■jk i ii HH.iHW — ) ¥ I N F B I D, W A T E K L , KNOCHIIS AEDt r j^L &c. m^4 i'l 1 "111 "'If K?!** ^udddaTk^ THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES ^ /./ ^ ^ ■ /i> W I N F R 1 D ><:<( «»<'*<■/ ^ « ' «^«^,. ^ n^- CAMBRIDGE : PRINTED BY C. J. CLAY, M.A. AT THE UNIVERSITY PRESS. W I N F R I D AFTERWARDS CALLED BONIFACE. A.D. 680—755. The better fortitude Of patience, and heroick martyrdom, Unsung. Paradise Lost, ix. 31. BY WILLIAM SELWYN, CANON i)V ELY CATHEDKAL. (IT a mluitiac : DFJGIITON, BELL AND CO. LONDON: BELL AND DALDY. A.D. I 865. ?K TO GEORGE AUGUSTUS. FIRST BISHOP OF i£iM ■^enlantr, FROM HIS LOVING BROTHER, WILLIAM SELWYN, 9173CG A DAY of gloom ; first showers, then pouring rain ; A narrow boat, adown the turbid stream That eats the crumbling banks of Upper Rhein, By vapour and the whirling current borne, From Basel ; neither hill nor tower to break The weary length ; but ever and anon Harsh gratings of the iron-plated keel On shallows, hardly passing : till at eve The glorious Sun brake out beneath the gloom. And burnish'd the broad flood, and touch'd with gold The minster towers and pinnacles of Speyer. Sucli close of such a day was emblem meet To image forth the shining of that light, Which after centuries of heathen gloom Brake out upon the realms of Germany. 'Twas in the early spring of England's faith, When Heaven had heard the Roman Father's prayer, That Angles might be Angels ; lingering yet — As when the lingering winter struggles long With rising summer, and the April days Are mingled storm and sunshine — idol-gods Struggled for life, and falsehood warr'd with trutii, And faith went halting 'twixt the old and new ; The strong man strove to hold his palace still, Not knowing that a stronger shook his walls. Then did the SPIRIT come upon the heart Of Winfrid, as in Devon's upland vales He worshipt GOD in CHRIST ; his earnest life Number'd not fifteen summers ; yet was he Fill'd witli the wisdom of the fear of GOD, Deep in all heavenly lore, and Spirit-taught ; He from his childhood, in his father's house, Oft visited by holy men of GOD In circuit, scattering Gospel-seeds, had loved Long at their feet to listen ; till the tale Of Jesus, virgin-born in Bethlehem, And in the SPIRIT going forth to break The power of Satan, and the bitter Cross, The grave, the victory, to the listening child, Felt rather than believed, had grown to be A life and power within his rising soul. Then, not content to listen only, he long'd To preach with his own lips the word of life, And deem'd that GOD had call'd him ; but his sire. Kind though he was, thwarted his eager wish, (A post of honour mark'd he for his son) And would have had him live a layman still, And carry on the lineage of his house. Made noble by the blood of Saxon kings. Ah mc ! in c\il hour did Roman priests Forge those sad fetters of the cehbate, Freezing the hfe-blood of the man of GOD, Forbidding evermore the godhke names Of husband and of father ; woe the day ! But Winfrid in his heart was consecrate, And his resolve, like flame before the blast That has not power to quench, still gather'd strength From what opposed it ; thus they stood apart, Father and son, still loving, but diverse Their aims and purposes ; when lo ! the sire Brought by a sudden seizure nigh to death, And lying sick and sleepless, blamed himself; Call'd for his son, and granted all he ask'd, And pray'd for blessings on him. Winfrid went, Bidding his father and his kin farewell. And sought the holy house of Exeter, To strengthen his heart-knowledge, gain'd by ear, And print heaven's message deeper in his soul, By reading holy writ, Prophet and Law, And fourfold Gospel ; thence still onward moved To Nutescelle, sheltering under Winton's see, Where woodland Hants o'er narrow channel looks, To the fair Isle ; and there, noviciate past, A brother in that holy brotherhood, And dedicate to GOD by priestly vows. He bore his part in all their prayers and works, And lived angelic days, now rapt to Heaven In solemn litanies and chants of praise. And now descending to the lowly huts Of peasant neighbours, where his gracious tongue Dropt manna for their souls in weary times. Thus, like fair planet, round her central lord Circling her peaceful path, did Winfrid run. Ten years and more, his flower and prime of life, The course of love his LORD had mark'd for him ; And as he ran, still brightening ; till at length The burning and the shining light he bore, Though in frail earthen vessel, jiut to flight The darkness and the guilt of heathendom, And all the region round was fiU'd with ClIRIST. Now far and wide o'er Christian England spake A voice as of a trumpet, loud and clear, ' Go forth, and preach the Gospel : freely give 'What ye received so freely:' — Whose the voice? Not Ecgbert's, but GOD's voice that spake by him. Ecgbert, now priest in Ireland, English-born, When smitten down by sickness, — smitten too By those sharp pangs that punish wasted days, And gifts misused — in bitterness of soul Had pray'd, like Judah's king, for added years. And vow'd them all to God ; prepared himself, And choice of faithful comrades, forth to go Where scarcely yet the sacred name was named. To forests wild, and wilder men that roam'd Between the waters of the Rhein and Meuse, In Friesland, cradle of the Anglian race. But while they girt themselves, and gather'd all. The sacred books and priestly vestments rich. Paten and chahce; troubled dreams by night Foreshadow'd ill ; their chief beheld the ship Driven from her destined course by stormy winds, Stranded and broken by the waves; yet still, — Remembering how the great Apostle thrice Had suffer'd shipwreck, — nothing terrified, The little band moved cheerily to the port, Where their bark lay for them, and went aboard. But ere they sail'd, while waiting for the dawn, A clearer vision came on Ecgbert's sleep, And in the stillness of the night there fell A voice of power from Heaven: 'This enterprise 'Is not for thee; return thou, and build up 'The desolations of thy land; the man ' By me for this work chosen I will send.' He heard, obedient to that heavenly voice ; Went back to his own land, and labour'd well To root out every plant of evil growth, That marr'd the good seed of the .Son of Man : 8 Yet not the less did Ecgbert sound the call To Christian iicarts in England, forth to send The word of life to those dark pagan lands, Rejoicing that some better man than he Was chosen for that holy enterprise : This was the trumpet-voice that moved the land. Now for that mission-work beyond the seas The leader call'd by GOD was Willibrord, Long known in England's Church for fervent zeal; He heard the call, and gladly gave himself To plant the Cross in Friesland; forth he went With chosen band, who loved not their own lives; And Winfrid, still in Nutescelle, heard the call Deep in his inmost soul ; and though his kin Strove, like the kin of Roman Regulus Returning to his dread captivity, To bar his way, he held his purpose firm, And pray'd them not to fight against GOD's will ; And while he reason'd, Apostolic words Rose to his lips unbidden ; * Woe is me 'If I preach not the Gospel.' 