ÆTERNE RERUM CONDITOR
Framer of the earth and sky, Ruler of the day and night, With a glad variety Tempering all and making light. Gleams upon our dark path flinging, Cutting short each night begun; Now Thy herald cock is singing To our…
THE ODOR
How sweetly doth MY MASTER sound; MY MASTER! As ambergris leaves a rich scent Unto the taster: So do these words a sweet content, An oriental fragrancy: MY MASTER! With these all day I do perfume my mind, My mind…
THE TRAVELLER’S EVENING SONG
Father, guide me! Day declines, Hollow winds are in the pines; Darkly waves each giant bough O’er the sky’s last crimson glow; Hushed is now the convent’s bell, Which erewhile with breezy swell From the purple mountains bore Greetings to…
A MIDNIGHT HYMN
Where’er I am, whate’er I see, Eternal Lord, is full of Thee! I feel Thee in the gloom of night; I see Thee in the morning light. When care distracts my anxious soul, Thy grace can every thought control; Thy…
TO MONT BLANC
HAST thou a charm to stay the morning star In his steep course? So long he seems to pause On thy bald awful head, O sovereign Blanc! The Arve and Arveiron at thy base Rave ceaselessly; but thou, most awful…
GOD’S WORD
OH, blest were the accents of early creation, When the Word of Jehovah came down from above, In the clods of the earth to infuse animation, And wake their cold atoms to life and to love! And mighty the tones…
THE CROSS
ARE thy toils and woes increasing? Are the Foe’s attacks unceasing? Look with Faith unclouded, Gaze with eyes unshrouded, On the Cross! Dost thou fear that strictest trial? Tremblest thou at Christ’s denial? Never rest without it, Clasp thine arms…
JAM MOESTA QUIESCE QUERELA
(Prudentius, Fifth Century.) No more, ah, no more sad complaining, Resign these fond pledges to earth; Stay, mothers, the thick-falling tear-drops: This death is a heavenly birth. What mean these still caverns of marble, Fair shrines that the dear ashes…
GOD IN NATURE
Go forth, my heart, and seek delight In all the gifts of God’s great might, These pleasant summer hours: Look how the plains for thee and me Have decked themselves most fair to see. All bright and sweet with flowers….
CHRISTMAS-TIDE
μέγα xai παράδοξον Θαύμα. A GREAT and mighty wonder! A full and holy cure! The Virgin bears the Infant With Virgin-honor pure! The Lord is made Incarnate, And yet remains on high: And Cherubim sing anthems To shepherds from the…