III.— THE SPIRIT'S EPOCHS.

Not in the crises of events,

Of compass'd hopes, or fears fulfill'd,

Or acts of gravest consequence,

Are life's delight and depth reveal'd.

The day of days was not the day;

That went before, or was postponed;

The night Death took our lamp away

Was not the night on which we groan'd.

I drew my bride, beneath the moon,

Across my threshold; happy hour!

But, ah, the walk that afternoon

We saw the water-flags in flower!