Mist clogs the sunshine. br Smoky dwarf houses br Hem me round everywhere; br A vague dejection br Weighs down my soul. br br Yet, while I languish, br Everywhere countless br Prospects unroll themselves, br And countless beings br Pass countless moods. br br Far hence, in Asia, br On the smooth convent-roofs, br On the gilt terraces, br Of holy Lassa, br Bright shines the sun. br br Grey time-worn marbles br Hold the pure Muses; br In their cool gallery, br By yellow Tiber, br They still look fair. br br Strange unloved uproar br Shrills round their portal; br Yet not on Helicon br Kept they more cloudless br Their noble calm. br br Through sun-proof alleys br In a lone, sand-hemm'd br City of Africa, br A blind, led beggar, br Age-bow'd, asks alms. br br No bolder robber br Erst abode ambush'd br Deep in the sandy waste; br No clearer eyesight br Spied prey afar. br br Saharan sand-winds br Sear'd his keen eyeballs; br Spent is the spoil he won. br For him the present br Holds only pain. br br Two young, fair lovers, br Where the warm June-wind, br Fresh from the summer fields br Plays fondly round them, br Stand, tranced in joy. br br With sweet, join'd voices, br And with eyes brimming: br 'Ah,' they cry, 'Destiny, br Prolong the present! br Time, stand still here!' br br The prompt stern Goddess br Shakes her head, frowning; br Time gives his hour-glass br Its due reversal; br Their hour is gone. br br With weak indulgence br Did the just Goddess br Lengthen their happiness, br She lengthen'd also br Distress elsewhere. br br The hour, whose happy br Unalloy'd moments br I would eternalise, br Ten thousand mourners br Well pleased see end. br br The bleak, stern hour, br Whose severe moments br I would annihilate, br Is pass'd by others br In warmth, light, joy. br br Time, so complain'd of, br Who to no one man br Shows partiality, br Brings round to all men br Some undimm'd hours.