Buthastbeencomingmorethanhalfaleague

Veilingthineeyes, andwiththylegsentangled,

Inguiseofonewhomwineorsleepsubdues?"

"OmysweetFather, ifthoulistentome,

I'lltellthee," saidI, "whatappearedtome,

Whenthusfrommemylegswereta'enaway."

Andhe: "Ifthoushouldsthaveahundredmasks

Uponthyface, frommewouldnotbeshut

Thycogitations, howsoeversmall.

Whatthouhastseenwasthatthoumaystnotfail

Toopethyheartuntothewatersofpeace,

Whichfromtheeternalfountainarediffused.

Ididnotask, 'Whatailsthee?' ashedoes

Whoonlylookethwiththeeyesthatseenot

Whenofthesoulbereftthebodylies,

Butaskedittogivevigourtothyfeet;

Thusmustweneedsurgeonthesluggards, slow

Tousetheirwakefulnesswhenitreturns."

Wepassedalong, athwartthetwilightpeering

Forwardasfarasevereyecouldstretch

Againstthesunbeamsserotineandlucent;

Andlo! byslowdegreesasmokeapproached

Inourdirection, sombreasthenight,

Norwasthereplacetohideone'sselftherefrom.

Thisofoureyesandthepureairbereftus.