Felicia Hemans

“ Earth's outcast, Heaven's own ransomed one, wert called
In human hearts to give that rapture birth:—
Oh! raised from shame to brightness!—there doth lie
The tenderest meaning of His ministry,
Whose undespairing Love still owned the Spirit's worth. ”

“ Home in affection's glance, for ever true
Beats thy calm heart; and if thy gentle eyes
Gleam tremulous through tears, 'tis not to rue
Those words, immortal in their deep Love's tone,
"Thy people and thy God shall be mine own!" ”

“ Invokes the coming of bright birds from shore,
To waft him tidings, with the gentler breeze,
Of dim sweet woods that hear no billows roar:
So from the depth of days, when Earth yet wore
Her solemn beauty, and primeval dew,
I call you, gracious forms! Oh! come, restore
Awhile that holy freshness, and renew
Life's morning dreams. ”

“ Thy woman's heart of silent worship brought,
But a fresh childhood, heavenly Truth to meet,
With Love, and Wonder, and submissive. Thought.
Oh! for the holy quiet of thy breast,
Midst the world's eager tones and footsteps flying! ”

“ Showers weave with sunshine, and transpierce their slight
Ethereal cradle.—From your heart subdued
All haughty dreams of Power had wing'd their flight,
And left high place for Martyr-fortitude,
True Faith, long-suffering Love.—Come to me, come! ”

“ Father! guard that household bower,
⁠Hear that prayer!
Back, through thine all-guiding power,
⁠Lead me there!
Darker, wilder, grows the night—
Not a star sends quivering light
Through the massy arch of shade
By the stern old forest made. ”

“ And the pools, now low and dark,
Where the wakening night-winds sigh
Through the long reeds mournfully.
Homeward, homeward, all things haste—
⁠God of might!
Shield the homeless midst the waste,
⁠Be his light! ”

“ Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, Volume 33, Pages 120-121
HYMNS OF LIFE.
BY MRS HEMANS.
I.
THE PRAYER OF THE LONELY STUDENT.
Soul of our souls! and safeguard of the world!
Sustain—Thou only cans't—the sick at heart,
Restore their languid spirits, and recall
Their lost affections unto Thee and Thine. ”

“ Almost on wings he play'd;
Oh! how much holier beauty now
Lit the young human Being's brow!
The Being born to toil, to die,
To break forth from the tomb,
Unto far nobler destiny
Than waits the sky-lark's plume! ”

“ THE PENITENT ANOINTING CHRIST'S FEET.
There was a mournfulness in Angel eyes,
That saw thee, Woman! bright in this world's train,
Moving to Pleasure's airy melodies,
Thyself the Idol of the enchanted strain. ”

“ Sent on the blast a hymn of jubilee;
With her lit eye, and long hair floating free,
Queen-like she stood, and glorious was the strain,
Ev'n as instinct with the tempestuous glee
Of the dark waters, tossing o'er the slain. ”

“ The soul, the Mother of deep fears,
Of high hopes infinite,
Of glorious dreams, mysterious tears,
Of sleepless inner sight;
Lovely, but solemn, it arose,
Unfolding what no more might close. ”

“ Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, Volume 33, Pages 262-263
THE CHILD READING THE BIBLE.
BY MRS HEMANS.
"A dancing shape, an image gay,
To haunt, to startle, to waylay.
*****
A being breathing thoughtful breath,
A traveller between life and death." ”