 | The Poetical Works of Caroline Bowles Southey |  |
ARCHBISHOP GERSON.
A ROMISH LEGEND.
A voice from the sinful city
Goes up to God on high—
“Why tarries the righteous doom,
When the time of o'erflowing is come
Of the cup of iniquity?”
Goes up to God on high—
“Why tarries the righteous doom,
When the time of o'erflowing is come
Of the cup of iniquity?”
And the good Archbishop Gerson,
As he kneels in penance drear,
On the cold hard flags so white,
At the hour of dead midnight,
That accusing voice doth hear.
As he kneels in penance drear,
On the cold hard flags so white,
At the hour of dead midnight,
That accusing voice doth hear.
302
And, groaning, he lifteth up
His eyes to the holy rood;
When lo! from the piercèd side,
And the gaping nail-wounds wide,
Wells out as 'twere fresh-drawn blood.
His eyes to the holy rood;
When lo! from the piercèd side,
And the gaping nail-wounds wide,
Wells out as 'twere fresh-drawn blood.
The old man beats his breast,
At that awful sight, full sore;
And he bends down his aged brow—
All beaded with sweat-drops now—
Till it toucheth the marble floor.
At that awful sight, full sore;
And he bends down his aged brow—
All beaded with sweat-drops now—
Till it toucheth the marble floor.
And he wrestles in earnest prayer;
But the accusing voice still cries,
“How long, O Lord! how long
Wilt thou bear with thy people's wrong—
With this people's iniquities?”
But the accusing voice still cries,
“How long, O Lord! how long
Wilt thou bear with thy people's wrong—
With this people's iniquities?”
“Haste hither, my brethren dear!
And humble yourselves with me,
My holy brethren all!”
Is the Archbishop's piercing call,
In the strength of his agony.
And humble yourselves with me,
My holy brethren all!”
Is the Archbishop's piercing call,
In the strength of his agony.
They come at the call with speed,
They kneel, and weep, and pray;
But the voice of prayer is drowned
In that dread accusing sound,
“O Lord! make no delay!”
They kneel, and weep, and pray;
But the voice of prayer is drowned
In that dread accusing sound,
“O Lord! make no delay!”
“We are grievous offenders all—
All leprous and defiled:
What lips shall be found this day
With prevailing prayer to pray,
Save the lips of a little child?”
All leprous and defiled:
What lips shall be found this day
With prevailing prayer to pray,
Save the lips of a little child?”
303
“Of such little ones hither bring,”
Cries aloud the Archbishop then.
And they gather, at his command,
Round the altar, a sinless band,
Though the children of sinful men.
Cries aloud the Archbishop then.
And they gather, at his command,
Round the altar, a sinless band,
Though the children of sinful men.
And the pure young voices rise
On the incense of taintless breath:
And there reigneth o'er all the while,
Throughout that majestic pile,
A stillness as deep as death,
On the incense of taintless breath:
And there reigneth o'er all the while,
Throughout that majestic pile,
A stillness as deep as death,
For crozier and cowl alike
In the dust lie prostrate there;
Of those living men laid low
In the depth of abasement now,
Stirreth not hand or hair.
In the dust lie prostrate there;
Of those living men laid low
In the depth of abasement now,
Stirreth not hand or hair.
But the pleading voice goes up
From that infant choir the while;
And behold, o'er the face divine
Playeth, like lightning-shine,
The gleam of a gracious smile.
From that infant choir the while;
And behold, o'er the face divine
Playeth, like lightning-shine,
The gleam of a gracious smile.
Then upriseth, like one entranced,
The Archbishop on his feet:—
“Give thanks for a day of grace!”
He crieth, with radiant face,—
“Give thanks, as is most meet.
The Archbishop on his feet:—
“Give thanks for a day of grace!”
He crieth, with radiant face,—
“Give thanks, as is most meet.
“The Innocents' prayer ascendeth
Above the Accuser's cry;
Their Angels are heard in heaven,
And a day of grace is given.
Glory to God most High!”
Above the Accuser's cry;
Their Angels are heard in heaven,
And a day of grace is given.
Glory to God most High!”
| The Poetical Works of Caroline Bowles Southey | |