Lays of Leisure Hours. 2 Vols. [In 1] (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1838 Excerpt: ...things, For Fancy flings Round thee a charm Soft, quick, and warm, That still seems given Direct from Heaven--That wins the Soul--As thence it stole At once away, All faint dismay, All bitterness, And fond distress, All doubt and fear That haunt us here --A charm of strength To wing at length The drop accursed Of sins--the worst--From out the heart That knows the smart Of grief and pain, And their dark train--And worse--the throe Of that wild woe--Whose direful source Is harsh remorse, The black drop foul That stained the Soul, That charm had power In happiest hour, Iu brightest day To wring away. For Hope sweet guest, Thy sway confessed, Still bright and high Doth purify--Doth animate And elevate With joy and love The Soul above Its mortal doom Of dearth and gloom; And while, fair thing, Thou'rt on the wing, Thy glorious aim Still seems the same--Thy goal supreme Doth ever seem Heaven--Heaven--to be Triumphantly. But, radiant Hope, When thou dost stoop Upon thy flight From thy proud height, And when thou'rt won To rest upon Some Earth-born thing Where thou dost cling--As though no more Urged as before, To wander free In strength and glee. When thou seem'st bound On mortal ground To one fixed spot, Progressing not--When resting near Thou dost appear Disclosed, revealed, No more concealed From the earnest gaze, By the ardent blaze Of Lightning-Light, Which thy swift flight Around thee cast So free and fast. Much dost thou lose Of those rich hues, So Heavenly fair Which thou didst wear In rainbow change On thy wide range--s Forbear--beware--If thou dost care To reign--to enchain The heart and brain, Nor droop, sweet Hope, Nor deign to stoop, Nor ere descend, Nor downwards tend, For thine own sake Forbear to take A certain shape, Away--escape From the eager e...