Scene 4
SCENE IV.
HENOCH .
Hail, Desire of the first world!
THE REST .
Hail, Delight of the ages to come!
NOE .
Daughter of prophecy and Virgin true,
Hope of both worlds—the ancient and the new,
Mother of day, and Queen of golden morn,
From whom the sole-begotten Son is born!
Here, lowly bending at thy feet, behold
The Blest who lived before the deluge roll'd;
And see before thee, Olive-branch of grace,
The second Father of the human race.
Ah, why, O Virgin dear,
On earth's terraqueous sphere
So late in time did thy sweet form appear?
Hadst thou but earlier come,
Not then the first-created world
Had been into destruction hurl'd
Beneath a watery doom;
Thy smile had sooth'd the wrath of God,
And stay'd His dread descending rod.
Hail, Ark of Life!
That, borne unharmed above the surging strife
Of Hell and human crime,
Preservest in thyself that Seed sublime.
The hope of after-time;
From whence shall come a new creation,
A holy spotless generation.
A race and empire divine,
Children of th' eternal Trine;
A royal race, with promise sure
Through everlasting ages to endure!
Hail, Rainbow bright,
From the pure Fount of Light
In variegated hues of grace array'd;
Glistening sublime
Upon the verge of time,
Where spreads eternity its awful shade!
Now, therefore, bend thine ear,
O Daughter fair, and hear,
And grant the favour we entreat,
Queen of Patriarchs, at thy feet;—
That, since on earth thy face we might not see
While wrapt around in our mortality,
Now, in return for our long sighs,
Beaming down with thy bright eyes,
Thou suffer us to hear that voice
At which the circling spheres rejoice;
Which all the earth with gladness fills,
And through the womb of nature thrills,
Robbing with its delicious strain
E'en Purgatory of its pain.
MARY'S SONG .
While I was yet a little one
I pleased the Lord of grace,
And in His holy Sanctuary
He granted me a place.
There, shelter'd by His tender care,
And by His love inspired,
I strove in all things to fulfil
Whatever He desired.
I wholly gave myself to Him,
To be for ever His;
I meditated on His law
And ancient promises,
And oft at my embroidery,
Musing upon the Maid
Of whom Messias should be born,—
Thus in my heart I pray'd:
“Permit me, Lord, one day to see
That Virgin ever dear,
Predestinated in the courts
Of Sion to appear.
O blest estate, if but I might
Among her handmaids be!
But such a favour, O my God,
Is far too high for me.”
Thus unto God I pour'd my prayer;
And He that prayer fulfill'd,
Not as my poverty had hop'd,
But as His bounty will'd.
Erewhile a trembling child of dust,
Now rob'd in heavenly rays,
I reign the Mother of my God
Through sempiternal days,
To me the nations of the world
Their grateful tribute bring;
To me the Powers of darkness bend;
To me the Angels sing.
MELCHISEDECH .
Hail, Queen of Salem!
THE REST .
Hail, beatific Vision of peace!
DAVID ( accompanying himself on his harp ).
Daughter of a royal line,
Noble shoot of Jesse's rod,
Flow'r immortal and divine,
First among the works of God!
As I watch'd my flock by night,
Musing over Israel's woes,
Oft of old thy Vision bright,
Child of grace, before me rose.
Lulling nature's angry storm,
Oft I saw with prophet eye
Thy imperial radiant form
On the moonbeam glancing by;
All in robes of orient light,
Tinted from the azure skies,
Breathing o'er chaotic night
Perfume fresh from Paradise.
Ah, how then, O Queen of day,
I for thee would pour my tears;
Mourning o'er the long delay
Of a thousand coming years:
Yearning with a strong desire
Thy vivific birth to see;
All my spirit's depth on fire
For the times that were to be.
Those triumphant days below
Not permitted to behold,
Waiting long, while, ebb and flow,
Silently the ages roll'd,—
Now at last, in realms serene
Of immortal life and love,
I salute thee as the Queen
Of Jerusalem above.
Thee with joy ecstatic greet,
Glist'ning in a golden crown,
And before thy sacred feet
Lay my harp in homage down.
ISAIAS ( taking up David's harp ).
Jerusalem, Jerusalem!
