My soul in childhood with a hope so strong?

What secret force moved my desire,

To expect my joys beyond the seas, so young?

Felicity I knew

Was out of view

And being here alone,

I saw that happiness was gone

From me! For this

I thirsted absent bliss,

And thought that sure beyond the seas,

Or else in something near at hand

I knew not yet, (since nought did please

I knew,) my bliss did stand.

4

But little did the Infant dream

That all the treasures of the World were by:

And that himself was so the cream

And crown of all, which round about did lie:

Yet thus it was. The gem,

The diadem,

The ring enclosing all

That stood upon this earthly ball;

The heavenly eye,

Much wider than the sky,

Wherein they all included were

The glorious soul that was the king

Made to possess them, did appear

A small and little thing!