XX.
But for delight—on spiritual gladness fed,
And obvious to temptations of like kind;
One such, from out his very gladness bred,
It was his lot to find.
XXI.
When first it came, he lightly put it by,
But it returned again to him ere long,
And ever having got some new ally,
And every time more strong—
XXII.
A little worm that gnawed the life away
Of a tall plant, the canker of its root,
Or like as when, from some small speck, decay
Spreads o’er a beauteous fruit.
XXIII.
For still the doubt came back—can God provide
For the large heart of man what shall not pall,
Nor thro’ eternal ages’ endless tide
On tired spirits fall.