- '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!