XC.

CLEMENT.

Methought I saw a face divinely fair,

With nought of earthly passion; the mild beam Of whose bright eye did in mute converse seem With other countenances, and they were

Gazing on her made beautiful.

Their theme

Was One that had gone up the heavenly stair,
And left a fragrance on this lower air,

The contemplation of His Love supreme.
And that high Form held forth to me a hand;
It was celestial Wisdom, whose calm brow
Did of those early Sciences inquire,

If they had of His glory ought retained ;—
Yes! I would be admitted to your choir,
That I may nothing love on earth below.

ૐ.

XCI.

ORIGEN.

Into God's word as in a palace fair

Thou leadest on and on, while still beyond
Each chamber, touch'd by holy wisdom's wand,
Another opes, more beautiful and rare,
And thou in each art kneeling down in prayer,
From link to link of that mysterious bond
Seeking for Christ; but oh, I fear thy fond
And beautiful torch that with so bright a glare
Lighteth up all things, lest thy heaven-lit brand
And thy serene Philosophy divine

Should take the colourings of earthly thought,
And I, by their sweet images o'er-wrought,
Led by weak Fancy should let go Truth's hand
And miss the way into the inner shrine.

XCII.

ATHANASIUS.

WHEN shall our northern Church her champion see, Raised by divine decree,

To shield the Ancient Truth at his own harm?

Like him who stayed the arm

Of tyrannous power, and learning's sophist-tone,
Keen-visioned Seer, alone.

The many crouched before an idol-priest,
Lord of the world's rank feast.
In the dark night, mid the saints' trial sore,
He stood, then bowed before

The Holy Mysteries,-he their meetest sign,
Weak vessel, yet divine.*

Cyprian is ours, since the high-souled primate laid

Under the traitorous blade

His silvered head.

And Chrysostom we claim

In that clear eloquent flame

And deep-taught zeal in the same woe, which shone Bright round a Martyr's throne.

*Vid. the account of Syrianus breaking into his Church, Theodoret Hist. ii. 13.

And Ambrose reared his crosier as of old,
Less honoured, but as bold,

When in dark times our champion crossed a king :But good in every thing

Comes as ill's cure. Dim Future! shall we NEED

A prophet for Truth's Creed?

PEACE-LOVING man, of humble heart and true!
What dost thou here?

Fierce is the city's crowd; the lordly few
Are dull of ear!

Sore pain it was to thee, till thou didst quit

Thy patriarch-throne at length, as though for power

unfit.

So works the All-wise! our services dividing
Not as we ask ;

For the world's profit, by our gifts deciding
Our duty-task.

See in king's courts loth Jeremiah plead;

And slow-tongued Moses rule by eloquence of deed!

Yes! thou, bright Angel of the East, didst rear
The Cross divine,

Borne high upon thy clear-voiced accents, where
Men mocked the Sign;

Till that cold city heard thy battle-cry,

And hearts were stirred, and deemed a Pentecost was nigh.

Thou couldst a people raise, but couldst not rule :— So, gentle one

Heaven broke at last the consecrated tool

Whose work was done;

According thee the lot thou lovedst best,

To muse upon times past,-to serve, yet be at rest.

d.