IV Induration
Reading edition
Induration
Deep, deep in league with Fate,
Fate fast in league with Sorrow,
And Sorrow with my state,
I would that I could borrow,
O Deep, a depth from thee,
O Fate, thy fixèd calm,
O Sorrow, what to me
Thou givest not, thy balm;
That I might worthier show
A scorn of your controls,
And let Misfortune know
Iron chains make iron souls.
If chain’d we could but take
Contagion from the steel,
And wisdom’s mantle shake
Around us head to heel,
And chill the eyes and rest
No longer violent,
The steel, still more imprest,
Would banish discontent.
The strongest chains are burst
When we have done with care;
A joy lives in the worst,
A gladness in despair.
So when great clouds all night
Hold high debate of thunder
In awful tones that fright
The huddled cities under;
And roar their rage and move
About the breadths of space,
And sudden flashes prove
The madness in their face;
At length, when break of day
Shows heav’nly peace newborn,
They muttering melt away
Before the might of morn.