Thatisthedoctrine，simple，ancient，true；
Suchislife’strial，asoldearthsmilesandknows。
Ifyoulovedonlywhatwereworthyourlove，Lovewerecleargain，andwhollywellforyou：
Makethelownaturebetterbyyourthroes！
Giveearthyourself，goupforgainabove！
VIII。BesidetheDrawing-Board。
1。”AslikeasaHandtoanotherHand！”
Whoeversaidthatfoolishthing，CouldnothavestudiedtounderstandThecounselsofGodinfashioning，Outoftheinfiniteloveofhisheart，ThisHand，whosebeautyIpraise，apartFromtheworldofwonderlefttopraise，IfItriedtolearntheotherwaysOflove，initsskill，orlove，initspower。”AslikeasaHandtoanotherHand”：[10]
Whosaidthat，nevertookhisstand，Foundandfollowed，likeme，anhour，Thebeautyinthis，——howfree，howfineTofear，almost，——ofthelimit-line！
AsIlookedatthis，andlearnedanddrew，Drewandlearned，andlookedagain，Whilefastthehappyminutesflew，Itsbeautymountedintomybrain，Andafancyseizedme；IwasfainToeffacemywork，beginanew，[20]
KisswhatbeforeIonlydrew；
Ay，layingtheredchalk’twixtmylips，Withsoultohelpifthemerelipsfailed，Ikissedallrightwherethedrawingailed，KissedfastthegracethatsomehowslipsStillfromone’ssoullessfinger-tips——
*Lines27-87{below——therestofthissectionexceptthelasttwolines}
wereaddedintheeditionof1868；theyclearuptheobscurityofthissectionofthepoem，asitstoodintheoriginaleditionof1864——
2。
’Tisaclaycast，theperfectthing，FromHandliveonce，deadlongago：
Princess-likeitwearstheringTofancy’seye，bywhichweknow[30]
ThathereatlengthamasterfoundHismatch，aproudlonesoulitsmate，AssoaringgeniussanktogroundAndpencilcouldnotemulateThebeautyinthis，——howfree，howfineTofearalmost！——ofthelimit-line。
Longagothegod，likemeTheworm，learned，eachinourdegree：
Lookedandloved，learnedanddrew，Drewandlearnedandlovedagain，[40]
Whilefastthehappyminutesflew，TillbeautymountedintohisbrainAndonthefingerwhichoutviedHisartheplacedtheringthat’sthere，Stillbyfancy’seyedescried，Intokenofamarriagerare：
Forhimonearth，hisart’sdespair，Forhiminheaven，hissoul’sfitbride。
3。
LittlegirlwiththepoorcoarsehandIturnedfromtoacoldclaycast——[50]
Ihavemylesson，understandTheworthoffleshandbloodatlast！
NothingbutbeautyinaHand?
Becausehecouldnotchangethehue，MendthelinesandmakethemtrueTothiswhichmethissoul’sdemand，——
WouldDaVinciturnfromyou?
Ihearhimlaughmywoestoscorn——”ThefoolforsoothisallforlornBecausethebeauty，shethinksbest，[60]
Livedlongagoorwasneverborn，——
BecausenobeautybearsthetestInthisroughpeasantHand！Confessed`Artisnullandstudyvoid！’
Sosayestthou?SosaidnotI，Whothrewthefaultypencilby，Andyearsinsteadofhoursemployed，LearningtheveritableuseOffleshandboneandnervebeneathLinesandhueoftheoutersheath，[70]
IfhaplyImightreproduceOnemotiveofthemechanism，FleshandboneandnervethatmakeThepoorestcoarsesthumanhandAnobjectworthytobescannedAwholelifelongfortheirsolesake。
Shallearthandthecrampedmoment-spaceYieldtheheavenlycrowninggrace?
Nowthepartsandthenthewhole！
Whoartthou，withstintedsoul[80]
Andstuntedbody，thustocry`Ilove，——shallthatbelife’sstraitdole?
