the soul's quest.
33
But love, if love be pure, is elevating,
It lifts the heart and thoughts above—
And life was sweeter, though there was no mating,
For that dear song of Love.
It lifts the heart and thoughts above—
And life was sweeter, though there was no mating,
For that dear song of Love.
And then another voice—Ambition's, called me,
Speaking in glowing terms of Fame,—
And I turned back with her—O foolish dreamer!
And thought to win a name.
Speaking in glowing terms of Fame,—
And I turned back with her—O foolish dreamer!
And thought to win a name.
Then Sorrow came, rousing me from my dreaming,
And Trouble clasped my hand in hers,
And I awoke, and found my pathway teeming
With multifarious cares.
And Trouble clasped my hand in hers,
And I awoke, and found my pathway teeming
With multifarious cares.
Burdens there were to bear, and crosses also,
From which I shrank in my despair—
No! No! I cried, this way I will not go;
Such loads I cannot bear.
From which I shrank in my despair—
No! No! I cried, this way I will not go;
Such loads I cannot bear.
Then stern Necessity arose and goaded
My stumbling feet upon their road,
And, with my cares and troubles overloaded,
I turned again to God.
My stumbling feet upon their road,
And, with my cares and troubles overloaded,
I turned again to God.
But as I struggled on fresh foes assailed me,
Doubt cast barriers across my way;
And Unbelief in mocking tones did hail me,
Saying, "Why dost thou pray?"
Doubt cast barriers across my way;
And Unbelief in mocking tones did hail me,
Saying, "Why dost thou pray?"