Arise thee now and shine;
Put on, put on thy purple robe
And diadem divine;
Though darkness cover all the earth,
Yet thou shalt sing for glee;
For, lo, the glory of the Lord
Hath risen upon thee!
Jerusalem, Jerusalem!
Thy streets are pav'd with gold;
Thy pearly halls and palaces
Are glorious to behold;
Thy walls of jasper are inlaid
With every precious gem;
How pure, how lovely is the sight
Of our Jerusalem!
Jerusalem, Jerusalem!
No tear in thee is known;
Thy bright and fragrant courts were made
For happiness alone;
The Lord alone thy Temple is,
And calls thee by His name;
The Lamb alone is all the light
Of our Jerusalem!
Jerusalem, Jerusalem!
Thou City of the skies;
Dear City of our King and God;
Dear object of our sighs!
How blest, how blest are thy abodes,
And those who dwell in them!
Thrice welcome here, O Virgin dear,
To thy Jerusalem!
DANIEL .
God who guides the wheeling spheres,
Keeping still His promise firm;
Lo, the Seventy Weeks of years
Speed to their prophetic term.
Vainly strove Assyria's pride,
Persian wealth, or Grecian power;
Vainly each in turn defied
Its inevitable hour.
Rome herself so strong to day,
Greatest empire of them all,
Of her very strength the prey,
Marches onward to her fall.
Other kingdoms, Lord, than Thine,
To eternity pretend;
One alone, by right divine,
Lives eternal to the end.
One alone, while others fade,
Growing with the growing years,
Undecaying, undecay'd,
Ever in its prime appears!
Hail, of that high Kingdom Queen!
Fairest Form that earth has trod!
Hail, Inheritance of men!
Empress of the Church of God!
FIRST GROUP
Hail to the Censer of purest gold,
For Heav'n's high Temple ordain'd of old!
Which, fill'd with fire of Deity,
Breathes around on all creation
Fragrant incense of salvation;
Breathes upon Adam's sickly race
Holy perfume of healing grace!
Glory, glory, glory to thee,
Mother of Immortality!
SECOND GROUP
Hail to Aaron's fruitful rod!
Hail to the fruitful Mother of God,
Blooming in pure virginity!
Whose blossom delicately fair
Is truth, and honour, and virtue rare;
Whose leaves a mystical odour shed,
Thrilling with bliss the living and dead.
Glory, glory, glory to thee,
Mother of Immortality!
THIRD GROUP
Hail to Mary's immaculate Heart!
Hail to the Urn preserv'd apart
In Nature's inmost Sanctuary!
Urn of sinless mortal clay,
In which the Manna immortal lay;
Destin'd in God's prophetic page
To be the life of a future age.
Glory, glory, glory to thee,
Mother of Immortality!
FOURTH GROUP
Hail to the Cresset sevenfold!
Branching in lilies of virgin gold
From a stem of beauteous symmetry;
Whose oil is the Spirit of grace and might!
Whose overflowing ocean of light
Is He who, from eternity born,
Kindled the stars at creation's morn!
Glory, glory, glory to thee.
Mother of Immortality!
SONG OF THE HERMITS OF MOUNT CARMEL .
Hail to the Flower of pure delight,
Blooming on sacred Carmel's height!
CHORUS .
Flower of Carmel,
Flowering Vine,
Shed thy sweets
On us who are thine!
Virginal Mother,
Star of the sea;
Glory of Heaven,
We glorify thee!
SONG .
Hail to the Cloud that came in sight,
Rising afar on the fields of light,
As Elias knelt upon Carmel's height!
CHORUS .
Flower of Carmel,
Flowering Vine,
Shed thy sweets
On us who are thine!
Virginal Mother,
Star of the sea;
Glory of Heaven,
We glorify thee!
SONG .
Hail to the Car of effulgence bright,
On which to Heaven's etherial height,
In human flesh, and in human sight,
Ascends the Incarnate Infinite.
CHORUS .
Flower of Carmel,
Flowering Vine,
Shed thy sweets
On us who are thine!
Virginal Mother,
Star of the sea;
Glory of Heaven,
We glorify thee!
GABRIEL ( descending ).
