• What dawn-pulse at the heart of heaven, or last
• Incarnate flower of culminating day,—
• What marshalled marvels as on the skirts of May,
• Or song full-quired, sweet June's encomiast;
• What glory of change by Nature's hand amass'd
• Can vie with all th e ose moods of varying grace
• Which o'er one loveliest woman's form and face
• Within this hour, within this room, have pass'd?

• Love's very vesture and elect express disguise
• 10 Was each fine movement,—wonder new-begot
• Of lily or swan or swan-stemmed galiot;
Added Text
wonders new-begot
On covetous Time by Love's high counterplot
• Joy to his sight who now the sadlier sighs,
• Parted again; and sorrow yet for eyes
• Unborn, that read these words and saw her not.

   

• What of the heart of love
• That bleeds in thy breast, O Man ?—
• Thy kisses snatched 'neath the ban
• Of fangs that mock them above;
• Thy bells prolonged unto knells,
• Thy hope that a breath dispels,
• Thy bitter forlorn farewells
• And the empty echoes thereof?
• Still we say as we go,—
• 10“Strange to think by the way,
• Whatever there is to know,
• That shall we know one day.”