Sublimely calm — her only wish to know —
In her unswerving glance nor fear nor ruth,
Reckless how sun may shine, or storms may blow.
Stands, like an adamantine statue, Truth.
See, in the kindling east that cloudlet grey.
Touched by the dawn, a heavenly gem appears;
Thus Hope floats lucent in life's early ray,
Thus, too, or yet 'tis noon, oft falls in tears.
Full many a mimic part doth Love sustain
And aptly act in aspect, mien, and breath;
But his chief characters are Grief and Pain,
And often, too, he shows himself as Death.
O'er rugged roads doth Reason slow advance,
Pondering each step with face to earth inclined,
Yet sometimes will he raise a longing glance,
And list Faith's wordless promise on the wind.