O brighter than all brightness, living Altar
Of light's pure temple, Joy exuberant
Of all the patriarchs, Queen of Palestine,
And splendour of the New Jerusalem!
Know that in Paradise is held to-day,
In honour of thy birth, a royal feast;
Which, in the name of this most high Procession,
I supplicate thy sceptr'd majesty
With its imperial presence to adorn.
In hope whereof, this empyrean car
(Once only touch'd by mortal foot, what time
It bore Elias through the fields of space)
Attends thy bidding. See, its fiery steeds,
Already, of their happy task aware,
Curvet, impatient for their precious freight.
MARY .
My soul hath fainted for the living Courts
Of my eternal God. Most joyfully
I go with you; this only boon entreating,
That I may bring with me these sacred Parents
Here seated at my side.
GABRIEL .
Lady, not yet is it permitted them
To pass beyond this outer vestibule;
Hereafter, by the grace of thy dear Son,
To be receiv'd into immortal bliss,
When, turn'd in death to their original dust,
Again from dust they rise, created new
For new and more divine felicity
Than that by disobedience forfeited.
At present in the world their portion lies,
There to toil on in faith and hopeful love,
Through good and evil mingled; till at length,
Their lifelong penance o'er, they drink with thee
Of endless joys, and keep perpetual feast.
Enter Azael and Companions .
AZAEL ( kneeling to Ithuriel ).
Mighty Prince, our task is o'er,
And from Phantasy's domain,
Through her secret golden door,
Hither we return again;
And commend our pageantry
To this noble Company,
Ready to receive for it
Praise or blame as may befit.
ITHURIEL .
Rise, Azael, and accept our general thanks—
Thyself and fellow-actors—each and all;
Scarce could we deem the whole a spectacle,
So true was each performer to his part;
So true your evanescent scenery
To nature's subtlest tints and lineaments.
See, even yet there lingers on the cheek
Of this fair sleeping Maid a roseate smile,
As from the fanning of the golden wings
Of some ethereal vision, foretaste sweet
Of heavenly joys; such power your masque hath had
Whereof that perfect soul, which evermore
Receives of all things in proportion due,
Admitted whatsoever for her state
Was most expedient.
ANGEL OF ROME .
We, Azael, too,
Render our grateful thanks; in sign of which
Accept this ring of purest chrysolite,
Which anciently on Numa's finger shone,—
Numa, of early Rome pacific king.
And he, 'tis said, in his Egerian grot,
From the great Sibyl of Cumæan song
Receiv'd it as the heirloom of his race.
A royal province scarce could purchase it.
AZAEL .
Aught by thy hand bestow'd were high reward,
Most noble Potentate. Would that the work
Had equall'd but the will; then had there been
A spectacle more worthy the spectators.
ANGEL OF ROME ( to the Angels of Italy ).
Princes and sacred Peers, the blazing sun,
O'ertopping yonder pile of burnish'd gold,
And circling with a rainbow diadem
The snowy head of this fair cloistral fount,
Proclaims our near departure; come then, all,
And, kissing each in turn the heavenly feet
Of this dear glory of Jerusalem,
Let us entreat her blessing on ourselves,
And on the cities, shores, and territories,
Committed to our several custodies.
Age with age contended,
At Creation's dawn,
Which might see the day
When Mary should be born:
But the Lord had hidden
His decree sublime,
Destin'd to prevail
In its appointed time.
They who came the foremost
Empty sought the skies;
And the last of all
Has won the happy prize.
Hail, thou Age of ages,
Centre of the rest!
Hail, predestin'd Era
Infinitely blest!
Hail, thou bright Aurora,
Chasing nature's gloom,
Hope of all before,
And bliss of all to come!
Age of peace on earth!
Age of joy in heaven!
Age of grace restored!
Age of guilt forgiven!
Thee the coming cycles
Grateful shall proclaim,
Germ of all their life,
And fount of all their fame.
Earth from thee hereafter
Shall its date renew,
And to thee look back
All the ages through;
As a pillar shining,
From a mount sublime,
O'er the tracts of space!
And o'er the tide of time!
ITHURIEL ( to the Angel of Rome ).
