Haste! ere the simple infant die
Which, lured by glistening strakes,
With tender fingers would untie
That knot of tangled snakes.
Thus man with a perverted skill,
In his own darkness blind,
The mystic coil of Fate and Will
Seeks madly to unbind.
Guide Thou aright his questing zeal,
Teach him in Thy bright word
Content Thy perfect love to feel,
O Spirit of the Lord!

INNOCENCE.

We children shuddered when we heard
Of many a pretty painted bird
Held by the glittering eye
Of cruel serpent, fold on fold,
Close gliding, till with blood run cold
The victim dropt to die.
But we revived when friends would say
How rustling leaf, or broken spray
Might foil the poisonous snare,
And how the bird, untranced and free,
Shoots like a meteor from the tree
Into the azure air.
So innocence may be beguiled
By sensual spirits masked and mild,
And feigning pure delight;
But dropt the mask,—on wings of prayer,
O'er mists of earth and clouds of air
She gains her holy height.

HILARION.

See at Hilarion's saintly sign
The serpent mount the pyre,
And all its scaly strength resign
To the consuming fire.
Such is the miracle of Grace
Which on the pilgrim's way,
Ordains that hell's malignant race
Should work its own decay.
Let but the faithful suppliant urge,
God will His fire impart,
The serpent coils of sin to purge
From every willing heart.