LYRA INNOCENTIUM.
LYRA
INNOCENTIUM:
THOUGHTS IN VERSE
ON
CHRISTIAN CHILDREN,
THEIR WAYS, AND THEIR PRIVILEGES.
JESUS called a little child unto Him, and set him in the midst of them.
OXFORD:
JOHN HENRY PARKER;
F. AND J. RIVINGTON, LONDON.
1846.
" O dearest, dearest Boy ! my heart
For better lore would seldom yearn,
Could I but teach the hundredth part
Of what from thee I learn."
Wordsworth.
ADVERTISEMENT.
ACCORDING to the first idea of this little work, it
would have proved a sort of Christian Year for
Teachers and Nurses, and others who are much
employed about Children. By degrees it has
taken a different shape : but it was thought
advisable in the Table of Contents, to mention
in many instances, with the subject of the Poem,
the Day to which it was meant to be adapted.
TO
ALL FRIENDLY READERS.
There are, who love upon their knees
To linger when their prayers are said,
And lengthen out their Litanies,
In duteous care for quick and dead.
Thou, of all Love the Source and Guide /
may some hovering thought of theirs,
Where I am kneeling, gently glide,
And higher waft these earth-bound prayers*
There are, who gazing on the stars
Love-tokens read from worlds of light,
Not as dim-seen through prison-bars,
But as with Angels' welcome bright.
VI
had we kept entire the vow
And covenant of our infant eyes,
We too might trace untrembling now
Glad lessons in the moonlight skies.
There are, to whom the gay green earth
Might seem a mournful penance cave ;
For they have marred their holy birth,
Have rent the lowers that o'er them wave.
Where underneath Thy Cross they lie,
Mark me a place : Thy Mercy's ray
Is healing, even to such as I,
Else wherefore bid us hope and pray ?
What if there were, who laid one hand
Upon the Lyre of Innocence,
While the other over sea and land
Beckoned foul shapes, in dream intense
Of earthly Passion ? Whoso reads,
In pity kneel for him, and pour
A deep heart-prayer (Of much it needs)
That lies may be his hope no more.
Vll
Pray that the mist, ly sin and shame
Left on his soul, may fleet , that he
A true and timely word may frame
For weary hearts, that ask to see
Their way in our dim twilight hour ,
His lips so purged with penance-fire,
That he may guide them, in Christ's power,
Along the path of their desire ;
And with no faint nor erring voice
May to the wanderer whisper, " Stay :
God chooses for thee : seal His choice,
Nor from thy Mother's shadow stray :
For sure thine holy Mother's shade
Rests yet upon thine ancient home :
No voice from Heaven hath clearly said,
' Let us depart / then fear to roam"
Pray that the Prayer of Innocents
On Earth, of Saints in Heaven above,
Guard, as of old, our lonely tents ,
Till, as one faith is ours, in Love
viii
W^e own all Churches, and are owned.
Pray Him to save, by chastenings keen,
The harps that hail His Bride enthroned
From wayward touch of hands unclean.
Feb. 8, 1846.
CONTENTS.
Page
I. HOLY BAPTISM. 1. The Most Holy Name
(For Trinity Sunday') . 1
2. New Creation (Septuagesima) 4
3. Guardian Angels . . 8
4. Baptismal Vows (St. John) 12
5. Sign of the Cross . ' . 15
6. Death of the New-baptized 18
II. CRADLE SONGS. 1. The First Smile . . 19
2. Children like Parents
(Sixth Sunday after Epiphany) 23
3. The Lullaby ... 28
4. Sleeping on the Waters
(Fourth Sunday after Epiphany*) 31
5. First Waking
(Monday in Easter Week) . 36
6. Looking Westward
(St. Matthew) . . 39
CONTENTS.
Page
II. CRADLE SONGS. 7. Upward Gazing
(St. John Baptist) . 42
8. Children's Thankfulness . 45
9. Children with Dumb Creatures 49
10. Lifting up to the Cross
(St. James) ... 55
11. Sickness in the Cradle
(Circumcision) . . 62
12. Anticipation and Retrospection
( Third Sunday after Easter) 64
13. Judas's Infancy
( Wednesday before Easter) 66
14. The Saint's Infancy
(St. Stephen) . . 69
15. The Cradle Guarded . 73
III. EARLY ENCOU- 1. Trustworthiness
RAGEMENTS. (First Sunday after Epiphany) 78
2. Samuel's Prayer . . 80
3. Prayer at Home and in Church 82
4. Self-Examination (St. Paul) 84
5. Confession (Sexagesima) . 87
6. Tell thy Mother . . 89
7. Absolution ... 91
8. Hours of Prayer . . 92
9. Repeating the Creed
(First Sunday after Easter) 94
10. Lessons and Accomplishments
(St. Luke) ... 97
CONTENTS.
