With eyes so dewy bright, In every look and feature, To one long-wandering in a clouded night, VI. Early and late, at her soul's gate, No thoughts unchallenged, small or great, Nor may a low, unworthy thought Nor one, whose password is not "ought," I call her, seeing those pure eyes, Which she by gentle word and deed, Turneth my heart to this frail flower, And which from Nature's heart did draw Love, wisdom, peace, and Heaven's perfect law. LOVE'S ALTAR. I. I BUILT an altar in my soul, And ever silently I stole, In happy days of long-agone, To make rich offerings to that ONE. II. "T was garlanded with purest thought, And crowned with fancy's flowers bright, With choicest gems 't was all inwrought Of truth and feeling; in my sight It seemed a spot of cloudless light. III. Yet when I made my offering there, Like Cain's, the incense would not rise; Back on my heart down-sank the prayer, And altar-stone and sacrifice Grew hateful in my IV. tear-dimmed eyes. O'er-grown with age's mosses green, The little altar firmly stands; It is not, as it once hath been, A selfish shrine; these time-taught hands Bring incense now from many lands. V. Knowledge doth only widen love; The stream, that lone and narrow rose, Doth, deepening ever, onward move, And with an even current flows Calmer and calmer to the close. VI. The love, that in those early days Girt round my spirit like a wall, And flames, unpent by self's mean thrall, IMPARTIALITY. I. I CANNOT say a scene is fair II. I cannot say a thought is good Because it made thy heart o'erflow. III. I love thee for that thou art fair; With thine own dearest image fraught; BELLEROPHON. DEDICATED TO MY FRIEND, JOHN F. HEATH. I. I FEEL the bandages unroll Freed are the bright wings of my soul, Types of my god-like being; High thoughts are swelling in my heart In my soul's realm again! No more my spirit can be shaken Love hath pierced the shades that bound me; The universe's mystery, The mighty heart and core Of After and Before I see, and I am weak no more! II. Upward! upward evermore, A thousand isles with gentle motion A thousand isles of thousand hues, A purer, a diviner air; The earth is growing dimmer, The sun-light streameth red and clear, Love lifts us to the sun-light, Though the whole world would be dark; All else is but a fading spark; Love is the nectar which doth fill And, warming heart, and thought, and will, III. Each on his golden throne, I see the stars above me, The eyes of Fate, They wink not, nor do roll, The seeds of plants and forests lie So in the souls of all men wait, Undyingly the seeds of Fate; Chance breaks the clod and forth they spring, Filling blind men with wondering. Eternal stars! with holy awe, As if a present God I saw, IV. Of Knowledge Love is master-key, Each one doth make the other clear; So is the circle round and full, And so dear Love doth live and move And have his being, |