In visions of the dark night
I have dreamed of joy departed,
but a waking dream of life and light
hath left me broken-hearted.

Ah! What is not a dream by day
to him whose eyes are cast,
on things around him with a ray
turned back upon the past?

That holy dream – that holy dream,
while all the world were chiding,
hath cheered me as a lovely beam
a lonely spirit guiding.

What though that light, thro’ storm and night,
so trembled from afar,
what could there be more purely bright
in truth’s day-star.

Some glory in their birth, some in their skill,
some in their wealth, some in their body’s force,
some in their garments though new-fangled ill;
Some in their hawks and hounds, some in their horse;

And every humour hath his adjunct pleasure,
wherein it finds a joy above the rest:
But these particulars are not my measure,
all these I better in one general best.

Thy love is better than high birth to me,
richer than wealth, prouder than garments’ cost,

of more delight than hawks and horses be;
And having thee, of all men’s pride I boast:

Wretched in this alone, that thou mayst take
all this away, and me most wretched make

Möge dein Weg dir freundlich entgegenkommen. Möge die Sonne dein Gesicht erhellen. Möge der Wind dir den Rücken stärken und der Regen um dich herum die Felder tränken. Möge der gütige Gott dich in seinen Händen halten.

Nichts muß so sein, nur weil es immer
so gewesen ist.

Viele Menschen versäumen das kleine Glück,
während sie auf das Große vergebens warten.