III. EARLY EN- 11. Unwearied Love (Twenty-
COURAGEMENTS. second Sunday after Trinity} 99
IV. EARLY WARN- 1. Effect of Example
INGS. (First Sunday after Trinity) 102
2. Danger of Praise
(Fourth Sunday in Advent) 104
3. Envy . . . .106
4. Mistrust of Elders
(St. Thomas) . . .108
5. Fine Clothes (Palm Sunday} 1 10
6. Irreverence in Church . 113
7. Disrespect to Elders .117
8. Home Sickness (St. Marti) 122
9. Ill Temper . . .124
V. CHILDREN'S 1. The Cross laid on Infants
TROUBLES. (Good Friday} . . 128
2. Tears Restrained .(Eigh
teenth Sunday after Trinity} 132
3. Loneliness . . . 136
4. Shyness . . .140
5. Stammering ( Twelfth Sun
day after Trinity) . .143
6. Fear of Wild Beasts
(Quinquagesima} . . 145
7. Separation (Twenty -fourth
Sunday after Trinity) . 147
8. Bereavement (Sixteenth
Sunday after Trinity} . 149
CONTENTS.
V.
VI.
CHILDREN'S
TROUBLES.
CHILDREN'S
SPORTS.
VII. LESSONS OF
NATURE.
Page
9. Orphanhood . . .152
10. Fire (Nineteenth Sunday
after Trinity) . . 155
11. Punishment . . .158
12. Penance . . .162
1. Gardening (Ninth Sunday
after Trinity} . . 166
2. May Garlands (St. Philip
and St. James) . . 169
3. Sunday Nosegays (Seven
teenth Sunday after Trinity 172
4. Dressing up (Twenty-first
Sunday after Trinity) . 174
5. Pebbles on the Shore . 178
6. Bathing (St. Peter) . 182
7. Enacting Holy Rites
(St. Matthias) . . 185
1. Vernal Mirth . . .190
2. The Birds' Nest
(Whitsun-Tuesday) . 192
3. The Mother Bird with
her young (Tenth Sun
day after Trinity) . 195
4. Noontide (Ascension Day) 197
5. The Gleaners . . . 200
6. Autumn Buds
(Advent Sunday) . . 203
7. The Oak
( Third Sunday in Advent) 205
CONTENTS.
Page
VII. LESSONS OF 8. The Palm . . .207
NATURE. 9. The Waterfall
(St. Simon and St. Jude) 209
10. The Starry Heavens . 214
VIII. LESSONS OF 1 . Isaac on Moriah
GRACE. (First Sunday in Lent} . 219
2. Song of the Manna-
Gatherers . . 222
3. The Gibeonites . . 228
4. David's Childhood (Sixth
Sunday after Trinity) . 230
5. Elijah at Sarepta . . 233
6. Naaman's Servant (Eleventh
Sunday after Trinity} . 235
7. Hezekiah's Display . . 237
8. St. Joseph . . .239
9. The Boy with the Five
Loaves . . . .243
10. The Mourners following the
Cross . . . .246
11. St. Andrew and his Cross 249
IX. HOLY PLACES 1. Preparing for Sunday Ser-
AND THINGS. vices .... 252
2. Walk to Church . . 254
3. The Lich-gate . . .256
4. Obeisance on entering Church 259
5. The Empty Church . . 260
6. Church Decorations . 262
CONTENTS.
Page
IX. HOLY PLACES 7- Church Windows
AND THINGS. (All Saints') . . .264
8. Relics and Memorials
(St. Bartholomew} . . 266
9. Carved Angels
(St. Michael) . . 268
10. Church Rites (Second Sun
day after Epiphany) . 273
11. White Apparel
I. The Chrisom . . 276
II. The Sunday Dress . 277
III. Confirmation . . 278
IV. Priests in White . 279
V. Choristers in White 280
VI. Bridal White . . 281
VII. Penitents in White . 282
VIII. White upon the Altar 283
IX. The Winding Sheet 284
12. Redbreast in Church . 285
13. Disuse of Excommunication 288
14. Disuse of Infant Communion
( Thursday before Easter} 290
15. The Offertory
(St. Barnabas) . . 294
16. Church Bells . . .299
17. Continual Services
(Sunday before Advent} . 304
CONTENTS.
