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THE DAT-STAE PEOPHET. 
 
THE DAT-STAR PEOPHET. 
 
 BT 
 
 MRS. ALFRED ALLNUTT. 
 
 5? 
 
 LONDON: 
 HURST AND BLACKETT, PUBLISHERS, 
 
 13, GEEAT MAELBOEOUGH 8TEEET. 
 1865. 
 
 Tfee i'ight of translation it reserved. 
 
LOlfDOW : 
 
 SAVILI, AWD BDWABDS, PBIKTEBS, CHAND08 STBBBT, 
 
 COVBITT GABDBW. 
 
95-3 
 
 TO THE 
 
 BLESSED MEMORY 
 OP 
 
 JOHN THE BAPTIST 
 
 THIS LITTLE POEM 
 IS REVERENTLY AND LOVINGLY 
 
 Inscribeb, 
 
 780 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 PAC» 
 
 THE ADVENT 3 
 
 THE PEEPAEATION 31 
 
 THE VOCATION 55 
 
 THE MAETTEDOM 77 
 
 (^34 
 
 (m 
 
 © 
 
^t %)ik\\i 
 
 "Thy peatee is heaed! and thy wife Elizabeth shall 
 beae thee a son, and thou shalt call his name 
 John !" Luke i. 13. 
 
^t %)}knt 
 
 HEY are old, 
 The two who wander there, 
 Drinking clear draughts of scented 
 mountain air, 
 Ere yet tlie Evening's breeze hath sighed farewell 
 To the last gleam of gold 
 
 That pales and dies, touched by Night's shadowy spell. 
 And yet a glow, 
 
 Beyond the glow of youth, hath gemmed their eyes 
 Up-cast with martyr-rapture to the skies : 
 Such as perchance was kindled by the sight 
 Of Canaan's land, vouchsafed on Pisgah's height. 
 In his who ne'er within its bounds might go. 
 But who beheld it, — and was satisfied ; 
 Beheld the goodly land, — gave thanks, and — died. 
 3 B 2 
 
THE ADVENT. 
 
 A Calm and holy glow 
 
 Such as reflects the peace they, and they only, know. 
 
 Who having woo'd some Hope, with passionate desire. 
 
 Have watched it, murmurless, but sad, expire : 
 
 Who having wept it forth in burning tears. 
 
 And wrestled for it in strong cries and prayers. 
 
 Have listened to Grod's voice that answered — No ! 
 
 And silent at His feet have let it go ! 
 
 This they have done, the two who pause serene 
 
 To gaze upon the Landscape's sunset scene, 
 
 And read the message of its Maker's Love 
 
 Writ in the waves of the sky tide above, 
 
 As in a golden mirror glassing Heaven ! 
 
 To them the foretaste of a joy was given. 
 Yet undefined ! and had you asked them why 
 Their beaming eye shone forth their ecstasy. 
 They had not found reply, 
 For we can feel, 
 
 (We, living mysteries ! who lost such light 
 When Adam hid among the Eden-glooms, 
 That now, a thousand forms elude our sight 
 This side our Tombs, 
 That else had brought us weel), 
 4 
 
THE ADVENT. 
 
 Tes, we can feel, what yet hath learned no word 
 To whisper of its heing, scarce begun ; 
 Can feel our deep heart's fibres thrilled and stirred 
 By Heaven's choirs, albeit all unheard ; 
 For mighty joys, when shaping for the birth, 
 Vibrate with dawning life, the expectant One 
 Who shall receive them, — ere they reach the 
 earth ! 
 
 He is a Priest, the venerable man. 
 And Zacharias named, and she, his wife 
 Elizabeth, hath shared, as woman can. 
 The chequer'd joy and grief that made his life. 
 Their home is lowly, nestled 'mong the hills, 
 Yet shadowed by some grand o'ertowering Palm 
 Among whose branches Angels fold their wings. 
 Whispering of Heaven, when the air is calm. 
 But most, to minister those Angels love 
 To the aged Pilgrims, whose lone dwelling-place 
 Is here ; shining so radiant, with the grace 
 Of righteous walk, and humble worshipping, 
 And steadfast faith. Of such the Angela sing 
 Memorials in the Palace of their King 
 When they return above. 
 6 
 
THE ADTENT. 
 
 Thrice blessed Pair ! 
 
 May we the rapture share 
 
 That lights your eye, but hushes all your tougue ; 
 
 For we will stir your silence, with the breath 
 
 Of our warm sympathy, until its tide 
 
 Breaks into ripples, sways our hearts with yours, 
 
 And we together glide 
 
 Into the same sweet current, 
 
 Over which, the Bow of Promise hung 
 
 By God's own Hands, 
 
 Our onward progress spans ! 
 
 The Priest hath deeper musings, more sublime 
 Aspirings, than the wife. 
 
 Though both weighed anchor, and set Thought afloat 
 From the same moorings on the coast of Life, 
 To which fond Memory had steered the boat 
 A backward course, through Time. 
 A glittering spot ! where first the Sun of Love 
 Broke on their Lives, filling them all with light ; 
 Broke as a revelation from Above, 
 And taught all things a fresh significance ; 
 While thousand forms burst on their gladdened sight. 
 Undreamed of heretofore ! — a new born sense 
 6 
 
THE ADVENT. 
 
 Showed all things changed to joy ; but chief, displayed 
 Each to the other, glorified, — and made 
 Conformable to the Ideal, — dawning 
 Upon their hearts, waked up, in Love's young 
 
 Morning. 
 Then they recalled 
 
 How calmer joy, but not less joyful, came, 
 And a great Hope, they dared at last to name 
 To God, and to each other ; 
 " Oh, that Elizabeth might be a mother!" 
 x\.t first they prayed together, and were glad. 
 Waiting a token that their prayer was heard ; 
 xlnd then, more earnest, but apart, the word 
 Of strong entreaty rose to listening Heaven, 
 And still no son was given. 
 And even Hope grew sad ! 
 Yet still they asked, each curtaining the prayer 
 "Within the folds of Darkness, winging it with 
 
 tears 
 From solitary spots, the wife to spare 
 Her loved one, — he, his wife, — the double pain 
 Of a reflected disappointment ; — fain 
 To believe the other had forgot 
 The Hope that was ; — the Elessing that was not ! 
 7 
 
THE ADVE3fT. 
 
 Thus far tbey mused alike, — the Man receiving 
 What was — God's Making, — and at once believing 
 Had it been well, He bad bestowed a Son, 
 Bowed humbly, and exclaimed — " His Will be done !" 
 And in Submission's valley plumed his wing 
 For the pure flight of lofty worshipping. 
 
 But, woman-like, the woman lingered on 
 Beside the grave, where lay dead Hope — so wan, 
 Musing, as one who muses in a dream 
 Of what is not — and of what might have been. 
 
 She loved her Husband, with the loyal love 
 Of a true Woman, true to God above. 
 True to herself, and therefore true to One 
 Whom God's uniting made, not hers alone, 
 But her, — her very self, — in mystic type 
 Of the great Marriage, which when Time is ripe 
 For God to give 
 
 The Nuptial Benediction, shall unite 
 The holy Church, enrobed in shining white. 
 To Christ the priestly spouse, thenceforth to live 
 One, in one home, for ever ! 
 3 
 
THE ADYENT. 
 
 Well she knew 
 How deep and constant was the love he gave 
 In sweet exchange for hers. He was so true, 
 So gentle ! Yet at times, austere and grave. 
 He awed her; and thus awed, she loved him 
 
 more. 
 For Woman's love grows not beside the Man's 
 Like a young Palm, beside another Palm, 
 Growth answering growth, each self- sustained and 
 
 calm, 
 But as a climbing plant, strong only in the strength 
 It leans on, when it spans 
 A sturdy stem, uptwining to the top. 
 Hiding the sterner outline of its prop 
 With gay festoons, and many a glowing length 
 Of linked flowers ! 
 
 So she joyed to prove 
 That he had thoughts in which she bore no 
 
 part. 
 Because it showed him great, and gave her heart 
 A sheltering sense of lofty strength, and still 
 Beckoned her onward Nature to fulfil. 
 From higher spheres, its destiny of love. 
 9 
 
THE ADTENT. 
 
 And yet her love brought echoes back of pain, 
 
 For her poor heart, so satisfied with all 
 
 He was oft chafed itself, in secret thrall 
 
 Of power circumscribed, to be again 
 
 What she desired to him ; and longed and sighed 
 
 Eor small endearments, he had not denied 
 
 Except as deemed unworthy of such love. 
 
 Such trust as theirs, which even in the proof 
 
 Were injured, being held needing proof. 
 
 Oh, she had never known this heart's lorn strife, 
 
 Had God endowed her with a child's young life 
 
 To live for — For to Babes men lavish throw 
 
 A thousand little fruits that bloom and grow 
 
 On fair Afiection's boughs, which the Babe takes, 
 
 And, smiling at, forgets, or flings away ; 
 
 But which bis mother, gathering up, holds dear 
 
 For the hand's sake 
 
 That plucked them, and will lay 
 
 To ripen in the sunlight warm and clear 
 
 Of loving memory, to feast on with delight 
 
 Many days after. 
 
 Then thought wandered on. 
 And, leaving Self behind, only beheld 
 10 
 
THE ADYENT. 
 
 The warm and breathing image of a Son 
 With infant beauty filling all her home 
 And all her heart ; till her aspirings swelled 
 To a Hope come 
 
 Of higher inspiration than her own. 
 The Jewish Matrons not for Sons alone 
 Asked with the fervour of a woman's prayer, 
 They sigbed to welcome David's royal heir, 
 To guide the baby footsteps that one day 
 Should tread the earth in Universal sway. 
 And press to trembling lips the dimpled hand 
 Destined to wield the sceptre of their Land. 
 Then Love might lose itself in worshipping, 
 And captive Zion might behold her King ; 
 And, rising from the chains that thralled her now. 
 Place her bright diadem upon His brow ! 
 Oh, glorious hope ! th' exultant spirit soared 
 In rapturous entreaty, come, great Lord ! 
 Come even now. Desire of every ]S"ation ! 
 And bow all hearts in blissful adoration ! 
 Come not to me, to glad an humble home, 
 But to thine Israel, — to all Nations come ! 
 Elizabeth thus'gained the lofty height 
 Her priestly spouse more quickly had attained. 
 11 
 
THE ADYENT 
 
 He soared direct, as with an angel's flight, 
 AVhile she the same pure elevation gained 
 In devious climb and weary pilgrim tread ; 
 Both led, 
 
 By the same guiding, to one holy rest — 
 Both destined in one Blessing to be Blest. 
 
 And hence the joy that glittered in their eyes 
 Upturned with martyr-rapture to the skies, 
 "Where the great coming Blessing, yet untold, 
 Hung o'er them like a Canopy of Grold 
 By angel hands upborne, whose burnished light 
 Thrilled in their hearts, though hidden from their 
 sight. 
 
 Nature's great lamp hath flickered out and died. 
 And darkness falls upon the mountain side : 
 Homewards in peace the Pilgrims' steps are turning. 
 Within their breasts a pure Shechina burning, 
 Shut in with night and silence ; as the veil 
 Before the Holy Place conceals the light 
 Of God's resplendent Presence, lest the sight 
 Should blast the curious eye, too rash, too frail. 
 12 
 
THE ADVENT. 
 
 To-morrow morn the opening eye of day- 
 Must see them starting on their steadfast way 
 To the fair Temple crowning Zion's height. 
 
 They are come to the Temple 
 
 Of gladness and song ! 
 Its colonnades ample 
 
 The echoes prolong ; 
 Up the heights, streaming, 
 
 Thousands are there, 
 Every eye gleaming 
 
 The worship to share ; 
 Every heart bounding 
 
 With high hope and love ; 
 Every tongue sounding 
 
 Its paean above ; 
 Banners unfolding, 
 
 The standards display, 
 Of the tribes that are holding 
 
 Their congress to-day ; 
 A mighty assembling 
 
 Of bondmen and free, 
 Mostly resembling 
 
 The crowd that shall be 
 13 
 
THE ADVENT. 
 
