To follow, earlier yet, the feet Of her the "hilly land" who trod With true love's haste, intent to greet That aged saint beloved of God. Before her, like a stream let loose, The long vale's flowerage, winding, ran: Nature resumed her Eden use; And Earth was reconciled with Man. {61} _Causa Nostra Laetitiae._ XVI. Whate'er is floral on the earth To thee, O Flower, of right belongs; Whate'er is musical in mirth, Whate'er is jubilant in songs. Childhood and springtide never cease For him thy freshness keeps from stain: Dew-drenched for him, like Gideon's fleece, The dusty paths of life remain. Spirit of Brightness and of Bliss! Thou threaten'st none! A sinless lure, Thy fragrance and thy gladsomeness Draw on to Christ; to Christ secure. Hope, Hope is Strength! That joy of thine To us is Glory's earliest ray! Through Faith's dim air, O star benign, Look down, and light our onward way! {62} _Stella Maris._ XVII. I left at morn that blissful shore O'er which the fruit-bloom fluttered free; And sailed the wildering waters o'er, Till sunset streaked with blood the sea. My sleep the hoarse sea-thunders broke, And sudden chill. Their feet foam-hid, Huge cliffs leaned out, through vapour-smoke, Like tower, and tomb, and pyramid. In the black shadow, ghostly white The breaker raced o'er foaming shoals: From caverns of eternal night Came wailings, as of suffering souls. Sudden, through clearing mists, the star Of ocean o'er the billow rose: Down dropped the elemental war; Tormented chaos found repose. {63} Star of the ocean! dear art thou, Ah! not to earth and heaven alone: The suffering Church, when shines thy brow Upon her penance, stays her moan. The Holy Souls draw in their breath; The sea of anguish rests in peace; And, from beyond the gates of death, Up swell the anthems of release. {64} XVIII. Blossom for ever, blossoming Rod! Thou did'st not blossom once to die: That Life which, issuing forth from God, Thy life enkindled, runs not dry. Without a root in sin-stained earth, 'Twas thine to bud Salvation's flower. No single soul the Church brings forth But blooms from thee and is thy dower. Rejoice, O Eve! thy promise waned; Transgression nipt thy flower with frost But, lo! a mother man hath gained Holier than she in Eden lost. {65} _Unica._ XIX. While all the breathless woods aloof Lie hush'd in noontide's deep repose, That dove, sun-warmed on yonder roof, With what a grave content she coos! One note for her! Deep streams run smooth The ecstatic song of transience tells. O what a depth of loving truth In thy divine contentment dwells! All day, with down-dropt lids, I sat, In trance; the present scene forgone. When Hesper rose, on Ararat, Methought, not English hills, he shone.