 | The writings of James Russell Lowell |  |
85
VI.
1.
The longer on this earth we liveAnd weigh the various qualities of men,
Seeing how most are fugitive,
Or fitful gifts, at best, of now and then,
Wind-wavered corpse-lights, daughters of the fen,
The more we feel the high stern-featured beauty
Of plain devotedness to duty,
Steadfast and still, nor paid with mortal praise,
But finding amplest recompense
For life's ungarlanded expense
In work done squarely and unwasted days.
For this we honor him, that he could know
How sweet the service and how free
Of her, God's eldest daughter here below,
And choose in meanest raiment which was she.
2.
Placid completeness, life without a fallFrom faith or highest aims, truth's breachless wall,
Surely if any fame can bear the touch,
His will say “Here!” at the last trumpet's call,
The unexpressive man whose life expressed so much.
| The writings of James Russell Lowell | |