To join me in a bond with rapture crown’d. 
Did I not see thee, when a stripling, yearning
To welcome me with tears, heartfelt and burning?”

“Yes!” I exclaim’d, whilst, overcome with joy,

I sank to earth; “I long have worshipp’d thee;
Thou gav’st me rest, when passions rack’d the boy,

Pervading ev’ry limb unceasingly;
Thy heav’nly pinions thou didst then employ

The scorching sunbeams to ward off from me. 
From thee alone Earth’s fairest gifts I gain’d,
Through thee alone, true bliss can be obtain’d.

“Thy name I know not; yet I hear thee nam’d

By many a one who boasts thee as his own;
Each eye believes that tow’rd thy form ’tis aim’d,

Yet to most eyes thy rays are anguish-sown. 
Ah! whilst I err’d, full many a friend I claim’d,

Now that I know thee, I am left alone;
With but myself can I my rapture share,
I needs must veil and hide thy radiance fair.

She smiled, and answering said:  “Thou see’st how wise,

How prudent ’twas but little to unveil! 
Scarce from the clumsiest cheat are clear’d thine eyes,

Scarce hast thou strength thy childish bars to scale,
When thou dost rank thee ’mongst the deities,

And so man’s duties to perform would’st fail! 
How dost thou differ from all other men? 
Live with the world in peace, and know thee then!”

“Oh, pardon me,” I cried, “I meant it well: 

Not vainly did’st thou bless mine eyes with light;
For in my blood glad aspirations swell,

The value of thy gifts I know aright! 
Those treasures in my breast for others dwell,

The buried pound no more I’ll hide from sight. 
Why did I seek the road so anxiously,
If hidden from my brethren ’twere to be?”

And as I answer’d, tow’rd me turn’d her face,

With kindly sympathy, that god-like one;
Within her eye full plainly could I trace

What I had fail’d in, and what rightly done. 
She smiled, and cured me with that smile’s sweet grace,

To new-born joys my spirit soar’d anon;
With inward confidence I now could dare
To draw yet closer, and observe her there.

Through the light cloud she then stretch’d forth her hand,

As if to bid the streaky vapour fly: 
At once it seemed to yield to her command,

Contracted, and no mist then met mine eye. 
My glance once more survey’d the smiling land,

Unclouded and serene appear’d the sky. 
Nought but a veil of purest white she held,
And round her in a thousand folds it swell’d.

“I know thee, and I know thy wav’ring will.

I know the good that lives and glows in thee!”—­
Thus spake she, and methinks I hear her still—­

“The prize long destined, now receive from me;
That blest one will be safe from ev’ry ill,

Who takes this gift with soul of purity,—­”
The veil of Minstrelsy from Truth’s own hand,
Of sunlight and of morn’s sweet fragrance plann’d.