INVITA MINERVA Sounds through the double pipes of Life and Death, THE Bardling came where by a Atoning what to men mad discord But a tiny sand-pillar From the bottom keeps jetting, One forward step take not, By my step unaffrighted A thrush hops before it, A birch hangs delighted, 120 130 One look, then away! O magical glass! Canst keep in thy bosom So that when thy wave hardens Dipping, dipping, dipping its trem- Looks up at my own; ulous hair; Ah, glimpse through the portal For thy skirts to be holden The magic cup shatters, Breaks the spell of the waters, Its dance is pursuing On the silvery floor, O'er and o'er, 160 170 180 190 A STRANGER came one night to Yussouf's tent, Saying, 'Behold one outcast and in dread, 'Take thrice the gold,' said Yussouf, for with thee Into the desert, never to return, Against whose life the bow of My one black thought shall ride power is bent, away from me; Who flies, and hath not where to First-born, for whom by day and lay his head; night I yearn, I come to thee for shelter and for Balanced and just are all of God's food, To Yussouf, called through all our tribes"The Good." decrees; Thou art avenged, my first-born, sleep in peace!' THE DARKENED MIND Strange it is that, in this open brightness, THE fire is burning clear and Thou shouldst sit in such a narrow cell; blithely, Pleasantly whistles the winter Strange it is that thou shouldst be so lonesome wind; We are about thee, thy friends and Where those are who love thee all so well; kindred, On us all flickers the firelight Not so much of thee is left among We can speak to thee, and thou As Princes of the Chariot know. canst answer, Like two prisoners through a wall 'T were glorious, no doubt, to be of stone. One of the strong-winged Hierarchy. Hardest heart would call it very To burn with Seraphs, or to shine awful With Cherubs, deathlessly divine; When thou look'st at us and seest Yet I, perhaps, poor earthly clod, - oh, what? Could I forget myself in God, If we move away, thou sittest gaz- Could I but find my nature's clue ing Simply as birds and blossoms do, With those vague eyes at the self- And but for one rapt moment know 'Tis Heaven must come, not we must go, same spot, And thou mutterest, thy hands thou wringest, Seeing something,-us thou seest not. Should win my place as near the throne As the pearl-angel of its zone. |