Athassel Abbey
FOLLY and Time have fashionedOf thee a songless reed;O not-of-earth-impassioned!Thy music ’s mute indeed.Red from the chantry cranniesThe orchids burn and swing,And where the arch began isRest for a raven’s wing;And up the bossy columnQuick tails of squirrels wave,And black, prodigious, solemn,A forest fills the nave.Still faithfuller, still faster,To ruin give thy heart:Perfect before the MasterAye as thou wert, thou art.But I am wind that passesIn ignorant wild tears,Uplifted from the grasses,Blown to the void of years,Blown to the void, yet sighingIn thee to merge and cease,Last breath of beauty’s dying,Of sanctity, of peace!Tho’ use nor place foreverUnto my soul befall,By no belovèd riverSet in a saintly wall,Do thou by builders givenSpeech of the dumb to be,Beneath thine open heaven,Athassel! pray for me.
FOLLY and Time have fashionedOf thee a songless reed;O not-of-earth-impassioned!Thy music ’s mute indeed.Red from the chantry cranniesThe orchids burn and swing,And where the arch began isRest for a raven’s wing;And up the bossy columnQuick tails of squirrels wave,And black, prodigious, solemn,A forest fills the nave.Still faithfuller, still faster,To ruin give thy heart:Perfect before the MasterAye as thou wert, thou art.But I am wind that passesIn ignorant wild tears,Uplifted from the grasses,Blown to the void of years,Blown to the void, yet sighingIn thee to merge and cease,Last breath of beauty’s dying,Of sanctity, of peace!Tho’ use nor place foreverUnto my soul befall,By no belovèd riverSet in a saintly wall,Do thou by builders givenSpeech of the dumb to be,Beneath thine open heaven,Athassel! pray for me.
FOLLY and Time have fashionedOf thee a songless reed;O not-of-earth-impassioned!Thy music ’s mute indeed.
FOLLY and Time have fashioned
Of thee a songless reed;
O not-of-earth-impassioned!
Thy music ’s mute indeed.
Red from the chantry cranniesThe orchids burn and swing,And where the arch began isRest for a raven’s wing;
Red from the chantry crannies
The orchids burn and swing,
And where the arch began is
Rest for a raven’s wing;
And up the bossy columnQuick tails of squirrels wave,And black, prodigious, solemn,A forest fills the nave.
And up the bossy column
Quick tails of squirrels wave,
And black, prodigious, solemn,
A forest fills the nave.
Still faithfuller, still faster,To ruin give thy heart:Perfect before the MasterAye as thou wert, thou art.
Still faithfuller, still faster,
To ruin give thy heart:
Perfect before the Master
Aye as thou wert, thou art.
But I am wind that passesIn ignorant wild tears,Uplifted from the grasses,Blown to the void of years,
But I am wind that passes
In ignorant wild tears,
Uplifted from the grasses,
Blown to the void of years,
Blown to the void, yet sighingIn thee to merge and cease,Last breath of beauty’s dying,Of sanctity, of peace!
Blown to the void, yet sighing
In thee to merge and cease,
Last breath of beauty’s dying,
Of sanctity, of peace!
Tho’ use nor place foreverUnto my soul befall,By no belovèd riverSet in a saintly wall,
Tho’ use nor place forever
Unto my soul befall,
By no belovèd river
Set in a saintly wall,
Do thou by builders givenSpeech of the dumb to be,Beneath thine open heaven,Athassel! pray for me.
Do thou by builders given
Speech of the dumb to be,
Beneath thine open heaven,
Athassel! pray for me.