At last, far off, at last, to all, And every winter change to spring. So runs my dream: but what am I? III. O THOU that after toil and storm May'st seem to have reached a purer air, Nor cares to fix itself to form, Leave thou thy sister, when she prays, A life that leads melodious days. Her faith through form is pure as thine, To which she links a truth divine! See thou, that countest reason ripe IV. RING out, wild bells, to the wild sky, Ring out the old, ring in the new, Ring, happy bells, across the snow: The year is going, let him go; Ring out the false, ring in the true. Ring out the grief that saps the mind, For those that here we see no more; Ring out the feud of rich and poor, Ring in redress to all mankind. Ring out a slowly dying cause, And ancient forms of party strife; Ring in the nobler modes of life, With sweeter manners, purer laws. Ring out the want, the care, the sin, The faithless coldness of the times: Ring out, ring out my mournful rhymes, But ring the fuller minstrel in. Ring out false pride in place and blood, Ring in the love of truth and right, Ring in the common love of good. Ring out old shapes of foul disease, Ring out the narrowing lust of gold; Ring out the thousand wars of old, Ring in the thousand years of peace. Ring in the valiant man and free, The larger heart, the kindlier hand; Ring out the darkness of the land, Ring in the Christ that is to be. 11 James Montgomery. 1771. MAN IMMORTAL. MAN, to this narrow sphere confined, Whence this inheritance of hope? It is not thus ; it cannot be, With views that reach eternity, Should shine and vanish like a cloud: There is, TO ONE IN AFFLICTION. LIFT up thine eyes, afflicted soul! Their rounds of glory run, Where science lends thee to explore In every star a sun. Thus when some long loved comfort ends, And nature would despair, Faith to the heaven of heaven ascends, And meets ten thousand there; First faint and small, then clear and bright, And stars, that seem but points of light, |