I gave health and leisure, If I broke your idols, Showed you they were dust, If I brought temptation, For all hearts that stray. If your list of errors Dark and long appears, Let this new-born Monarch May you hold this Angel So I bless his future, While he crowns my past. SPRING. Hark! the hours are softly calling, Bidding Spring arise, To listen to the rain-drops falling From the cloudy skies, To listen to Earth's weary voices, Louder every day, Bidding her no longer linger But hasten to her task of beauty By the first bright day of Summer She has yet to loose the fountain From its iron chain; And to make the barren mountain Green and bright again; She must clear the snow that lingers Round the stalks away, And let the snow-drop's trembling whiteness See the light of day. She must watch, and warm, and cherish Every blade of green, Till the tender grass appearing From the earth is seen; She must bring the golden crocus From her hidden store ; She must spread broad showers of daisies In each hedge-row she must hasten Primroses in rich profusion, With bright dew-drops wet, And under every leaf, in shadow Hide a violet! Every tree within the forest Must be decked anew; Leaf by leaf beside, What will make the Summer's glory, She must weave the loveliest carpets, Every wood must have such pathways, She must hang laburnum branches Should be waving now; She must breathe, and cold winds vanish At her breath away; And then load the air around her With the scent of May! Listen then, O Spring! nor linger On thy charmed way ; Have pity on thy 'prisoned flowers Listen to the rain-drops falling From the cloudy skies; Listen to the hours calling, EVENING HYMN. The shadows of the evening hours Before Thy throne, O Lord of heaven, Look on Thy children from on high, And hear us while we pray. The sorrows of Thy servants, Lord, But let the incense of our prayers The brightness of the coming night Slowly the rays of daylight fade; Within the heavens shine ;- Let peace, O Lord, Thy peace, O God, Upon our souls descend; From midnight fears and perils, Thou Give us a respite from our toil, Calm and subdue our woes; PER PACEM AD LUCEM. I do not ask, O Lord, that life may be I do not ask that Thou wouldst take from me I do not ask that flowers should always spring I know too well the poison and the sting For one thing only, Lord, dear Lord, I plead, Though strength should falter, and though heart. should bleed Through Peace to Light. I do not ask, O Lord, that Thou shouldst shed Give but a ray of peace, that I may tread |