30. The Descent of Jesus to Limbus

Thousands of years had come and gone,
And slow the ages seemed to move
To those expectant souls that filled
That prison-house of patient love.

It was a weary watch of theirs,
But onward still their hopes would press;>
Captives they were, yet happy too,
In their couteuted weariness.

As noiseless tides the ample depths
Of some capacious harbor fill,
So grew the calm of that dread place
Each day with increase swift and still.

Sweet tidings there St. Joseph took;
The Saviour's work had then begun,
And of His Three-and-Thirty Years
But three alone were left to run.

And Eve like Joseph's shadow hung
About him wheresoever he went;
She lived on thoughts of Mary's child,
Trembled with hope, and was content.

But see how hushed the crowd of souls!
Whence comes the light of upper day?
What glorious Form is this that finds.
Through central earth its ready way?

'Tis God! 'tis Man! the living Soul
Of Jesus, beautiful and bright,
The first-born of created things,
Flushed with a pure resplendent light.

'Twas Mary's child! Eve saw Him come;
She flew from Joseph's haunted side.
And worshipped, first of all that crowd,
The Soul of Jesus Crucified.

So after four long thousand years,
Faith reached her end, and Hope her aim,
And from them, as they passed away,
Love lit her everlasting flame 1