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Home  »  The Sonnets of Europe  »  Santa Teresa de Ávila (1515–1582)

Samuel Waddington, comp. The Sonnets of Europe. 1888.

’Tis Not Thy Terrors, Lord

Santa Teresa de Ávila (1515–1582)

Translated by Sir John Bowring

’TIS not thy terrors, Lord, thy dreadful frown,

That keep my step in duty’s narrow path;

’Tis not the awful threatenings of Thy wrath,—

But that in virtue’s sacred smile alone

I find or peace or happiness. Thy light,

In all its prodigality, is shed

Upon the worthy and the unworthy head;

And Thou dost wrap in misery’s stormy night

The holy as the thankless. All is well;

Thy wisdom has to each his portion given;

Why should our hearts by selfishness be riven?

’Tis vain to murmur,—daring to rebel:

Lord, I would fear thee, though I feared not hell;

And love thee, though I had no hope of heaven.