 | Poems, original and translated |  |
THE FAITHFUL MONK.
Golden gleams of noonday fell
On the pavement of the cell,
And the monk still lingered there
In the ecstasy of prayer;
Fuller floods of glory streamed
Through the window, and it seemed
Like an answering glow of love
From the countenance above.
On the pavement of the cell,
And the monk still lingered there
In the ecstasy of prayer;
Fuller floods of glory streamed
Through the window, and it seemed
Like an answering glow of love
From the countenance above.
On the silence of the cell
Break the faint tones of a bell.
'T is the hour when at the gate
Crowds of poor and hungry wait,
Wan and wistful, to be fed
With the friar of mercy's bread.
Break the faint tones of a bell.
'T is the hour when at the gate
Crowds of poor and hungry wait,
Wan and wistful, to be fed
With the friar of mercy's bread.
Hark! that chime of heaven's far bells!
On the monk's rapt ear it swells.
No! fond, flattering dream, away!
Mercy calls; no longer stay!
Whom thou yearnest here to find
In the musings of thy mind,—
God and Jesus, lo! they wait
Knocking at thy convent gate.
On the monk's rapt ear it swells.
No! fond, flattering dream, away!
Mercy calls; no longer stay!
137
In the musings of thy mind,—
God and Jesus, lo! they wait
Knocking at thy convent gate.
From his knees the monk arose.
With full heart and hand he goes;
At his gate the poor relieves,
Gives a blessing, and receives;
To his cell returned, and there
Found the angel of his prayer,
Who, with radiant features, said,
“Hadst thou stayed, I must have fled.”
With full heart and hand he goes;
At his gate the poor relieves,
Gives a blessing, and receives;
To his cell returned, and there
Found the angel of his prayer,
Who, with radiant features, said,
“Hadst thou stayed, I must have fled.”
| Poems, original and translated | |