EMS EDWIN EXON THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES POEMS. pocns EDWIN EXON Published by T. C. LOTHIAN, 49 Elizabeth Street, Melbouine. Melbourne: The Atlas Press (E. NewlancJs), Block Place. 1907. t%f\ll CONTENTS, /^oj PAGE. Foreword : Myths - - 7 The Doubters : A Dialogue 9-13 To Wm. Watson - - 14-17 Imagination - - 18, 19 The Divinity of Sorrow - 20 Cross and Crown - 21 The Heavenly Vision - - 22 At Evening Prayer - 23 Unity - - - 24, 25 Lago Maggiore - - 26, 27 The Orphan - - 28, 29 The Higher Life - 30, 31 The Dream of Endymion - 32 -34 The Festival of Pan - 35-37 Hymn to Pan - - 38, 39 Hercules - - 40-47 Bacchus - - 48 -52 Victorian Jubilee Ode - 53 -58 Love Reigneth Over All - 59-61 Mount Pizgah - - 62-64 Cranmer - - - 65 -74 Savonarola — Fra Angelico - 75 -78 In Deep Affliction - - 79 The Angels' Prayer - 80, 81 Triumph - - - 82, 83 Immortality - - 84 The Indwelling Spirit - 85 The Men That Are to Be 86, 87, 88 FOREWORD. MYTHS. Always in Myth and Allegory, shine The Highest and the Holiest, at the dawn Of their appearing. Ever, the Divine From depth or height invisible is drawn. The perfect truth on mountain tops of light, Or in the depths of God's infinity Dwelleth invisible to common sight Where Love and Faith alone can ho})e to see. The Doubters- THE DOUBTERS. A DIALOGUE. Two forms of doubt beset the minds of men. The one scorns Faith — the other worshijis it. These moods conflicting dwelt in two fast friends, True Sceptics both, anxious for truth and light ; Truth, always, first and last, at any cost. Like Positive and Negative thev stood At different Poles, and therefore, each to cacli By strong magnetic impulses impelled Strove for a union. Tlius they waged their strife. ONiiiiisl—- When, to the Source of All mine e\'e>^ 1 raise Grave doubts have 1, anfl make Ihern thanks and praise To God because His realm is infinite — .\bounding in un fathomed in\-steries. lo The Doubters. If thouglit could touch its greatest depth ami height How poor it were com()ared with what it is — Exhaustless source of splendour without end. Beauty past j)0wer of sight to comprehend ! PessiDiist — I dwell in darkness, with no more of light Than serves to make the shadows more jnofound : I cannot, will not, should not — worship Might In face of all the ills I see around. The warp and woof of this great scheme of things — The very bed and body of it. thrills \^"ith Life, which that great Power which made it, stings, Torments, then all too late for Mercy, kills. Granted, the sum of happiness outweighs The mass of ])ain and grief of those who mourn — That Evolution never fails to raise A better life from death of by-gone days — What balm is that for myriad creatures, torn. Bruis'd, crush'd. e.xtinguish'd in the upward ways ! Optimist- - Extinguish'd ! Who shall dare say that ? The lie Is given to him from every quarter ! Nought That ever into being came can die. Or backward into nothingness be brought. Nothing is doomed to perish — not a spark Of energy--of Matter, not a grain, The forms alone arc changed — the things remain ; The Doubters. u One form of life completed, thej^ embark In other forms, in other spheres again. tTo dread annihilation none can fall. Eternal life is God's good gift to all. Pessimist — Mix'd Metaphor ! The gift is given to Dust Of matter — not to Soul, in which you pride. Optiniist — Since it is given to the least. I trust It has not to the greatest been denied. Pessimist — Whv is the way so hard — so dark — so painful ? Could not Omnipotence do all things ? Make The nerve for pleasure only, not for pain ? The Mind for Jov, not Sorrow, and the Soul Secure from Sin ? Why does He suffer Evil ? If He be perfect — why is not His Work As perfect as Himself ? Optimist — The problem old That vexes every age is based upon A false assumption. Thus the case is stated — " God could and would not. or He would and could not " Have guarded all His work from every ill ; " Therefore He mu5t be, either not Almighty : 12 ■ The Doubters- " Or not all Good." But here the starting point — The ground on which the argument is based Is not a fact — is the reverse of fact — Not truth but error. The assumption is That the Impossible cannot exist For the Almighty or Omnipotent. That is not so. Omnipotence itself Is bound by Law against self-contradiction — Cannot produce a creature that could be Itself and not itself — the same and not the same At once and in one form. Could make no nerve Able to thrill with pleasure dead to pain — Almighty God Himself could not ha\-c niad(^ A soul that could be holy, yet not free To sin. Therefore, unless His Universe Became an Automatic, dead Machine, Sorrow and pain and sin must be at least A possibility — choice being left Free to the will and power of finite beings. Without coercion from the Infinite. Pessimist — So it may seem to us. who cannot see What you call Spirit, as we see, and test And prove material things. If Soul exists Why has the Soul no eye ? Optimist — It ha,s : its name is Faith. The Doubters- U Pessimist — A wilderness, a phantasy, as wild As dreams that flutter round a madman's skull- Where each man makes unto himself his God And Heav'n ! No such ionl's paradise for me ! Opfiniisl — God grant me faith — true faith — the oj)en eye Of every pure and upward looking soul. As surely as the body's eye in health Each day receives true light from each day's sun. So surely with the open eye of Faith The pure in heart stand face to face with God, Beholding Him as Father — dwelling in The high and lofty place — whose name is Holy-- Inhabiting Eternity — Abiding also With everv contrite. huml)lc. human spirit. 14 To Wm- Watson. TO WM. WATSON. Response to his Poem " To the Unknown God." (The words in italics, between quotation marks, are Watson's). " Best by rcincmbering God. say sonic We keep our high Imperial lot : " Fortune. I fear, hath oftenest come Wlien we forgot — ivheu we forgot ! " Was it \vhen we forgot our (iod We prosj^ered ? Graceless Charles ! Reply ! Or when with pra^^ers and tears were trod The thorny paths that lead on high ? Cromwell, Milton, Hampden. Pym, Wolfe, Havelock. Gordon, answer him I Blots on our fame confessed must be, Yet though not wholly free from stain, W^hat Nation ever was more free ? Not by forgetting came the gain ! W^hat are they — those old deeds of shame- But sun spots upon England's fame ? To Wm. Watson- " 'liaise /hoi! tJic stone and find inc /here, " ' Cleave iJwu /he wood, and /here am I.' " / ]iever dare " To dream /ha/ in my prisoned soul " The flutter of a trembling prayer " Can move the mind /hat is /he zchole." " Yea in my flesh His Spiri/ do/ h flow." Raise thou the stone and cleave the wood To flnd the God now hid from thee. Declare not thou, in faithless mood, He evermore must hidden l)e ! Hast thou not said " His Spirit doth How " Yea in my flesh ? " Dost thou not know — If in thy ver\- self thou art In flesh and spirit nothing more-- Say rather — nothing less than ]iart Of Him — -why should'st thou not implore " The Mind that is the whole " to move For thee in answering care and love. We are hut atoms in His sight. ' But what is small or great to Him ? He is in all ways Infinite ; Why then should faith and hope grow dim With small and great in like degree Jiternal. Infinite is He. 1 6 To Wm. Watson. " No/ Hi III iluit icith jautasiic Ijoas/s " A sombre people dreamed they knew-- " A mere barbaric God of Hosts. " A God for ever jealous grown " Of carven xi'ood and graven sfoiie." The " sombre jieople's " early dreani Ages before it met thy scorn Had broadened to a glorions beam Of later ])salm and prophet born. Let not the Hebrew be impeached By Poet of a later time Till he can touch the height sublime That David and Isaiah reached. Oh brother of a favoured race ! With dee})er, truer insight trace The annals of the former days, Where deeds of our forefathers blaze. Up thorny paths, with bleeding feet They pressed where storm and tempest beat For God and Country lived and died. For us obtaining Empire wide. Conquests of sword, and tongue, and pen. O'er Nature's wilds, o'er savage men. To Wm. Watson. 