the grey brethren(阴郁的教友们)-第4部分
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〃My brothers and sisters； to…night we keep the Birth of the Holy Babe；
and to…night you and I stand at the gate of the Kingdom of Heaven； the
gate which is undone only at the cry of a little child。 'Except ye be
converted and become as little children； ye shall not enter。'
〃The Kingdom is a great one； nay； a limitless one； and many enter in
calling it by another name。 It includes your own hearts and this
wonderful forest； all the wise and beautiful works that men have ever
thought of or done； and your daily toil； it includes your nearest and dearest；
the outcast； the prisoner； and the stranger； it holds your cottage home and
the jewelled City； the New Jerusalem itself。 People are apt to think the
Kingdom of Heaven is like church on Sunday； a place to enter once a
week in one's best： whereas it holds every flower； and has room for the ox
and the ass； and the least of all creatures； as well as for our prayer and
worship and praise。
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〃'Except ye become as little children。' How are we to be born again；
simple children with wondering eyes？
〃We must learn to lie in helpless dependence； to open our mouth wide
that it may be filled； to speak with halting tongue the language we think
we know； we must learn above all our own ignorance； and keep alight and
cherish the flame of innocency in our hearts。
〃It is a tired world； my brethren； and we are most of us tired men and
women who live on it； for we seek ever after some new thing。 Let us pass
out through the gate into the Kingdom of Heaven and not be tired any
more； because there we shall find the new thing that we seek。 Heaven is
on earth； the Kingdom is here and now； the gate stands wide to…night； for
it is the birthright of the Eternal Child。 We are none of us too poor； or
stupid； or lowly； it was the simple shepherds who saw Him first。 We are
none of us too great； or learned； or rich； it was the three wise kings who
came next and offered gifts。 We are none of us too young； it was little
children who first laid down their lives for Him； or too old； for Simeon
saw and recognised Him。 There is only one thing against most of us … we
are too proud。
〃My brethren； 'let us now go even to Bethlehem； and face this thing
which is come to pass； which the LORD hath made known unto us。'〃
The lights were out in the church when the Recluse came to fetch the
Child。 She was still kneeling by the creche； keeping watch with the
wonderful figures of fire and mist。
〃Was THIS a dream or the other？〃 said the Child。
〃Neither；〃 said the Recluse； and he blessed her in the moonlit dark。
The air was full of wonderful sound； voices and song； and the cry of
the bells。
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The Grey Brethren
The Manifestation
GOD said； 〃Let there be light〃； and in the East A star rose flaming
from night's purple sea … The star of Truth； the star of Joy； the star Seen by
the prophets down the lonely years； Set for a light to show the Perfect Way；
Set for a sign that wayfarers might find； Set for a seal to mark the
Godhead's home。 And three Kings in their palaces afar； Who waited
ardently for promised things； Beheld； and read aright。 Straightway the
road Was hot with pad of camel； horse's hoof； While night was quick as
day with spurring men And light with flaring torch。 〃Haste； haste！〃 they
cried； 〃We seek the King； the King！ for in the East His star's alight。〃
BETHLEHEM
THE ANGELS
Soft and slow； soft and slow； With angels' wings of fire and snow； To
rock Him gently to and fro。 Fire to stay the chill at night； Snow to cool the
noonday bright； And overhead His star's alight。
Pale and sweet； pale and sweet； Maid Mary keeps her vigil meet；
While Joseph waits with patient feet。 Mary's love for soft embrace；
Joseph's strength to guard the place。 Lo！ from the East Kings ride apace。
Gold and myrrh； gold and myrrh； Frankincense for harbinger； Myrrh to
make His sepulchre。 Roses white and roses red； Thorns arrayed for His
