Lesson:

1. Come, and I will show you what is beautiful. It is a rose fully blown. See how she sits upon her mossy stem, the queen of flowers. Her leaves glow like fire. The air is filled with her sweet odor. She is the delight of every eye.


2. But there is one fairer than the rose. He that made the rose is more beautiful than the rose. He is altogether lovely. He is the delight of every heart.


3. I will show you what is strong. The lion is strong. When he raiseth himself up from his lair, when he shaketh his mane, when the voice of his roaring is heard, the cattle of the field fly, and the wild beasts of the desert hide themselves; for he is terrible.


4. But He who made the lion is stronger than the lion. He can do all things. He gave us life, and in a moment can take it away, and no one can save us from his hand.


5. I will show you what is glorious. The sun is glorious. When he shineth in the clear sky, when he sitteth on his throne in the heavens, and looketh abroad over the earth, he is the most glorious and excellent object the eye can behold.


6. But He who made the sun is more glorious than the sun. The eye cannot look on his dazzling brightness. He seeth all dark places, by night as well as by day. The light of his countenance is over all the world.


7. This great Being is God. He made all things, but He is more excellent than all that He has made. He is the Creator, they are the creatures. They may be beautiful, but He is Beauty. They may be strong, but He is Strength. They may be perfect, but He is Perfection.





8. There is a book, who runs may read,


Which heavenly truth imparts,


And all the lore its scholars need—


Pure eyes and loving hearts.





9. The works of God, above, below,


Within us, and around,


Are pages in that book, to show


How God himself is found.





10. The glorious sky, embracing all,


Is like the Father's love;


Wherewith encompassed, great and small


In peace and order move.





11. Thou who hast given me eyes to see


And love this sight so fair,


Give me a heart to find out Thee


And read Thee everywhere.





ABOUT THE AUTHOR


The poetry at the close of this selection is by John Keble, a celebrated English clergyman, born in 1792.


He held for some years the professorship of Poetry at Oxford University.


He died in 1866.





DEFINITIONS


1. Blown: Blossomed, bloomed.


1. Odor: Smell, scent.


3. Lair: Bed of a wild beast.


3. Desert: A wilderness, a place where no one lives.


5. Excellent: Surpassing others, superior.


6. Dazzling: Overpowering with light.


7. Perfection: The state of being perfect, so that nothing is wanting.


8. Imparts: Makes known.


8. Lore: Learning.


10. Encompassed: Surrounded.





EXERCISES


1. What is described as beautiful in the lesson?


2. What is described as strong in the lesson?


3. What is described as glorious in the lesson?


4. Who does the author state is more beautiful than the rose, stronger than the lion, and more glorious than the sun?


5. What is the book which the author writes we may all read?


6. According to the author, what should the book teach us?