XIX.

I said that two or three might choose Their dwelling near mine own: Those who would change man's voice and use, For Nature's way and tone-- Man's veering heart and careless eyes, For Nature's steadfast sympathies.

Ourselves, to meet her faithfulness, Shall play a faithful part; Her beautiful shall ne'er address The monstrous at our heart: Her musical shall ever touch Something within us also such.

Yet shall she not our mistress live, As doth the moon of ocean, Though gently as the moon she give Our thoughts a light and motion: More like a harp of many lays, Moving its master while he plays.

No sod in all that island doth Yawn open for the dead; No wind hath borne a traitor's oath; No earth, a mourner's tread; We cannot say by stream or shade, "I suffered _here_,--was _here_ betrayed."

Our only "farewell" we shall laugh To shifting cloud or hour, And use our only epitaph To some bud turned a flower: Our only tears shall serve to prove Excess in pleasure or in love.

Our fancies shall their plumage catch From fairest island-birds, Whose eggs let young ones out at hatch, Born singing! then our words Unconsciously shall take the dyes Of those prodigious fantasies.