136 NIGHT SHOWETH KNOWLEDGE. And then they likewise shall Their ruin have; For as yourselves your empires fall, Thus those celestial fires, Though seeming mute, The fallacy of our desires, And all the pride of life, confute. For they have watch'd since first The world had birth; And found sin in itself accurst, And nothing permanent on earth. WILLIAM HABINGDON. THE LILY. OW withered, perished seems the form Yet from the blight of wintry storm It hides secure the precious fruit. The careless eye can find no grace, Yet in that bulb, those sapless scales, Till vernal suns and vernal gales Shall kiss once more her fragrant breast. Yes, hide beneath the mouldering heap, Oh! many a stormy night shall close And Ignorance, with sceptic eye, Hope's patient smile shall wondering view; Or mock her fond credulity, As her soft tears the spot bedew. Sweet smile of Hope! delicious tear! The promised verdant shoot appear, And Nature bid her blossoms bloom. And thou, O virgin Queen of Spring! Unveil thy charms, and perfume shed; THE LILY. Unfold thy robes of purest white, Unsullied from their darksome grave; And thy soft petals' silvery light, In the mild breeze unfettered wave. So Faith shall seek the lowly dust, And watch with patient, cheerful eye; And bear the long, cold wintry night, TIGHE. 139 AD this effulgence disappeared With flying haste, I might have sent, Of blank astonishment; But 'tis endued with power to stay, And sanctify one closing day, That frail Mortality may see What is ?-ah no, but what can be! Time was when field and watery cove With modulated echoes rang, While choirs of fervent angels sang Their vespers in the grove; |