Part 10

Quam bene dispositis annus dat currere festis! Post omnes Sanctos omne scelus sequitur.

_Upon the Powder-day._

How fit our well-rank'd Feasts do follow! All-mischiefe comes after All-Hallow.[50] CR.

XXXVII.

_Deus sub utero Virginis._ Luc. i. 31.

Ecce tuus, Natura, pater; pater hic tuus hic est: Ille, uterus matris quem tenet, ille pater. Pellibus exiguis arctatur Filius ingens, Quem tu non totum, crede, nec ipsa capis. Quanta uteri, Regina, tui reverentia tecum est, Dum jacet hic coelo sub breviore Deus! Conscia divino gliscunt praecordia motu, Nec vehit aethereos sanctior aura polos. Quam bene sub tecto tibi concipiuntur eodem Vota, et, vota cui concipienda, Deus! Quod nubes alia, et tanti super atria coeli Quaerunt, invenient hoc tua vota domi. O felix anima haec, quae tam sua gaudia tangit! Sub conclave suo cui suus ignis adest. Corpus amet, licet, illa suum, neque sidera malit: Quod vinc'lum est aliis, hoc habet illa domum. Sola jaces, neque sola; toro quocunque recumbis, Illo estis positi tuque tuusque toro. Immo ubi casta tuo posita es cum conjuge conjunx; Quod mirum magis est, es tuus ipsa torus.

_God in the Virgin's womb._

Thy Father, Nature, here thy Father see: Whom womb of mother holds, thy Father He. Scant teguments the mighty Son enchain, Whom thou thyself not wholly dost contain. What reverence, Queen, to thine own womb is given, While God lies here beneath a lesser heaven! With sacred motion swells her conscious breast; Nor are the poles upborne by airs more blest. 'Neath the same roof are well conceiv'd by thee Vows, and the God to whom vows offer'd be. What other prayers o'er clouds and sky's vast bound Seek, by thy prayers this will at home be found. Blest soul, so nigh to thy supreme desire, To which 'neath its own shrine dwells its own fire. She may her body love, nor heaven prefer: What chains down others is a home to her. Lone, yet not lone, where'er thou dost recline; On that same couch are laid both thou and thine. Nay, when with thy chaste spouse, chaste wife thou'rt laid-- More strange, thyself thine own blest couch art made. R. WI.

XXXVIII.

_Ad Judaeos mactatores Stephani._ Act. vii. 59.

Frustra illum increpitant, frustra vaga saxa: nec illi Grandinis, heu, saevae! dura procella nocet. Ista potest tolerare, potest nescire; sed illi, Quae sunt in vestro pectore, saxa nocent.

_To the Jews, murderers of St. Stephen._

Vainly ye cast stones, Jews; they give no shock: Shower as the hail-storm, it is all in vain. These he shall bear, and heed not: 'tis the rock Of your obdurate hearts that gives him pain. G.

XXXIX.

_D. Joannes in exilio._ Rev. i. 9.

Exul, amor Christi est: Christum tamen invenit exul: Et solitos illic invenit ille sinus. Ah, longo, aeterno ah terras indicite nobis Exilio, Christi si sinus exilium est.

_St. John in exile._

Love to Christ an exile is, Yet the exile findeth Christ; All the dear familiar bliss, And the bosom-joys unpric'd. Ah, Lord, exile long to us, Never-ending e'en be sent, If we find Christ's bosom thus As our place of banishment. G.

XL.

_Ad infantes martyres._ Matt. ii. 16.

Fundite ridentes animas, effundite coelo; Discet ibi vestra, o quam bene! lingua loqui. Nec vos lac vestrum et maternos quaerite fontes: Quae vos expectat lactea tota via est.

_To the infant martyrs._

Go, smiling soules, your new-built cages breake, In Heav'n you'l learne to sing ere here to speake: Nor let the milky fonts that bath your thirst Bee your delay; The place that calls you hence is, at the worst, Milke all the way. CR.

ANOTHER VERSION.

