For him no rival in dispute was found Whom he could not confute or not confound. 500 Some mystics told us of the sign and seal, } And what the spirit would in time reveal, } If we had grace to wait, if we had hearts to feel: } Others, to reason trusting, said, [‘Believe] As she directs, and what she proves receive;’ While many told us, [‘It] is all but guess, Stick to your church, and calmly acquiesce.’ “Thus, doubting, wearied, hurried, and perplex’d, This world was lost in thinking of the next; When spoke my brother—‘From my soul I hate 510 This clash of thought, this ever doubting state; For ever seeking certainty, yet blind In our research, and puzzled when we find. “‘Could not some spirit, in its kindness, steal Back to our world, and some dear truth reveal? Say there is danger—if it could be done, Sure one would venture—I would be the one; And when a spirit—much as spirits might— I would to thee communicate my light!’ “I sought my daring brother to oppose, 520 But awful gladness in my bosom rose. I fear’d my wishes; but through all my frame A bold and elevating terror came; Yet with dissembling prudence I replied, ‘Know we the laws that may be thus defied? Should the free spirit to th’ embodied tell The precious secret, would it not rebel?’ Yet, while I spoke, I felt a pleasing glow Suffuse my cheek at what I long’d to know; And I, like Eve transgressing, grew more bold, 530 And wish’d to hear a spirit and behold. “‘I have no friend,’ said he, ‘to not one man Can I appear; but, love! to thee I can: Who first shall die’—I wept, but—‘I agree } To all thou say’st, dear Richard! and would be } The first to wing my way, and bring my news to thee.’ } “Long we conversed, but not till we perceived A gathering gloom—Our freedom gain’d, we grieved; Above the vulgar, as we judged, in mind, Below in peace, more sad as more refined; 540 ’Twas joy, ’twas sin—Offenders at the time, We felt the hurried pleasure of our crime With pain that crime creates, and this in both— Our mind united as the strongest oath. O, my dear George! in ceasing to obey, Misery and trouble meet us in our way! I felt as one intruding in a scene Where none should be, where none had ever been; Like our first parent, I was new to sin, But plainly felt its sufferings begin; 550 In nightly dreams I walk’d on soil unsound, And in my day-dreams endless error found. “With this dear brother I was doom’d to part, Who, with an husband, shared a troubled heart. My lord I honour’d; but I never proved The madd’ning joy, the boast of some who loved: It was a marriage that our friends profess’d Would be most happy, and I acquiesced; And we were happy, for our love was calm— Not life’s delicious essence, but its balm. 560 “My brother left us—dear, unhappy boy!