Page:An epic of women and other poems (IA epicofwomenother00osha).pdf/106

Harshly the sea-sounds taunted him at will,
  And seemed in mocking choruses combined;
Each bitter inward thought was uttered shrill
  On shrieking tongues of many a thwart-blown wind.

And where with onward beak the galley clave
  Full many a silver mouth in the blue mere,
The turned up whitened lips of every wave
  Rang out a bitter cadence on his ear.

But first awhile his thoughts were taking leave
  Sadly of Rome, and all the pageant days;
For now at length he saw and would believe
  The end of triumphs and the end of praise.

And now he did survey, apart from wrath,
  The various fates of men both great and small;
How little reign or glory any hath;
  And how one end comes quickly upon all;

And thought if love had been—had been quite love,
  One little thing in each man's life for bliss,
Then had the grief been paid with sweet enough
  And a lost crown forgotten for a kiss;