" Never let it out! "
was his vow to me
back then,
but what will happen now?
For with all that
in his heart
still his feelings

Ah, the futility
of putting trust
in pledges
that turn out to be lies!
And less reason
is there to wait
on an evening
never promised.

PARAPHRASE

On Joh. 3.16 — For God so loved the World, that he gave his only begotten Son, &c.

I.

Yes; so God loved the World; But where
Are this Great Loves Dimensions?
Even Angels stop; for, baffled here
Are their vast Apprehensions.
In vain they strive to Grasp the boundless thing;
Not all their Comments can explain the mighty Truth I sing.

II.

Yet still they pause on the Contents
Of this Amazing Story;

Search all the Sonnets set Loue wealth to wynne,
And you shall see (how euer darkly donne)
That lightly with the Eye they do begin
As if Loues heate, and Witts , came from that Sunne
And I, as if the Eye bewitched mee,
Oft sett my Sonetts Seane iust in the Eye
Of beaming Beauty , that it, so, may see
Wherein consists Loues Comick Tragedie.
Thus is the Sences Sou'raigne Subiect , made
Loues Sonetts Subiect, in faire Paper- Reames ,
Sith with Loues fire it doth the Hart inuade:
For, that cold Christall burnes with Beauties Beames

As the sky brightens,
in gaps
between the clouds — stars,
shining faintly through,
as few in number
as visits
from the one
who pledged his love.

It makes no sense!
— to get entangled
again
after so much time!
In the air,
the dangling end
of a broken
spider's thread.

I.

Do you hear, Lorenzo? I say these wishes and vague desires
Will all of them pass away, though now they seem so bright;
They are will-o'-the-wisps that breed uncertain treacherous fires:
No real lamps that lead the traveller through the night.

II.

My youth has gone like a song. You heed not an old man's words.
Yet once, like you, I was young. Alas! I know it all;
And often my memory smites my thoughts, and awakens chords
Of far and dim delights, that I tremble as I recall.

III.

Yes , it is the queenly moon
Walking through her starred saloon,
Silvering all she looks upon:
I am her Endymion;
For by night she comes to me, —
O, I love her wondrously.

She into my window looks,
As I sit with lamp and books,
And the night-breeze stirs the leaves,
And the dew drips down the eaves;
O'er my shoulder peepeth she,
O, she loves me royally!

Then she tells me many a tale,
With her smile, so sheeny pale,
Till my soul is overcast
With such dream-light of the past,
That I saddened needs must be,

SONG: IF I FORGET THEE

I F I forget thee! How shall I forget thee?
Sword of the mighty! Prince and Lord of War!
Captive I bind me
To the spears that blind me,
Rage in my heart and love for evermore.

If I forget thee! How shall I forget thee?
Man the destroyer! Life that made mine move!
They that come after
Let them earn my laughter,

I

J ESUS , how precious is thy Name!
The great J EHOVAH'S Darling, Thou!
O let me catch th' immortal Flame,
With which Angelic Bosoms glow!
Since Angels love Thee, I would love,
And imitate the Blest above.

II

My Prophet Thou, my heav'nly Guide,
Thy sweet Instructions I will hear,
The Words, that from thy Lips proceed,
O how divinely sweet they are!
Thee, my great Prophet , I would love,
And imitate the Blest above.

III

My great High-Priest , whose precious Blood
Did once atone upon the Cross,