,this e,book was produced by ,david ,widger ,,poems ,,of ,,nature ,,poems ,,subjective ,,and ,,reminiscent ,,religious ,,poems ,,by ,,john ,,greenleaf ,,whittier ,,contents3 ,,religious ,,poems3 ,,the ,,star ,,of ,,bethlehem ,,the ,,cities ,,of ,,the ,,plain ,,the ,,call ,,of ,,the ,,christian ,,the ,,crucifixion ,,palestine ,,hymns ,,from ,,the ,,french ,,of ,,lamartine ,i4 ,,encore ,,un ,,hymne ,,ii4 ,,le ,,cri ,,de ,l',,ame ,,the ,,familist',s ,,hymn ,,ezekiel ,,what ,,the ,,voice ,,said ,,the ,,angel ,,of ,,patience ,,the ,,wife ,,of ,,manoah ,,to ,,her ,,husband ,,my ,,soul ,,and ,i ,,worship ,,the ,,holy ,,land ,,the ,,reward ,,the ,,wish ,,of ,,to-,,day ,,all',s ,,well ,,invocation ,,questions ,,of ,,life ,,first-,,day ,,thoughts ,,trust ,,trinitas ,,the ,,sisters ,,the ,,rock ,,in ,,el ,,ghor ,,the ,,over-,,heart ,,the ,,shadow ,,and ,,the ,,light ,,the ,,cry ,,of ,a ,,lost ,,soul ,,andrew ,,rykman',s ,,prayer ,,religious ,,poems ,,the ,,star ,,of ,,bethlehem ,where ,time the measure of his hours ,by changeful bud and blossom keeps1 ,and1 like a young bride crowned with flowers1 ,fair ,shiraz in her garden sleeps2 ,where1 to her poet's turban stone1 ,the ,spring her gift of flowers imparts1 ,less sweet than those his thoughts have sown ,in the warm soil of ,persian hearts3 ,there sat the stranger1 where the shade ,of scattered date-trees thinly lay1 ,while in the hot clear heaven delayed ,the long and still and weary day4 ,strange trees and fruits above him hung1 ,strange odors filled the sultry air1 ,strange birds upon the branches swung1 ,strange insect voices murmured there4 ,and strange bright blossoms shone around1 ,turned sunward from the shadowy bowers1 ,as if the ,gheber's soul had found ,a fitting home in ,iran's flowers4 ,whate'er he saw1 whate'er he heard1 ,awakened feelings new and sad1-- ,no ,christian garb1 nor ,christian word1 ,nor church with ,sabbath-bell chimes glad1 ,but ,moslem graves1 with turban stones1 ,and mosque-spires gleaming white1 in view1 ,and graybeard ,mollahs in low tones ,chanting their ,koran service through4 ,the flowers which smiled on either hand1 ,like tempting fiends1 were such as they ,which once1 o'er all that ,eastern land1 ,as gifts on demon altars lay4 ,as if the burning eye of ,baal ,the servant of his ,conqueror knew1 ,from skies which knew no cloudy veil1 ,the ,sun's hot glances smote him through4 ,ah me6 the lonely stranger said1 ,the hope which led my footsteps on1 ,and light from heaven around them shed1 ,o'er weary wave and waste1 is gone6 ,where are the harvest fields all white1 ,for ,truth to thrust her sickle in8 ,where flock the souls1 like doves in flight1 ,from the dark hiding-place of sin8 ,a silent-horror broods o'er all1-- ,the burden of a hateful spell1-- ,the very flowers around recall ,the hoary magi's rites of hell6 ,and what am ,i1 o'er such a land ,the banner of the ,cross to bear8 ,dear ,lord1 uphold me with ,thy hand1 ,thy strength with human weakness share6 ,he ceased2 for at his very feet ,in mild rebuke a floweret smiled2 ,how thrilled his sinking heart to greet ,the ,star-flower of the ,virgin's child6 ,sown by some wandering ,frank1 it drew ,its life from alien air and earth1 ,and told to ,paynim sun and dew ,the story of the ,saviour's birth4 ,from scorching beams1 in kindly mood1 ,the ,persian plants its beauty screened1 ,and on its pagan sisterhood1 ,in love1 the ,christian floweret leaned4 ,with tears of joy the wanderer felt ,the darkness of his long despair ,before that hallowed symbol melt1 ,which ,god's dear love had nurtured there4 ,from ,nature's face1 that simple flower ,the lines of sin and sadness swept2 ,and ,magian pile and ,paynim bower ,in peace like that of ,eden slept4 ,each ,moslem tomb1 and cypress old1 ,looked holy through the sunset air2 ,and1 angel-like1 the ,muezzin told ,from tower and mosque the hour of prayer4 ,with cheerful steps1 the morrow's dawn ,from ,shiraz saw the stranger part2 ,the ,star-flower of the ,virgin-,born ,still blooming in his hopeful heart6 #ahcj4 ,,the ,,cities ,,of ,,the ,,plain ,get ye up from the wrath of ,god's terrible day6 ,ungirded1 unsandalled1 arise and away6 ',t is the vintage of blood1 't is the fulness of time1 ,and vengeance shall gather the harvest of crime6 ,the warning was spoken--the righteous had gone1 ,and the proud ones of ,sodom were feasting alone2 ,all gay was the banquet--the revel was long1 ,with the pouring of wine and the breathing of song4 ',t was an evening of beauty2 the air was perfume1 ,the earth was all greenness1 the trees were all bloom2 ,and softly the delicate viol was heard1 ,like the murmur of love or the notes of a bird4 ,and beautiful maidens moved down in the dance1 ,with the magic of motion and sunshine of glance ,and white arms wreathed lightly1 and tresses fell free ,as the plumage of birds in some tropical tree4 ,where the shrines of foul idols were lighted on high1 ,and wantonness tempted the lust of the eye2 ,midst rites of obsceneness1 strange1 loathsome1 abhorred1 ,the blasphemer scoffed at the name of the ,lord4 ,hark6 the growl of the thunder1--the quaking of earth6 ,woe1 woe to the worship1 and woe to the mirth6 ,the black sky has opened2 there's flame in the air2 ,the red arm of vengeance is lifted and bare6 ,then the shriek of the dying rose wild where the song ,and the low tone of love had been whispered along2 ,for the fierce flames went lightly o'er palace and bower1 ,like the red tongues of demons1 to blast and devour6 ,down1 down on the fallen the red ruin rained1 ,and the reveller sank with his wine-cup undrained2 ,the foot of the dancer1 the music's loved thrill1 ,and the shout and the laughter grew suddenly still4 ,the last throb of anguish was fearfully given2 ,the last eye glared forth in its madness on ,heaven6 ,the last groan of horror rose wildly and vain1 ,and death brooded over the pride of the ,plain6 #ahca4 ,,the ,,call ,,of ,,the ,,christian ,not always as the whirlwind's rush ,on ,horeb's mount of fear1 ,not always as the burning bush ,to ,midian's shepherd seer1 ,nor as the awful voice which came ,to ,israel's prophet bards1 ,nor as the tongues of cloven flame1 ,nor gift of fearful words1-- ,not always thus1 with outward sign ,of fire or voice from ,heaven1 ,the message of a truth divine1 ,the call of ,god is given6 ,awaking in the human heart ,love for the true and right1-- ,zeal for the ,christian's better part1 ,strength for the ,christian's fight4 ,nor unto manhood's heart alone ,the holy influence steals ,warm with a rapture not its own1 ,the heart of woman feels6 ,as she who by ,samaria's wall ,the ,saviour's errand sought1-- ,as those who with the fervent ,paul ,and meek ,aquila wrought3 ,or those meek ones whose martyrdom ,rome's gathered grandeur saw ,or those who in their ,alpine home ,braved the ,crusader's war1 ,when the green ,vaudois1 trembling1 heard1 ,through all its vales of death1 ,the martyr's song of triumph poured ,from woman's failing breath4 ,and gently1 by a thousand things ,which o'er our spirits pass1 ,like breezes o'er the harp's fine strings1 ,or vapors o'er a glass1 ,leaving their token strange and new ,of music or of shade1 ,the summons to the right and true ,and merciful is made4 ,oh1 then1 if gleams of truth and light ,flash o'er thy waiting mind1 ,unfolding to thy mental sight ,the wants of human-kind2 ,if1 brooding over human grief1 ,the earnest wish is known ,to soothe and gladden with relief ,an anguish not thine own2 ,though heralded with naught of fear1 ,or outward sign or show2 ,though only to the inward ear ,it whispers soft and low2 ,though dropping1 as the manna fell1 ,unseen1 yet from above1 ,noiseless as dew-fall1 heed it well1--- ,thy ,father's call of love6 ,,the ,,crucifixion4 ,sunlight upon ,judha's hills6 ,and on the waves of ,galilee2 ,on ,jordan's stream1 and on the rills ,that feed the dead and sleeping sea6 ,most freshly from the green wood springs ,the light breeze on its scented wings2 ,and gayly quiver in the sun ,the cedar tops of ,lebanon6 ,a few more hours1--a change hath come6 ,the sky is dark without a cloud6 ,the shouts of wrath and joy are dumb1 ,and proud knees unto earth are bowed4 ,a change is on the hill of ,death1 ,the helmed watchers pant for breath1 ,and turn with wild and maniac eyes ,from the dark scene of sacrifice6 ,that ,sacrifice6--the death of ,him1-- ,the ,christ of ,god1 the holy ,one6 ,well may the conscious ,heaven grow dim1 ,and blacken the beholding1 ,sun4 ,the wonted light hath fled away1 ,night settles on the middle day1 ,and earthquake from his caverned bed ,is waking with a thrill of dread6 ,the dead are waking underneath6 ,their prison door is rent away6 ,and1 ghastly with the seal of death1 ,they wander in the eye of day6 ,the temple of the ,cherubim1 ,the ,house of ,god is cold and dim2 ,a curse is on its trembling walls1 ,its mighty veil asunder falls6 ,well may the cavern-depths of ,earth ,be shaken1 and her mountains nod2 ,well may the sheeted dead come forth ,to see the suffering son of ,god6 ,well may the temple-shrine grow dim1 ,and shadows veil the ,cherubim1 ,when ,he1 the chosen one of ,heaven1 ,a sacrifice for guilt is given6 ,and shall the sinful heart1 alone1 ,behold unmoved the fearful hour1 ,when ,nature trembled on her throne1 ,and ,death resigned his iron power8 ,oh1 shall the heart--whose sinfulness ,gave keenness to ,his sore distress1 ,and added to ,his tears of blood-- ,refuse its trembling gratitude6 #ahcd4 ,,palestine ,blest land of ,judaea6 thrice hallowed of song1 ,where the holiest of memories pilgrim-like throng2 ,in the shade of thy palms1 by the shores of thy sea1 ,on the hills of thy beauty1 my heart is with thee4 ,with the eye of a spirit ,i look on that shore ,where pilgrim and prophet have lingered before2 ,with the glide of a spirit ,i traverse the