146. Hymn, after Gabriele Rossetti

MY Lord, my Love! in pleasant pain

How often have I said,

‘Blessèd that John who on Thy breast

Laid down his head.’

It was that contact all divine

Transformed him from above,

And made him amongst men the man

To show forth holy love.

Yet shall I envy blessèd John?

Nay not so verily,

Now that Thou, Lord, both Man and God,

Dost dwell in me:

Upbuilding with Thy Manhood’s might

My frail humanity;

Yea, Thy Divinehood pouring forth,

In fullness filling me.

Me, Lord, Thy temple consecrate,

Even me to Thee alone;

Lord, reign upon my willing heart

Which is Thy throne:

To Thee the Seraphim fall down

Adoring round Thy house;

For which of them hath tasted Thee

My Manna and my Spouse?

Now that Thy life lives in my soul

And sways and warms it through,

I scarce seem lesser than the world,

Thy temple too.

O God, who dwellest in my heart,

My God who fillest me,

The broad immensity itself

Hath not encompassed Thee.