Page
X. HOLY SEASONS 1. Christmas Eve, Vespers .311
AND DAYS. 2. Christmas Eve, Compline . 314
3. Christmas Day . . 318
4. Epiphany . . .321
5. Purification . . .324
6. Lent . . . .328
7. Easter Eve . . .331
8. Easter Day . . .333
9. WhitsunEve . . .338
10. Whitsunday . . .342
11. Octaves of Festivals .345
V. CHILDREN'S 13. Languor 349
TROUBLES.
ERRATUM.
P. 233, line 10, for bless read dress.
LYRA INNOCENTIUM.
Baptism
i.
THE MOST HOLY NAME.
" Baptizing them in the Name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy
Ghost."
ONCE in His Name who made thee,
Once in His Name who died for thee,
Once in His Name who lives to aid thee,
We plunge thee in Love's boundless sea.
Christian, dear child, we call thee ;
Threefold the Bath, the Name is One :
Henceforth no evil dream befall thee,
Now is thy heavenly rest begun.
Holy Baptism.
Yet in sharp hours of trial
The mighty seal must needs be prov'd :
Dread Spirits wait in stern espial :
But name thou still the Name belov'd.
Name it with heart untainted,
Lips fragrant from their early vow,
Ere Conscience yet have swerved or fainted,
Ere Shame have dyed the willing brow.
Name it in dewy morning,
"When duly for the world's keen fray
With prayer and vow thy soul adorning,
Thou in thy bower salut'st the day.
In quiet evening name it,
When gently, like a wearied breeze,
Thou sink'st to sleep ; O see thou claim it
That saving Name upon thy knees.
Name it in solemn meetings,
'Mid chanted anthems grave and clear,
When toward the East our awful greetings
Are wafted ere our Lord appear.
The Most Holy Name.
Upon thy death-bed name it :
So may'st thou chase th' infernal horde,
So learn with Angels to proclaim it,
Thrice Holy, One Almighty Lord.
Holy Baptism.
2.
NEW CREATION.
WHO may the wondrous birth declare
Of Earth and Heaven so vast and fair ?
Yet whensoe'er to Love's pure spring
A helpless Little One they bring,
Those wonders o'er again we see
In saving mystery.
All in the unregenerate child
Is void and formless, dark and wild,
Till the life-giving holy Dove
Upon the waters gently move,
And power impart, soft brooding there,
Celestial fruit to bear.
God on the first day spoke in might,
" Let there be Light," and there was Light.
So o'er the Font enlightening grace
As surely beams from JESUS' face,
As when in Jordan's wave He bow'd
Beneath the hovering cloud.
New Creation.
The second day, God stor'd on high
The dewy treasures of the sky :
And who the pure glad drops may tell,
Reserv'd in yon ethereal well,
Faith to revive upon her way,
Hope's weary thirst allay ?
The third day dawn'd : at His command
The rushing waters left the land,
With herb and flower the green earth smil'd,-
So art thou rescued, Christian Child,
From tossings of the world's rude sea,
In vernal peace to be.
Bright rose the fourth triumphant morn,
For then the sun and stars were born,
And the soft moon, whose chaste cold ray
Tells tidings of a purer day.
Christ in the Font became our Noon,
The holy Church, our Moon.
Holy Baptism.
To the fifth dawn and eve belong
Motion and life, and flight and song,
In watery deeps and deeps of Heaven :-
Such gift to thee, dear babe, was given,
When from the earth He bade thee rise
To greet Him in the skies.
The sixth dread day, the last in place,
Dread in its deeps of untold grace,
Moulded, at morn, the cold dull clay,
Inspired, at eve, the quickening ray ;
The same sad morn and evening mild
Renewed us, earth-defiled.
Thee, awful image of the All-good,
That one atoning day renew'd
For the whole world : the fontal wave
To each apart the glory gave,
Washing us clean, that we might hide
In His love-pierced side.
New Creation.
Thus in each day of toil we read
Tokens of joy to Saints decreed.
What if the day of holy rest
The sleep foreshow of infant blest,
Borne from the Font, the seal new given,
Perchance to wake in Heaven ?
