The Isles of Loch Awe and Other Poems of my Youth With Sixteen Illustrations. By Philip Gilbert Hamerton |
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TO B. H.
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 | The Isles of Loch Awe and Other Poems of my Youth |  |
266
TO B. H.
CHRIST CHURCH, OXFORD.
My passionate love of nature and of truth
Has made me over-wise;
Yet I had pleasant dreams in early youth,
Which you will realise.
Has made me over-wise;
Yet I had pleasant dreams in early youth,
Which you will realise.
I love too well the free, exciting search
Of God's own scriptured works
To be a priest in any human church,
Where doubt obscurely lurks.
Of God's own scriptured works
To be a priest in any human church,
Where doubt obscurely lurks.
And yet I know that all things are of God,
By whom all things are made—
Dark cloisters which monastic feet have trod,
And sunny forest glade;
By whom all things are made—
Dark cloisters which monastic feet have trod,
And sunny forest glade;
And that the sacred office you will bear,
And that your churches, dim
To eyes accustomed to the outer air,
Were all ordained by Him.
And that your churches, dim
To eyes accustomed to the outer air,
Were all ordained by Him.
267
And so I wish you heartily success
In all that you desire,
A long career of happy usefulness—
One cannot look much higher!
In all that you desire,
A long career of happy usefulness—
One cannot look much higher!
I see you in your surplice, snowy white,
Within the altar-rail;
Or in the pulpit, teaching what is right;
And may your words prevail!
Within the altar-rail;
Or in the pulpit, teaching what is right;
And may your words prevail!
Let all your doctrine be sincere and kind;
Let hate and bitterness
Dwell neither on your lips nor in your mind,
And curse not—only bless.
Let hate and bitterness
Dwell neither on your lips nor in your mind,
And curse not—only bless.
We cannot judge each other. Force and fear
Condemn, but cannot prove;
But of your order some we all revere,
Whom all good men may love.
Condemn, but cannot prove;
But of your order some we all revere,
Whom all good men may love.
You will be like them—I can freely trust
Your human nature here;
You will be good and gentle, and you must,
Because you are sincere.
Your human nature here;
You will be good and gentle, and you must,
Because you are sincere.
Your life has been consistent with its aim;
Your youth so chaste and pure,
That Love will light you with his brightest flame
To where he dwells secure.
Your youth so chaste and pure,
That Love will light you with his brightest flame
To where he dwells secure.
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Some maiden will forget her gilded book,
And often lose her place,
To wander towards the reading-desk, and look
For doctrine in your face.
And often lose her place,
To wander towards the reading-desk, and look
For doctrine in your face.
And she will think the freshness of your skin,
And your pale golden hair,
Signs that an angel-spirit dwells within
A house so clean and fair.
And your pale golden hair,
Signs that an angel-spirit dwells within
A house so clean and fair.
And may she be, my dear old friend, to you
A true and faithful wife—
A sweet companion on the journey through
The sunny lands of life!
A true and faithful wife—
A sweet companion on the journey through
The sunny lands of life!
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