Jephthah and Other Mysteries

JEPHTHAH. 43 Homeward or southward, undecided yet; Or victory made certain but an hour Lends no such wings to jaded horses as May bear a jaded rider to our gates ; Wait only, friends, and.calm our troubled mind, Nor stir the languid sails of our desire With breath of expectation or despair. Rather give place to those untroubled thoughts That sit like stars immobile in the sky To fathom all the desolate winds of ocean, And draw their secrets from the hidden mines Whose gold and silver are but wisdom, seeking Rather things incorruptible above Than sordid hopes and fears. But look you, friends, Where in the sun’s eye rolls a speck of cloud Lesser than the ephemeral gnat may make Riding for sport upon a little whirl Of moving breezes, so it glows and rolls, Caught in the furnace of the sun, opaque To eyes that seek its depth, but penetrable By those long filaments of light beyond. See, the spot darkens, and a horseman spurs A flagging steed with bloody flanks, and waves A cloudy sword to heaven—I am sure He brings us eagle-wingéd victory, And tiding of no battle lost for Israel. Yes, he grows great before the sun, and stands Now in his stirrups, and shouts loud, and waves A blade triumphant. Now the weary horse Stumbles with thundering strides along the last