BETA

Hymn V.

1.

Amid the gay and noisy throng1
Around me fluttering, wheeling,
shining,2
My ears are fill’d with shout and song,3
But yet my soul is still repining.4

2.

In every face around I see5
Some heart-felt curse in silence work-
ing ;6
Each eye reflects my sins on me,7
And shows me all within me lurking.8

3.

’Mid bounding joy and passion’s glow,9
’Mid sportive bursts of mutual glad-
ness,10
Thin shades arise from far below,11
Where boils a secret gulf of madness.12

4.

A quivering cheek, a faltering glance,13
One throb, one sigh, the whole re-
vealing ;14
In all the flashing, whirling dance,15
I see a world to shipwreck reeling.16

5.

And while I fain would pause and
think,17
Me too the tumult onward presses;18
In vain I strive, in vain I shrink19
My breast the hour’s vague fiend
possesses.20

6.

’Mid wreaths and gems, ’mid masks grave,
and crowns,21
’Mid brows austere, or smooth from
sorrow,22
On all alike one ruin frowns,23
And bodes for all one fearful morrow.24

7.

And ’tis the worst despair to know25
By pangs within my bosom aching,26
How deep in each the root of woe,27
How many a heart is slowly breaking.28

8.

But while my sad bewilder’d view29
The wide confusion vainly traces,30
One look I see serenely true,31
Among the false and loveless faces.32

9.

Like yon blue sky, when first it shows33
The storm-tost ship how Heaven hath
pity ;34
Or some pure mountain breeze that
blows35
Its healing o’er a plague-struck city.36

10.

A voice not loud, like wind or wave,37
A look made low by conscious great-
ness,38
Where all is calm, and deep, and
grave,39
With a full soul’s mature sedateness.40

11.

By Him subdued to thought and peace,41
The crowd no more in tumult wander,42
The sounds of surging riot cease,43
And hearts high swollen devoutly
ponder.44

12.

By his mild glance and sober power45
Renew’d to tranquil aspiration,46
My soul escapes the reckless hour,47
And learns his spirit’s pure elation.48

13.

To thee, O God ! a man redeem’d,49
With all a world to thee returning,50
We own the light from Him that
beam’d,51
In Him its source for ever burning.52

14.

So ’mid our stormy griefs and joys53
May He still teach unforced devo-
tion,54
Recall our shaken being’s poise,55
And clear and deepen all emotion.56