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Hymns for the Amusement of Children (1791)/Beauty

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For works with similar titles, see Beauty.
212127Hymns for the Amusement of Children — Hymn XI. Beauty1791Christopher Smart

HYMN XI.

BEAUTY.

For a Damsel.


Christ, keep me from the self — survey
Of beauties all thine own;
If there is beauty, let me pray
And praise the Lord alone.

5Pray — that I may the fiend withstand,
Where'er his serpents be;
Praise — that the Lord's almighty hand
Is manifest in me.

It is not so — my features are
10Much meaner than the rest;
A glow-worm cannot be a star,
And I am plain at best.

Then come, my love, thy grace impart,
Great Saviour of mankind;
15O come, and purify my heart,
And beautify my mind.

Then will I thy carnations nurse,
And cherish every rose;
And empty to the poor my purse,
20 Till grace to glory grows.

Notes

This work was published before January 1, 1929, and is in the public domain worldwide because the author died at least 100 years ago.

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