It glows like morning's robe of light,
In autumn's golden ears;

And tempts in clustering fruits the taste,
Sustaining while it cheers.

It murmurs in the mellow strain
Of sighing winds at even;
That mind us of immortal lyres,
Swept by the saints in heaven.

The beautiful--the beautiful—
Behold ye not its sheen,
Throughout creation's wide domain,
The smile of God serene!

XXII. VANITIES.

(1847.)

A WOMAN with a beaming face,
But with a heart untrue,
Though beautiful, is valueless

As diamonds formed of dew.

A genius reckless, wild and rash,
Though brilliant be his light,
Is but the meteor's sudden flash
Athwart the gloom of night.

A hero in his quiet home

Invincible and bold,

Who shrinks when blood and battle come,
Is iron gilt with gold.

A friend whose words like honey flow
When friendship least we need,
But faithless in the hour of woe,
Is like a broken reed.

A child of darkness, whose pretense
Deceives the sons of light,
With semblance fair of innocence,
Is Satan robed in white!

XXIII. MESSIAH'S MISSION.

(1847.)

"Wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business."

THY Father's business? what can be

The work of hands so young?

What grand celestial embassy
Can freight that infant tongue?

Attested as the Christ of God,
By miracles sublime;

To bless the world by Satan trod,

And cursed with human crime.

Jesus.

To shame the wisdom of the wise, With truth they ne'er have known; And light their dim deluded eyes, With beams from out the throne.

To preach the promised Jubilee;
The Prince of Peace to reign;
To set the sighing prisoner free,
And break the captive's chain.

For ashes beauty to bestow;
The lowly hearts to raise;
To give the oil of joy for wo,

And robe the meek with praise.

To heal the leper and the lame;
The lunatic to cure;

The fierce demoniac to tame,
And bless the pious poor.

To tinge the wan and wasted cheek
With hue of health restored;
To make the dumb his praises speak,
The deaf attend his word.

To bid the beamless eye unblest,
In solar radiance roll;

To give the heavy-laden rest,
And calm the troubled soul.

To stop the sad funereal train,
And wipe the widow's tear;
And wake to life and light again,
Her boy upon his bier.

To loose the spoiler's leaden seal,
In mournful Bethany;

And make the riven tomb reveal
Our immortality.

To blight the early buds of sin,
And blast the bloom of vice;
To ope, that we may enter in,
The gates of Paradise.

For us to agonize and pray,
At midnight dark and drear;

To weep that we may wipe away
The last unhappy tear.

To shed for us his precious blood,
A spotless sacrifice;

To reconcile our souls to God,

And lift us to the skies.

Such was the work he came to do,

The Father's only Son;

Such the achievements wrought for you,

Ye guilty and undone.