FROM THE LIBRARY OF REV. LOUIS FITZGERALD BENSON, D. D. BEQUEATHED BY HIM TO THE LIBRARY OF PRINCETON THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY I EXPORT BOOKSELLERS jj ! 32. GAY STREET. I. ^IBATH.'^- I % ■/t ♦ APR 12 1934 / THE Ml QPVlVfc^ FOREIGN SACRED LYRE. Ittxxtnl ©*rshms of BxHijious «portrg FROM THE GERMAN, FRENCH, AND ITALIAN, TOGETHER WITH BY JOHN SHEPPARD AUTHOR OF "THOUGHTS OX DEVOTION," ETC. ETC LONDON :— JACKSON & WALFORD, 18, ST. PAULS CHURCHYARD. 1857. PREFACE. It is believed that a -sufficient plea for the practice of translation may be drawn from the ascertained and established excellence of some foreign writers, which renders it desirable to possess more of their productions, (even under the disadvantage of a version,) rather than some, at least, of those very numerous pieces called original, that are continually offered by our British press. Several of the foreign poets from whose works the following pieces, of religious character, are here presented, have especial claims on respectful notice. Indeed, by lettered readers generally, their reputation is too well known to require that it should be announced. Yet a few remarks and testimonies concerning them respectively may not be deemed superfluous or uninteresting. Michel- Angela (Buonarotti) was at once painter, sculptor, architect, and poet. Of the unrivalled celebrity which he attained, no literary person can be ignorant. His poetry, indeed, was but a secondary or occasional I VI PREFACE. pursuit. It was nevertheless very highly admired hy the most polished and enlightened critics of his times. Vasari says, " Heaven granted him with his other talents a store of lofty philosophy and a suhlime poetic genius, as if to exhibit, in one individual, the perfect model of all qualities most esteemed and honoured by mankind." His works were edited by Biagioli unitedly with those of Petrarch, as fully worthy to be placed in close association with them ; and the Academy della Crusca has ranked him among the Italian Classics. " And even " (as a French writer remarks) " if the poems of this celebrated man had not in their intrinsic merit an attraction independent of his high renown, would they not still draw some lustre from their community of origin with so many chefs-d'oeuvre of art produced by the same hand ? A natural curiosity leads us to seek the smallest productions of great men; above all, the un- looked-for creations of a fervour suddenly excited, which show rather impulse than design." The lyrical works of the poet KlojMoch (however opinions may differ as to his well known Epic, the Messiah) have had the highest meed of praise from Ger- man critics. We read in the " Conversations Lexicon," — ** As a lyric poet (Odendichter) he takes hia place among PREFACE. Vll the greatest poets of all times. He may be termed the Pindar of modern poetry ; but in fulness and depth of feeling he as much excels that renowned ancient, as the spiritual world which he depicts surpasses in inward grandeur the mythologies of the Greek. His religious odes (as the Friihlingsfeyer, &c.) have the soaring eleva- tion of the Hebrew Psalmist, and show, even in the licence of their metres, the bold security of his lyrical spirit." Sir A. Alison has written in the like strain, — " If we would form a correct estimate of the poetic genius of Klopstock, we must study his lyrical pieces, and then there is room only for the most unqualified approbation. Like the Allegro and the Penseroso, or Lycidas, they evince the lustre of his imagination even more than the stately march of the epic." * The choruses of Racine (of which portions are here introduced) have been pronounced incomparable even by so unfriendly a critic as Voltaire, whose prejudice must have been bitter against the principles of their author. They should have at this day some added interest for those Christians who expect, on prophetic grounds, and from the aspect of Eastern affairs, the speedy establish- ment of the Hebrews in their beloved land ; for the references in them to a former dispersion and return, * Hist, of Europe, vol. v. p. 114. Vlll PREFACE. are equally applicable to their present condition and prospect. A French biographer of Be Lamartine (who mingles censure of the politician with eulogy of the poet) relates that " on the first appearance of his ' Meditations poetiques,' a cry of admiration resounded through all France. The poet was saluted as a new deliverer, who,, with the cross in his hand, broke the idol of Materialism, and dethroned Voltaire. In less than two years, forty-five thousand copies were sold." He refers afterwards to the " Harmonies poetiques et religieuses " as "a sublime book, winch procured its author a triumphal reception into the French Academy." Of another Italian writer, eleven of whose sonnets have been inserted in this volume, Mr. Hallam writes, "Hi3 poetry is always the effusion of a fine soul. We venerate and love Filicaja as a man. We also acknowledge that he was a real poet — gifted with a serious, pure, and noble spirit." * The translator therefore needs not hesitate to believe, that a great part of the original pieces here collected have a real value ; whatever be the faults of his versions ; * Literature of Europe, III. 451. PREFACE. IX to these he is far from being wholly blind or insensible, though perhaps much more so than his critics will be. He has thought that in this age of continental travel, which increasing facilities are likely to render year by year more frequent, and when — partly as a conse- quence of this — the study of the chief modern lan- guages of Europe has become so habitual, — specimens of foreign literature might have some new probability of acceptance. It has also appeared to him, that religious travellers on the Continent, now not a few, (indeed too many, except they watch against the loss of Christian principles and habits,) may be interested in possessing and using a sort of religious "hand-book" in languages with which, if they would reap full benefit and pleasure from then 1 excursions abroad, they must cultivate acquaintance. Such tra- vellers, it is presumed, may be glad at times to combine exercise in those languages, with the recollection of that class of thoughts which foreign varieties are too apt to dissipate or exclude : and although versions of poetry, at least when metrical, cannot, without an entire sacrifice of taste, be literal enough to afford much aid in grammatical difficulties, they may nevertheless fre- quently assist the intelligent to seize the general drift X PREFACE. and spirit of the original, with at least more ease and correctness than these could otherwise he apprehended. It will perhaps be objected by zealous persons, that among the poets of whose works portions are here intro- duced, some cannot be believed to have received Christian truth in its purity and fulness, or to have experienced its renovating power. Undoubtedly, from the record of their lives, and from the character of some others of their writings, there may be grounds for this suspicion. Never- theless, it should be remembered, that we are by no means competent judges of the occasional feelings and convictions, still less of the latter and eventual state, of those who have been personally unknown to us. Moreover, our chief concern is, not with the authors, but with the sentiments contained in those of their productions here selected ; which will be all found to express or imply reverence for Christianity generally, and in many instances a strong attachment to its most mysterious facts and its most peculiar doctrines. It should be considered also, that the testimony of such minds as those of Michel- Angelo, Klopstock, Lamartine, tfcc, to the unparalleled excellency of Christian truth, forms, so far as intellectual authority can be valuable, a combined attestation or suf- frage of no light worth. And, let it be added, the con- currence of Christians of very different communions in PREFACE. XI certain cardinal or fundamental tenets, so far as it is here exhibited, contributes to uphold the persuasion which charity would grieve to renounce, or to see overthrown, — that the essence of piety may consist with a wide diversity of opinions and of forms. It must not be expected that the diction and versification of all pieces here inserted will fully correspond to that classic and poetic standard, by which literary natives, in the respective languages, would judge and estimate such productions. The translator, and those readers whom he may hope this volume will interest, although quite sensible to the charm of elegance and refinement, set a far higher value on Christian sentiment; and would accept the homely and unpoetical hymns of Martin Luther in preference to the most polished strains in which Christian truth is abjured or even ignored. Hymns of Luther, however, have not been here intro- duced, because the best of them are already translated ; * but the same character, as to a want of classical taste and finish, applies in a degree to some German pieces that have been here inserted, as also to the Italian hymns of the Vaudois, and perhaps to some of the French cantiques. Nor is it to be doubted, that such faults or defects with * Several in the excellent Tvork of Miss Winkworth, the "Lyra Germanica." Xll PREFACE. regard to graces of style, as the translator may only suspect or conjecture, would be to critical native readers much more palpable. But as the pieces referred to were selected purely for the Christian spirit which is evinced in them, it has not been thought well to exclude what is sub- stantially good, merely from an apprehension that the style or phraseology may to some be occasionally distasteful. On the subject of translation at large, a discerning critic, after stating the qualifications requisite for executing it well, remarks that " he who possesses them will almost invariably abandon the thankless drudgery of interpreting the thoughts of another, for the more congenial task of original composition. Hence (he adds) it follows that really masterly translations are so rare."' This is true generally ; but there have been in our own country two distinguished exceptions. Dryden translated the works both of Virgil and Juvenal : Pope those of Homer. Mr. Macaulay states, that Dryden, whose reputation was then in the zenith, received 1300£. for his translation of the works of Virgil. Neither eminence of talent, therefore, nor large remuneration, was wanting. But it will hardly be thought, however great the ability of those translators, that they made real versions of Virgil and Homer. Cowper, in his preface to a subsequent translation of the latter, says, " The English reader is to be admonished, that PKEFACE. Xlll the matter found in me, whether he like it or not, is to be found also in Homer, and that the matter not found in me, how mueh soever he may admire it, is found only in Mr. Pope." The same writer's remarks on translation generally are very just. " The free and the close have each their advocates. The former can hardly be true to the author^ style and manner; and the latter is apt to be servile. Were it possible, therefore, to find an exact medium, a manner so close that it should let slip nothing of the text, nor mingle anything extraneous with it, and at the same time so free as to have an air of orioinalitv, this seems precisely the mode in which an author might be best rendered. I can only pretend to have endea- voured it." Most readers agree to think, that Cowper, however able and assiduous, erred rather on the side of literality, and thus made his version of the Greek poet less attractive or acceptable. A translation from the ancients cannot, it is true, be very fitly compared with those made from one modern tongne into another ; since there are nearer relations between these latter in the modes of thought and expression, and there would therefore seem to be less difficulty and disadvantage in a pretty close version. XIV PREFACE. That the present translator lias not adopted the para- phrastic method, will be evident from the nearly parallel space occupied by the originals and the versions. Still his approach to the literal varies much in different cases ; and. on the whole, it has not been foimd expedient to make it so near and continued as was at first designed. He has frequently found occasion to change the metaphor, while adhering to the general sense ; and sometimes has likewise taken the freedom somewhat to modify the thought. Every instance of each, and the faults of whatever kind, will here be quite open to the reader who knows the originals, without the pains of reference, from their being in imme- diate juxtaposition before him. Omissions of passages have been occasionally made, when the original appeared too lengthened, and for other reasons. Where this occurs, it is sometimes indicated by asterisks. The motives which led to these modifications and omissions will be often apparent to the discerning. Where any expression has savoured of coarseness, any figure of violence or bad taste, any phrase of hyperbole, the translator's bias has been to alter it. Where any sentiment seemed induced by an incorrect theology, or by a defective moral standard, it has been sought to give a turn to the thought which would rectify those deviations. As the precise extent of such variation will be evident PREFACE. XV from the inspection of the originals, there is no scruple as to introducing them. In the odes from Klopstock it has not been deemed advisable to adopt fully his great irregularity of metre, nor altogether to reject, as he did, the use of rhyme. In some instances, however, his unrhymed metre, and his imitation of ancient classical metres, are attempted to be followed. In the pieces from the French and Italian, also, some diversities and irregularities of metre have been purposely indulged in, as more consonant with the originals and with the lyric style. One piece is given from Ales- sandro Gruidi, a writer not generally known, but of whom Mr. Hallam says, " that he raised himself to the highest point that any lyric poet of Italy has attained." It was judged by the translator that the style of this poet is better suited to a version without rhyme, which is there- fore adopted. Clearly, it is not possible that translations, except perhaps in some very brief passages or isolated lines, should at all equal a truly poetic original. The thoughts and phrases, the idiomatic choice and collo- cation of language, which flowed from the first natural movements and impulses of mind, must needs be far more free, more felicitous, more genuinely adapted to their aim, than any foreign imitation is capable of being rendered. XVI PREFACE. Were the translator, therefore, much more gifted and competent than he is, still must defect and inferiority, on comparison with the originals, be unavoidably discovered. .They will appear most strongly to those, respectively, to whom the original languages are native ; partly, perhaps, from a want of power to appreciate English composition ; but chiefly from a perception of the refined and more recondite beauties of their own poets to which an English- man cannot attain. "When, for example, French critics extol the unequalled and inimitable qualities of the poetry of Racine — when his eulogist asks, " What divinity gave to him that most flexible and melodious diction which exerts such dominion over the soul and the ear ; " the re- ference is no doubt to that kind of charm which none but a native ear and taste can fully estimate or enjoy. It is pleasant to the writer to consider, that those who understand the originals will but find them the more excellent and beautiful, on account of any inadequacy observed in the versions. CONTENTS. TRANSLATIONS FROM THE GERMAN. KLOPSTOCK. PAOErf DEM ERLOSER To the Redeemer 2. :' Dem AllgegenWartigen . To the Omnipresent 8, 9 Das AXSCHATTEN Gottes . . The Vision of God 24. 25 Die Fruhlingsfeter . . . The Spring Festival 34, 35 Psalm Psalm 46, 4 7 Der Erbarmer The Merciful One 52, 53 Dem Unehdlichen . ... To the Infinite 58, 59 Der Tod Death 62, 63 Die Zukuxft Futurity 64, 6; 5 Starring Strengthening 68, 69 Der PlLGER The Pilgrim 74, 75 Der Gnadenstuhl .... The Mercy-Seat 7«, 79 11 Freude DIE Fulle" . . . "Fulness of Joy" 84,85 Morgendied Morning Hymn 88, 89 XVI 11 CONTEXTS. UNENDLICHE BARMIIERZIG KEPT PAGES > Mercy Infinite 90, 91 LOBGESANG Hymn of Praise 94, 95 Die kunetige Seligkeit . The Coming Blessedness ... 98, 99 TRANSLATIONS FROM THE FRENCH. LAMARTINE. Hymne au Christ .... Hymn to the Saviour . . . . 108, 109 Aux Chretiexs dans les ") - > To Christians in Times of Trial .124,125 TEMPS D'EPREUVES . ) J Consolation Consolation 134, 135 REPONSE de Dleu .... Divine Response to Man's Despair 140, 141 Chgeur d'Athalie Deuxieme Chgeur Chceur d'Esther Deuxieme Chceur Troisiehe Chceur RACINE. First Chorus in Athaliah . . . 150, 151 Second Chorus 158, 159 First Chorus in Esther .... 168, 109 Second Chorus 172,173 Third Chorus 178, 179 SONNET Sonnet 182, 183 RECOURS a DIEU Recourse to God 184, 185 CANTIQUE I Hymn I. 188, 189 CANTIQUE II Hymn II 192, 193 CANTIQUE III Hymn III 198, 199 CANTIQUE IV Hymn IV 201, 205 CONTENTS. MX TRANSLATIONS FROM THE ITALIAN. MICHEL-ANGELO. PAGES SONETTO I Sonnet 1 212, 213 SONETTO II Sonnet II 214, 215 SONETTO III Sonnet III 216, 217 SONETTO IV Sonnet IV 218, 219 SONETTO V Sonnet V 220, 221 SONETTO VI Sonnet VI. 222, 223 SONETTO VII Sonnet VII 224, 225 SONETTO VIII Sonnet VIII. 226, 227 Elegia Elegy 228, 229 MAGGI. SONETTO IX Sonnet IX 234, 235 SONETTO X Sonnet X 236, 237 PETRARCA. SONETTO XI Sonnet XI 238, 239 COLONNA. SONETTO XII Sonnet XII 240, 241 SONETTO XIII Sonnet XIII 242,243 FILICAIA. SONETTO XIV Sonnet XIV 244, 245 SONETTO XV Sonnet XV 246, 247 SONETTO XVI Sonnet XVI 248, 249 SONETTO XVII Sonnet XVII 250, 251 SONETTO XVIII Sonmt XVIII 252,253 XX CONTEXTS, PA02S SOXETTO XIX Sonnet XIX 254, 255 SOXETTO XX Sonnet XX 256, 257 SOXETTO XXI Sonnet XXI 258, 259 SOXETTO XXII Sonnet XXII 260. 261 SOXETTO XXIII Sonnet XXIII 262. 263 SOXETTO XXIV Sonnet XXIV 264. 265 GVIDI. Ix DIE XataLI CHRISTI . . Incarnation and Birth of Christ .266,267 IXXO I Hymn I. . IXXO II Hymn II. IXXO III Hymn III. IXXO IV , 276. 277 . 2S2, 283 . 288, 289 Hymn IV. 292, 293 TRANSLATIONS FROM THE GERMAN, DEM EELOSEE. Der Seraph stammelt, und die Unendlichkeit Bebt durch den Umkreis ihrer Gefilde nach Dein holies Lob, o Sohn ! wer bin ich, Dass ich mich auch in die Jubel drange ? Vom Staube staub ! Doch wohnt ein Unsterblicher Von hoher Abkunft in den Verwesungen ! Und denkt Gedanken, dass Entziickung Durch die erschiitterte Xerve schauert ! Auch du wirst einmal mehr wie Verwesung seyn, Der Seele Schatten, Hiitte, von Erd' erbaut, Und andrer Schauer Trunkenheiten Werden dich dort, wo du schlumnierst, wecken. Der Leben Schauplatz, Feld, wo wir schlummerten, Wo Adam's Enkel wird, was sein Vater war, Als er sich jetzt der Schopfung Armen Jauclizend entriss, und ein Leben dastand ! O Feld vom Aufgang bis, wo sie untergeht Der Sonnen letzte, heiliger Todter voll, Wenn seh ich dich ? wenn weint mein Auge U nter den tausendmal tausend Thranen ? TO THE REDEEMER The seraph falters, and the wide Infinite Eocks thro' the utmost bound of her spheres, beneath Thy lofty praise, O Son ! — who am I — I ! — to press into thy choir of triumph ? From dust but dust ! and yet an immortal one Of high descent amidst the corruption dwells ; And thinks such thoughts, that inmost rapture Through every tremulous nerve is showering ! Thou too wilt one day more than corruption be, My soul's dim shade, quick -mouldering tenement ; And other showers of whelming rapture Shall from thy slumbering ruin wake thee ! O Stage of Life, vast field of the slumberers, Where Adam's race shall be as their parent was, When he from forth the embrace creative Sprang, in the boon of life exulting ! O field from furthest east to the latest glow Of the last sunset, fill'd with the sainted dead, — When see I thee ; when mix my weeping With thy ten thousand times ten thousand tear-drops c i b2 i DEM ERLOSER. Des Schlafcs Stunden, oder Jalirhunderte, Fliesst schnell voriibcr, fliesst, dass ich auferstch ! Allein sie saumen, und ich bin noch Diesseit am Grabe ! O belle Stunde, Der Kuh Gespielin, Stunde des Todes, komm ! O du Gefilde, wo der Unsterblichkeit Diess Leben reift, noch nie besuchter Acker fiir ewige Saat, wo bist du ? Lass mich dort hingehn, dass ich die State sen. Mit hingesenktem trunkenen Blick sie seh ! Der Erndte Blumen driiber streue, Unter die Blumen mich leg', und sterbe ! Wunsch grosser Aussicht, aber nur Gluckliehen. Wenn du, die susse Stunde der Seligkeit, Da wir dich wiinschen, kiimst ; wer gliche Dem, der alsdann mit clem Tode range ? Dann miseht' ich kiihner unter den Throngesang Des Menschen Stimme, sange dann heihger Den meine Seele liebt ! den Besten Aller Gebohrnen, den Sohn des Vaters ! Doch lass mich leben, dass am erreichten Ziel Ich sterbe ! Dass erst, wenn es gesungen ist Das Lied von dir, ich triumphirend Uber das Grab den erhabnen Weg geh ! TO THE REDEEMER. i Fly swiftly, hours of sleep, or ye centuries ! Speed, speed, waft on the morn when I rise again ! Ah, they roll slowly, and I still wait This side the grave ! O auspicious moment, Come, bring repose ! Blest hour of departing, come ! And thou, region where our mortality Matures to life — O yet untraversed Field of unwithering sheaves, where art thou ? O why not thither hasten, the spot to view, With downcast joy-inebriate glances gaze, And flowers of harvest o'er it strewing, Lay me amidst the flowers and die there ! O mighty wish, which none but the blessed ones May fathom ! Cam'st thou, hour of beatitude, When wish'd for, hither, who so happy As he who strove with the mortal anguish ? Then durst I boldly e'en in Heaven's chorus