The Complete Works of Adelaide A. Procter With an Introduction by Charles Dickens |
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THE ANNUNCIATION. |
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 | The Complete Works of Adelaide A. Procter |  |
THE ANNUNCIATION.
How pure, and frail, and white,
The snowdrops shine!
Gather a garland bright
For Mary's shrine.
The snowdrops shine!
Gather a garland bright
For Mary's shrine.
For, born of winter snows,
These fragile flowers
Are gifts to our fair Queen
From Spring's first hours.
These fragile flowers
Are gifts to our fair Queen
From Spring's first hours.
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For on this blessèd day
She knelt at prayer;
When, lo! before her shone
An Angel fair.
She knelt at prayer;
When, lo! before her shone
An Angel fair.
“Hail, Mary!” thus he cried,
With reverent fear:
She, with sweet wondering eyes,
Marvelled to hear.
With reverent fear:
She, with sweet wondering eyes,
Marvelled to hear.
Be still, ye clouds of Heaven!
Be silent, Earth!
And hear an Angel tell
Of Jesus' birth.
Be silent, Earth!
And hear an Angel tell
Of Jesus' birth.
While she, whom Gabriel hails
As full of grace,
Listens with humble faith
In her sweet face.
As full of grace,
Listens with humble faith
In her sweet face.
Be still—Pride, War, and Pomp,
Vain Hopes, vain Fears,
For now an Angel speaks,
And Mary hears.
Vain Hopes, vain Fears,
For now an Angel speaks,
And Mary hears.
“Hail, Mary!” lo, it rings
Through ages on;
“Hail, Mary!” it shall sound,
Till Time is done.
Through ages on;
“Hail, Mary!” it shall sound,
Till Time is done.
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“Hail, Mary!” infant lips
Lisp it to-day;
“Hail, Mary!” with faint smile
The dying say;
Lisp it to-day;
“Hail, Mary!” with faint smile
The dying say;
“Hail, Mary!” many a heart
Broken with grief,
In that angelic prayer
Has found relief.
Broken with grief,
In that angelic prayer
Has found relief.
And many a half lost soul
When turned at bay,
With those triumphant words
Has won the day.
When turned at bay,
With those triumphant words
Has won the day.
“Hail, Mary, Queen of Heaven!”
Let us repeat,
And place our snowdrop wreath
Here at her feet.
Let us repeat,
And place our snowdrop wreath
Here at her feet.
| The Complete Works of Adelaide A. Procter | |