sod ,made bright by the steps of the angels of ,god4 ,blue sea of the hills6 in my spirit ,i hear ,thy waters1 ,gennesaret1 chime on my ear2 ,where the ,lowly and ,just with the people sat down1 ,and thy spray on the dust of ,his sandals was thrown4 ,beyond are ,bethulia's mountains of green1 ,and the desolate hills of the wild ,gadarene2 ,and ,i pause on the goat-crags of ,tabor to see ,the gleam of thy waters1 ,o dark ,galilee6 ,hark1 a sound in the valley6 where1 swollen and strong1 ,thy river1 ,o ,kishon1 is sweeping along2 ,where the ,canaanite strove with ,jehovah in vain1 ,and thy torrent grew dark with the blood of the slain4 ,there down from his mountains stern ,zebulon came1 ,and ,naphthali's stag1 with his eyeballs of flame1 ,and the chariots of ,jabin rolled harmlessly on1 ,for the arm of the ,lord was ,abinoam's son6 ,there sleep the still rocks and the caverns which rang ,to the song which the beautiful prophetess sang1 ,when the princes of ,issachar stood by her side1 ,and the shout of a host in its triumph replied4 ,lo1 ,bethlehem's hill-site before me is seen1 ,with the mountains around1 and the valleys between2 ,there rested the shepherds of ,judah1 and there ,the song of the angels rose sweet on the air4 ,and ,bethany's palm-trees in beauty still throw ,their shadows at noon on the ruins below2 ,but where are the sisters who hastened to greet ,the lowly ,redeemer1 and sit at ,his feet8 ,i tread where the twelve in their wayfaring trod2 ,i stand where they stood with the chosen of ,god-- ,where ,his blessing was heard and ,his lessons were taught1 ,where the blind were restored and the healing was wrought4 ,oh1 here with ,his flock the sad ,wanderer came2 ,these hills ,he toiled over in grief are the same2 ,the founts where ,he drank by the wayside still flow1 ,and the same airs are blowing which breathed on ,his brow6 ,and throned on her hills sits ,jerusalem yet1 ,but with dust on her forehead1 and chains on her feet2 ,for the crown of her pride to the mocker hath gone1 ,and the holy ,shechinah is dark where it shone4 ,but wherefore this dream of the earthly abode ,of ,humanity clothed in the brightness of ,god8 ,were my spirit but turned from the outward and dim1 ,it could gaze1 even now1 on the presence of ,him6 ,not in clouds and in terrors1 but gentle as when1 ,in love and in meekness1 ,he moved among men2 ,and the voice which breathed peace to the waves of the sea ,in the hush of my spirit would whisper to me6 ,and what if my feet may not tread where ,he stood1 ,nor my ears hear the dashing of ,galilee's flood1 ,nor my eyes see the cross which he bowed ,him to bear1 ,nor my knees press ,gethsemane's garden of prayer4 ,yet1 ,loved of the ,father1 ,thy ,spirit is near ,to the meek1 and the lowly1 and penitent here2 ,and the voice of ,thy love is the same even now ,as at ,bethany's tomb or on ,olivet's brow4 ,oh1 the outward hath gone6 but in glory and power4 ,the spirit surviveth the things of an hour2 ,unchanged1 undecaying1 its ,pentecost flame ,on the heart's secret altar is burning the same #ahcg4 ,,hymns4 ,,from ,,the ,,french ,,of ,,lamartine ,i4 ,encore un hymne1 ,o ma lyre ,un hymn pour le ,seigneur1 ,un hymne dans mon delire1 ,un hymne dans mon bonheur4 ,one hymn more1 ,o my lyre6 ,praise to the ,god above1 ,of joy and life and love1 ,sweeping its strings of fire6 ,oh1 who the speed of bird and wind ,and sunbeam's glance will lend to me1 ,that1 soaring upward1 ,i may find ,my resting-place and home in ,thee8 ,thou1 whom my soul1 midst doubt and gloom1 ,adoreth with a fervent flame1-- ,mysterious spirit6 unto whom ,pertain nor sign nor name6 ,swiftly my lyre's soft murmurs go1 ,up from the cold and joyless earth1 ,back to the ,god who bade them flow1 ,whose moving spirit sent them forth4 ,but as for me1 ,o ,god6 for me1 ,the lowly creature of ,thy will1 ,lingering and sad1 ,i sigh to ,thee1 ,an earth-bound pilgrim still6 ,was not my spirit born to shine ,where yonder stars and suns are glowing8 ,to breathe with them the light divine ,from ,god's own holy altar flowing8 ,to be1 indeed1 whate'er the soul ,in dreams hath thirsted for so long1-- ,a portion of heaven's glorious whole ,of loveliness and song8 ,oh1 watchers of the stars at night1 ,who breathe their fire1 as we the air1-- ,suns1 thunders1 stars1 and rays of light1 ,oh1 say1 is ,he1 the ,eternal1 there8 ,bend there around ,his awful throne ,the seraph's glance1 the angel's knee8 ,or are thy inmost depths ,his own1 ,o wild and mighty sea8 ,thoughts of my soul1 how swift ye go6 ,swift as the eagle's glance of fire1 ,or arrows from the archer's bow1 ,to the far aim of your desire6 ,thought after thought1 ye thronging rise1 ,like spring-doves from the startled wood1 ,bearing like them your sacrifice ,of music unto ,god6 ,and shall these thoughts of joy and love ,come back again no more to me8 ,returning like the patriarch's dove ,wing-weary from the eternal sea1 ,to bear within my longing arms ,the promise-bough of kindlier skies1 ,plucked from the green1 immortal palms ,which shadow ,paradise8 ,all-moving spirit6 freely forth ,at ,thy command the strong wind goes ,its errand to the passive earth1 ,nor art can stay1 nor strength oppose1 ,until it folds its weary wing ,once more within the hand divine2 ,so1 weary from its wandering1 ,my spirit turns to ,thine6 ,child of the sea1 the mountain stream1 ,from its dark caverns1 hurries on1 ,ceaseless1 by night and morning's beam1 ,by evening's star and noontide's sun1 ,until at last it sinks to rest1 ,o'erwearied1 in the waiting sea1 ,and moans upon its mother's breast1-- ,so turns my soul to ,thee6 ,o ,thou who bidst the torrent flow1 ,who lendest wings unto the wind1-- ,mover of all things6 where art ,thou8 ,oh1 whither shall ,i go to find ,the secret of ,thy resting-place8 ,is there no holy wing for me1 ,that1 soaring1 ,i may search the space ,of highest heaven for ,thee8 ,oh1 would ,i were as free to rise ,as leaves on autumn's whirlwind borne1-- ,the arrowy light of sunset skies1 ,or sound1 or ray1 or star of morn1 ,which melts in heaven at twilight's close1 ,or aught which soars unchecked and free ,through earth and heaven2 that ,i might lose ,myself in finding ,thee6 ,,ii4 ,,le ,,cri ,,de ,l',,ame4 ,quand le souffle divin qui flotte sur le monde4 ,when the breath divine is flowing1 ,zephyr-like o'er all things going1 ,and1 as the touch of viewless fingers1 ,softly on my soul it lingers1 ,open to a breath the lightest1 ,conscious of a touch the slightest1-- ,as some calm1 still lake1 whereon ,sinks the snowy-bosomed swan1 ,and the glistening water-rings ,circle round her moving wings ,when my upward gaze is turning ,where the stars of heaven are burning ,through the deep and dark abyss1 ,flowers of midnight's wilderness1 ,blowing with the evening's breath ,sweetly in their ,maker's path ,when the breaking day is flushing ,all the east1 and light is gushing ,upward through the horizon's haze1 ,sheaf-like1 with its thousand rays1 ,spreading1 until all above ,overflows with joy and love1 ,and below1 on earth's green bosom1 ,all is changed to light and blossom3 ,when my waking fancies over ,forms of brightness flit and hover ,holy as the seraphs are1 ,who by ,zion's fountains wear ,on their foreheads1 white and broad1 ,holiness unto the ,lord6 ,when1 inspired with rapture high1 ,it would seem a single sigh ,could a world of love create2 ,that my life could know no date1 ,and my eager thoughts could fill ,heaven and ,earth1 o'erflowing still6 ,then1 ,o ,father6 ,thou alone1 ,from the shadow of ,thy throne1 ,to the sighing of my breast ,and its rapture answerest4 ,all my thoughts1 which1 upward winging1 ,bathe where ,thy own light is springing1-- ,all my yearnings to be free ,are at echoes answering ,thee6 ,seldom upon lips of mine1 ,father6 rests that name of ,thine2 ,deep within my inmost breast1 ,in the secret place of mind1 ,like an awful presence shrined1 ,doth the dread idea rest ,hushed and holy dwells it there1 ,prompter of the silent prayer1 ,lifting up my spirit's eye ,and its faint1 but earnest cry1 ,from its dark and cold abode1 ,unto ,thee1 my ,guide and ,god6 #ahcg ,,the ,,familist',s ,,hymn4 ,the ,puritans of ,new ,england1 even in their wilderness home1 were not exempted from the sectarian contentions which agitated the mother country after the downfall of ,charles the ,first1 and of the established ,episcopacy4 ,the ,quakers1 ,baptists1 and ,catholics were banished1 on pain of death1 from the ,massachusetts ,colony4 ,one ,samuel ,gorton1 a bold and eloquent declaimer1 after preaching for a time in ,boston against the doctrines of the ,puritans1 and declaring that their churches were mere human devices1 and their sacrament and baptism an abomination1 was driven out of the jurisdiction of the colony1 and compelled to seek a residence among the savages4 ,he gathered round him a considerable number of converts1 who1 like the primitive ,christians1 shared all things in common4 ,his opinions1 however1 were so troublesome to the leading clergy of the colony1 that they instigated an attack upon his ,family by an armed force1 which seized upon the principal men in it1 and brought them into ,massachusetts1 where they were sentenced to be kept at hard labor in several towns 7one only in each town71 during the pleasure of the ,general ,court1 they being forbidden1 under severe penalties1 to utter any of their religious sentiments1 except to such ministers as might labor for their conversion4 ,they were unquestionably sincere in their opinions1 and1 whatever may have been their errors1 deserve to be ranked among those who have in all ages suffered for the freedom of conscience4 ,father6 to ,thy suffering poor ,strength and grace and faith impart1 ,and with ,thy own love restore ,comfort to the broken heart6 ,oh1 the failing ones confirm ,with