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 | The Poetical Works of (Richard Monckton Milnes) Lord Houghton |  |
122
A PRAYER.
Evil, every living hour,
Holds us in its wilful hand,
Save as thou, essential Power,
May'st be gracious to withstand:
Pain within the subtle flesh,
Heavy lids that cannot close,
Hearts that Hope will not refresh,—
Hand of healing! interpose.
Holds us in its wilful hand,
Save as thou, essential Power,
May'st be gracious to withstand:
Pain within the subtle flesh,
Heavy lids that cannot close,
Hearts that Hope will not refresh,—
Hand of healing! interpose.
Tyranny's strong breath is tainting
Nature's sweet and vivid air,
Nations silently are fainting
Or up-gather in despair:
Not to those distracted wills
Trust the judgment of their woes;
While the cup of anguish fills,
Arm of Justice! interpose.
Nature's sweet and vivid air,
Nations silently are fainting
Or up-gather in despair:
Not to those distracted wills
Trust the judgment of their woes;
While the cup of anguish fills,
Arm of Justice! interpose.
Pleasures night and day are hovering
Round their prey of weary hours,
Weakness and unrest discovering
In the best of human powers:
Ere the fond delusions tire,
Ere envenomed passion grows
From the root of vain desire,—
Mind of Wisdom! interpose.
Round their prey of weary hours,
Weakness and unrest discovering
In the best of human powers:
123
Ere envenomed passion grows
From the root of vain desire,—
Mind of Wisdom! interpose.
Now no more in tuneful motion
Life with love and duty glides;
Reason's meteor-lighted ocean
Bears us down its mazy tides;
Head is clear and hand is strong,
But our heart no haven knows;
Sun of Truth! the night is long,—
Let thy radiance interpose!
Life with love and duty glides;
Reason's meteor-lighted ocean
Bears us down its mazy tides;
Head is clear and hand is strong,
But our heart no haven knows;
Sun of Truth! the night is long,—
Let thy radiance interpose!
1841.
| The Poetical Works of (Richard Monckton Milnes) Lord Houghton | |