mix A human strain ; then sing less unworthily Whom my soul loveth, Him the chiefest, Him the First-born, the Divine Messiah. Yet let me live, that not till the goal is won This breath may fail me ; not till the lay is sung, — The lay of Thee. l Then wing, my spirit, Over the grave thy ascending triumph ! DEM ERLOSER. O du mein Meister, der du Gewaltiger Die Gottheit lehrtest ! zeio-e die Wege mir, Die du da gingst ! worauf die Seher, Deine Yerkiindi°;er, TVonne sangen. Dort ist es himmlisch ! Ach, aus der Feme Nacht, Folg' ich der Spur nach, welche du wandeltest : Doch fallt vou deiner Strahlcnhohe Schiruruer herab, und mein Auge sieht ihn. Dann hebt mein Geist sich, diirstet nach Ewigkeit, Nicht jener kurzen, die auf der Erde bleibt ; Nach Palrnen ringt er, die im Himmel Fiir der Unsterblichen Rechte sprossen. Zeig mir die Laufbahn, wo an dem fernen Ziel Die Palme wehet ! Meinen erhabensten Gedanken lehr ilm Hoheit ! Fiilir ibru "Wahrheiten zu, die es ewig bleiben ! Dass ich den Xachhall derer, die's ewig Bind, Den Menschen singe ! dass mein geweihter Arm Vom Altar Gottes Fl arum en nebme ! Flammen ins Herz der Erlosten strome ! Klopstock. Od.cn. AD. 1750. TO THE REDEEMER. / Thou my Master, who " with authority " Spak'st of the Godhead, show Thou the path to me, Thy glorious path, whereof the seers, As thy own harbingers, sang rejoicing. That, that points heavenward; but from what distant shades 1 trace those steps, bright steps of thy majesty ; And yet from those thine heights of splendour Falls a pure beam — to mine eye far-flowing. Then soars my soul, then thirsts for eternity, — Not that brief false one, which on this earth is prized ; She combats for the palm that Heaven Gives for unperishing hands to gather. Point, point the high career, at whose furthest goal That palm is waving ; give to my loftiest Of thoughts thy own sublime ; conduct them Into the truths which abide for ever ; That I may echo their ever- during voice To mortal ears, and, not with unhallowed hand, Take flame from God's empyreal altar Into regenerate hearts to pour it. 1 He refers to the poem of " The Messiah," then incomplete ; which appears to have been first published as a whole twenty-three years later, in 1773. DEM ALLGEGEXW^VRTIGEN. Da clu mit clem Tode gerungen, niit dem Tode, Heftiger du gebetet hattest, Da dein Schweiss und dein Blut Auf die Erde geronnen war ; In dieser ernsten Stunde Thatest du jene grosse Wahrheit kund, Die Wahrheit sejn wird So lang die Hiitte der ewigen Seele Staub ist. Du standest, und sprachst Zu den Schlafenden : Wilhg ist eure Seele, Aber das Eleisch ist schwach ! Dieser EncUichkeit Loos, die Schwere der Erde Fiihlet auch meine Seele, Wenn sie zu Gott, zu dem Unendlichen Sich erheben will. Anbetend, Yater, sink' ich in den Staub, und fleh, Yernimm mein Flehn, die Stimme des Endlichen, Gieb meiner Seel' ihr wahres Leben, Dass sie zu dir sich, zu dir erhebe ! TO THE OMNIPRESENT. When thou wast wrestling in the grasp of death, Intensest was thy prayer : the' extorted blood With chilly drops the midnight earth bedew'd : And that tremendous hour Of anguish seal'd the gladdening truth sublime, Which must be changeless still, While souls are link'd with clay. Thy gracious utterance then consoled The slumberers : — u willing is the spirit indeed, But weak the dying flesh." And still this heavy load of earth, This heritage of finite frailty here My spirit burdens, while to the' Infinite She would aspire, and reach The one Omniscient All. Father, I sink, adoring, in the dust ; Hear Thou my prayer, a feeble suppliant's cry : Give to my soul its true transcendent life, That it may soar to Thee, the Lord most high. 10 DEM ALLGEGEXWAKTIGEN. Allgegenwartig, Vater, Schliessest du mich ein ! Steli hier, Betraclitung, still, und forsche Diesem Gedanken der Wonne nach. Was wird das Anschaun seyn, wenn der Gedank an dich, Allgegenwartiger ! schon Krafte jener Welt hat ! Was wird es seyn dein Anschaun, Unendlicher, o du Unendlicher ! Das sah kein Auge, das horte kein Ohr, Das kam in keines Herz, wie sehr es auch rang, Wie es auch nach Gott, nach Gott, Nach dem Unendlichen diirstete ; Kam es doch in keines Menschen Herz, Nicht in das Herz dess, welcher Sunder Und Erd' und bald ein Todter ist, Was denen Gott, die ihn lieben, bereitet hat. Wenige nur, ach wenige sind, Deren Aug' in der Schopfung Den Schopfer sieht ! wenige deren Ohr Ihn in dem machtigen rauschen des Sturmwinds hort, Im Donner, der rollt, oder im lispelnden Bache, Unerschaffner ! dich vernimmt ; TO THE OMNIPRESENT. 11 Yes, by Thee, all-present Father, My whole being compass'd is : Soul, in stillness muse, and ponder That profoundest thought of bliss. Say, what shall the celestial insight be ? When these faint glimpses of our earthly thought, O Omnipresent, fix'd on Thee, Are with the power of endless life so fraught ? What shall the radiant vision be, O Infinite, of thy benignity ! This, this no eye hath seen, no ear hath heard, Nor entered it man's heart, which sorely strove, Thirsting for God the Lord, The Holy boundless One. Xo, not unto the heart of man it came, — Into no frail transgressor's heart Which sprang from earth and turns to earth again, What things for those who love our Saviour God remain. Few, few, alas ! are they Whose eye in all creation doth behold Him the Creator ; few whose ear In the strong rushing storm- wind Him doth hear, Or in loud thunder-peal, or rill soft murmuring, Thee, Uncreated Lord, discern. 12 DEM ALLGEGENWARTIGEN. Wcniger Herzcn erfullt, mit Ehrfurcht und Schauer, Gottes Allgegenwart ! Lass mich im Ileiligthume Dich, Allgegenwartiger, Stets suchen, und finden ! und ist Er mir entflohn, dieser Gedanke der Ewigkeit, Lass mich ihn, tiefanbetend, Von den Choren der Seraphim, Ihn, mit lauten Thranen der Freude, Herimter rufen ! Damit ich, dich zu schaun, Mich bereite, mich weihe, Dich zu schaun In dem Allerheiligsten ! Ich hebe mein Aug' auf, und seh, Und siehe der Herr ist iiberall ! Erd', aus deren Staube Der Erste der Menschen geschaffen ward, Auf der ich mein erstes Leben lebe, In der ich verwesen werde, Und auferstehen aus der ! Gott wiirdigt auch dich, dir gegenwartig zu seyn. TO THE OMNIPRESENT. 13 Few hearts with awe and reverent wondering Thine Omnipresence learn. O let me in thy sanctuary Thee, Omnipresent Father, Thee Still seek and find ; and if the thought Drawn from thy vast eternity Sink in this grovelling mind to nought, Still let my soul, Thee lowly worshipping With tears of joy devout and true, Call down from choirs of seraphim That heavenly thought anew ; So that, to gaze upon thy face divine, Thou mayst make meet my soul, and consecrate ; E'en Thee the Lord of all to contemplate With open vision, in thy holiest shrine ! Where'er I fix my roaming eye, Ne'er is thy sacred presence vainly sought ; Earth from whose inert dust so wondrously The fabric of our common sire was wrought, Earth upon which my infant hours were pass'd, In which my moiddering frame shall lie, From which this self shall start revived at last, On thee He deigns to dwell, the Holy and the High. 14 DEM ALLGEGEXWARTIGEN. Mit heiligem Schauer, Brech' ich die Blum' ab : Gott machte sie, Gott ist, wo die Blum' ist. Mit heiligem Schauer, fuhP ich der Liifte Vehn, H6V ich ihr Rauschen ! es hiess sie wehn und rauschen Der Ewige ! der Ewige Ist, wo sie sauseln, und wo der Donnersturm die Ceder stiirzt. Freue dich deines Todes, o Leib ! Wo du verwesen wirst, Wird Er seyn, Der Ewige ! Freue dich deines Todes, o Leib ! in den Tiefen der Schopfung, In den Hohn der Schopfung, wird deine TrUmmer verwehn ! Auch dort, verwester, verstaubter, wird Er sevn, Der Ewige. Die Hohen werden sich biicken ! Die Tiefen sich biicken, Venn der Allgegenwartige nun Vieder aus Staub Unsterbliche schafft. TO THE OMNIPRESENT. 15 With deep religious awe I pluck the blooming flower : The' Almighty hand hath framed it ; his own power And presence which can ne'er withdraw, Sustain, prolong its fragrant hour. With deep and shuddering awe I feel the vernal breeze, And then the tempest's rush, moved by his wise decrees ; His holy Presence gives the law When Zephyr sighs, and when the storm's fierce blow Lays the huge cedars low ! Frail flesh, in death rejoice ! There where thou moulderest, Still shall thy Guardian be He the Eternal ! Eejoice, frail form, in death, for through creation's deep, And loftiest height, will thy lost relics float ; There, with his guardian hand, each scatter'd mote Shall He, the' Eternal, keep ! Those loftiest heights shall bow, And that profoundest deep itself upraise, When Thou, Omnipresent, Thou, Shalt marshal from the dust immortals, for thy praise. 16 DEM ALLGEGENWARTIGEN. "Werfet die Palmen, vollendete ! nieder, und die Kronen ! Halleluja dem Schaffenden, Dem Todtenden Halleluja ! Halleluja dem Schaffenden ! Ich hebe mein Aug' auf, und seh, Und siehe der HeiT ist iiberall ! Sonnen, euch, und o Erden, euch Monde der Erden, Erfullet, rings um mich, des Unendlichen Gegenwart ! Nacht der TTelten, wie wir in dem dunkeln "Worte schaun Den. der Ewig ist ! So schaun wir in dir, geheimnissvolle Nacht. Den. der Ewifi ist ! Hier steh ich Erde ! was ist mein Leib, Gegen diese selbst den Engeln unzahlbare Welten, Was sind diese selbst den Engeln unzahlbare "Welt en, Gegen meine Seele ! Ihr, der Unsterblichen, ihr, der Erlosten Bist du naher als den "Welten ! Denn sie denken, sie fuhlen Deine Gegenwart nicht. Mit stillem Ernste dank ich dir, Wenn ich sie denke ! TO THE OMNIPRESENT. 17 Cast, ye perfected, your palms, And your crowns before Him lay ; Tune your Hallelujah psalms To the Lord, who lent you breath, And who led you down to death, But took death's sting away ! I lift mine eyes, and lo ! in darkest shades, And in the dazzling light, our Lord abides : Suns, earths, and moons his power pervades, And in void ether's gulf Jehovah's might presides. O night of worlds, — while in his word we see — Yet " darkly, as in a glass" — the' Eternal One, E'en thus, O all-mysterious Night, through thee Shines the dim gleaming of that vital sun. Here stand I, child of earth ; and what my frame, To worlds whose number angels may not guess ? Yet what those worlds by angels numberless Compared with this my soul which from his essence came? Yes, Lord, to her, the' immortal, the redeem'd, Nearer Thou art than to those radiant orbs : For worlds of lifeless matter ne'er have dream'd Of that bright Presence here which now her thought absorbs. With silent fervour yield I thanks to Thee, tThat to my soul Thou dost thyself reveal ; c 1 8 DRM ALLGEGENTVABTIGEN. Mit Freudenthranen, mit namloser Wonne, Dank' ich, o Vater ! dir, wenn icli sie fiihle ! Augenblicke deiner Erbarmungen, O Vater, sinds, wenn du das himmelvolle Gefiihl Deiner AHgegenwart Mir in die Seele stronist. Ein soldier Augenblick, Allgegenwartiger, 1st ein Jahrhundert Toll Seligkeit ! Meine Seele diirstet ! Wie nach der Auferstehung gedorrtes Gebein, So diirstet meine Seele Xach diesen Augenblicken deiner Erbannungen ! Icb liege vor dir auf nieinem Angesicht ; O lag' ich, Vater, noch tiefer vor dir, Gebiickt in dem Staube Der untersten der Welten ! Du denkst. du empfindest, O du, die sevn wird, Die holier denken, Die seliger wird empfinden ! TO THE OMNIPRESENT. 19 "With tearful speechless ecstasy I thank thee, Lord, that I thy hallow'd influence feel. Blest moments of thy tender mercy those, O Father, when the heavenly feeling Of thine own Omnipresence flows Into this heart, in silence stealing. One moment where thy gracious presence shines, Transcends an age of earthly good : My spirit for such favoured instants pines As the dry bones that thirst and pine for life renew'd. Prostrate in self-abasement, Lord, I fall : "Would that I might still lowlier sink than this. Bow'd down in the profoundest dust of all, In nature's nethermost abyss. Thou thinkest, feelest, my soul, And ceaseless life remains for thee. More high thy thoughts as ages roll, More blest shall thine emotions be ! c 2 20 DEM ALLGEGEXWABTIGEN. O die du ansehaun winrt ! Durch wen, o meine Seele ? Durch den, unsterbliehe, Der war ! and der ist ! und der seyn wird ! Du, den Worte nicht nennen, Deine noch uno;eschaute Ge^enwaii: Erleuckt', imd erhebe jeden meine? Gedanken ! Leit ihn, Unerschaffner, zu dir ! Deiner Gottheit Gegenwart Entflamni', und befliigle Jede meiner Empfindimgen ! Leite sie, Unerschaffner, zu dir ! Wer bin icb, O Erster ! Und wer bist du ! Starke, kraftige, griinde rnich, Dass ich auf ewio* dein sev ! Ohn' ihn, der mich gelehrt, sicb geopfert bat Pur mich, konnt' ich nicht dein sevn ! Ohn' ihn war der Gedanke deiner Gegenwart Grauen mir vor dem allmachtiiren Unbekannten ! TO THE OMNIPRESENT. 21 O thou that shalt the glorious Vision see, By whom canst thou behold that changeless sun ? E'en by Himself alone, the' Eternal One Who ever was, who is, and must for ever be ! Thou, whose transcendent majesty Man's weakness uttereth not, Let thy all-present Deity, Which he beholdeth not, My thoughts illumine, my whole soul elate, And fix upon Thyself " bright Essence increate ! " Let thy all-holy Presence lend A winged ardour, till my soul ascend By thine inspiring strength made free, O Uncreated One, to Thee ! Lord, what is man ! unholy and infirm : — And what thy primal sanctity divine ! Guard, fortify, confirm Thy feeble mortal worm, And make me, gracious God, for ever thine ! Yet thine, O glorious King, In filial peace and hope I ne'er could be, Save by thy word of grace and priceless Offering : "Without these, must thy awful sovereignty O'erwhelming terrors bring. OQ DEM ALLGEGEXAVAETIGEX. Erd' und Himniel vergehn ; Deine Verheissungen, Gottlicher, nicht ! Yon deni ersten Gefallenen an Bis zu deni letzten Erlosten, Den die Posaune der Auferstehung Wandeln wird, Bist bey den Deinen du gewesen ! Wirst du bey den Deinen seyn ! In die "Wunden deiner Hande leo;t 5 ich nieine Finder nicht : In die AYunde deiner Seite Legt' icli nieine Hand nicht ; Aber du bist ruein Herr, and mein Gott ! Klopstock. Oden. A.D. 175$. TO THE OMNIPRESENT. 23 Earth and heaven will soon have vanish'd : But thy promise ne'er can fall. From the first by sin once banish'd To the last whom grace shall call, AMiom the trump of God inspiring Shall with glorious life invest, Hast Thou been thy children's Kefuge, Wilt be their eternal Kest ! Into thy wounded side I cannot thrust My hand, nor touch the sacred prints in thine ; Yet with deep faith and love will I confess Thee for my Lord, my God, my Righteousness, Saviour for ever mine ! DAS AXSCHAUEX GOTTES. Zitterxd fVeu ich niich, Und word' es niclit glauben ; Ware der grosse Verheisser Nicht der Ewige ! Denn ich weiss es, ich fuhl es : Ich bin ein Sunder ! Wiisst' es, und limit' es, AYenn auch das Gotteslicht Heller mir meine Flecken nicht zeigte ; Vor rueinen weiseren Blicken Nicht enthiillte Meiner verwundeten Seele Gestalt. Mit gesunkenem Knie, Mit tiefanbetendem Staunen, Freu ich mich ! Ich werde Gott schaun ! Forsch ihm naeh, dem gottlichsten Gedanken, Den du zu denken vermagst, O die du naher stets des Leibes Grabe, Aber ewio- bist ! THE VISION OF GOD. I joy, but tremblingly ; Xor could believe ; Were not the Promiser He the Eternal, who cannot deceive. For conscience owns and feels Guilt in his sight, Nay, could not tranquil be E'en if God's light Had not illumined it Clearly to trace Stains which my spirit defile and abase. But with low-bended knee, Deeply adoring, Pardons imploring, Still my amazement and joy must it be, That I at last my Kedeemer shall see ! search for Him ; the holiest mystery, On which thy awe-struck soul can think ! Thou, whose frail form descends to death's lone brink. In Him shalt deathless be ! 26 DAS ANSCHAUEN GOTTES. Nicht, dass du wagtest Zu gehn in das Allerheiligste ! Viel uniiberdachte, nie gepricsene, nie gefeierte Himmlische Gnaden sind in dem Heiligthume. Aus der Feme nur, nur einen gemilderten Schimmer, Damit ich nicht sterbe ! Einen f iir mich durch Erdenacht gemilderten Schimmer Deiner Herrlichkeit seh ich. Wie gross war der, der beten durfte : Hab' ich Gnade vor Dir gefunden, so lass mich Deine Herrlichkeit sehn ! So zum Unendlichen beten durft', und erhort ward ! In das Land des Golgatha kam er nicht ! An ilim racht' es ein friiherer Tod ; Das er einmal, nur einmal Gott nicht traute ! Wie gross zeiget ihn selbst die Strafe ! Ihn verbarg der Vater in eine Nacht des Berges, Als vor dem Endlichenvoruberging des Sohnes Herrlichkeit Als die Posaun' auf Sinai schwieg, Und die Stimme der Donner ! als Gott von Gott sprach ! Uneingehullt dm*ch Nacht, In eines Tages Lichte, Das keine Schatten sichtbarer machen, Schauet er nun, so halten wirs, Jalnliunderte schon ; THE VISION OF GOD. 27 Xot that thou durst, as jet, within That home celestial enter or abide : Joys unconceived, unsolemnised, That home celestial yet awhile must hide. Only from far I hail a milder gleam, Soften'd, that thus I may not die, And, midst earth's night, the fainter beam Of thy pure glories may my soul descry. How great the prophet was, that dared implore " I do beseech Thee, Lord, to show me here Thy glory ! " — and the God whom saints adore To faith's bold suit inclined his gracious ear. Yet to the land of promise came he not, The hand divine Iris mystic tomb conceal'd ; Once, only once, his God he trusted not ; But still, how great the Seer, that mystic doom reveal" d. Him had the Father in the rock-clift veil'd, While the Son's " Brightness " all his spirit awed ; While paused dread Sinai's trump, nor longer peal'd Its direful thunders ; for God spake of God. Now not en wrapt in night's dark pall, But in supernal light, Far from our changeful shadows' flight, He gazes through what mortals ages call, 28 DAS AXSCHAUEN GOTTES. Ausser den Schranken der Zeit, Ohn' Empfindung des Augenblicks, Dem der Augenblick folgt, schauet er nun Deine Herrlichkeit, HeihVer ! Heilio*er ! HeihVer Namloseste Wonne meiner Seele, Gedanke des kiinftigen Schauns ! Du bist meine grosse Ziwersicht, Du bist der Fels, anf dem ich steh, und gen Himmel schaue Venn die Schrecken der Siinde, Des Todes Scbrecken Fiirchterlich drohn, Mich niederzustiirzen ! Auf diesem Felsen, o du, Den nun die Todten Gottes schaun, Lass mich stehn, wenn die Allmacht Des unbezwingbaren Todes mich ringsum einschliesst. ErheV, o meine Seele, dich fiber die Sterblichkeit, Blick auf, und schau ; und du wirst strahlenvoll Des Vateia Klarheit In Jesus Christus Antlitz schaun ! Hosianna ! hosianna ! die Fiille der Gottheit Wohnt in dem Menschen Jesus Christus ! Kanm schallet der Cherubim Harfe noch, sie bebt ! Kaum tonet ihre Stimme noch, sie zittert, sie zittert ! THE VISION OF GOD. 29 Beyond the bounds of time, And lapse of moments in this earthly clime ; Still £azcs on the Eternal Sun Upon the Holy, Holy, Holy One ! Ineffable joy of my soul, High thoughts of that vision serene, Immutable Kock of my hope, On which, ever trusting, I lean, When the burden and anguish of sin, When death's stern and pitiless frown, Appal me and menace my soul, And strike in despondency down, Still on that moveless Bock, O Thou Whom all that sleep in Jesus now behold, Give me to stand, when in the grasp Of irresistible death my heart grows cold ! O lift thee, then, o'er this mortality, My soul, and gaze ! so shalt thou radiantly The Father's manifested Brightness see In thy Bedeemer's majesty ! Hosanna, hosanna ; the fulness of Godhead Shines forth, all-effulgent, in Jesus the Lord ; Audible scarce are the harps of the cherubim, Trembling and faltering his love they record : 30 DAS ANSCHAUEN GOTTES. Hosianna ! Hosianna ! Die Fiille der Gottheit Wohnt in dem Menschen Jesus Christus ! Selbst damals, da einer der Gottesstralilen auf unsere Welt, Jene Blutweissagung heller leuchtet', erfiillt ward, Da er verachtet, und elend war, Als kein anderer Mensch verachtet und elend war ; Erblickten die Sterblichen niclit, Aber die Cherubim, Des Vaters Klarheit In dem Angesichte des Sohns ! Ich seh, ich sehe den Zeugen ! Sieben entsetzliche Mitternachte Hatt' er gezweifelt, mit der Schmerzen bangsten Anbetend gerungen ! Ich seh ihn ! Ihm erscheinet der Auferstandne ! Seine Hande leget er in des Gottlichen "Wunden ! Himmel und Erde vero-ehen urn ihn ! THE VISION OF GOD. 31 Hosanna, hosanna, the fulness of Godhead Dwells ever, unveiled, in Jesus the Lord. E'en then, when heaven his bleeding love predicted, The one oblation, and the purchased bliss, When, stricken, bruised, despised, afflicted, There was no sorrow like to his, E'en then — not mortals jet — But wondering seraphs trace The Father's Brightness increate In the Bedeemers face. I see, I see, the wavering witness comes ; Through seven appalling midnights of suspense He doubted ; but yet struggling with despair Still pray'd, and mercy heard him thence. I mark him, his risen Bedeemer appears ; He puts forth his hand to the scars of his Lord ; This earth and these heavens are lost to his view, For he seeth the Father in Jesus the Lord : 32 DAS AXSCHAUEN GOTTES. Er sieht die Klarheit des Vaters im Angesichte des Sohns! Ich hor', ich hor' ihn ! er ruft, Himrael und Erde vergelien urn ihm ! er ruft Mein Herr ! und mein Gott ! Klopstock. Oden. A.D. 1759. THE VISION OF GOD. 33 I hear him, I hear him, his voice flies abroad ; A witness to millions, a witness to me, In transport exclaiming — " My Lord, and my God ! " DIE FRUHLINGSFEYER. Nicht in den Ozcan der Welten alle Will ich mich stiirzen ! schweben nicht, Wo die ersten Erschaffnen, die Jubelchore der Sonne des Lichts, Anbeten, tief anbeten ! nnd in Entziickung vergelin ! Nut um den Tropfen am Einier, Urn die Erde nur, will ich schweben, nnd anbeten ! Halleluja ! Hallelnja ! Der Tropfen am Eimer Rami ans der Hand des AUniaclitio-en auch ! Da der Hand des Allmachtigen Die grosseren Erden entqnollen ! Die Strome des Lichts rauschten,und Siebengestirne wurden Da entrannest du, Tropfen, der Hand des Allmachtigen ! Da ein Strom des Lichts ransom?, und nnsre Sonne wnrde! Ein Wogensturz sich stiirzte wie vom Felsen Der Wolk' herab und den Orion giirtete, Da entrannest du, Tropfen, der Hand des Allmachtigen ! Wer sind die tausendmal tausend, wer die Myriaden alle, Welche den Tropfen bewohnen, und bewohnten ? und wei bin ich ? THE SPRING FESTIVAL. Not midst the ocean of revolving worlds Shall my too venturous spirit dive or soar, Where, in ecstatic jubilee, The first-born sons of light adore. Round this one drop alone, This trembling drop in nature's boundless vase, This pendent earth, still hovering, will I praise His name, at whose command The trembling drop flow'd from his sovereign hand. When from thy plastic hand, Almighty Lord, The greater orbs more radiant sprang, When rush'd the Pleiades in light- streams forth, On that creative hand, thou, terrene drop, didst hang. When gleam'd the light-flood, (and our sun forth shone.) And, like bright cataract from its mountain throne, Sparkling roll'd on, and girt with dazzling zone Thy disk, Orion ; then this drop, call'd earth, Flow'd from the mighty hand that gave creation birth. Wlio are the thousand thousands that have lived In this terrestrial drop ? and who am I ? d2 36 DIE FRUHLINGSFEYER. Halleluja dem Schaffenden ! mehrwiedie Erden,die quollen ! Mehr, wie die Siebengestirne, die aus Strahlen zusammen- stromten ! Aber du Eruhlingswiirinchen, Das griinlich golden neben niir spielt, Du lebst ; und bist vielleicht Ach nicht unsterblich ! Ich bin heraus gegangen anzubeten, Und ich weine ? Vergieb, vergieb Audi diese Thrane dem Endlichen, O Du, der seyn wird ! Du wirst die Zweifel alle mir enthiillen, O Du, der inich durch das dunkle Thai Des Todes f uhren wird ! Ich lerne dann, Ob eine Seele das goldene Wurmchen hatte. Bist du nur gebildeter Staub, Sohn des Mays, so werde denn Wieder verfliegender Staub, Oder was sonst der Ewi^e will ! Ergeuss von neuem du, mein Auge, Freudenthranen ! Du, meine Harfe, Preise den Herrn ! THE SPRING FESTIVAL. 