'Yea!' said they, 'Preach here in England; here are still enow ' Of Pagans, though they name the name of Christ But he still answer'd calmly, 'Let me go; ' For I have heard a voice you cannot hear, ' And I have seen a hand, that beckons me ' To those far lands, now dark as England once, ' To help to make them light, as England now.' So, seeing that his mind was fully bent. They ceased, and Winfrid went to Willibrord. And now what need to tell the Mission-tale ? How after tossing long in troubled seas. And conquering gloomy doubts by faith and prayer, They landed on the Frisian coast, so low, 'Twas almost lower than the wave they left : And how through many a strange vicissitude, Sometimes with kindness meeting, then v.ith scorn, And oft with blank indifference; sorely tried ]iy want of all things, and again made rich lO Beyond their wants by hospitable hands; They plied their Master's work, and sow'd his seed Beside all waters; how they gather'd flocks Redeem'd by grace from Satan unto Goi), In all the villages and haunts of men, In the wild forest, by the river's bank: How men cast down the idols of the land With their own hands that made them; and gave up Their temples, timber-fashion'd, rudely carved, To be the sanctuaries of GoD in Christ : 'Tis written in the life of Willibrord. But there was none of all that holy band So faithful or so wise as Winfrid ; none More ripe in counsel, none more bold in a6l, None mightier in the Scriptures; for the lore That he had learnt by hearing, or by books, In his own land, in cloister, or at home. Shone like a lamp to guide his daily life. Scant time was now for reading ; but the word Of Christ dwelt in him richly ; his the voice II To cheer faint hearts in peril or in woe ; In every time of trial came the chief To take fresh counsel with his minister, * For Winfrid's eye can see, though all be dark.' And thus, when heavenly truth had won her way, And Friesland was half Christian, thickly sown With rising Churches, loath was Willibrord To part with such companion of his cares ; And will'd that Winfrid should abide there still. Bishop of Utrecht ; gently warning him That years and labours had impair'd his strength ; The good fight fought, he now should take his rest, Pass quiet days of prayer among his flock, Enjoy some foretaste of the promised bliss. And leave to younger men the realms beyond. But Winfrid had no heart to build his nest. And take his ease, while all the Upper Rhein Lay dark and fill'd with idols ; onward still, Urged by the native spirit of his race. And by the fear of CHRIST, he long'd to press, 12 As debtor to the heathen of the South. He answer'd firml}', ' L\ither, let me go; * My God hath still a work for me to do, ' Ere the night come, when man can work no more ; * Labour to me is rest, and weakness strength ; 'And I shall be more fruitful in mine age.' But ere he launch'd on that tempestuous sea Of heathendom, by sad example known So full of peril to frail Christian bark ; He sought brief rest in his own native land, And pray'd his friends in England to besiege The throne of Heaven with supplications strong ; And chiefly Daniel, Winton's bishop, loved And reverenced as a father. Then he w^ent To ask a blessing from that Mother-Church, From whence a century since had issued forth The mission of Augustine, which had tamed Hard Saxon necks to the mild yoke of CHRIST, In all the realms of England's Heptarchy; T3 To Rome he went ; and with kind words of cheer, The holy Father blest him for his work. Then Winfrid, having braced his soul by prayer, Amid the shrines of martyrs and of saints ; — Above his head Saint Peter's holy roof, Beneath his feet the silent catacombs ; His heart with holy zeal and courage fill'd, — Turn'd to his mission-field, and carried with him A chosen band, like-minded with himself: For his strong spirit, with mysterious power, Magnetic, drew like spirits after him, Where'er his orbit touch'd them. One he found Whose name shall never in oblivion sleep, While the Rhein rolls, and Friesland stems the sea One, fresh in youth and pure of heart he found, To be the sharer of his coming toils, Train'd for him unawares by Addula, Abbess of holy sisterhood by Trier, On Mosel's bank. There resting for the night, H In the refe6lory, at even-tide, Young Gregory stood to read tlie holy page ; * And kenst thou what thou readest ? ' Winfrid said ; *Yea!' said the youth, and read the page again; * Nay,' said the Father, ' that I question'd not,' * Kenst thou the spirit of the holy word ? * Give me the meaning in thy mother tongue.' The youth was silent, for he could no more ; His heart as yet had found no utterance : Then the good man, to all the sisterhood, Pour'd forth, from the good treasure of his heart. The spirit and the life that lay within The letter of the Scripture ; 'twas the word Of Jesus in the porch of Solomon, ' And other sheep I have, not of this fold ; ' 'Them also must I bring, to hear my voice;' Then spake he of the unbounded love of CHRIST, And of the wild Thuringians, Avaiting still For some to lead them to the Shepherd's fold ; The listening heart of Gregory caught the flame, 15 And ere he slept he begg'd of Addula To send him forth as one of Winfrid's band ; ' Had she no horse to give him ? ' then on foot Would he accompany that holy man. The Abbess was his father's sister ; lone And lovingly she strove to bend his will ; Then yielded him to G(3D, and sent him forth, With horse, and all the best her house could give. So these went forth and labour'd for the Lord, Among the scatter'd flocks of Christians, few And far between ; and in the heathen wilds. Where Thor and Woden, and the lights that rule The day and night, usurp'd the place of GOD, Maker of all things : which the harder task, To quicken slumb'ring Christians, and awake To his first love the Pastor's heart grown cold ; Or plant the Gospel fresh in wildwood hearts Of Pagans, who shall tell ? His varied work- Still W^infrid plied, as GuD ordain'd it for him. /■ i6 To win, or to recover; and his band Of faithful comrades, full of love and zeal, Went forth to conquer further fields for ClIRIST, In ever-widening circles ; year by year Back roll'd the gloomy cloud of heathendom, That brooded o'er the land ; and churches rose. And the fair temple of the Living GoD, Built on the rock of Jesus crucified. Four years had Winfrid labour'd thus, and saw The harvest ripening round him ; and the fame Of idols overthrown, and multitudes Confessing CilRlST their Saviour, came to Rome ; Thither too Winfrid sent his messengers, With letters of good tidings, and besought The Roman Father's counsel ; but he said, 'Let my son Winfrid come himself to Rome:' He rightly deem'd such work, so blest of GOD, Should now be crown'd with higher dignity; And Winfrid should return witli fuller power, 17 As Bishop, to confirm and stablish well The Churches of his planting. W'infrid came, And slept not till his talc of joy was told ; Then after full confession of the faith, And frequent interchange of holy thoughts, And lastly, oath of firm fidelity, Sworn on the shrine, where rests (so Rome believes) The great Apostle, founder of their Church ; The Holy Father with a solemn choir Of Bishops, laid his hand on Winfrid's head ; Nor rested there, but with unwonted speed, (So dear the man, so paramount his work) Thrusting aside tlie waves of other cares. That daily surge from all the world on Rome, Hasted to send him forth ; yea ! the next da\', Gave him the canons, written fair and large. With letters to the Mayor of the Fi'anks, Martel, and other princes ; charging them To forward Winfrid's work with ready help. Then once again he blest him, and (M'dain'd 1) i8 That W'iiifrid should henceforth be Boniface, By that name to be known throughout the world ; But Winfrid loved the name his father gave him, And his own band of faithful followers Would call him Winfrid still ; for by that name They knew him when their hearts were knit to his. Once more their feet are on the Alps ; once more Their eyes are bent toward those Rhein-water'd fields, Where they have walk'd Avith Christ, and yet would walk. Right glad the welcome that awaited them From all their faithful flocks, and from the sheep During their travels added to the fold ; And glad the voice of Winfrid, speaking now From the full heart of Christian Father's love ; His word went forth with power; and many a realm Was added to CHRIST'S kingdom ; and the Vine Of the Lord's planting stretch'd her boughs abroad, From the great River far into the heart Of Europe, 'twixt the Alps and Northern Sea. 19 One tra6l alone rcniain'd, untrodden yet By any foot of Gospel-messenger ; The forest-tra6l of Geismar ; far within, Where never woodman's axe was heard to ring, Mid streams and swamps, and trunks of ages past, That lay along the ground where they had fall'n, Moss-grown, and matted o'er with trailing plants ; And in the open glades, where daylight shone At intervals, amid surrounding gloom, Like joyful moments in a life of pain ; There did the Saxon idols hold their sway Unchallenged ; and the Christian people said, Here was the strongest hold of Satan's power; The very citadel of heathendom ; Could once the Gospel of the Living GOD Pierce that dark forest, and disperse the gloom ; Then the whole land would soon be fill'd with light. And Winfrid in his heart resolved to go, Strong in the promise of the risen T-mrd, 20 ' Lo ! I ani with }-ou ahvay;' and he wont, With chosen followers, to the dreadful wood. King of that forest reign'd