| |
| DEEP in yon garden shade | |
| The Life of all is laid | |
| In death’s calm sleep; | |
| Armed soldiers waiting near, | |
| Amazed and full of fear, | 5 |
| Their vigil keep. | |
| Angels, and stars, and the fair moon above, | |
| Look down in silent awe and reverent love. | |
| |
| Through the dark cypress-trees | |
| The gentle midnight breeze | 10 |
| Sighs a low wail; | |
| Breath from the dewy ground | |
| O’er the green earth around | |
| Spreads a soft veil; | |
| Each glade and valley, mountain, dale and hill, | 15 |
| Echoes the solemn whisper, “Peace, be still.” | |
| |
| Hushed Nature sinks to rest, | |
| And on her Maker’s breast | |
| She falls asleep; | |
| Released from human woes | 20 |
| The Almighty finds repose | |
| In slumber deep; | |
| But saints are watching through the silent night, | |
| In eager patience waiting for the light. | |
| |
| The mother undefiled | 25 |
| Is pondering on her Child, | |
| Now crucified; | |
| And through her tearless dreams | |
| The cross in radiance beams, | |
| Whereon he died. | 30 |
| Bright visions dawn. Behold! the darkness flies, | |
| Resplendent from the grave she sees him rise. | |
| |
| John the Beloved stands by, | |
| Gazing with wondering eye | |
| At Mary’s smile; | 35 |
| And angels at the sight | |
| Pause in their heavenward flight | |
| To muse awhile. | |
| Yet the sun hides itself in dim eclipse, | |
| While he awaits his full apocalypse. | 40 |
| |
| Peter, who thrice denied | |
| The Master at his side, | |
| The Lord of all, | |
| With penitential tears | |
| And deep heart-searching fears, | 45 |
| Bewails his fall. | |
| There, as he weeps in bitter grief apart, | |
| His Saviour’s look speaks comfort to his heart. | |
| |
| The lowly Magdalene | |
| (Of penitents the queen) | 50 |
| Waits for the morn, | |
| When in that cave so still | |
| Her task she may fulfil | |
| Of love forlorn; | |
| And first to her Christ risen will appear, | 55 |
| Though in a form unknown he draweth near. | |
| |
| While he who longed to die | |
| With Christ on Calvary, | |
| Whose love devout | |
| His Master proved and tried | 60 |
| By heartfelt prayer denied, | |
| Must wait in doubt; | |
| Eight days of solemn gloom in darkness past, | |
| On trustful Thomas he will shine at last. | |
| |
| But lo, the Sabbath ends! | 65 |
| Nocturn with matins blends, | |
| The morning breaks; | |
| The shadows flee away | |
| Before the rising day, | |
| And Christ awakes! | 70 |
| Angels proclaim the anthem far and near, | |
| “Ye seek your risen Lord; he is not here.” | |
| |
