What through my spirit hisses? I, too, am sore perplexed! Thy words, dear, and thy kisses Are strangely intermixed. VII. Shy as a fawn she passed me by; And, fleet as any heifer, She clambered on from cliff to cliff, Her hair flew with the zephyr. Where to the sea's edge slope the rocks, I reached her, trembling near it. Then, softly with the softest words, I melted her proud spirit. There we two sat as high as heaven, And heaven's own rapture drinking. While in the dark waves far below; The gradual sun was sinking. Below us in the deep, dark sea, The fair sun dropped; then dashing, The waves broke wildly over him, With turbulence of passion. Oh do not weep! he is not dead, 'Neath billows swelling higher; He has but hidden in my heart, With all his burning fire. VIII. Come, let us build upon this rock, The Church of God's last lover, The third New Testament's revealed, The agony is over. Refuted is the second book That fooled us through long ages. The stupid torture of the flesh Is not for modern sages. Hear'st thou the Lord in the dark sea, With thousand voices speaking? See'st thou o'erhead the thousand lights Of God's own glory breaking? The holy God dwells in the light, As in the dark abysses. For God is everything that is: His breath is in our kisses. IX. Gray night broods above the ocean, Little stars gleam sparkling o'er us. And the waters' many voices Chant in deep, protracted chorus. Hark! the old northwind is playing On the polished waves of ocean, That, like tubes of some great organ, Thrill and stir with sounding motion. Partly pagan, partly sacred, Rise these melodies upswelling Passionately to the heavens, Where the joyous stars are dwelling. And the stars wax large and larger, In bright mazes they are driven, Large as suns at last revolving, Through the spaces of vast heaven. And weird harmonies they warble With the billows' music blending. Solar nightingales, they circle Through the spheres strange concord sending. And with mighty roar and trembling, Sky and ocean both are ringing; And a giant's stormy rapture Feel I in my bosom springing. X. Shadow-love and shadow-kisses, Life of shadows, wondrous strange! Shall all hours be sweet as this is, Silly darling, safe from change? All things that we clasp and cherish, Pass like dreams we may not keep. Human hearts forget and perish, Human eyes must fall asleep. XI. She stood beside the ocean, And sighed as one oppressed, With such a deep emotion The sunset thrilled her breast. Dear maiden, look more gayly, This trick is old, thou'lt find. Before us sinks he daily, To rise again behind. XII.