a giant tree, An oak, beneath whose spreading shade might rest An hundred horsemen, picqueting their steeds; Five centuries, and more, of summer suns And winter rains had knotted all his stem ; Uncounted moons, crescent and full, had gleam'd Among the branches, chequering shade with light. As the leaves trembled to the midnight air ; There had he thriven, overshadowing all. Dwarfing all other stems that ventured near ; Till left alone in solitary state, With ample space of verdant glade around. And nought to intercept his majesty : This tree was sacred to the Thunderer, Thor, And well-nigh worshipt as the god himself. No lack of vigour yet, for year by year His wealth of leaves from every arm and branch 21 Pour'd freshly forth ; but careful eye might mark High on the topmost crown some naked twigs ; And one who stood beneath, close by the bole, Might see a deep-cut trench, all weather-stain'd, Cleaving the centre, widening to the bark. With split and jagged edges : and they said, This was the Thunderer's mark ; for none but oaks, Or seldom, were so scathed ; and never yet Did the great god with second thunderbolt Strike the same tree ; such was the heathens' tale. And Winfrid's eye had mark'd that trenching cleft, Not counting it for proof of san6lity, But of God's might ; so waiting for the day, When Priests and Chieftains, and the common folk By thousands, all assembled round the tree, To dance in honour of the Thunderer Thor, With horrid sacrifice and revelry ; Then Winfrid came, and standing in the midst Like him who stood on Carmcl for the LORD, He cried aloud, 'Ye Priests and People, hear: 22 'How long will yc thus worship senseless trees? 'And sacrifice to them that are no gods? ' Lo ! here we stand this day for life or death ; ' Now call ye on your god ; while I and mine ' Try with our axes this divinity : ' And if your Thunderer can avenge his own, ' Then let his lightning smite us ; but if not, ' And if this tree fall down and split asunder, ' Then may ye learn that Thor is no true God ; 'And bow your hearts to Him who made this tree, ' The Sun, the Moon, and all the host of Heaven, • Our Father ! and his Christ, the Tree of Life, ' Whose leaves are for the healing of the world. ' Lo ! here we stand this day for life or death. 'Will ye abide this trial?' And they said, 'We will abide this trial.' Then the Saint With axe in hand, and eyes upraised to Heaven, Pray'd to the Living GoD, and struck a blow Which cleft the bark ; a second downward fell, 23 Meeting the first, and left a gaping notch ; Which two stout deacons with alternate stroke, Deepen'd and widen'd, till the mighty trunk Half round was sever'd ; while the priests amazed Look'd on with horror, calling on their god To hurl his lightnings and avenge his own. Five hundred rings and more, ring within ring, Lie open to the centre, and the sap. The giant's life-blood, trickles down the roots ; And }'et no lightning falls, no thunder-peal Speaks for the god ; while Winfrid calmly stands, Watching the end in holy confidence. Slowly and sadly, and with many a groan. The growth of ages yielded ; till at length A sudden blast bore down with perilous weight On the broad leafy mass, and made the tree Nod to his fall : then Winfrid with his axe Sever'd the bark that girt the further side, As yet unwounded ; heavier still the wind Bore down ; and, like the ship unballasted. 24 Tliat falls upon her side before the gale, With one long crash the giant monarch fell, And falling split, with fourfold havoc rivxMi, Ev'n where the lightning-bolt had cleft the stem. And with that fall the Thunderer's empire fell, The baseless fabric vanish'd like a mist, Before the rising Sun of Righteousness : They cried 'the GoD of Winfrid, He is GOD :' And from the timbers of the fallen oak They built a House of Prayer to God in CiiRrsT. Thus did the last stronghold of Satan yield ; The last dark cloud of Error past away ; And all the land was fiU'd with light and love. Fair w'as the time, and Winfrid's heart w^as glad ; And through the forest-glades the merry noise Of cheerful toil resounded ; and the plough Furrow'd the virgin-soil, and Christian hands, Like Isaac in the land of promise, sow'd The kindly seed, and reap'd an hundred-fold. 25 Praising the Lord of harvest. Simj^le hearts, Content to labour while they preach'd the word, Were Winfrid's helpers, fitted well to win The hearts of Hessians, rugged as their oaks. But few were they to feed the growing flock, And Winfrid wrote to England ; ' Pray for us, 'And have compassion on your brethren here, * Our Saxon neighbours ; for they often ask, ' "Why do not more of England's teachers come '"(Since God hath made us of one blood with them) '"Over to us, and help us?" O my friends, ' The time is short ; the night is drawing nigh, ' Help us, while yet 'tis day.' Thus Winfrid urged The mitred heads of England ; not in vain ; His company of preachers multiplied, And youthful scholars fiU'd his cloister-walls, Ripening for future service ; women too, Forsaking home and kindred, cross'd the sea, IManted themselves in Christian sisterhoods, E 26 .And goint^- forth uii angcl-minisliies, To feed the hungry, cool the fcver'd lip, To cheer the widow and the fatherless, Taught pagan hearts to feel the love of ClIRIST. And soon the choicest of the Saxon youth, Baptized, and train'd in Winfrid's school, began To bear the Gospel-message to their kin ; And elder heathen, hearing these discourse Of the meek Saviour, and his life of love. Half-won to Christ, but still relu6lant, cried ; ' Ay ! now the tree of our old faith must fall, ' Tor see ! the branches sever'd from the stem ' Make handles for the axe that hews it down.' Fair was the time, and Winfrid's heart was glad. But lo ! a storm-cloud, dark and terrible, From the far East came rolling, with the sound Of clashing arms, and empires overthrown ; O'er Syria's plains, and Persia's ancient realm, O'er Afric's coast, and the green vale of Nile, 27 Swept like a mighty tide the Saracen host, And made all Moslem ; lands, where erst the faith, Planted by Paul, water'd by Cyprian's blood. Had flourish'd ; where Augustine pour'd the stream Of living waters ; heard the evening cry Of 'Allah and his Prophet.' Then the wave, With rage unbated, o'er the narrow strait Dashing on Spain, o'erwhelm'd the sunny land, All save one little kingdom girt with rocks. That held her faith and freedom. Bolder still It climb'd the parting Pyrenean ridge. Hung for a while, dark-threatening, on the steep. Then burst with havoc and wild ruin down On the fair Prankish realm, and spread dismay Through all her borders to the banks of Rhein, Where Winfrid's churches trembled at the sound. But soon the voice of GOD throughout the land Awoke to arms the Christian chivalry ; Karl Martel, with the banner of the Cross, 28 Fronted the Crescent on the field of Tours ; Received their fiery onsets all unmoved, Six livelong days ; then with the rising sun For Cliristcndoni he charged, and laid in dust Proud Abdalrahman, with his myriad slain ; Chcck'd that wild Eastern wave, and roll'd it back. Then had the Christians rest, and multiplied ; And every man in peace and quietness Sate under his own vine, and sang glad hymns To God's Eternal Son ; on every side Fair steeples shone, with sound of matin-bells ; And deep in many a shelter'd valley rose The lowly kloster, with a school for youth ; And kindly cheer for way-worn travellers ; And healing for the sick ; and holy words Of peace and comfort for the broken heart. But now on Winfrid's soul too heavily prest The care of all the churches ; and the time 29 Was fully come to parcel out the land Won for the Lord, in meted bishoprics, So lightening by division heavy toils : Once more to Rome he went, and there received Full power, as Legate for all Germany, To found fresh Sees, and duly consecrate Chief Pastors for the cities of the Rhein ; Each with his choir of elders counselling The welfare of the churches clustering round ; Himself, as Primate, watching over all. Then on his homeward way, through Lombardy, Refresh'd awhile with hospitable cheer In Luitprand's royal mansion ; and his soul Kindled anew by choral antiphons, In Milan's Dome, where once Augustine stood. Not Christian yet, but listening there, to prove If Ambrose were indeed so eloquent, As fame reported of him; day by day