Page:Songs, Legends, and Ballads.djvu/98

The Lord is with thee, and among the nations
Forever blessed is thy chosen name."
The angel vanished, and the Lord's high Presence
With untold glory to the Virgin came.

A season passed of joy unknown to mortals,
When Joseph came with what his foil had won,
And broke the brooding ecstasy of Mary,
Whose soul was ever with her promised Son.
But nature's jealous fears encircled Joseph,
And round his heart in darkening doubts held sway.
He looked upon his spouse cold-eyed, and pondered
How he could put her from his sight away.

And once, when moody thus within his garden.
The gentle girl besought for some ripe fruit
That hung beyond her reach, the old man answered.
With face averted, harshly to her suit:
"I will not serve thee, woman I Thou hast wronged me: