The Poetical Works of Elizabeth Barrett Browning Volume I Part 10

_First Semichorus._ So, in the universe's Consummated undoing, Our seraphs of white mercies Shall hover round the ruin.

Their wings shall stream upon the flame As if incorporate of the same In elemental fusion; And calm their faces shall burn out With a pale and mastering thought, And a steadfast looking of desire From out between the clefts of fire,-- While they cry, in the Holy's name, To the final Rest.i.tution.

Listen to our loving!

_Second Semichorus._ So, when the day of G.o.d is To the thick graves accompted, Awaking the dead bodies, The angel of the trumpet Shall split and shatter the earth To the roots of the grave-- Which never before were slackened-- And quicken the charnel birth With his blast so clear and brave That the Dead shall start and stand erect, And every face of the burial-place Shall the awful, single look reflect Wherewith he them awakened.

Listen to our loving!

_First Semichorus._ But wild is the horse of Death!

He will leap up wild at the clamour Above and beneath.

And where is his Tamer On that last day, When he crieth Ha, ha!

To the trumpet's blare, And paweth the earth's Aceldama?

When he tosseth his head, The drear-white steed, And ghastlily champeth the last moon-ray-- What angel there Can lead him away, That the living may rule for the Dead?

_Second Semichorus._ Yet a TAMER shall be found!

One more bright than seraph crowned, And more strong than cherub bold, Elder, too, than angel old, By his grey eternities.

He shall master and surprise The steed of Death.

For He is strong, and He is fain.

He shall quell him with a breath, And shall lead him where He will, With a whisper in the ear, Full of fear, And a hand upon the mane, Grand and still.

_First Semichorus._ Through the flats of Hades where the souls a.s.semble He will guide the Death-steed calm between their ranks, While, like beaten dogs, they a little moan and tremble To see the darkness curdle from the horse's glittering flanks.

Through the flats of Hades where the dreary shade is, Up the steep of heaven will the Tamer guide the steed,-- Up the spheric circles, circle above circle, We who count the ages shall count the tolling tread-- Every hoof-fall striking a blinder blanker sparkle From the stony orbs, which shall show as they were dead.

_Second Semichorus._ All the way the Death-steed with tolling hoofs shall travel, Ashen-grey the planets shall be motionless as stones, Loosely shall the systems eject their parts coaeval, Stagnant in the s.p.a.ces shall float the pallid moons: Suns that touch their apogees, reeling from their level, Shall run back on their axles, in wild low broken tunes.

_Chorus._ Up against the arches of the crystal ceiling, From the horse's nostrils shall steam the blurting breath: Up between the angels pale with silent feeling Will the Tamer calmly lead the horse of Death.

_Semichorus._ Cleaving all that silence, cleaving all that glory, Will the Tamer lead him straightway to the Throne: "Look out, O Jehovah, to this I bring before Thee, With a hand nail-pierced, I who am thy Son."

Then the Eye Divinest, from the Deepest, flaming, On the mystic courser shall look out in fire: Blind the beast shall stagger where It overcame him, Meek as lamb at pasture, bloodless in desire.

Down the beast shall s.h.i.+ver,--slain amid the taming,-- And, by Life essential, the phantasm Death expire.

_Chorus._ Listen, man, through life and death, Through the dust and through the breath, Listen down the heart of things!

Ye shall hear our mystic wings Murmurous with loving.

_A Voice from below._ Gabriel, thou Gabriel!

_A Voice from above._ What wouldst _thou_ with me?

_First Voice._ I heard thy voice sound in the angels' song, And I would give thee question.

_Second Voice._ Question me!

_First Voice._ Why have I called thrice to my Morning Star And had no answer? All the stars are out, And answer in their places. Only in vain I cast my voice against the outer rays Of _my_ Star shut in light behind the sun.

No more reply than from a breaking string, Breaking when touched. Or is she _not_ my star?

Where _is_ my Star--my Star? Have ye cast down Her glory like my glory? Has she waxed Mortal, like Adam? Has she learnt to hate Like any angel?

_Second Voice._ She is sad for thee.

All things grow sadder to thee, one by one.

_Angel Chorus._ Live, work on, O Earthy!

By the Actual's tension, Speed the arrow worthy Of a pure ascension!

From the low earth round you, Reach the heights above you: From the stripes that wound you, Seek the loves that love you!

G.o.d's divinest burneth plain Through the crystal diaphane Of our loves that love you.

_First Voice._ Gabriel, O Gabriel!

_Second Voice._ What wouldst _thou_ with me?

_First Voice._ Is it true, O thou Gabriel, that the crown Of sorrow which I claimed, another claims?

That HE claims THAT too?

_Second Voice._ Lost one, it is true.

_First Voice._ That HE will be an exile from his heaven, To lead those exiles homeward?

_Second Voice._ It is true.

_First Voice._ That HE will be an exile by his will, As I by mine election?

_Second Voice._ It is true.

_First Voice._ That _I_ shall stand sole exile finally,-- Made desolate for fruition?

_Second Voice._ It is true.

_First Voice._ Gabriel!

_Second Voice._ I hearken.

_First Voice._ Is it true besides-- Aright true--that mine orient Star will give Her name of "Bright and Morning-Star" to HIM,-- And take the fairness of his virtue back To cover loss and sadness?

_Second Voice._ It is true.

_First Voice._ UNtrue, UNtrue! O Morning Star, O MINE, Who sittest secret in a veil of light Far up the starry s.p.a.ces, say--_Untrue!_ Speak but so loud as doth a wasted moon To Tyrrhene waters. I am Lucifer.

[_A pause. Silence in the stars._

All things grow sadder to me, one by one.

_Angel Chorus._ Exiled human creatures, Let your hope grow larger!

Larger grows the vision Of the new delight.

From this chain of Nature's G.o.d is the Discharger, And the Actual's prison Opens to your sight.

_Semichorus._ Calm the stars and golden In a light exceeding: What their rays have measured Let your feet fulfil!

These are stars beholden By your eyes in Eden, Yet, across the desert, See them s.h.i.+ning still!

_Chorus._ Future joy and far light Working such relations, Hear us singing gently _Exiled is not lost!_ G.o.d, above the starlight, G.o.d, above the patience, Shall at last present ye Guerdons worth the cost.

Patiently enduring, Painfully surrounded, Listen how we love you, Hope the uttermost!

Waiting for that curing Which exalts the wounded, Hear us sing above you-- EXILED, BUT NOT LOST!

[_The stars s.h.i.+ne on brightly while ADAM and EVE pursue their way into the far wilderness. There is a sound through the silence, as of the falling tears of an angel._