XXVI + 

I lived with visions for my company + 

Instead of men and women, years ago, + 

And found them gentle mates, nor thought to know + 

A sweeter music than they played to me. + 

But soon their trailing purple was not free + 

Of this world’s dust, their lutes did silent grow, + 

And I myself grew faint and blind below + 

Their vanishing eyes. Then thou didst come⁠—to be, + 

Beloved, what they seemed. Their shining fronts, + 

Their songs, their splendours⁠—better, yet the same, + 

As river-water hallowed into fonts⁠— + 

Met in thee, and from out thee overcame + 

My soul with satisfaction of all wants⁠— + 

Because God’s gifts put man’s best dreams to shame. + 