The God-Child

I stood beside thee in the holy place,
And saw the holy sprinkling on thy brow.
And was both bond and witness to the vow
Which own'd thy need, confirm'd thy claim of grace
That sacred sign which time shall not efface
Declared thee His, to whom all angels bow.
Who bade the herald saint the rite allow
To the sole sinless of all Adam's race.
That was indeed an awful sight to see :
And oft, I fear, for what my love hath done.
As voucher of thy sweet communion
In thy sweet Saviour's blessed mystery.
Would I might give thee back, my little one.
But half the good that I have got from thee.