My powers were greater: as some temple seemed My soul, where naught is changed and incense rolls Around the altar, only God is gone And some dark spirit sitteth in his seat. So, I passed through the temple and to me Knelt troops of shadows, and they cried, "Hail, king! We serve thee now and thou shalt serve no more! Call on us, prove us, let us worship thee!" And I said, "Are ye strong? Let fancy bear me Far from the past!" And I was borne away, As Arab birds float sleeping in the wind, O'er deserts, towers and forests, I being calm. And I said, "I have nursed up energies, They will prey on me." And a band knelt low And cried, "Lord, we are here and we will make Safe way for thee in thine appointed life! But look on us!" And I said, "Ye will worship Me; should my heart not worship too?" They shouted, "Thyself, thou art our king!" So, I stood there Smiling--oh, vanity of vanities! For buoyant and rejoicing was the spirit With which I looked out how to end my course; I felt once more myself, my powers--all mine; I knew while youth and health so lifted me That, spite of all life's nothingness, no grief Came nigh me, I must ever be light-hearted; And that this knowledge was the only veil Betwixt joy and despair: so, if age came, I should be left--a wreck linked to a soul Yet fluttering, or mind-broken and aware Of my decay. So a long summer morn Found me; and ere noon came, I had resolved No age should come on me ere youth was spent, For I would wear myself out, like that morn Which wasted not a sunbeam; every hour I would make mine, and die.