Holy Baptism.
3.
GUARDIAN A1S 7 GELS.
" TELL me now thy morning dream."
" In the flowery sweet spring-tide
I beheld a sparkling stream,
Where by thousands Angels glide ; ,
Each beneath the soft bright wing
Seem'd a tender babe to bring,
Where the freshest waters fell
In an ever-living well.
Far within the unearthly Fount
Showed the pure Heaven's steadfast rays,
Stars beyond what eye can count
Deepening on the unwearied gaze.
Whoso of those springs would draw,
Wondrous joy and wondrous awe
On his soul together rise,
Starlight keen and dark blue skies.
Guardian Angels.
Round the margin breath'd and bloom'd
Flowers from Eden : far below
Gems from Heaven the sides illum'd :
But nor flower nor gem might show
Half so fair as your soft charms,
Who in your own Seraphs' arms
Here are wafted, in pure vest
Rob'd, and wash'd, and seal'd, and bless'd.
There one moment lay immers'd
Each bright form, and ere it rose,
Rose regenerate, Light would burst
From where golden morning glows,
With a sudden, silent thrill,
Over that mysterious rill.
Ne'er so bright, so gentle, sweep
Lightnings o'er the summer deep.
In a moment came that ray,
Came but went not : every sprite,
Through its veil of mortal clay,
Now is drench'd in quickening light ;
10 Holy Baptism.
Light wherewith the Seraphs burn,
Light that to itself would turn
Whatsoe'er of earth and shame
Mars even now the new-born frame.
Through the pure Heavens now at large
See the immortal guardians soar,
Joying to behold their charge
Purg'd, wing'd, brighten'd more and more,
As the strong undying spark
Buoys them upward to God's Ark,
To the Throne where all repair
With the first fruits of their care.
Ne'er with smile so glad and kind
Welcom'd God's High Priest of old
Abraham's seed with Abraham's mind
Offering gifts from field and fold,
Lamb or kid, or first-ripe corn,
Glory of the Paschal morn ;
When the shades from Salem's wall
On Siloah deepest fall ;
Guardian Angels. 11
As in that entrancing dream,
On my sleep-embolden'd eyes,
From the shrine, the approving beam
Thrill'd, as each new sacrifice,
Each new living ray, each soul
Borne beyond where shadows roll,
With its faithful Watcher, found
Place in the eternal round."
O sweet morning dream, I pray,
Pass not with the matin hour :
Charm me : heart and tongue allay,
Thoughts of gloom and eyes that lower.
From the Fountain to the Shrine
Bear me on, thou trance divine ;
Faint not, fade not on my view,
Till I wake and find thee true.
12 Holy Baptism.
4.
BAPTISMAL VOWS.
O HAPPY new-born babe, where art thou lying ?
What are these sounds that fill with healing balm
The hallow'd air, of power to still thy crying
At once, and nurse thee into heavenly calm ?
" His Bosom bears me, who on earth descended,
Of a poor Maid vouchsafing to be born.
His saving words, with holy water blended,
Have brought the glory to my prime of morn."
Joy to thy nurse, more joy to her who bare thee,
Lamb of that Shepherd's flock, whose name is Good
As He hath won, for ever may He wear thee,
And keep thee purified with His dear blood !
" Amen : and therefore am I sworn His servant,
His sacred Heart through life to be my rest,
To watch His eye with adoration fervent,
Foe of His foes, and in His white robe drest."
Baptismal F'ows. 13
O blest, O safe, on God's own bosom leaning !
But passion-hours are nigh : keep thou thy place :
And far and wide are evil watchers, gleaning
The lambs that slight the Shepherd's fostering grace.
" Nay, I will drink His cup ; my vow is taken ;
With His baptizing blood mine own shall blend ;
Ne'er be that holiest charge by me forsaken,
The dying Saviour's trust to each true friend."
Well hast thou sworn, and be thy warfare glorious :
But Saints are pure, the Church is undenled,
And JESUS welcom'd from His cross victorious
A Virgin Mother to a Virgin Child.
" Then ask for me of the dread Son of Mary,
Whose arms eternal are young children's home,
A loving heart, obedient eyes and wary,
Even as I am to tarry till He come."
Prayer shall not fail, but higher He would lead thee :
His bosom-friend ate of that awful Bread :
So will He wait all day to bless and feed thee ;
Come thou adoring to be blest and fed.
