BETTER THINGS. Better to love than be beloved, Better a feeble love to God, Than for woman's love to pine; Better to have the making God Than the woman made divine. Better be fed by mother's hand, Better to trust in God, than say: Better to be a little wise Than learned overmuch; Better than high are lowly thoughts, Better than thrill a listening crowd, But better teach a child, than toil To make thyself complete. 191 192 BETTER THINGS. Better to walk the realm unseen, Than watch the hour's event; Better the smile of God alway. Than the voice of men's consent. Better to have a quiet grief Than a tumultuous joy; Better than manhood, age's face, Better the thanks of one dear heart, Better a death when work is done, Than the king of all the earth. GEORGE MAC DONALD. M THE WIFE'S TRAGEDY. AN must be pleased; but him to please Is woman's pleasure; down the gulf Of his condoled necessities She casts her best, she flings herself. How often flings for nought! and yokes She leans and weeps against his breast, And seems to think the sin was hers; 194 THE WIFE'S TRAGEDY. And whilst his love has any life, Or any eye to see her charms, She loves with love that cannot tire; COVENTRY PATMORE. H PURIFIER OF SILVER. E that from dross would win the precious ore, Bends o'er the crucible with earnest eye, The subtle, searching process to explore, Lest the one brilliant moment should pass by, When in the molten silver's virgin mass He meets his pictured face, as in a glass. Thus in God's furnace are His people tried; Who from the crucible come forth so pure That He whose eyes of flame look through the whole, May see His image perfect in the soul? |