 Brought from all nations 
 
 AVhen God shall appear, 
 Each in their stations 
 
 His judgment to hear. 
 The trumpets are sounding 
 
 In silvery strain, 
 The priests are surrounding 
 
 The Altar again ; 
 Prostrate and lowly, 
 
 Eespond as they sing, 
 One God, ever Holy, 
 
 Of Israel is King ! 
 
 Elizabeth within the court hath stayed, 
 "Where, long ago, the childless Hannah prayed, 
 Unheeding all the multitude around — 
 Her soul with God alone, as his was found 
 Sleeping below the Ladder angels trod. 
 The golden Ladder to the house of God ; 
 And to her tranced soul a dream is given 
 Which makes that outer court "the Gate of 
 
 Heaven.'* 
 Meanwhile her husband mid the Levites stands, 
 His silver trumpet silent in his hands, 
 U 
 
THE ADYENT. 
 
 And while the tide of music ebbs away, 
 
 The lot is cast ! Whom will Q-od choose to-daj 
 
 Prom the gold altar privileged to wing 
 
 In wreathing clouds the Incense offering ? 
 
 The lot is cast ! and Zachariah's name 
 
 Bursts from a thousand tongues with loud acclaim. 
 
 Then silence on the shouting thousands fell, 
 
 "Worked by some mighty, all-pervading spell. 
 
 Meekly bowed down each Levite's reverend head — 
 
 God had passed by. " Thy Will be done," they said. 
 
 But lowliest his was bowed on whom the crown 
 
 Of God's acceptance rested, as crushed down 
 
 With overwhelming honour ! 
 
 Priestly hands 
 Drew back the curtains of the sacred place, 
 Which closed, and hid the Levite from the ken 
 Of all besides his Brethren ; 
 A.nd no trace 
 
 Upon their massive folds of broidery rare, 
 Remained to show that One had entered there. 
 Still were they vainly questioned by the eyes 
 Of thousand waiting worshippers around, 
 While on the outer silence fell the sound 
 15 
 
THE ADTENT. 
 
 Of dim retreating footsteps. So the skies 
 
 Smile imresponsive in unruffled blue, 
 
 Wliat time the tear-stained eye of parting Love 
 
 Its Heaven-ascending treasure would pursue, 
 
 To catch a distant glimmer from above, 
 
 Escaping from the opening Grlory-gate ! 
 
 Yet many a heart went with him as he trod 
 
 Through draperied shadows of the courts of God, 
 
 Still gliding onward in his robes of white, 
 
 Led to the Golden Altar by the light, 
 
 Already paling for its evening oil. 
 
 Of starry flame that crowned with blossomy 
 
 grace 
 The seven-branched lamp before the Holiest 
 
 Place. 
 
 A pause ensued for silent worshipping — 
 Then the soft perfume of the Incense stole. 
 Borne by the balmy breeze* s fluttering wing 
 To those without, unto the weary soul. 
 Typing the Peace prayer brings, apart 
 From granted wishes, to the praying heart. 
 A longer pause, and then a rustling sound 
 Of expectation, as the groups around 
 16 
 
THE ADVENT. 
 
 Glanced eager on the yet unlifted veil, 
 
 The Priest's return to bless intent to hail. 
 
 Yet still he tarried ! and the questioning eyes 
 
 Turned doubtful to the quickly dark'ning skies. 
 
 ** He comes not," murmuring passed from tongue to 
 
 tongue, 
 And Eear upon the crowd her shadow flung. 
 As each would read in other's awe-blanched face 
 The pending mystery of the Holy Place ! 
 And stUl a further pause when words had died, 
 And the slow ebbing of Time's mighty tide 
 "Was measured by the throb of anxious hearts, — 
 When lo I the curtain parts ! 
 The Priest is come ! 
 
 He waves a benediction from his hands, 
 Yet silent stands 
 Struck dumb ! 
 
 And whispering voices swift the tidings spread, 
 That he had seen an angel ! 
 
 The spangled veil of night fell gently round, 
 Hiding the marble temple's columned grace. 
 Hushing the tide of life, till every sound 
 Of man had ceased within the Holy Place. 
 
 17 c 
 
THE ADTENT. 
 
 Only the wind sighed in the deepened gloom 
 Where late a thousand heaven-tuned voices sung ; 
 Only the weary Bird, with quivering plume, 
 Sank with a twitter on her callow young. 
 
 On Zion's hill the peaceful moonlight slept, 
 "Whence, spirit-like, it conjured phantom lights 
 Of weird shape, like sentinels that kept 
 Unmoved and silent watch upon the heights, 
 Starting from shadowy gulfs, like yawning tombs. 
 Till day's first beams revealed them only towers 
 Of rugged rock, and showed their grave-like 
 
 glooms 
 But cradle-beds for perfume-breathing flowers. 
 
 Far stretching round, the slumbering city lay ; 
 Its dream-led children wandering in repose 
 Through scenes impossible to waking day. 
 Too soon to call them back to work and woes ! 
 Legion, the visions of the thousand eyes 
 Now closed in sleep, from where the Monarch lies 
 In purple state, to where the outcast child, 
 Dreaming of home and love, in sleep has smiled 
 A smile unknown to daylight ! 
 18 
 
THE ADVENT. 
 
 But no dream 
 Is found so fair as is the waking joy 
 Elizabeth hath gathered from the gleam 
 Of her mute husband's heaven-lighted eye. 
 To her there was no night : 
 Had not an angel spoke, 
 And filled her soul with light 
 "Which overflowed her being like a tide 
 Before whose flood all barriers were broke, 
 While still it spread for ever far and wide, 
 And welling upward to the spangled dome 
 Arching our race's universal home, 
 Destroyed the bounds of Time, and rushing on 
 Like waters to the sea, 
 Or sunbeams to the sun, 
 Time to Eternity, 
 Made Heaven and Earth seem one ? 
 
 She said no words of praise ; words were too small 
 To chariot all her joy. Her heart was all 
 Aglow with praise, and like the Prophet's car 
 Of rushing flame, and fiery horses driven 
 By God's own hand beyond the utmost star, 
 Sprang silent into Heaven ! 
 
 19 c 2 
 
THE ADTENT. 
 
 The hope of years, how soon to be fulfilled ! 
 
 " Elizabeth, thy wife, shall bear a son !" 
 
 Nor this alone with joy her bosom thrilled, 
 
 And urged her prayer — " My God, Thy "Will be 
 
 done !" 
 That prayer which but a few short hours before 
 Had been the sigh of meek submission, now 
 The eager song of a heart welling o'er 
 "With bright anticipation. They were one ; 
 The sigh had tuned the song. She who could bow 
 Unmurmuring to be refused the boon 
 Her heart so longed to gain, could use the joy 
 Of granted prayer, and give God all the praise. 
 Thus deals our heavenly Eather with the hearts 
 That Ho would gladden. Thus He oft delays 
 The Blessing sought. In darkness we crave light, 
 And first must grope our way through thicker night ; 
 In mortal life, for immortality, 
 And death with spectral sceptre strikes us down. 
 Patience, then Hope ; it is the way which He, 
 The Christ, hath trod — the cross precedes the crown. 
 
 " Elizabeth, thy wife, shall bear a son !" 
 This were such joy as other mothers knew. 
 2f> 
 
THE ADVENT. 
 
 Oh, mystery of love ! each little one 
 
 Eeveals deliglit undreamed of, ever new 
 
 Even to the latest mother Time shall bless, 
 
 As it was new to Eve ! — a Babe's caress 
 
 Transforms all being ! But had this been all 
 
 Elizabeth should know, no Angel's wing 
 
 Had waved adieu to Heaven the news to bring, 
 
 And bid it fall 
 
 Like an anointing oil, making all 
 
 Her future life a consecrated thing. 
 
 Listen again 
 
 The sacred import of the Angel's strain ! 
 
 Not his own harp, though tuned to glorious themes. 
 Now vibrated to Gabriel's glowing hand ; 
 Even amid the Temple's hallowed scenes, 
 The melodies of Heaven had been unscanned 
 By mortal sense. 
 
 The Harp of Prophecy 
 Had long been silent. One by one 
 The olden Prophets were inspired to try 
 Its sounding chords, and when their task was done 
 21 
 
THE ADVENT. 
 
 They had passed onward, mid the spirit-throng 
 To wait the purport of their shadowy song. 
 Last of the Seers, Malachi had died ; 
 And since his day, no other hand had tried 
 The triple chord of prayer, and faith, and praise, 
 Till the far Euture singing in God's hand, 
 Echoed the notes, in dim prophetic lays, 
 And soothed the sadness of a captive land. 
 And captive souls, with promised liberty ; 
 Till Now, and Then,— the Present and To be,— 
 The Present seen, — the Future, God's decree, — 
 Blended their voices in sweet harmony. 
 
 " Before the Sun the Day-star ! Ere the Lord 
 
 His dread yet lowly mission shall fulfil. 
 
 One other Prophet's pleading shall be heard. 
 
 One other voice, in tenderest tone, instil 
 
 Love universal, heart to heart inclining ; — 
 
 Meet greeting for the heavenly light's new 
 
 shining. 
 Suddenly Christ shall in His temple stand — 
 Christ, whom ye seek ! His way before His face 
 Sent to prepare, last of the Prophet band, 
 A messenger shall tell His matchless grace, 
 22 
 
THE ADVTINT. 
 
 Clotlied with Elijali's stern prophetic power, 
 Each listening heart grow ready at His word, 
 Children and Fathers hail the golden hour, 
 And join to greet the advent of the Lord '/* 
 
 Thus Malachi had sung, and at the strain 
 
 The hope of Israel revived again. 
 
 And waiting hearts beat high ; 
 
 Yet centuries flew by, 
 
 And one by one they throbbed themselves to rest, 
 
 And eyes grew dim in dusty death, unblest ; 
 
 While dimly through the vista of long years 
 
 The vision of the latest Seer appears ; 
 
 And in the wailings of a captive host 
 
 The echoes of the Prophet's song are lost. 
 
 Lost ? nay, not lost ! the raindrops are not lost 
 
 When the refreshing shower hath ceased to fall, 
 
 Although the parched earth hath drunk them all. 
 
 Deep in some silent cave 
 
 They find themselves a grave, 
 
 Till hands unseen beckon their onward way 
 
 To life and day, 
 
 23 
 
THE ADYEHfT. 
 
 And then upsprlnging at the soft wind's singing, 
 
 A harvest blessing marks the streamlet's waj. 
 
 So, deep in lowly hearts, the Prophet's promise lay. 
 
 Gabriel hath spoke its resurrection word, 
 
 " Behold the Herald of th' approaching Lord !" 
 
 Elizabeth hath gained her home once more ! 
 Welcome the whisper of the waving Palm ! 
 Welcome the purple vine that drapes her door ! 
 Welcome the Summer Evening's holy calm ! 
 And yon wide landscape blending into dream, 
 Yon murmuring of the incense-laden stream. 
 Have they not lent a colour and a song 
 To many a happy thought in days bygone ? 
 And now, like dear and spirit-haunted things. 
 They share the joy the present hour brings ; 
 And while she hides from hearts less kindly prone, 
 They mutely seem to make her bliss their own. 
 Ah, happy home ! what means the golden light 
 That lingers on the long familiar scene ? 
 Is it a smile from passing angel bright 
 Still glows in amber on the fluttering green, 
 24 
 
THE ADYENT. 
 
 His radiant wings have wakened as they passed ? 
 
 What means this gladness in repose at last ? 
 
 This full and perfect joy that knows no scope 
 
 Unpromised or uncertain ? — this one Hope, 
 
 Once dead and gone, now raised again in power 
 
 To resurrection life, immortal evermore ? 
 
 Yet Hope no longer. Hope is an imperfect thing, 
 
 Like this our present life, — aye wearying to take wing 
 
 Into the Future. It was Faith now, standing 
 
 Upon the shining threshold of all Grood, 
 
 Like an emancipated spirit landing 
 
 From perils on Time's dark and surging flood. 
 
 At Heaven's gates, entranced, when opening wide 
 
 Forth flows in dazzling streams the glory-tide 
 
 Hark ! on the quiet morning's stilly air 
 Vibrate the echoes of approaching feet. 
 Brushing anon in haste the flowerets fair, 
 Then treading softly and sedate, as beat 
 The motive heart-throbs to delight or awe. 
 Mary draws near ! Mary by Angel hailed 
 " Thrice blessed among women !" Mary crowned. 
 In this first blossom of her radiant youth, 
 "With such high honour that her spirit quailed 
 25 
 
THE ADTETfT. 
 
