7 Possess the heart; |77|7 and | fables | false as hell, Yet deemed o- | racular, | lure | down to | death, 7| 7 The | unin- | formed and | heedless souls of | men. | 7 7 | 7 7 | 77 We give to chance, 7 | blind | chance, 7|7 ourselves as blind | 7 The glory of | thy | work; | 77 | 7 which | yet ap- | pears 7 | Perfect 7 and | unim- | peachable of ¦ blame, | 77 | Challenging | human | scrutiny, | 7 and | proved 7 | Then | skilful most when most se- | verely | judg| ed. | 77 | 77 | 7 But | chance is | not; | 77 | 7 or❘ is not | where | thou | reignest: | 77 | Thy | providence | 7 for- | bids that | fickle | power 7 | (7 If power she | be 7 | 7 that | works but to con- | found) 7 | 7 To mix her wild va- | garies | 7 with thy | laws. | 77 | Yet thus we dote, | 7 re- | fusing | 7 while we | can | 7 In-struction, | 7 and in- | venting | 7 to our- | selves 7 | Gods such as guilt 7 | makes | welcome; | 7 7 | Gods that | sleep | 7 Or disregard our | follies, | 7 or that | sit 7 | 7 A-mused spec- | tators | 7 of this | bustling | stage. | 77 | 7 7 | Thee we reject 7 | un- | able to a- | bide 7 | Thy 7| purity, | 7 till | pure | 7 as | thou art | pure; | 77 | Made such by thee, | 7 we | love thee | 7 for | that 7 | cause 7 For | which we | shunned and | hated thee | 7 be- | fore. | 77 | 77 | Then are we free. 7|77|77| Then | liberty | 7 like | day, | Breaks on the soul, | 7 7 | and by a flash from heaven 7 | Fires all the faculties | 7 with glorious | joy.|77|77| 7 A | voice is | heard, | 7 that | mortal | ears 7 | hear 7 | not 7 | 7 Till thou hast | touched them; | 7 'tis the | voice of song, 7| | 7 A loud ho- | sanna | sent from | all thy | works; 7 | 7 Which he that | hears it | 7 with a shout re- | peats, 7 7 And adds 7 | his 7 | rapture | 7 to the | general | praise. | 7 7 | 7 In that 7 | blest | moment | 7 7 | Nature, throwing | wide 7 | 7 Her | veil o- | paque, | 7 dis- | closes with a | smile 7 | 7 The author of her | beauties, | 7 who | 7 re| | tired 7 Behind his own cre- | ation, | works un- | seen 7 | By the im- pure, | 7 and | hears his power de- | nied. | 77 | 77 | Thou art the source | 7 and | centre of | all | minds, | 7 Their only point of rest, 7 7 e- | ternal | word! 77 7 From | thee de- | parting, | 7 7 | they are | lost 7 | 7 and rove 7 At | random | 7 with- | out 7 | honour, | hope, 7 | 7 or peace. | 77 | 77 | I 7 From | thee is all that soothes the | life of | man, | 7 His | high en- | deavour, | and his | glad suc- | cess, 7 | 7 His strength to suffer, | 7 and his will to | serve. |77|77| 7 But oh thou | bounteous | Giver of all | good, 7 | Thou art of all thy | gifts 7|7 thy- | self the | crown! | 77 | Give what thou poor; canst, | 7 with- | out thee | 7 we are | 7 And | with thee | rich, 7 | take what thou wilt a- | away. | 7 7 | 7 7 | SONNET TO CYRIAC SKINNER. Milton. Cyriac, | 7 this | three years' | day 7 | these | eyes | 7 (though clear, 7 | 7 To | outward | view, 7 | 7 of | blemish or of | spot) 7 | 7 Be- reft of light | 7 their | seeing | 7 have for- | got; 7|77| Nor to their | idle | orbs | 7 doth | sight ap- | pear, 7 | 7 Of sun, 7 or moon, or | star, | 7 through-out the year, 7 | 7 Or | man or woman. | 77 | Yet I | argue not | 7 A- | gainst | Heaven's | hand or | will, | 7 nor | bate a | jot 7 | 7 Of | heart or hope; 7 | 7 but | still bear | up and | steer Right onward. | 7 7 | What sup- | ports me | 7 7 | dost thou ask? | 777 The conscience, | friend 7 | 7 to have | lost them | over-plied 7 | 7 In | liberty's de- | fence, | 7 my | noble | task, 7 | 7 Of | which | all | Europe | rings 7 | 7 from | side to | side. 7777 | This thought | 7 might | lead me | 7 through the world's | vain mask 7 Con- | tent | 7 though | blind, 7 | 7 had I | no | better | guide. 7 7 7 7 | SONNET ON HIS BLINDNESS. Milton. When I consider | how my wide 7 life | 7 is spent 7 | And that one talent, | 7 which is | death to | hide, | Lodged with me | useless, | 7 though my | soul | moré | bent 7❘ 7 To serve therewith 7 my | Maker | 7 and pre- | sent 7 | 7 My true ac- | count, lest | he re- | turning | chide; 7 7 | Doth God ex-| act 7 | day | labor, |77| light de- | nied? | 7 I fondly | ask: |77|7 But | patience | 7 to pre- | vent 7 | | 7 That murmur, | soon re- | plies, 7 | God doth not need | Either man's work, | 7 or his own | gifts; 7 | who | best 7 | Bear his mild yoke, they serve him | best; | his | state 7 | 7 Is | kingly; | 7 7 | thousands at his | bidding | speed, | 7 And post o'er | land and ocean | 7 without | rest; | They also serve 7 who only stand 7 and | wait.7777 | APOSTROPHE TO LIGHT. Milton. Hail | holy | Light, 7 | 7 7 | offspring of | Heaven | first born, 7 | 77 Or of the e- | ternal | 7 7 | co-e- | ternal | beam, | 77 | May I ex- press thee | un- | blamed? 7 | 77| Since 7 | | God is | light, 7 | 7 And | never | 7 but in | unap-|proached | light 7 | Dwelt from e- | ternity, | 7 7 | dwelt | then in | thee, 7 | 77 | Bright | effluence | 7 of | bright | essence | incre- | ate 7 | 77 | 7 7 | 7 Or | hear'st thou | rather, | 7 7 | pure e- | therial | stream, 7 | 7 7 | 7 Whose fountain | who shall | tell 7 | 77 | 7 Be- | fore the sun 7 | 7 Be- fore the | Heavens | thou | wert, 7 | 7 7 | and at the voice | 7 Of God 7 7 7 | as with a | mantle, | 7 didst in- | vest7 | |