Without Thy presence, life is death;—all smiles are scowls.
Shouldst Thou find fault with service rendered unto Thee,
Thy chiding’s merited, no doubt; as all may see.190
If Thou be discontented with the sun and moon,
Or if Thou call the cypress “hunchback,” “macaroon,”
Or if Thou say the skies and spheres are all too low,
Or find the mines, the seas, a paltry puppet-show,
All this, compared with Thy perfections, is the truth.
Thine is the kingdom; Thine the power to mend all ruth.
Thou art removed from danger, as from nullity.