A Mirror of Faith Lays and Legends of the Church in England. By the Rev. J. M. Neale |
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| XXX. | XXX.
Death of the Princess Elizabeth.
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 | A Mirror of Faith |  |
XXX. Death of the Princess Elizabeth.
When evil days seem coming o'er us,
And evil men wax worse and worse;
Their patterns who have gone before us,
Our fears shall calm, our hopes shall nurse:
In Holy Church is blessed union
'Twixt us and those whose work is done;
They that have slept in Her Communion,
And we that live therein, are one.
And evil men wax worse and worse;
Their patterns who have gone before us,
Our fears shall calm, our hopes shall nurse:
In Holy Church is blessed union
'Twixt us and those whose work is done;
They that have slept in Her Communion,
And we that live therein, are one.
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Yet think we not that they forget us,
Nor aid us in our hour of ill:
Their lives are as ensamples set us,
Their spirits hover o'er us still;
Nor Saints alone and Martyrs preach us,
Sweet love of Faith and Hope in God:
The mouths of babes and sucklings teach us
To tread the steps that they have trod.
Nor aid us in our hour of ill:
Their lives are as ensamples set us,
Their spirits hover o'er us still;
Nor Saints alone and Martyrs preach us,
Sweet love of Faith and Hope in God:
The mouths of babes and sucklings teach us
To tread the steps that they have trod.
A Princess one,—and yet a stranger:
A harmless child, and yet a thrall:
In hour of sickness and of danger,
And not a friend to hear her call:
Forsaken, yet not broken-hearted:
True child of Holy Church was she;
Her father from her side was parted,
Her Heavenly Father could not be!
A harmless child, and yet a thrall:
In hour of sickness and of danger,
And not a friend to hear her call:
Forsaken, yet not broken-hearted:
True child of Holy Church was she;
Her father from her side was parted,
Her Heavenly Father could not be!
They saw her face begin to alter,
They knew her soul would pass away:
And as her voice began to falter,
They ask'd her if she would not pray?
“I cannot say my prayer, ‘Our Father,’
Because I scarce know how to speak;
And yet I think that He will gather
Into His Fold a lamb so weak.
They knew her soul would pass away:
And as her voice began to falter,
They ask'd her if she would not pray?
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Because I scarce know how to speak;
And yet I think that He will gather
Into His Fold a lamb so weak.
“He will not let the sickness frighten
His child, though feeble be her breath;
So I will only ask him, ‘Lighten
Mine eyes, lest I should sleep in death.’”
Such varying strength of consolation
The Church receiveth from Her Head;
To triumph in Her martyr's Passion,
To calm Her infant's dying bed!
His child, though feeble be her breath;
So I will only ask him, ‘Lighten
Mine eyes, lest I should sleep in death.’”
Such varying strength of consolation
The Church receiveth from Her Head;
To triumph in Her martyr's Passion,
To calm Her infant's dying bed!
| A Mirror of Faith | |