However ye might err in after speech,

The mute expression of that voiceless woe

Whereby ye sought your sympathy to show

With him of Uz—doth eloquently preach!

Teaching a lesson it were well to teach

Some comforters—of utterance less slow,

Prone to believe that they more promptly know

Grief 's mighty depths, and by their words can reach.

“Seven days and nights ,” in stillness as profound

As that of Chaos, patiently ye sate

By the heart-stricken and the desolate!

And though your sympathy might fail to sound

The fathomless depth of his dark spirit's wound,

Not less your silence was sublimely great!