Read it through once

“Such ever was love’s way: to rise, it stoops. Since I, whom Christ’s mouth taught, was bidden teach, {135} I went, for many years, about the world, Saying, ‘It was so; so I heard and saw’, Speaking as the case asked: and men believed. Afterward came the message to myself In Patmos isle; I was not bidden teach. {140} But simply listen, take a book and write, Nor set down other than the given word. With nothing left to my arbitrament To choose or change: I wrote, and men believed. Then, for my time grew brief, no message more, {145} No call to write again, I found a way, And, reasoning from my knowledge, merely taught Men should, for love’s sake, in love’s strength, believe; Or I would pen a letter to a friend, And urge the same as friend, nor less nor more: {150} Friends said I reasoned rightly, and believed. But at the last, why, I seemed left alive Like a sea-jelly weak on Patmos strand, To tell dry sea-beach gazers how I fared When there was mid-sea, and the mighty things; {155} Left to repeat, ‘I saw, I heard, I knew’, And go all over the old ground again, With Antichrist already in the world, And many Antichrists, who answered prompt ‘Am I not Jasper as thyself art John? {160} Nay, young, whereas through age thou mayest forget: Wherefore, explain, or how shall we believe?’ I never thought to call down fire on such, Or, as in wonderful and early days, Pick up the scorpion, tread the serpent dumb; {165} But patient stated much of the Lord’s life Forgotten or misdelivered, and let it work: Since much that at the first, in deed and word, Lay simply and sufficiently exposed, Had grown (or else my soul was grown to match, {170} Fed through such years, familiar with such light, Guarded and guided still to see and speak) Of new significance and fresh result; What first were guessed as points, I now knew stars, And named them in the Gospel I have writ. {175} For men said, ‘It is getting long ago: Where is the promise of His coming?’--asked These young ones in their strength, as loth to wait, Of me who, when their sires were born, was old. I, for I loved them, answered, joyfully, {180} Since I was there, and helpful in my age; And, in the main, I think such men believed. Finally, thus endeavoring, I fell sick. Ye brought me here, and I supposed the end, And went to sleep with one thought that, at least, {185} Though the whole earth should lie in wickedness, We had the truth, might leave the rest to God. Yet now I wake in such decrepitude As I had slidden down and fallen afar, Past even the presence of my former self, {190} Grasping the while for stay at facts which snap, Till I am found away from my own world, Feeling for foot-hold through a blank profound, Along with unborn people in strange lands, Who say--I hear said or conceive they say-- {195} ‘Was John at all, and did he say he saw? Assure us, ere we ask what he might see!’