Page:Poems, Household Edition, Emerson, 1904.djvu/420

384 But Fate will not permit

The seed of gods to die,

Nor suffer sense to win from wit

Its guerdon in the sky,

Nor let us hide, whate'er our pleasure,

The world's light underneath a measure.

Go then, sad youth, and shine;

Go, sacrifice to Fame;

Put youth, joy, health upon the shrine,

And life to fan the flame;

Being for Seeming bravely barter

And die to Fame a happy martyr.

1824.

THE SUMMONS

errand to the silken troop

Has quenched the uneasy blush that warmed my cheek;

I am commissioned in my day of joy

To leave my woods and streams and the sweet sloth

Of prayer and song that were my dear delight,

To leave the rudeness of my woodland life,

Sweet twilight walks and midnight solitude

And kind acquaintance with the morning stars

And the glad hey-day of my household hours,

The innocent mirth which sweetens daily bread,

Railing in love to those who rail again,