The Death Of Adam Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: ABCDEFGHIEJKLMNOPQRS TUVWXYZKA2OB2OOC2D2 E2F2F2IG2F2F2H2OF2F2 OC2I2OOC2F2VJ2OOZF2O K2F2C2F2L2M2F2K N2OF2OKF2OOF2F2F2O2 M2OC2P2 IF2OF2F2F2C2Q2F2R2S2 OF2C2OO OOUOOOOT2FU2OOOFO V2OC2OOOOOOW2F2C2F2X 2Y2F2F2Z2YOC2A3F2B3S 2C2T2 OKC2OOQ2 OC3OZYF2OZ2F2C2OD3OO M2 IE3OOOD2F3C2OF2F2F2G 3T2F2C2S2C2D2OIOF2OH 3KOF2A3OF2F2F2M2VC2K OC2OOC2R2 F2F2KI3A3F2OC2F2VOZ2 F OF2J3F2C2IH2OOK3OKOO ZJ2OOOF2C2OVF2OM2F2O OC2ZC2A3OC2S2K2OOOC2 J3A3O Q2OOF2F2L3F2IOM3F2OC 2F2C2N3OOO3O FT2F2OC2E3F2OK2F2OF2 KD3F2S2C3F2F2 OO2OF2KOOF2A3KP2OO F2C2OF2C2P3IF2OC2C2 OOOF2IF2F2F2UO2C3C2K Q3F2F2OOC3C3F2OOF2R3 C2S3F2OQ2T3C2Z2KKQ2I OZ2OB3M3O O2C2IU3F2F2OOF2IIKF2 OIV3C2O F2IF2C2 OF2VF2F2OF2C2OF2H3F2 F2O3OC3OOF2V2OF2OOF2 F2H3H3F2IA3F2OOIW3OF 2IV2V2F2OR3C3OIF2X3O Q2P3IOKOC2IA3F2F2 F2OIC2H3C2Z2C2F2Y3F2 OH3VOOA3OOOC2K IIF2OQ2C2C2IOKB3C2ZJ 2OC2IF2A3 OC2F2F2IOOF2OF2OQ2N2 F2OF2F2IOF2F2Z2F2F2K OF2OF2Q2F2F2F2Z3C2OI F2F2F2IF2C2F2OOF2F2A 4F2OZ2OOOF2IOC2C3 A3C2IF2IY2F2F2OOOC2O IF2F2C2OB4IR3IC2C2 IH2V2OC2F2OA4OZOU2F2 KF2F2OIC2C4F2F2KOA3O OOOF2C2F2F2 OKKF2KF2F2OL3VO OOOC2C2F2F2F2KV3F2A3 IIIOKOIF2U2OD4C2 R2OU2OIF2F2KG3OC3OF2 F2F2IF2C2OF2

Cedars that high upon the untrodden slopes	A
Of Lebanon stretch out their stubborn arms	B
Through all the tempests of seven hundred years	C
Fast in their ancient place where they look down	D
Over the Syrian plains and faint blue sea	E
When snow for three days and three nights hath fall'n	F
Continually and heaped those terraced boughs	G
To massy whiteness still in fortitude	H
Maintain their aged strength although they groan	I
In such a wintriness of majesty	E
O'ersnowed by his uncounted years and scarce	J
Supporting that hard load yet not o'ercome	K
Was Adam all his knotted thews were shrunk	L
Hollow his mighty thighs toward which his beard	M
Pale as the stream of far seen waterfalls	N
Hung motionless betwixt the shoulders grand	O
Bowed was the head and dim the gaze and both	P
His heavy hands lay on his marble knees	Q
So sits he all day long and scarcely stirs	R
And scarcely notes the bright shapes of his sons	S
Moving in the broad light without his tent	T
That propt on poles about a giant oak	U
Looks southward to the river and the vale	V
Only sometimes slowly he turns his head	W
As seeking to recover some lost thought	X
From the dear presence of the white haired Eve	Y
Who less in strength hath less endured and still	Z
With slow and careful footsteps tendeth him	K
Or seated opposite with silent eyes	A2
Companions him their thoughts go hand in hand	O
So now she sits reposing in the dusk	B2
Of their wide tent like a great vision throned	O
Of the Earth Mother tranquil and august	O
Accorded to some youthful votary	C2
Deep in an Asian grove under the moon	D2
	-
Peace also rests on Adam not such peace	E2
As comes forlornly to men dulled with cares	F2
Whom no ennobling memory uplifts	F2
Peace of a power far mightier than his own	I
Outlasting all it fostered into life	G2
Pervades him and sustains him such a peace	F2
As blesses mossed and mouldering architraves	F2
Of pillars standing few among the wreck	H2
Of many long since fallen pillars old	O
Reared by a race long vanished where the birds	F2
Nest as in trees and every crevice flowers	F2
As mothering Earth having some time indulged	O
Men's little uses makes their ruin fair	C2
Ere in her bosom it be folded up	I2
Thus Adam's mind relinquishing the world	O
That grows more dim around him every day	O
Withdraws into itself and in degree	C2
As all that mates him to the moving hours	F2
Even as his outward joy and vigour fail	V
So surely turns his homing spirit back	J2
Unto those silent sources whence delight	O
And hope and strength and buoyancy of old	O
Flowed fresh upon his youth persisting still	Z
To seek those first and fairest memories	F2
In youth and sunshine O how lightly lost	O
How difficult in darkness to regain	K2
He sits in idle stillness yet at times	F2
From the dark wells of musing some old hour	C2
Floats upward as the tender lotus lifts	F2
