| Hunt and Lee, comps. The Book of the Sonnet. 1867. | | | | I. The Delights of Intellect Unperturbing | | By Charles Tennyson (1808–1879) |
| | | VEXATION waits on passion’s changeful glow, | |
| But th’ intellect may rove a thousand ways, | |
| And yet be calm while fluctuating so: | |
| The dew-drop shakes not to its shifting rays | |
| And transits of soft light. Be bold to choose | 5 |
| This never satiate freedom of delight, | |
| Before the fiery bowl and red carouse, | |
| And task for joy thy soul’s majestic might; | |
| So for the sensual will be rarer need; | |
| So will thy mind a giant force assume, | 10 |
| Strong as the centre of the deep Maelstroom, | |
| When flung into the calm of sightless speed; | |
| So wilt thou scorn on lowlier aims to feed, | |
| And go in glory to a sage’s tomb. | | | | |
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