14 Holy Baptism.
" 'Tis meet and right, and mine own bounden duty.
Good Angels guide me with pure heart to fall
Before His Altar-step, and see His Beauty,
And taste of Him, my first, my last, mine all."
Holy Baptism. 15
5.
SIGN OF THE CROSS.
( See the First Prayer Book of Edward VI." Receyve the signe of the
Holy Crosse, both in thy forehead, and in thy breste.")
WHERE is the mark to JESUS known,
Whereby He seals His own ?
Slaves wore of old on brow and breast
Their master's name impress'd,
And Christian babes on heart and brow
Wear JESUS' token now.
His holy Priest that token gave
With finger dipt in the life-giving wave.
When soldiers take their sovereign's fee,
And swear his own to be,
The royal badge on forehead bold
They show to young and old.
Nor may we hide for fear or shame
The persecuted Name.
Only with downcast eyes we go
At thought of sin that God and Angels know.
16 Holy Baptism.
If the dread mark, though dim, be there.
The watchers will not bear
From spirits unblest or reckless man
Unpitying word or ban.
" Mine own anointed touch ye not,
Nor mine handwriting blot.
Where'er my soldiers cross your path,
Honour my royal Sign, or fear my wrath."
The Shepherd signs his lambs in haste,
Ere on the mountain waste
He loose them, far and wide to stray,
And whoso mars their way,
Or scorns the awful Name they show,
That Shepherd counts him foe.
Fresh from his arms are these, and sure
We read His token here undimm'd and pure.
Fresh from th' eternal Arms are these,
Or sporting on our knees,
Or set on earth with earnest eye
And tottering feet, to try
Sign of the Cross. 17
Their daily walk, or newly taught
Grave prayer and quiet thought.
The fragrant breath of their new birth
Is round them yet : avaunt, ill airs of earth.
Ye elder brethren, think on this !
Think on the mighty bliss,
Should He, the Friend of babes, one day,
The words of blessing say :
" My seal upon My lambs ye knew,
And I will honour you :"
And think upon the eternal loss
If on their foreheads ye deface the glorious Cross.
18 Holy Baptism.
6.
DEATH OF THE NEW-BAPTIZED.
WHAT purer brighter sight on earth, than when
The Sun looks down upon a drop of dew,
Hid in some nook from all but Angels' ken,
And with his radiance bathes it through and through.
Then into realms too clear for our frail view
Exhales and draws it with absorbing love ?
And what if Heaven therein give token true
Of grace that new-born dying infants prove,
Just touched with Jesus' light, then lost in joys above ?
19
Cratole
i.
THE FIRST SMILE.
"Post et ridere caepi ; dormiens primo, deinde vigilans." August.
Confess. 1.8.
TEARS from the birth the doom must be
Of the sin-born but wait awhile,
Young mother, and thine eye shall see
The dawning of the first soft smile.
It comes in slumber, gently steals
O'er the fair cheek, as light on dew ;
Some inward joy that smile reveals ;
Sit by and muse ; such dreams are true.
* For this Poem the Author is indebted to a dear friend.
20 Cradle Songs.
Closed eyelids, limbs supine, and breath
So still, you scarce can calm the doubt
If life can be so like to death
'Tis life, but all of earth shut out.
. 'Tis perfect peace ; yet all the while
O'er marble brow, and dimpled chin
Mantles and glows that radiant smile,
Noting the spirit stirred within.
Oh dim to this the flashing ray,
Though dear as life to mother's heart,
From waking smiles, that later play ;
In these earth claims the larger part.
'Tis childish sport, or frolic mirth,
Or the fond mother's blameless guile,
Or glittering toy, some gaud of earth.
That stirs him to that merry smile.
Or if in pensive wise it creep,
With gradual light and soberer grace,
Yet shades of earthly sorrow sleep,
Still sleep upon his beauteous face.
The First Smile.
But did the smile disclose a dream
Of bliss that had been his before ?
"Was it from heaven's deep sea a gleam
Not faded quite on earth's dim shore ?
Or told some Angel from above
Of glories to be his at last,
The sunset, crowning hours of love
His labours done his perils past ?
Or, thought of trial for her breast,
Did the mild spirits whisper then,
" From the Baptismal Fount, O blest,
Thou shalt be ours, dear child, again ?
" Thou shalt be ours, and heaven be thine,
Thy victory without peril given ;
Sent a brief while on earth to shine,
And then to shine a light in heaven.
