THE EVERLASTING GOSPEL.
55
- Though thou wast so pure and bright
- That Heaven was not clean in thy sight;
- Though thy oath turned Heaven pale,
- Though thy covenant built Hell's jail,
- Though thou dost all to chaos roll
- With the serpent for its soul.
- Still the breath Divine does move,
- And the breath Divine is love.
- Mary, fear not. Let me see
- The seven devils that torment thee.
- Hide not from my sight thy sin,
- That forgiveness thou mayst win.
- Has no man condemned thee?"
- "No man, Lord." "Then what is he
- Who shall accuse thee? Come ye forth,
- Fallen fiends of Heavenly birth
- That have forgot your ancient love
- And driven away my trembling dove.
- You shall bow before her feet;
- You shall lick the dust for meet,
- And though you cannot love, but hate,
- You shall be beggars at love's gate.
- What was thy love? Let me see it.
- Was it love, or dark deceit?"
- "Love too long from me has fled.
- 'Twas dark deceit to earn my bread.
- 'Twas covet, or 'twas custom, or
- Some trifle not worth caring for
- That they may call a shame and sin;
- Love's temple that God dwelleth in,
- And hide in secret hidden shrine
- The naked human form divine
- And render that a lawless thing
- On which the soul expands her wing.
- {smaller|{But this, O Lord, this was my sin, }}
- When first I let the devils in,
- In dark pretence to chastity,
- Blaspheming love, blaspheming Thee.
- Thence rose secret adulteries,
- And thence did covet also rise.
- My sin thou hast forgiven me.
- Canst thou forgive my blasphemy?
- Canst thou return to this dark hell,
- And in my burning bosom dwell?
- And canst thou die that I may live
- And canst thou pity and forgive? "
- Then rolled the shadowy Man away
- From the limbs of Jesus to make them his prey,
- An ever-devouring appetite
