OCEAN: ‘Thou that beëst but to be, Scornest thou my energy? Not much longer lasts the strife. I am Labour, I am Life.’ THE ROCK: ‘Roar, then, roar, and vent thy Surge; Thou not now shalt drone my dirge. Dost imagine to dismay This my iron breast with Spray?’ OCEAN: ‘Relic of primeval Slime, I shall whelm thee in my time. Changeless thou dost ever die; Changing but immortal I.’ Andamans, 1886-7. * * * * * THE BROTHERS Beneath Socotra, and before The mariner makes the Libyan shore, Or him the Doubtful Cape beguiles, Black in the Night two dreadful Isles. By Allah chain’d to Ocean’s bed, Each shows above an awful head, And front to front, envisaged, frown To frown retorts—by loud renown The Brothers. But no love between: Tho’ bound, they nurse a mutual spleen; And, when the thundering Waves engage In battle, vent immortal rage. DARZÉ: ‘Ho! Thro’ the Midnight learn my hate. When God releases, then thy fate.’ SAMHÉ: ‘When God unbinds thy fetter’d feet, For mercy him, not me, entreat.’ DARZÉ: ‘Dost think, because thy head is high, That thou art more divine than I?’ SAMHÉ: ‘Because thy looks are earthward given Thou hatest one who looks to Heaven.’ DARZÉ: ‘Because thou gazest at the Sun Think’st thou thou art the nobler one?’ SAMHÉ: ‘For them who with the Stars converse There is no better and no worse.’ DARZÉ: ‘So! hold thy old philosophy! Truth and the World enough for me. For humble Truth was born on Earth, But Lies, forsooth, have better birth!’ SAMHÉ: ‘I watch the white Stars rise and fall; I hear the vanish’d Eagles call; For me the World is but a Sod; I strive to see the eyes of God.’ 1888.