es and a noise of kisses.

At length Sophia said, "The Mother is among us. Her presence will
render us eternally happy. Follow us into our dwelling. In the temple
will we dwell forever, and treasure up the secret of the world."

Fable spun diligently, and sang with a clear voice:

Established is Eternity's domain,
In Love and Gladness melts the strifeful pain;
The tedious dream of grief returneth never;
Priestess of hearts Sophia is forever.

HENRY OF OFTERDINGEN.

PART SECOND.
THE FULFILMENT.

THE FULFILLMENT.

THE CLOISTER, OR FORE-COURT.

ASTRALIS.

Upon a summer morning was I young;
Then felt I for the first my own life-pulse,
And while in deeper raptures Love dissolved,
My sense of life unfolded; and my longing
For more entire and inward dissolution,
Was every moment more importunate.
My being's plastic power is delight;
I am the central point, the holy source,
Whence every longing stormfully outflows,
And where again, though broken and dispersed,
Each longing calmly mingles into one.
Ye know me not, ye saw me not becoming.--
Who witnessed me upon that happy eve,
When, a night-wanderer yet, I found at length
For the first time myself? Then flowed there not
A shudder of sweet rapture over you?
Entirely hid in honey-cups I lay;
I breathed a fragrance, calmly waved the flowers
In golden morning air. An inner gushing
Was I, a gentle striving, all things flowed
Through me and over me, and light I rose.
Then sank the first dust-seed within the shell,--
That glowing kiss when risen from the feast!
Backward I ebbed upon my inmost life--
It was a flash,--my powers already swell,
And move the tender petals and the bell,
And swiftly, from beneath my being's spring,
To earthly senses thoughts were blossoming.
Yet was I blind, but stars began to sweep
In light across my being's wondrous deep;
Myself I found as of a distant clime,
Echo of olden as of future time.
From sadness, love and hopefulness created,
The growth of memory was but a flight,
And mid the dashing billows of delight,