Amenophis and Other Poems Sacred and Secular :: :: University of Virginia Library

Amenophis and Other Poems Sacred and Secular

by Francis T. Palgrave

Palgrave, Francis Turner (1824-1897)

HYMNS AND MEDITATIONS

EPITAPHS

VARIA

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HYMNS AND MEDITATIONS

------To write true, unfeignéd verse,
Is very hard------
Henry Vaughan: Silex Scintillans

I
ON LYME BEACH

Urania, voice of Heaven within the heart!
Urania fair, that art
Silent amid thy sisters, yet alone
To man then audible
When the sad ear rejects all earthly tone;—

When the last farewell sigh of wife or child
Leaves us unreconciled;
When the gray death-mists o'er our own weak eyes
Fold, and the Star of Faith
Burns o'er the gulph that sheer before us lies:—

O shrined by Hellas in her central shrine,
By Milton named divine,
By us, yet, meaner men, thy voice is heard
At times, as the faint cry
Dropp'd dewlike from the twilight-wheeling bird:—

Mid life's low dust and din we hear that cry,
And start to find thee nigh;
As in some rock-hewn den the sunlit blue
Through rifts peers in, and tells
Of higher worlds than this, and life more true.

—Sweet summer moon, that pours on this fair bay
A fairer light than day,
O'er yon still sea thy steady gleam in flakes
Of orange-silver laid
Down one long path just heaves, and heaving breaks,

And, broken, reunites itself:—and then
I hear again, again,
The great tenth wave with one long impulse smite
Whole miles of bay, and send
The voice of central ocean through the night.

Remote at once and near, the muffled roar
Intones around the shore:
Then the wing'd tribes that call the night their day
With elfin pipings pass;
And then again the billow smites the bay.

As when the seven bold chiefs Prydéri led,

In the old Welsh tale, the Mabinogi of Bronwen, the Birds of Rhiannon (perhaps a Lake-nymph, and mother to Pryderi), sang the dead to life and the living to sleep. Brân Fendigaid (the Blessed) plays a great and mysterious part in these early legends: he was son to Llyr Llediaith, King of Britain; and one tradition makes him bring Christianity into the island. Brân was slain in Ireland, and his sister Bronwen (white-bosomed), dying of grief, was buried by the Alaw in Anglesey: where, in accordance with the legend, her bones, placed in a foursquare stone grave, were found at a spot called Ynys Bronwen in 1813. Brân's head, carried to the White Mount (the Tower) of London, whilst undisturbed, guarded the Island from invasion. (Lady C. Guest, the Mabinogion, and Rhys, Arthurian Legend.) — Ardudwy ... One of the six ancient districts of Merioneth.

Bearing Brân's sacred head,
At Harlech in Ardudwy, music-bound,
Sat year on year, and heard
Rhiannon's feather'd quire: O'erseas the sound

Murmur'd, far-floating; yet in each man's ear
Rang sweet and close and clear;
And they forgot their slaughter'd comrades brave
On Erin's fatal field,
And the white-bosom'd Bronwen's long-hid grave,

Listening:—E'en so o'er us, in this fair bay,
Their spell the sea-sounds lay,
Recalling how the fresh Ionian breeze
To that great sightless seer

Homer: cf.

------μαλα πολλα μεταξυ,
ουρεα τε σκιοεντα θαλασσα τε ηχηεσσα.

—Iliad 1, 156-7.

Who sang the shadowy hills and sounding seas,

Bore the same voice, and spoke of other powers
And other worlds than ours;
As if some oracle in that rhythmic wave
Told how, through all the noise
Of those who cry, and boast, and laugh, and rave,

The Eternal Order makes His music clear
To hearts that choose to hear;
And though in His high pleasure He withdraw
Himself behind Himself,
Yet through all worlds is love, and life, and law.

—Eugenia! Singly dearest! Not as, while
In love's first hour, a smile
Of glory brighten'd earth, we see it now:
The dream is gone: and we
Calmly the bitter, better truth avow.

E'en yet, life's journey to the children dear
Looks summer-mid-day clear:
But taught by stumbling steps, we know the way
Has no more light at best
Than these low moonbeams on the billows gray,

The dusking hills, and skies that darker grow
As the stars keenlier glow:—
Only within the heart Urania's voice
Wakens a chord at times,
And thy hand meets in mine, and we rejoice

Sedately: and we know the faith we hold
Was, before Time, enroll'd
In God's own archives: and the dawn's soft breeze
Smites cool upon the brow,
And Heaven's first day-smile trembles o'er the seas.

II
QUATUOR NOVISSIMA

Argument

Death; Judgment; Heaven; Hell:—Man would despair of life if he really realized these, as was attempted by some of old.—The tradition of Glamis Castle.—The Chartreuse of Saint Bruno near Grenoble.—Such a life now scantly possible, nor, for mankind generally, in the truest accordance with Nature. Our detachment from the world must be while in the world.—Earthly and heavenly comforts as aids to life and death in Christ.

Before these human eyes
Could that dread Vision rise,
Those four last Terrors all mankind must know;
The ghastly grave: The Throne
And He Who is thereon:
The verdict-voice of God, dividing weal from woe:

Scarce could we turn or care
To look upon this fair
And varied earth,—this laughing sea and sky;
On Nature's genial face
The Fate-mark we should trace,—
A rose-crown'd victim led unconscious forth to die!

That long, long, trumpet-thrill
Our trembling ears must fill,
Gainst voice of man and joy of music steel'd:—
Life's motley moving show
Too poor would seem, too low
For eyes to that vast world beyond the world unseal'd.

As who in manhood's hour
Within the fateful tower
Goes, not returning what he went: For he
On that has dared to gaze
Which twilights all his days,
And turns the whole vain world to vainer vanity:

So on our mortal sight
If Thou should'st choose to smite
The fearful things to come, too clear, too nigh,
The heaven-dishearten'd soul
Would faint to near the goal;
Before Death's Gorgon face sweet life to stone would die.

O 'tis in mercy, then,
Thou hast withheld from men
The sacred terrors of the final day:
The weight of too much truth
Would crush the flowers of youth,
And blight the fruits of age, the crown of life's decay!

So keep the mercy-veil,
Lest our sad spirits fail,
Dead ere our day before the dread To-be:—
Let Thy soft gracious cloud
The black horizon shroud,
Thy bow o'erarch the vale, and bid us rest in Thee!

—Yet those we blame not, they
Who in earth's earlier day
And nearer Christ,—fleeing to wold and waste,
With the whole heart's whole power
Fore-lived their life's last hour,
Thirsting before the time the gulphs of death to taste.

I see the climbing road
Which from Isère he trode,
Bruno, while on the heights a home he seeks:
Rock-sown the vale and rude,
The soul of solitude;
Gray shiver'd walls around, and Angel-haunted peaks

There in the twilight low
The white-robed brothers go,
And meet and pass,—no sign, no look, no word:
Only they lift their sight
Tow'rd the loved cross-crown'd height,
And pierce beyond the blue, and see the ascended Lord.

There in dim granite cave,
To Fancy's eye the grave
Of some forgotten far off warrior wild,
Circling the saintly head
The light of Heaven is shed,
As in the Mother's arms he sees the Eternal Child.

And though the final Fear
Gloom near and yet more near
As days from life's fast-falling rosary slip;
Yet in that Faith and Friend
Secure, he sights the end,—
God's pardon and award from his Redeemer's lip.

—Not in the wild, not so
Our later footsteps go,
Doom'd to the garish world, the vulgar sphere!
The dull worn ways, the strife
And highway-dust of life,
Such is thy lot, O Man!—thine heritage is here!

For not this globe alone
Pursues a track unknown,
Whirl'd by our Monarch Star through boundless space:
Man's heart is drawn by God
In lines of old untrod;
Fresh paths to Heaven disclosed before the changing race.

—Where man cannot intrude
We have our solitude;
The heart of heart, the inviolate inner shrine:
We call on Thee, and there
The soul Thou canst prepare
To face the Four Last Things, veil'd o'er by Love divine:

From sight veil'd o'er, that so
With steadier fuller flow
Life's river to the eternal sea may stream:—
Uncheck'd by terror chill,
That we the field may till,
A man's work while 'tis day, ere night unyoke the team.

A man's full year-long task,—
Not less than this we ask,
Lest sloth enrust the soul, unstirr'd and still:
Unknown, or known; low; high;
Beneath the Master's eye
'Tis one, if wrought for Him, with joy of earnest will.

Lift from our hearts the gloom
Of that near-yawning tomb!—
The song of birds, the flower at our feet,
All precious things and fair
We need, life's weight to bear;—
The heaven-lit light of home, the smiles of children sweet.

And in Thy holy place
Thou dost unfold the grace
Strong in that hour to comfort and to save:
We see the Victim die,
The Lord gone up on high,
The life-in-death of Christ,—the glory of the grave!

—Then keep the mercy-veil,
Lest our faint spirits fail,
Dead ere our day before the dread To-be:—
Till the soft hand of Love
The shroud of earth remove,
All tears wiped from all eyes;—the Soul at rest with Thee.

III
AT EPHESUS

... Vidi un veglio solo Venir dormendo con la faccia arguta.

Of those that saw Him, when
On common earth He trod
The life of man with men,
I only, only, breathe,
Who lean'd upon His breast, and knew that He was God.

As some strange thing that lies
Surviving all his kind,
I, 'neath the radiant skies,
Crawl baby-weak once more,
Stranded upon my hundred years of life, and blind.

And as that beast could tell
Of old incredible shapes
That peopled lake and dell;
Seas, where rocks climb the sky,
And azure ice-hills where the parch'd Sahara gapes:—

So John can testify,
Alone of living men,
By seeing of the eye
And hearing of the ear,
That very God as man breathed, died, and rose again.

It was the time foreshown;
Like a new sun o'er earth,—
Beyond all wonders known
Wonder most wonderful,—
The Well-Belovéd came, the Babe of heavenly birth.

He did the deeds, He spoke
The words past human wit:
Then gently slipp'd the yoke
Of flesh, and went to God;—
And we our treasure found, only when losing it.

Yet, though the Word withdrew,
The Paraclete remain'd;
Christ's nearness oft we knew;
Enough to guide our life
From thought of how He spoke, and how He loved, we gain'd.

And once, 'tis said, o'er one
As though born out of time
The glory-vision shone,
Journeying Damascus-way;
Who lived in Christ, and died in some far westward clime.

Of breathing witnesses
Survives now none but I;
Who heard the Master bless
The bread and wine of life;
Saw Him and touch'd, betwixt the sepulchre and the sky.

—But though the faith of Sight
By natural law must fail,
A heavenlier higher light
Upon the soul will dawn;
The unseen outshine the seen; the faith of Fai prevail.

The things of sense are much;
But more the things of mind:
What we but see or touch
Less real, durable, true,
Than that invisible all-sustaining Life behind:

As one of Athens taught
In his own ethnic way,
That all things here were nought
But shadowy images
Of forms that in the eternal Wisdom living lay.

When these dim eyes are closed,
Children! Remember well
The word that John imposed
With his last lips on you,—
To walk henceforth by faith, and grasp the invisible.

