 | [Poems by Whittier in] Personal recollections of John G. Whittier |  |
69
EPITHALAMIUM.
We give to grace another home
The fairest of our flowers,
For love itself must yield to love
With stronger claim than ours.
The fairest of our flowers,
70
With stronger claim than ours.
Go, with our best hopes and our prayers,
A sweet and happy bride:
No path of life can lead astray
Where love alone is guide.
A sweet and happy bride:
No path of life can lead astray
Where love alone is guide.
Go, rest thy heart upon a heart
And life with life ally:
That joy unshared is scarcely joy
Who better knows than I?
And life with life ally:
That joy unshared is scarcely joy
Who better knows than I?
With thanks for all that thou hast been,
And trust for what shall be,
We fling our blessings, with our shoes,
For good luck after thee.
And trust for what shall be,
We fling our blessings, with our shoes,
For good luck after thee.
May health and plenty, love and friends,
With God's peace, make alway
For thee and thine the happiest home
By fair Sandusky's Bay!
With God's peace, make alway
For thee and thine the happiest home
By fair Sandusky's Bay!
71
[Not for the doubtful rhyme within]
Not for the doubtful rhyme within
Nor outside gold,
Stranger or friend, I warn thee well,
Should this be sold;
Nor outside gold,
Stranger or friend, I warn thee well,
Should this be sold;
But freely for the sake of such
As homeless be,
Give thrice its worth and it shall prove
Cheap unto thee.
As homeless be,
Give thrice its worth and it shall prove
Cheap unto thee.
Amesbury, 12th Mo., 1873.
| [Poems by Whittier in] Personal recollections of John G. Whittier | |