled4 ,but when revealing ,morn ,show'd him1 descended1 giant-grown1 ,men ant-like1 petty1 mean and weak1 ,he rush'd1 returning4 ,then in scorn ,th' ,immortals smote him to a ,stone ,that aches for ever on the ,peak4 #ahhh4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,labours 99 99 99 99 99 ,,sonnet ,high ,muse1 who first1 where to my opening sight1 ,new-born1 the loftiest summits of the world1 ,silent1 with brows of ice and robes unfurl'd ,of motionless thunder1 shone above the night1 ,didst touch my infant eyes and fill with light ,of snow1 and sleepless stars1 and torrents hurl'd1 ,and fragrant pines of morning mist-empearl'd1 ,and music of great things and their delight3 ,revisit me2 resume my soul2 inspire ,with force and cold out of the north--not given ,to sickly dwellers in these southern spots1 ,where all day long the great ,sun rolls his fire ,intol'rable in the dusty march of heaven1 ,and the heart shrivels and the spirit rots4 ,madras1 #ahij4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,vision ,a valley of far-fallen rocks1 ,like bones of mouldering mountains1 spread1 ,and ended by the barren blocks ,of mountains doom'd or dead3 ,no rivage there with green recess ,made music in that wilderness4 ,despairing fell the sore-spent ,sun1 ,and cried1 #8,i die1' and sank in fire2 ,like conquering ,death1 the ,night came on ,and ran from spire to spire2 ,and swollen-pale ascended soon1 ,like ,death in ,life1 the leprous ,moon4 ,on windy ledges lined with light1 ,between the still ,stars sparsely strewn1 ,two ,spirits grew from out the ,night ,beneath the mistless ,moon1 ,and held deep parley1 making thought ,with words sententious half distraught4 ,one full-robed2 in his hand a book2 ,his lips1 that labour'd for the word1 ,scarce moved in utterance2 and his look ,sought1 not his face who heard1 ,but that ,sad ,star that sobs alway ,upon the breast of dying ,day4 ,one1 weary1 with two-handed stress ,leant on his shoulder-touching spear ,his beard blown o'er the hairiness ,of his great breast2 and clear ,his eyes shot speculation out ,to catch the truth or quell the doubt4 #a4 #8,the dreams of ,hope1 of blue-eyed ,hope1 ,melt after morn and die in day2 ,love's golden dew-globe1 lit aslope1 ,dulls with a downward ray2 ,canst thou with all thy thought renew ,the flying dreams or drying dew8' #b4 #8,not ,i creator4 ,hour by hour ,i labour without stress or strife ,to gain more knowledge1 greater power1 ,a nobler1 longer life4 ,by thought alone we take our stand ,above the world and win command4' #a4 #8,know1 ,knowledge doth but clip our wings1 ,and worldly ,wisdom weaken worth1 ,to make us lords of little things1 ,and worm-gods of the earth4 ,were earth made ,heaven by human wit1 ,some wild star yet might shatter it4' #b4 #8,the wings of ,fancy are but frail1 ,and ,virtue's without ,wisdom weak2 ,better than ,falsehood's flowery vale1 ,the ,truth1 however bleak4 ,tho' she may bless not nor redeem1 ,the ,truth is true1 and reigns supreme4' #a4 #8,not all1 but few1 can plead and prove ,and crown their brows with ,truth and pass2 ,their little labours cannot move ,the mountain's mighty mass4 ,to man in vain the ,truth appeals1 ,or ,heav'n ordains1 or ,art reveals4' #b4 #8,so self-consuming thought4 ,but see ,the standards of ,advance unfurl'd2 ,the buds are breaking on the lea1 ,and ,spring strikes thro' the world4 ,tho' we may never reach the ,peak1 ,god gave this great commandment1 ,seek4' 4 4 4 4 4 ,the ponderous bolts of ,night were drawn2 ,the pale ,day peer'd thro' cloudy bars2 ,the ,wind awoke2 the sword of ,dawn ,flasht thro' the flying ,stars2 ,the new-born ,sun-,star smote the ,gloom3 ,the ,desert burst in endless ,bloom4 ,bangalore1 #ahij4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,thought ,,and ,,action ,the ,angel of the ,left ,hand spake4 ,his speech ,fell as when on some shuddering arctic beach ,the icy ,northern creeps from reach to reach ,and curdles motion and with thrilling spell ,fixes the falling ripple4 #8,peace and quell1' ,he said1 #8the action not maturd well4 ,what scorn to build with labour1 round on round1 ,and lay the costly marbles1 when 'tis found ,the whole design at last inapt1 unsound6 ,beware the bitter moment when awake ,we view the mischief that our visions make-- ,the good things broken in a mad mistake4 ,but rather use the thought that is divine2 ,and know that every moment of design ,will save an hour of action1 point for line4 ,and leave to others loss or victory2 ,and like the stars of heaven seek to be ,the wise man's compass but beyond the sea4' ,then ,he upon the ,right4 ,his words came forth ,like the full ,southern blowing to the north4 #8,the time is come1' he said1 #8to try thy worth4 ,for when ,thought's wasted candles wane and wink1 ,and meditations like the planets sink1 ,the sun of ,action rushes from the brink4 ,stand not for ever in the towers of ,thought ,to watch the watery dawning waste to nought ,the distant stars deluding darkness brought4 ,not timorous weak persuasion1 but the brand ,of ,action--not discussion1 but command-- ,can rouse the ranks of ,god and storm the land1 ,where men who know the day still doze again2 ,not walls of dust can dam th' outrageous main1 ,nor mitigation seize the world and reign4 ,fear not4 ,unsheath the naked falchion4 ,try ,the end4 ,for in the end1 who dares deny1 ,the utter truth shall slay the utter lie4' ,bangalore1 #ahij-c4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,the ,,indian ,,mother ,full fed with thoughts and knowledges sublime1 ,and thundering oracles of the gods1 that make ,man's mind the flower of action and of time1 ,i was one day where beggars come to take ,doles ere they die4 ,an ,indian mother there1 ,young1 but so wretched that her staring eyes ,shone like the winter wolf's with ravening glare ,of hunger1 struck me4 ,for to much surprise ,a three-year child well nourish'd at her breast1 ,wither'd with famine1 still she fed and press'd-- ,for she was dying4 #8,i am too poor1' she said1 #8,to feed him otherwise'2 and with a kiss ,fell back and died4 ,and the soul answerd1 #8,in spite of all the gods and prophets--this6' ,bangalore1 #ahij-c4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,ganges-,,borne ,the fingers which had stray'd ,thro' shining clusters of his children's hair ,now lifeless moved1 and play'd ,with horrible tresses of the ripples there2 ,his eyes1 as if he pray'd1 ,were cast beneath long eyelids1 wan and spare4 ,rock'd by the roaring flood1 ,he seem'd to speak as in debate with doom1 ,uplooking1 while the flood ,bore him with thunder to the ocean foam4 ,god's face1 a luminous cloud1 ,look'd thro' the midnight1 black1 and horrible gloom4 ,bangalore1 #ahij-c4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,indian ,,fevers ,in this1 ,o ,nature1 yield ,i pray to me4 ,i pace and pace1 and think and think1 and take ,the fever'd hands1 and note down all ,i see1 ,that some dim distant light may haply break4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,the painful faces ask1 can we not cure8 ,we answer1 ,no1 not yet2 we seek the laws4 ,o ,god1 reveal thro' all this thing obscure ,the unseen1 small1 but million-murdering cause4 ,bangalore1 #ahij-c4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,the ,,star ,far across the ,loneland1 far across the ,sea1 ,far across the ,sands1 ,o silver shining ,sister of the ,silence1 ,sister of the ,dew1 ,sister of the ,twilight1 lighten me4 ,ever art thou beaming4 ,i1 with eyes upcast1 ,gazing worn and weary from this ,dark ,world1 ,ask of thee thy ,wisdom1 steadfast ,eye of ,god1 ,that ,i be as ,thou art while ,i last4 #ahij-c4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,petition ,truth1 whom ,i hold divine1 ,thy wings are strong to bear ,thro' day or desperate night2 ,for1 ever those eyes of thine1 ,fix'd upward full of prayer1 ,are seeking for the light4 ,guide me and bear4 ,descend ,into the sulphurous void-- ,tho' ,i so weak1 thy wings ,stronger than him who1 pen'd ,in hell unmerited1 buoy'd ,poets past infernal springs4 ,take me and bear4 ,descend ,into these deeps of death1 ,wherever the light may lead1 ,wherever the way may wend2 ,and give to my failing breath1 ,o ,spirit1 thy words of deed4 #ahij-c4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,in ,,exile 99 99 99 99 99 ,i 99 99 99 99 99 ,,desert ,i ,this profit yet remains ,of exile and the hour ,that life in losing gains ,perhaps a fuller flower4 ,not less the prund shoot1 ,not less the barren year1 ,which yields the perfect fruit1 ,which makes the meaning clear4 ,for on this desert soil ,a blessing comes unsought-- ,space for a single toil1 ,time for a single thought4 ,when in distractions tost1 ,since oft distractions claim ,for moments never lost ,of each its higher aim1 ,we live1 we learn the wealth ,the joyous hours may bring1 ,but jealous time by stealth ,puts all of it to wing2 ,pursuing empty arts ,we gain no noble goal1 ,and lose1 in learning parts1 ,the grandeur of the whole4 ,if ,patience1 pouring tears-- ,she cannot but lament ,the long unfruitful years ,of exile1 idly spent-- ,have patience1 she will find ,they were not all in vain1 ,but each has left behind ,a little store of gain-- ,a wider wisdom bought ,with labour2 problems solved2 ,the themes of inner thought ,more thoroughly revolved4 ,so one who entertain'd ,the prosperous of the earth2 ,no good from any gain'd1 ,but lost his wealth and worth2 ,in wrath he gather'd round ,the indigent and old2 ,each wretch1 amazed he found1 ,had left a gift of gold4 ,so one who sought a land ,where all the earth is ore2 ,but had he sifted sand ,he would have gather'd more4 ,,ii ,the ,sun arose and took ,the lofty heav'ns of right2 ,from out the heav'ns he shook ,the pestilence of his light4 ,he paced upon his path ,and from his right hand hurl'd ,the javelins of his wrath1 ,contemptuous of the world4 ,before his scornful lips ,the forests fell down dead1 ,and scowling in eclipse ,disbanding thunders fled4 ,he fills the hills with fire ,and blasts the barren plain2 ,he hath stript the stricken briar1 ,and slain the thorn again4 ,he cracks the rocks1 and cakes ,the quagmires into crust1 ,and slays the snake1 and makes ,the dead leaf writhe in dust4 ,he halts in heav'n half way ,and blackens earth with light2 ,and the dark doom of day ,lies on us like the night4 ,a ,land of clamorous cries2 ,of everlasting light2 ,of noises in the skies ,and noises in the night4 ,there is no night2 the ,sun ,lives thro' the night again2 ,the image of the ,sun ,is burnt upon the brain4 ,o ,god6 he still returns2 ,he slays us in the dust2 ,the brazen ,death-,star burns ,and stamps us into dust4 ,,iii ,the air is thunder-still4 ,what motion is with us8 ,deep shocks of thunder fill ,the deep sky ruinous2 ,as if1 down lumbering large ,upon these desert tracts1 ,he had fallen about the marge ,in cloudy cataracts4 ,and spot by spot in dust ,the writhing raindrops lie1 ,and turn like blood to rust-- ,writhe1 redden1 shrink1 and dry4 ,a ,land where all day long1 ,day-long descanting dirge1 ,the heavy thunders hang ,and moan upon the verge2 ,where all day long the kite ,her querulous question cries1 ,and circles lost in light ,about the yellow skies2 ,and thou1 ,o ,heart1 art husht ,in the deep dead of day1 ,half restless and half crusht1 ,half soaring too away4 ,day-long the querulous kite ,her querulous question cries1 ,and sails1 a spot of night1 ,about the vasty skies4 ,the puff'd cheeks of typhoons ,blow thro' the worthless clouds ,that roll in writhing moons ,in skies of many moods1 ,none fruitful2 and the clouds ,take up the dust and dance ,a dance of death and shrouds-- ,mock1 mow1 retire1 advance4 ,,iv ,where is the rain8 ,we hear ,the footsteps of the rain1 ,walking in dust1 and1 near1 ,dull thunders over the plain4 ,cloud8--dust4 ,the wind awakes2 ,the base dust we have trod ,smokes up to heaven and takes ,the thunderings of ,god4 ,no rain4 ,the angry dust ,cries out against the rain2 ,the clouds are backward thrust2 ,the monstrous ,sun again4 ,we hoped the rain would fall ,after the dreadful day1 ,for we heard the thunders call ,each other far away4 ,we hoped for rain because ,after thunder rain is given2 ,and yet it only was ,the mockery of heaven4 ,he is the lord of us2 ,he will unconquered sink1 ,red1 but victorious1 ,and smoking to the brink4 ,shout1 barren thunders1 shout ,and rattle and melt again6 ,so fall the fates about1 ,so melt the hopes of men4 ,rattle aloft and wake ,the sleepers on the roofs1 ,wild steeds of heav'n1 and shake ,heav'n with your echoing hoofs4 ,awake the weary at night ,until they cry1 8,the rain60-- ,then take to tempestuous flight ,and melt into air again4 ,v ,this is the land of ,death2 ,the sun his taper is ,wherewith he numbereth ,the dead bones that are his4 ,he walks beside the deep ,and counts the mouldering bones ,in lands of tumbling steep ,and cataracts of stones4 ,about his feet the hosts ,of dead leaves he hath slain ,awaken1 shrieking ghosts ,demanding life again4 ,o silent ,sepulchre1 ,great ,east1 disastrous clime2 ,o grave of things that were2 ,o catacombs of time2 ,o silent catacombs2 ,o blear'd memorial stones2 ,where laughing in the tombs ,death plays with mouldering bones2 ,and through dead bones the stalk ,of the living herb is thrust2 ,and we1 the living1 walk ,in wastes of human dust4 ,dust--thou art dust4 ,thy ,sun1 ,thy lord1 and lord of dust1 ,doth stamp thee into one ,great plain of dust2 and dust ,thy heav'ns1 thy nights1 thy days2 ,thy temples and thy creeds2 ,thy crumbling palaces2 ,thy far forgotten deeds1-- ,infinite dust4 ,half living1 ,we clothe ourselves in dust ,and live1 not to be living1 ,but because we must4 ,thy winds are full of death2 ,death comes we know not whence2 ,thy forests have a breath ,of secret pestilence2 ,thy rivers rolling large ,are blest with no sweet green1 ,but silent at the marge ,the waiting monsters seen4 ,no scented silence1 eve1 ,but night a noisy gloom2 ,and we thy captives live1 ,the derelicts of doom4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,ii 99 99 99 99 99 ,,vox ,,clamantis ,i ,long1 long the barren years2 ,long1 long1 ,o ,god1 hast thou ,appointed for our tears ,this term of exile4 ,lo1 ,life is but nothing thus3 ,old friendships perishd2 ,not hand in hand with us ,the dying father dead2 ,narrow'd the mind that should ,thro' all experience range ,and grow2 in solitude ,unheard the wheels of change4 ,when sadly numbering ,the wasted golden hours ,our fate hath put to wing1 ,that had perchance been ours ,to have seen1 to have known1 to have trod ,about from pole to girth ,this heritage of ,god1 ,this wondrous sculptured earth1 ,seeing that never again ,the usurer ,time gives back1 ,how should we not complain ,this ,present1 barren-black8 ,we said1 #8,we must not mourn2 ,the end is always good2 ,well past the pain well borne4' ,but ,sorrow in her mood ,would not be comforted1 ,and cried1 #8,i know the truth2 ,where are the distant dead1 ,and where the wasted youth8 ,let ,wisdom take her ground ,and ,hope do what she can2 ,ill heals the dreadful wound ,that severs half a man4' ,sorrow1 not so beguiled1 ,would take my hand and lead1 ,but