What if no more the Lord
Before the last dread day
Be seen, yet shall His word
Its might and music keep;
Shall find fit echo in the heart of heart for aye.

As, in due transit, by
The milestone-years ye go,
Though star-like fix'd on high
The cross and He thereon
Down Time's gray avenue further, fainter, show:—

If then the Lord delays,
O yet ye need not fear,
Faint hearts of latter days!
Time cannot touch the love
To which a thousand years but one brief hour appear.

As age on age unrolls,
If faith her light withdraw
From present-bounded souls
Who only dare believe
What they themselves have seen, or hold for Nature's law;

Or those who will not raise,
E'en as they cry for light,
Their heads o'er life's hot haze,
Nor care to see the stars,
Mute witnesses for God, nor dawning after night:—

Yet oft in that dark hour
When first the unseen is felt,
The Word will come in power,
The so-far-off draw nigh,
Christ's living love the long doubt-frozen bosom melt.

—O living Love, so near
On earth, so near above,
In Thy good time appear,
Take all Thy children home,—
Who love, yet know Thee not;—who, faithful, bow, and love!

—My little children true!
Before these lips are dumb
They leave this word for you,—
Love one another! And
Again, Love one another!... Enough; He calls; I come.

IV
THE REIGN OF LAW

The dawn goes up the sky
Like any other day;
And these have only come
To mourn Him where He lay.
—“We ne'er have seen the law
Reversed, 'neath which we lie;
Exceptions none are found,
And when we die, we die.
Resign'd to fact we wander hither;
We ask no more the whence and whither.

“Vain questions! from the first
Put, and no answer found.
He binds us with the chain
Wherewith Himself is bound.
From west to east the earth
Unrolls her primal curve
The sun himself were vex'd
Did she one furlong swerve:
The myriad years have whirl'd her hither,
But tell not of the whence and whither.

“We know but what we see,
Like cause, and like event;

One constant force runs on
Transmuted, but unspent:
From her own laws the mind
Infers a conscious plan;
Deducing from within
God's special thought for man:
The natural choice that brought us hither
Is silent on the whence and whither.

“If God there be, or Gods,
Without our science lies;
We cannot see or touch,
Measure, nor analyse.
Life is but what we live;
We know but what we know;
Souls prison'd each in self
Whether God be, or no:
The self-moved force that bore us hither
Reveals no whence, and hints no whither.

“Ah, which is likelier truth,
That law should hold its way,
Or, for this One of all,
Life reassert her sway?
Like any other morn
The sun goes up the sky;
No crisis marks the day;
For when we die, we die.
No fair fond hope allures us hither;
The law is dumb on whence and whither.”

—Then, wherefore are ye come?
Why watch a worn-out corse?
Why weep a ripple past
Down the long stream of force?
If life be that which keeps
Each organism whole,
No relic may be traced
Of what He thought the soul;
It had its term of passage hither,
But knew no whence, and knows no whither.

The atoms that were Christ
Have ta'en new forms and fled;
The common sun goes up;
The dead are with the dead.
'Twas but a phantom life
That seem'd to think and will,
Evolving self and God
By some nerve-fashion'd skill;
That had its day of passage hither,
But knew no whence, and knows no whither.

If this be all in all;
Life, but one mode of force;
Law, but the plan which binds
The sequences in course;
All essence, all design
Shut out from mortal ken:
—We bow to Nature's fate,
And drop the style of men!

The summer dust the wind wafts hither
Is not more dead to whence and whither.

—But if our life be life,
And thought, and will, and love
Not vague unrhythmic airs
That o'er wild harp-strings move;
If consciousness be aught
Of all it seems to be,
And souls are something more
Than lights that flash and flee;
Though dark the road that leads us thither,
The heart must ask its whence and whither.

To matter or to force
The All is not confined;
Beside the law of things
Is set the law of mind;
One speaks in rock and star,
And one within the brain,
In unison at times,
And then apart again;
And both in one have brought us hither
That we may know our whence and whither.

This seeming solid Earth
We touch through mind alone;
These sequences of law
By the soul's eye are known:—
With equal voice she tells
Of what we feel and see

Within these bounds of life,
And of a life to be;
Proclaiming One Who brought us hither,
And holds the keys of whence and whither.

O shrine of God that now
Must learn itself with awe!
O heart and soul that move
Beneath a living law!
That which seem'd all the rule
Of Nature, is but part;
A larger, deeper lore
Claims also soul and heart;
The force that framed and bore us hither
Itself at once is whence and whither.

We may not hope to read
Nor comprehend the whole
Or of the law of things,
Or of the law of soul:
Among the eternal stars
Dim perturbations rise;
And all the searchers' search
Does not exhaust the skies;
He Who has framed and brought us hither
Holds in His hands the whence and whither.

He in His science plans
What no known laws foretell:
The wandering fires and fix'd
Alike are miracle:

The common death of all,
The life renew'd above,
Are both within the scheme
Of that all-circling Love;
The seeming chance that cast us hither
Accomplishes His whence and whither.

What though the types of life
From their first lowly root
By order'd steps climb up
To leaf and flower and fruit;
We ask not why the Hand
Chose that august advance;
Content to admire and watch,
In a wise ignorance.
Life's countless tribes He marshall'd hither;
We know the Whence, and wait the Whither.

—Then though the sun go up
His constant azure way,
God may fulfil His thought
And bless His world to-day;
Beside the law of things
The law of mind enthrone,
And for the hope of all,
Reveal Himself in One;
Himself the way that leads us thither,
The All-in-all, the Whence and Whither.

V
FAITH AND SIGHT IN THE LATTER DAYS

“I prae: sequar.”

Thou say'st, ‘Take up thy cross,
O Man, and follow me:’
The night is black, the feet are slack,
Yet we would follow Thee.

But O, dear Lord, we cry,
That we Thy face could see!
Thy blesséd face one moment's space—
Then might we follow Thee!

Dim tracts of time divide
Those golden days from me;
Thy voice comes strange o'er years of change;
How can I follow Thee?

Comes faint and far Thy voice
From vales of Galilee;
Thy vision fades in ancient shades;
How should we follow Thee?

Unchanging law binds all,
And Nature all we see:
Thou art a star, far off, too far,
Too far to follow Thee!

—Ah, sense-bound heart and blind!
Is nought but what we see?
Can time undo what once was true;
Can we not follow Thee?

Is what we trace of law
The whole of God's decree?
Does our brief span grasp Nature's plan,
And bid not follow Thee?

O heavy cross—of faith
In what we cannot see!
As once of yore, Thyself restore
And help to follow Thee!

Within our heart of hearts
In nearest nearness be:
Give Thou the sign; Say, ‘Ye are Mine’;
Lead, and we follow Thee.

VI
A PSALM OF CREATION

The Sun lifts his head in his might,
And climbs the blue steps of the sky;
Nor stays when he reaches the height,
Nor fears at the setting to die.
For to-morrow again he is born,
To go forth in glory and glee:—
The Sun is Thy creature, O God!
O God, who is like unto Thee!

The Moon, silver ship of the sky,
Rides over the star-dotted blue;
And the maiden-pure glance of her eye
From the firmament falls like the dew.
The stars round their mistress rejoice,
And sing as her beauty they see:—
These all are Thy creatures, O God!
O God, who is like unto Thee!

The cloud overshadows the vales;
And the mountain looks down on the cloud;
The eagle in solitude sails
To the sun o'er the mountain-top proud.

The flood from the thundercloud breaks,
And the torrents roar down to the sea:—
All these are Thy hand-work, O God!
O God, who is like unto Thee!

Then the sky smiles her peace over earth,
And earth her blue smiling returns;
The lily-bells dance in their mirth,
And the rose in red radiance burns:—
The birds in the forest ring out,
And a thousand wild voices agree.
To praise their Creator and God:
O God, who is like unto Thee!

But higher and fairer than all,
In the counsels of Wisdom and Love
From the dust Thy last work Thou didst call,
Little less than Thine Angels above.
Thou gavest him all to command,
All that wanders on earth or in sea;
Thine Image Thou gavest to bear:—
O God, who is like unto Thee!

—O Man, from thy bower and home,
The Tree and the garden of Heaven,
By lust and the Serpent o'ercome,
By the sword-glare of Cherubim driven!
Yet, who turn to the Son and believe,
From death by His death to set free
He hath promised; and He will fulfil:—
O God, who is like unto Thee!

VII
THINGS VISIBLE AND INVISIBLE

So far! so very far!
And this life pressing in, for good and ill,
Sea-like at every pore; the tangible
Shrunk round the soul with adamantine bar,
—And that world further than the farthest star!

So long ago! so long!
The world devouring with impassion'd stride
Its history; Years that rather surge, than glide;
Peace with her garish triumphs, and the throng
Of wonders working equal weal and wrong;

Science so free of hand,
Yet vaunting more than she can give or know;
The dazzling Present with his glory-show;
—And that scarce-visible life in Syrian land,
Lost and time-buried by the Dead Sea strand!

—Strange warfare, which the seen,
The present, wage against the unseen, the past!
As that enchantress, whose sweet guile held fast
Within her palace-walls and forest green
The gray world-wanderer;—though the faithful Queen

Sate in his island-hall,
And the hearth blazed in winter, and the sun
Shone summer-high above the mountains dun,
As erst before the fatal Spartan call,
And the long siege, and holy Ilion's fall:—

But he remembers nought
Of what has been, and will be:—till the spell
Fade, and his eyes behold the invisible
Long hid:—the faithful wife, the fields he fought
The signs Athena for his safety wrought.

—We too, amid the glare
Of present life, misdeem the world we view,
Our small horizon, for the boundless blue,
Holding all things must be as now they are,
And our experience valid everywhere.

‘Let others tell their tale
‘Of wonders by the Hellenic questioning mind
‘Accepted:—We ne'er saw the shroud unbind
‘Its tenant; nor the cheek change rose for pale,
‘Raised up from earth: nor do our powers avail

‘To go round Death, and view
‘An incorporeal life in realms unseen!
‘So let what will be rest with what has been!
‘Let the bright Hours their daily dance renew,
‘While dreamers chase the Eternal and the True.

‘If scanty all we know,
‘At least, 'tis knowledge palpable and pure:
‘We see!—Thus far, our footsteps are secure:
‘No more we ask than sense and senses show,
‘And Hope and Faith, vain luxuries, forgo.

‘The envious Fates on high
‘Grudge our horizon, nor will let man stray
‘Unpunish'd past the bounds of sentient clay,
‘And puff to scorn the adventurers who try
‘On self-blown airballs to transcend the sky.

‘Man was not made to soar!
‘Ascidian-born, not Angel: on this earth
‘We clench our sight, nor claim a loftier birth;
‘Accept our fate and creep along the shore,
‘And with life's music drown the dead-sea roar.’

