Page:Ambarvalia - Clough (1849).djvu/13

 By the one spirit I saw him kneeling low, And in a silvery whisper heard him say: Truly, thou knowst not, and thou needst not know; Hope only, hope thou, and believe alway; I also know not, and I need not know, Only with questionings pass I to and fro, Perplexing these that sleep, and in their folly Imbreeding doubt and sceptic melancholy; Till that their dreams deserting, they with me, Come all to this true ignorance and thee.

Ah, what is love, our love, she said, Ah, what is human love? A fire, of earthly fuel fed, Full fain to soar above. With lambent flame the void it lips, And of the impassive air Would frame for its ambitious steps A heaven-attaining stair. It wrestles and it climbs—Ah me, Go look in little space, White ash on blackened earth will be Sole record of its place.