Depart, ye smiling souls, to Heaven depart: Your tongues may there learn best the speaking art. Stay not to suck, sweet children, do not stay: Cry not; for you shall go the milky way. B.

XLI.

_Quaerit Jesum suum beata Virgo._ Luc. ii. 45.

Ah, redeas miserae, redeas, puer alme, parenti; Ah, neque te coelis tam cito redde tuis. Coelum nostra tuum fuerint, o, brachia, si te Nostra suum poterunt brachia ferre Deum.

_The blessed Virgin seeks Jesus._

Ah, to Thy mother, ah, return, my fair, beloved Son; Return not to Thy native skies, my heaven-descended One. Thy mother's arms Thy heaven would be, enfolding Thee around; If thus within these innocent arms the great God might be found.[51] G.

XLII.

_Non sum dignus ut sub tecta mea venias._ Matt. viii. 8.

In tua tecta Deus veniet: tuus haud sinit illud Et pudor atque humili in pectore celsa fides. Illum ergo accipies, quoniam non accipis: ergo In te jam veniet, non tua tecta Deus.[52]

_I am not worthy that Thou shouldst come under my roofe._

Thy God was making hast into thy roofe; Thy humble faith and feare keepes him aloofe. Hee'll be thy guest, because He may not be; Hee'll come--into thy house? No, into thee. CR.

XLIII.

_Christus accusatus nihil respondet._ Matt. xxvii. 12.

Nil ait: o sanctae pretiosa silentia linguae! Ponderis o quanti res nihil illud erat! Ille olim verbum qui dixit, et omnia fecit, Verbum non dicens omnia nunc reficit.

_And He answered them nothing._

O mighty Nothing! unto thee, Nothing, wee owe all things that bee. God spake once when Hee all things made, Hee sav'd all when Hee Nothing said. The world was made of Nothing then; 'Tis made by Nothing now againe. CR.

ANOTHER VERSION.

'Nothing He said.' O precious silence of that sacred tongue! O what vast interests on that Nothing hung! He who once spoke the word, and all things made, Now re-makes all, when not a word is said. G.

XLIV.

_Nunc dimittis._ Luc. ii. 29.

Spesne meas tandem ergo mei tenuere lacerti? Ergo bibunt oculos lumina nostra tuos? Ergo bibant: possintque novam sperare juventam: O possint senii non meminisse sui! Immo mihi potius mitem mors induat umbram, Esse sub his oculis si tamen umbra potest. Ah, satis est. Ego te vidi, puer auree, vidi: Nil post te, nisi te, Christe, videre volo.[53]

_Now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace._

And is my hope grasp'd in these arms of mine At last, and do these eyes drink light from Thine? There let them drink with a new youth in store, And feel the dimming touch of age no more. Nay rather, if Thine eyes can give it room, Let Death's soft shadow gently o'er them come. Thee have I seen, O Child: enough for me: I care not to behold aught else but Thee. CL.

XLV.

_Verbum inter spinas._ Luc. viii. 7.

Saepe Dei verbum sentes cadit inter, et atrum Miscet spina procax, ah, male juncta! latus. Credo quidem: nam sic spinas, ah, scilicet inter Ipse Deus verbum tu quoque, Christe, cadis.

_The Word among thorns._

Often and often 'good words' fall Where thorns and briars rankly crawl; Their spines lay hold, and choke, and pierce-- Like to wild beast in hunger fierce. I know it: for like flash of sword I read 'twas so with Thee THE WORD: God, e'en my God, Thou wast in truth; But fell'st 'mong thorns, which show'd no ruth. G.

XLVI.

_Sabbatum Judaicum et Christianum._ Luc. xiv. 5.

Res eadem vario quantum distinguitur usu: Nostra hominem servant sabbata, vestra bovem. Observent igitur, pacto quid justius isto? Sabbata nostra homines, sabbata vestra boves.

