And while the vain weak loves of earth (for such base counterfeits abound) Shall perish with what gave them birth their graves are green and fresh around, No funeral song shall need to rise for the true Love that never dies. If in my heart I now could fear that, risen again, we should not know What was our Life of Life when here, the hearts we loved so much below, I would arise this very day, and cast so poor a thing away. But Love is no such soulless clod: living, perfected it shall rise Transfigured in the light of God, and giving glory to the skies: And that which makes this life so sweet shall render Heaven's joy complete. A WARNING. LACE your hands in mine, dear, If you heed my warning, It will spare you much. Ah! with just such smiling Unbelieving eyes, You shall be more wise. You have one great treasure, In one reckless strife. Do not venture all, child, Where your soul is tempted Measure all you give, still Treasure love; though ready Build on no to-morrow; Trust no prayer nor promise; Words are grains of sand: To keep your heart unbroken, Hold it in your hand. That your love may finish Dear, than I have done. Years hence, perhaps, this warning In just the self-same words, dear, MAXIMUS. ANY, if God should make them kings, I hold him great who, for Love's sake, I prize the instinct that can turn I bow before the noble mind That freely some great wrong forgives; Yet nobler is the one forgiven, Who bears that burden well, and lives. It may be hard to gain, and still A harder and a truer part. Glorious it is to wear the crown Of a deserved and pure success He who knows how to fail has won A Crown whose lustre is not less. Great may he be who can command Blessed are those who die for God, OPTIMUS. HERE is a deep and subtle snare So all the more we need be strong When duties unfulfilled remain, Then will a seeming Angel speak :- "Deaf are their ears who ought to hear; Idle their hands, and dull their soul; While sloth, or ignorance, or fear, Fetters them with a blind control. "Sort thou the tangled web aright; And now it is I bid thee pause, Learn that each duty makes its claim How, if God speaks thy brother's name, The greater peril in the strife, The less this evil should be done; For as in battle, so in life, Danger and honor still are one. |