The Poems of Algernon Charles Swinburne In Six Volumes |
 | I. |
| II. |
| III. |
| IV. |
| V. |
 | VI. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| I. | I TRANSFIGURATION |
| II. |
| III. |
| IV. |
| V. |
| VI. |
| VII. |
|
 | The Poems of Algernon Charles Swinburne |  |
231
I
TRANSFIGURATION
But half a man's days—and his days were nights.
What hearts were ours who loved him, should we pray
That night would yield him back to darkling day,
Sweet death that soothes, to life that spoils and smites?
For now, perchance, life lovelier than the light's
That shed no comfort on his weary way
Shows him what none may dream to see or say
Ere yet the soul may scale those topless heights
Where death lies dead, and triumph. Haply there
Already may his kindling eyesight find
Faces of friends—no face than his more fair—
And first among them found of all his kind
Milton, with crowns from Eden on his hair,
And eyes that meet a brother's now not blind.
| The Poems of Algernon Charles Swinburne | |