Halcyon Hours; Poems - By Kenelm Henry Digby

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1870. Excerpt: ... With laughter then he told it all; And each one laugh'd within that hall. For men so innocent and gay Meet thus whate'er occurs each day. No circumstance for them is grave, If only mankind they can save. But still, to silence all complaint, This tale was told me by a saint--A Jesuit himself--who smiled, The last who men would have beguiled. THE WAYS OF PKOVIDENCE. They say there lived in ancient days A hermit shunning common ways, Who, though he did alone remain, Of others' fortunes would complain. Beneath his distant green-wood tree He thought of men like you and me, And wonder'd much at sundry things That each day's observation brings: That I should still be gay as air, While you are steep'd in sorrow there. 'Tis said it was a dark temptation, He look'd on life with detestation--From marking that best men had not For goodness a befitting lot; Whereas the wicked seem'd to be The first to reap felicity. And then, as poets did complain, No order seems in life to reign. Thebes at a lyre's sweet sound began, And at a flute's to ruin ran. Built and demolish'd by the sound Of music was that city found. Now deaf and laid low are the stones Which once heard and obey'd its tones. The lyre's seven chords sufficed to raise The seven gates which yielded praise To the sweet Muses, as they tell; And at a melody they fell. Yet flutes and lyres are known to be Both instruments of harmony. Then Love and Wisdom seem to yield For ruin thus alike a field. Love of Hippolytus thus slew Phaedra, as all the ancients knew; Whereas Hippolytus was slain By temperance, which proved in vain.-The theme, you see, no mind should spurn; But to our hermit let's return. They say an Angel then was sent, Who as a young man with him went, Inviting him to wander so, That he might sooner come ...