,a ,,christmas ,,faggot ,illustration3 ,,that ,,at ,,the ,,name ,,of ,,jesus ,,every ,,knee ,,should ,,bow ,cross ,,to ,,the ,,glory ,,of ,,god ,,the ,,father4 ,a ,,christmas ,,faggot ,,by ,,alfred ,,gurney1 ,m4,a4 ,,vicar ,,of ,s4 ,,barnabas'1 ,,pimlico ,,author ,,of ',,the ,,vision ,,of ,,the ,,eucharist ,,and ,,other ,,poems' ,,etc4 ',the ,darling of the world is come1 ,and fit it is we finde a roome ,to welcome ,him4 ,the nobler part ,of all the house here is the heart1 ,which we will give ,him1 and bequeath ,this hollie and this ivie wreath ,to do ,him honour who's our ,king1 ,the ,lord of all this revelling' ,,herrick1 ,a ,christmas ,carol ,,london ,,kegan ,,paul1 ,,trench1 ,,co41 #a ,,paternoster ,,square #ahhd 7,the rights of translation and of reproduction are reserved7 ,,to ,,my ,,godchildren ,,ethel1 ,,albinia1 ,,cyril1 ,,basil1 ,,bertram1 ,,wilfrid1 ,,louise1 ,,helen1 ,,arthur4 ,when the ,angel of the waters ,with a gold and silver wing ,gently stirred the wave baptismal1 ,heard ye not their carolling ,who of old to ,eastern shepherds ,heralded their ,king8 ,to the shepherds of ,his people ,still those angel-voices tell ,how ,god's river feeds the fountain ,opened by ,emmanuel1 ,yielding the baptismal waters ,of salvation's well4 ,children1 you have passed those waters1 ,love-begotten from the dead2 ,will you make a gallant promise ,when my verses you have read-- ',we will trace life's lovely river ,to the ,fountain-head'8 ,,loch ,,leven3 #ahhd4 ,,preface4 ,most of the following poems have appeared in the ',s4 ,barnabas' ,parish ,magazine4' ,for my godchildren and my people ,i have made them up into a little bundle of sticks--a ,christmas faggot to feed the fires in the winter palace of our ,king4 ,it is the ,incarnation that justifies all joy1 and song is the expression of joy4 ,the ,gospel ,songs all celebrate the ,great ,nativity4 ,birth and marriage are the occasions most sacred to mirth and music among men2 and ,christmas is at once the ,birthday and the ,marriage ,festival of ,humanity4 ,glad and thankful shall ,i be if any song of mine should help to fan the flame of rejoicing love in any ,christian heart at this holy and happy season4 ,,contents4 ,,page ,,yule ,,tide #a ,,the ,,madonna ,,di ,,san ,,sisto #f ,,bethlehem ,,gate #aa ,,saint ,,joseph #af ,a ,,cradle ,,song #ah ,a ,,cradled ,,child #bc ,,an ,,empty ,,cradle #bf ,,new ,,year',s ,,eve #bh ,,the ,,victim #cj ,,the ,,daysman #cc ,,the ,,physician #cf ,,the ,,poet #dj ,,three ,,sisters #dc ,a ,,christmas ,,puzzle #df ,,four ,,epiphanies #dh ,,the ,,children',s ,,eucharist #ef ,,the ,,gospel ,,songs3 ,i4 ,benedictus #ei ,,ii4 ,magnificat #fc ,,iii4 ,nunc ,dimittis #ff ,,notes #fi ,,yule ,,tide4 ',they bring me sorrow touched with joy1 ,the merry merry bells of ,yule4' ,,tennyson1 ,in ,memoriam4 ,the ,royal ,birthday dawns again1 ,a stricken world to bless2 ,and sufferers forget their pain1 ,and mourners their distress4 ,love sings to-day2 her eyes so fair ,with happy tears are wet2 ,she is too humble to despair1 ,too faithful to forget4 ,her voice is very soft and sweet1 ,her heart is brave and strong2 ,her vassal1 ,i would fain repeat ,some fragments of her song4 ,a ,birthday-song my heart would sing ,its rapture to express2 ,my ,father's son must be a king1 ,and share ,his consciousness4 ,of ,god's ,self-knowledge comes the ,word ,that utters all ,his ,thought2 ,that ,word made ,flesh by all is heard ,who seek as they are sought4 ,his seeking and ,his finding make ,our search an easy thing2 ,he sows good seed1 and bids us take ,the joys of harvesting4 ,yet must ,his children do their part1 ,and what ,he gives accept2 ,no heart can understand ,his ,heart ,that has not bled and wept4 ,all seasons1 bring they bale or bliss1 ,his priceless treasures hold2 ,the ,winter's silver all is ,his1 ,and ,his the ,summer's gold4 ,life's harvest is not reaped until ,the ,christ within has grown ,to perfect manhood1 and self-will ,by love is overthrown4 ,such manhood gained concludes the strife ,that makes the babe a boy2 ',t is thus the seed becomes a life1 ,the life becomes a joy4 ,the eyes that weep are eyes that see1 ,and swift are pilgrim-feet2 ,ah6 hope at length may come to be ,than memory more sweet4 ,so keeping festival to-day1 ,with children's laughter near1 ,it is not hard to sing and pray1 ',t is hard to doubt or fear4 ,father1 my heart to ,thee ,i bring1 ,to ,thee my song address2 ,from ,winter pain and toil of ,spring ,grows ,summer happiness4 ,,the ,,madonna ,,di ,,san ,,sisto4#a ',the ,lord ,himself shall give you a sign2 behold1 a ,virgin shall conceive and bear a ,son4' ,behold1 by ,raphael shown1 ,love's sacrament6 ,earth's curtains part1 ,god's veil is lifted up2 ,there comes a ,child1 forth from ,his ,bosom sent ,to rule the feast of life1 ,his ,bread and ,cup1 ,his purpose making plain with man to sup4 ,out-streams the light1 accomplished is the ,sign1 ,a ,virgin-,mother clasps a ,babe ,divine4 ,her lovely feet descend the cloudy stair1 ,great succour bringing to a world forlorn2 ,on either side a man and woman share ,a common rapture1 welcoming the dawn ,of ,god's new day1 the everlasting morn-- ,of such a day as shall from ,east to ,west ,dispel the darkness1 doing ,love's behest4 ,he turns a face all radiant to the ,sun1 ,enamoured of the sight he looks upon2 ,she to the end of what is now begun ,downgazes1 stooping1 shadowed by the throne ,made by a ,maiden's arms1 maternal grown2 ,than ivory most fair1 than purest gold1 ,more pure1 more fair1 and stronger to uphold4 ,on cherubs twain1 whom watching has made wise1 ,a spell has fallen--a prophetic dream2 ,their upward-gazing and far-seeing eyes1 ,like stars reflected in a tranquil stream1 ,to look beyond the ,child and ,mother seem2 ,a twisted thorn-branch and a cross to them ,are manifest--,his throne and diadem4 ,high heaven open stands1 and there a crowd ,of worshippers with love-lit eyes appear1 ,like stars down-gazing through a fleecy cloud1 ,dimly discerned as morning draweth near ,spreading a radiant pall upon night's bier4 ,the blessed thing the ,sign doth signify ,they partly know1 and are made glad thereby4 ,but more the ,mother knows1 and more she sees ,than soaring angel or than climbing saint2 ,her heart familiar grown with mysteries ,of ,god's own working under love's constraint1 ,the remedy she knows for man's complaint4 ,the clouds are all beneath her1 and above ,the light of life1 the radiancy of love4 ,and ,he1 ,whom ,lord of love and life we hail1 ,is on her bosom borne1 a blossom fair2 ,the pentecostal breath that lifts her veil ,has fanned ,his royal brow1 and stirred ,his hair1 ,and kissed ,his lips just parted for a prayer4 ,that spirit-wind shall blow1 that ,face shall shine1 ,till all ,his brothers know their ,father's ,sign4 ,,dresden3 #ahhc4 ,,footnotes3 #a ,see ,note ,a1 page #fi4 ,,bethlehem ,,gate4 ,a ,,picture ,,by ,,dante ,,gabriel ,,rossetti4#b ,of old through gates that closed on them ,two exiles went with eyes downcast2 ,the ,present now retrieves the ,past1 ,god's ,eden is in ,bethlehem4 ,an ,eden that no walls enclose ,by ,mary's arms encompassed1 ,a living shrine1 a 'house of bread1' ,a very haven of repose4 ,behold the ,prince of ,peace6 around ,his cradle angry tempests rage2 ,he needs must go on pilgrimage1 ,an exile1 homeless and discrowned4 ,and yet1 ,his ,rank to designate1 ,the unquenched ,star of ,bethlehem ,shines forth1 a radiant diadem2 ,while ,angels on ,his footsteps wait4 ,e'en now the ,father's ,face they see1 ,a triumph-song e'en now they sing1 ,and1 wondering and worshipping1 ,attend ,his ,pilgrim-,family4 ,two guard the frowning gateway3 one ,is of a solemn countenance2 ,to him a rapid backward glance ,reveals a massacre begun4 ,the other1 forward gazing1 sees ,the glory of the age to come1 ,the fruitfulness of martyrdom1 ,of deaths that are nativities4 ,o weeping mothers1 dry your tears6 ,the ,mother whom this canvass shows ,nor fears1 nor weeps1 although she knows ,an anguish deeper than your fears4 ,she knows a comfort deeper still ,for all who fare on pilgrimage2 ,by suffering from age to age ,god seals the vassals of ,his ,will4 ,her ,burden is upholding her2 ,and1 guided by the ,holy ,dove1 ,she sees the victory of ,love ,beyond the ,cross and ,sepulchre4 ,to shield her1 ,joseph stands3 his care ,the shadow of ,god's ,providence4 ,how fragrant is the frankincense ,of their uninterrupted prayer6 ,through ever-open gates they press1 ,a new and living way they tread1 ,so gain they the true ',house of ,bread1' ,a garden for a wilderness4 ,a flight it seems to us2 to them ,it is a going forth to win ,the world from ,satan and from sin1 ,and build the ,new ,jerusalem4 ,lord ,christ6 for every seeking soul ,thou art ,thyself the ,door1 the ,way2 ,all1 all shall find one coming day ,thy ,heart their everlasting goal6 ,,loch ,,leven3 #ahhd4 ,,footnotes3 #b ,see ,note ,b1 page #ga4 ,s4 ,,joseph4 ,a cloistered garden was the place ,where ,mary grew1 ,god's perfect flower2 ,one1 only one1 discerned her grace1 ,and visited her bower4 ,god's choice was his2 by love made strong ,to guard the ,mother of the ,king2 ,no heart1 save hers1 had e'er a song ,so sweet as his to sing4 ,yet lives there on the sacred page ,no record of a word from him2 ,god's ,ark he guards1 a silent sage1 ,pure as the ,cherubim4 ,but sweeter than the sweetest word ,recorded of the wise and good1 ,his silence is a music heard ,on high1 and understood4 ,blessed are all who take their part ,amid the carol-singing throng2 ,thrice blest the meditative heart ,whose silence is a song4 ,,ballachulish3 #ahhd4 ,a ,,cradle ,,song4 ,sing1 ye winds1 and sing1 ye waters1 ,may the music of your song ,silence all the dark forebodings ,that have plagued the world too long2 ,he who made your voices tuneful ,comes to right the wrong4 ,warble on1 ye feathered songsters1 ,lift your praises loud and high1 ,merry lark1 and thrush1 and blackbird1 ,in the grove and in the sky ,make your music1 shame our dumbness1 ,till we make reply4 ,children's laughter is a music ,flowing from a hidden spring1 ,which1 though men misdoubt its virtue1 ,well is worth discovering2 ,slowly dies the heart that knows not ,how to laugh and sing4 ,hark1 a cradle-song6 the ,singer ,is the ,heart of ,god ,most ,high2 ,all sweet voices are the echoes ,that in varied tones reply ,to that ,voice which through the ages ,sings earth's lullaby4 ,oftentimes a sleepless infant ,for a season frets and cries3 ,all at once an unseen finger ,curtains up the little eyes4 ,so the cradled child ,he nurses ,god will tranquillise4 ,his the all-enfolding ,presence2 ,oh1 what tutelage it brings ,to the little lives that ripen ',neath the shelter of its wings2 ,god's delays are no denials1 ,as ,he waits ,he sings6 ,they alone are seers and singers ,who invalidate despair ,by the lofty hopes they cherish1 ,by the gallant deeds they dare1 ,by the ceaseless aspirations ,of a life of prayer4 ,brothers1 sisters1 lift your voices1 ,may the rapture of your song ,put to flight the sad misgivings ,that have vexed the world too long2 ,god would have us share the triumph ,that shall right the wrong4 ,,loch ,,laggan3 #ahhd4 ,a ,,cradled ,,child4 7,to ,e4 ,a4 ,g47 ,behold6 the world's inheritance1 ,the treasure-trove of happy homes2 ,whereby the poorest hut becomes ,a fairy-palace of romance4 ,a cradle is the mother's shrine3 ,two lamps o'erhang it--her sweet eyes1 ,whose love-light falls1 ,madonna-wise1 ,on sleeping infancy divine4 ,the presence of a 'holy thing1' ,madonna-wise1 her heart discerns1 ,and like a fragrant censer burns1 ,o'ershadowed by an angel's wing4 ,her brooding motherhood is strong2 ,a trembling joy her bosom stirs1 ,her thoughts are white-robed worshippers1 ',magnificat' is all her song4 ',mid angels whispering 'all-hails' ,the waking moment she awaits1 ,the opening of two pearly gates1 ,the lifting of two silken veils4 ,ah6 then1 what words can tell the bliss1 ,the rapture of the fond embrace1 ,when mother's lips on baby's face1 ,feast and are feasted with a kiss8 ,and who can tell of hands and feet ,the dimpled wonders1 hidden charms1 ,the dainty curves of legs and arms1 ,so sweet and soft1 so soft and sweet8 ,this is the world's possession still1 ,the treasure-trove of wedded hearts1 ,whereby a ,father's love imparts ,his joy1 their gladness to fulfil4 ,,tyntesfield3 #ahhd4 ,,an ,,empty ,,cradle4 ,all empty stands a little cradle-bed1 ,a mother's falling tears the only sound2 ,but not of earth her thoughts1 nor underground2 ,up-gazing she discerns the ,fountain-head ,of life2 the living ,voice she hears that said ',fear not' to weeping women who had found ,an empty tomb1 and angels watching round1 ,who asked ',why seek the living with the dead8' ,so weeps our ,mother ,church--her tears outshine ,sun-smitten dewdrops on a summer's morn2 ,god's rainbow girdles her1 ,hope's lovely sign1 ,whereby she knows that smiles of tears are born2 ,fulfilled of life herself1 she would assure ,her children all of death's discomfiture4 ,,carlisle3 #ahhd4 ,,new ,,year',s ,,eve4 ,god grant through coming years and days ,our beating hearts may be ,the harps that celebrate ,his praise ,who loves eternally6 ,no ache can be without relief ,when ,love ,himself draws near2 ,no cup can empty stand1 no grief ,embitter ,god's ,new ,year4 ,time's footsteps quickly die away1 ,soon emptied is his glass2 ,we wait for an oncoming ,day ,which nevermore shall pass4 ,old hopes revive1 new hopes are born1 ,the coming months to cheer2 ,and phantom-fears and griefs outworn ,die with the dying year4 ,oh1 all the years and all the days ,our waiting hearts shall be ,harps tremulous with ,his dear praise ,whose is ,eternity6 ,s4 ,,barnabas'3 ,december #ca1 #ahhc4 ,,the ,,victim4 ,,for ,,the ,,feast ,,of ,,the ,,circumcision3 ,,new ,,year',s ,,day4 ,the sun methinks rose rosy-red ,on that great ,new ,year's ,day1 ,when ,blood was in the cradle shed ,where ,mary's ,darling lay4 ,the lark1 uprising with the sun1 ,was silent on the wing2 ,the nightingale1 when day was done1 ,forgot her song to sing4 ,a holy silence reigned around1 ,and hushed was every voice1 ,when in the crib the ,cross was found1 ,the ,infant-,victim's choice4 ,as moonbeam on a mountain-mere ,the ,mother's face was white2 ,her eyes were stars1 and every tear ,gave lustre to their light4 ,methinks a blushing moon looked down ,upon that