And doth his inner self conceal LEWIS MORRIS. XCIV. GENIAL moment oft has given Of long industrious toil, have striven Yet count not, when thine end is won, When heaped upon the altar lie All things to feed the fire- But those sweet gums and fragrant woods, Its rich materials rare, By tedious quest o'er lands and floods Had first been gathered there. RICHARD CHENEVIX TRENCH. THE TOYS. · Y little Son, who look'd from thoughtful eyes, wise, Having my law the seventh time disobey'd, I struck him, and dismiss'd With hard words and unkiss'd, His Mother, who was patient, being dead. Then, fearing lest his grief should hinder sleep, But found him slumbering deep, With darken'd eyelids, and their lashes yet From his late sobbing wet. And I, with moan, Kissing away his tears, left others of my own ; He had put, within his reach, A box of counters and a red-vein'd stone, A piece of glass abraded by the beach, And six or seven shells, A bottle with bluebells And two French copper coins, ranged there with careful art, To comfort his sad heart. So when that night I pray'd To God, I wept, and said: Ah, when at last we die with trancèd breath, Not vexing Thee in death, And Thou rememberest of what toys We made our joys, How weakly understood, Thy great commanded good, Then, fatherly not less Than I whom Thou hast moulded from the clay, Thou'lt leave Thy wrath, and say, "I will be sorry for their childishness." COVENTRY PATMORE. LOSS AND GAIN. YRIAD Roses, unregretted, perish in their vernal bloom, That the essence of their sweetness once your beauty may perfume. Myriad Veins of richest life-blood empty for their priceless worth, To exalt one Will imperial over spacious realms of earth. Myriad Hearts are pained and broken that one Poet may be taught To discern the shapes of passion and describe them as he ought. Myriad Minds of heavenly temper pass as passes moon or star, That one philosophic Spirit may ascend the solar car. |