And he had doubts, aye, I have heard him cry
To the wild winds, bidding them stay awhile;
He sought the substance of the beauty shy,
That lurk’d in ocean, kiss’d by summer’s smile;
And he hath called unto the ghastly dark,
Gasping for breath, and panting for the light:
He long’d for life, but phantoms steer’d his bark,
Lengthening his voyage with a tedious freight;
O he could understand all that seem’d sad,
And claim’d a kindred with deserted hope!
Life, too indulgent, show’d him all she had,
He scorned her earnest, would not trust her scope:
He asked nor sympathy, nor aid, nor pity;
Where should he seek them? not in field or city.