credit ,transcribed from the #ahgj ,g4 ,j4 ,palmer edition by ,david ,price1 email ccx#jgdpglaf4org ,,in ,,omnibus ,,glorificetur ,,deus4 --,regula1 ,s4 ,benedicti1 ,cap4 lvij4 ,picture3 ,decorative graphic of cross ,,the ,,holy ,,isle2 ,a ,legend of ,bardsey ,abbey4 ,by ,,ignatius1 ,o4,s4,b4 ,dedicated1 without permission1 to ,lord ,newborough1 and to the ,rev4 ,hugh ,roberts1 ,vicar of ,aberdaron1 ,carnarvonshire4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,london3 ,g4 ,j4 ,,palmer1 #cb1 ,,little ,,queen ,,street1 ,,lincoln',s ,,inn ,,fields4 #ahgj4 ,picture3 ,decorative graphic of cross ,,the ,,holy ,,isle4 ,a ,legend of ,bardsey ,abbey4 ,i ,,watched the sea waves ebbing1 ,beneath the crimson glow1 ,which sunset light was pouring1 ,upon their soft1 sweet flow4 ,the wavelets looked liked dancers1 ,upon the sun-lit sea1 ,they sung in whispering chorus1-- ,i thought they sung to me ,of fair and far off landscapes ,beyond that molten tide1 ,of better joys1 and gladness ,beyond those waters wide4 ,the wavelets all seemed passing ,on1 to some other strands1 ,and following the sun's-glow1 ,to ever sun-lit lands4 ,but as ,i thought these fancies1 ,again ,i raised mine eyes ,and saw the sunset tinting ,the glorious western skies4 ,now 'mid the farewell glories ,of ,sol's departing ray1 ,i saw an ,island resting ,upon his golden way4 ,there1 misty mid the ,sunshine1 ,the far off ,isle appears1 ,right out among the sea waves ,its rocky coast uprears4 ,and as ,i gaze1 the sunset ,seems lighting up its shore1 ,bathing the isle in glory ,and then is seen no more4 ,sweet1 soothing calm fell o'er me ,i watched the ,islet still1 ,all round me heard ,i voices ,which seemed the air to fill4 ,said one1 ,that ,isle is holy1 ,for ,saints are sleeping there1 ,now lonely and deserted1 ,t'was once an ,isle of prayer4 ,o ,man6 say would'st thou tremble1 ,to come away and see1 ,in vision1 strange1 sweet pictures ,which ,i can shew to thee8 ,the ,angel was so lovely1 ,so sweet the ,angel's smile1 ,i easily consented1-- ,he pointed to the ,isle6 ,then will ,i bear thee thither1 ,one thousand years ago2-- ,i speak to aid thy weakness1 ,no time can ,angels know4 ,the present1 past1 and future1 ,all one they are to me1 ,i pass along their boundaries1 ,unlimited1 and free4 ,a strange1 calm change stole o'er me1 ,my spirit seemed to rise ,in gentle1 tireless motion1 ,just as the sea-bird flies4 ,my ,angel-guide was leading ,my spirit o'er the sea ,one moment--and we rested1 ,upon the ,islet's lea4 ,soft gloaming filled the air1 ,deep peace lay all around1 ,hushed voices seemed to whisper1 ,a wavelike1 murmuring sound4 ,sweet ,angel1 say1 where am ,i1-- ,say me the ,island's name1 ,and tell me why such glory1 ,enwraps it as a flame8 ,say1 too1 what is that chanting1 ,so sweet1 so very near1 ,the strangeness of this beauty ,it fills my soul with fear8 ,this ,holy ,place is ,bardsey1 ,jesus1 ,he loves it well1 ',tis wrapped in ,god's own brightness1 ,safe from the power of ,hell4 ,those voices are the ,virgins1 ,in yonder ,abbey ,choir1 ,praises to ,jesus singing1 ,of which they never tire4 ,hush6 mid the shades of evening1 ,how restfully they sing1 ,their ,vesper praise-wreaths bringing ,to ,jesus ,christ their ,king4 ',mid lights of sunset glowing1 ,st4 ,mary's ,abbey stands2 ,but see6 t'is wrapped in glories1 ,from far off better ,lands4 ,i looked again1 and started1 ,for lo6 another scene4 ,the ,convent is surrounded ,with ,heaven's own brightest sheen4 ,and choirs of ,angels hover ,high in the sunset air1 ,while th' holy monks are chanting ,their peaceful1 evening prayer4 ,the ,monastery is glowing1 ,like heaps of molten gold2 ,the walls seem all transparent1 ,with majesty untold4 ,t'is strange2 my spirit enters ,st ,mary's ,sacred ,shrine1 ,i see the cowled figures1 ,in many a white rob'd line1 #f ,filling the stalls1 but facing ,the