Gaze not upon her, for her dancing O FALLEN star! a darkened light, whirl A glory hurtled from its car, Turns giddy the fixed gazer Self-blasted from the holy height: presently: Gaze not upon her, lest thou be as she O fallen star! When, at the far end of her long Beyond return, beyond far sight desire, Fallen beyond earth's utmost bar, Of outmost glimmering nebular. Now blackness, which once walked Where no hope shall ever be more, Besotted, reckless, possessed, de- Wedding darkness, undescrying, coyed, They hurry to the dolorous pass. Saints fall a-weeping who would have joyed, Tending to no different goal. Self-slain soul, in vain thy sighing: Self-slain, who should make thee whole? Sore they weep for a glory that Vain the clamour of thy crying: was, For a fulness emptied into the void, As froth on the face of the deep, Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. IN tempest and storm, blackness of darkness for ever, A fire unextinguished, a worm's indestructible swarm; Toll, bell, toll. SHE gave up beauty in her tender So with calm will she chose and Harsh towards herself, towards They knelt in silent anguish by her others full of ruth, Servant of servants, little known to praise, Long prayers and fasts trenched on her nights and days : bed, And could not weep; but calmly there she lay. All pain had left her; and the sun's last ray She schooled herself to sights and Shone through upon her, warming That with the poor and stricken she The shady curtains. In her heart |