Our light should be Love, and our nourishment prayer;
It is dangerous food that we find upon earth:
The fruit of this world is beset with a snare,

In itself it is hurtful, as vile in its birth.

'Tis rarely, if ever, she settles below,

And only when building a nest for her young;
Were it not for her brood she would never bestow
A thought upon anything filthy as dung.

Let us leave it ourselves ('tis a mortal abode)
To bask every moment in infinite Love;
Let us fly the dark winter, and follow the road
That leads to the dayspring appearing above.

THE TRIUMPH OF HEAVENLY LOVE DESIRED

AH! reign, wherever man is found,
My Spouse, beloved and divine!
Then I am rich and I abound

When every human heart is thine.

A thousand sorrows pierce my soul
To think that all are not thine own:
Ah! be adored from pole to pole;
Where is thy zeal ? arise; be known!

All hearts are cold, in every place,
Yet earthly good with warmth pursue;
Dissolve them with a flash of grace,

Thaw these of ice, and give us new!

A FIGURATIVE DESCRIPTION OF THE PROCEDURE OF
DIVINE LOVE

IN BRINGING A SOUL TO THE POINT OF SELF-RENUNCIATION AND ABSOLUTE ACQUIESCENCE

'Twas my purpose, on a day,
To embark and sail away;
As I climbed the vessel's side

Love was sporting in the tide;

"Come," he said, "ascend! make haste,

"Launch into the boundless waste."

Many mariners were there,
Having each his separate care;
They that rowed us held their eyes
Fixed upon the starry skies;
Others steered, or turned the sails
To receive the shifting gales.

Love, with power divine supplied,
Suddenly my courage tried;
In a moment it was night,
Ship and skies were out of sight;
On the briny wave I lay,
Floating rushes all my stay.

Did I with resentment burn
At this unexpected turn?
Did I wish myself on shore,
Never to forsake it more?
No:-"My soul," I cried, "be still!
"If I must be lost, I will."

Next he hastened to convey
Both my frail supports away;
Seized my rushes; bade the waves
Yawn into a thousand graves :
Down I went, and sunk as lead,
Ocean closing o'er my head.

Still, however, life was safe;

And I saw him turn and laugh:

Friend," he cried, "adieu! lie low

"While the wintry storms shall blow;

"When the spring has calmed the main,

"You shall rise and float again."

Soon I saw him, with dismay,
Spread his plumes and soar away;
Now I mark his rapid flight,
Now he leaves my aching sight;
He is gone whom I adore,
"Tis in vain to seek him more.

How I trembled then and feared

When my Love had disappeared! "Wilt thou leave me thus," I cried, "Whelmed beneath the rolling tide?" Vain attempt to reach his ear! Love was gone, and would not hear.

"Ah! return, and love me still;

"See me subject to thy will!

"Frown with wrath, or smile with grace, "Only let me see thy face!

"Evil I have none to fear,

"All is good, if thou art near."

I speak to them of sadness,
And comforts at a stand;
They bid me look for gladness,
And better days at hand.
Far from all habitation,
I heard a happy sound
Big with the consolation
That I have often found:
I said, "My lot is sorrow,
"My grief has no alloy;
The rocks replied-" to-morrow,
"To-morrow brings thee joy."

These sweet and secret tidings
What bliss it is to hear!
For, spite of all my chidings,
My weakness and my fear,
No sooner I receive them
Than I forget my pain,
And, happy to believe them,
I love as much again.

I fly to scenes romantic
Where never men resort;
For in an age so frantic
Impiety is sport;

For riot and confusion

They barter things above,
Condemning, as delusion,
The joy of perfect love.

In this sequestered corner
None hears what I express;
Delivered from the scorner,
What peace do I possess !
Beneath the boughs reclining,
Or roving o'er the wild,
live as undesigning

I And harmless as a child.

No troubles here surprise me,

I innocently play,

While Providence supplies me
And guards me all the day,
My dear and kind Defender
Preserves me safely here,
From men of pomp and splendour
Who fill a child with fear.

ASPIRATIONS OF THE SOUL AFTER GOD

My Spouse! in whose presence I live,
Sole object of all my desires,
Who know'st what a flame I conceive
And canst easily double its fires;
How pleasant is all that I meet!
From fear of adversity free
I find even sorrow made sweet;
Because 'tis assigned me by thee.

Transported I see thee display

Thy riches and glory divine;
I have only my life to repay,
Take what I would gladly resign.
Thy will is the treasure I seek,

For Thou art as faithful as strong;
There let me, obedient and meek,
Repose myself all the day long.

My spirit and faculties fail;

Oh finish what love has begun! Destroy what is sinful and frail,

And dwell in the soul thou hast won!
Dear theme of my wonder and praise,
I cry, who is worthy as thou!

I can only be silent and gaze:
'Tis all that is left of me now.

O glory in which I am lost,

Too deep for the plummet of thought! On an ocean of deity tossed,

I am swallowed, I sink into nought. Yet, lost and absorbed as I seem,

I chant to the praise of my King; And, though overwhelmed by the theme, Am happy whenever I sing.

GRATITUDE AND LOVE TO GOD

ALL are indebted much to Thee
But I far more than all,
From many a deadly snare set free
And raised from many a fall.
Overwhelm me from above,
Daily, with thy boundless love!