FORBEARANCE

Hast thou named all the birds without a gun? 
Loved the wood-rose, and left it on its stalk? 
At rich men’s tables eaten bread and pulse? 
Unarmed, faced danger with a heart of trust? 
And loved so well a high behavior,
In man or maid, that thou from speech refrained,
Nobility more nobly to repay? 
O, be my friend, and teach me to be thine!

THE PARK

The prosperous and beautiful
  To me seem not to wear
The yoke of conscience masterful,
  Which galls me everywhere.

I cannot shake off the god;
  On my neck he makes his seat;
I look at my face in the glass,—­
  My eyes his eyeballs meet.

Enchanters!  Enchantresses! 
  Your gold makes you seem wise;
The morning mist within your grounds
  More proudly rolls, more softly lies.

Yet spake yon purple mountain,
  Yet said yon ancient wood,
That Night or Day, that Love or Crime,
  Leads all souls to the Good.

FORERUNNERS

Long I followed happy guides,
I could never reach their sides;
Their step is forth, and, ere the day
Breaks up their leaguer, and away. 
Keen my sense, my heart was young,
Right good-will my sinews strung,
But no speed of mine avails
To hunt upon their shining trails. 
On and away, their hasting feet
Make the morning proud and sweet;
Flowers they strew,—­I catch the scent;
Or tone of silver instrument
Leaves on the wind melodious trace;
Yet I could never see their face. 
On eastern hills I see their smokes,
Mixed with mist by distant lochs. 
I met many travellers
Who the road had surely kept;
They saw not my fine revellers,—­
These had crossed them while they slept. 
Some had heard their fair report,
In the country or the court. 
Fleetest couriers alive
Never yet could once arrive,
As they went or they returned,
At the house where these sojourned. 
Sometimes their strong speed they slacken,
Though they are not overtaken;
In sleep their jubilant troop is near,—­
I tuneful voices overhear;
It may be in wood or waste,—­
At unawares ’t is come and past. 
Their near camp my spirit knows
By signs gracious as rainbows. 
I thenceforward and long after
Listen for their harp-like laughter,
And carry in my heart, for days,
Peace that hallows rudest ways.

SURSUM CORDA

Seek not the spirit, if it hide
Inexorable to thy zeal: 
Trembler, do not whine and chide: 
Art thou not also real? 
Stoop not then to poor excuse;
Turn on the accuser roundly; say,
’Here am I, here will I abide
Forever to myself soothfast;
Go thou, sweet Heaven, or at thy pleasure stay!’
Already Heaven with thee its lot has cast,
For only it can absolutely deal.