Dramatic Scenes With Other Poems, Now First Printed. By Barry Cornwall [i.e. Bryan Waller Procter]. Illustrated |
 |
 | 1. |
| 2. |
| 3. |
|
ABOVE AND BELOW. |
 | Dramatic Scenes |  |
292
ABOVE AND BELOW.
Look forth, into the azure there!
Gaze your soul out upon the blue!
Now, tell me what you see so fair,
And what that fair reflects on you?
Gaze your soul out upon the blue!
Now, tell me what you see so fair,
And what that fair reflects on you?
293
Is Love there?—Joy?—is airy Hope?
Dwell they all there, amid the stars?
Or are they still beyond your scope,
Which some terrestrial error bars?
Dwell they all there, amid the stars?
Or are they still beyond your scope,
Which some terrestrial error bars?
You see nought: but, you say, some dream
Inspires you to sublimer ends;
And that you rise up to a theme,
Which lifts you as itself ascends.
Inspires you to sublimer ends;
And that you rise up to a theme,
Which lifts you as itself ascends.
Well!—even here the lily blooms;
The rose is opening in the sun:
On every leaf are hung perfumes:
From every branch a wreath is won.
The rose is opening in the sun:
On every leaf are hung perfumes:
From every branch a wreath is won.
Beneath this rough rock, stained by Time,
The sparkling brooklet runs and sings;
And half-way up the brambles climb;
And from its top the acacia springs.
The sparkling brooklet runs and sings;
And half-way up the brambles climb;
And from its top the acacia springs.
The daisy laughs upon the sward;
The violet sleeps within her nest:
Ah!—Nature ever yields reward
To him who seeks, and loves her best.
The violet sleeps within her nest:
Ah!—Nature ever yields reward
To him who seeks, and loves her best.
Now, for a moment, turn your sight,
To where this tiniest worm expands
His emerald armour in the light,
Like a dragon from the haunted lands.
To where this tiniest worm expands
His emerald armour in the light,
Like a dragon from the haunted lands.
294
Look thro' this wizard glass, and own
How muscles swell; how pulses beat;
How Life, that wonder never known,
Dwells in this thing, from head to feet;
How muscles swell; how pulses beat;
How Life, that wonder never known,
Dwells in this thing, from head to feet;
Dwells in those parts no eye can reach,
No touch—the tenderest—but must harm,
So infinitely small is each:
And yet, the heart's blood runneth warm,
No touch—the tenderest—but must harm,
So infinitely small is each:
And yet, the heart's blood runneth warm,
And appetites pervade this shape,
And Love, and Joy, and Hope, and Fear,
(Such as your upward eyes escape,)
God's agents,—all are dwelling here.
And Love, and Joy, and Hope, and Fear,
(Such as your upward eyes escape,)
God's agents,—all are dwelling here.
Ah, friend!—Not always gaze above;
But cast your looks below,—around:
Beside you dwelleth Human Love,
And Heavenly Wonders on the ground.
But cast your looks below,—around:
Beside you dwelleth Human Love,
And Heavenly Wonders on the ground.
| Dramatic Scenes | |