The poetry at the close of this selection is by John Keble, a celebrated
English clergyman, born in 1792. He held for some years the professorship
of Poetry at Oxford University. He died in 1866.
1. Come, and I will show you what is beautiful. It is a rose fully blown.
See how she sits upon her mossy stem, the queen of flowers. Her leaves
glow like fire. The air is filled with her sweet odor. She is the delight
of every eye.
2. But there is one fairer than the rose. He that made the rose is more
beautiful than the rose. He is altogether lovely. He is the delight of
every heart.
3. I will show you what is strong. The lion is strong. When he raiseth
himself up from his lair, when he shaketh his mane, when the voice of his
roaring is heard, the cattle of the field fly, and the wild beasts of the
desert hide themselves; for he is terrible.
4. But He who made the lion is stronger than the lion. He can do all
things. He gave us life, and in a moment can take it away, and no one can
save us from his hand.
5. I will show you what is glorious. The sun is glorious. When he shineth
in the clear sky, when he sitteth on his throne in the heavens, and
looketh abroad over the earth, he is the most glorious and excellent
object the eye can behold.
6. But He who made the sun is more glorious than the sun. The eye cannot
look on his dazzling brightness. He seeth all dark places, by night as
well as by day. The light of his countenance is over all the world.
7. This great Being is God. He made all things, but He is more excellent
than all that He has made. He is the Creator, they are the creatures. They
may be beautiful, but He is Beauty. They may be strong, but He is
Strength. They may be perfect, but He is Perfection.
8. There is a book, who runs may read,
Which heavenly truth imparts,
And all the lore its scholars need--
Pure eyes and loving hearts.
9. The works of God, above, below,
Within us, and around,
Are pages in that book, to show
How God himself is found.
10. The glorious sky, embracing all,
Is like the Father's love;
Wherewith encompassed, great and small
In peace and order move.
11. Thou who hast given me eyes to see
And love this sight so fair,
Give me a heart to find out Thee
And read Thee everywhere.
DEFINITIONS.--1. Blown, blossomed, bloomed. O'dor, smell, scent. 3. Lair,
bed of a wild beast. Des'ert, a wilderness, a place where no one lives. 5.
Ex'cel-lent, surpassing others in worth, su-perior. 6. Daz'zling,
overpowering with light. 7. Per-fec'tion, the state of being perfect, so
that nothing is wanting. 8. Im-parts', makes known. Lore, learning. 10.
En-com'passed, surrounded.
EXERCISES.--What is described as beautiful? As strong? As glorious? Who is
more beautiful than the rose, stronger than the lion, and more glorious
than the sun? What is the book which we may all read? What should it teach
us?