I LIVED WITH VISIONS

1 I lived with visions for my company,
2 Instead of men and women, years ago,
3 And found them gentle mates, nor thought to know
4 A sweeter music than they played to me.
5 But soon their trailing purple was not free
6 Of this world's dust, -- their lutes did silent grow,
7 And I myself grew faint and blind below
8 Their vanishing eyes. Then THOU didst come ... to be,
9 Belovèd, what they seemed. Their shining fronts,
10 Their songs, their splendours, (better, yet the same,
11 As river-water hallowed into fonts)
12 Met in thee, and from out thee overcame
13 My soul with satisfaction of all wants --
14 Because God's gifts put man's best dreams to shame