Letters and Literary Remains of Edward Fitzgerald ::

When Yúsuf from his Father's Home was torn,
The Patriarch's Heart was utterly forlorn,
And, like a Pipe with but one stop, his Tongue
With nothing but the name of ‘Yúsuf’ rung.
Then down from Heaven's Branches flew the Bird
Of Heav'n, and said ‘God wearies of that word:
Hast thou not else to do and else to say?’
So Yacúb's lips were sealéd from that Day.
But one Night in a Vision, far away
His darling in some alien Field he saw
Binding the Sheaf; and what between the Awe
Of God's Displeasure and the bitter Pass
Of passionate Affection, sigh'd ‘Alas—’
And stopp'd—But with the morning Sword of Flame
That oped his Eyes the sterner Angel's came—
‘For the forbidden Word not utter'd by
Thy Lips was yet sequester'd in that Sigh.’
And the right Passion whose Excess was wrong
Blinded the aged Eyes that wept too long.

University of Virginia Library