Page:Complete ascetical works of St Alphonsus v6.djvu/107

Rh

soul, what dost thou? Answer me—
 * Love God, who loves thee well:—

Love only does he ask of thee,
 * Canst thou his love repel?

See, how on earth for love of thee,
 * In lowly form of bread,

The sovereign good and majesty
 * His dwelling-place has made.

He bids thee now his friendship prove,
 * And at his table eat;

To share the bread of life and love,
 * His own true flesh thy meat.

What other gift so great, so high,
 * Could God himself impart?

Could love divine do more to buy
 * The love of thy poor heart?

Though once, in agonies of pain,
 * Upon the cross he died,

A love so great, not even then
 * Was wholly satisfied.

Not till the hour when he had found
 * The sweet, mysterious way

To join his heart in closest bond
 * To thy poor heart of clay.