The Secret Splendour

Untamable,

 A leaping pride

I strove to pierce the veils which hide

The lustre of His will.

My gaze would dash

With soul unbowed,

Searching the enormous thunder-cloud

For His revealing flash.

I roamed within

Gigantic caves

 To hear His joy enspirit the waves'

Illimitable din.

A huge sunbird.

My heart uprose

To catch in terrible dawn-glows

A smile of the Unheard.

Yet neither gale

Of surge nor sky

Could help, and sheen but flung the eye

 A still more blinding veil.

The venturous mind

 Wearied of chase—

Sudden there came through darkened days

A delicate voice behind:

"In vain thy thought!

Omnipotence

Never ambitious pride of sense

By leaping love has caught.

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"Whither, O wild

Wanderer? Be

Haloed with chaste tranquillity

 Like a reposeful child.

"For all pursuit

Bears thee apart

From my divine pursuing heart!

Stay thou a fire dream-mute,

"Nor strain to seize

With groping grasp;

For Love Eternal comes to clasp

The soul's impassioned peace!"

4.2.34

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