| Arthur Quiller-Couch, ed. 1919. The Oxford Book of English Verse: 1250–1900. |
| |
| Aubrey De Vere. 1814–1902 |
| |
| 733. Sorrow |
| |
| COUNT each affliction, whether light or grave, | |
| God's messenger sent down to thee; do thou | |
| With courtesy receive him; rise and bow; | |
| And, ere his shadow pass thy threshold, crave | |
| Permission first his heavenly feet to lave; | 5 |
| Then lay before him all thou hast; allow | |
| No cloud of passion to usurp thy brow, | |
| Or mar thy hospitality; no wave | |
| Of mortal tumult to obliterate | |
| The soul's marmoreal calmness: Grief should be, | 10 |
| Like joy, majestic, equable, sedate; | |
| Confirming, cleansing, raising, making free; | |
| Strong to consume small troubles; to commend | |
| Great thoughts, grave thoughts, thoughts lasting to the end. | |
|
|
