Poems (Campbell)/To ————————
TO
Is it, because upon my breast
The heavy hand of sorrow lies,
That smiling peace, and balmy rest
Far from my thorny pillow flies—
The heavy hand of sorrow lies,
That smiling peace, and balmy rest
Far from my thorny pillow flies—
It is, because the cheerful day
Is painful to my aching sight,
And ev'ry prospect I survey
Dark as the deepest shades of night—
Is painful to my aching sight,
And ev'ry prospect I survey
Dark as the deepest shades of night—
Is it, for these, oh, man of God!
That stern contempt is in thine eye?—
Thy counsel might relieve the load,
And fix my hopes beyond the sky!
That stern contempt is in thine eye?—
Thy counsel might relieve the load,
And fix my hopes beyond the sky!
The heart where secret sorrow reigns,
May well demand thy pitying care;
For what can soothe the mourner's pains
Like pious counsel—holy pray'r.
May well demand thy pitying care;
For what can soothe the mourner's pains
Like pious counsel—holy pray'r.
Or, wouldst thou judge the soul within!
Presumptuous mortal! search thy own
Enough, to know that all have sin;
But God that sees, shall judge alone.
Presumptuous mortal! search thy own
Enough, to know that all have sin;
But God that sees, shall judge alone.
Is it for erring man to frown
Thus proudly on his sister-worm,
To crush the wretched mourner down,
And trample sorrow's prostrate form?
Thus proudly on his sister-worm,
To crush the wretched mourner down,
And trample sorrow's prostrate form?
Oh! judge not thus—lest thou be judg'd!
But, meekly glowing in thy breast,
Let Christian charity be lodg'd—
So, Heav'n is pleas'd, and thou art blest!
But, meekly glowing in thy breast,
Let Christian charity be lodg'd—
So, Heav'n is pleas'd, and thou art blest!
Then bright and perfect, holy man!
Rever'd thy character shall be—
But never, never, harshly scan
The heart thou mayst not judge, and cannot see.
Rever'd thy character shall be—
But never, never, harshly scan
The heart thou mayst not judge, and cannot see.