17 In arts and science conquerors they ; And all they won is ours to-day. That we to loftier heights may press The Sovereign Rule of Peace and Righteousness. Yet thou art right with prophet voice To warn us 'gainst the use of Might — Or its misuse — neglecting Right. Now. as of old, there stands the choice For nations, of the ways that lead Through paths cf falsehood, pride, and greed ; Or straighter ways to nobler gains Where God. not Mammon, guides and reigns. The sins of our forefathers lie Open, O Lord, before Thine Eye. Visit them not on us, nor let Their stamp upon our souls be set. Let every lower aim be sacrificed ; Give to our Race the graces that endure. Impress on it the image of Thy Christ To make it just, and merciful, and pure. 1 8 Imagination. IMAGINATION. Whenct' come those magic Powers that give To Poets all the Universe With power to make its features live As images within their Verse ? From Star and Galaxy to Cell Of Atom — all is 'neath their S|)cll. The Christ that In- the wayside stood And to the common peoj)le spake. Desiring, more than daih' food, That He the bread of hea\en might break And give with blessings multiplied Till every soul be satisfied — Could l>id the common eve behold And see the common things of earth In meadow, sea and sky, unfold The truth and glory of the birth Of life in Clod, which all may share Whose souls can rise to faith and prayer. The Poet's special grace and gift — Imagination — is divine, Then only, when it can uplift The outward Vestures that enshrine The myriad forms wherein are wrought Eternal God's Creative thought. Imagination- 19 It he degrade to lower aim His gift divine. — count well the cost ! Though he be crowned with wealth and fame What proht if his soul be lost ? Sit rather at the feet of Christ ! Let all of Earth be sacrificed — So Heav'n be gained ! Yet doubt thou not The great All Father's providence Is round about thy earthly lot. We lack, as yet, some finer sense Some inner purity of sight Responsive to Heav'n 's purest light. In human weakness 'neath the rod The Christ Himself must sharer be ! Hear Calvary's cry — " My God ! My God ! O why hast Thou forsaken Me ? " " Willi larger, other eyes Ihan ours." God looks upon our suffering hours. Press onward up the narrow way ! — Bear patiently thy share of woe. His coming kingdom may delaj' — Cling closer to His side — although The Crown that shall the Cross requite, Be hidden yet from mortal sight. 20 The Divinity of Sorrow. THE DIVINITY OF SORROW. If strenuous toil, displacing rest, Ne'er strained our nerve— would that be best ? If in our luscious fruits, the taste Of sour, or bitter ne'er were placed — If Summer skies had never a cloud — If Wintry cold, or snowy shroud Were never spread o'er fertile fields To rest the buried seed and root. Would that be best for harvest yields — For Summer flowers — or Autumn fruit ? If pain and grief ne'er dimmed our eyes — Were life all joy — would that be best ? Surely if Sorrow purifies And lifts us Heav'nward, it is blest. O Son of Man — no grief like Thine Was ever borne. To Calvary, With lowly heart and bended knee, We come, and know that Sorrow is Divine- Cross and Crown. 21 CROSS AND CROWN. " If I be lifted up I will draw all men unto Me." Inscription on statue of a Christian martyr branded on the forehead with a cross. Son of God ! O Son of Man ! In Tfiee true life for me began, In life or death, whate'er betide, My heart is thine, O Crucified ! Our lives are here, a stormy birth In wild dark night before the morn. The Crowns of Saintship upon earth Are not of laurel, but of thorn. 1 see the Sun set — darkness drear Like death is coming, yet I stand Steadfast in faith, till o'er the land New life with morning shall appear. M}^ cross I wear as crown, in sign Of sin and death o'ercome in strife, Which, gladly yielding lower life, Made Christ's Eternal Glory mine. 22 The Heavenly Vision. THE HEAVENLY VISION. Awake, asleep, by day and night it lies, That vision heavenly before mine eyes. It dazzles, blinds me : Reason fails to chain Its subtle forms to measur'd rule and line : It hovers round mc always, like a strain Of melody and harmony divine. Not free from jarring notes that speak of Pain, Discord, and Anguish. Now the sweet refrain, More sweet from passing discord, comes again, Yet never clear : some jarring notes remain. Mists hover round me ; — dim the Vision grows ! By passion, pride, and selfish strife obscured, The ])rayer of Bartimaeus blind, secured Entrance from Night and Darkness into Light. O Thou to whom his cry for hel]) arose, Hear mine, that I, too, mav receive my Sight ! At Evening Prayer. * 23 AT EVENING PRAYER. The sun is slowl}- sinking in the West, Once more, oh God, we bend before Thy Throne To Thee, our Father, be our sins confessed, And all our cares u])on Thy mere}' thrown. By Thy forgiveness may our souls be blessed, And holy peac(^ be with us as we rest. Through all the dangers of the coming vears. May Christ in us, true light and life provide ; In all temptations, trials, doubts and fears, (irant Thou Thy Spirit to inspire and guide ; Be with us till the strife and toil are past, And bring us home to Thee in Heav'n at last. 24 Unity. UNITY. [Published on the day of the taking the referendum vote deciding the question of the Federation of the Australian Colonies and the establishment of the Australian Common- wea 1th]. I. O Severed Tribes of brothers — say Shall we win Nationhood to-daj- ? II. God made us one. and therefore we Nearest and dearest unto death Brothers or enemies must be. Know we not well that if the breath Of strife and hatred stir the blood Of brotherhood, no deadlier flood — No fiercer — more envenom'd spell Can issue from the depths of hell ? III. God made us one. If we remain Divided — lo ! a monstrous sin Unity. 25 And greater danger ! I.ove of gain Against each other, creeping in, May bring on us the awful fate Of brother love made brother hate. IV. God made us one. Against His hand Dare we, His favoured sons, rebel ? Across the borders of our land Set hostile bar and sentinel ? Awaken, Austral brethren ! Let selfish strife be done ! The glory of our future By Union must be won. VI. The call is heard — God's own decree To-day the people's voice shall be — VII, Rejoice ! The tribes that scattered lay Have won their Nationhood to-day. 26 Lago Maggiore- LAGO MAGGIORE. RETURN AT EVENING FROM ISOLA BELLA. Halt way across the lake the e\'ening shadows Advancing from the western mountains creep Towards the East. The brilliant hues of day Pale into softer beauties. Morn and Xoon Have purpled o'er the waters, touched with flame Of pure white glory distant snowy summits Of mountains blending with the shining clouds, The fields with vivid emerald, the woods With deeper hues of green and glowing bronze. But now the glory melts to quiet shades Save where, in pearly grey, the brightness lingers. Onward the growing shadow slowlv sweeps : It covers all the lake— touches the shore — Rolls up the Eastern mountains — overflows The last far distant summit. Night has come. Deep, silent, calm and peaceful! Not in gloom! The stars in multitudes are looking down Lago Maggj'ore. 27 From the blue vault above, and gleaming up Reflected from the deep blue wave below. There comes a silent majesty of calm, An infinite unutterable peace, And faithful souls recall with solemn joy The word divine — " My peace I give to you Not (IS the world gives, give I imto you." 28 The Orphan. THE ORPHAN. A Guardian Angel sought the Mercy Seat, And, with his latest charge did reverence there. " Receive," said he, " this soul for glory meet, And give another object for m}^ care." The smile of God was on the Angel thrown, " Go," said the Everlasting, " choose thine own." Swiftly to earth the gladden'd Angel sped. There, warmly by a mother's love embraced, He saw a child round whose uplifted head Beauty and brightness like his own he traced. Farewell ! the Angel said, " Thou hast a guide, God keep that loving mother by thy side." Ascending then above the firmament. He saw the earth revolve beneath his gaze. And like a moving drama represent Life's varied objects in bewildering maze. On bright and joyous ones the Angel's eye Dwelt lovingly, and \'et he passed them by. Now to his view arose a scene of care — Father and mother followed to the tomb The Orphan. 