dear Head。 Hail！ hail！ Wise Men who seek His bed
JOSEPH
Little One； Little One； Saviour and Child； Father and Mother； my
Husband and Son； Born of the lily； the maid undefiled； Babe of my Love；
the Beatified One。
Little One； Little One； Master and LORD； Kings of the Earth come；
desiring Thy Face； I； Thy poor servitor； lowly afford All that my life holds；
for all is Thy Grace。
Little One； Little One； GOD over all； Earth is thy footstool； and
Heav'n is Thy throne： Joseph the carpenter； prostrate I fall； Praise thee；
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adore Thee； and claim Thee mine own。
MAID MARY
Babe； dear Babe！ Mine own； mine own； my heart's delight； The
myrrh between my breasts at night； My little Rose； my Lily white； My
Babe for whom the star's alight。
Babe； dear Babe！ Mine own； mine own； GOD'S only SON； Foretold；
foreseen； since earth begun； Desire of nations； Promised One When Eve
was first by sin undone。
Babe； dear Babe！ Mine own； mine own； the whole world's Child！ Born
of each heart that's undefiled； Nursed at the breast of Mercy mild； And in
the arms of Love asiled。
Babe； dear Babe！ My crown of glory； sorrow's sword； My Maker； King；
Redeemer； Lord； My Saviour and my great Reward； My little Son； my
Babe adored。
THE THREE KINGS
Hail！ Hail thou wondrous little King！ To Thy dear Feet Our
offerings meet With bended knee we bring； O mighty baby King； Accept
the offering。
FIRST KING
LORD； I stoop low My head of snow； Thus I； the great； hail Thee； the
Least！ And swing the censer for the Priest； The Priest with hands upraised
to bless； The Priest of this world's bitterness。 As I stoop low My head of
snow； Bless me； O Priest； before I go。
SECOND KING
Behold me； King！ A man of might； Who rules dominions infinite；
Strong in the harvest of the years； And one who counts no kings as peers。
O little King； Behold my crown！ I lay it down； And bow before Thy lowly
bed My all unworthy uncrowned head； For I am naught and Thou art All。
And Thou shalt climb a throne set high； Between sad earth and silent sky；
Thereon to agonize and die； And at Thy Feet the world shall fall。 Stretch
out Thy little Hands； O King； Behold the world's imagining！
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THIRD KING
Out of the shadow of the night I come； led by the starshine bright；
With broken heart to bring to Thee The fruit of Thine Epiphany； The gift
my fellows send by me； The myrrh to bed Thine agony。 I set it here
beneath Thy Feet； In token of Death's great defeat； And hail Thee
Conqueror in the strife； And hail Thee Lord of Light and Life。 All hail！
All hail the Virgin's Son！ All hail！ Thou little helpless One！ All hail！
Thou King upon the Tree！ All hail！ The Babe on Mary's knee； The centre
of all mystery！
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All Souls' Day in a German Town
THE leaves fall softly： a wind of sighs Whispers the world's
infirmities； Whispers the tale of the waning years； While slow mists gather
in shrouding tears On All Souls' Day； and the bells are slow In steeple and
tower。 Sad folk go Away from the township； past the mill； And mount
the slope of a grassy hill Carved into terraces broad and steep； To the inn
where wearied travellers sleep； Where the sleepers lie in ordered rows；
And no man stirs in his long repose。 They wend their way past the haunts
of life； Father and daughter； grandmother； wife； To deck with candle and
deathless cross； The house which holds their dearest loss。 I； who stand on
the crest of the hill； Watch how beneath me； busied still； The sad folk
wreathe each grave with flowers。 Awhile the veil of the twilight hours
Falls softly； softly； over the hill； Shadows the cross：… creeps on until
Swiftly upon us is flung the dark。 Then； as if lit by a sudden spark； Each
grave is vivid with points of light； Earth is as Heaven's mirror to…night；
The air is still as a spirit's breath； The lights burn bright in the realm of
Death。 Then silent the mourners mourning go； Wending their way to the
church below； While the bells toll out to bid them speed； With eager Pater
