Cxxix

And as with the last essence, so with its first faint type. Inconstancy means raw, 't is faith alone means ripe I' the soul which runs its round: no matter how it range From Helen to Fifine, Elvire bids back the change To permanence. Here, too, love ends where love began. Such ending looks like law, because the natural man Inclines the other way, feels lordlier free than bound. Poor pabulum for pride when the first love is found Last also! and, so far from realizing gain, Each step aside just proves divergency in vain. The wanderer brings home no profit from his quest Beyond the sad surmise that keeping house were best Could life begin anew. His problem posed aright Was--"From the given point evolve the infinite!" Not--"Spend thyself in space, endeavoring to joint Together, and so make infinite, point and point: Fix into one Elvire a Fair-ful of Fifines!" Fifine, the foam-flake, she: Elvire, the sea's self, means Capacity at need to shower how many such! And yet we left her calm profundity, to clutch Foam-flutter, bell on bell, that, bursting at a touch, Blistered us for our pains. But wise, we want no more O' the fickle element. Enough of foam and roar! Land-locked, we live and die henceforth: for here 's the villa door.