He listcn'd, till the clear persuading voice Moved him against his will, and made him feel, 30 Not that the man was eloquent of tongue, But how divine the Sl'lRlT speaking in him ; His word of GOD and CHRIST how true, how good. Now, past the Alps, and past Bavaria's plain, With Passau's bishop, in his lonely see, Where the great streams of Inn and Donau meet, The Legate takes sweet counsel ; and provides That ample realm with four-fold pastorate ; And Winilo, well pleased, to other hands Resigns the church-crown'd hill of Freysingen, And Regenspurg, by Donau's rapid flood ; And the fair tra6l, where princely Salzburg looks From her own circling hills, and shining lakes. To the great Watzman's glacier-cloven peak, High-towering o'er the beauteous Konlg-see. Sweet as cold waters to the thirsty soul, Are tidings from loved kinsfolk far away, With hopes of meeting; such was Winfrid's joy. When, coming to his Rheinland home, he heard, 31 That Wunibald his kinsman, lately met In Rome, now mindful of his plighted word, Was on his way to Winfrid's mission-field. And with him came his brother, Willibald, Who, after pilgrimage to Palestine, Long toilsome ways, and perils of the deep. Would fain have rested in still cloister-life. But Winfrid's strong entreaties drew him forth. Together came the brothers, and to each His work was given ; to Wunibald, the charge Of seven Thuringian churches, young in faith ; To Willibald, a frontier-post to hold, At Eichstadt, in a wild and woody waste, Where one poor church was all that spoke of CilRiST Nor doth Walpurga tarry long at home. Their sister ; gathering to herself a band Of faithful women, zealous of all good, She braves the sea to join the work of God : .'Vnd while the others find their tasks of love At points diverse, far scattcr'd through the lain! ; 32 While Thccla makes her home in Kitzingcn ; And Lioba, b)' Tuber's winding stream ; And Chunitrudc on Salzburg's mountain-side ; Walpurga near her elder brother founds A convent for her sisterhood, and tends The weak ones in the fold of Wunibald. How chafed the heathen remnant in their woods To see these outposts of another faith, From a far isle, uprising in the land, And breaking all their ancient solitudes. Which they had peopled with imagined sprites, Fairies and elves ; — while hunters of renown Swore fiercely that the boar and wolf should roam, As in their fathers' days, to make them sport. But soon the gentle life, and holy w^ays. Of these meek strangers, blessing all around, Making glad light amid a world of gloom, Won savage hearts to peace and confidence. Never had Winfrid's sun more brightly shone, 33 Than now when seated on his throne at Mainz, Encircled by the kinsfolk whom he loved, All working with one soul for love of CHRIST. Had then Gewillieb died ? or left his See ? 'Twas vacant by Gewillieb's deed of blood : He, bishop as he was, had lured the foe. Who slew his father in fair field of fight, Down to an island in the frontier-stream That parted either host ; there holding parle, With his own priestly hand had struck a blow Piercing the heart ; and for that treacherous stroke His priestly fun6lions ceased for evermore. Then Winfrid, who had deem'd Koloin should be The Primate's centre, fix'd his see in Mainz : And now the region wide, on either bank Of the great River, was all portion'd out In peaceful bishoprics ; and Winfrid's cares Were lighten'd by division ; but he long'd. Before his ministry on earth should end, To make the body of his Church compafl, F 34 All fitly framed ; so calling round his throne A synod, Church- and States-men join'd, they took Full counsel for the welfare of the land. Thus having order'd all, the aged Saint Seeing his labours blest, would often go To his loved shrine, by Fulda's quiet stream. Where Sturm — whom he had cherish'd from a child. As his own son — with weary toil and search, Through trackless forest, riding on his mule. And guarding both himself and mule at night With rough-built palisade, but more by prayer, Had found a fair, well-water'd, fertile spot. Safe from the rude assaults of Saxon hordes: And, gladly hastening thither, Winfrid's hand Traced out the ground-lines of a goodly Church. There often, leaving all the city-cares To his auxiliar Lull, he loved to rest With holy Sturm, and bathe his spirit deep In that clear crystal-stream that issues forth From God's throne and the Lamb's ; sweet days of prayer 35 And joyful praise for all the LORD had wrought By his poor servant ; and where'er he came Men look'd with reverence on his hoary head ; And his old age was as the autumnal tree Touch'd by the evening sunbeam : there he hoped To yield his soul to GOD, and lay his limbs Beneath that rising aisle. But suddenly There came a tale of woe from Lower Rhein, That shook the heart of Winfrid. Since the death Of Willibrord, whose years of patient toil Had planted Christ throughout the Frisian realm, No shepherd like himself, zealous and wise, Had risen to tend his flock ; and faith grew faint, And love wax'd cold ; and idols rose again, From many a lurking-place and covert cell, Up to the light of heaven ; and savage frays, Pagan with Christian warring, rent the land, Trampling the kindly harvests under foot, And manv an hol\- altar ran with blood. 36 Then Winfrid could not rest; he heard again The voice that call'd, he saw the beckoning hand ; He brook'd it not, that the fair field of Christ, Sown with his seed, should thus be trampled down He thought on those vi6lorious days, when he With Willibrord, had borne the Cross on high. Triumphant o'er the gods of heathendom; And as the horse, of old in warfare train'd. If haply in his pasture-field he hear The distant cannon-boom, or thunder-peal. Again he smells the battle, and again With head high-raised, and nostrils all on fire, Pants for the charge ; so Winfrid's spirit rose, And he must go to Friesland. All in vain Did Lull, with all his brethren, urge his years, His failing strength, and his well-earn'd repose : He still replied: 'What would ye have me do? ' But go in faith where GOD is calling me, ' And mine own heart ; for well I know, my son, 37 ' The time of my departure draweth nigh ; ' Have I not number'd threescore years and ten ? ' A crown of glory waits me. But do thou ' Continue the good work by me begun ; ' The Churches of Thuringia stabHsh well ; ' Root out foul error from the field of GOD ; ' Complete my church in Fulda ; where these hands ' Laid the first stone, be there my resting-place, ' When God shall call me ; see thou lay me there. 'And now, my son, make ready for my voyage, ' Lay all my books and parchments in the chest ; ' Forget not Ambrose on the gain of death ; 'And over them a lych-cloth, fair and large, ' To wrap my body for the last remove.' They wept, but said no more ; ' God's wall be done, Was inly breathed by all the brotherhood, Who knowing they should see his face no more, Yet hopeful of his victories for Christ, Brought down their aged Bishop to his boat. 38 He watch'd the fast-receding towers of Mainz, With prayers for blessings on the flock he left ; Then as they vanish'd, braced himself anew, With prayers for blessings on his work to come ; Then swiftly by the downward current borne, Past where the Mosel yields up life and name. Lost in the greater majesty of Rhein ; Past many a mouldering fort of empire gone, And many a rising town of later days ; And hills and islands waiting for renown ; And past the Roman walls of proud Koloin ; They landed on the level Frisian bank ; And where an affluent of the River made Almost an island, with a sheltering wood, They pitch'd their lowly tents, and worshipt GOD. There, while the aged saint, with lifted hands And eyes, the priests and deacons kneeling round. Invoked the help of Heaven ; forth from the wood There came a little company of men. Two women In the midst, and knelt with them ; 39 The remnant of the flock, the faithful few Among the faithless many ; these had held Their love for CHRIST; His Cross upon their brows, And His good SPIRIT dwelling in their hearts, Kept them still His, amid the flames of war From the live embers of old heathendom Bursting so fiercely ; from their desolate homes They fled for refuge to the silent shade, Here in the utmost border of the land. Prayer ended, 'Winfrid!' sounded from each tongue; They knew him, though