Part 10 (1/2)

The churches are all decked with flowers.

The salutations among men Are but the Angel's words divine, ”Christ is arisen!” and the bells Catch the glad murmur, as it swells, And chaunt together in their towers.

All hearts are glad; and free from care The faces of the people s.h.i.+ne.

See what a crowd is in the square, Gaily and gallantly arrayed!

_Elsie_. Let us go back; I am afraid!

_Prince Henry_. Nay, let us mount the church-steps here, Under the doorway's sacred shadow; We can see all things, and be freer From the crowd that madly heaves and presses!

_Elsie._ What a gay pageant! what bright dresses!

It looks like a flower besprinkled meadow.

What is that yonder on the square?

_Prince Henry_ A pulpit in the open air, And a Friar, who is preaching to the crowd With a voice so deep and clear and loud, That, if we listen, and give heed, His lowest words will reach the ear.

_Friar Cuthbert (gesticulating and cracking a postilion's whip)_ What ho! good people! do you not hear?

Das.h.i.+ng along at the top of his speed, Booted and spurred, on his jaded steed, A courier comes with words of cheer.

Courier! what is the news, I pray?

”Christ is arisen!” Whence come you? ”From court.”

Then I do not believe it; you say it in sport.

(_Cracks his whip again._)

There comes another, riding this way; We soon shall know what he has to say.

Courier! what are the tidings to-day?

”Christ is arisen!” Whence come you? ”From town.”

Then I do not believe it; away with you, clown.

(_Cracks his whip more violently._)

And here comes a third, who is spurring amain; What news do you bring, with your loose-hanging rein, Your spurs wet with blood, and your bridle with foam?

”Christ is arisen!” Whence come you? ”From Rome.”

Ah, now I believe. He is risen, indeed.

Ride on with the news, at the top of your speed!

(_Great applause among the crowd._)

To come back to my text! When the news was first spread That Christ was arisen indeed from the dead, Very great was the joy of the angels in heaven; And as great the dispute as to who should carry The tidings, thereof to the Virgin Mary, Pierced to the heart with sorrows seven.

Old Father Adam was first to propose, As being the author of all our woes; But he was refused, for fear, said they, He would stop to eat apples on the way!

Abel came next, but pet.i.tioned in vain, Because he might meet with his brother Cain!

Noah, too, was refused, lest his weakness for wine Should delay him at every tavern sign; And John the Baptist could not get a vote, On account of his old fas.h.i.+oned, camel's-hair coat; And the Penitent Thief, who died on the cross, Was reminded that all his bones were broken!

Till at last, when each in turn had spoken, The company being still at a loss, The Angel, who had rolled away the stone, Was sent to the sepulchre, all alone, And filled with glory that gloomy prison, And said to the Virgin, ”The Lord is arisen!”

(_The Cathedral bells ring_.)

But hark! the bells are beginning to chime; And I feel that I am growing hoa.r.s.e.

I will put an end to my discourse, And leave the rest for some other time.

For the bells themselves are the best of preachers; Their brazen lips are learned teachers, From their pulpits of stone, in the upper air, Sounding aloft, without crack or flaw, Shriller than trumpets under the Law, Now a sermon and now a prayer.