Region of life and light!Land of the good whose earthly toils are o'er! Nor frost nor heat may blight Thy vernal beauty, fertile shore,Yielding thy blessed fruits for evermore!
There without crook or sling,Walks the good shepherd; blossoms white and red Round his meek temples cling; And to sweet pastures led,His own loved flock beneath his eye is fed.
He guides, and near him theyFollow delighted, for he makes them go Where dwells eternal May, And heavenly roses blow,Deathless, and gathered but again to grow.
He leads them to the heightNamed of the infinite and long-sought Good, And fountains of delight; And where his feet have stoodSprings up, along the way, their tender food.
And when, in the mid skies,The climbing sun has reached his highest bound, Reposing as he lies, With all his flock around,He witches the still air with numerous sound.
From his sweet lute flow forthImmortal harmonies, of power to still All passions born of earth, And draw the ardent willIts destiny of goodness to fulfil.
Might but a little part,A wandering breath of that high melody, Descend into my heart, And change it till it beTransformed and swallowed up, oh love! in thee.
Ah! then my soul should know,Beloved! where thou liest at noon of day, And from this place of woe Released, should take its wayTo mingle with thy flock and never stray.
FATIMA AND RADUAN.°