THE ACKNOWLEDGMENT

SSINCE first I knew it our divine employTo beat beyond the reach of soiling care,As at Philippi, well of doom aware,The Prætor called and heard the singing boy;Since first my soul so jealous was of joy,That any facile linden-bloom in air,Or fall of water on a wildwood stair,Annulled for her all dragging dull annoy;Though word of thanks I lacked, though, dumb, I smiledLong, long, at such august amends up-piled,Let this the debt redeem: that when Ye dropDeath’s aloe-leaf within my honeyed cup,On thoughtful knee your much-beholden child,Immortals! unto You will drink it up.

SSINCE first I knew it our divine employTo beat beyond the reach of soiling care,As at Philippi, well of doom aware,The Prætor called and heard the singing boy;Since first my soul so jealous was of joy,That any facile linden-bloom in air,Or fall of water on a wildwood stair,Annulled for her all dragging dull annoy;Though word of thanks I lacked, though, dumb, I smiledLong, long, at such august amends up-piled,Let this the debt redeem: that when Ye dropDeath’s aloe-leaf within my honeyed cup,On thoughtful knee your much-beholden child,Immortals! unto You will drink it up.

SSINCE first I knew it our divine employTo beat beyond the reach of soiling care,As at Philippi, well of doom aware,The Prætor called and heard the singing boy;Since first my soul so jealous was of joy,That any facile linden-bloom in air,Or fall of water on a wildwood stair,Annulled for her all dragging dull annoy;Though word of thanks I lacked, though, dumb, I smiledLong, long, at such august amends up-piled,Let this the debt redeem: that when Ye dropDeath’s aloe-leaf within my honeyed cup,On thoughtful knee your much-beholden child,Immortals! unto You will drink it up.

S

SINCE first I knew it our divine employ

To beat beyond the reach of soiling care,

As at Philippi, well of doom aware,

The Prætor called and heard the singing boy;

Since first my soul so jealous was of joy,

That any facile linden-bloom in air,

Or fall of water on a wildwood stair,

Annulled for her all dragging dull annoy;

Though word of thanks I lacked, though, dumb, I smiled

Long, long, at such august amends up-piled,

Let this the debt redeem: that when Ye drop

Death’s aloe-leaf within my honeyed cup,

On thoughtful knee your much-beholden child,

Immortals! unto You will drink it up.


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