Within those ancient halls rehearse?”

Deep in his heart my plaint the minstrel weighed,

And a subtle answer made:

“The world that is, the ways of men,

Not yet are glassed within their ken.

Their foster-mother holds them long,—

Long, long to youth,—short, short to age, appear

The rounds of her Olympic Year,—

Their ears are quickened for the trumpet-call.

Sing to them one true song,