Far from the madding crowd's ignoble strife, Their sober wishes never learned to stray; Along the cool, sequestered vale of life They kept the noiseless tenor of their way
He pass'd the flaming bounds of place and time: The living throne, the sapphire blaze, Where angels tremble while they gaze, He saw; but blasted with excess of light, Closed his eyes in endless night.
Hands that the rod of empire might have sway'd, Or waked to ecstasy the living lyre.
Dear as the light that visits these sad eyes, Dear as the ruddy drops that warm my heart.
Along the cool sequestered vale of life, They kept the noiseless tenour of their way.
O'er her warm cheek, and rising bosom, move The bloom of young Desire and purple light of love.
Far from the madding crowd's ignoble strife Their sober wishes never learn'd to stray; Along the cool sequester'd vale of life They kept the noiseless tenor of their way.
Man's feeble race what ills await! Labour, and Penury, the racks of Pain, Disease, and Sorrow's weeping train, And Death, sad refuge from the storms of Fate!