As to its form, the present work belongs to the class of serial poems, a species of composition happily revived in recent times, as by Wordsworth, in his "Ecclesiastical Sketches," and "Sonnets dedicated to Liberty," by Landor, and, with preeminent success, by the author of "In Memoriam." It was in common use among our earlier poets, who derived it from Petrarch and the Italians. Most often the interest of such poems was of a personal sort, as in the serial sonnets of Shakespeare, Spenser, Sidney, Drummond, Daniel, and Drayton; as well as the "Aurora" of Lord {viii} Stirling, and the "Astrea" of Sir John Davies. Occasionally, it was of a more abstract character. In both cases, alike, advantage was derived from a method of writing which unites an indefinite degree of continuity with a somewhat lawless variety, and which gains in brevity by the omission of connecting bonds. In Herbert's "Temple," Vaughan's "Silex Scintillans," and the chief poems of Donne and Crashaw, the unity is but that of kindred thoughts, and a common subject, not of a complete design. Habington's "Castara," a noble work too little known, combines a personal with an abstract interest. In it many poems on religious and philosophical subjects are grouped for support round a single centre; that centre being the sustained homage paid by the poet to one not unworthy, apparently, of his reverence and love. {ix}{x}{xi}{xii} CONTENTS PAGE Prologue xv PART I. Who feels not, when the Spring once more 3 Upon Thy face, O God, thy world 5 All but unutterable Name 6 Sancta Maria 7 Dei Genitrix 8 Virgo Virginum 9 Ascending from the convent-grates 11 Adolescentulae amaverunt te nimis 12 Mater Christi 13 Mater Christi 14 Mater Creatoris 15 Mater Salvatoris 16 Mater Dolorosa 17 Mater Dolorosa 18 Mater Admirabilis 19 Mater Amabilis 20 Mater Filii 21 Mater Divinae Gratiae 22 Mater Divinae Gratiae 23 When April's sudden sunset cold 24 As children when, with heavy tread 25 Mariae Cliens 26 Fest. Visitationis 28 Not yet, not yet! the Season sings 29 Fest. Nativitatis B.V.M. 30 The moon, ascending o'er a mass 32 A dream came to me while the night 33 Fest. Purificationis 34 Fest. Epiphaniae 35 The sunless day is sweeter yet 36 Legenda 37 PART II.