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wide； Till echo answered to her pride。
She blest the hour when first he came To take the crown of pride and
fame； Wreathed through long ages for his name。
Then bent her utmost art and skill To train the supple mind and will；
And guard it from a breath of ill。
She strewed his morning path with flowers； And Love； in tender
dropping showers； Nourished the blue and dawning hours。
She shed； in rainbow hues of light； A halo round the Good and Right；
To tempt and charm the baby's sight。
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And every step； of work or play。 Was lit by some such dazzling ray；
Till morning brightened into day。
And then the World arose； and said … Let added honours now be shed
On such a noble heart and head！
O World； both gifts were pure and bright； Holy and sacred in God's
sight：… God will judge them and thee aright！
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VERSE： A TOMB IN GHENT
A smiling look she had； a figure slight； With cheerful air； and step both
quick and light； A strange and foreign look the maiden bore； That suited
the quaint Belgian dress she wore Yet the blue fearless eyes in her fair face；
And her soft voice told her of English race； And ever； as she flitted to and
fro； She sang； （or murmured； rather；） soft and low； Snatches of song； as if
she did not know That she was singing； but the happy load Of dream and
thought thus from her heart o'erflowed： And while on household cares she
passed along； The air would bear me fragments of her song； Not such as
village maidens sing； and few The framers of her changing music knew；
Chants such as heaven and earth first heard of when The master Palestrina
held the pen。 But I with awe had often turned the page； Yellow with time；
and half defaced by age； And listened； with an ear not quite unskilled；
While heart and soul to the grand echo thrilled； And much I marvelled； as
her cadence fell From the Laudate； that I knew so well； Into Scarlatti's
minor fugue； how she Had learned such deep and solemn harmony。 But
what she told I set in rhyme； as meet To chronicle the influence； dim and
sweet； 'Neath which her young and innocent life had grown： Would that
my words were simple as her own。
Many years since； an English workman went Over the seas； to seek a
home in Ghent； Where English skill was prized； nor toiled in vain； Small；
yet enough； his hard…earned daily gain。 He dwelt alonein sorrow； or in
pride。 He mixed not with the workers by his side； He seemed to care but
for one present joy … To tend； to watch； to teach his sickly boy。 Severe to
all beside； yet for the child He softened his rough speech to soothings mild；
For him he smiled； with him each day he walked Through the dark gloomy
streets； to him he talked Of home； of England； and strange stories told Of
English heroes in the days of old； And； （when the sunset gilded roof and
spire；） The marvellous tale which never seemed to tire： How the gilt
dragon； glaring fiercely down From the great belfry； watching all the town；
Was brought； a trophy of the wars divine； By a Crusader from far Palestine；
And given to Bruges； and how Ghent arose； And how they struggled long
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as deadly foes； Till Ghent； one night； by a brave soldier's skill； Stole the
great dragon； and she keeps it still。 One day the dragonso 'tis saidwill
rise； Spread his bright wines； and glitter in the skies。 And over desert lands
and azure seas； Will seek his home 'mid palm and cedar trees。 So； as he
passed the belfry every day； The boy would look if it were flown away；
Each day surprised to find it watching there； Above him； as he crossed the
ancient square； To seek the great cathedral； that had grown A home for
himmysterious and his own。
Dim with dark shadows of the ages past； St。 Bavon stands； solemn and
rich and vast； The slender pillars； in long vistas spread； Like forest arches
meet and close o'erhead； So high that； like a weak and doubting prayer；
Ere it can float to the carved angels there； The silver clouded incense
faints in air： Only the organ's voice； with peal on peal； Can mount to
where those far…off angels kneel。 Here the pale boy； beneath a low side…
arch； Would listen to its solemn chant or march； Folding his little hands；
his simple prayer Melted in childish dreams； and both in air： While the
great organ over all would roll； Speaking strange secrets to his innocent
soul； Bearing on eagle…wings the great desire Of all the kneeling throng；
and piercing higher Than aught but love and prayer can reach； until Only
the silence seemed to listen still； Or gathering like a sea still more and
more； Break in melodious waves at heaven's door； And then fall； slow and
soft； in tender rain； Upon the pleading longing hearts again。
Then he would watch the rosy sunlight glow； That crept along the
marble floor below； Passing； as life does； with the passing hours； Now by
a shrine all rich with gems and flowers； Now on the brazen letters of a
tomb； Then； leaving it again to shade and gloom； And creeping on； to
show； distinct and quaint； The kneeling figure of some marble saint： Or
lighting up the carvings strange and rare； That told of patient toil； and
reverent care； Ivy that trembled on the spray； and ears； Of heavy corn； and
slender bulrush spears； And all the thousand tangled weeds that grow In
summer； where the silver rivers flow； And demon…heads grotesque； that
seemed to glare In impotent wrath on all the beauty there： Then the gold
rays up pillared shaft would climb； And so be drawn to heaven； at evening
time。 And deeper silence； darker shadows flowed On all around； only the
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windows glowed With blazoned glory； like the shields of light Archangels
bear； who； armed with love and might； Watch upon heaven's battlements at
night。 Then all was shade； the silver lamps that gleamed； Lost in the
daylight；