waiting ,wisdom smiled ,and took my hand instead1 ,and answered1 #8,well ,i rede ,the shackled win the goal2 ,the body's strengthener ,need1 ,and ,sorrow of the soul4 ,but mine the part be given ,to guide and hers to follow1 ,and so win thro' to heaven4' ,and ,sorrow said1 #8,i follow4' ,,ii ,to sadness and to self ,we should not enter in-- ,sadness the shadow of self ,and self the shadow of sin-- ,unless because the whole ,of human life appears ,clear only when the soul ,is darken'd thro' with tears4 ,the day too full of light ,with light her own light mars2 ,but in the shading night ,the shining host of stars4 ,that1 leaving manhood1 men ,should kiss the hands of grief ,and1 loving but the wen1 ,the wart1 the wither'd leaf1 ,amass a hoard of husks ,when joy is in the corn ,nor ever evening dusks ,without the tints of morn1 ,informs with doubt if good ,be1 or omnipotent2 ,since in the brightest blood ,this idle discontent4 ,joy1 jester at herself1 ,and happiness1 of woe1 ,if self at peace with self ,know not1 when shall he know8 ,so one1 a prosperous man2 ,nightly the people fill ,his toast1 and what he can ,is only what he will4 ,they shout2 his name is wed ,with thunders2 torches flare2 ,tost in a wretched bed ,he chews a trifling care4 ,,iii ,one says in scorn1 #8,the strife ,to live well keeps us well1 ,and 'tis the unworthy life ,that makes the prison cell4' ,and one1 #8,an angel stood ,on sands of withering heat2 ,the flowerless solitude ,grew green beneath his feet4' ,a third1 #8,many would lief ,endure thy solitude ,as else4 ,ascribe thy grief ,to poison in the blood4' ,and ,i1 #8,o ,soul1 content ,yet in thine exile dwell1 ,and live up to thy bent4 ,not more than well is well2 ,but take the sports divine1 ,the largesse of the earth2 ,wind-drinking steeds be thine ,and blowsd chase--the mirth ,of those who wisely draw ,their lives in nature's vein ,and live in the large law1 ,of slaying or being slain4 #8,or learn by looking round4 ,lift up thine eyes4 ,avow ,the gardener of thy ground ,doth worthier work than thou4 ,from his poor cot he wends ,at early break of day2 ,his pretty charges tends ,in his unskilful way4 ,much wearied with his toil ,he labours thro' the hours1 ,and pours upon the soil ,refreshment for his flowers4 #8,tho' bent with aged stoop1 ,to him no rest is given1 ,but the heads of those that droop ,he raises up to heaven4 ,half ready for the grave1 ,his weakness he forgets1 ,more scrupulous to save ,the breath of violets4 ,but at the evening hour ,when he shall seek repose1 ,the voice of every flower ,will bless him as he goes4' 99 99 99 99 99 ,,self-,,sorrows ,i ,these stones that idly make ,an idle land and lie1 ,fantastic forms1 or break ,down crumbling hills not high ,in arid cataracts ,where meagre cattle stray ,to search the meagre tracts ,of bitter grass3 for aye ,they move not1 live not1 lie ,dull eyes that watch the world1 ,and exiles asking why ,god brought them here or hurl'd4 ,we would we could have torn ,this winding web of fate ,which round us barely born ,hath bought us to this state ,of being cast away ,among these tombs4 ,the river ,of life here day by day ,runs downward slower ever ,into black washes4 ,true ,yet holds our destiny-- ,to live a year or two1 ,look round us once and die4 ,if we should try to trace ,in portions1 line by line1 ,the beauty of a face ,to know why thus divine1 ,seeing but many curves1 ,we miss the inner soul ,and find no part deserves ,that merit of the whole4 ,and so to analyse ,thy mournful spirit vain1 ,o ,exile2 but our sighs ,suffice to prove the pain4 ,to grow from much to more ,in knowledge1 and to put ,a power to every power1 ,a foot before a foot1 ,toward that goal of good ,that glimmers thro' the night ,above the time and mood1 ,a star of constant light2 ,at last to meet the dark1 ,the goal not reach'd indeed1 ,but full of hours and work1 ,are1 ,exile1 not thy creed4 ,and less to leap to catch ,the spinning spokes of change2 ,in our brief life to snatch ,all aspects and to range ,full-face with every view2 ,to sit with those who toil1 ,great spirits1 toiling too2 ,still less to fan or foil ,those fires that1 rushing fast ,thro' all the people's life1 ,break roaring round the past ,in renovating strife4 ,if in the energic ,west ,man ever grows more large1 ,like ocean without rest ,exploring at the marge1 ,here lower yet he turns ,for ever downward thrust-- ,the baleful ,sun-,god burns ,and breaks him into dust2 ,or like his native plains ,where nothing new appears1 ,or hath appeared1 remains ,unchanged a thousand years4 ,,ii ,tho' sorrows darkly veiled ,at all men's tables 7nor ,the guests make question1 paled1 ,nor children hush before ,those presences of grief7 ,sit1 yet to all men due ,due rights2 the sweet relief ,of home2 the friendship true2 ,the dying word2 to feel ,their country in their keep2 ,to heave along the wheel1 ,and push against the steep4 ,but in this wilderness1 ,wed to a rock or two1 ,what joys have we to bless8 ,far1 far1 our friends and few2 ,and thou1 ,o happy ,land1 ,we dream of thee in vain-- ,one moment see1 then stand ,within this waste again4 ,the great earth in her zones ,matureth day by day2 ,but we1 like waiting stones1 ,know time but by decay4 ,grief hath a shadow1 shame2 ,and manhood1 meanly tost ,in woes without a name ,and sorrows that are lost1 ,look'd at1 when in the streets ,true sorrow1 seal'd with sores ,and wrap'd in rags1 entreats ,a charity from ours1 ,manhood can best control2 ,but this dark exile hath ,worse wounds1 and of the soul-- ,a misery and a wrath4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,exile ,i ,happy the man who ploughs ,all day his native croft2 ,he looks to heaven and knows1 ,smiling1 the lark aloft4 ,happy the man whose toil ,leads on laborious hills2 ,the rock beneath the soil ,the measure of his ills4 ,happiest1 who can go forth ,thro' every age and clime1 ,his home the whole of earth1 ,his heritage all time4 ,in vasty ,wilds and with ,no crimson petals pranckt ,the shallow briars breathe ,and bloom and die unthankt4 ,and we the useless ,briar1 ,and round us ,desert spread ,the red ,sun rolls his fire ,and smites the ,desert dead2 ,death1 ,silence1 and the ,star ,with scornful nostrils curl'd2 ,and half-forgotten1 far1 ,the movements of the world4 ,,ii ,one hour released ,i rusht ,about the world again2 ,the living thousands crusht2 ,the streets were full of rain2 ,i felt the north wind sting ,and glory'd in the sleet2 ,i heard my footsteps ring ,along the frosty street2 ,and saw--less seen than felt-- ,swift-flashing ,italy1 ,and that bright city built ,upon the mirroring ,sea4 ,,iii ,my country1 my ,england1 home1 ,are thy flowers bright1 thy bells ,ringing the spring welcome1 ,the winter long farewells8 ,are thy fields fair--each flower ,fill'd with the heav'nly dew1 ,my country1 at this hour ,when ,i am thinking of you8 ,art thou so far1 so fair8 ,across what leagues of foam1 ,my country8 ,art thou still there1 ,my ,england1 my country1 my home8 ,,iv ,this hateful desert land ,is pent by a great sea ,that booms upon the strand ,for ever4 ,salt the sea ,and salt the shore2 the thorn ,and cactus stand and gaze ,upon these waves2 new-born ,the young grass ends her days2 ,straightly the beach is lined4 ,i wander to the shore4 ,the sunset dies behind1 ,the full moon springs before4 ,of these great ,deeps that link ,the land ,i love with this1 ,i wander to the brink1 ,i watch the waters kiss ,this lonely shore4 ,o ,waves1 ,o ,winds and ,waters1 where ,my country8 ,sing1 ,o ,waves1 ,and tell me of it here4 ,o ,night8 ,o ,moon that