Time-long the noisy nations of the earth
Have searched, and only found regret
At the loss of Love the child-world had at birth.
And so, we strive, and strive,—we know not why.
And not attaining what the heart would have,
We set the hand to work; we sweat and slave;
Allured by lights around earth’s narrow zone
That, followed, fly, we follow on and on;
For fame and wealth and power we barter away
Our lives; we would be gods: but mortal clay