AFTER-THOUGHT. AN dwells apart, though not alone, He walks among his peers unread ; The best of thoughts which he hath known, Yet dreaming on earth's clustered isles, He saith, "They dwell not lone like men," Forgetful that their sun-flecked smiles Flash far beyond each other's ken. He looks on God's eternal suns, That sprinkle the celestial blue, And saith, "Ah! happy shining ones, I would that men were grouped like you!" Yet this is sure: the loveliest star That clustered with its peers we see, Only because from us so far Doth near its fellows seem to be. JEAN INGELOW. CXI. ISOLATION. Gl@ES! in the sea of life enisled, With echoing straits between us thrown, We mortal millions live alone. The islands feel the enclasping flow, But when the moon their billows lights, And lovely notes, from shore to shore, Oh then a longing like despair Is to their farthest caverns sent; For surely once, they feel, we were Parts of a single continent! Now round us spreads the watery plain.-.-. Oh might our marges meet again! Who order'd that their longing's fire MATTHEW ARNOLD. THE SOLITUDE OF LIFE. CHEN Fancy's exhalations rise From youth's delicious morn, Our eyes seem made for others' eyes, But time the truthful faith controls, We learn too soon, alas! How wide the gulf between two souls, In twilight and in fearfulness We feel our path along From heart to heart, yet none the less Our way is often wrong. And then new dangers must be faced, To some 'tis given to walk awhile In Love's unshaded noon, But clouds are gathering while they smile, And night is coming soon! Most happy he whose journey lies Beneath the starlight sheen Of unregretful memories Of glory that has been. We live together years and years, And leave unsounded still Each other's springs of hopes and fears, Each other's depths of will: We live together day by day, And some chance look or tone Lights up with instantaneous ray Then wonder not that they who love The longest and the best, Are parted by some sudden move Of passion or unrest : Nor marvel that the wise and good Should oft apart remain, Nor dare, when once misunderstood, |