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THE SPIRIT AND THE MUSE.

And such a voice fell on my ear,
As ne'er 'twas mortal's lot to hear,
So kind, so soft, so sweet, so clear :

“ Come ye,"-he said,"my Father's blest,
“ Enter with joy the heavenly rest,
“ Prepared for you, by you possest:

- When I was hungry, food ye brought me, - When I was thirsty, drink ye sought me, 66 When I was naked, clothing wrought me;

• When I was sick, then ye stood by me,
66 When I was prisoned, ye came nigh me,
“ A stranger, ye did not pass by me.”

Amazed they heard the gracious word;
At last assured, with one accord
They ventured thus to' address their Lord :

66

Lord, when saw we thee hungered ? “Or thirsty ? or when sick ?"_they said• A stranger ? naked ? prisonèd ? " And to thy wants have ministrèd ?”

THE SPIRIT AND THE MUSE.

209

To whom the King : “ Nay, wonder not,
“ Ye did on earth ye know not what,
* 'Twas not by me unmarked, forgot ;

“ When some poor man your care aroused, ,
“Or when ye saw the stranger housed,
* Or injured innocence espoused,

“Or when ye gave the widow rest,
“Or clasped the orphan to your breast,
“ Or called the Christain outcast Guest,

“ Or cheered the sick man's silent room,
“Or lit the holy prisoner’s gloom,
Or rescued sinners from the tomb,

“'Twas I who then your care aroused, “I was the stranger whom

ye

housed, “ Mine was the cause which ye espoused,

56 'Twas I to whom ye gave the rest,
“In orphan children I was blest,
5 I was the outcast, I the guest,

P

"For me ye wiped the dying brow, "For me ye whispered kind and low, "For me your knee in prayer did bow;

"These were my brethren, these did ye
"Hold precious; what in charity
"Ye did to them, ye did to ME."

He turned, and, with a dreadful frown,
And voice to righteous anger grown,
Those on his left did thus disown :

66

Depart, ye cursed, to the fire

"Prepared against the day of ire
"For Satan and his damnèd quire :

“I hungered, but no food ye brought me,

66

"I thirsted, but no drink ye sought me, "Was naked, ye no clothing wrought me,

"When I was sick, ye stood not by me, "A prisoner, ye did not come nigh me, "I was a stranger, ye passed by me."

O'erwhelmed with terror and dismay,
They heard the dread anathema;
Then with vain effort to gainsay:

"Lord, when saw we thee hungerèd? "Or thirsty? or when sick?"—they said"A stranger? naked? prisonèd ?

"And have not to thee ministrèd?

Few words to these the Lord did deign,
The Lord who now had come to reign
And banish from him wicked men :

"What ye to but the humblest one
"Of these my brethren have not done,
"That, know, to ME ye have not done."

He spake, and, while he spake, all eyes Stood steadfast fixed, filled with surprise That God his servants thus should prize!

And now the Lord had told the doom
Of the vast people of the tomb,
These went to joy, and those to gloom.

THE PRINCE OF WALES IN A COURT OF JUSTICE.

"The throne is established by righteousness."

He spake his royal word—
Gladly the people heard

Their Prince was one

Who had not faithless been
To God, to wife, and Queen,
And England's throne.

Though born of noblest race,
Destined for highest place,

With riches blest,

Yet hath he greater fame

From an untarnished name,

And with it rest.