O deign to attend his evening walk, J. WARTON 303 THE INCARNATION OR Thou wert born of woman! Thou didst come, not in Thy dread omnipotent array; and not by thunders strewed was Thy tempestuous road; nor indignation burnt before Thee on Thy way. thy mother undefiled, in the rude manger laid to rest The heavens were not commanded to prepare nor stooped their lamps th' enthroned fires on high: came wandering from afar, gliding unchecked and calm along the liquid sky; the Eastern Sages leading on as at a kingly throne to lay their gold and odours sweet before Thy infant feet. 304 The Earth and Ocean were not hushed to hear and seraphs' burning lyres, pour'd thro' the host of heaven the charmed clouds F. S. along. II. 9 One angel troop the strain began, by single shepherds heard alone And when Thou didst depart, no car of flame from fatal Calvary with all Thine own redeemed outbursting from their tombs: for Thou didst bear away from earth but one of human birth, the dying felon by Thy side, to be H. H. MILMAN 305 IN MEMORIAM HE time admits not flowers or leaves deck the banquet. Fiercely flies the blast of North and East, and ice makes daggers at the sharpen'd eaves, and bristles all the brakes and thorns to yon hard crescent, as she hangs together, in the drifts that pass to darken on the rolling brine that breaks the coast. But fetch the wine, bring in great logs and let them lie, we keep the day. With festal cheer, A. TENNYSON 306 307 R IN MEMORIAM OISEST thou thus, dim dawn, again, who wakenest with thy balmy breath betwixt the slumber of the poles, IN MEMORIAM A. TENNYSON FAIR ship, that from the Italian shore sailest the placid ocean-plains with my lost Arthur's loved remains, So draw him home to those that mourn ruffle thy mirror'd mast, and lead thy sliding keel, till Phosphor, bright as our pure love, thro' early light shall glimmer on the dewy decks. Sphere all your lights around, above; sleep, gentle heavens, before the prow; sleep, gentle winds, as he sleeps now, my friend, the brother of my love; 308 my Arthur, whom I shall not see A. TENNYSON THE CHARACTER OF A HAPPY LIFE HOW happy is he born and taught, that serveth not another's will; SIR H. WOTTON 309 PEACE MY Y soul, there is a country where stands a winged sentry sweet peace sits crown'd with smiles, and one born in a manger commands the beauteous files. He is thy gracious friend, 310 311 O If thou canst get but thither, thy fortress and thy ease. LOVE'S IMMORTALITY H. VAUGHAN HEY sin who tell us Love can die. Twith life all other passions fly, all others are but vanity: in heaven ambition cannot dwell, its holy flame for ever burneth, from heaven it came, to heaven returneth; at times deceived, at times opprest, it here is tried and purified, hath she not then, for pains and fears, KEPLER'S PRAYER R. SOUTHEY THOU, who by the light of Nature dost enkindle in us a desire after the light of grace, that by this Thou mayest translate us into the light of glory: I give Thee thanks, O Lord and Creator, that Thou hast gladdened me by Thy Creation, when I was enraptured by the work of Thy hands. Behold, I have completed a work of my calling |