The earth loveth the spring, Nor of her coming despaireth, Withheld by nightly sting, Snow, and icy fling, The snarl of the North: But nevertheless she prepareth 810 And setteth in order her nurselings to bring them forth, The jewels of her delight, What shall be blue, what yellow or white; What softest above the rest, The primrose, that loveth best Woodland skirts and the copses shorn. 2. And on the day of relenting she suddenly weareth Her budding crowns. O then, in the early morn, Is any song that compareth With the gaiety of birds, that thrill the gladdened air In inexhaustible chorus 821 To awake the sons of the soil With music more than in brilliant halls sonorous (—It cannot compare—) Is fed to the ears of kings From the reeds and hirèd strings? For love maketh them glad; And if a soul be sad, Or a heart oracle dumb, Here may it taste the promise of joy to come. 830 3. For the Earth knoweth the love which made her, The omnipotent one desire, Which burns at her heart like fire, And hath in gladness arrayed her. And man with the Maker shareth, Him also to rival throughout the lands, To make a work with his hands And have his children adore it: The Creator smileth on him who is wise and dareth In understanding with pride: 840 For God, where’er he hath builded, dwelleth wide,— And he careth,— To set a task to the smallest atom, The law-abiding grains, That hearken each and rejoice: For he guideth the world as a horse with reins; It obeyeth his voice, And lo! he hath set a beautiful end before it: 4. Whereto it leapeth and striveth continually, And pitieth nought, nor spareth: 850 The mother’s wail for her children slain, The stain of disease, The darts of pain, The waste of the fruits of trees, The slaughter of cattle, Unbrotherly lust, the war Of hunger, blood, and the yells of battle, It heedeth no more Than a carver regardeth the wood that he cutteth away: The grainèd shavings fall at his feet, 860 But that which his tool hath spared shall stand For men to praise the work of his hand; For he cutteth so far, and there it lay, And his work is complete. 5.