Page:Fugitive Poetry 1600-1878.djvu/91
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NOT LOST, BUT GONE BEFORE.
73
She, meeting at the threshold, led him in,
And with these words, preventing, did begin:
"Ever rejoicing at your wished return,
Yet do I most so now; for since this morn
I have been much perplexed and sorely tried
Upon one point which you shall now decide.
Some years ago, a friend unto my care
Some jewels gave, rich precious gems they were;
But having given them in my charge, this friend
Did afterwards nor come for them, nor send,
But left them in my keeping for so long,
That now it almost seems to me a wrong
That he should suddenly arrive to-day,
To take those jewels which he left, away.
What think you? Shall I freely yield them back,
And with no murmuring?—so henceforth to lack
Those gems myself, which I had learned to see
Almost as mine for ever, mine in fee."
"What question can be here? Your own true heart
Must needs advise you of the only part:
That may be claimed again which was but lent,
And should be yielded with no discontent.
Nor surely can we find herein a wrong,
That it was left us to enjoy it long."
"Good is the word," she answered; "may we now
And evermore that it is good allow!"
And rising, to an inner chamber led,
And there she showed him, stretched upon one bed,
Two children pale, and he the jewels knew,
Which God had lent him and resumed anew.
And with these words, preventing, did begin:
"Ever rejoicing at your wished return,
Yet do I most so now; for since this morn
I have been much perplexed and sorely tried
Upon one point which you shall now decide.
Some years ago, a friend unto my care
Some jewels gave, rich precious gems they were;
But having given them in my charge, this friend
Did afterwards nor come for them, nor send,
But left them in my keeping for so long,
That now it almost seems to me a wrong
That he should suddenly arrive to-day,
To take those jewels which he left, away.
What think you? Shall I freely yield them back,
And with no murmuring?—so henceforth to lack
Those gems myself, which I had learned to see
Almost as mine for ever, mine in fee."
"What question can be here? Your own true heart
Must needs advise you of the only part:
That may be claimed again which was but lent,
And should be yielded with no discontent.
Nor surely can we find herein a wrong,
That it was left us to enjoy it long."
"Good is the word," she answered; "may we now
And evermore that it is good allow!"
And rising, to an inner chamber led,
And there she showed him, stretched upon one bed,
Two children pale, and he the jewels knew,
Which God had lent him and resumed anew.
Not Lost, but Gone Before.
Say, why should friendship grieve for those
Who safe arrive on Canaan's shore?
Released from all their hurtful foes—
They are not lost, but gone before.
Who safe arrive on Canaan's shore?
Released from all their hurtful foes—
They are not lost, but gone before.
How many painful days on earth
Their fainting spirits numbered o'er!
Now they enjoy a heavenly birth—
They are not lost, but gone before.
Their fainting spirits numbered o'er!
Now they enjoy a heavenly birth—
They are not lost, but gone before.
Dear is the spot where Christians sleep,
And sweet the strain which angels pour;
Oh, why should we in anguish weep?
They are not lost, but gone before.
And sweet the strain which angels pour;
Oh, why should we in anguish weep?
They are not lost, but gone before.