Yet love is stronger still, and she Even hither wins her way, And soothes the long captivity Beneath that iron sway.
Such tenderness, long years ago, The nymphs of ocean led To stern Prometheus stretched in woe Upon his stony bed.
Or in the shape of insect, flower, Or bird has helped to cheer, In later times, full many an hour Of bondage, sad and drear.
But what can comfort, like the heart That sorrow's self has known; Since that has learnt the healing art From sufferings of its own.
And casting selfish grief away Forgets its own distress In sorrows heavier still, that prey On some more comfortless.
This she has learnt--the secret this Of her calm life below; This gives those lips that sober bliss And smoothes that peaceful brow.
Yet more; the love of human kind, How pure soe'er it be, Can never fill the heart, designed To grasp infinity.
True, when the night of grief is dark It gladdens us to ken The distant cottage fires, and mark The peaceful homes of men.
But such as upward lift their eye Will see a worthier sight, The myriad stars, that in the sky Seem homes for angels bright.
Thus guided they pursue their way Thro' loneliest heath and dell, Till on their work of mercy, they Come where their brethren dwell.
And such as she no earthly glow Would e'er suffice for them, Shine on her, 'mid these dwellings low, Thou Star of Bethlehem!
The "Song of Elizabeth" from the _Saint's Tragedy_ was published during the year 1859, and Bessie writes to Addison and Hollier to say that instead of an engraving she will have the price-list of the Association on the title-page. This remarkable decision they seem to have induced her to abandon, for the title-page is of the ordinary kind. There were at this time about a hundred and fifty blind persons deriving benefit from the Association: sixty-three were supplied with work at their own homes; forty-seven were employed at the Euston Road; the remainder were pupils, agents, travellers, shopman, and superintendent, whilst three received pensions. So many more were applying for work and instruction that at the May meeting the Bishop of Oxford offered a donation of £20 on condition that nineteen similar donations were announced in a given time. He thus raised £400 for the relief of some of the more pressing cases amongst the applicants. The increase of workmen made an increase in the sales necessary, and the trade of the Association was assuming formidable dimensions. The buying and selling, the control of workrooms and management of stock, the care of ledgers, accounts, bills and receipts, might now with great advantage have been made over to a competent and adequately paid sighted manager. Such an arrangement would have left Bessie free to devote herself to the charitable part of her enterprise; to elevate and educate the blind, to investigate cases, and make experiment with trades. With Levy as her faithful coadjutor how much might she not have done!