37 Glory to Him that fornrd us — more than worlds, More than the starry orbs where streaming light converged. But thou, fair tiny flutterer of the spring, Who sport'st on green and golden wing, Thou livest too, yet — it, alas ! may be — Liv'st not immortally ! 1 have come forth thy goodness to adore. And do I weep ? — Forgive, forgive. O Thou in whom alone immortals live. The tear that finite weakness still must pour. Thou wilt one day the doubt unveil, Thou that down the shadowy vale Of death shaft lead me— if this insect, drest In green and gold, a soul possessed ! Art thou but frail organic dust, Bright son of May ? Still float again, And hover thro' the aerial plain, O beauteous, volatile dust, Or what eternal power may else ordain ! Pour forth anew, mine eye, delightsome tears ; My harp, thy Maker praise ; New-wreatlr d with palms, my joyous harp, Pour to the Great Supreme thy tuneful lays ! 38 DIE FRUHLIXGSFEYEE. Umwunden wieder, mit Palmen 1st meine Harf umwunden ! ich singe deni Herrn ! Hier steh ich. Rund um mich 1st alles Allmacht ! und Wunder alles ! Mit (defer Ehrfurcht schau ich die Schopfung an Denn Du, Namenloser, Du ! Schufest sie ! Liifte, die um mich wehn, und sanfte Kuhlung Auf mein gliihendes Angesicht hauchen, Euch, wunderbare Liifte, Sandte der Heir ! der Unendliche ! Aber jetzt werden sie still, kaum athmen sie. Die Morgensonne wird schwiil ! Wolken stromen herauf ! Siehtbar ist, der kommt, der Ewige ! Nun schweben sie, rauschen sie, wirbeln die Winde. Wie beugt sich der Wald! wie hebt sich der Strom ! Siehtbar, wie du es Sterblichen seyn kannst, Ja, das bist du, siehtbar, Unendlicher ! Der Wald neigt sich, der Strom fliehet, und ich Falle nicht aiu 7 mein Angesicht ? Herr ! Herr ! Gott ! barmherzig und gnadig ! Du Naher ! erbarme chch meiner ! THE SPRING FESTIVAL. 39 Here as I rove, round all my way, I hail Almightiness in wonders still ; And still with deepest awe the scene survey, O Searchless One, the product of thy will ! You airs that gently wave aloft, "Which to my glowing brow your coolness lend ; You, wondrous airs, so pure, so soft, The Lord, the Infinite, hath deign'd to send. Then — scarcely breathes the moveless air, And sultry shines the noon-tide beam ; The gathering tempest-clouds upstream, Dark symbols of thy sovereign Presence there ! Kush now the whirling winds on high ! How bends the forest, and how heaves the flood ! Seen, dimly as it may by mortal eye, Seen is thy mighty hand, Thou only Great and Good ! The forests bow, the torrent flees — and I — Shall I not prostrate fall ? O God of condescending majesty, All present Lord, have mercy when I call ! 40 DIE FRUHLIXGSFEYER. Ziirnest du, Herr, Weil Nacht dcin Gewand ist ? Diese Nacht ist Segen der Erde. Vater, du ziirnest nicht ! Sie kommt, Erfrischung auszuschiitten, Uber den starkenden Halm ! Uber die herzerfreuende Traube ! Vater, du ziirnest nicht ! Alles ist still vor dir, du Xaher ! Rings umher ist alles still ! Audi das "VTunnchen mit Golde bedeckt, merkt auf! Ist es vielleicht nicht seelenlos ? ist es unsterblich ? Ach. vermoclit' ich dich, Herr, wie ich diirste. zu preisen ! Immer herrlicher offenbarest Du dicli ! Immer dunkler wird die Nacht urn dich, Und voller von Segen ! Seht ihr den Zeugen des Nahen, den ziickenden Strahl? Hort ihr Jehova's Donner ? Hort ihr ihn ? hort ihr ihn, Den erschiitternden Donner des Herrn? THE SPUING- FESTIVAL. 41 Almighty — art Thou wroth, When the dark storm is thus thy awful vest ? No ; hy the lowering storm our thirsty earth is blest, Father, Thou art not wroth ! Yes, it falls, refreshment pouring On the strength-imparting ear, On the heart -reviving cluster ! Father, Thou art not severe : Lo, thy mercies crown the year ! Now all is calm, and Thou art ever nigh ; From the clear heaven the storm hath roll'd, And the stern blast is dumb ! Mark the poor flutterer deck'd in gold : Is it, then, soulless ? or shall Love unfold In it, even it, a joyous life to come ? Ah, might I praise Thee to my utmost will, Who still thy glory unveilest more, yet more, Round whom mysterious clouds are darkening still ; Yet still e'en these more copious blessings pour. See ye the witness of the present Lord, The keen and quivering flame ? Hear ye the pealing thunder's dire accord ? Amidst heaven's fierce artillery be adored The' unutterable Name ! 42 DIE FHUHLIXGSFEYER. Ilcrr ! Ilerr ! Gott ! Barmherzig, und gnadig ! Angebetet, gepriesen Sey dein herrlicher Name ! Und die Gewitterwinde ? sie tragcn den Donner ! Wie sie rauschen ! wie sie mit lauter AYo-o-e den Wald durchstromen ! Und nun schweigen sie. Langsara wandelt Die schwarze "VTolke. Seht ihr den neuen Zeugen des Nahen, den fliegenden StraM? Horet ihr hocli in der Wolke den Donner des Herrn ? Er ruft : Jehova ! Jeliova ! Und der gesclim ett erte Wald dampft ! Aber nicbt unsre Hiitte ! Unser Vater gebot Seinem Yerderber, Yor unsrer Hiitte voriiberzugehn ! Ach, scbon rauscht* scbon rauscht Himmel, und Erde voni gnadigen Eegen ! Nun ist, wie diirstete sie ! die Erd' erquickt, Und der Himmel des SegensliilT entlastet ! THE SPRING FESTIVAL. 13 The storm-wind bears those thunders on, Loud murmuring in their cloudy car : Then all is liush'd ; and slowly gone The sable massy cloud afar. Mark the new token of Jehovah's hand ; Once more the lightning's forked brand ! Hark, the redoubling peal that broke From the rent heaven ; the' Almighty spoke, And see before his touch the woodland mountains smoke ! But not our lowly roof: — Our Father's guardian eye Hath bidden for our behoof, His lightning's sword, his dire reproof, The lowly cot pass by ! Now softly gushes from the skies, In air, on earth, his gentle rain : The parching land it fructifies, The heaven, unladen, smiles again. 4 J DEE FBUHLIXGSFEYER. Siehe, nun kommt Jehova nicht mehr im Wetter. In stillem, sanftem Sauseln Kommt Jehova. Und unter ihm neigt sich der Bogen des Friedens ! Klopstock. Odea. A.D. 1759 THE SPRING FESTIVAL. 45 His gracious mandate bade the tempest cease ; Now breathes his kindness in the genial gale ; And spreads across the smiling dale His brilliant arch of peace. PSALM. Um Erden wandeln Monde, Erden mn Sonnen, Allen Soiinen Heere wandeln Um eine grosse Sonne : " Vater miser, der du List im Himmel ! " Auf alien diesen Welten, leuchtenden. mid erleuclitcten, Wohnen Geister an Kraften migleich, und an Leibern ; Aber alle denken Gott, mid freuen sieli Gotte>. " Geheiliget wercle dein Tsame." Er, der Hocherliabene. Der allein ganz sich denken. Seiner ganz sich frenen kann . Maelite den tiefen Entwurf Zur Seligkeit aller seiner Weltbewohner. " Zu mis komme dein Eeicli." J PSALM.* Mooxs around their planets roll, Planets round their suns ; All the host of suns revolve Eound one mighty sun : Thee, u Our Father," thee, " who art in heaven ! " Upon all those worlds that pour Light abroad, or drink the beam, Spirits dwell of diverse powers, And in diverse forms array'd : But they meditate on God, They rejoice in Thee : " Hallowed be thy Name ! " He, Most High, who can alone Throughly contemplate Himself, And in Himself rejoice; He conceived the scheme profound For the weal of creature minds. — Let " thy kingdom come ! " * This ode was set to music, and sung at the ceremonial of the poet'.- public funeral, March 22, 1803; when more than a hundred musicians froi!; Hamburgh, and many singers, united in the performance of it. 48 PSALM. Wohl ihncn, class niclit sic, class Er Ihr Jetziges, unci ihr Ziikiinftiges ordnete, YTohl ihnen, wohl ! Und wohl audi uns ! " Dein \Yille gcschch ; \Yie im Ilimmel, also auch auf Erden." Er hebt mit dcm Halnie die Ahr' empor ; Eeifet den goldnen Apfel, die Purpurtraube ; "VYeidet am Iliigel das Lamm, das Reh im TYalde ; Aber sein Donner rollet auch her, Und die Schlosse zersclimettert es Am Halme, am Zweig', an dem Iliigel, und im Walde ! u Unser ta&liches Brodt saeb uns heute." Ob wohl hoch iiber des Donners Balm Siinder auch, und Sterbliche sind ? Dort auch der Fremid ziuii Feinde wird ? Der Freund im Tode sich trennen muss ? " Yergieb uns imsere Schuld, Wie wir vergeben unseren Schuldigern." Gesonderte Pfade gehen zum hohen Ziel, Zu der Gliickscligkeit ! Einige ki'iimmen sich durch Einoden, PSALM. 49 Well for them that He, not they, Once ordain'd their present lot, And decreed their future too ; Well for them, and well for us : Let " thy will he done, As in highest heaven Soonearthfulfill'cl!" He lifts the stalk and golden ear, Matures the orange and the purple grape, Pastures the mountain lamb, the forest roe : But yet his thunders roll, And the fierce hailstones work his ire Upon the stalk and spray, The hills and forest paths : " Give us this day our daily bread.*' Yet, high above the storm's career Are not transgressors, mortals found ? And do not friends oft hostile prove ? And does not death the kindest sever ? " Forgive our trespasses, As we would those who us offend forgive/' Differing paths conduct the pilgrims Toward the goal of happiness : Some wind cheerless through the desert, 50 PSALM. Dock selbst an diesen sprosst cs von Frenden aiif, Und labet den Durstenden. •'Fuhr' nns nicht in Yersuchung, Sondem erloV nns vom Ubel." Anbetung dir, der die grosse Sonne Mit Sonnen, und Erden, and Monden nmgab ; Der Geister erschuf; Hire Seligkeit ordnete ; Die Ahre hebt ; Der dem Tode raft ; Znm Ziele dnrch Einoden fulirt, und den Wanderer labt. Anbetung dir ! " Denn dein ist das Keich, und die Mac-lit. Und die Herrlicbkeit. Amen." KXOPSTOCK. Ode*. A.U. 178ii 51 Yet e'en there doth gladness blossom, Solacing the thirsty one ! " Lead us not into temptation, But from ill deliver us ! " Unto Him be adoration Who the mighty sun encompassed With suns, earths, and satellites ; Who the spirits hath created, And ordain' d their blessedness ; Who hath form'd the golden grain : Who commands the bolt of death ; Who through deserts cheers the wanderer To the goal of joy. Adoration unto Thee : " Thine the kingdom, and the power. And the glory, Amen ! " e 2 DEE ERBABMEB. Betvtxderuxg, Gottes Bewun derung, Meine Seligkeit ! Xein ! wenn sie nur bewiindert, Hebt sich die Seele zu schwach ! Erstauneu ! himmelfliegendes Erstaunen ! Uber den, der unendlich ist ! O du der Seligkeit en Hochste, Uberstrome du meine ganze Seele SGt deinem beiligen Feuer ! Dnd lass sie, du Seligkeit, So oft, und so hoch die Endliche kann, Aufflanimen in Entziickungen ! Du waiest ! du bist ! wirst seyn ! du bist ! wie soil ich dich denken ? Meine Seele stehet still, erreicbet es nicht ! Vater ! Vater ! so soil meine Seele dich denken. Dich empfinden mein Herz, meine Lippe dich stammeln. Vater ! Vater ! Vater ! Fallt nieder, betet an, ihr Himmel der Himmel ! Er ist euer Vater ! Unser Vater auch ! THE MEKCIFUL ONE. wonder, wonder quite divine, My promis'd blessedness ! Wonder ! — too faint, too weak that word, The exultant hope to' express. Amazement ! which the heaven outsoars, At boundless love in boundless might ! — O sovereign source of highest bliss, O'erwhelm me in thy pure delight ! With thine all-holy fire baptize, Fountain of ceaseless joys on high ! And give me — if the finite may — To' upflame in hallow'd ecstasy ! How can my spirit grasp thy Name, Who art, who wast, who art to be ! It sinks from that dark altitude : O 'tis as, Father, Father, I must think of Thee ! Then glows my heart — my faltering lips Their filial cry, " My Father, Father ! " pour. Fall prostrate, all ye heavens of heavens, Your Father God, and ours, adore ! •V^ DEIt ERBARMER. O ihr, die einst mit der Himmel Bewohnern Erstaunen "wcrden ! Wandelt forschend in diesem Labyrinth der Wonne, Denn Jehova redet ! Zwar durch den rollenden Donner audi, Durch den fliegenden Sturm, und durch sanftes Sauseln ; Aber erforschlicher, daurender, Durch die Sprache der Menschen. Der Donner verhallt, der Sturm braust weg, das Sauseln verweht, Mit langen Jahrhunderten stromt die Sprache der Menschen fort, Und verkiindiget jeden Augenblick, Was Jehova geredet hat ! Bin ich am Grabe noch ? oder schon iiber dem Grabe ? Hab' ich den himmlischen Flug schon gethan ? O Worte des ewigen Lebens ! Also redet Jehova : Kann die Mutter vergessen ihres Sauglings, Das sie sich nicht iiber den Sohn ihres Leibes erbarme ? Vergasse sie sein ; Ich will dein nicht vergessen ! Preis, Anbetung, und Freudenthranen, und ewiger Dank, Fur die Unsterblichkeit ! THE MERCIFUL ONE. 55 ye that one clay with celestial hosts Shall mingle your astonished lays, Begin, while now Jehovah speaks, To' explore the circling labyrinth of praise ! True, God hath spoken in the thunder's voice. In the wild storm, and gently breathing gale ; But in our human words more durably ; While nature's inarticulate voices fail. Thunder, and storm, and whispering gale are hush'd : But through long ages human speech survives ; And as our gliding moments swiftly roll, The word Jehovah spake our fainting hearts revives. Is it within the tomb his voice I hear ? Or have I pass'd beyond, with heavenly flight ? O word of life unending, priceless sound ! Thus spake Jehovah thro' our mortal night ! " Say, can a mother her fond babe forget, And cease her bosom's nursling to defend ? Yea, even a mother may ; but yet, but yet Ne'er will I Thee forget ; my mercies ne'er shall end ! ' Adoring tears of gladness, ardent praise For the vast promise of a Father's love : 56 DEB, ERB ARMER. Heisser, inniger herzlicher Dank Fiir die Unsterblichkeit ! Halleluja im Heiligthume ! Und jenseit des Vorhangs In dem Allerheiligsten Halleluja ! Denn so hat Jehova geredet ! Wirf zu dem tiefsten Erstaunen dich nieder, O du, die unsterblich ist ; Geneuss, o Seele deine Seligkeit ! Denn so hat Jehova geredet ! Klopstock. Oden. A.D. 1759. THE MERCIFUL ONE. 57 All fervent, inmost, endless thanksgiving For the bright hope of endless bliss above ! Hallelujah in the heavens, High within the mystic veil ! Hallelujah in the holiest ! — Ne'er Jehovah's truth can fail. Deeper in amazement fall, Grasp his mercy's glorious token, Trust his love and taste his bliss ; For the Lord of life hath spoken ! DEM TOEKDLICHEN. Wie erhebt sich das Herz, wenn es dich. Unendlicher, denkt ! wie sinkt es, Wenns auf sich herunterschaut ! Elend schauts wehklagend dann, und Nacht und Tod ! Allein du rufst mich aus meiner Nacht, der im Elend, der im Tod hilft ! Dann denk ich es ganz, dass du ewig mich schufst, Herrlicher ! den kein Preis, unten am Grab', oben am Thron, Herr Herr Gott ! den dankend entflammt, kein Jubel genug besingt. Went, Baume des Lebens, ins ITarfengeton ! Kausche mit ihnen ins Harfengeton, krystallner Strom ! Ihr lispelt, und rauscht, und, Harfen, ihr tout Xie es ganz ! Gott ist es, den ihr preist ! Donnert, Welten, in feyerlichem Gang, in der Posaunen Chor! Du Orion, Wage, du auch ! Tont' all' iln- Sonnen auf der Strasse voll Glanz. In der Posaunen Chor ! TO THE INFINITE. How soars this labouring spirit, while it thinks, boundless Lord, of Thee ! How low midst earth and littleness it sinks When it descends to me ; T<> self, and sorrow's night, and brief mortality ! Yet dost thou call me hence, Saviour, from woe and death ! To endless life, thy boon, my earnest soul aspires ! But who can praise Thee ? What created breath ? What grateful ardours ? What seraphic fires ? Wave, trees of life, in harp-like harmonies ; Life's crystal river, glide in soft accord ; But not heaven's mingled anthem can suffice To adore Thee Infinite, our God the Lord ! Thunder his praise, ye worlds of light ; Ye radiant orbs, his glories tell ; Shout, countless spheres that gild the night ; trump of God, the chorus swell ! 63 DEM UXEND LICHEN. Ihr Welten, donnert LInd du, der Posaunen Ckor, hallest Nie es ganz, Gott ; nie es ganz. Gott, Gott, Gott ist es, den ihr preist ! Klopstock. Odm. A.D. 1764. TO THE INFINITE. 61 Hut not the' adoring tones of bliss that stream From heaven's ethereal height, Can half attain their awful glorious theme. Our God — the Infinite ! DER TOD. O Ax buck tier Glanznacht, Sternheere, Wie erhebt ihr ! Wie entziickst du, Anschauung. Der herrlichen "Welt ! Gott Schopfer ! Wie erhaben bifit du, Gott Schopfer ! Wie freut sicli des Emporschauns zum Sternheer. wer empfiiidet Wie gering er, and wer Gott, welch ein Staub er, ond wer Gott Sein Gott ist ! O sey dann, Gefiihl Der Entzuckung, wenn audi ich sterbe, mit mir ! Was erschreckst du denn so, Tod, des beladnen Schlaf? (J bewolke den Genuss liimmlischer Freude nicht mehr ! Ich sink' in den Staub, Gottes Saat ! was schreckst Den Unsterblichen du, tauschender Tod ? Mit liinab, o mein Leib, denn zur Verwesung ! In ihr Thai sanken hinab die Gefallnen Vom Beginn her ! mit hinab, o mein Staub, Zur Heerschaar. die entschlief ! Klopstock. Oden. A.D. 1764. DEATH. vision of the night, ye starry throng, Your glance exalts me : with what joy I gaze On the bright hosts that to my God belong, And wait his grandeur's uncreated blaze Who counts the shining orbs, who kindled all their rays. Shall he not joy to view that host, who feels How transient life, and knows what God hath wrought ? To whom, though clothed in dust, that God reveals Himself his God ? O high and rapturous thought, Be with me when to death's untravell'd margin brought ! Why scare us, death — the burden'd pilgrim's sleep ? Why cloud the glimpse of joys that cannot fade ? I sink in dust, but God that dust shall keep ; Why fright the deathless — dark illusive shade ? The heir of heavenly life should meet thee undismay' Drop, fragile form, to moulder : one by one Our fallen race thus sink since first they fell ; But o'er death's shadows beams the' immortal Sun : Who sleep in Him shall wake with Him to dwell. And that celestial noon all dread of Death dispel. DIE ZUKUNFT. Himmlischer Ohr hort das Geton der Bewegten Sterne ; den Gang, den Seleno and Pleione Donnern, kennt es, and freut hinhorend Sick des gefliigelten Halls, Wenn der Planet fliehend sich wakt, und im Kreislauf Eilet, und wenn, die im Glanze sich verbergen. Urn sich selber sich drehn ! Sturmwinde Kauschen, und Meere dann her. Psalmengesang tonet darein ! Die erhabnen Feyrer am Thron, die Gerechten und vollkommnen Singen Jubel und Preis ! Anbetung ! Danken, sie konnen es, Gott ! Aim dung in mil', dunkles Gefiihl der Entziickung, Welche den Staub an dem Staub einst unaussprechlich Trosten soil, o Gef iilil, TTeissager Inniger ewiger Huh, Lispel, entflolm jenem Gesang der Entflammten Solme des Heils, o, besuch oft die Beladnen Erdewanderer, komm mildthatig, Trockne des Weinenden Bhck ! FUTUEITY. List'neks in heaven, hear the sweet tones — tones of sublimest Sphere-music, charm' d : hear the' accord, of the revolving Planets and moons ; joy in the echoes Soft of their swift-winged choir. As each bright world, rolls in its course, or as each dazzling Sun on its vast centre is wheel' d, and as the star-deeps And their celestial shores and the wild cliffs Vibrate to harmony's waves, — * * * * Worship divine swells with the somid : all the' exalted Hosts by the throne, holy ones there, all the new ransom'd, Mingle their jubilant strain; and, adoring, Thank with pure fervour their God ! Presage for me, hallo w'd, obscure, yet full of rapture, Which the frail heart, though but of dust, soon shall divinely Solace, — presentiment all prophetic Of hidden endless repose, — Whispering tones, caught from those strains, lowly triumphant Yonder on high, — O visit oft, gently, the laden Hearts of earth's wanderers ; — come benignly, Dry up the sufferer's tear ! F 66 DIE ZUKUNFT. Strahlendes Heer, Welten ! 1st audi ein Erschaffner Irgendwo noch, wie der Menscb, schwach ? Es ersclireckt uns Unser Retter, der Tod ! Sanft kommt er, Leis' im Gewolke des Schlafs ; Aber er bleibt furchterlich uns, und wir sehn nur Nieder ins Grab, ob er gleich uns zur Yollendung Fubrt, aus Hiillen der Xacht hiniiber In der Erkenntnisse Land ! Von der Geduld steinigem Pfad' in ein heitres Wonnegefild ! zur Gesellschaft der Yollkommnen ! Aus dem Leben, das bald durch Eelsen Zogernder fliesset, und bald Eliicbtiger da, wo, zu verbliibn, die bekranzten Friibling' ihr Haupt in des Thaus Glanz und Geruchen Scbinimernd heben ; — es spiel' binunter Oder es saume, — gesckwatz ! Klopstock. Oden. A.D. 1764. FUTURITY. 