For if the skylark's pipe were shrill, and strong, Both knew her voice, and each alike would seek Her eye, her smile, her fondling touch to gain ; How faintly then may words her sorrow speak, When by the one she sees the other slain. Come, Lucy, let me dry those tearful eyes; I will not warn thee not to set thine heart It is our nature's strong necessity, And this the soul's unerring instincts tell : Therefore I say, let us love worthily, Dear child, and then we cannot love too well. Better it is all losses to deplore Which dutiful affection can sustain, Than that the heart should, in its inmost core, This love which thou hast lavish'd, and the woe From the deep springs of female tenderness. And something I would teach thee from the grief That thus has fill'd those gentle eyes with tears, The which may be thy sober, sure relief, When sorrow visits thee in after years. I ask not whither is the spirit flown That lit the eye which there in death is seal'd; Our Father hath not made that mystery known; Needless the knowledge, therefore not reveal'd. But didst thou know in sure and sacred truth, Lucy, if then the power to thee were given Only that thou might'st cherish it again, Wouldst thou the object of thy love recall To mortal life, and chance, and change, and pain, And death; which must be suffer'd once by all? O, no, thou say'st: O, surely not, not so, I read the answer which those looks express: For pure and and true affection, well I know, Leaves in the heart no room for selfishness. Such love of all our virtues is the gem; We bring with us th' immortal seed at birth : Of Heaven it is, and heavenly; woe to them Who make it wholly earthly, and of earth! What we love perfectly, for its own sake That which is best for it, is best for us. O Lucy, treasure up that pious thought! It hath a balm for sorrow's deadliest darts; And with true comfort thou wilt find it fraught, If grief should reach thee in thy heart of hearts. R. Southey CCXXIX LESSON FROM NATURE When my breast labours with oppressive care, Raptures deep felt His doctrine did impart, And the fair body its investing weed? Behold! and look away your low despairSee the light tenants of the barren air; To them nor stores, nor granaries belong, Nought but the woodland, and the pleasing song; Yet your kind Heavenly Father bends His eye On the least wing that flits along the sky. To Him they sing, when Spring renews the plain, Observe the rising lily's snowy grace, They neither toil, nor spin, but careless grow, J. Thomson CCXXX THE CHILD TAUGHT FROM NATURE O rich the tint of earthly gold, And keen the diamond's spark, But bring him where th' aerial light His heart at early morn to store But lift him where the eastern heaven Where the strong wings to morning given Yet, might I choose a time, me seems Were best to meet the softening beams Wide be the western casement thrown The gorgeous lines be duly shown That weave Heaven's wondrous pall. Calm be his sleep, whose eyelids close Not gentler mother's music flows Her sweetest, best good night. J. Keble CCXXXI GOD'S PRESENCE IN NATURE Almighty Father! . . . The rolling year Is full of Thee. Forth in the pleasing Spring And every sense, and every heart is joy. |