THE THREE GUIDES

    Spirit of Earth！ thy hand is chill： I've felt its icy clasp； And, shuddering¹, I remember still That stony-hearted grasp. Thine eye bids love and joy depart： Oh, turn its gaze from me！ It presses down my shrinking heart； I will not walk with thee！

    "Wisdom is mine," I've heard thee say： "Beneath my searching eye All mist and darkness melt away, Phantoms² and fables³ fly. Before me truth can stand alone, The naked, solid truth； And man matured by worth will own, If I am shunned⁶ by youth.

    "Firm is my tread, and sure though slow； My footsteps never slide； And he that follows me shall know I am the surest guide." Thy boast is vain； but were it true That thou couldst safely steer⁷ Life's rough and devious⁸ pathway through, Such guidance I should fear. How could I bear to walk for aye, With eyes to earthward prone⁹, O'er trampled¹⁰ weeds and miry clay, And sand and flinty stone； Never the glorious view to greet Of hill and dale, and sky； To see that Nature's charms are sweet, Or feel that Heaven is nigh？

    If in my heart arose a spring, A gush¹¹ of thought divine, At once stagnation¹² thou wouldst bring With that cold touch of thine. If, glancing up, I sought to snatch But one glimpse of the sky, My baffled gaze would only catch Thy heartless, cold grey eye.

    If to the breezes wandering near, I listened eagerly, And deemed an angel's tongue to hear That whispered hope to me, That heavenly music would be drowned In thy harsh, droning voice； Nor inward thought, nor sight, nor sound, Might my sad soul rejoice.

    Dull is thine ear, unheard by thee The still, small voice of Heaven； Thine eyes are dim and cannot see The helps that God has given. There is a bridge o'er every flood Which thou canst not perceive； A path through every tangled¹³ wood, But thou wilt¹⁴ not believe.

    Striving to make thy way by force, Toil¹⁵-spent and bramble-torn, Thou'lt fell the tree that checks thy course, And burst through brier and thorn： And, pausing by the river's side, Poor reasoner！ thou wilt deem, By casting pebbles¹⁶ in its tide, To cross the swelling¹⁸ stream.

    Right through the flinty rock thou'lt try Thy toilsome way to bore, Regardless of the pathway nigh That would conduct thee o'er Not only art thou, then, unkind, And freezing cold to me, But unbelieving, deaf, and blind： I will not walk with thee！

    Spirit of Pride！ thy wings are strong, Thine eyes like lightning shine； Ecstatic joys to thee belong, And powers almost divine. But 'tis a false, destructive blaze Within those eyes I see； Turn hence their fascinating gaze； I will not follow thee.

    "Coward and fool！" thou mayst reply, Walk on the common sod； Go, trace with timid foot and eye The steps by others trod. 'Tis best the beaten path to keep, The ancient faith to hold； To pasture with thy fellow-sheep, And lie within the fold.

    "Cling to the earth, poor grovelling²⁰ worm； 'Tis not for thee to soar Against the fury of the storm, Amid the thunder's roar！ There's glory in that daring strife²¹ Unknown, undreamt by thee； There's speechless rapture²² in the life Of those who follow me.

    Yes, I have seen thy votaries²³ oft, Upheld by thee their guide, In strength and courage mount aloft The steepy mountain-side； I've seen them stand against the sky, And gazing from below, Beheld²⁴ thy lightning in their eye Thy triumph on their brow.

    Oh, I have felt what glory then, What transport must be theirs！ So far above their fellow-men, Above their toils¹⁹ and cares； Inhaling²⁵ Nature's purest breath, Her riches round them spread, The wide expanse of earth beneath, Heaven's glories overhead！

    But I have seen them helpless, dash'd Down to a bloody²⁶ grave, And still thy ruthless eye has flash'd, Thy strong hand did not save； I've seen some o'er the mountain's brow Sustain'd awhile by thee, O'er rocks of ice and hills of snow Bound fearless, wild, and free.

