NOT in the heavens alone is Truth renowned; Sad human hearts, that seem to love her less, Even in mutiny her power confess: We speak in fables, and are compassed round With poesy, distilling song from sound, Colour from light, and hope from happiness; Subliming weakness, yearning, and distress, To that high faith wherewith our life is crowned. All fair deceits are prophets of the truth, E'en as the desert mirage tells a tale Of palms and wells, real, though far away: The star-bright hopes that light the world's dim youth Are not too brilliant, but too silvery pale, To sparkle still, when dawns the golden day. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...SONG TO THE MEN OF ENGLAND by THOMAS CAMPBELL THE CHARACTER OF A GOOD PARSON by GEOFFREY CHAUCER SUMMER STORM by JAMES RUSSELL LOWELL AN ESSAY ON MAN by ALEXANDER POPE A SOLDIER'S GRAVE by JOHN ALBEE A MARLOW MADRIGAL by JOSEPH ASHBY-STERRY THE APOLOGY OF THE BISHOPS IN ANSWER TO BONNER'S GHOST by ANNA LETITIA BARBAULD |