hallow'd ,altar ,throne1 ,where ,jesus makes ,his dwelling1 ,untended and alone4 ,o peaceful1 happy ,bardsey1 ,sweet ,islet of the ,sea6 ,i would for ever rest me1 ,all joyfully in thee6 ,o dear ,st4 ,marys ,abbey1 ,on ,bardsey's northern shore2 ,would ,i could bide within thee1 ,and part from thee no more6 ,o happy ,monks and ,virgins1 ,singing by night and day1 ,your hymnals to ,sweet ,jesus1 ,in dearest1 fondest lay6 ,how can ,i speak your glory1 ,how can ,i tell your worth8 ,ye are the ,church's safeguard2 ,ye are the ,salt of earth4 ,ye live the life of ,angels2 ,ye never cease from praise1 ,to ,heaven your intercedings ,for sinners ceaseless raise4 ,ah6 well may throngs of sinners ,seek this most ,sacred ,isle1 ,well may ten thousand pilgrims ,visit ,st4 ,mary's pile4 ,well may'st thou1 ,aberdaron1 #h ,loving to ,bardsey be1 ,and daily turn thy glances ,to the ,islet out at sea4 ,for ,bardsey is the lighthouse ,of many a shipwrecked soul2 ,to many a way-worn wanderer ,is ,bardsey's ,isle the goal4 ,the glow of ,bardsey's brightness1 ,illumes wild ,cambria's shores1 ,across the ,irish ,channel1 ,her ,heavenly light she pours4 ,and blessed saints in thousands ,have dwelt on ,bardsey's hill1 ,sending her countless ,virgins ,celestial choirs to fill4 ,how ,jesus must love ,bardsey1 ,and prize her sacred soil2 ,here ,saints in countless numbers ,have rested from earth's toil3 ,have laid aside the burden ,of poor mortality1 ,and entered on the ,sabbath ,of glad eternity4 ,while thus ,i dream1 the ,organ ,is pealing forth its wave1 ,the ,holy ,monks are marching ,all slowly down the ,nave4 ,dear ,angel6 may ,i follow ,them1 down the ,cloister still1 ,and join their recreation1 ,on yonder mossy hill8 ,the ,angel smiled permission2 ,i willed myself along1 ,until unseen1 ,i joined me ,to th' happy1 ,virgin throng4 ,here1 there were boys most lovely2 ,and there1 old hoary men2 ,and youths1 and those of mid-age2 ,here joyous boys again4 ,i followed one young novice1 ,who held an old man's hand2 ,i listened1--they were speaking1 ,of some dear1 distant ,land4 ,the boy ,i saw was pointing ,away1 right out to sea1 ,where moonlight made a pathway1 ,of silver radiancy4 ,the silver way seemed joining ,together sea and sky1 ,the stars seemed trembling o'er it1 ,like lightlets from on high4 ,dear ,father ,cadfan1 look now1 --,said the bright and lovely boy1-- ,i'm sure that silver roadway ,leads to our ,home of ,joy4 ,no1 no1 my ,son1 t'is only ,an emblem of the way1 ,across time's changing storm-tide1 ,to regions of the day4 ,and then the old man turning1 ,towards ,cambria's rock bound shore1 ,pointed the boy to ,barmouth1 #aa ,but then called ,abermawr4 ,my son1 said he1 'tis yonder1 ,long years ago ,i tried ,to bring poor souls to ,jesus1 ,who once for sinners died4 ,but there the ,druids held them ,in error's iron chain1 #ab;a ,they would not hear of ,jesus1 ,and drove me thence again4 ,yet though at ,abermawr ,i failed ',mid ,towyn's marshes drear1 #ab;b ,the people bowed before the ,cross1 ,and sought the ,saviour dear4 ,my son1 one day thou must away1 ,if ,father ,abbot wills1 ,and build a ,shrine to ,christ ,divine1 ',mid ,barmouth's rocky hills4 ,the idols which they worship ,thou boldly must destroy1 ,promise old ,father ,cadfan this1 ,my brave1 my darling boy6 ,the boy's bright eyes were flashing1 ,he grasped the old man's hand1-- ,father1 ,i will preach ,jesus ,upon that darkened strand4 ,only1 my father1 pray for me1 ,when thou hast past the sea1 ,and reignest with our ,jesus1 ,in the 'kingdom of the free4' ,st4 ,cadfan smiled1 and blessed the lad1 ,his heart's desire seemed gained1 ,from idol worship for the ,lord ,should ,abermawr be claimed4 ,the ,compline ,bell tolled solemnly ,from out ,st4 ,mary's ,tower1 ,calling the ,monks to worship ,at day's last hallowed hour4 ,dubritius1 #ad the novice boy1 ,stood meekly in his