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.