368 CONSOLATIONS OF SOLITUDE
While priests, inspired by thee to teach, Go forth to proselyte and preach, And the decaying faith renew. All in a tiny drop of dew. Who knows ? Not I ! Yet in my sight They wheel and whirl in such delight, That, howe'er trifling be their care. Almost I deem thou must be there ; And, since all Nature joys in thee, I, also, of thy train would be.
��O come, with heaven-born Trust, and scare
From earth the demons of Despair,
Doubt, that hath lost all faith in good.
Despondency, that loves to brood,
A gloomy monster that begat
Pale Fear, and him, that other brat.
Suspicion, foe to Love and thee.
And, when all these from earth shall flee,
Do thou and Charity once more
Her golden crown to Peace restore —
Not Chaos' child, but Truth's, on earth unknown of yore,
When oft through lack of joy
Men would themselves destroy,
And, wanting thee, would fly to strife,
Doomed to a brief and brutish life.
��Again from heaven descend,
A fond, a faithful friend,
And tame those restless passions, which in vain
Unaided Virtue struggles to restrain !
Descend, a spirit fair and bright.
Outstretch o'er all the earth thy wings of light.
And chase away for aye the darkness of our night !
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