who can mould
    From fire to frost, from timorous to bold,
    In grief to languish or with hope to yearn. 
    Out of his tyrant hands who harms and heals,
    Erewhile who made in it such havoc sore,
    My heart the bitter-sweet of freedom feels. 
    And to the Lord whom, thankful, I adore,
    The heavens who ruleth merely with his brow,
    I turn life-weary, if not satiate, now.

    MACGREGOR.

SONNET LXXXV.

Tennemi Amor anni ventuno ardendo.

HE CONFESSES AND REGRETS HIS SINS, AND PRAYS GOD TO SAVE HIM FROM ETERNAL DEATH.

      Love held me one and twenty years enchain’d,
    His flame was joy—­for hope was in my grief! 
    For ten more years I wept without relief,
    When Laura with my heart, to heaven attain’d. 
    Now weary grown, my life I had arraign’d
    That in its error, check’d (to my belief)
    Blest virtue’s seeds—­now, in my yellow leaf,
    I grieve the misspent years, existence stain’d. 
    Alas! it might have sought a brighter goal,
    In flying troublous thoughts, and winning peace;
    O Father!  I repentant seek thy throne: 
    Thou, in this temple hast enshrined my soul,
    Oh, bless me yet, and grant its safe release! 
    Unjustified—­my sin I humbly own.

    WOLLASTON.

SONNET LXXXVI.

I’ vo piangendo i miei passati tempi.

HE HUMBLY CONFESSES THE ERRORS OF HIS PAST LIFE, AND PRAYS FOR DIVINE GRACE.

      Weeping, I still revolve the seasons flown
    In vain idolatry of mortal things;
    Not soaring heavenward; though my soul had wings
    Which might, perchance, a glorious flight have shown. 
    O Thou, discerner of the guilt I own,
    Giver of life immortal, King of Kings,
    Heal Thou the wounded heart which conscience stings: 
    It looks for refuge only to thy throne. 
    Thus, although life was warfare and unrest,
    Be death the haven of peace; and if my day
    Was vain—­yet make the parting moment blest! 
    Through this brief remnant of my earthly way,
    And in death’s billows, be thy hand confess’d;
    Full well Thou know’st, this hope is all my stay!

    SHEPPARD.

      Still do I mourn the years for aye gone by,
    Which on a mortal love I lavished,
    Nor e’er to soar my pinions balanced,
    Though wing’d perchance no humble height to fly. 
    Thou, Dread Invisible, who from on high
    Look’st down upon this suffering erring head,
    Oh, be thy succour to my frailty sped,
    And with thy grace my indigence supply! 
    My life in storms and warfare doom’d to spend,
    Harbour’d in peace that life may I resign: 
    It’s course though idle, pious be its end! 
    Oh, for the few brief days, which yet are mine,
    And for their close, thy guiding hand extend! 
    Thou know’st on Thee alone my heart’s firm hopes recline.