Page:Tale of Paraguay - Southey.djvu/80

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They served a Maid more beautiful than tongue Could tell, or heart conceive. Of human race, All heavenly as that Virgin was, she sprung; But for her beauty and celestial grace, Being one in whose pure elements no trace Had e'er inhered of sin or mortal stain, The highest Heaven was now her dwelling place; There as a Queen divine she held her reign, And there in endless joy for ever would remain.

Her feet upon the crescent Moon were set, And, moving in their order round her head, The stars compose her sparkling coronet. There at her breast the Virgin Mother fed A Babe divine, who was to judge the dead, Such power the Spirit gave this awful Child; Severe he was, and in his anger dread, Yet always at his Mother's will grew mild, So well did he obey that Maiden undefiled.