Page:Forget Me Not (1824).djvu/211
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BISHOP HUBERT.
177
Far he has not roam'd, before,
On that solitary shore,
He has found a little child,
By its seeming play beguiled.
On that solitary shore,
He has found a little child,
By its seeming play beguiled.
In the drifted barren sand
It has scoop'd with baby hand
Small recess, in which might float
Sportive fairy's tiny boat.
It has scoop'd with baby hand
Small recess, in which might float
Sportive fairy's tiny boat.
From a hollow shell, the while,
See, 'tis filling, with a smile,
Pool as shallow as may be,
With the waters of The Sea.
See, 'tis filling, with a smile,
Pool as shallow as may be,
With the waters of The Sea.
Hear the smiling Bishop ask—
"What can mean such infant task?"
Mark that infant's answer plain—
"'Tis to hold yon mighty main!"—
"What can mean such infant task?"
Mark that infant's answer plain—
"'Tis to hold yon mighty main!"—
"Foolish trifler!" Hubert cries,
"Open, if thou canst, thine eyes;—
Can a shallow scoop'd by thee
Hope to hold yon boundless sea?
"Open, if thou canst, thine eyes;—
Can a shallow scoop'd by thee
Hope to hold yon boundless sea?
"Know'st thou not its space transcends
All thy fancy comprehends;—
Ope thy childish eyes, and know—
Fathomless its depths below."
All thy fancy comprehends;—
Ope thy childish eyes, and know—
Fathomless its depths below."