Then felt I like some watcher of the skies - JOHN KEATS. 5. ON HIS BLINDNESS. WHEN I consider how my light is spent, Ere half my days, in this dark world and wide, And that one talent, which is death to hide, Lodged with me useless, though my soul more bent To serve therewith my Maker, and present My true account, lest he, returning, chide; And post o'er land and ocean without rest; -JOHN MILTON. 6. TO MILTON. MILTON! thou shouldst be living at this hour; Of stagnant waters: altar, sword, and pen, Fireside, the heroic wealth of hall and bower, Have forfeited their ancient English dower Of inward happiness. We are selfish men: Oh! raise us up, return to us again; And give us manners, virtue, freedom, power. Thy soul was like a star, and dwelt apart : Thou hadst a voice whose sound was like the sea; Pure as the naked heavens, majestic, free; So didst thou travel on life's common way, In cheerful godliness; and yet thy heart The lowliest duties on itself did lay. - WILLIAM WORDSWORTH. 7. THE PARTING. SINCE there's no help, come let us kiss and part — That we one jot of former love retain. Now if thou would'st, when all have given him over, From death to life thou might'st him yet recover! 8. EASTER MORNING. Most glorious Lord of life, that on this day This joyous day, dear Lord, with joy begin, And grant that we, for whom Thou diddest die, Being with thy dear blood clean washed from sin, May live for ever in felicity: And that thy love we weighing worthily, May likewise love Thee for the same again : And for thy sake, that all like dear didst buy, With love may one another entertain. So let us love, dear Lord, like as we ought; THAT time of year thou mayst in me behold As after sunset fadeth in the west, Which by and by black night doth take away, That on the ashes of his youth doth lie, Consumed with that which it was nourish'd by. This thou perceivest, which makes thy love more strong, To love that well which thou must leave ere long. - WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE. IO. A LOVER'S LETTERS. My letters! all dead paper, mute and white! Against my tremulous hands which loose the string And let them drop down on my knee to-night. This said, he wished to have me in his sight Once, as a friend: this fixed a day in spring To come and touch my hand—a simple thing, Yet I wept for it! this the paper's light Said, Dear, I love thee; and I sank and quailed As if God's future thundered on my past. This said, I am thine- and so its ink has paled With lying at my heart that beat too fast : And this- O Love, thy words have ill availed, If, what this said, I dared repeat at last! — ELIZABETH BARRETT BROWNING. II. LIFE'S LESSONS. LORD, with what care hast Thou begirt us round! SAD is our youth, for it is ever going, In current unperceived, because so fleet; Of that which made our childhood sweeter still; |