29 By their forsaken child, whose deep despair Enshrouds her in a desolating gloom. Crush'd is her spirit. By its weight of grief Driven to \'ery deadness for relief. Poor Orphan ! from thy woful trance awaken ! Though deadly be the bitter of thy cup ; By father and by mother now forsaken, This promise stands, " Thy God shall take thee up." Smiling, He gave an Angel choice — and see — He smiles again to see him choosing thee ! Now by thine Angel guide thou shalt be led In ways of pleasantness and paths of peace :— Ihy soul sustained upon the Living Bread, In faith and hope and love shall still increase : — - Thy life to God a willing offering given, Thy death shall be to thee the gate of heaven. 30 - The Higher Life THE HIGHER LIFE. THE TWO POOLS. Upon a low dead level la}' the first, Near neigh]:)Our to a ditch, From which. When the lull stream over its confines hurst. By many a well-worn channel led The foul ditch water made the pool its bed. Created by its vapour's poison breath Foul things into it crept And slept After a loathsome life in loathsome death. Tn summer, drying up it lay A noisome thing — a blot upon the day. The other lay upon a luonntain's side, High uj) in purest air. And there A thing im])ure might come, but not abide. As scum ui)on the surface cast ., Awav in constant overflow it ])ast. *' The Higher Life. 31 Place there doth e\'ery tender beauty tind. Cy which a holy thought Is brought Into tlie pure and ujnvarddooking mind : And the prismatic hues of heaven In summer to its last clear dro])S are given. THE TWO LIVES. One, ever grovelling in low desires. Foul thoughts are welcomed in, And sin Riots unchecked till lusty youth expires ; And age, as wasting passions cool, Is like the drying of the ditch-fed pool. The other, in a higher atmosphere. Lives near to God. In constant strife, This life Labours to keep lieart pure, and conscience clear And to its last few days are given Light from the opening entrance gate of hea\-en. 32 Endymion. ENDYMION. ScEXE. A Glade in a forest by moonligJit. Diana bending over the sleeping Endymion. Diana ~ O wondrous dream of loveliness ! A star hath fallen from the skies ! Apollo's peer, in mortal dress Lies slumbering here before mine eyes. O Jove, this })erfect work of thine, This wonder of delight. Earth's crowning gem to me, di\-ine, In lioly lo\'e unite. Come, gentle darkness ; softly hide the bliss Of souls uniting in a virgin kiss. {She stoops to kiss Endymion). Celestial sleep seal fast thine eves. Sweet dreams of Heav'n enthrall thv soul. Endymion. 33 Thy spirit, linked with mine, shall rise To spheres where suns unnumbered roll Their shining orbs, a glorious zone Encircling the All Father's throne. Then, when awaked, to earth returning, Dim memories, like a pleasing pain Shall fill thee with mysterious yearning, And never shalt thou rest again Until the way is found for thee To rise from earth, and mate in heaven with me. She flies with him in her embrace through the heavenly spaces tmtil the dawn — thoi returns him to his sleeping place in the forest. Endymion Awaking — Dark clouds are o'er me. Tears hide all The world, save where one far-off gleam Of vague wild hope uplifts the pall. I live but in the memory of a dream. Was it a dream ? My queen ! ^ly queen ! Xo mortal could have shaped in thought The beauty that mine eyes have seen : O let my soul again be caught Away from earth in blissful rest, Upborne to heaven on thy sweet breast. 34 Endymion- I saw the earth sink down. Red Mars And Venus on our faces glowed ; We soared until th' approaching stars Grew into suns. The dread abode Of the Celestial Powers drew near, Joy changed to awe, and love to fear. Closer I felt thy loving arms, The dreadful splendours of the skies Chastened their light in thy sweet charms, Looked lo\e upon me from thine eyes, AjkI drew my soul beyond the line That severs mortal from divine. Now, thirsting for a joy above All joys that earth can ever give, I wander, seeking thee, my love, For thee content to die or live. I have no Iteing of mine own, Thine am I : thine, and thine alone ! The Festival of Pan. 35 THE FESTIVAL OF PAN. Scene. — Forest on Mount Latrnos. An altar prepared for offerings. {Children vitJi Jtoweys and garlands.) The long, long hours of night have passed, The prayed-for morning comes at. last, While others slept, our fingers weaved These altar garlands, ivy leaved, And floral crowns, whose lovely hues Are freshened with still falling dews. Silent and desert still the sacred spot ! O tard\' worshippers, why come ye not ? Hush ! a sweet sound is floating by ! Is it of earth, or air, or sky ? It swells, fades, dies, revives again. Great Pan — \\'hencc comes that Hcavcnlv strain ? 36 The Festival of Pan. Damsels- From your rivers, lakes, and mountains, Nymphs, whose love-inspiring glow Flushes the immortal fountains Whence the loves of mortals flow, Play about us in the dancing Leaves upon the breezy hills ; Laugh upon us in the glancing Sunbeams ; murmur in the rills. Till ye fill our hearts to madness With the anguish of Love's gladness. Then hie ye, unseen, to each meadow and grove Where lost in fond day-dreams our young shepherds rove. Songs, full of tenderest passion, O sing them— Heart full of love, to our feet O bring them. Shepherds — Ere yet the morning's tender rays Burn into noonday heat, We come through sweet, wild, woodland ways Our loving fair to meet. They come ! — the play of sunlit waves — the light of summer skies Are in their merry dances, and love-illumined eyes. Damsels and Shepherds — Joy is everywhere. The Spirit of Love is abroad, The Festival of Pan. '37 And the music in the air Is breathed by thi" lips of a God. (The notes of a hunting-liorn are heard. Hunters enter singing). Hunters' So)ig — • The red dawn flames in the Eastern sky, As away, to the gallant hunt we hie ; Hark ! through the merry woods ring out The hounds' deep bay, and the hunters' shout. The savage prey, with crouching form And gleaming tusks, deep hidden lies. Pan startles him with a sudden alarm — Away through the forest in terror he flies. At bay, he glares with des]iairing eyes. The hounds are upon him, his race is o'er ; He is under the ban Of the great god Pan. And our flocks shall dread his fangs no more. The day is done. The prey is won. In triumph let Pan and his wood-nymphs hear The horn, and the clash of the hunting sj>ear ; And the darkling woods ring merrily out \\'ith the hounds' deep bay and th(> hunters' shout. 