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I HEARD A VOICE
I HEARD a voice say: "You,
Who worship, should pursue:
The good you dream of—do.
"Arise!—perfection seek.
Surmounting what is weak,
Toil on from peak to peak!"
"Henceforth, through sun and shade,"
I answered, "unafraid,
I follow the shy maid:
"Yea, beauty to create,
Accept with heart elate
Whate'er may be my fate."
Then, in youth's ardor, strong,
I toiled my way along,
Upon my lips a song;
But as I climbed on high,
Toward the forbidding sky
Perfection seemed to fly;
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