What if those bright fires Sons haply of extinguished sires, Themselves to lose their light, or pass away Like clouds before the wind, Be thanks poured out to Him whose hand bestows, Nightly, on human kind That image of endurance and repose. -And though to every draught of vital breath Renewed throughout the bounds of earth or ocean, The melancholy gates of Death Respond with sympathetic motion; Though all that feeds on nether air, Howe'er magnificent or fair, Grows but to perish, and entrust Yet, by the Almighty's ever-during care, Amid the unfathomable deeps; And saves the peopled fields of earth Thus, in their stations, lifting tow'rd the sky Sweet flowers;-what living eye hath viewed Wherever strikes the sun's glad ray ; And through your sweet vicissitudes to range!' IV. O, nursed at happy distance from the cares Prefer'st a garland culled from purple heath, Such melody to hear! Him rather suits it, side by side with thee, While thy tired lute hangs on the hawthorn-tree, Of all his years;—a company Of ages coming, ages gone; (Nations from before them sweeping, With that faint utterance, which tells That spreads no waste; a social builder; one With all fine functions that afford delight Safe through the winter storm in quiet dwells! V. And is She brought within the power Her flight, and take its voice away !- The roseate bloom on woman's cheek; Ere shaken by that mood of stern disdain All creatures met in peace, from fierceness free, We were not mocked with glimpse and shadow then, And earth and stars composed a universal heaven! XLI. DEVOTIONAL INCITEMENTS. 'Not to the earth confined, Ascend to heaven.' WHERE will they stop, those breathing Powers, Up from their native ground they rise From humble violet-modest thyme- Their subtle flight could satisfy: Heaven will not tax our thoughts with pride If like ambition be their guide. Roused by this kindliest of May-showers, The spirit-quickener of the flowers, |