Lord of Myself! No cares demand 



My time to troubling labor given ; 



With day-dreams I go hand in hand ; 



How oft for such an hour striven! 

 Now mine to have, to hold; to be 

 From carking care, an hour free. 



Slave of stern circumstance no more, 

 The purling brook a welcome calls. 

 Mine now the green wood to explore, 

 To rest where sunlight softly falls, 



Where shadows sport the oaks between, 

 Where Nature's hand alone is seen. 



Mine to converse with happy bird, 



To listen, while its song uplifts; 



To outlook, trouble has not blurred 



Thither my soul full eager drifts. 



Lord of Myself ! Such hour as this, 

 Incarnate grows man's fabled bliss. 



XIV 



