Page:The Man Who Died Twice (1924).djvu/70

 Out of that fiery cloud and blinded him,

There would be recognition for a moment,

And then release. So his prophetic fancy,

Smiting him with deceit, foresaw the blow,

Not seeing what other shafts of doom and mercy

There are from which an injured God may choose

The one or many that in his exigence

His leisure may affect. Seldom it is

The mightier moments of necessity

That we can see are coming come to us

As we have seen them. Better or worse for us,

Anticipation waits upon surprise;

And though Fernando Nash in his exhaustion

Prayed now for that cold hand upon his throat

To close and have it over, no cold hand

Was there to close. Now there was nothing for him