Why have I not a thousand thousand hearts, Lord of my soul! that they might all be thine? If thou approve,-the zeal thy smile imparts, How should it ever fail! can such a fire decline? Love pure and holy is a deathless fire; Its object heavenly, it must ever blaze: Eternal Love a God must needs inspire, When once he wins the heart and fits it for his praise. Self-love dismissed 'tis then we live indeed; In her embrace, death, only death is found; Oh! I would cry, that all the world might hear, Ye self-tormentors, love your God alone; Let his unequalled excellence be dear, Dear to your inmost souls, and make him all your own! They hear me not.-Alas! how fond to rove In endless chase of folly's specious lure! 'Tis here alone, beneath this shady grove, I taste the sweets of truth,-here only am secure. THE SWALLOW I AM fond of the swallow ;-I learn from her flight, How seldom on earth do we see her alight! It is on the wing that she takes her repose, Suspended and poised in the regions of air; 'Tis not in our fields that her sustenance grows, It is winged like herself, 'tis ethereal fare. She comes in the spring, all the summer she stays, So, true to our Love, we should covet his rays, And the place where he shines not immediately shun. Our light should be Love, and our nourishment prayer; In itself it is hurtful, as vile in its birth. 'Tis rarely, if ever, she settles below, And only when building a nest for her young; Let us leave it ourselves ('tis a mortal abode) THE TRIUMPH OF HEAVENLY LOVE DESIRED AH! reign, wherever man is found, When every human heart is thine. A thousand sorrows pierce my soul All hearts are cold, in every place, Thaw these of ice, and give us new! A FIGURATIVE DESCRIPTION OF THE PROCEDURE OF IN BRINGING A SOUL TO THE POINT OF SELF-RENUNCIATION AND ABSOLUTE ACQUIESCENCE 'Twas my purpose, on a day, Love was sporting in the tide; "Come," he said, "ascend! make haste, "Launch into the boundless waste." Many mariners were there, Love, with power divine supplied, Did I with resentment burn No:-" My soul," I cried, "be still! Next he hastened to convey Still, however, life was safe; And I saw him turn and laugh: Friend," he cried, "adieu! lie low "While the wintry storms shall blow; "When the spring has calmed the main, "You shall rise and float again." Soon I saw him, with dismay, How I trembled then and feared When my Love had disappeared! "Wilt thou leave me thus," I cried, "Whelmed beneath the rolling tide?" Vain attempt to reach his ear! Love was gone, and would not hear. "Ah! return, and love me still; "See me subject to thy will! "Frown with wrath, or smile with grace, "Only let me see thy face! "Evil I have none to fear, "All is good, if thou art near." I speak to them of sadness, These sweet and secret tidings I fly to scenes romantic For riot and confusion They barter things above, In this sequestered corner I And harmless as a child. No troubles here surprise me, I innocently play, While Providence supplies me |