 | The poetical works of James Montgomery |  |
SPEED THE PROW.
Not the ship that swiftest saileth,
But which longest holds her way
Onward, onward, never faileth,
Storm and calm, to win the day;
Earliest she the haven gains,
Which the hardest stress sustains.
But which longest holds her way
Onward, onward, never faileth,
Storm and calm, to win the day;
Earliest she the haven gains,
Which the hardest stress sustains.
O'er life's ocean, wide and pathless,
Thus would I with patience steer;
No vain hope of journeying scathless,
No proud boast to face down fear;
Dark or bright his Providence,
Trust in God be my defence.
Thus would I with patience steer;
No vain hope of journeying scathless,
No proud boast to face down fear;
Dark or bright his Providence,
Trust in God be my defence.
Time there was,—'tis so no longer,—
When I crowded every sail,
Battled with the waves, and stronger
Grew, as stronger grew the gale;
But my strength sunk with the wind,
And the sea lay dead behind.
When I crowded every sail,
Battled with the waves, and stronger
Grew, as stronger grew the gale;
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And the sea lay dead behind.
There my bark had founder'd surely,
But a Power invisible
Breathed upon me;—then securely,
Borne along the gradual swell,
Helm, and shrouds, and heart renew'd,
I my humbler course pursued.
But a Power invisible
Breathed upon me;—then securely,
Borne along the gradual swell,
Helm, and shrouds, and heart renew'd,
I my humbler course pursued.
Now, though evening shadows blacken,
And no star comes through the gloom,
On I move, nor will I slacken
Sail, though verging tow'rds the tomb:
Bright beyond,—on heaven's high strand,
Lo, the lighthouse!—land, land, land!
And no star comes through the gloom,
On I move, nor will I slacken
Sail, though verging tow'rds the tomb:
Bright beyond,—on heaven's high strand,
Lo, the lighthouse!—land, land, land!
Cloud and sunshine, wind and weather,
Sense and sight, are fleeing fast;
Time and tide must fail together,
Life and death will soon be past;
But where day's last spark declines,
Glory everlasting shines.
Sense and sight, are fleeing fast;
Time and tide must fail together,
Life and death will soon be past;
But where day's last spark declines,
Glory everlasting shines.
1834.
| The poetical works of James Montgomery | |