From many lands they came, in divers fiery ways; Each knew at last the vanity of earthly joys; And one was crowned with thorns, and one was crowned with bays, And each was tired at last of the world’s foolish noise. It was not theirs with Dominic to preach God’s holy wrath, They were too stern to bear sweet Francis’ gentle sway; Theirs was a higher calling and a steeper path, To dwell alone with Christ, to meditate and pray. A cloistered company, they are companionless, None knoweth here the secret of his brother’s heart: They are but come together for more loneliness, Whose bond is solitude and silence all their part. O beatific life! Who is there shall gainsay, Your great refusal’s victory, your little loss, Deserting vanity for the more perfect way, The sweetest service of the most dolorous Cross. Ye shall prevail at last! Surely ye shall prevail! Your silence and your austerity shall win at last: Desire and Mirth, the world’s ephemeral lights shall fail, The sweet star of your queen is never overcast. We fling up flowers and laugh, we laugh across the wine; With wine we dull our souls and careful strains of art; Our cups are polished skulls round which the roses twine: None dares to look at Death who leers and lurks apart. Move on, white company, whom that has not sufficed! Our viols cease, our wine is death, our roses fail: Pray for our heedlessness, O dwellers with the Christ! Though the world fall apart, surely ye shall prevail. MARIS STELLA BY AUGUSTA THEODOSIA DRANE Mary, beautiful and bright “Velut Maris Stella,” Brighter than the morning light, “Parens et Puella,” I cry to thee, look down on me; Ladye, pray thy Son for me, “Tam pia,” That thy child may come to thee, “Maria.” Sad the earth was and forlorn, “Eva peccatrice,” Until Christ our Lord was born “De te Genitrice”; Gabriel’s “Ave” chased away Darksome night, and brought the day “Salutis”; Thou the Fount whence waters play “Virtutis.” Ladye, Flower of living thing, “Rosa sine spina”; Mother of Jesus, heaven’s King, “Gratia divinia”; ’Tis thou in all dost bear the prize, Ladye, Queen of Paradise, “Electa,” Maiden meek and Mother wise, “Effecta.” In care thou counsellest the best, “Felix fecundata”; To the weary thou are rest, “Mater honorata”; Plead in thy love to Him who gave His precious Blood the world to save “In cruce,” That we our home with Him may have “In luce.”