Trembled, perchance, within thy trembling shade.

THE DARKNESS OF THE CRUCIFIXION.

On Judah’s hills a weight of darkness hung,

Felt shudderingly at noon: the land had driven

A Guest divine back to the gates of heaven—

A life, whence all pure founts of healing sprung,

All grace, all truth. And when, to anguish wrung,

From the sharp cross th’ enlightening spirit fled,

O’er the forsaken earth a pall of dread

By the great shadow of that death was flung.