Before our Lady in the Temple
ITHURIEL
Comrades, our sacred charge,
Who all night long upon this marble pavement.
Like a pale lily bent, was pouring forth
Her most ambrosial sighs into the ear
Of her eternal Father,—now at length
Has yielded up her eyelids to repose.
Morning returns emblazoning with gold
Yon eastern pinnacle. The hideous storm.
Rais'd by the vagrant spirits of the night,
Which seem'd to shake this temple to its base,
Is past—no cloud appears;
And through the spicy air softly diffus'd
A halcyon calm is basking, as becomes
This day of our young Queen's Nativity ,
The seventh in its order since she came
Immaculate into a world defil'd.
A DAY it is well worthy of observance
Now as in after-time; and our custom
Has been to celebrate it hitherto
With song and festal show, in entertainment
Of this dear Maid. Now, therefore, Azael,
Most bright deviser of our pageantries,
Say, what new mystery hast thou prepar'd
For this auspicious morn, which thrills the world
With life, and joy, and glad expectancy?
Last year thine art was most felicitous,
Bringing before our eyes, as I remember,
The happy pastoral times; and setting forth,
With infinite delight to this fair soul,
As in a drama. Abraham's sacrifice
Of Isaac on the holy Mount of Vision,
Timely averted by an angel's hand.
AZAEL .
Dread Lord, our mystery of to-day attempts
(After the manner of the sacred masques
Play'd by the youth of modern Israel)
To represent, by aid of a Procession,
The glories of this heaven-created Child;
Personifying the early Patriarchs,
As we remember each, in face and garb,
While journeying on his earthly pilgrimage,
Now in the groves of Paradise at rest.
These, as they pass, in turn will homage pay
To this new blossom of their ancient tree;
Felicitating in triumphant strains
The birthday morn of Her, in whom alone
The hope of poor mortality is hid.
All was prepar'd, and we were busy choosing
Last night our parts, when of a sudden leapt
The tempest down, and summon'd us away
To the defence of this all-sacred head,
From the satanic crew that strove so hard
To sweep into the bottomless abyss
Our Temple and its Treasure.
ITHURIEL .
It was well.
First among all our duties was enjoin'd us,
By Michael the Archangel, our high Prince.
Ever by day and night, with heedful watch
To guard this paragon of innocence
From her innumerable relentless foes,
Headed by false apostate Lucifer.
This task ye well perform'd, Angelic Powers:
I mark'd each several deed of noble daring,
While Hell in vain before your serried front
Its nether depth upheav'd. Now, therefore, go,
Ye who this entertainment have in charge,
And what remains complete with diligence;
For I expect some princely visitors
With the first slanting sunbeam, in high state,
Coming from bright Italia, to salute
The Queen of Sion, and perchance to stay
As your spectators. We, who here remain,
Will sing meanwhile in this fair sleeper's ear
Our birthday song of gratulation,
Blending and parting in alternate strains.
Angels ' B IRTHDAY S ONG TO M ARY .
Hail to the Flower of grace divine!
Hail to the Heir of David's line!
Hail to the world's great Heroine!
Hail to the Virgin pre-elect!
Hail to the Work without defect
Of the supernal Architect!
Hail to the Maid ordain'd of old,
Deep in eternities untold,
Ere the blue waves of ocean roll'd!
Ere the perennial founts had sprung;
Ere in ether the globe was hung;
Ere the morning stars had sung!
Welcome the beatific morn
When the Mother of Life was born,
Only hope of a world forlorn!
What a thrill of ecstatic mirth
Danc'd along through Heav'n and Earth,
At the tidings of Mary's birth!
How was Hell to its centre stirr'd!
How sang Hades when it heard
Of her coming so long deferr'd!
Happy, happy, the Angel band,
Chosen by Mary's side to stand
As her defence on either hand!
Safe beneath our viewless wings,
Mother elect of the King of kings,
Fear no harm from hurtful things!
What though Eden vanish'd be,
More than Eden we find in thee!
Thou, our joy and jubilee!
HERALD .
Most mighty Prince!
Foremost among the Chivalry of Heaven!
Know that the Angels of Italia,
With their high Potentate, the Guardian
Of world-subjecting Rome, mov'd by report
Of Palestine's new wonder, have arriv'd;
And crave permission of thee to behold
The world's young joy.
ITHURIEL .
They are most welcome here.
TUTELARY ANGEL OF ROME ( kneeling to Mary ).
Hail, thou, of love and fear and holy hope
Mother that art to be! Hail, Woman blest
Above all women! Mightier than all
Before or after thee! Effulgent Mirror
Wholly untouch'd by breath of primal sin!
Brightness of light eternal! within whom
Nothing defil'd hath place. All beautiful!
