Serene will be our days and bright, And happy will our nature be, And blest are they who in the main This faith, even now, do entertain: Live in the spirit of this creed; Yet find that other strength, according to their need. I, loving freedom, and untried; No sport of every random gust, Too blindly have reposed my trust: The task imposed, from day to day; 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: Stern Lawgiver! yet thou dost wear The Godhead's most benignant grace; As is the smile upon thy face: Flowers laugh before thee on their beds; Thou dost preserve the Stars from wrong; And the most ancient Heavens through Thee are fresh and strong. To humbler functions, awful Power! I call thee: I myself commend Give unto me, made lowly wise, The spirit of self-sacrifice; The confidence of reason give; And in the light of truth thy Bondman let me live! I. PREFATORY SONNET. NUNS fret not at their Convent's narrow room; And Students with their pensive Citadels : Pleased if some Souls (for such there needs must be) Should find short solace there, as I have found. |