The Book of Thel

The daughters of [the] Seraphim led round their sunny flocks— All but the youngest: she in paleness sought the secret air, To fade away like morning beauty from her mortal day: Down by the river of Adona her soft voice is heard, And thus her gentle lamentation falls like morning dew:—

‘O life of this our spring! why fades the lotus of the water? Why fade these children of the spring, born but to smile and fall? Ah! Thel is like a wat’ry bow, and like a parting cloud; Like a reflection in a glass; like shadows in the water; Like dreams of infants, like a smile upon an infant’s face; Like the dove’s voice; like transient day; like music in the air. Ah! gentle may I lay me down, and gentle rest my head, And gentle sleep the sleep of death, and gentle hear the voice Of Him that walketh in the garden in the evening time.’

The Lily of the Valley, breathing in the humble grass, Answerèd the lovely maid and said: ‘I am a wat’ry weed, And I am very small, and love to dwell in lowly vales; So weak, the gilded butterfly scarce perches on my head. Yet I am visited from heaven, and He that smiles on all Walks in the valley, and each morn over me spreads His hand, Saying, “Rejoice, thou humble grass, thou new-born lily-flower, Thou gentle maid of silent valleys and of modest brooks; For thou shalt be clothèd in light, and fed with morning manna, Till summer’s heat melts thee beside the fountains and the springs, To flourish in eternal vales.” Then why should Thel complain? Why should the mistress of the vales of Har utter a sigh?’