His penance, as our fault, conspicuous. 2nd. And he more needfully and nobly prove The nations' terror now, than erst their love, 3rd. Their hated loves changed into wholesome fears. Cho. The shutting of his eye shall open theirs. 1st. As by a fair-eyed fallacy of day Misled before they lost their way, So shall they, by the seasonable fright Losing it once again, stumble on true light; 2nd. And as before his too-bright eye 3rd. Was their more blind idolatry, So his officious blindness now shall be Their black, but faithful perspective of Thee; Their new and admirable light; The supernatural dawn of thy pure day, While wond'ring they, The happy converts now of Him Whom they compell'd before to be their sin, Shall henceforth see To kiss him only as their rod, Whom they so long courted as God; Cho. And their best use of him they worshipp'd be To learn of him at least to worship Thee. 1st. It was their weakness woo'd his beauty; But it shall be Their wisdom now, as well as duty, T'enjoy his blot; and, as a large black letter, And make the night itself their torch to Thee. 2nd. By the oblique ambush of this close night, Couch'd in that conscious shade, The right-eyed Areopagite Shall with a vigorous guess invade And catch thy quick reflex; and sharply see On this dark ground To descant Thee. 3rd. O price of the rich spirit! with that fierce chase Of this strong soul shall he Leap at Thy lofty face, And seize the swift flash, in rebound Once call'd a sun; Till dearly thus undone, Cho. Till thus triumphantly tamed, O ye two Twin suns! and taught now to negotiate you. 1st. Thus shall that reverend child of light, 2nd. By being scholar first of that new night, Come forth great master of the mystic day; 3rd. And teach obscure mankind a more close way, By the frugal negative light Of a most wise and well-abused night, To read more legible Thine original ray, A mutual trade "Twixt sun and shade, By confederate black and white, Borrowing day and lending night. 1st. Thus we, who when with all the noble pow'rs 2nd. That, at Thy cost, are call'd, not vainly, ours; Upwards, and press on for the pure intelligential prey; At least, to play The amorous spies, And peep and proffer at Thy sparkling throne; 3rd. Instead of bringing in the blissful prize, And fast'ning on thine eyes, Forfeit our own, And nothing gain, But more ambitious loss, at least of brain; THE CLOSE. Therefore to Thee and Thine auspicious ray, At least by us, The delegated eye of day Does first his sceptre, then himself in solemn tribute pay. Thus he undresses His sacred unshorn tresses; At Thy adored feet, thus, he lays down His gorgeous tire Of flame and fire, 1st. 2nd. His glittering robe, Cho. To which he now has no pretence. For being show'd by this day's light, how far Something a brighter shadow, sweet, of Thee; TO THE QUEEN'S MAJESTY ON TWELFTH-DAY. ADAM, 'Mongst those long rows of crowns that gild your race These royal sages sue for decent place. The day-break of the nations; their first ray; Fair first-fruits of the Lamb; sure kings in this ; A golden harvest of crown'd heads, that meet Swells high, fair confluence of all high-born blood! THE OFFICE OF THE HOLY CROSS. FOR THE HOUR OF MATINS. The Versicle. ORD, by Thy sweet and saving sign, The Responsor. Defend us from our foes and Thine. Ver. Thou shalt open my lips, O Lord; Ver. O God, make speed to save me. |