 | Lays of Leisure Hours |  |
490
AND SHALL I LONGER BEND AND BOW?
And shall I longer bend and bow
Beneath a blighted doom,
Nor seek to lift from off my life
This pall of crushing gloom?
Beneath a blighted doom,
Nor seek to lift from off my life
This pall of crushing gloom?
Why, Night herself boasts Worlds of light,
Her frowning Vault to pave—
And roses too are scattered o'er
The stern and shadowy Grave.
Her frowning Vault to pave—
And roses too are scattered o'er
The stern and shadowy Grave.
And shall unbroken darkness spread
Around me evermore?
No! though the dearest hopes be fled
That blessed my Soul before.
Around me evermore?
No! though the dearest hopes be fled
That blessed my Soul before.
491
Ah! Sunny World, thou'rt still as bright,
As smiling still art thou,
As when reflected was thy smile
From my once stainless brow!
As smiling still art thou,
As when reflected was thy smile
From my once stainless brow!
And clouds have liberty above,
And restless birds below,
While I am prisoned in my pain,
And wound about with woe!
And restless birds below,
While I am prisoned in my pain,
And wound about with woe!
But let me now make others' joys
Unenvyingly mine own—
And try once more to taste the bliss
Which I before have known!
Unenvyingly mine own—
And try once more to taste the bliss
Which I before have known!
For Oh! in this wide Sunny World
Deep bliss abideth still,
And they may taste that bliss and share,
Who strive with steadfast will.
Deep bliss abideth still,
And they may taste that bliss and share,
Who strive with steadfast will.
492
And much there is to snatch and glean,
If we but know the way—
And let the glorious light pour in
Upon our clouded day.
If we but know the way—
And let the glorious light pour in
Upon our clouded day.
Joy—joy is scattered far and wide
O'er all this Earthly scene,
And they may rest in peace and hope
Who long have mourners been.
O'er all this Earthly scene,
And they may rest in peace and hope
Who long have mourners been.
If but of the Universal Feast
These to partake consent,
Not on a single separate bliss
With selfish spirit bent!
These to partake consent,
Not on a single separate bliss
With selfish spirit bent!
Yes! I will dash this cloud away,
And fling this gloom aside—
'Twas not a hopeless fate that crushed—
'Twas selfishness and pride.
And fling this gloom aside—
'Twas not a hopeless fate that crushed—
'Twas selfishness and pride.
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