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But thee I now would serve more strictly, if I may.

Through no disturbance of my soul,

Or strong compunction in me wrought,
I supplicate for thy control;

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Sound sense, and love itself, and mirth and glee
Are fostered by the comment and the gibe." 20
Even be it so; yet still among your tribe,
Our daily world's true worldings, rank not me!
Children are blest, and powerful; their world lies
More justly balanced; partly at their feet,
And part far from them: sweetest melodies
Are those that are by distance made more sweet;
Whose mind is but the mind of his own eyes,
He is a slave; the meanest we can meet!

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III

Wings have we, and as far as we can go,
We may find pleasure: wilderness and wood, 30
Blank ocean and mere sky, support that mood
Which with the lofty sanctifies the low.
Dreams, books, are each a world; and books, we
know,

Are a substantial world, both pure and good: Round these, with tendrils strong as flesh and blood,

Our pastime and our happiness will grow. There find I personal themes, a plenteous store, Matter wherein right voluble I am,

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Unto thy guidance from this hour;

Oh, let my weakness have an end!

Give unto me, made lowly wise,

The spirit of self-sacrifice;

To which I listen with a ready ear;

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Two shall be named, pre-eminently dear,

And in the light of truth thy bondman let me live!

The gentle Lady married to the Moor;
And heavenly Una with her milk-white Lamb.

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In the faith that looks through death, In years that bring the philosophic mind.

ΧΙ

Forth sprang the impassioned queen her lord to

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clasp;

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195

To live beneath your more habitual sway.
I love the Brooks which down their channels fret,
Even more than when I tripped lightly as they;
The innocent brightness of a new-born Day
Is lovely yet;
The Clouds that gather round the setting sun
Do take a sober colouring from an eye
That hath kept watch o'er man's mortality;
Another race hath been, and other palms are won.
Thanks to the human heart by which we live,
Thanks to its tenderness, its joys, and fears, 201
To me the meanest flower that blows can give
Thoughts that do often lie too deep for tears.

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Again that consummation she essayed;
But unsubstantial form eludes her grasp
As often as that eager grasp was made.
The phantom parts but parts to re-unite,
And re-assume his place before her sight.
"Protesilaüs, lo! thy guide is gone!
Confirm, I pray, the vision with thy voice:
This is our palace, - yonder is thy throne;
Speak, and the floor thou tread'st on will rejoice.
Not to appal me have the gods bestowed
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This precious boon; and blest a sad abode."
"Great Jove, Laodamia! doth not leave
His gifts imperfect: Spectre though I be,
I am not sent to scare thee or deceive;
But in reward of thy fidelity.

And something also did my worth obtain;
For fearless virtue bringeth boundless gain.

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A nobler counsellor than my poor heart.

"But thou, though capable of sternest deed, 55
Wert kind as resolute, and good as brave;
And he, whose power restores thee, hath decreed
Thou should'st elude the malice of the grave:
Redundant are thy locks, thy lips as fair

As when their breath enriched Thessalian air. 60

"No spectre greets me, no vain shadow this; Come, blooming hero, place thee by my side!

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