 | Ballads of the North and Other Poems |  |
And because mortal sorrow needs must fall
On all men, and the highest most of all,
And some sharp struggle crowns each perfecting,
And that our lower love no shield can bring
On all men, and the highest most of all,
And some sharp struggle crowns each perfecting,
And that our lower love no shield can bring
Between thee and the higher Love to stand,
That strikes for Love's own sake unfaltering,—
That strikes for Love's own sake unfaltering,—
Therefore when thou too stretchest out thy hand
For help, when thy need cometh, doubt, or pain,
Or loss, or other anguish of this earth,
And though we died for thee our death were vain,
And though we gave all it were nothing worth,
And of the many thousands whom thy face
Hath comforted, can none return the grace,
Being less than thee,—may the one Higher One
Do to thee even as thou to us hast done,
O Soother of our sorrows! May'st thou see,
Steadfastly gazing towards Eternity,
The heavens opened, and at God's right hand
With the same smile as once thy Master stand;—
Nor only so, but come down from His place,
And stand beside thee, and His arms embrace
Nor ever let thy hand go, holding fast,
Till all the tyranny be overpast.
For help, when thy need cometh, doubt, or pain,
Or loss, or other anguish of this earth,
And though we died for thee our death were vain,
And though we gave all it were nothing worth,
And of the many thousands whom thy face
Hath comforted, can none return the grace,
Being less than thee,—may the one Higher One
Do to thee even as thou to us hast done,
O Soother of our sorrows! May'st thou see,
Steadfastly gazing towards Eternity,
91
With the same smile as once thy Master stand;—
Nor only so, but come down from His place,
And stand beside thee, and His arms embrace
Nor ever let thy hand go, holding fast,
Till all the tyranny be overpast.
| Ballads of the North and Other Poems | |