The Poetical Works of Elizabeth Barrett Browning, Volume 1

Eve is a twofold mystery; The stillness Earth doth keep, The motion wherewith human hearts Do each to either leap As if all souls between the poles Felt "Parting comes in sleep."

Cytherea herself now the Loves are lamenting Each torch at the door Hymenæus blew out; And, the marriage-wreath dropping its leaves as repenting, No more "Hymen, Hymen," is chan...

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_Chorus._ Vouchsafe, O god, The one grace of the twain to her who prays; The next to me; and turn back neither prayer Dishonour'd by denial. To herself Recount the future wander...

_Second Spirit._ I wail, I wail! I wail in the assault Of undeserved perdition, sorely wounded! My nightingale sang sweet without a fault, My gentle leopards innocently bounded....

_Voices of Fallen Angels from the Earth._ Do we prevail? Or are we lost? Hath not the ill we did Been heretofore our good? Is it not ill that one, all sinless, should Hang heavy...

_Chorus._ Then upon our axle turning Of great joy to sympathy, We sang out the morning Broadening up the sky, Or we drew Our music through The noontide's hush and heat and shine...

_Prometheus._ Why there, again, I give thee gratulation and applause. Thou lackest no goodwill. But, as for deeds, Do nought! 'twere all done vainly; helping nought, Whatever th...

_Lucifer._ Well, and if it be! I CHOSE this ruin, I elected it Of my will, not of service. What I do, I do volitient, not obedient, And overtop thy crown with my despair My sorr...

_Eve._ I hear a sound of life--of life like ours-- Of laughter and of wailing, of grave speech, Of little plaintive voices innocent, Of life in separate courses flowing out Like...

_First Semichorus._ Through the flats of Hades where the souls assemble He will guide the Death-steed calm between their ranks, While, like beaten dogs, they a little moan and t...

_Zerah._ Thy look Is fixed on earth, as mine upon thy face. Where shall I seek His? I have thrown One look upon earth, but one, Over the blue mountain-lines, Over the forests of...

He dwelt alone, and sun and moon Were witness that he made Rejection of his humanness Until they seemed to fade; His face did so, for he did grow Of his own soul afraid.