Venison, turtle, hock, and claret,—                            350 Good cheer—and those who come to share it—  And best East Indian madeira! 19. It was his fancy to invite Men of science, wit, and learning, Who came to lend each other light; 355 He proudly thought that his gold's might Had set those spirits burning. 20. And men of learning, science, wit, Considered him as you and I Think of some rotten tree, and sit 360 Lounging and dining under it, Exposed to the wide sky. 21. And all the while with loose fat smile, The willing wretch sat winking there, Believing 'twas his power that made                             365 That jovial scene—and that all paid Homage to his unnoticed chair. 22. Though to be sure this place was Hell; He was the Devil—and all they—  What though the claret circled well, 370 And wit, like ocean, rose and fell?—  Were damned eternally. 

  

       PART 5. GRACE.     

  1. Among the guests who often stayed Till the Devil's petits-soupers, A man there came, fair as a maid, 375 And Peter noted what he said, Standing behind his master's chair. 2. He was a mighty poet—and  A subtle-souled psychologist; All things he seemed to understand, 380 Of old or new—of sea or land—  But his own mind—which was a mist. 3. This was a man who might have turned Hell into Heaven—and so in gladness A Heaven unto himself have earned; 385 But he in shadows undiscerned Trusted.—and damned himself to madness. 4. He spoke of poetry, and how  'Divine it was—a light—a love—  A spirit which like wind doth blow 390 As it listeth, to and fro; A dew rained down from God above; 5.  'A power which comes and goes like dream, And which none can ever trace—  Heaven's light on earth—Truth's brightest beam.'               395 And when he ceased there lay the gleam Of those words upon his face. 6. Now Peter, when he heard such talk, Would, heedless of a broken pate, Stand like a man asleep, or balk 400 Some wishing guest of knife or fork, Or drop and break his master's plate. 7. At night he oft would start and wake Like a lover, and began In a wild measure songs to make 405 On moor, and glen, and rocky lake, And on the heart of man—   8. And on the universal sky—  And the wide earth's bosom green,—  And the sweet, strange mystery 410 Of what beyond these things may 

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