Poems and Essays By the late William Caldwell Roscoe. (Edited with a Prefatory Memoir, by his Brother-in-law, Richard Holt Hutton) |
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 | Poems and Essays |  |
97
II
[Then would I say, thou hadst a shape of beauty]
Then would I say, thou hadst a shape of beauty,And countenance both shamefast and serene;
Thy voice was low and pleading, and thy mien
A child-like sweetness mixed with dignity;
A most rare judgment hadst thou, which was seen
To rest on prayer more than authority;
Thence sprang thy wisdom, which did ever lean
On God, and move in perfect liberty.
Thy lofty courage hid itself in gentleness;
Thy spirit, quick at love's neglect to move,
Could never reach before thy swift forgiveness;
And such a soft dependence didst thou prove
With these great gifts, thou, like a babe, didst press
To rest in cherishing arms of those whom thou didst love.
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