With raving frenzy I should sing,

Myself forget, and lose my soul

In weird discordant dreams.

Strength uncontrolled would then be mine,

Like wildest storm that sweeps the fields,

And lays the forest bare.

Then I should hearken song of waves,

Be filled with joy, and gaze upon

The empty, vacant sky.

Ay, there's the rub: to lose my mind,

Be feared, as men do fear the plague,

And close in prison locked:

And when the madman's chained, in crowds

They'll come, and through the grating stare,

And tease the surly beast.

And then, at night, compelled to hear,

Instead of nightingale's high note,

Or forest's murmur soft,

The frantic shrieks of prison-mates,

Muttered oaths of warders sullen,

And creaking noise of chains.

THE TALISMAN.

Where fierce the surge with awful bellow

Doth ever lash the rocky wall;

And where the moon most brightly mellow

Dost beam when mists of evening fall;

Where midst his harem's countless blisses

The Moslem spends his vital span,

A Sorceress there with gentle kisses

Presented me a Talisman.

And said: until thy latest minute

Preserve, preserve my Talisman;

A secret power it holds within it -

'Twas love, true love the gift did plan.