TUESDAY BEFORE EASTER

“Fill high the bowl, and spice it well, and pour

The dews oblivious: for the Cross is sharp,

The Cross is sharp, and He

Is tenderer than a lamb.

“He wept by Lazarus’ grave — how will He bear

This bed of anguish? and His pale weak form

Is worn with many a watch

Of sorrow and unrest.

“His sweat last night was as great drops of blood,

And the sad burthen pressed Him so to earth,

The very torturers paused

To help Him on His way.

“Fill high the bowl, benumb His aching sense

With medicined sleep.” — O awful in Thy woe!

The parching thirst of death

Is on Thee, and Thou triest

The slumb'rous potion bland, and wilt not drink:

Not sullen, nor in scorn, like haughty man

With suicidal hand

Putting his solace by:

But as at first Thine all-pervading look

Saw from Thy Father's bosom to the abyss

Measuring in calm presage

The infinite descent;

So to the end, though now of mortal pangs

Made heir, and emptied of Thy glory, awhile,

With unaverted eye

Thou meetest all the storm.

Thou wilt feel all, that Thou mayst pity all;

And rather wouldst Thou wreathe with strong pain,

Than overcloud Thy soul,

So clear in agony,

Or lose one glimpse of Heaven before the time

O most entire and perfect sacrifice,

Renewed in every pulse

That on the tedious Cross

Told the long hours of death, as, one by one,

The life-strings of that tender heart gave way;

E'en sinners, taught by Thee,

Look Sorrow in the face,

And bid her freely welcome, unbeguiled

By false kind solaces, and spells of earth: -

And yet not all unsoothed;

For when was Joy so dear,

As the deep calm that breathed, “Father, forgive,”

Or, “Be with Me in Paradise to-day?”

And, though the strife be sore,

Yet in His parting breath

Love masters Agony; the soul that seemed

Forsaken, feels her present God again,

And in her Father's arms

Contented dies away.