Lovelier than Cherubim or Seraphim!
Surpassing all th' Angelic Hierarchies!
Temple and throne of blazing Deity!
Praise, lustre, excellence, of humankind!
Through whom celestial dovelike peace returns
To the long-ruffled and disorder'd world!
Who shalt on earth ineffably conceive
The Lord of Heav'n. Hail, living Fount of Life!
From whom the Maker of the Universe,
The Father's consubstantial Word and Son,
Shall into His eternal Person take
Perfect humanity, thenceforth to be
Inseparably His for evermore;
So with a new regenerated race
To fill our vacant thrones! Virgin august!
As yet amid celestial sovereignties
Only by dim anticipation known,
But now, in thy predestinated time,
Beginning partially to be reveal'd!
Never again since I have Mary seen
Shall glitter on this humbled brow of mine
Great Rome's imperial diadem; hers it is,
And mine by right no more. Accept it then,
Empress elect of universal worlds!
Unworthy to adorn thy sacred head,
Hardly deserving at thy feet a place.
ITHURIEL .
Most noble Potentate, in the behalf
Of this fair Daughter of Jerusalem
And Queen of holy Sion, we accept
Your loving worship; and the time shall be
When Mary to your Rome a hundredfold
This homage shall repay; if but aright
I read the course of ages faintly streak'd
In prophecy, or by conjecture weigh'd.
And now, in token of our grateful love.
I bid you to a Pageant, each and all,
Prepar'd amongst us in a simple fashion
For the diversion of this royal Child.
Which, presently commencing, will give space
For your return ere night her sable wing
Expand upon the Adriatic wave.
ANGEL OF ROME .
We count ourselves most fortunate; already
Fame of your Mysteries hath reached our ear.
AZAEL ( re-entering ).
All is complete, my Prince: we do but wait
For your commands.
ITHURIEL .
Begin then, Azael;
While in their chalices are sparkling yet
The dewdrops of the morn.
AZAEL .
Please you that we
Awake our Lady first?
ITHURIEL .
Nay, as I think,
Better she slumber on; for much she needs,
After the rabid uproar of last night,
Some genial balm. Nor will your Spectacle
Less clearly pass before her inward gaze,
Than if those eyelids with their golden fringe
Had been unlock'd; finding an easy entrance,
Beneath the semblance of a mystic dream,
In that exact proportion best befitting
Her present grace and knowledge. Such the power
That to angelic ministries belongs.
Comrades, our sacred charge,
Who all night long upon this marble pavement.
Like a pale lily bent, was pouring forth
Her most ambrosial sighs into the ear
Of her eternal Father,—now at length
Has yielded up her eyelids to repose.
Morning returns emblazoning with gold
Yon eastern pinnacle. The hideous storm.
Rais'd by the vagrant spirits of the night,
Which seem'd to shake this temple to its base,
Is past—no cloud appears;
And through the spicy air softly diffus'd
A halcyon calm is basking, as becomes
This day of our young Queen's Nativity ,
The seventh in its order since she came
Immaculate into a world defil'd.
A DAY it is well worthy of observance
Now as in after-time; and our custom
Has been to celebrate it hitherto
With song and festal show, in entertainment
Of this dear Maid. Now, therefore, Azael,
Most bright deviser of our pageantries,
Say, what new mystery hast thou prepar'd
For this auspicious morn, which thrills the world
With life, and joy, and glad expectancy?
Last year thine art was most felicitous,
Bringing before our eyes, as I remember,
The happy pastoral times; and setting forth,
With infinite delight to this fair soul,
As in a drama. Abraham's sacrifice
Of Isaac on the holy Mount of Vision,
Timely averted by an angel's hand.
AZAEL .
Dread Lord, our mystery of to-day attempts
(After the manner of the sacred masques
Play'd by the youth of modern Israel)
To represent, by aid of a Procession,
The glories of this heaven-created Child;
Personifying the early Patriarchs,
As we remember each, in face and garb,
While journeying on his earthly pilgrimage,
Now in the groves of Paradise at rest.
These, as they pass, in turn will homage pay
To this new blossom of their ancient tree;
Felicitating in triumphant strains
The birthday morn of Her, in whom alone
The hope of poor mortality is hid.
All was prepar'd, and we were busy choosing
Last night our parts, when of a sudden leapt
The tempest down, and summon'd us away
To the defence of this all-sacred head,
From the satanic crew that strove so hard
To sweep into the bottomless abyss
Our Temple and its Treasure.
ITHURIEL .
It was well.
First among all our duties was enjoin'd us,
By Michael the Archangel, our high Prince.
Ever by day and night, with heedful watch
To guard this paragon of innocence
From her innumerable relentless foes,
Headed by false apostate Lucifer.