Her swaying stalk up through the limpid depth	L2
Of pools in rivers never known to man	M2
And buoyed on idle wet luxurious leaves	F2
Peacefully opens white bloom after bloom	K
	-
He is rapt far from this last shore of age	N2
He sees the face of Eve as she approached	O
To bring him flowers new found in Paradise	F2
Or hiding her young sorrow on his breast	O
And Abel as a child and Cain with him	K
Playing beneath the shadow of old trees	F2
All dearer by the desert interposed	O
Of time and toil and passionate regret	O
Troubling his inmost spirit until his face	F2
Wrought with remembrance and with longing wears	F2
The pressure and the sign of all that swells	F2
And brims his heart fain to be freed in speech	O2
	-
What ails thee Adam '' gentle Eve began	M2
Why art thou troubled what thoughts vex thy mind	O
For though my eyes are dim yet I can see	C2
Thy breast heaves upward and long sighs go forth	P2
And thou dost move thy hands and shake thy head ''	-
But Adam answered not he seemed alone	I
Then lifting up his eyes he saw his sons	F2
Slowly approaching in the evening light	O
With all their flocks and many voices rose	F2
On the clear air about the tents and trees	F2
As they made ready for the sacrifice	F2
Before the evening meal soon they drew near	C2
To Adam's tent and he looked on them all	Q2
Standing to wait his blessing of all years	F2
From the boy Adriel to the aged Seth	R2
Outlined with glory by the sinking sun	S2
Strange in their strength and beauty they appeared	O
And Adam though he saw them seemed to gaze	F2
Beyond them seeking what he found not there	C2
Over them all his eyes unresting roved	O
While they in silence waited for his word	O
At last he spoke Where is my first born Cain ''	-
They looked on one another Few had heard	O
That darkened name but Eve bowed down her head	O
And Seth stood forth amid them hushed and spoke	U
With a grave utterance Cain is far away	O
Thou knowest O my father how we have heard	O
That far beyond the mountains to the east	O
He dwells and ever wanders o'er that land	O
Many days' journey must a man be gone	T2
Ere he reach thither and return again	F
Nor know we certainly where Cain may dwell	U2
Yet what thou biddest that shall be performed	O
Shall we send to him '' Adam answered Send	O
Let them go quickly see that they make haste	O
But on the tenth day bid them come again	F
Whether they have found him or have found him not	O
For mine eyes fail yea and my heart grows cold ''	-
	-
Heavy as pale clouds of October roll	V2
Over the soaring snows of Ararat	O
The vapour of oblivion fell once more	C2
Down over Adam's head in languor drooped	O
Between his mighty shoulders on his breast	O
From morn to night from night to morn he sat	O
As in a trance of deep thought undivined	O
His children looking on his face were filled	O
With desolation and disquietude	O
Sad as Armenian shepherds when they watch	W2
For the still clouds to roll from those great peaks	F2
Praying the clear bright North winds to restore	C2
Their guardian mountain with such heavy hearts	F2
They waited for his face to give a sign	X2
That still gave none Listless amid their toil	Y2
They grew and sitting idle by their flocks	F2
Each from his station scattered on the hills	F2
Turned often to the east in hope to spy	Z2
The messengers returning but at eve	Y
While the gray bearded elders patient sat	O
In the cool tent doors they would pace the shore	C2
Under the gathering stars and murmured low	A3
One to another saying What is this	F2
That comes upon us all what evil thing	B3
Whereof we have not heard What cloud is fallen	S2
Upon our father Adam and why seeks he	C2
This Cain whose name we know not Peace is gone	T2
And nothing now is as it was before ''	-
And others answered Well for us if they	O
Whom we have sent on such a hazard come	K
Ever again or we behold them more	C2
Would they had never gone on this dark quest	O
We have no hunters brave and swift as they	O
Ophir that was the strongest of us all	Q2
And Iddo that could match the eagle's sight ''	-
