THE voice that breath'd o'er Eden, That earliest wedding-day, The primal marriage blessing, It hath not pass'd away. Still in the pure espousal Of Christian man and maid, The holy Three are with us, The threefold grace is said. For dower of blessed children, For love and faith's sweet sake, For high mysterious union, Which nought on earth may break. Be present, awful Father, To give away this bride, As Eve thou gav'st to Adam Out of his own pierced side: Be present, Son of Mary, To join their loving hands, As thou didst bind two natures In thine eternal bands: Be present, Holiest Spirit, To bless them as they kneel, As thou for Christ, the Bridegroom, The heavenly Spouse dost seal. Oh, spread thy pure wing o'er them, Let no ill power find place, When onward to thine altar The hallow'd path they trace, To cast their crowns before thee In perfect sacrifice, Till to the home of gladness With Christ's own Bride they rise. AMEN. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...SUGGESTED BY THE COVER OF A VOLUME OF KEATS'S POEMS by AMY LOWELL MY LOVE by JAMES RUSSELL LOWELL A RENOUNCING OF LOVE by THOMAS WYATT LINES by FRANKLIN PIERCE ADAMS AGAMEMNON: HELEN. CHORUS by AESCHYLUS ROBIN REDBREAST by WILLIAM ALLINGHAM |