O deign to attend his evening walk, J. WARTON 303 FOR 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 from off her virgin breast. 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 304 The Earth and Ocean were not hushed to hear and seraphs' burning lyres, pour'd thro' the host of heaven the charmed clouds along. F. S. II. 9 305 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 IN MEMORIAM THE time admits not flowers or leaves to deck the banquet. Fiercely flies and bristles all the brakes and thorns 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 IN MEMORIAM RISEST thou thus, dim dawn, again, so loud with voices of the birds, a song that slights the coming care, who wakenest with thy balmy breath betwixt the slumber of the poles, FAIR IN MEMORIAM A. TENNYSON AIR ship, that from the Italian shore with my lost Arthur's loved remains, ruffle thy mirror'd mast, and lead thro' prosperous floods his holy urn. All night no ruder air perplex 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; -This man is freed from servile bands SIR H. WOTTON Μ' Y soul, there is a country sweet peace sits crown'd with smiles, and one born in a manger commands the beauteous files. He is thy gracious friend, 310 311 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 |