That Life brings with her in her equipage; Were endless imitation. VIII. Thou, whose exterior semblance doth belie Thy Soul's immensity; Thou best Philosopher, who yet dost keep Mighty Prophet! Seer blest! On whom those truths do rest, Broods like the Day, a Master o'er a Slave, Full soon thy Soul shall have her earthly freight, And custom lie upon thee with a weight, Heavy as frost, and deep almost as life! The thought of our past years in me doth breed Perpetual benediction: not indeed 135 For that which is most worthy to be blest Delight and liberty, the simple creed Of Childhood, whether busy or at rest, With new-fledged hope still fluttering in his breast: Not for these I raise 140 The song of thanks and praise; Are yet the fountain light of all our day, Are yet a master light of all our seeing; Uphold us, cherish, and have power to make Our Souls have sight of that immortal sea 165 Can in a moment travel thither, And see the Children sport upon the shore, X. Then sing, ye Birds, sing, sing a joyous song! As to the tabor's sound! We in thought will join your throng, Ye that pipe and ye that play, Ye that through your hearts to-day Feel the gladness of the May! What though the radiance which was once so bright Be now for ever taken from my sight, Though nothing can bring back the hour 170 175 Of splendour in the grass, of glory in the flower; Which having been must ever be; In the soothing thoughts that spring Out of human suffering; In the faith that looks through death, In years that bring the philosophic mind. XI. And O, ye Fountains, Meadows, Hills, and Groves, Yet in my heart of hearts I feel your might; I only have relinquished one delight To live beneath your more habitual sway. 180 185 190 I love the Brooks which down their channels fret, Is lovely yet; The Clouds that gather round the setting sun 195 200 ODE TO DUTY. STERN Daughter of the Voice of God! Who art a light to guide, a rod 5 From vain temptations dost set free; And calm'st the weary strife of frail humanity! There are who ask not if thine eye Be on them; who, in love and truth, Glad Hearts! without reproach or blot Oh! if through confidence misplaced They fail, thy saving arms, dread Power! around them cast. Serene will be our days and bright, And happy will our nature be, When love is an unerring light, And joy its own security. And they a blissful course may hold Even now, who, not unwisely bold, Live in the spirit of this creed; ΙΟ Yet seek thy firm support, according to their need. I, loving freedom, and untried; No sport of every random gust, 15 20 25 Too blindly have reposed my trust: Thy timely mandate, I deferred 30 The task, in smoother walks to stray; But thee I now would serve more strictly, if I may. Through no disturbance of my soul, Or strong compunction in me wrought, But in the quietness of thought: I feel the weight of chance-desires : My hopes no more must change their name, I long for a repose that ever is the same. Stern Lawgiver! yet thou dost wear Flowers laugh before thee on their beds And fragrance in thy footing treads; Thou dost preserve the stars from wrong; And the most ancient heavens, through thee, are fresh and strong. To humbler functions, awful Power! I call thee: I myself commend The confidence of reason give; And in the light of truth thy Bondman let me live! MILTON! thou should'st be living at this hour: England hath need of thee: she is a fen And give us manners, virtue, freedom, power. 45 50 55 5 Thou hadst a voice whose sound was like the sea: ΤΟ Pure as the naked heavens, majestic, free, So didst thou travel on life's common way, In cheerful godliness; and yet thy heart The lowliest duties on herself did lay. |