The Complete Works of Richard Crashaw Volume II Part 44

Non est hoc matris, sed, crede, modestia nati, Quod virgo in gremium dejicit ora suum.

Illic jam Deus est, oculus jam Virginis ergo, Ut coelum videat, dejiciendus erit.

_The modesty of the blessed Virgin._

Not humbleness of mother, but of Child, s.h.i.+nes in the downward gaze of Virgin mild.

The Virgin gazes where her G.o.d doth lie: She must look down that Heaven may meet her eye. G.

XI.

_Mitto vos sicut agnos in medio luporum._

Hos quoque, an hos igitur saevi lacerabitis agnos?

Hic saltem, hic vobis non licet esse lupis.

At sceleris nulla est clementia, at ergo scietis, Agnus qui nunc est, est aliquando Leo.

_I send you as lambs in the midst of wolves._

These lambs also, e'en these, will ye, then, fiercely tear?

Here to be wolves, at least here, ye will never dare.

Alas, the wicked still are cruel; but ye'll learn He Who is now a Lamb will one day Lion turn. G.

XII.

_Christus a daemone vectus._ Matt. iv.

Ergo ille, angelicis o sarcina dignior alis, Praepete sic Stygio, sic volet ille vehi.

Pessime! nec laetare tamen tu scilicet inde, Non minus es daemon, non minus ille Deus.

_Christ carried by the devil._

Will He--O burden worthier angels' wings!-- Deign to be carried by swift fiend of h.e.l.l?

Vilest! to thee this no advancement brings; He no less G.o.d, thou no less demon fell. G.

XIII.

Joan. i. 23.

Vox ego sum, dicis: tu vox es, sancte Joannes?

Si vox es, sterilis cur tibi mater erat?

Quam fuit ista tuae mira infoecundia matris!

In vocem sterilis rarior esse solet.

_St. John the Baptist a voice._

'I am a voice, a voice,' says holy John.

If so, how should thy mother barren be?

This is unfruitfulness to muse upon; Tongue-barren women we so seldom see! G.

XIV.

_Vox Joannes, Christus Verb.u.m._

Monstrat Joannes Christum, haud res mira videtur: Vox unus, verb.u.m scilicet alter erat.

Christus Joanne est prior, haec res mira videtur: Voce sua verb.u.m non solet esse prius.

_John the Voice, Christ the Word._

John points out Christ; no wonder this we deem: One is a Voice, the other is the Word.

Christ is before John; wondrous this may seem; For when was word before a voice e'er heard? G.

XV.

_In natales Domini pastoribus nuntiatos._ Luc. ii. 8-19.

Ad te sydereis, ad te, bone t.i.tyre, pennis Purpureus juvenis gaudia tanta vehit.

O bene te vigilem, cui gaudia tanta feruntur, Ut neque dum vigilas, te vigilare putes.

Quem sic monstrari voluit pastoribus aether, Pastor an agnus erat? Pastor et agnus erat.

Ipse Deus c.u.m Pastor erit, quis non erit agnus?

Quis non pastor erit, c.u.m Deus agnus erit?

_On the birth of the Lord announced to the shepherds._

To thee, good t.i.tyrus, on starry wings _shepherd_ The royal angel such 'glad tidings' brings.

Surely the happy watcher never thought That he was watching when such joys were brought.

And He, Whom thus the heavenly host reveal'd To shepherds 'mid their flocks in open field, Tell me, was He a Shepherd or a Lamb?

Shepherd and Lamb at once; He took each name.

Since, then, our G.o.d a Shepherd's name doth wear, The name of lamb who will not wish to bear?

And who will not be shepherd, since G.o.d deigns To be a Lamb, for suffering of sin's pains? G.

XVI.

_In Atheniensem merum._ Act. xvii. 28.

Ipsos naturae thalamos sapis, imaque rerum Concilia, et primae quicquid agunt tenebrae, Quid dubitet refluum mare, quid vaga sydera volvant; Christus et est studiis res aliena tuis.

Sic scire, est tantum nescire loquacius illa: Qui nempe illa sapit sola, nec illa sapit.

_Of the 'blue-blood' pride of the Athenians._

Thou knowest Nature's secret things And all her deepest counsellings-- All wonders of the primal Night Conceal'd from prying human sight; Knowest how the sea-tide pauses, The wandering stars too in their causes.

But while to thee, in all else wise, Christ from thy thoughts an alien lies, In earthly studies to advance Is but loquacious ignorance; And he whose wisdom is but such, Of those things even knows not much.

O, study thou beneath the Cross, Or all thy labour is but loss! G.