VIII.

Eternal Beauty, ere the spheres Had rolled from out the gulfs of night, Sparkled, through all the unnumbered years, Before the Eternal Father's sight.

Like objects seen by Man in dream, Or landscape glassed on morning mist, Before His eyes it hung—a gleam Flashed from the eternal Thought of Christ.

It stood the Archetype sublime Of that fair world of finite things Which, in the bands of Space and Time, Creation's glittering verge enrings.

Star-like within the depths serene Of that still vision, Mary, thou With Him, thy Son, of God wert seen Millenniums ere the lucid brow

Of Eye o'er Eden founts had bent,— Millenniums ere that second Fair With dust the hopes of man had blent, And stained the brightness once so fair.

Elect of Creatures! Man in thee Beholds that primal Beauty yet,— Sees all that Man was formed to be,— Sees all that Man can ne'er forget!