a holier strength of zeal6 ,give ,thou not the feeble worm ,helpless to the spoiler's heel6 ,father6 for ,thy holy sake ,we are spoiled and hunted thus2 ,joyful1 for ,thy truth we take ,bonds and burthens unto us ,poor1 and weak1 and robbed of all1 ,weary with our daily task1 ,that ,thy truth may never fall ,through our weakness1 ,lord1 we ask4 ,round our fired and wasted homes ,flits the forest-bird unscared1 ,and at noon the wild beast comes ,where our frugal meal was shared2 ,for the song of praises there ,shrieks the crow the livelong day2 ,for the sound of evening prayer ,howls the evil beast of prey6 ,sweet the songs we loved to sing ,underneath ,thy holy sky2 ,words and tones that used to bring ,tears of joy in every eye2 ,dear the wrestling hours of prayer1 ,when we gathered knee to knee1 ,blameless youth and hoary hair1 ,bowed1 ,o ,god1 alone to ,thee4 ,as ,thine early children1 ,lord1 ,shared their wealth and daily bread1 ,even so1 with one accord1 ,we1 in love1 each other fed4 ,not with us the miser's hoard1 ,not with us his grasping hand2 ,equal round a common board1 ,drew our meek and brother band6 ,safe our quiet ,eden lay ,when the war-whoop stirred the land ,and the ,indian turned away ,from our home his bloody hand4 ,well that forest-ranger saw1 ,that the burthen and the curse ,of the white man's cruel law ,rested also upon us4 ,torn apart1 and driven forth ,to our toiling hard and long1 ,father6 from the dust of earth ,lift we still our grateful song6 ,grateful1 that in bonds we share ,in ,thy love which maketh free2 ,joyful1 that the wrongs we bear1 ,draw us nearer1 ,lord1 to ,thee6 ,grateful6 that where'er we toil1-- ,by ,wachuset's wooded side1 ,on ,nantucket's sea-worn isle1 ,or by wild ,neponset's tide1-- ,still1 in spirit1 we are near1 ,and our evening hymns1 which rise ,separate and discordant here1 ,meet and mingle in the skies6 ,let the scoffer scorn and mock1 ,let the proud and evil priest ,rob the needy of his flock1 ,for his wine-cup and his feast1-- ,redden not ,thy bolts in store ,through the blackness of ,thy skies8 ,for the sighing of the poor ,wilt ,thou not1 at length1 arise8 ,worn and wasted1 oh6 how long ,shall thy trodden poor complain8 ,in ,thy name they bear the wrong1 ,in ,thy cause the bonds of pain6 ,melt oppression's heart of steel1 ,let the haughty priesthood see1 ,and their blinded followers feel1 ,that in us they mock at ,thee6 ,in ,thy time1 ,o ,lord of hosts1 ,stretch abroad that hand to save ,which of old1 on ,egypt's coasts1 ,smote apart the ,red ,sea's wave ,lead us from this evil land1 ,from the spoiler set us free1 ,and once more our gathered band1 ,heart to heart1 shall worship ,thee6 #ahch4 ,,ezekiel ,also1 thou son of man1 the children of thy people still are talking against thee by the walls and in the doors of the houses1 and speak one to another1 every one to his brother1 saying1 ,come1 ,i pray you1 and hear what is the word that cometh forth from the ,lord4 ,and they come unto thee as the people cometh1 and they sit before thee as my people1 and they hear thy words1 but they will not do them3 for with their mouth they skew much love1 but their heart goeth after their covetousness4 ,and1 lo1 thou art unto them as a very lovely song of one that hath a pleasant voice1 and can play well on an instrument3 for they hear thy words1 but they do them not4 ,and when this cometh to pass1 7lo1 it will come17 then shall they know that a prophet hath been among them4--,,ezekiel1 xxxiii4 #cj-cc4 ,they hear ,thee not1 ,o ,god6 nor see2 ,beneath ,thy rod they mock at ,thee2 ,the princes of our ancient line ,lie drunken with ,assyrian wine2 ,the priests around ,thy altar speak ,the false words which their hearers seek2 ,and hymns which ,chaldea's wanton maids ,have sung in ,dura's idol-shades ,are with the ,levites' chant ascending1 ,with ,zion's holiest anthems blending6 ,on ,israel's bleeding bosom set1 ,the heathen heel is crushing yet2 ,the towers upon our holy hill ,echo ,chaldean footsteps still4 ,our wasted shrines1--who weeps for them8 ,who mourneth for ,jerusalem8 ,who turneth from his gains away8 ,whose knee with mine is bowed to pray8 ,who1 leaving feast and purpling cup1 ,takes ,zion's lamentation up8 ,a sad and thoughtful youth1 ,i went ,with ,israel's early banishment2 ,and where the sullen ,chebar crept1 ,the ritual of my fathers kept4 ,the water for the trench ,i drew1 ,the firstling of the flock ,i slew1 ,and1 standing at the altar's side1 ,i shared the ,levites' lingering pride1 ,that still1 amidst her mocking foes1 ,the smoke of ,zion's offering rose4 ,in sudden whirlwind1 cloud and flame1 ,the ,spirit of the ,highest came6 ,before mine eyes a vision passed1 ,a glory terrible and vast2 ,with dreadful eyes of living things1 ,and sounding sweep of angel wings1 ,with circling light and sapphire throne1 ,and flame-like form of ,one thereon1 ,and voice of that dread ,likeness sent ,down from the crystal firmament6 ,the burden of a prophet's power ,fell on me in that fearful hour2 ,from off unutterable woes ,the curtain of the future rose2 ,i saw far down the coming time ,the fiery chastisement of crime2 ,with noise of mingling hosts1 and jar ,of falling towers and shouts of war1 ,i saw the nations rise and fall1 ,like fire-gleams on my tent's white wall4 ,in dream and trance1 ,i--saw the slain ,of ,egypt heaped like harvest grain4 ,i saw the walls of sea-born ,tyre ,swept over by the spoiler's fire2 ,and heard the low1 expiring moan ,of ,edom on his rocky throne2 ,and1 woe is me6 the wild lament ,from ,zion's desolation sent2 ,and felt within my heart each blow ,which laid her holy places low4 ,in bonds and sorrow1 day by day1 ,before the pictured tile ,i lay2 ,and there1 as in a mirror1 saw ,the coming of ,assyria's war2 ,her swarthy lines of spearmen pass ,like locusts through ,bethhoron's grass2 ,i saw them draw their stormy hem ,of battle round ,jerusalem2 ,and1 listening1 heard the ,hebrew wail6 ,blend with the victor-trump of ,baal6 ,who trembled at my warning word8 ,who owned the prophet of the ,lord8 ,how mocked the rude1 how scoffed the vile1 ,how stung the ,levites' scornful smile1 ,as o'er my spirit1 dark and slow1 ,the shadow crept of ,israel's woe ,as if the angel's mournful roll ,had left its record on my soul1 ,and traced in lines of darkness there ,the picture of its great despair6 ,yet ever at the hour ,i feel ,my lips in prophecy unseal4 ,prince1 priest1 and ,levite gather near1 ,and ,salem's daughters haste to hear1 ,on ,chebar's waste and alien shore1 ,the harp of ,judah swept once more4 ,they listen1 as in ,babel's throng ,the ,chaldeans to the dancer's song1 ,or wild sabbeka's nightly play1-- ,as careless and as vain as they4 4 4 4 4 4 ,and thus1 ,o ,prophet-bard of old1 ,hast thou thy tale of sorrow told ,the same which earth's unwelcome seers ,have felt in all succeeding years4 ,sport of the changeful multitude1 ,nor calmly heard nor understood1 ,their song has seemed a trick of art1 ,their warnings but1 the actor's part4 ,with bonds1 and scorn1 and evil will1 ,the world requites its prophets still4 ,so was it when the ,holy ,one ,the garments of the flesh put on ,men followed where the ,highest led ,for common gifts of daily bread1 ,and gross of ear1 of vision dim1 ,owned not the ,godlike power of ,him4 ,vain as a dreamer's words to them ,his wail above ,jerusalem1 ,and meaningless the watch ,he kept ,through which ,his weak disciples slept4 ,yet shrink not thou1 whoe'er thou art1 ,for ,god's great purpose set apart1 ,before whose far-discerning eyes1 ,the ,future as the ,present lies6 ,beyond a narrow-bounded age ,stretches thy prophet-heritage1 ,through ,heaven's vast spaces angel-trod1 ,and through the eternal years of ,god ,thy audience1 worlds6--all things to be ,the witness of the ,truth in thee6 #ahdd4 ,,what ,,the ,,voice ,,said ,,maddened by ,earth's wrong and evil1 ,lord6 ,i cried in sudden ire1 ,from ,thy right hand1 clothed with thunder1 ,shake the bolted fire6 ,love is lost1 and ,faith is dying2 ,with the brute the man is sold2 ,and the dropping blood of labor ,hardens into gold4 ,here the dying wail of ,famine1 ,there the battle's groan of pain2 ,and1 in silence1 smooth-faced ,mammon ,reaping men like grain4 ',where is ,god1 that we should fear ,him8' ,thus the earth-born ,titans say ',god6 if ,thou art living1 hear us6' ,thus the weak ones pray4 ,thou1 the patient ,heaven upbraiding1 ,spake a solemn ,voice within2 ,weary of our ,lord's forbearance1 ,art thou free from sin8 ,fearless brow to ,him uplifting1 ,canst thou for ,his thunders call1 ,knowing that to guilt's attraction ,evermore they fall8 ,know'st thou not all germs of evil ,in thy heart await their time8 ,not thyself1 but ,god's restraining1 ,stays their growth of crime4 ,couldst thou boast1 ,o child of weakness6 ,o'er the sons of wrong and strife1 ,were their strong temptations planted ,in thy path of life8 ,thou hast seen two streamlets gushing ,from one fountain1 clear and free1 ,but by widely varying channels ,searching for the sea4 ,glideth one through greenest valleys1 ,kissing them with lips still sweet2 ,one1 mad roaring down the mountains1 ,stagnates at their feet4 ,is it choice whereby the ,parsee ,kneels before his mother's fire8 ,in his black tent did the ,tartar ,choose his wandering sire8 ,he alone1 whose hand is bounding ,human power and human will1 ,looking through each soul's surrounding1 ,knows its good or ill4 ,for thyself1 while wrong and sorrow ,make to thee their strong appeal1 ,coward wert thou not to utter ,what the heart must feel4 ,earnest words must needs be spoken ,when the warm heart bleeds or burns ,with its scorn of wrong1 or pity ,for the wronged1 by turns4 ,but1 by all thy nature's weakness1 ,hidden faults and follies known1 ,be thou1 in rebuking evil1 ,conscious of thine own4 ,not