In low and sensual pleasures, such as bind Yon heedless revellers, in folly's den. Excitement dost thou need? Go, seek it then In strenuous thought, intent all truth to know; In action seek it, mid thy fellow men ; In virtuous feeling find it; raise the low, Direct the erring, dry the tears that flow, And bid thy light, the light of virtue, shine: So shalt thou need nor feast, nor sparkling wine, Thy thought to feed, or bid thy fancy glow. The Junior Sophister has learned, at length, The Clubs' mysterious brotherhood assert Its kindling power o'er feelings else inert, Ambition rousing, with high hopes combined, That long o'er life their potent sway exert. External nature borrows half its grace From mind, which, kindled by its native fires, To sorrow's leaden eye, creation's face Is clothed in gloom, and discontent retires Sullen from loveliest scenes; while tempests bring But nobler music, on their sounding wing, To hearts attuned to harmony within. Hence earth is what man makes it; to the low, The weak, the sordid, one wide den of wo, Of base compulsion, and ignoble sin; But lovely to the good, and to the wise, To such, all earth is lovely; and this frame Of things created, whether great or small, From insect atoms to earth's pendent ball, Each hath its charm and glory, each its claim, Its scope, its purpose, its peculiar aim, II. Nor was this fellowship vouchsafed to me WORDSWORTH. Where'er we turn, the Beautiful is still Within and round us; seen in hill and dale, Of wild wood warblers, pouring on the gale Of manly thoughts, and feelings that incline To vituous deeds; nor seen more lovely, clear, In beauty's smile, than pity's generous tear. These mould the ductile thoughts, thegraceful shrine Of Taste adorn, and beauty's arbour rear, Sky-lighted, mantled with the clustering vine. III. A truth, which through our being then doth melt, BYRON. Who loves not beauty? beauty in the grass, Of insect life, bird, beast, with beauty teems: Blends grace of form with beauties of the mind, Deep thought with generous feeling, reason joined With warm emotion: hence all charms combine Highest in virtuous action; hence the grace Loveliest of earthly forms, gives willing place. To moral beauty, where pure virtues shine; And hence, in happy bosoms, beauty's fruit Is hope, joy, love, devotion, from one root. THE BEAUTY OF HOLINESS. The high-born soul, Disdains to rest her heaven-aspiring wing AKENSIDE. Love is Devotion with a milder name; And Piety but turns that love from earth To highter hopes, and joys of nobler birth. Lovely, not less than sacred, is the flame Of pure devotion: earth, like heaven, may claim Heaven is but earth sublimed; and man may trace Emblems of holiness, and power divine, In earth-born loveliness of form and face, THE TRUTH OF NATURE. Truth is immortal: time and change but prey True thought, and genuine feeling never die : By tongue of orator inspired, whose sway, Feelings are roused, which time's rude hand must spare, With earth coeval, and her date to share. |