Poems By Edward Quillinan. With a Memoir by William Johnston |
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THE LEGEND OF SAINT MEINRAD. |
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168
THE LEGEND OF SAINT MEINRAD.
Beside the Lake of Wallenstadt
I saw a damsel fair and young,
Beneath an ash-crown'd rock she sate,
And thus the Maid of Glaris sung:
I saw a damsel fair and young,
Beneath an ash-crown'd rock she sate,
And thus the Maid of Glaris sung:
On Etzel's Mount Saint Meinrad's hands
His hut remotely rear'd,
Where now the painted chapel stands
That bears his name revered.
His hut remotely rear'd,
Where now the painted chapel stands
That bears his name revered.
In vain he made that lonely peak
His home among the clouds;
Rude Etzel's Mount, so bare and bleak,
Was soon the goal of crowds.
His home among the clouds;
Rude Etzel's Mount, so bare and bleak,
Was soon the goal of crowds.
Repentant sinners thither came,
His blessing to implore;
He bless'd them in his Master's name,
And bade them sin no more.
His blessing to implore;
He bless'd them in his Master's name,
And bade them sin no more.
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Nor dead to Nature's yearnings then
With mortals he conferr'd;
The voice and social helps of men
His human feelings stirr'd.
With mortals he conferr'd;
The voice and social helps of men
His human feelings stirr'd.
Yet, having vow'd to stand apart,
Unpropp'd by human aids,
He plunged into the deeper heart
Of black Einsidlen's shades.
Unpropp'd by human aids,
He plunged into the deeper heart
Of black Einsidlen's shades.
And there again his patient hands
An humble dwelling raised,
Where now our Lady's chapel stands:
(Her holy name be praised!)
An humble dwelling raised,
Where now our Lady's chapel stands:
(Her holy name be praised!)
A sparkling well refresh'd the place
Where shines her altar now;
(Whose pure unfailing fount of grace
Rewards the pilgrim's vow.)
Where shines her altar now;
(Whose pure unfailing fount of grace
Rewards the pilgrim's vow.)
That crystal spring his drink supplied;
Its cresses were his food,
With berries that the mountains hide,
And fruits unsunn'd and crude.
Its cresses were his food,
With berries that the mountains hide,
And fruits unsunn'd and crude.
170
Saint Meinrad knelt one early morn
Beside the crystal fount;
He heard a raven's croak forlorn
Each pater-noster count.
Beside the crystal fount;
He heard a raven's croak forlorn
Each pater-noster count.
He heard a raven's dismal cry
At every bead he told;
“Now, God be praised! for I shall die,”
Said he, “ere I grow old.”
At every bead he told;
“Now, God be praised! for I shall die,”
Said he, “ere I grow old.”
He look'd about, nor long he search'd,
Making the Cross's sign,
Before he saw two ravens, perch'd
Above him on a pine.
Making the Cross's sign,
Before he saw two ravens, perch'd
Above him on a pine.
Saint Meinrad knelt upon the floor
That eve within his cell,
When angry sounds besieged his door;
He knew their meaning well.
That eve within his cell,
When angry sounds besieged his door;
He knew their meaning well.
He cross'd his breast and thank'd the Lord
Who died upon the Rood;
He calmly then the door unbarr'd,
And there two ruffians stood.
Who died upon the Rood;
He calmly then the door unbarr'd,
And there two ruffians stood.
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They rush'd upon the sacred man,
Who meekly met his doom;
About the floor his life-blood ran,
Exhaling sweet perfume.
Who meekly met his doom;
About the floor his life-blood ran,
Exhaling sweet perfume.
A golden chalice (used to hold
The host, the spirit's health)
They seized, and crucifix of gold,
Their victim's only wealth.
The host, the spirit's health)
They seized, and crucifix of gold,
Their victim's only wealth.
The ravens came and flapp'd their wings
O'er each assassin's head;
Then, struck with inward shudderings,
The ghastly wretches fled.
O'er each assassin's head;
Then, struck with inward shudderings,
The ghastly wretches fled.
In vain they fled to cavern'd rocks,
And sought the loneliest gulf
Where, ever, crouch'd the nursing fox,
Or lurk'd the grim she-wolf.
And sought the loneliest gulf
Where, ever, crouch'd the nursing fox,
Or lurk'd the grim she-wolf.
In vain the white-furr'd mountain hare
They startled in their flight,
And roused the chamois from his lair
On Schindeleggi's height.
They startled in their flight,
And roused the chamois from his lair
On Schindeleggi's height.
172
In vain they tried the otter's den,
By watery Richterswyl;
Or hollow trees in Teuffel's glen,
Among the owls so shrill.
By watery Richterswyl;
Or hollow trees in Teuffel's glen,
Among the owls so shrill.
Aye follow'd by those ravens twain,
Bewilder'd with heaven's wrath,
To right, to left, they turn'd in vain;
The ravens cross'd their path.
Bewilder'd with heaven's wrath,
To right, to left, they turn'd in vain;
The ravens cross'd their path.
They cross'd them with denouncing shrieks;
They doom'd them with their eye;
Their feathers brush'd their bloodless cheeks,
So closely swoop'd they by.
They doom'd them with their eye;
Their feathers brush'd their bloodless cheeks,
So closely swoop'd they by.
In vain they left those wild retreats,
And tried the peopled town,
Through all the throng of Zurich's streets
The ravens chased them down.
And tried the peopled town,
Through all the throng of Zurich's streets
The ravens chased them down.
They flew at them with piercing shrieks,
They tore them with their claws,
They bit them with their horny beaks,
Till they confess'd the cause:
They tore them with their claws,
They bit them with their horny beaks,
Till they confess'd the cause:
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Till they confess'd their mortal guilt,
And, guarded, forth were led;
And for the saintly blood they spilt,
The cruel ruffians bled.
And, guarded, forth were led;
And for the saintly blood they spilt,
The cruel ruffians bled.
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