Give All to Love

    Obey thy heart；

    Friends kindred days

    Estate good fame

    Plans credit and the Muse—

    Nothing refuse.

    'Tis a brave master；

    Let it have scope：

    Follow it utterly

    Hope beyond hope：

    High and more high

    It dives into noon

    With wing unspent

    Untold intent；

    But it is a god

    Knows its own path

    And the outlets of the sky.

    It was never for the mean；

    It requireth courage stout

    Souls above doubt

    Valour unbending：

    Such 'twill reward；—

    They shall return

    More than they were

    And ever ascending.

    Leave all for love；

    Yet hear me yet

    One word more thy heart behoved

    One pulse more of firm endeavour—

    Keep thee to-day

    To-morrow for ever

    Free as an Arab

    Of thy beloved.

    Cling with life to the maid；

    But when the surprise

    First vague shadow of surmise

    Flits across her bosom young

    Of a joy apart from thee

    Free be she fancy-free；

    Nor thou detain her vesture's hem

    Nor the palest rose she flung

    From her summer diadem.

    Though thou loved her as thyself

    As a self of purer clay；

    Though her parting dims the day

    Stealing grace from all alive；

    Heartily know

    When half-gods go

    The gods arrive.