Orpheus

Nothing but love: in vain my thoughts evoke That light amidst the deadly night and smoke Of this dread hour: there’s nothing serves nor skills Here, since that -hateful “I” of me awoke, Making me separate from the wings of life. Nothing avails me of the cruel strife With my own being: hideous sorrow fills My heart—O misery! my wife! my wife! Stay ! if I cannot be the Absolute, Let me be man! discard the wailing lute And wake the lyre: the mightier than me Drag up the courage in me to dispute The battle with despair: awake the strings Stronger than earth, than the immortal kings Alike of death and life: invoke the sea That I may cross her on the viewless wings Of song, find out the desolating river That girds the earth, unloose the silver quiver, Choosing an arrow of sharp song to run Down to the waters that lament for ever :—. And cleave them! That my song’s insistent spell Rive the strong gates of iron-builded hell, And move the heart of the ill-hearted one. Yea! let me break the portals terrible, 154