MAY 29. CHRIST, look upon us in this city, Had poor folk half they need, and pleasure Life scarce can tread majestically So spake the Rose, and smiled: "Within my cup All day the sunbeams fall in flame, all day They drink my sweetness up! "I sigh my soul away!" The Lily said: "All night the moonbeams pale Steal round and round me, whispering in their play An all too tender tale! "I give my soul away! The Violet said: "The West-wind wanders on, The North-wind comes; I know not what they say, And yet my soul is gone! O Poet, burn away Thy fervent soul! fond Lover, at the feet Of her thou lovest, sigh! dear Christian, pray And let the world be sweet. DORA GREENwell. MAY 31. PATER NOSTER. ETERNAL Father, who didst all create, approve Grant body and soul each day their daily bread; ROBERT BRIDGES. 153 JUNE 1. THE WILL AND THE DEED. I BELIEVE it! receive : 'Tis Thou, God, that givest, 'tis I that In the first is the last, in Thy will is my power to believe. All's one gift: Thou canst grant it, moreover, as prompt to my prayer As I breathe out this breath, as I open these arms to the air. From Thy will stream the worlds, life and nature, Thy dread Sabaoth; I will? the mere atoms despise me! loth Why am I not To look that, even that in the face too? I dare Why is it Think but lightly of such impuissance? What stops my despair? This 'tis not what man Does which exalts him, but : what man Would do! R. BROWNING. JUNE 2. "I WISH that he were come to me, "Have I not prayed in Heaven? on Earth, Are not two prayers a perfect strength? When round his head the aureole clings, I'll take his hand and go with him We two will stand beside that shrine, Whose lamps are stirred continually, With prayer sent up to God; And see our old prayers, granted, melt D. G. ROSSETTI. JUNE 3. THE PRIEST'S INTERCESSOR. YET, yet awhile, offended Saviour, pause; Thine outraged laws, O spare Thy rebels for Thine own dear sake; Withdraw Thine hand, nor dash to earth The covenant of our second birth. "Tis forfeit like the first-we own it allYet for love's sake, Let it not fall; But at Thy touch let veilèd hearts awake, Yet least of holy things descry. Teacher of teachers! Priest of priests! from Thee The sweet strong prayer Must rise to free First Levi, then all Israel, from the snare. Thou art our Moses out of sight— Speak for us, or we perish quite. JOHN KEBLE. JUNE 4. "I LIFT UP MINE EYES UNTO THE HILLS." SEEKE the Lord, and in His waies persever! For His steepe hill is high; Then striving gaine the top, and triumph ever! When with glory there thy browes are crowned, Such sights thy soule shall see That worldly thoughts shall by their beames be drowned. Farewell, World, thou masse of meere confusion! I the King will seeke, of Kings adored, That all who taste it are from death restored. DR THOMAS CAMPION. |