DEEP

S. AGNES' EVE

EEP on the convent roof the snows
Are sparkling to the moon;

My breath to heaven like vapour goes;
May my soul follow soon!

The shadows of the convent towers
Slant down the snowy sward,

Still creeping with the creeping hours
That lead me to my Lord;

Make Thou my spirit pure and clear
As are the frosty skies,

Or this first snowdrop of the

That in my bosom lies.

year

As these white robes are soiled and dark,

To yonder shining ground;

As this pale taper's earthly spark

To yonder argent round;

So shows my soul before the Lamb,

My spirit before Thee;

So in my earthly house I am,

To that I hope to be.

Break up the heavens, O Lord! and far,

Thro' all yon starlight keen,

Draw me, Thy bride, a glittering star,
In raiment white and clean.

He lifts me to the golden doors:
The flashes come and go,
All heaven bursts her starry floors,
And strows her lights below,
And deepens on and up! the gates
Roll back, and far within

For me the Heavenly Bridegroom waits,
To make me pure of sin.
The sabbaths of Eternity,

One Sabbath deep and wide—
A light upon the shining sea-
The Bridegroom with His bride!

TENNYSON

A VISION OF HEAVEN

MULTITUDES

ULTITUDES multitudes-- stood up in bliss,

Made equal to the angels, glorious, fair; With harps, palms, wedding-garments, kiss of peace, And crowned and haloed hair.

They sang a song, a new song in the height,

Harping with harps to Him who is strong and

true:

They drank new wine, their eyes saw with new light,

Lo, all things were made new.

Tier beyond tier they rose and rose and rose

So high that it was dreadful, flames with flames; No man could number them, no tongue disclose Their secret sacred names.

As though one pulse stirred all, one rush of blood Fed all, one breath swept through them myriadvoiced,

They struck their harps, cast down their crowns, they stood

And worshipped and rejoiced.

Each face looked one way like a moon new-lit, Each face looked one way towards its Sun of Love,

Drank Love and bathed in Love and mirrored it, And knew no end thereof.

Glory touched glory on each blessed head,
Hand locked dear hand never to sunder more:
These were the new-begotten from the dead
Whom the great birthday bore.

Heart answered heart, soul answered soul at rest, Double against each other, filled, sufficed:

All loving, loved of all; but loving best

And best beloved of Christ.

CHRISTINA ROSSETTI

GOOD IN THINGS EVIL

ET oft affliction purifies the mind,

YE

Kind benefits flow oft from means unkind. Were the whole known that we uncouth suppose, Doubtless 'twould beauteous symmetry disclose. The naked cliff that, singly, rough remains, In prospect dignifies the fertile plains,

Lead-coloured clouds in scattered fragments seen, Show, though in broken views, the blue serene.

Sword law has often Europe's balance gained,
And one red victory years of peace maintained.
We pass through want to wealth, through dismal

strife

To calm content, through death to endless life.

RICHARD SAVAGE