My Star.

The following passage from ‘Fifine at the Fair’, section 55, is an expansion of the idea involved in ‘My Star’, and is the best commentary which can be given on it:—

“I search but cannot see

What purpose serves the soul that strives, or world it tries

Conclusions with, unless the fruit of victories

Stay, one and all, stored up and guaranteed its own

For ever, by some mode whereby shall be made known

The gain of every life.  Death reads the title clear—

What each soul for itself conquered from out things here:

Since, IN THE SEEING SOUL, ALL WORTH LIES, I ASSERT,—

AND NOUGHT I’ THE WORLD, WHICH, SAVE FOR SOUL THAT SEES, INERT

WAS, IS, AND WOULD BE EVER,—STUFF FOR TRANSMUTING—NULL

AND VOID UNTIL MAN’S BREATH EVOKE THE BEAUTIFUL—

BUT, TOUCHED ARIGHT, PROMPT YIELDS EACH PARTICLE, ITS TONGUE

OF ELEMENTAL FLAME,—no matter whence flame sprung

From gums and spice, or else from straw and rottenness,

So long as soul has power to make them burn, express

What lights and warms henceforth, leaves only ash behind,

Howe’er the chance:  if soul be privileged to find

Food so soon that, at first snatch of eye, suck of breath,

It shall absorb pure life:” etc.