But their sweet ecstasy is all abiding And cannot pall with time nor tire nor fade, Nor any more can day of death, dividing Their earthborn loves, those happy haunts invade. But joy for ever—if that joy compare With my best joy on earth, may I be there! Though even from that I shrink and am afraid. Now when I woke and thought upon this vision, Wherein she smiled on me and I on her, I could not quite be clear of all misprision Who of us most was changed: or if it were The song I heard not—sleeping as I heard— That shaped our empty dream, while sang the bird Regardless of his fond interpreter. [Illustration] O youth whose hope is high, Who dost to Truth aspire, Whether thou live or die, O look not back nor tire. Thou that art bold to fly Through tempest, flood and fire, Nor dost not shrink to try Thy heart in torments dire: If thou canst Death defy, If thy Faith is entire, Press onward, for thine eye Shall see thy heart’s desire. Beauty and love are nigh, And with their deathless quire Soon shall their eager cry Be numbered and expire. [Illustration] Transcriber’s Note The cover image was created by the transcriber and is placed in the public domain. Obvious typographical errors have been silently corrected. “entranced” (Pg. 9) and “entrancèd” (Pg 36) left as printed. Poem titles of Contents page left as printed. Poems with and without titles within the book were left as printed. End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Poems, by Robert Bridges