Ode

My soul is drunk with joy, her new desire In far forbidden places wanders away. Her hopes with free bright-coloured wings of fire Upon the gloom of thought Are sailing out. Awhile they rise, awhile to rest they softly fall, Like butterflies, that flit Across the mountains, or upon a wall Winking their idle fans at pleasure sit.

O my vague desires! Ye lambent flames of the soul, her offspring fires: That are my soul herself in pangs sublime Rising and flying to heaven before her time: What doth tempt you forth To melt in the south or shiver in the frosty north? What seek ye or find ye in your random flying, For ever soaring aloft, soaring and dying? Joy, the joy of flight; They hide in the sun, they flare and dance in the night. Gone up, gone out of sight--and ever again Follow fresh tongues of fire, fresh pangs of pain. Ah! could I control These vague desires, these leaping flames of the soul: Could I but quench the fire, ah! could I stay My soul that flieth, alas, and dieth away!

[Enter other part of Chorus.

Part of Chor. Here is wood to feed the fire-- Never let its flames expire. Sing ye still while we advance Round the fire in measured dance, While the sun in heaven descending Sees our happy feast have ending. Weave ye still your joyous song, While we bear the wood along.

Semichorus. But O return, Return, thou flower of the gods! Remember the limbs that toil and the hearts that yearn, Remember, and soon return! To prosper with peace and skill Our hands in the works of pleasure, beauty and use. Return, and be for us still Our shield from the anger of Zeus. And he, if he raise his arm in anger to smite thee, And think for the good thou hast done with pain to requite thee, Vengeance I heard thee tell, And the curse I take for my own, That his place is prepared in hell, And a greater than he shall hurl him down from his throne. Down, down from his throne! For the god who shall rule mankind from the deathless skies By mercy and truth shall be known, In love and peace shall arise. For him,--if again I hear him thunder above, O then, if I crouch or start, I will press thy lovingkindness more to my heart, Remember the words of thy mouth rare and precious, Thy heart of hearts and gifts of divine love.