The Works of John Hookham Frere In Verse and Prose ::

My thoughts burst forth, even as a boiling spring;
As a full flowing course of ready writing;
From the deep source inditing,
The glory and praise of our anointed King:

Thy form, O King! is fairer, and thy face,
Than the degraded, earthly, fallen Race;
Thy lips are full of Wisdom, Truth, and Grace;
For He, the Lord hath blessed thee for ever.
Gird and prepare Thee, for the great endeavour;
Gird and prepare, the sword upon thy thigh,
Oh, Thou Most High!
With glory and majesty
Ride prosperously forth; with pity and ruth,
Justice and Mercy, Righteousness and Truth,
The strength of thy right hand shall counsel thee;
Framing the final Covenant and Law,
The Mystic Bow; the work of wonder and awe,
Which hands almighty alone, can bend and draw.

487

From the tremendous string,
What fearful echoes ring,
Touches and tones of the celestial weapon:
To those that gather round,
Thy faithful followers found,
With no discordant sound they rise and deepen:
While through the world are seen
The winged volleys keen,
Shattering its frail defences, piercing, rending,
Incessant on the mingled host descending,
A living shower of flame, each fiery dart
Sped with unerring aim, to search the reins and heart.

Thy throne, O God! for ever and for ever,
Is fixt—nor years, nor earthly time, shall sever
The sceptre from thy grasp—Our King our God!
Just is thy sceptre, righteous is thy rod!
For in thy secret heart, and inmost sense,
Hatred of sin, deep hatred, and intense
Was prov'd, in shame, and agony, and distress,
Triumphant in the zeal of righteousness.

Therefore even he thy God, with regal unction
Of grace and gladness, to thy rightful function
Hath raised thee, with supreme investiture—
Anointed, consecrated, holy, pure,
Inaugurate in perfect majesty:
A visible earthly present Deity!
From the rich unguent shed
Upon thy sacred head,
A wide perfume is spread—thy robes of state
Waft odours, that proclaim
From whence the tribute came;
In just obedience from the wise and great,
Proud halls, and ivory domes of Eastern kings,
Have sent their precious things,
To gladden thee with homage and adore;
Myrrh, nard, and cassia from the spicy shore;
Such gifts as sooth'd thine infant heart before.

Daughters of Kings, of comely garb and hue,
Stand in attendance due—Thy Bride and Queen

488

Pre-eminent is seen, in stately vesture,
In stature, form, and mien, in princely gesture,
And comeliness of look surpassing all;
Within the regal hall preferr'd to stand,
At thy right hand, distinct in rich array,
Rich with the gold of Ophir, purified,
Refin'd, and fully tried with hard assay.
Hear and attend, O Daughter! Bride! and Queen!
Mark and attend!—forget what thou hast been;
Thy name, thy nation, and thy father's house,
Thy customary vows, and wonted duty;
So shall the king have pleasure in thy beauty:
Him shalt thou worship, honour'd and ador'd
With other rites, thy Saviour and thy Lord!

Yet She too with her offering shall be seen,
The tributary Queen, Daughter of Tyre;
That with her ample hire, and worldly dower;
Sagacious of the coming hour, had wrought;
And pearls of price with thrifty purchase bought;
And plac'd with wary trust, her wealthy store,
Where neither moth nor rust corrupt for evermore.

Behold in royal pride
The glorious happy bride,
In woven gold magnificently drest;
Her gorgeous outer robe and inner vest
With mystic forms imprest;
Forms which the painful needle long had wrought
With subtle labour to perfection brought.

Yet see with livelier air
Her young companions fair,
Harmless and joyous, innocent of care,
Fearless of fraud or guile, guiltless of malice,
With sportive easy cheer, and airy sallies,
They pass the court, and enter at the Palace;
A fair approval meeting;
Applauded and receiv'd with kindly greeting.

Think, then, no more of thine ancestral glory,
The Sages and the Saints of ancient story,

489

Prophets and Kings—look to the future race,
Ordained to nobler things—A wider space
Of Empire and command, in other times,
Stretching in ample climes unknown before.

For me, thy Name and praise for evermore
Shall be my theme—a song for future days,
When thy supreme and undivided claim
Of Empire every realm of earth shall bless
And magnify and confess Thy mighty name.

University of Virginia Library

Psalm XLV. CHRISTMAS DAY.