67 Radiant hosts, chorists of heaven, — say are there elsewhere As our frail race, creatures as frail ? — for he appals us, E'en our deliverer, Death ; though he oft comes Mildly in visions of sleep. Still unto us, dreadful his aspect ; prone to gaze earthward Into the grave, while sternly he prompts — on to the perfect ; Pointing from shadows, and funeral darkness, Up to celestial day. From the rough arduous road of patience up to serenest Joys of the blest, where love unites the souls of the victors ; Out of life's stream, which now 'mid rocks foams Yexedly, then awhile glides Tranquilly w T here (quickly to fade) ope the sweet spring- flowers Their bright tints in the glittering dew, and a moment with perfume Cheer us : but ah,— gliding or troublous, — 'T is but " a tale that is told !" f2 STAEKUXG. Ach wie hat mein Herz gerungen ! Wie gefleht am Gnadenthron ! Noch von deiner Angst durchdrungen, Siegst du, meine Seele, schon ? Oder saumt des Heifers Eechte Stets noch ? werden meiner Nachte, Meiner Leiden immer mehr ? Immer meiner Thranen mehr ? Nah ist meines Heifers Eechte Sieht sie gleich mein Auge nicht ! Weiter hin im Thai der Rachte, Ist mein Eetter, und mein Licht ! Ja, dort wird mir Gott begegnen ! Dort wird mich sein Antlitz segnen ! Jetzt, jetzt ist die Priifungszeit ! Jetzt sey, Seele, stark zum Streit ! Was empfand des Helclen Seele Abrams, ders vom Herrn empfing, Und nunmehr von Mamres Hole Nach des Opfers Berge ging ! Tief war seiner Seele Wunde, Heiss der Prufung bange Stunde, STRENGTHENING. Ah me, what woes this heart have wrung ! How pleads it still at mercy's throne ! My troubled soul, my silent tongue, Canst thou, ere long, deliverance own ? Or doth the sovereign Helper still Delay, and must the gloomy chill Of sadness yet thy powers involve, And yet these eyes in tears dissolve ? Near is the arm that brings relief, Though still no rescue meets my sight. Beyond me, in the vale of grief, Is my Deliverer and my Light. There will He soothe my sore distress, There will his healing presence bless : Yet, yet — the trial hour is long ; Yet, yet, my heart, in Him be strong ! What strength Heaven lent the patriarch's soul. To bind his child, his dearer life, Surmount all nature's soft control, And grasp the sacrificial knife ! How deep his love's distracted sigh ! How sharp the parent's agony ! 7 (> STAEKUXG. Xicht erst kiiiiftig : sie war da ! Nah des Knabens Tod, ganz nah ! Konnt er dessen Rath ergriinden, Der das Opfer ihm befahl ? Keinen Ausgang konnt er finden, Uberall war Xaclit und Quaal ! Dennoch traut' er dir, o Eetter ! Dir, Jehova, Gott der Gotter ! Er fiihrt mich die dunkle Balm, Er, der Staub erwecken kann. Abraham ! so scholl die Stimnie In des Uberwinders Ohr ! — O du jener Gnade Stiinme, Ruf auch meine Seel empor ! Schau, Herr, wie ich lieg und flehe ! Und vor trauren fast vergehe ! In der triiben Stunde graun Lehre mich gen Himmel schaun ! ■* * * -::- In der Christen ersten Tagen Ward dess Mund zuni Lobgesang, Der, umringt von bangern Plagen Zeuo;end mit dem Tode rang. Selten bracht ein schnelles Ende Sie in ihres Voters Hande. Yiele dunkle Tao*e lano* Starben sie ! scholl ihr Gesang ! STRENGTHENING. The hour of dreadful offering here, His darling Isaac's death-stroke near ! Could he that thought of God explore Which claim'd so dire a sacrifice ? His anguish'd spirit search'd no more : Dark horror reign'd and mute surprise ! But yet, he trusted, Lord, to Thee, Though terrible thy stern decree. " Who bears me thro' a path thus dread, Can wake my loved one from the dead !" Abraham ! — the sudden voice Divine, Restraining — struck the victor's ear ! O heavenly voice, be heard by mine ! Reveal, outpour, thy mercies here ! Prostrate, my Lord, thy help I crave, Upbear me on the tempest's wave ! O succour me on life's rude sea, To lift my soul to heaven and Thee ! In the bright prime of Christ-like zeal, Pale lips exulting praises sang, And hearts, keen torture doom'd to feel, Through martyr-death to life upsprang : Nor oft with swift dismissal blest Could reach at once their Father's rest ; But, crush'd in bonds or lingering pains, Still chaunted forth adoring strains. STABKUNG. Schau audi dieser Iielden Glauben, Meine Seele, glaubencl an ! Lass nichts deine Krone rauben ! Leid, und klimm zu ihr hinan ! Keiner Triibsal Tiefen scheiden, Weder Tod nocb Leben scheiden, Nichts, was jetzt und kiinftig ist, Scheidet mich von Jesus Christ. Klopstock. Geistliche Lieder. STRENGTHENING. 73 To that heroic faith, uplift, My soul, thy weak and tearful eye ! Let no one take thy crown ; the gift < )f grace, the meed of victory : Not depth or height from love shall sever, Nor death nor life estrange thee ever, Nor present things, nor future, part From thy Kedeemer's faithful heart ! DER PILGER. Es wallt ein Pilger hohen Dranges, Er wallt zur sel'gen Gottesstadt, Zur Stadt des liimmlisclien Gesanges, Die ihm der Geist verheisset hat. " Du klarer Strom ! in deinem Spiegel Wirst du die heil'ge bald umfahn. Ihr sonneliellen Felsenhiigel ! Ihr schaut sie schon von weitem an. " Wie feme Glocken hor' ichs klingen, Das Abendroth durcligliiht den Hain. O hatt' ich Fliigel, mich zu schwingen Weit iiber Thai und Felsenreihn ! " Er ist von holier TVonne trunken, Er ist von siissen Schmerzen matt, Und in die Blumen hingesunken, Gedenkt er seiner Gottesstadt. " Sie sind zu gross noch, diese Raume, Fur meiner Sehnsucht Flammenqual ; Empfahet ihr mich, milde Traume, Und zeigt mir das ersehnte Thai." THE PILGRIM. See yon pilgrim's hallow'd impulse Urge him to the heavenly goal ! To the mount of seraph anthems Heaven-sent ardour prompts his soul ! " Crystal stream, in thy pure mirror Thou dost now reflect its dome : And ye, sacred sunbright mountains, Ye surround it, — whilst I roam. " Hark ! I list its far-off music In calm evening's purple glow : Oh, could faith's strong pinion waft me O'er these dreary wilds below ! " Now the pilgrim melts in rapture ; And, with painful joy oppress'd, 'Mid soft flowers supinely sinking, Muses on that glorious rest. " All too great these ceaseless labours, For my spirit's burning sigh ! O enchant me, genial visions ; Paint the bright abode on high ! " 76 DER PILGER. Da ist der Himmcl aufgeschlagen, Sein licliter Engel scliaut herab : " Wie sollt' ich dir die Kraft versagen, Dem ich das hohe Sehnen gab ! " Die Sehnsuclit und der Traume weben. Sie sind der weichen Seele suss, Docb edler ist ein starkes Streben Und macht den schonen Traum gewite." Er schwindet in die Morgendiifte ; Der Pilger springt gestarkt empor, Er strebet iiber Berg' und Klufte, Er stehet scbon am goldnen Thor. Und sieb ! gleich Mutterarmen schliesset Die Stadt der Pforte Fliigel auf ; Ihr himmlischer Gesano; beoriisset Den Sohn nach tapfrein Pilgerlauf. Uhlan d. THE PILGRIM. 77 But behold, the heaven unveiling', Thence his guardian stoops to save. " How shall I new strength refuse thee, When the boon I hade thee crave ? " Fervours, and ecstatic dreaming, To the feeble soul are sweet : Nobler far the manful striving Which can blissful dreams complete.'' — Flies the angel-guest at dawning, — Up the strengthen'd pilgrim springs ; Strives o'er every rugged mountain, — At the golden portal sings ! Suddenly, like arms maternal, Sion's pearly gates unclose ; And the tones of angel-welcome Soothe the brave in heaven's repose. DEE GNADENSTUHL. Mein Jesu, dem die Serapliinen Ira Glanz der hochsten Majestat Selbst mit bedecktem Antlitz dienen, Wenn dein Befelil an sie ergeht ; Wie sollten blode Fleischesaugen, Die der verhassten Siinclennacht Mit ilirem Schatten triib geniacht, Dein helles Licht zu schauen taugen ? Sei gnadig, Jesu voller Giite, Dem Herzen, das nach Gnade lechzt ; Hor, wie die Zung in dem Gemiithe. Gott sei mir Armen gnadig ! achzt : Ich weiss, Du kannst micli nicht verstossen ; Wie konntest Du ungnadig sein Dem, den dein Blut von Sclndd und Pein Erlostj da es so reich geflossen ? THE MEKCY-SEAT, My Saviour, whom in heavenly places Near the full radiance of thy throne, The seraph choir with veiled faces Adoring, Thee their monarch own, How can the trembling eye of mortal, Confus'd and dimm'd by baleful sin, Gaze thro' the bright and starry portal On thv transcendent Light within ? Yet, Saviour, let thy loving-kindness Cheer the frail heart which thirsts for Thee ! The tongue which lisps — 'mid sin and blindness,- ' O God of mercy, smile on me.' I know thy mercy cannot falter ; Thou canst not unrelenting be To one for whom on Calvary's altar Thy precious heart's-blood now'd so free. 80 DEB GXADEXSTUHL. Ach, lasa mich deine Weisheit leiten, Unci nimm ihr Licht nieht von mir weg : Stell deine Gnade mir zur Seiten, Dass ich auf Dir beliebtem Ste£ Bestiindig bis ans Ende wandle, Damit ich ancb in dieser Zeit In Lieb ond Herzensfreundlichkeit Nach deinem Wort nnd Willen handle. Reicb mir die Waffen ana dear Hohe, Und starke micb durcb deine Maebt. Das ich im Glanben sieg und stebe. Wenn Stark imd List der Feinde wacht So wird dein Gnadenreicb auf Erden Das uns zu deiner Ebre f iihrt, Und cndlicli gar mit Kronen ziert. Audi in mir ausgebreitet werden. Ja, ja. mein Herz will Dicb umfas>en. Erwahl es Herr, zu deinem Tbron : Hast Du aus Lieb einmals verlassen Des Himmels Pracbt und deine Kron, So wiirdge aucb mein Herz und Leben, Und lass es deinen Himmel sein. Bis Dn, wenn dieser Bau fallt ein, Mich wirst in deinen Himmel heben. THE MERCY- SEAT. 81 All ! let thy wisdom, ever guiding. No more withhold its gracious light : Let thy good Spirit, still abiding, Govern my devious steps aright ! That to the latest persevering, I may my heavenward course fulfil, In faith and charity revering Thy holy word and perfect will ! Endue me with thy heavenly armour ; Sustain me by thy heavenly might ; Make prayer more earnest, purer, warmer. When fiendish rage and craft unite ! So shall victorious grace, repairing The wreck and ruin sin hath made, The crown and palm of joy preparing, Be in my heart and life display 'd. Yes, yes ; this heart to Thee I render, — O take it, Saviour, for thy throne ! Didst thou not erst for me surrender The crown, the glory, thine alone ? O make it all devout and humble, Meet thy own home and heaven to be ; Till, when this earthly house shall crumble, Thou lift me to thy heaven with Thee ! G 82 DER GNADEXSTUHL. Ich steig hinauf zu dir im Glauben, Steig Du in Lieb herab zu mir, Lass mir nichts diese Freude rauben, Erfiille mich nur ganz mit dir : Ich will Dich fitichten, lieben, ehren. So lang in mir das Herz sich regt, Und wenn dasselb audi nicht mehr schlagt, So soil doch noch die Liebe wahren. Wolfg. Christoph Dessler. THE MERCY -SEAT. I soar to Thee by faith's endeavour, In mighty love to me come down ! Let nought this gladness from me sever ; With thy blest self my spirit crown. In fear and love, thy praise repeating, I will adore till life is past ; And when this heart shall cease its beating, Still let my love for ever last ! g2 ur tous les mondes a la fois ! La mer qui fuit a ma parole, Ou la poussiere qui s'envole, Suivent et comprennent mes lois. Marche au flambeau de Pesperance Jusque dans 1' ombre du trepas, Assure que ma providence Ne tend point de piege a tes pas. Chaque aurore la Justine, L'univers entier s'y confie, Et riiomme seul en a doute ! Mais ma vengeance paternelle Donfondra ce doute infidele Dans Pabyme de ma bonte. Lamartine. (Meditations poetiques.) DIVINE RESPONSE TO MAN'S DESPAIR. 149 And thou, that hast thy being from my breath, On whom my secret gifts o'erflow, — Canst thou be fearful that, in life or death, I shall forget my noblest work below ? Doth my omniscience or my kindness sleep ? Flame thro' infinitude my wakeful eyes ; Quell the loud tumult of the heaving deep, Guide every mote that flits through sunny skies ! Lift thou the torch of hope E'en in death's final shade : No snares upon that gloomy slope Thy Father's hand hath laid. Each dawn my faithfulness attests, Creation on my promise rests ; The feeblest forms of life confide ; Man doubts alone ; and doubts in faithless pride : But I forget not, — man is dust. Still would I win thee to my bliss : Yea, would rebuke and quench thy dark distrust, In Mercy's bright abyss ! CHCEUB D'ATHALIE * LE CHCEITR. Tout l'univers est plein de sa magnificence ; Qu'on l'adore ce Dieu ; qu'on l'invoque a jamais : Son empire a des temps precede la naissance ; Chantons, publions ses bienfaits. TXE TOIX. En vain l'injuste violence An peuple qui le lone imposerait silence ! Son nom ne perira jamais. Le join" annonce an jour sa gloire et sa puissance. Tout l'univers est plein de sa magnificence ; Chantons, publions ses bienfaits. UNE YOIX. II donne aux fleurs leur aimable peinture ; II fait naitre et miirir les fruits ; II leur dispense avec mesure Et la chaleur des joins et la fraicheur des nuits : Le champ qui les reeut les rend avec usure. * The two choruses from Athaliah are here reprinted from a version of that tragedy by the translator, which is out of print. FIRST CHOEUS IN ATHALIAH. THE CHOEUS. Yes, his glory fills creation ! From eternity He reigns ; Unto ceaseless adoration, Let his goodness wake your strains. FIRST VOICE Tyrants vainty strive to quell Our Jehovah's lofty praise ; Grateful tribes the chorus swell, It shall last through countless days. With unceasing adoration Anthems to his honour raise ! SECOND VOICE. His goodness sheds the pearly shower, And beams that paint each opening flower, Each embryo fruit mature. Alternate evening's shadowy hour, And sultry noon with genial power, Make the rich increase sure L52 CHCEUR D ATHALIE. UXE AUTRE. II commande au soleil d'animer la nature, Et la lurniere est un don de ses main?. Mais sa loi sainte, sa loi pure Et le plus riche don qu'il ait fait aux humains, UXE AUTRE. O mont de Sinai, conserve la memoire De ce jour a jamais auguste et renomme, Quand, sur ton sommet enflamme, Dans un image epais le Seigneur enferme Fit luire aux yeux mortels un rayon de sa gloire. Dis-nous pourquoi ces feux et ces eclairs, Ces torrents de fumee, et ce bruit dans les airs, Ces trompettes et ce tonnerre : Yenait-il renverser l'ordre des elements ? Sur ses antiques fondements Venait-il ebranler la terre ? UXE AUTRE. II venait reveler aux enfants des Hebreux De ses preceptes saints la lumiere immortelle ; II venait a ce peuple heureux Ordonner de Taimer d'une amour eternelle. FIRST CHORUS IX ATIIALIAH. 153 THIRD VOICE. His bright vicegerent, on a golden throne, He bids the radiant sun all nature bless ; But his best gift let grateful nations own, The pure, the perfect law of truth and holiness FIRST VOICE. O Sinai, of that awful hour be thou The time-defying monument ; When flames illum'd thy rugged brow, Thick darkness brooding on thy steep ascent ; And from that cloudy sanctuary, Which veil'd the dread Supreme, Burst forth intense on mortal eye Glory's insufferable beam ! Say why the black incumbent smoke Bent by lightning's sudden glare ? Wherefore heaven's trumpet-blast, and peals that broke Tremendous through the darken'd air ? Came nature's Lord his own fair work to mar ? Came He to wreck the globe with elemental war ? SECOND VOICE. He came, to pour on Israel from above, The glorious beams of truth and grace ; He came, in bands of everlasting love, To lead and bless our chosen race ! 154 CHCEUR D ATHALLE. LE CHCEUR. O divine, 6 charmante loi ! O justice, 6 bonte supreme ! Que de raisons, quelle douceur extreme D 'engager a ce Dieu son amour et sa foi ! une vorx. D'un joug cruel il sauva nos aieux, Les nourrit au desert d'un pain delicieux ; I] nous donne ses lois, il se donne lui-meme : Pour tant de biens, il commande qivon 1'aime. LE CHCEUR. O justice, 6 bonte supreme ! LA MEME VOIX. Des mers pour eux il entr'ouvrit les eaux ; D'un aride rocher fit sortir des ruisseaux ; II nous donne ses lois, il se donne lui-meme : Pour tant de biens, il commande qu'on Taime. LE CHCEUR. O divine, 6 charmante loi ! Que de raisons, quelle douceur extreme D' engager a ce Dieu son amoin et sa foi ! FIRST CHORUS IN ATHALIAH. 155 THE CHORUS. Hail, gracious law, proclaim'd by truth Divine, In justice awful, and in grace benign ! How lowly homage swells to warm delight, While in Jehovah's praise our faith and love unite ! THIRD VOICE. Yes, for our sires He brake the' oppressor's chain, And spread heaven's banquet on the desert sand ; To us his laws, his presence, yet remain, And only these returns of grateful love demand. THE CHORUS. In our Preserver's name, divinely just, Supremely good, his chosen people trust. FIRST VOICE. For them he cleft the billowy deep in twain, And smote the melting rock by Moses' wand ; To us his laws, his presence, yet remain, And only these returns of grateful love demand. THE CHORUS. What holy transport, what unmix'd delight, * While in his praise our faith and love unite ! 156 chceur d'athalle. uxe autre. Vous qui ne connaissez qu'une crainte servile, Ingrats, un Dieu si bon ne peut-il vous charmer ? Est-il done a vos cceurs, est-il si difficile Et si penible de Palmer ? L'esclave craint le tyran qui Poutrage, Mais des enfants Pamour est le partage. Vous voulez que ce Dieu vous comble de bienfaits, Et ne Palmer jamais ! LE CHCEUR. divine, 6 charmante loi ! O justice ! 6 bonte supreme ! Que de raisons, quelle douceur extreme, D 'engager a ce Dieu son amour et sa foi ! Racine. FIRST CHORUS IN ATHAXJAH. 157 SECOND VOICE. Ingrates, en chain' d by servile fear, Has heavenly grace for you no charm ? Shall nought a bounteous God endear, Not all his love your bosoms warm ? Slaves dread their wrathful tyrant's eye, But love's a sweet and filial tie ; You taste the' exhaustless gifts a God bestows, Yet in your frozen hearts no grateful current flows ! THE CHORUS. Hail, holy law ! thy blessed truths excite The raptur'd strain of pure delight, And to Jehovah's praise our faith and love invite ! DEUXIEME CHCEUE D'ATHALIE. uxe voix, Quel astre a nos yeux vient de luire ? Quel sera quel que jour cet enfant merveilleux ? II brave le faste orgueilleux, Et ne se laisse point seduire A tous ses attraits perilleux. CKB AUTRE. Pendant que du Dieu d'Athalie Chacun court encenser l'autel, Un enfant courageux publie Que Dieu lui seul est eternel, Et parle comnie un autre Elie Devant cette autre Jezabel. UXE AUTRE. Qui nous revelera ta naissance secrete, Cher enfant ? Es-tu fils de quelque saint prophete? SECOND CHOKUS IN ATHALIAH. FIE ST VOICE. What silver star displays Its pure unborrow'd rays, Foretelling brightest noon by fairest rising ? What this heroic child, By grandeurs unbeguil'd, With steady soul their treacherous glare despising ? SECOND VOICE. While myriads with their tyrant bow, To gilded wood or graven stone, Behold an infant dares avow That Jacob's God is God alone ; And from the gentle voice of youth A crown 'd idolatress hath heard tremendous truth. THIRD VOICE. Say, wondrous child, who shall thy birth declare ? Art thou some holy Prophet's gifted heir ? 160 deuxieme chceub d'athalle. uxe autre. Ainsi Ton vit l'aimable Samuel Croftre a 1'ombre du tabernacle : II devint des Hebreux l'esperance et l'oracle. Puisses-tu, comme lui, consoler Israel ! rxE voix. O bienhem'eux mille fois L'enfant que le Seigneur aime, Qui de bonne heure entend sa voix, Et que ce Dieu daigne instruire lid-meme ! Loin du monde eleve, de tous les dons des cieux II est orne des sa naissance : Et du mediant l'abord contao*ieux o N'altere point son innocence. LE CHCEUR. Heureuse, heureuse Penfance Que le Seigneur instruit et prend sous sa defense ! LA MEME VOIX. Tel en un secret vallon Sur le bord d'une onde pure, Croit a l'abri de l'Aquilon Un jeune lvs, 1'amour de la nature. SECOND CHORUS IN ATHALIAH. 161 FIRST VOICE. Like thee, ere while, prophetic Samuel rose, Within Jehovah's holy place, In stature and in loveliness ; Ordain 'd to solace Israel's woes, To be her guide and light, the terror of her foes ; Mayst thou, like him, fair child of grace, Console thy people's griefs, thy people's wrongs redrew. SECOND VOICE. Oh, truly blest that docile child, For whom the' indulgent Lord hath sown Seeds of wisdom in the wild, On its earliest blossom smiled, And made the grateful heart his own ! Screen'd from thy moral blights, unkindly world, From sin's far-spreading pestilence, Like Eden's flowers with gracious dews impearlM. He blooms in unstain'd innocence. ALL THE CHORUS. Happy morn of infancy ! If the Lord thy guardian be, And Heaven's arm encircle thee ! SECOND VOICE. As in some deep and bowery glade, Which tempests never chill, A fragrant lily bends, pourtray'd Within the gliding rill, M 162 DEUXIEME CHCEUR d'aTHAEIE. Loin du monde eleve, de tous les dons des cieux II est orne des sa naissance, Et du mechant l'abord contagieux X'altere point son innocence. UNB VOIX. Mon Dieu. qu'une vertu naissante Parmi tant de perils marche a pas in certains ! Qu'une ame qui te cherche et veut etre innocente Trouve d'obstacle a ses desseins ! Que d'ennemis lui font la guerre ! Ou se peuvent cacher tes saints ? Les pecheurs cou\Tent la terre. DUB AUTRE, O palais de David, et sa chere cite, Mont fameux, que Dieu meme a loug-temps habite, Comment as-tu du ciel attire la colere ? Sion, chere Sion, que dis-tu quand tu tois Une impie etrangere Assise, helas ! au trone de tes rois ? LE CHCEUR. Sion, chere Sion, que dis-tu quand tu vois Une impie etrangere Assise, helas ! au trone de tes rois ? SECOND CHORUS IN ATHALIAH. 