HYMN BEFORE SUNRISE, IN THE VALE OF CHAMOUNI. 309 HYMN BEFORE SUNRISE, IN THE VALE OF CHA MOUNI. Coleridge. Besides the rivers Arve and Arveiron, which have their sources in the foot of Mont Blanc, five conspicuous torrents rush down its sides; and within a few paces of the Glaciers, the Gentiana Major grows in immense numbers, with its "flowers of loveliest blue." HAST thou a charm to stay the morning-star Rave ceaselessly; but thou, most awful form, O dread and silent mount! I gazed upon thee, Till thou, still present to the bodily sense, Didst vanish from my thought: entranced in prayer I worshipped the Invisible alone. Yet, like some sweet, beguiling melody, So sweet, we know not we are listening to it, Awake, my soul! not only passive praise 310 HYMN BEFORE SUNRISE, IN THE VALE OF CHAMOUNI Voice of sweet song! Awake, my heart, awake! Green vales and icy cliffs, all join my hymn! Thou first and chief, sole sovran of the vale! Or when they climb the sky or when they sink: And you, ye five wild torrents fiercely glad! Your strength, your speed, your fury, and your joy, And who commanded (and the silence came), Ye ice-falls! ye that from the mountain's brow Torrents, methinks, that heard a mighty voice, Who made you glorious as the gates of heaven God! sing, ye meadow-streams with gladsome voice! THE PRAISE OF MEN. 311 Ye pinc-groves, with your soft and soul-like sounds ! Ye living flowers that skirt the eternal frost ! Thou, too, hoar mount, with thy sky-pointing peaks! Slow travelling with dim eyes suffused with tears, Rise like a cloud of incense, from the earth! THE PRAISE OF MEN. — Trench. "Cum laudaris, teipsum contemne." WHEN men exalt thee with their flatteries, Think, too, that now thou dost in peril fall COUPLETS. — Trench. To halls of heavenly truth admission wouldst thou win? Oft Knowledge stands without, while Love may enter in. Lovingly to each other sun and moon give place, Else were the mighty heaven for them too narrow space. Despise not little sins; for mountain-high may stand The pilèd heap made up of smallest grains of sand. Despise not little sins; the gallant ship may sink, Though only drop by drop the watery tide it drink. God many a spiritual house has reared, but never one Where lowliness was not laid first, the corner-stone. Rear highly as thou wilt thy branches in the air, care. Sin, not till it is left, will duly sinful seem; A man must waken first, ere he can tell his dream. When thou art fain to trace a map of thine own heart, As undiscovered land set down the largest part. Wouldst thou do harm, and yet unharmed thyself abide? None ever struck another, save through his own side God's dealings still are love,- his chastenings are alone Love now compelled to take an altered, louder tone. From our ill-ordered hearts we oft are fain to roam, As men go forth who find unquietness at home. Why furnish with such care thy lodging of a night, And leave the while thy home in such a naked plight? When thou hast thanked thy God for every blessing sent, What time will then remain for murmurs or lament? Envy detects the spots in the clear orb of light, Thou canst not choose but serve, vitude, man's lot is ser But thou hast this much choice, a bad lord or a good. Before the eyes of men let duly shine thy light, Wouldst thou go forth to bless, be sure of thine own ground, Fix well thy centre first, then draw thy circles round. Sin may be clasped so close we cannot see its face, Nor seen nor loathed until held from us a small space. If humble, next of thy humility beware, And lest thou shouldst grow proud of such a grace have care. |