1.

[[n]]

In youth have I known one with whom the Earth

[[n]]

In secret communing held — as he with it,

In day light, and in beauty from his birth:

Whose fervid, flick’ring torch of life was lit

5

[[n]]

From the sun and stars, whence he had drawn forth

[[n]]

A passionate light-such for his spirit was fit —

[[n]]

And yet that spirit knew not — in the hour

Of its own fervor — what had o’er it power. [page 29:]

2.

[[n]]

Perhaps it may be that my mind is wrought

10

[[v]]

[[n]]

To a fever by the moon beam that hangs o’er,

[[n]]

But I will half believe that wild light fraught

With more of sov’reignty than ancient lore

Hath ever told — or is it of a thought

[[n]]

The unembodied essence, and no more

15

That with a quick’ning spell doth o’er us pass

As dew of the night-time, o’er the summer grass.

3.

[[n]]

Doth o’er us pass, when, as th’ expanding eye

To the lov’d object — so the tear to the lid

Will start, which lately slept in apathy?

20

[[n]]

And yet it need not be — (that object) hid

From us in life — but common — which doth lie

Each hour before us — but then only bid

With a strange sound, as of a harp-string broken

[[n]]

T’ awake us — ’Tis a symbol and a token

4.

25

Of what in other worlds shall be — and giv’n

In beauty by our God, to those alone

[[n]]

Who otherwise would fall from life and Heav’n

[[n]]

Drawn by their heart's passion, and that tone,

That high tone of the spirit which hath striv’n

30

Tho’ not with Faith — with godliness — whose throne

With desp’rate energy ’t hath beaten down;

Wearing its own deep feeling as a crown.

(1827)