SAINTE MARY MAGDALENE, OR THE WEEPER.1

Loe! where a wounded heart with bleeding eyes conspire.
Is she a flaming fountain, or a weeping fire?

THE WEEPER.

I.

HAIL, sister springs!
Parents of syluer-footed rills!
Euer-bubling things!

Thawing crystall! snowy hills

Still spending, neuer spent! I mean
Thy fair eyes, sweet Magdalene!

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1 This couplet appeared first in 1648 edition of the 'Steps to the Temple;' but it properly belongs to the engraving in 'Carmen Deo Nostro' of 1652, which is reproduced in our illustrated 4to edition. G.

The Weeper' appeared originally in the 'Steps' of 1646 (pp. 1-5): was reprinted in editions of 1648 (pp. 1-6), 1652 (pp. 85-92), 1670 (pp. 1-5). For reasons stated in our Preface, our text follows that of 1652; but see Notes and Illustrations at close of the poem for details of various readings, &c. &c., and our Essay for critical remarks on it from POPE to DR. GEORGE MACDONALD, G.

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Heauens thy fair eyes be;
Heauens of euer-falling starres.

Tis seed-time still with thee;

And starres thou sow'st, whose harnest dares 10

Promise the Earth, to counter-shine

Whateuer makes heaun's forehead fine.

But we' are deceiuèd all :
Starres indeed they are too true;
For they but seem to fall,

As heaun's other spangles doe.
It is not for our Earth and vs
To shine in things so pretious.

IV.

Vpwards thou dost weep:

Heaun's bosome drinks the gentle stream.
Where th' milky riuers creep.

Thine floates aboue, and is the eream.

Waters aboue th' heauns, what they be

We are taught best by thy teares and thee.

Euery morn from hence,

A brisk cherub something sippes.

Whose sacred influence

Addes sweetnes to his sweetest lippes:

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Then to his musick; and his song

Tasts of this breakfast all day long.

VL

When some new bright guest

Takes vp among the starres a room,

And Hearn will make a feast:

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