University of Virginia Library

CHRIST AND BEAUTY.

Christians.—
Tender to the weary-footed climber,
Comes the voice of Saviour Christ sublimer—

Greeks.—
Beauty's face,
Radiant on the morning-dazzled mountains,
Sweet beside the dim fern-hidden fountains—

Ch.—
In each place
Now the glory flames of the Redeemer,
Cease, O weary world, to be a dreamer—

Gr.—
And embrace
Not a rose, but sweeter than the roses
Venus' body that the night discloses—

Ch.—
Interlace
Weary hands around the Saviour's shoulders,
Take no part with mocking mere beholders—

Gr.—
Nor disgrace
Manhood by forsaking her our lady,
Sweet within the olive-thickets shady—

Ch.—
Lo! the race
Leading to the golden-hued far portal
Now begins for every true-foot mortal—

Gr.—
Nay, the chase
After white limbs through the yielding thickets,
Dashing fast aside the chirping crickets—

Ch.—
Rather brace
Steady thews to climb the mountains colder,
Where the lofty sunrise flasheth golder—

Gr.—
Softer grace
Than of sun or moon we have, O mortals,
Waiting sweet within the still night's portals—

Ch.—
We displace
All the older gods by newer splendour
Gleaming round about the Christ-crown tender—

Gr.—
Nay, we raise
Brilliant in the morning light our banner,
Sweet as ever in the sweet old manner—

Ch.—
Christ displays
Sunlike splendid rustless sword that gleameth,
Moonlike whiter dustless flag that beameth—

Gr.—
But the ways
Ever sweet, are sweeter now they fold her
In their rose-hung hedges and behold her—

Ch.—
Nay, the sprays
Drip with noble blood of Christ redeeming,
With his blood the hedge-row thorns are gleaming—

Gr.—
And we trace
By the tender buds that spring about her
Where she passes; not one rose without her—

Ch.—
Life obeys
Ever mandate of the Christ, arising
In new wondrous ways and modes surprising—

Gr.—
Summer days
Follow Venus, flushing with fair weather
Every hill and dale we roam together—

Ch.—
But the bays
Bluer shine for Christ upon the water;
Dead she is, their lewd god's lewder daughter—

Gr.—
Nay, she sways
Ever as of old the shining beaches,
And the far-stretched glittering foam-winged reaches—

Ch.—
Let our lays
Rather rise to God's own Son, the Victor;
Serpentine and as a snake-constrictor—

Gr.—
Her arms graze;
Yes,—we own it, love it, love to know it,
Not for Christ's embrace would we forego it—

Ch.—
Lo! we praise
Ever arms of Christ the Victor, singing
Eager psalms and round about him clinging—

Gr.—
No delays
Keep us from the tender-scented hollow
Whence there rings the love-voice that we follow—

Ch.—
Ye amaze
All our hearts, O people, by your daring;
Know ye not the flames that are preparing—

Gr.—
Nay, the blaze
Deep within our spirits of deep passion
Flameth in the old and quenchless fashion—

Ch.—
Christ's voice says,
“Come unto me, all ye spirits weary,
Spent with bearing deathful days and dreary”—

Gr.—
Love conveys
Even a tenderer and sweeter message,
For she gives herself as sweetest presage—

Ch.—
The gift weighs
Little with us, for we follow after
Tender ringing of Christ's silver laughter—

Gr.—
Which betrays:
While the white long limbs of pliant Venus
From all storms of earth and heaven screen us
In their maze.