Imustlivebelovedordie！’
ThispeasanthandthatspinsthewoolAndbakesthebread，whylivesiton，Poorandcoarsewithbeautygone，——
Whatusesurvivesthebeauty?Fool！”
Go，littlegirlwiththepoorcoarsehand！
Ihavemylesson，shallunderstand。
IX。OnDeck。
1。
Thereisnothingtorememberinme，NothingIeversaidwithagrace，NothingIdidthatyoucaretosee，NothingIwasthatdeservesaplaceInyourmind，nowIleaveyou，setyoufree——
St。1。NothingIdidthatyoucaretosee：referstoherart-work。
2。
Conceded！Inturn，concedetome，Suchthingshavebeenasamutualflame。
Yoursoul’slockedfast；but，loveforakey，Youmightletitloose，tillIgrewthesameInyoureyes，asinmineyoustand：strangeplea！
3。
Forthen，then，whatwoulditmattertomeThatIwastheharsh，ill-favoredone?
Webothshouldbelikeaspeaandpea；
Itwaseversosincetheworldbegun：
So，letmeproceedwithmyreverie——
St。3。Hereitisindicatedthatshehadnotthepersonalcharmswhichwereneededtomaintainherhusband’sinterest。
Aprettyfacewasmoretohimthanadeeplovingsoul。
4。
Howstrangeitwereifyouhadallme，AsIhaveallyouinmyheartandbrain，You，whoseleastwordbroughtgloomorglee，WhoneverliftedthehandinvainWillholdmineyet，fromoverthesea！
5。
Strange，ifaface，whenyouthoughtofme，Roselikeyourownfacepresentnow，Witheyesasdearintheirduedegree，Muchsuchamouth，andasbrightabrow，Tillyousawyourself，whileyoucried”’TisShe！”
6。
Well，youmay，youmust，setdowntomeLovethatwaslife，lifethatwaslove；
Atenureofbreathatyourlips’decree，Apassiontostandasyourthoughtsapprove，Arapturetofallwhereyourfootmightbe——
St。6。vv。3-5expresstheentiredevotionandsubmissivenessofherlove。
7。
ButdidonetouchofsuchloveformeComeinawordoralookofyours，Whosewordsandlookswill，circling，fleeRoundmeandroundwhilelifeendures，——
CouldIfancy”AsIfeel，thusfeelsHe”；
8。
Why，fadeyoumighttoathinglikeme，Andyourhairgrowthesecoarsehanksofhair，Yourskin，thisbarkofagnarledtree，——
Youmightturnmyself！——shouldIknoworcare，WhenIshouldbedeadofjoy，JamesLee?
ATale。
Epilogueto`TheTwoPoetsofCroisic’。
1。
WhataprettytaleyoutoldmeOnceuponatime——Saidyoufounditsomewhere(scoldme！)
Wasitproseorwasitrhyme，GreekorLatin?Greek，yousaid，Whileyourshoulderproppedmyhead。
2。
Anyhowthere’snoforgettingThismuchifnomore，Thatapoet(pray，nopetting！)
Yes，abard，sir，famedofyore，Wentwheresuchlikeusedtogo，Singingforaprize，youknow。
3。
Well，hehadtosing，normerelySingbutplaythelyre；
PlayingwasimportantclearlyQuiteassinging：Idesire，Sir，youkeepthefactinmindForapurposethat’sbehind。
4。
Therestoodhe，whiledeepattentionHeldthejudgesround，——Judgesable，Ishouldmention，TodetecttheslightestsoundSungorplayedamiss：suchearsHadoldjudges，itappears！
5。
Nonethelesshesangoutboldly，Playedintimeandtune，Tillthejudges，weighingcoldlyEachnote’sworth，seemed，lateorsoon，Suretosmile”InvainonetriesPickingfaultsout：taketheprize！”
6。
When，amischief！WeretheysevenStringsthelyrepossessed?
Oh，andafterwardseleven，Thankyou！Well，sir，——whohadguessedSuchillluckinstore?——ithappedOneofthosesamesevenstringssnapped。
7。
Allwaslost，then！No！acricket(What”cicada”?Pooh！)——
SomemadthingthatleftitsthicketFormereloveofmusic——flewWithitslittleheartonfire，Lightedonthecrippledlyre——
St。7。”Cicada”：doyousay?