Doubt not, imperial Chieftain, but our Lady
Will breathe her supplications to high Heav'n,
Omnipotential with the Omnipotent,
For every several object of your prayers.
And for thy comfort learn, that mighty Rome,
Now in the bonds of pagan darkness swath'd,
Hereafter shall, in reverence to Mary
And Mary's Child, exceed your utmost hope.
A prophecy there is of ancient date,
Unbrokenly preserved from age to age
By this high Temple's angel Guardians;—
That, in the days to come, this holy Salem,
In ruins laid, must to a holier City
Give place, whose name is “Strength,” prepar'd of old
Upon the bosom of th' eternal floods,
And lifted on a sevenfold mystic hill;
Which in its day predestin'd shall become
The hierarchic centre of the world,
(As to the Jews Jerusalem before)
Embracing in one faith, one polity,
Beneath one Head in heav'n, and one on earth
Pontifical, the whole of humankind;
With ordinances, priesthood, all things, new,
Promis'd through endless ages to endure.
This mystery to thy attentive mind
We here commit, in its most certain time
To be reveal'd before the universe
In sight of all. And now, if go ye must,
At least, in memory of your visit here,
Accept, celestial Princes, at our hands
These parting gifts; for thee, high Potentate,
This fair embroider'd piece, the priceless work
Of Mary's pearly fingers; which remember
To keep for happy Rome in after-days.
For thy companions here these flowers, new cull'd,
Children of Mary's care, and like herself
Of bloom and fragrance immarcessible,
So only they approach no mortal hand;
And if, as we entreat, ye shall appear
At our festivities another year,
There wait you other gifts more precious still,
So promises your own Ithuriel.
ITHURIEL .
Now, comrades, to your tasks; for, as I think,
The eyelids of our Mistress soon will part,
And to our wistful gaze reveal anew
Their hidden Paradise; the dawn to us
Of day, more truly than the golden light
That flashes from the kindling Orient.
We must be ready at our several posts
To wait upon her wishes and fulfil
Our daily ministries. Let music sound;
Let a celestial perfume breathe around;
Let all be sparkling, gladsome, and serene,
To greet the waking of creation's Queen.
HENOCH .
Hail, Desire of the first world!
THE REST .
Hail, Delight of the ages to come!
NOE .
Daughter of prophecy and Virgin true,
Hope of both worlds—the ancient and the new,
Mother of day, and Queen of golden morn,
From whom the sole-begotten Son is born!
Here, lowly bending at thy feet, behold
The Blest who lived before the deluge roll'd;
And see before thee, Olive-branch of grace,
The second Father of the human race.
Ah, why, O Virgin dear,
On earth's terraqueous sphere
So late in time did thy sweet form appear?
Hadst thou but earlier come,
Not then the first-created world
Had been into destruction hurl'd
Beneath a watery doom;
Thy smile had sooth'd the wrath of God,
And stay'd His dread descending rod.
Hail, Ark of Life!
That, borne unharmed above the surging strife
Of Hell and human crime,
Preservest in thyself that Seed sublime.
The hope of after-time;
From whence shall come a new creation,
A holy spotless generation.
A race and empire divine,
Children of th' eternal Trine;
A royal race, with promise sure
Through everlasting ages to endure!
Hail, Rainbow bright,
From the pure Fount of Light
In variegated hues of grace array'd;
Glistening sublime
Upon the verge of time,
Where spreads eternity its awful shade!
Now, therefore, bend thine ear,
O Daughter fair, and hear,
And grant the favour we entreat,
Queen of Patriarchs, at thy feet;—
That, since on earth thy face we might not see
While wrapt around in our mortality,
Now, in return for our long sighs,
Beaming down with thy bright eyes,
Thou suffer us to hear that voice
At which the circling spheres rejoice;
Which all the earth with gladness fills,
And through the womb of nature thrills,
Robbing with its delicious strain
E'en Purgatory of its pain.
MARY'S SONG .
While I was yet a little one
I pleased the Lord of grace,
And in His holy Sanctuary
He granted me a place.
There, shelter'd by His tender care,
And by His love inspired,
I strove in all things to fulfil
Whatever He desired.
