Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, ed. Poems of Places: An Anthology in 31 Volumes.
Asia: Vols. XXI–XXIII. 1876–79.
On Mount Meru
By Charles Godfrey Leland (18241903)
I
Stood together and talked, the Two.
The Dæmon spoke to the Demiurg:
Ocean and sky with their blending blue.
Is found in some higher harmony still.
But all meet well in the spreading tree.
One creature alone seems wrong in it,—
Unstable, unmeeting,—the weakest and worst.
But that monster wanders unplaced and alone.”
When to the Dæmon the Maker spoke;
To labor that death may awake to life.
Turns falsehood and darkness to truth and light.
Will be naught to thy strife with that creature Man,
Possesses the endless power of change.
He will conquer all things and thee at last.”
When the first-born laughter in life was heard.
To strengthen life with power to kill;
If I force not Man to a single path!
To show what agony, suffering, mean;
But Man shall walk in a single law.”
Again Time gazed on the fearful Two.
At the foot of the Maker the Dæmon lay.
“I have worked in all things—my course is spent—
Forever—Vicisti, Galilæ!”