The Complete Works of Richard Crashaw Volume II Part 21

He s.h.i.+pwreck undergoes twice o'er Who perishes in sight of sh.o.r.e, And less by ocean is o'ercome Than by that hopeless glimpse of home.

The hopes that almost seem our own Leave all the keener sting when gone; And just to miss felicity Is but emphatic misery. CL.

LXIII.

_Lux venit in mundum, sed dilexerunt homines magis tenebras quam lucem._ Joan. iii. 19.

Luce sua venit ecce Deus, mundoque refulget; Pergit adhuc tenebras mundus amare suas.

At Stygiis igitur mundus d.a.m.nabitur umbris: Pergit adhuc tenebras mundus amare suas?

_But men loved darkness rather than light._

The world's Light s.h.i.+nes: s.h.i.+ne as it will, The world will love its darknesse still.

I doubt though, when the world's in h.e.l.l, It will not love its darknesse halfe so well. CR.

ANOTHER VERSION.

Behold the day of Christ! G.o.d comes with light; Yet the world loves the darkness of the night.

Therefore the world to Stygian darkness will Be d.a.m.n'd: and doth the world love darkness still? B.

ANOTHER RENDERING.

Lo, G.o.d comes girt with light, and all the world o'ers.h.i.+nes: The world abides in night, nor watcheth for the signs.

To Stygian darkness hurl'd on the great Day of Doom, Shalt thou, night-loving world, still love thy lightless gloom? G.

LXIV.

_Dives implorat guttam._ Luc. xvi. 24.

O mihi si digito tremat et tremat unica summo Gutta! o si flammas mulceat una meas!

Currat opum quocunque volet levis unda mearum; Una mihi haec detur gemmula, Dives ero.

_Dives asking a drop._

A drop, one drop! how sweetly one faire drop Would tremble on my pearle-tipt finger's top!

My wealth is gone: O, goe it where it will, Spare this one iewell, I'le be Dives still. CR.

LXV.

_Quomodo potest h.o.m.o gigni qui est senex?_ Joan. iii. 4.

Dic, Phnix unde in nitidos novus emicat annos, Plaudit et elusos aurea penna rogos?

Quis colubrum dolus insinuat per secula retro, Et jubet emeritum luxuriare latus?

Cur rostro pereunte suam praedata senectam Torva ales, rapido plus legit ore diem?

Immo, sed ad nixus praestat Lucina secundos?

Natales seros unde senex habeat.

Ignoras, Pharisaee? sat est: jam credere disces: Dimidium fidei, qui bene nescit, habet.

_How can a man be born when he is old?_

See how new Phnix 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 o pigeat; nam vos neque fulminis ira, Nec trucis ala Noti verberat: ille jubet.

O vox, o Zephyro vel sic quoque dulcior omni; Non possum Autumno n.o.biliore 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 n.o.ble 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 o, 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 was.h.i.+ng Him: 'Tis a gemme while it stayes here; While it falls hence 'tis a teare. CR.

ANOTHER VERSION.