the less shall stern-eyed ,duty ,to thy lips her trumpet set1 ,but with harsher blasts shall mingle ,wailings of regret4 ,cease not1 ,voice of holy speaking1 ,teacher sent of ,god1 be near1 ,whispering through the day's cool silence1 ,let my spirit hear6 ,so1 when thoughts of evil-doers ,waken scorn1 or hatred move1 ,shall a mournful fellow-feeling ,temper all with love4 #ahdg4 ,,the ,,angel ,,of ,,patience4 ,a ,,free ,,paraphrase ,,of ,,the ,,german4 ,to weary hearts1 to mourning homes1 ,god's meekest ,angel gently comes ,no power has he to banish pain1 ,or give us back our lost again2 ,and yet in tenderest love1 our dear ,and ,heavenly ,father sends him here4 ,there's quiet in that ,angel's glance1 ,there 's rest in his still countenance6 ,he mocks no grief with idle cheer1 ,nor wounds with words the mourner's ear2 ,but ills and woes he may not cure ,he kindly trains us to endure4 ,angel of ,patience6 sent to calm ,our feverish brows with cooling palm2 ,to lay the storms of hope and fear1 ,and reconcile life's smile and tear2 ,the throbs of wounded pride to still1 ,and make our own our ,father's will4 ,o thou who mournest on thy way1 ,with longings for the close of day2 ,he walks with thee1 that ,angel kind1 ,and gently whispers1 ,be resigned ,bear up1 bear on1 the end shall tell ,the dear ,lord ordereth all things well6 #ahdg4 ,,the ,,wife ,,of ,,manoah ,,to ,,her ,,husband4 ,against the sunset's glowing wall ,the city towers rise black and tall1 ,where ,zorah1 on its rocky height1 ,stands like an armed man in the light4 ,down ,eshtaol's vales of ripened grain ,falls like a cloud the night amain1 ,and up the hillsides climbing slow ,the barley reapers homeward go4 ,look1 dearest6 how our fair child's head ,the sunset light hath hallowed1 ,where at this olive's foot he lies1 ,uplooking to the tranquil skies4 ,oh1 while beneath the fervent heat ,thy sickle swept the bearded wheat1 ,i've watched1 with mingled joy and dread1 ,our child upon his grassy bed4 ,joy1 which the mother feels alone ,whose morning hope like mine had flown1 ,when to her bosom1 over-blessed1 ,a dearer life than hers is pressed4 ,dread1 for the future dark and still1 ,which shapes our dear one to its will2 ,forever in his large calm eyes1 ,i read a tale of sacrifice4 ,the same foreboding awe ,i felt ,when at the altar's side we knelt1 ,and he1 who as a pilgrim came1 ,rose1 winged and glorious1 through the flame4 ,i slept not1 though the wild bees made ,a dreamlike murmuring in the shade1 ,and on me the warm-fingered hours ,pressed with the drowsy smell of flowers4 ,before me1 in a vision1 rose ,the hosts of ,israel's scornful foes1-- ,rank over rank1 helm1 shield1 and spear1 ,glittered in noon's hot atmosphere4 ,i heard their boast1 and bitter word1 ,their mockery of the ,hebrew's ,lord1 ,i saw their hands ,his ark assail1 ,their feet profane ,his holy veil4 ,no angel down the blue space spoke1 ,no thunder from the still sky broke2 ,but in their midst1 in power and awe1 ,like ,god's waked wrath1 our child ,i saw6 ,a child no more6--harsh-browed and strong1 ,he towered a giant in the throng1 ,and down his shoulders1 broad and bare1 ,swept the black terror of his hair4 ,he raised his arm--he smote amain2 ,as round the reaper falls the grain1 ,so the dark host around him fell1 ,so sank the foes of ,israel6 ,again ,i looked4 ,in sunlight shone ,the towers and domes of ,askelon2 ,priest1 warrior1 slave1 a mighty crowd ,within her idol temple bowed4 ,yet one knelt not2 stark1 gaunt1 and blind1 ,his arms the massive pillars twined1-- ,an eyeless captive1 strong with hate1 ,he stood there like an evil ,fate4 ,the red shrines smoked1--the trumpets pealed ,he stooped1--the giant columns reeled2 ,reeled tower and fane1 sank arch and wall1 ,and the thick dust-cloud closed o'er all6 ,above the shriek1 the crash1 the groan ,of the fallen pride of ,askelon1 ,i heard1 sheer down the echoing sky1 ,a voice as of an angel cry1-- ,the voice of him1 who at our side ,sat through the golden eventide2 ,of him who1 on thy altar's blaze1 ,rose fire-winged1 with his song of praise4 ,rejoice o'er ,israel's broken chain1 ,gray mother of the mighty slain6 ,rejoice6 it cried1 he vanquisheth6 ,the strong in life is strong in death6 ,to him shall ,zorah's daughters raise ,through coming years their hymns of praise1 ,and gray old men at evening tell ,of all be wrought for ,israel4 ,and they who sing and they who hear ,alike shall hold thy memory dear1 ,and pour their blessings on thy head1 ,o mother of the mighty dead6 ,it ceased2 and though a sound ,i heard ,as if great wings the still air stirred1 ,i only saw the barley sheaves ,and hills half hid by olive leaves4 ,i bowed my face1 in awe and fear1 ,on the dear child who slumbered near2 ,with me1 as with my only son1 ,o ,god1 ,i said1 ,thy will be done6 #ahdg4 ,,my ,,soul ,,and ,i ,stand still1 my soul1 in the silent dark ,i would question thee1 ,alone in the shadow drear and stark ,with ,god and me6 ,what1 my soul1 was thy errand here8 ,was it mirth or ease1 ,or heaping up dust from year to year8 ,nay1 none of these6 ,speak1 soul1 aright in ,his holy sight ,whose eye looks still ,and steadily on thee through the night ,to do ,his will6 ,what hast thou done1 ,o soul of mine1 ,that thou tremblest so8 ,hast thou wrought ,his task1 and kept the line ,he bade thee go8 ,aha6 thou tremblest6--well ,i see ,thou 'rt craven grown4 ,is it so hard with ,god and me ,to stand alone8 ,summon thy sunshine bravery back1 ,o wretched sprite6 ,let me hear thy voice through this deep and black ,abysmal night4 ,what hast thou wrought for ,right and ,truth1 ,for ,god and ,man1 ,from the golden hours of bright-eyed youth ,to life's mid span8 ,what1 silent all6 art sad of cheer8 ,art fearful now8 ,when ,god seemed far and men were near1 ,how brave wert thou6 ,ah1 soul of mine1 thy tones ,i hear1 ,but weak and low1 ,like far sad murmurs on my ear ,they come and go4 ,i have wrestled stoutly with the ,wrong1 ,and borne the ,right ,from beneath the footfall of the throng ,to life and light4 ,wherever ,freedom shivered a chain1 ,god speed1 quoth ,i2 ,to ,error amidst her shouting train ,i gave the lie4 ,ah1 soul of mine6 ah1 soul of mine6 ,thy deeds are well3 ,were they wrought for ,truth's sake or for thine8 ,my soul1 pray tell4 ,of all the work my hand hath wrought ,beneath the sky1 ,save a place in kindly human thought1 ,no gain have ,i4 ,go to1 go to6 for thy very self ,thy deeds were done ,thou for fame1 the miser for pelf1 ,your end is one6 ,and where art thou going1 soul of mine8 ,canst see the end8 ,and whither this troubled life of thine ,evermore doth tend8 ,what daunts thee now8 what shakes thee so8 ,my sad soul say4 ,i see a cloud like a curtain low ,hang o'er my way4 ,whither ,i go ,i cannot tell ,that cloud hangs black1 ,high as the heaven and deep as hell ,across my track4 ,i see its shadow coldly enwrap ,the souls before4 ,sadly they enter it1 step by step1 ,to return no more4 ,they shrink1 they shudder1 dear ,god6 they kneel ,to ,thee in prayer4 ,they shut their eyes on the cloud1 but feel ,that it still is there4 ,in vain they turn from the dread ,before ,to the ,known and ,gone2 ,for while gazing behind them evermore ,their feet glide on4 ,yet1 at times1 ,i see upon sweet pale faces ,a light begin ,to tremble1 as if from holy places ,and shrines within4 ,and at times methinks their cold lips move ,with hymn and prayer1 ,as if somewhat of awe1 but more of love ,and hope were there4 ,i call on the souls who have left the light ,to reveal their lot2 ,i bend mine ear to that wall of night1 ,and they answer not4 ,but ,i hear around me sighs of pain ,and the cry of fear1 ,and a sound like the slow sad dropping of rain1 ,each drop a tear6 ,ah1 the cloud is dark1 and day by day ,i am moving thither ,i must pass beneath it on my way-- ,god pity me6--whither8 ,ah1 soul of mine6 so brave and wise ,in the life-storm loud1 ,fronting so calmly all human eyes ,in the sunlit crowd6 ,now standing apart with ,god and me ,thou art weakness all1 ,gazing vainly after the things to be ,through ,death's dread wall4 ,but never for this1 never for this ,was thy being lent2 ,for the craven's fear is but selfishness1 ,like his merriment4 ,folly and ,fear are sisters twain ,one closing her eyes4 ,the other peopling the dark inane ,with spectral lies4 ,know well1 my soul1 ,god's hand controls ,whate'er thou fearest2 ,round ,him in calmest music rolls ,whate'er thou ,nearest4 ,what to thee is shadow1 to ,him is day1 ,and the end ,he knoweth1 ,and not on a blind and aimless way ,the spirit goeth4 ,man sees no future1--a phantom show ,is alone before him2 ,past ,time is dead1 and the grasses grow1 ,and flowers bloom o'er him4 ,nothing before1 nothing behind2 ,the steps of ,faith ,fall on the seeming void1 and find ,the rock beneath4 ,the ,present1 the ,present is all thou hast ,for thy sure possessing2 ,like the patriarch's angel hold it fast ,till it gives its blessing4 ,why fear the night8 why shrink from ,death2 ,that phantom wan8 ,there is nothing in heaven or earth beneath ,save ,god and man4 ,peopling the shadows we turn from ,him ,and from one another2 ,all is spectral and vague and dim ,save ,god and our brother6 ,like warp and woof all destinies ,are woven fast1 ,linked in sympathy like the keys ,of an organ vast4 ,pluck one thread1 and the web ye mar2 ,break but one ,of a thousand keys1 and the paining jar ,through all will run4 ,o restless spirit6 wherefore strain ,beyond thy sphere8 ,heaven and hell1 with their joy and pain1 ,are now and here4 ,back to thyself is measured well ,all thou hast given2 ,thy neighbor's wrong is thy present hell1 ,his bliss1 thy heaven4 ,and in life1 in death1 in dark and light1 ,all are in ,god's care ,sound the black abyss1 pierce the deep of night1 ,and ,he is there6 ,all which is