158. Ethelwald
{276} (From St. Bede's Metrical
History of St.
Cuthbert.)
BETWEEN two comrades dear,
Zealous and true as
they,
Thou, prudent Ethelwald, didst bear
In that high home the
sway.
A man, who ne'er, 'tis said,
Would of his graces
tell,
Or with what arms he triumph鐡
Over the Dragon fell.
So down to us hath come
A memorable word,
Which in unguarded season from
His blessed lips was
heard. {277}
It chanced, that, as the Saint
Drank in with
faithful ear
Of Angel tones the whispers faint,
Thus spoke a
brother dear:
"Oh, why so many a pause,
Thwarting thy words'
full stream,
Till her dark line Oblivion draws
Across the broken
theme?"
He answered: "Till thou seal
To sounds of earth
thine ear,
Sweet friend, be sure thou ne'er shalt feel
Angelic voices
near."
But then the hermit blest
A sudden change
came o'er;
He shudders, sobs, and smites his breast,
Is mute, then
speaks once more:
"Oh, by the Name Most High,
What I have now let
fall,
Hush, till I lay me down to die,
And go the way of
all!" {278}
Thus did a Saint in fear
His gifts celestial
hide;
Thus did an Angel standing near
Proclaim them far
and wide.
Littlemore.
1844.