quote · Legacy record
What though to poverty’s imploring voice I give my earthly goods; though to the pile I yield my body, if thy genuine love Inspire not, this alike is void and vain. ***** Thou, mild and gentle nature, art estranged From envy, hatred, insolence, or pride; Thou seekest not thy own, but others’ weal; Slow to reprove, but studious to applaud, And from the eyes of malice to conceal The weakness thou lamentest to behold: For thou of each forgiv’st and hop’st the best, Forbearing and forgiving every ill. ***** The time shall come when prophecy itself, And all the knowledge which exalts mankind, Shall lose their use; these, while the state of man In imperfection lies, by Heaven are made To compass ends sublime; but when that state Imperfect, for perfection shall be changed, Shall fade away, and boast that use no more. But, subject to no change, through endless time Shall Faith, and Hope, and Charity endure; And thou, O Charity, of these the chief, In high pre-eminence shalt ever reign!
What though to poverty’s imploring voice I give my earthly goods; though to the pile I yield my body, if thy genuine love Inspire not, this alike is void and vain. ***** Thou, mild and gentle nature, art estranged From envy, hatred, insolence, or pride; Thou seekest not thy own, but others’ weal; Slow to reprove, but studious to applaud, And from the eyes of malice to conceal The weakness thou lamentest to behold: For thou of each forgiv’st and hop’st the best, Forbearing and forgiving every ill. ***** The time shall come when prophecy itself, And all the knowledge which exalts mankind, Shall lose their use; these, while the state of man In imperfection lies, by Heaven are made To compass ends sublime; but when that state Imperfect, for perfection shall be changed, Shall fade away, and boast that use no more. But, subject to no change, through endless time Shall Faith, and Hope, and Charity endure; And thou, O Charity, of these the chief, In high pre-eminence shalt ever reign!
In print by 1888 AD · industrial
Recorded in a printed collection by this date; the original date of these words is still unknown.
Meaning not yet available
An individual explanation has not yet been added. We do not substitute a generic description for an interpretation of these particular words.
Begin with source-checked readings and explanations ↗Attribution & collection notes
- Author or tradition
- C. P. Layard (identity unresolved)
Attribution: unknown - Country attributed
- Not established
A country attribution does not establish the earliest origin. - Historical period
- In print by 1888 AD · industrial
In print by 1888: recorded in A Cyclopædia of Sacred Poetical Quotations (catalogued1888). Collection publication is an upper bound for this wording, not its earliest origin, composition date or the author's lifetime.
An author lifetime, approximate period or collection date is not necessarily the date when these words were first written or spoken. - Recorded source
- A Cyclopædia of Sacred Poetical Quotations (catalogued1888) (1888 AD)
Page 109 · printed citation: C. P. Layard · subject: CHARITY
A collection's publication date can be later than the words it records.