Two Founts[;] Stanzas Addressed to a lady to her Recovery with Unblemished Looks, From a Severe Attack of Pain

1. 1'Twas my last waking thought, how it could be
2. 2That thou, sweet friend, such anguish should'st endure;
3. 3When straight from Dreamland came a Dwarf, and he
4. 4Could tell the cause, forsooth, and knew the cure.

1. 5Methought he fronted me with peering look
2. 6Fix'd on my heart; and read aloud in game
3. 7The loves and griefs therein, as from a book:
4. 8And uttered praise like one who wished to blame.

1. 9In every heart (quoth he) since Adam's sin
2. 10Two Founts there are, of Suffering and of Cheer!
3. 11That to let forth, and this to keep within!
4. 12But she, whose aspect I find imaged here,

1. 13Of Pleasure only will to all dispense,
2. 14That Fount alone unlock, by no distress
3. 15Choked or turned inward, but still issue thence
4. 16Unconquered cheer, persistent loveliness.

1. 17As on the driving cloud the shiny bow,
2. 18That gracious thing made up of tears and light,
3. 19Mid the wild rack and rain that slants below
4. 20Stands smiling forth, unmoved and freshly bright;

1. 21As though the spirits of all lovely flowers,
2. 22Inweaving each its wreath and dewy crown,
3. 23Or ere they sank to earth in vernal showers,
4. 24Had built a bridge to tempt the angels down.

1. 25Even so, Eliza! on that face of thine,
2. 26On that benignant face, whose look alone
3. 27(The soul's translucence thro' her crystal shrine!)
4. 28Has power to soothe all anguish but thine own,

1. 29A beauty hovers still, and ne'er takes wing,
2. 30But with a silent charm compels the stern
3. 31And tort'ring Genius of the bitter spring,
4. 32To shrink aback, and cower upon his urn.

1. 33Who then needs wonder, if (no outlet found
2. 34In passion, spleen, or strife) the Fount of Pain
3. 35O'erflowing beats against its lovely mound,
4. 36And in wild flashes shoots from heart to brain?

1. 37Sleep, and the Dwarf with that unsteady gleam
2. 38On his raised lip, that aped a critic smile,
3. 39Had passed: yet I, my sad thoughts to beguile,
4. 40Lay weaving on the tissue of my dream;

1. 41Till audibly at length I cried, as though
2. 42Thou hadst indeed been present to my eyes,
3. 43O sweet, sweet sufferer; if the case be so,
4. 44I pray thee, be less good, less sweet, less wise!

1. 45In every look a barbéd arrow send,
2. 46On those soft lips let scorn and anger live!
3. 47Do any thing, rather than thus, sweet friend!
4. 48Hoard for thyself the pain, thou wilt not give!