Homeless within my mother’s house I dwelt, Lonely in all I thought, in all I felt, A guest unbidden at the feast of mirth,— Accounted nothing—less than nothing—worth. Then you appeared! For the first time I heard My own thought uttered in another’s word; To my lame visions you gave wings and feet— You young unmasker of the Obsolete! Half with your caustic keenness you alarmed me, Half with your radiant eloquence you charmed me, As sea-girt forests summon with their spell The sea their flinty beaches still repel. Now I have read the bottom of your soul, Now you have won me, undivided, whole; Dear forest, where my tossing billows beat, My tide’s at flood and never will retreat! FALK. And I thank God that in the bath of Pain He purged my love. What strong compulsion drew Me on I knew not, till I saw in you The treasure I had blindly sought in vain. I praise Him, who our love has lifted thus To noble rank by sorrow,—licensed us To a triumphal progress, bade us sweep Thro’ fen and forest to our castle-keep, A noble pair, astride on Pegasus! SVANHILD [_pointing to the house_]. The whole house, see, is making feast to-night. There, in their honour, every room’s alight, There cheerful talk and joyous song ring out; On the highroad no passer-by will doubt That men are happy where they are so gay. [_With compassion._ Poor sister!—happy in the great world’s way! FALK. “Poor” sister, say you? SVANHILD. Has she not divided With kith and kin the treasure of her soul, Her capital to fifty hands confided, So that not one is debtor for the whole? From no one has she _all_ things to receive, For no one has she utterly to live. O beside my wealth hers is little worth; I have but one possession upon earth. My heart was lordless when with trumpet blare And multitudinous song you came, its king, The banners of my thought your ensign bear, You fill my soul with glory, like the spring. Yes, I must needs thank God, when it is past, That I was lonely till I found out thee,— That I lay dead until the trumpet blast Waken’d me from the world’s frivolity. FALK.