ÉTIENNE DE LA BOÉCE I SERVE you not, if you I follow, The manhood that should yours resist, - In severe or cordial mood, Lead you rightly to my altar, Where the wisest Muses falter, And worship that world-warming spark Which dazzles me in midnight dark, Equalizing small and large, While the soul it doth surcharge, Till the poor is wealthy grown, The traveller and the road seem one With the errand to be done, – That were a man's and lover's part, That were Freedom's whitest chart. COMPENSATION WHY should I keep holiday When other men have none? Why but because, when these are gay, And why, when mirth unseals all tongues, Ah! late I spoke to silent throngs, FORBEARANCE HAST thou named all the birds without a gun ? Loved the wood-rose, and left it on its stalk? At rich men's tables eaten bread and pulse? Unarmed, faced danger with a heart of trust? And loved so well a high behavior, In man or maid, that thou from speech refrained, Nobility more nobly to repay? O, be my friend, and teach me to be thine! THE PARK THE prosperous and beautiful I cannot shake off the god; On my neck he makes his seat; Enchanters! Enchantresses! Your gold makes you seem wise ; The morning mist within your grounds More proudly rolls, more softly lies. Yet spake yon purple mountain, That Night or Day, that Love or Crime, FORERUNNERS LONG I followed happy guides, To hunt upon their shining trails. Or tone of silver instrument Leaves on the wind melodious trace; Yet I could never see their face. On eastern hills I see their smokes, Who the road had surely kept; They saw not my fine revellers, These had crossed them while they slept. Some had heard their fair report, In the country or the court. Fleetest couriers alive Never yet could once arrive, As they went or they returned, In sleep their jubilant troop is near,- It may be in wood or waste, - SURSUM CORDA SEEK not the spirit, if it hide Inexorable to thy zeal : Trembler, do not whine and chide: Art thou not also real? Stoop not then to poor excuse; Turn on the accuser roundly; say, 'Here am I, here will I abide Forever to myself soothfast; Go thou, sweet Heaven, or at thy pleasure stay!' Already Heaven with thee its lot has cast, For only it can absolutely deal. |