—To Circe's sleep-soft isle
Straight let us steer, and live by Circe's creed,
If this be all, if this be all, indeed!
—But should our science of things seen, meanwhile,
Have its own bounds and quicksands: Should the smile

Of sceptic doubt assail
The message of the senses; whether things
Be what we see and touch, or imagings
By self on self imposed, without avail
To make us grasp the Infinite, which our frail

Yet eager reason knows
Essential to the scheme of thought, and yet
Transcending thought, because 'tis infinite:-
If beyond Space and Time no wisdom goes,
—Man's limitations, yet to which man owes

The stage whereon he stands
And breathes and thinks and acts:—How then shall man
Cut fragments out from Nature's general plan,
Naming these known, while all beyond he hands
To nescience?—O fair palace, but on sands,

For all thy bravery, set!—
—To our own selves, O friends, let us be just!
Either not know, or else our knowledge trust:
For all our wisdom, howsoe'er we fret,
Or boast our narrow certainties, is yet

Enframed by hint and guess
And theory:—As when the nights are dark
In Autumn, and men trace a transient arc
That threads its burning way with lightning stress,
And then is swallow'd in blank nothingness,

Deducing from the seen
A credible unseen; some curve, to roll
Wider for aye, or circle, closed and whole:
—So on our knowledge, partial though, we lean,
And what will be forecast from what has been.

—O sceptics airily bold!
'Tis Reason bids you scorn the facile sneer
That bars the search for truth beyond the sphere!
It is the weak who doubt; the strong who hold
The resolute Faith where new is one with old.

Within a narrow vale
Rock-wall'd and closed, and skies with cloud o'erwrought,
The Powers have planted Man, for life and thought
Knowledge, and love: and, from beyond the pale,
Some bird of God at times above may sail,

Or gleams ascend and go,
As on some castle turret-steps by night
The lamp climbs square by square, and light o'er light;
And then the shameful things of sin and woe,
The poison-plants that in the valley grow,

The sights that in the heart
Tingle, and make us cry, O Lord! how long?
Hast Thou forgotten? Why concede such wrong?
Glare with less luridness, and the cloud in part
Thins, and behind we know Thee, that Thou art;—

Justice, and Love, and Law
Eternal.—Madness then, aside to thrust
The heart's unsyllabled voice, the instinctive trust,
The signal gleams that lighten and withdraw,
Because with mortal sense man never saw

Nor touch'd nor measured God!—
—As that lone sophist of earth's earlier days
Empedocles, who life's common, sunlit, ways
Scorn'd, and the lava layers of Aetna trod,
And dived for light in Typho's red abode:

Nor saw the Immortals rise
Star-eyed around the zenith, when the veil
Of marsh-white mist parts in the midnight gale;
Nor where the dawn above horizon lies,
And Phoebus fluting to the saffron skies.

VIII
THE HIDDEN LIFE

Thrice-happy they, who know
The hidden things of Heaven!
In spirit with the risen Lord
Who bless'd His sad Eleven:—
Amid the world, within another world,
Their own unseen, and Christ's, they move,
And that without seems dark to this
Sunn'd by the smile of saving Love:—
Nor will that inner light decline,
While Thou art ours, and we are Thine.

The great and gaudy world,
Throned on his car, goes by;
Surveys himself, and God, and Earth,
With self-complacent eye:
Unfolds his liberal lures, and calls mankind
To share his pleasures, fair and free,
Low whispering with a mystic smile,
“If they quit Christ, and worship Me:”—
But all the world we will resign,
While Thou art ours, and we are Thine.

Proud Science next, with eyes
That pierce the heart of things.

The dance of atoms;—She who darts
Through space on lightning wings;
In one vast pattern weaving law with law,
And Soul alone beyond the plan;
With loud and louder voice proclaim'd
The fount of light and life to Man:
But all that knowledge we resign,
While Thou art ours, and we are Thine.

—Ah! poor external things!
They only prize ye right
Who, gazing on the invisible Lord,
Walk in His inner light.
What smiles of gold, what joys of Science high,
What loveliness of earth below,
Equals the settled look of Love,
The peace the world cannot bestow?
All, all, with welcome we resign,
While Thou art ours, and we are Thine!

From fear of death, and that
Worse fear, that man must go,
Blind puppet of blind force, push'd on
Through paths he cannot know;—
From sick despair at ills we cannot cure,—
O Saviour, Thou hast made us free,
If only on Thy face we look,
If only we believe in Thee,—
Safe on Thy bosom to recline,
While Thou art ours, and we are Thine!

Thrice-happy they, who see
The hidden heavenly home!
Who know He walk'd on earth, and hence
Know He again will come!
O gracious Faith of Reason, sane and sure!
O joy beyond all human speech!
O secret life of peace and love!
Treasure no robber-arm can reach!
—And all in humble hope are mine,
While Thou art ours, and we are Thine.

IX
THE CHURCH OF CHRIST IN ENGLAND

Donec aspiret dies et inclinentur umbrae—

O church of our fathers in England,
O Home of the living Lord,
Full fountain of Faith for ages
And witness firm to the Word!
From Alban, Augustine, and Aidan,
Paulinus and Cuthbert and Bede,
To our days, ours even, what armies
Of Christ His long triumph lead!

Saints in lowliness known to Him only;
Saints famed in their own despite;
Life-service pour'd forth for His poor ones,
Or crown'd with the martyr-light:
Of whom the world was not worthy,
Counting earth's riches as dross;
Now laid 'neath gray village spires,
And the sign of the saving Cross.

The sin-vex'd offspring of Adam,
While the centuries onward glide,
Have grown in this field of England,
The tares and the wheat beside:—

O visible fold of the Shepherd,
How oft in His sorrow survey'd,
As the myriad snares of the Tempter
Himself again have betray'd!

But the Presence unseen at the altar,
And the Fountain of heavenly birth,
And the Grace of Christ and His Spirit
Abide with His Church upon earth;
While the tall cathedral, in brightness
O'er sin-strife and turmoil below,
Lifts the sign of the great Forgiveness,
The peace which the world cannot know.

Nor for these alone hath His mercy
The gracious “Come unto Me”;
And not of this fold are others
In secrecy known to Thee!
Grace-led while unknowingly straying,
Or stumbling in sceptic gloom,
Or dazed by the glare of the Present
From the Cross and the vacant Tomb.

What then if in ignorant anger,
Or doing they know not what,
Or casting—unholy alliance!—
With the infidel legion their lot,
The foes of the Faith in its beauty
'Gainst the Church of our fathers unite—
But not in our strength, O Saviour!
Thine only, we gird for the fight.

All wrongfulness, firm yet forgiving,
For His sake, O brothers, endure:
For His heritage 'tis we are warring,
And the heritage of His poor:—
Though the spoiler rage hotly around us,
We stand in full faith in His word;
For our House on the Rock is founded,
And the Rock is the Living Lord.

—O Boat on Gennesareth heaving,
As the winds 'gainst her oarsmen prevail!
Christ's Ark, which the forces of darkness
In all lands, through all ages, assail!
—The Holy One moves in the tempest;
The storm-cries of fury are stay'd:
And lo! the still Voice of assurance—
“It is I, Sons! be not afraid.”

X
SURSUM

Vesper adest: iuvenes, consurgite—

Onward and upward, whatever the way;
Gloomy or glad, through darkness and day:
Vow'd to the end, be it distant or soon,
Under the banner of Christ to march on;
Strong in His armour to war against ill,
With a will, with a will,
Onward and upward!

'Tis to no easy achievement we go;
Self must meet self, as a man meets his foe;
Thoughtlessness, indolence, coldness of soul,
Selfishness,—are between us and the goal,
As on life's meadow we war against ill,
With a will, with a will,
Onward and upward.

'Tis not the doubters who move us to flight;
We see in faith, where they waver in night.
'Tis not the evil of things that we fear;
All the world's mystery cannot be clear
As in this twilight we war against ill,
With a will, with a will,
Onward and upward.

But with the self within self, and the heart
Ready to stray, are the pain and the smart:—
Here are the foes, as we march to the goal;
—Saviour and Lord! be the soul of the soul
In this hard lifelong campaign against ill,
With a will, with a will,
Onward and upward.

Fierce in the heart is the battle of life;
Bitter the wounds,—yet not hopeless the strife;
Groans in the darkness, and cry upon cry:
Yet there is One Who will not let us die,
Heading the march as we war against ill,
With a will, with a will,
Onward and upward.

High o'er the host floats His banner along,
Red with the love that redeems us from wrong;
He has made ready a home for His own;
He will return to the rescue alone,—
Leader and Lord, as we war against ill,
With a will, with a will,
Onward and upward!

XI
A PROCESSIONAL HYMN

Christians in name and faith,
As gain we count the loss,
The world's contempt for those who bear
The banner of the Cross.
Who is on My side? Who with Me?
The Lord cries day by day:—
In Thy blest service only free,
We range ourselves to follow Thee,
The Truth, the Life, the Way!
Then follow, follow, Him Whose blood
From death and doom hath freed us:—
The crimson'd footsteps of His love
To life eternal lead us!

Sons of the Church of Christ,
A stricter rule we own,
A loftier law, than they who live
By Nature's law alone.
Thou art our Hope, ascended Lord,
Our leading-star in Heaven!
But in Thy life with human-kind,
That perfect Manhood here, we find
Our great Exemplar given.
Then follow ...

All justice, truth, and love,
All purity, Thy days;
We cannot think Thee as Thou wert;
We cannot speak Thy praise!
When doubt and danger round us rage,
Uphold us by Thy power;
And in Thy mercy lend the grace
By faith to see Thee face to face
In Death's imperious hour!
Then follow ...

—Ah! little love to Thee
For Thy great love we bring!
So is there sadness in our song,
E'en while for joy we sing!
Captain of our salvation, come!
Uplift Thy victor-sign!
For Thee we fight; with Thee we bleed:
Lord, to Thy peace Thy soldiers lead,
And make us wholly Thine!
Then follow, follow, Him whose blood
From death and doom hath freed us:—
The crimson'd footsteps of His love
To life eternal lead us!

XII
MORNING AND EVENING HYMNS

I

Lord god of morning and of night,
We thank thee for thy grace of light:
As in the dawn the shadows fly,
Thy presence shines on us more nigh.

Fresh hopes have waken'd in the heart,
Fresh force to take the loftier part;
Thy slumber-balms our strength restore
Throughout the day to serve Thee more.

Yet whilst Thy will we would pursue,
Oft what we would we cannot do:
The sun may stand in zenith skies,
But on the soul thick midnight lies.

O Lord of light! Thy grace alone
Can make the darken'd heart Thine own:
Cleanse then our sin-dimm'd eyes, till they
Unclose on Heaven's eternal Day!

Praise God, our Maker and our Friend;
Praise Him through time, till time shall end;
Till psalm and song His name adore
Through Heaven's great day of Evermore.

XIII
MORNING AND EVENING HYMNS

II

O thou Who, in Thy night of prayer,
Pain past all pain for man didst bear,
Before Thee now we kneel and pray,
And make confession for the day.

Oft from Thy royal road we part,
Lost in the mazes of the heart:
Our lamps put out, our course forgot,
We seek for God, and find Him not.

What breath of flowers then cheers the night,
What star-eyed heavenly beacon bright?
Thou risest on our way, and we
Find Guide and Path and all in Thee.

