YOUTH

DAYS, when the ball of our vision
Had eagles that flew unabash'd to sun;
When the grasp on the bow was decision,
And arrow and hand and eye were one!

GEORGE MEREDITH

REMEMBER now thy Creator in the days of thy youth. Ecclesiastes

WHAT? Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's.

SAINT PAUL

COME

Invocation to Youth

OME then, as ever, like the wind at morning!
Joyous, O Youth, in the agèd world renew

Freshness to feel the eternities around it,

Rain, stars and clouds, light and the sacred dew.
The strong sun shines above thee:

That strength, that radiance bring!
If Winter come to Winter,

When shall men hope for Spring?

LAURENCE BINYON

ΟΙ

H, the wild joys of living! the leaping from rock up to rock,

The strong rending of boughs from the fir-tree, the cool silver shock

Of the plunge in the pool's living water, the hunt of

the bear,

And the sultriness showing the lion is couch'd in his

lair.

And the meal, the rich dates yellow'd over with gold

dust divine,

And the locust flesh steep'd in the pitcher, the full

draught of wine,

PRAYERS

And the sleep in the dried river-channel where bulrushes tell

That the water was wont to go warbling so softly and well.

How good is man's life, the mere living! how fit to employ

All the heart and the soul and the senses for ever in

joy!

ROBERT BROWNING

Prayers

OD who created me

GOD

Nimble and light of limb,

In three elements free,

To run, to ride, to swim:
Not when the sense is dim,

But now from the heart of joy,

I would remember Him :

Take the thanks of a boy.

Jesu, King and Lord,

Whose are my foes to fight,

Gird me with Thy sword,
Swift and sharp and bright.
Thee would I serve if I might;
And conquer if I can,

From day-dawn till night

Take the strength of a man.

FOUNDER'S DAY

Spirit of Love and Truth,
Breathing in grosser clay,
The light and flame of youth,
Delight of men in the fray,
Wisdom in strength's decay;

From pain, strife, wrong to be free,
This best gift I pray,

Take my spirit to Thee.

H. C. BEECHING

Founder's Day. A Secular Ode on the Ninth Jubilee of Eton College

HRIST and His Mother, heavenly maid,

CH

Mary, in whose fair name was laid

Eton's corner, bless our youth

With truth, and purity, mother of truth!

O ye, 'neath breezy skies of June,
By silver Thames's lulling tune,
In shade of willow or oak, who try
The golden gates of poesy;

Or on the tabled sward all day
Match your strength in England's play,
Scholars of Henry, giving grace

To toil and force in game or race;