 | The sentence of Kaires and other poems |  |
131
XLIX. CONSECRATION OF COLOGNE CATHEDRAL.
It is a blessed festival,
A day of solemn gladness;
Then wherefore droop our faithless hearts
With unaccustomed sadness?
A day of solemn gladness;
Then wherefore droop our faithless hearts
With unaccustomed sadness?
High o'er angelic choirs this day
The Mother-Maid was throned;—
Where are the flowers to deck her shrine?
The voice her praise to sound?
The Mother-Maid was throned;—
Where are the flowers to deck her shrine?
The voice her praise to sound?
In vain for us the festal chimes
In old Cologne are ringing,
In vain the Church beyond the seas
Her festal mass is singing.
In old Cologne are ringing,
In vain the Church beyond the seas
Her festal mass is singing.
At all her countless altars
No place, no home have we;
And all the bells of Christendom
“They peal a fast for me!”
No place, no home have we;
And all the bells of Christendom
“They peal a fast for me!”
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Yet there is consolation
Even in that thought of sorrow,
The past may give an augury
Of promise for the morrow.
Even in that thought of sorrow,
The past may give an augury
Of promise for the morrow.
Full plaintive was the melody
Of Zion's captive daughters,
What time their harps were hung beside
The Babylonian waters.
Of Zion's captive daughters,
What time their harps were hung beside
The Babylonian waters.
Long time the virgin-seer beloved,
On Chebar's dreary plains,
Wept o'er his country's widowed state,
Her desecrated fanes.
On Chebar's dreary plains,
Wept o'er his country's widowed state,
Her desecrated fanes.
Full many a sunbright holyday
Glared on his aching eyes,
Full oft at close of Sabbath eve
Would tears unbidden rise.
Glared on his aching eyes,
Full oft at close of Sabbath eve
Would tears unbidden rise.
Dim though the priestly cuirass gleam,
Prophetic now no more,
Though on the mercy-seat there stream
No radiance, as before;
Prophetic now no more,
Though on the mercy-seat there stream
No radiance, as before;
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E'en yet towards Jerusalem
His keen regards are bent,
Oft as each hour of prayer recalls
The grief of banishment.
His keen regards are bent,
Oft as each hour of prayer recalls
The grief of banishment.
Nor unaccepted, sure, above
Those orisons arise,
Though with his vesper prayer may blend
No vesper sacrifice.
Those orisons arise,
Though with his vesper prayer may blend
No vesper sacrifice.
Is not the unoffered sacrifice
By heavenly grace supplied?
Nor to that saintly outcast, deem
Is Heaven's free peace derived.
By heavenly grace supplied?
Nor to that saintly outcast, deem
Is Heaven's free peace derived.
Still meekly, with unswerving faith,
The appointed time he waits,
Content in solitude to bide
Without the temple gates.
The appointed time he waits,
Content in solitude to bide
Without the temple gates.
What if for our unworthiness
Such cross on us be laid?
Bitter was his obedience,
But was it not o'erpaid?
Such cross on us be laid?
Bitter was his obedience,
But was it not o'erpaid?
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O mark him well, ye murmurers,
Nor leave the appointed road;
What though the cross press heavily,
It is the will of God.
Nor leave the appointed road;
What though the cross press heavily,
It is the will of God.
| The sentence of Kaires and other poems | |