On earth for evermore, Ladye,
Shall man resume the strain 1;
All nations bow thy shrine before,
And the organ-clang of the ocean's roar
Implore thee more from shore to shore,
Star of the restless main, Marie,
Star of life's lonely main !
THE SECOND EVE.
(From "Redemption.")
BRIGHTER than seraphim, more glorious far
Than the cherubic hosts, who stand the throne
Before; above them all, Mother of God,
Art thou extoll'd. In thee the mystic types
Of the old law their full completion find-
That paradise which the new Adam held,
The ark in whom the world's salvation lay.
Who contains all, was all contain'd by thee,
Storehouse and inexhaustible abyss
Of heavenly gifts, effulgent morning star,
Fair
queen of infinite delights, and rose
Deprived of every thorn, th' unspotted spouse,
Replete with grace, leaning on her beloved;
Sole daughter, not of death, but heavenly life,
Than virgin Eve more innocent, always
Uncorrupt; who never to the serpent
Lent an ear, nor yet with breath of sin
Thy purity enstain'd; exempt from spot.
Earth virginal, unblemish'd, undefiled,
Sweet paradise of innocence, planted
At God's right hand, water'd with crystal streams From Virtue's fount, and fenced from snares malign; The tree of life with fairest fruit endow'd
Of knowledge good, without the evil cursed.
What flowers of praise a garland shall enwreathe
For thee, Mary, branch sprung from Isai's stem,
Thyself the princess of a royal line,
And worthy Mother of the King of kings?
In thee Eden, restored, fresh blooms again,
With sparkling beauties crown'd. The lily's bell
Meekly thy innocence displays, or shrinks
The vale within, where sweet simplicity
Most loves to dwell; for thee, the virgin rose
Holds its perennial feast of joyous love;
Where 'er thy footsteps tend, on fragrant wing
The odour of thy virtues up to heaven
It gently wafts, a richer perfume than
Its golden chives e'er breathed; camellia chaste
Thy chastity portrays, whilst clematis,
With graceful fillets midst ambrosia twined,
Celestial wisdom's nect'rous dews distils;
The crown imperial, showy bulb, enwreathed
With fadeless amaranth, with gems and gold
Emboss'd, weaves thy imperial diadem,
A crown illustrious and as heaven etern,
That royal birth and queenly state becomes.
Each floral beauty decks thy gorgeous train,
Semblant of thee; aurate or argent,
Azure, white, carnation, fragrant or fair,
Orange and hyacinth perfumed, pansy,
With damask, white and red, enamell'd o'er;
All odours sweet, thy sanctity embalm.
TO OUR LADY.
O MOTHER free from every stain,
Sweet star of hope on life's dark sea,
Thou who art never call'd in vain,
We in our sorrow fly to thee.
Thy powerful aid we humbly seek,
Pray-pray for us, O Virgin meek!
O Mary, Mary mild and sweet,
Whose bosom burn'd with so much love,
That, oh! 'twas deem'd a shelter meet
For Jesus, bright and holy dove;
Thy powerful aid we humbly seek,
Pray-pray for us, O Virgin meek.
Thou flower of Eden's fragrant shade,
Thou maid above all others blest,
Thou whom the child that heaven obey'd
With filial love so oft caress'd;
Thy powerful aid we humbly seek,
Pray-pray for us, O Virgin meek.
O thou to whom e'en from the tree
The great Messiah deign'd to bow,
While bleeding, faint, and sad was He,
And agonized His sacred brow;
Thy powerful aid we humbly seek,
Pray-pray for us, O Virgin meek.
And thou who now, in realms of light,
With glittering stars of gold art crown'd,
Who shin'st in dazzling glory bright,
Above all other saints enthroned ;
Thy powerful aid we humbly seek,
Pray pray for us, O Virgin meek.
NATIONS ONCE CATHOLIC.
As children, when, with heavy tread,
Men sad of face, unseen before,
Have borne away their mother dead-
So stand the nations thine no more.
From room to room those children roam,
Heart-stricken by the unwonted black; Their house no longer seems their home : They search; yet know not what they lack.
Years pass; Self-will and Passion strike Their roots more deeply day by day; Old servants weep; and "how unlike" Is all the tender neighbours say.
And yet at moments, like a dream,
A mother's image o'er them flits : Like hers their eyes a moment beam ;
The voice grows soft; the brow unknits.
Such, Mary, are the realms once thine, That know no more thy golden reign. Hold forth from heaven thy Babe divine! O make thine orphans thine again!
THE Christmas light is shining,
And its rain of glory falls,
In a shower of golden splendours,
Upon the stable walls;
Upon those walls that just before
Were dark and cold and bare :
But now the mother and her Child
Are wrapp'd in glory there.
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