Page:Life in the Old World - Vol. II.djvu/378

388 There was to be preaching in the principal church of the city, and thither I went. The church was transformed into a regular boudoir, with silk draperies, bouquets of flowers and candles; whilst an image of the Virgin, the size of life, decked out like a young lady dressed for a ball, stood foremost in the choir. The sermon on the subject of the Virgin's ascension, was in a flowery oriental style. Her beauty was especially exalted. Her eyes, cheeks, lips, forehead, were each and all described, and praised con amore; also her jeweled crown and snow-white mantle, beaming with diamonds. Thus attired, she ascended to Heaven. “The sun left his seat to come and gaze at her, and to make her a mantle of his rays. The stars rushed forth dancing around her, to fashion a gloria round her head ; the clouds hastened to her feet to serve her as steps. Mary has overcome death; death himself has fallen before her upon his knees, adoringly. Mary has seated herself on God's right hand, and become our intercessor with Him. This constitutes our advantage in her ascension. We could not force our way to Him, the righteous judge; we are sinners. But Mary bears for us the compassionate heart of a mother. God cannot deny her any thing. She allays the storms of the sea, and the sufferings of disease. All good comes alone to us through Mary. Therefore let us all with one common voice cry to her to pray for us!”

Such is the Maria poem in which the poet has contrived to confound together the earthly mother and the Divine Son.

We had, in the evening, the grandest and the most brilliant of our Sorrento fireworks, with burning suns,