I wholly gave myself to Him,
To be for ever His;
I meditated on His law
And ancient promises,
And oft at my embroidery,
Musing upon the Maid
Of whom Messias should be born,—
Thus in my heart I pray'd:
“Permit me, Lord, one day to see
That Virgin ever dear,
Predestinated in the courts
Of Sion to appear.
O blest estate, if but I might
Among her handmaids be!
But such a favour, O my God,
Is far too high for me.”
Thus unto God I pour'd my prayer;
And He that prayer fulfill'd,
Not as my poverty had hop'd,
But as His bounty will'd.
Erewhile a trembling child of dust,
Now rob'd in heavenly rays,
I reign the Mother of my God
Through sempiternal days,
To me the nations of the world
Their grateful tribute bring;
To me the Powers of darkness bend;
To me the Angels sing.
MELCHISEDECH .
Hail, Queen of Salem!
THE REST .
Hail, beatific Vision of peace!
DAVID ( accompanying himself on his harp ).
Daughter of a royal line,
Noble shoot of Jesse's rod,
Flow'r immortal and divine,
First among the works of God!
As I watch'd my flock by night,
Musing over Israel's woes,
Oft of old thy Vision bright,
Child of grace, before me rose.
Lulling nature's angry storm,
Oft I saw with prophet eye
Thy imperial radiant form
On the moonbeam glancing by;
All in robes of orient light,
Tinted from the azure skies,
Breathing o'er chaotic night
Perfume fresh from Paradise.
Ah, how then, O Queen of day,
I for thee would pour my tears;
Mourning o'er the long delay
Of a thousand coming years:
Yearning with a strong desire
Thy vivific birth to see;
All my spirit's depth on fire
For the times that were to be.
Those triumphant days below
Not permitted to behold,
Waiting long, while, ebb and flow,
Silently the ages roll'd,—
Now at last, in realms serene
Of immortal life and love,
I salute thee as the Queen
Of Jerusalem above.
Thee with joy ecstatic greet,
Glist'ning in a golden crown,
And before thy sacred feet
Lay my harp in homage down.
ISAIAS ( taking up David's harp ).
Jerusalem, Jerusalem!
Arise thee now and shine;
Put on, put on thy purple robe
And diadem divine;
Though darkness cover all the earth,
Yet thou shalt sing for glee;
For, lo, the glory of the Lord
Hath risen upon thee!
Jerusalem, Jerusalem!
Thy streets are pav'd with gold;
Thy pearly halls and palaces
Are glorious to behold;
Thy walls of jasper are inlaid
With every precious gem;
How pure, how lovely is the sight
Of our Jerusalem!
Jerusalem, Jerusalem!
No tear in thee is known;
Thy bright and fragrant courts were made
For happiness alone;
The Lord alone thy Temple is,
And calls thee by His name;
The Lamb alone is all the light
Of our Jerusalem!
Jerusalem, Jerusalem!
Thou City of the skies;
Dear City of our King and God;
Dear object of our sighs!
How blest, how blest are thy abodes,
And those who dwell in them!
Thrice welcome here, O Virgin dear,
To thy Jerusalem!
DANIEL .
God who guides the wheeling spheres,
Keeping still His promise firm;
Lo, the Seventy Weeks of years
Speed to their prophetic term.
Vainly strove Assyria's pride,
Persian wealth, or Grecian power;
Vainly each in turn defied
Its inevitable hour.
Rome herself so strong to day,
Greatest empire of them all,
Of her very strength the prey,
Marches onward to her fall.
Other kingdoms, Lord, than Thine,
To eternity pretend;
One alone, by right divine,
Lives eternal to the end.
One alone, while others fade,
Growing with the growing years,
Undecaying, undecay'd,
Ever in its prime appears!
Hail, of that high Kingdom Queen!
Fairest Form that earth has trod!
Hail, Inheritance of men!
Empress of the Church of God!
FIRST GROUP
Hail to the Censer of purest gold,
For Heav'n's high Temple ordain'd of old!
Which, fill'd with fire of Deity,
Breathes around on all creation
Fragrant incense of salvation;
Breathes upon Adam's sickly race
Holy perfume of healing grace!
Glory, glory, glory to thee,
Mother of Immortality!
