Page:The roamer and other poems (1920).djvu/93

He murmured, 'mid caresses of his hand;
"And thou, white lily," cried he, "fit to sleep
In Mary's bosom!—what garden-close is this?"
He marvelled; and started back, as at his face
Seen in a pool, so instant came the Shade,
And instant spoke, with challenge courteous:
"Who art thou in this solitude supreme,
That wearest on thy cheek the rose of youth
And in thy eyes so sweet a violet?"
"A pilgrim come I, seeking heavenly things,"
The Roamer said. "On earth thy answer find!"
And with the motion of his lifted arm
He seemed to comprehend the beauteous whole;
More than with words the gesture gave reply;
Sternly he spoke, albeit with accents pure,
And long perused the Roamer, silent found.
"Earth be thy answer! only from earthly things
Created is this fleeting paradise,
The abode of the delaying souls of men
A little while, the spirit's after-glow,
Ere all descend into the starless dark.
As moons and comets die, so sinks a Race,
After its blaze of glory quite extinct,
To wander lampless the creative void.
How fair it stood, our Race! not that, I mean,

Which from the gates of Eden issued curst,