I BRAND

Thou trod'st the shifting sand path where man's race is.
The print of thy soft sandals is still clear.
I too have trodden it those prints a-near,
But the sea washes out my tired foot-traces.
And all that thou hast healed and holpen here
I yearned to heal and help and wipe the tear
Away. But still I trod unpeopled spaces.
I had no twelve to follow my pure paces.
For I had thy misgivings and thy fear,
Thy crown of scorn, thy suffering's sharp spear,
Thy hopes, thy longings — only not thy dear

Let those love now, who never lov'd before,
Let those who always lov'd, now love the more.

The Spring , the new, the warb'ling Spring appears,
The youthful Season of reviving Years;
In Spring the Loves enkindle mutual Heats,
The feather'd Nation chuse their tuneful Mates,
The Trees grow fruitful with descending Rain
And drest in diff'ring Greens adorn the Plain.
She comes; to morrow Beauty's Empress roves
Thro' Walks that winding run within the Groves;
She twines the shooting Myrtle into Bow'rs,

Amaze then tooke him,
Impudence, and Shame
Made Earthquakes in him,
with their Frost and Flame:
His Heart betwixt them tost,
till Reverence
Tooke all these Prisoners in him:
and from thence
Her matchless beauty,
with astonishment
Increast his bands:
till Aguish Love, that lent
Shame, and Observance,
licenc'st their remove;
And wisely liking
Impudence in Love:
Silent he went,
and stood against the Maide,
And in side glances
faintly he convaide
His crafty eyes about her;
with dumbe showes

III.

Full many loves and friendships dear
Have blossomed brightly in my path;
And some were like the primrose rathe,
And withered with the vernal year.

And some were like the joyous rose,
Most prodigal with scent and hue,
That glows while yet the sky is blue,
And falls with every wind that blows —

Mere guests and annuals of the heart;
But you are that perennial bay,

" I saw you, Love, from the sheepfield that is white
With mushrooms and you like an apple bough
Blossoming by the stonewall in the bright
Early sunshine."
" It is misting now."

" The rainy seawind's gone. It will be fine.
Look! there's not any cloud but on the brow
Of Beann Gulbain. They'll climb there to-day,
And search the ancient forest of black pine
Where the night is mildewed, for the dead
Body — "
" O you are wet!"
— " The stepping-stones
In the river were slippery — They say

Happy bridegroom, Hesper brings
All desired and timely things.
All whom morning sends to roam,
Hesper loves to lead them home.
Home return who him behold,
Child to mother, sheep to fold,
Bird to nest from wandering wide:
Happy bridegroom, seek your bride.

O! Love! how cold, and slow to take my part!
Thou idle Wanderer, about my Heart;
Why thy old faithfull Souldier wilt thou see
Opprest in thine own Tents? They Murder me:
Thy flames consume, thy Arrows pierce thy Friends,
Rather on Foes pursue more Noble ends.
Achilles Sword wou'd generously bestow
A cure as certaine, as it gave the blow.
Hunters, who follow flying Game, give o're
When the Prey's caught, hope still leads on before.
Wee thy owne Slaves feele thy Tyrannick blows,
While thy tame hand's unmov'd against thy Foes.

The brothers rebelled against one another:
But in their heart they were friendly.
Despite their crimes
Their ties remained firm.

If brothers are split,
A villain will enter and sow discord.
Remember, my Lord,
His sagacity and love.

Seeing the bodies lying in heaps,
He abandoned food and sleep.
Moved by love for his people,
He labored assiduously.

If you are unaware of people's sorrow,
Heaven will abandon you.
Remember, my Lord,
His labor of love.

Because he loved men and sought their welfare,
He overawed
The fierce rebels
And caught them alive.

When you have men at your beck and call,
When you punish men and sentence men,
Remember, my Lord,
His mercy and temperance.