Arthur Quiller-Couch, ed. 1919. The Oxford Book of English Verse: 1250–1900.
Aubrey De Vere. 18141902733. Sorrow
COUNT each affliction, whether light or grave, | |
God’s messenger sent down to thee; do thou | |
With courtesy receive him; rise and bow; | |
And, ere his shadow pass thy threshold, crave | |
Permission first his heavenly feet to lave; | 5 |
Then lay before him all thou hast; allow | |
No cloud of passion to usurp thy brow, | |
Or mar thy hospitality; no wave | |
Of mortal tumult to obliterate | |
The soul’s marmoreal calmness: Grief should be, | 10 |
Like joy, majestic, equable, sedate; | |
Confirming, cleansing, raising, making free; | |
Strong to consume small troubles; to commend | |
Great thoughts, grave thoughts, thoughts lasting to the end. |