 | Romance and revery |  |
128
GOLD.
No spirit of air am I, but one whose birth
Was deep in mouldy darkness of mid-earth.
Was deep in mouldy darkness of mid-earth.
Yet where my yellow raiments choose to shine,
What power is more magnificent than mine?
What power is more magnificent than mine?
In hall or hut, in highway or in street,
Obedient millions grovel at my feet.
Obedient millions grovel at my feet.
The loftiest pride to me its tribute brings;
I gain the lowly vassalage of kings!
I gain the lowly vassalage of kings!
How many a time have I made honor yield
To me its mighty and immaculate shield!
To me its mighty and immaculate shield!
How often has virtue, at my potent name,
Robed her chaste majesty in scarlet shame!
Robed her chaste majesty in scarlet shame!
How often has burning love, within some breast,
Frozen to treachery at my cold behest!
Frozen to treachery at my cold behest!
129
Yet ceaselessly my triumph has been blent
With pangs of overmastering discontent.
With pangs of overmastering discontent.
For always there are certain souls that hear
My stealthy whispers with indifferent ear.
My stealthy whispers with indifferent ear.
Pure souls that deem my smile's most bland excess,
For all its lavish radiance, valueless!
For all its lavish radiance, valueless!
Rare souls, from my imperious guidance free,
Who know me for the slave that I should be!
Who know me for the slave that I should be!
Grand souls, that from my counsels would dissent,
Though each were tempted with a continent!
Though each were tempted with a continent!
| Romance and revery | |