WHEN in spring the gentle rainBreathes into the flower new birth, When the green and happy plainSmiles upon the sons of earth, Haste to give what help we may,Little elves of wondrous might!
Whether good or evil they,Pity for them feels the sprite.
II.
CHORUS OF SPIRITS.
WHEN the moist and balmy galeRound the verdant meadow sighs, Odors sweet in misty veilAt the twilight-hour arise.
Murmurings soft of calm reposeRock the heart to child-like rest, And the day's bright portals closeOn the eyes with toil oppress'd.
Night already reigns o'er all,Strangely star is link'd to star;Planets mighty, sparkling small,Glitter near and gleam afar.
Gleam above in clearer night,Glitter in the glassy sea;Pledging pure and calm delight,Rules the moon in majesty.
Now each well-known hour is over,Joy and grief have pass'd away;Feel betimes! thoult then recover:
Trust the newborn eye of day.
Vales grow verdant, hillocks teem,Shady nooks the bushes yield, And with waving, silvery gleam,Rocks the harvest in the field.
Wouldst thou wish for wish obtain,Look upon yon glittering ray!
Lightly on thee lies the chain,Cast the shell of sleep away!
Tarry not, but be thou bold,When the many loiter still;All with ease may be controll'dBy the man of daring will.
III.
ARIEL.
HARK! the storm of hours draws near, Loudly to the spirit-ear Signs of coming day appear.
Rocky gates are wildly crashing, Phoebus' wheels are onward dashing;(A wonderful noise proclaims the approach of the sun.)Light doth mighty sounds beget!
Pealing loud as rolling thunder, Eye and ear it fills with wonder,Though itself unconscious yet.
Downward steals it,'mongst the flowers Seeking deeper, stiller bowers, 'Mongst the foliage, 'neath the rock;Thou'lt be deafened by the shock!
FROM FAUST--SECOND PART.
SCENE THE LAST.
ANGELS.
[Hovering in the higher regions of air, and hearing the immortal part of Faust.]
THE spirit-region's noble limbHath 'scaled the Archfiend's power;For we have strength to rescue himWho labours ev'ry hour.
And if he feels within his breastA ray of love from heaven.
He's met by all the squadron blestWith welcome gladly given.
THE YOUNGER ANGELS.
Yonder roses, from the holy Hands of penitents so lowly, Help'd to render us victorious, And to do the deed all-glorious;For they gain'd us this soul-treasure.
Evil ones those roses banish'd,Devils, when we met them, vanish'd.
Spirits felt love's pangs with pleasure, Where hell's torments used to dwell;E'en the hoary king of hell Felt sharp torments through him run.
Shout for joy! the prize is won.
THE MORE PERFECT ANGELS.
Strains of mortalityLong have oppress'd us;Pure could they ever be,If of asbestos.
If mighty spirit-strengthElements ever Knew how to seize at length,Angels could never Link'd twofold natures move,Where single-hearted;By nought but deathless loveCan they be parted.
THE YOUNGER ANGELS.
See where a spirit-raceBursts on the sight!
Dimly their forms I traceRound the far height.
Each cloud becometh clear, While the bright troops appearOf the blest boys,From the Earth's burden free, In a glad companyDrinking in joys, Born of the world above,Springtime and bliss.
May they forerunners prove Of a more perfect love,Link'd on to this!
THE BEATIFIED CHILDREN.
Thus as a chrysalisGladly we gain him, And as a pledge of blissSafely retain him;When from the shell he's freeWhereby he's tainted, Perfect and fair he'll be,Holy and sainted.
DOCTOR MARINAS.
(In the highest, purest cell.)
Wide is the prospect here,Raised is the soul;Women on high appear,Seeking their goal.
'Mongat them the radiant one,Queen of the skies, In her bright starry crownGreets my glad eyes.
(With ecstasy.)
Thou who art of earth the queen.
Let me, 'neath the blue Heav'nly canopy sereneThy sweet mystery view!
Grant the gentle solemn forceWhich the breast can move.
And direct our onward courseTow'rd thy perfect love.
Dauntless let our courage be,At thy bright behest;Mild our ardour suddenly,When thou bidd'st us rest.
Virgin, type of holiness,Mother, honour-crown'd, Thou whom we as queen confess,Godlike and renowned.
Round her, in gentle play,Light clouds are stealing;Penitents fair are they,Who, humbly kneeling, Sip in the ether sweet, As they for grace entreat.
Thou, who art from passions free,Kindly art inclin'd, When the sons of frailtySeek thee, meek in mind.
Borne by weakness' stream along,Hard it is to save them;Who can burst lust's chains so strong,That, alas, enslave them?
O how soon the foot may slip,When the smooth ground pressing!
O, how false are eye and lip,False a breath caressing!
MATER GLORLOSA hovers past.
CHORUS OF PENITENT WOMEN.
To bring realms on highIn majesty soaring, O, hark to our cryThy pity imploring, Thou help to the cheerless, In glory so peerless!
MAGNA PECCATRIX (St.Luke vii.36).
By the love, which o'er the feetOf thy God-transfigur'd Son Dropp'd the team, like balsam sweet,Spite of ev'ry scornful one;By the box of ointment rare,Whence the drops so fragrant fell;By the locks, whose gentle careDried His holy members well--muller SAMARITANA (St, John iv.).
By the well where Abram erstDrove his flocks to drink their fill;By the bucket which the thirstOf the Saviour served to still;By the fountain, balm-exhaling,That from yon bright region flows, Ever clear and never failing.
As round ev'ry world it goes--MARIA AEGYPTIACA (Acta Sanctorum).
By the sacred spot immortal,Where the Lord's remains they plac'd;By the arm, that from the portalDrove me back with warning haste;By my forty years of lowlyPenance in a desert land;By the farewell greetings holyThat I wrote upon the sand--THE THREE.
Thou who ne'er thy radiant faceFrom the greatest sinners hides, Thou who Thine atoning graceThrough eternity provident,Let this soul, by virtue stirr'd,Self-forgetful though when living, That perceived not that it err'd,Feel thy mercy, sin forgiving!
UNA POENITENTIUM.
