Hunter of souls! the loving chase so nigh

Those spirits twain had never come before.

They saw the sacred flame within thine eye;

To them the maple’s depths quick glory wore,

As though God’s hand had lit

His altar-fire in it,

And made a fane, of virgin verdure pleached,

Wherefrom thou might’st in numbers musical

Expound the age-sweet words thy Francis preached

To thee and thine, of God’s benignant thrall