Or putting off a cumbrous mask.

I wandered forth upon the shore,

Wishing this lie of life was o’er;

What was beyond I could not guess,

I thought it might be quietness,

And now I had no dream of bliss,

No thought, no other hope but this—

To be at rest—for all that fed

The dream of my proud youth had fled,

My dream of youth, that I would be

Happy and glorious, wise and free,

In mine own right, and keep my state,

And would repel the heavy weight,{11}

{11}

The load that crushed unto the ground

The servile multitude around;

The purpose of my life had failed,

The heavenly heights I would have scaled,

Seemed more than ever out of sight,

Further beyond my feeble flight.

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