Amenophis and Other Poems Sacred and Secular by Francis T. Palgrave |
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XLON THE LOVE OF CHILDREN
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 | Amenophis and Other Poems Sacred and Secular |  |
102
XL
ON THE LOVE OF CHILDREN
To that green hill, the shepherds' haunt,
Why speed the children's feet?
And who the Youth that sits alone,
The clamorous flock to greet?
Why speed the children's feet?
And who the Youth that sits alone,
The clamorous flock to greet?
His hands are laid above their heads,
Their faces at His knee:
His looks are looks of love; yet seem
Something beyond to see.
Their faces at His knee:
His looks are looks of love; yet seem
Something beyond to see.
The simple townsmen cross the hill,
And bid the throng away,
‘Nor press around the stranger youth,
Nor by the fold delay.’
And bid the throng away,
‘Nor press around the stranger youth,
Nor by the fold delay.’
As one who smiles and wakes, He lifts
A child upon His knee:
‘God's kingdom is of such as these;
So let them come to Me.’
A child upon His knee:
‘God's kingdom is of such as these;
So let them come to Me.’
—Ah, Lord and Christ! Thy perfect heart
No fond excess could touch!
But man's best strength is feebleness,
And we may love too much!
No fond excess could touch!
But man's best strength is feebleness,
And we may love too much!
103
Yet maim'd the man, or poor in blood,
Who glows not with delight
Whene'er the little ones go by
In casual daily sight;
Who glows not with delight
Whene'er the little ones go by
In casual daily sight;
Or when the child at mother's knee,
His altar, lisps a prayer,
And perfect faith, and utter love,
And Christ Himself, is there;
His altar, lisps a prayer,
And perfect faith, and utter love,
And Christ Himself, is there;
Or when the little hands are clasp'd
To beg some baby grace,
And all the beauty of the dawn
Comes rose-red o'er the face;
To beg some baby grace,
And all the beauty of the dawn
Comes rose-red o'er the face;
Or when some elder one from sport
Her smaller sister wiles,
And two bright heads o'ershade the book;
Half study, and half smiles.
Her smaller sister wiles,
And two bright heads o'ershade the book;
Half study, and half smiles.
—Ah, Lord and Christ! Thy perfect heart
No fond excess could touch!
Yet when that innocence we see,
How can we love too much?
No fond excess could touch!
Yet when that innocence we see,
How can we love too much?
They twine around our heart of hearts;
Their spell we seek in vain;—
Go, ask the linnet why he sings,—
He can but sing again!
Their spell we seek in vain;—
Go, ask the linnet why he sings,—
He can but sing again!
104
To winter-life their bloom and breath
Renew a later spring,
O dewy roses of the dawn,
Fresh from God's gardening!
Renew a later spring,
O dewy roses of the dawn,
Fresh from God's gardening!
Earth's treasures waste with use; but Thine,
O Lord! by lessening grow;
From love's pure fount the more we take,
The more the waters flow.
O Lord! by lessening grow;
From love's pure fount the more we take,
The more the waters flow.
How should we prize the things unseen,
Not prizing what we see?
How turn away Thy little ones
Without forbidding Thee?
Not prizing what we see?
How turn away Thy little ones
Without forbidding Thee?
The Shepherd wills not we should stint
Or count our kisses o'er;
Nor bids us love His lambs the less,
But Him Who loves them, more.
Or count our kisses o'er;
Nor bids us love His lambs the less,
But Him Who loves them, more.
| Amenophis and Other Poems Sacred and Secular | |