3^ Hymn to Pan. HYNM TO PAN. The Priest^ Now to the altar. Hunters, shepherd swains. And you. ^-e gentle maids and children, come : No heart must fail to-day, no tongue be dumb. Rich bounty Pan hath poured. j)raise- him in loftiest strains. (They all guthcr near. The children form an inner eirelc ronnii the altar, and lay their garlands upon it. The priest pours the offering as the people sing their hvnin (If praise to Pan). The ri])cned grain like seas of gold. Are rolling o'er each fertile field, And multiplied a thousand fold Our teeming flocks and orchards yield. () bounteous Pan ! the source of all Art thou ! To thee our thanks we bring. Hear us, as on thy gracious name we call — Hear us, O Sliej^herd King. Come not in terrors cUul to-day ; Shake not the mountains in thy wrath ; With Echo, through the forests plav. Bid Naiads dance about thy path. With love-songs fill the murmuring woods, Spread flowers where'er thy feet have trod By silver streams in sylvan solitudes — ■ Hear us. O Forest God. Hymn to Pan. 39 The grandeur of the towering hills. The charms ot jieaceful vales are thine : Thine is the quickening breath that fills The earth clod with a soul divine. The mystic spell of i)rophet lore. The }>oet's power, with thee began ; All praise be thine with worship evermore — Hear us, O mighty Pan. 40 Hercules. HERCULES. A LYRIC DRAMA. Sung by the Melbourne Liedertafel. Music bv Alfred Plu.mptox. ARGUMENT. The first scene is in Olympus, where the Immortals are rejoicing over the approaching Apotheosis of Hercules, but Jove declares that a deadly trial awaits him, and sends Hermes to warn him. The second scene is at Eubcea. Hercules, erecting an altar, receives the message from Jove, and Lichas brings him, from Deianira, the white robe in which he is to offer sacrifice. The robe has been anointed with a subtle poison given by Nessus, under the pretence that it is a love charm, to Deianira, who, in a fit of jealousy, has used it for the purpose of securing to her- self the love of her husband. Hercules puts on the Hercules. 4^ robe, and the poison fastens upon him, eating with the robe into his flesh. The last scene is on Mount Oeta. Hercules, in his agon\', casts himself into the flames of the altar prepared for sacrifice. As he lies in the fire, Nessus and a chorus of Demons exult in his torment, and in their apparent triumph over the son of Jove. Hercules, for awhile despairing, supplicates his father's aid. Hermes appears strengthening him. As the flesh of Hercules consumes, the flames die down into a clear radiance, from which his glorified form is seen rising towards heaven. At the gate of heaven Hercules is met by Hebe, who, amid the acclamations of the Deities, presents him with the garland of Perpetual Youth and the crown of Im- mortal Love. Scene I. Olympus. Chorus of Immortals — Over the bright celestial plains arid hills Where joy and bliss supreme for ever dwell A warmer glow of heavenly radiance thrills, And louder songs of praise and triumph swell. Th' Olympian mountains tremble at the strain. The name of Hercules — by every tongue From heaven to earth and back to heaven again In mighty tempest of acclaim is flung — Hercules ! Hercules ! 42 Hercules. Incarnate strength of God on earth. Victor in work and warfare crowned. Cast off tliy mould of mortal tiirlh ! Henceforth enthroned in heaven be found — Hercnles ! Hercules ! But see ! 1 he clouds that veil the seat Of Jove, roll back ! The Thunderer calls Hermes, who hastes with winged feet. And at the father's footstool falls. Jove {to Heniics) — Fly earthward, Hermes ! My all-conquering son Too soon belie \'es his final victory won ; Warn him that, by the Fates permitted yet To rage in mad rebellion 'gainst the skies, A deadlier power than he has ever met. With subtle snare, unseen Ix-fore him lies. Scene II. Euba-a. {Hercules erecting an altar, receives from Hermes the learning sent b\> Jove, and from Lichas the ivhite robe anointed ivith poison sent to him by Deianira). Hercules {to Hermes) — Thanks, Hermes ! Tho' thy message bodeth ill, The word of Jove to me is welcome still. Hercules- . 43 And if the foe be his, no less than mine. The trium]:)h must remain with power divine. Hcriiies- The time may come when thou shalt doulit Heav'n's might. Hercules — It hatli l^een so in many a hero tight ! In the dark hour of agony supreme His foes shriek triumph o'er him. As a dream The tumult passes, like the last wild roar Of waves at maddest height dash'd on a rocky shore. Jove grant that when my foes shall rave In the dread final shock, They, may be as the shattered wave, And 1, the unshaken rock. Hcniu's — Jove wills that when thy foes shall rave In the dread final shock, They shall be as the scatter'd wave, And thou th' unshaken rock. Hercules — ■ But now, to holy thoughts subdued, For this white robe I lay aside Spoil of herce war, and weapon rude. My club, and rugged lion-hide. 44 Hercules. {He clothes himself in the white garment from Deianira, the poison fastens on him). Hercules — Ah, Lichas ! Wretch ! What hast thou done ? Art thou the hidden treach'rous one ? {In his agony he hurls Lichas into the sea. Nessus ap- pears). Ness us — Still he consumes in anguish ! Vain All struggle ! Struck to heart and brain, Past help ! His very blood is bane, And ever^- nerve and sinew — pain ! Hercules — Bear me to Oeta. quickly there For a burnt sacrifice prepare. Scene III. Mount Oeta. {The funeral pyre of Hercules). Nessus {and Shades from Tartarus^) Shadows of departed dread To the realms of Hades fled, Lift your hydra heads again, Your great enemy is slain ! Gather round his funeral pile. In his death-throes him revile By whose prowess we were hurled To the gloomy underworld. Hercules. . 45 CHORUS. Gather round his funeral pile ! In his death- throes him revile By whose prowess we were hurled To the gloomy underworld. Come from every darksome den Lurking powers of evil might — Haters all of gods and men — Poisoning earth in Jove's despite ! Hydra-headed serpent brood, Dragons ! Beasts ! resume your reign ! Hercules is now subdued Rise and ravage earth again ! Gather round his funeral pile, In his death-throes him revile By whose prowess we were hurled To the gloomy underworld. Hercules {from the fire)-- Father divine ! Almighty Lord ! If this dread doom be my reward Will not thy service be abhorr'd And thou be never more adored ? Not for myself alone I cry — Jove's glory fades, if thus I die. 4^ Hercules- Nessus {to Hercules) — No answer cometh to thy prayer Save from the tongues of hissing flames. What should the heavens know, or care. Of pangs that dwell in mortal frames ? Thou boaster of celestial i^rth Despair, and die — poor son of earth ! Hermes {to Hercules) — If strength cUvine to thee belong. In suff'ring. as in fight, be strong ! Fear not the flames, they \\\]\ but slaj' All that can suffer or decay, Sacred baptismal fires are they Purging the taint of earth away. Chorus of Mortals — Art thou. O Jove, the enemy of good ? Or do th' infernal powers o'ermatch thine own ? Behold our greatest ! and thy son ! subdued ! A prev to mocking fiends in torture thrown. Now o'er the lurid scene a blinding flash Of lightning hurtles through the riven air, And rolling thunder's overwhelming crash At length th' almighty power of Jove declare. A tempest swecjis the mocking fiends away ; The altar flames become celestial light ; Hercules. 47 Hercules, like a new-born king of day Uprising, dazzles the l:)eholder's sight ; Unearthly music trembles through the air ; Unearthly glory fills the awestruck eye. Arrayed in rosy light, the Goddess fair Of Youth and Love to Hercules draws nigh. And the sweet waving of her radiant wings Celestial odours spreads, as thus she sings : Hthc {to Hercules)— Heav'n opens wide its shining gate ! Gods rend the skies with songs divine. And Jov^e himself in awful state Unveils the glory of his shrine. At his right hand behold thy throne, In me, his crowning gift approve. In me, he gives thee for thine own Undying Youth — Eternal Love. Earth vibrates to the strain. Heax'n's arches ring, ^^'hilst gods and men unite thy praise to sing. Hercules ! Hercules ! Thou wert the strength of God on earth, Victor in work and warfare crowned ; Now, freed from taint of mortal birth. For e\-er throned in Hea\'en be found Hercules ! Hercules ! 