_Primo mane venit ad sepulchrum Magdalena._ Joan. xx. 1.
Tu matutinos praevertis, sancta, rubores,
Magdala; sed jam tum Sol tuus ortus erat.[45]
Jamque vetus merito vanos sol non agit ortus,
Et tanti radios non putat esse suos.
Quippe aliquo, reor, ille novus jam nictat in astro,
Et se nocturna parvus habet facula.
Quam velit o tantae vel nuntius esse diei,
Atque novus Soli Lucifer ire novo!
_[Mary] Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, cometh unto the
sepulchre._
Thou holy Magdalene,
Ere rosy morn was seen,
Awokest; but e'en then
Thy Sun was in thy ken.
Now the great olden sun,
Rising as wont upon
The earth, is wildered
With new beams round him shed.
Lo, as a star he seems,
Or torch with nigh-quench'd beams;
Keeping himself still small
Before the Lord of All.
How well might'st thou, O Sun,
Submit to be outshone,
And, as a morning-star,
Herald One grander far! G.