comest1 ,a sad face fronting mine8 ,o dusking ,deep that boomest1 ,what tidings of it thine8 ,v ,o ,homeland1 at this hour ,what joys are thine8 ,this moon ,what lovers in what bower ,sees8 and what jocund tune ,from smoky villages ,is heard8 ,what homely light ,shines welcome through the trees8 ,what watch-dog barks delight8 ,what lingering linnet flings ,her good-night in the air8 ,what honeysuckle rings ,her chime of fragrance there8 ,one moment1 and ,i see ,the cot1 the lane1 the light1 ,the moon behind the tree1 ,the evening turn to night2 ,one moment know the scent ,of smoke of fragrant fires1 ,and hear the cattle pent ,within the wattled byres4 ,one moment--and ,i wake2 ,the vision fades and falls2 ,these lifeless deserts make ,me adamantine walls4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,iii 99 99 99 99 99 ,,soul-,,scorn ,no cloak of cloudy wrack ,the mistless mystery mars1 ,but all the desert is black ,beneath the quivering stars4 ,i hear the pinions creak ,of night-birds1 beating by2 ,and lost hyaenas shriek ,unto the spectral sky4 ,the ,stars1 immortal ,sons ,of ,god1 are full of fire2 ,but we1 rejected ones1 ,know heav'n but in desire4 ,my ,soul said1 #8,art thou dead8 ,the chasm of night is riv'n2 ,what dost thou see8' ,i said1 #8,the full-fired fires of heav'n4' #8,look not but see1' he said4 ,i said1 #8,i know not whether ,they are the hosts of ,god ,clashing their spears together4 ,so bright the stars appear ,their splendour smokes in heav'n2 ,i think indeed ,i hear ,their distant voices ev'n4' ,he said1 #8,see not but know4' ,i said1 #8,i cannot see2 ,i think perhaps they go ,to some great victory4' ,he said1 #8,for ever they go1 ,still onward1 on and on2 ,and that is why they know ,the victory's clarion4' ,i said1 #8,i am too weak ,to do more than ,i must4' ,he said1 #8,then cease to seek ,and perish in the dust4' 99 99 99 99 99 ,,resolve ,bound in misfortune's bands1 ,blindfold and brought to nought1 ,i would reach out my hands ,and touch eternal thought4 ,i cannot choose but try ,behind these prison bars ,to measure earth and sky ,and know the whole of stars2 ,and what ,i rede ,i write1 ,vain visions as they rise1 ,vain visions of the night1 ,unworthy others' eyes4 ,i said1 #8,tho' dungeon'd here ,in these deep dens of night1 ,my soul shall persevere ,to seek supernal light2 ,untainted ,truth to know ,from that fair face of ,lies ,whose heav'nly features glow ,like ,truth's1 save in the eyes2 ,till1 after all these years1 ,the wisdom come unsought ,to see the stars as spheres ,and sound the bounds of thought4' 99 99 99 99 99 ,,desert-,,thoughts ,i hold with them who see ,nor only idly stand ,the deed of thought to be ,worth many deeds of hand4 ,ever as we journey sink ,the old behind the new1 ,and ,heav'n commands we think ,as justly as we do4 ,one golden virtue more ,than virtue we must prize1 ,one iron duty more ,than duty1 to be wise4 ,who to himself hath said1 #8,this chamber must be closed2 ,this tract of truth ,i dread1 ,this darkness ,god-imposed ,may not be lifted1' keeps ,an ever-open door ,thro' which deception creeps1 ,confounding more and more1 ,until to wild extremes ,of falsehood driv'n he dies1 ,intoxicate with dreams ,and drunk with a thousand lies4 ,and more if he have taken ,a secret lie for friend1 ,he shall be found forsaken1 ,and terrible his end4 ,so one doth travelling ride2 ,a dreadful forest fears2 ,rejoiced at length a guide ,he meeteth unawares4 ,with thunder overthrown ,day dies in solitude2 ,the guide1 a monster grown1 ,devours him in the wood4 ,idle and base the cry #8,if it be so1 so be it2 ,but if it be so1 then ,i ,will look not lest ,i see it4' ,or this1 #8,if it be so ,we lose this thing or that2 ',twere better not to know4' ,the lightning spareth not ,the timorous soul who hides ,his head in danger thus3 ,the iron fact abides2 ,things were not made for us4 ,who answers1 who repines8 ,not he who works in love1 ,but he who thinks divines ,the thing he cannot prove4 ,he takes his stand and rolls ,the phrase he hopes for ,heav'n1 ,but cheats the hungry souls ,and gives them bread of leav'n4 ,his ears are filled with wax1 ,his bandaged eyeballs blind1 ,and yet no doubts perplex1 ,and he can see the wind4 ,though all in science good1 ,by incessant question found1 ,beyond it strayed we brood ,and argue round and round2 ,and where we hoped the end1 ,such distance we have come1 ,amazed we only find ,the point we started from2 ,and fancies1 like the breath ,we utter1 do but prove ,a cloud above1 beneath1 ,to fog us as we move4 ,we climb from cloud to cloud ,the airy precipice2 ,fain would we reach to ,god2 ,we fall thro' the abyss4 ,the vapours will not bear4 ,wild-clutching we are hurl'd ,thro' measurements of air ,again upon the world4 ,clear rings the answer high1 #8,the mystery makes itself2 ,the mystery is a lie2 ,be cleansed and know thyself4' ,if with unshaken will1 ,resolving not to stray ,but to be rising still1 ,we clamber day by day ,from truth to truth1 at last1 ,in valleys of the night ,not lost1 we know the vast ,and simple upper light1 ,only one labouring knows4 ,the base1 tumultuous wreck ,of rock and forest shows2 ,the summit1 a single peak4 ,so sought1 so seen1 so found4 ,and what the end so high8 ,a summit splendour crown'd ,between the earth and sky1 ,where with sidereal blaze ,the mistless planets glow1 ,and stars unsully'd gaze ,on unpolluted snow4 ,no strife the vast reveals ,but perfect peace indeed-- ,the thunder of spinning wheels ,at rest in eternal speed4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,the ,,gains ,,of ,,time ,loll'd in the lap of home2 ,full-fed with fruits of time ,ripen'd on labour'd loam ,by others1 since the prime2 ,ingrate1 we give no thought ,to all these golden things ,the toiling past hath brought1 ,the toiling present brings4 ,but on this silent shore ,and waste barbarian1 ,we hear the engines roar ,and mind the might of man4 ,so one in savage lands3 ,he enters all alone2 ,no weapon in his hands4 ,the secret spears unthrown1 ,the creepers lose their guile1 ,seeing his face1 distrest ,they know not why4 ,a smile1 ,a sign or two1 a jest1 ,and all on bended knees ,withhold the savage stroke4 ,with beating heart he sees ,the lessening steamer-smoke4 ,he draws a power to be ,from powers sacrificed2 ,and in his eyes we see ,the teaching of the ,christ1 ,and all the great beside1 ,the oracles of time ,from ,delphic clefts have cried ,or crasht in thundering rhyme4 ,a book his finger parts2 ,he moves thro' adverse cries2 ,master of many arts ,and careless of the skies4 ,what are thy mighty deeds1 ,o ,past1 thy gains1 ,o ,time8 ,a dust of ruin'd creeds1 ,a scroll or two of rhyme8 ,a temple earthquake-dasht8 ,a false record of things8 ,a picture lightning-flasht ,of cruel eyes of kings8 ,no1 these3 a wiser rule2 ,a science of ampler span2 ,a heart more pitiful2 ,more mind2 a nobler man4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,invocation ,i ,thee most we honour1 thee1 ,great ,science4 ,hold thy way4 ,the end thou canst not see1 ,but in the end the day4 ,seek without seeking ends1 ,and shatter without ruth2 ,on thee our fate depends2 ,be faithful1 keep the truth4 ,we think it false to dream ,beyond the likely fact2 ,we grant thee1 ,truth1 supreme1 ,whatever thou exact4 ,i pray thee1 ,truth1 control ,my destiny distraught1 ,and move my sightless soul ,in thy high ways of thought4 ,hold thou my hand4 ,i go ,wherever thou wilt guide1 ,tho' bleak the bitter snow ,and black the mountain side4 ,or if thou bid'st descend1 ,i fear not for myself1 ,tho' raging thunders rend ,and lightnings lash1 the gulf4 ,my deeds ,i will endow1 ,my spirit render clean1 ,o ,truth1 with thee2 and thou ,wilt make the desert green2 ,and haply show withal ,the wells that will not sink1 ,sweet pastures for the soul1 ,and in the desert drink4 ,confounded by these briars1 ,thy stars will compass me ,and be the beacon fires ,to light mine eyes to thee4 ,,ii ,but in my state infirm ,that ,spirit comes and cries ,to me in wrath1 #8,o worm1 ,they see not who have eyes1 ,how thou that hast not8 ,know1 ,my children drink the sun1 ,taking them wings to go ,where others walk or run3 ,yet scarcely one life-taught ,can ever rightly heed ,the issue of a thought ,or do a fruitful deed4' 99 99 99 99 99 ,,despairs ,i ,i call no curse on fate1 ,i call no curse on thee1 ,o barren bitter state ,of exile1 such to me4 ,i would but only this3 ,i wish that ,i could go ,and see the thing that is1 ,and1 seeing1 better know2 ,and take things in my hand ,and find if false or fit2 ,but in this far-off land ,what hope is there of it8 ,there is no hope of it2 ,i see but sad despair1 ,unless it may be writ ,god cureth care by care4 ,so one in prison thrust2 ,he ages span by span1 ,but in the prison dust ,becomes a better man4 ,so one is blind from birth2 ,all day he sitteth still2 ,he cannot see the earth1 ,but heaven when he will4 ,,ii ,i thought that ,i might rise ,and1 looking to the stars1 ,lift up my blinded eyes ,and bless ,god unawares1 ,in words whose merit this-- ,poor buds of blighting air-- ,to know no loveliness ,but breathe the scent of prayer2 ,since ,heaven hath decreed ,who suffers lives with ,god1 ,and he who writes indeed ,must write in his own blood ,i thought1 tho' fetter'd fast1 ,i yet might move my hands ,to cast or to recast ,some labour--sift the sands ,for knowledge--search the vast ,some hidden hope to find-- ,perhaps to help at last ,the cause of humankind4 ,o hope abandon'd6 ,not ,in me the worth or wit4 ,god gave this lowly lot ,because ,i merit it4 ,in humble ways ,i move ,myself to little things2 ,the heated hands ,i prove1 ,i watch the light that springs ,or fades in fever'd eyes2 ,my only solace here1 ,not to be rich or wise ,but to have done with fear4 ,god sees the silent space ,where footstep never trod2 ,and in the lonely place ,the listener is ,god4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,iv 99 99 99 99 99 ,,induration ,deep1 deep in league with ,fate1 ,fate fast in league with ,sorrow1 ,and ,sorrow with my state1 ,i would that ,i could borrow1 ,o ,deep1 a depth from thee1 ,o ,fate1 thy fixd calm1 ,o ,sorrow1 what to me ,thou givest not1 thy balm2 ,that ,i might worthier show ,a scorn of your controls1 ,and let ,misfortune know ,iron chains make iron souls4 ,if chain'd we could but take ,contagion from the steel1 ,and wisdom's mantle shake ,around us head to heel1 ,and chill the eyes and rest ,no longer violent1 ,the steel1 still more imprest1 ,would banish discontent4 ,the strongest chains are burst ,when we have done with care2 ,a joy lives in the worst1 ,a gladness in despair4 ,so when great clouds all night ,hold high debate of thunder ,in awful tones that fright ,the huddled cities under2 ,and roar their rage and move ,about the breadths of space1 ,and sudden flashes prove ,the madness in their face2 ,at length1 when break of day ,shows heav'nly peace newborn1 ,they muttering melt away ,before the might of morn4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,wisdom',s ,,counsel ,i ,but ,wisdom wearying said1 #8,i know a nobler way4 ,let ,fate with ,sorrow wed ,and give the ,deep his day2 ,but turn thine eyes and see ,with some more love sincere ,the prisoners that with thee ,are also dungeon'd here-- ,the pale flower in the chink1 ,the spider at the grate1 ,the bird that comes to drink ,his tollage from thy plate4' ,grief1 sitting sad'ning still ,with cold eyes inward cast1 ,looks round the empty will ,and dreary chambers vast ,of thought4 ,she cannot sit2 ,she loathes her selfish tears2 ,she looks once more without1 ,and lo6 worse grief appears4 ,her tears bechidden freeze2 ,she watches the world's need1 ,and deeper sorrow sees1 ,and that that weeps indeed4 ,there is no misery ,attired in mourning wear1 ,worse misery may not see1 ,and that that goeth bare4 ,we have no heavy cross ,to some one's is not small2 ,we weep no heavy loss ,but some one weeps his all2 ,and not the grief unseen1 ,and not the aching mind1 ,cries like the sorrow seen ,and shivering in the wind4 ,,ii ,half stun'd ,i look around ,and see a land of death-- ,dead bones that walk the ground ,and dead bones underneath2 ,a race of wretches caught ,between the palms of ,need ,and rub'd to utter naught1 ,the chaff of human seed2 ,and all like stricken leaves1 ,despondent multitudes ,the wind of winter drives ,about the broken woods4 ,the toiler tills the field1 ,but at his bosom coil'd ,the blood-leach makes him yield ,the pence for which he toil'd1 ,and grows and drops off fat ,from these poor breathless ones1 ,who know not this or that ,but work themselves to bones2 ,and this one fever'd flags1 ,and that one hopeless tries1 ,or uncomplaining drags ,a giant leg1 and dies4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,impatience ,vain drug6 ,if ,i am sick ,can others' sickness heal8 ,or dead1 death make me quick8 ,i care not what they feel4 ,what reck ,i8 ,let me go4 ,is not my bosom full8 ,the sorrow that ,i know ,makes others' sorrow dull4 ,i will shut up the soul1 ,for only joy is just4 ,stones with the river roll1 ,and we ev'n as we must4 ,why should ,i think of thee1 ,o ,wisdom1 and thy lies8 ,better laugh and foolish be ,than laugh not and be wise4 ,the wild-birds heed thee not2 ,of thee no torrents roar2 ,the deep seas know no jot ,of all thy little lore2 ,but man who cannot 'scape ,to follow thee and trust1 ,thou takest by the nape ,and grindest in the dust4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,world-,,sorrows ,i ,lo6 here accursd caste ,hath made men things that creep2 ,the beggars totter past1 ,the baser sultans sleep2 ,the limping lepers crawl1 ,the tricking traders cheat2 ,the lean ones cry and fall1 ,the fat ones curse and beat2 ,never hath freedom's cry ,the stifling stillness cleaved2 ,the hopeless millions die ,that yet have never lived4 ,no noble god of earth1 ,man can but snatch and eat2 ,starvation murders worth1 ,wealth makes the beast complete4 ,what horror here6 ,is this ,thy revelation1 ,truth8 ,i shake at the abyss4 ,what hunger1 rage1 and ruth1 ,how hopeless6 ,heaven1 we men ,are not the gods we think6-- ,base pismires of the fen ,that fight and bite and sink4 ,,ii ,o myriad-childed ,mother1 ,sitting among their graves ,who thee and one another ,have made for ever slaves1 ,great ,east2 ,o aged ,mother1 ,too old for ,fear and ,hope-- ,fear that is ,pleasure's brother1 ,and ,sorrow's sister1 ,hope-- ,as erst in ages gone1 ,so now1 thou art half dead1 ,thy countenance turned to stone ,by an eternal dread4 ,with lips that dare not move ,and awful lids apart1 ,while yet faint pulses prove ,the life about thy heart1 ,thou sitt'st at dreadful gaze ,into the dreadful ,vast3 ,for thou canst well appraise ,the future by the past1 ,where thou beholdest ,death ,confound and desolate1 ,and men like ants beneath ,the giant feet of ,fate4 ,,iii ,are these thy mighty deeds1 ,o ,past1 thy gains1 ,o ,time8 ,this wrack of ruin'd creeds1 ,this scroll or two of rhyme8-- ,a temple earthquake-dasht2 ,a false record of things2 ,a picture1 lightning-flasht1 ,of cruel eyes of kings2 ,a mangled race that bleeds ,in cruel custom's claws1 ,besotted by their