Lyrics of the heart With other poems. By Alaric A. Watts. With forty-one engravings on steel |
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THE FISHERMAN'S HYMN TO THE VIRGIN. |
 | Lyrics of the heart |  |
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THE FISHERMAN'S HYMN TO THE VIRGIN.
When the lightnings flash on high,
And deep thunders rend the sky;
When the frantic hurricane
Makes all human efforts vain;
When the mighty ship is driven,
Tempest tossed, from earth to heaven,
And, reeling then beneath the blow,
Dives deep to ocean-caves below;—
Thou the Fisher's bark can'st guide
Safely o'er the raging tide!
Star of the Sea, to Thine and Thee,
All glory now and ever be!
And deep thunders rend the sky;
When the frantic hurricane
Makes all human efforts vain;
When the mighty ship is driven,
Tempest tossed, from earth to heaven,
And, reeling then beneath the blow,
Dives deep to ocean-caves below;—
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Safely o'er the raging tide!
Star of the Sea, to Thine and Thee,
All glory now and ever be!
Ships with all their bravery on
Have in stormless seas gone down;
Some, 'neath War's torpedo shocks,
Others, pierced by hidden rocks,
Have their timbers opened wide
To the calm but treacherous tide;
One, in Port that rode supine,
Disappeared, and made no sign;
Whilst the Fisher's bark will ride
Safely o'er the fitful tide:
Star of the Sea, to Thine and Thee,
All glory now and ever be!
Have in stormless seas gone down;
Some, 'neath War's torpedo shocks,
Others, pierced by hidden rocks,
Have their timbers opened wide
To the calm but treacherous tide;
One, in Port that rode supine,
Disappeared, and made no sign;
Whilst the Fisher's bark will ride
Safely o'er the fitful tide:
Star of the Sea, to Thine and Thee,
All glory now and ever be!
For His blessed sake, who chose,
As his prime disciples, those
Who upon the mighty deep
Once the Fisher's watch would keep,
But became, with purer ken,
Fishers of their fellow men;—
Bade them be of steadfast cheer,
And nor blast nor billow fear;
Holiest Mother, Virgin fair,
Make my fragile bark thy care:
Star of the Sea, to Thine and Thee,
All glory now and ever be!
As his prime disciples, those
Who upon the mighty deep
Once the Fisher's watch would keep,
But became, with purer ken,
Fishers of their fellow men;—
Bade them be of steadfast cheer,
And nor blast nor billow fear;
Holiest Mother, Virgin fair,
Make my fragile bark thy care:
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All glory now and ever be!
For His blessed sake, whose will
Winds and waves at once could still,
And the labouring bark transport
Straightway to her destined port;
To her trembling crew, who said,
“It is I, be not afraid;”
And when Peter trod the wave,
Stretched his gracious hand to save;
Holiest Mother, Virgin fair,
Make this little bark thy care!
Star of the Sea, to Thine and Thee,
All glory now and ever be!
Winds and waves at once could still,
And the labouring bark transport
Straightway to her destined port;
To her trembling crew, who said,
“It is I, be not afraid;”
And when Peter trod the wave,
Stretched his gracious hand to save;
Holiest Mother, Virgin fair,
Make this little bark thy care!
Star of the Sea, to Thine and Thee,
All glory now and ever be!
For His sake who fishers three
Up the Mountain led, that He
Might unto their favoured eyes
Prove His mission from the skies;
And in raiment, dazzling white,
Stood before their wondering sight,
Bidding them reveal to men
What no eye had marked till then;
Holiest Mother, Virgin fair,
Make the Fisher's bark thy care!
Star of the Sea, to Thine and Thee,
All glory now and ever be!
Up the Mountain led, that He
Might unto their favoured eyes
Prove His mission from the skies;
And in raiment, dazzling white,
Stood before their wondering sight,
Bidding them reveal to men
What no eye had marked till then;
Holiest Mother, Virgin fair,
Make the Fisher's bark thy care!
Star of the Sea, to Thine and Thee,
All glory now and ever be!
| Lyrics of the heart | |