In vain the viewless seraph, lingering there,
At starry midnight charmed the silent air!
In vain the wild bird carolled on the steep,
To hail the sun, slow-wheeling from the deep;
In vain, to soothe the solitary shade,
Aërial notes in mingling measure played;
The summer wind that shook the spangled tree,
The whispering wave, the murmur of the bee;-
Still slowly passed the melancholy day,
And still the stranger wist not where to stray,—
The world was sad! the garden was a wild!
And Man, the hermit, sighed-till Woman smiled!
AIL, holy love! thou word that sums all bliss,
Gives and receives all bliss, fullest when most
Thou givest! spring-head of all felicity,
Deepest when most is drawn! emblem of God!
O'erflowing most when greatest numbers drink!
Essence that binds the uncreated Three,
Chain that unites creation to its Lord,
Centre to which all being gravitates,
Eternal, ever-growing, happy Love!
Enduring all, hoping, forgiving all;
Instead of law, fulfilling every law;
Entirely blest, because thou seek'st no more,
Hop'st not, nor fear'st; but on the present liv'st,
And hold'st perfection smiling in thy arms.
Mysterious, infinite, exhaustless Love!
On earth mysterious, and mysterious still
In heaven! sweet chord, that harmonizes all
The harps of paradise! the spring, the well,
That fills the bowl and banquet of the sky.
Hail, Love; first Love, thou word that sums all bliss!
The sparkling cream of all Time's blessedness,