The Annotated The Tales of John Oliver Hobbes/A Bundle of Life/Epilogue

''Spoken by a Daughter of Eve, who is weeping, and an Angel, who looks out of fashion.''

This is only sorrow

For To-Day.

Life begins To-Morrow!

So they say.

Life with one love and laughter

Gay and free—

Yet no heartache after.

Can it be?

Life with work that reaches

To the sky;

Life that never teaches

How to die. Life that is eternal, Ever young,

Ever bright and vernal

Just begun!

Will To-Morrow ever dawn?

Shall we wake that golden morn

But to see

All the treasures gained by tears,

All the faith that's won by fears—

Vanity?

Doubter, look behind thee

In the past,

All the dreams that pleased thee

Did one last?

Is a wish remaining

From thy youth?

This thou art retaining

If 'twas truth.

Mortal passions sicken,

Fade away—

Love alone can quicken

Earthly clay.

Faith, and all endeavour

That is pure,

Hope, and Love, for ever

These endure.

All things else are folly

To the wise,—

Quit thy melancholy

And thy sighs!