stall1 ,the fathers and the novices ,chanted the ,office all4 ,but ,father ,cadfan was not there1 ,calmly his body lay2 ,upon the mound by ,bardsey ,sound1 ,his spirit passed away4 ,his work was done1 his prize was won1 ,the holy ,monk was gone1 ,to join the virgin song notes1 ,before th' ,eternal ,throne4 99 99 99 99 99 ,the boy1 so beautiful and pure1 ,grew up to manhood's bloom1 ,and ofttimes visited for prayer ,the ,blessed ,cadfan's ,tomb4 ,one night the sun was sinking ,behind the ,western wave1 ,dubritius was kneeling ,beside ,st4 ,cadfan's grave4 ,the ,compline chants were over1 ,the twilight almost gone1 ,the youth was startled by a voice ,which cried--,my son6 my son6 ,a gentle light shone round the grave1 ,he raised his eyes1 and lo6 ,st4 ,cadfan stood beside him1 ,amid the weird-like glow2 ,my son1 make haste1 thy solemn vows ,thou speedily must make1 ,then to the men of ,abermawr ,the ,cross of ,jesus take4 ,the ,banner and the ,gospel1 ,with holy ,chant and ,psalm1 ,straight to the ,druid's ,temple go1 ,nor fear1 nor feel alarm4 ,for ,jesus must be ,cambria's ,god1 ,the night must hie away1 ,thyself must be the harbinger ,of ,everlasting ,day4 ,the youth sprung forward to embrace ,the friend he loved so well1 ,but he was gone2 no sound was heard1 ,save the lone ocean's swell4 99 99 99 99 99 ,how beautiful6 how beautiful6 ,is now the ,convent ,choir2 ,all deck'd for some high festival ,in exquisite attire4 ,most precious gems are gleaming ,upon the frontal fair1 ,the ,mass ,priests too are vested ,in garments passing rare4 ,the sacred tapers glisten ,the ,altar all along2 ,the holy ,monks are chanting ,some sweet--some wedding song6 ,and tall white lilies1 scenting ,the ,incense laden air1 ,are bending down their petals1 ,t'wards a novice bow'd in prayer4 ,yes6 there before the ,altar1 ,i see ,dubritius bow1 ,pure as the virgin lilies1 ,encircling his fair brow4 ,his vows are said--the ,cowl is given1 ,his live-long promise made2 ,all earthly loves are buried now1 ,within the ,cloister's shade4 99 99 99 99 99 ,unfurl the sail6 unloose the chain6 ,that links us to the shore-- ,to our own precious ,island home ,which we may see no more6 ,thus spake ,dubritius2 and the tide ,fast wafted him away1 ,out t'wards the rocky ,cambrian coast ,of ,cardigan's fair bay4 ,the sea was calmly resting1 ,lit by the summer's sun2 ,in three short hours the ,convent boat ,her little voyage had run4 ,dubritius and his monkish band ,at once pursued their way1 ,reaching the town of ,abermawr ,just at the close of day4 ,the evening's hush was resting ,so peacefully around1 ,alone was heard the shrill sea bird1 ,and the waves' soft murmuring sound4 ,when all at once through th' restful air1 ,dread shrieks of anguish rung ,from the idol temple near the town1 ,while ,druid choirs sung ,fierce hymns to their false savage gods1 ,around the kindling flame1 ,prepared for sacrificial rites1 ,too terrible to name4 ,a fair young mother brings her babe1 ,a warrior brings his boy1 ,the ,druids bind their victims ,with fierce1 fanatic joy6 ,the weeping mother hears the wail ,well from her darling's breast2 ,the father sees the ,druids bind ,his boy with savage zest4 ,the lad was fair to look upon1 ,ah6 must he really die1 ,oh6 shall such sacrifice pollute ,that calm blue evening sky8 ,the boy1 though brave1 is trembling now1 ,he nears the dreadful fire1 ,he feels its scorch1 yet gives his life1 ,to still the idol's ire4 ,the father's cheek grows blanched and pale1 ,the poor young mother stands1 ,yearning to snatch her precious one ,from the stern ,druid's hands4 ,high leaps the flame1 loud swells the song1 ,from the ,druids' choirs around2 ,but suddenly the evening wind ,fills with another sound6 ',tis ,miserere ,domine1 ,sung by the ,monkish train1 ,exurgat ,deus ,dominus1 #bj ,a grand and glorious strain6 ,with ,crucifix and banner bright1 ,the bold brave monks appear2 ,and then among the heathen crowd1 ,christ's mighty ,cross they rear4 ,cease1 cease1 ye sons of wickedness1 ,this useless wicked rite2 ,the ,god of ,heaven has sent me here1 ,of ,majesty and ,might6 ,dubritius spoke1 and seized the boy ,straight from the altar's side2 ,and caught the infant from the flame1 ,or ere the darling died6 ,while this was done1 some novices ,had hurl'd the idol down2 ,jesus is ,god6 the ,monks proclaim1 ,your ,king with homage crown6 ,ye ,druids move not1 or we call ,god's ,angels to our aid4 ,the hour has come4 ,by ,abermawr ,worship must now be paid ,to ,jesus ,christ1 and ,him alone1 ,crown ,him ye people all2 ,he bought you with ,his ,precious ,blood1 ,prostrate before ,him fall6 ,dubritius1 with mighty power1 ,told of the love so free1 ,that made ,god ,man to die to save1 ,and bring true liberty4 ,god gave the ,monks the victory1 ,the power of ,jesus' ,name ,prevailed among those savage hearts1 ,put out the cruel flame2 ,rescued the boy1 and snatched the babe ,from that dread altar's side2 ,plunged them in gentle mercy's stream1 ,the blest ,baptismal tide4 ,the days and weeks passed swiftly1 ,new converts owned the ,lord1 ,ere long1 all ,abermawr became ,obedient to the ,word4 99 99 99 99 99 ,seventy long years had flown away1 ,see6 ,aberdaron weeps2 ,forth from her ,church beside the shore1 #bc;a ,a long procession sweeps4 ,see crowds of pilgrims waiting ,from all ,carnarvon round1 ,the hushing of the sea roar1 ,to cross the dangerous sound4 #bc;b ,the ,church at ,aberdaron ,is wet with mourners' tears2 ,dubritius has entered ,upon the ,eternal years4 ,his body rests so calmly ,before the ,altar high1 ,the ,priests are softly wailing ,the mournful ,requiem's sigh4 ,upon the ,altar glisten ,the waxen tapers tall1 ,and summer flowers are lying ,upon the snow-white pall4 ,sweet ,incense clouds are rising ,around the hallowed bier2 ,from many an eye is falling ,the sad1 the loving tear4 ,dubritius left ,bardsey1 ,his lov'd--his peaceful home1 ,for fifty years mid war-strife1 ,this valiant ,saint did roam4 ,but now1 in peace1 he cometh1 ,in ,bardsey's ,isle to rest1 ,his spirit calmly dwelling ,in regions of the blest4 ,lower your crest1 ye foam waves1 ,wail adverse winds no more1 ,dubritius must pass over ,to ,bardsey's sainted shore4 ',tis evening1 and the sun glow ,is lighting up the sea3 ,the tiny waves are dancing1 ,for merriment and glee4 ,they bore ,dubritius to toil1 ,to the fight at ,abermawr1 ,and now they sing his lullaby1 ,and hush their noisy roar4 ,the boats are filling quickly ,at ,aberdaron's quay1 ,the ,bardsey bells are pealing1 ,across the crimson sea4 ,the ,aberdaron ,canons #be ,are chanting their sweet ,psalm1 ,the blessed ,saint is passing ,across those waters calm4 ,the ,bay of ,aberdaron ,seems full of peace and life1 ,dubritius the ,warrior1 ,as victor from the strife1 ,is coming full of glory1 ,to his ,island ,home again2 ,the welcome bells are ringing1 ,athwart the calm blue main4 ,hark6 how the chant is rising ,from a hundred boats and mo'1 ,mingling its soft sweet requiem1 ,with the murmuring wavelet's flow4 ,and now the fleet of mourners ,reaches the haven still1 ,and th' ,monks' slow1 sad procession ,is winding down the hill4 ,the sacred banners waving1 ,in th' restful evening air1 ,borne by some weeping novices1 ,wrought in devices rare4 ,and ,incense-clouds ascending1 ,and many a taper's light1 ,burst on the pilgrims' vision1 ,a fair and holy sight4 ,requiem aeternam1 ,the aged ,abbot sings2 ,dona ei ,domine1 ,the loud response-note rings4 ,he comes6 he comes6 the victor6 ,we'll welcome him with song2 ,another ,saint now perfect1 ,to ,bardsey doth belong6 ,the dread ,pelagian heresy ,he trampled from our land1 #bg ,and drove the ,druid's tyranny ,from ,cambria's noble strand4 ,he joined his ,alleluia ,with countless thousands more1 ,and drove the heathen foemen1 ,the ,holy ,cross before4 ,now that thou reign'st with ,jesus1 ,a glorious ,saint above1 ,o pray1 dear ,st4 ,dubritius1 ,for the island of thy love6 ,the ,abbey ,church was glistening ,with incense1 lights1 and gold1 ,the organ's peal of welcome1 ,through aisle and choir rolled4 ,the hooded ,monks are bearing ,slowly the bier along1 ,the choristers are chanting ,a glad triumphant song4 ,rest for thy toil is o'er1 ,the battle's shout no more ,shall break thy spirit's calm1 ,or mar thy peaceful ,psalm2 ,of praise to ,christ the ,king1 ,whose beauty thou shalt sing1 ,throughout the ages long1 ,in one unbroken song4 ,for ever1 and for aye1 ,in everlasting ,day4 99 99 99 99 99 ,the lichens and the ivy ,are creeping up the wall1 ,and growing round the casements1 ,and o'er the towers tall4 ,the ,abbey hath grown hoary1 ,with centuries of age1 ,st4 ,mary's ,abbey stories ,in many an ancient page4 ,and yet her grand old praise notes ,linger in her choir1 ,for of the praise of ,jesus1 ,her ,monks can never tire4 ,now round the hallowed precincts ,saint's ashes crowd her sod1 ,here thousands1 and ten thousands ,have passed away to ,god4 #cj ,men call the ,holy ,island ,the ,gate of ,paradise1 ,and crowd her shores with pilgrims1 ,who offer ,sacrifice1 ,in ,holy ,eucharist1 and tears1 ,and penance for their sin1 ,and pray that through sweet ,jesus ,god's pardon they may win4 ,a pilgrimage to ,bardsey1 ,if faithfully twice made1 ,brings blessings all as gracious1 ,as if to ,rome once paid4 ,so thought the ,faithful in that day1 ,of ,bardsey's ,sacred ,isle1 ,and sought her weal devoutly1 ,for ,jesu's sake the while4 99 99 99 99 99 ,a maiden fair was weeping2 ,her warrior lover gone1 ,yet not for noisy war-strife1 ,he leaves her thus alone4 ,valiant in battle--bravely ,the gory plains he trod1 ,nor feared the deadly sword-thrust1 ,nor th' battles death-strewn sod4 ,and ofttimes 'mid the strife-clang1 ,he thought of his fair bride2 ,whom he should press in triumph1 ,so closely to his side4 ,when all at once he altered1 ,he laid his armour by1 ,he said1 his eyes were opened ,to see earth's vanity4 ,eternity seemed opening ,her vista to his view1 ,he trembled at the prospect1 ,graver he daily grew4 ,men tried their skill all vainly ,to dissipate his fear2 ,but ,rudolph only answered-- ,eternity is near6 ,they say this life is joyous1 ',tis all too short for me1 ,i must seek joys that fade not1 ,throughout ,eternity4 ,all--all of earth ,i'll banish1 ,its hopes1 its loves1 its smile2 ,and live alone for ,jesus1 ,in ,enlli's #cc sainted isle4 ,this stern resolve all firmly1 ,rudolph right soon did make2 ,and parents1 lover1 glory1 ,for ,christ he did forsake4 ,these things for money promptly1 ,earth's servants oft forego1 ,then ,i1 for years eternal1 ,relinquish all below4 ,i'll live alone for ,jesus ,in the ,monastic ,life1 ,and in the sacred cloister ,i'll wage the wondrous strife ,with ,satan1 like our ,master1 ,amid the desert wild1 ,i'll give my will to ,jesus1 ,just as a little child1 ,that thus ,i soon 'may enter ,the ,kingdom' of the ,lord1 ,as said our ,saviour ,jesus1 ,in ,his own ,holy ,word4 ,but ,mabel pines2 young ,rudolph1 ,she pineth sore for thee2 ,to thee her troth she plighted1 ,in love's first purity4 ,within her bower she waiteth1 ,her eyes with weeping sore1 ,they cannot stay her sorrow1 ,she mourneth more and more4 ,go1 tell her1 said young ,rudolph1 ,go1 tell the lady fair1 ,that ,i have found a ,lover1 ,of ,beauty wondrous rare4 ,yes1 tell her ,he is chiefest ',among ten thousand' too1 ,yea1 'altogether lovely1' ,his ,love is ever true4 ,tell her1 my ,love is ,jesus1 ,the ,prince of ,peace--the ,king1 ,whose ,beauty all the ,angels ,eternally do sing4 ,but ,rudolph1 list6 she pineth1 ,oh1 canst thou break her heart8 ,wilt thou prove false to ,mabel1 ,so cruelly thus part8 ,her rosy