None see it, but an unseen Eye, And when the hall Is wild with brawl; When a man laughs At what he quaffs; Tells his own wealth Though no one hears; Drinks his own health For many years; 190 This world does love All worlds above; And dares his friend To the world's end: When thus the fire Mounts higher and higher; Then, severed by an unseen hand, 200 The thread lets fall the sword like thunder: And, as a wreck on enemies' strand, There's nought but death, and fear, and wonder. Yet think not that the grape's refused: When thirst and hunger's in the soul: For eucharistic feasts prepare : And then that holier food shall be The strength of immortality. 210 Blessed are they who mercy shew To bird, and insect, fish, and beast, For, tell me whether wouldst thou be, The lark, at heaven's gate singing free; 220 The dog, that chases, blithe, his tail; Or chained, the yard within: The chafer, floating on the gale; Or writhing on a pin? The measure then of God's own hand, Mete thou to all in thy command: But chiefly to thy fellow kind, In age, or childhood, grief, or pain:— A Father's mercy thou shalt find, Where none shall ever moan again. D 230 |