Volume Ii Part 163 (1/2)

Winthrop Mackworth Praed [1802-1839]

”I SAW TWO CLOUDS AT MORNING”

I saw two clouds at morning, Tinged by the rising sun, And in the dawn they floated on, And mingled into one; I thought that morning cloud was blest, It moved so sweetly to the west.

I saw two summer currents Flow smoothly to their meeting, And join their course, with silent force, In peace each other greeting; Calm was their course through banks of green, While dimpling eddies played between.

Such be your gentle motion, Till life's last pulse shall beat; Like summer's beam, and summer's stream, Float on, in joy, to meet A calmer sea, where storms shall cease, A purer sky, where all is peace.

John Gardiner Calkins Brainard [1796-1828]

HOLY MATRIMONY

The voice that breathed o'er Eden, That earliest wedding-day, The primal marriage blessing, It hath not pa.s.sed away.

Still in the pure espousal Of Christian man and maid, The holy Three are with us, The threefold grace is said.

For dower of blessed children, For love and faith's sweet sake, For high mysterious union, Which naught on earth may break.

Be present, awful Father, To give away this bride, As Eve thou gav'st to Adam Out of his own pierced side:

Be present, Son of Mary, To join their loving hands, As thou didst bind two natures In thine eternal bands:

Be present, Holiest Spirit, To bless them as they kneel, As thou for Christ, the Bridegroom, The heavenly Spouse dost seal.

Oh, spread thy pure wing o'er them, Let no ill power find place, When onward to thine altar The hallowed path they trace,

To cast their crowns before thee In perfect sacrifice, Till to the home of gladness With Christ's own Bride they rise. Amen.

John Keble [1792-1866]

THE BRIDE

Beat on the Tom-toms, and scatter the flowers, Jasmine, hibiscus, vermilion and white, This is the day, and the Hour of Hours, Bring forth the Bride for her Lover's delight.

Maidens no more as a maiden shall claim her, Near, in his Mystery, draweth Desire.

Who, if she waver a moment, shall blame her?

She is a flower, and love is a fire.

Give her the anklets, the ring, and the necklace, Darken her eyelids with delicate art, Heighten the beauty, so youthful and fleckless, By the G.o.ds favored, oh, Bridegroom, thou art!

Twine in thy fingers her fingers so slender, Circle together the Mystical Fire, Bridegroom,--a whisper,--be gentle and tender, Choti Tinchaurya knows not desire.

Bring forth the silks and the veil that shall cover Beauty, till yesterday careless and wild; Red are her lips for the kiss of a lover, Ripe are her b.r.e.a.s.t.s for the lips of a child.

Center and Shrine of Mysterious Power, Chalice of Pleasure and Rose of Delight, Shyly aware of the swift-coming hour, Waiting the shade and the silence of night.

Still must the Bridegroom his longing dissemble, Longing to loosen the silk-woven cord, Ah, how his fingers will flutter and tremble, Fingers well skilled with the bridle and sword.