 Beneath its weight, and prostrate on the ground 
 She questioned of the wondrous vision's truth. 
 Mary o'ershadowed by the Highest' s power ! 
 Mary descended from illustrious King, 
 Yet lowly born, called to a nobler dower 
 Than Israel's twelve-starred diadem could bring. 
 The Virgin Mother to whose arms were given 
 The Christ, her Saviour, and her Land's Desire, — 
 The "World's Eedeemer, — The Adored of Heaven ;- 
 "Who meekly said — " According to Thy word 
 So be it to the Handmaid of the Lord !" 
 
 Mary was come 
 "With her glad secret to her cousin's home. 
 She needed not to speak. It was all known. 
 A sudden inspiration from above 
 Filling Elizabeth with loyal love, 
 Prompted a regal greeting. " "Whence to me 
 The Mother of my Lord my guest should be ? 
 Hail, blessed among women ! Blessed Faith ! 
 It shall be even as the Angel saith !" 
 Then Mary's pent up joy burst forth in song. 
 That deathless song that lives in echoes stiU, 
 The sweet Judean breezes bore along 
 Through all the world ! A melody to fill 
 
THE ADVENT. 
 
 All hearts with ecstasy, all eyes with light, 
 
 Make Earth a Heaven — and Heaven itself more bright. 
 
 Have we not listened, in the twilight hour 
 The birds of song grow silent, one by one, 
 Till from the deep repose of moonlit bower 
 Each note of melody at last is gone ? 
 So in the church's twilight songs were heard 
 Songs of the morning coming to the Earth, — 
 Prophetic strains which earnest spirits stirred 
 With holy thoughts, and gave great hopes a birth. 
 But one by one, as night drew darker round, 
 Th' inspired choristers had ceased to sound. 
 'Tis now the hour of dawn ! though yet no beam 
 Gilds the horizon with its distant gleam, — 
 And hark ! one clear voice rings upon the night, 
 Unrivalled in its trills of pure delight ! 
 It is the Nightingale, waked by the breeze 
 That rustles as it hastens on its way 
 T'unfurl Aurora's flag on flowers and trees. 
 And pave with purpling shades the path of day. 
 
 And thus, methinks, it was the dawn-song rang 
 O'er Judah's hills when saintly Mary sang 
 27 
 
THE ADVENT. 
 
 Time's mighty Anthem, on one voice alone, 
 
 While Heaven and Earth hung raptured on the tone. 
 
 Scarce had its thrilling music died away. 
 
 When lo ! the Herald of the coming day ! 
 
 The Angel-promised infant John is born, 
 
 And Israel hails the Day-star Prophet's dawn. 
 
C|e iprfpratifln. 
 
 "He was in the deseets till the day of his shewikg 
 
 UNTO ISEAEL." 
 
 Luke i. 80. 
 
€\t '^xtpniim. 
 
 f BOVE, around, the golden sunshine 
 
 Oppressive, like a splendid tyranny, 
 Upon a silent land where barren plains. 
 And white-teethed rocks, that gnaw with hungry 
 
 edge 
 Th* horizon's dented line of cloudless blue, 
 Lie prostrate far and wide. 
 Still deeper than the sky in azure hue. 
 The Dead Sea heaves its hushed and noxious tide, 
 TJnfringed with aught of verdure. 
 
 'Tis a sight 
 As desolate as Death itself, denied 
 Even a grave by still surviving spite 
 And hatred unappeased. 
 
 81 
 
THE PEEPAEATION. 
 
 In other lands 
 The sun looks kindly on the dewy earth, 
 And decks with waving forests shady strands, 
 And gives a thousand scented flow'rets birth, 
 And fills the air with many-tinted wings, 
 Weaving fair homes for beauty and for love, 
 Till day and night, rejoicing Nature rings 
 "With songs of praise to the great Grod above. 
 
 But not so here, alas ! The tyrant Sun 
 Scatters no blessing from his royal hand. 
 Only his burnished chariots as they run 
 Scar with long furrows all the panting land. 
 
 Deep in a rocky cradle sleeps the Sea, 
 
 A sleep of sullen dreams. 'No joyous thing 
 
 Its fair reflection hovers to behold 
 
 Upon its bosom, with a light-poised wing. 
 
 Among its visions, if a change there be, 
 
 *Ti8 but an imaged cloud, whose glooms enfold 
 
 Token of brooding storm. 
 
 Above, around, 
 Only the drone of the winged locust's way, 
 32 
 
THE PEEPAEATTON. 
 
 Or murmurs of a laden Bee astray, 
 Rouses the slumb'rous air to life or sound. 
 Such is the desert ! E'en the hungry flocks 
 Of Nomad Shepherd never wander here, 
 No pasture tempts a noonday halting near 
 The parched bare shadow of its crackling rocks. 
 
 Yet in this wildest spot of God's domain 
 He hath one living Temple ; such as first 
 Th' Almighty placed in Eden's fruitful plain, 
 And breathed upon, and called th' enshrined breath 
 A human Soul. No fear of lonely Death, 
 Still less of gnawing hunger pangs, or thirst, 
 Could stay his path whom mighty thoughts impel 
 Awhile in dreariest solitude to dwell. 
 
 Strange choice for one so youthful, and endowed 
 With all most prized among the meaner crowd, 
 That once had passed him much admiring by, 
 A thousand rays of kindly feeling glanced. 
 Like star-fires, from the midnight of his eye, 
 "Where Thought was throned, as 'neath a palace dome, 
 "While to the wind her royal standards danced 
 Afloat to mark him for her chosen home. 
 
 33 D 
 
THE PREPAEATION. 
 
 Thrilled, too, from every iron smew's length 
 The tokens of an all unwonted strength. 
 So formed to win the victor's envied place, 
 Strange thus, in starting, to decline the race ; 
 To shun the peopled thoroughfares of men 
 And dwell apart, the desert's denizen. 
 
 Not with the languor of the weary, he 
 Had stepped into the by-way quietude, 
 Nor as the disappointed, to be free 
 Among the spectres of the Past to brood. 
 
 There are — but he was not of these — who blow 
 Some spark of their own kindling to a flame, 
 Intent alone upon its spiry glow ; 
 Nor heeding other warmth, and other light, 
 JMake it their Idol, but withhold the name ; 
 Nor note that silently its vapours rise 
 To canopy their god, and build of night 
 A shrine 
 
 Which intercepts the beams divine 
 That faiTi would reach them from the upper skies. 
 One stern rebuke is spoken from the height. 
 And, swift as die the lightning's arrowy fires, 
 84 
 
THE PEEPAEATION. 
 
 Their cberished flame, with flickering throe, expires. 
 Netted within the baffling folds of night, 
 They live, the victims of a blighted Past. 
 A desert home contents a desert heart, 
 'Not having lost a false god, seek the True. 
 
 Ah, John was not of these. A holier spell 
 Constrained him thus in solitude to dwell. 
 
 On Judah's hills, amid wild fern and flowers, 
 Stood the dear home where passed his childhood's 
 
 hours. 
 No infant brother shared his slumbers calm 
 In the fond circling of his mother's arm. 
 No youthful radiance on her face he saw 
 Eeflect in laughing light his dimpled mirth : 
 His earliest memories were tinged with awe. 
 Ever the Angel's shadow from his birth 
 Lingered around his footsteps, on his heart, 
 Till his young life became a thing apart. 
 
 With grave and matron grace, sedately sweet, 
 Elizabeth her child's appeal would meet, 
 
 35 D 2 
 
THE PEEPAEATION". 
 
 And he was happy, not in noisy glee, 
 
 But in a calm and fruitful reverie. 
 
 Life's future work, to which his Parents' thought 
 
 Pointed with tender joy, was yet unknown. 
 
 Only he gathered from the things they taught 
 
 That Israel's God had marked him for His 
 
 own; 
 And that a mighty mission would be given. 
 An embassage from the high court of Heaven. 
 
 Even in its mystery it had a charm 
 
 And training ! Like a golden mist 
 
 Breathed from the lips of Summer morning calm, 
 
 Its beauty hid all meaner things, and kissed 
 
 Both Earth and Heaven, blending them to one. 
 
 And ever shed a dewy influence down, 
 
 That gave his fallow life, in time, a harvest crown. 
 
 At length a sorrow cast its chilling gloom 
 Athwart the sunlight of his childhood's home. 
 An Angel came 
 
 And stood by Zacharias as he prayed, 
 And called him by his name. 
 The Bummons was obeyed, 
 86 
 
THE PREPAEATION. 
 
 Upward the willing spirit fled ! 
 The Priest was dead ! 
 
 The mother and her son, in speechless woe, 
 Beheld the husband and the father go ! 
 Yet Faith, in soothing tender accents, said — 
 " Be of good cheer ; oh, weep not, but adore ! 
 Often he went before 
 Leaving you praying in the outer court, 
 While he within the God of Israel sought ; 
 And now before the bright celestial shrine, 
 He joins the church's worshipping divine ; 
 From human frailty set for ever free, 
 He waits above, with wond'ring joy, to see 
 The great atoning off'ring which below 
 The Temple's ritual dimly did foreshow. 
 Be of good cheer, oh, weep not, but adore ! 
 He is but passed a little while before. 
 Soon shall the Holiest's veil be drawn aside 
 And you ere long shall worship by his side." 
 
 Deepened the shadow on the mourning home, 
 Again the Angel, cypress-crown' d, was come. 
 Immortal life he to the Mother gave. 
 But left the Son beside a double grave. 
 37 
 
THE PEEPAEATION. 
 
 A bitter pause ! It seemed that life stood still 
 
 On one unechoed throb of agony, 
 
 And that a dreary death-spell, dark and chill, 
 
 A living soul in helpless trance had laid, 
 
 While close at hand there stood a haunting shade, 
 
 A black Eemembrance, waiting but a breath 
 
 To torture life with pangs exceeding death. 
 
 Then John arose, and with a Hero's heart 
 
 He grappled with his woe. 
 
 He woke the black Eemembrance ; dared its dart, 
 
 Eesolved the worst to know ; 
 
 Gazed back on childhood's fleet and sun-winged hours, 
 
 Then left the peaceful home — the hallowed grave. 
 
 To loving eyes of stars, and birds, and flowers. 
 
 And, sorrow-braced, his purpose waxed more brave. 
 
 He looked into the Future, to discern 
 
 His destiny of duty, high and stern, 
 
 And then 
 
 Pledged it his life and faith in one sublime Amen. 
 
 In the wide world, so dim with quenched light. 
 He had no home, no rest ! 
 Wander he might where other hearts were blest 
 88 
 
THE PEEPAEATION. 
 
 With answering love, yet he was still alone. 
 
 If solitude whiles started at the tone 
 
 Of his heart's yearning, not to be repressed, 
 
 For human sympathy, the voice sped on 
 
 Unechoed, far beyond Earth's hoariest crest 
 
 Of purple mount, and cleft the golden sky, 
 
 And rang upon the battlements on high, 
 
 Till angel-sentinels returned salute 
 
 And kindly greeting, though the world was mute. 
 
 On ! on ! the vine-draped valleys had no charm 
 Could lure him to enjoy inglorious rest. 
 On ! on ! the Well by the o'ershadowing Palm 
 But nerved to further toil, when it refreshed. 
 The peaceful villages he journeyed through, 
 Marked him not come or go ; his lonely way 
 Left record none, save that the stranger threw 
 A loving smile upon their babes at play. 
 
 Each day his childhood's home was distanced more. 
 And distanced, all of man ; 
 And on the Dead Sea's line of dreary shore 
 The day-star Prophet's strange career began. 
 39 
 
THE PEEPAEATION. 
 
 In solitude he wandered, tliought-impelled, 
 
 Though thought was undefined, 
 
 Nor could its misty outline yet be spelled 
 
 In words or systems, to instruct mankind. 
 
 Therefore he wandered still, his noble soul 
 
 Chafing to carry tidings of great good 
 
 Through the wide world ; yet checked by a control 
 
 So subtle that he doubted it was real — 
 
 So potent that it could not be withstood. 
 
