ROUGE GAGNE.
'T is so much joy! 'T is so much joy!
If I should fail, what poverty!
And yet, as poor as I Have ventured all upon a throw;
Have gained! Yes! Hesitated so This side the victory!
Life is but life, and death but death!
Bliss is but bliss, and breath but breath!
And if, indeed, I fail, At least to know the worst is sweet.
Defeat means nothing but defeat, No drearier can prevail!
And if I gain, -- oh, gun at sea, Oh, bells that in the steeples be, At first repeat it slow!
For heaven is a different thing Conjectured, and waked sudden in, And might o'erwhelm me so!