When that last sleep and Death are near,
Be Thou with us, Redeemer dear;
Safe so within Thy fold to wake,
When God's great Judgment-morn shall break.

Praise God, our Maker and our Friend;
Praise Him through time, till time shall end:
Till psalm and song His name adore
Through Heaven's great day of Evermore.

XIV
MORNING AND EVENING HYMNS

III

High in heaven the sun
Shines his worship to Thee:
The bird in the brightness
Sings his hymn from the tree:

Thou art praised on the earth,
Thou art praised in the sky;
Last comes Thine own creature
To praise the Most High.

For the sleep, for the waking,
For the rest of my bed;
For in Thine arms I slept,
By Thy touch awakenéd.

As Thou wast in the night,
Be with me by day:
Morning, noon, evening;
All my life, and alway.

Go Thou beside me
Wherever I go:
Whatever Thou willest,
Make that I wish it so:

That in thought of Thee
All I do may be done:
As all great in Thy sight,
All small in my own.

When to-day brings its trial
Be Thy voice mine aid:
Say, ‘It is I;
Be not afraid.

The night is Mine,
And Mine is the day,
Morning, noon, evening,
All thy life, and alway.’

XV
MORNING AND EVENING HYMNS

IV

The day is over,
The darkness is come:
I thank thee, O Lord,
For the peace of home.

This night and ever
Keep my feet in Thy way:
Feet slow to follow Thee,
Feet quick to stray.

Oft wandering from Thee,
At Thy guidance I chafe;
Hold Thou me up,
I shall be safe.

Sad shades of old sin
Dog my steps as I go:
What was done in the darkness,
In the daylight I know.

With the voice of the sea
Sin allures to the brink;
Stretch out Thine hand:
Let me not sink.

Whom have I
In heaven but Thee?
And on earth there is none
Set beside Thee may be.

Life soon is over,
And death will come:
Lord, linger not
In Thy heaven-home:

As God, come in power
To judge us and bless:
As Man with man again,
Come in Thy tenderness.

XVI
FOUR HYMNS FOR PUBLIC USE

HYMN FOR INFANT BAPTISM

Lord jesus, Who didst here Thy love
With little children share,
With love from highest heaven behold
And bless this baby fair!
And as we wash with water bright
Our hands from soil of earth,
So in Thy gracious fountain cleanse
The stain of human birth.

As that great Ship athwart the flood
Mankind in safety bore;
As Israel through the Red-Sea gates
Foresaw the promised shore;
As Thou in Jordan river plunged
Didst sanctify the wave:
So on this child Thy blessing pour,
All-Merciful!—and save.

O God with Manhood clothed for us,
Remember Thou the years
Within the Nazaraean home,
Thine infant smiles and tears:
And by that innocence of Thine
Do Thou this dear one free

From sin of flesh and sin of soul,
And make him one with Thee!

O safe within Thy sacred Ark,
The faithful happy fold,
Through all the pain and joy of life,
The new-born inmate hold!
Guard Thou when gold or pleasure lure,
Or thoughtless selfish sin,
Or blinding doubt, or black despair,
And lead the wanderer in.

Safe, safe within the haven hold,
Whatever storms may rave;
If long or few the allotted days,
His ransom'd spirit save;
So at Thy right-hand may he be,
With those whom Thou shalt own,
On that great Day of Wrath and Love,
Before the Judgment-Throne.

Doxology

For each hymn

Eternal Father, Sovran Lord,
Around, below, above;
Eternal Son, Who, Man with man,
Redeem'd the world by love;
Eternal Spirit, Fount of truth
And comfort evermore;
Eternal Trinity, for us
All mercy we implore.

XVII
FOUR HYMNS FOR PUBLIC USE

HYMN FOR HOLY COMMUNION

It is Thine hour, Ascended Lord!
The holy time is near
With suppliant hands and hearts to kneel
Before Thine altar here.
Creator of the worlds!—As God,
Where Being is, Thou art;—
Thyself in mystic union now,
As soul to soul, impart.

Ah!—Souls for such a guest unmeet!
Unworthy Thou should'st come,
If Thy pure Spirit breathe not first
To cleanse the sin-stain'd home!
The burden is beyond our strength;
The thought of it abhorr'd:
Have mercy on us, Son of Man!
Have mercy, risen Lord!

“Come unto Me,” we hear Him cry,
With gracious fond request;
“Come unto Me, world-wearied hearts,
And I will give you rest.

In memory that I died for you,
To you Myself I give;
My Body and My Blood are here,
To take, and eat, and live.”

O wondrous Feast, where Christ, beyond
Our bounded eyesight dim,
In real presence deigns to be,
And make us one with Him!
One in the Sacrifice that here
Our inmost hearts adore;
One with all faithful souls to be,
And one with all of yore.

With Angels and Archangels now
We, even we, unite,
To praise Thy Name, Almighty Lord,
High o'er the highest height.
And by the Blood Thou gav'st for us
And all mankind to share,
O Son of God, at God's right hand,
Hear and accept our prayer!

XVIII
FOUR HYMNS FOR PUBLIC USE

A MARRIAGE HYMN

O thou by Whom the life on earth
Is unforgot on high,
This morn with special blessing sweet,
O Son of Man, be nigh!
And as Thy glory did not turn
From Cana's feast away,
Once more as man with men be here,
And sanctify the day.

What though to mount and desert wild,
The pensive heart's abode,
Retiring oft,—communion high!—
Thou wast alone with God:
Yet could'st Thou taste our transient joys,
The pleasures pure from sin;
With all-embracing human heart,
And loving to Thy kin.

—As Isaac in Rebekah found
The bliss for which he strove;
As Sarah to her lord gave back
The comfort of her love;

As Thine own heart goes eager forth
To meet Thy cherish'd Bride:
So be the love between these two,
Till death their days divide.

The joy of helpful toil be theirs,
The peace of hearth and home:
The single heart, the mutual years,
The children sweet to come:—
So through life's meadow guide them safe,
And gently down the slope;
And bid their eyes the glory see
Of Heaven's immortal hope.

All flower and fruit of earthly joy,
All joy when earth is o'er,
Almighty Lord of death and life,
For these we now implore!
And as they join their faithful hands
In loving marriage-sign,
Preserve them ever in Thy love,
Here and hereafter Thine.

XIX
FOUR HYMNS FOR PUBLIC USE

CHRISTIAN BURIAL

Dark gateway of the house of God,
Which all Mankind must tread,
A light strikes through thee o'er the graves
Of Jesu's faithful dead!
For He has pass'd whose passing through
The way for us hath won;
The Resurrection and the Life
Secured by Him alone.

O destined Saviour of the world
Before the worlds began,
Thy riven grave and rising brought
The hope of hopes to man!
Lord, in that faith we see the day
Through death's own midnight shine:—
And resting in that faith to Thee
Our dear ones we resign.

Yet 'gainst ourselves, in love's behalf,
Our inmost heart will fight:
We clasp them fast, we know not how
To let them leave our sight.
The blank of his dear face we feel;
The voice beyond recall:

And murmurs 'gainst Thy Will break out,
And rebel tears will fall.

Ah! Pardon!—by the crimson drops
Rain'd o'er Mount Olivet!
Before the downcast eyes of love
Our sure horizon set;—
The mortal frame for Heaven renew'd;
The soul from frailty free;
The heart within Thy heart received,
For ever one with Thee.

—Thou hast gone up on high, and left
Thy shining track afar,
To guide our feet before Thy face,
And where Thy children are.
Beneath Thy might the stingless darts
Of Death down-trampled lie:—
The gate of life stands wide for Man:—
—Thou hast gone up on high!

Doxology

Eternal Father, Sovran Lord,
Around, below, above:
Eternal Son, Who, Man with man,
Redeem'd the world by love;
Eternal Spirit, Fount of truth
And comfort evermore;
Eternal Trinity, for us
All mercy we implore.

XX
THE NEW ELEUSIS

(In Memoriam 21 March, 1872)

Baby fair, that know'st not yet
If the sun be risen or set;
Know'st not yet of mother's love,
Man on earth, or God above;
Who thou art, or why we here
Bear this lamb-like burden dear;—
—Yet the Eternal Counsels hold
All within the holy fold
Thine appointed place, which we
Come in faith to claim for thee.

As the ark that safely bore
Noah the gray billows o'er;
As the ocean-gates outspread
Before Israel when he fled;
As, where Jordan waters run,
God to us reveal'd the Son;
So, His child, thy tender flesh
Takes the saving sign afresh,
Love confirming love bestow'd
When the fount of Calvary flow'd.

Mystic sign of things unseen,
What will be, and what has been!
Things from mortal sense more far,
Yet more true than sun or star!
Mystic Names of Three in One,
That, as age on age has run,
Heard by man in earthly place,
Echo through the spaceless space!
Heaven around the helpless head!
Child in God initiated!

—Mighty Saviour, by Whose hand
Earth was framed as Wisdom plann'd;
Thou Who cam'st by mortal birth,
Child with children once on earth,—
By the days of Manhood here,
By the vacant sepulchre,
By the glory-seat on high,—
By the sudden, speechless cry
Of this suppliant at Thy Throne,
Call our Child Thy very own!

Bid the baby-soul complete
All its birthright promise sweet:
Steadfast faith, emblazon'd sure
On the unfurrow'd forehead pure:
Eyes of hope, and smiles that move
O'er the deep, deep heart of love.

—O fair dawning, if the light,
Widen on to Heaven's height!
If the flower in Him have root
Who alone gives life and fruit!

Thou, all knowing, well hast known,—
As we kneel before the Throne,
With what ardency of prayer
We give baby to Thy care!
Clasp Thy faithful Arms to hold
This white inmate of the fold;
Safe through trial-storms of woe,
Snares of sin that smile below,
Safe across life's troublesome sea,
Heaven-haven'd safe with Thee.

XXI
AD ALTARE

Once Man with man, now God with God above us,
Loving us here, and after death to love us:
Enough is this for us, O Saviour dear,
When to Thine altar our faint feet draw near.

‘Come unto me all that are heavy laden,
I will refresh you; mine is love unfading:’
It is enough; we ask not where Thou art,
Present in space, and in the faithful heart.

—Memorial of the Death, and all it gave us,
Himself offers Himself to cleanse and save us;
Sacrifice still renew'd, yet still the same,—
The bloodless Lamb, the Cross without the shame.

Once in mean swaddling clothes and infant feature
The world's Creator deign'd to come as Creature;
So here behind these earthly signs' disguise
The Flesh He took for us in mystery lies.

O ye who named from Christ, should be Christ's wholly,
Mar not the Feast of Love with strife unholy!
Words are too weak that Presence to define,—
Here in Memorial, Sacrifice, and Sign.

—So long since Thou wast here, that to our seeming
Thou art like some fair vision seen in dreaming:
With glare and glow and turmoil, sigh and shout,
The world rolls on, and seems to bar Thee out.

Behind the midday sky the stars are shining;
O shine out on us in our sun's declining:
With loved ones lost, and loved ones yet to quit,
Were this life all, we could not bear with it!

