Rocky gates are wildly crashing,
Phoebus' wheels are
onward dashing;
(A wonderful noise proclaims the approach of the sun.)
Light doth
mighty sounds beget!
Pealing loud as rolling thunder,
Eye and ear it fills with wonder,
Though itself
unconscious yet.
Downward steals it,'mongst the flowers
Seeking deeper, stiller bowers,
'Mongst the
foliage, 'neath the rock;
Thou'lt be deafened by the shock!
-----
FROM FAUST--SECOND PART.
SCENE THE LAST.
ANGELS.
[Hovering in the higher regions of air, and
hearing the immortal
part of Faust.]
THE spirit-region's noble limb
Hath 'scaled the Archfiend's power;
For we have strength to
rescue him
Who labours ev'ry hour.
And if he feels within his breast
A ray of love from heaven.
He's met by all the
squadron blest
With
welcomegladly given.
THE YOUNGER ANGELS.
Yonder roses, from the holy
Hands of
penitents so lowly,
Help'd to render us victorious,
And to do the deed all-glorious;
For they gain'd us this soul-treasure.
Evil ones those roses banish'd,
Devils, when we met them, vanish'd.
Spirits felt love's pangs with pleasure,
Where hell's torments used to dwell;
E'en the hoary king of hell
Felt sharp torments through him run.
Shout for joy! the prize is won.
THE MORE PERFECT ANGELS.
Strains of mortality
Long have oppress'd us;
Pure could they ever be,
If of asbestos.
If
mighty spirit-strength
Elements ever
Knew how to seize at length,
Angels could never
Link'd twofold natures move,
Where single-hearted;
By
nought but deathless love
Can they be parted.
THE YOUNGER ANGELS.
See where a spirit-race
Bursts on the sight!
Dimly their forms I trace
Round the far height.
Each cloud becometh clear,
While the bright troops appear
Of the blest boys,
From the Earth's burden free,
In a glad company
Drinking in joys,
Born of the world above,
Springtime and bliss.
May they forerunners prove
Of a more perfect love,
Link'd on to this!
THE BEATIFIED CHILDREN.
Thus as a chrysalis
Gladly we gain him,
And as a
pledge of bliss
Safely
retain him;
When from the shell he's free
Whereby he's tainted,
Perfect and fair he'll be,
Holy and sainted.
DOCTOR MARINAS.
(In the highest, purest cell.)
Wide is the
prospect here,
Raised is the soul;
Women on high appear,
Seeking their goal.
'Mongat them the
radiant one,
Queen of the skies,
In her bright
starry crown
Greets my glad eyes.
(With ecstasy.)
Thou who art of earth the queen.
Let me, 'neath the blue
Heav'nly
canopy serene
Thy sweet
mystery view!
Grant the gentle
solemn force
Which the breast can move.
And direct our
onward course
Tow'rd thy perfect love.
Dauntless let our courage be,
At thy bright behest;
Mild our
ardour suddenly,
When thou bidd'st us rest.
Virgin, type of holiness,
Mother, honour-crown'd,
Thou whom we as queen confess,
Godlike and renowned.
Round her, in gentle play,
Light clouds are stealing;
Penitents fair are they,
Who,
humbly kneeling,
Sip in the ether sweet,
As they for grace entreat.
Thou, who art from passions free,
Kindly art inclin'd,
When the sons of frailty
Seek thee, meek in mind.
Borne by weakness'
stream along,
Hard it is to save them;
Who can burst lust's chains so strong,
That, alas, enslave them?
O how soon the foot may slip,
When the smooth ground pressing!
O, how false are eye and lip,
False a
breath caressing!
MATER GLORLOSA hovers past.
CHORUS OF PENITENT WOMEN.
To bring realms on high
In
majesty soaring,
O, hark to our cry
Thy pity imploring,
Thou help to the cheerless,
In glory so peerless!
MAGNA PECCATRIX (St. Luke vii. 36).
By the love, which o'er the feet
Of thy God-transfigur'd Son
Dropp'd the team, like balsam sweet,
Spite of ev'ry
scornful one;
By the box of
ointment rare,
Whence the drops so
fragrant fell;
By the locks, whose gentle care
Dried His holy members well--
muller SAMARITANA (St, John iv.).
By the well where Abram erst
Drove his flocks to drink their fill;
By the
bucket which the thirst
Of the Saviour served to still;
By the
fountain, balm-exhaling,
That from yon bright region flows,
Ever clear and never failing.
As round ev'ry world it goes--
MARIA AEGYPTIACA (Acta Sanctorum).
By the
sacred spot immortal,
Where the Lord's remains they plac'd;
By the arm, that from the portal
Drove me back with
warning haste;
By my forty years of lowly
Penance in a desert land;
By the
farewell greetings holy
That I wrote upon the sand--
THE THREE.
Thou who ne'er thy
radiant face
From the greatest sinners hides,
Thou who Thine atoning grace
Through
eternity provident,
Let this soul, by
virtue stirr'd,
Self-forgetful though when living,
That perceived not that it err'd,
Feel thy mercy, sin forgiving!
UNA POENITENTIUM.
(Once named Margaret, pressing near them.)
Oh radiance-spreading One,
Who equall'd art by none,
In mercy view mine ecstasy!
For he whom erst I loved,
No more by sorrow proved,
Returns at length to me!
BEATIFIED CHILDREN.
(Approaching as they hover round.)
He now in strength of limb
Far doth outweigh us,
And, as we tended him,
So will repay us.
Early removed were we
Far from life's story;
Train'd now himself, will he
Train us in glory.
THE PENITENT, once named Margaret.
Link'd with the noble band of spirits,
Scarce can the new one feel or see
The
radiant life he now inherits,
So like that holy band is he.
See how he bursts each bond material,
And parts the olden veil at length,--
In vesture clad of grace ethereal,
Comes in the glow of
youthful strength.
Oh, let me guide his steps victorious,
While dazzled by the new-born light.
MATER GLORIOSA.
Come! raise thyself to spheres more glorious,
He'll follow when thou matzoth his sight.
DOCTOR MARINAS.
(Prostrated in adoration.)
O repentant sinful ones,
On that bright face gaze ye,