Phantastes, a Faerie Romance for Men and Women

Then first I knew the delight of being lowly; of saying to myself, "I am what I am, nothing more." "I have failed," I said, "I have lost myself—would it had been my shadow."

"I saw thee ne'er before; I see thee never more; But love, and help, and pain, beautiful one, Have made thee mine, till all my years are done."

Thou goest thine, and I go mine— Many ways we wend; Many days, and many ways, Ending in one end.

find that relief in constant motion, which is the hope of all active minds when invaded by distress.

Thou dreamest: on a rock thou art, High o'er the broken wave; Thou fallest with a fearful start But not into thy grave; For, waking in the morning's light, Thou smilest at the vanished night

My representation of it must resemble a translation from a rich and powerful language, capable of embodying the thoughts of a splendidly developed people, into the meagre and half-articulate speech of a savage tribe.

"Joy's a subtil elf. I think man's happiest when he forgets himself."

All mirrors are magic mirrors.

"But words are vain; reject them all— They utter but a feeble part: Hear thou the depths from which they call, The voiceless longing of my heart."