Book Description

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1910 edition. Excerpt: ...white-heat world, To grinding barter, sweat and swirl, Back to the lips with anger curled. DESIRE ISAID to my desire, "What wilt thou have? Wilt thou have gold and all the things that can be bought therewith, houses, gardens with great green walls, and the beauties of art?" My desire made no reply. "Shall I go with thee on a long journey--to the far seas of Africa, or to the warm sunshine of Italy, or to the cold north and flit with thee over the crystal snows?" My desire made no reply. "Ah, fame--wouldst thou have fame--the crook of every knee, the nod of every head, the loud acclaim of thee everywhere?" Yet made my desire no answer. "Wouldst thou have love," said I at last, "a woman to hold thee as a god, to look upon thee with spiritual lust, to drain with thee the cup of heaven and the cup of earth, to kiss thee ere thou slumberest, and to wake thee with her lips at dawn?" My desire said, "I desire nothing, and cannot have it, therefore am I miserable." HIS LAST TOAST LET saints declare I shall not dare Or burn in the pits of hell. Let loud men scorn and women mourn Whene'er my tale they tell; I cannot stay in the deadened way Of narrow, hide-bound creeds; I'll win the smile that shall beguile My heart where'er it leads. Away with tears and shrinking fears That breed from the gossip's tongue. I'll live to-day in my own way, Though night shall see me hung, And my good name be dragged to shame And damned for evermore; So here's farewell to them that tell My tale when all is o'er. SUICIDE (Chatterton) THOU God, I'll speak with Thee as if Thou wert, And say this is the last of earth I see. The night is deadly still, and wandering free I soon shall send my...