And the poor fool that blew it be content
With knowing he was born to be a fool.
Poor Bartholow! It was a hard road along which he forced himself to go, proud, defiant, hopeful, until the night when he found the Raven, like a reproving older child, pinning him to his chair lest he again try to annihilate him. After that he knew what was before him, for he was no longer hopeful, defiant, or proud. He had learned as Lancelot and like him
in the darkness he rode on
Alone; and in the darkness came the Light.
Penn-Raven had brought the Light and showed Bartholow how it must be followed. But it was Gabrielle who was “too beautiful to be alive” that revealed to him its incessant worth. It was Roman’s wife who failed and died, Gabrielle whom Penn-Raven loved, for whom Roman hungered, Gabrielle, whose
dark morning beauty
Was like an armor for the darts of time
Where they fell yet for nothing and were lost