 | Women must weep |  |
THE WHITE CROSS.
Carry the White Cross high,
Carry the White Cross low,
Till it soothes the orphan's feeble sigh,
And gives back a heavenly glow—
Till it brings the help undream'd of nigh,
And the tears of gladness flow;
Carry it up,
Carry it down,
To the palace where the betrayers sup,
And the woman with soilèd gown—
Till it break the deadly golden cup,
And the head of shame discrown.
Carry the White Cross low,
Till it soothes the orphan's feeble sigh,
And gives back a heavenly glow—
Till it brings the help undream'd of nigh,
And the tears of gladness flow;
Carry it up,
Carry it down,
To the palace where the betrayers sup,
And the woman with soilèd gown—
Till it break the deadly golden cup,
And the head of shame discrown.
Carry the White Cross forth,
Carry it to the drouth
That is pining in the bitter north,
And is bleeding in the south—
Where the maiden has not maiden's worth,
And despair has sealed her mouth;
Carry it still,
Carry it yet,
To the cursèd haunt of the ravening ill,
Where the eyes are dim and wet,
And the dark hands slay, though they cannot kill,
With the woes that none forget.
Carry it to the drouth
That is pining in the bitter north,
And is bleeding in the south—
7
And despair has sealed her mouth;
Carry it still,
Carry it yet,
To the cursèd haunt of the ravening ill,
Where the eyes are dim and wet,
And the dark hands slay, though they cannot kill,
With the woes that none forget.
Carry the White Cross on,
Carry it to the East,
To the courts where never sunlight shone,
And the very man is beast—
To the alleys from which hope is gone,
In which devils hold their feast;
Carry it well,
Carry it true,
For each hour you lose is the dying knell
Of some soul that will vainly rue
Just that saving glimpse, from its home in hell,
With the blessèd gleam of blue.
Carry it to the East,
To the courts where never sunlight shone,
And the very man is beast—
To the alleys from which hope is gone,
In which devils hold their feast;
Carry it well,
Carry it true,
For each hour you lose is the dying knell
Of some soul that will vainly rue
Just that saving glimpse, from its home in hell,
With the blessèd gleam of blue.
Carry the White Cross now,
Carry it fresh and wide,
In the strength of your consecration's vow,
That is more than human pride,
With the dew of baptism on your brow,
And the Brother at your side;
Carry it far,
Carry it near,
For its power will rend the prisoner's bar,
And its light transform the fear,—
It will hide the worst, most ugly scar,
When it draws the outcast near.
Carry it fresh and wide,
In the strength of your consecration's vow,
That is more than human pride,
With the dew of baptism on your brow,
And the Brother at your side;
Carry it far,
Carry it near,
For its power will rend the prisoner's bar,
And its light transform the fear,—
It will hide the worst, most ugly scar,
When it draws the outcast near.
Carry the White Cross brave,
Carry it to the end,
Let its holy shelter proudly wave
On the trampled forms that bend,
Till it stands upon every ghastly grave
And the souls long dead ascend;
Carry it fair,
Carry it free,
Let it kiss the wild deflowered hair,
And uplift the bowing knee,
Till it falls on the fatal dungeon-stair,
And the shades arise and flee.
Carry it to the end,
Let its holy shelter proudly wave
On the trampled forms that bend,
Till it stands upon every ghastly grave
8
Carry it fair,
Carry it free,
Let it kiss the wild deflowered hair,
And uplift the bowing knee,
Till it falls on the fatal dungeon-stair,
And the shades arise and flee.
| Women must weep | |