 At times God gives the word. 
 
 And great the company who preach it round. 
 
 At times His voice is in His Temple heard. 
 
 But let the Earth keep silence at the sound. 
 
 Keep silence, — for no human tongue may frame 
 
 Meet language to enfold the thoughts Divine, 
 
 Nor Earth's sublimest euphonies find name 
 
 For all the glories of the Love and Light 
 
 Which from His Hiding-place burst forth and shine, 
 
 And in dread vision daze the Seer's sight. 
 
 This was John's time for silence, or such speech 
 As lost itself upon the desert air. 
 And died upon the distance, doomed to reach 
 40 
 
THE PEEPAEATIOTT. 
 
 No ear but His who hears Earth's every voice, 
 And in th' imperfect utterance could rejoice, 
 Even as a tender mother bends with care 
 To catch her Babe's first lisping of a thought, 
 And hails the voice with future meanings fraught. 
 
 This was John's time for training ; in Grod's school, 
 With meek obedience, he must learn the law 
 Of the great kingdom whose one mightiest rule 
 Comprises all beside. With wond'ring awe 
 He deeper read the mystery, — " God is One ! 
 And only to be worshipped !" " God is Light !" 
 And shines the universe's central Sun, 
 Enkindling every ray that greets the sight 
 With vision pure of Truth. All other gleams. 
 False, meteor-like, and quenched in early gloom. 
 That wander to mislead, are stolen beams, 
 Lurid with feeding on the brands of sin, 
 And flickering toward the darkness of the Tomb. 
 And " God is Love V and must be loved 
 
 supreme ; 
 His gifts, in Him, and for His sake, must please. 
 And Self, the world's great Idol, bow its knees 
 In utter consecration to His will. 
 41 
 
THE PEEPAItATION. 
 
 Alas ! with every beam of Heavenly day 
 
 That through the Prophet's spirit sent its thrill, 
 
 The Shadow on the earth waxed deeper still ! 
 
 How black the Pall looked, in that holy light ! 
 To one who mused of Grod, how base was Man ! 
 How mean was human greatness at its height ! 
 How short was life, even at its longest span ! 
 What halting progress Wisdom's stateliest stride ! 
 What mimic — Pomp ! and what delusion — Pride ! 
 
 Far from his haunts Mankind may best be known ! 
 The Babel of Earth's shouts, or wails, or songs, — 
 The wrestlings of its runners to the goal. 
 The phantom goal, to win a phantom prize, — 
 The lab'rinth footpaths of its busy throngs, — 
 Confuse the ears, and but mislead the eyes. 
 The more so that the echoes that are rife 
 Are not the sounds of only strife ; 
 But loving whispers mingle there, 
 And joy thrills through th' elastic air, 
 And kindly greetings, clasped hands. 
 Find place among the wand'ring Bands 
 That tread the road to Hell. 
 42 
 
THE PEEPAEATION. 
 
 Nor is it darkness all. 
 
 For when the shadow of the Fall 
 
 Eclipsed the Sun of Eighteousness, and fell 
 
 With blighting midnight on the race, 
 
 Grod in His pity left a starry train 
 
 To witness for Himself, and trace 
 
 A dim path upward to Himself again ! 
 
 So dim that whether in the ages gone 
 
 A human spirit, by their light alone, 
 
 Climb'd ever up the height, 
 
 And e'en to Heav'n's Gate through the twilight 
 
 stole. 
 And pleaded for Grod's alms to feed a soul 
 Hungry and thirsting, and then saw such light 
 Burst through the op'ning portal as revealed 
 A Friend within, 
 A substitute for sin. 
 We cannot tell, and God hath left concealed. 
 
 Far from Man's haunts the lonely John reviewed, 
 In bitter mem'ry, all the shame and wrong 
 With which the Highway of the Past lies strewed 
 By every Pilgrim of the busy throng 
 From Cain's time till the Present. 
 43 
 
THE PREPAEATION. 
 
 Then with strong 
 And passionate cries he wailed his fellows' 
 
 crimes, 
 Sometimes in indignation ; and sometimes 
 In pitying tears and agonizing prayer, 
 That woke strange echoes on the desert air. 
 
 Then followed silent sadness, when the glare 
 Of sunlight, so unvaried, seemed to mock 
 Unkindly all his load of darksome care. 
 And on the scarred face of each neighbouring 
 
 rock 
 He read a taunt. Nor when a brooding cloud 
 Spread its grey shadow everywhere around, 
 And tinted with the colours of despair 
 The sullen tide-flow of the desert air, 
 Was that accordant ; for, when his parch' d heart 
 Felt most of desolation, lo ! a start 
 Of sudden joy rills from a hidden well ! 
 And when the joy most sparkled he could tell 
 Of thirst unslaked, e'en by its clearest flow. 
 He needed sun and shade, for joy and woe 
 Chequered his onward path. Upon the earth 
 The netted shadows of the scanty grass 
 44 
 
THE PEEPAEATION. 
 
 Spoke nearest sympathy. All that hath birth, 
 "Wliereon the sunbeams linger as they pass, 
 Hath underlying darkness ! 
 
 Then awhile 
 A happier frame stole o'er him, and a dream ; 
 A waking vision of his mother's smile. 
 Which, like a sparkling ripple set aflow 
 In childhood's early dawn so long ago. 
 Spread yet in wid'ning circles, till the stream 
 Of dreary life responded to the gleam ; 
 And gave its Mariner a favouring tide 
 To duty and reward. 
 The magic of remembrance placed again 
 Old scenes around, when, childlike at her side, 
 He reverent joined the temple-seeking train, 
 Or gazed upon the quivering victim slain, 
 Whose blood proclaimed in every crimson stain 
 That sin is death, but not the sinner's death ; 
 The panting substitute yields up its breath, 
 The guilty man goes free ! Early he knew 
 The blood of meaner creatures could not do 
 The broken Law its reparation due. 
 They were but herald emblems of the grace 
 Which reconciles to God Man's fallen 'Race. 
 45 
 
THE PEEPAEATION. 
 
 His mother's image brought another theme, 
 So woven with the temple, and with her, 
 That it came twinlike, born of every dream 
 In which she lived. 
 
 He scarce knew what they were. 
 Those hidden links whose dim connexion bound 
 The Temple in its majesty profound 
 With one lone cradle in a cottage home ! 
 The bleeding Lamb, the faint expiring cry, 
 With the most perfect type that Earth had known, 
 Or Heaven had loved, of Holy Infancy ! 
 ]Mary's mysterious Babe ! a household word 
 Around his Father's hearth ! invoked as Lord 
 By those who never worshipped less than God ! 
 What transports of thanksgiving at His name ! 
 What storied lore of Portents when he came ! 
 Angels, with song that clove the flashing sky, 
 " Glory to God, and peace on Earth " to cry ! 
 A star, forgetful 'mong its peers to shine, 
 To pay a pilgrim visit at his shrine ! 
 
 How oft of old, in holy Sabbath-tide, 
 His parents spake together, and to God, 
 Of Jesus, while he nestled by their side 
 46 
 
THE PEEPAEATION. 
 
 And craved again the tales they loved so well, 
 
 He wond'ringly to listen, — they to tell. 
 
 How almost awful in its rapt delight 
 
 His "Father's aged face ! What tears and smiles, 
 
 Like sun and shower, wove a rainbow light 
 
 To deck her stories, when his Mother whiles 
 
 Took up the sacred theme ! 
 
 Then, on their boy 
 Pond gazing, thus they uttered forth their joy : — 
 " Thou, child, shalt be called 
 The prophet of the Highest, to proclaim 
 To souls by sin and darkness long enthralled, 
 Light and salvation in His blessed name ! 
 Go to prepare the pathway of the Lord, 
 The dayspring that shall bid our darkness cease. 
 And, through the tender mercy of our Grod, 
 Shall guide our feet into the way of peace !" 
 
 How often as the hours flew by, beguiled 
 "With saintly talk of Mary's holy child, 
 He eager pleaded, " Father, let me go ! 
 I love Him, though unknown, — yet let me know. 
 That I may love Him more a thousand fold. 
 I, that am often wayward, would behold 
 47 
 
THE PEEPAEATIOIf. 
 
 His meek obedience, that in me may shine 
 Some fair reflection of His light divine. 
 
 " Oh, mother, mother, 
 
 I that have no brother, 
 
 I would see Jesus ! He would be a friend 
 
 Such as I sigli to dream of as I wend 
 
 My lonely way among the browsing sheep, 
 
 Or in wild freedom climb the mountain steep. 
 
 I would attend Him lovingly, 
 
 Would watch each motion of His patient eye. 
 
 Would guard Him sleeping, solace when awake. 
 
 And grudge nor toil nor suflTring for His sake." 
 
 Tear after year, the yearning of his heart 
 
 Grew stronger to see Jesus. Tet apart 
 
 Their childhood passed, for Grod^s time had not come. 
 
 Not as the dear companion of his home. 
 
 The day-star prophet must behold his Lord ; 
 
 But as Messiah, to His Israel sent. 
 
 Crowned by the dove-like Spirit's bright descent. 
 
 Day after day, and year that followed year, 
 Found the lone Prophet in the Desert drear ; 
 48 
 
THE PEEPi-EATIOlT. 
 
 At times bewildered by excess of light, 
 
 As he gazed Heavenward ; or deep plunged in night, 
 
 As Earth, with all her darkness, mocked his sight. 
 
 Only when musing of the Holy One, 
 
 Man's sinless Brother, Grod's beloved Son, 
 
 "Was Heaven's effulgence tempered to his eye. 
 
 Or Earth illumed with daylight from on high. 
 
 His life-long yearning stronger still became 
 
 To seek his Lord, and, having found, proclaim. 
 
 Day after day, by the blest Spirit taught, 
 He added golden links to chained thought, 
 Which, craving freedom, irked the Desert's bound 
 That barred him from his fellow-man around. 
 Kor did it err. The voice that seemed his own 
 Was only thus disguised. Not from His Throne 
 God thunders to His Sons. He whispers His behest ; 
 And rather, as they lay them down to rest, 
 A voice that seems but Eli's greets their ear, 
 Made only by its iteration known. 
 They answer — " Speak, Lord, for thy servants 
 
 hear!" 
 When God to Israel spake, the voice was heard 
 Within the Temple's sacred courts, apart ; 
 
 49 B 
 
THE PREPAEATTOTT. 
 
 And oft His children listen to the word, 
 Each in the quiet temple of his heart. 
 
 And solitude had done its work, and taught 
 Its lessons well ; but at a costly price — 
 Long years of meditation ! Life is short, 
 And meant for action, not for only thought ; 
 And few are called on for such sacrifice, 
 "Who yet are pupils in the school of Grod. 
 But here and there, with great endowments 
 
 graced, 
 Shines one above his fellows, therefore placed 
 In learning's higher paths, and rarely trod, 
 Apart to learn Salvation's deeper lore, — 
 Be disciplined to sterner rectitude, — 
 And thence led outward to the world once more, 
 Anointed teacher of its multitude. 
 Thus Moses learns two weary score of years. 
 Before as Israel's leader he appears ; 
 Elijah thus for Ahab's presence trains. 
 In near communion with the King of kings. 
 Till human power he loftily disdains, 
 And scorns all fear, save such as loyal springs 
 Of error in the message that he brings. 
 60 
 
THE PBEPAEATION. 
 
 Thus holy John, 
 
 Greater than all before 
 
 Of "Woman born, his embassage must con 
 
 In lonely musings by the Dead Sea shore. 
 
 Solitude is not sanctity ! they err 
 
 Who live apart, and deem they live for Heaven ; 
 
 Por Man is to his fellows given, 
 
 And in the tumult and the stir 
 
 Of busy throngs must climb the upward way. 
 
 Lending the fainting falling ones a hand 
 
 Of kindly succour ; — guiding those who stray ; 
 
 Sharing alike with all the pilgrim band 
 
 The storm and sunshine of the narrow way. 
 
 Uncalled by God, ah. Mortal ! climb not thou 
 
 Presumptuous to the virgin mountain's brow 
 
 To crave a special audience, lest thy Lord 
 
 Be seeking thee upon the path below, 
 
 The beaten path of daily duty. — So 
 
 Thou miss the blessing He would fain bestow. 
 