creeds1 ,and murder'd by their laws8 ,right easily understood ,fate's lesson is1 tho' slow2 ,she takes a nation's blood ,to jot a word or two4 ,and for sufficient space ,to write a line of hers1 ,she wipes away a race ,and dashes down the verse1 ,and cries1 #8,so much to each1 ,and man may mark or not2 ,but what ,i choose to teach ,shall never be forgot4' 99 99 99 99 99 ,,philosophies ,i ,if it be not to be1 ,or being be in vain1 ,that high philosophy ,shall ever counsel men ,to mend this mindless state ,in which1 as in the ,east1 ,we drift on floods of fate1 ,as helpless as the beast1 ,then here the issue is-- ,look on this land and weep-- ,a race as ruin'd as this1 ,a misery as deep4 ,,ii ,seeing how pent we are ,within our human ways1 ,that save in ceaseless war ,we cannot spend our days1 ,in struggle each with each ,to get a breathing space1 ,while ,heaven1 out of reach1 ,looks on with scornful face2 ,i wonder1 for man's sake1 ,cannot that mind of his ,which made the engine make ,a better state than this8 ,here sitting in my place ,there comes to me unsought ,the beautiful sad face ,of this undying thought4 ,and with it as in scorn ,the present state descried ,of monsters heaven-born ,and angels crucify'd1 ,where1 scourged to unnatural toil1 ,in palsy'd posture bent1 ,man creeping near the soil ,forgets the firmament4 ,,iii ,since1 since we first began ,to measure near and far1 ,and know that the thoughts of man ,his chiefest actions are1 ,a thousand cries in sooth ,call us thro' time amain1 ,and every cry a truth ,and every truth a gain1 ,and yet the needful task1 ,to mend this state withal1 ,remains undone2 we ask1 ,what is the good of all8 ,do1 cries the lofty seer2 ,believe1 the prelate cries2 ,be1 beauty's priest austere ,persuades4 ,the man replies1 #8,we have three beds at home ,where eight of us must lie2 ,three blankets and one room1 ,my children1 wife and ,i4 ,all day our work we mind2 ,but little money gain2 ,at night the wintry wind ,whines thro' the window-pane4' ,so one doth read at ease ,with comfortable wine ,devout philosophies ,that say1 for him1 divine1 ,to be1 to bear1 to act1 ,to know oneself1 be strong1 ,are all the heav'ns exact4 ,he answers1 #8,i am strong2 ,i fear not any fate2 ,i do2 ,i nobly bear4' ,a beggar at his gate ,cries in the bitter air4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,lies ,i ,come1 lie to us1 let us glow2 ,pour out the red wine2 speak2 ,pour out the sweet lies--so ,we shall be warm and sleek4 ,tell us in manner high ,the flattering things that soothe2 ,but hush the outer cry ,and crush the inner truth4 ,what matters all the din ,of truth--discordant cries8 ,we quaff the joyous wine ,and lap ourselves in lies4 ,the lordly anthem peals ,the while the people rot2 ,the gilded church reveals ,the penury of their lot4 ,no matter--let them starve6 ,the gorgeous mass atones2 ,these glorious arches serve ,to sepulchre their bones4 ,come1 hymn the dying wretch ,with pans on the harps2 ,nard and vermilion fetch ,to paint and scent the corpse4 ,,ii ,into the hand of man1 ,when by the gods first form'd1 ,they gave this talisman1 ,the dull stone ,reason1 arm'd ,with which to brave the skies ,and make the earth his throne4 ,but to his infant eyes ,a brighter treasure shone-- ,the tinsel ,fancy1 flame ,illusive2 and alas1 ,he flung away the gem ,and took the glittering glass4 ,,iii ,vain1 vain the visions--vain1 ,dreams that intoxicate ,in the dark day when men ,come face to face with fate4 ,not out of knowledge grown ,the empty dogmas rise1 ,but gilded bubbles blown ,from the foul froth of lies4 ,cease6 ,let the lies be hurl'd ,back to the darkling past4 ,truth1 only1 saves the world1 ,and ,science rules the vast4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,truth-,,service ,,and ,,self-,,service ,i ,alas6 we know not what ,withholds us from the goal ,for ever2 an inner rot ,consumes the seeing soul4 ,only the truth will serve2 ,but he who follows it1 ,and finds1 has not the nerve ,to rule the world with it4 ,the cunning keep the crown2 ,and fate decrees that he ,who lives with truth alone ,shall win no victory4 ,,ii ,not to be granted great1 ,not to be crowned in youth1 ,his soul is passionate ,with anger for the truth4 ,he feels the spirit-drouth1 ,he seeks the mad emprise ,to mock the mocking mouth ,and smite the lips of lies4 ,not his the happy guile ,to veil the flinching eye1 ,here where we sit and smile ,to hear each other lie4 ,but ours to live1 forsooth2 ,we keep a decent face ,and seize the skirts of truth ,and skip into a place2 ,with bearded wisdom thence ,our noble plan unfold ,for gathering good--pretence ,indeed for gathering gold4 ,but he--he cannot rise2 ,he slowly falls apart2 ,for all these human lies ,are needles in his heart4 ,he has the truth1 he thinks2 ,he shivers in his rags2 ,the laughing liar chinks ,his bursting money-bags ,of lie-begotten pelf1 ,and climbs the ladder of lies ,to fortune--for himself1 ,and not for wisdom1 wise4 ,we crown the charlatan2 ,but show to him who shapes ,a priceless work for man ,the gratitude of apes4 ,so one with toil hath writ ,the work which is his life4 ,being poor1 he has no wit2 ,his reader is his wife2 ,they live in direst need2 ,no fortunate patron shows ,the work for men to read2 ,he dies1 and no one knows4 ,a jealous rival burns ,the work he will not save2 ,the buried poet turns ,and mutters in his grave4 ,,iii ,old ,ape1 old ,earth1 we smile1 ,thou ancient ,land of ,lies1 ,at all thy simple guile1 ,thy wisdom that's not wise4 ,scum of the populace1 ,the chatterer1 cheat1 and fool1 ,thou puttest in high place ,to scourge thee and to rule2 ,but him who thee hath given ,the good food of the land ,or water out of heaven ,thou bitest in the hand4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,wraths ,my soul is full of fire1 ,wrath and tempestuous dirge2 ,i feel but one desire1 ,to find a sword and scourge3 ,since man1 by right of birth ,and nature's gift at least ,a god upon the earth1 ,remaineth but a beast1 ,ill-ruling1 blind and halt1 ,and not by powers' unknown1 ,or far-off ,heaven's1 fault1 ,but chiefly by his own4 ,lies6--let us drink them up1 ,the sweet and bitter lies6 ,man takes the maddening cup ,and drinks and dreams and dies4 ,pure as revealing morn ,the angel ,truth stands there2 ,but we1 oh basely born6 ,dare not to look at her4 ,not by eternal laws ,condemn'd to eternal ruth1 ,we suffer2 but because ,we dare not face the truth4 ,we wreath and sanctify us ,to the inferior gods2 ,for things which vilify us ,we lash ourselves with rods4 ,we rip our veins and bleed ,before the gods of mire2 ,for ,moloch1 without need1 ,consume our babes in fire2 ,but the greatest ,god of all ,in eternal silence reigns2 ,to ,his high audience-hall ,no human soul attains4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,vision ,,of ,,nescience ,i ,a vision of the night4 ,i started in my bed4 ,a finger in the night ,was placed upon my head4 ,a ray of corruption1 blue ,as in encharnel'd air ,on corpses comes4 ,i knew ,a ,death1 a ,woman there4 ,delirious1 knee to knee1 ,they drank of love like wine1 ,he skeleton thin1 and she ,most beautiful1 most divine4 ,he with his eyes half warm'd ,out of their wan eclipse ,with lipless kisses storm'd ,upon her living lips1 ,and like a vulture quaff'd1 ,and raised his hideous head ,with joy aloft1 and laugh'd ,like vultures sipping blood4 ,the purple1 fold by fold1 ,fell from her1 and1 unseen1 ,the diadem of gold ,by which ,i knew her queen4 ,nor he unknown3 for at ,his feet the fiery brand ,and freezing fetters that ,endow him