_The Judaic and Christian Sabbath._

How diff'rent grows a thing through diff'rent use! _Our_ Sabbaths serve men, _yours_ give oxen truce, Be this agreed--arrangement fitter none-- _Our_ Sabbath men keep, _yours_ oxen alone. G.

XLVII.

_Ad verbum Dei sanatur caecus._ Marc. x. 52.

Christe, loquutus eras, o sacra licentia verbi: Jamque novus caeci fluxit in ora dies. Jam credo, Nemo[54] est, sicut Tu, Christe, loquutus: Auribus? immo oculis, Christe, loquutus eras.

_The blind cured by the word of our Saviour._

Thou spak'st the word--Thy word's a law; Thou spak'st, and straight the blind man saw. To speak and make the blind to see, Was never man, Lord, spake like Thee. To speak thus was to speak, say I, Not to his eare, but to his eye. CR.

XLVIII.

_Onus meum leve est._ Matt. xi. 30.

Esse levis quicunque voles, onus accipe Christi: Ala tuis humeris, non onus, illud erit. Christi onus an quaeris quam sit grave? scilicet audi, Tam grave, ut ad summos te premat usque polos.

_My burden is light._

Askest how thou may'st lightly loaded be? Christ's _burden_ take from me: A wing to lift, no load to press thee down, Thou it wilt feel and own. Dost ask how heavy may Christ's _burden_ be? Then list, O man, to me: So _heavy_, that whoe'er 'neath it enrolls, It lifts to the highest poles. G.

XLIX.

_Miraculum quinque panum._ Joan. vi. 1-13.

Ecce, vagi venit unda cibi; venit indole sacra Fortis, et in dentes fertilis innumeros. Quando erat invictae tam sancta licentia coenae? Illa famem populi poscit, et illa fidem.

_On the miracle of loaves._

Now, Lord, or never, they'l beleeve on Thee; Thou to their teeth hast prov'd Thy deity. CR.

ANOTHER VERSION.

See, loaves in heaps, blest growth, spread far and wide, For mouths innumerable multiplied. Feast holy, free, invincible like this, Claims the crowd's hunger, and their faith, I wis. R. WI.

L.

_Nunc scimus te habere daemonium._ Joan. viii. 52.

Aut Deus, aut saltem daemon tibi notior esset, Gens mala, quae dicis daemona habere Deum. Ignorasse Deum poteras, o caeca; sed oro, Et patrem poteras tam male nosse tuum?

_Now we know Thee to have a devil._

God or the devil by you ought better to be known, Ye wicked ones, who charge your God a devil to own. Ign'rant of God, indeed, ye well might be; but O, The devil, your own father, how could ye fail to know? G.

LI.

_In beatae Virginis verecundiam._

In gremio, quaeris, cur sic sua lumina Virgo Ponat? ubi melius poneret illa, precor? O ubi, quam coelo, melius sua lumina ponat? Despicit, at coelum sic tamen illa videt.

_On the blessed Virgin's bashfulness._

That on her lap she casts her humble eye, 'Tis the sweet pride of her humility. The faire starre is well fixt, for where, O, where, Could she have fixt it on a fairer spheare? 'Tis Heav'n, 'tis Heav'n she sees, Heaven's God there lyes; She can see Heaven, and ne're lift up her eyes. This new guest to her eyes new lawes hath given: 'Twas once looke up, 'tis now looke downe to Heaven. CR.

LII.

_In vulnera Dei pendentis._

O frontis, lateris, manuumque pedumque cruores; O quae purpureo flumina fonte patent: In nostram, ut quondam, pes non valet ire salutem, Sed natat; in fluviis, ah, natat ille suis. Fixa manus; dat, fixa: pios bona dextera rores Donat, et in donum solvitur ipsa suum. O latus, o torrens; quis enim torrentior exit Nilus, ubi pronis praecipitatur aquis? Mille et mille simul cadit et cadit undique guttis Frons: viden' ut saevus purpuret ora pudor? Spinae hoc irriguae florent crudeliter imbre, Inque novas sperant protinus ire rosas. Quisque capillus it exiguo tener alveus amne, Hoc quasi de rubro rivulus oceano. O nimium vivae pretiosis amnibus undae: Fons vitae nunquam verior ille fuit.

