Poems (King)/St. Cecilia
St. Cecilia
LO! Cecilia at the organ,
With her starry gaze uplifted!
Fingers like to snowflakes drifted
Woo soft strains from pliant keys,
Heaven-inspirèd harmonies.
At her touch what notes celestial,
Now like dreamland music stealing,
Now like silver bells' soft pealing
On the trembling silence break,
As when birds at dawn awake.
With her starry gaze uplifted!
Fingers like to snowflakes drifted
Woo soft strains from pliant keys,
Heaven-inspirèd harmonies.
At her touch what notes celestial,
Now like dreamland music stealing,
Now like silver bells' soft pealing
On the trembling silence break,
As when birds at dawn awake.
In the minster's gathering twilight,
Where the votive tapers glimmer,
Where the rainbow light grows dimmer,
As the rapturous notes ascend,
Saint and sinner lowly bend.
'Neath that magic spell exultant,
Hearts on wings of music soaring,
Contrite hearts their grief outpouring,
Hidden in that holy shrine,
Yield themselves to love divine.
Where the votive tapers glimmer,
Where the rainbow light grows dimmer,
As the rapturous notes ascend,
Saint and sinner lowly bend.
'Neath that magic spell exultant,
Hearts on wings of music soaring,
Contrite hearts their grief outpouring,
Hidden in that holy shrine,
Yield themselves to love divine.
Now behold to heights most holy,
Lady, speed thy notes immortal!
Open flies the heavenly portal,
And adown the startled skies
Wing fair forms of Paradise.
Wake thee from thy dream ecstatic,
Rapt musician, sainted maiden,—
See! fair seraphs, lily-laden,
Bear to thee on joyous wings
Heaven's flowery offerings!
Lady, speed thy notes immortal!
Open flies the heavenly portal,
And adown the startled skies
Wing fair forms of Paradise.
Wake thee from thy dream ecstatic,
Rapt musician, sainted maiden,—
See! fair seraphs, lily-laden,
Bear to thee on joyous wings
Heaven's flowery offerings!