Thus the young men spoke their despondent mind	O
But every morn renewing wearied hope	C3
They turned with the sunrising to the east	O
And numbered the long hours till noon and still	Z
Nor morn nor noon brought tidings and each eve	Y
Watching tall herons by the sandy pools	F2
Widen their wings and slow with trailing feet	O
And lifted head sail off into the sky	Z2
They followed them with long and silent thoughts	F2
Over the darkening mountains far and far	C2
Into that never yet imagined world	O
Beginning to oppress them whither now	D3
Their fears went wandering through enormous night	O
Thus waxed and waned each heavy day at last	O
From mouth to mouth the unquiet murmur ran	M2
'Tis the ninth evening and they are not come ''	-
	-
The kingly star had stolen from his throne	I
In the first brightening of the morrow morn	E3
And far in the east with frail cloud overspread	O
Light hovered in the pale immensity	O
A mile broad shade beneath the mountain slept	O
But opposite a dewy glimmer soon	D2
Moulded the shapes of rough crags and beneath	F3
Strewn boulders and thin streams and slopes obscure	C2
There on the slopes amid the rocks appeared	O
The youth of Adam's race assembled forms	F2
Sitting or standing with hand shaded eyes	F2
At gaze into the eastern gorge where hills	F2
Between dark shoulders inaccessible	G3
Opened a narrowing way into the dawn	T2
Stiller than statues yet with beating hearts	F2
They waited while the wished light kindled clear	C2
Invading that deep valley until the sun	S2
Flamed warm upon their limbs through coloured air	C2
And slow rose upward it was nigh to noon	D2
At last a motion on the horizon stirred	O
And a faint dust in the far gorge was blown	I
Then those that sat rose up and gazed erect	O
And those that stood moved and stept on a pace	F2
And as they watched amid the shining dust	O
Two far off forms appeared but only two	H3
Their straining eyes watched but no other came	K
A sigh ran through their troubled ranks they turned	O
To one another then again to those	F2
Two lonely journeyers downcast and slow	A3
Who now discerned them from afar and raised	O
Their hands in greeting then some ran with cakes	F2
Of bread and skins of milk and honeycombs	F2
Down the great slope to meet the messengers	F2
And others climbed the ridge and backward ran	M2
Down to the tents the river and the vale	V
And came to where Seth sat beneath a tree	C2
Waiting with folded arms and cried to him	K
They come they come but Cain comes not with them ''	-
Then Seth arose and came to Adam's tent	O
And stood before his father in the door	C2
Eve questioning sought his eyes he shook his head	O
And looked on Adam motionless he sat	O
Plunged in a trance yet dimly was aware	C2
Of tidings as he heard the voice of Seth	R2
'Tis the tenth morning and thy sons return ''	-
Faintly by imperceptible degrees	F2
Light stole o'er Adam's features and Seth saw	F2
The wellings of his troubled mind on them	K
As one who in a cavern lifts a torch	I3
And sees the gradual recesses grow	A3
Out of their ancient gloom uncertain shapes	F2
Of rugged roof and walls without an end	O
So dark from innermost obscurity	C2
The slumbrous memories of Adam rose	F2
And on his face appeared yet still a veil	V
Remained betwixt his senses and the world	O
When now the noise of many feet drew nigh	Z2
Softly approaching and Seth spoke again	F
Behold thy sons thy messengers are here ''	-
He drew the matted curtains of the tent	O
Aside and Adam raised his head and saw	F2
All his assembled children coming on	J3
Hushing their steps in awe they stopped at gaze	F2
Now as his eyes were on them but before	C2
Came the two messengers and stood alone	I
How soiled and burnt with travel Round the neck	H2
Of Ophir hung the leopard's spotty hide	O
Stripped from that fierce beast strangled by his hand	O
Torn now and stained neither had paused to wash	K3
The thick dust from his feet but Iddo held	O
A spray of leaves new plucked to freshen him	K
Seared on the parching mountain thus they stood	O
