If this my great love do thy grace no wrong,

Thy grace that gave me grace to dwell therein;

If thy gods thus be my gods, and their will

Made my song part of thy song—even such part

As man's hath of God's heart—

And my life like as thy life to fulfil;

[Pg 320]

What have our gods then given us? Ah, to thee,

Sister, much more, much happier than to me,

Much happier things they have given, and more of grace

Than falls to man's light race;

For lighter are we, all our love and pain

Lighter than thine, who knowest of time or place

Thus much, that place nor time

Can heal or hurt or lull or change again

The singing soul that makes his soul sublime

Who hears the far fall of its fire-fledged rhyme

Fill darkness as with bright and burning rain

Till all the live gloom inly glows, and light

Seems with the sound to cleave the core of night.

 Prev. P 43/107 next