! Glowing as with one heart and one consent— Thought, love, trees, rocks, in sweet warm radiance blent. The sun had sunk, but music still was there, And when this ceased, still triumph filled the air : It seemed the stars were shining with delight And that no night was ever like this night. All clung with praise to Jubal: some besought That he would teach them his new skill; some caught, And thus did Jubal to his race reveal Music their larger soul, where woe and weal Now many a lyre was fashioned, many a song That true heaven, the recovered past, The dear small Known amid the Unknown vast. The future, that bright land which swims Man's life was spacious in the early world : It paused, like some slow ship with sail unfurled Beheld the slow star-paces of the skies, And grew from strength to strength through centuries; Saw infant trees fill out their giant limbs, And heard a thousand times the sweet birds' marriage hymns. Things new made, Usurping sense, make old things shrink and fade -0 The soul without still helps the soul within, Strong passion's daring sees not aught to dare. And a new spirit from that hour (the hour when The race of Cain: soft idlesse was no more, Smiling with hidden dread-a mother fair Who folding to her breast a dying child Beams with feigned joy that but makes sadness mild. 1 Death was now lord of life, and at his word Time, vague as air before, new terrors stirred, Throbbing through all things to some unknown close. It seemed the light was never loved before, Now each man said, "Twill go and come no more.' No form, no shadow, but new dearness took From the one thought that life must have an end ; That like the calm nocturnal lights doth shine But chief the sons of Lamech felt the stings The eager thought behind closed portals stand, Buried ere death in silent helplessness. Then while the soul its way with sound can cleave, Come, let us fashion acts that are to be, When we shall lie in darkness silently.' Leo. ARMGART. Various Characters. Ay, my lady, That moment will not come again: applause We know not pain from pleasure in such joy. Armg.―0, pleasure has cramped dwelling in our souls, And when full being comes must call on pain Armg.-How old are you? Leo. Armg. Threescore and five. That's old. I never thought till now how you have lived. They hardly ever play your music? Leo (raising his eyebrows and throwing out his lip). 412 No! |