Ah, hold! now there flashes a link in the archway, And its light falleth full on thy face, O Honorius, And I know thee the land's lord, and far away fadeth My old life of a king at the sight, O thou stranger! For I know thee full surely the foe the heart hateth For that barren fulfilment of all that it lacketh. I may turn away praising that those days long departed Departed without thee--how long had I piped then Or e'er thou hadst danced, how long were my weeping Ere thou hadst lamented!--What dear thing desired Would thy heart e'er have come to know why I craved for! To what crime I could think of couldst thou be consenting? Yet thou--well I know thee most meet for a ruler-- --Thou lovest not mercy, yet shalt thou be merciful; Thou joy'st not in justice, yet just shall thy dooms be; No deep hell thou dreadest, nor dream'st of high heaven; No gleam of love leads thee: no gift men may give thee; For no kiss, for no comfort the lone way thou wearest, A blind will without life, lest thou faint ere the end come. --Yea, folly it was when I called thee my foeman; From thee may I turn now with sword in the scabbard Without shame or misgiving, because God hath made thee A ruler for manfolk: pass on then unpitied! There is darkness between us till the measure's fulfilment. Amidst singing thou hear'st not, fair sights that thou seest not, Think this eve on the deeds thou shalt set in men's hands To bring fair days about for which thou hast no blessing. Then fall asleep fearless of dead days that return not; Yet dream if thou may'st that thou yet hast a hope! --For thy dull morrow cometh and is as to-day is.