Dear faded joys, and impotent regret, What profit is there in incessant tears? Views not my sorrows, hears not when I plead; Hell seems to lose its less tremendous fires. My life extinguish'd, and yet death denied. The unchanging love, so sworn in better days? Ah! dangerous glories! shown me, but to prove How lovely Thou, and I how rash to gaze. Why did I see them? had I still remain'd Untaught, still ignorant how fair thou art, My humbler wishes I had soon obtain'd Nor known the torments of a doubting heart. Deprived of all, yet feeling no desires, Whence then, I cry, the pangs that I sustain ? Yet feel no touch of that enlivening flame; A sea of doubts, and self the source of all. And if thine hand accomplish not my cure, I groan in chains, yet want not a release; Have neither plan, nor fear, nor hope, nor heart. Oh Love, all excellent, once more appear, Disperse the shades, and snatch me into day, From this abyss of night, these floods of fear! No Love is angry, will not now endure A sigh of mine, or suffer a complaint; He smites me, wounds me, and withholds the cure; Exhausts my powers, and leaves me sick and faint. He wounds, and hides the hand that gave the blow; He flies, and reappears, and wounds again;— Was ever heart that loved thee treated so? Yet I adore thee, though it seem in vain. And wilt thou leave me, whom, when lost and blind, What can have caused the change which I deplore? To draw, and place its picture in thy view. And loves, and seeks thee, for Thyself alone. Pleasure and wealth, in its esteem, are dust; From all self-bias, generous and unmix'd. And fear, with cause, that I am self-deceiv'd; Not even my faith is from suspicion free, And that I love, seems not to be believed. Live Thou, and reign for ever, glorious Lord! My last, least offering, I present thee now ;Renounce me, leave me, and be still ador'd! Slay me, my God, and I applaud the blow. WATCHING UNTO GOD IN THE NIGHT SEASON. SLEEP at last has fled these eyes, Nor do I regret his flight, More alert my spirits rise, And my heart is free and light. Nature silent all around, Not a single witness near; God as soon as sought is found, And the flame of love burns clear. Interruption, all day long, Checks the current of my joys; Creatures press me with a throng, And perplex me with their noise. Undisturb'd I muse all night, On the first Eternal Fair; Nothing there obstructs delight, Love is renovated there. Life, with its perpetual stir, Proves a foe to Love and me; Fresh entanglements occur,Comes the night, and sets me free. Never more, sweet sleep, suspend My enjoyments, always new: Leave me to possess my friend; Other eyes and hearts subdue. Hush the world, that I may wake To the taste of pure delights; Oh the pleasures I partake,God the partner of my nights! David, for the selfsame cause, Night preferr'd to busy day: Hearts whom heavenly beauty draws Wish the glaring sun away. Sleep, self-lovers, is for you ;Souls that love celestial know, Fairer scenes by night can view Than the sun could ever show. ON THE SAME. SEASON of my purest pleasure, Find, in watching, my repose. Silence all around prevailing, Nature hush'd in slumber sweet, No rude noise mine ears assailing, Now my God and I can meet : Universal nature slumbers, And my soul partakes the calm, Breathes her ardour out in numbers, Plaintive song or lofty psalm. Now my passion, pure and holy, Shines and burns without restraint, Which the day's fatigue and folly Cause to languish, dim and faint : Charming hours of relaxation! How I dread the ascending sun! Surely idle conversation Is an evil, match'd by none. Worldly prate and babble hurt me; Unintelligible prove; Neither teach me nor divert me; I have ears for none but Love. I have neither art's fine polish, 'Tis the secret fear of sinning Checks my tongue, or I should say, When I see the night beginning, I am glad of parting day: Love this gentle admonition Whispers soft within my breast; "Choice befits not thy condition, Acquiescence suits thee best." |