With troubled countenance and hanging head	O
Till Ophir spoke all listened rapt and still	Z
Father we went and lo we are come back	J2
On the tenth morn according to thy word	O
For we have sought Cain but have found him not	O
We passed beyond the mountains and we crossed	O
The sultry desert toiling in hot sands	F2
Two heavy days and thence with difficulty	C2
Climbed the far ridge unto the land beyond	O
It is a land not fruitful like our vale	V
Barren it is with short grass and few trees	F2
On the fifth day we came into the midst	O
Of that bare country and we saw no man	M2
Nor knew we whither to direct our steps	F2
When on a slope at unawares we spied	O
A sheepfold made of stones and Lo we said	O
To one another Surely he was here	C2
Then eagerly we climbed the highest hill	Z
And all around gazed long but saw no more	C2
But toward the evening when the light was low	A3
And the extremest mountains grew distinct	O
Far off in the clear air but very far	C2
We saw a little smoke go up to heaven	S2
And we cried out It is the home of Cain	K2
But deeply we were troubled and perplext	O
For we were faint and footsore and thy word	O
Lay heavy on our thoughts remembering it	O
On the tenth morning see that ye be here	C2
Surely our hearts were eager to go on	J3
But thinking of thy word we feared to go	A3
And hardly even now are we returned	O
Father we did thy bidding Is it well ''	-
All gathered nearer hushed and wistful all	Q2
Awaited Adam's voice but he was mute	O
They would have prayed him but they ventured not	O
Like hunters that at hot noon lost in woods	F2
Pressing through boughs and briers at unawares	F2
Come on the huge throat of a hollow cliff	L3
Ribbed with impending ledges of wet moss	F2
Whence in a smooth lipped basin of black stone	I
Some secret water wells without a sound	O
Then sorely though they thirst they fear to drink	M3
Awed by the mystery of that silent source	F2
So these awhile with beating hearts delayed	O
To speak awaiting what his words might be	C2
At last he raised his head and turned his eyes	F2
On Eve and looked upon her long while she	C2
On him hung gazing light began to burn	N3
In his dimmed eyes and his whole frame was wrought	O
With the stirring of his spirit as of old	O
At length the thoughts were kindled on his tongue	O3
He lifted up his voice and cried aloud	O
	-
O that mine eyes had seen thee once again	F
Cain that my hands had blessed thee Thou art gone	T2
For ever gone and still that curse abides	F2
On thee who wast my joy my first born child	O
Eve Eve hast thou forgotten that far hour	C2
When our first child our baby newly born	E3
Held up his little and defenceless hands	F2
Crying toward thy bosom '' And Eve sighed	O
Surely my bosom hath not forgotten Cain	K2
Who sucked the tender first milk from its paps	F2
His feet are worn wandering the desert wide	O
But I have washed them with my tears in dreams	F2
Oh in my heart he has not left his home	K
Would I might lay my arms about him now	D3
Yet why O Adam utterest thou these thoughts	F2
Thou knowest how betwixt us and our son	S2
There lies a land we may not overleap	C3
More than the flames of those exiling swords	F2
Because of our fault Adam and of his	F2
Why dost thou waken this our ancient pain ''	-
But Adam still uplifted his lament	O
He is gone from us gone beyond our reach	O2
Beyond our yearning he remembers not	O
These arms that were around his weakness once	F2
These hands that fed him and that fostered him	K
And now would bless him All these have I blessed	O
With many blessings but him whom I cursed	O
Him would I bless at last and be at peace	F2
He is gone from me and now these also go	A3
Whither I know not and I fear for them	K
How often have I seen them going forth	P2
Into the woods upon these hills how oft	O
See them with night returning but now they	O
Depart for ever and return no more ''	-
Eve wondering replied with earnest voice	F2
Behold them Adam they are very fair	C2
And strong with all the strength that we have lost	O
What ill shall harm them more than hath harmed us	F2
