does not specially refer to the Revolution of 1848, as it was probably written long before ’48.
Such convulsions will cease at last; there is calm beyond; and, even whilst they last,
“thou, dear spirit, happy star,
O’erlook’st the tumult from afar,
And smilest, knowing all is well.”
CXXVIII.
The Love, which became stronger in himself, after encountering Death at the departure of Hallam,
“Is comrade to the lesser faith
That sees the course of human things.”
This “lesser faith” attends to the events of time, and is not overborne by present confusions, but reaches, sustained by Love, to a last happy consummation.
If all that the “wild Hours” of Time had to do was to repeat the past, bring about useless wars, “fool the crowd with glorious lies,” cleave religion into sects, disguise language, change governments, cramp learning, patch afresh what is antique and worn—if these results were all that could be effected, then would my scorn be well deserved. But
“I see in part
That all, as in some piece of art,
Is toil co-operant to an end;”
that all things are working together for final good.