POETRY.

THE FACE OF THE CHRIST.

[These Bonnets are based on the controversy respecting the beauty or deformity of Christ, which originated very early, and continued for a long period. Justin Martyr, Cyril of Alexandria, and Tortoni= upheld the theory of His deformity ; indeed, Cyril asserted that he had been the " ugliest of the sons of men." The school which con- tended for the bodily perfection of Christ numbered, among the Fathers, Ambrose, Chrysostom, Jerome, and John Damascene. In support of the latter doctrine, a letter was produced purporting to be written by Len- tub's, proconsul in Judaea before Herod, in which a description of the Saviour occurs. This description is so beautiful, and realises so fully a high ideal, that one regrets the letter is a forgery. The picture there given has been used in the third sonnet.] I.

THE Master vanished, but his Spirit swept

Across the East, and stirred to eloquence The sad disciples in the truth's defence ; But year by year the Lord of Silence crept Into their midst, and one by one they slept, Till no man lived who had with reverence Looked on the Lord Christ's shining countenance, Or stood anear him while he prayed and wept !

Yet still his purifying spirit reigned, And filled remoter souls with light sublime, And conquered kingdoms by its tender grace : Then many eager, thankful eyes were strained To pierce the mists which touch the skirts of Time, To gain one glance of the Redeemer's face !

IL

And there were those, severe of soul, who said : "Think not the Spirit of the Lord was vain, And clothed itself with loveliness, to gain The wretched homage of the knee and head ; Nay, rather, with uncomelydront, he pled For grace of soul ; with heavy brows of pain And shadowed cheeks, rebuked their fierce disdain Whose pomp disturbed the Spirits of the dead !

Thus by pure force of Virtue men believed, And gilded priestcraft wondered and was wroth ;

So was the triumph of the Lord achieved,—

He scorned the brilliant raiment of the moth, Chose the rough pathway to the eternal goal, The least in form, the mightiest of Soul !"

III.

A chilled red rose, deprived of sunlight, dies, And souls, for lack of Beauty's warmth, despair : So there rose a cry : " The earth was bare Till Christ appeared, like a divine surprise, With God's light glowing in his rare blue eyes And on his brow : like poured-out wine, his hair Fell, a smooth current to his ears, and there Rippled, like sunny clouds in summer skies ! Tall, with majestic presence, calm, and strong, The splendid possibilities of life

Were perfected in him, and to the ken Of troubled nations struggling under wrong, And vexed with petty ceremonial strife, The Christ revealed humanity to men !"

The controversy spread from race to race, But no authentic vision blessed mankind; Each from the subtle substance of his mind, At some strong moment, shaped a marvellous face, And called it Christ's, and for a blissful space Bent low before it ; thus were many blind To his soul's beauty, in their haste to find Some rapturous glimpse of transitory grace !

Still with a reverent desire, they dare To seek the Master's presence, knowing well That though they found his features less than fair, The splendours of his spirit would compel The mask of flesh to fall, and they should see The perfect blossom of humanity !

WILLIAM J. MILLIGAN.