the lines of care and toil Had deeply trench'd his face, and his thin hair Fell snow-white on his shoulders ; here were some Whose foreheads Winfrid's hand had seal'd to CHRIST ; All from his lips had heard the word of life ; Now after glad embrace they spread the board, Brought forth the sacred chalice, and rejoiced In that perpetual feast of peace and love, The sweet communion of the Lamb of GoD. 40 Then with fresh zeal went forth the Saint, to war Against the fcnil relapse to heathen rites, The faithful Gregory ever by his side, Their fiery tongues denouncing gods of wood : In many a peopled mart he stood unmoved. Though face to face wnth heathen multitudes, Fearing GOD only. When they saw the Cross Gleam on his banner, heard the well-known voice Telling of Christ forsaken, shame and fear Fell on them, and their earlier faith revived ; They fell before him suppliant to the ground. Then kindly, wisely, lifting up their hearts. Lest sorrow overmuch should whelm them quite, He told of Peter, how his bitter tears Found grace with Him who came to save the lost ; How Jesus proved his quick-reviving faith, By threefold question, * Simon, Jonas' son, ' Lovest thou me ? lovest thou more than these ? ' Then in the stern words of the Son of Man, 41 Heard in the V'ision of the holy John ; ' Remember whence ye fell ; repent and do 'The works of your first love, which ye have left.' They heard, and with glad hearts obey'd his voice, Dash'd down their helpless idols to the dust, And built fresh temples to the Living GoD. Thus o'er the land the Cross went forth in might. And all was peace ; if idols yet remain'd, Or idol-worshippers, they were not seen In public haunts, nor ever rear'd their front Where men were gather'd for affairs of state ; But lurk'd in dens and caverns, shunning light. With nightly homage soothing fallen pride ; And left the CRUCIFIED to reign alone, Beneath the sun-lit canopy of Heaven. Then seeing that the Lord had blest his work, The Churches all at rest, and multiplying; New converts daily made, the old reclaim'd ; Baptismal dews sprinkled on every brow ; C. 42 A hope, subdued before, now touch'd again The heart of Winfrid ; ' When my work is done, • I yet may see my own, and end my days ' In Fulda's sacred precin6l ; there find rest.' Yet ever bowing meekly to Gou's will, 'Lord! as thou wilt;' nor had he wish to go. While aught in Friesland yet remain'd undone. 'Twas now the joyous holy Easter-tide, And on the day that saw the Saviour rise Triumphant o'er the grave, a goodly band Of youthful converts had been scal'd to CllRlST, By water and the Spirit ; and the time Was fix'd, when all should meet by Burda's stream, A central spot, uniting East and West, To ratify their vows, and there receive Fresh measures of the Spirit. On that morn, Fill'd with the sacred joy of Pentecost, Before the Sun was up, the Bishop sate, Surrounded by his faithful company. 43 Prepared to lay his- hands on every head, Sign of the Father's love o'ershadowing them. Now through the drifting clouds bright streaks of dawn Proclaim'd the day at hand ; when faint at first, A rising murmur, as of waving trees Moved by the morning wind, was heard afar ; They fondly deem'd that swelling sound might be The cheerful voices of the new-baptized, Marching in gladness to the river's bank, Where Winfrid waited ; but anon they saw Strange glitterings of the Sun's first level beam On sword and lance, on-moving ; nearer now. And unmistaken, came tumultuously Voices of terror, fearful cries and j^ells, A mingled roaring as of wildwood beasts. Made furious by long fasting : 'twas the foe ! The foe they thought so scatter'd and so crush'd, The heathen foe, who in his covert close Had mutter'd vengeance, and had watch'd his time. Then hastily rose to arms the faithful band. 44 Seizing what ofter'd first ; but Winfrid cried, ' Peace ! peace ! my sons ; Christ is the Prince of Peace ; ' We may not fight with w^eapons of the world ; ' This is the will of GOD ; and let us meet it, * As men who know the body may be kill'd, ' But the soul lives for ever. Sure am I, ' That this shall be no hindrance to the faith ; ' The blood of martyrs makes the good seed grow ; ' Have we not read how after Stephen's death ' The Gospel spread more widely ? Let us wait.' So, like those white-hair'd Roman Senators, Awaiting the assault of furious Gauls, But with a better hoj^e, they calmly sate. Let others tell the deed of blood : 'tis said, That Winfrid, holding as a shield before him The volume of the Gospel, turn'd aside The first lance-thrust aim'd at his saintly breast ; Pierced was the holy book, but not one line Or letter of the sacred text w^as marr'd. Swift flew the tidings through the land, and woke 45 To righteous fury every Christian heart ; Forth went the fier}^ torch, and roused to arms The faithful in all Friesland ; swift they came, Mustering for war ; and when the third day rose, Appear'd a goodly host, all fired with love For their good Pastor, with avenging zeal For him and fifty more, so foully slain : Then dashing with fierce onset on the foe, In wine and wassail madly revelling. And each with other quarrelling for spoil, Reckless of ill, — the Christians routed them With utter havoc, and recover'd all, Save what blind heathen rage had quite destroy'd. Nor ever from that day of vi6lory Did the false idols raise their heads again In Friesland ; for the remnant of that day Yielded to CHRIST, fulfilling Winfrid's word, That death should be no hindrance to the faith ; His dying finish'd what his life began. 46 And where was Winfrid's resting-place ? at first In Utrecht's inmost shrine : the people will'd it, It was his land of labour, first and last ; There. laid they him with solemn obsequies. But when his follower in the throne of Mainz Heard the sad glorious tale of martyrdom, And where his body lay, he quickly call'd The Council of his Church; and with one voice An embassy to Utrecht was decreed, With letters, pleading that the man of GoD Left his last charge, wherever he might fall, To lay his limbs in Fulda's sacred aisle. Slowly and sadly was the plea allow'd, Slowly and sadly was he borne away; One journey more, with many a rest between, Where his dead presence moved the hearts of all Who look'd upon his bier; and one brief time Of sojourn in his own cathedral Mainz ; And Winfrid is at home in Fulda's aisle. And there, once more, assembled round him dead 47 Those who had loved him living ; there was Lull, The Primate, with the bishops of his realm, From all the daughter-sees around, that own'd Allegiance to the Mother-Church of Mainz : From Wurms, and Bamberg, Erfurt, Buraburg, And from the rival towers of proud Koloin ; And from the Upper Rhein, whose evening sun Touches with gold the pinnacles of Speyer : And there was Gregory, faithful to the last ; All join'd with Fulda's abbot, holy Sturm, To sound the requiem o'er the Martyr's grave. There in a vaulted shrine, beneath the floor — No light of outer day, but what might seem The far light of that day when all shall rise — There with hope-hallow'd tears, and solemn strain Of choral song, 'O death, ivhcre is thy sting? ' grave, where is thy victory?' they laid The hands that crown'd the Monarcli of the West, The feet that went about, publishing peace, Tlic lips that prcach'd the Gospel to the poor, 48 The heart that beat with love to GOD and man. There still the Martyr from his silent cell, Though dead, yet speakcth ; and his earnest faith Stirs noble spirits to brave deeds for CHRIST : Thence do his pithy words of sharp reproof Sound forth to all the lands of Christendom, For frequent warning ; ' Golden priests of old ' Were wont to minister in wooden cups ; 'Now, wooden priests in golden chalices:' And still, as every rolling year brings round The nones of June, his day of martyrdom, High festival is kept for Boniface, Apostle of the Lord in Germany. ^j Ima ruit ; sparsique dolentes cedere ramos Fle6lunt certatim, aut frangunt, fulvosque corymbos Deripiunt, socios alterna voce vocantes, Complentesque hilari late nemus omue loquela. Laetitiae ver6 praesentis paene Philippus Immemor, unam illam recolit lugubriter horam, Hac ipsa in silva, cum qualis saucia cerva, Cessit in umbrarum latcbras ; turn fatur, honestam Attollens frontem, paull6 jucundius, Audin'' f A )inia ! qitaiii IcEtis rcso)icnt clavtoribtis wiibrcs. 