The priest, “another Christ” is he,
And plights the church his marriage-vows;
Thenceforth in every soul to see
A daughter, sister, spouse.
Then let him wear the triple cord
Of father’s, brother’s, husband’s care;
In this partaking with his Lord
What angels cannot share.
O sweet new love! O strong new wine!
O taste of Pentecostal fire!
Inebriate me, draught divine,
With Calvary’s desire!
“I thirst!” He cried. The dregs were drained:
But still “I thirst!” his dying cry.
While one ungarnered soul remained,
The cup too soon was dry.
And shall not I be crucified?
What though the fiends, when all is done,
Make darkness round me, and deride
That not a soul is won?
God reaps from very loss a gain,
And darkness here is light above.
Nor ever did and died in vain
Who did and died for love.