English

1.

O Spare me, Lord, nor o'er my head
The fulness of thy vengeance shed;
With pitying eye my weakness view,
Heal my vex'd Soul, my strength renew,
And O, if yet my sins demand
The wise corrections of thy hand,
Yet give my pains their bounds to know,
And fix a period to my woe.
Return, great God, return, and save
Thy servant from the greedy grave.

2.

Shall Death's long-silent tongue, O say,
The records of thy pow'r display,

1.

The words that from my lips proceed,
My thoughts (for Thou those thoughts canst read,)
My God, my King, attentive weigh,
And hear, O hear me, when I pray.

2.

With earliest zeal, with wakeful care,
To Thee my soul shall pour its pray'r,
And, ere the dawn has streak'd the sky,
To Thee direct its longing eye: —

3.

To Thee, whom nought obscur'd by stain
Can please; whose doors to feet profane
Inexorable stand; whose Law
Offenders from thy sight shall awe.

4.

1.

Defender of my rightful cause,
While anguish from my bosom draws
The deep-felt sigh, the ceaseless pray'r,
O make thy servant still thy care;
That aid, which oft my griefs has heal'd,
That aid again, intreated, yield.

2.

How long, ye sons of pride, how long
Shall falshood arm your impious tongue?
How long shall secret love of ill
To wretched malice urge your will,
And erring rage your breast inflame,
My pow'r to thwart, my acts defame?

3.

1.

Behold, my God, what num'rous foes
With dire intent my steps inclose,
While, flush'd with hope, the impious Band
In haughty triumph round me stand:
" Lo! there, " they cry, " our obvious prey,
" The wretch whom God has cast away. "

2.

But see Omnipotence my shield!
My head aloft by Thee upheld,
Thy fav'ring beams around me shine;
Thou, Lord, from Sion 's hallow'd shrine
With kind regard shalt hear my cry,
And instant grant the wish'd reply.

3.

1.

Why thus enrag'd, ye Tribes profane?
Why strive the Gentiles thus in vain?
Why, rouz'd by Discord's fierce Alarms,
Do headlong Nations rush to Arms?

2.

Earth's scepter'd Lords rebellious rise
Against the Ruler of the Skies,
And Him on whose distinguish'd head
His hand the sacred oil has shed.

3.

In factious Counsels thus they join,
And vaunting brave the Pow'r divine;
" Quick let us each renounce their Sway,
" And cast their hated bands away. "

4.

1.

O How blest the Man, whose ear
Impious counsel shuns to hear,
Who nor loves to tread the way
Where the Sons of Folly stray,
Nor their frantic mirth to share,
Seated in Derision's chair;
But, to Virtue's path confin'd,
Spurns the men of sinful mind,
And, possess'd with sacred awe,
Meditates, great God, thy Law;
This by day his fix'd employ,
This by night his constant joy.

2.

Like the Tree that, taught to grow
Where the streams irriguous flow,
Oft as the revolving Sun

PART VII

With much hard labor and some pleasure fraught,
The months rolled by me noiselessly, that taught
My hand to grow more skillful in its art,
Strengthened my daring dream of fame, and brought
Sweet hope and resignation to my heart.

Brief letters came from Helen, now and then:
She was quite well — oh, yes! quite well, indeed!
But still so weak and nervous. By and by,
When baby, being older, should not need
Such constant care, she would grow strong again.
She was as happy as a soul could be;

There was a week of bustle and of hurry;
A stately home echoed to voices sweet,
Calling, replying; and to tripping feet
Of busy bridesmaids, running to and fro,
With all that girlish fluttering and flurry
Preceding such occasions.
Helen's room
Was like a lily-garden, all in bloom,
Decked with the dainty robes of her trousseau.
My robe was fashioned by swift, skillful hands —
A thing of beauty, elegant and rich,
A mystery of loopings, puffs and bands;
And as I watched it growing, stitch by stitch,

A visit to a cave some miles away
Was next in order. So, one sunny day,
Four prancing steeds conveyed a laughing load
Of merry pleasure-seekers o'er the road.
A basket picnic, music and croquet
Were in the programme. Skies were blue and clear,
And cool winds whispered of the Autumn near.
The merry-makers filled the time with pleasure;
Some floated to the music's rhythmic measure,
Some played, some promenaded on the green.

Ticked off by happy hearts, the moments passed.
The afternoon, all glow and glimmer, came.

" Maurine, Maurine! 't is ten o'clock! arise,
My pretty sluggard! open those dark eyes,
And see where yonder sun is! Do you know
I made my toilet just four hours ago? "

'T was Helen's voice: and Helen's gentle kiss
Fell on my cheek. As from a deep abyss,
I drew my weary self from that strange sleep
That rests not, nor refreshes. Scarce awake
Or conscious, yet there seemed a heavy weight
Bound on my breast, as by a cruel Fate.
I knew not why, and yet I longed to weep.
Some dark cloud seemed to hang upon the day;