380 Annia! lassa adcb ? nam voccm haud reddidit ulhun ; 22 Lassa ? sed in palmas facics delapsa quicvit ; Turn, quasi vix iram cohibens in cordc, Philippus, AbjcHa est uavis, dixit; dcsiste qucrelis ; Abjc6la est navis ; man vis te absiimefe liiflti, Et pneros orhos penitas facere ? Annia vcro ; Non illud vcrsabani aninio ; sed, nescio qiiare, Vocibns adnioiieor IcEtis, qiiani sola reliiiqnar. Accedens propius leni sic voce Philippus ; Annia, paiica loqiiar ; res est mild iiicnte reposta, 39° Taniqiie diu tacito celata in pe6lore viansit, Ut, qiianivis neqneam revoeare ab origine prima, Non fieri possit, qnin prodcat. Annia, fab or ; Extra spejn positimi est, Jmntand sorte negatiim, Ilium, qni dcnos absit, jamque aniplius, annos, Vivere adJnic ; agednm, liceat miJdpancaprofari; Te spe£lare inopem doleo, adjiitore carentcm ; Nee possum tibi opem quam vellem ferre, tuisque, Te nisi — sed quoniam prcesentit femina semper, Novisti forsan quod nunc tibi dieere conor ; 400 23 Tc aipio nxorem. Pncros crga hosce libcntcr Muneribus fuugav patriis ; ct credere fas est Illis me caruni, ac si esseni pater ; Hoe seio eerie, Me, vehiti soboles essent inea, diligere illos : Et viiJii persiiasuvi est, si te miJii jiingere vellcs Conmibio, post Jkec incertci ct tristia vitcs Tempora, possemns f dices vivere, quantum Dat Dens in tcrris. Hcue, ■ Annia, mente revolve ; Nam miJii res amp/a est ; sine C2ira^fcenoris expers ; Nil, nisi eura tui, quod me gravet, atque tuorum ; 410 Nonne ego te, tu me, a priviis jam novimus annis ? Et plures annos ego te quam credis amavi. Annia respondens tenero sic corde profatur ; Angelus e ccelo tu semper, amice, fuisti, Tcgminc sub nostro ; Doniinus tibi rite repcndai, A tque aliquid donet longi felicius, oro ; An bis amare datur? tu, credin^f amaberis unquam, Ceu prior Enochus ? quid proderit, esse quod optas ? Illc, nihil metuens ; Bene sum contcntus ajnari Paulo post Enochum. Ilia hoc quasi territa verbo, 420 24 O parcc ! exclamat, paulispcr, care Philippe ; Enocho redeiDite — scd Jieu ! nunqtiajii illc rcdibit — Aniiu)>i cede iaiiien, quccso ; cito vertitur annus ; Elapso certi: fiani sapientior anno ; Expe6la panlnni ! Tristi turn voce Philippus, Annia, qui vitaui cxpc^lando perttdit omneiii, Fas expcriet adJiuc. Uli/ii fidas, Annia clamat, Constringor, pepigi venicntcm fcedus in annum ; Nonne pari viecuni tu sorte ina?iebis in annum ? Annum ego, respondit, sed tristius, ille, inancbo. 430 Conticuere ambo ; donee sursum ora Philippus Attollens, lapsi morientia lumina Solis Danorum a tumulis sensim vanescere vidit : Turn, vespertinum ne carperet Annia frigus, Surrexit, vocemque cavas demisit in umbras, Et pueros silvae spoliis revocavit onustos ; Fit brevis ad portum descensus ; ibique Philippus Substitit ad limen casulae, dextraque prehensa, Leniter alloquitur ; tibi cum mea vota profarcr, 25 A Jiuia, tu fucras labefa6la ; ignosce locuto ; 044 Constringor tibi pcrpetuo ; tic libera rcstas. Annia turn lacrimans, Constringor fcvdcre pa6lo. Dixerat : et veluti momento temporis uno, Dum satagebat adhuc curis intenta diurnis, Dum volvebat adhuc secum ultima verba Philippi, Quod plures annos illam, quam sciret, amasset ; Ecce iterum Autumni tempestas aurea fulsit, Atque iterum attonitae stetit illi ante ora Philippus, Promissum repetens. Afiniis fngitne? rogavit ; Si qua fides nueibus inaturescentibits, ille ; 450 Egredere, lit videas. Ast ilia elusit amantem ; Tot facienda prius — mutanda fere omnia — mensem, Cede mihi mensem — constringor foedere pa6lo — Mensem — ;/// ultra. Tremula turn voce Philippus, (Ceu cum populeam movet aura levissima frondem) Sicca fame nunquam satianda lumina figens ; Snme tibi quantum placcat — sume, Annia, tempus. Annia vix lacrimas reprimit, miserata dolentem : 26 Attamen optatam cun6lando distulit horam, Et vix crcdibilcs nc6tcbat pendula causas, 460 Explorarc fidcin, ct longum quasi vellct aniorcm, Duni vcrnis itcrum recrcat se floribus annus. Intcrea angusti vicinia garrula portus, Non tolcrans frustrata diu pra^sagia, coepit Accepto vcluti stomachari et fervere damno : Nil nisi migari quidam dixere PJiilippiun ; Illam alii diffcrrc, nt spe laclarct aviantcui : Et multi risere illam, risere Philippum, Ceu fatuos qui non quid vellent sat bene nossent : Unus item, qui prava animo commenta fovebat, 47° Serpentum vclut ova tcnaci interlita visco, Pejus utrique aliquid risu intentabat amaro. Filius, ore tacens, oculis facundior orat ; Sed prece perpetua genitricem nata fatigat, Nubere velle viro, qui carior omnibus esset, Pauperiemque foras, ct edaces pellere curas. Pallere interea facics rubicunda Philippi, Et rugae signare genas ; atque Annia sensit 27 Ceu culpae stimulo cruciari pe6lora. Tandem No6le sub obscura insomnis jacet Annia, tota , 480 Mente petens signum ; Evasitne Enochus in auras? Turn, C£eco no6lis veluti circumdata muro, Non valuit cordis praesagum ferre pavorem ; Prosiluit le6lo — scintillam excudit — et amens Arripuit sacrum, fuit ha;c spes ultima, Librum ; Explicuit subito, optati cupidissima signi ; Et subito digitum vocem defixit in illam, Sub palmd. Nihil hoc : dubize hoc solatia menti Nulla dedit ; clauso Libro, sopita quievit, Ecce autem Enochus, clivo sublimis in alto, 490 Sub palmd residens ; Sol desuper aureus ; Ecce ! Evasit ! clamat, fclix est ille, canitque ^Gloria in excels is :' fulgentem desuper illi Justitics Solem video, palmasquc saci^atas, Unde olini stravere viam gens Iccta eanentuni 'Gloria in cxcclsis ;' hic somno excussa, Philippum Fixa animo arcessit, trcpidaque ita voce profatur, 4—2 28 Nil supercst quod jam coiuuibia nostra viorctiir. Ergo, pcrqiie Dcinn, et per comvioda nostra, Philippus, Niibcrc si constat, cave ne quid differat horatn. yo ConJLigio pa6lo, campaiice laeta sonabant ; Laiititi^ sonitum sparsere per retliera vent'. Sed nunquam Ireto exultavit pc6lorc felix Annia ; cui, quocunque iret, comes additus ibat, Invisus gradiens ; auditus in aure susurrus, Nesciit unde cadens ; neque erat contcnta relinqui Sola, domo vacua, nee sola exire volebat. Ecquid e**at causae, quod vespere saepe revertens Ante fores staret, clavemque incerta teneret, Formidans intrare ? unum se scire Philippus sio Credidit ; hoc dubios inter fluitare timores Parturientis erat : sed cum semel editus infans, Turn novus ille infans vitam renovavit et ipsi, Tum nova fervebat circum praecordia mater, Tum complebat ei bonus omnia vota Philippus, Exoluitque pavor non enarrabilis ille. 29 AST Enochus ubi ? laeto dedit omine vela Navigium FORTUNA; dies licet baud ita multos Post abitum Oceani moles Atlantica, flu6tus Praeruptos cumulans ad Gallica litora, quassam 520 Paene ratem obruerit; tanto hoc erepta periclo Tuta per aestivum mundi translabitur orbem ; Turn ja6lata diu circa Caput, omnimodasque Ccelorum perpessa vices, pelagique dolosi. Ilia, per aestatem rursus transve6la, perennes Accepit velis gavisa tumentibus auras ; Thuriferasque inter labens feliciter oras, Eoo tandem in portu composta quievit. Illic Enochus commercia propria gessit, Miraque monstra, domi rursus vendenda, coemit, 53° Et pueris placiturum auro squamisque draconcm. Sors non tam felix redeunti : primitus autem iEquora per tranquilla, polo laqueata sereno, Leni vix nutans libraminc, no6le dieque, 30 FORTUNA intentis ocuHs, gremioque tumcnti, E prora dcspexit aquas utrinque comantes ; Turn marc scdatum, ct semper variabilis aura ; Inde dies multos contraria cun6la ; supremum, Dum navem abripiunt nigra sub no6le procclla;, Per tcnebras subito vox est audita pcricli 540 Instantis ; fragor horrendus ; funesta ruina ; Cum binis aliis Enocho sospite. No6lem Dimidiam, tabulis sustenti, et fragminc multo, Hi ja6lantur aquis : quos insula mane recepit, Dives ea, in solo sed desertissima ponto. Illic nulla erat humani penuria vi6tus, Sponte tulit mites fru6lus uberrima tellus, Sponte nuces magnas, radices robur alentes ; Et, sineret pietas, animalia plurima prajdam Perfacilem, feritate ipsa mansueta, dedissent. 550 Tres ergo e multis silvcstri in mentis hiatu Fecerunt caveam, longa aequora prospicientem, 31 Vivum claudentes foliis palmestribus antrum : Et sic, frugifera in paradise sorte locati, Sed male contenti, vixere, jestate perenni, Unus enim, natu minimus, primaque juventa, Naufragio illius no6lis subitaque ruina Laesus, tres vitam traxit moribundus in annos ; Soliciti fovere ilium. Post funera, bini Mcerentes socii truncum invenere jacentem ; 560 Quern, lintrem meditans, dum vitje prodigus alter Igne cavat, ritu Indorum, sub sole furenti Concidit iclus humi : Enochusque, superstes et unus, Agnovit DOMINUM geminata morte monentem. Montes vestiti silvis ad culmina ; saltus, Gramineaeque viae, scandentes ardua caeli ; Plumigera insignis cocos gracilenta corona ; Muscarum et volucrum splendentior igne volatus ; Effulgcns late convolvolus, atque columnas Arboreas cingens sinuosis flexibus, usque s7o 32 Ad maris ct ternne confinia ; fulgidus ardor, Quo semper splendct zona hasc latissima mundi ; HiEc illi ante oculos ; scd, quod super omnia avcbat Cernerc, nusquam aderat facies humana, bcnigne Arridens ; nee vox audita est dulce loquentis : Audiit innumeros ululare ad litora mergos ; Immanes flu6lus submersa in saxa tonantes ; Perpctuum murmur procera ex arbore, ramis Floriferis findente polum ; lapsumve loquacem Prsecipitis rivi ex alto properantis in sequor ; 580 Litore ut in solo errabat, vel saepe diebus Continuis speftabat aquas e montis hiatu ; Naufragus, expe6lans si posset cernere velum. Mille dies, bis mille dies, nullum undique velum ; Mille dies, bis mille, orientis spicula Solis Per palmas rutilant, per fronde comantia saxa ; Fulgor ab Eois radians innubilus undis ; Fulgor ab a^therio descendens acrior axe ; Fulgor ab occiduis radians innubilus undis ; Inde globi astrorum ingentes per concava coeli, 590 33 Oceani gravior fremitus; rursusque diei Spicula surgentis rutilant ; — nullum undique velum. Saepe ibi dum, similis vigilanti, in sede manebat, Aurea non timult coram spe6lare lacerta ; Tum speftra ante oculos, multis variata figuris, Injussu fluitare; vel ultro spe6lra ciebat, Res at personas, quas insula noverat olim, Orbe alio, ardentique minus sub sole remota ; Infantes balbos, humili sub tegmine matrem, Scandentem vicum, dominantem turre molinam, ^oo Frondiferos calles, ubi solis stabat in agris Aula vetus, taxi pavonem imitantis in umbra ; Cornipedem socium, lintrem quern totus amavit, Sub matutino juga frigida rore Novembris, Stillantes pluvias, silvae marcentis odorem, Et circa, marium glaucorum flebile murmur. Immo, cum variis tremerent tinnitibus aures, Audiit, at raptim, pelagi super aequora longe, E templo vcteri campanas Ircta sonantes; 34 Turn, quanquam causae ignarus, formidinc tristi cio Concitus cxsiluit ; cumquc insula dives, egena. In mcntcm rcdiit, nisi toto pc6lore moercns Orasset Dominum, qui cum simul omnibus adsit, Fidentes ipsi penilus vetat esse rcliftos, Solus ibi vacuas vitam expirassct in auras. Jam caput Enochi, canescens ocyus aequo, Pertulerat soles, pluviosaque tempora, longa Annorum scrie ; nee spes diuturna vidcndi Dile6los iterum vultus, iterum ar\'a vagandi Per nota, occiderat, cum sors ea sola gravisque 620 Finem habuit subitum. Casu ratis altera, siccis Paene cadis, ventoque, velut FORTUNA, frementi Abrepta, haec eadem prope litora mansit, ubi esset Nescia; nauclerusque orienti sole notarat, (Qua potuit, nebulas per hiantes, insula cerni) Lympharum tacitos lapsus de collibus; et jam Orae cymba subest, nautae potiuntur arena, Fuslque exultim, quaerentes undique rivum, 35 Vel salientis aqua; fontem, clamoribus implent Litora. Silvestri gradiens de montis hiatu 630 Descendit, barbaque comans et crinibus Exul Horridus incomptis, ardenti sole perustus, Vix specie humana, pannoso mirus ami6tu, Balba loquens, quasi mentis inops, similisque furenti, Murmure confuso mussans, nutuque manuque Signa iterans penitus non intellecla; sed ille Interea ad loca nota nimis, viridantia rivis, Duxit, ubi dulces trepidabant in mare lymphae ; Dumque ibi se nautis ultro sociabat, eorum Colloquia auscultans, in vocem et verba soluta est 640 Lingua ligata diu, renovans commercia vitse ; Et quae narravit, fra6lim licet, ordine nullo, Credita vix primo, sed mox magis et magis, omnes Attonitos tristesque simul fecere loquendo. Jamque, cadis plenis, secum cepere benigni In navem, vestesque ultro reditumque dedere In patriam; sed sponte sua Sc-epe ille laborem Participat, vitai solius vincula gaudcns 5—2 36 Excutere. At nemo regione exortus eadcm Omnibus ex nautis aderat, nee dicere quisquam 650 Enocho potcrat, quod primum scire pctcbat. Tarda ratis, longaeque morae ; compagibus ipsis Vix secura fides ; semper tamen ille morantes Gaudebat veloci animo prasvertere ventos Festinans ; donee dubiae sub lumine lunae, Lsetus amator uti, per venas imbibit omnes Mane novo gelidis stillantes roribus auras, Litoris Angliaci super ardua moenia ve6las : Et sole exorto cun6li, nautaeque ducesque, Unanimi pietate sibi imposuere tributum, C6o Soliusque viri miserantes fata dederunt: ^quore tum placido radentes litora, porta Enochum exponunt unde olim excesserat ipso. Illic non verbum fari, non visere quemquam, Vult — mora nulla, domum — sibi si domus ulla supersit — Ire pedes properat. Claro Sol pronus in undas Temperat orbe gelu ; donee per chasmata bina, 37 Qua maris in gremium pandit se portus uterque, Glaucus ab Oceano volvens tegit omnia nimbus, Porre6lamque viam ante oculos prsecludit eunti, 670 Et spatium brevius concedit utrinque, rubeti Marcentis, prati viridis, vel arabilis agri : Arbore de nuda queribunda rubecula lu6lum Ingeminat, passimque per aera rore madentem Pondere vi6la suo frons mortua decidit: et jam Guttatim pluere, et circum densarier umbrae ; Vivida lux demum, sed multa in nube laborans, Ante oculos effusa, locum declarat avitum. Tum lentis pedibus declivi in tramite vici Descendens, animo praelibans omnia mcesta, eso Defixis oculis, casulam devenit, ubi olim Annia conjugio felix adamaverat ipsum, Et soboles septem nimium felicibus annis Nata fuit; sed cum sileant sine luce fenestras, — (Praiconis jam cliarta fores signaverat) — ultra Descendit, rcputans, vel mortua, vcl mihi saltan. 38 Jamquc sinum, atque ar6la devcnit margine portum, Hospitium qua^rcns, longinquo a tempore notum; Frons cujus fuerat tignis contexta vetustis, Fulta, labansque adco, lentaque exesa ruina, 690 Ut vix speraret supercssc ; superstitc vcro Hospitio, dominus decesserat ; ct viduata Martha domum, qua^stu semper minuente, tenebat : Nautis ilia frequens oHm rixantibus, at nunc Tranquilla, et fessis requiem preebere parata ; Tristis ibi Enochus longum tacitusque quievit. Martha autem exundans pictate, et garrula linguse, Non solum sinit esse virum ; sed saepe recurrens Narravit, portus inter memoranda (quis esset Nescia, tam capite incurvo, tam sole perustus, 700 Tam miser ille,) domus fuerint quae fata reli6lse; Infantis mortem, dum semper egentior uxor; Miserit ut pueros ad ludum cura Philippi Nunquam deficiens; ut longum solicitata, Annia vix votis potuisset cedere ; sero 39 Tandem conjugio jun6los, natumque Philippo Infantem : perque ora viri non transllt umbra, Non tremor insolltus : qui prresens forte fuisset, Dixisset sentire ilium demissa per aures Narratrice minus : solum cum clauderet ilia, 710 EnocJuis, miser ille, abjccld est nave pereintuSy Ille, caput canum quassans ad tristia verba, Ingeminat moerens, abjeftd nave pere^ntiis ; Interiusque gemens iterum imo a corde, peremtns. Ardebat vero dile6lum cernere vultum Enoch us ; si posse vi itcruni seine I aspieere illam, Si scirem cert^ felicem vivere. Voti Impatiens tandem, ct stimulo quasi concitus acri, Exiit ad clivum, cum lux obscura Novembris Pallidior fieret, tegerentque crepuscula coelum : 720 Illic consedit, contemplans subdita cun6ta, Dum mille angebant vit^ simulacra prions Infando mcerore animum. Mox ccce per umbras EfTulsit rutilans geniali luce fenestra. 