 | Vigil and vision |  |
65
LECONTE DE LISLE.
“HOPE infinite,” saidst thou, “doth Death contain”.When to Life's buttress-wall at the world's end
With death thou wonnest, Master mine and friend,
Whereas, Time's travel done, the soul full fain
Unto the eternal rest returns again,
What visions met thy view, what shapes did wend
Before thy glances, where the grey beach-bend
Of Life slopes down into Death's surgeless main?
Master, thou never shalt return to show
That which thou foundest in that shoreless sea;
Thou mayst not come to us; but we, to thee
O'erpassing, haply yet shall win to know
If there thy hopes accomplished thou didst see
Or the black night of blank Nonentity.
| Vigil and vision | |