Matin Bells and Scarlet and Gold By "F. Harald Williams"[i.e. F. W. O. Ward]. First Edition |
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THE STAR OF THE MAGI. |
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 | Matin Bells and Scarlet and Gold |  |
THE STAR OF THE MAGI.
The night was very dark and dread,
Above me knelled the thunder
As if with tolling to the dead,
And flints rose cruel under;
While through the clouds like funeral shrouds
Which it did tear asunder,
A ghastly moon glared overhead.
But in that close and coffined night,
Which hid the roads and meadows
With arms of awful shadows,
I had a brave and blessed light.
For in my bosom burned a lamp
Supplied with lustre solemn
Which spoke, as from a reverend shrine
Some secret glory saith—
“Behold the oil and sacred stamp,
Which only court and column
Contain that house the Man Divine”—
Because I walked by Faith.
And now I cannot wander far
Or miss the haven holy,
Who have the Magi's steadfast star
A light within me lowly.
Above me knelled the thunder
As if with tolling to the dead,
And flints rose cruel under;
While through the clouds like funeral shrouds
Which it did tear asunder,
A ghastly moon glared overhead.
But in that close and coffined night,
Which hid the roads and meadows
With arms of awful shadows,
I had a brave and blessed light.
For in my bosom burned a lamp
Supplied with lustre solemn
Which spoke, as from a reverend shrine
Some secret glory saith—
“Behold the oil and sacred stamp,
Which only court and column
Contain that house the Man Divine”—
Because I walked by Faith.
And now I cannot wander far
Or miss the haven holy,
Who have the Magi's steadfast star
A light within me lowly.
256
The day was very drear, and stone
And thorn pursued my paces,
While famine with its bitter zone
Girt me in desert spaces;
An angry wind, which snarled behind,
Struck me in sudden places;
And still I did not step alone.
I had for ever by my side,
In wastes all lean and yellow,
The friend that was my fellow
Prepared to guard me round and guide.
And thorn pursued my paces,
While famine with its bitter zone
Girt me in desert spaces;
An angry wind, which snarled behind,
Struck me in sudden places;
And still I did not step alone.
I had for ever by my side,
In wastes all lean and yellow,
The friend that was my fellow
Prepared to guard me round and guide.
For with me though unseen there went
The mate of many a trial,
That often had most truly proved
The falsehood of each wraith;
And thus, if pale and penitent
With fast and sore denial,
In trembling joy I onward moved—
Because I walked with Faith.
But now I cannot lose the way,
And in my journey stumble;
I simply pause to praise, or pray
For love to keep me humble.
The mate of many a trial,
That often had most truly proved
The falsehood of each wraith;
And thus, if pale and penitent
With fast and sore denial,
In trembling joy I onward moved—
Because I walked with Faith.
But now I cannot lose the way,
And in my journey stumble;
I simply pause to praise, or pray
For love to keep me humble.
| Matin Bells and Scarlet and Gold | |