 Thou hast thy reward ! 
 
 Yain man looks up with wonder to record 
 
 51. X2 
 
THE PEEPAEATIOK. 
 
 Thj saintly height — then passes listless by, 
 Unblest in life, nor fitter made to die. 
 
 But when He calls thee, fear not to obey ; 
 
 For He who knows the end must choose the way ; 
 
 And be the desert howsoever drear, 
 
 A still small whisper shall rebuke thy fear, 
 
 " Thou art not quite alone, for God is here !" 
 
 When He speaks comfort, even Achor's vale 
 Becomes a door of Hope, whence songs arise 
 Heard in high Heaven, and echoed from the skies, 
 Till Earth wakes up to listen to the strain ; — 
 *' Thou art my people !" is proclaimed on High, 
 " And Thou my God !" that people's prompt reply. 
 
%\t ^otRiUn, 
 
 In those days came John the Baptist, pbeaching in 
 THE Wilderness op Judea, and sating. Repent ye, 
 FOE THE Kingdom op Heaven is at hand !" 
 
 Matt. iii. 1, 2. 
 
^\t ^untxm. 
 
 BEDIENT to the Sculptor's higli behest, 
 Forth from the marble springs a human 
 
 form ; 
 With manly beauty every line imprest — 
 Each limb betokening power ; while a storm 
 Of passionate ire flashes from the eye, 
 Or love shines tender, or despair appeals 
 In vain to silent Heaven. One passion, high 
 O'ermastering all the complex structure, wields 
 The sovereignty. The soulless block, up wrought 
 To the Ideal in some Human breast. 
 Is evermore th' exponent of a thought 
 It cannot share ; — inspired of love, or hate ; 
 Of Holiness, or Sin — of work or rest. 
 Through changes, changeless till the day of fate. 
 55 
 
THE TOCATION. 
 
 All Paradise might light its beautj near, 
 Yet not a gloom disperse of sculptured woe ; 
 Or Eama's anguish pierce the shivering air, 
 Yet 'bate no radiance from fair Psyche's glow. 
 
 Man carves the noblest form, but cannot breathe 
 
 The breath of life, or bid the bosom heave 
 
 With one responsive thought ; while Grod endues 
 
 The meanest forms, the meadow's sparkling dews, 
 
 The fleecy cloudlet or the tangled weed, 
 
 "With mute communion in the wanderer's need. 
 
 For God's works bear His Name sublime — " I Am 
 
 " I Am," Protean in its application 
 
 To all the wants of all His vast creation, 
 
 And more than lies in Time's horizon-scan. 
 
 Eternity His age — Infinitude His span. 
 
 He, the Great Spirit, not incarnate, dwells 
 Within the worlds He made, — wedded as soul 
 To body. He to Nature. Inspiration tells 
 Not He in it, but it in Him, " lives, moves, 
 And has its being." Under His control 
 The flowerets open, and the planets roll ; 
 The glow-worm's lamp He kindles, and the Sun ; 
 66 
 
THE TOOATION. 
 
 Small tilings are great, as parts of a vast whole, 
 'Where,witli one grand consent,one mighty Will is done ; 
 Complexity and order ; Harmony complete. 
 Through myriad diverse voices in the spheres. 
 
 Not only when the rill His Israel cheers. 
 
 Thirsting beneath the barren desert's heat, 
 
 Not only when the Manna's white-winged flake 
 
 Feeds mortal man upon the Angels' bread, 
 
 Doth He the pilgrim's weary longing slake. 
 
 Eor " not by bread alone shall man be fed, 
 
 But by his Maker's word," 
 
 And rather felt than heard — 
 
 God speaking by the bright bird's joyous lay. 
 
 Or by the silent beauty of the rose, 
 
 A thousand subtle influences by day, 
 
 A thousand mystic visions of repose ; 
 
 Not bearing tidings strange and new. 
 
 But calling into clearer view 
 
 The treasured memories hid asleep. 
 
 Of old, in the heart's castle keep. 
 
 The billowy years of conflict with strange thought, 
 And phantom gleams now blending into light, 
 57 
 
THE VOCATION". 
 
 Precursive of th' embodied light of Heaven, 
 "Were over ; and the lonely Prophet sought 
 Prom other than the rifted rocks, and sight 
 Of sullen foam-fringe by the murmuring sea, 
 Communion with his mission destiny. 
 Slowly he journeyed, by this need impelled 
 To look for sympathy in softer scenes, 
 Where silvan creatures blythe their revels held, 
 And the grey desert died in leafy greens. 
 
 The wilderness is round him now ! 
 Softly its zephyrs fan his brow ; 
 He breathes the incense from the flower 
 Eefreshed beneath the evening shower. 
 Where spiry columns bear on high 
 A leafy trellice whence the sky 
 Looks down benign, with starry eyes, 
 To watch the Prophet where he lies. 
 The dimmed air quivers with the wings 
 Of myriad lovely insect things ; 
 The wild beast leaves his darksome lair. 
 And wanders stealthy through the wood. 
 With lustrous eye his prey to snare. 
 Or drink of Jordan's limpid flood. 
 68 
 
THE YOCATION. 
 
 The river with its sparkling tide 
 
 Is ever on the onward glide, 
 
 And glittering forms of scaly life 
 
 "Within its crystal depths are rife. 
 
 No lack of beauty all around, 
 
 No lack of wakeful life or sound ; 
 
 But in the wilderness is found 
 
 One only form of human kind, 
 
 Whom midnight folds beneath her wings, 
 
 And Angel guards camp round to mind, — 
 
 The envoy of the King of kings ! 
 
 Thus through the silent watches lies 
 In slumber calm the Day-star Prophet, John, 
 Till black- winged night still further westward flies, 
 And morning dawns the leafy brakes upon. 
 Then in the beauty of young day's prime hours 
 Waking, he reverent kneels by some grey stone 
 Half peering from the woodland ferns and flowers, 
 And holds sublime communion. Thus alone 
 In seeming only, for that prayer is heard 
 Through circling myriads narrowing to God's throne, 
 Each living star to star echoing the word 
 59 
 
THE YOCATION. 
 
 Toward Heaven's central light ; 
 
 And then exulting with supreme delight 
 
 That Need and Love are clasped in pure embrace, 
 
 And mortal sin hath met immortal grace. 
 
 Well they know, 
 
 Those Holy Ones that glow 
 
 Around the throne above, 
 
 That Blessings poised on outstretched wing 
 
 Hang ready at the beck of Love 
 
 To make the suppliant sing ; 
 
 But judgments sleep 
 
 So still and deep, 
 
 They need a resurrection word. 
 
 Love's loudest tone, 
 
 To speed them to His own. 
 
 And if the falling of a tear be heard. 
 
 They linger on their way. 
 
 Pausing, lest God their dreaded mission stay 
 
 When His repentant children do but weep 
 
 While saintly John in prayerful ecstasy 
 Passed upwards through the blue gate of the sky, 
 And floated in the golden joys beyond, 
 Eenewing thus in holy rest the bond 
 60 
 
THE TOCATIOK. 
 
 That pledged his day to labour, there was found 
 New-waking life in all the hamlets round. 
 The toil of common handicraft again 
 Bid sinewy arm and ever-busy brain 
 Eenew their avocations. Eustic life 
 With rustic interests again was rife. 
 But something higher, something new, was there, 
 And musing silence marked the worker's air. 
 The Preacher of the Wilderness had spoke, 
 Unwonted light upon his darkness broke, 
 And as the Seer denounced the doom of sin. 
 That light disclosed its hideous form within ! 
 As one who wakes from dreamed security 
 Beneath the crouching tiger's glaring eye. 
 So each had learned in terror that he lay 
 Within the grip of death a helpless prey ! 
 
 When friend met friend upon the beaten way 
 To mutual labour, and the silence broke, 
 *Twa8 of the new Elijah that they spoke ; 
 Por young and old, fair women and brave men. 
 Had heard the mighty Prophet in some glen 
 By Jordan's margin, and would hear again. 
 61 
 
THE VOCATION. 
 
 Jerusalem was startled by his fame, 
 
 And crowds of wondering Pilgrims went and came 
 
 To see the lonelj man whose stern rebuke, 
 
 Heard from afar, the royal city shook. 
 
 The haughty soldier of imperial Eome, 
 
 The silk-robed courtier from his palace-home, 
 
 The learned scribe, the cynic Sadducee, 
 
 All wended to the wilderness, where he, 
 
 Undaunted still, proclaimed in words of fire 
 
 The Advent of the long-foretold Messiah. 
 
 Hark ! 'tis the murmur of a multitude 
 In these deep glades, so lately still and lone ! 
 The hum of life ! th' inseparable sound 
 Of numbers living, moving ! Such a sound 
 As flows from wind-stirred leaves of forest trees. 
 As rises from the ocean's depths profound. 
 When " many waters" burden with their moan 
 The broad-spread pinions of the passing breeze. 
 A murmuring like a tide, 
 With rise and fall. 
 And inarticulate, for they speak low 
 Who speak at all. 
 At times so hushed its flow, 
 62, 
 
THE VOCATIOir. 
 
 That the sweet silver river-song can glide — 
 
 Like heaven's cadence heard below 
 
 In earth's repose — 
 
 Upon the listening ear. 
 
 Yet not that Jordan flows 
 
 With music in its ripple, are they here 
 
 So hushed. But that " the voice of one 
 
 That crieth in the wilderness" is heard! 
 
 And each would catch the first, the faintest tone 
 
 Of the new prophet's heaven-inspired word. 
 
 He — he alone attracts th' expectant gaze ! 
 
 And now he rises ! Deeper still the awe, 
 
 Crouching in silence, 'mong the gathered crowd 
 
 That wait his thrilling words. In bygone days 
 
 The Israelites thus greeted Sinai's law 
 
 From out the mountain's black and vapoury shroud. 
 
 Youthful he is — and youth is beautiful ! 
 His locks luxuriant, fit for laurel crown 
 Of Poet or Hero ! But the furrowed frown 
 Beneath them speaks of sterner thought and things 
 Than Warrior seeks in battle, or than sings 
 The Minstrel to his lyre. 
 
THE VOCATION. 
 
 A leathern girdle clasps his vigorous form, 
 
 Braced by exposure to the Desert's storm . 
 
 And for his frugal fare 
 
 The locust and the wild bee's luscious store 
 
 Fulfil his scant desire : 
 
 He asks no more. 
 
 With outstretched hand, and clear and thrilling tone, 
 The Prince of Prophets makes his message known. 
 
 " Thus, of old, Isaiah spake — 
 
 Ere Messiah shall arise, 
 Judah's Wilderness shall sliake 
 
 With the voice of one that cries — 
 He is coming ! promised long. 
 
 Go ye forth your King to meet, 
 Lay the paths, with shout and song, 
 
 Straight for his victorious feet ! 
 For the Lord prepare a way 
 
 Toward His temple dwelling-place ! 
 Hail the dawn of Israelis day ! 
 
 Bow before Messiah's face ! 
 
 " Hark ! that voice is sounding now ! 
 Judah's wilderness resounds 
 64 
 
THE YOCATION. 
 
 "With the tidings. Even now 
 Ye who listen catch the sounds ! 
 
 Pliick yon green boughs waving high ; 
 Eend the air with loud acclaim ; 
 
 Say that Zion's King is nigh ; 
 Triumph in Immanuel's name ! 
 
 ' No response ! "What ! silent all ! 
 
 'Tis the voice of Liberty 
 Taunts you with the Tyrant's thrall ! 
 
 Bids you rise, and make you free ! 
 Not that ye are slaves of Eome 
 
 Draws the hot tears from mine eyes ! 
 Slaves of Lust ! I weep your doom ! 
 
 Slaves of Lust ! I bid you rise ! 
 
 ' As I wander deep in shade 
 
 Of the woodland's tangled side, 
 Oft the glittering axe is laid 
 At the root of forest pride. 
 Stroke by stroke the echoes mock, 
 
 Moaning, swaying with each blow, 
 Till at last with thundering shock, 
 Lo ! the sturdy oak lies low ! 
 65 
 
THE YOCATION. 
 
