 | Carol and Cadence |  |
QUIA AMORE LANGUEO.
That which of the pleasant Prime,
Of the splendid summer hours,
Of the sad enchanted time
Of the mists and snows and showers,
Of the Winter and the Spring,
Clouds and sunshine, flowers and trees,
Skies and butterflies and bees,
Willy nilly, makes me sing,
That which of the beasts and birds
Makes me carol with winged words,
Like the lark-notes on the breeze,
Neither lore nor art nor skill
Is nor stress of straining thought,
Into measured music wrought
By the labour of the will:
Nay, a higher 'tis than these,
Otherwhat, beyond, above;
'Tis the power by which they are,
That which moveth sun and star,
'Tis the world-creator, Love.
Of the splendid summer hours,
Of the sad enchanted time
Of the mists and snows and showers,
Of the Winter and the Spring,
Clouds and sunshine, flowers and trees,
Skies and butterflies and bees,
224
That which of the beasts and birds
Makes me carol with winged words,
Like the lark-notes on the breeze,
Neither lore nor art nor skill
Is nor stress of straining thought,
Into measured music wrought
By the labour of the will:
Nay, a higher 'tis than these,
Otherwhat, beyond, above;
'Tis the power by which they are,
That which moveth sun and star,
'Tis the world-creator, Love.
Love for plant and bird and beast
Hath in me the major part;
Love for Nature's most and least
Thrones it in my heart of heart:
Not that men withal I hate;
But the things which fly and fare
On the earth and in the air
More at one with me I rate;
Better, purer, to my mind,
Kinder are they than my kind.
Birds, beasts, flowers and breezes share
Not alone my hours of ease,
But my sadder sorrier case
Cheer and solace; wherefore these
All of Nature's humbler race,
All the beasts that burdens bear,
All the birds upon the wing,
All the things of sea and shore,
Wood and meadow, more and more,
Year by year, I love and sing.
Hath in me the major part;
Love for Nature's most and least
Thrones it in my heart of heart:
Not that men withal I hate;
But the things which fly and fare
On the earth and in the air
More at one with me I rate;
Better, purer, to my mind,
Kinder are they than my kind.
Birds, beasts, flowers and breezes share
Not alone my hours of ease,
But my sadder sorrier case
Cheer and solace; wherefore these
All of Nature's humbler race,
All the beasts that burdens bear,
All the birds upon the wing,
All the things of sea and shore,
Wood and meadow, more and more,
Year by year, I love and sing.
| Carol and Cadence | |