12. And witness, moreover ... Ah, but wait ! I spy the loop whence an arrow shoots ! It may be for yourself, when you meditate, That you grieve — for slain ruth, murdered truth : “ Though falsehood escape in the end, what boots ? How truth would have triumphed !” — you sigh too late. 13. Ay, who would have triumphed like you, I say! Well, it is lost now; well, you must bear, Abide and grow fit for a better day: You should hardly grudge, could I be your judge ! But hush! For you, can be no despair : There's amends : 't is a secret : hope and pray! 14. For I was true at least — O, true enough! And, dear, truth is not as good as it seems! Commend me to conscience ! Idle stuff! Much help is in mine, as I mope and pine, And skulk through day, and scowl in my dreams At my swan's obtaining the crow's rebuff. 15. Men tell me of truth now — “ False !” I cry: Of beauty —“ A mask, friend! Look beneath !” We take our own method, the Devil and I, With pleasant and fair and wise and rare : And the best we wish to what lives, is - death ; Which even in wishing, perhaps we lie ! 16. Far better commit a fault and have done — As you, dear !—forever; and choose the pure, And look where the healing waters run, And strive and strain to be good again, And a place in the other world insure, All glass and gold, with God for its sun. 17. Misery! What shall I say or do ? I cannot advise, or, at least, persuade : No whit of the wrong: you endured too long, Will live the old life out and chance the new. 18. And your sentence is written all the same, And I can do nothing, - pray, perhaps : But somehow the world pursues its game, If I pray, if I curse, — for better or worse : And my faith is torn to a thousand scraps, And my heart feels ice while my words breathe flame. 19. Dear, I look from my hiding-place. Are you still so fair ? Have you still the eyes ? Be happy! Add but the other grace, Be good! Why want what the angels vaunt ? I knew you once : but in Paradise, If we meet, I will pass nor turn my face. |