WHEN I presage the time shall come -- yea, now Perchance is come, when you shall fail from me, Because the mighty spirit, to whom you now Faith of kin genius unrebukably, Scourges my sloth; and from your side dismissed Henceforth this sad and most, most lonely soul Must, marching fatally through pain and mist, The God-bid levy of its powers enrol; When I presage that none shall hear the voice From the great Mount that clangs my ordained advance, That sullen envy bade the churlish choice Yourself shall say, and turn your altered glance; -- O God! Thou knowest if this heart of flesh Quivers like broken entrails, when the wheel Rolleth some dog in middle street, or fresh Fruit when ye tear it bleeding from the peel; If my soul cries the uncomprehended cry When the red agony oozed on Olivet. Yet not for this, a caitiff, falter I, Beloved whom I must lose, nor thence regret The doubly-vouched and twin allegiance owed To you in Heaven, and Heaven in you, Lady. How could you hope, loose dealer with my God, That I should keep for you my fealty? For still 'tis thus: -- because I am so true, My Fair, to Heaven, I am so true to you! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...MUSIC AND MEMORY by JOHN ALBEE THE SEA-MEW by ELIZABETH BARRETT BROWNING MARIA WENTWORTH by THOMAS CAREW THE PRIVATE OF THE BUFFS; OR, THE BRITISH SOLDIER IN CHINA by FRANCIS HASTINGS CHARLES DOYLE A PRAISE OF HIS LOVE by HENRY HOWARD THE OLD BRIDGE AT FLORENCE; SONNET by HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW |