THE SEA-WIFE. THERE dwells a wife by the Northern Gate, And a wealthy wife is she; She breeds a breed o' rovin' men And casts them over sea, And some are drowned in deep water, And word goes back to the weary wife, For since that wife had gate and gear, She willed her sons to the white harvest, She wills her sons to the wet ploughing, To ride the horse of tree; And syne her sons come home again The good wife's sons come home again But the lore of men that ha' dealt with men In the new and naked lands. But the faith of men that ha' brothered men And the eyes o' men that ha' read wi' men Rich are they, rich in wonders seen, But poor in the goods o' men, So what they ha' got by the skin o' their teeth They sell for their teeth again. For whether they lose to the naked skin, Or win to their hearts' desire, They tell it all to the weary wife Her hearth is wide to every wind (Out with great mirth that do desire. In with content to wait their watch And some return by failing light, And some in waking dream, For she hears the heels of the dripping ghosts That ride the rough roof-beam. Home, they come home from all the ports, The living and the dead; The good wife's sons come home again For her blessing on their head! HYMN BEFORE ACTION. THE earth is full of anger, The seas are dark with wrath; The Nations in their harness Go up against our path! High lust and froward bearing, Deaf ear and soul uncaring, We seek Thy mercy now: The sinner that forswore Thee, The fool that passed Thee by, Our times are known before TheeLord, grant us strength to die! For those who kneel beside us At altars not Thine own, Who lack the lights that guide us, Lord, let their faith atone; If wrong we did to call them, By honour bound they came; Let not Thy wrath befall them, But deal to us the blame. From panic, pride, and terror, Cloak Thou our undeserving, Make firm the shuddering breath, In silence and unswerving To taste thy lesser death! Ah, Mary pierced with sorrow, True comrade and true foeman, Madonna, intercede! |