By ELIZABETH BARRETT BROWNING.
I think we are too ready with complaintIn this fair world of God’s. Had we no hopeIndeed beyond the zenith and the slopeOf yon grey blank of sky, we might grow faintTo muse upon eternity’s constraintRound our aspirant souls; but since the scopeMust widen early, is it well to droop,For a few days consumed in loss and taint?O pusillanimous heart, be comfortedAnd like a cheerful traveler, take the road,Singing beside the hedge. What if the breadBe bitter in thine inn and thou unshodTo meet the flints? At least it may be said,“Because thy way isshort, I thank thee, God.”
I think we are too ready with complaintIn this fair world of God’s. Had we no hopeIndeed beyond the zenith and the slopeOf yon grey blank of sky, we might grow faintTo muse upon eternity’s constraintRound our aspirant souls; but since the scopeMust widen early, is it well to droop,For a few days consumed in loss and taint?O pusillanimous heart, be comfortedAnd like a cheerful traveler, take the road,Singing beside the hedge. What if the breadBe bitter in thine inn and thou unshodTo meet the flints? At least it may be said,“Because thy way isshort, I thank thee, God.”
I think we are too ready with complaint
In this fair world of God’s. Had we no hope
Indeed beyond the zenith and the slope
Of yon grey blank of sky, we might grow faint
To muse upon eternity’s constraint
Round our aspirant souls; but since the scope
Must widen early, is it well to droop,
For a few days consumed in loss and taint?
O pusillanimous heart, be comforted
And like a cheerful traveler, take the road,
Singing beside the hedge. What if the bread
Be bitter in thine inn and thou unshod
To meet the flints? At least it may be said,
“Because thy way isshort, I thank thee, God.”