 | Carmina crucis |  |
75
THE MARRIAGE SUPPER OF THE LAMB.
“The Master sayeth, Where is the guest-chamber, that I
may eat the Passover with my disciples?”
Now Wisdom lifts on high
Her voice,—abroad a summons clear she sends
“Come hither, friends, and eat abundantly,
Yea, drink, beloved friends!”
Her voice,—abroad a summons clear she sends
“Come hither, friends, and eat abundantly,
Yea, drink, beloved friends!”
My festal board is fair,
My banquet-chamber ready, on its chief
Long waiting, little need the heart prepare
To keep the feast of grief;
My banquet-chamber ready, on its chief
Long waiting, little need the heart prepare
To keep the feast of grief;
My wine is mingled strong
With myrrh! full mingled is it, spiced, and sweet;
This Passover with bitter herbs how long
Have I desired to eat.
With myrrh! full mingled is it, spiced, and sweet;
This Passover with bitter herbs how long
Have I desired to eat.
76
Come, eat my bread,—nor shrink
My soul's deep, secret baptism to share;
Be strong, beloved friends, the cup to drink,
The Master's hand doth bear.
My soul's deep, secret baptism to share;
Be strong, beloved friends, the cup to drink,
The Master's hand doth bear.
Be patient! from the north
The wind blows keen, the garden little yields
Of pleasant fruits, yet hath our Lord gone forth
To walk among the fields.
The wind blows keen, the garden little yields
Of pleasant fruits, yet hath our Lord gone forth
To walk among the fields.
His steps have left the flowers,
He feeds no more among the lilies sweet,
A husbandman he toils through long cold hours,
With wounded hands and feet.
He feeds no more among the lilies sweet,
A husbandman he toils through long cold hours,
With wounded hands and feet.
Come, reap with Him, for white
These fields and ready, thrust the sickle in;
The harvest stands but thicker for its blight
Of death, woe, want, and sin.
These fields and ready, thrust the sickle in;
The harvest stands but thicker for its blight
Of death, woe, want, and sin.
Come, glean the blasted ear
With Him, nor be the wither'd grass forgot
That waves upon the house-tops thin and sere,
By mower gather'd not.
With Him, nor be the wither'd grass forgot
That waves upon the house-tops thin and sere,
By mower gather'd not.
77
To many a marish place,
Choked with the living wreck that on earth's fair,
Cold bosom drifts awhile and leaves no trace,
I bid your steps repair.
Choked with the living wreck that on earth's fair,
Cold bosom drifts awhile and leaves no trace,
I bid your steps repair.
Unto the darken'd mine
I call you now, unto the burning plain,
To cells where fetter'd spirits moan and pine,
Where madness shakes its chain.
I call you now, unto the burning plain,
To cells where fetter'd spirits moan and pine,
Where madness shakes its chain.
I bid you to the drear,
Dark house, unloved of all, where want and age,
Sit day by day,—and turn without a tear
Life's saddest, weariest page.
Dark house, unloved of all, where want and age,
Sit day by day,—and turn without a tear
Life's saddest, weariest page.
In homes unblest where care,
Grown fierce and reckless, turns at last and rends
The hearts she broods on; I would meet you there,
Oh, friends, beloved friends!
Grown fierce and reckless, turns at last and rends
The hearts she broods on; I would meet you there,
Oh, friends, beloved friends!
I tryst with you! I bid
Two long predestined lovers held apart,
By seas, storms, graves,—by flaming swords,—unchid,
Now seek each other's heart.
Two long predestined lovers held apart,
By seas, storms, graves,—by flaming swords,—unchid,
Now seek each other's heart.
78
Grief waits for love,—she turns
To that kind voice, nor will the strangers hear;
Upon her worn and wasted cheek she yearns
To feel love's burning tear.
To that kind voice, nor will the strangers hear;
Upon her worn and wasted cheek she yearns
To feel love's burning tear.
Love seeks out grief,—he knows
No lips save his in fondest ministering,
From out her rankling wound, ere yet it close,
Can draw the deadly sting.
No lips save his in fondest ministering,
From out her rankling wound, ere yet it close,
Can draw the deadly sting.
He fain unto his breast
Would draw her aching brow; uncomforted
He knoweth she hath dwelt in long unrest,—
She may not die unwed.
Would draw her aching brow; uncomforted
He knoweth she hath dwelt in long unrest,—
She may not die unwed.
Hear, Earth and Heaven, their vow!
Whom God hath join'd in one let none divide;
Rejoice, O Heaven! be joyful, Earth, for now
The bridegroom meets the bride!
Whom God hath join'd in one let none divide;
Rejoice, O Heaven! be joyful, Earth, for now
The bridegroom meets the bride!
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