Within my ears the rush of streams, My vision shot with lurid gleams, My spirit bathed in burning dreams!
A vital fragrance round her clung, As if from earth's deep veins was wrung The sap of springs for ever young.
It turned my blood to living fire, The universe immense, entire, Was bound in me, and my desire.
No mortal man was I, while still I kissed and wreaked my ardent will Upon that form of tender ill.
She cast her magic over me, Her spell of Immortality, That lost my soul Eternity.
The sunlight faded, and the day As one affrighted fled away, Suddenly tremulous and gray.
An icy wind sprang up, and blew A shuddering breath along the dew, It chilled my body thro' and thro'.
I sought the shelter of her hair, But lo! my sinful breast was bare, My arms outstretched to empty air.
I wept aloud, in anguish cried, The echoes hastened to deride! She came no longer to my side.
And in her stead, with agony Of dumb regret, most bitterly My soul came forth, and looked on me!
Within the forest's depth a bird Began to twitter, and I heard Trees stirring at its tender word.
I woke as from a searing dream, Beside my feet a little stream Grew rosy with a sunset beam.
The earth gave forth her fragrant store; Obedient to Eternal law, All things were even as before,
All things save I, who moaned, and stood A stranger, in the tranquil wood. My spirit shrank away, nor could
Refresh itself at Nature's breast, Its lips were burnt, defiled, caressed Of sin, unholy and unblessed!
I knew it then! fulfilled desires Are in themselves Hell's deepest fires, And man when highest he aspires
The more may fall beneath his lust. And yet, ah! Heaven, the while I thrust My sense in penitential dust
I knew that thro' my misery A tremor stole persistently, Of rapture at her memory.
Shall I confess with spirit bent That hour of awful ravishment? Dear God, but _should I not repent_?
'Twere better that we two should die A thousand deaths, my soul and I, Than live an everlasting lie!
Oh soul! What would you have me say, To Him whose hand shall never stay Its vengeance on this woeful day!
Ring on! oh endless vesper bell! What can you know of that deep Hell Upon this earth where men may dwell, And God, does He know? Who can tell——