4^ Bacchus. BACCHUS. Scarcelv the first flush of triumph was j^ast Which the falhng of man over devils had cast, When the x\rch One assembled them all And said to them : " That which so well was begun Is far from completed, nay, much is undone Of the ruin I wrought at the fall. The Souls that I hurried so nearly to hell Once more in the joy of their Maker may dwell ; The fallen, become the forgiven. And sunn'd in the love of Omnipotence, earth Break through the dark cloud of its sin, giving birth To joys not unworthy of heav^en." Wildly then hell and its conclave raged Writhing in envy and hate, Till Bacchus arising, all visions engaged : Still'd was their fury, in wonder assuaged For his eyes seemed with triumph elate. " You marvel," he said, " That I join not the cry Of malice defeated, which hell raises high Bacchus. 49 To hear that the plan of our chieftain is foiled And that man shall regain the proud peace we despoiled. But the Spirit through me of a deep working charm Shall still the best good of his nature deform, And pleasing his palate shall secrete within The cup of his pleasures the madness of sin. Scarce hath he a virtue or generous flame Unknown to an evil extreme, Wherein its best energies work into shame, Or waste in a lustful dream, And mine is the Agent most mighty to level The warmth of his good with the lire of his evil. The joy the love gives him in heaven had birth And came with its purity perfect to earth, I'll deepen its warmth to a passionate craving For pleasures inconstant, depraved, and depraving. Just is the anger which honesty feels When actions of wrong the wrongdoer reveals ; But over that wave of emotion I'll sweep And stir not its surface yet poison its deep. Till man dragging man to the pitfalls of fate In the lust of revenge and the bhndness of hate, Shall seem, if you look not too closely within, The Spirit of justice at warfare with sin. When passion shall rise with the spirit of drink Restraint like a thread in a furnace will shrink. Then mirth shall be madness and blood shall be flame, And virtue shall seem but a spiritless shame, 50 Bacchus. And all that is good in this proud piece of dust Shall wither and burn in the fire of his lust." He ceas'd and through the vault of hell Resounded a triumphant yell. As if the work triumphantly were done Triumphal celebration was begun. A globe of light, o'er which a creeping cloud Seemed surely working to become its shroud Resembled Earth, straight thence a clouded line Led where the relics of an Art divine (Such blasphemy possessed the unforgiven) Had wrought in hell a mimicry of heaven. Far to the left, in depth and darkness rode A lurid image of their own abode. Crossing the line from earth to heaven, behold ! The art of Bacchus hath a river rolled Whose end is hell ! And pausing on the brink Shadows resembling man are seen to drink. 'Tis sweet ! They drink again. Yet sweeter still ; Again ! It charms ! What fire their bosoms fill ; Again — Again ? With frenzied laugh and scream They plunge, and wallow swine-like in the stream! And driving onward with the torrent force. Speed headlong down their hell-directed course. Gloating ujion the sight the foes of man An arch of triumph for the wave began. Bacchus. 5i And as its span from bank to bank was cast Hell shook throughout with one exulting blast. One, and but one. Transfixed with sudden pain The grasping demons could not shout again. They could but gaze, and see the creeping cloud Arrested on the globe it sought to shroud. Less clouded grew the line from earth to heaven. Though through it still the demon's wav^e was driven The arch of triumph, slowly changing shape, Bridge-like became a way of sure escape, And Temperance upon it took her stand, Asked but the wish and gave her saving hand, Even of those who in the torrent raved Such as would grasp that ready hand were saved. Then Eagle Triumph, in the soul of hell Suddenly smitten, from existence fell. Despair sat sullenly on all save one — Satan — who seeing what might yet be done — To rouse his followers forged a ready lie. And cried blasphemingly — Fear not ! 'Twas I Whose will called up these phantoms to your view, That so I might recall ye, to pursue Action, in place of triumph premature. Stej) last should be, enjoy — step first — ensure ! Ye craven sj)irits ! were ye even now Sure of the fruit, yet unassayed the bough. And now not once evoked, lies Effort dead Before the frightings of a shadowed dread ? 52 Bacchus. Shame kill such fear ! O Bacchus, if thy deed Equal thy boast, Such effort shalt thou need As, till the end is gained, must shun with care These moods relaxed of triumph and despair, Drink is a mighty Agent ! Yet will some Both tempter and temptation overcome. Others will love our means of ill too well And work upon themselves the will of hell. Then, Bacchus, to thy work! And aid him well All ye unnumbered subtleties of hell ! Creep from the wine cup to the soul of man And finish there the work your chief began, Form well the a])petite, prepare the feast, Let taste for sin by tasting be increased. Let Reason drown and Passion take her place ; Till Pleasure leave of Purity no trace. Conscience, at first, may foil your deepest snare, The cup again will be your triumph there. Before it, every upright thought will bend, The cup ! the cup ! shall triumph to the end. On his mission Bacchus went. Many aiding him were sent, How succeeding, this may tell ; Great rejoicing was in hell. Victorian Jubilee Ode. 53 VICTORIAN JUBILEE ODE. Music by Alfred Plumpton. [This Ode was performed, by authority and in presence of the Government of Victoria, by the leading Musical Societies of Melbourne, as part of the State programme arranged for the celebration of the Queen's Jubilee. The enthusiastic reception accorded to it by an immense audience, bore testimony to the deeply-rooted love and lovalty of the people of Australia to the Queen and Commonwealth of the land still universally known among them by the dear nams of " Home "]. Hark to the rolling tide Of myriad Jubilees, In swelling harmonies spread far and wide Like earth surrounding seas. From frozen pole to torrid zone, Hymns are ascending to thy throne, Remotest East to the Far West replies. Lifting thy glorious name unto the skies — Victoria I 54 Victorian Jubilee Ode. II. Thy reign, like a fair morning star begun, Growing still fairer, clearer, and more bright ; Now o'er the western wave, a glorious sun Full orbed in splendour, floods the world with light. O Queen ! whose sovereign might Stands ever for the right, And rules the free ; From this triumphant hour May God uphold thv power. Till Heaven be thy dower. All hail to thee ! III. Southward, O Queen ! now turn thy face. List to a daughter of thy race ; A babe among the nations : Yet to Fame Not all unknown. She bears thine own great name. J'ictoria — Queen of my mother land, to thee This day with fervent heart I raise My brightest torch of love and praise. Mother of nations, as thy children throng Around thee, each with song succeeding song. Oh, warm and welcome may my tribute be. Thou gavest me a royal gift — thy name ! A sacretl pledge and heritage of fame, Victorian Jubilee Ode. 55 And I ujx)n my brow with pride will wear it, And in my heart of hearts with lov'e will bear it. Around thee a halo of glor\' Is shed from a mighty past, And the dawning rays of a future Still brighter are round thee cast. Thou art shrined in a glow of splendour — A glory of world-wide love — That encircles thy throne, and uplifts it All earthly thrones above. Awake, my Austral Sisters, Let selfish strife be done, The glory of our future By union must be won. IV. The call is heard. The Soutliern brood Of giants rise in joyous mood. Each like an infant Hercules But now in cradle sleeping. Awakes in deadly grip to seize Serj)ents of discord creeping. Th' envenomed reptiles writhe in \'ain In eaf^h sinewy grasp — Thy arc slain ! They are