Master and Scholar etc. etc. By E. H. Plumptre: Second edition with notes |
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So kept the feast our fathers long ago,
When first in Canaan's soil
Their hands a harvest reaped they did not sow,
Won without sweat of toil.
When first in Canaan's soil
Their hands a harvest reaped they did not sow,
Won without sweat of toil.
So through long years the kings of David's line,
Who with their fathers sleep,
Revering still the oracle divine,
That feast were wont to keep.
Who with their fathers sleep,
Revering still the oracle divine,
That feast were wont to keep.
Ah! did they dream of secret, mystic truth
Beneath the outer veil;
Or did our sires in manhood as in youth
Live on the thrice-told tale?
Beneath the outer veil;
Or did our sires in manhood as in youth
Live on the thrice-told tale?
Was it with backward look upon the past,
When they from Egypt came,
When tents were spread through all the desert vast
Around the central flame?
When they from Egypt came,
When tents were spread through all the desert vast
Around the central flame?
Or did they dream of all life's little span
As of a traveller's tent,
Of all the joys that crown the life of man
As garlands dew-besprent;
As of a traveller's tent,
Of all the joys that crown the life of man
As garlands dew-besprent;
The journey through the wilderness of years
As theirs who seek a rest,
And take their pilgrim path through vale of tears,
As yet but partly blest?
As theirs who seek a rest,
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As yet but partly blest?
Or looked they forward to a time to come,
In dim, far future seen,
When all, as yet enwrapt in symbols dumb,
Shall shine in light serene;
In dim, far future seen,
When all, as yet enwrapt in symbols dumb,
Shall shine in light serene;
And as, of old, the countless homes were spread
O'er deserts far and wide,
While yet one tent on all its glory shed,
For God did there abide;
O'er deserts far and wide,
While yet one tent on all its glory shed,
For God did there abide;
So shall one form on all the sons of men
Pour brightness from the throne,
The Word Eternal dwelling with us then
Us as his brothers own;
Pour brightness from the throne,
The Word Eternal dwelling with us then
Us as his brothers own;
One chosen tent wherein the presence dwells
Of light and love divine,
While every soul the tale of wonder tells,
Or sprung from Abraham's line,
Of light and love divine,
While every soul the tale of wonder tells,
Or sprung from Abraham's line,
Heir of his name, and child of Israel,
Within the chosen race,
Or seed of heathens under sin's dark spell,
Then sharing God's great grace?
Within the chosen race,
Or seed of heathens under sin's dark spell,
Then sharing God's great grace?
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