The Complete Works of Richard Crashaw Volume II Part 27

_Coepit lacrymis rigare pedes ejus, et capillis extergebat._ Luc. vii.

37.

Unda sacras sordes lambit placidissima: flavae Lambit et hanc undam lucida flamma comae.

Illa per has sordes it purior unda; simulque Ille per has lucet purior ignis aquas.

_She began to wash His feet with teares, and wipe them with the haires of her head._

Her eyes' flood lickes His feets' faire staine; Her hair's flame lickes up that againe.

This flame thus quencht hath brighter beames; This flood thus stained fairer streames. CR.

ANOTHER RENDERING.

With placid force the gentle wave That consecrated dust doth lave, And a bright flame of golden hair Doth lave in light those waters fair.

Purer the trickling waters s.h.i.+ne Through contact with that dust divine; And purer through the waters' flow That flame of lucent fire doth glow. CL.

CII.

_Quid vis tibi faciam?_ Luc. xviii. 41.

Quid volo, Christe, rogas? quippe ah volo, Christe, videre: Quippe ad te, dulcis Christe, videre volo.

At video, fideique oculis te nunc quoque figo: Est mihi, quae nunquam est non oculata, fides.

Sed quamvis videam, tamen ah volo, Christe, videre: Sed quoniam video, Christe, videre volo.

_What seekest that I do to thee?_

Askest, O Christ, my wish? My Christ I wish to see: To see Thee, O my sweet Christ, to see Thee.

But, lo, I see; for now on Thee I fix faith's eye, And gazing so, dimness and darkness fly.

But though I see, yet, ah, my Christ I wish to see; And since I see, O Christ, I would see Thee. G.

CIII.

_Christus mulieri Canaaneae difficilior._ Matt. xv. 21.

Ut pretium facias dono, donare recusas: Usque rogat supplex, tutamen usque negas.

Hoc etiam donare fuit, donare negare.

Saepe dedit quisquis saepe negata dedit.

_The silence of Christ to the woman of Canaan._

That He a gift more precious might bestow, While she implor'd, discouragements He used.

This was to give thus not to give; for, lo, He giveth oft who gives what's oft refused.[62] G.

CIV.

_Beatus venter et ubera, &c._ Luc. ii. 27.

Et quid si biberet Jesus vel ab ubere vestro?

Quid facit ad vestram, quod bibit ille, sitim?

Ubera mox sua et hic, o quam non lactea! pandet; E nato mater tum bibet ipsa suo.

_Blessed be the paps which Thou hast sucked._

Suppose He had been tabled at thy teates, Thy hunger feeles not what He eates: He'l have His teat ere long--a b.l.o.o.d.y one; The mother then must suck the Son. CR.

CV.

_In Christum vitem._ Joan. xv. 1.

Ulmum vitis amat, quippe est et in arbore flamma, Quam fovet in viridi pectore blandus amor: Illam ex arboribus cunctis tu, vitis, amasti; Illam, quaecunque est, quae crucis arbor erat.

_Christ the true Vine (including the branches)._

The vine clings lovingly unto the elm; Love's flame draws thus a tree within its realm: But most, O vine, thou lov'st, whate'er its name, That tree from which the cross of Calvary came. G.

CVI.

_Vos flebitis et lamentabimini._ Joan. xvi. 20.

Ergo mihi salvete mei, mea gaudia, luctus: Quam charum, o Deus, est hoc mihi flere meum!

Flerem, ni flerem: solus tu, dulcis Jesu, Laet.i.tiam donas tunc quoque quando negas.

_Verily I say unto you, Yee shall weep and lament._

Welcome, my griefe, my joy; how deare's To me my legacy of teares!

I'll weepe and weepe, and will therefore Weepe 'cause I can weepe no more.

Thou, Thou, deare Lord, even Thou alone, Giv'st joy, even when Thou givest none. CR.

CVII.

_In gregem Christi Pastoris._ Joan. x. 11.

O grex, o nimium tanto Pastore beatus; O ubi sunt tanto pascua digna grege?

Ne non digna forent tanto grege pascua, Christus Ipse suo est Pastor, pascuum et ipse gregi.

_Christ the good Shepherd._

O flock, O too much in thy Sheepherd blest, Where are fields worthy thee to feed and rest?

Lest worthy pastures nowhere should be found, Christ is to thee the Sheepherd and the ground. B.

ANOTHER VERSION.

O flock, in your great Shepherd all too blest, Where shall fit pasturage be found for you?