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HERTHA.
"But if we love—are loved in turn—
How light becomes the largest weight!
Now tell me, for I fain would learn,
How shall we find such gentle fate?
Alas! for love too many yearn,
And all their days go desolate!"
How light becomes the largest weight!
Now tell me, for I fain would learn,
How shall we find such gentle fate?
Alas! for love too many yearn,
And all their days go desolate!"
No straight reply the maiden chose,
But mused: "I saw a worm to-day
That slept and fed upon a rose,
Till something prompted it to stray;
Slow creeping thence, it lost repose,
And piercing thorns were in the way!"
But mused: "I saw a worm to-day
That slept and fed upon a rose,
Till something prompted it to stray;
Slow creeping thence, it lost repose,
And piercing thorns were in the way!"
Her thought I seized: God's love being ours,
Still on a fadeless rose we feed!
We bask in light, we bathe in showers;
No softer couch our spirits need.
Thence creeping—ah we find no flowers!
But thorns are sharp and hearts must bleed.
Still on a fadeless rose we feed!
We bask in light, we bathe in showers;
No softer couch our spirits need.
Thence creeping—ah we find no flowers!
But thorns are sharp and hearts must bleed.
Within my arms the child I drew;
She kissed away my bursting tears;
"O Rose," I cried, "yet fair and new,
Though left for thorns these many years!
My heart receives thy falling dew,
My climbing soul thy beauty nears!"
She kissed away my bursting tears;
"O Rose," I cried, "yet fair and new,
Though left for thorns these many years!
My heart receives thy falling dew,
My climbing soul thy beauty nears!"
