At length I got unto the gladsome hill,
Where lay my hope,

Where lay my heart; and climbing still,
When I had gained the brow and top,
A lake of brackish waters on the ground
Was all I found!

With that abashed, and struck with many a sting

Of swarming fears,

I fell, and cried, Alas, my King!
Can both the way and end be tears?
Yet taking heart I rose, and then perceived
I was deceived:

My hill was further: so I flung away,
Yet heard a cry,

Just as I went, None goes that way
And lives. If that be all, said I,
After so foul a journey death is fair,
And but a chair.

On a Life misspent in Vanity.

II

ON A LIFE MISSPENT IN VANITY AND PASSION.

'VO piangendo i miei passati tempi, I quai posi in amar cosa mortale, Senza levarmi a volo, avend' io l' ale Per dar forse di me non bassi esempi.

Tu, che vedi i miei mali indegni ed empi,
Rè del cielo, invisibile, immortale,
Soccorri all' alma disviata e frale,
E 'l suo difetto di tua grazia adempi!

Sì che, s' io vissi in guerra ed in tempesta, Mora in pace ed in porto; e se la stanza Fu vana, almen sia la partita onesta.

A quel poco di viver che m' avanza, Ed al morir, degni esser tua man presta: Tu sai ben che 'n altrui non ho speranza!

1

SIN.

ORD, with what care hast thou begirt

us round!

Parents first season us; then school

masters

Deliver us to laws; they send us bound To rules of reason, holy messengers ;

Pulpits and Sundays, sorrow dogging sin, Afflictions sorted, anguish of all sizes, Fine nets and stratagems to catch us in, Bibles laid open, millions of surprises;

Blessings beforehand, ties of gratefulness, The sound of glory ringing in our ears; Without, our shame; within, our consci

ences;

Angels and grace, eternal hopes and fears

Yet all these fences, and their whole

array,

One cunning bosom-sin blows quite away!

Enter not into Judgment, O Lord! 13

ENTER NOT INTO JUDGMENT, O LORD!

ORD, many times I am aweary quite
Of mine own self, my sin, my
vanity -

Yet be not thou, or I am lost outright,
Weary of me!

And hate against myself I often bear,
And enter with myself in fierce debate:
Take thou my part against myself, nor share
In that just hate!

Best friends might loathe us, if what things perverse

We know of our own selves, they also

knew:

Lord, Holy One! if thou, who knowest

worse,

Shouldst loathe us too!

DELIVER US FROM EVIL!

VIL, every living hour,

Holds us in its wilful hand, Save as thou, essential Power, Mayst be gracious to withstand : Pain within the subtle flesh, Heavy lids that cannot close, Hearts that Hope will not refresh,Hand of Healing! interpose.

Tyranny's strong breath is tainting
Nature's sweet and vivid air,
Nations silently are fainting,

Or upgather in despair:

Not to those distracted wills

Trust the judgment of their woes; While the cup of anguish fills, Arm of Justice! interpose.

Pleasures night and day are hovering
Round their prey of weary hours,
Weakness and unrest discovering
In the best of human powers: