THE NIGHT OF ST. JOHN
‘Night reigns o’er Earth and Air—
O St. John, my St. John,
Ere fated hour speed on,
Hear thou my prayer!
Hear me thou, blessed Saint!
Christian Saint, hear my prayer,
Tho’ my faith Moslem were,
Thine without taint.
Far from Mohammed gone,
Alkoran nought to me,
I bow my heart to thee,
Saint of Dom John!
As I consume this plant
In the fire made to thee,
Love glows anew in me—
Hear my heart pant!
As burns this plant on floor
In the fire lit for thee,
So let the black beard be
Of threatening Moor!
As burns the kindling light
This thy devoted flow’r,
So may Love’s genial pow’r
Kindle my knight!
From height of heav’n amain
Scatter the garlands gay
That in this Love spell may
Spring forth again—
Marvellous falling dews
That cure Love’s burning grief,
My Saint! their cool relief
Do not refuse!
Saint! whom soft pitie’s move,
O St. John, my St John,
‘Ere glide this blest night on
Bring me my love!’
No more the fire you see—
Hush’d is the gushing pray’r
Yet still the maiden there
Bends on the knee.
Upraised her anxious eye
While throbs the glowing breast
Where Faith and Meekness rest
With Purity.
Kindly the Saint look’d on,
And by his fav’ring aid
Blooms now that happy maid
Bride of Dom John!