SECOND GROUP
Hail to Aaron's fruitful rod!
Hail to the fruitful Mother of God,
Blooming in pure virginity!
Whose blossom delicately fair
Is truth, and honour, and virtue rare;
Whose leaves a mystical odour shed,
Thrilling with bliss the living and dead.
Glory, glory, glory to thee,
Mother of Immortality!
THIRD GROUP
Hail to Mary's immaculate Heart!
Hail to the Urn preserv'd apart
In Nature's inmost Sanctuary!
Urn of sinless mortal clay,
In which the Manna immortal lay;
Destin'd in God's prophetic page
To be the life of a future age.
Glory, glory, glory to thee,
Mother of Immortality!
FOURTH GROUP
Hail to the Cresset sevenfold!
Branching in lilies of virgin gold
From a stem of beauteous symmetry;
Whose oil is the Spirit of grace and might!
Whose overflowing ocean of light
Is He who, from eternity born,
Kindled the stars at creation's morn!
Glory, glory, glory to thee.
Mother of Immortality!
SONG OF THE HERMITS OF MOUNT CARMEL .
Hail to the Flower of pure delight,
Blooming on sacred Carmel's height!
CHORUS .
Flower of Carmel,
Flowering Vine,
Shed thy sweets
On us who are thine!
Virginal Mother,
Star of the sea;
Glory of Heaven,
We glorify thee!
SONG .
Hail to the Cloud that came in sight,
Rising afar on the fields of light,
As Elias knelt upon Carmel's height!
CHORUS .
Flower of Carmel,
Flowering Vine,
Shed thy sweets
On us who are thine!
Virginal Mother,
Star of the sea;
Glory of Heaven,
We glorify thee!
SONG .
Hail to the Car of effulgence bright,
On which to Heaven's etherial height,
In human flesh, and in human sight,
Ascends the Incarnate Infinite.
CHORUS .
Flower of Carmel,
Flowering Vine,
Shed thy sweets
On us who are thine!
Virginal Mother,
Star of the sea;
Glory of Heaven,
We glorify thee!
GABRIEL ( descending ).
O brighter than all brightness, living Altar
Of light's pure temple, Joy exuberant
Of all the patriarchs, Queen of Palestine,
And splendour of the New Jerusalem!
Know that in Paradise is held to-day,
In honour of thy birth, a royal feast;
Which, in the name of this most high Procession,
I supplicate thy sceptr'd majesty
With its imperial presence to adorn.
In hope whereof, this empyrean car
(Once only touch'd by mortal foot, what time
It bore Elias through the fields of space)
Attends thy bidding. See, its fiery steeds,
Already, of their happy task aware,
Curvet, impatient for their precious freight.
MARY .
My soul hath fainted for the living Courts
Of my eternal God. Most joyfully
I go with you; this only boon entreating,
That I may bring with me these sacred Parents
Here seated at my side.
GABRIEL .
Lady, not yet is it permitted them
To pass beyond this outer vestibule;
Hereafter, by the grace of thy dear Son,
To be receiv'd into immortal bliss,
When, turn'd in death to their original dust,
Again from dust they rise, created new
For new and more divine felicity
Than that by disobedience forfeited.
At present in the world their portion lies,
There to toil on in faith and hopeful love,
Through good and evil mingled; till at length,
Their lifelong penance o'er, they drink with thee
Of endless joys, and keep perpetual feast.
Enter Azael and Companions .
AZAEL ( kneeling to Ithuriel ).
Mighty Prince, our task is o'er,
And from Phantasy's domain,
Through her secret golden door,
Hither we return again;
And commend our pageantry
To this noble Company,
Ready to receive for it
Praise or blame as may befit.
ITHURIEL .
Rise, Azael, and accept our general thanks—
Thyself and fellow-actors—each and all;
Scarce could we deem the whole a spectacle,
So true was each performer to his part;
So true your evanescent scenery
To nature's subtlest tints and lineaments.
See, even yet there lingers on the cheek
Of this fair sleeping Maid a roseate smile,
As from the fanning of the golden wings
Of some ethereal vision, foretaste sweet
Of heavenly joys; such power your masque hath had
Whereof that perfect soul, which evermore
Receives of all things in proportion due,
Admitted whatsoever for her state
Was most expedient.