manger-bed1 ,and wove a mystic glory-crown ,around the ,sleeper's head4 ,the silence issues in a song1 ,it rises and it swells2 ,e'en than the lark's more blithe and strong1 ,sweeter than ,philomel's1 ,his ,church's anthem loud and long ,the ,victim's triumph tells4 ,,the ,,daysman4 ,in boyhood's sorrow-shadowed days1 ,which memory recalls to-day1 ,in many moods and many ways1 ,my yearning heart would pray4 ',t was holy ground where'er ,i set ,my feet1 ,god's shrine was everywhere2 ,but this ,i scarcely knew as yet-- ,christ is ,his ,father's ,prayer4#c ,god ever seeks ,his children's bliss1 ,appeals to them2 and1 rightly heard1 ,the music of creation is ,the echo of ,his ,word4 ,but when the child has learnt his part1 ,the echo is an answer strong2 ,a prayer up-springing from the heart ,that blossoms in a song4 ,christ is the ,living ,word of ,god1 ,his ,poem and ,his ,prophecy2 ,the homeward way ,his ,feet have trod ,mankind must travel by4 ,and every man1 ,god's child and priest1 ,is pledged to ministry divine1 ,who sees the ,ruler of life's feast ,turn water into wine2 ,who hears the ,father's voice above1 ,the ,spirit's whispering within2 ,who knows the ,messenger of love ,the ,conqueror of sin4 ,responsive to ,god's call1 our ,prayer ,art ,thou1 dear ,lord1 whene'er we pray2 ,so always now1 and everywhere1 ,my heart keeps holiday4 ,,on ,,the ,,danube3 ,feast of the ,holy ,name1 #ahhc4 ,,footnotes3 #c ,see ,note ,c1 page #gb4 ,,the ,,physician4 ,is life sad for lost love's sake1 ,falls a blight upon thy bliss1 ,smiles no more their sunshine make1 ,lips estranged withhold their kiss8 ,for thy consolation take ,some such song as this3-- ,shine on us1 ,o ,morning ,star6 ,help our weeping eyes to see2 ,never may we deem things are ,what to us they seem to be2 ,rise1 ,thou ,dayspring1 and afar ,bid the shadows flee6 ,jesu1 ,thou art swift to bless1 ,strong to comfort1 skilled to heal2 ,failure is with ,thee success1 ,woe the forerunner of weal2 ,every stroke is a caress1 ,every crust a meal4 ,master1 ,thou canst raise the dead ,from the grave1 the bed1 the bier1#d ,souls astray1 forlorn1 misled1 ,buffeted by doubt and fear1 ,cannot but be comforted ,when ,thou drawest near4 ,sweeter than the ,sunday-bells ,banishing all week-day cares1 ,thine the gracious voice that tells ,what a ,father's love prepares1 ,leading to salvation's wells ,up ,god's altar-stairs4 ,lord1 ,thou art the ,master-singer1 ,and ,thy song is a recall2 ,many on life's pathway linger1 ,many by life's wayside fall1 ,but ,thy ,heart1 the comfort-bringer1 ,is a ,home for all6 ,,tyrol3 #ahhb4 ,,footnotes3 #d ,s4 ,john xi4 #dc2 ,s4 ,matt4 ix4 #be2 ,s4 ,luke vii4 #ad4 ,,the ,,poet4 ,the poet is the child of ,god1 ,who with anointed eye ,discerns a sacrament of love ,in earth and sea and sky1 ,and finds himself at love's behest ,constrained to prophesy4 ,love is of loveliness the root1 ,love is of life the spring1 ,love is the sole interpreter ,of every lovely thing3 ,this is the burden of his song1 ,well may the poet sing6 ,a joy-inspired song he sings ,because far off he hears ,a whisper silencing the storm1 ,a laughter through the tears1 ,the music of eternity ,beyond the dying years4 ,his song is rapture1 for he sees ,god's loveliness1 and we1 ,when with his insight we are blest1 ,shall share his ecstasy2 ,oh1 come the day when all shall sing ,as blithe a song as he6 ,lord ,christ1 ,thou art the ,king of ,love1 ,thou art the ,poet true2 ,the men who would ,thy vision share ,must learn ,thy works to do1 ,all1 all shall have the singing heart ,whose feet ,thy steps pursue6 ,,pitz ,,ortler3 #ahhb4 ,,three ,,sisters4#e ,three fountains clear as crystal spring ,in one secluded garden-plot2 ,in shade and shelter of one cot ,three sister-doves are harbouring4 ,adown one pathway hand in hand ,three ,sister-,graces wend their way2 ,i shall not soon forget the day ,i met with them in fairy land4 ,they dawned1 ,i know not how or whence3 ,a halo circling round the head ,of each1 whereby transfigured ,they clomb the hill of frankincense4 ,i know not whence or how1 they bloomed3 ,each sweeter than the sweetest rose ,that in the haunted garden grows ,where burns the bush still unconsumed4 ,and one is like a rising sun ,when dewy ,morn unveils her eyes2 ,and one is as ,minerva wise2 ,and very lily-like is one4 ,and all are dear4 ,i seem to see ,the weaving of a threefold cord-- ,to hear a softly whispered word1 ',love makes a unity of three4' ,,footnotes3 #e ,see ,note ,d1 page #gd4 ,a ,,christmas ,,puzzle4 7,,for ,,grown-,,up ,,children47 ,children know the things ,i know not1 ,though they know not that they know2 ,i should know not1 should love grow not1 ,that ,i know not it is so4 ,flowers feebly rooted blow not1 ,shallow waters overflow not1 ,love is doomed unless it