real now remaineth1 ,and fadeth never ,the hand which upholds it now sustaineth ,the soul forever4 ,leaning on ,him1 make with reverent meekness ,his own thy will1 ,and with strength from ,him shall thy utter weakness ,life's task fulfil2 ,and that cloud itself1 which now before thee ,lies dark in view1 ,shall with beams of light from the inner glory ,be stricken through4 ,and like meadow mist through autumn's dawn ,uprolling thin1 ,its thickest folds when about thee drawn ,let sunlight in4 ,then of what is to be1 and of what is done1 ,why queriest thou8 ,the past and the time to be are one1 ,and both are now6 #ahdg4 ,,worship4 ,pure religion and undefiled before ,god and the ,father is this4 ,to visit the fatherless and widows in1 their affliction1 and to keep himself unspotted from the world4--,,james ,i4 #bg4 ,the ,pagan's myths through marble lips are spoken1 ,and ghosts of old ,beliefs still flit and moan ,round fane and altar overthrown and broken1 ,o'er tree-grown barrow and gray ring of stone4 ,blind ,faith had martyrs in those old high places1 ,the ,syrian hill grove and the ,druid's wood1 ,with mother's offering1 to the ,fiend's embraces1 ,bone of their bone1 and blood of their own blood4 ,red altars1 kindling through that night of error1 ,smoked with warm blood beneath the cruel eye ,of lawless ,power and sanguinary ,terror1 ,throned on the circle of a pitiless sky2 ,beneath whose baleful shadow1 overcasting ,all heaven above1 and blighting earth below1 ,the scourge grew red1 the lip grew pale with fasting1 ,and man's oblation was his fear and woe6 ,then through great temples swelled the dismal moaning ,of dirge-like music and sepulchral prayer2 ,pale wizard priests1 o'er occult symbols droning1 ,swung their white censers in the burdened air ,as if the pomp of rituals1 and the savor ,of gums and spices could the ,unseen ,one please2 ,as if ,his ear could bend1 with childish favor1 ,to the poor flattery of the organ keys6 ,feet red from war-fields trod the church aisles holy1 ,with trembling reverence3 and the oppressor there1 ,kneeling before his priest1 abased and lowly1 ,crushed human hearts beneath his knee of prayer4 ,not such the service the benignant ,father ,requireth at ,his earthly children's hands ,not the poor offering of vain rites1 but rather ,the simple duty man from man demands4 ,for ,earth ,he asks it3 the full joy of heaven ,knoweth no change of waning or increase2 ,the great heart of the ,infinite beats even1 ,untroubled flows the river of ,his peace4 ,he asks no taper lights1 on high surrounding ,the priestly altar and the saintly grave1 ,no dolorous chant nor organ music sounding1 ,nor incense clouding tip the twilight nave4 ,for he whom ,jesus loved hath truly spoken ,the holier worship which he deigns to bless ,restores the lost1 and binds the spirit broken1 ,and feeds the widow and the fatherless6 ,types of our human weakness and our sorrow6 ,who lives unhaunted by his loved ones dead8 ,who1 with vain longing1 seeketh not to borrow ,from stranger eyes the home lights which have fled8 ,o brother man6 fold to thy heart thy brother2 ,where pity dwells1 the peace of ,god is there2 ,to worship rightly is to love each other1 ,each smile a hymn1 each kindly deed a prayer4 ,follow with reverent steps the great example ,of ,him whose holy work was doing good2 ,so shall the wide earth seem our ,father's temple1 ,each loving life a psalm of gratitude4 ,then shall all shackles fall2 the stormy clangor ,of wild war music o'er the earth shall cease2 ,love shall tread out the baleful fire of anger1 ,and in its ashes plant the tree of peace6 #ahdh4 ,,the ,,holy ,,land ,paraphrased from the lines in ,lamartine's ,adieu to ,marseilles1 beginning ,je n'ai pas navigue sur l'ocean de sable4 ,i have not felt1 o'er seas of sand1 ,the rocking of the desert bark2 ,nor laved at ,hebron's fount my hand1 ,by ,hebron's palm-trees cool and dark2 ,nor pitched my tent at even-fall1 ,on dust where ,job of old has lain1 ,nor dreamed beneath its canvas wall1 ,the dream of ,jacob o'er again4 ,one vast world-page remains unread2 ,how shine the stars in ,chaldea's sky1 ,how sounds the reverent pilgrim's tread1 ,how beats the heart with ,god so nigh ,how round gray arch and column lone ,the spirit of the old time broods1 ,and sighs in all the winds that moan ,along the sandy solitudes6 ,in thy tall cedars1 ,lebanon1 ,i have not heard the nations' cries1 ,nor seen thy eagles stooping down ,where buried ,tyre in ruin lies4 ,the ,christian's prayer ,i have not said ,in ,tadmor's temples of decay1 ,nor startled1 with my dreary tread1 ,the waste where ,memnon's empire lay4 ,nor have ,i1 from thy hallowed tide1 ,o ,jordan6 heard the low lament1 ,like that sad wail along thy side ,which ,israel's mournful prophet sent6 ,nor thrilled within that grotto lone ,where1 deep in night1 the ,bard of ,kings ,felt hands of fire direct his own1 ,and sweep for ,god the conscious strings4 ,i have not climbed to ,olivet1 ,nor laid me where my ,saviour lay1 ,and left ,his trace of tears as yet ,by angel eyes unwept away2 ,nor watched1 at midnight's solemn time1 ,the garden where ,his prayer and groan1 ,wrung by ,his sorrow and our crime1 ,rose to ,one listening ear alone4 ,i have not kissed the rock-hewn grot ,where in ,his mother's arms ,he lay1 ,nor knelt upon the sacred spot ,where last ,his footsteps pressed the clay2 ,nor looked on that sad mountain head1 ,nor smote my sinful breast1 where wide ,his arms to fold the world ,he spread1 ,and bowed ,his head to bless--and died6 #ahdh4 ,,the ,,reward ,who1 looking backward from his manhood's prime1 ,sees not the spectre of his misspent time8 ,and1 through the shade ,of funeral cypress planted thick behind1 ,hears no reproachful whisper on the wind ,from his loved dead8 ,who bears no trace of passion's evil force8 ,who shuns thy sting1 ,o terrible ,remorse8 ,who does not cast ,on the thronged pages of his memory's book1 ,at times1 a sad and half-reluctant look1 ,regretful of the past8 ,alas6 the evil which we fain would shun ,we do1 and leave the wished-for good undone ,our strength to-day ,is but to-morrow's weakness1 prone to fall2 ,poor1 blind1 unprofitable servants all ,are we alway4 ,yet who1 thus looking backward o'er his years1 ,feels not his eyelids wet with grateful tears1 ,if he hath been ,permitted1 weak and sinful as he was1 ,to cheer and aid1 in some ennobling cause1 ,his fellow-men8 ,if he hath hidden the outcast1 or let in ,a ray of sunshine to the cell of sin2 ,if he hath lent ,strength to the weak1 and1 in an hour of need1 ,over the suffering1 mindless of his creed ,or home1 hath bent2 ,he has not lived in vain1 and while he gives ,the praise to ,him1 in whom he moves and lives1 ,with thankful heart2 ,he gazes backward1 and with hope before1 ,knowing that from his works he nevermore ,can henceforth part4 #ahdh4 ,,the ,,wish ,,of ,,to-,,day4 ,i ask not now for gold to gild ,with mocking shine a weary frame2 ,the yearning of the mind is stilled1 ,i ask not now for ,fame4 ,a rose-cloud1 dimly seen above1 ,melting in heaven's blue depths away2 ,oh1 sweet1 fond dream of human ,love ,for thee ,i may not pray4 ,but1 bowed in lowliness of mind1 ,i make my humble wishes known2 ,i only ask a will resigned1 ,o ,father1 to ,thine own6 ,to-day1 beneath ,thy chastening eye ,i crave alone for peace and rest1 ,submissive in ,thy hand to lie1 ,and feel that it is best4 ,a marvel seems the ,universe1 ,a miracle our ,life and ,death2 ,a mystery which ,i cannot pierce1 ,around1 above1 beneath4 ,in vain ,i task my aching brain1 ,in vain the sage's thought ,i scan1 ,i only feel how weak and vain1 ,how poor and blind1 is man4 ,and now my spirit sighs for home1 ,and longs for light whereby to see1 ,and1 like a weary child1 would come1 ,o ,father1 unto ,thee6 ,though oft1 like letters traced on sand1 ,my weak resolves have passed away1 ,in mercy lend ,thy helping hand ,unto my prayer to-day6 #ahdh4 ,,all',s ,,well ,the clouds1 which rise with thunder1 slake ,our thirsty souls with rain2 ,the blow most dreaded falls to break ,from off our limbs a chain2 ,and wrongs of man to man but make ,the love of ,god more plain4 ,as through the shadowy lens of even ,the eye looks farthest into heaven ,on gleams of star and depths of blue ,the glaring sunshine never knew6 #ahej4 ,,invocation ,through ,thy clear spaces1 ,lord1 of old1 ,formless and void the dead earth rolled2 ,deaf to ,thy heaven's sweet music1 blind ,to the great lights which o'er it shined2 ,no sound1 no ray1 no warmth1 no breath1-- ,a dumb despair1 a wandering death4 ,to that dark1 weltering horror came ,thy spirit1 like a subtle flame1-- ,a breath of life electrical1 ,awakening and transforming all1 ,till beat and thrilled in every part ,the pulses of a living heart4 ,then knew their bounds the land and sea2 ,then smiled the bloom of mead and tree2 ,from flower to moth1 from beast to man1 ,the quick creative impulse ran2 ,and earth1 with life from thee renewed1 ,was in thy holy eyesight good4 ,as lost and void1 as dark and cold ,and formless as that earth of old2 ,a wandering waste of storm and night1 ,midst spheres of song and realms of light2 ,a blot upon thy holy sky1 ,untouched1 unwarned of thee1 am ,i4 ,o ,thou who movest on the deep ,of spirits1 wake my own from sleep ,its darkness melt1 its coldness warm1 ,the lost restore1 the ill transform1 ,that flower and fruit henceforth may be ,its grateful offering1 worthy ,thee4 #ahea4 ,,questions ,,of ,,life ,and the angel that was sent unto me1 whose name was ,uriel1 gave me an answer and said1 ,thy heart hath gone too far in this world1 and thinkest thou to comprehend the way of the ,most ,high8 ,then said ,i1 ,yea1 my ,lord4 ,then said he unto me1 ,go thy way1 weigh me the weight of the fire or measure me the blast of the wind1 or call me again the