Page:Poems, Household Edition, Emerson, 1904.djvu/47

Rh From all evils to defend her;

In her lap to pour all splendor;

To ransack earth for riches rare,

And fetch her stars to deck her hair:

He mixes music with her thoughts,

And saddens her with heavenly doubts:

All grace, all good his great heart knows,

Profuse in love, the king bestows,

Saying, 'Hearken! Earth, Sea, Air!

This monument of my despair

Build I to the All-Good, All-Fair.

Not for a private good,

But I, from my beatitude,

Albeit scorned as none was scorned,

Adorn her as was none adorned.

I make this maiden an ensample

To Nature, through her kingdoms ample,

Whereby to model newer races,

Statelier forms and fairer faces;

To carry man to new degrees

Of power and of comeliness.

These presents be the hostages

Which I pawn for my release.

See to thyself, O Universe!

Thou art better, and not worse.'—

And the god, having given all,

Is freed forever from his thrall.