CASTLES
Let them that would build castles in the air
Vault thither, without step or stair,
Instead of feet to climb, take wings to fly,
And think their turret’s top the sky.
But let me lay all my foundations deep.
And learn, before I run, to …
THE CURATE
NEAR yonder copse, where once the garden smiled,
And still where many a garden-flower grows wild,
There, where a few torn shrubs the place disclose,
The village preacher’s modest mansion rose.
A man he was to all the country dear,
And passing rich with forty …
AUDI, TELLUS, AUDI
(Advent Hymn Of The Eleventh Century.)
HEAR, Earth, hear God’s decree,
Cave of the mighty sea!
Hear, man! hear every one
Dwelling beneath the sun!
It Cometh! it is near.
The day of wrath and fear!
Woe for that bitter day,
When shrinks the heaven away!
Gloweth the sun …
SUNDAY
O DAY most calm, most bright!
The fruit of this, the next world’s bud;
Th’ indorsement of supreme delight,
Writ by a Friend, and with His blood;
The couch of time; care’s balm and bay: —
The week were dark, but for thy light;
Thy torch …
STRIVE
Strive, when thou art called of God,
When He draws thee by His grace,
Strive to cast away the load
That would clog thee in the race!
Fight, though it may cost thy life,
Storm the kingdom, but …
THE SILENT TOWER
TINTADGEL bells ring o’er the tide!
The boy leans on his vessel side, —
He hears that sound, and dreams of home
Soothe the wild orphan of the foam.
“Come to thy God in time!”
Thus saith their pealing chime:
“Youth, manhood, old age, past,
Come to …
A WREATH
A WREATHED garland of deservéd praise,
Of praise deservéd, unto Thee I give;
I give to Thee, who knowest all my ways,
My crooked winding ways, wherein I live.
Wherein I die, not live; for life is straight,
Straight as a line, and ever tends …
STABAT MATER DOLOROSA
At the cross her station keeping,
Stood the mournful mother weeping,
Where He hung, the dying Lord;
For her soul, of joy bereaved,
Bowed with anguish, deeply grieved.
Felt the sharp and piercing sword.
Oh, how sad and sore distressed
Now was …
THE GOD OF LOVE
The God of love my Shepherd is,
And He that doth me feed;
While He is mine, and I am His,
What can I want or need?
He leads me to the tender grass,
Where I both feed …
JERUSALEM
JERUSALEM, thou City blest!
Dear vision of celestial rest,
Which far above the starry sky,
Piled up with living stones on high,
Art, as a Bride, encircled bright
With million angel forms of light:
Oh, wedded in a prosperous hour,
The Father’s glory was thy dower;
The …