Page:Poems Follen.djvu/167

ON GREENOUGH'S GROUP OF THE CHILD AND ANGEL.

Child. Whither, tell me, dost thou go?^[1]
Angel. "Come up hither! I will show thee;
    Follow me, and thou shalt know:
     Leave the dark, sad earth below thee."

Child. Stop! my eyes cannot sustain
     Such a wondrous flood of light.
Angel."Come up hither; thou shalt gain,
     As thou risest, stronger sight."

Child. Lost in wonder without end,
     Joyful, fearful, longing, shrinking—
    Lead me, O thou heavenly friend;
     Keep a trembling child from sinking.

    O, I cannot bear this glory:
     Angel brother, how canst thou?
Angel. "I will tell thee all my story:
     I was once what thou art now."

1. "Quæ nunc abibis in loca" is the inscription on the pedestal of the group.