    Bold and exultant²⁷ was their mien²⁸, While thou didst cheer them on； But evening fell,——and then, I ween, Their faithless guide was gone. Alas²⁹！ how fared thy favourites then,—— Lone⁴, helpless, weary, cold？ Did ever wanderer find again The path he left of old？

    Where is their glory, where the pride That swelled³⁰ their hearts before？ Where now the courage that defied The mightiest³¹ tempest's roar？ What shall they do when night grows black, When angry storms arise？ Who now will lead them to the track Thou taught'st them to despise？

    Spirit of Pride, it needs not this To make me shun⁵ thy wiles³², Renounce³³ thy triumph and thy bliss³⁴, Thy honours and thy smiles！ Bright as thou art, and bold, and strong, That fierce glance wins not me, And I abhor³⁵ thy scoffing³⁶ tongue—— I will not follow thee！

    Spirit of Faith！ be thou my guide, O clasp my hand in thine, And let me never quit thy side； Thy comforts are divine！ Earth calls thee blind, misguided one,—— But who can shew like thee Forgotten things that have been done, And things that are to be？

    Secrets conceal'd from Nature's ken³⁷, Who like thee can declare？ Or who like thee to erring³⁸ men God's holy will can bear？ Pride scorns thee for thy lowly mien,—— But who like thee can rise Above this toilsome, sordid³⁹ scene, Beyond the holy skies？

    Meek⁴⁰ is thine eye and soft thy voice, But wondrous⁴¹ is thy might, To make the wretched soul rejoice, To give the simple light！ And still to all that seek thy way This magic power is given,—— E'en while their footsteps press the clay, Their souls ascend⁴² to heaven.

    Danger surrounds them,——pain and woe⁴³ Their portion here must be, But only they that trust thee know What comfort dwells with thee； Strength to sustain their drooping⁴⁴ pow'rs, And vigour⁴⁵ to defend,—— Thou pole-star of my darkest hours Affliction's firmest friend！

    Day does not always mark our way, Night's shadows oft appal⁴⁷, But lead me, and I cannot stray,—— Hold me, I shall not fall； Sustain me, I shall never faint, How rough soe'er may be My upward road,——nor moan, nor plaint Shall mar⁴⁶ my trust in thee.

    Narrow the path by which we go, And oft it turns aside From pleasant meads where roses blow, And peaceful waters glide⁴⁸； Where flowery turf lies green and soft, And gentle gales⁴⁹ are sweet, To where dark mountains frown aloft, Hard rocks distress⁵⁰ the feet,-

    Deserts beyond lie bleak⁵¹ and bare, And keen winds round us blow； But if thy hand conducts me there, The way is right, I know. I have no wish to turn away； My spirit does not quail,—— How can it while I hear thee say, "Press forward and prevail！"

    Even above the tempest's swell¹⁷ I hear thy voice of love,—— Of hope and peace, I hear thee tell, And that blest home above； Through pain and death I can rejoice. If but thy strength be mine,—— Earth hath no music like thy voice, Life owns no joy like thine！

    Spirit of Faith, I'll go with thee！ Thou, if I hold thee fast, Wilt guide, defend, and strengthen me, And bear me home at last； By thy help all things I can do, In thy strength all things bear,—— Teach me, for thou art just and true, Smile on me, thou art fair！

    I have given the last memento⁵² of my sister Emily； this is the last of my sister Anne：-I hoped, that with the brave and strong, My portioned task might lie； To toil amid the busy throng⁵³, With purpose pure and high. But God has fixed⁵⁴ another part, And He has fixed it well； I said so with my bleeding heart, When first the anguish⁵⁵ fell.

    Thou, God, hast taken our delight, Our treasured hope away： Thou bid'st us now weep through the night And sorrow through the day.

    These weary hours will not be lost, These days of misery⁵⁶, These nights of darkness, anguish-tost, Can I but turn to Thee.

    With secret labour to sustain In humble⁵⁷ patience every blow； To gather fortitude⁵⁸ from pain, And hope and holiness from woe.

    Thus let me serve Thee from my heart, Whate'er may be my written fate： Whether thus early to depart, Or yet a while to wait.

    If Thou shouldst bring me back to life, More humbled⁵⁹ I should be； More wise——more strengthened for the strife—— More apt to lean on Thee.

    Should death be standing⁶⁰ at the gate, Thus should I keep my vow⁶¹： But, Lord！ whatever be my fate, Oh, let me serve Thee now！

    These lines written, the desk was closed, the pen laid aside—— for ever.