| |
| AT table yonder sits the man we seek, | |
| Beside the ingle, where the crimson flare | |
| Reveals him through the eddying tavern reek, | |
| Reclining easeful in his leathern chair; | |
| In russet doublet, bearded and benign, | 5 |
| He looks a worthy burgher at his wine. | |
| |
| Even so; but when thy veins ran fire tonight, | |
| Thy hand crept knotted to thy sword-hilt there, | |
| And through all moods of madness and delight | |
| Thy soul was hurried headlong, unaware, | 10 |
| It seemed the genius or the scene should be | |
| Some radiant shape, brow-bound with majesty. | |
| |
| And lo! a man unsingled from the crowd | |
| By quick recognizance of reverent eyes, | |
| A dim, inobvious presence, kindly-browed, | 15 |
| That sits apart, observant, thoughtfulwise, | |
| Weaving—who knows?—what wondrous woof of song, | |
| What other Hamlet, from the shifting throng. | |
| |
| A pale, plain-favored face, the smile whereof | |
| Is beautiful; the eyes gray, changeful, bright, | 20 |
| Low-lidded now, and luminous as love; | |
| Anon soul-searching, ominous as night, | |
| Seer-like, inscrutable, revealing deeps | |
| Wherein a mighty spirit wakes or sleeps. | |
| |
| Here, where my outstretched hand might touch his arm, | 25 |
| I gaze upon that mild and lofty mien, | |
| With that deep awe and unexpressive charm | |
| I feel in wide sea-solitudes serene; | |
| Or on some immemorial mountain’s crest— | |
| Eternity unveiled and manifest. | 30 |
| |
| For he hath wrought with nature and made known | |
| The marvel and the majesty of life; | |
| Translating from the pages of his own | |
| The mighty heart of man, the stress and strife, | |
| The pain, the passion, and the bitter leaven, | 35 |
| The cares that quell, the dreams that soar to heaven. | |
| |
| So, whatsoever time shall make or mar, | |
| Or fate decree of benison or blame, | |
| This poet-player, like a wondrous star, | |
| Shall shed the solemn splendor of his fame, | 40 |
| Wide as the world, while beauty has a shrine, | |
| While youth has hope, and love is yet divine. | |
| |