Remember how when I was used to fear	C2
Beholding our first child in his soft youth	P3
Go from us on his tender feet alone	I
His tender feet a little stone might bruise	F2
And would have caught him back to my fond breast	O
Thou didst rebuke me saying it must be	C2
That he go forth alone now thou dost fear	C2
When these are strong and we can help no more ''	-
But Adam shook his head and answered not	O
For he was like a shepherd who hath lit	O
A fire to warm him on the mountain side	O
In the first chill after the summer heats	F2
And drowsing by the embers wakes anon	I
With wonder frighted eyes to see the sparks	F2
Blowing astray run kindling over grass	F2
And withered heath and bushes of dry furze	F2
And ere his heavy senses pricked with smoke	U
Uncloud the white fire rushes from his reach	O2
Leaps to embrace the tall pines tossing up	C3
A surge of trembling stars and eagerly	C2
Roars through their topmost branches wide aflame	K
While all around enormous shadows rock	Q3
And wrestle as tumultuous lights o'errides	F2
The darkness as with charging spears and plumes	F2
Till the whole hillside reddens and beyond	O
Far mountains waken flushed out of the night	O
Then he who ignorantly had started up	C3
This wild exulting glory from its sleep	C3
Forgets to stir his steps or wring his hands	F2
The swiftness and the radiance and the sound	O
Beget a kind of rapture in his dread	O
Like that amazed shepherd Adam saw	F2
His race sprung out of darkness fill the earth	R3
Increasing swift and terrible like fire	C2
That feeds on all its ruins wave on wave	S3
Streaming impetuous without rest or pause	F2
Right onward to the boundaries of the world	O
And he how helpless who had caused it all	Q2
So stood his soul still in a gaze of awe	T3
Filled with the foretaste of calamity	C2
And his lips broke into a groaning cry	Z2
What is this thing that I have done what doom	K
What boundless and irrevocable doom	K
My children have I wakened for you all	Q2
O could I see the end but end is none	I
My thoughts are carried from me and they faint	O
As birds that come from out the farthest sky	Z2
Voyaging to a home far far beyond	O
Sink in our valley on a drooping wing	B3
Quite wearied out yea we have seen them sink	M3
So my thoughts faint within my bosom old	O
The vision is too vast I am afraid ''	-
	-
But understanding nothing of his speech	O2
That yet seemed opening some mysterious door	C2
Disclosing an horizon all unknown	I
His children listened touched to trouble vague	U3
And longing without name like travellers	F2
Who in a company together pass	F2
On some spring evening by an upland road	O
And as they travel each in thought immersed	O
Rich merchants wise in profitable cares	F2
Adventurous youths and timorous old men	I
Through deepening twilight the young rising moon	I
Begins to cast along them a mild gleam	K
And shadows trembling from the wayside trees	F2
In early leaf steal forward on the ground	O
Beside them and faint balm is past them blown	I
All troubles them with beauty fresh and strange	V3
Stealing their thoughts away so tenderly	C2
Were Adam's children troubled when they heard	O
	-
Long silence fell At last with heavy voice	F2
And weakened utterance Adam spoke again	I
My children bring me fruits and bring me flowers	F2
Set them within my sight that I may see	C2
And touch them and their sweetness smell once more ''	-
They hasted and plucked flowers and gathered fruit	O
Such as their valley yielded balsam boughs	F2
Late roses darkly flushed or honey pale	V
And heavy clustered grapes and yellowing gourds	F2
Plump figs and dew moist apples and smooth pears	F2
All these they brought and heaped before his sight	O
Voyagers in the utmost seas when ice	F2
Pinions their vessel fast and they prepare	C2
For the blind frozen winter's boundless night	O
How jealously they watch the last low rays	F2
How from the loftiest vantage in their view	H3
Cherish the rosy warmth still on their limbs	F2
Tarrying until the bright rim wholly dips	F2
