Christ's Passion's eve fell dark and drear Upon His faithful few, But brighter, each returning year, In memory glean'd anew. And loud the chant of hope and glee O'er Adam's eldest born. But, hapless mother, who like thee Her travail pangs might mourn? 12. JUDAS'S INFANCY. "The Son of man goeth as it is written of him: but woe unto that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! it had been good for that man if he had not been born."--Matt. xxvi. 24. ALAS! that o'er the pangs of birth, Yet sure as frail repenting Eve For pardon knelt of yore, and now Adoring kneels, there to receive, Where all the world shall bow, From fruit of her own favour'd womb, The peace, the home, her wandering lost : Sure as to blessed Mary come The Saints' and Martyr's host, To own, with many a thankful strain, The Channel of undying bliss, The bosom where the Lord hath laid, The hand that held by His; Sure as her form for evermore So surely throes unblest have been, Did not our Lord speak out His ban, Nor may we doubt, His Mother mild When earth and sin have waxed old, A direr progeny will bring, The last foe of the fold. Of mortal seed, of woman bred, Rock'd on a loving knee. High grace at first to Judas came— In the baptismal wave and flame May his dread cause begin? O ye who wait with hearts too light From the foul dew, the blighting air, 13. THE SAINT'S INFANCY. "And all that sat in the council, looking steadfastly on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel." WHERE is the brow to bear in mortals' sight And where the favoured eye Through the dim air the radiance to descry? Wash'd from the world and sin's defiling, He who vouchsafed to kindle that pure glow By duteous fear of sin Fann'd into flame the virgin heart within, |