News

News from a foreign country came,

As if my treasures and my joys lay there;

         So much it did my heart inflame,

’Twas wont to call my soul into mine ear;

                Which thither went to meet

                        Th’ approaching sweet,

                And on the threshold stood

         To entertain the secret good;

                        It hover’d there

                As if ’twould leave mine ear,

         And was so eager to embrace

         Th’ expected tidings as they came,

         That it could change its dwelling place

                To meet the voice of fame.

         As if new tidings were the things

Which did comprise my wished unknown treasure,

         Or else did bear them on their wings,

With so much joy they came, with so much pleasure,

                My soul stood at the gate

                        To recreate

                Itself with bliss, and woo

         Its speedier approach; a fuller view

                        It fain would take,

                Yet journeys back would make

         Unto my heart, as if ’twould fain

         Go out to meet, yet stay within,

         Fitting a place to entertain

                And bring the tidings in.

         What sacred instinct did inspire

My soul in childhood with an hope so strong?

         What secret force mov’d my desire

T’ expect my joys beyond the seas, so young?

                Felicity I knew

                        Was out of view;

                And being left alone,

         I thought all happiness was gone

                        From earth; for this

                I long’d for absent bliss,

         Deeming that sure beyond the seas,

         Or else in something near at hand

         Which I knew not, since nought did please

                I knew, my bliss did stand.

         But little did the infant dream

That all the treasures of the world were by,

         And that himself was so the cream

And crown of all which round about did lie.

                Yet thus it was! The gem,

                        The diadem,

                The ring enclosing all

         That stood upon this earthen ball;

                        The heav’nly eye,

                Much wider than the sky,

         Wherein they all included were;

         The love, the soul, that was the king

         Made to possess them, did appear

                A very little thing.