The Downing legends : Stories in Rhyme :: :: University of Virginia Library

Thus Downing saw them, sturdy child
Of common sense, who found no grace
In dazzling sin, or soul beguiled,
In demon plume, or fairy face;
Who saw the earthly husk of things,
And saw the earthly husk alone,
Nor guessed a grub has hidden wings,
Nor guessed the gem within the stone;
Who held the ancient virtues sin,
The hoary creeds bedeviled tales,
Nor found a gleam of glory in
The names that ruled Elysian vales;
To whom the pearly sylphs were black,
The syren's lilt a doleful scream,
The fairies but a vampire pack,
And poesy a wicked dream.

Thus Downing saw this fated pair
Who sought to princes of the wind;
Who found each other deadly fair,
And therefore loved, and therefore sinned.
He saw them smitten; hurried swift
As lightning through a fiery rift
Of Eblis; souls of driven flame
That agonized from sin to shame;
Apostate angels, tempest-tost;
Extinguished stars, forever lost.