The Annotated The Tales of John Oliver Hobbes/A Bundle of Life/Epilogue
Spoken by a Daughter of Eve[1], who is weeping, and an Angel,
who looks out of fashion.
The Angel.
This is only sorrow
For To-Day.
Life begins To-Morrow!
A Daughter of Eve.
So they say.
The Angel.
Life with one love and laughter
Gay and free—
Yet no heartache after.
A Daughter of Eve.
Can it be?
The Angel.
Life with work that reaches
To the sky;
Life that never teaches
How to die.
Life that is eternal,
Ever young,
Ever bright and vernal
Just begun!
A Daughter of Eve.
Will To-Morrow ever dawn?
Shall we wake that golden morn
But to see
All the treasures gained by tears,
All the faith that's won by fears—
Vanity?
The Angel.
Doubter, look behind thee
In the past,
All the dreams that pleased thee
Did one last?
Is a wish remaining
From thy youth?
This thou art retaining
If 'twas truth.
Mortal passions[2] sicken,
Fade away—
Love alone can quicken
Earthly clay[3].
Faith, and all endeavour
That is pure,
Hope, and Love, for ever
These endure.
All things else are folly
To the wise,—
Quit thy melancholy
And thy sighs!
Notes
[edit]- ↑ Meaning a young girl; According to the Bible, Eve is the "mother of all living" (Genesis 3:20)
- ↑ Human desires (such as lust)
- ↑ Meaning the human body; Adam was made from "dust from the ground" (Genesis 2:7)