Sonnets Round the Coast by H. D. Rawnsley |
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ST. MADRON'S WELL. |
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 | Sonnets Round the Coast |  |
37
XVII. ST. MADRON'S WELL.
(ST. PATERNE, BP. OF AVRANCHES, 6th CENT.)
We vex the hills with quarries, and we fellThe woods, and as we toil are magnified,
And building say,—Our God shall here abide,
This is His house wherein He loves to dwell;—
But we forget that as we rear the shell
Souls are not reared: we shut the heaven outside;
Far better had we left the portals wide,
As old St. Paterne left them at his well.
Led by the wayside cross, from what far lands
To yonder spring for health the pilgrims went;
And goodly men and maidens plighted troth,—
Those drank the waters and these dipped their hands,
While birds and flowers, yea all things innocent,
Attested health, were sponsors for the oath.
| Sonnets Round the Coast | |