In both periods the prayers for forgiveness are full
Note the simplicity of the last one,

of pleading.

the note of sadness caused by a faint doubt.

and

FOR THE MAGDALENE

By William Drummond,

(Schelling, page 205)

"These eyes, dear Lord, once brandons of desire,
Frail scouts betraying what they had to keep,
Which their own heart, then others set on fire,
Their trait'rous black before thee here out-weep;
These locks, of blushing deeds the gilt attire,
Waves curling, wrackful shelves to shadow deep,
Rings wedding souls to sin's lethargic sleep,
To touch thy sacred feet do now aspire.

In seas of care behold a sinking bark,

By winds of sharp remorse unto thee driven,

O let me not be Ruin's aim'd-at mark!

My faults confessed, Lord, say they are forgiven.'
Thus sighed to Jesus the Bethanian fair,

His tear-wet feet still drying with her hair."

A PRAYER

By Anne Brönte

(Vic. An., page 181)

"My God (oh, let me call thee mine,
Weak, wretched sinner though I be),
My trembling soul would fain be thine;
My feeble faith still clings to thee.

Not only for the past I grieve,

The future fills me with dismay;
Unless Thou hasten to relieve,
Thy suppliant is a castaway.

I cannot say my faith is strong,
I dare not hope my love is great;
But strength and love to thee belong;
Oh, do not leave me desolate!

I know I owe my all to thee;

Oh, take the heart I cannot give,
Do Thou my strength my Savior be;

And make me to thy glory live."

See last stanza of "Prayer to the Trinity" by James Edmeston, Vic. An., page 170. Compare "If I could shut the Gate against my Thoughts" by John Daniel (Schelling, page 141, )with the lyric by C. T. Turner in Pal rave's Treasury of Sacred Song, page 320.

Among other truly Elizabethan lyrics, see the call for repentance as given in the poem by Thomas Campion, entitled "Awake, Awake! Thou Heavy Sprite," Schelling, page 164. Note the preparation for the leavenly Guest as shown in the poem, "Guests," "author unknown, Schelling, page 207.

The most striking of the sacred Elizabethan lyrics is without a parellel in Victorian poetry See "The

Burning Babe" by Robert Southwell, Schelling, page 69.