And fixedness—without a place;

There were no stars—no earth—no time— 245

No check—no change—no good—no crime

But silence, and a stirless breath

Which neither was of life nor death;

A sea of stagnant idleness,

Blind, boundless, mute, and motionless! 250

X.

A light broke in upon my brain—

It was the carol of a bird;