 | Brother Fabian's Manuscript |  |
186
A SPRING-TIDE WELCOME.
March 10th, 1863.
Bid her welcome, O fairest Spring from the South!
She is fair as thyself that greets thee!—
Meet her and kiss her on eyes and mouth,—
The Spring from the North that meets thee!—
Meet her and kiss her, O Spring from the South,
Our bride in her bridal gladness;
With the Crocus, in true-love's saffron sheen,
Bring the Snowdrop's maidenly white between,
For the bride in her bridal gladness:
And scatter the purple Violet,
For a hope that blooms through an old regret,
Sweet, sweet in the hues of sadness!
She is fair as thyself that greets thee!—
Meet her and kiss her on eyes and mouth,—
The Spring from the North that meets thee!—
Meet her and kiss her, O Spring from the South,
Our bride in her bridal gladness;
With the Crocus, in true-love's saffron sheen,
Bring the Snowdrop's maidenly white between,
For the bride in her bridal gladness:
And scatter the purple Violet,
For a hope that blooms through an old regret,
Sweet, sweet in the hues of sadness!
187
Bid her welcome, O Violet, under thy leaves,
Sweet, sweet, in thy purple mourning,—
The Hope who comes to the land that grieves
For the Good One unreturning!—
Greet her, O Violet, under thy leaves,
In thy purple mourning greet her!
Tell her that sweet to the heart that bleeds
Is the hidden fragrance of holy deeds,
Yet say there is one thing sweeter;—
For sweet, O sweet though the memory be
Of the Wise and Good in the Land of the Free,
The renewing of Hope is sweeter!
Sweet, sweet, in thy purple mourning,—
The Hope who comes to the land that grieves
For the Good One unreturning!—
Greet her, O Violet, under thy leaves,
In thy purple mourning greet her!
Tell her that sweet to the heart that bleeds
Is the hidden fragrance of holy deeds,
Yet say there is one thing sweeter;—
For sweet, O sweet though the memory be
Of the Wise and Good in the Land of the Free,
The renewing of Hope is sweeter!
Bid her welcome, O Snowdrop, out on the lea,
Fair, fair in thy maiden whiteness.—
The Maiden who comes from over the sea,
So fair in her maiden brightness!—
Greet her, O Snowdrop, out on the lea,
To thine own sweet self compare her!
Tell her how English pulses bless
The charm of her maidenly loveliness,
Yet say there is one thing fairer;—
For fair, O fair though her form may be,
To the brave true man in the Land of the Free,
Her maiden heart is fairer!
Fair, fair in thy maiden whiteness.—
The Maiden who comes from over the sea,
So fair in her maiden brightness!—
Greet her, O Snowdrop, out on the lea,
To thine own sweet self compare her!
188
The charm of her maidenly loveliness,
Yet say there is one thing fairer;—
For fair, O fair though her form may be,
To the brave true man in the Land of the Free,
Her maiden heart is fairer!
Bid her welcome, O Crocus-cups i' the sun,
Bright, bright in your golden glory.
The Dansker Bride who is wooed and won
To grace our English story!
Greet her, O Crocus-cups i' the sun!
With a golden welcome cheer her!—
Tell her that dear to an Empire's bride
Is the fulness of Empire's pomp and pride,
Yet say there is one thing dearer:—
For dear though the pride of Empire be
To the bride of a Prince in the Land of the Free,
The true True-love is dearer!
Bright, bright in your golden glory.
The Dansker Bride who is wooed and won
To grace our English story!
Greet her, O Crocus-cups i' the sun!
With a golden welcome cheer her!—
Tell her that dear to an Empire's bride
Is the fulness of Empire's pomp and pride,
Yet say there is one thing dearer:—
For dear though the pride of Empire be
To the bride of a Prince in the Land of the Free,
The true True-love is dearer!
| Brother Fabian's Manuscript | |