OF THE BRIGHT THINGS IN EARTH AND AIR. 251 In vain with dull and tuneless ear, "T is misty all, both sight and sound- With dizzy brow and tottering feet. When these dull ears shall scan aright These eyes, that dazzled now and weak, Nor from the blissful vision shrink: In fearless love and hope uncloy'd Deeper and deeper plunge in light. Though scarcely now their laggard glance The region "very far away." Refuse to speak, or speak amiss, They shall behold, and not in trance, If Memory sometimes at our spell We shall not need her where we dwell Ever in sight of all our bliss. 40 "Thine eyes shall see the King in his beauty: they shall behold the land that is very far off."-ISAIAH, Xxxiii. 17. 252 DEAR IS THE MORNING GALE OF SPRING. Meanwhile, if over sea or sky Some tender lights unnoticed fleet, If duly purged our mental view. The distant landscape draws not nigh The lowlier, sure, the worthier thee; KEBLE. 45 50 55 60 DEAR IS THE MORNING GALE OF SPRING. DEAR is the morning gale of Spring, And dear the autumnal eve; But few delights can Summer bring A Poet's crown to weave. Her bowers are mute, her fountains dry, And ever Fancy's wing Speeds from beneath her cloudless sky, Sweet is the infant's waking smile, And sweet the old man's rest But middle age by no fond wile, Still in the world's hot restless gleam While vainly for some pleasant dream 10 15 Sad languors through the summer day, 25 Youth's lightning-flash of joy secure A well of serious thought and pure, Too deep for earthly light. No spring was His-no fairy gleam For He by trial knew 30 How cold and bare what mortals dream, To worlds where all is true. Then grudge not thou the anguish keen Which makes thee like thy LORD, And learn to quit with eye serene Thy treasured hopes and raptures high- 35 Z Nor grieve the bliss should quickly fly Thou shalt have joy in sadness soon; Which brightens, like the eastern moon, Thus souls by nature pitch'd too high, To practise there the soothing lay That sorrow best relieves: Thankful for all God takes away, Humbled by all He gives. KEBLE. MORNING. HUES of the rich unfolding morn, Around his path are taught to swell ;— 5 10 Who day by day to sin awake, Hearts that with rising morn arise! 15 Which evermore makes all things new! 20 New every morning is the love Our wakening and uprising prove; Through sleep and darkness safely brought, Restored to life, and power, and thought. 25 Hover around us while we pray; New perils past, new sins forgiven, New thoughts of God, new hopes of heaven. If on our daily course our mind Be set to hallow all we find, 30 New treasures still, of countless price, God will provide for sacrifice. Old friends, old scenes, will lovelier be, As more of heaven in each we see: Some softening gleam of love and prayer 35 Shall dawn on every cross and care. When they have sworn, and steadfast mean, Their God, in all themselves deny. 40 45 |