grow4 ,fools who think to reap and sow not ,growing love will overthrow2 ,churls who say ',we go' and go not ,love's rebuke must undergo2 ,all who love's insignia show not1 ,who on love themselves bestow not1 ,love1 full grown1 shall lay them low4 ,,four ,,epiphanies4#f ,i4 ,the ,pilgrim-,kings their ,king have found1 ,the ,wise ,men kneel at ,wisdom's shrine1 ,their royal gifts ,his ,crib surround1 ,he gives them bread and wine4 ,one ,star has pointed to the ,sun1 ,that men may see and understand ,the witness borne by all to ,one1 ,who holds in ,his ,right ,hand1 ,like lamps that round an altar burn1 ,all lights that shine1 all worlds that be ,crowned are the men whose hearts discern ,their ,king's ,epiphany4 ,,ii4 ,the ,child obedient sets ,his face ,to seek ,his ,father's ,house of ,prayer1 ,with other children takes ,his place1 ,and is a learner there4 ,two worlds there are2 the child to each ,belongs1 ,god's prophet1 born to bless2 ,but not by action1 nor by speech1 ,simply by winsomeness4 ,for1 like the ,child of ,bethlehem1 ,babes bring their blessing from afar1 ,enriching all who wait on them ,by being what they are4 ,,iii4 ,a voice from heaven spake aloud1 ,heard clearly by the ,bridegroom's friend ,when1 shadowed by the glory-cloud1 ,he saw the ,dove descend4 ,one ,voice has heralded the ,word1 ,that listening men may truly know ,what mean all voices they have heard ,above1 around1 below-- ,soft whisperings and laughters loud1 ,the song of birds1 the insects' hum1 ,storm-music of the thunder-cloud-- ,and be no longer dumb4 ,,iv4 ,that jubilance of bridal mirth1 ,first felt at ,cana1 has not ceased2 ,christ's ,presence still regales the earth1 ,still glorifies the feast4 ,the ,ruler of the feast of life ,still with a sacramental sign ,confirms the love of man and wife1 ,and makes the water wine4 ,and ,his the glory still revealed ,when lovers plight and keep their vows2 ,himself the ,bridegroom ,who has sealed ,the ,church to be ,his ,spouse4 ,,footnotes3 #f ,see ,note ,e1 page #gg4 ,,the ,,children',s ,,eucharist4 ,the children's star-crowned ,bethlehem1 ,the children's 'house of bread1' ,where ,jesus' arms encircle them1 ,with milk and honey fed3-- ,such is the ,church1 whose altar-gates ,stand ever open1 when ,the board is furnished where ,he waits ,to feast the hearts of men4 ,a ,babe ,he came one heart to bless 7,it is ,his cradle still71 ,and evermore her blessedness ,is theirs who do ,his will2 ,a ,child ,he trod the ,temple-floor1 ,by ,mary ,mother led2 ,by children's voices evermore ,his praise is perfected4 ',forbid them not1' ,he said of old3 ,the words so stern and sweet ,still make believing mothers bold ,to gather at ,his ,feet1 ,and bring their babes2 their hearts discern 7,and oh1 that others would67 ,how mother-like ,his ,heart must yearn ,who made their motherhood4 ,a happy ,home where children pray1 ,with milk and honey fed1 ,whose altar-hearth burns bright alway1 ,whose board is richly spread3-- ,such is the ,church2 and sweet the song ,her little children sing1 ,of all who round ,his ,altar throng ,the dearest to our ,king4 ,,ballachulish3 #ahhd4 ,,the ,,gospel ,,songs4#g ,i4 ,,benedictus4 ,can priestly lips1 long silenced1 raise ,a strain so lofty and so strong1 ,making our matin hymn of praise ,as jubilant as evensong8 ,yes3 not the lips alone1 the eyes ,of ,zacharias were unsealed1 ,to see and sing the mysteries ,to love and penitence revealed4 ,with keen prevision of the seer ,he sings of a redemption wrought1 ,whereby1 released from slavish fear1 ,men are to filial freedom brought4 ,three things immutable and sure1 ,his promise1 covenant1 and oath1 ,reveal ,god's purpose1 and secure ,whate'er man needs for life and growth4 ,the promise to the fathers made ,was seen and known--th' ,incarnate ,word2 ,the ,cross ,his covenant displayed1 ,his oath at ,pentecost was heard4 ,well may this father's heart rejoice1 ,and with prophetic rapture sing2 ,his song a prelude to that ',voice'#h ,predestined to proclaim the ,king4 ,his joy a foretaste of that mirth ,which shall the hearts of all possess1 ,when o'er a recreated earth ,christ's sceptre reigns in righteousness4 ,of light he sings for darkened eyes1 ,for wandering feet the way of peace1 ,tells how the ,dayspring shall arise1 ,and shadows flee and sorrows cease4 ,and still the ,church's children raise ,that strain so lofty and so strong1 ,which makes their matin hymn of praise ,as jubilant as evensong4 ,,loch ,,laggan3 #ahhd4 ,,ii4 ,,magnificat4 ,earth's noise ,god's music supersedes1 ,sin's discord it excludes1 ,it tells us of a ,lamb that bleeds1 ,and of a ,dove that broods4 ,it tells us of a ,child ,who brings ,the help that sets us free2 ,the song ,his ,maiden-,mother sings ,of saved ,humanity4 ,the ,mother's and the ,sister's part ,she