" And her that folds thee now so warm,
And haply thinks 'twere death to part,
Her shall a holier love inform,
A clearer faith enlarge her heart."
22 Cradle Songs.
Blest smile ! so let me live my day,
That when my latest sun shall set,
That smile reviving once may play
And gild my dying features yet :
That smile to cheer the mourners round
With hope of human sins forgiven ;
Token of earthly ties unbound,
Of heart intent on opening heaven.
Cradle Songs. 23
2.
CHILDREN LIKE PARENTS.
" Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear
what we shall be : but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be
like Him ; for we shall see Him as He is."
WHEN travail hours are spent and o'er,
And genial hours of joy
In cradle songs and nursery lore
All the glad home employ,
Full busy in her kindly mood
Is Fancy, to descry
The welcome notes of fatherhood,
In form, and lip, and eye.
And elder brethren's hearts are proud,
And sisters blush and smile,
As round the babe by turns they crowd,
A brief and wondering while.
24 Cradle Songs.
With eager speed they ready make
Soft bosom and safe arm,
As though such burthen once to take
A blessing were and charm.
And ever as with hastening wing
His little life glides on,
By power of that first wondrous spring
To all but babes unknown,
Easier each hour the task will grow.
To name the unfolding flower,
By plumage and by song to know
The nestling in his bower.
Oh, while your hearts so blithely dance
With frail fond hopes of earth,
Will ye not cast one onward glance
To the true heavenly birth ?
Will ye not say, " God speed the time
When Spirits pure, to trace
The hues of a more glorious prime,
Shall lean from their high place,
Children like Parents. 25
And mark, too keen for earthly day,
The Father's stamp and seal,
Christ in the heart, the Living Kay,
Its deepening light reveal ?"
Oh, well the denizens of Heaven
Their Master's children know,
By filial yearnings sweet and even,
By patient smiles in woe,
By gaze of meek inquiry, turn'd
Towards th' informing Eye,
By tears that to obey have learn'd,
By clasped hands on high.
Well may we guess, our Guardians true
Stoop low and tarry long,
Each accent noting, each faint hue,
That shows us weak or strong.
And even as loving nurses here
Joy in the babe to find
The likeness true of kinsman dear
Or brother good and kind,
26 Cradle Songs.
So in each budding inward grace
The Seraphs' searching ken
The memory haply may retrace
Of ancient, holy men.
For of her Saints the Sacred Home
Is never quite bereft ;
Each a bright shadow in the gloom,
A glorious type, hath left.
And by those features, stern or sweet,
Resigned or dauntless, all
Heaven's keen-eyed Watchers use to mete,
Which mortals holy call.
" And hark," saith one, " the soul I guide
I heard it gently sigh
In such a tone as Peter sighed,
Touched by his Saviour's eye."
" And see," another cries, " how soft
Smiles on that little child
Yon aged man ! even so full oft
The loved Disciple smiled."
Children like Parents. 27
And oh, be sure no guardian fires
Flash brighter in their joy
Than theirs, who scan the meek desires
And lowly lone employ
Of maiden in her quiet bower,
When haply glance or mien
Reminds them of the lily flower
With Blessed Mary seen.
But as when babes by look or tone
Brother or friend recall,
In all the Parents' right we own,
Their memory blend with all,
So in earth's saintly multitude
Discern we Saints above :
In these, the Fountain Orb of Good,
Pure Light and endless Love.
28 Cradle Songs.
3.
THE LULLABY.
THE western sky is glowing yet,
The burnished Cross upon the spire
Gives token where the Sun hath set,
Touch'd faintly with its last dim fire.
Pause on thy way from evening prayer,
And listen : through the twilight air
Floats from yon open cottage door
A soft strain warbled o'er and o'er.
A maiden rocks a babe to sleep,
And times the cradle to her song ;
A simple strain, not high nor deep,
But awful thoughts thereto belong :
For oft in holy Church's shade
She to that strain hath lent her aid.
" In thee I put my steadfast trust,
Defend me, Lord, for thou art just."*
* Psalm Ixxi. 1. New Version.
The Lullaby. 29
Without a Psalm she breathes her strain,
Lest haply ruder ears be nigh ;
But to the babe her sense is plain,
In that half word of lullaby.
That sound still varied, still the same,
To him is as the Saving Name
Pronounced in every tone, and strong
To guard his sleep from every wrong.
