Lyra Pastoralis Songs of Nature, Church, and Home: By Richard Wilton |
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The Church-Tower and the
Beech-Tree |
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 | Lyra Pastoralis |  |
The Church-Tower and the Beech-Tree
Behind a leafy Summer screen—
A bright expanse of living green,
A glimpse of our church-tower is seen:
A bright expanse of living green,
A glimpse of our church-tower is seen:
Only a glimpse can reach the eye
Through beechen branches broad and high—
A pinnacle against the sky.
Through beechen branches broad and high—
A pinnacle against the sky.
Window and pier and all beside
The boughs of that huge beech-tree hide,
To left and right outstretching wide.
The boughs of that huge beech-tree hide,
To left and right outstretching wide.
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And in that green, umbrageous bower,
Which circles and conceals the tower,
Murmurs the dove in Summer hour:
Which circles and conceals the tower,
Murmurs the dove in Summer hour:
And happy birds of various wing
Amongst the branches sit and sing
And make the holy echoes ring:
Amongst the branches sit and sing
And make the holy echoes ring:
While Summer breezes whisper by,
And Summer sunshine floods the sky,
And all the leaves dance merrily.
And Summer sunshine floods the sky,
And all the leaves dance merrily.
We feel the touch of sylvan glee,
And gazing on the full-leaved tree
Forget the tower we do not see.
And gazing on the full-leaved tree
Forget the tower we do not see.
And thus in that huge beech-tree green
A symbol of the World is seen
Obscuring Heaven as with a screen—
A symbol of the World is seen
Obscuring Heaven as with a screen—
As with a veil across the sky—
So thick that we can scarce descry
A glimmer of God's House on high;
So thick that we can scarce descry
A glimmer of God's House on high;
While Pleasure's soothing voice is heard,
And sunny hours are lightly stirred
With music—as of Summer bird.
And sunny hours are lightly stirred
With music—as of Summer bird.
Alas! our very comforts hide
The glories of the further side—
Too soon our hearts are satisfied.
The glories of the further side—
Too soon our hearts are satisfied.
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But Summer birds will cross the sea,
And Summer music silent be,
And winds will strip the great beech-tree.
And Summer music silent be,
And winds will strip the great beech-tree.
Then through the branches brown and sere
Window and buttress will appear,
And day by day will show more clear;
Window and buttress will appear,
And day by day will show more clear;
Until the perfect tower is seen
Behind the rent, transparent screen—
No muffling leaves to intervene.
Behind the rent, transparent screen—
No muffling leaves to intervene.
So when Earth's wingèd joys take flight,
And blessings wither from our sight,
And days are shorn of their delight:
And blessings wither from our sight,
And days are shorn of their delight:
When all Life's shelt'ring boughs are bare,
May we behold yon Temple fair
In strength and beauty standing there.
May we behold yon Temple fair
In strength and beauty standing there.
Welcome the storms which strip our bowers,
If we but see those golden towers,
And know, through Christ, that they are ours:
If we but see those golden towers,
And know, through Christ, that they are ours:
Let blasts of earthly care prevail,
Let earthly comforts fade and fail,
If Heav'n shines through the shattered veil!
Let earthly comforts fade and fail,
If Heav'n shines through the shattered veil!
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