The Complete Works of Richard Crashaw Volume II Part 36

Hactenus exigua haec, quasi munera, lusimus; haec quae Multum excusanti sunt capienda manu.

Hoc donum est; de quo, toto tibi dicimus ore, Sume, Pater: meritis hoc tibi sume suis.

Donum hoc est, hoc est; quod scilicet audeat ipso Esse Deo dignum: scilicet ipse Deus.

_The Infant Christ is presented to the Father in the temple._

Let the lamb go, by horned sire to play; The turtle, with its mate, flee far away: No need is here of lamb to mediate, Or tender bird to bear another's fate.

At those poor offerings once, as 'twere, we play'd, Receiv'd by One who much allowance made.

This is a gift the full-voic'd boast to wake, 'Take it, O Father, on its merits take.'

A gift, a gift this is, which need not fear Being fit for G.o.d, since G.o.d Himself is here. R. WI.

CLIX.

_Leprosus Dominum implorans._ Matt. viii. 2.

Credo quod ista potes, velles modo: sed quia credo, Christe, quod ista potes, credo quod ista voles.

Tu modo, tu faciles mihi, sol meus, exere vultus; Non poterit radios nix mea ferre tuos.[82]

_The leper beseeching._

I believe, Lord, Thou'rt able if Thou'rt willing, And I believe Thou'rt willing as Thou'rt able.

s.h.i.+ne on me, O my Sun: Thy rays distilling, Shall melt my snow, and give me healing stable. G.

CLX.

_Christus in tempestate._ Matt. viii. 23-27.

Quod fervet tanto circ.u.m te, Christe, tumultu, Non hoc ira maris, Christe, sed ambitio est.

Haec illa ambitio est, hoc tanto te rogat ore, Possit ut ad monitus, Christe, tacere tuos.

_Why are ye afraid, O ye of little faith?_

As if the storme meant Him, Or 'cause Heaven's face is dim, His needs a cloud.

Was ever froward wind That could be so unkind, Or wave so proud?

The wind had need be angry, and the water black, That to the mighty Neptune's Self dare threaten wrack.

There is no storm but this Of your own cowardise That braves you out; You are the storme that mocks Yourselves; you are the rocks Of your owne doubt: Besides this feare of danger there's no danger here, And he that here feares danger does deserve his feare. CR.

ANOTHER VERSION.

That the Sea with such violence falls on, 'Tis not his malice, but ambition: This the ambition, this the loud request, At Thy command, O Christ, to take his rest. B.

CLXI.

_Annunciant ritus, quos non licet n.o.bis suscipere, c.u.m simus Romani._ Act. xvi. 21.

Hoc Caesar tibi, Roma, tuus dedit, armaque? solis Romanis igitur non licet esse piis?

Ah, melius, tragicis nullus tibi Caesar in armis Altus anhelanti detonuisset equo; Nec domini volucris facies horrenda per orbem Sueta tibi in signis torva venire tuis: Quam miser ut staret de te tibi, Roma, triumphus, Ut tanta fieres ambitione nihil.

Non tibi, sed sceleri vincis: proh laurea tristis, Laurea, Cerbereis aptior umbra comis.

Tam turpi vix ipse pater diademate Pluto, Vix sedet ipse suo tam niger in solio.

De tot Caesareis redit hoc tibi, Roma, triumphis: Caesaree, aut, quod idem est, egregie misera es.

_They teach customs which are not lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, being Romans._

Rome, have thy Caesar's arms wrought this for thee, That Romans only may not Christians be?

Better for thee no Caesar had waged war, High-thundering on his fiery steed afar; Nor eagle's lordly form o'er all the world Had aye on thy stern ensigns been unfurl'd.

How poor a triumph, Rome, o'er thyself wrought, By dint of such ambition to be--nought!

Conquering for sin, not Rome; sad laurel-wreath, More fit to shadow Cerberus' locks beneath.

Old Pluto scarce wears diadem so base, Sits scarce so swart enthron'd in his own place.

Caesarean triumphs, Rome, win this for thee-- Caesarean, that is, highest misery. R. WI.

CLXII.

_Hic lapis fiat panis._ Matt. iv. 3.

Et fuit ille lapis, quidni sit dicere? panis, Christe, fuit: panis sed tuus ille fuit.

Quippe Patris c.u.m sic tulerit suprema voluntas, Est panis, panem non habuisse, tuus.

??t?? ??? t?? d?t', e?pe?? ???? ?st??, ??e????, ???st?, t?? ??t?? ??? ?a? ?????, ???? te??.

?? ??t?? t?? pat??? ?? e????? t? ????a, ??t?? ?t' ??? ?? t??, ???st?, t?? ??t?? ???.

_Command that this stone become a loaf._

And so it was; bread was that stone; Such bread, Christ, as was all Thine own.

Since G.o.d so will'd that it should be, To have no bread was bread to Thee. G.

CLXIII.

_Mulier Canaanitis._ Matt. xv. 22.

Quicquid Amazoniis dedit olim fama puellis, Credite: Amazoniam cernimus, ecce, fidem.

Foemina, tam fortis fidei? jam credo fidem esse Plus quam grammatice foeminei generis.

_The woman of Canaan._

Whate'er Fame tells of Amazons of old, Believe: here Amazonian faith behold.

Of such strong faith a woman? Faith I see More than in grammar feminine to be. R. WI.

CLXIV.

_Deus, post expulsum daemonem mutum, maledicis Judaeis os obturat._ Luc.

xi. 14.

Una pene opera duplicem tibi daemona frangis: Iste quidem daemon mutus; at ille loquax.

Scilicet in laudes, quae non tibi laurea surgit?