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| BY many a dream of God and man my thoughts in shining flocks were led: | |
| But as I went through Patrick Street the hopes and prophecies were dead. | |
| The hopes and prophecies were dead: they could not blossom where the feet | |
| Walked amid rottenness, or where the brawling shouters stamped the street. | |
| Where was the beauty that the Lord gave men when first they towered in pride? | 5 |
| But one came by me at whose word the bitter condemnation died. | |
| His brows were crowned with thorns of light: his eyes were bright as one who sees | |
| The starry palaces shine o’er the sparkle of the heavenly seas. | |
| “Is it not beautiful?” he cried. “Our Faery Land of Hearts’ Desire | |
| Is mingled through the mire and mist, yet stainless keeps its lovely fire. | 10 |
| The pearly phantoms with blown hair are dancing where the drunkards reel: | |
| The cloud frail daffodils shine out where filth is splashing from the heel. | |
| O sweet, and sweet, and sweet to hear, the melodies in rivers run: | |
| The rapture of their crowded notes is yet the myriad voice of One. | |
| Those who are lost and fallen here, to-night in sleep shall pass the gate, | 15 |
| Put on the purples of the King, and know them masters of their fate. | |
| Each wrinkled hag shall reassume the plumes and hues of paradise: | |
| Each brawler be enthroned in calm among the Children of the Wise. | |
| Yet in the council with the gods no one will falter to pursue | |
| His lofty purpose, but come forth the cyclic labours to renew; | 20 |
| And take the burden of the world and veil his beauty in a shroud, | |
| And wrestle with the chaos till the anarch to the light be bowed. | |
| We cannot for forgetfulness forego the reverence due to them | |
| Who wear at times they do not guess the sceptre and the diadem. | |
| As bright a crown as this was theirs when first they from the Father sped; | 25 |
| Yet look with deeper eyes and still the ancient beauty is not dead.” | |
| He mingled with the multitude. I saw their brows were crowned and bright, | |
| A light around the shadowy heads, a shadow round the head of light. | |
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