Mineeyesaresoconfused,Mycheekitissopale,Myheadissobemused,Arealmoffairy—tale。
Iwanted,boldlydaring,Sea—goingwaystofollow,Whereathousandcragsrisesoaring,AndFloodsflowbleakandhollow。
IclungtoThoughthigh—soaring,Onitstwowingsdidride,Andthoughstormwindswereroaring,AlldangerIdefied。
Ididnotfalterthere,ButeverondidpressWiththewildeagle'sstareOnjourneyslimitless。
AndthoughtheSirenspinsHermusicsoendearingWherebytheheartshewins——
Igavethatsoundnohearing。
IturnedawaymineearFromthesweetsoundsIheard,MybosomdidaspireToaloftierreward。
Alas,thewavesspedon,Atresttheywouldnotbe;
TheresweptbymanyaoneTooswiftformetosee。
WithmagicpowerandwordIcastwhatspellsIknew,Butforththewavesstillroared,Tilltheyweregonefromview。
AndbytheFloodsorepressed,Anddizzyatthesight,ItumbledfromthathostIntothemistynight。
AndwhenIroseagainFromfruitlesstoilatlast,Mypowersallweregone,Andalltheheart'sglowlostAndtrembling,pale,IlongGazedintomyownbreast;
BynouplifitingsongWasmyafflictionblessed。
Mysongswereflown,alack;
ThesweetestArtwasgone——
NoGodwouldgiveitbackNorGraceofDeathlessOne。
TheFortresshadsunkdownThatoncesobolddidstand;
Thefieryglowwasdrowned,Voidwasthebosom'sland。
Thenshoneyourradiance,Thepurestlightofsoul,WhereinachangingdanceRoundEarththeHeavensroll。
ThenwasIcaptivebound,Thenwasmyvisionclear,ForIhadtrulyfoundWhatmydarkstrivingswere。
Soulrangmorestrong,morefree,Outofthedeep—stirredbreastIntriumphheavenly,Andinsheerhappiness。
MyspiritsthenandthereSoared,jubilantandgay,And,likeasorcerer,TheircoursesdidIsway。
Ileftthewavesthatrush,Thefloodsthatchangeandflow,Onthehighclifftocrash,Butsavedtheinnerglow。
AndwhatmySoul,Fate—drivenNeverinflighto'ertook,Thattomyheartwasgiven,Wasgrantedbyyourlook。
(writtenbetweenNovember1836andFebruary1837)