The Poetry of Real Life A New Edition, Much Enlarged and Improved. By Henry Ellison |
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ST. ANTONY'S DAY. |
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 | The Poetry of Real Life |  |
ST. ANTONY'S DAY.
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St. Antony is the patron of animals in Italy, and, on the day sacred to him, horses &c. &c. are sprinkled with holy water and blessed by the priest.
'Tis worthy of Religion to embrace
The cause of mercy, though the object may
Be but a worm! would that this sainted day,
Time immemorial for act of grace
And goodness set apart, had found a place
In our own calendar; we too might pray
St. Antony, methinks, yet go astray
But little, nor our worship much misplace!
God would forgive us the idolatry,
Thus made subservient to humanity;
Yea! the great Father would not take amiss,
That e'en a dumb ass should be sprinkled by
The priest, like Man himself, or blessed in His
High name, who has himself blessed all that is!
The cause of mercy, though the object may
Be but a worm! would that this sainted day,
Time immemorial for act of grace
And goodness set apart, had found a place
In our own calendar; we too might pray
St. Antony, methinks, yet go astray
But little, nor our worship much misplace!
God would forgive us the idolatry,
Thus made subservient to humanity;
Yea! the great Father would not take amiss,
That e'en a dumb ass should be sprinkled by
The priest, like Man himself, or blessed in His
High name, who has himself blessed all that is!
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Nor would there any desecration be
Of holy things: since e'en the holiest
Are holier made, when used thus for the best
Of purposes—for Love itself! which He
Sets so above all else, that He would see,
With joy, men so far his religion wrest,
As to an image vain to bend the knee,
If for Love's sake and Mercy's interest;
For then the homage still were His alone!
Methinks too, that religion might supply
Something to imitate, which thus makes known
The claims of brutes, and, eager to atone
By inward truth for outward heresy,
Brings them once more within man's sympathy!
Of holy things: since e'en the holiest
Are holier made, when used thus for the best
Of purposes—for Love itself! which He
Sets so above all else, that He would see,
With joy, men so far his religion wrest,
As to an image vain to bend the knee,
If for Love's sake and Mercy's interest;
For then the homage still were His alone!
Methinks too, that religion might supply
Something to imitate, which thus makes known
The claims of brutes, and, eager to atone
By inward truth for outward heresy,
Brings them once more within man's sympathy!
| The Poetry of Real Life | |