Image the Nineteenth: The Treasures of the King's Palace

Ancient Sage, where going,
With thy glimmering light.
Where ilissus flowing
Marvels at the sight.
Like a living dream that wanders forth at night ?

Asking all he meeteth
Who will good disclose.
While the vision fleeteth,
And before him goes,
For th' undying spirit seeking sure repose.

Come thou here beholding,
In this woodland nook.
An aged man unfolding
His immortal Book,
In that silent mirror for himself to look.

And full much he needeth,
For this Book doth tell
Of a path that leadeth
To a living well
And a place where no one but the holy dwell.

Fast life's sands are going,
Sparkling as they run.
And for ever shewing
That ere setting sun
Much he hath to do, and much to be undone.

In this quiet haven
Pondering o'er his soul.
And how much is graven
On the solemn scroll,
"Which to worlds assembled Judgment shall unroll.

As his brow he raiseth,
Fix'd with pensive care,
On the Cross he gazeth
Drinking comfort there.
And his sins recounting mourns in silent prayer.

Peace to him be given !
Let us leave him now.
To his hopes of Heaven ; —
We must farther go
Where the woodland glen is opening from below.

Where the gleam reposes
In the quiet glade,
And a Church discloses
Its calm hallow'd shade,
Pastoral haunts among, meet for musing made.

Using not abusing
Gifts set by his side,
He in solemn musing
Walks with Him that died.
And in prayers and almsdeeds seeks his Heavenly guide.
Oft he, at each turning,
On the rocky road
Knows, the Cross discerning,
Where the Saints have trod,
And the narrow path that leadeth to his God.

Oft from mirth and sorrow,
And the scenes of men.
Here he turns to borrow
That calm peace again,
Fixing on the Cross his undisturbed ken.

Then shall Contemplation
To her haunts remove.
To her airy station
Troubled scenes above.
Till the world's vain shadows less his spirit move.

Then bright hopes are given,
Taste of holier things,
And he seems to Heaven
Borne on Angel's wings,
Like a bird we see not in the cloud that sings.

Come, my tale ascending,
Greater things have birth —
Human thoughts transcending
As the skies the earth, —
Lend thine ear to hear of things of endless worth.

For this feeble mortal
Eats Angelic food ;
Oh, in that dread portal
Let no thought intrude ; —
'Tis all unspeakable, awful, holy, good !

Hush, my soul, thou singest
Things that are too high.
To rude ears thou bringest
Secrets of the sky.
Pass the things of God in holy silence by.

If thy heart engages
Knowledge yet more wise.
Than the chief of sages
Brought down from the skies,
Read this hallow'd emblem with thine heart and eyes ;
Lo that bird that dwelleth,
In the wilderness,
And, as fable telleth,
With no vain caress
Doth her famish'd offspring to her bosom press.

Nor shall they to-morrow
. Make her lesson vain,
Nor forget her sorrow
Born and rear'd in vain,
But with their own life-blood others shall sustain.

Lo, in this man readeth
Mother's love divine,
Which from Heaven proceedeth, —
In each heart its shrine, —
Of th' Almighty's love the universal sign.

Mother's love, first, purest,
Which doth never tire,
Love which last endurest.
Heaven-descended fire,
Kindling every hearth, yet multiplied entire !

Happy he that passeth
Through this world of pain,
With a soul that glasseth.
Free from earthly stain.
Love of God— for ever in his heart to reign.

Happy he when sadness
Chance and change are o'er
And earth's sighing gladness
Wrings the heart no more.
Who shall see where Love lights up th' eternal shore.

Who would hoard earth's treasure
"When he Heaven may gain ?
Who would love vain pleasure
When he may attain
Joys at God's right hand for ever free from pain ?

Who would covet glory
Here the dead among,
Or renown in story.

When th' Archangel's tongue
Might pronounce his praises endless years along ?
Here, where death must sever.

Who would lean on love,
'When he may for ever
Have his God above.
Infinitely deeper than his thought can prove ?

Love is like the Ocean,
Ever fresh and strong.
Birth and life and motion.
Speed and strength and song,
Which the world surrounding keeps it green and young.

Love is ever flowing,
Flowing ever down ;
Love through all lands going,
From the Heavenly throne,
God's eternal city doth with gladness crown.

Come, thou soul that sinkest
On the desert plain,
Here of streams thou drinkest,
Ne'er to thirst again,
Which shall to thy resting feet and soul sustain.

Love on earth that grieveth
Tears of pain and shame,
God in Heaven receiveth
Covering it from blame
With th' enfolding mantle of th' Almighty Name.

Love for ever singeth,
Borne on glad desire.
And the blue deep wingeth.

Like a plume of fire.
As to Heaven it soareth higher still and higher.
Love for ever sinketh,
In his silent hour.
And of sorrow drinketh.

Like a dew-weigh'd flower,
As to earth it boweth lower still and lower.
Love for ever singeth
Banish'd from his God,
Still his spirit trieth
On the path He trod,
Still with hope undying cherisheth His rod.

Love his longings weaneth
From the things of sight.
And for ever leaneth
On immortal might.
And in spirit liveth a stern anchorite.

Waiting on what waiteth
Upon God above,
Hating that which hateth,
Loving all that love.
Moving as his spirit the great God doth move.

Love is ever praying,
Nor doth count the chime ;
Love is ever weighing
Heaven and Hell with Time,
Nor by casuist's measure notes and numbers crime.

And when this earth faileth
Love is strong as death.
Yea, o'er death prevaileth ;
Love like vital breath
Freed from fleshly chains the spirit cherisheth.