Had I Presumed To Hope

poem 522

Had I presumed to hope The loss had been to Me A Value for the Greatness’ Sake As Giants gone away Had I presumed to gain A Favor so remote The failure but confirm the Grace In further Infinite ‘Tis failure not of Hope But Confident Despair Advancing on Celestial Lists With faint Terrestial power ‘Tis Honor though I die For That no Man obtain Till He be justified by Death This is the Second Gain