Wood-notes and Church-bells By the Rev. Richard Wilton |
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ON THE SICKNESS AND HAPPY
RECOVERY OF HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS
THE PRINCE OF WALES. |
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ON THE SICKNESS AND HAPPY RECOVERY OF HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE PRINCE OF WALES.
The nation's hope, he lay
Bound with two chains, fever and labouring breath,
In prison of sick room, from day to day
Waiting the call of Death.
Bound with two chains, fever and labouring breath,
In prison of sick room, from day to day
Waiting the call of Death.
But, for him, everywhere,
Unceasing supplications rose to God:
The Church's voice was lifted up in prayer,
Like Moses' mighty rod.
Unceasing supplications rose to God:
The Church's voice was lifted up in prayer,
Like Moses' mighty rod.
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And not the Church alone,
But Hebrew synagogue and heathen fane
Mingle their intercessions at God's throne
In one harmonious strain.
But Hebrew synagogue and heathen fane
Mingle their intercessions at God's throne
In one harmonious strain.
With our belovèd Queen,
The whole world watches round the Prince's bed;
Not the less there because they stand unseen,
Or move with noiseless tread.
The whole world watches round the Prince's bed;
Not the less there because they stand unseen,
Or move with noiseless tread.
For Science never ceased
The trembling tidings of the hour to bring;
Flashing the longed-for words from west to east,
As on the lightning's wing.
The trembling tidings of the hour to bring;
Flashing the longed-for words from west to east,
As on the lightning's wing.
Nay, for a purpose higher
Science must lend her unaccustomed aid,
And pour a people's prayers along the wire;
Religion's meek handmaid.
Science must lend her unaccustomed aid,
And pour a people's prayers along the wire;
Religion's meek handmaid.
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But still that precious life
Beneath the impending sword of Death was kept;
While Church and people, mother, sister, wife,
Waited and prayed and wept.
Beneath the impending sword of Death was kept;
While Church and people, mother, sister, wife,
Waited and prayed and wept.
And now the fatal hour,
Dark with a father's death, was drawing nigh;
The shadows of the day began to lower—
The day that he must die!
Dark with a father's death, was drawing nigh;
The shadows of the day began to lower—
The day that he must die!
When lo! that very night,
As Hope herself had stretched her wings and fled,
An angel glided down, arrayed in light,
And stood beside his bed;
As Hope herself had stretched her wings and fled,
An angel glided down, arrayed in light,
And stood beside his bed;
And stooping, spoke one word.
The chains were loosed; the sickness was allayed;
A people's supplications had been heard,
The hand of Death was stayed.
The chains were loosed; the sickness was allayed;
A people's supplications had been heard,
The hand of Death was stayed.
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Prayer brought that angel down,—
Not science, riches, power, but prayer alone,—
To save the sinking heir of England's crown,
And strengthen England's throne.
Not science, riches, power, but prayer alone,—
To save the sinking heir of England's crown,
And strengthen England's throne.
Ah! why, ten years ago,
Did that kind angel his swift flight delay?
Were men incredulous of such a blow,
Nor stirred themselves to pray?
Did that kind angel his swift flight delay?
Were men incredulous of such a blow,
Nor stirred themselves to pray?
But now let prayer to praise,
Like weeping clouds to sunny skies, give place;
Let a glad nation grateful anthems raise
For God's abounding grace.
Like weeping clouds to sunny skies, give place;
Let a glad nation grateful anthems raise
For God's abounding grace.
And may that rescued life,
Like his great father's, to high thoughts allied,
Shine ever with all princely virtues rife,
A loyal people's pride!
Like his great father's, to high thoughts allied,
Shine ever with all princely virtues rife,
A loyal people's pride!
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