For Love, and Innocence, and Truth
      There made their dwelling-place,
    Than which fair three immortal Youth
      Required no other grace.

    But when through sin the happy seat
      Was lost to wretched man,
    Our Lord, redeeming love to meet,
      Redeeming work began: 

    The flowers, which have a language now,
      Shall deck the weary earth,
    And, while men ’neath their burdens bow,
      Remind them of their birth;

    And, with their vernal beauty rife,
      To all the Gospel preach,
    The Resurrection and the Life,
      In sweet, persuasive speech.

XCIX.

Reader! if thou hast found Thy life to reach and sound, Some thought among these rhymes, My school of rhymes and chimes, Then this, I pray thee, con: Somewhat to feed upon It has—­a kind of lunch, Served with Olympian punch, To brace thee every night, And make thy mornings bright—­ Complines at even-song To make thee brave and strong: 

SUNDAY NIGHT.

    Thou, Father, givest sleep
    So calm, so sweet, so deep;
    And all Thy children share
    Thy goodness everywhere,
    And to Thy likeness grow
    Who love to others show. 
    Grant me more love, I pray,
    Than I have shown to-day. 
    O Father, Son, and Dove,
    Dear Trinity of Love,
    Hear Thou my even-song
    And keep me brave and strong.

MONDAY NIGHT.

    Before I go to sleep,
    That I in joy may reap,
    Lord, take the tares away
    Which I have sown to-day,
    Productive make the wheat,
    For Thine own garner meet,
    And give me grace to-morrow
    To sow no seeds of sorrow. 
    O Father, Son, and Dove,
    Dear Trinity of Love,
    Hear Thou my even-song
    And keep me brave and strong.

TUESDAY NIGHT.

    While I am wrapped in sleep,
    And others watch and weep,
    Dear Lord, remember them,
    Their flood of sorrow stem,
    Take all their grief away,
    Turn Thou their night to day,
    Until in Thee they rest
    Who art of friends the best. 
    O Father, Son, and Dove,
    Dear Trinity of Love,
    Hear Thou my even-song
    And keep me brave and strong.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT.

    Night is for prayer and sleep! 
    Behind the western steep
    Now has the sun gone down
    With his great golden crown. 
    O Sun of Righteousness,
    Arise!  Thy children bless;
    With healing in thy wings
    Cure all our evil things. 
    O Father, Son, and Dove,
    Dear Trinity of Love,
    Hear Thou my even-song
    And keep me brave and strong.