Page:Oxford Book of English Verse 1250-1900.djvu/988

 As droops some billowy cloud to the crouch'd hill, Heavy with all heaven's tears, for all earth's care, She droop'd unto me, without force or will, And sank upon my bosom, murmuring there A woman's inarticulate passionate words. O moment of all moments upon earth! O life's supreme! How worth, how wildly worth, Whole worlds of flame, to know this world affords.

What even Eternity can not restore! When all the ends of life take hands and meet Round centres of sweet fire. Ah, never more, Ah never, shall the bitter with the sweet Be mingled so in the pale after-years! One hour of life immortal spirits possess. This drains the world, and leaves but weariness, And parching passion, and perplexing tears.

Sad is it, that we cannot even keep That hour to sweeten life's last toil: but Youth Grasps all, and leaves us: and when we would weep, We dare not let our tears fall, lest, in truth, They fall upon our work which must be done. And so we bind up our torn hearts from breaking: Our eyes from weeping, and our brows from aching: And follow the long pathway all alone.

795. The Last Wish

Since all that I can ever do for thee Is to do nothing, this my prayer must be: That thou mayst never guess nor ever see The all-endured this nothing-done costs me.