This task ye well perform'd, Angelic Powers:
I mark'd each several deed of noble daring,
While Hell in vain before your serried front
Its nether depth upheav'd. Now, therefore, go,
Ye who this entertainment have in charge,
And what remains complete with diligence;
For I expect some princely visitors
With the first slanting sunbeam, in high state,
Coming from bright Italia, to salute
The Queen of Sion, and perchance to stay
As your spectators. We, who here remain,
Will sing meanwhile in this fair sleeper's ear
Our birthday song of gratulation,
Blending and parting in alternate strains.
Angels ' B IRTHDAY S ONG TO M ARY .
Hail to the Flower of grace divine!
Hail to the Heir of David's line!
Hail to the world's great Heroine!
Hail to the Virgin pre-elect!
Hail to the Work without defect
Of the supernal Architect!
Hail to the Maid ordain'd of old,
Deep in eternities untold,
Ere the blue waves of ocean roll'd!
Ere the perennial founts had sprung;
Ere in ether the globe was hung;
Ere the morning stars had sung!
Welcome the beatific morn
When the Mother of Life was born,
Only hope of a world forlorn!
What a thrill of ecstatic mirth
Danc'd along through Heav'n and Earth,
At the tidings of Mary's birth!
How was Hell to its centre stirr'd!
How sang Hades when it heard
Of her coming so long deferr'd!
Happy, happy, the Angel band,
Chosen by Mary's side to stand
As her defence on either hand!
Safe beneath our viewless wings,
Mother elect of the King of kings,
Fear no harm from hurtful things!
What though Eden vanish'd be,
More than Eden we find in thee!
Thou, our joy and jubilee!
HERALD .
Most mighty Prince!
Foremost among the Chivalry of Heaven!
Know that the Angels of Italia,
With their high Potentate, the Guardian
Of world-subjecting Rome, mov'd by report
Of Palestine's new wonder, have arriv'd;
And crave permission of thee to behold
The world's young joy.
ITHURIEL .
They are most welcome here.
TUTELARY ANGEL OF ROME ( kneeling to Mary ).
Hail, thou, of love and fear and holy hope
Mother that art to be! Hail, Woman blest
Above all women! Mightier than all
Before or after thee! Effulgent Mirror
Wholly untouch'd by breath of primal sin!
Brightness of light eternal! within whom
Nothing defil'd hath place. All beautiful!
Lovelier than Cherubim or Seraphim!
Surpassing all th' Angelic Hierarchies!
Temple and throne of blazing Deity!
Praise, lustre, excellence, of humankind!
Through whom celestial dovelike peace returns
To the long-ruffled and disorder'd world!
Who shalt on earth ineffably conceive
The Lord of Heav'n. Hail, living Fount of Life!
From whom the Maker of the Universe,
The Father's consubstantial Word and Son,
Shall into His eternal Person take
Perfect humanity, thenceforth to be
Inseparably His for evermore;
So with a new regenerated race
To fill our vacant thrones! Virgin august!
As yet amid celestial sovereignties
Only by dim anticipation known,
But now, in thy predestinated time,
Beginning partially to be reveal'd!
Never again since I have Mary seen
Shall glitter on this humbled brow of mine
Great Rome's imperial diadem; hers it is,
And mine by right no more. Accept it then,
Empress elect of universal worlds!
Unworthy to adorn thy sacred head,
Hardly deserving at thy feet a place.
ITHURIEL .
Most noble Potentate, in the behalf
Of this fair Daughter of Jerusalem
And Queen of holy Sion, we accept
Your loving worship; and the time shall be
When Mary to your Rome a hundredfold
This homage shall repay; if but aright
I read the course of ages faintly streak'd
In prophecy, or by conjecture weigh'd.
And now, in token of our grateful love.
I bid you to a Pageant, each and all,
Prepar'd amongst us in a simple fashion
For the diversion of this royal Child.
Which, presently commencing, will give space
For your return ere night her sable wing
Expand upon the Adriatic wave.
ANGEL OF ROME .
We count ourselves most fortunate; already
Fame of your Mysteries hath reached our ear.
AZAEL ( re-entering ).
All is complete, my Prince: we do but wait
For your commands.
ITHURIEL .
Begin then, Azael;
While in their chalices are sparkling yet
The dewdrops of the morn.
AZAEL .
Please you that we
Awake our Lady first?
ITHURIEL .
Nay, as I think,
Better she slumber on; for much she needs,
After the rabid uproar of last night,
Some genial balm. Nor will your Spectacle
Less clearly pass before her inward gaze,
Than if those eyelids with their golden fringe
Had been unlock'd; finding an easy entrance,
Beneath the semblance of a mystic dream,
In that exact proportion best befitting
Her present grace and knowledge. Such the power
That to angelic ministries belongs.
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