AT THE WORST ISRAEL ZANGWILL "And Man is left alone with Man." 'Tis well! The shapes that in the dusky background fell Why stay the Present 'gainst the Past to poise? Man grown to Manhood spurns his childish toys And wakes to grander fears and hopes and joys. If aught is lost that we should long to keep, We are whatever we have been before; In fires of human work and love and song, The burning bush doth not the more consume, Though Hell and Heaven were a dream forgot, We serve God better, deeming He is not. Perchance, O ye that toil on, though forlorn Nor yet hath Man of faith and courage failed, By glimpse of Truth-God's awful face unveiled. No change need be in all that we hold dear Love, Virtue, Knowledge, Beauty-all are here, One Hope is gone-but in its train one Fear. The sea wind blows as fresh; the ocean heaves As blue and buoyant: Nature nowhere grieves; As bright a green is on the forest leaves. Larks sing and roses still are odorous, And if the earth with endless fray is rife, Evil is here? That's work for us to do. IV. FAITH a. THE OLD FAITH PROVIDENCE Light Shining Out of Darkness WILLIAM COWPER God moves in a mysterious way Deep in unfathomable mines He treasures up his bright designs, Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take, Judge not the Lord by feeble sense, His purposes will ripen fast, The bud may have a bitter taste But sweet will be the flower. |