May Carols Part 10

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Which, halfway wandering from the sky, Amid the rose of morn delays And (large and less alternately) Bends down a l.u.s.trous, tearful gaze.

Mother and home of spirits blest!

Bright gate of Heaven and golden bower!

Thy best of blessings, love and rest, Depart not till on earth thou shower!

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XV.

If sense of Man's unworthiness With Nature's blameless looks at strife, Should wake with wakening May, and press New-born contentment out of life:

If thoughts of sable breed and blind Should stamp upon the springing flower, Or blacker memories haunt the mind As ravens haunt the ruined tower:--

O then how sweet in heart to breathe Those pure Judean gales once more; From Bethlehem's crib to Nazareth In heart to tread that Syrian sh.o.r.e!

To watch that star-like Infant bring To one of soul as clear and white May-lilies, fresh from Siloa's spring, Or Pa.s.sion-flower with May-dews bright!

To follow, earlier yet, the feet Of her the "hilly land" who trod With true love's haste, intent to greet That aged saint beloved of G.o.d.

Before her, like a stream let loose, The long vale's flowerage, winding, ran: Nature resumed her Eden use; And Earth was reconciled with Man.

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_Causa Nostra Laet.i.tiae._

XVI.

Whate'er is floral on the earth To thee, O Flower, of right belongs; Whate'er is musical in mirth, Whate'er is jubilant in songs.

Childhood and springtide never cease For him thy freshness keeps from stain: Dew-drenched for him, like Gideon's fleece, The dusty paths of life remain.

Spirit of Brightness and of Bliss!

Thou threaten'st none! A sinless lure, Thy fragrance and thy gladsomeness Draw on to Christ; to Christ secure.

Hope, Hope is Strength! That joy of thine To us is Glory's earliest ray!

Through Faith's dim air, O star benign, Look down, and light our onward way!

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_Stella Maris._

XVII.

I left at morn that blissful sh.o.r.e O'er which the fruit-bloom fluttered free; And sailed the wildering waters o'er, Till sunset streaked with blood the sea.

My sleep the hoa.r.s.e sea-thunders broke, And sudden chill. Their feet foam-hid, Huge cliffs leaned out, through vapour-smoke, Like tower, and tomb, and pyramid.

In the black shadow, ghostly white The breaker raced o'er foaming shoals: From caverns of eternal night Came wailings, as of suffering souls.

Sudden, through clearing mists, the star Of ocean o'er the billow rose: Down dropped the elemental war; Tormented chaos found repose.

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Star of the ocean! dear art thou, Ah! not to earth and heaven alone: The suffering Church, when shines thy brow Upon her penance, stays her moan.

The Holy Souls draw in their breath; The sea of anguish rests in peace; And, from beyond the gates of death, Up swell the anthems of release.

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XVIII.

Blossom for ever, blossoming Rod!

Thou did'st not blossom once to die: That Life which, issuing forth from G.o.d, Thy life enkindled, runs not dry.

Without a root in sin-stained earth, 'Twas thine to bud Salvation's flower.

No single soul the Church brings forth But blooms from thee and is thy dower.

Rejoice, O Eve! thy promise waned; Transgression nipt thy flower with frost But, lo! a mother man hath gained Holier than she in Eden lost.

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_Unica._

XIX.

While all the breathless woods aloof Lie hush'd in noontide's deep repose, That dove, sun-warmed on yonder roof, With what a grave content she coos!

One note for her! Deep streams run smooth The ecstatic song of transience tells.

O what a depth of loving truth In thy divine contentment dwells!

All day, with down-dropt lids, I sat, In trance; the present scene forgone.

When Hesper rose, on Ararat, Methought, not English hills, he shone.

Back to the ark, the waters o'er, The primal dove pursued her flight: A branch of that blest tree she bore Which feeds the Church with holy light.

I heard her rustling through the air With sliding plume--no sound beside, Save the sea-sobbings everywhere, And sighs of that subsiding tide.