Henry Charles Beeching, ed. (1859–1919). Lyra Sacra: A Book of Religious Verse. 1903.
By John Keble (1792–1866)Angels and Children
| HEAVEN in the depth and height is seen, | |
| On high among the stars, and low | |
| In deep, clear waters; all between | |
| Is earth and tastes of earth: even so | |
| The Almighty One draws near | 5 |
| To strongest seraphs there, to weakest infants here. | |
| And both are robed in white, and both | |
| On evil look unharmed, and wear | |
| A ray so pure, ill powers are loth | |
| To linger in the keen bright air. | 10 |
| As angels wait in joy | |
| On saints, so on the old the duteous-hearted boy. | |
| God’s angels keep the eternal round | |
| Of praise on high, and never tire; | |
| His lambs are in His temple found | 15 |
| Early, with all their heart’s desire. | |
| They boast not to be free, | |
| They grudge not to their Lord meek ear and bended knee. | |
| O well and wisely wrought of old, | |
| Nor without guide, be sure, who first | 20 |
| Did cherub forms as infants mould, | |
| And lift them where the full deep burst | |
| Of awful harmony | |
| Might need them most, to waft it onward to the sky. | |