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Winthrop Mackworth Praed [1802-1839]
"I SAW TWO CLOUDS AT MORNING"
I saw two clouds at morning, Tinged by the rising sun, And in the dawn they floated on, And mingled into one; I thought that morning cloud was blest, It moved so sweetly to the west.
I saw two summer currents Flow smoothly to their meeting, And join their course, with silent force, In peace each other greeting; Calm was their course through banks of green, While dimpling eddies played between.
Such be your gentle motion, Till life's last pulse shall beat; Like summer's beam, and summer's stream, Float on, in joy, to meet A calmer sea, where storms shall cease, A purer sky, where all is peace.
John Gardiner Calkins Brainard [1796-1828]
HOLY MATRIMONY
The voice that breathed o'er Eden, That earliest wedding-day, The primal marriage blessing, It hath not pa.s.sed away.
Still in the pure espousal Of Christian man and maid, The holy Three are with us, The threefold grace is said.
For dower of blessed children, For love and faith's sweet sake, For high mysterious union, Which naught on earth may break.
Be present, awful Father, To give away this bride, As Eve thou gav'st to Adam Out of his own pierced side:
Be present, Son of Mary, To join their loving hands, As thou didst bind two natures In thine eternal bands:
Be present, Holiest Spirit, To bless them as they kneel, As thou for Christ, the Bridegroom, The heavenly Spouse dost seal.
Oh, spread thy pure wing o'er them, Let no ill power find place, When onward to thine altar The hallowed path they trace,
To cast their crowns before thee In perfect sacrifice, Till to the home of gladness With Christ's own Bride they rise. Amen.
John Keble [1792-1866]
THE BRIDE
Beat on the Tom-toms, and scatter the flowers, Jasmine, hibiscus, vermilion and white, This is the day, and the Hour of Hours, Bring forth the Bride for her Lover's delight.
Maidens no more as a maiden shall claim her, Near, in his Mystery, draweth Desire.
Who, if she waver a moment, shall blame her?
She is a flower, and love is a fire.
Give her the anklets, the ring, and the necklace, Darken her eyelids with delicate art, Heighten the beauty, so youthful and fleckless, By the G.o.ds favored, oh, Bridegroom, thou art!
Twine in thy fingers her fingers so slender, Circle together the Mystical Fire, Bridegroom,--a whisper,--be gentle and tender, Choti Tinchaurya knows not desire.
Bring forth the silks and the veil that shall cover Beauty, till yesterday careless and wild; Red are her lips for the kiss of a lover, Ripe are her b.r.e.a.s.t.s for the lips of a child.
Center and Shrine of Mysterious Power, Chalice of Pleasure and Rose of Delight, Shyly aware of the swift-coming hour, Waiting the shade and the silence of night.
Still must the Bridegroom his longing dissemble, Longing to loosen the silk-woven cord, Ah, how his fingers will flutter and tremble, Fingers well skilled with the bridle and sword.
Thine is his valor, oh Bride, and his beauty, Thine to possess and re-issue again, Such is thy tender and pa.s.sionate duty, Licit thy pleasure and honored thy pain.
Choti Tinchaurya, lovely and tender, Still all unbroken to sorrow and strife, Come to the Bridegroom who, silk-clad and slender, Brings thee the Honor and Burden of Life.
Bidding farewell to thy light-hearted playtime, Wors.h.i.+p thy Lover with fear and delight; Art thou not ever, though slave of his daytime, Choti Tinchaurya, queen of his night?
Laurence Hope [1865-1904]
A MARRIAGE CHARM
I set a charm upon your hurrying breath, I set a charm upon your wandering feet, You shall not leave me--not for life, nor death, Not even though you cease to love me, Sweet.
A woman's love nine Angels cannot bind, Nor any rune that wind or water knows, My heart were all as well set on the wind, Or bound, to live or die, upon a rose.
I set a charm upon you, foot and hand, That you and Knowledge, love, may never meet, That you may never chance to understand How strong you are, how weak your lover, Sweet.
I set my charm upon your kindly arm, I set it as a seal upon your breast; That you may never hear another's charm, Nor guess another's gift outruns my best.
I bid your wandering footsteps me to follow, Your thoughts to travel after in my track, I am the sky that waits you, dear gray swallow, No wind of mine shall ever blow you back.
I am your dream, Sweet; so no more of dreaming, Your lips to mine must end this chanted charm, Your heart to mine, 'neath nut-brown tresses streaming, I set my love a seal upon your arm.
Nora Hopper [1871-1906]
"LIKE A LAVEROCK IN THE LIFT"
It's we two, it's we two, it's we two for aye, All the world, and we two, and Heaven be our stay!
Like a laverock in the lift, sing, O bonny bride!
All the world was Adam once, with Eve by his side.
What's the world, my la.s.s, my love!--what can it do?
I am thine, and thou art mine; life is sweet and new.
If the world have missed the mark, let it stand by; For we two have gotten leave, and once more we'll try.
Like a laverock in the lift, sing, O bonny bride!
It's we two, it's we two, happy side by side.
Take a kiss from me, thy man; now the song begins: "All is made afresh for us, and the brave heart wins."
When the darker days come, and no sun will s.h.i.+ne, Thou shalt dry my tears, la.s.s, and I'll dry thine.
It's we two, it's we two, while the world's away, Sitting by the golden sheaves on our wedding-day.
