 | The Way of the Winepress |  |
89
THE SOUL'S VENTURES.
THE winds blow South, the winds blow North;
They blow no luck to me.
A fleet of ships I built and forth
I sent them all to sea.
They blow no luck to me.
A fleet of ships I built and forth
I sent them all to sea.
They all were furnished and equipped
With wonder-goodly gear;
And I for venture on them shipped
That which I held most dear.
With wonder-goodly gear;
And I for venture on them shipped
That which I held most dear.
The first, Ambition, forth I sent
To fetch me golden store;
But on the seas astray it went
And came again no more.
To fetch me golden store;
But on the seas astray it went
And came again no more.
The second I despatched, Desire,
In quest of wine of fame;
But in mid-ocean it took fire
And foundered in the flame.
In quest of wine of fame;
But in mid-ocean it took fire
And foundered in the flame.
The third, Love, sent was by my soul
To seek the Isles of Spice;
But, chancing on the frozen Pole,
It perished in the ice.
To seek the Isles of Spice;
But, chancing on the frozen Pole,
It perished in the ice.
The fourth must fare (its name was Hope)
For frankincense and oil;
But tempests shattered mast and rope
And vain was all its toil.
For frankincense and oil;
But tempests shattered mast and rope
And vain was all its toil.
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The fifth Endeavour was by name;
I chartered it for grain;
But on a reef it ran and came
Not back to me again.
I chartered it for grain;
But on a reef it ran and came
Not back to me again.
Fancy, the sixth, to the sun-lands,
For apes and ivory,
Despatched, was driven upon the sands
And shattered by the sea.
For apes and ivory,
Despatched, was driven upon the sands
And shattered by the sea.
For fruit of peace the seventh, Faith,
To fare I fitted out;
But it encountered storm and scaith
And brought me back but Doubt.
To fare I fitted out;
But it encountered storm and scaith
And brought me back but Doubt.
And many another carrack tall,
Which should for me have earned
Rich store, I launched; but of them all
But few to me returned.
Which should for me have earned
Rich store, I launched; but of them all
But few to me returned.
Some perished in the seas icebound
And some the corals tore;
And some the world went wandering round
And came again no more.
And some the corals tore;
And some the world went wandering round
And came again no more.
And some few staggered home again,
Scourged by the scornful gales,
With nought to show for all their pain
But shattered masts and sails.
Scourged by the scornful gales,
With nought to show for all their pain
But shattered masts and sails.
The ship of Song, of all the pack
Whereon my hopes most high
I built, a freight of dreams brought back,
Which none to-day will buy.
Whereon my hopes most high
I built, a freight of dreams brought back,
Which none to-day will buy.
Of all my soul did thus out fit
And forth a-faring sent,
But Resignation now with it
Abides and Sad Content.
And forth a-faring sent,
But Resignation now with it
Abides and Sad Content.
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With these, the storm though over-frail
To face, unto the end
My harbourage yet I may avail
'Gainst Fortune to defend.
To face, unto the end
My harbourage yet I may avail
'Gainst Fortune to defend.
The winds blow East, the winds blow West;
They blow no luck to me;
My ships, henceforth at home we'll rest
And go no more to sea.
They blow no luck to me;
My ships, henceforth at home we'll rest
And go no more to sea.
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