C. M. VERSCHOYLE 619

Their burning pinions, and ring out the cry That shrilly echoes Where between whirling planets flows The ardent stream of palpitating light. Destroy the worlds, Oh Lord, With the one whispered word, And with consuming flame illume the sight Of all those muddy souls who love Thee net: Or bid the flying circles cease And a great peace Thunder across immensity, Enwrapping heaven and earth and sky. Bid the air cease to hum And all the murmuring orbs be dumb, Suddenly, utterly, And shatter them with silence—
Yea, Master, I have borne to see Thee weep, More deep
The iron scarce could pierce my suffering soul ; Have seen Thee fast and pray,
Struggle and sweat. While the eleven slept the night away
My brow was wet, My heart beat high,
For, lo, I read
The scroll of Heaven emblazonéd, And knew Thy triumph nigh—
(The city quakes, the air is full of blood— I, I that love Thee raised Thee on this Rood !)
Scourged, spit upon, denied, I suffered all with Thee ; Raising Thee high that all should bend the knee.
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620 C. M. VERSCHOYLE
That very royal crown of thorns That crimsoneth Thy brow— So might gleam rubies set on snow,— I offered it ; dear Master, look on me, Say, have I not done well ? How my poor heart would swell At praise from Thee— For see, without my deed, Thy deed had not been done ; This be my meed Thy battle won— And that down future ages, lighted by the torch That Thou dost kindle, men shall say—
(The city quaked, the air was full of blood, Judas that loved Him raised Him on the Rood !)
Peter in the porch Warmed his chilled hands as he denied, While Judas’ teeth did chatter before Caiaphas ; My darkness seemed a heavy monstrous mass With but one quivering light—Thy tortured death— Ay, for it pierced beneath My heart into my spirit—yet I knew Before the worlds that task I had to do; God set it me, let me fulfil His very bitter will—
Master, my voice is harsh, mine eyes are dim, I should rejoice and hymn Thy great uplifting, high above all towers— Follow the circle round, there Judas cowers, Lonely, forsaken, outcast, anguish-swayed ; Yet we are one, betrayer and Betrayed ;