Page:The poems of Richard Watson Gilder, Gilder, 1908.djvu/180

152 Seven days shalt thou dwell therein;

Thy joy shall be keener than sin,

Without the stain of guilt—

Enter the door of oak!"

II

I entered the oaken door;

Within, no ray of light,

I saw no golden store,

My heart stood still with fright;

To curse Life was I fain;

Then one unseen before

Laid in my own her hand,

And said: "Come thou and know

This is the House of Woe;

I am Life's sister, Pain."

III

Through many a breathless way,

In dark, on dizzying hight,

She led me through the day

And into the dreadful night.

My soul was sore distrest

And wildly I longed for rest;

Till a chamber met my sight,

Far off, and hid, and still,

With diamonds all bedight

And every precious thing;

Not even a god might will

More beauty there to bring.

IV

Then spoke Life's sister, Pain:

Here thou as a king shalt reign,

Here shalt thou take thy pleasure,

This is the priceless treasure,