Adam by huger darkness overhung	O3
So longed to taste life warm even to the last	O
And fostering those fair flowers upon his lap	C3
And holding a gold apple in his hand	O
Remembered Eden O what blissful light	O
Flowed o'er his heart and bathed it in its beams	F2
It seemed the deep recesses of his soul	V2
Welled up their inmost wisdom at the last	O
He glowed with some transfiguring fire his lips	F2
Moved and his face uplifted was inscribed	O
With mighty thoughts that thus at length unrolled	O
Their solemnly assembled syllables	F2
	-
Look well on me my children whom ye lose	F2
Behold these eyes that have wept tears for you	H3
Behold these arms that have long toiled for you	H3
These hands in Paradise have gathered flowers	F2
These limbs which ye have seen so wasted down	I
In feebleness so utterly brought low	A3
They grew not into stature like your limbs	F2
I wailed not into this great world a child	O
Helpless and speechless understanding naught	O
But from God's rapture perfect and full grown	I
I suddenly awoke out of the dark	W3
How sweet a languor did enrich the blood	O
In my warmed veins as on my opening eyes	F2
The splendour of the world shone slowly in	I
Mingling its radiant colours in my soul	V2
Yea in my soul and only in my soul	V2
I deemed them to abide sky water trees	F2
The moving shadows and the tender light	O
This solid earth this wide and teeming earth	R3
Which we have trodden weary step by step	C3
Nor found beginning of an end of it	O
I deemed it all abounding in my brain	I
The murmur of the waters and the winds	F2
Seemed but a music sighing from my joy	X3
Then I arose and ventured forth afoot	O
And soon how soon was dispossessed of all	Q2
By every step I travelled into truth	P3
That stripped me of my proud dreams one by one	I
Till all were taken On such faltering feet	O
By gradual but most certain steps I came	K
Into my real and perfect solitude	O
Alone amid the world that knew not me	C2
O Eve thou knowest what I tell not now	I
How I was comforted and all the woe	A3
That fell on our transgression yet not less	F2
When that first child lay babbling on thy knees	F2
Then again said I Surely this is mine '	-
And you my children whom I saw increase	F2
Around me stronger as my strength decayed	O
How often have I called you also mine	I
But now my first born is not any more	C2
Or wanders lost from me and ye ye too	H3
Go from me over earth forgetting me	C2
So surely I perceive for all that I	Z2
In joy begot you ye are mine no more	C2
But ye who seem the proud and easy lords	F2
Of this fair earth ye too must tread the path	Y3
Which I trod in my ignorant longing lose	F2
What I have lost and find what I have found	O
What seek you O my children what seek you	H3
For I behold you in this narrow vale	V
That mountains and deep forests compass round	O
Filled with desires Beyond is all the world	O
That hardly shall content them ye must go	A3
Forth into that vast world as from my feet	O
This water glides we know not whither yea	O
Even as this stream is prisoned in its speed	O
So shall ye be imprisoned in desire	C2
But when you have imagined peace and balm	K
For your endeavour musing This is mine '	-
When you shall say I have a cause for joy '	-
Then be distrustful lest you only learn	I
How cruel is desire till it attain	I
And being baffled yet more cruel grows	F2
Indignant not to find what it had sought	O
And suffering ye rage and raging fall	Q2
Upon your own flesh Ah deal tenderly	C2
With one another O my sons for ye	C2
Caged in these limbs that toil under the noon	I
Are capable of sorrow huge as night	O
And still must ye bear all whatever come	K
Look how the trees in an untimely spring	B3
Put forth their sweet shoots on the frosty air	C2
That withers up the tender sap yet still	Z
Cannot delay their ripening nor fold back	J2
Their wounded buds into the sheltering rind	O
So shall ye shrink yet so must ye endure	C2
I that was strong and proud in strength and now	I
Am come to this last weakness tell you this	F2
Alas could ye but know it as I know	A3
