CONSOLATION°

CONSOLATION°

Mist clogs the sunshine. Smoky dwarf houses Hem me round everywhere; A vague dejection 5Weighs down my soul. Yet, while I languish, Everywhere countless Prospects unroll themselves, And countless beings 10Pass countless moods. Far hence, in Asia, On the smooth convent-roofs, On the gilt terraces, °14Of holy Lassa,° 15Bright shines the sun. [p.72] Grey time-worn marbles °17Hold the pure Muses°; °18In their cool gallery,° °19By yellow Tiber,° 20They still look fair. °21Strange unloved uproar° Shrills round their portal; °23Yet not on Helicon° Kept they more cloudless 25Their noble calm. Through sun-proof alleys In a lone, sand-hemm'd City of Africa, A blind, led beggar, 30Age-bow'd, asks alms. No bolder robber °32Erst° abode ambush'd Deep in the sandy waste; No clearer eyesight 35Spied prey afar. Saharan sand-winds Sear'd his keen eyeballs; Spent is the spoil he won. For him the present 40Holds only pain. Two young, fair lovers, Where the warm June-wind, [p.73] Fresh from the summer fields Plays fondly round them, 45Stand, tranced in joy. With sweet, join'd voices, And with eyes brimming: °48"Ah," they cry, "Destiny,° Prolong the present! 50Time, stand still here!" The prompt stern Goddess Shakes her head, frowning; Time gives his hour-glass Its due reversal; 55Their hour is gone. With weak indulgence Did the just Goddess Lengthen their happiness, She lengthen'd also 60Distress elsewhere. The hour, whose happy Unalloy'd moments I would eternalise, Ten thousand mourners 65 Well pleased see end. The bleak, stern hour, Whose severe moments I would annihilate, Is pass'd by others 70In warmth, light, joy. [p.74] Time, so complain'd of, Who to no one man Shows partiality, Brings round to all men 75Some undimm'd hours.