And Light upon its forehead, as a star Upon the brow of heaven, to shed its rays Among all people, wheresoe'er they are, And shower upon them calm and happy days.
As sunshine comes with healing on its wing, After long nights of sorrow and unrest, Solace and peace, and sympathy to bring To the grieved spirit and unquiet breast.
No more shall then be heard the slave's deep groan, Nor man man's inhumanity deplore, All strife shall cease and war shall be unknown, And the world's golden age return once more.
And nations now that, with Oppression's hand, Are to the dust of Earth with sorrow bowed, Shall then erect, in fearless vigour, stand, And with recovered freedom shout aloud.
Along with Truth, Wisdom, her sister-twin, Shall come--they two are never far apart,-- At their approach, to some lone cavern Sin Shall cowering flee, as stricken to the heart.
Right shall then temper Justice, as 'tis meet It should, and Justice give to Right its own; Might shall its sword throw underneath its feet, And Tyranny, unkinged, fall off its throne.
Then let us live in hope, and still prepare Us and our children for the end, that they Instruct may those who after them shall heir, To watch and wait the coming of that day.
BALMY as the dew from its own blossoms, And soothing as the fragrance it creates, Comes the sweet influence of this summer eve To my o'erchargëd heart--there is a breeze Moving amid the foliage, soft and low, As cradled murmur from a babe asleep. It is a time for holy thoughts to spring, And contemplation fill the awakened mind.
Lo! a bright sunbeam stands 'tween heaven and earth, Taking its farewell look ere day departs, And seeking still to light the gloom below, As Hope,--even when the darkness comes, and Joy Hath fled,--to cheer the heart, still lingering, smiles: And when it goes,--ah! no, it ne'er all goes:-- The sunbeam fades, a moment, and its light, All shed, dies still-born, swiftly shone and o'er; But Hope, blest Hope, ev'n when it seems away, Is near, evermore near, it cannot live Apart, 'tis wedded to the soul for aye,-- God joined them twain, and nought can sunder them,-- Near, ever near, and ever bringing peace, Groping among the dark things of man's spirit, And shedding o'er the troubled mind its light, As a stray ray of sunshine wanders 'mong The shattered arches of a fallen ruin.