| Edmund Clarence Stedman, ed. (1833–1908). A Victorian Anthology, 1837–1895. 1895. |
| |
| In the Golden Morning of the World |
| | | Thomas Westwood (1814–88) |
| |
| |
| IN the golden morning of the world, | |
| When creation’s freshness was unfurl’d, | |
| Had earth truer, fonder hearts than now? | |
| One, at least, in this our day, I know, | |
| (Whisper soft, ah! benedicite!) | 5 |
| Faithful-fond as any heart could be | |
| In the golden morning of the world. | |
| And were faces, in that orient time, | |
| Flush’d, in sooth, with more resplendent prime, | |
| More consummate loveliness than now? | 10 |
| Nay, one maiden face, at least, I know | |
| (Whisper soft, ah! benedicite!) | |
| Just as fair as any face could be | |
| In the golden morning of the world. | |
| But dark shadows reign, and storms are rife, | 15 |
| In the once serene clear heaven of life. | |
| Oh! sweet angel, at the shining gate, | |
| By God’s mercy, keep one earthly fate, | |
| One dear life—ah! benedicite! | |
| Happy, calm, as any such could be | 20 |
| In the golden morning of the world! | |
| |
|
|
|