day that is past4--#b ,,esdras1 chap4 iv4 ,a bending staff ,i would not break1 ,a feeble faith ,i would not shake1 ,nor even rashly pluck away ,the error which some truth may stay1 ,whose loss might leave the soul without ,a shield against the shafts of doubt4 ,and yet1 at times1 when over all ,a darker mystery seems to fall1 7,may ,god forgive the child of dust1 ,who seeks to know1 where ,faith should trust67 ,i raise the questions1 old and dark1 ,of ,uzdom's tempted patriarch1 ,and1 speech-confounded1 build again ,the baffled tower of ,shinar's plain4 ,i am3 how little more ,i know6 ,whence came ,i8 ,whither do ,i go8 ,a centred self1 which feels and is2 ,a cry between the silences2 ,a shadow-birth of clouds at strife ,with sunshine on the hills of life2 ,a shaft from ,nature's quiver cast ,into the ,future from the ,past2 ,between the cradle and the shroud1 ,a meteor's flight from cloud to cloud4 ,thorough the vastness1 arching all1 ,i see the great stars rise and fall1 ,the rounding seasons come and go1 ,the tided oceans ebb and flow2 ,the tokens of a central force1 ,whose circles1 in their widening course1 ,o'erlap and move the universe2 ,the workings of the law whence springs ,the rhythmic harmony of things1 ,which shapes in earth the darkling spar1 ,and orbs in heaven the morning star4 ,of all ,i see1 in earth and sky1-- ,star1 flower1 beast1 bird1--what part have ,i8 ,this conscious life1--is it the same ,which thrills the universal frame1 ,whereby the caverned crystal shoots1 ,and mounts the sap from forest roots1 ,whereby the exiled wood-bird tells ,when ,spring makes green her native dells8 ,how feels the stone the pang of birth1 ,which brings its sparkling prism forth8 ,the forest-tree the throb which gives ,the life-blood to its new-born leaves8 ,do bird and blossom feel1 like me1 ,life's many-folded mystery1-- ,the wonder which it is to be8 ,or stand ,i severed and distinct1 ,from ,nature's chain of life unlinked8 ,allied to all1 yet not the less ,prisoned in separate consciousness1 ,alone o'erburdened with a sense ,of life1 and cause1 and consequence8 ,in vain to me the ,sphinx propounds ,the riddle of her sights and sounds2 ,back still the vaulted mystery gives ,the echoed question it receives4 ,what sings the brook8 ,what oracle ,is in the pine-tree's organ swell8 ,what may the wind's low burden be8 ,the meaning of the moaning sea8 ,the hieroglyphics of the stars8 ,or clouded sunset's crimson bars8 ,i vainly ask1 for mocks my skill ,the trick of ,nature's cipher still4 ,i turn from ,nature unto men1 ,i ask the stylus and the pen2 ,what sang the bards of old8 ,what meant ,the prophets of the ,orient8 ,the rolls of buried ,egypt1 hid ,in painted tomb and pyramid8 ,what mean ,idumea's arrowy lines1 ,or dusk ,elora's monstrous signs8 ,how speaks the primal thought of man ,from the grim carvings of ,copan8 ,where rests the secret8 ,where the keys ,of the old death-bolted mysteries8 ,alas6 the dead retain their trust2 ,dust hath no answer from the dust4 ,the great enigma still unguessed1 ,unanswered the eternal quest2 ,i gather up the scattered rays ,of wisdom in the early days1 ,faint gleams and broken1 like the light ,of meteors in a northern night1 ,betraying to the darkling earth ,the unseen sun which gave them birth2 ,i listen to the sibyl's chant1 ,the voice of priest and hierophant2 ,i know what ,indian ,kreeshna saith1 ,and what of life and what of death ,the demon taught to ,socrates2 ,and what1 beneath his garden-trees ,slow pacing1 with a dream-like tread1-- ,the solemn-thoughted ,plato said2 ,nor lack ,i tokens1 great or small1 ,of ,god's clear light in each and all1 ,while holding with more dear regard ,the scroll of ,hebrew seer and bard1 ,the starry pages promise-lit ,with ,christ's ,evangel over-writ1 ,thy miracle of life and death1 ,o ,holy ,one of ,nazareth6 ,on ,aztec ruins1 gray and lone1 ,the circling serpent coils in stone1-- ,type of the endless and unknown2 ,whereof we seek the clue to find1 ,with groping fingers of the blind6 ,forever sought1 and never found1 ,we trace that serpent-symbol round ,our resting-place1 our starting bound ,oh1 thriftlessness of dream and guess6 ,oh1 wisdom which is foolishness6 ,why idly seek from outward things ,the answer inward silence brings8 ,why stretch beyond our proper sphere ,and age1 for that which lies so near8 ,why climb the far-off hills with pain1 ,a nearer view of heaven to gain8 ,in lowliest depths of bosky dells ,the hermit ,contemplation dwells4 ,a fountain's pine-hung slope his seat1 ,and lotus-twined his silent feet1 ,whence1 piercing heaven1 with screened sight1 ,he sees at noon the stars1 whose light ,shall glorify the coining night4 ,here let me pause1 my quest forego2 ,enough for me to feel and know ,that ,he in whom the cause and end1 ,the past and future1 meet and blend1-- ,who1 girt with his ,immensities1 ,our vast and star-hung system sees1 ,small as the clustered ,pleiades1-- ,moves not alone the heavenly quires1 ,but waves the spring-time's grassy spires1 ,guards not archangel feet alone1 ,but deigns to guide and keep my own2 ,speaks not alone the words of fate ,which worlds destroy1 and worlds create1 ,but whispers in my spirit's ear1 ,in tones of love1 or warning fear1 ,a language none beside may hear4 ,to ,him1 from wanderings long and wild1 ,i come1 an over-wearied child1 ,in cool and shade ,his peace to find1 ,lice dew-fall settling on my mind4 ,assured that all ,i know is best1 ,and humbly trusting for the rest1 ,i turn from ,fancy's cloud-built scheme1 ,dark creed1 and mournful eastern dream ,of power1 impersonal and cold1 ,controlling all1 itself controlled1 ,maker and slave of iron laws1 ,alike the subject and the cause2 ,from vain philosophies1 that try ,the sevenfold gates of mystery1 ,and1 baffled ever1 babble still1 ,word-prodigal of fate and will2 ,from ,nature1 and her mockery1 ,art2 ,and book and speech of men apart1 ,to the still witness in my heart2 ,with reverence waiting to behold ,his ,avatar of love untold1 ,the ,eternal ,beauty new and old6 #ahfb4 ,,first-,,day ,,thoughts4 ,in calm and cool and silence1 once again ,i find my old accustomed place among ,my brethren1 where1 perchance1 no human tongue ,shall utter words2 where never hymn is sung1 ,nor deep-toned organ blown1 nor censer swung1 ,nor dim light falling through the pictured pane6 ,there1 syllabled by silence1 let me hear ,the still small voice which reached the prophet's ear2 ,read in my heart a still diviner law ,than ,israel's leader on his tables saw6 ,there let me strive with each besetting sin1 ,recall my wandering fancies1 and restrain ,the sore disquiet of a restless brain2 ,and1 as the path of duty is made plain1 ,may grace be given that ,i may walk therein1 ,not like the hireling1 for his selfish gain1 ,with backward glances and reluctant tread1 ,making a merit of his coward dread1 ,but1 cheerful1 in the light around me thrown1 ,walking as one to pleasant service led2 ,doing ,god's will as if it were my own1 ,yet trusting not in mine1 but in ,his strength alone6 #aheb4 ,,trust4 ,the same old baffling questions6 ,o my friend1 ,i cannot answer them4 ,in vain ,i send ,my soul into the dark1 where never burn ,the lamps of science1 nor the natural light ,of ,reason's sun and stars6 ,i cannot learn ,their great and solemn meanings1 nor discern ,the awful secrets of the eyes which turn ,evermore on us through the day and night ,with silent challenge and a dumb demand1 ,proffering the riddles of the dread unknown1 ,like the calm ,sphinxes1 with their eyes of stone1 ,questioning the centuries from their veils of sand6 ,i have no answer for myself or thee1 ,save that ,i learned beside my mother's knee2 ,all is of ,god that is1 and is to be2 ,and ,god is good4 ,let this suffice us still1 ,resting in childlike trust upon ,his will ,who moves to ,his great ends unthwarted by the ill4 #ahec4 ,,trinitas4 ,at morn ,i prayed1 ,i fain would see ,how ,three are ,one1 and ,one is ,three2 ,read the dark riddle unto me4 ,i wandered forth1 the sun and air ,i saw bestowed with equal care ,on good and evil1 foul and fair4 ,no partial favor dropped the rain2 ,alike the righteous and profane ,rejoiced above their heading grain4 ,and my heart murmured1 ,is it meet ,that blindfold ,nature thus should treat ,with equal hand the tares and wheat8 ,a presence melted through my mood1-- ,a warmth1 a light1 a sense of good1 ,like sunshine through a winter wood4 ,i saw that presence1 mailed complete ,in her white innocence1 pause to greet ,a fallen sister of the street4 ,upon her bosom snowy pure ,the lost one clung1 as if secure ,from inward guilt or outward lure4 ,beware6 ,i said2 in this ,i see ,no gain to her1 but loss to thee ,who touches pitch defiled must be4 ,i passed the haunts of shame and sin1 ,and a voice whispered1 ,who therein ,shall these lost souls to ,heaven's peace win8 ,who there shall hope and health dispense1 ,and lift the ladder up from thence ,whose rounds are prayers of penitence8 ,i said1 ,no higher life they know2 ,these earth-worms love to have it so4 ,who stoops to raise them sinks as low4 ,that night with painful care ,i read ,what ,hippo's saint and ,calvin said2 ,the living seeking to the dead6 ,in vain ,i turned1 in weary quest1 ,old pages1 where 7,god give them rest67 ,the poor creed-mongers dreamed and guessed4 ,and still ,i prayed1 ,lord1 let me see ,how ,three are ,one1 and ,one is ,three2 ,read the dark riddle unto me6 ,then something whispered1 ,dost thou pray ,for what thou hast8 ,this very day ,the ,holy ,three have crossed thy way4 ,did not the gifts of sun and air ,to good and ill alike declare ,the all-compassionate ,father's care8 ,in the white soul that stooped to raise ,the lost one from her evil ways1 ,thou saw'st the ,christ1 whom angels praise6 ,a bodiless ,divinity1 ,the still