William Brighty Rands (1823–1882)

TELL me, Praise, and tell me, Love,

What you both are thinking of?

‘O, we think,’ said Love, said Praise,

‘Now of children and their ways.’

Give me of your cup to drink,

Praise, and tell me what you think.

‘O, I think of crowns of gold

For the clever and the bold.’

Then I turn’d to Love, and said—

Love was glowing heavenly-red—

Give me of your cup to drink,

Love, and tell me what you think:

Let me taste your bitter-sweet;

Who are those that kiss your feet?

Love look’d up—I read her eyes,

They were stars and they were skies.

Clinging to her garment’s hem,

Smiling as I look’d at them,

There were children scarr’d and halt,

Children weeping for a fault;

Those who scarcely dared to raise

Doubtful eyes to smiling Praise.

Love look’d round, and Praise and Pride

Brought their glad ones to her side.

‘Yea, these too!’ she said, or sang;

And the world with music rang.