Page:Poems - volume 1 - EBBrowning (1844).pdf/264

 There, I maddened! her words stung me! Life swept through me into fever, And my soul sprang up astonished; sprang, full-statured in an hour! Know you what it is when anguish, with apocalyptic , To a Pythian height dilates you,—and despair sublimes to power?

From my brain, the soul-wings budded!—waved a flame about my body, Whence conventions coiled to ashes! I felt self-drawn out, as man, From amalgamate false natures; and I saw the skies grow ruddy With the deepening feet of angels, and I knew what spirits can!

I was mad—inspired—say either! anguish worketh inspiration! Was a man, or beast—perhaps so; for the tiger roars, when speared;