slain ! In sure accord the song shall be Of the Sisters that dwell in the Austral sea ; 56 Victorian Jubilee Ode. Across their borders hand seeks hand, They are one in their love of the Fatherland ! In soal and kindred one are they. One name inspires each heart and voice to-day — Victoria ! New South Wali's — I am the eldest born, but none Of first or last shall speak to-day — Greater or less, we come as one The tribute of our love to pay. The Colonies United — Nor for the majesty alone That come to thee with crown and throne, But for the pure unsullied fame Of thine own life we bless thy name. The Southern isles fair greetings send, Fervent, as skies that o'er them bend, Tn loving lovalty addressed To the dear islands of the West. Beloved Queen ! thy people's joy is thine, Therefore we pra\ — may gifts divine, Heaven's bounties in full garnered store, Be thine and theirs for evermore. Victorian Jubilee Ode. 57 VI. Thus over all the world thy peoples raise Their songs : the Heav'ns are filled with prayer and praise. Their glory on thy regal brow Undimmed, unstained, hath ever been, Therefore our hearts to thee we bow, We love our Nation in our Queen. God keep thee still in that high place Of world-wide Empire ! 'Neath thy sway Mav Britain still th' ethereal grace Of Heaveu-born liberty display. In every heart, O love divine, Through all the realms bid discord cease. And govern all with power benign Of justice, jHirity, and peace. VII. As a mandate from on high The Nations hear, and echo back the cry. All Nations— Thrust back the half-drawn sword ! Henceforth be war abhorr'd ! Stifle the cannon's roar ! Sow blood, reap tears, no more ! 5^ Victorian Jubilee Ode. Ye winds of God, song laden as ye fly Over all lands and seas — Proclaim the Jul)ilee of Jubilees ! O Lord our God arise ! Confound all enmities ! And make them fall. Peace and good-will draw nigh ! Fell strife and discord die ! Oh. hear Thy children cry — God save us all ! Love Reigneth Over All. 59 LOVE REIGNETH OVER ALL. AN ODE TO MUSIC. Sung by the Metropolitan Liedertafel of Melbourne. Music by Professor Elsasser. The Seas, the Lakes, the Mountains, and the Trees Are hving presences ; and he who sees Beneath the surface, till this truth be known, Is ne\'er less alone, than when alone. II. Music everywhere Spreading wide as sunlight and air Fills the open ear With harmony full and clear. Grand — -when the fierce storm is pouring Wrath on the forest and mountains ; Sweet— when the I)irds' songs are soaring Over the mi'adows and fountains ; 6o Love Reigneth Over AH. Wild — when ocean deep, With the throb of the storm in its waves, Springs with thundering leap At the rocks and the roaring caves. III. But the purest, grandest tones that float around Earth and heaven, are but empty sound Till responsive souls receive and raise the tone Into songs and anthems of their own. IV. Rest, weary heart ! Gently murmur the rills ; Hope thou in God ! Sing the forest-clad hills : Storm stirs the soul, like a battle song, cheering the fight In the conflict for Right. v. Thunder's roll and the fierce Lightning's ray Drive fell vapours and dark mists away, Clearing the heavens for a brighter day. Tempest and darkness receding. Splendour of sunshine succeeding, Beautv clothes the earth in her brightest array. Love Reigneth Over All. 6i VI. Join in our chorus of joy, O Earth ! Thou in thy sunshine as we in our mirth. Bright Thoughts and Fancies troop on us in throngs, Raptures of Spirit burst forth into songs ; All the glow of Love revealing, Rising with its genial power Through the darker moods of feeling Into Joy's triumphant hour. VII. Aid us Music ! Words cannot utter what souls can feel — • Mighty Music ! Thought cannot shape what thy tones may reveal. VIII. In the splendour of light and loveliness glowing before us, A glory of Infinite Tenderness seems to bend o'er us, And blissful greetings fall As if Heav'n would take from the earth all its sadness, And fill every soul with only this one song of gladness — Love reigneth over all. 62 Mount Pizgah. MOUNT PIZGAH. Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was and the spirit shall return to God who gave it. " Thou ancient man, with face and brow deep lined, Furrowed with heavy sorrow, care, or sin. Yet with keen eyes uplifted clear and bright, Surelv thy thoughts are not of Earth, but Heaven. I prav thee think aloud — and thus he spake. "Standing upon the margin of the grave " Beyond the time allotted man on Earth. " The Spirit in my flesh is searching deep *' Beneath all outward fleeting forms of things "To find the truth and essence of their being. " What is their real existence ? what is mine ? " One certain truth is clear : the actual life "Is not the seen but the invisible. " All human faculty of vision needs "Correction of the record first received. "First sight is but appearance — Often false " With dee[)er sight and fuller knowledge — some — " (Alas how few) may reach reality. Mount Pizgah. 63 " What shall we sa}' then ? Did the Power which gave "Our eyes and reason — give them but to mock us ? " Nay verily ! The simplest Soul on earth *' May come to truth, and God. if but the search ''' Be earnest and sincere. The thickest veil " Twixt us and Truth is self sufftciency ; " With lack of faith in Goodness and in God '''l"he only and the great realities. " Though Clouds and darkness Are round about Him — Righteousness and Judgment, Are still the habitation of His scat. How stands it then, before that Seat, with thee Thou earth-stained soul? WilP- Righteousness and Judgment " Reward or punish ? In the eyes of men The record of thy life is fair. More free From stain — more noted for good deeds Than that of man\- who have won the praise And love of man. But '■ Righteousness and Judg- ment," Looking npon it with the eye of (iod, May set a higher standard. '■ High above "The Seat Righteousness and Judgment, stands " The Throne of Mercy. On it sits the Christ ! "With awful reverence and fear I knelt ^'Before the Judgment seat, with head l)owed low " In guilty shame until a higlu-r \()ice 64 Mount Pizgah. " Called me to look upon the face of Him — " The perfect Son of God and Son of Man : " And, in the faith of Him, my brother, seek " And find atonement. So I die, assured " That He and I in God are one for ever." Granmer. CRANMER. 1 . The Papal Commission. 2. Clergy in Council. 3. The Recantations. 4. The Eve of Execution. 5. The Vision. 6. St. Mary's Church, Oxford, 21st March, 1556. 7. The Martyrdom. Scenes seven brief as early dawn Wherein, a curtain of the night That threaten'd England's life and light. Once, and for ever, was withdrawn. " It was witli the unerrinfj instinct of a populai' movement " that, among a crowd of far more heroic sufferers, the '■ Protestants fixed, in spite of his recantations, on the " martyrdom of Granmer as the death blow to Catholicism " in England."— WiVoo' o////f English Pn^f-U ((hfen)- 66 Granmer. Scene i. — The Papal Commission. In London. — Tite Queen's Representative and the Papal Coniiiiissioni'f seated for judgment. Papal Commissioner — Call Cranmer, Lord Archbishop, here ! Cvanmer is brought in — he kneels to the Queen s Representative, Cranmer — My duty, humbly as a loyal subject I tender to my Sovereign in your person. He rises from his knees, goes to a seat and turns to the Papal Commissioner. For you 1 have another kind of greeting ! Came you, in courteous guise as stranger here ? All due respect and courtesy were yours ! From me, or from our Monarch. Yea from all ! From highest noble to the lowliest peasant ! But, coming with a proud usurping mien Granmer. 