I speak in vain ye cannot understand ''	-
	-
He ended sighing for his mind was filled	O
With apprehensions rolling up from far	C2
The doom and tribulation of his race	F2
Looking upon the faces of his sons	F2
Well he divined their weakness from his own	I
He knew what they should suffer yet the worst	O
He knew not had he known he would have rued	O
Less to be parent of their feebleness	F2
Than of their strength the power to maim and rend	O
And ravage even that which to their hearts	F2
Is dearest though they know not what they do	O
Trampling their peace in dust had he seen all	Q2
The dreadful actors on the endless stage	N2
Sprung from his loins the triumphing blind hordes	F2
Spurred by an ignorant fury to create	O
An engine of fierce pleasure in the pangs	F2
Wrung from the brave the gentle and the wise	F2
And raging at a beauty not their own	I
That vexes all their vileness till the world	O
Discovering too late its precious loss	F2
Loves and laments in vain had he seen this	F2
His grief had gone forth in a bitterer cry	Z2
But they that heard him heard incredulous	F2
Trouble was far and sweet youth in their hearts	F2
The beauty of the world encompassed them	K
All else was fable and they stood elate	O
Yet stirred and pensive in such wondering pause	F2
As might a troop of children who have found	O
In a king's garden under shadowy yews	F2
Ancestral marbles on a sculptured wall	Q2
Half hid in vines and lifting up the leaves	F2
Gaze in a bright eyed wonder on fair shapes	F2
Of arming heroes and unhappy queens	F2
Or press soft lips on Helen's woeful mouth	Z3
Touching her perfect breast and smile on her	C2
Unknowing how beneath that heavenly mould	O
Swelled like a sea the powers of love and pain	I
Powers that shall surely also rock themselves	F2
In storms and their young courage crush to sobs	F2
Toss them on easeless beds blind their hot eyes	F2
With tears in longing violent as vain	I
Till they shall quite forget how life was once	F2
Sweet as a rose's breath and only fair	C2
As now 'tis fair and sweet to Adam's sons	F2
Exalted in expectancy they mused	O
And in their veins a warmer current glowed	O
Round their full moulded limbs their open eyes	F2
Shone wistful and they murmured to themselves	F2
When Adam's voice recalled them to his grief	A4
Out of unfathomable deeps his words	F2
Seemed drawn in solemn slowness Lo the light	O
Makes ready to go from you even as I	Z2
Hearken my sons Upon the mountain side	O
There is a cave that looks toward the East	O
And thence in the evening clearness have I oft	O
Far off beheld the gates of Paradise	F2
Mine eyes would feel that glory once again	I
Ere they be turned for ever to the night	O
Therefore go down and strew a bed for me	C2
Lay me upon that bed and bear me up	C3
It grows late and I may not tarry more ''	-
But now at last the certainty of woe	A3
Smote through them and they feared exceedingly	C2
Scarce knowing yet what this command might mean	I
They would have stayed but Adam with raised hands	F2
Moved them unto his bidding they went down	I
And busied them most sadly o'er that toil	Y2
By the stream's shore plaiting a bed of withes	F2
And some prepared rough poles some gathered leaves	F2
Adam with Eve remained alone the light	O
Slept warm upon the grass and on their feet	O
And round about them in the spacious tent	O
Struck upward hovering glories pale and clear	C2
He turned to her those eyes which never yet	O
Sought there a solace or heart's ease in vain	I
And spoke O Eve '' but even there his voice	F2
Stopt in the shadow of his coming thoughts	F2
And he could say no more but she came near	C2
To lay her hands on his cold hands and looked	O
On his bowed face and with a soft reproach	B4
Answered him Adam thou didst say but now	I
That all were going from thee o'er the earth	R3
And thou shouldst be alone and none be thine	I
And no companion with thee any more	C2
Am I not with thee Shall I go from thee	C2
Am I not thine Am I not wholly thine ''	-
Then Adam lifted up his fallen brow	I
