FEMALE CHARACTERS OF SCRIPTURE. A SERIES OF SONNETS.1 Your tents are desolate; your stately steps, Hang round you in the spirit's pictured halls, I. INVOCATION. As the tired voyager on stormy seas Invokes the coming of bright birds from shore, To waft him tidings with the gentler breeze, Of dim sweet woods that hear no billows roar; So from the depth of days, when earth yet wore Her solemn beauty and primeval dew, I call you, gracious Forms! Oh! come, restore Awhile that holy freshness, and renew Life's morning dreams. Come with the voice, the lyre, Daughters of Judah! with the timbrel rise! Imperial in their visionary fire; Oh! steep my soul in that old glorious time, When God's own whisper shook the cedars of your clime! 'Suggested by the perusal of Mrs. Sandford's Woman. II. INVOCATION CONTINUED. And come, ye faithful! round Messiah seen, Ethereal cradle.—From your heart subdued All haughty dreams of power had wing'd their flight, And left high place for martyr fortitude, True faith, long suffering love. Come to me, come! III. THE SONG OF MIRIAM. A song for Israel's God!-Spear, crest, and helm, With her lit eye, and long hair floating free, IV. RUTH. The plume-like swaying of the auburn corn, V. THE VIGIL OF RIZPAH. "And Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah, took sackloth, and spread it for her upon the rock, from the beginning of harvest until water dropped upon them out of heaven; and suffered neither the birds of the air to rest on them by day, nor the beasts of the field by night."-2 Sam. xxi. 10. Who watches on the mountain with the dead, 20 Oh! surely some bright Presence from above On those wild rocks the lonely one must aid ! E'en so; a strengthener through all storm and shade, Th' unconquerable Angel, mightiest Love! VI. THE REPLY OF THE SHUNAMITE WOMAN. "And she answered, I dwell among mine own people.”—2 Kings, iv. 13. "I dwell among mine own,"-Oh! happy thou! Not for the sunny clusters of the vine, Nor for the olives on the mountain's brow; Nor the flocks wandering by the flowery line Laugh to the light of waters-not for these, Whose kindly whisper floats o'er thee and thine— VII. THE ANNUNCIATION. Lowliest of women, and most glorified! In thy still beauty sitting calm and lone, A brightness round thee grew-and by thy side Kindling the air, a form ethereal shone, Solemn, yet breathing gladness. — From her throne A queen had risen with more imperial eye, A stately prophetess of victory From her proud lyre had struck a tempest's tone, For such high tidings as to thee were brought, Chosen of Heaven! that hour;- but thou, O thou! E'en as a flower with gracious rains o'erfraught, Thy virgin head beneath its crown didst bow, And take to thy meek breast th' all holy word, And own thyself the handmaid of the Lord. VIII. THE SONG OF THE VIRGIN. Yet, as a sun-burst flushing mountain snow, Which living harps the quires of Heaven among Might well have link'd with their divinest chords. Full many a strain, borne far on glory's blast, Shall leave, where once its haughty music pass'd, No more to memory than a reed's faint sigh; While thine, O childlike virgin! through all time Shall send its fervent breath o'er every clime, Being of God, and therefore not to die. IX. THE PENITENT ANOINTING CHRIST'S FEET. There was a mournfulness in angel eyes, That saw thee, woman! bright in this world's train, Moving to pleasure's airy melodies, Thyself the idol of the enchanted strain. |