small ,voice that spake to thee ,was the ,holy ,spirit's mystery6 ,o blind of sight1 of faith how small6 ,father1 and ,son1 and ,holy ,call ,this day thou hast denied them all6 ,revealed in love and sacrifice1 ,the ,holiest passed before thine eyes1 ,one and the same1 in threefold guise4 ,the equal ,father in rain and sun1 ,his ,christ in the good to evil done1 ,his ,voice in thy soul2--and the ,three are ,one6 ,i shut my grave ,aquinas fast2 ,the monkish gloss of ages past1 ,the schoolman's creed aside ,i cast4 ,and my heart answered1 ,lord1 ,i see ,how ,three are ,one1 and ,one is ,three2 ,thy riddle hath been read to me6 #aheh4 ,,the ,,sisters ,a ,,picture ,,by ,,barry ,the shade for me1 but over thee ,the lingering sunshine still2 ,as1 smiling1 to the silent stream ,comes down the singing rill4 ,so come to me1 my little one1-- ,my years with thee ,i share1 ,and mingle with a sister's love ,a mother's tender care4 ,but keep the smile upon thy lip1 ,the trust upon thy brow2 ,since for the dear one ,god hath called ,we have an angel now4 ,our mother from the fields of heaven ,shall still her ear incline2 ,nor need we fear her human love ,is less for love divine4 ,the songs are sweet they sing beneath ,the trees of life so fair1 ,but sweetest of the songs of heaven ,shall be her children's prayer4 ,then1 darling1 rest upon my breast1 ,and teach my heart to lean ,with thy sweet trust upon the arm ,which folds us both unseen6 #aheh ,,the ,,rock ,,in ,,el ,,ghor4 ,dead ,petra in her hill-tomb sleeps1 ,her stones of emptiness remain2 ,around her sculptured mystery sweeps ,the lonely waste of ,edom's plain4 ,from the doomed dwellers in the cleft ,the bow of vengeance turns not back2 ,of all her myriads none are left ,along the ,wady ,mousa's track4 ,clear in the hot ,arabian day ,her arches spring1 her statues climb2 ,unchanged1 the graven wonders pay ,no tribute to the spoiler1 ,time6 ,unchanged the awful lithograph ,of power and glory undertrod2 ,of nations scattered like the chaff ,blown from the threshing-floor of ,god4 ,yet shall the thoughtful stranger turn ,from ,petra's gates with deeper awe1 ,to mark afar the burial urn ,of ,aaron on the cliffs of ,hor2 ,and where upon its ancient guard ,thy ,rock1 ,el ,ghor1 is standing yet1-- ,looks from its turrets desertward1 ,and keeps the watch that ,god has set4 ,the same as when in thunders loud ,it heard the voice of ,god to man1 ,as when it saw in fire and cloud ,the angels walk in ,israel's van1 ,or when from ,ezion-,geber's way ,it saw the long procession file1 ,and heard the ,hebrew timbrels play ,the music of the lordly ,nile2 ,or saw the tabernacle pause1 ,cloud-bound1 by ,kadesh ,barnea's wells1 ,while ,moses graved the sacred laws1 ,and ,aaron swung his golden bells4 ,rock of the desert1 prophet-sung6 ,how grew its shadowing pile at length1 ,a symbol1 in the ,hebrew tongue1 ,of ,god's eternal love and strength4 ,on lip of bard and scroll of seer1 ,from age to age went down the name1 ,until the ,shiloh's promised year1 ,and ,christ1 the ,rock of ,ages1 came6 ,the path of life we walk to-day ,is strange as that the ,hebrews trod2 ,we need the shadowing rock1 as they1-- ,we need1 like them1 the guides of ,god4 ,god send ,his angels1 ,cloud and ,fire1 ,to lead us o'er the desert sand6 ,god give our hearts their long desire1 ,his shadow in a weary land6 #ahei4 ,,the ,,over-,,heart4 ,for of ,him1 and through ,him1 and to ,him are all things1 to whom be glory forever6 --,,paul4 ,above1 below1 in sky and sod1 ,in leaf and spar1 in star and man1 ,well might the wise ,athenian scan ,the geometric signs of ,god1 ,the measured order of ,his plan4 ,and ,india's mystics sang aright ,of the ,one ,life pervading all1-- ,one ,being's tidal rise and fall ,in soul and form1 in sound and sight1-- ,eternal outflow and recall4 ,god is3 and man in guilt and fear ,the central fact of ,nature owns2 ,kneels1 trembling1 by his altar-stones1 ,and darkly dreams the ghastly smear ,of blood appeases and atones4 ,guilt shapes the ,terror3 deep within ,the human heart the secret lies ,of all the hideous deities2 ,and1 painted on a ground of sin1 ,the fabled gods of torment rise6 ,and what is ,he8 ,the ripe grain nods1 ,the sweet dews fall1 the sweet flowers blow2 ,but darker signs ,his presence show ,the earthquake and the storm are ,god's1 ,and good and evil interflow4 ,o hearts of love6 ,o souls that turn ,like sunflowers to the pure and best6 ,to you the truth is manifest3 ,for they the mind of ,christ discern ,who lean like ,john upon ,his breast6 ,in him of whom the sibyl told1 ,for whom the prophet's harp was toned1 ,whose need the sage and magian owned1 ,the loving heart of ,god behold1 ,the hope for which the ages groaned6 ,fade1 pomp of dreadful imagery ,wherewith mankind have deified ,their hate1 and selfishness1 and pride6 ,let the scared dreamer wake to see ,the ,christ of ,nazareth at his side6 ,what doth that holy ,guide require8 ,no rite of pain1 nor gift of blood1 ,but man a kindly brotherhood1 ,looking1 where duty is desire1 ,to ,him1 the beautiful and good4 ,gone be the faithlessness of fear1 ,and let the pitying heaven's sweet rain ,wash out the altar's bloody stain2 ,the law of ,hatred disappear1 ,the law of ,love alone remain4 ,how fall the idols false and grim6 ,and to6 their hideous wreck above ,the emblems of the ,lamb and ,dove6 ,man turns from ,god1 not ,god from him2 ,and guilt1 in suffering1 whispers ,love6 ,the world sits at the feet of ,christ1 ,unknowing1 blind1 and unconsoled2 ,it yet shall touch ,his garment's fold1 ,and feel the heavenly ,alchemist ,transform its very dust to gold4 ,the theme befitting angel tongues ,beyond a mortal's scope has grown4 ,o heart of mine6 with reverence own ,the fulness which to it belongs1 ,and trust the unknown for the known4 #ahei4 ,,the ,,shadow ,,and ,,the ,,light4 ,and ,i sought1 whence is ,evil3 ,i set before the eye of my spirit the whole creation2 whatsoever we see therein1--sea1 earth1 air1 stars1 trees1 moral creatures1--yea1 whatsoever there is we do not see1--angels and spiritual powers4 ,where is evil1 and whence comes it1 since ,god the ,good hath created all things8 ,why made ,he anything at all of evil1 and not rather by ,his ,almightiness cause it not to be8 ,these thoughts ,i turned in my miserable heart1 overcharged with most gnawing cares4 ,and1 admonished to return to myself1 ,i entered even into my inmost soul1 ,thou being my guide1 and beheld even beyond my soul and mind the ,light unchangeable4 ,he who knows the ,truth knows what that ,light is1 and he that knows it knows ,eternity6 ,o--,truth1 who art ,eternity6 ,love1 who art ,truth6 ,eternity1 who art ,love6 ,and ,i beheld that ,thou madest all things good1 and to ,thee is nothing whatsoever evil4 ,from the angel to the worm1 from the first motion to the last1 ,thou settest each in its place1 and everything is good in its kind4 ,woe is me6--how high art ,thou in the highest1 how deep in the deepest6 and ,thou never departest from us and we scarcely return to ,thee4 --,,augustine',s ,soliloquies1 ,book ,,vii4 ,the fourteen centuries fall away ,between us and the ,afric saint1 ,and at his side we urge1 to-day1 ,the immemorial quest and old complaint4 ,no outward sign to us is given1-- ,from sea or earth comes no reply2 ,hushed as the warm ,numidian heaven ,he vainly questioned bends our frozen sky4 ,no victory comes of all our strife1-- ,from all we grasp the meaning slips2 ,the ,sphinx sits at the gate of life1 ,with the old question on her awful lips4 ,in paths unknown we hear the feet ,of fear before1 and guilt behind2 ,we pluck the wayside fruit1 and eat ,ashes and dust beneath its golden rind4 ,from age to age descends unchecked ,the sad bequest of sire to son1 ,the body's taint1 the mind's defect2 ,through every web of life the dark threads run4 ,oh1 why and whither8 ,god knows all2 ,i only know that ,he is good1 ,and that whatever may befall ,or here or there1 must be the best that could4 ,between the dreadful cherubim ,a ,father's face ,i still discern1 ,as ,moses looked of old on ,him1 ,and saw ,his glory into goodness turn6 ,for ,he is merciful as just2 ,and so1 by faith correcting sight1 ,i bow before ,his will1 and trust ,howe'er they seem ,he doeth all things right4 ,and dare to hope that ,tie will make ,the rugged smooth1 the doubtful plain2 ,his mercy never quite forsake2 ,his healing visit every realm of pain2 ,that suffering is not ,his revenge ,upon ,his creatures weak and frail1 ,sent on a pathway new and strange ,with feet that wander and with eyes that fail2 ,that1 o'er the crucible of pain1 ,watches the tender eye of ,love ,the slow transmuting of the chain ,whose links are iron below to gold above6 ,ah me6 we doubt the shining skies1 ,seen through our shadows of offence1 ,and drown with our poor childish cries ,the cradle-hymn of kindly ,providence4 ,and still we love the evil cause1 ,and of the just effect complain ,we tread upon life's broken laws1 ,and murmur at our self-inflicted pain2 ,we turn us from the light1 and find ,our spectral shapes before us thrown1 ,as they who leave the sun behind ,walk in the shadows of themselves alone4 ,and scarce by will or strength of ours ,we set our faces to the day2 ,weak1 wavering1 blind1 the ,eternal ,powers ,alone can turn us from ourselves away4 ,our weakness is the strength of sin1 ,but love must needs be stronger far1 ,outreaching all and gathering in ,the erring spirit and the wandering star4 ,a ,voice grows with the growing years2 ,earth1 hushing down her bitter cry1 ,looks upward from her graves1 and hears1 ,the ,resurrection and the ,life am ,i4 ,o ,love ,divine6--whose constant beam ,shines on the eyes that will not see1 ,and waits to bless us1 while we dream ,thou leavest us because we turn from thee6 ,all souls that struggle and aspire1 ,all hearts of prayer by thee are lit2 ,and1 dim or clear1 thy tongues of fire ,on dusky tribes and twilight centuries sit4 ,nor bounds1 nor clime1 nor creed thou know'st1 ,wide as our need thy favors fall2 ,the white wings of the ,holy ,ghost ,stoop1 seen or unseen1 o'er the heads of all4 ,o ,beauty1 old yet ever new6 ,eternal ,voice1 and ,inward ,word1 ,the ,logos of the ,greek and ,jew1 ,the old sphere-music which the ,samian heard6 ,truth1 which the sage and prophet saw1 ,long sought without1 but found within1 ,the ,law of ,love beyond all law1 ,the ,life o'erflooding mortal death and sin6 ,shine on us with the light which glowed ,upon the trance-bound shepherd's way4 ,who saw the ,darkness overflowed ,and drowned by tides of everlasting ,day4 ,shine1 light of ,god6--make broad thy scope ,to all who sin and suffer2 more ,and better than we dare to hope ,with ,heaven's compassion make our longings poor6 #ahfj4 ,,the ,,cry ,,of ,a ,,lost ,,soul4 ,lieutenant ,herndon's ,report of the ,exploration of the ,amazon has a striking description of the peculiar and melancholy notes of a bird heard by night on the shores of the river4 ,the ,indian guides called it ,the ,cry of a ,lost ,soul6 ,among the numerous translations of this poem is one by the ,emperor of ,brazil4 ,in that black forest1 where1 when day is done1 ,with a snake's stillness glides the ,amazon ,darkly from sunset to the rising sun1 ,a cry1 as of the pained heart of the wood1 ,the long1 despairing moan of solitude ,and darkness and the absence of all good1 ,startles the traveller1 with a sound so drear1 ,so full of hopeless agony and fear1 ,his heart stands still and listens like his ear4 ,the guide1 as if he heard a dead-bell toll1 ,starts1 drops his oar against the gunwale's thole1 ,crosses himself1 and whispers1 ,a lost soul6 ,no1 ,senor1 not a bird4 ,i know it well1-- ,it is the pained soul of some infidel ,or cursed heretic that cries from hell4 ,poor fool6 with hope still mocking his despair1 ,he wanders1 shrieking on the midnight air ,for human pity and for ,christian prayer4 ,saints strike him dumb6 ,our ,holy ,mother hath ,no prayer for him who1 sinning unto death1 ,burns always in the furnace of ,god's wrath6 ,thus to the baptized pagan's cruel lie1 ,lending new horror to that mournful cry1 ,the voyager listens1 making no reply4 ,dim burns the boat-lamp3 shadows deepen round1 ,from giant trees with snake-like creepers wound1 ,and the black water glides without a sound4 ,but in the traveller's heart a secret sense ,of nature plastic to benign intents1 ,and an eternal good in ,providence1 ,lifts to the starry calm of heaven his eyes2 ,and to6 rebuking all earth's ominous cries1 ,the ,cross of pardon lights the tropic skies6 ,father of all6 he urges his strong plea1 ,thou lovest all3 ,thy erring child may be ,lost to himself1 but never lost to ,thee6 ,all souls are ,thine2 the wings of morning bear ,none from that ,presence which is everywhere1 ,nor hell itself can hide1 for ,thou art there4 ,through sins of sense1 perversities of will1 ,through doubt and pain1 through guilt and shame and ill1 ,thy pitying eye is on ,thy creature still4 ,wilt thou not make1 ,eternal ,source and ,goal6 ,in ,thy long years1 life's broken circle whole1 ,and change to praise the cry of a lost soul8 #ahfb4 ,,andrew ,,rykman',s ,,prayer ,andrew ,rykman's dead and gone2 ,you can see his leaning slate ,in the graveyard1 and thereon ,read his name and date4 ,trust is truer than our fears1 ,runs the legend through the moss1 ,gain is not in added years1 ,nor in death is loss4 ,still the feet that thither trod1 ,all the friendly eyes are dim2 ,only ,nature1 now1 and ,god ,have a care for him4 ,there the dews of quiet fall1 ,singing birds and soft winds stray3 ,shall the tender ,heart of all ,be less kind than they8 ,what he was and what he is ,they who ask may haply find1 ,if they read this prayer of his ,which he left behind4 4 4 4 4 ,pardon1 ,lord1 the lips that dare ,shape in words a mortal's prayer6 ,prayer1 that1 when my day is done1 ,and ,i see its setting sun1 ,shorn and beamless1 cold and dim1 ,sink beneath the horizon's rim1-- ,when this ball of rock and clay ,crumbles from my feet away1 ,and the solid shores of sense ,melt into the vague immense1 ,father6 ,i may come to ,thee ,even with the beggar's plea1 ,as the poorest of ,thy poor1 ,with my needs1 and nothing more4 ,not as one who seeks his home ,with a step assured ,i come2 ,still behind the tread ,i hear ,of my life-companion1 ,fear2 ,still a shadow deep and vast ,from my westering feet is cast1 ,wavering1 doubtful1 undefined1 ,never shapen nor outlined ,from myself the fear has grown1 ,and the shadow is my own4 ,yet1 ,o ,lord1 through all a sense ,of ,thy tender providence ,stays my failing heart on ,thee1 ,and confirms the feeble knee2 ,and1 at times1 my worn feet press ,spaces of cool quietness1 ,lilied whiteness shone upon ,not by light of moon or sun4 ,hours there be of inmost calm1 ,broken but by grateful psalm1 ,when ,i love ,thee more than fear ,thee1 ,and ,thy blessed ,christ seems near me1 ,with forgiving look1 as when ,he beheld the ,magdalen4 ,well ,i know that all things move ,to the spheral rhythm of love1-- ,that to ,thee1 ,o ,lord of all6 ,nothing can of chance befall ,child and seraph1 mote and star1 ,well ,thou knowest what we are ,through ,thy vast creative plan ,looking1 from the worm to man1 ,there is pity in ,thine eyes1 ,but no hatred nor surprise4 ,not in blind caprice of will1 ,not in cunning sleight of skill1 ,not for show of power1 was wrought ,nature's marvel in ,thy thought4 ,never careless hand and vain ,smites these chords of joy and pain2 ,no immortal selfishness ,plays the game of curse and bless ,heaven and earth are witnesses ,that ,thy glory goodness is4 ,not for sport of mind and force ,hast ,thou made ,thy universe1 ,but as atmosphere and zone ,of ,thy loving heart alone4 ,man1 who walketh in a show1 ,sees before him1 to and fro1 ,shadow and illusion go2 ,all things flow and fluctuate1 ,now contract and now dilate4 ,in the welter of this sea1 ,nothing stable is but ,thee2 ,in this whirl of swooning trance1 ,thou alone art permanence2 ,all without ,thee only seems1 ,all beside is choice of dreams4 ,never yet in darkest mood ,doubted ,i that ,thou wast good1 ,nor mistook my will for fate1 ,pain of sin for heavenly hate1-- ,never dreamed the gates of pearl ,rise from out the burning marl1 ,or that good can only live ,of the bad conservative1 ,and through counterpoise of hell ,heaven alone be possible4 ,for myself alone ,i doubt2 ,all is well1 ,i know1 without2 ,i alone the beauty mar1 ,i alone the music jar4 ,yet1 with hands by evil stained1 ,and an ear by discord pained1 ,i am groping for the keys ,of the heavenly harmonies2 ,still within my heart ,i bear ,love for all things good and fair4 ,hands of want or souls in pain ,have not sought my door in vain2 ,i have kept my fealty good ,to the human brotherhood2 ,scarcely have ,i asked in prayer ,that which others might not share4 ,i1 who hear with secret shame ,praise that paineth more than blame1 ,rich alone in favors lent1 ,virtuous by accident1 ,doubtful where ,i fain would rest1 ,frailest where ,i seem the best1 ,only strong for lack of test1-- ,what am ,i1 that ,i should press ,special pleas of selfishness1 ,coolly mounting into heaven ,on my neighbor unforgiven8 ,ne'er to me1 howe'er disguised1 ,comes a saint unrecognized2 ,never fails my heart to greet ,noble deed with warmer beat2 ,halt and maimed1 ,i own not less ,all the grace of holiness2 ,nor1 through shame or self-distrust1 ,less ,i love the pure and just4 ,lord1 forgive these words of mine ,what have ,i that is not ,thine8 ,whatsoe'er ,i fain would boast ,needs ,thy pitying pardon most4 ,thou1 ,o ,elder ,brother6 who ,in ,thy flesh our trial knew1 ,thou1 who hast been touched by these ,our most sad infirmities1 ,thou alone the gulf canst span ,in the dual heart of man1 ,and between the soul and sense ,reconcile all difference1 ,change the dream of me and mine ,for the truth of ,thee and ,thine1 ,and1 through chaos1 doubt1 and strife1 ,interfuse ,thy calm of life4 ,haply1 thus by ,thee renewed1 ,in ,thy borrowed goodness good1 ,some sweet morning yet in ,god's ,dim1 veonian periods1 ,joyful ,i shall wake to see ,those ,i love who rest in ,thee1 ,and to them in ,thee allied ,shall my soul be satisfied4 ,scarcely ,hope hath shaped for me ,what the future life may be4 ,other lips may well be bold2 ,like the publican of old1 ,i can only urge the plea1 ,lord1 be merciful to me6 ,nothing of desert ,i claim1 ,unto me belongeth shame4 ,not for me the1 crowns of gold1 ,palms1 and harpings manifold2 ,not for erring eye and feet ,jasper wall and golden street4 ,what thou wilt1 ,o ,father1 give ,i ,all is gain that ,i receive4 ,if my voice ,i may not raise ,in the elders' song of praise1 ,if ,i may not1 sin-defiled1 ,claim my birthright as a child1 ,suffer it that ,i to ,thee ,as an hired servant be2 ,let the lowliest task be mine1 ,grateful1 so the work be ,thine2 ,let me find the humblest place ,in the shadow of ,thy grace ,blest to me were any spot ,where temptation whispers not4 ,if there be some weaker one1 ,give me strength to help him on ,if a blinder soul there be1 ,let me guide him nearer ,thee4 ,make my mortal dreams come true ,with the work ,i fain would do2 ,clothe with life the weak intent1 ,let me be the thing ,i meant2 ,let me find in ,thy employ ,peace that dearer is than joy2 ,out of self to love be led ,and to heaven acclimated1 ,until all things sweet and good ,seem my natural habitude4 4 4 4 4 ,so we read the prayer of him ,who1 with ,john of ,labadie1 ,trod1 of old1 the oozy rim ,of the ,zuyder ,zee4 ,thus did ,andrew ,rykman pray4 ,are we wiser1 better grown1 ,that we may not1 in our day1 ,make his prayer our own8