University of Virginia Library


85

LXXIX. THE FACE DIVINE

I had sweet visions of the face divine;
Sometimes a woman's face it was, and tender—
Yearning forgivingly o'er each offender,
With pity softening every perfect line.
Again it was a strong man's face,—and fine
With thought and ardent labour; crowned with flowers
I saw it next,—moist buds of eglantine,
And roses plucked from summer-coloured bowers.
Then came a season dark—the face no more
Shone near me; it had vanished, and I dreamed
That every vision of the Lord was o'er;
Yet forth again, sun-bright, the great face gleamed,—
Sun-bright, but as the sun through clouds appears,
For lo! the face divine was wet with tears.