 | My Mind and its Thoughts, in Sketches, Fragments, and Essays |  |
STANZAS.
INTENDED FOR A YOUNG ECCLESIASTIC, RECENTLY ORDAINED ONE OF THE PASTORS OF THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH.
In apology—It is observed, that these Stanzas were immediate upon hearing a Sermon by the young Priest, enforcing “the Duty of Penance”—on which very solemn occasion some among the more youthful females appearing to be rather too much charmed, it was thought that the injunction, seemingly intended for the Pastor, might not be wholly lost upon the Penitent.
In apology—It is observed, that these Stanzas were immediate upon hearing a Sermon by the young Priest, enforcing “the Duty of Penance”—on which very solemn occasion some among the more youthful females appearing to be rather too much charmed, it was thought that the injunction, seemingly intended for the Pastor, might not be wholly lost upon the Penitent.
What is the world's unhallowed charm,
To one whom martyr'd saints regard;
Calm is the pulse, the nerves are calm,
When mortals rest on heaven's reward.
To one whom martyr'd saints regard;
Calm is the pulse, the nerves are calm,
When mortals rest on heaven's reward.
And thou, like him whose TRUST
is thine,
Whose genius sheds its rays on thee,
Must every flower of earth resign,
For treasures of eternity.
Whose genius sheds its rays on thee,
Must every flower of earth resign,
For treasures of eternity.
Canst thou the fruits of pleasure scorn!
Wilt thou of wealth the hoards despise,
Gazing on gifts that life adorn,
With quiet undesiring eyes?
Wilt thou of wealth the hoards despise,
Gazing on gifts that life adorn,
With quiet undesiring eyes?
Canst thou, while others warm, grow cold,
Wilt thou while beauty kneels be blind;
Though cast in Nature's finest mould—
As if to Nature's self unkind?
Wilt thou while beauty kneels be blind;
Though cast in Nature's finest mould—
As if to Nature's self unkind?
Then, Pastor, to the heavens remove,
Let angels thy companions be;
Wants of the world, its hate, its love,
Are feelings unapproach'd by thee.
Let angels thy companions be;
Wants of the world, its hate, its love,
Are feelings unapproach'd by thee.
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Thee—bound to duty's rigid breast,
To penance, and its pains resign'd,
The passions of the soul suppress'd—
Recall'd the wandering thoughts of mind.
To penance, and its pains resign'd,
The passions of the soul suppress'd—
Recall'd the wandering thoughts of mind.
While some are doubting, some admiring,
Be thine the saintly teacher's part,
From the unholy world retiring,
To learn the sacrifice of heart.
Be thine the saintly teacher's part,
From the unholy world retiring,
To learn the sacrifice of heart.
To search the path his steps have trod,
Thy bishop blest—whose life divine
Moves gently onward to his God,
The lesson of that life is thine.
Thy bishop blest—whose life divine
Moves gently onward to his God,
The lesson of that life is thine.
| My Mind and its Thoughts, in Sketches, Fragments, and Essays | |