But when the years began to separate

From Life our lives, when all that once seemed great

In heaven and earth, all wonder and delight

Were narrowed to the measure of our sight;

When knowledge of the suffering and wrong

That nature dealt the weak to serve the strong,

When records of man’s greed and lust and pride

Defaced life’s beauty, and its hope belied,—

How had we then that mockery withstood,

Or trusted that the source of life was good,

Had not the memory of its old caress

Reproached our hearts in their unfaithfulness;

Had we not once beheld a face so sweet{17}

{17}

It could not but express a heart that beat

For us, and knew what waited us, the while

It armed us for the darkness with its smile;

Had we not known those vanished hours that wove

Of homely human bonds immortal love;

Of flowers, and stars, and woods, and mountain streams,

 Prev. P 16/104 next