Elias Part 13

Bending, not breaking, 'neath thy load of care, Sowing to joy, thou shalt not reap despair!

Planting the hope of human purity, That righteousness may crown futurity,-- 2950 Patience! endure! for pain shall bring thee power[32].

Time but a dream--eternity thy dower.

Where perfect love casts forth the jealous fear, A diamond in thy diadem each tear; And every sigh that rent thy suffering breast, A wave of rapture on the sh.o.r.es of rest.

My lot as thine, purest of pure-in-heart!

Be mine the bitter as the better part.

But sorrows else have shadowed all things there; The voice of mourning drowns the voice of prayer. 2960 Dampened e'en now with death's prophetic dew, Thy cold, pale brow, O fated, fair Nauvoo!

Remains for thee no peace, for thine no rest, Till on the parching plain, the frozen crest; A desert land of unlocked mystery, Frowning on hope, and dumb to history.

Yet ere the burning wilderness be won, s.h.i.+nes down on other deeds the shuddering sun.

City of Joseph[33]! Look! from 'leaguered walls, Where Calvary's crimson light on Carthage falls! 2970

Ere murderous fate the martyr's bolt hath sped, While deepening darkness glooms a sky of lead, And thundrous threatenings tone their notes of dread, Looms to the fore an archangelic form, A sunlit summit s.h.i.+ning o'er the storm; A towering rock above the rus.h.i.+ng tide Of eager souls that surge on every side, Where living waters from the fountain play, And glowing words light up the darkened way.

Undaunted 'neath the shadow of his doom, 2980 Calm as a statue, solemn as a tomb, Heedless of self, while hoa.r.s.ely rumbles near Hate's fiery flood, that alien to all fear, That more than man, nor less than G.o.dlike soul, Erect upon life's summit, at death's goal, Unlocks time's portal, swings the future's gate, And opes to Ephraim's gaze his glorious fate.

O diver in the days and years to be!

Searching the caves of that prophetic sea, What bringest from the deeps of destiny? 2990

CANTO TEN

The Parted Veil[1]

Choice Seer, with spirit eye did he behold The sanguine scene that told his tragic fate?

Surged by the flood of grief and shame that rolled Above the murdered honor of a State[2], Where innocence again fell prey to hate?

There be who say he visioned all to come-- Forsaken cities, weeping, desolate, The desecrated fane, the blazing dome[3], The weary wanderings far in quest of peace and home.

Saw, then, a tender hopeful tragedy 3000 (Pathetic omen of his tribe's increase) Uncurtained 'neath the star-hung canopy: Babes, new-born babes[4], there slumbering in a fleece Of moon-lit frost, as buds that bide release, When winter casts its mantle white and cold, Protecting life where life hath seemed to cease; Frail lambs, fresh penned within the Saviour's fold, And, like Him, manger-nurst, homeless on earth's threshold.

Homeless a nursing nation, born e'en so-- Born in a day. O Day! and eyes of Night! 3010 Watch now the "little one" "a thousand"[5] grow, As grows the torrent from the trickling height, The blaze of noonday from the dawning light;-- The birth-throes of an empire, whose blest reign, Bounding from lowliness, soars past the sight Of all save prophecy, while cities twain[6]

Sceptre the universe, with foot on land and main!

Whose but a prophet's eye such end could see?

Whose but a prophet's tongue the issue tell?-- A modern march of ancient destiny, 3020 Another Exodus and Israel, Bidding his bonds, his all, save hope, farewell; Widening, 'mid alien wastes, true freedom's fame, Where bondage, chained to darkness, fain would dwell[7]; And rearing temples to Jehovah's name, Where looms the Aztec's altar[8], quenched of its ancient flame.

There bringing forth the promise of thy land, O rare and wondrous West!--the prophecy Of glittering cities strewn along thy strand, O golden empire[9] of the sunset sea! 3030 G.o.d-gifted Seer, while gazing endlessly, Sawest thou an Eden on the desert brine[10], Begirt with desolation's mystery, Ere gusht the riven rock with milk and wine, Where all was treeless waste and sun-baked alkaline?

Sawest thou, O prophet! till the pioneer Builded his eagle nest, and pure and brave Homed on the white-helmed peak and crystal mere?

O matchless land--the home their valor gave, Mighty in will to bless, in work to save, 3040 Redeemed, redeeming, all must own thy worth!

Slander may wound thee, tyranny enslave, Still thou art mine, loved land of all the earth, Land of the honey-bee[11], land of my mortal birth!

Land prest by footprint of my pilgrim sire[12]; Land visioned by my more than sire, whose soul Swept the far future with a glance of fire, Bade hope, as memory, her page unroll; Beheld uplifting, as a parted scroll, The curtain from a kingdom yet to be, 3050 Binding in one world-realms from pole to pole; Saw monarchs bow, saw nations bend the knee, Saw dead and risen time take on eternity.

"Hear me, my people[13]! I shall not be slain While unfulfilled my mission? Then, like Him Who holds my hand, linked in an endless chain, Which cannot die, whose light can ne'er grow dim, Must I return to Home and Elohim.

Though here I fain would linger--human choice!

If weal to friend or foe--ay, e'en to them, 3060 Might purchased be, with my poor life the price, Welcome, thrice welcome death. I will the sacrifice.

"Nor marvel at my mood. Could you but gaze Upon the wonders of the worlds of G.o.d, Where burn, amid the universal blaze, The Father's fullness and the Son's abode, Won by their feet who walk the rightful road, Nor weary in well-doing; 'twere alone Reward for all that here hath been your load.

Forgive--leave all to heaven, whose highest Throne 3070 Made endless love to endless life the stepping stone.

