Part 8 (1/2)

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V.

Stronger and steadier every hour The pulses of the season's glee, As toward her zenith climbs that Power Which rules the purple revelry.

Trees, that from winter's grey eclipse Of late but pushed their topmost plume, Or felt with green-touched finger-tips For spring, their perfect robes a.s.sume.

Like one that reads, not one that spells, The unvarying rivulet onward runs: And bird to bird, from leafier cells, Sends forth more leisurely response.

Through the gorse covert bounds the deer:-- The gorse, whose latest splendours won Make all the fulgent wolds appear Bright as the pastures of the sun.

A balmier zephyr curls the wave; More purple flames o'er ocean dance; And the white breaker by the cave Falls with more cadenced resonance;

While, vague no more, the mountains stand With quivering line or hazy hue; But drawn with finer, firmer hand, And settling into deeper blue.

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_Speculum Just.i.tiae._

VI.

Not in Himself the Eternal Word Lay hid upon creation's day: His Loveliness abroad He poured On all the worlds; and pours for aye.

Not in Himself the Incarnate Son, In whom Man's race is born again, His glory hides. The victory won, He rose to send His ”Gifts on Men.”

In sacraments--His dread behests; In Providence; in granted prayer; Before the time He manifests His glory, far as man may bear.

He s.h.i.+nes not from a vault of gloom; The horizon vast His splendour paints: Both heaven and earth His beams illume; His light is glorious in His saints.

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He s.h.i.+nes upon His Church--that Moon Who, in the watches of the night, Transmits to man the entrusted boon; A sister orb of sacred light.

And thou, pure mirror of His grace!-- As sun reflected in a sea-- So, Mary, feeblest eyes the face Of Him thou lovest discern in thee.

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_Munera._

VII.

Not for herself does Mary hold Among the saints that queenly throne, Her seat predestined from of old; But for the brethren of her Son.

Pure thoughts that make to G.o.d their quest, With her find footing o'er the clouds; Like those sea-crossing birds that rest A moment on the sighing shrouds.