Nor do we speak or move, or hear or see; So like what once we were, and once again shall be ! An aged pilgrim on his staff shall lean, Yet while the loveliest smiles, her locks grow gray! She'll see so soon among another race, How would she shrink! - Returning from afar, And such is Human Life, the general theme. Who would not sleep and dream them o'er again? 3 Our pathway leads but to a precipice ;3 And all must follow, fearful as it is! From the first step 't is known; but - No delay! On, 't is decreed. We tremble and obey. A thousand ills beset us as we go. "Still, could I shun the fatal gulf” — Ah, no, 'Tis all in vain -- the inexorable Law! Nearer and nearer to the brink we draw. Verdure springs up; and fruits and flowers invite, At length the brink appears 4 but one step more! we falter and 't is o'er! i Yet here high passions, high desires unfold, Prompting to noblest deeds; here links of gold Bind soul to soul; and thoughts divine inspire A thirst unquenchable, a holy fire That will not, cannot but with life expire! 6 Now, seraph-winged, among the stars we soar;5 Wealth, pleasure, ease, all thought of self resigned, What will not man encounter for mankind? Behold him now unbar the prison-door, 8 And, lifting Guilt, Contagion, from the floor, Death nor look back, nor turn a footstep there, And now like Pylades (in Heaven they write Long with his friend in generous enmity, Do what he will, he cannot realize Half he conceives the glorious vision flies. Go where he may, he cannot hope to find The truth, the beauty pictured in his mind. But if by chance an object strike the sense, The faintest shadow of that excellence, Passions, that slept, are stirring in his frame; Thoughts undefined, feelings without a name ! And some, not here called forth, may slumber on Till this vain pageant of a world is gone; Lying too deep for things that perish here, Waiting for life—but in a nobler sphere!! Look where he comes! Rejoicing in his birth, A while he moves as in a heaven on earth! Sun, moon, and stars the land, the sea, the sky, To him shine out as in a galaxy! 10 But soon 't is past the light has died away! 11 Making night beautiful. T is past, 't is gone, Nothing revives him but the blessed ray That now breaks in, nor ever knows decay, Sent from a better world to light him on his way. » How great the Mystery! Let others sing The circling Year, the promise of the Spring, The Summer's glory, and the rich repose Of Autumn, and the Winter's silvery snows. Man through the changing scene let us pursue, But Man called forth in fellowship with men ; 12 13 The day arrives, the moment wished and feared; 's The child is born, by many a pang endeared. And now the mother's ear has caught his cry; O, grant the cherub to her asking eye! He comes . . . she clasps him. To her bosom pressed, He drinks the balm of life and drops to rest. Her by her smile how soon the stranger knows; When rosy Sleep comes on with sweet surprise. / But soon a nobler task demands her care. Apart she joins his little hands in prayer, Telling of Him who sees in secret there! And now the volume on her knee has caught His wandering eye-now many a written thought, O, he would follow-follow through the sky! Flings off the coat so much his pride and pleasure, She looks, and looks, and still with new delight! 14 "These are MY Jewels!" Well of such as he, When JESUS spake, well might the language be, "Suffer these little ones to come to me !" 15 Thoughtful by fits, he scans and he reveres 16 |