"Hearken, O House of Joseph! Here must end My mortal toil. Now, as from Nebo's height[14], I see, like him of old, my day descend.

But looms afar upon my sinking sight Another Canaan. Clothe for pilgrim flight.

A Joshua cometh! Him let Israel heed, And loyal be unto that council's right On whom the Kingdom rolls; for they must lead To where privation's hand shall sow dominion's seed. 3080

"A glacier's might, your gathered strength shall stand, Stalwart upon the mountains[15], and shall send Swift messengers to sound o'er sea and land Last warning to the nations. Hither wend Awakening hosts, who eager hearing lend While yet the voice of grace, the voice of G.o.d, Summons the house of Abraham his friend; Calls them the wave to cleave, the wild to plod, On, on to that safe rest, ere falls the reckoning rod.

"For war shall wound[16] this nation--rend it wide, 3090 And trample nations all. Anon shall slaves 'Gainst masters rise, and anarchy o'erride Till tyranny be trodden as the paves, Till patriot might puts forth its hand and saves The crimsoned land from chaos. Hearken, all!

When ruin's host the blood-red banner waves, Who heeded first the Gospel's warning call Shall be the last of realms to crumble and to fall.

"Britannia! Thou among the during ones, A nursing mother unto Israel's might; 4000 Foremost to send thy daughters and thy sons From sh.o.r.es afar, from darkness unto light.

As thou hast favored truth and 'friended right, Their tongues shall plead for thee in time to come, And nerve thine arm when perilous thy plight.

Borne on thy shoulder o'er the billowing foam, Joseph and Judah find their heritage, their home.

"I saw, while justice showed the vision dire, Till mercy's hand let fall the lifted veil, The goal of the unG.o.dly--blood and fire, 4010 Earthquake and whirlwind, pestilential hail Smiting earth's face with desolating flail.

And this, the mere beginning of their woe, Whose final fate a doom the d.a.m.ned bewail; While they that follow Christ, anon shall go To guide and save lost souls, groping in shades below.

"Good fears not evil--grapples with it strong, h.e.l.l turns to heaven, the unclean purifies; For evil is but good, the right bent wrong.

No weakling unto loftiest worlds can rise; 4020 No coward e'er hath scaled celestial skies; 'Tis strength that wins the goal of blessedness, 'Tis knowledge saves, 'tis wisdom glorifies; Intelligence alone can lift and bless The fallen, innocent till snared in sin's duress.

"What matter, if my mortal race be run, Where earth enfolds me to her mother breast?

While ye, my people--yonder setting sun Points out your path. For you, no peace, no rest, Till firm your weary feet upon the West, 4030 Where, moveless as yon snowy spine of hills, Befriended by the tempest, unopprest, And bounteous as the sun that sends the rills To bless the vales, G.o.d's first-born fold[17] His purpose fills.

"Affliction here, but friends.h.i.+p there and peace; (More cruel Christian white than savage red), And in a day when warning tongues shall cease, And plain be seen what prophets all have said; When peace shall have no pillow for her head, Save lofty heights where loyal hosts abound; 4040 Brave sons of battling sires[18], who toiled and bled That this might evermore be freedom's ground, Shall give to you their strength G.o.d's Kingdom here to found.

"Bide mountain-walled, my people! stalwart, strong, Till poureth down from hallowed founts on high, The might that doth to righteousness belong, The might of faith, the power of purity-- Despair and terror to iniquity.

Then, Ephra-Judah, who the hand shall bind That clears thy path before thee? Foes shall fly 4050 As driven dust, as ashes in the wind; The crouching Lion springs, and He the prey shall find.

"And by that power[19] shall Zion be redeemed, Yea, with a mighty hand, an out-stretched arm, With marvels, miracles, ne'er done nor dreamed Since wonder oped her eyes. The world's alarm Shall surge, an angry sea; but fear nor harm Can hover near the conquering host of G.o.d.

'Gainst Lucifer's shall Michael's legions form, Besoming the chosen soil with chastening rod, 4060 Till sainted towers arise on Eden's ancient sod.

"The place appointed. Naught else is designed; Naught else can heaven accept. Put forth the hand, Plant stakes of Zion, tight her cords to bind, Where'er ye move, O fated pilgrim band!

But bring forth Zion's self on Zion's land[20]; The consecrated soil, whereon ye stood With me, of late, loyal while treason fanned The flame still thirsting for a martyr's blood.

There build, in time to be, a city unto G.o.d. 4070

"Nor there alone; for all is Zion's land, North unto South, East unto Western wave, Far as the hemisphere's wide wings expand, She sits, a sovereign queen, ice-crowned, to lave Her glowing hands in tropic tides, while brave Her snowy feet in faith the southern sea.

Arm patient, slow to smite, yet swift to save, A friend to right, a foe to tyranny.

And there be living now who then shall live and see.

"While here the glory of the Common Good[21], 4080 Shadowed and symboled by a patriot band, Whose triumph wrought for human brotherhood, Extending that high cause from strand to strand, Shall bring deliverance unto every land.

But anarchy would foil the lofty aim, The peace, the union, by Jehovah planned; Wherefore 'tis doomed to failure and to shame, With all unrighteous rule, whate'er its place or name.

"The sceptered harlot,[22] throned on human seas, Chief link of Satan's world-encircling chain; 4090 The secret craft and crime--iniquities Whereby the Wicked One extends his reign; All these must perish from the Lord's domain, Nor aught of guile be found His Kingdom through.

Truth's sun hath risen--all lesser lights must wane; And wrong and false that masks as right and true, Shall feel the scourge of flame that Sodom's sin o'erthrew.