BEAUTIFUL thing, with thine eye of light,
And thy brow, of cloudless beauty bright,
Gazing for aye, on the sapphire throne,
Of Him, who dwelleth in light, alone;
Art thou hasting now, on that golden wing,
With the burning seraph choir, to sing?
Or stooping to earth, in thy gentleness,
Our darkling path, to cheer and bless?

Beautiful thing! thou art come, in love,
With gentle gales, from that world above;
Breathing of pureness, breathing of bliss,
Bearing our spirits, away from this,
To the better thoughts, to the brighter skies,
Where heaven's unclouded sunshine lies:
Winning our hearts, by a blessed guile,
With that infant look, and angel smile.

Beautiful thing! thou art come in joy,
With the look, with the voice, of our darling boy,
Him that was torn, from the bleeding hearts
He had twined about, with his infant arts,
To dwell, from sin and sorrow far,
In the golden orb, of his little star--
There he rejoiceth, while we, oh! we,
Long to be happy, and safe, as he.

Beautiful thing! thou art come in peace,
Bidding our doubts and fears to cease,
Wiping the tears, that, unbidden, start,
From their fountain deep, in the broken heart;

Cheering us still, on our lonely way,
Lest our hearts should faint, or our feet should stray,
Till, crowned for the conquest, at last we shall be,
Beautiful thing, with our boy, and thee!

Boston, 1828.

[Yet far more faire, be those bright Cherubins
Which all with golden wings, are overdight,
And those eternall burning Seraphins,
Which, from their faces, dart out fierie light."

Spenser--Hymne of Heavenly Beautie.

[Dear Sir,--I am in some little disorder by reason of the death of a little child of mine, a boy that lately made us very glad; but now he rejoices in his little orbe, while we thinke, and sigh, and long to be as safe as he is." Jer. Taylor to Evelyn, July 19, 1656.

["Remember, sir, your two boys are two bright starres, and their innocence is secured, and you shall never hear evil of them agayne." Jer. Taylor to Evelyn, Feb. 17, 1657.

Project Canterbury