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BENEDETTA MINELLI.
Thy will be done? It was done. O my God,
Thou know'st, when over grief's tempestuous sea
My broken-winged soul fled home to Thee,
I writhed, but never murmured at Thy rod.
Thou know'st, when over grief's tempestuous sea
My broken-winged soul fled home to Thee,
I writhed, but never murmured at Thy rod.
It fell upon me, stern at first, then soft
As parent's kisses, till the wound was healed;
And I went forth a laborer in Thy field:—
They best can bind who have been bruised oft.
As parent's kisses, till the wound was healed;
And I went forth a laborer in Thy field:—
They best can bind who have been bruised oft.
And Thou wert pitiful. I came heart-sore ,
And drank Thy cup because earth's cups ran dry:
Thou slew'st me not for that impiety,
But madest the draught so sweet, I thirst no more.
And drank Thy cup because earth's cups ran dry:
Thou slew'st me not for that impiety,
But madest the draught so sweet, I thirst no more.
I came for silence, heavy rest, or death:
Thou gavest instead life, peace, and holy toil:
My sighing lips from sorrow didst assoil,
And fill with righteous thankfulness each breath.
Thou gavest instead life, peace, and holy toil:
My sighing lips from sorrow didst assoil,
And fill with righteous thankfulness each breath.
Therefore I praise Thee that Thou shuttest Thine ears
Unto my misery: didst Thy will, not mine:
That to this length of days Thy hand divine,
My feet from falling kept, mine eyes from tears.
Unto my misery: didst Thy will, not mine:
That to this length of days Thy hand divine,
My feet from falling kept, mine eyes from tears.
Sisters, draw near. Hear my last words serene:
When I was young I walked in mine own ways,
When I was young I walked in mine own ways,
