The Youth, who daily farther from the east Is on his way attended; At length the Man perceives it die away, VI. Earth fills her lap with pleasures of her own; The homely Nurse doth all she can To make her Foster-child, her Inmate Man, 75 80 85 VII. Behold the Child among his new-born blisses, See, where 'mid work of his own hand he lies, A wedding or a festival, A mourning or a funeral; And this hath now his heart, And unto this he frames his song: To dialogues of business, love, or strife; But it will not be long Ere this be thrown aside, And with new joy and pride The little Actor cons another part; Filling from time to time his 90 95 100 humorous stage " 105 With all the Persons, down to palsied Agė, 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, ΠΙΟ 115 120 125 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! IX. O joy that in our embers Is something that doth live, That nature yet remembers What was so fugitive! The thought of our past years in me doth breed Perpetual benediction: not indeed For that which is most worthy to be blest Delight and liberty, the simple creed Of Childhood, whether busy or at rest, Not for these I raise With new-fledged hope still fluttering in his breast: The song of thanks and praise; 130 135 140 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! And let the young Lambs bound 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; 180 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. 190 I love the Brooks which down their channels fret, Is lovely yet; 195 The Clouds that gather round the setting sun Another race hath been, and other palms are won. ODE TO DUTY. STERN Daughter of the Voice of God! Who art a light to guide, a rod 200 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 they a blissful course may hold Yet seek thy firm support, according to their need. I, loving freedom, and untried; ΙΟ 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: Me this unchartered freedom tires; I feel the weight of chance-desires : My hopes no more must change their name, 35 40 |