ON ANOTHER'S SORROW.

CAN I see another's woe,

And not be in sorrow too?

Can I see another's grief,

And not seek for kind relief?

Can I see a falling tear,

And not feel my sorrows share?
Can a father see his child
Weep, nor be with sorrow fill'd?

Can a mother sit and hear,

An infant groan, an infant fear?
No, no! never can it be !
Never, never can it be !

And can He, who smiles on all, Hear the wren, with sorrows small, Hear the small bird's grief and care, Hear the woes that infants bear?

And not sit beside the nest,
Pouring Pity in their breast?
And not sit the cradle near,
Weeping tear on infant's tear?

And not sit both night and day,
Wiping all our tears away?
Oh, no! never can it be!

Never, never can it be!

He doth give His joy to all:
He becomes an infant small,
He becomes a man of woe,
He doth feel the sorrow too.

Think not thou canst sigh a sigh,
And thy Maker is not by:

Think not thou canst weep a tear,
And thy Maker is not near.

Oh! He gives to us His joy,

That our griefs He may destroy:
Till our grief is fled and gone

He doth sit by us and moan.

VOL. II.

E

THE VOICE OF THE ANCIENT BARD.

YOUTH of delight! come hither
And see the opening morn,

Image of Truth new-born.

Doubt is fled, and clouds of reason,

Dark disputes and artful teasing.
Folly is an endless maze;

Tangled roots perplex her ways;

How many have fallen there!

They stumble all night over bones of the dead; And feel they know not what save care;

And wish to lead others, when they should be led.

SONGS OF EXPERIENCE,

[ENGRAVED 1794.]

INTRODUCTION.

HEAR the voice of the bard,

Who Present, Past, and Future sees;

Whose ears have heard

The Holy Word

That walked among the ancient trees,

Calling the lapsed soul,

And weeping in the evening dew;

That might control

The starry pole,

And fallen, fallen light renew!

O Earth, O Earth, return!

Arise from out the dewy grass!

Night is worn,

And the morn

Rises from the slumberous mass.

Turn away no more;

Why wilt thou turn away?

The starry floor,

The watery shore,

Is given thee till the break of day.

EARTH'S ANSWER.

EARTH raised up her head

From the darkness dread and drear,

Her light fled,

(Stony dread!)

And her locks covered with grey despair.

'Prisoned on watery shore,

Starry jealousy does keep my den

Cold and hoar;

Weeping o'er,

I hear the father of the ancient men.

Selfish father of men!

Cruel, jealous, selfish fear!

Can delight,

Chain'd in night,

The virgins of youth and morning bear?

Does spring hide its joy,

When buds and blossoms grow?

Does the sower

Sow by night?

Or the ploughman in darkness plough?

Break this heavy chain,

That does freeze my bones around!

Selfish, vain,

Eternal bane,

That free love with bondage bound.'