There would unto my soul be given, And thoughts would come of mystic mood, And did I ask to whom belonged Yea! long as Nature's humblest Child Earth's fairest scenes are all his own, THE present venerable Dean of St. Paul's was born in London, February 10th, 1791. He is the youngest son of Sir Francis Milman, physician to George III. He was educated at Dr. Burney's academy at Greenwich, at Eton, and at Brazenose College, Oxford. He was ordained in 1817, and appointed vicar of St. Mary's, Reading. In 1821 he was elected to the professorship of poetry in the University of Oxford. After having been for some time rector of St. Margaret's, Westminstcr, he was presented in November, 1849, to the Deanery of St. Paul's, a preferment which he still lives to enjoy. 66 In 1817, the year of his ordination, Mr. Milman published the tragedy of “Fazio," which was successfully represented on the stage. Besides this, his principal poetical works are, Samor, Lord of the Bright City" (1818); "The Fall of Jerusalem," a dramatic poem (1820); "Belshazzar," and "The Martyr of Antioch." His chief prose works are, a History of Latin Christianity," and a History of the Jews." The poems of Dr. Milman are characterized by scholarly feeling and taste, although short of the fire and imagination of genius. 66 PRAYER OF MIRIAM. (FROM THE "FALL OF JERUSALEM.") Oh Thou! Thou who canst melt the heart of stone, A paradise of soft and gentle thoughts! The darkness of my father's soul? Thou knowest For Thou wert born of woman! Thou didst come, And not by thunders strewed Was thy tempestuous road. Nor indignation burnt before Thee on thy way. But Thee, a soft and naked child, In the rude manger laid to rest The heavens were not commanded to prepare Nor stooped their lamps the enthroned fires on high: Came wandering from afar, Gliding unchecked and calm along the liquid sky; As at a kingly throne, To lay their gold and odours sweet The earth and ocean were not hushed to hear And seraph's burning lyres, Poured through the host of heaven the charméd clouds along. One angel troop the strain began; By simple shepherds heard alone, And when Thou didst depart, no car of flame From fatal Calvary With all thine own redeemed outbursting from their tombs. For Thou didst bear away from earth But one of human birth, The dying felon by thy side, to be In Paradise with Thee. Nor o'er thy cross the clouds of vengeance brake; At that foul deed by her fierce children dono; A few dim hours of day The world in darkness lay; Then basked in bright repose beneath the cloudless sun; While Thou didst sleep beneath the tomb Ere yet the white-robed angel shone And when Thou didst arise, Thou didst not stand Thy mother's coming feet, And bear the words of peace unto the faithful few. Into thy native skies, Thy human form dissolved on high THE SECOND SUNDAY IN ADVENT. Even thus amidst thy pride and luxury, When that great Husbandmau shall wave his fan, Shalt Thou thy wonted dissolute course maintain. Along the busy mart and crowded street, The buyer and the seller still shall meet, And marriage feasts begin their jocund strain: Still to the pouring out the cup of woe; Till earth, a drunkard, reeling to and fro, And mountains moiten by his burning feet, And heaven his presence own, all red with furnace heat. The hundred gated cities then, The towers and temples, named of men Eternal, and the thrones of kings; The courtly bowers of love and ease, Go gaze on fallen Jerusalem! Yea, mightier names are in the fatal roll, 'Gainst earth and heaven God's standard is unfurled. The skies are shrivelled like a burning scroll, And the vast common doom ensepulchres the world. Oh! who shall then survive? In the sky's azure canopy; When for the breathing earth, and sparkling sea, Lord of all power, when Thou art there alone Needs not the perished sun nor moon : When thou art there in thy presiding state, Wide-sceptred monarch o'er the realm of doom; The dead of all the ages round Thee wait: And when the tribes of wickedness are strewn Faithful and true! Thou still wilt save thine own! |