tars uncrowns his majesty,
Planting his steadfast footsteps in the sea, 5
Making the heaven of heavens his dwelling-place,
Spares but the cloudy border of his base
To the foil'd searching of mortality;
And thou, who didst the stars and sunbeams know
Self-school'd, self-scann'd, self-honour'd, self-secure, 10
Didst tread on earth unguess'd at.--Better so!
All pains the immortal spirit must endure,
All weakness which impairs, all griefs which bow
Find their sole speech in that victorious brow.
YOUTH'S AGITATIONS deg.
When I shall be divorced, some ten years hence,
From this poor present self which I am now;
When youth has done its tedious vain expense
Of passions that for ever ebb and flow;
Shall I not joy deg. youth's heats deg. are left behind, deg.5
And breathe more happy in an even clime deg.?-- deg.6
Ah no, for then I shall begin to find
A thousand virtues in this hated time!
Then I shall wish its agitations back,
And all its thwarting currents of desire; 10
Then I shall praise the heat which then I lack,
And call this hurrying fever, deg. generous fire; deg.12
And sigh that one thing only has been lent
To youth and age in common--discontent.
AUSTERITY OF POETRY deg.
That son of Italy deg. who tried to blow, deg.1
Ere Dante deg. came, the trump of sacred song, deg.2
In his light youth deg. amid a festal throng deg.3
Sate with his bride to see a public show.
Fair was the bride, and on her front did glow 5
Youth like a star; and what to youth belong--
Gay raiment, sparkling gauds, elation strong.
A prop gave way! crash fell a platform! lo,
'Mid struggling sufferers, hurt to death, she lay!
Shuddering, they drew her garments off--and found 10
A robe of sackcloth deg. next the smooth, white skin. deg.11
Such, poets, is your bride, the Muse! young, gay,
Radiant, adorn'd outside; a hidden ground
Of thought and of austerity within.
WORLDLY PLACE
_Even in a palace, life may be led well!_
So spake the imperial sage, purest of men,
Marcus Aurelius. deg. But the stifling den deg.3
Of common life, where, crowded up pell-mell,
Our freedom for a
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