THE PHILOSOPHER.
Enough of thought, philosopher! Too long hast thou been dreaming Unlightened, in this chamber1 drear, While summer's sun is beaming! Space-sweeping soul, what sad refrain Concludes thy musings once again?
"Oh, for the time when I shall sleep Without identity. And never care how rain may steep, Or snow may cover me! No promised heaven, these wild desires Could all, or half fulfil; No threatened hell, with quenchless3 fires, Subdue4 this quenchless will!"
"So said I, and still say the same; Still, to my death, will say—— Three gods, within this little frame, Are warring night; and day; Heaven could not hold them all, and yet They all are held in me; And must be mine till I forget My present entity2! Oh, for the time, when in my breast Their struggles will be o'er! Oh, for the day, when I shall rest, And never suffer more!"
"I saw a spirit, standing5, man, Where thou dost stand——an hour ago, And round his feet three rivers ran, Of equal depth, and equal flow—— A golden stream——and one like blood; And one like sapphire6 seemed to be; But, where they joined their triple flood It tumbled in an inky sea The spirit sent his dazzling gaze Down through that ocean's gloomy night; Then, kindling7 all, with sudden blaze, The glad deep sparkled wide and bright—— White as the sun, far, far more fair Than its divided sources were!"
"And even for that spirit, seer, I've watched and sought my life-time long; Sought him in heaven, hell, earth, and air, An endless search, and always wrong. Had I but seen his glorious eye ONCE light the clouds that wilder me; I ne'er had raised this coward cry To cease to think, and cease to be;
I ne'er had called oblivion blest, Nor stretching eager hands to death, Implored8 to change for senseless rest This sentient9 soul, this living breath
- Oh, let me die——that power and will Their cruel strife10 may close; And conquered good, and conquering ill Be lost in one repose11!"