163 So, secluded from his birth, Noxious blasts that sweep the earth, Poisons of iniquity, Shall not taint his growing worth, Rich from Heaven's benignity. FIRST VOICE. Yet, Lord, that young and ardent saint Might at the various prospect faint, His march of toils and trials to foresee ; What changeful ills must wake his cares. What sinful bands and guileful snares, Obstruct the pilgrim path that leads thy ' saints to Thee! SECOND VOICE. City of David, mount of God, Land of his choice, and house of his abode, Say what hath drawn Jehovah's anger down, That thus an impious stranger wears thy holy crown ? THE CHORUS. Beloved Sion, who thy griefs can tell, Since this usurper rose, and all thy glories fell ' m 2 164 DEUXIEME CHCEUIt d'ATHALIE. LA MEME VOIX. Au lieu des cantiques charmants Oil David t'exprimait ses saints ravissements, Et benissait sou Dieu, son seigneur, et son pere, Sion, chere Sion, que dis-tu quand tu vois Louer le dieu de Timpie etrangere, Et blasphemer le nom qu'ont adore tes rois ? UNB AUTEE. Combien de temps, Seigneur, eombien de temps encore Verrons-nous contre toi les mecbants s'elever ? Jusque dans ton saint temple ils viennent te braver: lis traitent d'insense le peuple qui t'adore. Combien de temps, Seigneur, combien de temps encore Verrons-nous contre toi les mecbants s'elever ? UNB AUTRE. Que vous sert, disent-ils, cette vertu sauvage ? De taut de plaisirs si doux Pourquoi fuyez-vous l'usage ? Votre Dieu ne fait rien pom' vous. UNB AUTRE. Rions, cbantons, dit cette troupe impie ; De fleurs en fleurs, de plaisirs en plaisirs, Promenons nos desirs. Sur l'avenir insense qui se fie. De nos ans passagers le nombre est incertain : Hatons-nous aujom-d^lmi de jouir de la vie ; Qui sait si nous serons demain ? SECOND CHOBUS IN ATHALIAH. 165 SECOND VOICE. Ceased are those high and heaven-taught lays Thy prophet-monarch loved to raise, Hymning his Lord's, his Father's name abroad ! Oh, Zion, who shall speak thy woe While in their place thine impious foe Hymns the deaf idol, and blasphemes the God ? FIRST VOICE. How long, compassionating God, how long Shall bold impenitence thy justice dare ? Rush to thy courts amid the' adoring throng, And mock thy holy congregation there ? How long, Divine forbearance, ah, how long Shall guilt erect its front thy sorrowing saints among ? SECOND VOICE. " What," they cry, " can stern devotion On her cheerless slaves confer ? Pleasure tempts each warm emotion ; Why so cold, so deaf to her?" THIRD VOICE. '• Come, joyously carol ! come, wantonly stray !" (Still some giddy victim of levity cries ;) " Life speeds to its goal like a swift summer-day ; Avaunt then, reflection ! the happy are wise. The joj T s that are near us, oh, taste while ye may, Nor trust the vain future for joys far away ! " 1 66 DEUXIEME CHCEUR d'ATHALIE. LE CHCEUR. Qu'ils pleurent, 6 mon Dieu, qu'ils fremissent de crainte Ces malheureux, qui de ta cite sainte ~Ne verront point l'eternelle splendeur. C'est a nous de chanter, nous a qui tu reveles Tes clartes immortelles, C'est a nous de chanter tes dons et ta grandeur. UNE VOIX. De tous ces vains plaisirs ou leur ame se plonge Que leur restera-t-il ? Ce qui reste d'un songe Dont on a reconnu Ferreur. A leur reveil (6 re veil plein d'horreur !) Pendant que le pauvre a ta table Goutera de ta paix la douceur ineffable, lis boiront dans la coupe affreuse, inepuisable, Que tu presenteras, au jour de ta fureur, A toute la race coupable. LE CHCEUR. O reveil plein d'horreur ! O songe peu durable ! O dangereuse erreur ! Racinb. SECOND CHORUS IN ATHALIAH. 167 FIRST VOICE. Oh, fitter far the thoughtful tear, The boding sigh, the start of fear, Lest Salem's heavenly gate admit not him ! Ours be the rapture, soon to gaze On that new city's cloudless blaze, There the redeeming God to praise, Thron'd with immortal saints and star-crown'd seraphim. SECOND VOICE. Ah ! where, giddy victim, thy dream of delight ? It sinks in the deepening abyss of the past. That hour of awaking must pour on thy sight The children of sorrow triumphant at last, And sharing with angels a blissful repast. 'Tis the path of destruction thy flow'rets are strowing, 'Tis a chaplet of thorns on thy brow thou hast bound ; In the chalice of misery, still overflowing, Shall its fast-falling roses of pleasure be drown'd ! ALL THE CHORUS. Ah ! direful infusion ! Ah ! moment of terror ! Remediless error ! Too transient illusion ! CHOEUE D'ESTHER. Deplorable Sion, qu'as-tu fait de ta gloire ? Tout Punivers admirait ta splendeur : Tu n'est plus que poussiere ; et de cette grandeur II ne nous reste plus que la triste memoire. Sion, jusqivau ciel elevee autrefois, Jusqu'aux enfers maintenant abaissee, Puisse-je demeurer sans voix, Si dans nies chants ta douleur retracee Jusqu'au dernier soupir n'occupe ma pensee ! O rives du Jourdain ! 6 champs aimes des cieui ! Sacres monts, fertiles vallees Par cent miracles signalees ! Du doux pays de nos aieux Serous-nous toujom-s exile'es ? Quand veiTai-je, 6 Sion ! relever tes remparts, Et de tes tours les magnifiques faites ? Quand verrai-je de toutes parts Tes peuples en chantant accourir a tes fetes ? FIEST CHORUS IN ESTHER Where, ruin'd Sion, do thy glories lie ? All lands erewhile thy sacred pomp admir'd ; Now thou art dust ; thy grandeur quite expir'd ; And nought to us remains save mournful memory. Once rais'd to heaven, now crush'd by Heaven's decree, Ah, let this stifled voice for ever fail, If e'er it ceas'd thy misery to bewail, Or, till its latest pulse, this heart wept not for thee ! shores of Jordan, fields by Heaven once blest ; hallo w'd mountain, verdant fruitful vale. Where god -like wonders mark'd each hill or dale, Must we, as wanderers, evermore Our loved and holy land deplore, Still exiled from our great forefathers' rest ? When, fallen Solyma, shall I behold Anew thy gorgeous bulwarks rise ? When shall thy towers, and temple deck'd in gold, Again salute our watching eyes ? When shall I see the countless throng Hailing thy solemn feasts with loud exidtant song ? 170 CHOEUIt d'eSTHER. O Dieu, que la gloire couronne, Dieu, que la lumiere environne, Qui voles sur Paile des vents, Et dont le trone est porte par les anges ; Dieu qui veux bien que de simples enfants Avec eux chantent tes louanges ; Tu vois nos pressants dangers ; Donne a ton nom la victoire ; Ne souffre point que ta gloire Passe a des dieux etrangers. Arme-toi, viens nous defendre : Descends, tel qu'autrefois la mer te vit descendre. Que les mechants apprennent aujourd'hui A craindre ta colere. Qu'ils soient comme la poudre et la paille legere Que le vent chasse devant lui. Racine. FIRST CHORUS IN ESTHER. 171 O God, whose Name through worlds resounds, Whom the pure robe of heavenly light surrounds, Who on the wings of all the winds Fliest, and angelic choirs thy throne upbear, — God, who hast will'd that simplest infant minds Shall in their anthems share, Behold our perils and the' oppressor's sword ! Give to thy Name the victory ! Let not the Power in highest Heaven ador'd, By idol -offerings outraged be ! Lord, arm thyself with might Resistless for us, as of yore When the Red Sea's wild waves, before Thy strong blast, clave in mute affright, And stay'd their dire uproar. Let guilty mortals learn To tremble at thy wrath, And perish as the wither'd grasses burn, Or dust flies scatter'd in the tempest's path ! DEUXIEME CHGEUR D'ESTHER. Dieux impuissants, dieux sourds, tous ceux qui vous im- plement Ne seront jamais entendus : Que les demons, et ceux qui les adorent, Soient a jamais detruits et confondus ! Que ma bouche et mon cceur, et tout ce que je suis, Rendent honneur au Dieu qui m'a donne la vie. Dans les craintes, dans les ennuis, En ses bontes mon ame se confie. Yeut-il par mon trepas que je le glorifie ? Que ma bouche et mon cceur ? et tout ce que je suis, Rendent honneur au Dieu qui m'a donne la vie. Je n'admirai jamais la gloire de l'impie ; Au bonheur du mechant qu'une autre porte envie. Tous ses jours paraissent charmants ; L'or eclate en ses vetements : Son orgueil est sans borne ainsi que sa richesse ; Jamais Fair n'est trouble de ses gemissements ; II s'endort, il s'eveille au son des instruments ; Son cceur nage dans la mollesse. SECOND CHOHUS IN ESTHER. Deaf powerless idols, those on you that call A senseless prayer prefer : Let the dumb demon, and his worshipper, Alike in ruin fall ! O may my lips, my heart, my being, give Sole praise to Him by whom indeed I live ! Amidst alarms and woes, Still on his mercies may my soul repose ! And — wills He to be honour d by my death ? Then may this tongue, this heart, this parting breath, Yield praise to Him from whom my being rose ! The wicked's grandeur ne'er could I admire ; Let others envy when his cup overflows : His days are full of mirth — his rich attire Laden with gold, — while pride luxuriant grows 'Mid wealth and might : no groans his palace knows. He sleeps — then wakes to music's melting tones ; His heart no burden save of pleasures owns. 174 DEUXIEME CHCEUB, D 'ESTHER. Pour comble de prosperite, II espere revivre en sa [ osterite ; Et d'enfants a sa table une riante troupe Semble boire avec lui la joie a pleine coupe. Heureux, dit-on ? le peuple fiorissant Sur qui ces biens coulent en abondance. Plus beureux le peuple innocent Qui dans le Dieu du ciel a mis sa confiance ! Pour contenter ses frivoles desirs L'homme insense vainement se consume : II trouve l'amertume Au milieu des plaisirs. Le bonheur de l'impie est toujours agite : II erre a la merci de sa propre inconstance. Ne cherchons la felicite Que dans la paix de l'innocence. O douce paix ! O lumiere €'ternelle ! Beaute toujours nouvelle ! Heureux le cceur epris de tes attraits. SECOND CHORUS IN ESTHER. I/O To crown prosperities which death may shake, In his descendants hopes he to revive : Around his sumptuous board arrive Full many a blooming girl and reckless boy ; Their jocund laughing group, Circled by flattery's responsive troop, The brimming chalice of his joy partake. Happy (they cry) the lands where pleasures grow, Where earth's delights in rich abundance flow. Ah, no — far happier that obedient race Who on the living God their fix'd reliance place ! Vainly in low desire and base excess Does erring man his life consume : E'en where his joys most amply bloom He tastes an hrward bitterness. The sinner's joy is marr'd by deep unrest ; He errs ; weak victim of a wavering heart : Ah, wisely choose the nobler part, And aim in willing service to be blest ! O cheering peace ! Immortal light ! Beauty still new and ne'er to cease ! Happy the soul that finds in thee delight. 176 DEUXIEME CHCEUR D 'ESTHER. O douce paix ! O lumiere eternelle ! Beaut e toujours nouvelle ! O douce paix ! Heureux le coeur qui ne te perd jamais ! Nulle paix pour Fimpie. II la cherclie, elle fait, Et le calme en son coeur ne trouve point de place : Le glaive au dehors le poursuit ; Le remords au dedans le glace. La gloire des mechants en un moment s'eteint : L'affreux tombeau pour jamais les devore. II n'en est pas ainsi de celui qui te eraint ; II renaitra, mon Dieu, plus brillant que Faurore, O douce paix ! Heureux le cceur qui ne te perd jamais ! PiACI>"E. SECOND CHORUS IN ESTHER. 177 O true and heavenly peace ! Divinest purity ! Beauty that ne'er can perish or decrease ! Happy the heart that shall not forfeit thee. No peace unto the wicked : he would win That boon ; but still it flees : no real calm. The sword pursues without : remorse within Distils her venom ; and he finds no balm. The sinner's glory like a meteor fades ; In the devouring grave his hope is gone ; — Not so the souls whom godly fear pervades, Whom God shall raise more brilliant than the dawn. O sacred peace ! How blest the heart in which its mild increase Shall never cease ! TEOISIEME CHCEUK D'ESTHER. J'ai yu l'impie adore sur la terre ; Pareil au cedre il cacliait dans les cieux Son front audacieux. II semblait a son gre gouverner le tonnerre, Foulait aux pieds ses ennemis vaincus. Je n'ai fait que passer, il n'etait deja plus. Ton Dieu n'est plus irrite ; Rejouis toi, Sion, et sors de la poussiere. Quitte les vetements de ta captivite, Et rej>rends ta splendeur premiere. Les chemins de Sion a la fin sont ouverts : Eompez vos fers Tribus captives ; Troupes fugitives, Repassez les monts et les mers ; Rassemblez-vous des bouts de Punivers, Relevez, relevez les superbes portiques Du temple ou notre Dieu se plait d'etre adore : Que de For le plus pur son autel soit pare, Et que du sein des monts le marbre soit tire. Liban, depouille-toi de tes cedres antiques, Pretres sacres, j>reparez vos cantiques. THIRD CHOEUS IN ESTHER. I saw the impious upon earth ador'd ; Like a tall cedar toward the heaven he soar'd, With his audacious front of tyranny ; Seeming to wield heaven's thunders ; at his foot Lay the crush'd foes in terror mute. — I look'd — and lo, the tyrant ceas'd to be ! Thy God is wroth no more ; Rejoice, O Sion ; lift thee from the dust : Put off the prison garments, to restore Thy glories as at first. Ye captive tribes, your fetters burst : Ye banish'd on earth's farthest shore, Sad fugitives in every land, Who in slow, pining exile weep, — Pass o'er the mountain and the deep, Led by your high Redeemer's hand. Erect anew your beauteous gate, Your temple sacred to the Xame Divine ; Let purest gold his altar decorate, And on its pinnacles the mountain marbles shine. O Lebanon, thy ancient cedars bring ; Prepare, ye priestly choirs, Jehovah's praise to sing. n2 180 TROISIEME CHCEUIt D*ESTHER. Dieu, descends et reviens habiter parmi nous. Terre, fremis d'allegresse et de crainte ; Et vous, sous sa majeste sainte, Cieux, abaissez-vous. Que le Seigneur est bon ! Que son joug est aimable! Heureux, qui des Fenfance en connait la douceur ! Jeune peuple, courez a ce maitre adorable, Les biens les plus charmants n'ont rien de comparable Aux torrents de plaisirs qu'il repand dans un cceur. H s'appaise, il pardonne; Du cceur ingrat qui l'abandonne, II attend le ret our. II excuse notre foiblesse ; A nous chercher meme il s'empresse. Pour l'enfant qivelle a mis au jour Une mere a moins de tendresse. Ah, qui peut avec lui partager notre amour ? Que son nom soit beni ; que son nom soit chante ; Que Ton celebre ses ouvragea Au-dela des temps et des ages, Au-dela de l'eternite. Baciks. THIRD CHORUS IN ESTHER. 181 Descend, great God ; return and dwell with thine ! Tremble, O earth, with reverent glad surprise ! Before his awful holiness And majesty Divine, Abase yourselves in subject lowliness, Ye lords of earth and skies ! Our Lord, how good ! How light his hallow'd yoke ! Blest who from childhood own that gentle sway ! Earth's sweetest charm can no delight convey Compared with the pure bliss which Heaven will ne'er revoke. His grace relents and pardons ; long attends, In patient love, the' ungrateful hearts' access : Our weakness pities, to our misery bends : Yea, for the nursling that her bosom bare, Less deep, less true, a mother's tenderness ! — — Ah, who with Him our chiefest love may share ? His name be ever blest, for ever sung ; His wondrous mercies laud with grateful tongue, Beyond the cycles countless }-ears enfold, Throughout eternities unmeasur'd and untold. SONNET, Grand Dieu, tes jugements sont remplis d'equite, Toujours tu prends plaisir a nous etre propice. Mais j'ai fait tant de mal que jamais ta bonte Ne me pardonnera sans blesser ta justice. Oai. mon Dieu, la grandeur de mon impiete Ne laisse a ton pouvoir que le choix de supplice : Ton interet s'oppose a ma felicite, Et ta clemence meme attend que je perisse. Contente ton desir puisqu'il t'est glorieux, Oflfense-toi des pleurs qui coulent de mes yeux. Tonne, frappe, il est temps ; rends-moi guerre pour guerre. J'adore en perissant la raison qui t'aigrit. Mais dessus quel endroit tombera ton tonnerre, Qui ne soit tout couvert du sang de Jesus Christ ? Desbarreaux SONNET. Great God, thy judgments are supremely right ; Thy joy is ever to forgive and spare : But such my guilt is, if thy goodness e'er Me pardon- d, it would wrong thy justice quite. Yes, Lord, my hold revolts in thy pure sight Leave power hut choice of sufferings to prepare, — Thine honour must forbid me bliss to share ; Thy very clemency my doom shall write. Fulfil that doom, which vindicates thy ways ; Reject the tears which from these eyelids start ; Crush ; strike ; 'tis time ; the rebel's course arrest Lost, thy destroying justice I must praise. But — on what spot can thy keen lightning dart, Not laved in life -blood from my Saviour's breast ? EECOUKS A DIEU. O mon Dieu, fais stir moi lever de ta lumiere L'eclat paisible et saint qui rejouit mon coaur ; Dissipe a sa clarte, cette nuit meurtriere Ou me plonge P amour d'un monde seducteur ; Viens et releve-moi, du sein de la poussiere J'implore tes bontes, releve-moi, Seigneur ! Du sein de ses langueurs a toi mon coeur s'adresse, O Dieu fidele et doux, Dieu prompt a pardonner ! Toi, qui pretes Foreille a mes cris de detresse, Toi, qui veux de ta gloire un jour me couronner ; Tes bras me sont ouverts ; ineffable tendresse, A tes puissants attraits je veux m'abandonner. Viens inonder mon coaur des clartes de ta face, Esprit du Dieu vivant, Dieu saint, Dieu plein d'amour ! Repands-y cette paix, compagne de ta grace, Cette joie a l'abri de tout amer retour ; Et, dans mon cceur change, viens effacer la trace Des plaisirs et des maux du terrestre sejour. RECOUESE TO GOD. Father in heaven, O shed thy glorious light In calm and hallo w'd lustre thro' my soul ; Dispelling all the mists of deathful night Which spring from choice of the world's hase control : Come, from the dust my grovelling spirit raise, And let thy new compassions wake my fervent praise ! Amidst its languors turns my heart to Thee ; Faithful, gracious, ready to forgive : Who lend'st thine ear to suppliant misery, Who wilt one day the crown of glory give : Thine arms invite me ; to thy love, reveal' d In godlike tenderness, my sinful self I yield ! Pour on this heart the splendour of thy smile, O living Lord, whence real joy must flow : Impart thy peace, thy pleasures without guile, — The gladness which no bitterness shall know ; And from my renovated soul efface The low delights and ills of this terrestrial place. I x »"t BEC0UB8 A DIEU. Quo la foi, m'elovant but sea puissantes ailes, M'ontraiiic desormais vers cee climate heureux, Ou Dieu, des cieux nouveaux. but les terres nouvellcs, Etendra pour toujours le eoiutre merveilleux ; Ou, paimi see tribus paisibles ot fideles, Begnera lo Sauvcur, qu'admireront rues yeux. Frederic CHAYAN>Efc. RECOURSE TO GOD. 187 Let faith uplift me on her strenuous wing Towards the blest realm of thy new heavens and earth ; Those blissful mansions of the' Eternal King, Where saintly choirs exult in " awful mirth;" Where, midst the ransom'd, who " can die no more/' Their loving Saviour reigns, and the glad hosts adore. CANTIQUE I. Vers toi ? Seigneur ! au jour de la tristesse, Mon ame exhale un douloureux soupir ; Et s'appuyant but ta sainte promesse, Peut a la fois esperer et souffrir. Que ton pouvoir dissipe au loin Forage Qui vient ternir le flambeau de ma foi, Et me conduise au celeste rivage, Sur le rocher trop eleve pour moi. Dans le peril, a. l'onibre de tes ailes, Je puis trouver secours, securite ; Et je regois de tes mains paternelles Force et repos dans mon cceur agite. Quand je succombe aux combats de la vie. II me suffit de regarder vers toi ; Mon ame alors est soudain recueillie Sur le rocher trop eleve pour moi. II vient le jour de notre delivrance ; De tous nos maux s'approche aussi la fin. O mon Sauveur ! donne-moi Tassurance Que nul ne peut me ravir de ta main. HYMN I. To Thee, Lord, in sorrow's dark hour My soul breathes her penitent sigh ; She leans on thy promise, thy grace, and thy power, And hopes, — for the Saviour is nigh. Let mercy the tempests dispel Where faith's feeble taper would die ; And fix me, where safely the perfected dwell, On the Eock that is higher than I ! Midst perils, beneath thy kind shade For refuge and rest will I fly ; On thy fatherly arm, thine omnipotent aid, For strength and repose I rely. When I faint in the warfare of life, I will look to the Holy and High ; My soul shall escape from its tumult and strife To the Eock that is higher than I. Thy glorious redemption draws near ; Time's billows roll rapidly by ; O Saviour, sustain me, midst sadness and fear Unchangeable love to descry ! 190 C ANTIQUE I. Quand de la mort, messagere fidele, Je subirai l'inevitable loi, Que clans les cieux ta douce voix m'appelle Sur le rocher trop eleve pour moi. Chants Chretiens. 191 When death — solemn envoy — shall come, And in weakness and anguish I lie, Let thy voice of compassion hut summon me home, To the Eock that is higher than I. Collection used by French Protestants. CANTIQUE IT. De quoi t'alarmes tu mon coeur ? Ranime ton courage : Souviens-toi de ton Createur : Ta tristesse 1' outrage. Car le Dieu fort Regie ton sort, Enfant du Dieu supreme, II te connait, il t'aime. Viens contempler le firmament : Dis, si ton ceil embrasse Les mondes que le Tout-Puissant A semes dans l'espace. Nl ton savoir, Ni ton pouvoir, Ne te rendront capable De faire un grain de sable. Connais le Dieu de l'univers Et ton insuffisance ; II a mille moyens divers, Tout prets pour ta defense. Et dans ses bras Tu ne perds pas, Au fort de la tempete, Un cheveu de ta tete. HYMN II. What thus alarms thee, fainting heart ? Why sink in trouble's hour ? Think of that God by whom thou art ; Thy sadness wrongs his power. He that still reigns, Thy lot ordains ; Beloved and guarded without end By Him, thy everliving friend. Go — scan the heavens — survey them hence ; Say — can thy sight embrace All worlds with which Omnipotence Hath sown the fields of space ? Not all thy skill, Thy power, thy will, Can nerve thy feeble brain or hand But to create one grain of sand. Know, then, the God that ruleth all ; Thy own dependence know ; A thousand shields at his high call Shall screen thee from each foe. Nor shalt thou lose, Except He choose, Though fiercest storms burst o'er thy head, One hair upon thy temples spread. 