with command4 ,and on his head a crown ,of thirsty thorns of flame ,that flicker'd up and down ,in words that went and came ,like ,god's1 #8,i am of ,god'2 ,and said1 #8,duty to me ,is duty unto ,god'2 ,and said1 #8,come unto me1 ,and ,i will give you rest4' ,then as ,i wonder'd1 lo6 ,i saw the ,woman waste ,to nothing2 and he1 as tho' ,blood nourisht by her blood1 ,grow grosser in the gloom ,and leprous like the toad ,that battens in the tomb4 ,and both corrupted pined4 ,and lo6 a voice that wept1 ,and then a faint far wind ,of laughter2 and ,i slept4 ,,ii ,methought the heav'ns were crusht2 ,a myriad angels stood2 ,a wind of thunder rusht ,before the feet of ,god4 ,he spake3 #8,accursd men1 ,i find your earth a hell2 ,show me what ye have done2 ,i bade ye order well4' ,they said1 #8,well we have pray'd1 ,lord1 and for ,heaven's hope ,a thousand temples made4' ,and ,his lightning lickt them up4 99 99 99 99 99 ,v 99 99 99 99 99 ,,the ,,deeps ,i ,spirit1 tho' without a name1 ,great1 the left hand of ,god2 ,who coolest the quick flame ,and bendest back the rod ,his awful right hand bears1 ,till the dull worm of earth ,no worse in darkness fares ,than things of brighter birth1 ,nor in the lapse of hell ,all everlasting gloom1 ,help us to suffer well ,these dark days of our doom4 ,swift ,smiter of extremes1 ,who only lettest us live2 ,who feedest with bright dreams ,at midnight1 and dost give ,even to the poorest wretch ,of this distressful land ,a draught1 a rag1 a stretch ,of soil1 a loving hand1 ,ours too the guardian ,thou2 ,and if no other good ,thou wilt bestow1 endow ,at least with fortitude4 ,,ii ,long1 long the barren years4 ,a deeper darkness grows2 ,the road-side tree appears ,no more2 the shadows close4 ,lost1 ,i sit down with night ,and weave night-horrors here-- ,sad voices heard in flight1 ,and warnings in the air1 ,and convocations of thunder ,above tumultuous woods1 ,and white stars weeping under ,black threatening of clouds4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,loss ,i ,death too hath come with ,sorrow4 ,sorrow enough to-day ,brings ,death with her to-morrow1 ,unwelcome guest1 to stay ,with us4 ,if ,i be sick ,i know not1 care not1 and ,the night is very thick2 ,my tract of toil is sand4 ,hated the daily toil2 ,hated the toil ,i loved2 ,daily the worthless soil ,sinks back as it is moved4 ,,ii ,i seized the hands of ,grief2 ,i would not thus be thrown2 ,but ,death came like a thief ,behind and seized my own ,i held debate with ,pain1 ,and half persuaded her2 ,then came the utterance plain ,of ,death1 the ,answerer4 #8,cryest thou so before ,thou sufferest8' he said2 #8,wait yet a little more ,and thou shalt cry indeed4' ,sorrow so darkly veiled ,will take my hand and lead4 ,o ,wisdom1 thou hast failed1 ,and ,sorrow1 she must lead2 ,and ,death with her4 ,he goes ,before and readeth plain ,the painful list of those ,dear ones whom he hath slain4 ,they fail1 they fall1 they sink1 ,torn from the treacherous sands2 ,the deeps of death they drink ,and reach out madden'd hands4 ,a mist across the deep ,of future and of past1 ,the rock whereon we creep1 ,the present we hold fast1 ,visible alone4 ,around1 ,the rolling wreathes of fog2 ,the unseen surges sound2 ,dead eyes are in the fog4 ,we have no airy scope2 ,we are not things that fly2 ,we are but things that grope ,from hand to hand and die4 ,not many friends1 ,o ,god1 ,ours1 and so far1 so dear4 ,so far that less manhood1 ,losing1 can nobly bear ,the loss1 as1 having1 more ,must love4 ,what bitter loss ,to us so distant4 ,for ,no dying word to us2 ,no hand in ours2 not even ,to see the well-known spot1 ,the room1 the chair is given2 ,to visit the sacred plot4 99 99 99 ,,iii ,o ,lily that to the lips ,pal'st at the name of death1 ,and with'rest in eclipse1 ,and yieldest a sickly breath3 ,and ,rose that sheddest thy leaves ,and tremblest as they fall1-- ,know ye what power bereaves ,and takes the sum of all8 ,now slowly perishing ,down to the leafless core1 ,ye die2 no lovely thing2 ,a heart1 and nothing more4 ,,iv ,if we could think that death ,as surely as we dream1 ,to us who dwell beneath ,the summit of supreme ,prospective--,love and ,peace-- ,will open ,heav'nly sweets2 ,it would be wise to cease1 ,if ceasing thus completes2 ,unless the further faith1 ,malefiant power pursue ,in death those who in death ,have hoped to struggle thro'4 ,v ,the tropic night is husht ,with hateful noises--hark6 ,the fluttering night-moth crusht ,by reptiles in the dark ,about the bed2 the sound ,of tiny shrieks of pain2 ,of midnight murders round2 ,of creatures serpent-slain4 ,a moan of thunder fills ,the stagnant air2 and soon ,a black cloud from the hills ,devours the helpless moon4 ,those faces stampt in air ,when all the hateful night ,we toss1 and cannot bear ,the heated bed1 and night ,is full of silent sounds ,that walk about the bed 7,the whining night-fly wounds ,the ear2 the air is dead2 ,the darkness madness2 heat ,a hell73 appear and gaze2 ,are silent2 at the feet ,stand gazing2 going gaze4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,vi 99 99 99 99 99 ,,death ,i ,the ,sun said1 #8,i have trod ,the hateful ,darkness dead1 ,and the hand of approving ,god ,is placed upon my head4' ,and cried1 #8,where art thou1 ,night8 ,come forth1 thou ,worm2 appear1 ,that ,i may slay thee quite4' ,and the ,night answered1 #8,here4' ,and the ,sun said1 #8,my might ,is next to ,his1 ,most ,high2 ,canst thou destroy me1 ,night8' ,and the ,night answered1 #8,aye4' ,,ii ,this moond ,desert round1 ,those deeps before me spread1 ,i sought for ,hope1 and found ,him beautiful1 but dead4 ,in this resounding ,waste ,i sought for ,hope1 and cried1 #8,where art thou1 ,hope8'--,aghast1 ,i found that he had died4 ,i cried for ,hope4 ,the ,briars ,pointed the way he'd gone2 ,cold were the ,heav'nly ,fires1 ,colder the numb-lipped ,moon4 #8,where art thou1 ,hope8'--#8,i go1 ,returning1' he had said2 ,i found him white as snow ,and beautiful1 but dead4 ,he would return1 he said4 ,when that ,i heeded not1 ,lo1 he had fallen dead4 ,dead2 ,hope is dead2 is not4 ,i tear my hands with briars1 ,my face in earth ,i thrust2 ,i curse the heav'nly fires1 ,i drink the desert dust4 ,a threat of thunder fills ,us4 ,lo1 a voice6 ,the waves ,a breathless horror stills2 ,the sand1 a sea of graves4 ,methought the mocking ,moon ,open'd her yellow lips ,and spake4 ,the ,planets swoon ,in vapoury eclipse4 #8,fool1 all the world is dust2 ,even ,i who shine on thee4 ,there perish and add thy dust ,to that sepulchral sea4' ,,iii ,in exile here ,i trod ,and with presumptuous breath ,call'd out aloud for ,god3 ,the ,answer came from ,death4 ,o ,world1 thy quest is cold2 ,o ,world1 who answereth8 ,distracted thou hast call'd2 ,the ,answer came from ,death4 ,i call'd for ,god and heard ,no voice but that of ,death3 ,then came the bitter word1 #8,fool1 ,god himself is ,death4 ,great ,death2 not little death ,that nips the flowers unfurl'd ,and stays the infant's breath2 ,but ,death that slays the world4 ,and in despair ,i ran1 ,and stumbled at the marge1 ,and saw from span to span ,death's ocean rolling large2 ,and only the breadth accursed ,of billows barring hope1 ,that thunder'd1 #8,death1' and burst ,in tears upon the slope4 ,nor in the ,heavens hope4 ,the ,sun drew in and shrank ,his flashes from the cope1 ,and answer'd1 #8,death1' and sank4 ,i sought the sacred ,night ,and solace of the ,stars1 ,for surely in their light ,no shade of ,death appears4 ,like tears their ,answer came1 ,dropt one by one from heaven2 ,their ,answer was the same2 ,no other word was