And ambition gone down to defeat, and the battle overborne,

And the dreams that have no waking....

My heart became her ancient heart:

On the food of the strong I fed, on dark strange life itself:

Wisdom-giving and sombre with the unremitting love of ages....

There was dank soil in my mouth,

And bitter sea on my lips,

In a dark hour, tasting the Earth.

THE LINCOLN CHILD[[43]]

Clearing in the forest,