 Fruitless trees, the axe is high, 
 Wielded for your sudden doom. 
 
 Where the tree falls it shall lie, 
 Hid in terror-haunted gloom ! 
 
 "As I wander on the plain 
 
 When the harvest-tide is o*er, 
 Q-athered heaps of golden grain 
 
 Plenteous strew the garner's floor ; 
 But the chaff on rustling wing 
 
 Flies before the winnower's breath, 
 Like a conscience-stricken thing, 
 
 'Scaping from impending death. 
 Needed but some tiny sparks. 
 
 And the red flames hiss on high. 
 Till a smoke-cloud only marks 
 
 Where its smouldering ashes lie ! 
 Where the World's ripe harvests stand. 
 
 Mingles worthless chaff with grain. 
 But Hjs fan is in His hand. 
 
 Who shall judge betwixt the twain ! 
 Fire that shall burn for ever ! 
 
 Bising smoke unquenchable ! 
 66 
 
THE YOCATION. 
 
 Torment, intermitting never, 
 
 Waits yon severed chaff in Hell ! 
 
 " Brethren born of Abraham's seed, 
 
 Erom your dream of safety wake ; 
 They are Israelites indeed 
 
 Who of Abraham's faith partake. 
 *Neath the ebon robes of Night 
 
 Cowering sins are curtained close, 
 Vainly hid from human sight, 
 
 Grod the guilty secret knows ! 
 Tremble — for the day is nigh 
 
 When the trumpet shall proclaim. 
 What a flash of His dread eye 
 
 Drags to light of hidden shame. 
 Tremble, Sinner, and repent, 
 
 Ere repentance be too late ! 
 Ere the day of grace be spent, 
 
 Ere the dreadful day of Eate ! 
 
 " Bid the ploughshare of remorse 
 O'er your souls its furrows drive, 
 Showers of tears bedew its course, 
 Till its fallow wastes revive : 
 
 67 F 2 
 
THE TOCATION. 
 
 Till God's golden seed dispersed, 
 
 Ealling on prepared ground, 
 Clothe the world with beauty first, 
 
 And at length Heaven's garners crown !" 
 
 The Preacher paused, and scanned with anxious eye 
 The swaying tide of many human forms 
 Heaving and restless with awakening storms 
 Of new remorse. 
 
 Out of the drowsy haze 
 Of years gone by dread spectres started forth ; 
 And fettered consciences, like Samson, rose 
 To break the bonds of their betrayed repose : 
 Yea, rose invincible, in such fierce wrath 
 To vindicate their power, 
 That turned upon the conflicts of that hour 
 The issues of immortal destinies. 
 
 All this the Prophet knew 
 
 And marked he too, 
 
 With pitying tenderness, the rising sighs 
 
 That spoke surrender, and th' o'erflowing eyes 
 
 With tears of young repentance. 
 
 To his glance 
 
THE VOCATION. 
 
 The conflict now, portended coming peace ; 
 
 The storm was wreathed in rainbow, and should cease, 
 
 To usher in deep calm and holy light. 
 
 Unstirred by tempest and unscathed by night. 
 
 Had he not bent 
 
 O'er a still lake, whose cradle, drap'd in flowers, 
 
 Was once a fissure in the mountain, rent 
 
 By dread volcanic powers ? 
 
 A chaos once, the earthquake's ravage wild. 
 
 Where now the spangled meadow's verdure smiled ? 
 
 And such he knew repentance, such the peace 
 
 That broods serene, when its wild conflicts cease, 
 
 And Heaven's love, as free as Heaven's rain, 
 
 That fills the well-springs of the thirsty plain, 
 
 Descends on desert souls with silver flow, 
 
 Adorning them with Eden's summer glow. 
 
 Lo ! sudden as the arrowy lightnings start, 
 A new emotion filled the Prophet's heart. 
 Which kindled into ecstasy so bright 
 That who beheld were dazzled at the sight. 
 And held in wondering awe ! 
 They saw not what he saw, 
 69 
 
THE TO CATION. 
 
 Although they also looked toward Jordan's flood, 
 By whose clear wave a lonely wanderer stood. 
 
 " Behold the Lamb of God !" the Prophet cries, 
 
 " To darkling ash the Altar fires may wane ; 
 
 Behold the all-sufficient sacrifice. 
 
 Foreshadowed long by lambs and bullocks slain ! 
 
 Said I not well, that one among you stands 
 
 Whom you know not ? — so glorious and so great, 
 
 That mine. His Prophet's, are unworthy hands 
 
 To loose the sandals from His sacred feet. 
 
 This, this is He, 
 
 Who, coming after, is preferred to me ; 
 
 E'en as the rising Sun casts into shade 
 
 The mom-star's herald rays, so I must fade 
 
 In the sweet dawning of yon Heavenly Sun. 
 
 My task is well-nigh done. 
 
 I, as the Bridegroom's friend, proclaimed His 
 
 Grace 
 And Majesty, but now behold His Pace ! 
 And woo'd and won by His attractive power, 
 I bid the happy Bride behold the Bridal hour ! 
 Content to be forgot and silent, I rejoice 
 In the sweet accents of her Bridegroom's voice. 
 70 
 
THE VOCATION. 
 
 " I knew Him not. But jester's dewy morn 
 There thronged to Baptism in Jordan's stream 
 Presh groups of Pilgrims, weeping, sorrow-worn, 
 And sin-confessing ; and among them came 
 One who confessed no sin, albeit, patient woe 
 Furrowed His gentle face. He wore a glow 
 Of mild compassion for His fellow-man, 
 And yet a majesty sublime, supreme, 
 As He surveyed with comprehending scan 
 The multitudes around His path that pressed. 
 Even, methought, as Grod Himself might scan 
 His six days' work, from out His Sabbath rest. 
 
 " I wist not what to say. The air around 
 Trembled with chords from every Prophet's 
 
 lyre 
 To bear him witness, and. the sunbeams danced 
 Like seraph messengers of living fire 
 Around His footsteps, as He calm advanced. 
 And bade me do mine office ! Tet I stood 
 As one transfixed beside the river flood. 
 
 " Joy seized me, with the grip of sudden pain, 
 In the wild tumult, as the hot blood flashed 
 71 
 
THE VOCATION. 
 
 Athwart the throbbing chambers of my brain, 
 And left each pulse-gate quivering that it passed. 
 
 " As one awakened from a 'wildering dream 
 To sudden joy, when sense and memory seem 
 Fantastically one, 
 And both exact 
 
 A recognition from the faltering tongue, 
 Sol, 
 
 Surprised, uncertain how to act, 
 Forbade Him baptism, scarce witting why. 
 Then, as the captain of an armed host. 
 Choosing in thoughtless haste a rallying post, 
 Not more secure than many another near, 
 Tet, having chosen, concentrates his skill 
 To make the stronghold worthy of its name, 
 And marshals all his legions round a hill 
 They must defend, or bear a traitor's shame, 
 Because he chose it — so I summoned round 
 Quick-gathered reasons to defend my ground 
 Beneath the charge of His rebuking eye. 
 * Lord ! it is I, 
 
 I, who have need to be baptised of Thee, 
 And comest Thou to me ?' 
 12 
 
THE VOCATION. 
 
 " Gracious He smiled a pardon, and replied, 
 * Yet suffer it to be so, for I came 
 Thus to fulfil the Law's remotest claim.* 
 Then I complied, 
 
 Following him, reverent, into Jordan's tide. 
 Mine heart forestalled the Heaven-promised sign, 
 I knew my Saviour, human and divine. 
 He filled the deepening void of weary years. 
 And love gushed forth in floods of happy tears. 
 For such a draught I thirsted on the wild 
 And desert plain^ by hope alone beguiled. 
 And now, methought, the very fount of Heaven, 
 To quench that thirst, was to my parch' d lip given. 
 My childhood's lonely dream of human love, 
 A dream no longer, but a waking good ! 
 My faltering prayers all answered from above — 
 Messiah's self beside His Herald stood ! 
 I wondered not to see the Dove descend — 
 The sacred Dove, wherein the Spirit shone 
 In fluttering light. His Godlike path to tend. 
 Nor that the Father spake from His High Throne 
 To bear him witness, and bid Earth rejoice — 
 ' This is My Son — My one beloved Son — 
 In whom I am well pleased. Hear ye his voice !' " 
 73 
 
Clje Partmtom. 
 
 He sent mtd beheaded John in the peison." 
 
 Matt. xiv. 10. 
 
Silje S^artgrbom. 
 
 NCHALLENGED, up the marble 
 steps he trode, 
 That led to royal Herod's proud 
 abode. 
 
 The cringing sentinels, with cowering awe 
 Th' indignant Prophet's bold intrusion saw, 
 And hindered not his progress, as the clang 
 Of his swift footstep on its pavement rang. 
 
 And now along the corridors there stirred 
 The baimy fragrance of some rare perfume, 
 A breath of Araby, the maiden bloom 
 Of prisoned flowers, escaping silently. 
 Sweet distant music, dream -like, too, was heard 
 The whisper of some pleading melody, 
 77 
 
THE MAETTEDOM. 
 
 That seemed to woo them in their secret flight, 
 
 And bid them back to beauty and delight. 
 
 " The world without is chill, 
 
 And ye would die, 
 
 Dear fragrances, upon the evening air ! 
 
 Oh, linger still ! 
 
 And on the zephyrs lie. 
 
 That softly float around the royal pair." 
 
 Nearer the kingly presence now 
 
 John drew, nor faltered when the gauze-dimmed 
 
 rays 
 Of starry lamps broke on his eager gaze ; 
 Nor when he dashed aside, with sudden fling, 
 The spangled veil, and stood before the king, 
 "With scathing scorn-flash on his frowning brow. 
 
 Aback the courtiers started, stricken dumb 
 With blank amazement. — "Who was this had come 
 Unbidden, like a spectre of th' abyss, 
 T' unmask a vision of forbidden bliss. 
 And make it vanish like a bubble, blown 
 And burst ? Yet none dare give his wonder tone 
 While Herod trembled silent on the Throne. 
 78 
 
THE MAETTEDOM. 
 
 At last John spoke, 
 
 And like the first dread thunder-stroke, 
 Upon the mute assemblage, terrible 
 The Prophet's message broke. 
 
 Turning, he pointed where the Queen reclined. 
 
 Unmindful of her form's voluptuous grace — 
 
 Unmoved to pitj by her pallid face, 
 
 And quivering lips, and eyes with terror blind. 
 
 And bosom heaving with the conflict wild 
 
 Of jarring thoughts bestirred to mortal strife. 
 
 "Thou may'st not have her! She thy Brother's 
 
 wife ! 
 It is not lawful !" 
 
 "While in distance lowers 
 The black-brow'd tempest crouchiag for its spring 
 To devastate the Earth, all Nature cowers 
 In dreadful hush ; no sound of living thing 
 Breaking the truce, or rising up to dare 
 The battle shock, or haste the impending blow. 
 But once the thunder rushing through the air. 
 Inflicts on struggling Earth her anguish throe, 
 79 
 
THE MAETYEDOM. 
 
 Then she starts up with wild defiant strength 
 And cry of conflict. The rebuke at length 
 Had passed the Prophet's lips, and broke the spell 
 That erst upon the appalled assembly fell. 
 
 Herodias rose ! most like the crested snake, 
 A beauty and a loathing ! Thus she spake. 
 Her sharp tongue loosed to dart its arrowy spite 
 Of poisoned malice — 
 
 " Talk to slaves of Law ! 
 Here "Will is Law ! and only serfs obey 
 The Will imposed by others ! 
 Lust is Law, if Lust and Might are brothers ! 
 Say thy nay 
 
 Where bonds and stripes enforce thy mandates stem ; 
 We, with the laugh of scorn, thyself and message 
 
 spurn. 
 We spurn thee ! bid thee from our presence forth, 
 Tet not without thy guerdon, for our wrath 
 Is just, oh Martyr-seer, therefore go 
 To all the glory of the Martyr's woe : 
 The Martyr's crown, — let Him who sent bestow ! 
 On every wrinkle of thy quivering face 
 We'll write a tale of anguish and disgrace ; 
 80 
 
THE MABTTEDOM. 
 
