Henry Charles Beeching, ed. (1859–1919). Lyra Sacra: A Book of Religious Verse. 1903.
By Richard Chenevix Trench (18071886)Couplets
TO halls of heavenly truth admission wouldst thou win, | |
Oft Knowledge stands without, while Love may enter in. | |
Who praises God the most, what says he more than he | |
Who silent is? Yet who would therefore silent be? | |
From our ill-ordered hearts we oft are fain to roam; | 5 |
As men go forth who find unquietness at home. | |
Before the eyes of men let duly shine thy light, | |
But ever let thy life’s best part be out of sight. | |
My proud foe at my hands to take no boon will choose— | |
Thy prayers are that one gift which he cannot refuse. | 10 |
Wouldst thou go forth to bless, be sure of thine own ground; | |
Fix well thy centre first, then draw thy circles round. | |
The man is happy, Lord, who love like this doth owe, | |
Loves Thee, his friend in Thee, and for Thy sake his foe. | |
Why win we not at once what we in prayer require? | 15 |
That we may learn great things as greatly to desire. | |
The tasks, the joys of earth, the same in heaven will be; | |
Only the little brook has widened to a sea. | |