plays2 she leads the choir ,of those whose purity of heart ,is passionate desire4 ,above the blood-encrimsoned sea1 ,dispelling doubt and fear ,with her celestial minstrelsy1 ,our ,miriam doth cheer ,the men whose homeward-going hearts ,are loyal to their ,king2 ,when all from her have learnt their parts1 ,then shall creation sing6 ,the sweetest of the ,gospel songs1 ,to all the ,saints so dear1 ,to every eventide belongs ,throughout the changeful year4 ,it sanctifies the vesper hour ,when summer smiles serene2 ,it is a joy-constraining power ,when winter blasts are keen4 ',my soul doth magnify the ,lord'-- ,ecstatic is the voice ,that sings of ,paradise restored-- ',my spirit doth rejoice6' ,,pinzolo3 #ahhb4 ,,iii4 ,,nunc ,,dimittis4 ,to cradle ,mary's ,child his heart ,an old man opens wide3 ,behold him in ,god's peace depart1 ,and in ,god's peace abide4 ,he sings the very ,song of ,peace1 ,responsive to the ,word2 ,his lullaby shall never cease ,to make its music heard4 ,for all the children of the ,bride1 ,the subjects of the ,king1 ,with each returning eventide ,have learnt his song to sing4 ,he sings of 'peace1' 'salvation1' 'light3' ,his lovely words we take ,for consolation night by night1 ,until ,god's morning break4 ,then1 when our dazzled eyes grow dim1 ,breathed with our parting breath ,the old man's sweet1 heart-soothing hymn ,glad welcome gives to death4 ,we too what ,simeon saw may see-- ,the ,mother undefiled1 ,our hearts enfold as blissfully ,the ,everlasting ,child6 ,,tyrol3 #ahhb4 ,,footnotes3 #g ,see ,note ,f1 page #gh4 #h ,s4 ,john i4 #bc4 ,,notes4 ,,note ,a4 ,the ,madonna di ,san ,sisto4 ,raffaelle's world-famous picture of the ,mother and her ,divine ,child in the ,gallery at ,dresden is in a measure known to almost all from prints and photographs4 ,as to the colour of the picture1 the significant beauty of which none who have not seen the original can conceive1 it should be remembered that the parted curtains are green 7the earth-colour71 and the ,virgin ,mother comes forth1 as it were1 from the white bosom of a stooping heaven1 whose far distances1 dimly seen1 fade into a blue firmament peopled with angelic faces4 ,many have felt this picture--at once so serene and so impassioned--to be a revelation4 ,as we yield ourselves to its fascination and search further and further into its depths1 we feel that ,faber's words justify themselves3 ',christian ,art1 rightly considered1 is at once a theology and a worship2 a theology which has its own method of teaching1 its own ways of representation1 its own devout discoveries1 its own varying opinions1 all of which are beautiful so long as they are in subordination to the mind of the ,church4444 ,art is a revelation from heaven1 and a mighty power for ,god4 ,it is a merciful disclosure to men of ,his more hidden beauty4 ,it brings out things in ,god which lie too deep for words4' 7,bethlehem1 p4 #bdj47 ,it was a satisfaction to find my reading of this incomparable picture powerfully endorsed by one who1 more perhaps than any living writer1 has made good his claim to be regarded with the reverence that belongs to a scribe instructed in the things of the spiritual kingdom1 bringing forth from his treasure things new and old4 ,i quote the following passage from ,canon ,westcott's weighty contribution to the discussion of a subject second to none in interest and importance--',the ,relation of ,christianity to ,art3' ',in the ,madonna di ,san ,sisto ,raffaelle has rendered the idea of ,divine motherhood and ,divine ,sonship in intelligible forms4 ,no one can rest in the individual figures4 ,the tremulous fulness of emotion in the face of the ,mother1 the intense1 far-reaching gaze of the ,child1 constrain the beholder to look beyond4 ,for him too the curtain is drawn aside2 he feels that there is a fellowship of earth with heaven and of heaven with earth1 and understands the meaning of the attendant ,saints who express the different aspects of this double communion4' 7,epistles of ,s4 ,john1 p4 #ceh47 ,i will only add some beautiful words of ,mrs4 ,jameson1 which also ,i had not seen when my verses were written3 ',i have seen my own ideal once1 and only once1 attained3 there1 where ,raffaelle--inspired if ever painter was inspired--projected on the space before him that wonderful creation which we style the ,madonna di ,san ,sisto2 for there she stands--the transfigured woman--at once completely human and completely divine1 an abstraction of power1 purity1 and love1 poised on the empurpled air1 and requiring no other support2 looking out with her melancholy1 loving mouth1 her slightly dilated1 sibylline eyes1 quite through the universe1 to the end and consummation of all things2 sad1 as if she beheld afar off the visionary sword that was to reach her heart through ,him1 now resting as enthroned on that heart2 yet already exalted through the homage of the redeemed generations who were to salute her as ,blessed4' 7,legends of the ,madonna3 ,introduction1 p4 #dd47 ,,note ,b4 ,bethlehem ,gate4 ,i extract the following from some unpublished notes on the pictures by ,rossetti exhibited at ,burlington ,house two years ago3 ',bethlehem ,gate is the name of a lovely little pictured parable4 ,on the left we see the massacre of innocents1 representing the world1 in whose cruel habitations the same outrage is ever being enacted1 since all sin is in truth the sin of blood-guiltiness1 bringing life into jeopardy4 ,on the right the ,heavenly ,dove is seen leading forth ,god's elect children1 the ,holy ,family1 the infant ,church1 to the land of righteousness4 ,the ,maiden-,mother1 with the ,divine ,innocent enthroned on her bosom1 attended and protected by a backward-looking and a forward-looking angel1 and escorted by ,s4 ,joseph1 passes the gate of the ,city of ,david4 ,egypt beneath her feet becomes the holy land4#i ,thus with all fitting ceremonial is the ,church's pilgrimage through the world1 through the ages1 inaugurated4' ,,note ,c4 ,the ,daysman4 ',the ,word became ,flesh and tabernacled among us'--that is the supreme and august ,verity which dominates all the thoughts of the children of the ,kingdom4 ,their eyes are fixed on the ,life that the ,scripture-record contains rather than on the record itself4 ,to them the oracles of ,god are indeed living1 because they discern therein not certain words about ,christ1 but ,christ the ,word ,himself2 reading them by the light of the great ,tradition which lives and grows with the life and growth of the ,spirit-bearing ,church--the consciousness of the real ,presence of ,christ in her and in her ,scriptures alike4 ,it is in truth no unwritten ,tradition1 for it is inscribed in spiritual characters upon the fleshy tables of the heart by the ,holy ,ghost ,himself1 the ,finger of ,god4 ,to ,his pupils all things are ,divine words variously embodied1 and the ,word made ,flesh is the one all-comprehending ,mystery1 the eternal1 all-revealing1 and all-sufficing ,sacrament4 ,that ,word is a ,divine ,person1 ,whose ,manhood is a living1 abiding1 ever-energising ,mediatorial ,agency4 ,that ,word1 eternally uttered by the ,mouth of ,god1 was in the ,incarnation uttered 7so to speak7 in another language1 and made audible and intelligible to man4 ,by this language1 common to ,god and man1 the thought of ,god became man's thought1 and the thought of man ,god's thought4 ,in ,him1 the ,mediating ,word1 they are at one2 ,he is the ,atonement4 ,and being the ,word1 ,he is the ,prayer both of ,god and man1 whose expression is the enduring evidence of that ,atonement1 the ceaseless occupation and satisfaction of those who in ,him are atoned and united4 ',a mediator is not a mediator of one1 but ,god is one1' is ,s4 ,paul's statement of the mystery2 and of this characteristic doctrine of ,christianity the ,psalmist had already caught a glimpse when1 in the exercise of a prophetical gift1 he speaks of ,christ as ,prayer4#aj ,it is needless to add that the sanctuary of the ,eucharist is the school in which this truth is most eloquently taught and effectually learnt4 ,,note ,d4 ,three ,sisters4 ,the following interpretation1 which accompanied the poem on its first appearance1 is retained for the sake of those who then welcomed it3-- ,those who sing songs to children no less than they who tell them stories must be prepared for many questions1 some of them difficult to answer4 ,the two questions which recur most frequently are 7#a7 ',is it true8' and 7#b7 ',what does it mean8' ,questioned as to my little poem1 ,i reply to the first question without hesitation1--',yes1 it is all true4' ,but the second question is more difficult to deal with4 ,if1 however1 an answer is insisted on1 something like this is what ,i must say3-- ,god's story has no end2 it is more wonderful than anything wonderland can show2 lovelier than the loveliest thing said or sung of fairyland4 ,the ,gospel and the ,creed are a part of that story2 and with this our little poem is concerned4 ,it speaks of ,god's garden--paradise regained--a renewed earth1 wherein a trinity in unity1 observable in all things1 testifies of ,him1 a shadow cast from above4 ,shall we take the verses in order8 ,verse #a4 ,three fountains 7which issue forth from beneath one altar-throne7 feed one river 7which1 strange to say1 seen from below1 is four-fold71 and by this river the whole earth1 ,god's garden1 is encircled and fertilised4 ,that garden contains the tree of life1 wherein three doves have one nest4 ,verse #b4 ,but the fuller revelation comes out of human nature itself1 when taken into fellowship with ,god4 ,the elect