Hymns for the Amusement of Children (1791)/Elegance

212134Hymns for the Amusement of Children — Hymn XIII. Elegance1791Christopher Smart

HYMN XIII.

ELEGANCE.

'Tis in the spirit that attire,
Th'investiture of saints in heav'n,
Those robes of intellectual fire,
Which to the great elect are giv'n.

5"Bring out to my returning son,
"The robes for elegance the best;"
Thus in the height it shall be done,
And thus the penitent be blest.

'Tis in the body, that sweet mien,
10Ingenuous Christians all possess,
Grace, easy motions, smiles serene,
Clean hands and seemliness of dress.

Whoever has thy charming pow'rs,
Is amiable as Kidron's[1] swan,
15 Like holy Esdras feeds on flow'rs,
And lives on honey like St. John.

Notes

  1. Kidron's — David.

This work was published before January 1, 1929, and is in the public domain worldwide because the author died at least 100 years ago.

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