We must not doubt, or fear, or dread, that love for life is only given, And that the calm and sainted dead will meet estranged and cold in heaven: O, Love were poor and vain indeed, based on so harsh and stern a creed. True that this earth must pass away, with all the starry worlds of light, With all the glory of the day, and calmer tenderness of night; Earth's lower things- her pride, her fame, her science, learning, wealth, and power — Slow growths that through long ages came, or fruits of some convulsive hour, Whose very memory must decay-Heaven is too pure for such as they. They are complete their work is done. So let them sleep in endless rest. Love's life is only here begun, nor is, nor can be, fully blest; Just for the very shadow thrown upon its sweetness here below, So if its flame burn pure and bright, here, where our air is dark and dense, And nothing in this world of night lives with a living so intense; When it shall reach its home at length-how bright its light! how strong its strength! And while the vain weak loves of earth (for such base counterfeits abound) Shall perish with what gave them birth fresh around, - their graves are green and 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 MAXIMUS. Treasure love; though ready Still to live without. In your fondest trust, keep Just one thread of doubt. Build on no to-morrow; Love has but to-day: Trust no prayer nor promise; That your love may finish Dear, than I have done. Years hence, perhaps, this warning You shall give again, In just the self-same words, dear, And just as much—in vain. MAXIMUS. MANY, if God should make them kings, Might not disgrace the throne He gave; How few who could as well fulfil The holier office of a slave! I hold him great who, for Love's sake, Can give, with generous, earnest will,— 117 Yet he who takes for Love's sweet sake, I think I hold more generous still. I prize the instinct that can turn From vain pretence with proud disdain ; Yet more I prize a simple heart Paying credulity with pain. 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 To keep a lowly steadfast heart; Yet he who loses has to fill A harder and a truer part. Glorious it is to wear the crown Of a deserved and pure suc cess; He who knows how to fail has won A Crown whose lustre is not less. Great may he be who can command And rule with just and tender sway; Yet is diviner wisdom taught Better by him who can obey. When duties unfulfilled remain, Or noble works are left unplanned, Or when great deeds cry out in vain If thou art strong and others weak, "Deaf are their cars who ought to hear; Idle their hands, and dull their While sloth, or ignorance, or fear, "Sort thou the tangled web aright; Take thou the toil, take thou the pain: For fear the hour begin its flight, While Right and Duty plead in vain." And now it is I bid thee pause, Learn that each duty makes its Upon one soul: not each on all. name, Dare thou make answer to the call? The greater peril in the strife, On coward heart and trembling For as in battle, so in life, hand, Danger and honor still are one. Then will a seeming Angel Arouse him then :- this is thy speak : "The hours are fleeting-great part: Show him the claim; point out the need the need; |