English

I.

Upon a couch of golden woof
In royal hall, King Otho lay;
Red banners hung along the roof
Spoke loud of war and battle-day.

II.

His long bright hair fell idly down
Above a cheek of pallid hue;
Though near him lay the imperial crown,
No glance of his faint eyes it drew.

III.

For he was sick, and cold, and weak,
Nor e'en the thought of Rome subdued
Could clear the rust that stained his cheek,
Or soothe his dark distempered mood.

IV.

Invested thus in garb of innocence,
Robed as the angels are who soar and sing,
We cast our yearning eyes to that sure time
When on Celestial Hills our happy feet
As in the lamb-like days of youth shall stray;
Oh, freed from all defilements, freed from sin,
And from sin's sequel, children once again,
In knowledge men , but in transgression babes;
Lamb of the happy springtime, 'twas from thee
The S INLESS took His title, — Lamb of God!

No cares shall meet the silent sleeper here;
No foes annoy; kind mother earth, wherein
He lies, surrounds him fostering, in her arms;
She plants fair flowers above him; storms may beat
Her bosom, opened to the winter's rage, —
He is secure , — she is his sure defense;
" Clods of the valley shall be sweet to him,
And friends shall come and with him make abode. "
Mansion of rest, the stillness and the gloom
Can bring no horrors to thy quiet home!

We feed and worship, Author of our life,
Nourished by Thee. All through the changing year
Thou guid'st the seasons that we may not want.
The yielding furrow Thy command obeys,
And gives its Corn to consecrate our Lodge.
Oh, bounteous source of food, this precious grain,
Thus scattered on our altars, let it bring
Blessings of nourishment to after years,
Strength'ning the generations that shall fill
These chambers, when our pilgrimage is done!

So when we end this dreary tale of life,
And stand upon the river's edge, river of death,
Safe passage, needful aid, good cheer are all
Assured to him who has the needful word .
Dark stream! we shudder at thy gulf profound;
Bitter thy waters to sin's votary;
All that a man hath he will give t' escape.
But to the righteous there awaits a guide,
Strong to uphold and gentle to console,
To him who, whispering, safely yields the word .

In some far oriental land, they tell
Of one, a brave old man, who fairly died
His honor to maintain; rude, violent hands
On him were laid in unexpected hour
And secret place, and he was given to choose
'Twixt vile dishonor and a cruel death.
He died; in Fortitude he gave his life,
Redeeming thus the pledge made long before.
His high example for three thousand years
Has formed the model of true courage here.

Palm Tree Water , S HADE , F RUIT , G RACEFULNESS

Thou seafest up the sum of nature's gifts,
O grateful shaft, that send'st thy shade afar!
The royal sage adorned his olive gates
With thy fair image; for it told of food
Delicious to the taste; and grateful shade
Made by thy thickened foliage, while the sound —
No music in those eastern lands so sweet —
Of trickling water echoed at thy roots.
Perfect in beauty, and with bounty full,
Thou art the chief of Masons' imagery.

Oblong square — True TO P ERFECT A NGLES .

Blessed the man who walks not by advice
Of the ungodly, and who standeth not
In the way of sinners, nor in scorner's seat
Doth sit; but in the law of God delights,
And meditates thereon, both day and night;
He shall be like a fruitful, spreading tree,
Planted on river's brink; his fruit shall come
In season, and his leaf shall never fade;
Such are the blessings promised in the Law,
To those who duly form the O BLONG S QUARE .

Network — Interwoven F RIENDSHIP .

This Net so strong, of thirty centuries,
That gleams on high, in brazen imagery,
Shows an artistic knot at every joint.
Wonderful NetWORK ! whose the hand that first
Taught us to tie thy fastenings intricate?
The wants, and woes, and joys, and cares of men,
So shared, so equalized, — whose work is this?
None other than the Artificer's divine!
'Tis the same Unity that reigns in Heaven,
Binding the angels to the throne of God.

Moon — Nocturnal R ULER .

Thy gentle face calls up the parted years,
Guide of the evening, M OON , the Mason's sun.
Led by thy light, the woodland paths were filled
With cheerful voice — the stilly night was moved
With feet fraternal, thronging to the Lodge,
Sweet M OON , thou peered upon our mysteries,
But saw no motion but what God could bless;
Bending toward the West thy silver light
Admonished of the midnight hour, and led
The happy Craftsmen to domestic joys.