A Holocaust
‘No man ever attained supreme knowledge, unless his heart had been torn up by the roots.’
WHEN I presage the time shall come—yea, nowPerchance is come, when you shall fail from me,Because the mighty spirit, to whom you vowFaith of kin genius unrebukably,Scourges my sloth, and from your side dismissedHenceforth this sad and most, most lonely soulMust, marching fatally through pain and mist,The God-bid levy of its powers enrol;When I presage that none shall hear the voiceFrom the great Mount that clangs my ordained advance,That sullen envy bade the churlish choiceYourself shall say, and turn your altered glance;O God! Thou knowest if this heart of fleshQuivers like broken entrails, when the wheelRolleth some dog in middle street, or freshFruit when ye tear it bleeding from the peel;If my soul cries the uncomprehended cryWhen the red agony oozed on Olivet!Yet not for this, a caitiff, falter I,Beloved whom I must lose, nor thence regretThe doubly-vouched and twin allegiance owedTo you in Heaven, and Heaven in you, Lady.How could you hope, loose dealer with my God,That I should keep for you my fealty?For still ’tis thus:—because I am so true,My Fair, to Heaven, I am so true to you!