He kept the faith. The ardent poet-soul, Once thrilled to madness by the fiery gleam Of Freedom glimpsed afar in youthful dream, Henceforth was true as needle to the pole. The vision he had caught remained the goal Of manhood's aspiration and the theme Of those high luminous nursings that redeem Our souls from bondage to the general dole Of trivial existence. Calm and free, He faced the Sphinx, nor ever knew dismay, Nor bound to externalities the knee, Nor took a guerdon from the flailing day; But dwelt on earth in that eternity, Where Truth and Beauty chime with blended ray. |