67 Of majesty, to bend our souls and bodies 'Xeath Foreign yoke — Calls rude defiance forth. lit- stanils up, puts his licit upon Ins head, and faces the I'apal Cojiniiisstouer. In England's name thus I arise and stand With covered head before your boastful presence. The Connnissioucf — Take back this proud Archbishop to his prison. Sharply and shortly Rome shall deal with him. Scene 2. — Clergy in Colncil. A Priest— Now touching Cranmer's fate — he hath recanted. Is not our honour pledged that he should live ? Bishop Bonnvr — It cannot be— So great a danger lies In that one life to Rome— to Holy Church- To the eternal welfare of the souls Of all who dwell within these stately realms. We have to choose twixt death for this one man ; And worse than death for all the English people. Therefore this man must die. 68 Cranmer. ScicNE 3. — The Recantations. Cranmer in pyison — Messen^eis present him nith a paper con- tainini^ a sevenili recantation. Cranmer — Another yet ! I h;u'c before Signed six ! What need of this one more ? Messenger — Good Lord Archl)ishop — 'tis too late To qnestion now ! Impending Fate Approaching, will not bend or tm-n From this one answer — sign, or burn ! Cranmer, tremhliiij^, hesitates awliile, but at last siij^ns the paper. The Messenger takes if and leaves him with head bowed and tears falling. Cranmer — Peter denied his sacred Master thrice ! Sev'n times the self-same shameful crime have I Committed, dooming soul a sacrifice To flesh that feared in flaming fires to die. O wretched man ! none can deliver me. If life be granted — What has life to give To me — unworthy ? Better not to be Than in my shameful degradation live. Granmer. 69 ScKNE 4. — The Eve of Execution. Cyanmer aIo)U' /n prison — Vain was my' cowardice ! Mv cruel toes Have trick'd me with false hope ! M3' doom is sealed ! My weak and weary life must close in shame — In bitter agony' and burning pain. Weaker than woman ! Very babes in Christ Have gone before me bearing high their cross Triumphantly, where I in trembling fear Faltered and failed ! I am a coward still : Witness the tremor of each shrinking nerve, And thrilling fibre of my poor weak flesh In })iteous horror of to-morrow's pain. The awful agony of death in flames ; Chained to the burning stake ! O, aid me, Lord. Why did'st thou trust so frail a thing as I In this great office — O be merciful ! Sustain me in my last dread agony ! Scexe 5. — The Vision. At length to grief was r(^S[)ite gi\-en I)t'( p slumber tell 011 him hom Hea\'eu. 70 Cranmer. Cr.infiiev axvahbtg — O surely God was with me in my dream ! Thanks be to His Great Name for His great goodness. I knelt with Jesus in Gethsemane In His last agony — An Angel came To strengthen Him — The sacred passion passed Before me in my vision to the end The triumph of Ascension into Hea\'en, After the bitter march to Calvary — The long drawn agony upon the cross — The cry " O why hast Thou forsaken Me ? " In that supreme and awful hour, when God The Father, from the Son had veiled His face. The Angel who had strengthened Christ remained With me and said : " I am to stay with thee. " Fear nothing further — God who made thee knows " Thy strength and weakness He did not expect " A greater service from thee than the nature " He gave to thee could render Him — His power " Compels all instruments to work His Will. " Thy weakness is ordained to be a power " Most mighty, to destroy the Evil Spirit " Permitted hitherto to rage in breasts " That should be full of Christ's own tenderness. " Thou shalt be weak no longer ! I am with thee. ■" Before thy Judges and amid the flames " I will support thee — speak through thee, and bear " Thy ransomed soul from Death to Christ in Heaven. Cranmer. 71 Scene 6.— At St. Mary's Church, Oxi-ord, 2ist March, 1556. Cranmer, divested of his robes, prepared for the stake, chained to a pillar — A croji'd filling the Church. Priest preaching to the people — Sad sight ye people ! From the starry sphere To see so bright a star so fallen here ! Over his crime and sorrow Angels weep ! High placed was he l)y God. to kee]i From heresy the guarded sheep ; Anointed guardian of the Sacred Way — He first himself — and then his people, led astray ! This faithless Shepherd gave no bread From Heav'n, but culled the bitter weed Of heresy his flock to feed — Poison'd the sheej) he should have fed ! Yet late a gleam of mere}' shines on hiui. For God hath pierced the cloud that lay so dim And dark'ning on his vision — Seven times He hath recanted ! Here I show to you — Signed by himself this paper, whfre his crimes And heresies stand clear for pul)lic view. 72 Cranmer. Cranmer ! Apostate ! late Archbishop ! Now ! Repentant heretic — arise and speak ! In penitence before God's Altar bow ! For thv departing soul. God's pardon seek ! A niuymuy among the croivd — Ye will not suffer him on earth to live ; Yet ask of God — pardon in Heaven to give. Cranmer— Almighty God, And Thou — all jntying Redeemer, hear me. Unworthy. I. to touch thy garment's hem, Yet stand I here as Thou in Thy last hours, Stood facing cruel bitter enemies. Who. in their darkness, verily believed They did God service by destroying Thee. Priests to the listening people — Silence the bold lilasphemer I Lo ! himself He likens unto Christ I TJie people re)iiaiii silent. Cranmer — Forgi\-e these priests ! Their zeal and passion for their office blind them. They know not what they do ! Ye people all Hear me confess my sin and weakness — Pray To God for me that He will grant me pardon. Cranrner. 73 I — dreading death and torture — I — So highly placed by God in this great land — Anointed Leader of the Sacred Host. Guarding the Holy Gospel's truth and love -- In fear turned traitor. This unworthy hand That signed my false recantings — When I come To death, shall first be thrust into the fire Justly condemned to perish. He is silenced by coinman.i of the Cleygy and taken from the church to the place of execution — the crou'd folloiving. Voices from the croi^d — The gentle good old man ! Why do they handle him so roughly ? — Shame Upon their cruel violence I Scene 7. — The M.^rtvrdom. Arriving at the place of execution Cranrner is fastened to the stake, the faggots of wood are piled about him and the fire is lighted. As the flames arise he is seen to thrust his right hand into the fire and hold it there until it is quite consumed. As Cranrner dies tin Priests cliaunt — Laus Deo ! So shall perish all The Enemies of God. ^ And traitors to the Church shall fall Beneath her holy rod ! 74 Granmer- Viiices answer fyo)ii the Crowd — Ye think ye triumph but these deeds of yours Ye slanderers — not ministers — of God — These slaughterings — these torturings and tires Devouring feeble folk and aged saints, Shall burn in England's soul a hate and scorn Wherein shall wither priestly power and pride For ev^er, where the freedom and the lov^e Of England shall with her free sons abide. Savonarola — Fra Angelico. 75 SAVONAROLA— FRA ANGELICO. [Written in Florence, after a visit to the Church and Convent of St. Mark's, and the place opposite the Palazzo Vecchio, where Savonarola and his two friends were executed.] Florence ! — \\'ell named the Fair ! Of all thy loveliness W hat shall my memory retain ? Two names — Sav^onarola — Fra Angelico. Angelico ! For thee the monkish cell Was not a refuge for a timid soul Anxious for self in this world or the next — Thy Prayer was Labour, and thy Labour, Prayer — Thy painter's art, a holy gift. No face Or figure wouldst thou paint for hire. Upon thy knees, before the cross, was sought, And found, the inspiration for thy work. Then, as the heav'n-l)orn thought or feeling came, Thy soul, aflame with fervent piety. Through sleepless nights of prayer and tears would form Visible images of things unseen. 7^ Savonarola— Fra Angelica- Ethereal, divine, and sj^ritual, Which then, in eager haste, thuie liands would fi.