Page:Selections from the American poets (IA selectamerpoet00bryarich).pdf/266

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Henry Ware, Jr.
262
And sow'd corruption in those fairy bowers?Has War trod o'er them with his foot of fire?And Slavery forged his chains; and Wrath, and Hate,And sordid Selfishness, and cruel Lust,Leagued their base bands to tread out light and truth,And scatter'd wo where Heaven had planted joy!Or are they yet all paradise, unfallenAnd uncorrupt; existence one long joy,Without disease upon the frame, or sinUpon the heart, or weariness of life;Hope never quench'd, and age unknown.And death unfear'd; while fresh and fadeless youthGlows in the light from God's near throne of love? Open your lips, ye wonderful and fair!Speak, speak! the mysteries of those living worldsUnfold! No language! Everlasting lightAnd everlasting silence! Yet the eyeMay read and anderstand. The hand of GodHas written legibly what man may know,The glory of the Maker. There it shines,Ineffable, unchangeable; and man,Bound to the surface of this pigmy globe,May know and ask no more. In other days,When death shall give the encumber'd spirit wings,Its range shall be extended; it shall roam,Perchance, among those vast mysterious spheres,Shall pass from orb to orb, and dwell in each,Familiar with its children; learn their laws,And share their state, and study and adoreThe infinite varieties of blissAnd beauty, by the hand of Power divineLavish'd on all its works. EternityShall thus roll on with ever fresh delight;No pause of pleasure or improvement; worldOn world still opening to the instructed mindAn unexhausted universe, and timeBut adding to its glories. While the soul,Advancing ever to the Source of lightAnd all perfection, lives, adores, and reignsIn cloudless knowledge, purity, and bliss.
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