194 C ANTIQUE II. Tu formas rhomme de limon, Auteur de toutes choses ! Tu revets mieux que Salomon Les lis des champs, les roses. Quoi ? Tout le ciel, Pere eternel ! Te coute une parole, Et ton fils se desole. Les mondes roulant clans les cieux, Et la fleur que je cueille, L 'accord des astres radieux, La chute d'une feuille, Tout suit ta loi ; Serai -je, moi, Contre la loi commune, Soumis a la fortune ? Bannis done, mon coeur, les soucis, Car ta douleur t'abuse ; Apres t' avoir donne son Fils. Est-ce que Dieu refuse A son enfant Le vetement, Le toit, le pain, la vie ? Crains-tu qu'il ne toublie ? HYMN II. i •'•" Author of all, thy plastic power, Which form'd us first of clay, More gorgeous makes the brilliant flower Than Eastern king's array. Thou spak'st, and those Bright heavens arose ; Remotest stars confess thy ceaseless care ; And yet thy faithless child can half despair. The worlds in farthest heaven that roll, The flowers of varied guise, The orbs revolving round the pole, The leaf that droops and dies, Thy law still own : But I alone, — (Against the laws which sway them all)- I to blind chance or fortune fall ? My heart, let faithless fears be gone ! Such griefs his love abuse : Will He who gave his own beloved Son And spar'd not, now refuse To thee his child, Amid earth's wild, The roof, food, raiment, comforts thou shah need ? Fear'st thou Omniscience cannot heed ? o 2 1UG c antique n. Je te remets, Dieu de bonte ! Dieu tout -puissant ! ma vie, Mon corps, rues biens, ma liberie, Les miens et ma patrie. Par ce mojen Je ne perds rien, Car une main si sure Rend tout avec usure. Yeux-tu me donner des plaisirs ? •Pen benis ta tendresse ; Veux-tu traverser mes desirs ? J'adore ta sagesse. Je sais, je vois En qui je crois. Ta volonte, mon Pere ! Me sera toujours cbere. Je me jettrai dans tea bras Si tu veux que je meure : O mon Dieu ! ne me quitte pas ; Viens a ma demiere lieure. Viens nr assistcr, Et transporter Mon ame en son agile, Et je mourrai tranquille. t* Chretiens. J HYMN II. 19*3 God of grace, omnipotent, My little all be in thy hands, Health, freedom, strength, emolument, My own, — my native land's. Taught thus to choose, Nought can I lose, — Those hands, which all things must control, With usury shall give hack the whole. Is it thy will enjoyments to bestow ? 1 bless thy mercy's store : Or wilt Thou rather thwart me and bring low ? Thy wisdom I adore. I know in whom, Beyond the tomb, My faith is fix'd ; thy holy will to me, My God, my Father, ever dear shall be. On thy kind arms my feeble self I'll cast When Thou shalt bid me die ! My Lord, forsake me not at last, Receive my 'expiring sigh : In death's dark shade Be Thou mine aid : Thus shall my spirit to thy home unseen Wing her untroubled flight in hope serene. Collection used by French Protestants. CAXTIQUE III. Pourquoi, Seigneur, pourquoi mille doutes penibles Viennent-ils dans mon ame obscurcir tes clartes ? Xe puis-je done marcher dans ces routes paisible? ( )u marehent tant de rachetes ? De ton divin Esprit les premieres largesses X'etaient-elles done point on gage d'avenir ? Et ta bonte. pour moi prodigue de promesses, A-t-elle oublie de benir ? Du soleil de ta grace on rayon perce encore Cette nuit deplorable ou tu me fais marcher. Mais est-ce la, Seigneur, le declin ou Paurore Du jour que j'aimais a chercher? Eprouves-tu ma foi ? maudis-tu ma faiblesse Et veux-tu me confondi-e, ou veux-tu me sauver ? Ce jour doit-il grandir, ou dans une ombre epaisse Descendre et ne plus se lever ? Je parlais : le Seigneur entendit mes murmures ; II laissa s'exhaler l'angoisse de mon cceur ; Puis, comme vers le soir. dans les forets obscure-. Un doux bruit roule avec lenteur, HYMN III. Ah, wherefore, Lord, do thousand doubts assault My spirit, and obscure thy healing rays ? Why, unlike others who thy grace exalt, May I not peaceful walk in wisdom's ways ? Were not thy Spirit's earliest largesses Earnests of streams more copious yet to flow ? Doth heavenly love — profuse in promises — Forget my need, or not my conflict know ? Still from the Sun of grace a glimmering ray Pierces the mournful shades which I bewail ; But is it thy last beam ? or is it day Xew-dawning, which my spirit longs to hail ? Faith wilt thou prove ? or doubt and fear upbraid ? Is it thy will to ruin — or to bless ? Shall the dawn grow to noonday ? or the shade Descend more densely, and thy light suppress ? So spake my heart : the Lord its murmurings heard And let it still the lengthen'd anguish bear ; Then, as in forest glades at evening stirr'd, Some gentle rustling waves the darken'd air, 200 C ANTIQUE III. De meme dans mon cceur, d'abord faible et confuse. En sons demi-voiles une voix s'eleva : Ingrat, me disait-elle, ingrat ! ton ame accuse Le Dieu tout bon qui la sauva ! Ton infidelite le declare infidele, Et dans ce meme instant ou ton cceur le trahit, Dans le fond de ce cceur, obstine'ment rebelle. O'est lui qui soupire et gemit. A ton esprit superbe il faut plus de lumiere ! Mais dans ta nuit premiere il pouvait te laisser ; Et dans la meme nuit, il pouvait, temeraire, Te redescendre et t'enfoncer. Ah ! jouis du rayon que sa bonte te laisse ; Accepte avec amour Fepreuve de ta foi : Attends ; le jour approche ou sa baute sagesse Se rendra visible pom 1 toi. I'n ravon te suffit ; tant d'autres n'ont pas meme Ce ravon bienfaiteur pour assurer leurs pas ! Ah ! demande pour eux a PArbitre supreme Le bien qui ne te manque pas. Des doutes importuns assiegent ta pensee : Cherche, examine, prie et benis le Seigneur, Lorsque tout s'obscurcit a ta vue abusee, Excepte la voix du Sauveur. HYMN III. 201 So, in my soul, a voice, at first confus'd And weak, in accents half reveaPd arose ; Ingrate, (it cried) thy spirit hath accus'd The Fount of o-oodness — whence all mercy flows. Thy unhelief infers thy God untrue ; Yet e'en while thus thy heart his grace belies, Within that secret heart, rebellious too, His mercy pleads, his Holy Spirit sighs. Yes, thy proud spirit claims a clearer light ; But, inborn darkness might have been thy doom ; E'en now, rash one, in that rayless night He could thy soul incarcerate, entomb. Improve, enjoy, the ray his grace supplies ; Accept with love faith's trial-hours severe ; Wait : — for the day draws nigh when his all-wise And gracious guidance brightly shall appear. Enough one ray ; — what myriads ne'er possess'd That healing ray their dubious course to guide ! O from the Fount of life for them request That beam which to thy faith is ne'er denied. Importunate doubts thy darkling mind assail ; Search, prove, then supplicate thy faith's increase ; Though hope may languish, and assurance fail, Trust in the Saviour's word, still whispering peace ! 202 C ANTIQUE HI. Que je sens a la fois de honte et d'allegresse Quand ta voix, 6 mon Dieu, m'accuse et me reprend ! Je sens que j'ai failli ; mais panni ma tristesse, Je sens que je suis ton enfant. Je veux ce que tu veux, 6 Sagesse profonde ! De doutes tenebreux que je marclie entoure : Ton doux rayon me luit dans les sentiers du monde ; Que je le voie, et je vivrai ! Chants Chretiens. hymn ni. 203 How deep my 'abasement — jet what joy I gain — As thy voice chides this heart, so oft beguiled ; I mourn my failures, but, amidst my pain, The child so humbled, Lord — is yet thy child. I will what Thou wilt, Wisdom Infinite ! Still with dark doubts environ' d let me roam, Thy one beam aids me through this mortal night, And leads me to the splendours of thy home. Collection used by French Protestants. C ANTIQUE IV, Di rocher de Jacob toute Foeuvre est parfaite : Ce que sa Louche a dit sa main Faccomplira. Alleluia ! Alleluia ! Car il est notre Dieu, notre haute retraite. [Del forte di Giacohbe Tutta perfetta e l'opra, Del labbro il detto a compiere La man possente adopra. Alleluia. Alleluia ! Poiche egli e nostro Dio. Xostro rifugio egli e.] C'est pour Feternite que le Seigneur nous aime ; Sa grace en notre cceur jamais ne cessera. Alleluia ! Alleluia ! Car il est notre espoir, notre bonheur supreme. [Egli il Signore FEtemo, C'ama di eterno amore ; La grazia ond' ei convalida Mai verm meno al cuore : Alleluia, Alleluia ! Poich' egli e nostra speme, Supremo ben egli e.] HYMN IV. Our God is Israel's rock; his work is perfect ; still, Each promise of his lips to verify Avails his sovereign will. Hallelu-jah, to Him most high ! For Jehovah is our God, Our mighty fortress He ! He, Jehovah, the Eternal, loveth with unending love ; And the grace with which He strengthens, ne'er shall from our hearts remove ; Hallelu-jah. — to Him most high ! All our hopes on Him rely ; Our good supreme is He ! 206 CANTIQUE IV. De tous nos ennemis il sait quel est le nombre ; Son bras combat pour nous et nous delivrera. Alleluia ! Alleluia ! Les mediants devant lui s'enfuiront comme une ombre. [E de' nemici nostri Tutte le schiere ha note : Sorga alia pugna, e liberi Fame il suo braccio puote. Alleluia, Alleluia ! L' iniquo al suo cospetto Com' ombra svanira.] Notre sepulcre aussi connaitra sa victoire : Sa voix au dernier jour nous ressuscitera. Alleluia! Alleluia! Pour nous, ses rachetes, la mort se change en gloire. [E nel sepolcro istesso Saprem la sua vittoria ; Ch' ei ne dim : levatevi, Nel di della sua gloria. Alleluia, Alleluia ! E a noi redenti, in vita La morte cangiera.] Louons done FEternel, notre Dieu, notre Pere, Le Seigneur est pour nous : contre nous qui sera ? Alleluia ! Alleluia ! Triomphons en Jesus, et vivons pour lui plaire. HYMN IV. 207 He hath known all our cruel foe's array ; Let him once rise to war, his arm shall make us free. Hallelu-jah — to Him most high ! His be the praise and victory ; The wicked from his searching eye Like shadows melt away. E'en the dark grave shall magnify his power ; His voice shall bid the ransom'd dust arise, In his own glorious advent-hour, With rapturous surprise ! Hallelu-jah ! the Lord most high Hath foird the grave's brief victory : Stern Death's destruction He ! 208 CAXTIQUE IV. [Lode all' Eterno, lode A lui, chi e Dio, chi e Padre ! Chi contro noi, b' Ei vigila^ Dalle celesti squadre ? Alleluia, Alleluia ! Xel Ckristo si trionfi, E fidi a lui viviam.] HYMN IV. 209 Praise ye the' Eternal, Him, our Father, praise : If He be for us, who, ah, who. Against as can a mortal warfare raise, Or his great work undo ? Hallelu-jah ! to Him most high ! In Christ we triumph, and anew To him devote our days. Collection used by French Protestants. A version in Italian, used by the Vaudois at Turin, has been added; and the English translation is framed chiefly on this latter. TRANSLATIONS FROM THE ITALIAN. p2 212 SOKETTO I. Forse perche d'altrui pieta mi vegna, Perche dell' altrui colpe io piu non rida, Seguendo mal sicura e falsa guida, Caduta e Palma che fu gia si degna. Sotto qual debba ricovrare insegna Non so, Signor, se la tua non m'affida ! Temo al tumulto dell 5 avverse strida Perire, ove'l tuo amor non mi sostegna. La tua came, il tuo sangue, e quella estrema Doglia che ti die morte, il mio peccato Purghi in cli'io nacqui, e nacque il padre mio. Tu solo il puoi, la tua pieta suprema Soccorra al mio dolente iniquo stato. Si presso a morte, e si lontan da Dio. Michel-Angelo. 213 SONNET I. Betkay'd by sense, that false and perilous guide, My soul hath sunk from her celestial aim : Perchance, that I might pity where I blame ; And ne'er henceforth another's fall deride. Beneath what banner can I stand again, Except in thine, O Saviour, I confide ? I tremble, 'midst the foe's tumultuous tide To perish quite, unless thy love sustain. Let thy own bloodshedding — the pangs extreme Of thy Divine oblation, Lord, efface My sinful stains, my inbred misery ! Thou only canst. O let thy love supreme Relieve my sins and woes with heavenly grace, Who am so close to death, so far from Thee ! 214 SOXETTO II. Scarco d'una importuna e grave salma, Signore eterno, e dal mondo disciolto, Qual fragil legno, a te stanco mi volto Dall* orribil proeolla in dolce calma. Le spine, i cliiodi, e Tuna e l'altra palma, Col tno benigno mnil lacero volto, Prometton grazia di pentirsi molto, E speme di salute alia trist' alma. Non miri con giustizia il divin lnme Mio fallo, o Foda il tuo sacrato orecchio, Xe in quel si volga il braccio tno severo. Tuo sangue lavi l'empio mio costume. E piu m'abbondi, quant o io son piu veccliio, Di pronta aita e di perdono intero. Michel- Anqelo. 215 SONNET II. Beleas'd from the sore load my soul hath borne, Eternal Kino-, and from the world set free, Like a frail bark, I, wearied, turn to Thee, From the dire storm, reposing while I mourn. The thorns, the nails, the gentle hands so torn, The face benignly meek, yet blood besprent, All promise grace with fervour to repent, And speak salvation to my soul forlorn. Let not thine eye, in awful justice grave, Behold my trespass, nor thine ear attend ; Nor hither turn thy forceful arm severe ! But let thy blood my sullied vesture lave, And amply grant, while in old age T bend, Thy prompt, full pardon, — for stern Death is near. 216 SONETTO III. Mentre m'attrista e duel, parte m'e caro Ciascon pensier eh' a memoria mi riede Del tempo andato, e che ragion mi fiede l)e" di perduti, onde dob e riparo. Caro m'e sol, perch' anzi morte imparo Quant" ogni uman diletto ha corta fede : Tristo m'e, ch'a trovar grazia e mercede, Negli ultimi anni, a molte colpe e rare. Che, bench' alle promesse tue s'attenda. Sperar forse, Signore, e troj>po ardire, Ch'ogni BOperchio indngio amor perdoni. Ma pur nel sangue tuo par si comprenda, S'egual per noi non ebbe il tuo martire, Ch'oltre a misura nan tuoi cari doni. Michel-Angelo. 217 SONNET III; How deeply sad, and yet in part how dear, Each musing thought that to my memory brings Time gone ; though reason chides me, hat its wing? Bore hence lost days, no more to reappear. Dear ; for thus, ere I die, the truth grows clear, Life's joys and treasures all are brief and vain : Sad ; since how rare for one thy grace to' obtain, Laden with sins prolong'd till life's last year. Albeit on thy sure promise I recline, It may be, Lord, my hope too boldly dreams That latest guilt shall not thy love repel. Yet still thy blood proclaims with voice Divine — If matchless was the anguish that redeems, Why not Love's triumphs measureless as well ? 218 SONETTO IV. Deh ! fammiti vedere in ogni loco, Che, se infiammar dal tuo lume mi sento, Ogni altro ardor nell' alma mia fia spento. Pel sempre accesa viver nel tuo foco. Io te chiamo, Signor. te solo invoco Contro l'inutil mio cieco tomiento ; Tu mi rinnuova in sen col pentimento Le voglie, e'l senno e'l valor ch'e si poco. Tu desti al tempo i'animach'e diva, E in questa spoglia si fragile e stanca La incarcerasti. e desti al suo destino. Tu la nutri, e sostieni. e tu l'avviva ; Ogni ben senza te, Signor, le manca : La sua salute e sol poter divino. MICHEL-AXCELO. 219 SOXXET IV. Am, Lord, at all times let me Thee discern ; That when thy inner sunlight warms my heart. Each earthborn flame may languish and depart. And in my soul thy sacred Brightness burn ! On Thee I call ; to Thee alone I turn, From sin's fell sting sole Refuge and relief; O renovate in me, with penitent grief, The wise and strong resolves I fail to learn ! Thou gav'st to time and sense the heavenborn soul. And in this fragile, weak, and weary frame Didst thus inhume — its destin'd lot to' endure. nourish it, sustain and make it whole, — Its weal without Thee is an empty name, — From Thee must spring its true immortal cm 220 S0XETT0 V. Bex sarian dolci le preghiere mie, So virtu mi prestassi da pregarte ; Xel mio terreno infertil non e parte Da produr frutto di virtu natie. Tu il seme se' dell' opre giuste e pie, ( lie la germoglian dove ne fai parte ; Nessun proprio valor pud seguitarte, Se non gli niostri le tue belle vie. Tu nella mente mia pensieri infondi Che producano in me si vivi effetti, Signor, ch 5 io segua i tuoi vestigj santi ; E dalla lingua mia cliiari e facondi Sciogli della tua gloria ardenti detti. Perche sempre io ti lodi, esalti. e canti. Michel- Angelo. 221 SONNET V. How sweet were my approaches to thy throne, If Thou wouldst grant true energy for prayer ; This sterile heart, unless thy grace it share, No precious fruits of love and zeal can own. By Thee let seeds of holiness be sown, Which there will germinate where mercy flows ; In nature's wild no ripening harvest grows : All hallow'd aims and acts are thine alone ! Through my whole soul infuse the thoughts which soar To Thee, and all its languid powers impel, Thy sinless footsteps, Saviour, to pursue ; So from this tongue let grateful accents pom- ; Unloos'd, the strains of ardent joy to swell, Hymning thy praise in anthems ever new ! SOKETTO VI. Xox e piu bassa o vil eosa terreiia Di quel che, senza te, misero, io soiio ; Oncle nel lungo error chiede perdono La debile mia 'nferma e stanca lena. Porgimi, alto Signor, quella catena Che seco annoda ogni celeste dono ; La fede, dico, a cui mi volgo e sprono, Fuggendo il senso ch'a perir mi mena. Tanto mi fia maggior quanto e piu raru Dei doni il dono : e maggior fia se, senza. Pace e contento il mondo in se non have. Per questa il fonte sol del pianto aniaro Mi puo nascer nel cor di penitenza, Xe'l ciel si schiude a noi con altra chiave. Michel-Angelo. 223 SONNET VI. There is no earthly thing more vile or vain, Than, without Thee, the hapless wanderer — I ; Oh, midst my baseness and my penury, Let these faint faltering* cries thy pardon gain ! Lend me, O Lord most high, the sacred chain To which is link'd each grace that heaven inspires ; That faith to which I lift my soul's desires, Abjuring sense and sin, our mortal bane. More dear and precious, as more rare, appears That boon of boons ; without it no repose, Or true content, has this low world supplied ; By it alone the fount of penitent tears Is open'd, and in contrite streams overflows ; Thy home, thy heaven, unlocks no key beside. 224 SONETTO VII Sb spesso awien che'l gran desir prometta Molti lieti anni ai miei passati, ancora. Manco nr e cara, e piu m' e grave ognora Tanto la vita quanto piu diletta. E che piu vita, e che gioir s'aspetta ? Gioia terrena con lunga dimora. Contento uman che si l'alnie innamora, Tanto piu nuoce quanto piu n'alletta. Pero quando tua grazia in me rinnuova Fede ? ed amor, con quello ardente zelo Che vince ? 1 mondo, e Talma fa sicura, Quando piu scarco tua pieta mi trova. Stendi tua santa mano a trarmi al cielo ; Che in uman cuor giusto voler non dura. Michel- Angblo. 225 SONNET VII. If my too sanguine wishes oft foretell Some added years more joyous than before, Yet the less dear, and serious yet the more Is life, thus prone with vain delight to swell. Why more of days ? and why on pleasures dwell ? Pleasures terrene, with long and dark delays ? When worldly joy but flatters and betrays The heart, that loves its soft deceits too well. So when thy grace within me shall augment True faith, pure love, and meekly fervent zeal The world to vanquish and thy joys ensure ; When my freed spirit toward thy heaven is bent, — Then soon let welcome death those mercies seal ; For perfect goodness here can ne'er endure. 226 SONETTO VIII. Giunto e gia'l corso della vita mia Con tempestoso mar per fragil barca Al comun porto, ov'a render si varca Giusta ragion d' ogni opra trista e pia ; Onde I'affettuosa fantasia, Che Parte si fece idolo e monarca, Conosco ben quant' era d' error carca ; Ch' errore e cid che P uom quaggiu desia. Gli amorosi pensier gia vani e lieti Che fian or s'a due morti m'awicino? L' una m'e certa, e Faltra mi minaccia. Ne pinger, ne scolpir fia piu che queti L' anima volta a quell' amor divino, Ch' aperse a prender noi in croce le braccia. Michel-Angelo. 227 SONNET VIII. Closing is now my transient life's career, — A storm-tost voyage, in this vessel frail, To that last bourne where justice will unveil The secret annals of this earthly sphere. Thus now the phantasy, so fond, so dear, Which made me kindred arts as idols hail, I own was but an error soon to fail, For error is the choice of mortals here. What profit now vain passion's lure or smile, If to the twofold death my being sink, Sure of the first, and of the last in dread ? Nor painting now nor sculpture can beguile The soul, — embracing, on death's awful brink, Love's arms for us upon the Cross outspread. Q 2 228 ELEGIA. Gia piansi e sospirai, misero tanto Ch' io ne credei per sempre ogni dolore Coi sospiri esalar, versar col pianto. Ma morte al fonte di cotal umore Le radici e le vene ognora impingua, E duol rinnova all' alma e pen a al cuore. Dimque in un punto sol parta e distingua Due querele amarissime per voi Altro pianto, altra penna, e altra lingua. Di te, fratel, di te che d'ambi noi Genitor fosti, amor mi sprona e stringe, Ne so qua! doglia piu m'affliga e annoi. La memoria Pun prima mi clipinge, L' altro vivo scolpisce in mezzo al seno Nuova pieta che di pallor mi tinge. E ver ch'alP alto empireo sereno Tornati, com* amor mi persuade, Ho da quetar l'affanno ond'io son pieno. Ingiusto e '1 duol che dentro un petto cade Per chi riporta a Dio la propria messe, Sciolto dal mondo e da sue torte strade. 229 ELEGY. (ON THE DEATHS OF A FATHER ANT) A BROTHER. ^ Already had I so much wept and sigh'd That I believ'd even my uttermost woe Exhal'd in sighing and in weeping dried : But death, redoubled, swells the gloomy flow From these deep founts of sorrow ; points anew The keenness of those griefs that pierce my heart, While tears, pen, tongue, combine in sad review The sharp bereavements in their twofold smart. With thee, my brother ; and, my sire, with thee — Parent of both — deep love my heart entwines ; Nor know I which pain more o'ermastereth me. Now memory paints the first in vivid lines, Then, pale with grief, my filial piety Engraves our father's form, and in this soul enshrines. 