lady1 representative of humanity1 is from one point of view1 looking at fundamental relations1 daughter1 spouse1 mother2 from another1 looking at essential characteristics1 faith1 hope1 and love4 ,the place of meeting1 that is dawning consciousness1 is the fairyland of phenomenal existence4 ,verse #c4 ,out of this fairyland humanity is led forward and upward by the path of sacrifice1 until the summit of the cross-crowned mountain of life is gained2 and all heads are aureoled by a light which1 like that of the ,transfiguration1 dawns and deepens from within4 ,this cannot be till we have ceased to be self-centred1 and have become ,christ-centred4 ,verse #d4 ,all growth is very secret and mysterious1 part of the mystery of life4 ,the development of humanity follows the order indicated in the narrative of creation2 light must come before vegetation1 sunshine before flowers4 ,in the garden of the ,incarnation all is recovered2 the wilderness blossoms as a rose1 and the poor bush of the desert becomes a garden-tree1 a plant of renown1 unconsumed because permanently enkindled with the fire of a divine life4 ,verse #e4 ,every flower is a little sun1 and shines forth1 owing its beauty to an effort after conformity to the likeness of its cherisher1 not without the succour of gracious dews4 ,its sunshine ministers to hope4 ,and by faith the old-world homage rendered to wisdom 7with which it is really one7 is justified and transfigured4 ,and love1 being one with purity1 looks at us out of the sweet white face of the lily4 ,verse #f4 ,all men1 like these sister-graces1 must join hands and hearts4 ,thus shall be woven a threefold cord1 divinely strong and unbreakable2 and the testimony1 reiterated by the still small voice of a ,divine ,whisperer1 shall be accepted by all1 because realised in all3 ',love makes a unity of three2' and ',god is love4' ',is that what the poem means8' ,i think ,i hear my questioner ask4 ',yes1 that is a little of what it means--only a little4' ,,note ,e4 ,four ,epiphanies4 ,nothing perhaps more clearly demonstrates the ,divine instinct that resides in the ,church than the construction of her ,calendar and the arrangement of her year4 ,like the ,creed1 whose truths it teaches and enforces1 it grew up gradually as the outcome and embodiment of her devotional life4 ,the ,epiphany1 or ,feast of ,manifestation1 was one of the first observed of her days of solemn commemoration2 and the day came to be prolonged into a season embracing six ,sundays4 ,she would have her children understand that in all that ,he did and said our ,lord was manifesting forth ,his glory1 and justifying ,his great announcement--',i am the ,light of the world4' ,the ,four ,epiphanies to which the poem refers belong to the ,scriptures appointed for the ,day itself and the two following ,sundays4 ,the first was made to the ,wise ,men of the ,east1 representing the inspired wisdom of the ,gentile world2 the second to the ,doctors of the ,temple1 representing the ,bible-taught wisdom of the ,jews2 the third to the ,forerunner1 the last and greatest of the ,prophet-heralds of the ,incarnation2 the fourth to the ,bridegroom and ,bride and the wedding guests at ,cana of ,galilee1 representing ,humanity1 of which the family is the appointed and abiding type4 ,the ,catholic ,church by her methods1 no less than by her ,sacraments1 her ,scriptures1 and her ,creeds1 is ever maintaining her protest against the limitations by which all merely human systems are disfigured4 ,she is ever bearing her impassioned witness to ,him ,who is 'the ,light that lighteth every man that cometh into the world4' ,this is the real significance of the solemnities that accompany her ,epiphany observance4 ,,note ,f4 ,the ,gospel ,songs4 ,the ,tree of ,life is the real ,christmas ,tree4 ,its underwoven roots support the cradle2 its branches1 overarching with many a blossom and many a cluster1 form the canopy of the ,heavenly ,babe1 the ,darling of ,god and of man4 ',the fruit thereof is for meat1 the leaf thereof for medicine2' mindful of which the holy ,evangelists speak of the crib as a 'manger1' that is the feeding place4 ',lo6 we heard of the same at 7,bethlehem7 ,ephrata1 and found it in the ,wood4' ,the ,gospel songs express the joy with which by the humble and simple and pure-hearted this ,plant of ,renown is discovered2 this ,house of ,bread visited4 ,they come from the lips of a maiden who is a mother1 of an ancient who is a child1 of a priest who is a prophet4 ,when such fountains of song are unsealed1 the music belongs rather to heaven than to earth4 ,,footnotes3 #i ,see ,isaiah xix4 #ai-be4 #aj ,psalm cix4 #d3 ',i am prayer' is the literal translation4--,,kay4 ,,london3 ,,printed ,,by ,,spottiswoode ,,and ,,co41 ,,new-,,street ,,square ,,and ,,parliament ,,street