| Jessie B. Rittenhouse, ed. (1869–1948). The Little Book of Modern Verse. 1917. |
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| 60. Love’s Ritual |
| | | By Charles Hanson Towne |
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| BREATHE me the ancient words when I shall find | |
| Your spirit mine; if, seeking you, life wins | |
| New wonder, with old splendor let us bind | |
| Our hearts when Love’s high sacrament begins. | |
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| Exalt my soul with pomp and pageantry, | 5 |
| Sing the eternal songs all lovers sing; | |
| Yea, when you come, gold let our vestments be, | |
| And lamps of silver let us softly swing. | |
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| But if at last, (hark how I whisper, Love!) | |
| You from my temple and from me should turn, | 10 |
| I pray you chant no psalm my grief above, | |
| Over the body of Pain let no light burn. | |
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| Go forth in silence, quiet as a dove, | |
| Drift, with no sign, from our exultant place; | |
| We need no Ite at the death of Love, | 15 |
| And none should come to look on Love’s white face. | |
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