'Tis true, that in celestial heights serene, Where love assures me the belov'd ones rest, I find a hope consoling, though unseen. Twere ill that cureless woe should rack the breast When souls to God their ripen'd harvest bear, Keleas'd from earth, and earth's perplexing care. 230 ELEGIA. Ma qual core e crudel, che non piangesse, Non dovendo veder di qua piu mai Chi gli die Pesser pria, nutrillo, e resse? Nostri intesi dolori, e nostri guai Son come piu o men ciascun gli sente, E quanto io debil sia, Signor, tu'l sai. E se pur Palma alia ragion consente, Si duro e'l fren per cui Paffanno ascondo, Che'n farle forza piu mi fo dolente. E se'l pensier nel quale io mi profondo, Non mi mostrasse al fin ch' oggi tu ridi Del morir che temesti in questo mondo, Conforto non avrei ; ma i dm*i stridi Tempvati son d'una credenza ferma Ch'uom ben vissuto, a morte in ciel s'annidi Nostro intelletto dalla carne inferma E tanto oppresso, che'l morir piu spiace. Quanto piii'l falso persuaso afferma. Xovanta volte P annua sua face Ha ? l sol nelP ocean b&gnata e molle Pria che sii giimto alia divina pace. Or ch' a nostra miseria il ciel ti tolle, Increscati di me che morto vivo, Se'l ciel per te quaggiu nascer mi voile. Tu se' del morir morto, e fatto divo, Xe temi or piu cangiar vita ne voglia, Che quasi senza invidia non lo scrivo. ELEGY. 231 Yet cruel were the heart that would not mourn When doom'd no more his love on earth to share, By whom life dawn'd, was nurtur'd, cheer'd, upborne ! Our pains and crosses fix'd or transient are As soft emotions heighten or decay. But mine how weakly tender, Lord, is known To Thee, discerner of all hearts, alone. And if they bend to reason's rigid sway, So hard is then the curb which grief restrains, That in its stern restraint my soul the more complains. Did not deep, earnest thought persuade me so That there thou smil'st at Death — once dreaded king — Vain were all solace ; but now sharpest woe Is temper'd by the faith unquestioning That vanished saints a heavenly rest obtain. Yet oft our fleshly load high hopes can quell, And still, if false suspicions blindly reign, The more must gloomy death the shrinking heart repel. Through ninety winters did the sun's decline His radiant orb in the cold ocean lave, Ere thou couldst reach thy goal of peace divine. Now, when Heaven shields thee from the stormy wave, Mourn thou for me whom dying life still binds, (Since by Heaven's will that life to Thee I owe,) Whilst thou, from death releas'd, 'midst heavenly minds, Canst ne'er that deathless life and love forego ; And my heart sighs to join thee, as my numbers flow. 232 Fortuna e tempo dentro a vostra soglia Xon tenia trapassar, per cui s' adduce Infra dubbia letizia carta doglia. Nube non e ch'oscuri vostra luce, L'ore distinte a voi non fanno forza, Caso o necessita non vi conduce. Vostro splendor per notte non s'amuiorza. Ne cresce mai per giorno bench e chiaro, E quando'l sol piu suo calor rinforza. Nel tuo rnorire il mio morire imparo, Padre felice, e nel pensier ti veggio Dove '1 mondo passar ne fa di raro. Non e, corn'alcun crede^ niorte il peggio A chi T ultimo di trascende al primo, Per grazia eterna, appresso al divin seggio : Dove, la Dio merce, ti credo e stimo, E spero di veder, s'el freddo cuore Mia ragion tragge dal terrestre limo. E se tra ? l padre e'l figlio ottimo amore Cresce nel ciel, crescendo ogni virtute. Rendendo gloria al mio divin fattore, Godero con la mia la tua salute. Michel-Angelo. ELEGY. 233 Fortune and time, which still are mingling here Our dubious gladness with undoubted pains, Can seek no entrance to that glorious sphere. No envious cloud obscures its blissful plains ; No fleeting hours to vanish'd hope compel ; No needs, no hazards, wear your joys away ; Your splendour there no sullen night shall quell, Nor asks it fervours from the sun's faint ray. Yes ; by thy blessed death I learn to die, My sainted father ; and in thought pursue Thee to that realm of light which worldlings scarce descry. Death is not, as they dream, a dark adieu For him whose final day the first excels ; Thro' heavenly grace brought near the' Eternal Sire, Where, thanks to Him, I feel thy spirit dwells, And hope to see thee, if his holy fire Cleanse this cold heart at length, reclaim'd from earthly mire. And if a parent's and a child's best love Augment in heaven, where every grace must grow, Thy joy with mine shall heighten bliss above, And all the praise be his who made and lov'd us so. 234 SOXETTO IX. Deh ! sara mai quel giomo, in cui siciiro Padre Divino, del tuo perclono io sia ? Si spaventevol dubbio al alma mia Verso tm Padre si buon — abi troppo e dure-. Ma pur non soffre il mio peccato impure- Cbe facil pace il traditor si dia, E non merto pieta di colpa ria, Che rimesser vorrei, pianger non euro. Forse il dubbio per freno a me conviene, Che all' uomo pellegrin non si conface Yivere in sicurta d'un tanto bene. Pieghasi al tuo voler mia brama audace, Sia cammino di prova amar con pene Che beato riposo e amar con pace. Carlo Maggi. 235 SONNET IX. Ah ! Holy Lord, will e'er that daybreak shine, Which of thy grace shall quite my soul assure ? These fearful doubtings which I yet endure Toward my best Father, — tempt me to repine. But my deep guilt forbids that peace be mine Unbrokenly, — albeit thy grace is sure. Well may the clouds of sin that peace obscure, Till tearful penitence my soul refine. Methinks these fears in kind restraint are meant, That so, half dubious of so vast a gain, The contrite pilgrim from self-will may cease. Oh, to thy will let rash desires be bent, And thus the arduous path of love and pain Endear the blissful home of love and neace ! 236 SONETTO X. Axima mia, di tua viltade oppressa, Perche si cara a Dio, si ti contristi ? Dio vuol amore, e tu all' amor resisti. Che cessa amor ove fidanza cessa. Pensa del regno eterno alia promessa, Che qui del nulla ad aspettar venisti, Le forze ch'ei ti die perche il conquisti In su la cetra al tuo Signor confessa. Egli ti parla ognor' di sua bontade, Deh ! non t'amareggiar con tua tristezza La manna che dal ciel si dolce cade. Piangi le colpe si — ma'l pianto avezza Colla speranza— II dimandar pietade Ov'e si gran pietade, e gran dolcezza. Carlo Maggi. 237 SONNET X. Soul, by thy deep demerit sore distressed, Dear to thy Lord — ah ! why by woe subdued ? He asks thy love : — but thou wouldst love exclude : For love must fail, if hope forsake the breast ! Muse on the promise of eternal rest To thee, whom late from nothingness He drew ; And let the strength He gives that prize to sue Be in warm strains of grateful praise confess'd ! His loving kindness still invites and cheers ; Oh, cease to embitter with despondent tears The manna which impearls his mercy-seat ! Weep for thy sin — but mitigate thy grief With blessed hope : to' implore a full relief Where pity hath no bounds, itself is sweet. 238 SOXETTO XL Fvo piangendo i miei passati tempi I quai posi in amar cosa mortale Senza levarmi a volo, avend'io Pale, Per dar forse di me non based esempi. Tu che vedi i miei mali indegni ed empi. Ke del cielo, invisibile, immortale, Soccorri all' alma disviata e frale, E '1 suo difetto di tua grazia adempi : Sicche, s'io vissi in guerra ed in tempesta, Mora in pace ed in porto ; e se la stanza Fu vana, almen sia la partita onesta. A quel poco di viver che m' avanza, Ed al morir degni esser tna man presta ; Tu sai ben, che'n altrui non 6 speranza. Petrarca. 239 SONNET XI. Weeping, I still revolve the seasons flown In vain idolatry of mortal things ; Not soaring heavenward ; though iny soul had wings Which might, perchance, a glorious flight have shown. O Thou, Discemer of the guilt I own, Donor of life immortal, King of kings, Heal Thou the wounded heart which conscience stings ;- It looks for refuge only to thy throne. Thus, although life was warfare and unrest, Be death the haven of peace ; and if my day Was vain — yet make the parting moment blest ! Through this brief remnant of my earthly way, And in death's billows, be thy hand confess'd ; Full well Thou know'st, this hope is all my stay ! 240 SONETTO XII. Non de' temer del mondo affanni o guerra Colui ch'ave col ciel tranquilla pace. Che nuoce il gielo a quel ch' entro la face Del calor vero si rinchiude e serra ? Non preme il grave peso della terra Lo spirito che vola alto e vivace ; Ne fan biasmo 1' ingiurie all' uom che tace, E prega piu per chi piu pecca ed erra ; Non giova saettar presso o lontano Torre fondata in questa viva pietra Ch' ogni edificio uman rende sicuro ; Ne tender reti con accorta mano Fra l'aer basso, paludoso, e scuro Contra 1' angel che sopra'l ciel penetra. Victoria Colonna. 241 SONNET XII. He the world's vexing warfare needs not dread, Whom peace celestial shelters from the foe. What icy blast can chill, if the soft glow Of Heaven's true sunlight round his path he shed ! Earth's heaviest load shall not o'erwhelm his head \Miose fervent soul to heights Divine would soar : Nor wrongs can wound him, who hut prays the more, In silent grief, for hearts by sin misled. Vainly shall venom'd darts the tower assail Heard on that living and eternal Rock, Which can alone make man's frail structures sure. The bird upborne from some deep cloudy vale. Each crafty snare of enmity can mock Spread there for her, who floats in ether pure. 242 SONETTO XIII. Se con l'armi celesti avess'io vinto Me stessa, i sensi, e la ragione urnana, Andrei con alto spirto alta e lontana Dal mondo e dal suo onor falso dipiiito. Sull'ali della fede il pensier cinto Di speme omai non piu caduca e vana, Sarebbe fuor di questa valle insana Da verace viitute alzato e spinto. Ben ho gia fermo 1' occhio al miglior tine Del nostro corso ; ma non volo ancora Per lo destro sentier salda e leggiera. Veggio i segni del sol, scorgo V aurora; Ma per li sacri giri alle divine Stanze non entro in quella luce vera. Victoria Colonna. 243 SONNET XIII. If with heaven's armour I had quite subdued This self, these rebel senses, reason's pride, Then should I soar, exalted, purified, Above the world's false fame and painted good. Borne on the wings of faith, with hope imbued Unfading and to heavenly joys allied, I should escape each vain deluding guide, With real goodness bless'd, adorn'd, renew'd. Already are mine eyes uprais'd and drawn Toward the true goal ; but ah, not yet my course Firm, swift, uncumber'd, in the heavenly way ! I see bright tokens of the blessed dawn : Oh that, impell'd and urg'cl by sacred force, I might press heavenward to the Fount of day ! r2 244 SOiSTETTO XIV. I>I VINA PROVVIDEXZA. Qual madre i figli con pietoso affetto Mira, e d'amor si strugge a lor davante, E un bacia in fronte, ed un si stringe al petto, Uno tien sui ginocchi, un sulle piante ; E mentre agli atti, ai gemiti, all'aspetto Lor voglie intende si diverse e tante. A questi un guardo, a quei dispensa un detto, E se ride o s' adira, e sempre amante ; Tal per noi Prowidenza alta infinita Veglia, e questi conforta, e quei pro\^'ede, E tutti ascolta, e porge a tutti aita ; E se niega talor grazia o mercede, O niega sol perche a pregar ne invita, O negar finge, e nel negar concede. FlLICAIA. 245 SONNET XIV. DIVINE PROVIDENCE. Even as a mother on her filial train Gazing, — o'er each with melting kindness yearns, On one hrow prints a kiss, and clasps by turns One on her knee, one whom her feet sustain ; Quick from each gesture, look, or sigh, to gain Their meanings, all their wishes she discerns, And now a glance or gentle word returns Where, both in smiles and chiclings, love must reign : So, for us all, thy Providence benign Doth watch, and solace these, and those upbear ; To each that asks the' omniscient ear incline, And, if some gifts besought withholden are, Delays them but to prompt intenser prayer, Or, 'midst denial, yields the most divine. 246 SONETTO XV. ATTO DI CONTRIZIONE. Signor, peccai : ma se tremante e fioco Chieggio aita e mi pento, e se d'amari Fonti non son quest i miei lumi avari, Poco e questo, e se'l cuor fo in pezzi, e poco. Fei I'uom (dicesti), e'l disfaro, ne a gioco II dicesti ; e gli ostacoli e i ripari Rotti allor furo, e cavalcaro i mari Gli eccelsi gioglii, e manco all'acque il loco. Forza e dunque, che'l ferro del dolore II cor mi franga, e tanto il triti e pesti, Che non possa altri dir ; Fu quest! un core. Ed uom novello, allor fia ch'io detesti L'uom vecchio ; figlio del tuo santo amore Cuor nuovo e nuovo spirto in me si desti. Filicaia. 247 SONNET XV. ACT OF CONTRITION. Lord, I have sinn'd ; and if on Thee I call, Faint, trembling, penitent, — if these eyes shall quite Dissolve in ceaseless weeping, all is slight ; Nay, if this heart quite break, the gift how small ! Thine ancient word was — man, the criminal, Shall perish ! then earth's bars, 'midst wild affright, Crash'd; — and dark ocean-floods, in awful might, RolFcl o'er the mountains ; man's terrific pall ! Thus needs perforce the iron crush of woe Whelm all my heart, and with contrition bruise, Till none can e'en pronounce — a heart was here :- Thus let the new-created man be foe To the' old ; a child whom heavenly love renews, Whom thy blest Spirit still shall guide and cheer. 248 SONETTO XVI. RACCOGLIMENTO IN SE STESSO. In quella eta clie suol di se fidarsi, E creder sempre a consiglier non fidi, L'alma, in piu parti dissipata, io vidi Di piacer in piacer sempre avanzarsi. Pur mi piacque Perrar; ne fin ch'io spars] Di neve i crini, dell' error m'awidi: Meco allora mi strinsi, e me rividi Altr'uo'm da quello che gran tempo apparsi ; E quanto invecchio piu, tanto piu dentro All cuor ristringo le virtu smarrite E in me stesso via piu mi riconcentro. Che le sparse poc'anzi e disunite Linee de'pensier, di morte al centro Quanto s' aecostan piu, piu vanno unite. Filicaia. 249 SONNET XVI. SELF-RECOLLECTION. In buoyant days of young self-confidence And credulous trust in counsels that misled, This mind, the sport of passion, lov'd to tread Each tempting path which fascinates the sense. The labyrinth charrn'd me : nor emerg'd I thence Till snows of age began these brows to o'crspread ; Then new constraint my spirit visited. Chang'd from that erring self, and youth's offence. And still, as years steal on^ the more are sought, Within my sorrowing heart, the virtues lost ; On this great aim now dwells my earnest thought. The musings which false joys could once exhaust, Concentring in the invisible ; and taught This to revolve till death's cold stream be cross'd. 250 SOXETTO XVII. FEDE IX DIO XELLE DISCxRAZIE. Soeda dell' dure al losing hiero invito, Movea gnardingo il pie mia fragil nave ; E non credendo a venticel soave, Radea Tim renio i flutti, e l'altro il lito. Quand* ecco in mar d'aiianni alto infinito, Turbo mi spinge impetuoso e grave. Fugge ogni sponda, e V arte arte non have Sotto povero ciel di rai sfomito. Onde qual se di la dal nostro suolo Perde l'Orse il nocchiero, altro gia vede Astro nuove apparii sotto altro polo ; TaL poiche raggio di mortal mercede Piu a me non luce, in Dio m'affiso, e solo Ghiida e reffffe il mio oorso astro di Fede. FlLICAIA. 251 SONNET XVII. FAITH IN GOD AMIDST DISASTERS. Deaf to those flattering zephyrs from the strand, My fragile skiff with cautious foot I steer'd, And, softest gales distrusting as they veer'd, With this oar touch'd the wave, with that the sand. But ah, in life's dark main, on either hand, Now tempests smite me, pitiless and sore ; The heach flees far, and skill is skill no more, Beneath these skies with densest gloom o'erspann'd ! Yet as to Austral seas the pilot sails, Losing all northern lights in that far zone, Yet there a cloudless, brilliant pole-star hails. So I, when meteor- gleams of earth are gone, Fix on God's Holy Light which never fails ; And guide my course by faith's pure aim alone. 252 SONETTO XVIII. ALL A VERITA. D'lnstabil padre o Bempre stabil figlia, Bella figlia del tempo, al ciel diletta, Del ctii Bguardo la splendida saetta L' ombre del falso impiaga, apre e scompiglia. Forte tat, se in te fiso ambo le ciglia, Sei solo allor che sei piu nuda e schietta ; Quasi spada che al vento i colpi getta, Se da sua nudita forza non piglia. E come incontro al fier Golia sol prese Limpide pietre, e disarmato e scinto Alia gran pugna il Pastorel discese, Si mentre il Falso di tutt'arme einto, Guerra ti fa ; se un limpido e cortese Tuo Bguardo in fronte il ripercuote, hai vinto. Filicaia. 253 SOXNET XVIII. TO TRUTH. Of fleeting sire, O child immutable. Truth, progeny of Time, by Heaven belovYi. The steadfast splendour of whose gaze unmov'd Can each false phantom smite, rebuke, repel ; Mighty, when on thyself mine eyes can dwell, Each cumbrous guise and ornature rernov'd. So the keen sword, which, sheath'd, is all unprov'd, With naked flash must the stern foeman quell. As whilom toward that vaunting Philistine, The Hebrew stripling dar'd unarm'd to' advance. Gathering from limpid rill the polish'd stone, So, when proud Falsehood in bright mail may shine, And on thee war, — smite with thy tranquil glance His giant brow — the triumph is thy own ! 254 SONETTO XIX. IN OCCASIONE DELLE NEVI. Nevi caduche, veritieri specchi Di nostra vita, oh come in voi discerno Quelle cni sparse anticipato inverno Sovra '1 mio crine, ond' io per tempo invecchi ! Forza e dun que ch'io pensi e m 5 apparecchi A cambiar tosto il fragil coll' eterno ; Che clii, trafitto da gran duolo interno Muore pria di morir, non fia ehe pecchi. Ed oh quanto e simil nostra sciagura ! Un sol fiato disfa, stempra e dissolve Ambo, ed ambo il disfarsi han per natura : Che mentr'io parlo, il eiel s'aggira et volve ; E un moto istesso con egual misura Voi strugge in acqua, e me riduce in polve. Filicaia. 255 SONNET XIX. IN A TIME OF SNOW. Ye transient snow-flakes, veritable glass Of our frail life, to you do I compare This early whiteness sprinkled on my hair, Foreboding age ere yet my manhood pass. You urge my soul to meditate, alas ! The fleeting here, the ever-during there ; To mourn for sin, and for that life prepare, While this soon withereth as the flower of grass. O solemn likeness in our lot below ! A sudden blast your forms and ours dissolves ; Snow-flake and mortal man soon vanish must ; E ? en while I write, time's cycles onward flow ; The lapse of moments in which earth revolves, Turns you to w r ater-drops, and me to dust. 256 SOXETTO XX. ELEVAZIOXE DELI/ AXIMA A DIO. Sovra la bassa region cle sensi Ver la pane piu eccelsa e piu sincera, Ove al giorno giammai non giugne sera. Ne l'aere ihgrossa in vapor nevi e densi ; A contemplar degli attributi immensi La serie incomprensibile, ma vera, E Dio mirar con sua lucente altera Vista (se Dio mirar lice e conviensi). Su su vieni, alma mi a ; Tar elite piume Spieghinsi alFaure cli pensier celesta, Ne piu t'aggravi empio mortal costume. Amor, l'Immenso a misurar, t'appresti Xuovo compasso ; e Finvisibil Xume Cieca Fede a veder gli ocelli ti presti. Filicaia. 257 SONNET XX. ELEVATION TO GOD. Above the darkening atmosphere of sense, To that supernal heaven of cloudless day, Whose noon shall ne'er in twilight shade decay. Nor its pure ether yield to vapours dense, Rise, rise, my soul, — -to meditate the' Immense And Perfect One ; if creature vision may His glory' incomprehensible survey, And draw some spark of godlike brightness thence. Up, up, my spirit, with free pinion sail In the calm region of celestial thought : Nor let corrupt affections drag thee down. Let love to scan the Infinite avail, And sightless faith, by heavenly wisdom taught, Discern the Saviour God, the deathless crown. 258 SONETTO XXI. RIFLESSIONI MORALI. Qui dove fiume di mortal diletto Nuove da ria sorgente acque traea, E giane gonfio de'miei danni, e avea Per fonte il senso, ed il mio sen per letto ; Or ehe per Y alveo del cangiato petto Piu non corre a inondarmi acqua si rea, Ne questa terra mia, qual gia solea, Bagnata e piu del folle antico affetto ; Scopro i fondi deli' alma, e si gli vede Guasti e corrosi da quell' empio flutto, Che a me ragion contro me stesso io chiedo ; Ma un di (chi sa !) da si arenoso asciutto Ingrato suol, se alia mia Fede io credo, Forse trarro d'eterna vita il frutto. Filicaia. 259 SONNET XXI. MORAL REFLECTIONS. Here once wild streams of false delight their source Betray 'd, this feeble heart inundating ; Turbid with eddies which vain passions bring ; Sense their dark fount ; my breast their barren course. But now they swell not, nor with harmful force In the chang'd channels of this bosom spring; No more my soul, its freedom forfeiting, Is whelm'd in thoughts and deeds that wake remorse. Now, though they shrink — in reason's earnest eye, The deep recesses of my soul appear, Wasted and marr'd by those ungovern'd streams : Yet, by my Saviour's grace, perchance tins dry Ungrateful soil — if genuine faith be here — May bear joy's fruits beneath that Saviour's beams. s 2 260 SOXETTO XXII. 1CUTAZIONE DI SE BTE8S Ma donde avvien che si repente io ] Dall'un contrariu all' altro? e donde awicne Che *1 grande orgoglio dell'antiea spene Di se vestigio entro'l mio cor non lassi ? Forse, siccome con occulti passi Gli atomi errando, al alterar si viene La testura onde all 9 on I'altro s' attiene. E molle il duro, e duro il molle fassi ; Cosi Podio e Tamor nei nostri petti Forma e loco mutando, in noi si cria Xuovo istinto a seguir novelli affetti ; Onde mutato il cor da quel di pria. Quel che amo gia, sotto diversi aspetti Mira, odia e sdegna ; e quel che odio, desia ! Filicaia 261 SONNET XXII. INTERNAL CHANGE. Whence came it so, that suddenly I pass Through inward lives oppos'd ; and what may cause This heart, which idoliz'd earth, and earth's applause, To bear no vestige of what once it was ? It may be, as in paths abstruse, each class Of latent atoms by mysterious laws In deep mutation mix, and without pause, Sort, hard, dense, rare, alternate thro' the mass, So, in our bosoms, change desire and hate Their mode and objects ; and some impidse new Awakes the soul, diviner aims to' attain ; Whence, now transmuted from the' anterior state, What erst it sought it can no more pursue, But the true good, once loath'd, aspires to gain. 262 SOXETTO XXIII. MUTAZIOXE DI SE STESSO. Ma, folle ! indarno a ricercar mi muovo Sovrurnane cagion sotto la luna ; E per colpir nel vero, ad una ad una L'arme invan degl'ingegno affino e provo. Cos! mentre i pensier purgo e rinnovo, Xe speme ho piii nel falso mondo alcima, Delia nuova ch'io godo alta fortuna Sento ffli effetti, e la cation non trovo : Quando ecco, in vista maestosa e lieta L'Onnipotenza, di ragione in vece, Mi si fa innanzi, e l'intelletto acqueta; Che quando in terra rintracciar non leee D'alto portento la cagion segreta, E forza il dir : l'Onnipotenza il fece. Filicaia. 