An Agèd Shadow, soon he fades, 29
Wand'ring round an Earthly Cot,
Full-fillèd all with gems & gold
Which he by industry had got.
And these are the gems of the Human Soul, 33
The rubies & pearls of a love-sick eye,
The countless gold of the akeing heart,
The martyr's groan & the lover's sigh.
They are his meat, they are his drink ; 37
He feeds the Beggar and the Poor
And the wayfaring Traveller :
For ever open is his door.
His grief is their eternal joy ; 41
They make the roofs & walls to ring.
Till from the fire on the hearth
A little Female Babe does spring ;
And she is all of solid fire 45
And gems & gold, that none his hand
Dares stretch to touch her Baby form,
Or wrap her in his swadling band.
But She comes to the Man she loves, 49
If young or old, or rich or poor ;
They soon drive out the agèd Host,
A Beggar at another's door.
He wanders weeping far away, 55
Untill some other take him in ;
Oft blind & age-bent, sore distrest,
Until he can a Maiden win.
31 gems] gains Shep.32 had] has EY.34, 35 Cp. Rossetti MS. xxx :—
'The countless gold of a merry heart,
The rubies & pearls of a loving eye,
The idle man never can bring to the mart,
Not the cunning hoard up in his treasury.'
39 And] To all edd. except Shep.40 For . . . door] Forever opens his door EY.43 on] upon all edd. except Shep.44 does] doth all edd. except Shep.45, 46 Cp. the description of Jerusalem (spiritual liberty), the emanation of Albion (Jerusalem, f. 86).
