 | Lyra Pastoralis |  |
90
Nature and Duty
The sylvan floor was paved with flowers,
The pillared trees were arched with blue,
The bright-robed choir, amid the bowers,
Carolled sweet snatches as they flew.
The pillared trees were arched with blue,
The bright-robed choir, amid the bowers,
Carolled sweet snatches as they flew.
Vernal delights were in their prime,
And birds and blossoms joined to say,
“Come, give to us this sunny time,
In Nature's beauteous temple stay.
And birds and blossoms joined to say,
“Come, give to us this sunny time,
In Nature's beauteous temple stay.
See how we flit from tree to tree,
See how we bloom without a care!
Come, taste our glorious liberty,
Our happy leisure stay and share.”
See how we bloom without a care!
Come, taste our glorious liberty,
Our happy leisure stay and share.”
Thus pleads each bird of dulcet tongue,
Thus spreads her wiles each painted flower,
Till from my heart they almost wrung
Compliance in that tempting hour.
Thus spreads her wiles each painted flower,
Till from my heart they almost wrung
Compliance in that tempting hour.
But Duty called my steps away,
And bade me close my ears and eyes,
And give to her the unbroken day
Far from birds' songs and beaming skies.
And bade me close my ears and eyes,
And give to her the unbroken day
Far from birds' songs and beaming skies.
And I obeyed her stern behest,
And turned from Nature's smiling bowers,
And to my arduous task addrest
The patient undistracted hours.
And turned from Nature's smiling bowers,
And to my arduous task addrest
The patient undistracted hours.
91
Then Duty wove a bower for me,
And hovered round on lightsome wing,
And scattered blossoms fair to see,
And, like a bird, began to sing.
And hovered round on lightsome wing,
And scattered blossoms fair to see,
And, like a bird, began to sing.
And there I sat awhile with joy
In Duty's inmost, radiant shrine,
Tasting God's peace without alloy,
And hearing melodies divine.
In Duty's inmost, radiant shrine,
Tasting God's peace without alloy,
And hearing melodies divine.
| Lyra Pastoralis | |