263 SONNET XXIII. INTERNAL CHANGE. O senseless ! — vainly might I strive to find, By mere sublunar quest, the Cause Supreme ; Albeit, in search of truth, more keen may seem The brittle point and edge of this frail mind. If my thoughts, cleans'd, renew'd, to heaven inclin'd, This false, illusive world no more esteem ; If my rais'd soul with new-felt ardour teem, Felt are the' effects, but not the source assigned : Till now, in silent gladdening Majesty, The Almighty One doth speak, in reason's stead. Within my soul, calming unquiet thought ; u 'Mid things of earth 'twere hopeless to descry The secret power which this great work hath sped ; Needs must thou own, it is what God hath wrought ! ' 264 SOXETTO XXIV. NEL MAXCAR DELLA VISTA. "Mentre del viver mio tramonta il giorno, E gia s'aimottan di quest' occbi i rai, Sceman di mole, e piu di pregio assai, Le frali cose di cbe'l mondo e adorno. Ma Pegra vista, di tant' ombre a scorno, Grli oggetti eterni a cui finor pensai Poco, e che poco scorsi e men prezzai, Via piu sempre ingrandisce a me d'intorno, E come a debil lume assai piu luce Di sculta gemma il raggio, e piu si scerne Che al forte incontro di sfrenata luce, Cos! il debile sguardo alle superne Parti me scorge ; e V ombra sua m' adduce Meglio a scoprir l'alte bellezze eterne. Filicaia. 265 SONNET XXIV. ON THE DECAY OF SIGHT. Now, while the day-dream of my life is o'er, And a sad dimness clouds these aged eyes, The perishable things that worldlings prize Shrink in my sight, and fascinate no more. But my dim vision, which o'erlook'd before The things eternal, — by this heart unwise, Not own'd or lov'd, — now glorious hopes descries, Vast and augmenting; and my soul would soar. Thus, as in fainter light more warmly glows The polish' d gem's pure radiance, more discern'd Than when invaded by the dazzling noon, — So doth my drooping frailty more disclose Heaven's lustre, and, in deepening shades, hath learn 'd To watch for glories that shall meet me soon. 266 IN DIE NATALI CHKISTL Ancora non avea Peterna voce Spiegati i cieli, ne distesa ancora Avea la terra, e congregato il mare : Ne avvolti ancor di tenebroso velo I profondi appariano informi abissi ; E i secoli giacean sparsi, e confusi D'eternita sotto Pimmensa mole, E nome non avean, ne penne al tergo ; E Pincreata incomprensibil prole Delia mente di Dio qual lume in lume Vivea del Genitore immago eterna ; E in se cbiudendo la sostanza intera Del gran Padre immortale, Stava presso di Lui, Ed era Dio, da cui (Fatto il nulla fecondo) Ebber forma le cose, e vita il mondo. L'ampia materia torbida inquieta Egli costrinse ad amicizia e pace : Nell' uni verso allora A ravvisarsi incomincio natura, 267 INCARNATION AND NATIVITY OF CHRIST. Not yet the' eternal all-creating voice Had spread the heavens abroad, nor fram'd the earth, Nor pour'd forth ocean ; with the sable shroud Of pristine darkness veil'd, lay all inert The formless chaos ; ages, latent still, Were whelm'd beneath the vast eternity, Nor yet acquir'd the name or wings of time. Then the' increate eternal Effluence Of the one Mind Divine, as Light in Light Dwelt — God's immortal image ; God the Word, Involving in himself the Deity Of the eternal Father, dwelt in Him ; And was the God whose potent mandate gave Being to all things, life to the new world. That mass material, turbid, shapeless, crude, Did He constrain to order : then, throughout This universe obedient nature own'd His sovereignty ; and ancient time's career 268 IN DIE NATALI CHRISTI. E dalP etcrnita partendo il tempo Si vide gir presso il camin del sole. Ei, somma Sapienza, il tutto espose, E senza il cenno suo nulla comparve. Poi quando quei felici alti momenti Che di nostra ventura erano pieni, Giunsero alPaurea meta, il mondo ei trasse Dalla legge di morte, In su la terra venne, E dentro umane spoglie egli sofferse Mirare il basso nubiloso giorno, Ne il povero sdegno nostro soggiorno. Anzi di sua divinita consorte Fe questa nostra umanita mortale Yestendo il nostro frale, E gemina natura insierne accolse. Allora egli si vide Uomo ad un tempo, e Dio, E Dio comparve allor, die i suoi portenti, E i detti suoi lungo il Giordan fioriro, Ed uomo allor, che ne' funesti giorni Soffri legge di sangue, e di martiro. Or chi gia mai potea II sovrano spiegarci alto mistero, Se non chi in mezzo all' ineffabil cena Posando in grembo al Vero, INCARNATION AND NATIVITY OF CHRIST. 269 Sprang from the' eternal deep ; revolving swift And pauseless round the solar central orb ; He, sovereign Wisdom, thus developed all Creation, nor without his bidding aught Began to be. But when that era blest, Pregnant with man's high destinies, arriv'd, He, from death's tyranny this fallen world Redeeming, stoop'd to earth ; himself abas'd In the low guise of frail mortality To sojourn in this cloudy sphere, nor scorn' d Our poor terrestrial dwelling-place below. Our dying, weak humanity became Conjunct with Godhead : and the Lord was seen At once as God and man : as God in might And wonder-working mercy, but as man In voluntary suffering, ev'n to death. Who could unfold that awful " mystery Of godliness," so well as he that lsant Upon the bosom of the' incarnate Truth- 270 IN DIE NATALI CHRISTI. Gia bebbe ai fonti di celeste vena ? Pero vietogli il suo terreno incarco Giungere a penetrar l'ordine intero Di quelP arcano immenso, Ch'e caligine al senso, E confonde, ed atterra occhio, e pensiero : Che a favellar di si mirabiP opra Del Facitor eterno, In noi manca la speme : Ma ragione, e desio Di non tacer di lei, crescono insieme. S'erge cotanto in alto il gran soggetto, Che ha bene onde gioisca in esser vinto Da si forte cagion nostro intelletto. E come alzarsi a volo Potrian nostre parole infer me, e frali Ver gli arcani immortali, Che nel seno di Dio posano solo ? L'alma fede soccorra a ? nostri ingegni, E '1 suo silenzio istesso, Cio, che di penetrar non e concesso, A venerar c ? insegni. La rimembranza splenda Del gran natale alia stagion presente, E in guisa tal'la mente Dell ? immagine sua n' orni e dipinga, Ch'el pensiero ne senta INCARNATION AND NATIVITY OF CHRIST. 271 Truth from that fount imbibing ? Yet even him This " mortal coil " forbade to penetrate The depths of that concealment which is dark To sense, and all the powers of thought o'erbears. Rightly to speak of that chief miracle Of God' s surpassing power, man cannot hope : And yet, the impulse and the thirst to break Our wondering silence, must for ever grow. In sooth, so glorious is the heavenly theme. We well may joy imagination droops To meditate his love ! For how could words, Infirm as ours, ascend to secrecies Which in the breast of God's omniscience dwell ! Let earnest faith our frail conceptions aid. And reverent silence teach us to adore What none shall fathom ! Yet must memory On our Redeemer's natal hour still muse, Adoring, and in wonder realize 272 IN DIE NATALI CHRISTI. Impresso Fantro di Betlemme, e vegga, Come il presepe il suo Signore accolga, E come dei pastor P umil fortuna Porti liete ghirlande Alia povera cuna. Oda i vagiti del celeste Infante, E caldi vegga di preghiere, e zelo Nella vergine madre atti, e sembiante. Miri del sacro veglio La sollicita cura, oda i concenti Scesi dal ciel, qual'aurea pioggia in grembo Alia rozza capanua ; e noi cosparsi Di dolce pianto quai farem parole AU'oriente dell'eterno sole? O te, Betlemme, avventurosa terra, Quanto e conforme al tuo bel nome il dono Che a pascer Palme d' immortal salute, Dalla reggia del cielo in te discese ! Non terrena virtute, O provincia felice, Efrata illustre, A te feconda i campi ; Che tua fertil ricchezza un Dio si fece. Entro le tue capanne i primi lampi Del tuo dominator vide Israelle, Ne tu gia mai fra le possenti, e belle Terre di Giuda giacerai negletta. Fortunata del mondo unica parte, INCARNATION AND NATIVITY OF CHRIST. 273 That scene — the cave of Bethlehem, and the strange Mean shelter which receiv'd the King of kings, While lowly shepherds offer'd joyous praise Bound his poor cradle. Hear the plaintive cry Of the celestial Infant : mark the prayers And fervours of the virgin mother's soul : Behold the watchers : list the harmonies Wafted from that bright choir, like gentle dews Into the rustic hut : and what shall be Our accents, mingling with glad tears, to greet The orient ravs of this eternal sun ? O Bethlehem, house of bread, propitious name ! How consonant with his blest embassage Who came to nourish us with food Divine From heaven's own mansions ! Xot thy fruitful soil, Most honour'd spot, illustrious Ephratah. Alone enriches thee : thy God himself Became thy peerless treasure. From thy roof Shone forth on Israel the surpassing beams Of the sole potentate : ne'er canst thou cease To be the crown of Judah's fertile realm. O blessed region, in thy shades behold 274 IN DIE NATALI CHBISTI. Nel tuo seno discerni Lui, che fu sempre col gran Padre, e seco Fu compagno, e Signor de'giorni eterni. * * # * •* Dunque de'nostri accenti Taccia l'inutil suono, E con preghiere ardenti Andiam dinanzi a ltd, che mai non prese Tugurio vile a schivo, Mosso a merce delle terrene genti, Per cui tan to placo l'ira paterna, Che loro il varco aperse Onde s'ascende alia gran reggia eterna. Alessandro Guidi. INCARNATION AND NATIVITY OF CHRIST. 275 1 lim that was with the Father, and partook Eis glory, Ancient of eternal days ! Now let the feeble strain he hush'd ; and prayer In stillness rise to Him that ne'er disdain* d Earth's low abode, with tender pity mov'd For man, and in the plenitude of love Atoning, op'd our unrestricted way To the fair mansions of celestial peace. t 2 276 nnsro i. Come di selva annosa Sotto l'oscuro vol, Talor di vivo ciel Lieto splendor si posa, Lo Spirt o del Signore Xe illumina cosi, Fa sottentrare il di Al dubbio ed all' errore. All ! ebe sovente affranto Dal duol, dallo squalor, Cammina il viaggiator Xella vallea del pianto ; Ma d ? onda fresca e ehiara L' allegra il buon Gesu ; La roecia sua quaggiu Lo alberga, e lo ripara. Se temi la buffera, Cristiano pellegrin. NelParso tuo cammin Contempla il cielo, e spera : 277 HYMN I. As through the darkening umbrage Which ancient forests lend, At times new rays of splendour From sunny skies descend, So thy reviving Spirit Illuminates our way, 'Midst clouds of doubt and error Infusing heavenly day. How oft life's harass' cl wanderer, Through miry, thorny brakes, Along the vale of weeping His toilsome journey takes. Yet the good Saviour cheers him With fountains cool and clear ; Still is that Kock of Ages His refuge ever near. Fear'st thou, O Christian pilgrim, The whirlwind in its wrath ? Ah, look to heaven, still hopeful, From thy parch'd desert path. 278 inno i. Nell' immortal dimora T'aspetta il tuo Signor Con vivido liquor, Che Panima ristora. Esultane, o redento, Nel viaggio tuo quaggiu ; E schermo a te Gesii In ogni tristo evento. In questo mar di pianto Dov'apri il tuo sentier, Consolati, nocchier, Gesii ti sta d'accanto. II dolce il pio Signore, Che i mali tuoi porto, Ignaro esser mat puo Del tuo dolore ? A1P alma tua, die langue. Oh ! non clam vigor Colui, che, tutto amor, Per te versava il sangue ? T'innoltra, o pellegrino, Alia tua patria, al del, Che il santo, rimmanuel Dischiuso n'ha il cammino. HYMN I. See yon immortal mansion ; There He awaits thee still, With his own living waters Thy fainting soul to fill. Exult then, O redeem'd one, 'Mid thy brief toil below ; For Jesus is thy guardian Against each fear and foe. Yes, on the sea of sorrows O'er which thy course shall he, Frail mariner, thy solace Is Christ, for ever nigh. The Lord, so kind, so gracious, Who all thy sickness bare, Can He be now unmindful Of thy distress or care ? And when thy spirit falters Shall He not strength supply, Whose love still grew with anguish, Who came for thee to die ? March on, O lowly pilgrim, To heaven, thy father-land ; Thy Saviour, thine Immanuel, Is near at thy right hand : 279 E se il vigor vien manco, Sowienti, ehe Gesu Prega immortal lassu Per chi di duolo e stanco. I a ni e Cant lei, Torino, 1ST) 3. HYMN I. 281 And is thy vigour failing ? Think, He must ever reign, An all-prevailing Pleader For hearts oppressed with pain ! From Hymns used by the Vandals at Turin. 282 IXXO II. A te ? Signor, s'innalzino Le fervide canzoni ; La terra insiem' cogli Angeli A te la laude intuoni ; Noi ti adoiiamo altissimo Dominator dei Ke ! Tu Santo degli eserciti II Condottier possente, Eterno, inimensurabile, Tu fecondasti il niente : L ? orbe ti esalta, e celebra, Che la tua man lo fe'. A te fastosi i cantici Sollevano i profeti, Che fer palesi ai secoli I santi tuoi decreti, Assort! in quella gloria Onde fur nunzi un di. 283 HYMN II. To Thee, great Lord, outpouring still Our reverent fervent lays, Let men, with angels soaring still, Intone the Saviour's praise : Thee, glorious Lord, we worship, Thee, heavenly King of kings ! Thou Lord of hosts celestial, Guardian of earth and skies, Immense, incomprehensible, Bad'st thy creation rise ; From nothingness to being At thy command it springs. To Thee their strains magniloquent The heaven-taught seers awoke, And made to the' ages manifest What inspiration spoke : Eapt now into those glories which Themselves presag'd of old. i K 4 ixxo ii. Dan lode a te gli Apostoli Degli alti tuoi portenti Apportatori ai popoli Sparsi fra i quattro venti ; A cui 1' inimarcescibile Serto Gesu largi. Te canta pur dei martiri II trionfal drappello, Che fer le stole candide Xel sangue dell'Agnello, E quei che miti il seguono O vim que volga il pie. Agnel di Dio, che vittima Di pace a noi ti festi, Tu della morte i vincoli Xel tuo vigor frangesti ; L'orgoglio reo di Satana Curvossi innanzi a te. E il Padre in ciel Bugli esseri Ti die perenne impero, Donde verrai de'reprobi Ketributor sever o, Pei santi, che in te sperano. Fonte d'immenso amor. HYMN IT. 285 The Apostles' glorious company Resound thy wonders forth, To realms and climates far remote I' the East, the West, the North. For them the palm unwithering Hath Jesu's hand unrolPd. The noble army of martyrs still Thy triumph doth recount, Who washed and made their vesture white In the Lamb's crimson fount ; And all who meekly follow' d Him Where'er his steps have trod. O Lamb of God, whose offering once Did our true weal procure, Thou brak'st the bands of dreaded death With victory most secure ; While guilty pride of Lucifer Fell, and confessed the God. The Father, God, o'er all our race Hath made Thee sovereign here ; Thou comest, to thy harden'd foes An awful Judge severe ; But to the saints, who hope in Thee, Of boundless love the spring. 286 ixno ii. Guida a'beati pascoli La tua diletta greggia, A clii t'invoca, provvido, Di tua pieta largbeggia : N oi siam tapini e poveri, Ricchi del tuo favor. Signor, pieta, le lacrime Tergi sul mesto ciglio ; Tu ne conforta, e illumina Fra F ombre, e nel periglio : La nostra speme fondasi Sol nella tua virtu. Stendi il regal dominio Dall'uno all'altro polo, Insin che gli anni e i secoli Sciorran sul? orbe il volo : Tutte le lingue invocbino H nome di Gesu. Innie Cantici, Torino, 1853. HYMN II . O guide to thy green pasturage Thy own beloved flock ; To whomsoe'er thine aid implore The springs of life unlock ! To us, the lost and indigent, Good Lord, thy treasures bring ! Ah, pity, Lord ; from sorrowing eyes Wipe Thou the bitter tear ; Console, sustain, illumine us, 'Midst gloom and peril here ; And let our holiest hope repose On thy free grace alone ! Extend thy glorious royalty, O Lord, from pole to pole, While fleeting years and centuries, While spheres and ages roll ; And let all tongues thy name invoke, And Thee their Saviour own ! 287 288 IXXO III. Come e dolee la preghicra Fra le angosce dclla vita. Per chi crede, per chi spera Xell' aita del Signer ! E la fonte cui c'invita L' amoroso Kedentor. Del Siguor sta fiso il ciglio Sovra il mesto cbe lo implora : Pace a lui, vigor, consiglio, Quello sguardo infondera : Pari ad aura che ristora Fior riarso, a lui sara. Tu Signor, quando t'invoco, II tuo volto a me riveli ; Tu mi parli, e divieu fioco Ogni accent o di quaggiii : lo vagheggio allor su i cieli Le dovizie di Gesu. OQQ HYMN III. 'Midst the pains of earth's sojourning Sweet the privilege of prayer ; When the heart to God returning. To the Name all names above, Thirsts for mercy's well-spring, there Whither calls redeeming love. Fix'd are eyes of heavenly kindness Where the suppliant heart complains ; Peace for trouble, light for blindness. That celestial look can give : As soft gales and genial rains Bid the withering floweret live. To my suppliant soul's aspiring. Lord, unveil thy smiling face ; Speak to me, — then sinks expiring All the din of earth below ; Thus, by thy redundant grace. AH the wealth of Christ I know. 291 in xo in. Colla tenera fidanza D'un figliolo a te paleso Le mie pene, e la speranza Nell' affetto tuo divin : Al tuo piede pongo il peso Che ritarda il mio cammin. Tli nr accogli e mi eonforti D*un paterno tuo sorriso : E mi porgi il pan dei forti Xella speme e nella fe ; L'aspra via del Paradiso Si rinfiora allor per me. Dor e il fascio dei dolori Che al tuo pie 1' alma depose ? Or son gioie, son tesori Dell' eterna tua pieta : Spine fur. cui cangia in rose Ineffabil carita. Delia fervid a pregltiera Le parole son possenti : Strida orrenda la bufera, Gonfio frema e mugghi il mar : Frenar ponno il turbo, e i venti E le nubi dileguar. Inni e Cantici Torino. 1853. HYMN III. With the tender fond affiance Of thy child, will I convey My distress, and my reliance Od thy unexhausted grace. Ar thy feet each load I lay Which retards my heavenward race. Thou wilt welcome and regale me With thy own paternal smile ; Bread of heaven which cannot fail me, Faith and Messed charity : Till earth's thorny path the while Blooms with deathless flowers for me. Where are now the loads of sadness Which my soul to Thee resigned ? Treasures now of Christian gladness Sprang from love's exhaustless well : Thorns with Eden's roses twin'd By thy grace unspeakahle ! Yes, of fervid supplication Potent are the accents frail ; Boars the whirlpool of temptation — Shrieks the blast and heaves the deep ? These can stay the furious gale, Lulling winds and waves to sleep. 291 292 1XX0 IV. Xegli affanni dell' esiglio, Tu parlando al cor mi vieni, Santo libro, che contieni La parola del Signor : Tu consiglio nel periglio, Tu conforto nel dolor. Soavissirna parola ! E qual alma a te si serra ? Tu recasti sulla terra Nuova scuola di virtu : Nuova scuola, che consola Fin chi geme in servitu. Sol clrio t'apra, gift si calma La mia mente tempestosa ; Tu sei Tiride pietosa D' ogni turbine crudel : E la calma di quest" alma Sembra un'estasi del ciel. Io ti leggOj e provo intanto Tenerezza e maraviglia, N^ T amor bu queste ciglia 293 HYMN IV. In the troubles of earth's exile Thou dost peace and joy afford, Holy volume which revealest Each kind promise of my Lord. Light and guide in toils and dangers, Balm of sadness, healing word ! Source of sweetest consolations ! Yet how few seek refuge there ! Where eternal Wisdom openeth Her new school of virtues rare ; "Wisdom which in hope and gladness Bids e'en mourning captives share ! Thee unclosing, I find calmness 'Mid the heart's tempestuous fear ; Thou art as the bow of pity Gleaming through the storm's career : And the stillness of my spirit Tells me heavenly joys are near. As I read, my soul is conscious Of a tender deep surprise ; Nor from bitter fonts of sorrow 294 ixxo iv. Vien dal fonte del dolor : Libro santo, accogli il pianto Che in te versa un grato cor. Nel piij. puro amor fraterno Per te Palma e sublimata ; La ragion santificata, Santo libro, trovo in te : E in te scerno il Yerbo Eterno, Che favella alia mia fe. So che indegno omai son fatto Delia gloria del mio Dio ; Ma tal prezzo offrir poss' io, Ch' ei negarmela non puo : Ah ! per patto del riscatto II suo sangue io rii ofrriro ! Nel promettere perdono Al mortal, che in te s'affida, Tre virtu gli clai per guida Sulla via della pieta : No, non sono che tuo dono, Fe, speranza, e car it a. Inni e Cantici, Torino, 1853. hymn rv. 295 Gush the drops that dim these eyes : Holy volume — take the tribute Which my tearful joy supplies ! To the purest love fraternal Thou canst this fallen heart attune ; Reason sanctified, exalted, Holy volume, is thy boon ; Yea, through thee, the Word Eternal Deigns with lowly faith commune. Quite I own myself unworthy Thy celestial bliss to see : Yet, my Saviour's ransom pleading, How shall grace reject my plea ! Ah ! that one Divine oblation Still my soul presents to Thee ! While conceding free redemption From our guilt and misery, — Richest graces hast thou promis'd To our pilgrim penury ; Triple fruits, of mercy solely, Faith, and hope, and charity. LONDON : PRINTED BY RICHARD llAY BREAD STREET HILL. WORKS BY THE SAME AUTHOR, In fcap. Svo. price 5s. cloth, PRAYERS, Chiefly adapted for Times and Occasions of Personal Trial. Designed as a Companion to " Thoughts on Devotion," and " Christian Encouragement." 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