Matin Bells and Scarlet and Gold By "F. Harald Williams"[i.e. F. W. O. Ward]. First Edition |
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VIA CRUCIS, VIA LUCIS. |
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 | Matin Bells and Scarlet and Gold |  |
176
VIA CRUCIS, VIA LUCIS.
Oft I heard companions say,
Pretty is the primrose way,
For it leads by laughing waters
Through the pastures glad and green,
Where the dark eyed siren daughters
In their witcheries are seen;
And I trod the flowery meadows
In the dappled shine and shadows,
But they quickly all turned grey;
Via crucis
Via lucis,
And there is no other way.
Pretty is the primrose way,
For it leads by laughing waters
Through the pastures glad and green,
Where the dark eyed siren daughters
In their witcheries are seen;
And I trod the flowery meadows
In the dappled shine and shadows,
But they quickly all turned grey;
Via crucis
Via lucis,
And there is no other way.
Oft I saw how pleasures goad
Myriads on the downward road,
Beautiful and broad and pleasant
As if it would ever last,
With the promise of the present
And the sweetness of the past;
I essayed to live the story
Full of fantasies and glory,
But it changed to penal wrath;
Via crucis
Via lucis,
And there is no other path.
Myriads on the downward road,
Beautiful and broad and pleasant
As if it would ever last,
With the promise of the present
And the sweetness of the past;
I essayed to live the story
Full of fantasies and glory,
But it changed to penal wrath;
Via crucis
Via lucis,
And there is no other path.
Oft I meet the festive throng,
Luring me with dance and song,
When the heat of noontide scorches
And the burden galls my back,
To the cool and sheltered porches,
On the many-fountained track;
And at times I burst the border,
Tasting fruits of fair disorder,
But they pass to bitter lack;
Via crucis
Via lucis,
And there is no other track.
Luring me with dance and song,
When the heat of noontide scorches
And the burden galls my back,
To the cool and sheltered porches,
On the many-fountained track;
And at times I burst the border,
Tasting fruits of fair disorder,
But they pass to bitter lack;
Via crucis
Via lucis,
And there is no other track.
177
Oft I feel a secret sin
Opening honeyed depths within;
Urging me to soft recesses
On that old and easy course,
Where the warm and fond caresses
Leave but ashes of remorse;
I have drunk the tempting chalice,
But to find the dregs of malice
And the sorrow born of play;
Via crucis
Via lucis,
And there is no other way.
Opening honeyed depths within;
Urging me to soft recesses
On that old and easy course,
Where the warm and fond caresses
Leave but ashes of remorse;
I have drunk the tempting chalice,
But to find the dregs of malice
And the sorrow born of play;
Via crucis
Via lucis,
And there is no other way.
| Matin Bells and Scarlet and Gold | |