—Once Man with man, now God with God above us
Who lov'st us here, and after death wilt love us;
When to Thine altar our faint feet draw near,
It is enough for us if Thou art here.

XXII
HYMENAEA SACRA

—Graecis et Barbaris debitor sum—

I
INTROIT

Fear not: come forth: draw near:—Before ye goes
Immortal Love, with changeless passion pale;
Star-eyed and crown'd with amaranth and rose,
And flame about him like a marriage-veil:
First-born of Heaven, and messenger of God,
He signs the golden road.

And Innocence in courage clad is here,
And those well-girdled Graces from on high,
—Three known in Hellas, and three not less dear
Fair Hope, fair Faith, and fairest Charity;—
Whilst Angels lifting loud their unheard song,
Above the altar throng.

—Glide on, fair Visions, glide, with holy Mirth,
Sweet fears, sweet presages of bliss to be,
Love multiplied in love around the hearth,
And Youth exulting in youth's victory;—
Life's triumph in full tide of chasten'd state,
And joy for words too great.

—But who is He Who to faith's inmost eye
Apart and alien from the glory stands?
Lamb-like and white, as one prepared to die,
The thorn-crown'd forehead and the nail-struck hands:
O pitying eyes! O lips of grief divine!
What in this hour is Thine?

—“I, even I, once man with man on earth,
From heaven look down to ratify the vow:—
I feel the touch of holy human mirth;
The thorns of human love are round My brow:
Thorns blent with blessings for My children true:
—Approach! All are for you!

“Pure joys, chaste fires, caressing and caress'd;
Earth knit with Heaven in mystic union high,
The little faces at the mother's breast;
On such I look with beatific eye:
Nor any sight dearer to Me than this—
The heart-deep marriage kiss.

“As Abraham to Sarah set his word,
As Jacob with fair Rachel, so be ye:
As My love is to those who love their Lord
Known or unknown,—yet all beloved by Me:
Through life's dark days to God's immortal year
So let your love burn clear.”

—As silence heard in silence is the Voice,
Yet pure and certain to Faith's secret ear:—
Fear not! Approach! 'Tis He who bids rejoice
To Whom His least least little ones are dear:—
One flesh, one soul, one heart, henceforth to dwell;
On earth, Immanuel.

HYMN

Holy Hymen! whom of yore
Mortal passion deem'd divine,—
Holy Hymen, we once more
Welcome thee within the shrine:
Holy to the world of old,
Holier we thy presence hold.

—Father of mankind and Head,
Unknown God, and God reveal'd;
Since man first with woman wed
Thou Thy love dost freely yield
When two hearts, by love made wise,
Offer self in sacrifice.

—Holy Saviour! Lord on high!
Age o'er age has roll'd and fled
Since Thy blesséd feet went by
On the common earth we tread!
Yet, through long-receding space,
We at Cana see Thy face.

Bring that ancient blessing here
On the home, the board, the bed!
Thou invisible art near;
Safe their steps hast hither led;
Lo the feast prepared!—But Thou
Hast kept back the best till now.

—Holy Wisdom, born of Love,
Lead them in Thy tranquil way,
Spread Thy genial wings above,
Shadow in the sultry day:
Shielding them, where'er they go,
From the extremes of wealth and woe:—

Till they gain the shining land,
Mid the twilight guide secure,
Heart in heart, and hand in hand,
Footsteps equable and sure:
While through earth's brief years they prove
All the infinite of Love.

—Holy Love! that art of God,
Fold them in thine arms, we pray;
In thine innermost abode,
Two, and one, henceforth for aye:
One on earth, and one above;
One in everlasting love.

XXIII
THE DAYSTAR

αωιον αεροφοιταν
Αστερα μειναμεν Αελιου λευκοπτερυγα προδρομον—

Star of morn and even,
Sun of Heaven's heaven,
Saviour high and dear,
Toward us turn Thine ear;
Through whate'er may come,
Thou canst lead us home.

Though the gloom be grievous,
Those we leant on leave us;
Though the coward heart,
Quit its proper part,
Though the tempter come,
Thou wilt lead us home.

Though the loved and parted
Leave us broken-hearted,
When o'erwhelm'd we lie
Look with pitying eye:
Heart of Mercy, come,
Lead us also home.

Saviour pure and holy,
Lover of the lowly,
Sign us with Thy sign,
Take our hands in Thine,
Take our hands and come,
Lead Thy children home!

Star of morn and even,
Shine on us from Heaven;
From Thy glory-throne
Hear Thy very own!
Lord and Saviour, come,
Lead us to our home!

XXIV
A LITANY OF THE NAME OF JESUS

Thrice-Holy Name! that sweeter sounds
Than streams which down the valley run,
And tells of more than human love,
And more than human power, in one:
First from the gracious Herald heard,
Heard since through all the choirs on high!—
O Child of Mary, Son of God,
Eternal, hear Thy children's cry!
While at the blesséd Name we bow,
Lord Jesus, be among us now!

Within our dim-eyed souls call up
The vision of Thine earthly years;
The Mount of the transfigured Form;
The Garden of the bitter tears;
The Cross uprear'd in darkening skies:
The thorn-wreathed Head; the bleeding Side;
And whisper in the heart, “For you,
For you I left the heavens, and died.”
While at the blesséd Name we bow,
Lord Jesus, be among us now!

Ah! with Faith's inward-piercing eye
The riven rock-hewn bed we see,
Whence Thou in triumph hast gone forth
By death from death to make us free!
And when on Earth's last awful day
The Judgment-Seat of God shall shine,
Lift Thou our trembling eyes to read
In thy dear Face the Mercy-sign.
While at the blesséd Name we bow,
Lord Jesus, be among us now!

XXV
A CHRISTMAS LITANY OF CONFESSION

[_]

For Music

Lord god Almighty on high:
We have sinn'd in the thought of the heart,
We have sinn'd in the deeds of the hand;
'Gainst ourselves, against others, our sins
Outnumber the numberless sand:—
To Thee for pardon we cry,
Lord God Almighty on high.

Lord God Almighty on high:
We have wept and repented in vain,
We have broken our promise to Thee;
Our transgressions roll in like a flood
And are more than the waves of the sea.
To Thee for pardon we cry,
Lord God Almighty on high.

Lord God Almighty on high;
By the word of the mouth we have sinn'd;
We have sinn'd by our frown and our smile;
In our prayers, in Thy House we have sinn'd,
And Thou hast beheld us the while:
To Thee for mercy we cry,
Lord God Almighty on high.

Lord God Almighty on high,
Thy mercy from heaven to earth
Goes forth; Thy forgiveness is free:
Thou hast open'd a refuge for man;
Thou hast taken our manhood on Thee:—
To Thee with thanksgiving we cry,
Lord God Redeemer on high!

Lord God Almighty on high,
The shepherds have seen as they watch
The quire of Thine Angels above:
To all nations the song has gone out
Of Glory, of Peace, and of Love.
To Thee with thanksgiving we cry,
Lord God Redeemer on high.

Lord God Almighty on high,
We come with the shepherds; we see
Her of all women most blest,
As she kneels o'er the cradle, and takes
That Holy One unto her breast;
To Him with thanksgiving we cry,
Almighty Redeemer on high!

Lord God Almighty on high:
Thou hast come in our flesh; and to Thee
Our transgressions, our weakness, are known.
By Thy Birth, by Thy Life, by Thy Death,
By Thy right-hand seat on the Throne,
Eleison, Christe! we cry,
Almighty Redeemer on high.

XXVI
HYMN TO OUR SAVIOUR

Christ Who art above the sky
Teach me how to live and die!
Thou hast sent me here to be
Born of human-kind like Thee:
Born to walk the flinty road
Which Thy crimson'd footsteps trode;
Clear mine eyes to track them right,
Leading upwards to the light.

Pure as snow from taint of wrong,
Thou hast known temptation strong;
Tried and burst the snares that lie
Set to lure us from the sky:
Thou wilt aid me firm to stand
When the tempter is at hand;
Thou wilt draw my thoughts to Thee,
And the demon-sin will flee.

When I slip, my frailty spare;
Saviour, save me from despair!
By the mercy-gate Thou art,
Vision of the Bleeding Heart,
Gazing with thorn-circled face
Human-eyed on all the race:

If I kneel before the gate,
Thou wilt never cry “Too late!”

If in vain my strength has toil'd;
Hopes defeated; purpose foil'd;
If the light of life be dim,
Waning mind, and wither'd limb;
If my dear ones leave me lone,
Be Thou here when all are gone;
Thou hast known what anguish is,
Thou canst turn my tears to bliss.

In the day of doubt and gloom,
Let Thy mercy-message come,
O'er my fever'd soul below
Falling soft as snow on snow;
‘Though the mother smile no more
‘On the baby that she bore;
‘Bride by bridegroom be forgot,
‘Yet will I forsake thee not.’

Though far off in light, by me
Nearer than earth's nearest be:
By the love that brought Thee down;
By the bitter cross and crown;
By Thy shepherd-care to save
All Thy flock from font to grave;
Aid me here to live and die,
Christ Who art above the sky!

XXVII
CHRISTUS CONSOLATOR

Συν Χριστω—πολλω μαλλον κρεισσον.

Hope of those that have none other,
Left for life by father, mother,
All their dearest lost or taken,
Only not by Thee forsaken;
Comfort thou the sad and lonely,
Saviour dear, for Thou canst only.

When hell's legions darken o'er us,
Wiles and smiles of sin before us,
When the wrongs we wrought uncaring
Smite us with the heart's despairing;
Souls in sorrow lost and lonely,
Help us, Lord! for thou canst only.

By the days of earthly trial,
By Thy friend's foreknown denial,
By Thy cross of bitter anguish,
Leave not Thou Thy lambs to languish:
Fainting in life's desert lonely
Thou canst lead the wanderers only.

Sick with hope deferr'd, or yearning
For the never-now-returning,
When the glooms of grief o'ershade us,
Thou hast known, and Thou wilt aid us!
To Thine own heart take the lonely,
Leaning on Thee, only, only.

XXVIII
THE LOVE OF GOD

Cras amet qui nunquam amavit; quique amavit, cras amet.

Let him love Thee to-day
Who ne'er loved before;
And he who loves Thee,
To-day love Thee more.

Love with mind and heart,
With body and soul:
Thou gav'st us each part;
We should give Thee the whole.

With cheerfulness love Thee
Age, midlife, and youth;
With faith and purity,
Courage and truth:

In health and laughter,
In sickness and woe:—
But O labour and fear,
To love Thee so!

Ah Lord, Thou knowest
Whereof we are made;
From this burden of love
We shrink afraid.

Should we love Thee so much,
What were left behind
For this common life,
For our human kind?

Should we have enough
For this world and for Thee?
—O narrow faith,
When all is He!

When He loves us first
From cradle to grave:
—O, love for love
Is all Thou dost crave!

Thou art not quick
To mark where we stray;
Thy voice will lead us
In love's own way.

Thou shalt cleanse us
And we shall be clean:
Thou wilt gather
Thy whole flock in.

Then let him love to-day
Who ne'er loved Thee before,
And he who loves Thee,
To-day love Thee more.

