Page:The Dream of Pythagoras and Other Poems.djvu/34

 Around me, and I peacefully began

To feel the mighty universe commune

And converse with me, and my soul became

One note in nature's harmony. So sweet

And soothing was that dream-Uke ecstasy,

I could have slept into a wave and roll'd

Away through the blue mysteries for ever,

Dreaming my soul to nothing; I could well

Have drown'd my spark of immortality

In drunkenness of peace; I knew not yet

The warrior life of virtue, and the high

And honourable strife and storm that cleanse

And exercise her pinions. I was now

To learn the rapture of the struggle made

For immortality and truth; therefore

The ocean toss'd me to his mountain chains.

Bidding me front the tempest; fires of heaven

Were dancing o'er his cataracts, and scaring

His sounding billows; glorious thunders roll'd

Beneath, above, around; the strong winds fought.

Lifting up pyramids of tortur'd waves.

Then dashing them to foam. I saw great ships

As feathers on the opening sepulchi'es

And starting monuments,