And what though Eleëmon were
A man of lowly birth?
Enough it was if Nature had
Ennobled him with worth.

"This was no doubtful thing," they said, "For he had in the house been bred, Nor e'er from thence removed;

But there from childhood had been known, And trusted and approved.

"Such as he was his qualities
Might to the world excuse

The Maid and Father for their choice,
Without the vision and the voice,
Had they been free to choose.

"But Heaven by miracle had made
Its pleasure manifest;
That manifested will must set

All doubtful thoughts to rest.
Mysterious tho' they be, the ways
Of Providence are best."

The wondering City thus discoursed;
To Abibas alone

The secret truth, and even to him
But half the truth, was known.

Meantime the Church hath been prepared For spousal celebration;

The Sisters to their cells retire,

Amazed at such mutation.

The habit and hood of camel's hair, Which with the sacred scissars there

On the altar were display'd,

Are taken thence, and in their stead
The marriage rings are laid.

Behold, in garments gay with gold,
For other spousals wrought,

The Maiden from her Father's house
With bridal pomp is brought.

And now before the Holy Door In the Ante-nave they stand; The Bride and Bridegroom side by side, The Paranymphs in festal pride Arranged on either hand.

Then from the Sanctuary the Priests, With incense burning sweet, Advance, and at the Holy Door The Bride and Bridegroom meet.

There to the Bride and Bridegroom they The marriage tapers gave;

And to the altar as they go,
With cross-way movement to and fro,
The thuribule they wave.

For fruitfulness, and perfect love,
And constant peace, they pray'd,
On Eleëmon, the Lord's Servant,
And Cyra, the Lord's Handmaid.

They call'd upon the Lord to bless
Their spousal celebration,

And sanctify the marriage rite
To both their souls' salvation.

A pause at every prayer they made,
Whereat with one accord

The Choristers took up their part, And sung in tones that thrill'd the heart, Have mercy on us, Lord!

Then with the marriage rings the priest
Betroth'd them each to each,
And, as the sacred pledge was given,
Resumed his aweful speech;

Pronouncing them before high Heaven
This hour espoused to be,

Now and for ever more, for time
And for eternity.

This did he in the presence
Of Angels and of men ;
And at every pause the Choristers
Intoned their deep Amen!

Then to that gracious Lord, the Priest
His supplication made,

Who, as our sacred Scriptures tell,
Did bring Rebecca to the well
When Abraham's servant pray'd.

He call'd upon that gracious Lord
To stablish with his power
The espousals made between them,
In truth and love, this hour;

And with his mercy and his word
Their lot, now link'd, to bless,
And let his Angel guide them
In the way of righteousness.

With a Christian benediction, The Priest dismist them then, And the Choristers, with louder voice, Intoned the last Amen!

The days of Espousals are over;
And on the Crowning-day,
To the sacred fane the bridal train,
A gay procession, take again
Thro' thronging streets their way.

Before them, by the Paranymphs,
The coronals are borne,

Composed of all sweet flowers of spring
By virgin hands that morn.

With lighted tapers in array

They enter the Holy Door,

And the Priest with the waving thuribule Perfumes the way before.

He raised his voice, and call'd aloud
On Him who from the side
Of our first Father, while he slept,
Form'd Eve to be his bride;

Creating Woman thus for Man
A helpmate meet to be,

For youth and age, for good and ill,
For weal and woe, united still
In strict society,

Flesh of his flesh; appointing them
One flesh to be, one heart;
Whom God hath joined together,
Them let not man dispart!

And on our Lord he call'd, by whom
The marriage feast was blest,
When first by miracle he made
His glory manifest.

Then in the ever-blessed Name,
Almighty over all,

From the man's Paranymph he took
The marriage coronal;

And crowning him therewith, in that
Thrice holy Name, he said,

"Eleëmon, the Servant of God, is crown'd For Cyra, the Lord's Handmaid !"