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[I.]
“Art thou not sad, O sea,
That o'er thee rest the cloud-banks of the night
Shot through by no moon-beams?—
That vainly foam thy waves?
The darkness knows not they are crested white:
The darkness heeds not and against its might,
Striveth thy heart in vain?”
That o'er thee rest the cloud-banks of the night
Shot through by no moon-beams?—
That vainly foam thy waves?
The darkness knows not they are crested white:
The darkness heeds not and against its might,
Striveth thy heart in vain?”
The sea made answer: “vast the darkness is,
But I am greater, and my waves afar
Stretch on into the brightness of the day:
Consoled thereby
Here I endure the night;
Though on my lidless eye
Ever the darkness presses with a weight,
Slumbering I may not 'scape.
I may not dream like men, and let it by.”
But I am greater, and my waves afar
Stretch on into the brightness of the day:
Consoled thereby
Here I endure the night;
Though on my lidless eye
Ever the darkness presses with a weight,
Slumbering I may not 'scape.
I may not dream like men, and let it by.”
'Tis thus God works in gladness and in gloom,
Both equal and immeasurable both:
He bears the gloom by strength the gladness lends,
No joy, because it is a joy, refused,
No pain eluded though 'tis infinite.
Therefore, O human soul,
These are my words to thee,
Take thou thy part with Him
And be thy work like His:
Would'st thou have joy? endurance is the price:
Murmur not, since He also pays the like:
Thou dost but drink the cup the mighty drinks.
Both equal and immeasurable both:
He bears the gloom by strength the gladness lends,
No joy, because it is a joy, refused,
No pain eluded though 'tis infinite.
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These are my words to thee,
Take thou thy part with Him
And be thy work like His:
Would'st thou have joy? endurance is the price:
Murmur not, since He also pays the like:
Thou dost but drink the cup the mighty drinks.
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