Sonnet to Elfrida.
Immortal being, whose career of timeHath just begun, with holy hope we bringThee to the Temple of our Heavenly King,To ask his gracious blessing in the primeOf life’s fair infancy, ere earthly crimeHath cast its stains upon thee; and whilst nowWe sprinkle o’er thee, mid deep prayer and vow,Baptismal water, emblem most sublime,Of God’s eternal sanctifying Truth:Oh may his goodness, and restoring grace,Renew thy spirit, and from earliest youthSustain thee onwards in a heavenly raceAnd glorious fight of faith, till thou shaft riseBy death to blissful life beyond the skies.
Immortal being, whose career of timeHath just begun, with holy hope we bringThee to the Temple of our Heavenly King,To ask his gracious blessing in the primeOf life’s fair infancy, ere earthly crimeHath cast its stains upon thee; and whilst nowWe sprinkle o’er thee, mid deep prayer and vow,Baptismal water, emblem most sublime,Of God’s eternal sanctifying Truth:Oh may his goodness, and restoring grace,Renew thy spirit, and from earliest youthSustain thee onwards in a heavenly raceAnd glorious fight of faith, till thou shaft riseBy death to blissful life beyond the skies.
Immortal being, whose career of timeHath just begun, with holy hope we bringThee to the Temple of our Heavenly King,To ask his gracious blessing in the primeOf life’s fair infancy, ere earthly crimeHath cast its stains upon thee; and whilst nowWe sprinkle o’er thee, mid deep prayer and vow,Baptismal water, emblem most sublime,Of God’s eternal sanctifying Truth:Oh may his goodness, and restoring grace,Renew thy spirit, and from earliest youthSustain thee onwards in a heavenly raceAnd glorious fight of faith, till thou shaft riseBy death to blissful life beyond the skies.
Immortal being, whose career of time
Hath just begun, with holy hope we bring
Thee to the Temple of our Heavenly King,
To ask his gracious blessing in the prime
Of life’s fair infancy, ere earthly crime
Hath cast its stains upon thee; and whilst now
We sprinkle o’er thee, mid deep prayer and vow,
Baptismal water, emblem most sublime,
Of God’s eternal sanctifying Truth:
Oh may his goodness, and restoring grace,
Renew thy spirit, and from earliest youth
Sustain thee onwards in a heavenly race
And glorious fight of faith, till thou shaft rise
By death to blissful life beyond the skies.