| |
| SABÆAN odours load the air; | |
| See myrrh as though for burial brought; | |
| The flash of royal gold is there, | |
| But where is he for whom ’tis sought? | |
| Behold him on the spotless virgin’s knee, | 5 |
| The Priest, the Man, the Monarch, lo! ’tis He. | |
| |
| Mother of Christ! the eastern star | |
| Shines brightly on the humble shed | |
| Where wise Chaldeans, led from far, | |
| Bend low before the Infant head; | 10 |
| The priestly arms spread forth to bless e’en now | |
| Steadfast to win the crown, by death, the brow. | |
| |
| Mother of sorrows! mark the word, | |
| And ponder it within thy heart, | |
| Through thine own soul shall pierce the sword | 15 |
| Ere God full knowledge shall impart; | |
| Then shalt thou see with re-awakened eye | |
| The signs, worked out, of the Epiphany. | |
| |
| Upon the great Good Friday morn | |
| Thy Son in royal guise shall stand | 20 |
| With purple robe, and crown of thorn, | |
| And sceptred reed in His right hand. | |
| When these things come to pass, look up! behold | |
| The first great sign worked out,—the gift of gold. | |
| |
| When priestly arms on Calvary’s crest | 25 |
| In intercession wide are spread, | |
| And to that blessing from their rest | |
| Hades sends forth the sainted dead, | |
| The second gift behold—see heavenward rise | |
| Atoning incense of the sacrifice. | 30 |
| |
| The soul has fled; the vexed limbs sleep, | |
| O’er both the Godhead spreads its span: | |
| Bring myrrh and spices; vigil keep | |
| Over the archetypal man: | |
| With eyes of awful love and bated breath, | 35 |
| Lady! behold the myrrh,—the type of death. | |
| |
| In mystic number, vested white, | |
| The presbyters around the throne | |
| Cast down their crowns of golden light, | |
| Their Maker and their Lord to own; | 40 |
| “For he is worthy of all praise,” they sing, | |
| “Of heaven and earth, Creator, Lord and King.” | |
| |
| Unchangeable the priesthood’s vow | |
| Which this man, pure from human stain, | |
| Yet man in all things, offers now, | 45 |
| Himself for sin the victim slain. | |
| At last the threefold gifts in one concur, | |
| Here blend the gold, the frankincense, the myrrh. | |
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