The Complete Works of Richard Crashaw Volume II Part 34

CXLVI.

_Caecus natus._ Joan. ix. 1, 2.

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.

_The man born blind._

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.

ANOTHER VERSION.

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 G.o.d to rest. A.

CXLVII.

_Et ridebant illum._ Matt. ix. 24.

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.

_And they laughed at Him._

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.

CXLVIII.

_In sapientiam seculi._ Matt. xi. 25.

Noli altum sapere, hoc veteres voluere magistri, Ne retrahat la.s.sos alta ruina gradus.

Immo mihi dico, Noli sapuisse profundum: Non ego ad infernum me sapuisse velim.

_The wisdom of the world._

'Aim not at things too high,' 'twas said of old, 'Lest ruin thence o'ertake thee, over-bold.'

For me to dive too deep I think not well: I would not have my knowledge deep as h.e.l.l. CL.

CXLIX.

_In stabulum ubi natus est Dominus._

Illa domus stabulum? non est, Puer auree, non est: Illa domus, qua tu nasceris, est stabulum?

Illa domus toto domus est pulcherrima mundo; Vix coelo dici vult minor illa tuo.[79]

Cernis ut illa suo pa.s.sim domus ardeat auro?

Cernis ut effusis rideat illa rosis?

Sive aurum non est, nec quae rosa rideat illic; Ex oculis facile est esse probare tuis.

????? ?d' ?st' a???; ?? ?. te?? ?????, ??s??, ?? ?' ? t? t??t? a????? ?? p??eta?.

????? ?? p??t?? ??a d? ?????st?? ??e?????

???a??? ??d? te?? ????te??? p??eta?.

???de ?e??? ??? d?' ?p????et? ???s?, ???de ?e??? ????? d?a ??d??s? ?e??.

?? ??d?? ???? ?e??, ?? ??d? te ???s?? ??e??e??

?? s?? d' ?f?a??? ?st?? ??e???e?a?.

_On the stable where our Lord was born._

That house a stable? nay, bright Infant, nay: Where Thou art born--a stable do we say?

Of mansions in this world fairest of all, That house but little less than heaven we call.

Seest thou that house with golden splendour flush?

Seest thou that house with scatter'd roses blush?

There is no gold, no rose there laughing lies: It is the light that falls from His fair eyes. A.

CL.

_S. Stepha.n.u.s amicis suis, funus sibi curantibus._ Act. vii. 57-60.

Nulla, precor, busto surgant mihi marmora: bustum Haec mihi sint mortis conscia saxa meae.

Sic nec opus fuerit, notet ut quis carmine bustum, Pro Domino, dicens, occidit ille suo.

Hic mihi sit tumulus, quem mors dedit ipsa; meique Ipse hic martyrii sit mihi martyrium.

_St. Stephen to his friends, to raise no monument._

I pray you, raise, my friends, no tomb for me, But let these conscious stones my record be; Nor will there then be need of verse to tell That here for his dear Lord a martyr fell.

That which brought death, a tomb shall also bring, And be the witness of my witnessing. CL.

CLI.

_In D. Joannem, quem Domitia.n.u.s ferventi oleo illaesum indidit._

Illum qui, toto currens vaga flammula mundo, Non quidem Joannes, ipse sed audit amor-- Illum ignem extingui, bone Domitiane, laboras?

Hoc non est oleum, Domitiane, dare.[80]

_On St. John, whom Domitian cast into a caldron of boiling oil, he unhurt._

That fire--which o'er the world a wandering flame, Bears not the name of John, but Love's own name-- To quench, my good Domitian, dost thou toil?

Fire scarce is quench'd, methinks, by adding oil. CL.

CLII.

_In tenellos martyres._