Nay, is that tongue for ever still'd?
Nay, it anew his ears hath fill'd

That they can nothing hear no more;
Abroad the Baptist's shadow stalks,

In secret to his spirit talks

Of that incestuous crime more sternly than before.

But holy John !

he was a cloud

Pregnant with light, which earth-ward bow'd,
Big with the rays of dawning day,
Disclosing the eternal Sun;

As its effulgence now begun,

Then hasted he himself in air to melt away.

For Thine alone, whose footsteps dwell

In seas of light inscrutable,

The glory and the praise is Thine;
Thee the Father everlasting,

And Thee the Incarnate Son we sing,

And Thee who bindest all, the Paraclete Divine.

AT THE SECOND VESPERS.

The righteous perisheth, and no man layeth it to heart and merciful men are taken away, none considering that the righteous is taken away from the evil to come.-ISAIAH lvii.

"Omnibus manat cruor ecce venis."

His open veins all flow with gore:
Drink, tyrant, and be satisfied!
Or of his blood upon the floor,
Amid thy cups and viands, pour
An offering to thy pride!

He saw, and startled back, I trow,
When on that glittering festive scene
Death's silent image look'd forth now
From that same majesty of brow,
Reproving, grave, serene.

Thus He who all things ordereth,
His herald bids the way to lead,
Sends him resisting e'en to death,
To chambers of the grave beneath,
His Master to precede.

The earth Thy praises shall prolong,
O ever blessed One and Three ;
Till Heav'n takes up the wondrous song,
In multitudinous thunders strong,

To all eternity.

LAZARUS, MARY, AND MARTHA
VISITED BY CHRIST.

AT THE FIRST VESPERS.

If a man love Me he will keep My words; and My Father will love him, and We will come unto him, and make our abode with him.-JOHN XIV.

"Flagrans amore, perditos.

As Jesus sought His wandering sheep,

With weary toil opprest,

He came to Martha's lowly roof,

A loved and honour'd Guest.

Blessed art thou, whose threshold poor
Those holy feet have trod,
To wait on so Divine a Guest,
And to receive thy God!

Y

While Martha serves with busy feet,

In reverential mood

Meek Mary sits beside the Judge,
And feeds on heavenly food.

Yea, Martha soon herself shall sit
The eternal word to hear,

And shall forget the festal board,
To feast on holier cheer.

Sole rest of all who come to Thee,
O'er all our works preside,

That we may have in Thee, at last,
The part that shall abide. Amen.