blush is waning1 ,her cheek is growing pale1 ,her maiden heart is breaking1 ,soon will her young life fail4 ,as ,rudolph listened1 tear drops ,flashed in his dark blue eye1 ,his manly breast was heaving ,a deep1 a piercing sigh4 ,oh6 tell her1 brother1 tell her1 ,she must not weep for me2 ,say that ,i long to meet her ,where parting may not be4 ,my love is all unaltered1 ,but the eternal years ,have stole my heart from ,mabel1 ,and earth's sad vale of tears6 99 99 99 99 99 ,and now a boat is waiting ,the resting of the tide1 ,one hour--,rudolph is landing ,on ,bardsey's southern side4 ,and quick his steps are seeking ,the ,abbey's quiet shade2 ,three months--the princely ,rudolph ,his novice vows had made4 99 99 99 99 99 ',twas the ,corpus ,christi ,spring ,feast1 ,that now was hard at hand1 ,and ,pilgrim crowds are waiting ,on ,aberdaron's strand4 ,the sea was gaily sparkling1 ,beneath the ,may-day sun1 ,the ,aberdaron boatmen ,a race to ,bardsey run4 ,now1 in all haste the pilgrims ,are landing on the isle1 ,for crowds at ,aberdaron ,are waiting all the while4 ,the boats return to fetch them1 ,across the sparkling bay1 ,in time for the ,first ,vespers ,of ,corpus ,christi ,day4 ,the grand old ,abbey ,temple ,was throng'd both aisle and nave1 ,the ,vespers from the choir ,roll'd forth their choral wave4 ,and then a grand procession1 ,with lights1 and incense1 came ,from out the choir2 the old ,church ,seem'd one bright blaze of flame4 ,for all the congregation ,a lighted taper bore1 ,in honour of the ,victim1 ,once slain in days of yore4 ,but now with solemn worship ,borne in procession long1 ,mid incense-clouds1 and tapers1 ,and bursts of triumph song4 ,the ,fathers and the ,novices ,came first in order due1 ,then choir-boys with banners1 ,all marching two and two4 ,the people fall back reverently1 ,as th' holy ,monks draw near1 ,one maiden there is trembling1 ,as if for very fear4 ,or p'r'aps it's her devotion ,that palsies all her frame1 ,but then she would most surely ,be bow'd for virgin shame4 ,it is not thus1 for1 see now1 ,she pushes through the crowd1 ,close to the ,monks' procession1 ,she kneels and sobs aloud4 ,she marks young ,brother ,rudolph1 ,and wails a long deep cry2 ,he knew her voice1 but turns not1 ,nor lifts his downcast eye2 ,he chants his grand old love-song ,to ,jesus ,christ the ,king1 ,borne in the slow procession1 ,as the glad joy bells ring3-- ,tantum ergo ,sacramentum1 ,veneremur cernui2 ,et antiquum documentum1 ,novo cedat ritui2 ,praestet fides supplementum1 ,sensuum defectui4 ,o ,jesus6 my sweet ,jesus6 ,the warrior-monk doth pray1 ,shew her ,thine ,own great ,beauty1 ,make her ,thine ,own to-day2 ,be ,thou her glorious ,bridegroom1 ,be ,thou her only ,choice1 ,ravish her with ,thy ,beauty1 ,make her to hear ,thy voice4 ,but as the long procession ,did wind its joyous way1 ,making the evening twilight ,almost as bright as day1 ,the countless tapers glittered ,like hosts of meteors round1 ,and sent a glow of radiance ,athwart the ,bardsey ,sound4 ,right round the ,islet pealing1 ,the gladsome songs ascend1 ,and with the evening breezes ,the clouds of incense blend4 ,but what was ,mabel doing1 ,where was the maiden now8 ,o joy6 at ,mary's altar1 ,she plights another vow6 ,yes6 while the girl was weeping1 ,her ,rudolph lost and gone1 ,the ,sacred ,host drew near her1 ,there from strange glory shone4 ,and there as if in vision1 ,all wondrous1 and most clear1 ,mabel beheld the ,saviour1 ,his voice fell on her ear4 ,arise1 my love1 my fair one1 ,arise1 and come away2 ,the winter's past1 the rain gone1 ,the sunbeams strew thy way4 ,in lily vales the virgins ,are waiting now for thee1 ,arise my love1 my fair one1 ,arise1 and follow ,me4 99 99 99 99 99 ,hush6 softly in the distance1 ,i hear the nuns' sweet song1 ',tis floating through the ,cloister1 ,its fretted roofs along4 ,and mingling with the