A Century of Emblems Part 2

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LIGHTHOUSE BUILT LIKE A CHURCH.

That tapering Pharos pierces night As would a church bell tower; And far and wide its streaming light Symbols the Church's power,

Which flinging many a radiant clue O'er life's bewildering foam, Guides weary souls the darkness through To their celestial home.

CHURCH IN THE VALLEY.

A tree of life from Eden far, O lowly church, you stand!

So stood the Lord whose sign you are, And blessed the barren land.

A tower of strength you show to all Who recognise His grace: The tender lights which round you fall Write heaven upon your face.

Your bells down in the hollow lea Cry as from sheltering nest, "Come all ye labouring men to Me, And I will give you rest."

CHURCH BELLS AND SHEEP BELLS.

The sheep bells tinkle from the knoll Faintly and sweet 'twixt far and near, But hark! at hand the funeral toll How solemn and how clear

Each wafts a hint to faithful love Of ever-mingling wealth and woe, The energy of life above, The requiem below.

Now sweeps the wholesome evening breath As tho' a voice from Heaven should fall, Blending the notes of life and death, And harmonising all.

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THE BROOK AT SUNSET.

Could Pison or Pactolus old Eclipse our little stream to-night?

What grape might yield a glossier gold, Such amber streams, And ruby gleams Fringed all along with dazzling light That ripples down thro' emerald meadows bright?

Brief pageant! minions of the sun, With him the hues in gloom decline; Then think on the Eternal One, Sun of the soul, At whose control Outpours the living light divine, The grace that turns life's water into wine.

THE CHURCH TOWER AT SUNSET.

See with a radiance noontide never gave Our little tower fling back the evening gold!

Like to a sunlit rose upon a grave, Like to a star upon the midnight wave, When all of earth that was so bright and brave Is waning into dusk obscure and cold.

So in the nightfall of that dread decay When worlds their borrowed l.u.s.tre shall resign, They who o'erlooked her on her lowly way, They who despised her in her robes of clay, Shall in the glory of her opening day Bow down abashed before the Bride Divine.

SUMMER SUNSET.

I saw the summer sunset die On golden clouds beyond the rain, I saw the dying Christian lie Bright-eyed amid a weeping train.

I read on evening's roseate pile Hope of a lovelier day than this; I hailed in that expiring smile a.s.surance of eternal bliss.

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THE COMET.

Lone one, wilt thou no signal pa.s.s, Thy mission to declare, Whether a world-destroying ma.s.s, Or flame-flower of Elysian gra.s.s, Or seraph's burning hair?

Or may be torch from hearth unknown Upheld by powers unseen, Each pacing their appointed zone In mute procession one by one A thousand years between.

Let Time shake out my dribbling sand; Who would not die to see The eternal treasures of a land Whose glories s.h.i.+ne above a strand With waifs and strays like thee!

THE ROCKET.

The child who sees the rocket fire Its arch of stars o'er tower and plain, Laments to find them all expire, And but a worthless wand remain.

And such with all its soaring sound Is eloquence despite of art, Whose flashy flights the ear astound, But leave no light within the heart.

THE GIRANDOLA AT ROME.