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THE ORANGE-TREE.—A SYMBOL.
Planted as an anchor cast,
Deep the root, and strong, and fast,
Sending viewless through the bole
Virtue, like a living soul,
Spread in branches high and wide,
Full and fair on every side,—
By its growth and produce found
Sound at heart,—in healthful ground,—
Through the circling seasons known
For a beauty all its own,
As a child of God should be,—
Mark the goodly Orange-tree!
Deep the root, and strong, and fast,
Sending viewless through the bole
Virtue, like a living soul,
Spread in branches high and wide,
Full and fair on every side,—
By its growth and produce found
Sound at heart,—in healthful ground,—
Through the circling seasons known
For a beauty all its own,
As a child of God should be,—
Mark the goodly Orange-tree!
Rich its leaves of evergreen
Polished to a mirror sheen!
There, amongst them, all about,
Where the pearly buds peep out,
While the silver blossoms fling
Odors sweet on zephyr's wing,
Fruit in globes of mellow gold
On the self-same bough behold!
Then, while sunbeams o'er it shed
Weave a glory round its head,
Crowned of Heaven, as Faith shall be,
Stands the generous Orange-tree.
Polished to a mirror sheen!
There, amongst them, all about,
Where the pearly buds peep out,
While the silver blossoms fling
Odors sweet on zephyr's wing,
Fruit in globes of mellow gold
On the self-same bough behold!
Then, while sunbeams o'er it shed
Weave a glory round its head,
Crowned of Heaven, as Faith shall be,
Stands the generous Orange-tree.
Bosomed in its fragrant bloom,
Sits the bird to trim her plume;
Then, for rest it gives her wings
Thanking Heaven, her carol sings.
Nectar there the bee distils
Which her waxen barrel fills;
Still, replenished in its bower,
Leaves unharmed her fountain-flower!
Though the spring be hid from sight,
Bright the works come forth to light!
Sweet to man, and bird, and bee,
Is the peerless Orange-tree.
Sits the bird to trim her plume;
Then, for rest it gives her wings
Thanking Heaven, her carol sings.
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Which her waxen barrel fills;
Still, replenished in its bower,
Leaves unharmed her fountain-flower!
Though the spring be hid from sight,
Bright the works come forth to light!
Sweet to man, and bird, and bee,
Is the peerless Orange-tree.
Now, by one fair tree alone
Is such living virtue shown,
What must be the owner's love
Toward his blooming Orange-grove!
Through it with a jealous care,
Rooting out the wildling there,
Walks he, raptured at the sight,
And with breathings of delight.
Thus doth her kind Master search,
With the fire of love, his Church,
On his holy ground to see
No untrue or barren tree.
Is such living virtue shown,
What must be the owner's love
Toward his blooming Orange-grove!
Through it with a jealous care,
Rooting out the wildling there,
Walks he, raptured at the sight,
And with breathings of delight.
Thus doth her kind Master search,
With the fire of love, his Church,
On his holy ground to see
No untrue or barren tree.
Man, if thou wouldst win the crown
Which, to give, thy Lord came down,
Of those holy sisters three,
Faith, and Hope, and Charity,
Peaceful in their works sublime
'Mid the scenes of earth and time,—
Still with heavenly ardor fired,—
Never changing, never tired,—
See the grace and love divine
Through this Arbor-Symbol shine!—
Full of life unfading, be
Thou to Christ a fruitful tree!
Which, to give, thy Lord came down,
Of those holy sisters three,
Faith, and Hope, and Charity,
Peaceful in their works sublime
'Mid the scenes of earth and time,—
Still with heavenly ardor fired,—
Never changing, never tired,—
See the grace and love divine
Through this Arbor-Symbol shine!—
Full of life unfading, be
Thou to Christ a fruitful tree!
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