For sudden the worst turns the best to the brave, The black minute's at end, And the elements' rage, the fiend-voices that rave, Shall dwindle, shall blend, Shall change, shall become first a peace out of pain, Then a light, then thy breast, O thou soul of my soul! I shall clasp thee again, And with God be the rest! 1861. 1864. Robert Browning. A CHILD MY CHOICE LET folly praise that fancy loves, I praise and love that Child Whose heart no thought, whose tongue no word, whose hand no deed defiled. I praise Him most, I love Him best, all praise and love is His; While Him I love, in Him I live, and cannot live amiss. Love's sweetest mark, laud's highest theme, man's most desired light, To love Him life, to leave Him death, to live in Him delight. He mine by gift, I His by debt, thus each to other due, First friend He was, best friend He is, all times will try Him true. Though young, yet wise, though small, yet strong; though man, yet God He is; As wise He knows, as strong He can, as God He loves to bliss. His knowledge rules, His strength defends, His love doth cherish all; His birth our joy, His life our light, His death our end of thrall. 9 Alas! He weeps, He sighs, He pants, yet do His angels sing; Out of His tears, His sighs and throbs, doth bud a joyful spring. Almighty Babe, whose tender arms can force all foes to fly, Correct my faults, protect my life, direct me Not rudely, as a beast, To run into an action; But still to make Thee prepossesst, A man that looks on glass, On it may stay his eye; Or if he pleaseth, through it pass, All may of Thee partake: Nothing can be so mean Which with his tincture, for Thy sake, 4 & 12 16 |