Matin Bells and Scarlet and Gold By "F. Harald Williams"[i.e. F. W. O. Ward]. First Edition |
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| I. |
THE WHITE SERVICE. |
| II. |
| III. |
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| IV. |
| V. |
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| I. |
| II. |
| VI. |
| VII. |
| VIII. |
 | Matin Bells and Scarlet and Gold |  |
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THE WHITE SERVICE.
Come, lay one hand upon the cross and lift one hand to Heaven,
And swear whatever be the loss to purge out all the leaven
Of evil from they treacherous heart, and do a soldier's worthy part
Unsoiled by sinful revel;
To guard the Church, which others trod in rapine, by the grace of God
Against the world and Devil.
Come, kneel and keep a trustful tryst from midnight to the morning
Alone with the White Blessèd Christ in simple unadorning,
Within the shadow of this fane beneath the storied blood-red pane
That breathes a brighter morrow;
If in this ghostly place at length thy Lord may clothe thee with His strength
And cleanse thee in His sorrow.
And swear whatever be the loss to purge out all the leaven
Of evil from they treacherous heart, and do a soldier's worthy part
Unsoiled by sinful revel;
To guard the Church, which others trod in rapine, by the grace of God
Against the world and Devil.
Come, kneel and keep a trustful tryst from midnight to the morning
Alone with the White Blessèd Christ in simple unadorning,
Within the shadow of this fane beneath the storied blood-red pane
That breathes a brighter morrow;
If in this ghostly place at length thy Lord may clothe thee with His strength
And cleanse thee in His sorrow.
With all my priestly power I bid thee weep and wait thy season,
And hold the watch our Captain did on that dark night of treason;
To face the banded hosts of ill with armèd breast and iron will,
And prayers shot up like arrows.
The death-bell, it may be, will toll the sin away that sears thy soul,
When darkness round thee narrows.
Lay down thy head and keep the tryst which saints have kept for ever,
These hours with the White Blessed Christ by true and strong endeavour,
In penance and the bitter woe which is the demon's dying throe
That parts not but by rending;
And ere the dawn upon thee shakes its shafts and sunrise in thee wakes,
May come the conqueror's ending.
And hold the watch our Captain did on that dark night of treason;
To face the banded hosts of ill with armèd breast and iron will,
And prayers shot up like arrows.
The death-bell, it may be, will toll the sin away that sears thy soul,
When darkness round thee narrows.
Lay down thy head and keep the tryst which saints have kept for ever,
These hours with the White Blessed Christ by true and strong endeavour,
In penance and the bitter woe which is the demon's dying throe
That parts not but by rending;
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May come the conqueror's ending.
Perchance the Lord will tarry long, or break on thee in thunder,
And crashing with the tempest song burst the black night asunder;
Perchance in visits of the moon the love that lives will meet thee soon
In bridal sweet and solemn,
And somewhere in this reverend wall will rise the dear expected call
From cloistered depth or column.
But be thou brave and keep the tryst which all must keep who cherish
The faith of the White Blessed Christ and for that faith would perish;
Perchance with calm compelling voice that makes the saddest heart rejoice
He will descend in meekness,
Who feels for thy exceeding shame and has put on our mortal frame
And knows each want and weakness.
And crashing with the tempest song burst the black night asunder;
Perchance in visits of the moon the love that lives will meet thee soon
In bridal sweet and solemn,
And somewhere in this reverend wall will rise the dear expected call
From cloistered depth or column.
But be thou brave and keep the tryst which all must keep who cherish
The faith of the White Blessed Christ and for that faith would perish;
Perchance with calm compelling voice that makes the saddest heart rejoice
He will descend in meekness,
Who feels for thy exceeding shame and has put on our mortal frame
And knows each want and weakness.
Come, lay one hand upon the cross and lift to Heaven the other,
And swear the world to thee is dross and every man thy brother,
And thou wilt never stain thy life with brutish lust or sordid strife
But deem thy purpose holy,
And treasure pure as linen fine thy garments by the grace Divine
In service fair and lowly.
Come, keep the one last dreadful tryst in lonely dedication
Apart with the White Blessed Christ to win His consecration,
And let no anguish for the past or fear of future care o'ercast
Thy settled great decision;
Then shalt thou wash within the flood of His most awful saving Blood
And thou shalt see the Vision.
And swear the world to thee is dross and every man thy brother,
And thou wilt never stain thy life with brutish lust or sordid strife
But deem thy purpose holy,
And treasure pure as linen fine thy garments by the grace Divine
In service fair and lowly.
Come, keep the one last dreadful tryst in lonely dedication
Apart with the White Blessed Christ to win His consecration,
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Thy settled great decision;
Then shalt thou wash within the flood of His most awful saving Blood
And thou shalt see the Vision.
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