given4 ,,iv ,but then the ,silence said1 #8,resolve thy visioning mind3 ,is action for the dead ,or seeing in the blind8 ,cry not with fruitless breath4 ,is it not understood1 ,if ,god had utter'd ,death ,then also ,death is good8 ,abandon ,wrath and ,ruth4 ,touch not the ,high1 nor ask4 ,for ,god alone the ,truth4 ,perform thy daily task4' 99 99 99 99 99 ,,vii 99 99 99 99 99 ,,the ,,monsoon ,i ,what ails the solitude8 ,is this the ,judgment ,day8 ,the sky is red as blood2 ,the very rocks decay ,and crack and crumble1 and ,there is a flame of wind ,wherewith the burning sand ,is ever mass'd and thin'd4 ,even the sickly ,sun ,is dimmd by the dearth1 ,and screaming dead leaves run ,about the desolate earth4 ,die then2 we are accurst6 ,and strike1 consuming ,god6 ,the very tigers thirst ,too much to drink of blood2 ,the eagle soareth not2 ,the viper bites herself2 ,the vulture hath forgot ,to rend the dying wolf4 ,the world is white with heat2 ,the world is rent and riv'n2 ,the world and heavens meet2 ,the lost stars cry in heav'n4 99 99 99 ,,ii ,art thou an ,angel--speak1 ,stupendous ,cloud that comest8 ,what wrath on whom to wreak8 ,redeemest thou1 or doomest8 ,thine eyes are of the dead2 ,a flame within thy breast ,thy giant wings outspread1 ,like ,death's1 upon the west ,thy lifted locks of hair ,are flames of fluttering fire2 ,thy countenance1 of ,despair ,made mad with inner ire4 ,,iii ,who cries6 ,the night is black ,as death and not as night2 ,the world is fallen back ,to nothing2 sound and light ,and moon and stars and skies1 ,thunder and lightning--all ,gone1 gone6 ,not even cries ,the cricket in the hall1 ,the dog without4 ,at last ,the end of all the hours4 ,was that a ,spirit pass'd ,between the slamming doors8 ,we slept not yet we wake6 ,was it a voice that cried1 #8,awake1 ye sleepless2 wake1 ,ye deathless who have died'8 ,no voice4 ,no light1 no sound4 ,it was the fancy that ,at midnight makes rebound ,of thoughts we labour at ,at mid-day4 ,let us sleep4 ,the night is very black1 ,the heat a madness--sleep ,before the day comes back4 ,who cries6--,the voice again6 ,it is the storm that breaks6 ,the tempest and the rain6 ,the quivering crash that shakes6 ,the thunder and the flash1 ,the brand that rips and roars1 ,the winds of ,god that dash ,and split a thousand doors6 ,the chariots of ,god ,that gallop on the plain ,and shake the solid sod6 ,awake6--,the rain1 the rain6 ,thunder and burst1 ,o ,sky2 ,thunder and boil1 ,o ,deep2 ,let the thick thunder cry2 ,let the live lightning leap6 ,smite white light like the sword ,of ,heav'n from heav'n's height2 ,consume the thing abhor'd ,and quell the dreadful night6 ,smite white light like the brand ,of ,god from heav'n to earth2 ,and purge the desolate land ,of this destroying dearth6 ,,iv ,o ,wilderness of ,death1 ,o ,desert rent and riv'n1 ,where art thou8--for the breath ,of heav'n hath made thee ,heav'n4 ,i know not now these ways2 ,the rocky rifts are gone1 ,deep-verdured like the braes ,of blest ,avilion4 ,here where there were no flowers ,the heav'nly waters flow1 ,and thro' a thousand bowers ,innum'rable blossoms blow4 99 99 99 99 99 99 99 99 ,,reply ,i ,this day relenting ,god ,hath placed within my hand ,a wondrous thing2 and ,god ,be praised4 ,at ,his command1 ,seeking ,his secret deeds ,with tears and toiling breath1 ,i find thy cunning seeds1 ,o million-murdering ,death4 ,i know this little thing ,a myriad men will save4 ,o ,death1 where is thy sting8 ,thy victory1 ,o ,grave8 ,august #ba1 #ahig4 ,,ii ,before ,thy feet ,i fall1 ,lord1 who made high my fate2 ,for in the mighty small ,thou showedst the mighty great4 ,henceforth ,i will resound ,but praises unto ,thee2 ,tho' ,i was beat and bound1 ,thou gavest me victory4 ,tho' in these depths of night ,deep-dungeon'd ,i was hurl'd1 ,thou sentest me a light ,wherewith to mend the world4 ,o ,exile1 while thine eyes ,were weary with the night ,thou weepedst2 now arise ,and bless the ,lord of ,light4 ,hereafter let thy lyre ,be bondsman to ,his name2 ,his thunder and ,his fire ,will fill thy lips with flame4 ,he is the ,lord of ,light2 ,he is the ,thing ,that ,is2 ,he sends the seeing sight2 ,and the right mind is ,his4 ,,iii ,the cagd bird awake ,all night laments his doom1 ,and hears the dim dawn break ,about the darken'd room2 ,but in the day he sips1 ,contented in his place1 ,his food from human lips1 ,and learns the human face4 ,so tho' his home remain ,dark1 and his fields untrod1 ,the exile has this gain1 ,to have found the face of ,god4 ,confounded at the close1 ,confounded standing where ,no further pathway shows1 ,we find an angel there ,to guide us4 ,god is good2 ,the seeing sight is dim2 ,he gives us solitude ,that we may be with ,him4 ,by that we have we lose2 ,by what we have not1 get2 ,and where we cannot choose ,the crown of life is set4 ,lo1 while we ask the stars ,to learn the will of ,god1 ,his answer unawares ,strikes sudden from the sod4 ,not when we wait the word ,the word of ,god is giv'n2 ,the voice of ,god is heard ,as much from earth as heav'n4 ,the voice of ,god is heard ,not in the thunder-fit2 ,a still small voice is heard1 ,half-heard1 and that is it4 99 99 99 99 99 ,p,,ans 99 99 99 99 99 ,,man ,man putteth the world to scale ,and weigheth out the stars2 ,th' eternal hath lost her veil1 ,the infinite her bars2 ,his balance he hath hung in heaven ,and set the sun therein4 ,he measures the lords of light ,and fiery orbs that spin2 ,no riddle of darkest night ,he dares not look within2 ,athwart the roaring wrack of stars ,he plumbs the chasm of heaven4 ,the wings of the wind are his2 ,to him the world is given2 ,his servant the lightning is1 ,and slave the ocean1 even2 ,he scans the mountains yet unclimb'd ,and sounds the solid sea4 ,with fingers of thought he holds ,what is or e'er can be2 ,and1 touching it not1 unfolds ,the seald mystery4 ,the pigmy hands1 eyes1 head ,god gave ,a giant's are become4 ,but tho' to this height sublime ,by labour he hath clomb1 ,one summit he hath to climb1 ,one deep the more to plumb-- ,to rede himself and rule himself1 ,and so to reach the sum4 #ahih4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,life ,from birth to death the life of man ,is infinite on the earth1 ,to know and do that which he can ,and be what he is worth4 ,our mortal life1 however wrought1 ,eternity is indeed2 ,for every moment brings a thought1 ,and every thought's a deed2 ,and that is so much infinite ,which may be divided much2 ,and if we live with might and mirth ,our human life is such4 ,for him who has not might and mirth ,that which is not now is never2 ,and he who can live well on earth ,does live in heaven for ever4 #ahih4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,world-,,song ,o ,vision inviolate1 ,o ,splendour supernal1 ,we stand in ,thy white light like lamps alit in day2 ,before ,thee1 ,omnipotent1 in sight of ,thy glory1 ,our countenance is witherd like stars in the sun4 ,before ,thee our symphonies are still'd into silence2 ,thy wisdom we wot not nor ever shall we know2 ,but from ,thy high throne1 ,o ,god1 ,thy voice and ,thy thunder ,in utterance reterate give glory and strength4 ,,finis 99 99 99 99 99 ,transcriber's ,notes3 ,punctuation has been corrected without note4 ,archaic spellings and hyphenation have been retained4 ,other errors have been corrected as noted below4 ,original list of ,contents at the beginning contained only listings for ,parts in the section ,,in ,,exile so links for individual poem titles have been added for reader convenience4 page #bf1 ,but but because we must4 ,but because we must4