Author: Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Publisher: Theclassics.Us

Published: 2013-09

Total Pages: 40

ISBN-13: 9781230251226

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1838 edition. Excerpt: ... the seraphim. part the first. It is the time of the Crucifixion: and the Father of the Crucified has directed towards earth the angels of His heaven, of whom all have departed except the two Seraphim Ador and Zerah. The place is the outer side of the shut heavenly gate. There stand the Seraphim. Ador the Strong lias unfurled the thundercloud of his wing; but Zerah the Bright One lingers still, now looking backward to his heavenly habitation, and now upward to his brother's face. Ador. O Seraph, pause no more! Beside this gate of heaven we stand alone. Zerah. This gate of heaven! Ador. Our brother hosts are gone Zerah. Are gone! the golden harps, as ne'er before, Still burning from our clasped motion And tuned breath of rapt devotion, Lie without a touch or tone, Or canopy of angel wing, Upon the glass-sea shore! Ador. Instead of sounding, glittering." In the shadow from the throne--The shadow without form, that resteth on The broad and crystal sea--Awfuller than light derived, And red with primal heats whereby all life hath lived. Zerah. Our visible of God! our heaven! and we Go thus! Ador. Thus, now, beloved! unpausingly. Beneath us sinks the pomp angelical--The roar of whose descent hath died To a still sound, as thunder into rain! Th' immeasurable space seems magnified With that thick life; whereof we nought retain In vision, save the pale and eddying fall Of wings innumerous, brightly crossed By lines of hair that hath not lost The glitter of the God-smile shed Last, on bowed angel's head! And gleamed between by hands that fling Homages like upward rays, From constant habitude of praise And high instinct of worshipping. Zerah. Rapidly they drop below us. Pointed palm and wing and hair, Indistinguishable, show us Only pulses in the...