echoes ,of nature's own sweet praise1 ,which the lowing herd1 and the sweet song-bird1 ,with insects hum doth raise4 ,how peacefully1 how restfully1 ,such sounds as these combine ,to soothe the weary spirit1 ,a weary one like mine4 ,but now my spirit wanders1 ,woo'd by that distant hymn1 ,through the hallow'd door1 o'er the storied floor1 ,to the steps of the chancel dim4 ,the nuns' sweet hymn was dying ,in faintest tones away1 ,while prostrate at the altar1 ,a maiden's figure lay4 ,two years had pass'd since ,mabel ,had heard the ,bridegroom's voice1 ,in ,bardsey's ,holy ,island1 ,and made her happy choice4 ,and now before ,his ,altar1 ,she lays her young life down1 ,and from the hands of ,rudolph ,receives the virgin crown6 ,yes6 ,father ,rudolph blesses1 ,the ,virgin-,crown and ,veil ,adorn the brow of ,mabel1 ,with wreaths of lilies pale4 ,her vows1 like his1 are plighted1 ,for ever and for aye1 ,to ,one ,whose ,love and ,beauty ,can change not or decay4 ,o happy youths and virgins6 ,in cloister homes that dwell1 ,for ever and for ever ,your joyous songs shall swell-- ,upon the soft sweet breezes ,of ,zion's sun-lit lands-- ,upon the lily hill-slopes1 ,with all the virgin bands4 99 99 99 99 99 ,and so ,carnarvon ,convent ,enclosed another bride1 ,for ,jesus ,christ1 the ,bridegroom1 ,the ,virgins ,joy and ,pride4 99 99 99 99 99 ,it was a calm sweet festal1 ,in joyous1 summer time1 ,and ,bardsey's ,abbey bell-notes ,rang out a merry chime4 ,the ,island seem'd rejoicing1 ,with holy joy and mirth1 ,the ,monks are going to honour ,st4 ,john the ,baptist's birth4 ,for ,john shines forth as ,primate ,of ,monkish ,choirs above1 ,on earth he dwelt in deserts1 ,and knew no earthly love4 ,the poor1 the sad1 the orphans1 ,all love ,st4 ,mary's shrine1 ,and venerate her ,cloister1 ,fill'd with the ,love ,divine4 ,the ,fathers1 and the ,novices1 ,they count as loving friends1 ,whom ,jesus in ,his ,mercy1 ,the poor and helpless sends4 ,they teach their children sweetly1 ,the ,gospel's glorious tales1 ,and tend their sick and dying ,with care that never fails4 ,no poor's rates1 and no workhouse1 ,were needed in those days1 ,the monks were all they wanted1 ,they work'd for ,jesu's praise4 ,the ,holy ,mass was over1 ,the ,abbot seeks his cell1 ,his heart is strangely trembling1 ,wherefore he cannot tell4 ',tis some foreboding sorrow ,that makes his spirit sad1 ,though all around is sunshine ,and everything seems glad4 ,a strange1 a chill forewarning1 ,shakes the old man with fear1 ,some dread1 some dire affliction1 ,too surely must be near4 ,that night1 ere hushful ,compline ,had closed the sacred day1 ,two boats the ,point were rounding1 ,of ,aberdaron's ,bay4 ,in one brief hour there landed1 ,on ,bardsey's holy shore1 ,ten men from ,windsor1 bringing ,tidings most sad and sore4 ,they seek at once admission1 ,telling the news they bring1 ,the ,monks must1 ere the morrow1 ,surrender to the king ,the ,abbey and its treasures1 ,its ,church1 its relics rare1 ,its ,vestments and its ,chalices1 ,its ,shrines with jewels fair4 ,the ,monks must sign surrender1 ,acknowledge many a sin ,they never could have dreamt of1 ,if they would safety win4 ,and call the tyrant merciful1 ,for driving them away1 ,making them leave their ,abbey ,to ruin and decay4 #dh ,the ,compline ,bell was tolling ,its last dear ,compline call1 ,to-morrow death-like ruin ,would o'er the ,convent fall4 ,that night the holy ,fathers ,held consultation long1 ,and all agreed--,surrender ,would be unjust and wrong4 ,then die we at ,god's ,altar1 ,sooner than yield the right ,which ,god ,himself has given us1 ,to sacrilegious might4 ,and true to their confession ,the holy ,monks remained1 ,and with their virgin life-blood ,the ,altar-steps are stained4 ,the poor arose right bravely1 ,their much-loved ,monks to aid1 ,and many thus right gladly ,their lives a forfeit made4 ,now having done all thoroughly1 ,their work of cruel wrong1 ,they left the ,island weeping1 ,all hushed the ,holy ,song1 ,which for so many ages1 ,by night as well as day1 ,had praised the ,love of ,jesus1 ,in one long ceaseless lay4 ,and now the poor are seeking1 ,among the ruins drear1 ,the bodies of the ,martyrs1 ,so holy1 and so dear4 ,ah6 there before the ,altar1 ,the brave old ,abbot lies2 ,and there1 too1 ,father ,rudolph1 ,with fixed and glassy eyes4 ,but oh6 a calm serenest ,enfolds the ,martyrs blest1 ,strange joy lights up their faces1 ,their spirits are at rest4 ,the dear old ,abbey crumbles ,all swiftly to decay3 ,oh6 for its restoration6 ,cadfan6 ,dubritius6 pray6 ,ye thousand ,saints of ,bardsey1 ,lift up your pleading song1 ,that ,jesus may avenge you1 ,of this most cruel wrong6 99 99 99 99 99 ,a hundred years are over1 ,two stranger pilgrims steal1 ,to ,bardsey's ,abbey ruins1 ,to pray for ,bardsey's weal4 ,the night was stormy1 darksome1 ,no moonlight's silver ray ,lit up the desolation ,that all around them lay4 ,the hour was lonely midnight1 ,see6 now beside the tomb1 ,where holy ,cadfan resteth1 ,a light steals through the gloom1 ,and 'mid the light a figure1 ,in holy ,monk's attire1 ,and smiling sweetly1 brightly1 ,points to the ruined choir4 ,pilgrims faithful1 ,pilgrims true1 ,list to that ,i tell to you4 ,years three hundred shall not end1 ,ere the ,king of ,heaven shall send1 ,saints to rear this sacred fane1 ,and restore her walls again4 ,saints above cease not their cry1 ,unto ,christ the ,lord ,most ,high1 ,that ,his ceaseless praises may ,here arise by night and day4 ,newborough's ,lord shall own this soil2 ,ere he resteth from life's toil1 ,jesus1 for ,his servants' sake1 ,bids him restoration make4 ,and if ,newborough's ,lord obey1 ,that which ,jesu's servants say1 ,he shall gain a blessing bright1 ,in the realms of ,morning ,light4 ,if he do not grant their prayer1 ,he shall lose a blessing rare1 ,when he lies on his last bed1 ,sad regret shall crown his head4 ,to his son shall then be given1 #eb ,choicest blessings from ,high ,heaven1 ,for he shall restore to ,god1 ,through the ,monks this sacred sod4 ,saying thus he sought repose1 ,in the tomb whence he arose4 99 99 99 99 99 ,the ,angel shewed me these things1 ,in pictures bright and true2 ,i woke6--my eyes were resting ,upon the waters blue4 ,but oh6 the waves seem sighing ,for sorrow at my tale1 ,the sea-birds floating o'er them4 ,sent forth a piteous wail4 ,oh happy waves6 no tyrant ,can hush your endless song4 ,may ye again comingle ,with ,bardsey's chants ere long4 ,then ,heaven1 and ,earth1 and ,nature1 ,in unison shall raise1 ,one grand joy-peal of gladness1-- ,one mighty shout of praise6 ,written at ,barmouth and ,aberdaron1 off ,bardsey ,isle1 ,february1 #ahgj4 99 99 99 99 99 ,picture3 ,decorative graphic of a cross 99 99 99 99 99 ,,london3 ,,printed ,,by ,g4 ,j4 ,,palmer1 #cb1 ,,little ,,queen ,,street1 ,,lincoln',s ,,inn ,,fields4 ,footnotes4 #f ,the ,bardsey ,monks1 at this time 7the eighth century7 doubtless wore the black habit1 but assumed the white habit of the ,premonstratensians some hundreds of years later4 #h ,aberdaron is situated on the mainland of ,carnarvonshire1 just five miles from ,bardsey ,island1 in its own snug bay shore1 just round the last point of the ,promontory of ,lleyn4 ,it was the starting place of the pilgrims for the ,holy ,isle4 #aa ,barmouth is nearly thirty miles due east of ,bardsey1 across ,cardigan ,bay1 and quite visible on a clear day4 ,it is a seaport of ,merionethshire4 #ab;a ,this may seem an anachronism1 but it should be remembered that ,druidism lingered a long time in ,wales1 after it was fairly driven from the rest of ,britain4 #ab;b ,the ,church here is dedicated to ,st4 ,cadfan4 #ad ,st4 ,dubritius spent much of his early life in ,bardsey1 and was buried there4 #bj ,psalm lxviii4