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THE MYSTERIOUS MOTHER.
Where seraphs, wrapt in light'ning rays,
Dissolve in mercy's tender blaze.
Dissolve in mercy's tender blaze.
II.
Hear us! harmless orphans hear!
For her who dries our falling tear.
Hush her sorrows; calm her breast:
Give her, what she gives us, rest.
Hear us! harmless orphans hear!
For her who dries our falling tear.
Hush her sorrows; calm her breast:
Give her, what she gives us, rest.
III.
Guard our spotless souls from sin!
Grant us virtue's palm to win!
Cloath the penitent with grace;
And guilt's foul spots efface! efface!
Guard our spotless souls from sin!
Grant us virtue's palm to win!
Cloath the penitent with grace;
And guilt's foul spots efface! efface!
EDMUND.
I'll speak to them.
Sweet children—or thou sanctified conductor,
Give me to know what solemn pilgrimage,
What expiation of offences past,
Thus sadly ye perform? In whose behoof
To win a blessing, raise these little suppliants
Their artless hands to heav'n? Pray pardon too
A soldier's curiosity.
I'll speak to them.
Sweet children—or thou sanctified conductor,
Give me to know what solemn pilgrimage,
What expiation of offences past,
Thus sadly ye perform? In whose behoof
To win a blessing, raise these little suppliants
Their artless hands to heav'n? Pray pardon too
A soldier's curiosity.
MARTIN.
The dew
Of grace and peace attend your steps. You seem
A stranger, or you could but know, sir knight,
That Narbonne's pious countess dwells within;
A lady most disconsolate. Her lord,
Her best-beloved, by untimely fate
Was snatch'd away in lusty life's full 'vantage—
But no account made up! no absolution!
Hence scant the distance of a mile he fell.
His weeping relict o'er his spot of doom
The dew
Of grace and peace attend your steps. You seem
A stranger, or you could but know, sir knight,
That Narbonne's pious countess dwells within;
A lady most disconsolate. Her lord,
Her best-beloved, by untimely fate
Was snatch'd away in lusty life's full 'vantage—
But no account made up! no absolution!
Hence scant the distance of a mile he fell.
His weeping relict o'er his spot of doom
A goodly