BENEDICTIO DOMINI
By Ernest Dowson
Without, the sullen noises of the street!The voice of London, inarticulate,Hoarse and blaspheming, surges in to meetThe silent blessing of the Immaculate.Dark is the church, and dim the worshippers,Hushed with bowed heads as though by some old spell,While through the incense-laden air there stirsThe admonition of a silver bell.Dark is the church, save where the altar stands,Dressed like a bride, illustrious with light,Where one old priest exalts with tremulous handsThe one true solace of man’s fallen plight.Strange silence here: without, the sounding streetHeralds the world’s swift passage to the fire;O Benediction, perfect and complete!When shall men cease to suffer and desire?
Without, the sullen noises of the street!The voice of London, inarticulate,Hoarse and blaspheming, surges in to meetThe silent blessing of the Immaculate.Dark is the church, and dim the worshippers,Hushed with bowed heads as though by some old spell,While through the incense-laden air there stirsThe admonition of a silver bell.Dark is the church, save where the altar stands,Dressed like a bride, illustrious with light,Where one old priest exalts with tremulous handsThe one true solace of man’s fallen plight.Strange silence here: without, the sounding streetHeralds the world’s swift passage to the fire;O Benediction, perfect and complete!When shall men cease to suffer and desire?
Without, the sullen noises of the street!The voice of London, inarticulate,Hoarse and blaspheming, surges in to meetThe silent blessing of the Immaculate.
Without, the sullen noises of the street!
The voice of London, inarticulate,
Hoarse and blaspheming, surges in to meet
The silent blessing of the Immaculate.
Dark is the church, and dim the worshippers,Hushed with bowed heads as though by some old spell,While through the incense-laden air there stirsThe admonition of a silver bell.
Dark is the church, and dim the worshippers,
Hushed with bowed heads as though by some old spell,
While through the incense-laden air there stirs
The admonition of a silver bell.
Dark is the church, save where the altar stands,Dressed like a bride, illustrious with light,Where one old priest exalts with tremulous handsThe one true solace of man’s fallen plight.
Dark is the church, save where the altar stands,
Dressed like a bride, illustrious with light,
Where one old priest exalts with tremulous hands
The one true solace of man’s fallen plight.
Strange silence here: without, the sounding streetHeralds the world’s swift passage to the fire;O Benediction, perfect and complete!When shall men cease to suffer and desire?
Strange silence here: without, the sounding street
Heralds the world’s swift passage to the fire;
O Benediction, perfect and complete!
When shall men cease to suffer and desire?