XXIX
IN THE VINEYARD

Within a trellised angle idly laid
'Neath the green lulling shade,
Shunning the toil they hardly care to shun,
Who waste the priceless hours
When man's best work is done?

—As from the unsilver'd grass the dawn-dew fled,
The vineyard's Lord and Head
Call'd in the market-place the stalwart crew
Of labourers ruddy-brown,
Pledging each man his due.

Yet,—for God smiled on that full crop, and it
Was for the vintage fit,—
Again the Lord went forth, and hiring more,
Sent with their baskets in,
To pile the purple store.

And now the sudden twilight-pause is near
When the three stars appear,

The three stars, which first appeared, were taken as the signal whence to reckon evening by the Jews in Our Saviour's time. (Edersheim, Messiah.)

Signals of eve and rest from toil retired,—
While yet the loiterers lie
Listless, unask'd, unhired.

But thick the grapes, the mildewing night-air's prey,
Be they not stored to-day;
‘More hands, more hearts I crave; I call ye last,
My labourers, Mine, though late,
Your day of grace nigh past.’

Ah! when that loving cry upon them broke,
To manhood's part they woke,
Each offering his best strength of heart and limb,
And inly only felt
The bliss of work for Him!

So these last, till the night when none can toil,
Gather the harvest spoil;
Last these;—yet when the gate was closed, the Lord
Summoning around Him all,
Gave them the like reward;

At the true heart's love-labour, one by one,
Rating the service done:—
Not the world's surface-standard, by success
Weighing the man, and blind
To the inward more and less.

—The day far spent, yet for my Saviour's sake,
Lord! ere Thine Angels take
The tares and wheat of Earth's last harvest-home,
E'en at the eleventh hour
May I be call'd, and come!

XXX
LOST AND FOUND

Though we long, in sin-wrought blindness,
From thy gracious paths have stray'd,
Cold to thee and all thy kindness,
Wilful, reckless or afraid;
Through dim clouds that gather round us
Thou hast sought, and Thou hast found us.

Oft from Thee we veil our faces
Children-like to cheat Thine eyes;
Sin, and hope to hide the traces;
From ourselves ourselves disguise:
'Neath the webs enwoven round us
Thy soul-piercing glance hath found us.

Sudden, midst our idle chorus,
O'er our sin Thy thunders roll;
Death his signal waves before us,
Night and terror take the soul:
Till through double darkness round us
Looks a star,—and Thou hast found us.

O most merciful, most holy,
Light Thy wanderers on their way;
Keep us ever Thine, Thine wholly,
Suffer us no more to stray!
Cloud and storm oft gather round us:
We were lost,—but Thou hast found us.

XXXI
A HYMN OF REPENTANCE

When low on life's horizon, sunk from heaven,
The sun goes down, and night collects on high,
And grisly shapes of sin, as clouds storm-driven,
In sad procession move against the sky,
Lord, who can bear to die?
But Thou say'st, No;
Not so; not so:—
Though in death's twilight terror take thee,
I will not leave thee or forsake thee.

They pass, the sins of youth, once loved, now loathéd,
In Passion's purple hues and folly dyed;
The sins of age, with leper whiteness clothéd;—
The lust, the lie, the selfishness, the pride:
Who may such sight abide?
But Thou say'st, No;
Not so; not so:—
Though dark remorse and shame o'ertake thee,
I will not leave thee or forsake thee.

O Lord and Judge, when from Thy mouth the sentence,
Flames, and with prostrate knee and downcast eyes
We sigh before the Throne our late repentance,
How should the spirit hope for wings to rise
To Heaven's own Paradise?
But Thou say'st, No;
Not so; not so;—
To Him Who bled for man betake thee;
He will not leave thee or forsake thee.

Thrice-holy Child, Who, pure from pure proceeding,
By Mary's side in gifts and graces grew;
Thou Who for our sake once hung pale and bleeding,
Wilt Thou exact from me the penance due,
Whose sins Thy death renew?
But Thou say'st, No;
Not so; not so;—
Close to My wounded side I take thee;
I will not leave thee or forsake thee.

XXXII
A LITANY

Κυριε ελεησον:
Χρλστε ελεησον.

O lord god eternal,
The First and the Last,
We are fallen before Thee
As sinners downcast:
Not in anger deal with us;
Lighten the rod;
Once more, once more, say
‘I am your God:’
Turn Thy face toward us;
Put up the sword:
Have mercy upon us,
Have mercy, O Lord!

In the blindness of youth,
In sickness and health,
In the time of trial,
In the trial of wealth;
As we creep and dwindle
In age away,
In the hour of death,
In the judgment-day;

Turn Thy face toward us;
Put up the sword:
Have mercy upon us,
Have mercy, O Lord!

When the lust of wealth
Makes its own self all:
When the pride of strength
Tramples down the small;
When the world's outcasts
Sit and hide the head;
When the barefoot children
Cry out for bread;
Turn not Thy face from us;
Draw not the sword:
Have mercy upon us,
Have mercy, O Lord!

When the tempter comes
With gold and smiles,
When the flesh is master,
And thought defiles;
When faith grows faint
Through pride or fear,
—O Thou that knowest,
Spare us, O spare!
Turn Thy face toward us;
Put up the sword:
Have mercy upon us,
Have mercy, O Lord!

By Thy manhood on earth,
By Thy death and life,
By the mountain-peace
And the midnight-strife
By the scourge and cross
And all that pain;
By Thy golden throne
Set with God to reign;
Turn Thy face toward us;
Put up the sword:
Have mercy upon us,
Have mercy, O Lord!

XXXIII
THROUGH AND THROUGH

Infelix, quis me liberabit?

We name thy name, O God,
As our God call on Thee,
Though the dark heart meantime
Far from Thy ways may be.

And we can own Thy law,
And we can sing Thy songs,
While the sad inner soul
To sin and shame belongs.

On us Thy love may glow,
As the pure midday fire
On some foul spot look down;
And yet the mire be mire.

Then spare us not Thy fires,
The searching light and pain;
Burn out our sin; and, last,
With Thy love heal again.

XXXIV
QUIA DILEXIT MULTUM

Yes! She is outcast from the world;
The decent crowd of rich and good
With scorn or silence pass her by,
Or bid her search the streets for food:—
Yet when the jewels are made up,
She shall be ransom'd, yet;
For she has loved Him more than all,
And He will not forget.

'Tis not He does not prize the pure,
Or disesteems the holy heart,
Or judges each the same as all,
Or fails to take His liegemen's part:
But that He sees us as we are
With calm of perfect eyes;
Reads sorrow hid in reckless mirth,
And smiles beneath our sighs.

The pitfalls set around the poor,
The impulse of the human blood,
The hunger-hounds that tear the flesh,
Unshared, unfelt, are known of God;

How very shame disarms the girl;
Hell hard by heaven in love,
The babe that the weak hands must feed,—
Are all confess'd above.

Ah, strange such things on earth should be!
Ah, little arc of the great whole
That our dim eyes can measure here,
Harsh judgments of the happy soul!
The woman's heart in her yet lives,
And shall be ransom'd, yet;
For she has loved Him more than all,
And He will not forget.

XXXV
A HYMN OF PENITENCE

As a stone my heart, my heart
To Thee is cold and dry,
Glows not at thought of Heaven,
Nor beats when Thou art nigh.
But if Thy pitying eyes
Upon me Thou dost throw,
The frozen heart melts down,
The founts of sorrow flow:—
Be near, O Lord, when I
Before Thy feet confess me!
I will not let Thee go
Until Thou bless me.

—O cloud of Self that glooms
Betwixt us and the sky!
O traitor heart that swerves
Where Sin's allurements lie!
In vain Thine instant voice
Warns from the pit to flee;
A thousand snares invite;
I turn to them from Thee.

Thine anger cannot move,
Nor do Thy tears distress me:
I cannot pray Thee come
To cleanse and bless me.

—Thou who didst leave to man
Peace, Thy last legacy,
Thy mercy-comfort shed
On me, Lord, even me!
The soul of self cast out,
Subdue the heart of stone,
Seal me on earth for heaven,
Thy child, Thine own; Thine own!
—I know Thy presence nigh!
The wings of Love caress me;
Now, now Thou wilt not go
Before Thou bless me.

XXXVI
THE GARDEN OF GOD

Christ in His heavenly garden walks all day,
And calls to souls upon the world's highway;
Wearied with trifles, maim'd and sick with sin,
Christ by the gate stands, and invites them in.

—‘How long, unwise, will ye pursue your woe?
Here from the throne sweet waters ever go:
Here the white lilies shine like stars above:
Here in the red rose burns the face of Love.

‘'Tis not from earthly paths I bid you flee,
But lighter in My ways your feet will be:
'Tis not to summon you from human mirth,
But add a depth and sweetness not of earth.

‘Still by the gate I stand as on ye stray:
Turn your steps hither: am not I the Way?
The sun is falling fast; the night is nigh:
Why will ye wander? Wherefore will ye die?

‘Look on My hands and side, for I am He:
None to the Father cometh, but by Me:
For you I died; once more I call you home:
I live again for you: My children, come!’

XXXVII
THE CITY OF GOD

δου γαρ, η βασιλεια του Θεου εντος υμων εστ..

O thou not made with hands,
Not throned above the skies,
Nor wall'd with shining walls,
Nor framed with stones of price,
More bright than gold or gem
God's own Jerusalem!

Not ours the City flash'd
On that Apostle lone,
Bride-like sent down from Heaven,
Where God hath set His throne;
Where Angels in His praise
The victory song upraise.

Glorious with white-robed souls,
That other vision fair
For our sin-weaken'd hearts
Is all too bright to share;
That home of Saints yet lies
Hid from our longing eyes.

Thou art where'er the proud,
City of God! bow down;
Where self itself yields up;
Where martyrs win their crown;
Where faithful souls possess
Themselves in perfect peace.

Where'er the gentle heart
Finds courage from above;
Where'er the heart forsook
Warms with the breath of love;
Where faith bids fear depart,
City of God! thou art.

Where in life's common ways
With cheerful feet we go;
When in His steps we tread
Who trod the way of woe;
Where He is in the heart
City of God! thou art.

Not throned above the skies,
Nor golden-wall'd afar,
But where Christ's two or three
In His name gather'd are,
Be in the midst of them,
God's own Jerusalem!

XXXVIII
VIRGINI DEIPARAE

Mother-maid all-holy,
Throned upon thy knee
Evermore th' Almighty
Child and Lord we see!
While with awe thou gazest
On the wondrous Face,
Blest among all women,
Mary full of grace!

—Sung by million millions
Since the distant day
When she walk'd among us,
Her sweet stainless way:—
How should we unworthy
To thy praise draw near;
How uplift the chorus
Meet for Heaven to hear?

Of that perfect childhood,
Of that youthtime fair,
Scarce a whisper lingers
What thou wast and where:—

Flower amid the flowers
Faith beholds thee go;
Mystic Rose of Sharon,
Lily pure as snow.

