Part 35 (2/2)

Now by their loss I have secur'd my life, And bought my peace ev'n with the cause of strife.

I live to Him Who gave me life and breath, And without fear expect the hour of death.

If you like this, bid joy to my rich state, If not, leave me to Christ at any rate.

7. [PAULINUS.]

And is the bargain thought too dear, To give for heaven our frail subsistence here?

To change our mortal with immortal homes, And purchase the bright stars with darksome stones?

Behold! my G.o.d--a rate great as His breath!-- On the sad cross bought me with bitter death, Did put on flesh, and suffer'd for our good, For ours--vile slaves!--the loss of His dear blood.

8. [EPITAPH ON MARCELLINA.]

Life, Marcellina, leaving thy fair frame, Thou didst contemn those tombs of costly fame, Built by thy Roman ancestors, and liest At Milan, where great Ambrose sleeps in Christ.

Hope, the dead's life, and faith, which never faints, Made thee rest here, that thou mayst rise with saints.

9. [PAULINUS. VERSUS APUD EPIST. x.x.xII. 3.]

You that to wash your flesh and souls draw near, Ponder these two examples set you here: Great Martin shows the holy life, and white, Paulinus to repentance doth invite; Martin's pure, harmless life, took heaven by force, Paulinus took it by tears and remorse; Martin leads through victorious palms and flow'rs, Paulinus leads you through the pools and show'rs; You that are sinners, on Paulinus look, You that are saints, great Martin is your book; The first example bright and holy is, The last, though sad and weeping, leads to bliss

10. [PAULINUS. VERSUS APUD EPIST. x.x.xII. 5.]

Here the great well-spring of wash'd souls with beams Of living light quickens the lively streams; The Dove descends, and stirs them with her wings, So weds these waters to the upper springs.

They straight conceive; a new birth doth proceed From the bright streams by an immortal seed.

O the rare love of G.o.d! sinners wash'd here Come forth pure saints, all justified and clear.

So blest in death and life, man dies to sins, And lives to G.o.d: sin dies, and life begins To be reviv'd: old Adam falls away And the new lives, born for eternal sway.

11. [PAULINUS. VERSUS APUD EPIST. x.x.xII. 12.]

Through pleasant green fields enter you the way To bliss; and well through shades and blossoms may The walks lead here, from whence directly lies The good man's path to sacred Paradise.

12. [PAULINUS. VERSUS APUD EPIST. x.x.xII. 14.]

The painful cross with flowers and palms is crown'd, Which prove, it springs; though all in blood 'tis drown'd; The doves above it show with one consent, Heaven opens only to the innocent.

13. [PAULINUS. CARM. XXVII. 387-92.]

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