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Out in fire the strong pain of pent knowledge: but I fainted not,

For the Hand still impelled me at once and supported, suppressed

All the tumult, and quenched it with quiet, and holy behest,

Till the rapture was shut in itself, and the earth sank to

rest.

Anon at the dawn, all that trouble had withered from earth

Not so much, but I saw it die out in the day's tender

birth;

In the gathered intensity brought to the grey of the

hills;

In the shuddering forests' held breath; in the sudden wind-thrills;

In the startled wild beasts that bore oft, each with eye sidling still,

Though averted with wonder and dread; in the birds stiff and chill

That rose heavily as I approached them, made stupid with awe :

E'en the serpent that slid away silent-he felt the new law. The same stared in the white humid faces upturned by the flowers;

The same worked in the heart of the cedar and moved the vine-bowers:

And the little brooks witnessing murmured, persistent

and low,

With their obstinate, all but hushed voices-" E'en so, it

is so!"

RABBI BEN EZRA.

I

GROW old along with me!

The best is yet to be,

The last of life, for which the first was made:

Our times are in His hand

Who saith "A whole I planned,

"Youth shows but half; trust God: see all, nor be

afraid!"

II

Not that, amassing flowers,

Youth sighed "Which rose make ours,

"Which lily leave and then as best recall !"

Not that, admiring stars,

It yearned "Nor Jove, nor Mars;

"Mine be some figured flame which blends, transcends them all!"

III

Not for such hopes and fears

Annulling youth's brief years,

Do I remonstrate: folly wide the mark!

Rather I prize the doubt

Low kinds exist without,

Finished and finite clods, untroubled by a spark.

IV

Poor vaunt of life indeed,

Were man but formed to feed

On joy, to solely seek and find and feast:

Such feasting ended, then

As sure an end to men ;

Irks care the crop-full bird? Frets doubt the maw

crammed beast?

Rejoice we are allied

V

To That which doth provide

And not partake, effect and not receive!

A spark disturbs our clod;

Nearer we hold of God

Who gives, than of His tribes that take, I must believe.

VI

Then, welcome each rebuff

That turns earth's smoothness rough,

Each sting that bids nor sit nor stand but go!

Be our joys three-parts pain!

Strive, and hold cheap the strain ;

Learn, nor account the pang; dare, never grudge

the throe!

VII

For thence, a paradox

Which comforts while it mocks,—

Shall life succeed in that it seems to fail :

What I aspired to be,

And was not, comforts me:

A brute I might have been, but would not sink i'

the scale.

VIII

What is he but a brute

Whose flesh hath soul to suit,

Whose spirit works lest arms and legs want play?

To man, propose this test

Thy body at its best,

How far can that project thy soul on its lone way?

IX

Yet gifts should prove their use:

I own the Past profuse

Of power each side, perfection every turn :

Eyes, ears took in their dole,

Brain treasured up the whole;

Should not the heart beat once "How good to live and learn?”

X

Not once beat" Praise be Thine!

"I see the whole design,

"I, who saw power, see now love perfect too:

"Perfect I call Thy plan:

"Thanks that I was a man !

"Maker, remake, complete,-I trust what Thou shalt do!"

XI

For pleasant is this flesh;

Our soul, in its rose-mesh

Pulled ever to the earth, still yearns for rest:

Would we some prize might hold

To match those manifold

Possessions of the brute,-gain most, as we did best!

Let us not always say

XII

"Spite of this flesh to-day

"Istrove, made head, gained ground upon the whole !" As the bird wings and sings,

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"Are ours, nor soul helps flesh more, now, than flesh helps soul!"

XIII

Therefore I summon age

To grant youth's heritage,

Life's struggle having so far reached its term:
Thence shall I pass, approved

A man, for aye removed

From the developed brute; a God though in the

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Take rest, ere I be gone

Once more on my adventure brave and new :

Fearless and unperplexed,

When I wage battle next,

What weapons to select, what armour to indue.

XV

Youth ended, I shall try

My gain or loss thereby ;

Leave the fire ashes, what survives is gold :

And I shall weigh the same,

Give life its praise or blame :

Young, all lay in dispute; I shall know, being old.

XVI

For, note when evening shuts,

A certain moment cuts

The deed off, calls the glory from the grey :

A whisper from the west

Shoots-"Add this to the rest,

"Take it and try its worth: here dies another day."

XVII

So, still within this life,

Though lifted o'er its strife,

Let me discern, compare, pronounce at last,

"This rage was right i' the main,

"That acquiescence vain :

"The Future I may face now I have proved the

Past."

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