Imitation

  A dark unfathomed tide
  Of interminable pride—
  A mystery, and a dream,
  Should my early life seem;
  I say that dream was fraught
  With a wild and waking thought
  Of beings that have been,
  Which my spirit hath not seen,
  Had I let them pass me by,
  With a dreaming eye!
  Let none of earth inherit
  That vision on my spirit;
  Those thoughts I would control,
  As a spell upon his soul:
  For that bright hope at last
  And that light time have past,
  And my wordly rest hath gone
  With a sigh as it passed on:
  I care not though it perish
  With a thought I then did cherish.
"THE HAPPIEST DAY."


     I.       The happiest day—the happiest hour
                My seared and blighted heart hath known,
              The highest hope of pride and power,
                I feel hath flown.


     II.      Of power! said I? Yes! such I ween
                But they have vanished long, alas!
              The visions of my youth have been—
                But let them pass.


     III.     And pride, what have I now with thee?
                Another brow may ev'n inherit
              The venom thou hast poured on me—
                Be still my spirit!


     IV.      The happiest day—the happiest hour
                Mine eyes shall see—have ever seen
              The brightest glance of pride and power
                I feel have been:


     V.       But were that hope of pride and power
                Now offered with the pain
              Ev'n then I felt—that brightest hour
                I would not live again:

     VI.      For on its wing was dark alloy
                And as it fluttered—fell
              An essence—powerful to destroy
                A soul that knew it well.
Translation from the Greek.