"With Barnes Around the World" (William Barnes Society Website)
Sonnet XVIII, Grecian Maids
Oh! lovely were the Grecian maids of old
When, hand in hand, in heathen holydays,
They sang the solemn hymn, or traced the maze
Of sacred dances, bright with gems and gold;
Or, clad in robes of white or purple, stroll'd
In holy groves, or myrtle-border'd ways;
Or sat and swept the light-toned lute, and told
Wild tales of love, or sung some hero's praise:
But lovelier were the Grecian maids to see
At Greece's Gospel morning, when as yet
The Christian daughters of the holy Paul,
All meek with godly grace, and gather'd all
Within their Christian house of pray'r, they met
With holy kisses at the Agape.
No comments:
Post a Comment