תמונות בעמוד
PDF
ePub

"LAZARUS COME FORTH!"

"Lazarus come forth!"-The dead arose,

The sunken orbs their thraldom broke :Through the chill'd limbs warm life-blood flows, And the pale slumberer awoke!

"Lazarus come forth!"-Oh, words of power!
Dread grave where is thy victory now?
Who triumph'd o'er thee in that hour,—
Who made thee at his mandate bow?

"Lazarus come forth!"-The fluttering spirit, From Hades heard the call divine,

Once more earth's trials to inherit,

Once more a denizen of time.

Question not wherefore this could be;

Cease, doubter cease, thy cavils vainFor He who gave that breath to thee, Could call it back to life again.

From Thee are all things,-Heavenly King! Before Thy footstool we would bow; Shield us with Thy Almighty wing,

The Life and Resurrection Thou!

[blocks in formation]

THE RESURRECTION.

"So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch."-ST. MATTHEW, xxvii. 66.

The watch is set, the stone is seal'd,

And through the dewy night,

Wan stars their lustre have reveal'd,
In the blue concave's height,-

Shining above earth's misery,
With their unearthly light.

No sound breaks on the tranquil hour,

But in that garden lone,

All dimly on each tree and flower,

The hue of night is thrown;

And silence reigns, the watch is set

And the wild crowd are gone!

And they, with measured step, before,
The rocky tomb pass by,—

They tread the dusky path-way o'er,

Gloomily,-silently,

For still they see the sealed stone,
Unmoved, unbroken lie!

Why do the strong ones turn so pale,
And to the earth fall down?

With awe and fear their spirits quail,
The tomb is open thrown,

And, all too bright, to gaze upon,

Is one beside the stone.

His face, as heaven's own lightning gleams,

And whiter far than snow,

The floating robe around him seems ;

No form of earth they know, Is the all-radiant being there,

And to the earth they bow.

THE RESURRECTION.

Away!—and tell your fearful tale,
To the proud ruler's ear,

Ere the first streak of morning pale,

Is breaking on the air;
Away!-and tell an angel stands,

And watches for you there!

103

"Oh grave, where is thy victory!"
No more thy terrors bring,-
Her buried Saviour, faith can see
Rise on immortal wing.

The first fruits of a countless throng;

And death has now no sting!

« הקודםהמשך »