A Candlemas Dialogue.

"Love brought Me down; and cannot love make thee     Carol for joy to Me?     Hear cheerful robin carol from his tree,     Who owes not half to Me     I won for thee."     "Yea, Lord, I hear his carol's wordless voice;     And well may he rejoice     Who hath not heard of death's discordant noise.     So might I too rejoice     With such a voice."     "True, thou hast compassed death; but hast not thou     The tree of life's own bough?     Am I not Life and Resurrection now?     My Cross balm-bearing bough     For such as thou?"     "Ah me, Thy Cross! - but that seems far away;     Thy Cradle-song to-day     I too would raise, and worship Thee and pray:     Not empty, Lord, to-day     Send me away."     "If thou wilt not go empty, spend thy store;     And I will give thee more,     Yea, make thee ten times richer than before.     Give more and give yet more     Out of thy store."     "Because Thou givest me Thyself, I will     Thy blessed word fulfil,     Give with both hands, and hoard by giving still;     Thy pleasure to fulfil,     And work Thy Will."