Thrice-happy souls, to whom the prize is given, Whom faith and truth have lifted into heaven: Gift of the heavenly Martyrs' dying breath, Gift of a Faith that burst the gates of Death. O Spring, O golden harvest of glad light; Sweet day, whose beauty never fades in night; The palm blooms in each hand, the garland on each brow, The raiment glitters in its undimm'd snow; The regions of unfading peace ye see, And the meek brightness of the Lamb: how different from me![78] W.
Thrice-happy, happy souls, to you heaven's debt Is paid; you in your heavenly spheres are set. Whence this to you? ah, noble blood ye shed, And your strong faith the strong world buffeted. O ever-ripening harvest of long light; O Spring, O day not halved with lingering night; O hands with laughing palms, O crownèd brows; O spotless robes, whiter than virgin snows! The beauteous eyes of fadeless Peace ye see-- The eyes of the sweet Lamb; yea--woe is me! A.
_Christus absenti medetur._ Matt. viii. 13.
Vox jam missa suas potuit jam tangere metas? O superi, non hoc ire sed isse fuit. Mirac'lum fuit ipsa salus, bene credere possis, Ipsum, mirac'lum est, quando salutis iter.
Came, then, His voice with power, Himself unseen? Heavens! this, though not to go, was to have been. The cure miraculous we can credit well, When the mere going was a miracle. CL.
Felix, qui potuit tantae post nubila noctis, O dignum tanta nocte, videre diem: Felix ille oculus, felix utrinque putandus, Quod videt, et primum quod videt ille Deum.
Happy the man who was endu'd with sight, And saw a day well worth so long a night: Happy the eye, twice happy is the eye, That sees, and at first look, a Deity. B.
Thrice-happy eye, that after such dark night-- Day worthy night so dark--couldst see the light: O happy eye, eye thrice and four times blest, At once to ope, and upon God to rest. A.
Luctibus in tantis, Christum ridere vacabat? Vanior iste fuit risus, an iste dolor? Luctibus in tantis hic vester risus inepti, Credite mi, meruit maximus esse dolor.
Laughter at Christ the Saviour-- Laughter 'mid falling tears! O, which show'd greater folly, Vain laughter or vain fears? Such laughter 'mid such sorrow, O fools, ye may believe: Such laughter in such Presence Gave greatest cause to grieve. G.