| «Man is weaker and baser by nature than Thou hast believed him!
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| By showing him so much respect, Thou didst, as it were, cease to feel for him,
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| for Thou didst ask too much from him — Thou who hast loved him more than
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| Thyself?
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| Respecting him less, Thou wouldst have asked less of him.
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| That would have been more like love, for his burden would have been lighter.»
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| I had a dream which was not all a dream
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| The sun was extinguished
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| And the stars wandered darkling in space
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| Rayless, and pathless
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| And the icy Earth swung blind and blackened in the moonless air
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| And men forgot their passions in the dread
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| Of this their desolation; |
| And all hearts were chilled into a selfish prayer for
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| light: They did live by watchfires
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| And the thrones of crowned kings
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| Habitations of all things which dwell
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| Were burnt for beacons
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| Oh Lord, I lack the strength
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| To turn and leave you
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| There’s no confidence
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| In my hesitation
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| Happy were those who dwelt in the eye of the volcanoes
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| Their mountain-torch: A fearful hope was all the world contained
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| Forests were set on fire
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| But hour by hour they fell and faded
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| The crackling trunks extinguished with a crash — And all was black
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| The brows of men by the despairing light wore an unearthly aspect
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| The flashes fell upon them; |
| Some lay down and hid their eyes
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| And some did rest
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| Their chins upon their clenched hands, and smiled
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| And vipers crawled
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| And twined themselves among the multitude
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| Hissing, but stingless
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| They were slain for food
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| A meal was bought with blood
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| And each sate apart
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| Gorging himself in gloom: No love was left |