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.