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the soul's quest.
But the voice of the Sea was most sublime,
Though it filled my soul with unrest,
For it told me of past and future time,
And spurred me on my quest.
Though it filled my soul with unrest,
For it told me of past and future time,
And spurred me on my quest.
Then the voice of Pleasure in dulcet tones
Called, "Dreamer! come listen to me;
Leave thou thy quest to the older ones,
The world is calling thee."
Called, "Dreamer! come listen to me;
Leave thou thy quest to the older ones,
The world is calling thee."
So for a space I listened to her songs,
But my soul wearied in her walls;
I found no pleasure in the giddy throngs,
No joy in Pleasure's halls.
But my soul wearied in her walls;
I found no pleasure in the giddy throngs,
No joy in Pleasure's halls.
But still I lingered, till the voice within—
My soul's voice—whispered, "Canst thou stay?"
Then Pleasure came and sought to keep me still,
But I—I could not stay.
My soul's voice—whispered, "Canst thou stay?"
Then Pleasure came and sought to keep me still,
But I—I could not stay.
Then in the gloaming Love's dear voice I heard,
Sweetly it fell upon mine ear;
And my young heart was somehow strangely stirred,
And thrilled with hope and fear.
Sweetly it fell upon mine ear;
And my young heart was somehow strangely stirred,
And thrilled with hope and fear.
What if my heart in list'ning to his singing
Should lose the peace within her breast?
What if in Love's fair guise Satan was bringing
An hindrance to my quest?
Should lose the peace within her breast?
What if in Love's fair guise Satan was bringing
An hindrance to my quest?