 And each deep line a new demand shall bring 
 Against the justice of high Heaven's King. 
 Thy crippled limbs, thy darkened orbs of sight, 
 Thy lone years wasted in the dungeon's night, 
 Shall doubtless each such lib'ral largesse gain. 
 As well shall compensate for present pain!" 
 
 Calmly the Prophet stood ; her vengeful word 
 HeariQg with almost pity, for he knew 
 An Angel with averted visage heard 
 Her impious threat'nings too, 
 Seated amid the Archiv'ry of Heaven, 
 To whom the inexorable task was given 
 To register men's crimes ! 
 
 She waved her hand, 
 
 And at the mute command. 
 
 Around his wrist 
 
 The cold remorseless manacles they twist, 
 
 Filching his freedom. Yet he scarcely felt 
 
 Their pressure, for his thoughts the rather dwelt 
 
 Upon his errand. Had it been fulfilled 
 
 As God who gave the martyr-mission willed ? 
 
 81 a 
 
THE MAETTRDOM. 
 
 Then should his further service lie 
 In prison ; — he was prompt to bear 
 His witness to the truth e'en there — 
 In death — he was resigned to die ! 
 
 This was the language of his inmost soul, 
 And silently it rose, as good thoughts rise 
 Like waters to the level of their fount. 
 And Angels heard it in Grod's Holy Mount ; 
 For is not Heaven the cradle and the goal 
 Of all that here is pure, or strong, or wise ? 
 
 They led him from the Palace warmth and light 
 In fetters, through the early-gathered night, 
 Not yet so dark but that the busy throng 
 Knew him, and wondered, as he passed along. 
 The breath of evening played upon his brow, 
 His burning brow, like friendship's gentle kiss. 
 Thus had it soothed his weary soul ere now. 
 Amid the conflicts of the wilderness. 
 With head bowed down, and silent, passed he by 
 Those streets so long familiar to his eye — 
 Those homes that knew him as an honour'd guest— 
 Those friends beloved that round his footpath pressed- 
 
THE MAETTRDOM. 
 
 Their kindly greeting lost upon his ear 
 
 That dared his Gruards, and bade him be of cheer. 
 
 He gave them all no heed, 
 
 Abstracted still, he passed them bj, 
 
 For Grod who knew His Servant's need 
 
 "Was breathing solace from on high ; 
 
 And as God's light 
 
 Banishes earthly objects into night. 
 
 And makes the universe a temple wide, 
 
 Where He alone is seen and glorified, — 
 
 So when His voice is heard 
 
 Communing with His honoured creature, man. 
 
 There needs no Herald Arigel's word 
 
 Commanding silence ; there may rage around 
 
 Earth's Babel cries, and yet the listening ear, 
 
 Enraptured with His voice, in all th' extended sphere 
 
 Will catch no other sound. 
 
 Nor more he heeded, when the prison gate 
 Creak'd on its iron hinge, a captive's fate, 
 Proclaiming with a dull and echoing groan 
 To other captives, weeping for their own. 
 
 83 02 
 
THE MAETTEDOM. 
 
 A narrow cell 
 
 They gave him where to dwell, 
 
 The mem'ry of the Past for company, 
 
 For even Hope grew languid at his side, 
 
 Till silently it died. 
 
 Slowly and sadly, 'neath Life's leaden skies, 
 
 The hours passed, their drench' d wings could not rise, 
 
 So wet with tears, so chill with wintry sighs. 
 
 Day stole upon him like the pallid ghost 
 
 Of an unresting night. 
 
 And midnight's wand invoked a ghastly host 
 
 Of spectre forms that mocked his straining sight. 
 
 What wonder that, the martyr aid withdrawn 
 
 Which nerved to daring deed, 
 
 John's lion-heart grew faint, as all forlorn 
 
 He felt a deeper need : 
 
 A higher service, sacrifice more pure, 
 
 G-od now required, — the Patience to endure ! 
 
 When Grod would limn the portrait of His Church 
 In pilgrim garb, all principalities 
 And Powers of Heaven draw near in glad surprise, 
 84 
 
THE MAETTEDOM. 
 
 His Wisdom manifold intent to trace 
 In every complex line. Grace after grace 
 Adorns the sketch, revealing clearer trace 
 Of Christ her elder brother. " Oh how fair !" 
 "With rapture cry the Holy "Watchers there ; 
 " 'Tis the King's daughter, robed in spotless white, 
 With Heaven's joy sparkling in her eyes' soft 
 Hghtl" 
 
 While yet they gaze, to peace that joy He tones ! 
 And fairer, purer still, each Seraph owns 
 The marvellous portrayal ! " Surely now 
 Beauty ineffable adorns her brow." 
 
 Another change 
 
 They watch, and passing strange ! 
 
 Even the Peace hath faded from the face. 
 
 And dim-eyed sorrow hath supplied its place ; 
 
 Till Patience kindles there a holy smile, 
 
 Eeflection from a sacrificial fire 
 
 On her heart's Altar. " Perfect and entire 
 
 The beauty now !" each wond'ring Angel cries ; 
 
 And " Wanting nothing !" God Himself replies ! 
 
THE MAETYEDOM. 
 
 Yea, Patience is the crowning beauty, given 
 The nearest to the opening gate of Heaven ! 
 Along the pathway various graces meet 
 The journeying Bride, the gifts of nuptial love. 
 But Patience is the bridal-wreath, above 
 The whole, and then she stands complete ! 
 
 And what is Patience ? Not submission only 
 To any fate, however dark and lonely. 
 Patience is silent Hope, with folded wing, 
 When it can neither fly nor sing, 
 Content to rest in darkness till its flight 
 Is beckoned forth, — but gazing into light 
 Of future joy, by that alone sustained. 
 Till all its glorious heritage is gained. 
 
 Oh, hardest lesson, slowly learned below 
 In every varied phase of mortal woe ! 
 ' Its type the rainbow's arc, a jewelled form 
 Set in the background of a dark'ning storm, 
 Yet bom of light clear shining far away, — 
 Tlie child of darkness, wedded unto day ! 
 Not less a type, because when storms are gone 
 A rainbow shines around th' Eternal's Throne. 
 
THE MAETTHDOM. 
 
 For deem'st thou Patience mortal ? Nought is so 
 
 Of good ; nor doomed to find below 
 
 Its final mission. Christ, who most possessed 
 
 The lovely grace, hath borne it to His rest, — 
 
 " Henceforth expecting !" Patience waits in gladness 
 
 For more of joy from out the Future's store, 
 
 As truly as she waits, resigned in sadness, 
 
 Till sadness be no more. 
 
 *Ti3 Patience keeps the time 
 
 For all Heaven's choral symphonies sublime. 
 
 Which else were discord. 
 
 Now a drearier woe, 
 The last and darkest, drenched the Prophet's heart. 
 He was resigned that all of Earth should go, 
 Yea, life itself depart ; 
 But not that the Messiah should forsake 
 His fainting servant, captive for His sake. 
 One word of sweet approval from His tongue, — 
 One token of His sympathy and care, — 
 And joy once more exultingly had sprung 
 To bless his gloomy Prison of Despair. 
 Day after day he listened for that word — 
 Night after night — but never, never heard ! 
 87 
 
THE maettedom:. 
 
 Thousands were daily thronging to His side, 
 
 As now he taught by Qalilean tide, 
 
 And none who craved a blessing were denied. 
 
 Yet when John^s friends the wond'rous tidings 
 
 brought 
 Of Heavenly mysteries Messiah taught, 
 He eager questioned, " Does He think of me?" 
 They answered, " Nay !" — they answered pityingly ; 
 And all the anguish which that answer gave 
 They know who for one love, and but one, crave 
 In vain. 
 
 Love speaks in parables throughout the world. 
 
 In Heaven, perchance, its messages are known 
 
 By the mute glisten of an answering eye. 
 
 But here it shrinks abashed to hear the tone 
 
 Of its own voice, and gives itself the lie 
 
 When craving credence most. The realest thing 
 
 Below the sapphire sky. 
 
 Exorcised with a grasp, and vanishing I 
 
 Eluding with a swift ethereal wing 
 
 Each fettering hand, seems like a maiden's dream 
 
 Most insubstantial ! 
 
 88 
 
THE MAETYEDOM. 
 
 E'en the opal's gleam 
 Is not so changeful in its colouring ! 
 Now cold as emerald in its springtide green ; 
 Then flushing with the ruby's burning ray ; 
 Paling to pearl, — anon Heav'n-tinted seen 
 Like the blue palace of a summer day ! 
 
 As self-forgetful as a mother's smiles 
 
 When her soft lullaby her child beguiles 
 
 To slumber, Love appeareth whiles : 
 
 "Wounded anon by an averted look, 
 
 Or sympathy expected and denied, 
 
 It wears the mask of all-unlovely Pride ; 
 
 Yet weeps hot teardrops quenchless from its eyes 
 
 To find itself mistook 
 
 Behind its strange disguise. 
 
 And now John's Love must speak, 
 Or else his long o'erburdened heart must break — 
 Must speak to earn reply, 
 Or of his lov'd One's silence droop and die. 
 Yet asked he not what most he craved to hear, 
 Lord, dost Thou love me ? — Dost Thou think of me ? 
 89 
 
THE MAETTEDOM. 
 
 And is my lost life, in the dungeon drear, 
 A sacrifice acceptable to Thee ? 
 
 They must be gifts, not alms, 
 
 Love's jewelled words for memory's treasury ; 
 
 When asked for, losing half their charms ! 
 
 Nor would he sow in other breasts the fear 
 That Jesus ceased to hold His servant dear. 
 Which yet perplexed his own. Could he have gone 
 Himself to seek Him, one sweet smile alone 
 Were all the proof he needed. 
 
 But he sent 
 Two of his friends to ask, — as if intent 
 Only to seal his mission with the proof 
 Of Christ's Messiahship, " Tell us in truth. 
 Art Thou indeed the Saviour promised long. 
 Or look we for another ?" Hid among 
 The questioning words, there lurk'd an anguish-cry, 
 Scarce audible, so deep the misery 
 From which it came, — " Dost Thou remember me ?" 
 It reached Christ's ear ; it brought a prompt reply, 
 And worthy of His lofty courtesy. 
 90 
 
THE MARTYKDOM. 
 
 He lavished works of wonder all around ; 
 The sick were heal'd ; the blind their sight received ; 
 The lame man walk'd ; deaf ears unclosed to sound ; 
 The hardened wept ; the weeping poor believed ! 
 
 " Tell John," Christ said, " what ye have seen and 
 
 heard, 
 The power divine of My transforming word ! 
 And blessed shall My servant be 
 Who findeth no offence in Me !" 
 
 Such was the message, such the stern rebuke 
 The awed disciples to their master took. 
 But John a secret message found 
 Conceal' d in this of harsher sound, — 
 " In these my works acknowledge Me ! 
 Such as thou hear'st to these I be, 
 Such will I prove Myself to thee !" 
 
 Dim in the distance disappeared the forms 
 Of John's disciples, followed by the eye 
 Of Jesus, blessed perchance unconsciously, — 
 The blessing welcomed, but the source unknown, 
 A royal largesse from a hidden throne. 
 91 
 
THE MAETYEDOM. 
 
 Then Jesus turned Him to the crowd again 
 
 To vindicate His suffering servant's fame. 
 
 " What went ye to the wilderness to see ? 
 
 By Jordan's banks, what strange attraction drew 
 
 Your list'ning crowds ? The shaken reeds that 
 
 grew 
 Beside the water, breathing melody ? 
 ^olian lutes on which the zephyrs played, 
 Filling with song each cool and tranquil glade ? 
 "What went ye to the wilderness to see ? 
 A courtier decked in silken bravery. 
 Dispensing favours ? Nay, ye such had sought 
 "Within the confines of the Boyal court ! 
 What went ye to the wilderness to see ? 
 A Prophet ? Tea ! and more, for this is he 
 Of whom Isaiah spake long ages past, 
 Of woman-born the greatest and the last ! 
 Great were the Seers who bade their nation 
 
 hope 
 For blessings that far future years would bring, 
 But ah, his message hath a nobler scope, 
 Whose sudden voice 
 Bids the wide world rejoice, — 
 The time is come ! Behold the promised King ! 
 92 
 
THE MABTYEDOM. 
 
