THE    OAK.  213

Mark'st  thou  in  him  no  token  true

Of  heaven's  own  Priests,  both  old  and  new,

In  penitential  garb  austere

Fix'd  in  the  wild,  from  year  to  year

The  lessons  of  stern  love  to  teach,

To  penitents  and  children  preach,

Bold  words  and  eager  glances  stay,

And  gently  level  JESUS'  way  ?


214  LESSONS    OF  NATURE.
8.
THE  PALM.
;  Palma  virens  semper  manet  conservatione  et  diuturnitate,  non  immu-
tatione  foliorum."— St.  Ambrose,  Hexaemeron,  iii.  71.
WHY  of  all  the  woodland  treasure,
Holy  Palm,  art  thou  preferr'd,
When  the  voice  of  praise  is  heard,

When  we  tread  our  thankful  measure  ?
Why  before  our  Saviour  borne  ?
Why  by  glorious  Spirits  worn  ?

Is  it  for  thy  verdure,  brightest

In  the  zone  of  colours  bright  ?

Or  that  with  aerial  height
Thou  the  genial  clime  requitest,

Like  courageous  mountain  maid,

Nor  of  sun  nor  air  afraid  ?


THE   PALM.  21,5

Is  it  that  in  antique  story

Conquerors  own'd  thee  for  their  meed  ?

Nay,  thine  honours  are  decreed
For  thy  green  unchanging  glory,

"Wearing  thy  first  leafy  crown,

Till  thy  vigorous  life  die  down.
Pines  may  tower,  and  laurels  flourish —

Deathless  green  is  only  thine ;

Type  of  hearts  which  airs  divine
Cheer,  and  high  communions  nourish,

Hearts  on  whose  pure  virgin  wreath

Sin  indulg'd  might  never  breathe.
LESSORS    OF   NATURE.
9.
THE  WATERFALL.
"  Ye  also  as  lively  stones,  are  built  up,  a  spiritual  House."
"  I  will  make  thy  seed  as  the  dust  of  the  Earth."

"  WHAT  is  the  Church,  and  what  am  I  ?
A  world,  to  one  poor  sandy  grain,
A  waste  of  sea  and  sky
To  one  frail  drop  of  rain.
