Poems MacCarthy, Florence Denis

174
That sings in heaven, yet nestles in the heart.
Dublin, August 24th, 1869.
TO KENELM HENRY DIGBY,
AUTHOR OF "MORES CATHOLICI," "THE BROADSTONE OF HONOUR,"
"COMPITUM," ETC.
(On being presented by him with a copy, painted by himself, of a rare
Portrait of Calderon.)
How can I thank thee for this gift of thine,
Digby, the dawn and day-star of our age,
Forerunner thou of many a saint and sage
Who since have fought and conquer'd 'neath the Sign?
Thou hast left, as in a sacred shrine--
What shrine more pure than thy unspotted page?--
The priceless relics, as a heritage,
Of loftiest thoughts and lessons most divine.
Poet and teacher of sublimest lore,
Thou scornest not the painter's mimic skill,
And thus hath come, obedient to thy will
The outward form that Calderon's spirit wore.
Ah! happy canvas that two glories fill,
Where Calderon lives 'neath Digby's hand once more.
October 15th, 1878.
TO ETHNA.[108]
Ethna, to cull sweet flowers divinely fair,
To seek for gems of such transparent light
As would not be unworthy to unite
Round thy fair brow, and through thy dark-brown hair,
I would that I had wings to cleave the air,
In search of some far region of delight,
That back to thee from that adventurous flight,