_On the wounds of our crucified Lord._

O bleeding wounds of brow, feet, hands, and side; Rivers which from a purple fount spread wide. No more to save us now that foot can go, But swims in streams which from its own wounds flow. Transfix'd His hand yet gives--gives dewdrops holy, And into its own gift is melted wholly. O side, O torrent; for with torrent strong What flooded Nile more swift is driven along? Drops from His brow in thousands fall and fall; See to His face a cruel blush they call. By this sad shower the thorns unkindly nurst Soon into new-blown roses hope to burst. Each hair becomes a slender streamlet's bed, As if a rivulet from this ocean red. O waves too much alive with precious streams, Nowhere a fount of life more truly gleams.[55] R. WI.

LIII.

_Quare cum Publicanis manducat Magister vester?_ Matt. ix. 11.

Ergo istis socium se peccatoribus addit? Ergo istis sacrum non negat ille latus? Tu, Pharisaee, rogas, Jesus cur fecerit istud? Nae dicam: Jesus, non Pharisaeus, erat.

_Wherefore eateth your Master with Publicans?_

Wherefore associates He with sinners vile? Why hides He not His holy self the while? Askest thou, Pharisee, how this can be? Because 'tis Jesus, not a Pharisee. G.

LIV.

_Ecce locus ubi jacuit Dominus._

Ipsum, ipsum, precor, o potius mini, candide, monstra: Ipsi, ipsi o lacrymis oro sit ire meis. Si monstrare locum satis est, et dicere nobis, En, Maria, hic tuus en hic jacuit Dominus; Ipsa ulnas monstrare meas, et dicere possum, En, Maria, hic tuus en hic jacuit Dominus.

{Phaidime, moi auton mallon moi deiknythi auton. Autos mou, deomai, autos eche dakrya. Ei de topon moi deiknynai halis esti, kai eipein, Hode teos, Mariam, enide, keito anax; Ankoinas mou deiknynai dynamai ge kai eipein, Hode teos, Mariam, enide, keito anax.}

_Come, see the place where the Lord lay._

Show me Himselfe, Himselfe, bright Sir, O show Which way my poore tears to Himselfe may goe. Were it enough to show the place, and say, Looke, Mary, here, see where thy Lord once lay; Then could I show these armes of mine, and say, Looke, Mary, here, see where thy Lord once lay.

_Vpon the sepulchre of our Lord._

Here, where our Lord once laid His head, Now the grave lies buried. CR.

LV.

_Leprosi ingrati._ Luc. xvii. 11-19.

Lex jubet ex hominum coetu procul ire leprosos: At mundi a Christo cur abiere procul? Non abit, at sedes tantum mutavit in illis; Et lepra, quae fuerat corpore, mente sedet. Sic igitur digna vice res variatur; et a se Quam procul ante homines, nunc habuere Deum.

_The unthankful lepers. (Where are the nine?)_

The Lord commands the lepers far off from men to stay: But cleansed by the Lord, why went the Nine away? The leprosy remaineth, chang'd only in its seat: Expelled from the body, to the soul it makes retreat. Now by fit retribution a change is brought about: Before shut out from men, from God they're now shut out. G.

LVI.

_In cicatrices quas Christus habet in se adhuc superstites._ Joan. xx.

Quicquid spina procax, vel stylo clavus acuto, Quicquid purpurea scripserat hasta nota, Vivit adhuc tecum; sed jam tua vulnera non sunt: Non, sed vulneribus sunt medicina meis.

_On the still-surviving markes of our Saviour's wounds._

Whatever story of their crueltie, Or naile, or thorne, or speare have writ in Thee, Are in another sence Still legible; Sweet is the difference: Once I did spell Every red letter A wound of Thine; Now, what is better, Balsome for mine. CR.

ANOTHER RENDERING.

