Lines in Pleasant Places Rhythmics of many moods and quantities. Wise and otherwise |
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SABBATH-DAY REFLECTIONS. |
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 | Lines in Pleasant Places |  |
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SABBATH-DAY REFLECTIONS.
O man! how pure, and true, and firm thou art,
And full of good resolve and purpose high,
When in the world thou'rt called to act thy part,
A man 'mongst men, beneath the common sky!
And full of good resolve and purpose high,
When in the world thou'rt called to act thy part,
A man 'mongst men, beneath the common sky!
There is no power can shake thy strong defence,
Impregnable, upon a rock 'tis built;
And though fierce storms assail to drive thee thence,
Within its arms unharmed remain thou wilt.
Impregnable, upon a rock 'tis built;
And though fierce storms assail to drive thee thence,
Within its arms unharmed remain thou wilt.
Art thou not able? art thou not a man?
And where there's manhood must not there be might?
Alas! we reason thus, and slightly scan
The allied powers against us in the fight.
And where there's manhood must not there be might?
Alas! we reason thus, and slightly scan
The allied powers against us in the fight.
The open foes that hem about our path
We may in sturdy conflict long withstand;
We may defy their threatenings of wrath,
And dare the fury of their hostile hand.
We may in sturdy conflict long withstand;
We may defy their threatenings of wrath,
And dare the fury of their hostile hand.
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But there be foes insidious that assail;
Not in the storm, nor in the battle's power,
But where the blandest airs of life prevail,
And in the calm of seeming safety's hour.
Not in the storm, nor in the battle's power,
But where the blandest airs of life prevail,
And in the calm of seeming safety's hour.
Amid the flowers the Passions smiling hide,
And weave about the soul their subtle thrall,
There in their ambuscade of ill to bide
Till Duty's voice has no more power to call.
And weave about the soul their subtle thrall,
There in their ambuscade of ill to bide
Till Duty's voice has no more power to call.
The strong man, maugre all his grand defence
And resolution that no power could sap,
Falls pronely down before the throne of sense,
Or slumbers idly in Delilah's lap.
And resolution that no power could sap,
Falls pronely down before the throne of sense,
Or slumbers idly in Delilah's lap.
Thus are we taught this lesson for our good:
To hold humility at priceless worth,
And in the weakness of our brotherhood
Regard the oneness of a common birth.
To hold humility at priceless worth,
And in the weakness of our brotherhood
Regard the oneness of a common birth.
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