3. 
Thoughts of great deeds were mine, dear Friend, when first
The clouds which wrap this world from youth did pass. 20
I do remember well the hour which burst
My spirit’s sleep.  A fresh May-dawn it was,
When I walked forth upon the glittering grass,
And wept, I knew not why; until there rose
From the near schoolroom, voices that, alas! 25
Were but one echo from a world of woes—­
The harsh and grating strife of tyrants and of foes.

4. 
And then I clasped my hands and looked around—­
—­But none was near to mock my streaming eyes,
Which poured their warm drops on the sunny ground—­ 30
So without shame I spake:—­’I will be wise,
And just, and free, and mild, if in me lies
Such power, for I grow weary to behold
The selfish and the strong still tyrannise
Without reproach or check.’  I then controlled 35
My tears, my heart grew calm, and I was meek and bold.

5. 
And from that hour did I with earnest thought
Heap knowledge from forbidden mines of lore;
Yet nothing that my tyrants knew or taught
I cared to learn, but from that secret store 40
Wrought linked armour for my soul, before
It might walk forth to war among mankind;
Thus power and hope were strengthened more and more
Within me, till there came upon my mind
A sense of loneliness, a thirst with which I pined. 45

6. 
Alas, that love should be a blight and snare
To those who seek all sympathies in one!—­
Such once I sought in vain; then black despair,
The shadow of a starless night, was thrown
Over the world in which I moved alone:—­ 50
Yet never found I one not false to me,
Hard hearts, and cold, like weights of icy stone
Which crushed and withered mine, that could not be
Aught but a lifeless clod, until revived by thee.

7. 
Thou Friend, whose presence on my wintry heart 55
Fell, like bright Spring upon some herbless plain;
How beautiful and calm and free thou wert
In thy young wisdom, when the mortal chain
Of Custom thou didst burst and rend in twain,
And walked as free as light the clouds among, 60
Which many an envious slave then breathed in vain
From his dim dungeon, and my spirit sprung
To meet thee from the woes which had begirt it long!

8. 
No more alone through the world’s wilderness,
Although I trod the paths of high intent, 65
I journeyed now:  no more companionless,
Where solitude is like despair, I went.—­
There is the wisdom of a stern content
When Poverty can blight the just and good,
When Infamy dares mock the innocent, 70
And cherished friends turn with the multitude
To trample:  this was ours, and we unshaken stood!