 | Lyrical Poems |  |
210
VENI CREATOR
O Thou who, as our knowledge grows
In the world's latter days,
The more thou seem'st to clear the sky,
The more dost hide thy face:
In the world's latter days,
The more thou seem'st to clear the sky,
The more dost hide thy face:
—As ever-widening search reveals
The depth and breadth of ill
Scourging mankind through all the past,
And sweeping o'er us still:
The depth and breadth of ill
Scourging mankind through all the past,
And sweeping o'er us still:
As Science, forging day by day
Her close-link'd chain, withdraws
The once-felt touches of thy hand
For dumb organic laws:
Her close-link'd chain, withdraws
The once-felt touches of thy hand
For dumb organic laws:
As fears of change, and fears of doubt,
Unnerve the o'er-wrought mind,
Enfeebled 'mid its added strength,
'Mid all its seeing, blind:—
Unnerve the o'er-wrought mind,
Enfeebled 'mid its added strength,
'Mid all its seeing, blind:—
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The wider wisdom thou hast giv'n
Yet is not wholly gain;
The truer vision scathes our sight;
We cannot see thee plain.
Yet is not wholly gain;
The truer vision scathes our sight;
We cannot see thee plain.
Enlarge our hearts and purge our eyes
To bear thy nearer light!
The world's young ignorance is o'er;
Make us to know thee right.
To bear thy nearer light!
The world's young ignorance is o'er;
Make us to know thee right.
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