Each bloody, cruel character, Thorn, nail, and spear had written, When here, as man's great Arbiter, On Calvary Thou wert smitten, Thou wearest still above, O Lord: But now no longer wounds they are; According to Thy Holy Word, They med'cine for my wounds declare. G.

LVII.

_Aeger implorat umbram D. Petri._ Act. v. 15.

Petre, tua lateam paulisper, Petre, sub umbra: Sic mea me quaerent fata, nec invenient. Umbra dabit tua posse meum me cernere solem; Et mea lux umbrae sic erit umbra tuae.

_The sick implore St. Peter's shadow._

Under thy shadow may I lurke awhile, Death's busie search I'le easily beguile: Thy shadow, Peter, must show me the sun; My light's thy shadowe's shadow, or 'tis done. CR.

ANOTHER RENDERING.

O Peter, Peter, let thy shadow fall Where I in wretchedness a-weary crawl: Here vainly shall my fates upon me call. Thy shadow me shall guide unto my sun-- Whoe'er sought Him in truth, and was undone?-- And so my light, thy shadow, shall be one. G.

LVIII.

_Quid turbati estis? Videte manus meas et pedes, quia ego ipse sum._ Luc. xxiv. 39.

En me et signa mei, quondam mea vulnera: certe, Vos nisi credetis, vulnera sunt et adhuc. O nunc ergo fidem sanent mea vulnera vestram: O mea nunc sanet vulnera vestra fides.

_Why are ye troubled?... Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I myself._

'Tis I; behold My proofs, My wounds of old; Wounds which still bleed, if you will not believe. O, now to heal your faith My wounds behold, And healing from your faith My wounds receive.

LIX.

_In vincula Petro sponte delapsa, et apertas fores._ Act. xii. 7, 10.

Ferri non meminit ferrum: se vincula Petro Dissimulant: nescit carcer habere fores. Quam bene liber erit, carcer quem liberat! ipsa Vincula quem solvunt, quam bene tutus erit!

_The chains spontaneously fell from Peter, and the (prison)-doors opened._

Iron forgets 'tis iron; the chains dissemble too; Nor has the prison doors for Peter now. Free truly is that pris'ner who by the prison's freed; Whom chains themselves unbind free is indeed.

LX.

_Deferebantur a corpore ejus sudaria, &c._ Act. xix. 12.

Imperiosa premunt morbos, et ferrea fati Jura ligant, Pauli lintea tacta manu. Unde haec felicis laus est et gloria lini? Haec, reor, e Lachesis pensa fuere colo.

_From his body there were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs, &c._

They quell disease, and sway Fate's iron bands, These lordly linen cloths touched by Paul's hands. Whence rose the glory of their happy fame? From the Fates' distaff, sure, these kerchiefs came. R. WI.

LXI.

_Christus vitis ad vinitorem Patrem._ Joan. xv. 1-6.

En serpit tua, purpureo tua palmite vitis Serpit, et, ah, spretis it per humum foliis. Tu viti succurre tuae, mi Vinitor ingens: Da fulcrum; fulcrum da mihi: quale? crucem.

_Christ the Vine to the Vinedresser-Father._

Lo, Thy vine trails, trails with a purple shoot, Scatt'ring its leaves before it beareth fruit. Succour Thy vine, great Vinedresser, from loss: Support, support me, Lord: how? With Thy cross. G.

LXII.

_Pene persuades mihi ut fiam Christianus._ Act. xxvi. 28.

Pene? quid hoc pene est? Vicinia saeva salutis! O quam tu malus es proximitate boni! Ah, portu qui teste perit, bis naufragus ille est; Hunc non tam pelagus, quam sua terra premit. Quae nobis spes vix absunt, crudelius absunt: Pene sui felix, emphasis est miseri.

_Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian._

_Almost?_ What word is this we hear? O doubly lost, with heaven so near! To perish in the neighbourhood Of vast but unavailing good! He shipwreck undergoes twice o'er Who perishes in sight of shore, And less by ocean is o'ercome Than by that hopeless glimpse of home. The hopes that almost seem our own Leave all the keener sting when gone; And just to miss felicity Is but emphatic misery. CL.