—O'er the holy bosom
She her faithful hands
Folds, in silence waiting
Highest Heaven's commands,
Till the sunbright Angel
Spoke his awful word:—
‘Lo! Thy will is my will,
Handmaid of the Lord.’

Angels and Archangels
Now are round the Maid,
Where the world's Creator
At her knees is laid;
Where she worships o'er Him,
God and Man in one:—
Son of highest Heaven;
Mary's royal Son.

By our great first Parent,
(Tempted and beguiled),
We were cast from Eden
To the desert wild:—

Second Eve and Mother,
By the gift she brought
God, through Mary's sorrow,
Man's salvation wrought.

On the Babe thou smilest,
He on thee the while:—
But His Father's business
Calls Him from thy smile.
In the secret archives
It is writ above
Sevenfold swords shall pierce thee,
Sevenfold wounds of love.

Who should tell when Mary
Touch'd the heart of woe?
When she saw Death's Triumph
Up the Dool-Way go?
When the whole world's burden
Bent Him 'neath the Rood?
When it shone, to save us,
With the precious Blood?

By the Cross now standing
In that utter woe,
Yet some drops of gladness
In thy sorrows flow;

As the loved Disciple
Reverent leads thee home;—
Queen in lowly refuge,
Heaven's own ante-room!

Now through rest translated
To the realm assign'd,
Crown'd with grace we greet thee,
Crown of human-kind!
—Yet, through all the ages,
Throned upon thy knee
Mother-Maid, th' Almighty
Child and Lord we see!

100

XXXIX
A CHRISTMAS HYMN

On the hillside, where the sheep
White in whiter moonbeams sleep;
Where with drowsy midnight eyes
His own fold each shepherd spies:
—Why has Night her veil withdrawn?
Why this dawn before the dawn?
Who the radiant eager throng,
Chanting forth their glory-song?
As they gaze in happy fear,
What the hymn the shepherds hear?
Holy, Holy, Holy,
All Thine Angels cry:
Jesus pure and lowly;
Jesus throned on high!
Born for us in Bethlehem,
Grant us grace to sing with them
Holy, Holy, Holy!

Brightest Star of stars that blaze,
Whither dost thou bend thy rays?
What the cottage-stable low
Over which thou shinest so?
Who are these with robe and crown,
Seeking through Ephráta town,

101

Westward here by wisdom led
Till they kneel and bare the head,
Casting down their gifts before
That star-signall'd gleaming door?
Holy, Holy, Holy,
All Thine Angels cry:
Jesus pure and lowly;
Jesus throned on high!
Born for us in Bethlehem,
Grant us grace to sing with them
Holy, Holy, Holy!

By the manger who is He,
Nursling swathed on Mother's knee,
O'er Whom, all amid the kine,
Mary whispers, Jesu mine!
—Lamblike there we see Him lie;
Lamb of Heaven for Earth to die;
Son to God Himself most dear;—
Very child with children here;—
Baby nursed on mother's knee,—
—Saviour of mankind—'tis He!
Holy, Holy, Holy,
All Thine Angels cry:
Jesus pure and lowly;
Jesus throned on high!
Born for us in Bethlehem,
Grant us grace to sing with them
Holy, Holy, Holy!

102

XL
ON THE LOVE OF CHILDREN

To that green hill, the shepherds' haunt,
Why speed the children's feet?
And who the Youth that sits alone,
The clamorous flock to greet?

His hands are laid above their heads,
Their faces at His knee:
His looks are looks of love; yet seem
Something beyond to see.

The simple townsmen cross the hill,
And bid the throng away,
‘Nor press around the stranger youth,
Nor by the fold delay.’

As one who smiles and wakes, He lifts
A child upon His knee:
‘God's kingdom is of such as these;
So let them come to Me.’

—Ah, Lord and Christ! Thy perfect heart
No fond excess could touch!
But man's best strength is feebleness,
And we may love too much!

103

Yet maim'd the man, or poor in blood,
Who glows not with delight
Whene'er the little ones go by
In casual daily sight;

Or when the child at mother's knee,
His altar, lisps a prayer,
And perfect faith, and utter love,
And Christ Himself, is there;

Or when the little hands are clasp'd
To beg some baby grace,
And all the beauty of the dawn
Comes rose-red o'er the face;

Or when some elder one from sport
Her smaller sister wiles,
And two bright heads o'ershade the book;
Half study, and half smiles.

—Ah, Lord and Christ! Thy perfect heart
No fond excess could touch!
Yet when that innocence we see,
How can we love too much?

They twine around our heart of hearts;
Their spell we seek in vain;—
Go, ask the linnet why he sings,—
He can but sing again!

104

To winter-life their bloom and breath
Renew a later spring,
O dewy roses of the dawn,
Fresh from God's gardening!

Earth's treasures waste with use; but Thine,
O Lord! by lessening grow;
From love's pure fount the more we take,
The more the waters flow.

How should we prize the things unseen,
Not prizing what we see?
How turn away Thy little ones
Without forbidding Thee?

The Shepherd wills not we should stint
Or count our kisses o'er;
Nor bids us love His lambs the less,
But Him Who loves them, more.

105

XLI
A LITTLE CHILD'S HYMN

FOR NIGHT AND MORNING

Thou that once, on mother's knee,
Wast a little one like me,
When I wake or go to bed
Lay Thy hands about my head;
Let me feel Thee very near,
Jesus Christ, our Saviour dear.

Be beside me in the light,
Close by me through all the night;
Make me gentle, kind, and true,
Do what I am bid to do;
Help and cheer me when I fret,
And forgive when I forget.

Once wert Thou in cradle laid,
Baby bright in manger-shade,
By Thy blesséd Mother's care
Shelter'd warm from wintry air:
Now Thou art above the sky;
Canst thou hear a baby cry?

106

Thou art nearer when we pray,
Since Thou art so far away;
Thou my little hymn wilt hear,
Jesus Christ, our Saviour dear,
Thou that once, on mother's knee,
Wast a little one like me.

107

XLII
A CHILD'S MORNING HYMN

O god Who, when the night was deep,
Hast kept me safe and lent me sleep,
Now with Thy sun Thou bid'st me rise,
And look around with older eyes.

Each blesséd morning Thou dost give,
I have one morning less to live:
O help me so this day to spend,
To make me fitter for the end!

O bid all evil wishes fly;
The fretful word, the careless eye;
Aid me to think, in all I do,
‘God sees me: would He have it so?’

Make my first wish and thought to be
For others sooner than for me;
And let me pardon them, as I
Hope for God's pardon when I die.

Be with me when I work and play;
Be with me now and every day,
Be near me, when I pray Thee hear;
And when I pray not, Lord! be near.

108

XLIII
A CHILD'S EVENING HYMN

O lord Who, when Thy cross was nigh,
Didst wake and pray as night went by,
Thy gentle sleep like dew once more
Upon my head I pray Thee pour.

One little heap of days for me
Is measured out by God's decree;
And one day from that little heap
Is gone as I lie down to sleep.

And I know not how soon the tale
Of my few days and short may fail:—
O God, whene'er!—for Thy dear Son,
Me, even me, have mercy on!

O strange, that as I kneel and pray,
He from His throne hears all I say!
—Give me but what for me is best:—
This is enough: Thou know'st the rest.

O sleepless Shepherd of the sheep,
Now fold me in, and bid me sleep:
From evil safe, and night's alarms,
Nursed in Thine everlasting arms.

109

XLIV
THAT CHILDREN SHOULD BE GENTLE

For School use

How sad the strife and storm that rise
When angry thoughts breed angry cries!
But quiet song and gentle word
Should only from our lips be heard.
We'll remember all the week,
Softly sing, and gently speak.

We know when Christ our Lord was young,
No angry word e'er cross'd His tongue:
And when He grew no more a child,
His voice was loving, soft, and mild.
So should we be mild and meek;
Softly sing, and gently speak.

But we have other duties too;
Not only must we speak, but do:
And gentle hands and quiet feet
For little children's ways are meet.
We should practise what we know;
Softly step, and gently go.

110

Our Saviour's ways thus best we keep,
For lovingly He led His sheep;
And when His foes were raging by,
He gently gave Himself to die.
We should here His likeness show;
Softly speak, and gently go.

111

XLV
AN INCIDENT AT MENDRISIO

April 23, 1886

Αφετε τα παιδια ερχεσθαι προς Με—

It was the Day, the sad, the good,
The Day thrice-blest, when He,
The Love uniting God with Man,
Hung on the Tree:—

And where within the transept wide
A vacant space was made,
With reverent touch the village hands
His Image laid;

Not such as old Donato wrought:
Yet this rude craftsman's heart
With deeper passion stamp'd the wood
Than finer art.

And all the Italian throng was there,
Bronze-wrinkled crone, and maid,
Fathers with sons; the lame, the blind,
Where Christ was laid.

112

They knelt for prayer; they kiss'd for love
Their Saviour's riven Side,
The Hands, the Feet, the bleeding Heart
For us Who died.

But in the throng what part has she,
The little maiden sweet,
Who climbs and trembles to the Cross
With fervent feet?

Like her, the Blesséd Virgin Child
Who clomb the Temple-stair,
God-given, given back to God,
Pure, sacred, fair.

—With kisses fast and close, herself
Upon the Face she throws;
The innocent breath with love is warm,
Sweet as the rose.

Ah, darling! though thine infant heart
Outrun thy knowledge dim,
E'en on God's throne that eager love
Is dear to Him.

113

XLVI
GUARDIAN ANGELS

The myriad Angel hosts, whose glance
The things unseen surveys,
Each o'er the heart he has in charge
Bends down with loving gaze.

He may not break the natural bar
That veils the world above:
As summer breeze on summer corn,
The soul he sways with love.

Invisible guardians at our side,—
When Satan's smiles allure,
Man's ear and eye, sin's treacherous gates,
'Gainst sin they hold secure.

They guide the vagrant tongue aright,
They check our heedless mirth;
With comfort the weak-hearted stay,
The fallen lift from earth.

Ah! Yet the lucent Birds of God,
These star-crown'd sinless Powers,
Sharp pangs of human grief must pierce,
E'en in their heavenly bowers:

114

The frailty of entrusted souls;
The children driven astray;
The pitfalls lurking round mankind;
The maidens cast away:—

O they must veil their Angel eyes
From earth's dark hell of shame!
The perjured lips, the blood-mark'd hands,
The sins without a name!

‘Lord Jesus, to Thy fold,’ they cry,
‘Restore Thine erring sheep;’
And weep Love's pitying tears for us,
Because we do not weep.

115

XLVII
THE KING'S MESSENGER

He goes in silence through the crowd;
A veil is o'er his face;
Yet where but once his eyes are turn'd
There is an empty space.
The whispering throngs divide and stir:—
'Tis he! 'tis the King's Messenger!

—We may perforce buy off the thought.
Or stifle or ignore;
The day at last will come on us
When day will come no more:
When on the spaces of the sky
We hardly lift a wearied eye;

When rising death-mists change and blot
Familiar features near;
When we can give nor word not sign,
Nor what they utter hear;
When mother's tears no more are shed
For little faces round the bed;

116

When Science folds her hands and sighs,
And cannot bridge the abyss;
And That, which once seem'd life, seems nought
Before the enormous This;
All days, all deeds, all passions past
Shrunk to a pin's point in the vast:—

Then face to face to meet the King
Behind His messenger!
—O could we see that hour go by
Whilst youthful pulses stir,
With all our future to forgive,
We scarce could bear the sight, and live!

