Oh, Thy Bright Eyes Must Answer Now, When Reason, With A Scornful Brow, Is Mocking At My Overthrow! Oh, Thy Sweet Tongue Must Plead For Me And Tell Why I Have Chosen Thee! Stern Reason Is To Judgment Come, Arrayed In All Her Forms Of Gloom: Wilt Thou, My Advocate, Be Dumb? No, Radiant Angel, Speak And Say, Why I Did Cast The World Away. Why I Have Persevered To Shun The Common Paths That Others Run; And On A Strange Road Journeyed On, Heedless, Alike Of Wealth And Power, Of Glory'S Wreath And Pleasure'S Flower. These, Once, Indeed, Seemed Beings Divine; And They, Perchance, Heard Vows Of Mine, And Saw My Offerings On Their Shrine; But Careless Gifts Are Seldom Prized, And Mine Were Worthily Despised. So, With A Ready Heart, I Swore To Seek Their Altar-Stone No More; And Gave My Spirit To Adore Thee, Ever-Present, Phantom Thing, My Slave, My Comrade, And My King. A Slave, Because I Rule Thee Still; Incline Thee To My Changeful Will, And Make Thy Influence Good Or Ill: A Comrade, For By Day And Night Thou Art My Intimate Delight, My Darling Pain That Wounds And Sears, And Wrings A Blessing Out From Tears By Deadening Me To Earthly Cares; And Yet, A King, Though Prudence Well Have Taught Thy Subject To Rebel And Am I Wrong To Worship Where Faith Cannot Doubt, Nor Hope Despair, Since My Own Soul Can Grant My Prayer? Speak, God Of Visions, Plead For Me, And Tell Why I Have Chosen Thee!