The Complete Works of Richard Crashaw Volume II Part 12

VIII.

_Quinque panes ad quinque hominum millia._ Joan. vi. 9.

En mensae faciles, redivivaque vulnera coenae, Quaeque indefessa provocat ora dape!

Aucta Ceres stupet arcana se crescere messe.

Denique quid restat? Pascitur ipse cibus.

_On the miracle of multiplyed loaves._

See here an easie feast that knows no wound, That under Hunger's teeth will needs be found; A subtle harvest of unbounded bread: What would ye more? Here Food itselfe is fed. CR.

ANOTHER VERSION.

Eas'ly-furnish'd table!

And feast increas'd by eating: Still the mouth entreating.

The bread itself, unable To tell whence it flows, Finds it most surely grows.

Finds itself guest--no fable!

Whence is the mystic dower?

From Him Who is all power. G.

IX.

_aethiops lotus._ Act. viii. 38.

Ille niger sacris exit, quam lautus! ab undis: Nec frustra aethiopem nempe lavare fuit.

Mentem quam niveam piceae cutis umbra fovebit?

Tam volet et nigros sancta Columba lares.

_On the baptized Ethiopian._

Let it no longer be a forlorne hope To wash an Ethiope: He's washt; his gloomy skin a peacefull shade For his white soule is made: And now, I doubt not, the Eternall Dove A black-fac'd house will love. CR.

ANOTHER VERSION.

How fair this Ethiop comes from th' holy fount!

To wash a Black we may not vain account.

How bright a soul is in a cloudy skin!

The Dove now loves a black house to dwell in. B.

X.

_Publica.n.u.s procul stans percutiebat pectus suum._ Luc. xviii. 13.

Ecce hic peccator timidus pet.i.t advena templum: Quodque audet solum, pectora moesta ferit.

Fide miser; pulsaque fores has fort.i.ter: illo Invenies templo tu propiore Deum.

_The publican standing afar off smote on his breast._

Lo, a sinner, timid stranger, Stranger to the Lord our G.o.d, Seeks, in consciousness of danger, Where to leave sin's awful load.

He to the Temple now is come, Bow'd in dread beside the door; His pallid lips, behold, are dumb; He smites his bosom, dares no more.

Ah, distress'd one, smite thee there In _that_ temple, G.o.d is near. G.

XI.

_[In] obolum viduae._ Marc. xii. 44.

Gutta brevis nummi, vitae patrona senilis, E digitis stillat non dubitantis a.n.u.s; Istis multa vagi spumant de gurgite census: Isti abjecerunt scilicet; illa dedit.

?e?at???? ?a?e?a ?a???, ??t??? t' ?fa????

?????, ?p?st??e? ?e???? ?p? t??e???.

???? d? ??as???t? p???? ?f??? ??a?d??? ????.

?? ?? ?p????pt??? ?e??a d?d??e ????.

_The widow's mites._

Two mites, two drops--yet all her house and land-- Falle from a steady heart though trembling hand: The others' wanton wealth foams high and brave.

The other cast away; she only gave. CR.

XII.

_Maria vero a.s.sidens ad pedes ejus audiebat eum._ Luc. x. 39.

Aspice, namque novum est, ut ab hospite pendeat hospes!

Hinc ori parat, hoc sumit ab ore cibos.

Tune epulis adeo es, soror, officiosa juvandis, Et sinis has, inquit, Martha, perire dapes?

_Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard His word._

Behold, a new thing here--host hanging on her Guest!

Preparing for His mouth, His mouth's words are her feast!

O Martha sister, spare thy labour and thy cost: Tending the food that perisheth, diviner food is lost. G.

XIII.

_In Spiritus Sancti descensum._ Act. ii.

Ferte sinus, o, ferte: cadit vindemia cli, Sanctaque ab aethereis volvitur uva jugis.

Felices nimium, queis tam bona musta bibuntur; In quorum gremium lucida pergit hiems!

En caput, en ut nectareo micat et micat astro; Gaudet et in roseis viva corona comis.

Illis, o Superi, quis sic neget ebrius esse?

Illis, ne t.i.tubent, dant sua vina faces.