To move on angels’ wings were sweet; But who would therefore scorn his feet? It cannot walk up to the sky; It therefore will lie down and die. Rich meats it don’t obtain at call; It therefore will not eat at all. Poor babe, and yet a babe of wit! But common sense, not much of it, Or ’twould submit. Submit, submit! As your good father did before you, And as the mother who first bore you, O yes! a child of heavenly birth! But yet it _was_ born too on earth. Keep your new birth for that far day When in the grave your bones you lay, All with your kindred and connection, In hopes of happy resurrection. But how meantime to live is fit, Ask common sense; and what says it? Submit, submit! SCENE VI.—_On a Bridge._ _Di._ ’Tis gone, the fierce inordinate desire, The burning thirst for action—utterly; Gone, like a ship that passes in the night On the high seas: gone, yet will come again: Gone, yet expresses something that exists. Is it a thing ordained, then? is it a clue For my life’s conduct? is it a law for me That opportunity shall breed distrust, Not passing until that pass? Chance and resolve, Like two loose comets wandering wide in space, Crossing each other’s orbits time on time, Meet never. Void indifference and doubt Let through the present boon, which ne’er turns back To await the after sure-arriving wish. How shall I then explain it to myself, That in blank thought my purpose lives? The uncharged cannon mocking still the spark _When_ come, which _ere_ come it had loudly claimed. Am I to let it be so still? For truly The need exists, I know; the wish but sleeps (Sleeps, and anon will wake and cry for food); And to put by these unreturning gifts, Because the feeling is not with me now, Seems folly more than merest babyhood’s. But must I then do violence to myself, And push on nature, force desire (that’s ill), Because of knowledge? which is great, but works By rules of large exception; to tell which Nought is more fallible than mere caprice. What need for action yet? I am happy now, I feel no lack—what cause is there for haste? Am I not happy? is not that enough? Depart!