 Great is my Herald ! He is greater still 
 Who owns my sway, and yields him to my will ! 
 What tho' John's voice is mute, tho' lonely woe 
 Consume his captive hours as they flow, 
 What tho' forgotten by the crowd that hung 
 Enraptured once on his prophetic tongue, 
 They hold him greater in his suffering love. 
 Who watch him from the kingdom gates above, 
 Than when, with stern Elijah's power arrayed. 
 The spirits of the multitude he swayed. 
 Yea, greater than the greatest Prophet he, 
 Accounted least of those that follow Me. 
 More eloquent my martyr-servant's sigh 
 Than rapt Isaiah's grandest prophecy !" 
 
 Light twinkling feet in Herod's sparkling hall 
 Greet their reflection in the polished floor, 
 Swift as the dripping swallow's pinions fall 
 To wake the slumb'rous wave he hovers o'er. 
 Lost in the whirl of dance, a lovely mist 
 Of merry stars, afloat in rainbow cloud, 
 Herodias' daughter keeps the court a-whist 
 In admiration ! There is heard no sound, 
 93 
 
THE MAETTEDOM. 
 
 Save such as holds the measure of her dance, 
 Nor listless wanders e'en an errant glance ; 
 Unmindful of her beauty's magic glow, 
 She lingers now, and lo ! her slack'ning pace 
 Heightens the charm of her enthralling grace, 
 As faultless in repose, 
 As in the hazy outline, which her speed 
 Had thrown around her ! Even so, the rose 
 Starts from her morning veil of golden beams, 
 Or blushing fruit in mellow ripeness gleams 
 From the green shelter of its wind-stirred leaves. 
 
 One glance around the royal damsel gives. 
 Elate the guerdon of her skill to see 
 In the mute homage of each glowing eye ; 
 Then soft she drops upon her bended knee 
 Before the king, " Ah, deign, Great Majesty, 
 A token of thy favour to bestow, — 
 Some opening flower to bloom upon my breast. 
 And, with its fragrant breathing, whisper low 
 That thou art pleased !" To whom the king replied, 
 " Ask what thou wilt, it shall not be denied. 
 Though half my realm were in the bold request !" 
 91 
 
THE MATITTRDOM. 
 
 The courtiers listened, wond'ring what a maid 
 So gifted, young, and beautiful would crave. 
 But still she paused as though she were afraid 
 To unmask her wish, or as her heart misgave 
 The royal word, on which perchance there hung 
 A hope too sacred for her trembling tongue. 
 Thus Herod judged, and bending from his throne, 
 " Sweet Princess !" said, " make but thy wishes known, 
 And, by the guests that honour us to-day, 
 Ask what thou wilt, I will not say thee Nay !" 
 
 Thus urged, and in her Mother's cruel eye 
 
 Reading anew her pre-arranged reply, 
 
 The fair girl said, — 
 
 " Here, in a charger, John the Baptist's head !" 
 
 Cold horror seized and silenced all the host 
 Of startled courtiers, and the 'wildered king — 
 Trembling and pale, as though the Prophet's ghost 
 Already hovered on revengeful wing 
 To bear the tidings of such murder fell 
 Through the wide world, — with hoarse and quick- 
 drawn breath, 
 As left in madness to some demon's spell, 
 Gave sentence for his death ! 
 95 
 
THE MA.ETTEDOM. 
 
 He turned him not, e'en at Herodias' touch, 
 That would recall him to a calmer frame, 
 Such as the festive scenes around became. 
 His frozen eyes refused to quit their clutch 
 Of his false temptress, as he feared some art 
 Of the black devil crouched within her heart, 
 Should waft her to some trackless desert forth. 
 Leaving him lonely to th' avenger's wrath. 
 
 The lamps burned dim ; the guests with stealthy tread 
 
 Stole from the haunted gloom 
 
 Solemnly, as one quits an honour' d tomb. 
 
 And in the ebon sky, 
 
 "With golden stars' funereal 'broidery. 
 
 Beheld the Pall which God Himself had spread 
 
 Above the form of the illustrious Dead. 
 
 The lamps burned out, where yet the royal Three, 
 Bound by the new-forged fetters of their sin, 
 In silent conclave, chill with misery. 
 Feared the wild spectres, starting from the dim 
 Shadows of night ; 
 Yet dared not stir to light 
 One quenched lamp, of all that hung around. 
 96 
 
THE MAETTEDOM. 
 
 But see ! along the grouud 
 
 A streak of red ! 
 
 Cleaving the darkness with a stroke as dread 
 
 As of the sword which 'fended Eden round. 
 
 Beneath the portal of the Hall it flashed, 
 
 "While nearing, through the corridor there crashed 
 
 The heavy footsteps of two blood-stained men, 
 
 Bearing a ghastly trophy ! Shuddering then, 
 
 Herodias' daughter, with averted face. 
 
 Took the grim meed of beauty and of grace, 
 
 And bore it to her mother ! 
 
 There it lay. 
 In ruddy halo of a martyr's blood, 
 A noble head, and youthful, for its day 
 Of life still clomb aloft to golden noon, 
 "When all too soon 
 The murderer's axe benighted it in death ! 
 
 Herodias gazed with quicker coming breath ; 
 And through the vista of all future years 
 That look 
 With stem rebuke 
 
 97 H 
 
THE MAETTEDOM. 
 
 Still met her eje. 
 
 She saw it horrified, until her fears 
 
 At times grew audible in sudden cry, 
 
 " 'Tis John whom Herod murdered !" " ^ay," they 
 
 said. 
 The shocked attendants, " IS'ay, for John is dead !" 
 To whom Herodias, frantic would reply, 
 " He is not dead ! The murdered never die ! 
 A million Johns sprang from his gaping throat 
 "With starting eyes that on my misery gloat, 
 In whose cold hands a million lightnings hiss 
 My weary soul to Hell ! 
 Is he in bliss, 
 
 Sped thither by the sudden stroke that fell 
 Athwart the iron chain of captive life 
 That bound his soul to misery and strife ? 
 Why should he thus revenge a fate so blest ? 
 Can he not slumber in his grave of rest ? 
 Art thou not he? Phantom, thy name I ask ? 
 Is it not John ? That gory head I know 
 Some mocking demon wears it as a mask, 
 For it was dead ! Yea, in his form a-dressed 
 Some cruel Spirit goads me to my woe 
 The other side of Death ! 
 
THE MAETTEDOM, 
 
 « The Palace HaUs 
 Are terrible with * Mene' on the walls, 
 And every voice takes up the curst refrain, 
 And echoes * Mene' through my maddened brain !" 
 
 Without the dungeon gate 
 
 A band of grief-bowed pilgrims wait ; 
 
 Not weeping as they weep 
 
 "Whose loved one, waking from a holy sleep, 
 
 Hath waked above ; 
 
 But petrified with horror and amaze 
 
 At tidings of a bloody Martyrdom, 
 
 Into the others' pallid faces gaze. 
 
 Each craving contradiction of his fears. 
 
 They come 
 
 In all the stony weight of sudden woe 
 
 That cannot melt in flow of hallowed tears ; 
 
 Yet half-incredulous, — the treacherous blow 
 
 So unexpected fell which killed their joy. 
 
 That Hope, in terror fainting, could not flee. 
 
 But lingered, murmuring still, " It cannot be !'* 
 
 A jailor came, 
 
 Guarding with blood-stained hand the shuddering 
 flame 
 
THE MAETTEDOM. 
 
 That led them to the corpse. The night's black wind 
 Went with them by the open iron gate, 
 And followed through the dismal passages, 
 Moaning and sighing for the Prophet's fate. 
 
 'Tis all too true ! 
 
 In the deserted cell the headless trunk they view 
 
 With reverent awe, that still restrains their cries. 
 
 The roofless temple there in ruin lies, 
 
 Of a transcendent soul ! 
 
 In fear they stood, 
 Still musing on the recent deed of blood, 
 Which to their fancy took a form of dread. 
 Haunting the glooms around ; for it is said 
 The Fiend who tempts a murderer to his crime. 
 Is henceforth prisoned in some human shape 
 Bearing a hideous likeness to the Dead, 
 From which the captive demon may not scape, 
 Through aU the cycles of all coming time ! 
 
 They took the Body up ; 
 
 Smoothing the stiif'ning limbs with pious love. 
 Contorted still with that last mortal throe 
 100 
 
THE MAETTEDOM. 
 
 "WTiich sped the spirit to its home above. 
 
 They bore it with a slow 
 
 And solemn dirge along the echoing way 
 
 By which they came, 
 
 Needing no more the flame 
 
 Of flickering torch, their mournful path to show, 
 
 For now the silver beams of dawning day 
 
 "Were lighting up the dungeon's gloomy vaults 
 
 With early grey. 
 
 " Sadly we bear thee forth 
 In the lone tomb to dwell, 
 Victim of royal wrath ; 
 Brother, farewell ! 
 
 " Up to high Heaven's gate, — 
 Down to Death's narrow cell, 
 Driven with cruel hate ; 
 Brother, farewell ! 
 
 " Oh, the sharp agony, 
 When the keen weapon fell, 
 Setting thy Spirit free ! 
 Brother, farewell ! 
 101 
 
THE MAETYEDOM. 
 
 " Oh, the wild terror-pang 
 "When through the dungeon cell 
 Murderous voices rang ! 
 Brother, farewell ! 
 
 " Last of the Prophet line ! 
 "Who shall thine honours tell ? 
 Herald of Light divine ! 
 Brother, farewell ! 
 
 " Israel's Morning Star ! 
 Upward our voices swell 
 Borne to thy home afar ! 
 Brother, farewell !'* 
 
 And now the sad procession wound its way 
 Adown the rocks on which the city stood, 
 And at their feet green meadows stretched away 
 In flowery slope toward Jordan's rippling flood. 
 They dug a grave, deep in a leafy dell. 
 And once again they wail'd a long farewell. 
 
 The glorious Sun had drawn his curtains back. 
 Of purple clouds, pavilioning his rest, 
 102 
 
THE MAETTEDOM. 
 
 And golden glory paved his Sovereign track 
 Toward the far chambers of the fragrant west. 
 
 He lit a halo round the Prophet's bed 
 
 Of calm repose, and on the mourners shed 
 
 His gifts of light and hope, leading them on, 
 
 No more forlorn, 
 
 To where, even now, in Heaven's radiant morn, 
 
 The Day-star Prophet shone ! 
 
 Thus shall the Sun of Eighteousness arise 
 With healing wings, a weary world to cheer ! 
 The Day-star pales upon th' illumined skies ! 
 The Herald falls ! the King Himself draws near ! 
 
 Celestial visions that around them burned 
 Inspired their lips as homeward they returned. 
 They communed of the open pearly gate, 
 At whose pure portals choirs of Angels wait, 
 Calling in trancing song across the tide 
 Of sapphire space on which freed spirits glide ; 
 By melody the Blest may only hear 
 Guiding their journey to their own bright sphere ! 
 They communed of a river of delight, 
 "Whose radiant source no Angel's eye hath known, 
 103 
 
THE MAETTEDOM. 
 
 Lost in infinitude of awful light, 
 
 Proceeding from th' Eternal's dazzling Throne ! 
 
 Of draughts of immortality ! Of life 
 
 Exulting ever in unfading youth ! 
 
 Of knowledge gazing on the wonders rife 
 
 In all the vast transparencies of Truth ! 
 
 Of tenderest Eriendships fearing no farewell ! 
 
 Of noble deeds attuned to harps of gold ! 
 
 Of jewelled crowns for Holy Ones who dwell 
 
 In crystal towers of rich celestial mould ! 
 
 They called it Heaven ! They said that Grod was there ! 
 
 His Smile the Light that thrilled yon world above ! 
 
 His Will the Service Saints and Angels share 
 
 With all the sweet alacrity of Love ! 
 
 Hush! words were traitors to the thoughts that 
 
 glowed 
 In vision of the Prophet's bright abode ! 
 And vision failed before the amber Throne ! 
 The mysteries of Heaven are only known 
 Transfigured into Symbol ! 
 
 THE END. 
 
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