40 (Posterior pars ilia domtls bene nota Philippi) Allexitque ilium, ceu signifer allicit ignis Migrantem volucrem, dum fati nescia penna Praicipiti impingat, vitamque extundat anhclam. Ultima enim vici stabat domus ampla Philippi, Fronte viam spe6lans ; adversa ex parte jacebat 73° Hortulus, ad clivum ducens, (unde exitus unus) Ouadratus forma, muro circumdatus ; illic Taxus perpetuo frondcns annosa vigebat ; Semita circuitum cingebat, strata lapillis Litoreis, mediumque secabat semita septum. Sed mediam Enochus refugit, furtimque propinquans Muro subrepit, taxo celatus ; et inde Vidit quae melius vitasset, si quid in ilia Fortuna melius possit pejusve vocari. Pocula enim in lauta nituere argentea mensa, 740 I6la coruscanti circum genialiter igne ; 41 Conspexitque foci dextr^ de parte Phillppum, Non ita felicem quem norant tempora prisca, Robustum, rubicundum, infans cui genua premebat; Et superimpendens patri post terga secundo, Serior at forma procerior Annia, flavis Crinibus, et vultu stabat spe6landa ; manuque Taenia ab elata discum vibrabat eburnam, Infanti illecebras, qui brachia mollia tendens, Captabat, semper frustra, ridentibus ilHs. 730 Atque ibi visa foci genitrix de parte sinistra, Quae repetens oculis infantem saepe tenellum, Interdum tamen aspexit, cervice reflexa, Astantcm lateri juvenili robore natum, Lsetum aliquid memorans, nam risum verba movebant. Mortuus ut vero redivivus talia vidit, Uxorem, nee ut ante suam, tenerumque puellum, Ex ilia genitrice, alio genitore, paternis In genibus, pacemque foci et felicia cun6la ; Progeniemque suam, juvenili robore pulchram, 760 42 Adscitumquc ilium, rcgnantcm in scde paterni, Jure novo in pucros dominantem ct amorc frucntcm ; Turn quanquani rem Martha prius narraverat omncm, Sed quia visa magis mentem quam audita lacessunt, Contremuit, ramumque tenens vix continuit se, Ouin subito invitus clamorem emitteret acrem, Qui veluti clangens tuba, mundi fine propinquo, Laetitiam pacemque foci confringeret omnem. Ille igitur furtim retro vestigia torquens, Ne streperet sonitu sibi sub pede glarea duro ; Contreftansque manu murum, ne forte labaret Deliquio, inventusque jacens se proderet illis ; Ad portam repens, aperit, clauditque, cavendo Solicite, a^groti cameram ceu claudit amicus; Exitque in clivum, coeli sub tegmine solus.. Turn si non infirma nimis sibi genua labassent, Orasset supplcx ; sed labens pronus in udam Figit humum digitos, imoque ex corde precatur ; 770 43 Diira nimis ! cur me exilio raptiistis ah illo ? Deus 07nnipotcns, Salvator Maxime, qui me 780 Fovisti, solo ducentem in litore vitam ; Avipliiis O tueare, Pater, nam solus in or be, Solus adJinc vivo: adsistas mihi, dcs mild vires, Ne voccm cmittam, nc me sciat ilia reversnin ; Auxiliare, domlis ne paceni abrnmpere cogar. A t mca progenies I nee compcllare licchit Ignaros qid sim ? ipse mei sed proditor cssem ; Oscula nulla mihi, cinn sim pater — Jiei mihi, matri Filia tan I similis, genitori filius ille. Turn voce, atque animo paullum defecit ; humique 790 Deliquium passus jacuit ; tandemque resurgens Ille domum versus repetens vestigia solam Ibat descendens angusto tramite vici, Ingeminans lasso tristissima verba cerebro, Ceu decantato redeuntem in carmine versum, Ne vocem eniittani, ne me sciat ilia rcversuni. 44 Non erat omnino infclix ; duravit in illo Firma fides, animusquc tenax ; scmpcrquc pcrenni Fonte preces sursum salientes pe6lore ab imo, Urgentesque viam per amari flumina lu6lus, Soo Ccu lymph?e dukes salientes aequore salso, Vitaleni fovere animani : Scd nnpta PJiilippi Quain niiJil commeiuoras, Martham sic illc rogavit, Nomie timet ne vivat adJiuc prior ille maritus ? Mc iniserani ! timet ilia nimis, pia fcniina clamat ; Si posses ilhim testari mortc peremtuvi, Non Icve solamen dederis ; sibi murmurat ille, Postquam vie Dominus dimiserit, omnia noscet, Rxpeelanda dies. Operam turn suscipit ultro, Undo alimenta paret, spernens ex munere vitam ; Sio Artibus ille manum variis aptaverat usu ; Dolia compingit, tra61:at fabrilia ; no6lu Retia contexit, genti metuenda marinae ; Saepe rates celsas onerando, aut exonerando, (Quae saecli illius commercia parva ferebant,) Auxilium praebens, tenuem sibi comparat escam : 45 At pro se solo, nee spe fallente laborem, Impendebat opus, neque erant solatia in illo, Unde aleret vitani ; et eum se revolubilis annus Verteret, atque diem jam bruma ineunte ixTcrret s-^o Enochi memorem reditus, turn languidus ilium Oppressit torpor, tabes lentissima, vires Absumens, tandemque operi decedere cogens ; Intusque affixit sellae, demumque cubili. Sed forti Enochus toleravat peclore morbum ; Nam certe, nave abjefla, non laitior unquam Apparet, glauci per hiantia fragmina nimbi, Jam desperatis inopinam ferre salutem Linter festinans, quam tunc apparuit illi Exoriens lethi facies, finisque malorum. 830 Hoc etenim augurio cxoritur spes Knetior illi, Dicenti secum, ciiui vita rcliqucrit artiis, 7^ inn discct conjux, me ad fijicni semper amdsse ; Martham ergo appellans elata voce profatur ; Areaiutm servo, mnlier — sed /// hoe milii jura — 46 Noil prills edicam — L ibro dans oscnla Jura, Te nihil ante for as — quani Dior tuns ipse qniescam. J\Iortinis, cxclamat bona femina, qiialia fatur ! Crede ini/ii, amissas vires rcparare liccbit. Enochus graviter, Libro dans oscnla, jura. 840 Et ta6lo exanimis juravit femina libro. CiEsia turn volvens Enochus lumina in illam, Norasne Enochwn, gcnitor cui nanfragus, A rdcn ? Ilium ego nujn nossem ? longinquo a tempore noram : Immo etiam memini, ut vicum dcscenderet olim, Elato capitc, hand qnenquam respexerit ilk. Enochus lenta suspirans voce reponit ; Nunc huniili capite est, ncc quisquam rcspicit ilium : Vix mihi quatriduum durabit spiritus ; audi, Ille ego sum, Audito mulier dedit excita vocem, 850 Ceu non credibili mentem pessundata verbo : Tune ille Enochus f quis crederet I altior ille Te inulto fuit ille: Enochus tristior addit, Me Deus incurvum fecit, qualcm aspicis esse ; Me f regit dolor, ct solius tcsdia vitce ; 47 Ne verb dubites, ego sum qui tanpore prisco Duxi — sed qiiam te uicmorem, bis nomine verso ? — Ilia fnit eonjux mea, qiue nunc nnpta Pliilippo est ; Asside, et auscnlta. Turn cun6la ex ordine narrat, Naufragium, exiliique moras, reditusque dolorem ; 860 Ut furtim uxorem conspexerit, ut sibi legem Impositam servarit adhuc : dumque audiit ilia, Manavit facili lacrimarum copia rivo, Dum corde impatiens arcani femiiia tanti Ardebat totum circa discurrere portum, Enochi reditum vulgans, et tristia fata ; Sed perculsa metu, pa6loque astri6la quievit : Mox pneros prim inn v ideas ait ilia neccsse est ; Eia ! sine accersam, surgitque ut deferat illos, Haesit enim Enochus pauUum ; sed protinus instat ; 870 Nc me tnrbdris, mnlier, jam fine propinquo, Sed sine propositnm suprcma ad funera scrvem. Assideas itcrum, et teneas qnce dicerc pcrgo, Dum mihi vox super est. Te nunc impensiiis oro, 48 Cnm vctiias coram, dicas, bona ciiiula prccantciii Me vitcB ad Jinan coluissc fidditcr illain ; Me paritcr, si non fatnni proJdberct, amdsse, Ac quando inecum vinclo fiiit nna jngali. Et natce, inca qitaui vidcrunt hiinina, matri Tain similcni, rcfcras, lit spiritus ultinins oris sso Illi exoptando fclicia cuncla incdrit ; Et nato tradas moribundi vota parentis ^ Sorte, precor, patreni superet ; dicasque Philippo, Ilium ctiam partem votorum Jiabuissc incorum ; Ilk nihil nisi quod nobis prodcssct avebat. Quod si mc pueri cupiant post fata videre, Qui me vix norant viventcm, nil moror illos, Fas genitorem adcant ; modo ne quis deferat illam, Morttia nam fades venicntes angeret annos. Units restat adJinc — units do sanguine nostro 890 Qui me complexit vita recreabit in ilia; En ! hunc cincinnitm, abscissum de f route pitelli, Ilia dcdit ; nice unique titli tot seditlus annos, Et mihi mens fucrat vel ad ipsum ferre sepulcrum ; 49 Sed nunc consilium vmtavi ; ilium ipse bcatos Inter conspiciam : ciim vita reeesscrit ergo, Hunc matri tradas ; spcro, hie solabitur illam, Saltcm erit indicio, quo certe agnoseere possit, Hune esse Enochum. Dixit ; promtissima Martha Respondit, nimiaque volubilis omnia lingua 900 Praestitit ; ille autem morientia lumina volvens Solicite mandata iterat, rursusque rogatam Martha fidem prasstat. Sed cum nox tertia venit, — Dum jacet in leclo pallens, immobilis, ille, Dum vigilat mulier bona, dormitatque vicissim, — Infremuit subito taii cum turbine surgens Pontus, ut angusti streperent tefta omnia portus ; it Audiit — exsiluit — ^ja6lavit brachia late, Exclamans voce altisona, velum I aspiee I velum I Salvus sum ! salvus ! rcciditquc hand plura locutus. 910 50 Sic anima invi6ta pollens virtutc rcccssit ; Cum vero ciTerrcnt funus, vix lautior unquam Porturrt per tenuem dedu6la est pompa sepulcri. CANTABRIGI^ TYPIS ACADEMICIS EXCUDEBAT C. J. CLAY, A.M. GENEVIEVE. GENOVEVA GENEVIEVE. All thoughts, all wishes, all delights, Whatever stirs this mortal frame : All are but ministers of Love, And feed his sacred flame. GENOVEVA. Impulsus animorum omnes, et gaudia vitae, Quicquid mortalem temperiem stimulat ; Omnia certatim dio famulantur Amori, Et flammam acccnsi c