| Edmund Clarence Stedman, ed. (1833–1908). A Victorian Anthology, 1837–1895. 1895. |
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| “That They All May Be One” |
| | | Roden Berkeley Wriothesley Noel (1834–94) |
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| WHENE’ER there comes a little child, | |
| My darling comes with him; | |
| Whene’er I hear a birdie wild | |
| Who sings his merry whim, | |
| Mine sings with him: | 5 |
| If a low strain of music sails | |
| Among melodious hills and dales, | |
| When a white lamb or kitten leaps, | |
| Or star, or vernal flower peeps, | |
| When rainbow dews are pulsing joy, | 10 |
| Or sunny waves, or leaflets toy, | |
| Then he who sleeps | |
| Softly wakes within my heart; | |
| With a kiss from him I start; | |
| He lays his head upon my breast, | 15 |
| Tho’ I may not see my guest, | |
| Dear bosom-guest! | |
| In all that ’s pure and fair and good, | |
| I feel the spring-time of thy blood, | |
| Hear thy whisper’d accents flow | 20 |
| To lighten woe, | |
| Feel them blend, | |
| Although I fail to comprehend. | |
| And if one woundeth with harsh word, | |
| Or deed, a child, or beast, or bird, | 25 |
| It seems to strike weak Innocence | |
| Through him, who hath for his defence | |
| Thunder of the All-loving Sire, | |
| And mine, to whom He gave the fire. | |
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