\ lipoii the convent walls, or in the cells \\'here simple men. uplifting eyes in prayer. From early dawn to night might plainly read The passion and the love of Christ the Lord And of His holy followers. Thy labour In sacred passion lasted till the power Of the divine Afflatus, overpassed, Forsook thee : then the brush was laid aside And never after was the holy work Profaned with colder touch. Savonarola ! May the memory Of thee dwell ever in the minds of men To lift tliem from the common mire of self As nearly as their natures may attain The level of thy hoi}', hero spirit. Like unto us wert thou in weaker moments : — - God grant that at our best we may become At least a little like to thee. Once more Stand imag'd in my thought. — First as a youth ; Thy boyish love proudly repell'd with scorn — And thou as proudly flinging back the scorn. Then, with a nobler love, that loving, much Above the common, father — mother — kindred- Forsook them all for One above them all ; Savonarola — Fra Angelico. 77 Or. rather, sanctified and merged all love In love of God and all His suffering people. I see thee, as the toiling pilgrim, come To Florence, faint and weary unto death — Thy frame too weak for thy great soul in travail. Then, as the preacher — treated first with scorn By i)olished courtiers, fasting then with tears Deeming the fault thine own. But fire from heaven Consumed thee till thy tongue gave forth its message, And soon the ])roudest of the princely tyrants And the unholy pontiff, caring not For God or man, at last became afraid Of thee. The people loved thee as their Saviour And worshipped thee, and served thee till the arts Of i)rincely and of jiriestly enemies Blinded and dro\e them mad. Thev rudely tore thee ; Ikiffeted, spit upon, and cursed, to jM'ison — Tortured thee, till the frenzv of thy pain Forced from thee falsehoods which thy foes desired Against thyself, but not the lies they craved 'l~o slay thy friends. The\- hanged and burned thee there Where flows the fountain now at Neptune's foot. The multitude for whom thy life was given I'hronged round tliee in thy dying agon^■ To make thy last hour letter with their hate. Thy burning eloquence had been their shield Against o}:)pressors : now, no woid hadst thou To sliame tlieiu for \hv.\v Itaseness —one last look 7^ Savonarola — Fra Angelico. Alone replied to them. Over the raging mass One dying glance of love and pity lingered Till the consuming agony of death Veiled from thee all the sins and woes of earth. In Deep Affliction. 79 IN DEEP AFFLICTION. A dreary night is in my soul ; Fierce tempests are abroad ; Thy waves and storms above me roll ; Save me, Oh Lord, my God ! Bid the rude tempest's voice be dumb. Quiet this storm of ill; Ov^er the troubled waters come And whisper, — " Peace, be still." 8o The Angel's Prayer. THE ANGELS' PRAYER. Was it only Fancy, playing With a pleasure too di\-ine ? Heard I not the angels, i>i'aying 0\-cr their belov'd and mine ? Guardian angels — from the portal Of a loving mother's eye Watching over children, mortal. \\'lio might yet with angels \-ie ? Yes ! Mv grosser senses clearing Came to me celestial air, Filled divinely with the hearing Of the guardian angels' prayer. What the prayer was — though I heard it- Heard, and understood it well, Never shall a mortal word it Till in lR'a\'n he learn the spell. l)Ut to that divine petition, -Answer meet could not l)e gi\'en Sa\-e l)y breaking down jiartition In their li\-es 'twi.xt earth and heaven. The Angels' Prayer. 8i And the sound of angel voices Comes to me more dimly now. While that host in heav'n rejoices We, bereaved, on eartli must bow. But where fullest joy is chanted Place for us shall yet be given, Where the angels' prayer was granted, Where our children are. in heaven. Triumph. TRIUMPH. Up, servant of the cross ! Despise the mood That droops beneath the loss Of earthly good. Thou art not one of those With whom earth's joys and woes Are all in all. Life cannot hold a j^ain, Nor earth reveal a gain, Nor Time itself contain Aught that should bid immortal souls remain Content with the world's good, or bowed beneath its pall. Dost thou a cloudy lot In life inherit ? Doth some dark secret spot Corrode thy spirit ? Rise from this passing earth, This dawning of thv birth, In faith sublime. Triumph. 83 Survey Infinity There with thy God shall be Thine own eternity ! Go bathe thy Spirit in that boundless sea, And in its promised bliss forg(^t the smart of Time. 8-j- Immortality. IMMORTALITY. The thinking Spirit in the act of thought. Out of the narrow bounds of earth and time Is hfted. and. if rightly moved, is brought To realms eternal — infinite — sublime. Earth bounden Souls — for you — what can be done, Who only see in Man the earthly clod ? Some are born blind and cannot see the sun, Some blind in Sj>irit cannot see their God, Some, wilfull}', are soul destroyers ! They Choose darkness rather than the light of day. But the pure spirits who have humbl}' trod The u]iward paths, to all men open free, Have looked into the very face of God And gained the gift of immortality. The Indwelling Spirit- THE INDWELLING SPIRIT. " Jesus answered and said . . . . If a man love me he will keep My words : and My l-"ather will lo\e him, and We will come unto him, and make Our abode with him." John xiv. 23. Man hath a finer nerve than that of Sense — A wider reahn than this his house of clay. His soul, in thought, can cleave an onward way That knows no boundary in depth or height. And hails, with reverent kinship and delight The Love — the Wisdom — the Omnipotence That sway all Powers in earth and heaven combined And make of Matter, nought but slave to Mind. Father of Spirits, — m the name Of Christ, Thy promised gift we claim ! Grant that our souls, as Thou hast willed. By Thine own Spirit may be tilled. So shall thv holy, loving purpose, hid In Ages i)ast, to fuller life be brought And greater works than those which Jesus did* lilessing Mankind. b\- us through Him be wrought. * John siv. 12.. 85 The Men That Are To Be. THE MEN THAT ARE TO BE. "What apiece of work is a man! how noble in reason ! how infinite in faculty ! in form and moving how express and admirable ! in action, how like an angel ! in apprehension how like a God ! " " Sure, He that made us with such large discourse, Looking before and after, gave us not That capability and God-like reason To rust in us unused." — S' // akesjycii re . " The spirit of man is the Lamp of the Lord." Prov. XX. 27. " And Ciod created man in His own image." Gen. i. 27. " In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was (iod." " And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us." John 1. 1-14. " Know ye not that ye are a temple of God." 1 Cor. iii. 16. K.V. " Ye are the salt of the earth. Ye are the light of the world " "Ye therefore sliall be perfect as your Heavenly Father is perfect." Matt. V. 13, 14, 48. K.V. The Men That Are To Be. §7 Backward : — Men of old Look'd for the age of Gold, Dreaming of Men of nobler breed. Children of Heaven and God indeed. ^^'e to the future turn our gaze, Still searching for the better days Which Faith eternally is sure Man sometime — somewhere shall secure. In those great days we in our visions see What shall the men be like that are to he ? First — strictly just and righteous — in the name Of Him whose word to ancient Hebrews came. And they shall be most merciful and pure. Last — greatest gift of all — they shall secure From Heav'nly fountains flowing full and free, God's infinite, Eternal Charity, And bear it as the torch of Life and Light To ev'ry corner of the dark world's night. O who will lead the world to reach This great Ev^angel ? \\'ho will teach The faltering, struggling lips to spell The Word that shall the true faith tell UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY Los Angeles This book is DUE on the last date stamped below. UCLA-Young Research Library PR9619.3.E96 A17 1907 L 009 520 811 2 UC SOUTHERN REGIONAL LIBRARY FACILITY