And gently laid his great arms round her neck	H2
He looked into her eyes into her soul	V2
The face of Eve was falling toward his breast	O
Her hair with his was mingled now no more	C2
They spoke for they had come beyond all words	F2
They spoke not stirred not but together leaned	O
Grand in the marble gesture of a grief	A4
Becalmed for ever in the certitude	O
Of this last hour that over them stood still	Z
Thus had they stayed nor moved nor heeded aught	O
But 'twixt them and the light a shadow fell	U2
And Adam lifted up his eyes and saw	F2
Seth standing there he knew the hour was come	K
For lo about the doorway were the sons	F2
Of Adam all assembled with their wives	F2
And children weeping they had brought a bed	O
Of plaited osiers heaped with leaves and now	I
Laying him on that litter silently	C2
They lifted up the poles Eve weeping sank	C4
Upon her knees she kissed the dear last kiss	F2
She held his body in her tender arms	F2
One aching moment then relinquished him	K
Thus they began the young men and the old	O
To bear him forth unwillingly with slow	A3
Sad footsteps planted on the yielding sand	O
While all the women wailed and wept aloud	O
Beating their breasts they felt and were afraid	O
Yet understood not their despair was blind	O
But Eve who understood her perfect loss	F2
Even to the utmost pang wept now no more	C2
Her daughters sobbing round her hid their heads	F2
She only with dim eyes stretched forth her hands	F2
	-
But they that bore the litter passed beside	O
The bright stream's pebbly margin and with them	K
The bearded men and boys all overcome	K
With desolating thoughts and silent fears	F2
Followed soon slowly they began to climb	K
Slopes scattered darkly o'er their bossy knolls	F2
With shadowy cedars where the jutting ribs	F2
Of gray rock interposed until at last	O
They came to the great cavern in the cliff	L3
And rested gazing backward o'er the vale	V
Reposing in the golden solitude	O
Then Adam said Lift me that I may see ''	-
With careful arms they lifted him he gazed	O
Down on the valley stretched out at his feet	O
Marked with the shining stream he saw beyond	O
Ranges of endless hills and very far	C2
On the remote horizon high and clear	C2
Shone marvellous the gates of Paradise	F2
There was his home his lost home there the paths	F2
His feet had trod in bliss and tears the streams	F2
The heavenly trees that had o'ershadowed him	K
Removed all into radiance clear and strange	V3
As to a fisher on dark Caspian waves	F2
Far from the land appears the glimmering snow	A3
Of Caucasus already bathed in dawn	I
Like a suspended opal huge in heaven	I
And wonder awes him to remember how	I
Long happy mornings of his youth he strayed	O
Over those same far valleys of his home	K
Now melted and subdued to phantom shade	O
Beneath that lonely mount hung in the dawn	I
So over darkened intervening vales	F2
Tinged in the sweet fire of the light's farewell	U2
Shone Eden upon Adam Then he sighed	O
A sigh not all of grief It is enough	D4
Leave me my children to my peace go ye	C2
And comfort Eve go prosper and be blest ''	-
They each turned fearfully to each but Seth	R2
Bowed down his head and hushed them with his hand	O
Silent with running tears they wept farewell	U2
And often looking backward on slow feet	O
Moved down the wide slope Adam was alone	I
At last his eyes were closing yet he saw	F2
Dimly the shapes of his departing sons	F2
Inheriting their endless fate for them	K
The world lay free and all things possible	G3
Perchance his dying gaze so satisfied	O
Was lightened and he saw how vast a scope	C3
Ennobled them of power to dare beyond	O
Their mortal frailty in immortal deeds	F2
Exceeding their brief days in excellence	F2
Not with the easy victory of gods	F2
Triumphant but in suffering more divine	I
Since that which drives them to unnumbered woes	F2
Their burning deep unquenchable desire	C2
Shall be their glory and shall forge at last	O
From fiery pangs their everlasting peace	F2

Robert Laurence Binyon

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