The Book of Thel. Part I

O life of this our spring! why fades the lotus of the water?

Why fade these children of the spring? born but to smile & fall.

Ah! Thel is like a watry 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 infants face.

Like the doves 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 gently hear the voice

Of him that walketh in the garden in the evening time.

The Lilly of the valley breathing in the humble grass

Answerd the lovely maid and said: I am a watry 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 shall be clothed in light, and fed with morning manna:

Till summers heat melts thee beside the fountains and the springs

To flourish in eternal vales: they why should Thel complain.

Why should the mistress of the vales of Har, utter a sigh.

She ceasd & smild in tears, then sat down in her silver shrine.

Thel answerd, O thou little virgin of the peaceful valley.

Giving to those that cannot crave, the voiceless, the o'er tired

The breath doth nourish the innocent lamb, he smells the milky garments

He crops thy flowers while thou sittest smiling in his face,

Wiping his mild and meekin mouth from all contagious taints.

Thy wine doth purify the golden honey; thy perfume.

Which thou dost scatter on every little blade of grass that springs

Revives the milked cow, & tames the fire-breathing steed.

But Thel is like a faint cloud kindled at the rising sun:

I vanish from my pearly throne, and who shall find my place.

Queen of the vales the Lily answered, ask the tender cloud,

And it shall tell thee why it glitters in the morning sky.

And why it scatters its bright beauty thro the humid air.

Descend O little cloud & hover before the eyes of Thel.

The Cloud descended and the Lily bowd her modest head:

And went to mind her numerous charge among the verdant grass.