SUCCESS

　　[Published in "A Masque of Poets"

　　at the request of "H.H.," the author's

　　fellow-townswoman and friend.]

　　Success is counted sweetest

　　By those who ne'er succeed.

　　To comprehend a nectar

　　Requires sorest need.

　　Not one of all the purple host

　　Who took the flag to-day

　　Can tell the definition,

　　So clear, of victory,

　　As he, defeated, dying,

　　On whose forbidden ear

　　The distant strains of triumph

　　Break, agonized and clear!