The Poetical Works of Caroline Bowles Southey :: :: University of Virginia Library

Come listen to a monkish tale of old,
Right Catholic, but puerile some may deem,
Who all unworthy their high notice hold
Aught but grave truth, or lofty learnèd theme;
Too wise for simple fancies, smiles, and tears,
Dreams of our earliest, purest, happiest years.

Come, listen to my legend; for of them
Surely thou art not: and to thee I'll tell
How on a time in holiest Santarem
Strange accident miraculous befell
Two little ones, who to the sacred shrine
Came daily to be schooled in things divine.

Twin sisters—orphan innocents were they:
Most pure, I ween, from all but the olden taint,
Which only Jesu's blood can wash away:
And holy, as the life of holiest saint,
Was his, that good Dominican's, who fed
His Master's lambs, with more than daily bread.

The children's custom, while that pious man
Performed the various duties of his state
Within the spacious church, as sacristan,
Was on the altar steps to sit and wait,
Nestling together ('twas a lovely sight!)
Like the young turtle-doves of Hebrew rite.

A small rich chapel was their sanctuary,
While thus abiding;—with adornment fair
Of curious carvèd work, wrought cunningly,
In all quaint patterns and devices rare:
And over them, above the altar, smiled
From Mary-Mother's arms, the Holy Child:

Smiled on His infant guests, as there below,
On the fair altar steps, those young ones spread—
Nor aught irreverent in such act, I trow—
Their simple morning meal of fruit and bread.
Such feast not ill beseemed the sacred dome—
Their Father's house is the dear children's home.

At length it chanced, upon a certain day,
When Frey Bernardo to the chapel came,
Where patiently was ever wont to stay
His infant charge, with vehement acclaim,
Both lisping creatures forth to meet him ran,
And each to tell the same strange tale began.

“Father!” they cried, as, hanging on his gown
On either side, in each perplexed ear
They poured their eager tidings—“He came down—
Menino Jesu has been with us here!—
We asked Him to partake our fruit and bread;
And He came down—and sate with us—and fed.”

“Children! my children! know ye what ye say?”
Bernardo hastily replied. “But hold!—
Peace, Briolanja!—rash art thou alway:
Let Inez speak.” and little Inez told,
In her slow silvery speeeh, distinctly o'er,
The same strange tidings he had heard before.

“Blessed are ye, my children!” with devout
And deep humility the good man cried.
“Ye have been highly favoured. Still to doubt
Were gross impiety and sceptic pride.
Ye have been highly favoured. Children dear!
Now your old master's loving counsel hear.

Return to-morrow with the morning light,
And, as before, spread out your simple fare
On the same table; and again invite
Menino Jesu to descend and share:
And if He come, say, ‘Bid us, blessed Lord!
We and our master, to Thy heavenly board.’

Forget not, children of my soul! to plead
For your old master:—Even for his sake
Who fed ye.faithfully: and He will heed
Your innocent lips; and I shall so partake
With His dear lambs. Beloved! with the sun
Return to-morrow.—Then—His will be done.”

“To-night! to-night! Menino Jesu saith
We shall sup with Him, Father! we and thee,”
Cried out both happy children in a breath,
As the good Father entered anxiously,
About the morrow's noon, that holy shrine,
Now consecrate by special grace divine.

“He bade us come alone; but then we said
We could not, without thee, our master dear.
At that, He did not frown, but shook His head
Denyingly: Then straight with many a tear
We prayed so sore, He could not but relent,
And so He smiled at last, and gave consent.”

100

“Now, God be praised!” the old man said, and fell
In prayer upon the marble floor straightway,
His face to earth: and so, till vesper-bell,
Entrancèd in the spirit's depths he lay;
Then rose like one refreshed with wine, and stood
Composed among the assembling brotherhood.

The mass was said; the evening chant was o'er;
Hushed its long echoes through the lofty dome:
And now Bernardo knew the appointed hour
That he had prayed for, of a truth was come.
Alone he lingered in the solemn pile,
Where darkness gathered fast from aisle to aisle;

Except that through a distant doorway streamed
One slanting sunbeam, gliding whereupon
Two angel spirits—so in sooth it seemed
That loveliest vision—hand in hand came on,
With noiseless motion. “Father! we are here,”
Sweetly saluted the good Father's ear.

A hand he laid on each fair sun-bright head,
Rayed like a seraph's with effulgent light,
And—“Be ye blest, ye blessed ones,” he said,
“Whom Jesu bids to His own board to-night.
Lead on, ye chosen; to the appointed place
Lead your old master.” So, with steadfast face,

He followed where those young ones led the way,
To that small chapel. Like a golden clue
Streamed on before that long bright sunset ray,
Till at the door it stopt. Then passing through,
The master and the pupils, side by side,
Knelt down in prayer before the Crucified.

101

Tall tapers burnt before the holy shrine;
Chalice and paten on the altar stood,
Spread with fair damask. Of the crimson wine
Partaking first alone, the living food
Bernardo next with his dear children shared—
Young lips, but well for heavenly food prepared.

And there we leave them. Not for us to see
The feast made ready, that first act to crown;
Nor to peruse the solemn mystery
Of the divine Menino's coming down
To lead away the elect, expectant three,
With Him that night at His own board to be.

Suffice it that with Him they surely were
That night in Paradise; for those who came
Next to the chapel found them as in prayer,
Still kneeling, stiffened every lifeless frame,
With hands and eyes upraised as when they died,
Toward the image of the Crucified.

That mighty miracle spread far and wide,
And thousands came the feast of death to see;
And all beholders, deeply edified,
Returned to their own homes more thoughtfully,
Musing thereon: with one great truth imprest—
That “to depart and be with Christ is best.”