Here's my case. Of old I used to love him. This same unseen friend, before I knew: Dream there was none like him, none above him,— Wake to hope and trust my dream was true.
Loved I not his letters full of beauty? Not his actions famous far and wide? Absent, he would know I vowed him duty, Present, he would find me at his side.
Pleasant fancy! for I had but letters, Only knew of actions by hearsay: He himself was busied with my betters; What of that? My turn must come some day.
“Some day” proving — no day! Here's the puzzle. Passed and passed my turn is. Why complain? He's so busied! If I could but muzzle People's foolish mouths that give me pain!
“Letters?” ( hear them! ) “You a judge of writing? Ask the experts!— How they shake the head O'er these characters, your friend's inditing — Call them forgery from A to Z !
“Actions? Where's your certain proof” ( they bother ) “He, of all you find so great and good, He, he only, claims this, that, the other Action — claimed by men, a multitude?”
I can simply wish I might refute you, Wish my friend would,— by a word, a wink,— Bid me stop that foolish mouth,— you brute you! He keeps absent,— why, I cannot think.
Never mind! Tho’ foolishness may flout me. One thing's sure enough;‘ tis neither frost, No, nor fire, shall freeze or burn from out me Thanks for truth — tho’ falsehood, gained — tho’ lost.
All my days, I'll go the softlier, sadlier, For that dream's sake! How forget the thrill Thro’ and thro’ me as I thought, “The gladlier Lives my friend because I love him still!”
‘ What and if he, frowning, wake you, dreamy? Lay on you the blame that bricks — conceal? Say‘ At least I saw who did not see me, Does see now, and presently shall feel’?”
“Why, that makes your friend a monster!” say you; “Had his house no window? At first nod, Would you not have hailed him?” Hush, I pray you! What if this friend happen to be — God?
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