A VISION OF POETS.
193
"With the world's beauty, up to God,
Re-offering on his iris broad,
The images of things bestowed
Re-offering on his iris broad,
The images of things bestowed
"By the chief Poet,—'God!' he cried,__
'Be praised for anguish, which has tried;
For beauty, which has satisfied:—
'Be praised for anguish, which has tried;
For beauty, which has satisfied:—
"'For this world's presence, half within
And half without me—sound and scene—
This sense of Being and Having been.
And half without me—sound and scene—
This sense of Being and Having been.
"'I thank Thee that my soul hath room
For Thy grand world! Both guests may come—
Beauty, to soul—Body, to tomb!
For Thy grand world! Both guests may come—
Beauty, to soul—Body, to tomb!
"'I am content to be so weak,—
Put strength into the words I speak,
And I am strong in what I seek.
Put strength into the words I speak,
And I am strong in what I seek.
"'I am content to be so bare
Before the archers! everywhere
My wounds being stroked by heavenly air.
Before the archers! everywhere
My wounds being stroked by heavenly air.
"'I laid my soul before Thy feet,
That Images of fair and sweet
Should walk to other men on it.
That Images of fair and sweet
Should walk to other men on it.
"'I am content to feel the step
Of each pure image!—let those keep
To mandragore, who care to sleep.
Of each pure image!—let those keep
To mandragore, who care to sleep.
"'I am content to touch the brink
Of the other goblet, and I think
My bitter drink a wholesome drink.
Of the other goblet, and I think
My bitter drink a wholesome drink.
"'Because my portion was assigned
Wholesome and bitter—Thou art kind,
And I am blessed to my mind.
Wholesome and bitter—Thou art kind,
And I am blessed to my mind.
"'Gifted for giving, I receive
The maythorn, and its scent outgive!
I grieve not that I once did grieve.
The maythorn, and its scent outgive!
I grieve not that I once did grieve.