Angels may read such words of power,
And infants feel them : we the while
But dimly guess, till in His hour
We see the Lord's unclouded smile.
Then spells that guarded us of old
Their hidden virtue shall unfold :
Charm'd writings are they now ; no eye
May read them till the fire be nigh.
O awful touch of God made Man !
We have no lack if Thou art there.
From Thee our infant joys began,
By Thee our wearier age we bear.
30 Cradle Songs.
From Satan's breath, from Herod's sword.
The cradle where Thou watchest, Lord,
Is safe : the Avenger's rushing cry
Is like a sister's lullaby.
Cradle Songs. 31
4.
SLEEPING ON THE WATERS.
" And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow : and they
awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish ?"
WHILE snows, even from the mild South-west,
Come blinding o'er all day,
What kindlier home, what safer nest,
For flower or fragrant spray,
Than underneath some cottage roof,
Where fires are bright within,
And fretting cares scowl far aloof,
And doors are closed on sin ?
The scarlet tufts so cheerily
Look out upon the snow,
But gayer smiles the maiden's eye
Whose guardian care they know.
32 Cradle Songs.
The buds that in that nook are born
Through the dark howling day
Old Winter's spite they laugh to scorn :
What is so safe as they ?
Nay, look again : beside the hearth
The lowly cradle mark,
Where, wearied with his ten hours' mirth,
Sleeps in his own warm ark
A bright-haired babe, with arm upraised,
As though the slumberous dew
Stole o'er him, while in faith he gazed
Upon his Guardian true.
Storms may rush in, and crimes and woes
Deform the quiet bower ;
They may not mar the deep repose
Of that immortal flower.
Though only broken hearts be found
To watch his cradle by,
No blight is on his slumbers sound,
No touch of harmful eye.
Sleeping on the Waters. 33
So gently slumber'd on the wave
The new-born seer of old,
Ordained the chosen tribes to sa\
Nor dream'd how darkly rolFd
The waters by his rushy brake.
Perchance even now defiled
With infants' blood for Israel's sake.
Blood of some priestly child.
What recks he of his mother's tears,
His sister's boding sigh ?
The whispering reeds are all he hears.
And Nile, soft weltering nigh.
Sings him to sleep ; but he will wake.
And o'er the haughty flood
Wave his stem rod ; and lo ! a lake,
A restless sea of blood !
Soon shall a mightier flood thy call
And outstreteh'd rod obey ;
To right and left the watery wall
From Israel shrinks away.
34 Cradle Songs.
Such honour wins the faith that gave
Thee and thy sweetest boon
Of infant charms to the rude wave,
In the third joyous moon.
Hail, chosen Type and Image true
Of JESUS on the Sea !
In slumber and in glory too, *
Shadowed of old by thee.
Save that in calmness thou didst sleep
The summer stream beside,
He on a wider wilder deep,
Where boding night-winds sigh'd :
Sigh'd when at eve He laid Him down,
But with a sound like flame
At midnight from the mountain's crown
Upon His slumbers came.
Lo, how they watch, till He awake,
Around His rude low bed :
How wistful count the waves that break
So near His sacred Head !
Sleeping on the Waters. 35
O faithless ! know ye not of old
How in the western bay,
When dark and vast the billows roll'd,
A Prophet slumbering lay ?
The surges smote the keel as fast
As thunderbolts from heaven :
Himself into the wave he cast,
And hope and life were given.
Behold, a mightier far is here ;
Nor will He spare to leap,
For the souls' sake He loves so dear,
Into a wilder deep.
E'en now He dreams of Calvary ;
Soon will He wake and say
The words of peace and might : do ye
His hour in calmness stay.
36 Cradle Songs.
FIRST WAKING.
" JESUS saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him,
Rabboni ; which is to say, Master."
" YE who wait in wistful gaze
Where young infants lie,
Learning faith and silent praise
From each pure calm sigh,
Say, 'mid all those beaming glances,
Starts, and gleams, and silent trances,
When the fond heart highest dances,
Feeling Heaven so nigh ?"
" Hard it is, 'mid gifts so sweet
Choosing out the prime :
But no brighter smiles we meet
Than at waking time,
When they burst the chains of slumber,
Chains that guard but not encumber,
And glad fancies without number
King their playful chime."
First Waking. 37
" Nay, but with a moaning sound
Babes awakening start ;