University of Virginia Library

Search this document 
The Rainbow and The Rose

by E. Nesbit
Nesbit, E. (1858-1924)

collapse section 
[section]
  
[dedication]
collapse sectionI. 
I.
  
THE THINGS THAT MATTER.
  
THE CONFESSION.
  
WORK.
  
THE JILTED LOVER TO HIS MOTHER.
  
THE WILL TO LIVE.
  
THE BEATIFIC VISION.
collapse sectionII. 
II.
  
MUMMY WHEAT.
  
THE BEECH TREE.
  
IN ABSENCE.
  
SILENCE.
  
RAISON D'ÊTRE.
  
THE ONLOOKER.
  
THE TREE OF KNOWLEDGE.
  
AT PARTING.
  
SONG.
  
RENUNCIATION.
collapse sectionIII. 
III.
  
THE VEIL OF MAYA.
  
SONG.
  
TO VERA, WHO ASKED A SONG.
  
THE POET TO HIS LOVE.
  
THE MAIDEN'S PRAYER.
  
SONG.
  
THE MAGIC FLOWER.
  
LA DERNIÈRE ROBE DE SOIE.
  
THE LEAST POSSIBLE.
  
EN TOUT CAS.
  
APPEAL.
  
ST. VALENTINE'S DAY.
  
CHAGRIN D'AMOUR.
  
BRIDAL EVE.
  
LOVE AND LIFE.
  
FROM THE ITALIAN.
collapse sectionIV. 
IV.
  
“OUT OF THE FULNESS OF THE HEART THE MOUTH SPEAKETH.”
  
SUMMER SONG.
  
THE LOWER ROOM.
  
SONG.
  
MAY SONG.
collapse sectionV. 
V.
  
TO IRIS.
  
TO A CHILD.
  
BIRTHDAY TALK FOR A CHILD.
  
TO ROSAMUND.
  
FROM THE TUSCAN.
  
MOTHER SONG.
collapse sectionVI. 
VI.
  
THE ISLAND.
  
POSSESSION.
  
ACCESSION.
  
THE DESTROYER.
  
THE EGOISTS.
  
THE WAY OF LOVE.
  
TO ONE WHO PLEADED FOR CANDOUR IN LOVE.
  
THE ENCHANTED GARDEN.
  
THE POOR MAN'S GUEST.
  
IN THE SHALLOWS.
  
“AND THE RAINS DESCENDED AND THE FLOODS CAME.”
  
THE STAR.
collapse sectionVII. 
VII.
  
THE PRODIGAL SON.
  
DESPAIR.
  
THE TEMPTATION.
  
SECOND NATURE.
collapse sectionVIII. 
VIII.
  
THE OLD DISPENSATION.
collapse sectionIX. 
IX.
  
AFTER DEATH.
  
CHLOE.
  
INVOCATION.
  
THE LAST BETRAYAL.
  
TRUE LOVE AND NEW LOVE.
  
DEATH.
  
A PARTING.

collapse section Collapse All | Expand All expand section
previous section The Rainbow and The Rose
next section
16

THE BEATIFIC VISION.

Oh God! if I do my duty
And walk in the thorny way,
Will you pay me with heavens of beauty,
Millions of lives away?
Will you give me the music of heaven,
And the joy that none understands,
In place of what life would have given
If I had held out my hands?
I have lived in a narrow prison,
I have writhed 'neath a bitter creed,
And I dare to say that no heaven can pay
The renouncèd dream and deed,
But when my life's portal closes,
If you have no heaven to spare
God! give me a garden of roses,
And some one to walk with there.
previous section The Rainbow and The Rose
next section