IV

“Sad Immortality is dead,” you say,

“And all her grey brood banished from the soul;

Life, like the earth, is now a rounded whole,

The orb of man's dominion. Live to-day.”

And every sense in me leapt to obey,

Seeing the routed phantoms backward roll;

But from their waning throng a whisper stole,

And touched the morning splendour with decay.

“Sad Immortality is dead; and we

The funeral train that bear her to her grave.

Yet hath she left a two-faced progeny

In hearts of men, and some will always see

The skull beneath the wreath, yet always crave

In every kiss the folded kiss to be.”