XXI. "With Mother's pity in her breast enclosed 145 And ever on Christ's Mother meek and kind She cried, till to the Jewry she was brought, And him among the accursed Jews she sought. XXII. "She asketh, and she piteously doth pray XXIII. 150 155 "O thou great God that dost perform thy laud By mouths of Innocents, lo! here thy might; This gem of chastity, this emerald, And eke of martyrdom this ruby bright, right, The Alma Redemptoris 'gan to sing 160 So loud, that with his voice the place did ring. XXIV. The Christian folk that through the Jewry went Come to the spot in wonder at the thing; And hastily they for the Provost sent; Immediately he came, not tarrying, 165 And praiseth Christ that is our heavenly King, And eke his Mother, honour of Mankind: Which done, he bade that they the Jews should XXV. "This Child with piteous lamentation then 170 XXVI. 176 “Torment and shameful death to every one XXVII. Upon his bier this Innocent doth lie 181 Before the altar while the Mass doth last: 185 Yet spake this Child when sprinkled was the water; And sang, O Alma Redemptoris Mater! XXVIII. "This Abbot, for he was a holy man, As all Monks are, or surely ought to be, Thus saying, 'O dear Child! I summon thee 190 195 Tell me the cause why thou dost sing this hymn, Since that thy throat is cut, as it doth seem.' XXIX. 200 "My throat is cut unto the bone, I trow,' XXX. "This well of mercy, Jesu's Mother sweet, 205 As ye have heard; and soon as I had sung 210 XXXI. Wherefore I sing, nor can from song refrain, In honour of that blissful Maiden free, Till from my tongue off-taken is the grain; And after that thus said she unto me; 'My little Child, then will I come for thee Soon as the grain from off thy tongue they take: Be not dismayed, I will not thee forsake!' XXXII. 215 "This holy Monk, this Abbot-him mean I, Touched then his tongue, and took away the grain ; 220 And he gave up the ghost full peacefully; rain; And on his face he dropped upon the ground, And still he lay as if he had been bound. 225 XXXIII. "Eke the whole Convent on the pavement lay, XXXIV. 230 Young Hew of Lincoln ! in like sort laid low By cursed Jews-thing well and widely known, For it was done a little while ago— 235 Pray also thou for us, while here we tarry Weak sinful folk, that God, with pitying eye, In mercy would his mercy multiply On us, for reverence of his Mother Mary!' 1801. II. THE CUCKOO AND THE NIGHTINGALE. I. THE God of Love-ah, benedicite! How mighty and how great a Lord is he! free. II. 5 Within a little time, as hath been found, Them who are whole in body and in mind, III. To tell his might my wit may not suffice; IV. In brief, the whole of what he will, he may; 14 To gladden or to grieve, he hath like skill; 19 But most his might he sheds on the eve of May, For every true heart, gentle heart and free, To joy, or be it to some mourning; never VI. 25 For now when they may hear the small birds' song, And see the budding leaves the branches throng, This unto their remembrance doth bring All kinds of pleasure mix'd with sorrowing; 29 And longing of sweet thoughts that ever long. VII. And of that longing heaviness doth come, Whence oft great sickness grows of heart and home; Sick are they all for lack of their desire; |