Читать книгу The Golden Treasury - Unknown - Страница 79

     Happy those early days, when I

     Shined in my Angel-infancy!

     Before I understood this place

     Appointed for my second race,

     Or taught my soul to fancy aught

     But a white, celestial thought;

     When yet I had not walk'd above

     A mile or two from my first Love,

     And looking back, at that short space

     Could see a glimpse of his bright face;

     When on some gilded cloud or flower

     My gazing soul would dwell an hour,

     And in those weaker glories spy

     Some shadows of eternity;

     Before I taught my tongue to wound

     My conscience with a sinful sound,

     Or had the black art to dispense

     A several sin to every sense,

     But felt through all this fleshly dress

     Bright shoots of everlastingness.

     O how I long to travel back,

     And tread again that ancient track!

     That I might once more reach that plain,

     Where first I left my glorious train;

     From whence th' enlighten'd spirit sees

     That shady City of Palm trees!

     But ah! my soul with too much stay

     Is drunk, and staggers in the way:—

     Some men a forward motion love,

     But I by backward steps would move;

     And when this dust falls to the urn,

     In that state I came, return.