His voice when he read the Lessons sounded different from when he was talking about the Parochial Church Council in the afternoon. She was reminded of a poem she had once read somewhere, something about my devotion more secure, woos thy spirit high and pure….If she could find it, she would copy it out into her diary.
Arthur Quiller-Couch, comp. The Oxford Book of Victorian Verse. 1922.
Spiritual Love
By William Caldwell Roscoe (1823–1859)
WHAT care I tho’ beauty fading
Die ere Time can turn his glass?
What tho’ locks the Graces braiding
Perish like the summer grass?
Tho’ thy charms should all decay, 5
Think not my affections may!
For thy charms—tho’ bright as morning—
Captured not my idle heart;
Love so grounded ends in scorning,
Lacks the barb to hold the dart. 10
My devotion more secure
Woos thy spirit high and pure.
