See how new Phœnix into bright life springs, And fans the unhurting flames with golden wings. O'er snake what subtle change creeps as months flow, Bidding its faded frame with beauty glow. Why, on itself with worn beak having prey'd, Is raven old more youthful swift array'd? O'er second birth-throes bears Lucina sway, Whence an old man may have late natal day? Pharisee, know'st not? Well, now faith thou'lt learn: Wisely to know not, half faith's crown doth earn. R. WI. LXVI. _Arbor Christi jussu arescens._ Marc. xi. 13. Ille jubet: procul ite mei, mea gloria, rami: Nulla vocet nostras amplius aura comas. Ite, nec ô pigeat; nam vos neque fulminis ira, Nec trucis ala Noti verberat: ille jubet. O vox, ô Zephyro vel sic quoque dulcior omni; Non possum Autumno nobiliore frui. _The tree dried up by the word of Christ._ He speaks: hence, leaves; my glory hence, away; Thou Zephyr 'mid my leaves no longer play; Begone: nor grieve: 'tis not the lightning's wrath, Nor wing of the storm-wind that smites: HE saith. O voice, than Zephyr sweeter far to me; More noble autumn-fruit could never be. G. LXVII. _Zacharias minus credens._ Luc. i. 12. Infantis fore te patrem, res mira videtur; Infans interea factus es ipse pater. Et dum promissi signum, nimis anxie, quaeris, Jam nisi per signum quaerere nulla potes. _Zacharias incredulous._ To have a child thou deem'st so strange a thing, That thou art made a child for wondering. Whilst for a sign too eagerly thou dost call, Except by sign thou can'st not ask at all. CL. LXVIII. _In aquam baptismi Dominici._ Matt. iii. 13-16. Felix ô, sacros cui sic licet ire per artus; Felix, dum lavat hunc, ipsa lavatur aqua. Gutta quidem sacros quaecunque perambulat artus, Dum manet hic, gemma est; dum cadit hinc, lacryma. _On the water of our Lord's baptisme._ Each blest drop on each blest limme Is washt itselfe in washing Him: 'Tis a gemme while it stayes here; While it falls hence 'tis a teare. CR. ANOTHER VERSION. Happy the water washt His sacred side; In washing Christ itself is purify'd. Each drop that trickled down His body, there Staying a gem, thence falling was a tear. B. LXIX. _Mulieri incurvatae medetur Dominus, indignante Archisynagogo._ Luc. xiii. 11. In proprios replicata sinus quae repserat, et jam Daemonis, infelix, nil nisi nodus erat, Solvitur ad digitum Domini: sed strictior illo Unicus est nodus; cor, Pharisaee, tuum. _The bowed-down woman healed by the Lord, the Synagogue-ruler is displeased._ Creeping and doubled erewhile in her woe, Lo, now she stands erect: Christ willed it so. Dæmonic knots are loos'd beneath His hands; But thy heart, Pharisee, still rigid stands. G. LXX.