THE GIFT
I
Life came to me and spoke:
“A palace for thee I have built
Wherein to take thy pleasure;
I have filled it with priceless treasure;
Seven days shalt thou dwell therein;
Thy joy shall be keener than sin,
Without the stain of guilt—
Enter the door of oak!”
II
I entered the oaken door;
Within, no ray of light,
I saw no golden store,
My heart stood still with fright;
To curse Life was I fain;
Then one unseen before
Laid in my own her hand,
And said: “Come thou and know
This is the House of Woe;
I am Life's sister, Pain.”
III
Through many a breathless way,
In dark, on dizzying hight,
She led me through the day
And into the dreadful night.
My soul was sore distrest
And wildly I longed for rest;
Till a chamber met my sight,
Far off, and hid, and still,
With diamonds all bedight
And every precious thing;
Not even a god might will
More beauty there to bring.
IV
Then spoke Life's sister, Pain:
“Here thou as a king shalt reign,
Here shalt thou take thy pleasure,
This is the priceless treasure,
The chamber of thy delight
Through endless day and night;
Rejoice, this is the end—
Thou hast found the heart of a friend.”
