Page:Aesthetic Papers.djvu/121

Rh Blest be the Poet's hand that toiled

To carve in lasting stone

The act that in all time hath foiled

Despair's terrific power, and spoiled

Destruction of his own.

Thus ever, from the vulgar day,

The Hero shades his eyes;

Peering through dim Obstruction's sway:—

Perchance, upon his darkened way

The cherished form may rise!

He sees her not! and what though low

Lies Cerberus overwrought,

His lyre hath quickened Lethe s flow,

Cast coolness o'er Cocytus' glow;

All this he heedeth not:

He only knows thou art not won—

The &quot;perfect good and fair:&quot;

The race of life is yet to run;

The only deed is yet undone;

The Hero still must dare.

 

who hast sought thy Light of Life

Through Hades' horrors black,

Hast charmed them all, and won thy quest,

And wouldst thy way retrack,—

Rest thou—as he of old did not—

Upon the promise fair,

That Beauty aye shall follow him

Who all for her will dare.

As thou didst count no bygone loss,

Count step by step no gain;

But trust that in the upper air

She'll be with thee again.

