The tender gaze and strong, like dewy fire,

The gracious form with airs of Heaven bedight,

The love that warmed thy being like a sun:—

Thou hadst thy choice of noonday or of night;

Now the swart shadows gather, one by one,

To give thee thy desire!

To every life one heavenly chance befalls;

To every soul a moment, big with fate,

When, grown importunate with need and fear,

It cries for help, and lo! from close at hand,