University of Virginia Library

XXII.

The austere voice returned,—
“So soon made happy? Hadst thou learned
“What God accounteth happiness,
“Thou wouldst not find it hard to guess
“What hell may be his punishment
“For those who doubt if God invent
“Better than they. Let such men rest
“Content with what they judged the best.
“Let the unjust usurp at will:
“The filthy shall be filthy still:
“Miser, there waits the gold for thee!
“Hater, indulge thine enmity!
“And thou, whose heaven self-ordained
“Was, to enjoy earth unrestrained,
“Do it! Take all the ancient show!
“The woods shall wave, the rivers flow,
“And men apparently pursue
“Their works, as they were wont to do,
“While living in probation yet.
“I promise not thou shalt forget
“The past, now gone to its account;
“But leave thee with the old amount
“Of faculties, nor less nor more,
“Unvisited, as heretofore,
“By God's free spirit, that makes an end.
“So, once more, take thy world! Expend
“Eternity upon its shows,
“Flung thee as freely as one rose
“Out of a summer's opulence,
“Over the Eden-barrier whence
“Thou art excluded. Knock in vain!”