Scorning her wonted herald, lo, the Day Now decks her forehead with a brighter ray. Sage Persian, haste; ask where high roofs unfold Their royal wealth of marble and of gold; In what rich couch an Empress-mother lies; What halls have heard a new-born Prince's cries. Wouldst know, sage Persian? He for whom Heaven keeps Such festival, in Bethlehem's manger weeps. CL. XCV. _Ecce quaerebamus te, &c._ Luc. ii. 49. Te quaero misera, et quaero: tu nunc quoque tractas Res Patris; Pater est unica cura tibi. Quippe quod ad poenas tantum et tot nomina mortis, Ad luctum et lacrymas, hei mihi! mater ego. _Lo, we have sought Thee, &c._ I seek Thee mourning, and I seek again: Thou still Thy Father's business dost attend; And me, alas, sad mother of all pain, Of grief and tears, Thou surely wilt befriend. G. XCVI. _Aquae in vinum versae._ Joan. ii. 1-11. Unde rubor vestris, et non sua purpura lymphis? Quae rosa mirantes tam nova mutat aquas? Numen, convivae, praesens agnoscite Numen: Nympha pudica Deum vidit, et erubuit.[60] _Water turned into wine._ Whence that blush upon thy brow, Fair Nymph of the waters, now? Mark the glow all rosy-red Of the stream astonièd. All the guests in tumult rush'd: The shy Nymph saw her God, and blush'd. G. ANOTHER VERSION. Whence to your waters comes the glow of wine? What strange new rose their mazèd streams hath flush'd? Haste, guests, and own your Visitant divine; For the chaste Nymph hath seen her God, and blush'd. CL. ANOTHER. Whence comes this rose, this ruddy colour strange? What blushes new the wondering water change? Mark, mark, gay guests, a present Deity! The conscious water blush'd its God to see. A. XCVII. _Absenti Centurionis filio Dominus absens medetur._ Matt. viii. 13. Quam tacitis inopina salus illabitur alis! Alis quas illi vox tua, Christe, dedit. Quam longas vox ista manus habet! haec medicina Absens et praesens haec medicina fuit. _The Lord at a distance heals the absent servant of the Centurion._ Safety unlook'd-for! silent 'light the wings Wherewith Thy voice, O Christ, swift-healing brings: Far-reaching hand Thy word has, and Thou healest Absent and present, even as Thou willest. G. XCVIII. _Quid timidi estis?_ Marc. iv. 40. Tanquam illi insanus faceret sua fulmina ventus; Tanquam illi scopulos norit habere fretum. Vos vestri scopuli, vos estis ventus et unda: Naufragium cum illo qui metuit, meruit. _Why are ye so fearful?_ As if to Him the winds their thunder threw; As if to Him hard rocks the water knew. Ye are your rocks, ye are your wind and wave: Shiprack with Him who fear, deserve to have. B. XCIX. _Nunc dimittis._ Luc. ii. 29.