 | The Poetical Works of Aubrey De Vere |  |
XXVI. FREMUERUNT GENTES.
The sordid World, insane through pride
Masking her sin in virtue's name
Rejects, usurps, self-deified,
The Immaculate Mother's sacred claim.
Masking her sin in virtue's name
Rejects, usurps, self-deified,
The Immaculate Mother's sacred claim.
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‘The Earth is mine, and Earth's desires:
My Science reigns from zone to zone:
I warm my hands o'er Nature's fires;
I reap the fields those hands have sown:
My Science reigns from zone to zone:
I warm my hands o'er Nature's fires;
I reap the fields those hands have sown:
‘From depths unknown I crept unseen
Through worm and beast to Man's estate:
My hands are clean: I rule, a Queen
Immortal and Immaculate.’
Through worm and beast to Man's estate:
My hands are clean: I rule, a Queen
Immortal and Immaculate.’
Thus boasteth Pride with brazen brow;
That Pride which still ‘believes a lie’:—
The counter-boast of Grace art thou,
Immaculate Humility!
That Pride which still ‘believes a lie’:—
The counter-boast of Grace art thou,
Immaculate Humility!
Therefore, like Western hill that flings
O'er sunset vales its gradual shade
Thy power shall wax while sensuous things
Dissolve, and earthly grandeurs fade.
O'er sunset vales its gradual shade
Thy power shall wax while sensuous things
Dissolve, and earthly grandeurs fade.
In the world's eve thy Star shall flash
Through reddening skies that cease to weep
While kings to earth their sceptres dash
And angel bands the harvest reap.
Through reddening skies that cease to weep
While kings to earth their sceptres dash
And angel bands the harvest reap.
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