156
THE MONK OF LA TRAPPE.
The ashen lips almost a smile entranced,
And from the eye unearthly rapture glanced,
As his uplifted face like Stephen's glowed,
And from his tongue a heavenly utterance flowed
And from the eye unearthly rapture glanced,
As his uplifted face like Stephen's glowed,
And from his tongue a heavenly utterance flowed
"My Lord! my Lord! that Thou shouldst raise me up,
And suffer me to taste Thy measureless cup
Of agony, and in some poor degree
Learn how all-measureless Thy Love must be!
O wondrous riches by the poorest gained!
O heights no rapture ever yet attained!
O depths beyond all human thought to reach!
Love passing knowledge as it passeth speech!
That I should see the glory of Thy Face
While yet vile clay in this despisèd place!
O all-transcending Love! O matchless grace!
Thrice-blest this tongue that may forego its spell
Not of these pangs but of that Love to tell!"
And suffer me to taste Thy measureless cup
Of agony, and in some poor degree
Learn how all-measureless Thy Love must be!
O wondrous riches by the poorest gained!
O heights no rapture ever yet attained!
O depths beyond all human thought to reach!
Love passing knowledge as it passeth speech!
That I should see the glory of Thy Face
While yet vile clay in this despisèd place!
O all-transcending Love! O matchless grace!
Thrice-blest this tongue that may forego its spell
Not of these pangs but of that Love to tell!"
Even as he spake back in their arms he fell,
And Death's own radiance filled the narrow cell!
And Death's own radiance filled the narrow cell!
