The Christ, in piety assured,
The anguish of his cross endured:
Such pangs did Jewish bigots try
On him who taught us how to die.

Mid prison-walls, the sage could trust
That men would grow more wise and just;
From Calvary's mount, the Christ could see
The dawn of immortality.

Who know to live, and know to die,

Their souls are safe, their triumph nigh:

Power may oppress, and priestcraft ban;
Justice and faith are God in man.

LXIII.

O LOVE! thou makest all things even
In earth or heaven;

Finding thy way through prison-bars
Up to the stars;

Or, true to the Almighty plan,
That out of dust created man,

Thou lookest in a grave,

Thine immortality!

to see

How happy is he born and taught,
Who serveth not another's will-

Whose armour is his honest thought,
And simple truth his only skill!

Whose passions not his masters are;
Whose soul is still prepared for death,
Untied to this vain world by care
Of public fame, or private breath!

This man is freed from servile bands,
Of hope to rise, or fear to fall;
Lord of himself, though not of lands,
And having nothing, yet hath all.

LXV.

As earth's pageant passes by,
Let reflection turn thine eye
Inward, and observe thy breast;
There alone dwells solid rest.

That's a close immured tower,
Which can mock all hostile power;

To thyself a tenant be,

And inhabit safe and free.

Say not that this house is small,

Girt up

in a narrow wall;

In a cleanly, sober mind,

Heaven itself full room doth find.

The infinite Creator can

Dwell in it; and may not man ?
Here, content, make thy abode
With thyself and with thy God.

LXVI.

HOPE, though slow she be, and late, Yet outruns swift time and fate; And aforehand loves to be

With most remote futurity.

Hope is comfort in distress;
Hope is in misfortune bliss;
Hope, in sorrow, is delight;
Hope is day in darkest night.

Hope casts anchor upward, where

Storms durst never domineer;

Trust; and Hope will welcome thee

From storms to full security.

SEE the leaves around us falling,

Dry and withered, to the ground; Thus to thoughtless mortals calling, With a sweet and solemn sound:

66

Yearly in our course returning, Messengers of shortest stay; We come to give the yearly warning, Heaven and earth shall pass away."

On the tree of life eternal,

O let all our hopes be laid;

This alone, for ever vernal,

Bears a leaf that shall not fade.

LXVIII.

He who walks in virtue's way,
Firm and fearless, walketh surely;
Diligent while yet 'tis day,

On he speeds, and speeds securely: Flowers of peace beneath him grow;

Suns of pleasure brighten o'er him; Memory's joys behind him go;

Hope's sweet angels fly before him.

Thus he moves from stage to stage, Smiles of earth and heaven attending; Softly sinking down in age,

And at last to death descending:
Cradled in its quiet deep,

Calm as summer's loveliest even,
He shall sleep the hallowed sleep,—
Sleep that is o'erwatched by heaven.

LXIX.

The glories of our mortal state

Are shadows, not substantial things; There is no armour against fate— Death lays his icy hand on kings: Sceptre and crown

Must tumble down,

And in the dust be equal made

With the poor crooked scythe and spade :

Only the actions of the just

Smell sweet and blossom in the dust.

D