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I SUPPOSE me dead; think of the man you made, | |
| A moment, but as earth, unbreathing more, | |
| His garments folded, and his reckoning paid | |
| Of love and faith and fame; then, as before, | |
| A chronicle all done, with finis writ, | 5 |
| Ask if the man you made had truly been | |
| More worth your pride and daily watching wit | |
| Had fear of you one passage cancelled clean. | |
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| Would you not say, serenely gospelled then?— | |
| “I taught him faith, I bade his word be said | 10 |
| Fearing no challenge nor reproof of men; | |
| And had the happy courage that I bred | |
| Once brought me chill obedience for wage, | |
| This chronicle had been a poorer page.” | |
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II For, dear, I can but serve you at the rate | 15 |
| That is my heart’s occasion—that is all. | |
| If I deny myself and with you wait, | |
| It is not I, however you may call. | |
| Something of me must go if I deny, | |
| Though in denial shall be with you still | 20 |
| A body walking and a watchful eye— | |
| The patient service of an impoverished will. | |
| |
| For if the love that loved, and chose, and came | |
| Ever again to you, nor ever found | |
| Estrangement in far absences, nor blame | 25 |
| For pilgrimage to other Edens bound, | |
| Should know one beauty by your will denied, | |
| Thenceforth how should old faith be satisfied? | |
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III But when you bid me go as beauty calls, | |
| Knowing that my desire could follow none | 30 |
| But fair vocation, and that intervals | |
| In honest love are still love’s errands done, | |
| When you upon my embarkation wait, | |
| And cry, “O keel! Forth in pursuit of spring, | |
| All archipelagos to navigate, | 35 |
| You are my ship, and this your voyaging!”— | |
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| Then nothing lets between your sovran pride | |
| And all my kingdom, nor is poor pretence | |
| That over all my fortunes you preside | |
| When half my levies are rebellious pence: | 40 |
| Then do you govern that your craft began— | |
| A man, and not the shadow of a man. | |
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