Esther, A Sonnet Sequence: Xxx

Thus was my soul enfranchised. But anon, With courage fired to full--fledged enterprise, And pushing still the vantage I had won, I sought communion with a world less wise, The living world. I mixed with not a few, Shepherds and countrymen, and village priests, Bagmen at inns, and all the motley crew Which comes and goes on market days and feasts In old--world hostelries of old--world towns. These gave a second schooling, till the grace Of the summer ended on the upper downs, And, carrying still its glory on my face, I came to Lyons where these things befell. The why and wherefore of it who shall tell?