ANGEL OF ROME .
We, Azael, too,
Render our grateful thanks; in sign of which
Accept this ring of purest chrysolite,
Which anciently on Numa's finger shone,—
Numa, of early Rome pacific king.
And he, 'tis said, in his Egerian grot,
From the great Sibyl of Cumæan song
Receiv'd it as the heirloom of his race.
A royal province scarce could purchase it.
AZAEL .
Aught by thy hand bestow'd were high reward,
Most noble Potentate. Would that the work
Had equall'd but the will; then had there been
A spectacle more worthy the spectators.
ANGEL OF ROME ( to the Angels of Italy ).
Princes and sacred Peers, the blazing sun,
O'ertopping yonder pile of burnish'd gold,
And circling with a rainbow diadem
The snowy head of this fair cloistral fount,
Proclaims our near departure; come then, all,
And, kissing each in turn the heavenly feet
Of this dear glory of Jerusalem,
Let us entreat her blessing on ourselves,
And on the cities, shores, and territories,
Committed to our several custodies.
Age with age contended,
At Creation's dawn,
Which might see the day
When Mary should be born:
But the Lord had hidden
His decree sublime,
Destin'd to prevail
In its appointed time.
They who came the foremost
Empty sought the skies;
And the last of all
Has won the happy prize.
Hail, thou Age of ages,
Centre of the rest!
Hail, predestin'd Era
Infinitely blest!
Hail, thou bright Aurora,
Chasing nature's gloom,
Hope of all before,
And bliss of all to come!
Age of peace on earth!
Age of joy in heaven!
Age of grace restored!
Age of guilt forgiven!
Thee the coming cycles
Grateful shall proclaim,
Germ of all their life,
And fount of all their fame.
Earth from thee hereafter
Shall its date renew,
And to thee look back
All the ages through;
As a pillar shining,
From a mount sublime,
O'er the tracts of space!
And o'er the tide of time!
ITHURIEL ( to the Angel of Rome ).
Doubt not, imperial Chieftain, but our Lady
Will breathe her supplications to high Heav'n,
Omnipotential with the Omnipotent,
For every several object of your prayers.
And for thy comfort learn, that mighty Rome,
Now in the bonds of pagan darkness swath'd,
Hereafter shall, in reverence to Mary
And Mary's Child, exceed your utmost hope.
A prophecy there is of ancient date,
Unbrokenly preserved from age to age
By this high Temple's angel Guardians;—
That, in the days to come, this holy Salem,
In ruins laid, must to a holier City
Give place, whose name is “Strength,” prepar'd of old
Upon the bosom of th' eternal floods,
And lifted on a sevenfold mystic hill;
Which in its day predestin'd shall become
The hierarchic centre of the world,
(As to the Jews Jerusalem before)
Embracing in one faith, one polity,
Beneath one Head in heav'n, and one on earth
Pontifical, the whole of humankind;
With ordinances, priesthood, all things, new,
Promis'd through endless ages to endure.
This mystery to thy attentive mind
We here commit, in its most certain time
To be reveal'd before the universe
In sight of all. And now, if go ye must,
At least, in memory of your visit here,
Accept, celestial Princes, at our hands
These parting gifts; for thee, high Potentate,
This fair embroider'd piece, the priceless work
Of Mary's pearly fingers; which remember
To keep for happy Rome in after-days.
For thy companions here these flowers, new cull'd,
Children of Mary's care, and like herself
Of bloom and fragrance immarcessible,
So only they approach no mortal hand;
And if, as we entreat, ye shall appear
At our festivities another year,
There wait you other gifts more precious still,
So promises your own Ithuriel.
ITHURIEL .
Now, comrades, to your tasks; for, as I think,
The eyelids of our Mistress soon will part,
And to our wistful gaze reveal anew
Their hidden Paradise; the dawn to us
Of day, more truly than the golden light
That flashes from the kindling Orient.
We must be ready at our several posts
To wait upon her wishes and fulfil
Our daily ministries. Let music sound;
Let a celestial perfume breathe around;
Let all be sparkling, gladsome, and serene,
To greet the waking of creation's Queen.
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