The Chivalry of Labour Exhorted to the Worship of Beauty

Our world oft turns in gloom, and Life hath many a
perilous way,
Yet there's no path so desolate and thorny, cold and
gray,
But Beauty as a Beacon burns above the dark of
strife,
And like an Alchemist she turns all things to golden
life.
On human hearts her presence droppeth precious
manna down;
On human brows her glory gathers like a coming
crown:
Her smile lights up Life's troubled stream, and Love,
the swimmer! lives;
And O 'tis brave to battle for the guerdon that she
gives!
Then let us worship Beauty with the knightly faith of
old,
O Chivalry of Labour toiling for the Age of Gold!

The first-fruits of the Past at Beauty's shrine are
offer' d up,
From which a vintage meet for Gods she crusheth
in her cup:
And from the living Present doth she press the rare
new wine,
To glad the hearts of all her lovers with a draught
divine.
Earth's crowning miracle! she comes! with blessing
lips, that part
Like mid-May's rose flusht open with the fragrance
of her heart:
And life turns to her colour — kindles with her light —
like flowers
That garner up the golden fire, and suck the mellow
showers.
Come let us worship Beauty with the knightly faith
of old,
O Chivalry of Labour toiling for the Age of Gold!

Come let us worship Beauty where the budding Spring
doth flower,
And lush green leaves and grasses flush out sweeter
every hour;

Or Summer's tide of splendour floods the lap o' the
World once more,
With riches like a sea that surges jewels on its
shore.

Come feel her ripening influence when Morning feasts
our eyes —
Thro' open gates of glory — with a glimpse of Pa-
radise:

Or queenly Night sits crowned, smiling down the
purple gloom,
And Stars, like Heaven's fruitage, melt i' the glory of
their bloom.
Come let us worship Beauty with the knightly faith
of old,
O Chivalry of Labour toiling for the Age of Gold!

Come from the den of darkness and the city's soil of
sin,
Put on your radiant Manhood, and the Angel's bless-
ing win!
Where wealthier sunlight comes from Heaven, like
welcome-smiles of God,
And Earth's blind yearnings leap to life in flowers, from
out the sod:
Come worship Beauty in the forest-temple, dim and
hush,
Where stands Magnificence dreaming! and God burn-
eth in the bush:
Or where the old hills worship with their silence for a
psalm,
Or Ocean's weary heart doth keep the sabbath of its
calm.
Come let us worship Beauty with the knightly faith of
old,
O Chivalry of Labour toiling for the Age of Gold!

Come let us worship Beauty: she hath subtle power
to start
Heroic word and deed out-flashing from the humblest
heart!

Great feelings will gush unawares, and freshly as the
first
Rich Rainbow that up startled Heaven in tearful
splendour burst.
O blessed are her lineaments, and wondrous are her
ways
To re-picture God's worn likeness in the faded human
face!

Our bliss shall richly overbrim like sunset in the west,
And we shall dream immortal dreams, and banquet
with the Blest:
Then let us worship Beauty with the knightly faith
of old,
O Chivalry of Labour toiling for the Age of Gold!