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THE MADONNA AND CHILD.
"BLESSED ART THOU AMONG WOMEN."
"And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.
"And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord,
"And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.
"For he hath regarded the low estate of his hand-maiden; for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.
"For he that is mighty hath done to me great things, and holy is his name."
Luke i. 28, 46-49.
Thrice blessed and thrice beautiful;
Yet come we not to thee;
With those vain prayers which make a creed
Of false idolatry.
We bring no gems to bind thine hair,
No flowers to deck thy shrine;
We light no taper's fragrant blaze,
We ask no aid of thine.
We have no need of pagan rites
To join with christian prayer;
Nor that salvation ask of thee,
'Twas only thine to share.
