The Complete Works of Richard Crashaw Volume II Part 26

_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 astonied.

All the guests in tumult rush'd: The shy Nymph saw her G.o.d, and blush'd. G.

ANOTHER VERSION.

Whence to your waters comes the glow of wine?

What strange new rose their mazed streams hath flush'd?

Haste, guests, and own your Visitant divine; For the chaste Nymph hath seen her G.o.d, 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 G.o.d 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 ma.n.u.s 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 insa.n.u.s faceret sua fulmina ventus; Tanquam illi scopulos norit habere fretum.

Vos vestri scopuli, vos estis ventus et unda: Naufragium c.u.m 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: s.h.i.+prack with Him who fear, deserve to have. B.

XCIX.

_Nunc dimittis._ Luc. ii. 29.

Ite mei, quid enim ulterius, quid vultis, ocelli?

Leniter obductis ite superciliis.

Immo et adhuc et adhuc, iterumque iterumque videte; Accipite haec totis lumina luminibus.

Jamque ite; et tutis o vos bene claudite vallis: Servate haec totis lumina luminibus.

Primum est, quod potui te, Christe, videre: secundum, Te viso, recta jam potuisse mori.[61]

_Now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace._

Begone, mine eyes; what would ye see beside?

Go now in peace 'neath darkening brows to hide.

Once and again, and yet again; behold; With one long gaze His beams in yours enfold.

Then go, and guard your treasure safe from foes, And fast in yours those beams of His enclose.

To look on Thee, O Christ, this first have I; Then, having look'd on Thee, straightway to die. CL.

C.

_In segetem sacram._ Matt. xiii. 24.

Ecce suam implorat, demisso vertice, falcem: Tu segeti falcem da, Pater alme, suam.

Tu falcem non das? messem tu, Christe, moraris?

Hoc ipsum falx est; haec mora messis erit.

_Good seed in the field._

Its sickle it implores with head bow'd low; Its sickle on the corn-field, Lord, bestow.

Refusest Thou? The harvest dost delay?

The sickle this--hence fuller harvest-day. G.

CI.