—Thou Who for us hast suffer'd death,
Remember we are men;
Thou on the right hand of the Throne,
Have mercy on us then;
Thou from the King our pardon bear,
And be Thyself His messenger.

117

XLVIII
DEATH AND THE FEAR OF IT

Lord! How fast the minutes fly
'Twixt us and the hour we die!
Days are weeks before we know;
Weeks to months untimely grow;
And behind each glad New Year
Death his ambush sets more near.

Death!—by whomsoever heard,
'Mongst all words most fearful word!
—Quit each thing familiar here!
Face to face with God appear!
Change no mortal tongue can tell:—
All's in that one syllable!

Hour of dread farewells to be!
Faces more than life to me;
Little lips that beg me stay;
Tears I shall not wipe away;
Faithful hand, yet clasp'd in mine:—
Death Triumphant!—all is thine!

118

Author of man's mystic lot,
God, Thy ways as ours are not:
Thou hast destined us to be
Seized by death, yet safe in Thee:
Love Immortal casting out
Feverish fear, and freezing doubt.

—In the spaces of the night,
In the depths of dim affright,
Jesus, with our trials tried,
Do not Thou forsake my side!
Childlike on Thy faithful breast
Hold my heart, and bid me rest.

Like a sword above my head
Death is hanging by a thread;
Yet, O gracious Lord on high,
Surely Thou wilt hear my cry,
By Thy life laid down for me
Turning death to victory!

Only this can light the grave,
Thou hast died:—and Thou wilt save:—
Thou by lying low in earth
Hast assured our second birth,
Bidding in the sunless tomb
Amaranthine roses bloom.

119

If the spirit shivering shrink
From annihilation's brink,
Through the soul like sunshine come,
—‘Death is but another womb:
Born through woe to human breath,
Ye are born to God through death.’

—Nearer than the nearest by,
Be beside me when I die!
With Thy strength my weakness nerve
Ne'er through fear from faith to swerve;
So, Death's storm-vex'd portal past,
Safe in Thee to sleep at last.

120

XLIX
R. I. P.

30 September, 1888

If 'tis Thy will my years outrun
The love from boyhood unestranged,
By all his changeful lot unchanged,
The Brother's heart with mine at one,

Thy comfort, Lord, vouchsafe at last:—
Not such as bids us now forget
The love that from our skies has set,
Or blurs the memory of the past.

If 'tis Thy will that we, whose feet
Earth's twilight pathways breathe and tread,
Should pray Thy mercy for the dead
And lightening of the penance meet

For frailties of the fallen race,—
O Son of Mary, let the cry
Because he loved much—heard on high,
E'en from a sinner, find Thy grace!

121

If 'tis Thy will that Spirits above
With exiles of the earth may feel,
And thought to thought itself reveal
—O let not my remorseful love

Beat idly 'gainst the golden gate,
Nor he the pardon sought withhold
For word unkind, repulses cold;
Nor count these useless tears too late!

If 'tis Thy will that, 'neath the Throne,
The souls who truly loved on earth,
Transfigured through Death's second birth,
Shall meet and gaze and own their own,

Rosed o'er with Love's ethereal fire—
Star-like that face on me will shine,
O loved and lost, O Brother mine,—
Fulfilling so the heart's desire.

122

L
DESIDERATISSIMAE

—δακρυα παρεξω: ταυτα γαρ δυναιμεθ'αν.

—Iph. in Aul. 1215.

While in Solitude's inward cell
All amidst the crowd I dwell;
Ply life's little part, and take
Each task up for Thy dear sake,
Thoughts of all Thou wast and art
Pierce yet soothe the bleeding heart;
And those upward footsteps teach
My faint feet Thy path to reach:—

Path to where, with all who died
Clinging to the Crucified,
Thy sweet songs adoring rise,
Saint mid Saints in Paradise.
Still beneath Thy faithful care,
Ah! might I the Vision share!
Love Thee none the less, but more,
Heart with heart, the Lamb adore!

Yet meanwhile I would not Thou
Should'st behold what I am now:
Trembling lest this sin-struck heart
Me from Heaven and Thee should part.

123

If Thou seest my earthly way,
For the soul in prison pray;
Soul by Satan's treachery tried;
Sure, thou wilt not be denied!

—Lord, who in Thy wounded side
Bid'st the heavy-laden hide,
Though the sun of life be set,
Through the darkness aid me yet;
Patient down the way of woe
Grant me in Thy steps to go;
My fond tears forgive, accept;
Thou art Man; and Thou hast wept.

124

LI
I AM THE RESURRECTION AND THE LIFE

Dark World, rejoice! The day-spring
Has broke, more bright than when
The star-crown'd Angel chorus
Sang God's good news to men,—
The Lord of Life e'en now
From Death's dim prison
This third day risen,
With victory on His brow
Risen!

O day that seal'd for ever
The hope of hopes to man!
Made Death himself the gateway
To life's immortal span!
That brimm'd with quickening light
The soul's grave-prison,
Whence He had risen,
God's Daystar in His might
Risen!

125

For all the million millions
Whirl'd on this roving ball
Since man's creation-morning,
One Lord hath died, for all;
God, yet still Man, He springs
From Death's dim prison,
In glory risen,
With healing on His wings
Risen!

But most who mourn their dearest
Through desolate silent years,
Loved with what utter longing,
And wept for with what tears—
For them the Love that died
Unbars life's prison:—
They see Christ risen,
The loved ones at His side—
Risen!

University of Virginia Library

HYMNS AND MEDITATIONS

ION LYME BEACH

IIQUATUOR NOVISSIMA

Argument

IIIAT EPHESUS

IVTHE REIGN OF LAW

VFAITH AND SIGHT IN THE LATTER DAYS

VIA PSALM OF CREATION

VIITHINGS VISIBLE AND INVISIBLE

VIIITHE HIDDEN LIFE

IXTHE CHURCH OF CHRIST IN ENGLAND

XSURSUM

XIA PROCESSIONAL HYMN

XIIMORNING AND EVENING HYMNS

I

XIIIMORNING AND EVENING HYMNS

II

XIVMORNING AND EVENING HYMNS

III

XVMORNING AND EVENING HYMNS

IV

XVIFOUR HYMNS FOR PUBLIC USE

HYMN FOR INFANT BAPTISM

Doxology

For each hymn

XVIIFOUR HYMNS FOR PUBLIC USE

HYMN FOR HOLY COMMUNION

XVIIIFOUR HYMNS FOR PUBLIC USE

A MARRIAGE HYMN

XIXFOUR HYMNS FOR PUBLIC USE

CHRISTIAN BURIAL

Doxology

XXTHE NEW ELEUSIS

(In Memoriam 21 March, 1872)

XXIAD ALTARE

XXIIHYMENAEA SACRA

IINTROIT

HYMN

XXIIITHE DAYSTAR

XXIVA LITANY OF THE NAME OF JESUS

XXVA CHRISTMAS LITANY OF CONFESSION

XXVIHYMN TO OUR SAVIOUR

XXVIICHRISTUS CONSOLATOR

XXVIIITHE LOVE OF GOD

XXIXIN THE VINEYARD

XXXLOST AND FOUND

XXXIA HYMN OF REPENTANCE

XXXIIA LITANY

XXXIIITHROUGH AND THROUGH

XXXIVQUIA DILEXIT MULTUM

XXXVA HYMN OF PENITENCE

XXXVITHE GARDEN OF GOD

XXXVIITHE CITY OF GOD

XXXVIIIVIRGINI DEIPARAE

XXXIXA CHRISTMAS HYMN

XLON THE LOVE OF CHILDREN

XLIA LITTLE CHILD'S HYMN

FOR NIGHT AND MORNING

XLIIA CHILD'S MORNING HYMN

XLIIIA CHILD'S EVENING HYMN

XLIVTHAT CHILDREN SHOULD BE GENTLE

For School use

XLVAN INCIDENT AT MENDRISIO

XLVIGUARDIAN ANGELS

XLVIITHE KING'S MESSENGER

XLVIIIDEATH AND THE FEAR OF IT

XLIXR. I. P.

LDESIDERATISSIMAE —δακρυα παρεξω: ταυτα γαρ δυναιμεθ'αν. —Iph. in Aul. 1215.

LII AM THE RESURRECTION AND THE LIFE

I
ON LYME BEACH

II
QUATUOR NOVISSIMA

III
AT EPHESUS

IV
THE REIGN OF LAW

V
FAITH AND SIGHT IN THE LATTER DAYS

VI
A PSALM OF CREATION

VII
THINGS VISIBLE AND INVISIBLE

VIII
THE HIDDEN LIFE

IX
THE CHURCH OF CHRIST IN ENGLAND

X
SURSUM

XI
A PROCESSIONAL HYMN

XII
MORNING AND EVENING HYMNS

XIII
MORNING AND EVENING HYMNS

XIV
MORNING AND EVENING HYMNS

XV
MORNING AND EVENING HYMNS

XVI
FOUR HYMNS FOR PUBLIC USE

XVII
FOUR HYMNS FOR PUBLIC USE

XVIII
FOUR HYMNS FOR PUBLIC USE

XIX
FOUR HYMNS FOR PUBLIC USE

XX
THE NEW ELEUSIS

XXI
AD ALTARE

XXII
HYMENAEA SACRA

I
INTROIT

XXIII
THE DAYSTAR

XXIV
A LITANY OF THE NAME OF JESUS

XXV
A CHRISTMAS LITANY OF CONFESSION

XXVI
HYMN TO OUR SAVIOUR

XXVII
CHRISTUS CONSOLATOR

XXVIII
THE LOVE OF GOD

XXIX
IN THE VINEYARD

XXX
LOST AND FOUND

XXXI
A HYMN OF REPENTANCE

XXXII
A LITANY

XXXIII
THROUGH AND THROUGH

XXXIV
QUIA DILEXIT MULTUM

XXXV
A HYMN OF PENITENCE

XXXVI
THE GARDEN OF GOD

XXXVII
THE CITY OF GOD

XXXVIII
VIRGINI DEIPARAE

XXXIX
A CHRISTMAS HYMN

XL
ON THE LOVE OF CHILDREN

XLI
A LITTLE CHILD'S HYMN

XLII
A CHILD'S MORNING HYMN

XLIII
A CHILD'S EVENING HYMN

XLIV
THAT CHILDREN SHOULD BE GENTLE

XLV
AN INCIDENT AT MENDRISIO

XLVI
GUARDIAN ANGELS

XLVII
THE KING'S MESSENGER

XLVIII
DEATH AND THE FEAR OF IT

XLIX
R. I. P.

L
DESIDERATISSIMAE

—δακρυα παρεξω: ταυτα γαρ δυναιμεθ'αν.

—Iph. in Aul. 1215.

LI
I AM THE RESURRECTION AND THE LIFE