Part 7 (1/2)

Ah, make the most of what we yet may spend, Before we too into the Dust descend; Dust into Dust, and under Dust, to lie, Sans Wine, sans Song, sans Singer, and--sans End!

XXVII

Alike for those who for TO-DAY prepare, And those that after some TO-MORROW stare, A Muezzin from the Tower of Darkness cries, ”Fools! your Reward is neither Here nor There.”

XXVIII

Another Voice, when I am sleeping, cries, ”The Flower should open with the Morning skies.”

And a retreating Whisper, as I wake-- ”The Flower that once has blown for ever dies.”

XXIX

Why, all the Saints and Sages who discuss'd Of the Two Worlds so learnedly, are thrust Like foolish Prophets forth; their Words to Scorn Are scatter'd, and their Mouths are stopt with Dust.

x.x.x

Myself when young did eagerly frequent Doctor and Saint, and heard great argument About it and about: but evermore Came out by the same door as in I went.

x.x.xI

With them the seed of Wisdom did I sow, And with my own hand wrought to make it grow; And this was all the Harvest that I reap'd-- ”I came like Water, and like Wind I go.”

x.x.xII

Into this Universe, and _Why_ not knowing, Nor _Whence_, like Water w.i.l.l.y-nilly flowing; And out of it, as Wind along the Waste, I know not _Whither_, w.i.l.l.y-nilly blowing.

x.x.xIII

What, without asking, hither hurried _Whence?_ And, without asking, _Whither_ hurried hence!

Ah! contrite Heav'n endowed us with the Vine To drug the memory of that insolence!

x.x.xIV

Up from Earth's Centre through the Seventh Gate I rose, and on the Throne of Saturn sate; And many Knots unravel'd by the Road; But not the Master-Knot of Human Fate.

x.x.xV

There was the Door to which I found no Key: There was the Veil through which I could not see: Some little talk awhile of ME and THEE There was--and then no more of THEE and ME.