Far away, among the daisies, Far away, for fear Lest I still should hear, The loud murmur of its song, As the River flowed along. Now I hear it not :-I loiter Gaily as before; Yet I sometimes think,-and thinking Makes my heart so sore,— Just a few steps more, And there might have shone for me, Blue and infinite, the Sea. IF THOU COULDST KNOW. THINK if thou couldst know, What lies concealed below Our burden and our pain; How just our anguish brings We seek for now in vain,— I think thou wouldst rejoice, and not complain. I think if thou couldst see, If thou couldst see them right, I think that they would seem all clear, and wise, and bright. And yet thou canst not know, And yet thou canst not see; If thou couldst trust, poor soul, In Him who rules the whole, Thou wouldst find peace and rest: Wisdom and sight are well, but Trust is best. THE WARRIOR TO HIS DEAD BRIDE. F in the fight my arm was strong If conquering and unhurt I came It is because thy prayers have been My comrades smile to see my arm They think thy gentle pleading voice Was silenced long ago; But pity and compassion, love, Were taught me first by woe. Thy heart, my own, still beats in Heaven With the same love divine That made thee stoop to such a soul, So hard, so stern, as mine— My eyes have learnt to weep, beloved, Since last they looked on thine. I hear thee murmur words of peace Through the dim midnight air, And a calm falls from the angel stars And soothes my great despair The Heavens themselves look brighter, love, Since thy sweet soul is there. And if my heart is once more calm, My step is once more free, It is because each hour I feel Thou prayest still for me; Because no fate or change can come Between my soul and thee. It is because my heart is stilled, Because I see the grave is bright, And death itself is fair I dread no more the wrath of Heaven I have an angel there! |