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| I KNOW what beauty is, for Thou | |
| Hast set the world within my heart; | |
| Of me Thou madest it a part; | |
| I never loved it more than now. | |
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| I know the Sabbath afternoons; | 5 |
| The light asleep upon the graves; | |
| Against the sky the poplar waves; | |
| The river murmurs organ tunes. | |
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| I know the spring with bud and bell; | |
| The hush in summer woods at night; | 10 |
| Autumn, when leaves let in more light; | |
| Fantastic winter’s lovely spell. | |
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| I know the rapture music gives, | |
| Its mystery of ordered tones; | |
| Dream-muffled soul, it loves and moans, | 15 |
| And, half-alive, comes in and lives. | |
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| And verse I know, whose concord high | |
| Of thought and music lifts the soul | |
| Where many a glimmering starry shoal | |
| Glides through the Godhead’s living sky. | 20 |
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| Yea, Beauty’s regnant All I know— | |
| The imperial head, the thoughtful eyes; | |
| The God-imprisoned harmonies, | |
| That out in gracious motions go. | |
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| But I leave all, O Son of man, | 25 |
| Put off my shoes, and come to Thee, | |
| Most lovely Thou of all I see, | |
| Most potent Thou of all that can! | |
| |
| As child forsakes his favourite toy, | |
| His sisters’ sport, his new-found nest; | 30 |
| And, climbing to his mother’s breast, | |
| Enjoys yet more his late-left joy— | |
| |
| I lose to find. On fair-browed bride | |
| Fair pearls their fairest light afford; | |
| So, gathered round Thy glory, Lord, | 35 |
| All glory else is glorified. | |
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