18
Isolation.
Where winds blew fresh and free, and sunny skies
Had charmed her sight. "I breathe, at length," she said,
As, hand in hand, they wandered on to seek
The upland path. And sense of freedom first
Exultant filled their hearts, and new-found joy
That larger prospect grand might be revealed.
But by and by, when they had wandered far,
And sat upon the greensward, side by side,
He said, "Here let us rest, nor farther seek,
Content with love and this fair scene below,
Nor follow out the dizzy path beyond:
Already thorns have pierced thy tender flesh."
"'Tis beautiful," she said, "but fain would I
Go on with thee until my questionings
May find reward, more light, more certainty
Of all the bright beyond." "'Tis far enough,"
He said, "the path grows rough and steep, and on
Forever mayest thou go, nor understand
More clear than now." So down the mountain slope
They took their way. The years sped swiftly on,
And children sweet made glad their hearth-stone warm:
But oft she thought upon the mountain view,
Had charmed her sight. "I breathe, at length," she said,
As, hand in hand, they wandered on to seek
The upland path. And sense of freedom first
Exultant filled their hearts, and new-found joy
That larger prospect grand might be revealed.
But by and by, when they had wandered far,
And sat upon the greensward, side by side,
He said, "Here let us rest, nor farther seek,
Content with love and this fair scene below,
Nor follow out the dizzy path beyond:
Already thorns have pierced thy tender flesh."
"'Tis beautiful," she said, "but fain would I
Go on with thee until my questionings
May find reward, more light, more certainty
Of all the bright beyond." "'Tis far enough,"
He said, "the path grows rough and steep, and on
Forever mayest thou go, nor understand
More clear than now." So down the mountain slope
They took their way. The years sped swiftly on,
And children sweet made glad their hearth-stone warm:
But oft she thought upon the mountain view,