Pooh！：that’sbringingthemysteriouslittlethingdowntotheplaneofentomology。
8。
Sothatwhen(Ahjoy！)oursingerForhistruantstringFeelswithdisconcertedfinger，WhatdoescricketelsebutflingFieryheartforth，soundthenoteWantedbythethrobbingthroat?
9。
Ayand，evertotheending，Cricketchirpsatneed，Executesthehand’sintending，Promptly，perfectly，——indeedSavesthesingerfromdefeatWithherchirruplowandsweet。
10。
Till，atending，allthejudgesCrywithoneassent”Taketheprize——aprizewhogrudgesSuchavoiceandinstrument?
Why，wetookyourlyreforharp，SoitshrilledusforthFsharp！”
11。
Didtheconquerorspurnthecreature，Onceitsservicedone?
That’snosuchuncommonfeatureInthecasewhenMusic’ssonFindshisLotte’spowertoospentForaidingsoul-development——
St。11。whenMusic’sson，etc。：aflingatGoethe。
12。
No！Thisother，onreturningHomeward，prizeinhand，Satisfiedhisbosom’syearning：
(Sir，Ihopeyouunderstand！)——
Said”SomerecordtheremustbeOfthiscricket’shelptome！”
13。
So，hemadehimselfastatue：
Marblestood，life-size；
Onthelyre，hepointedatyou，Perchedhispartnerintheprize；
NevermoreapartyoufoundHer，hethroned，fromhim，shecrowned。
14。
That’sthetale：itsapplication?
SomebodyIknowHopesonedayforreputationThroughhispoetrythat’s——Oh，AllsolearnedandsowiseAnddeservingofaprize！
15。
Ifhegainsone，willsometicket，Whenhisstatue’sbuilt，Tellthegazer”’TwasacricketHelpedmycrippledlyre，whoseliltSweetandlow，whenstrengthusurpedSoftness’placei’thescale，shechirped?
16。”Forasvictorywasnighest，WhileIsangandplayed，——
Withmylyreatlowest，highest，Rightalike，——onestringthatmade`Love’soundsoftwassnaptintwain，Nevertobeheardagain，——
17。”Hadnotakindcricketfluttered，PerchedupontheplaceVacantleft，anddulyuttered`Love，Love，Love’，whene’erthebassAskedthetrebletoatoneForitssomewhatsombredrone。”
18。
Butyoudon’tknowmusic！WhereforeKeeponcastingpearlsToa——poet?AllIcareforIs——totellhimthatagirl’s”Love”comesaptlyinwhengruffGrowshissinging。(There，enough！)
Confessions。
1。
Whatishebuzzinginmyears?”NowthatIcometodie，DoIviewtheworldasavaleoftears?”
Ah，reverendsir，notI！
2。
WhatIviewedthereonce，whatIviewagainWherethephysicbottlesstandOnthetable’sedge，——isasuburblane，Withawalltomybedsidehand。
3。
Thatlanesloped，muchasthebottlesdo，FromahouseyoucoulddescryO’erthegarden-wall：isthecurtainblueOrgreentoahealthyeye?
4。
Tomine，itservesfortheoldJuneweatherBlueabovelaneandwall；
Andthatfarthestbottlelabelled”Ether”
Isthehouseo’er-toppingall。
5。
Ataterrace，somewhatnearthestopper，Therewatchedforme，oneJune，Agirl：Iknow，sir，it’simproper，Mypoormind’soutoftune。
6。
Only，therewasaway……youcreptClosebytheside，tododgeEyesinthehouse，twoeyesexcept：
Theystyledtheirhouse”TheLodge”。
7。
Whatrighthadaloungeruptheirlane?
But，bycreepingveryclose，Withthegoodwall’shelp，——theireyesmightstrainAndstretchthemselvestoOes，8。
Yetnevercatchherandmetogether，Asshelefttheattic，there，Bytherimofthebottlelabelled”Ether”，Andstolefromstairtostair，9。
Andstoodbytherose-wreathedgate。Alas，Weloved，sir——usedtomeet：
Howsadandbadandmaditwas——
Butthen，howitwassweet！
Respectability。
