Page:The Christian Year 1887.djvu/197



The eye that watches o'er wild Ocean's dead, Each in his coral cave, Fondly as if the green turf wrapt his head Fast by his father's grave, - One moment, and the seeds of life shall spring Out of the waste abyss, And happy warriors triumph with their King In worlds without a sea, unchanging orbs of bliss.


 * A thou hast testified of Me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome.  Acts xxiii. 11.

Beneath the burning eastern sky The Cross was raised at morn: The widowed Church to weep stood by, The world, to hate and scorn.

Now, journeying westward, evermore We know the lonely Spouse By the dear mark her Saviour bore Traced on her patient brows.

At Rome she wears it, as of old Upon th' accursed hill: By monarchs clad in gems and gold, She goes a mourner still.

She mourns that tender hearts should bend Before a meaner shrine, And upon Saint or Angel spend The love that should be thine.

By day and night her sorrows fall Where miscreant hands and rude Have stained her pure ethereal pall With many a martyr's blood.

And yearns not her parental heart, To hear THEIR secret sighs, Upon whose doubting way apart Bewildering shadows rise?

Who to her side in peace would cling, But fear to wake, and find