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to georges sand.
(While sleep the murtherous pair in guilty calm)
The spectre frowns, the boding shadows rise.
The spectre frowns, the boding shadows rise.
Stern as that voice which in the desert cried
Majestic prophecy and mystic woe,
And poured its warnings o'er the Jordan's tide—
Thou, 'mid the dreary wilderness of life,
With bleeding feet and burning soul didst go,
And flung thyself into th' arena's strife.
Majestic prophecy and mystic woe,
And poured its warnings o'er the Jordan's tide—
Thou, 'mid the dreary wilderness of life,
With bleeding feet and burning soul didst go,
And flung thyself into th' arena's strife.
Naked and hungered, with what bitter scorn,
Banned from sweet charities of earth and sky,
By passions and impulsive senses torn,
At earthly banquets, poisonous yet sweet,
Didst thou thy Nature's ruthless wants supply,
Earth's locusts and its bitter honey eat!
Banned from sweet charities of earth and sky,
By passions and impulsive senses torn,
At earthly banquets, poisonous yet sweet,
Didst thou thy Nature's ruthless wants supply,
Earth's locusts and its bitter honey eat!
Like forkèd tongues of fire round blackened wood
That leave charred ashes where was glowing flame,
Thy lurid idols made thy heart their food
And ruined and consumed it evermore,
And powerless now the best beloved name
That cold dead heart to kindle or restore.
That leave charred ashes where was glowing flame,
Thy lurid idols made thy heart their food
And ruined and consumed it evermore,
And powerless now the best beloved name
That cold dead heart to kindle or restore.
