JEWS were wrought to cruel madness; Christians fled in fear and sadness; Mary stood the cross beside: At its foot her foot she planted, Poets oft have sung her story, Painters decked her brow with glory, Priests her name have deified: But no worship, song, or glory, Mary stood the cross beside. And when, under fierce oppression, But if love be there, true-hearted, Mary stands the cross beside. FAIR lilies of Jerusalem, Ye wear the same array As when imperial Judah's stem By sacred Jordan's desert tide As when your simple charms outvied Ye flourished when the captive band, In hostile lands to weep and dream Ye have survived Judea's throne, But, lilies of Jerusalem, Through every change ye shine; Your golden urns unfading gem The fields of Palestine! SPRING, summer, autumn, winter, Come duly as of old; Winds blow, suns set, and morning saith, "Ye hills, put on your gold." The song of Homer liveth, Thy splendid name, Pythagoras, But Babylon and Memphis Are letters traced in dust: Read them, earth's tyrants! ponder well The might in which ye trust! They rose, while all the depths of guilt Truth, mercy, knowledge, justice, CXL. SWEET day! So cool, so calm, so bright, The dew shall weep thy fall to-night, Sweet rose! in air whose odours wave, And colour charms the eye; Thy root is ever in its grave, And thou must die! Sweet spring! of days and roses made, Whose charms for beauty vie; Thy days depart, thy roses fade, For thou must die! Only a sweet and holy soul While flowers decay, and seasons roll, CXLI. THE wintry winds have ceased to blow, And trembling leaves appear; And fairest flowers succeed the snow, And hail the infant year. So when the world and all its woes Are vanished far away, Fair scenes and wonderful repose 'Tis but a sleep-and power divine O'er dreams of sorrow fled. Yes! wintry winds have ceased to blow, And trembling leaves appear; And Nature has her types to shew Throughout the varying year. |