LXIII.

_Lux venit in mundum, sed dilexerunt homines magis tenebras quam lucem._ Joan. iii. 19.

Luce sua venit ecce Deus, mundoque refulget; Pergit adhuc tenebras mundus amare suas. At Stygiis igitur mundus damnabitur umbris: Pergit adhuc tenebras mundus amare suas?

_But men loved darkness rather than light._

The world's Light shines: shine as it will, The world will love its darknesse still. I doubt though, when the world's in hell, It will not love its darknesse halfe so well. CR.

ANOTHER VERSION.

Behold the day of Christ! God comes with light; Yet the world loves the darkness of the night. Therefore the world to Stygian darkness will Be damn'd: and doth the world love darkness still? B.

ANOTHER RENDERING.

Lo, God comes girt with light, and all the world o'ershines: The world abides in night, nor watcheth for the signs. To Stygian darkness hurl'd on the great Day of Doom, Shalt thou, night-loving world, still love thy lightless gloom? G.

LXIV.

_Dives implorat guttam._ Luc. xvi. 24.

O mihi si digito tremat et tremat unica summo Gutta! o si flammas mulceat una meas! Currat opum quocunque volet levis unda mearum; Una mihi haec detur gemmula, Dives ero.

_Dives asking a drop._

A drop, one drop! how sweetly one faire drop Would tremble on my pearle-tipt finger's top! My wealth is gone: O, goe it where it will, Spare this one iewell, I'le be Dives still. CR.

LXV.

_Quomodo potest homo gigni qui est senex?_ Joan. iii. 4.

Dic, Phoenix unde in nitidos novus emicat annos, Plaudit et elusos aurea penna rogos? Quis colubrum dolus insinuat per secula retro, Et jubet emeritum luxuriare latus? Cur rostro pereunte suam praedata senectam Torva ales, rapido plus legit ore diem? Immo, sed ad nixus praestat Lucina secundos? Natales seros unde senex habeat. Ignoras, Pharisaee? sat est: jam credere disces: Dimidium fidei, qui bene nescit, habet.

_How can a man be born when he is old?_

See how new Phoenix into bright life springs, And fans the unhurting flames with golden wings. O'er snake what subtle change creeps as months flow, Bidding its faded frame with beauty glow. Why, on itself with worn beak having prey'd, Is raven old more youthful swift array'd? O'er second birth-throes bears Lucina sway, Whence an old man may have late natal day? Pharisee, know'st not? Well, now faith thou'lt learn: Wisely to know not, half faith's crown doth earn. R. WI.

LXVI.

_Arbor Christi jussu arescens._ Marc. xi. 13.

Ille jubet: procul ite mei, mea gloria, rami: Nulla vocet nostras amplius aura comas. Ite, nec o pigeat; nam vos neque fulminis ira, Nec trucis ala Noti verberat: ille jubet. O vox, o Zephyro vel sic quoque dulcior omni; Non possum Autumno nobiliore frui.

_The tree dried up by the word of Christ._

He speaks: hence, leaves; my glory hence, away; Thou Zephyr 'mid my leaves no longer play; Begone: nor grieve: 'tis not the lightning's wrath, Nor wing of the storm-wind that smites: HE saith. O voice, than Zephyr sweeter far to me; More noble autumn-fruit could never be. G.

LXVII.

_Zacharias minus credens._ Luc. i. 12.

Infantis fore te patrem, res mira videtur; Infans interea factus es ipse pater. Et dum promissi signum, nimis anxie, quaeris, Jam nisi per signum quaerere nulla potes.

_Zacharias incredulous._

To have a child thou deem'st so strange a thing, That thou art made a child for wondering. Whilst for a sign too eagerly thou dost call, Except by sign thou can'st not ask at all. CL.

LXVIII.

_In aquam baptismi Dominici._ Matt. iii. 13-16.