Of the creative Eye on blackness broods>
Sad visions of majestic mien pass by,
With heavy countenance, and chill men's bloods;
And where they fall in terror there they lie,
Shut up in prison without iron bars,
Bound in one chain of gloom and jeopardy.
And now a universal shriek, the stars
Might hear, assails the darkness dumb; and forth
The priesthood rush in horror from their prayers,
And to the East and West and South and North
Cry out aloud in phrenzy-It is rent,
The Veil that veiled the Holiest! Hear, O Earth!
Answer, thou Heaven! This heard, like horror went
Through all the multitude. I felt my way
I'th' gloom, and found, soon as the element
Cleared, and the light redawned, my passage lay
Towards this defended hill. Now tell me, ye,
The meaning of these things, if that ye may,
And why these wonders in this Country be,
And at this time? And who is He ye call
The Son of God? and what his History?"
Whom the Centurion answered thus-" Sir, All
That thou wouldst know thou'lt better learn of her:
Who worships by yon centre cross. A thrall
To duty, not uncourteous, I transfer
A question I in truth am little skilled
To satisfy, who in conjecture err.”
The Mother-Maid had heard him, and she stilled
Her beating heart, pleased with his lofty port,
Her frame with venerative awe that thrilled.
Straight she arose and without further court,
With amiable readiness, thus she
Meekly addressed the stranger, in such sort
As moved him with its magnanimity.
"Behold him there-of whom ye speak-my Son, But of no earthly Sire. Look, Sir, where he, Between transgressors who transgression none E'er knew, whose mouth had never uttered guile, Whose thoughts were only fixed on God alone, Hath died the accursed death."
Illumed that stranger's visage, broad and bright;
It broadened and it brightened all the while
She spake. His visage did enlarge, his height
Dilate, and of his robe the bosom folding
Heaved with strange extacy, and a wild light
Played in his eye, and made him radiant. Holding
That transport in, he courteously desired,
(His attitude to humbler manner moulding,)
The History at large.
She answered, "a task difficult to me
Whom grief scarce suffers speech, whereof inspired And God-imparted eloquence may be
Capable only. But it doth behove,
That, at all times and in all places, we
Should testify of Him, and of the love,
Even to the death, he bare for us—for all-
For whom he left the adoring heavens above,
His Father's glory, to become a thrall,
And die a victim, an accursed death.
'Twere sweet, methinks, that I should now recall
His gracious acts-e'en here-the Cross beneath
Whereon his blessed body doth depend.
Stranger, believe my Witness. Let my breath
Be lavish in his praises. Thou attend:
And, wheresoever thou mayst travel hence,
Report my words, to save and to defend
The people of thy sojourn, and dispense
The bread of life I give among all lands."
She paused to gather heart; then did commence
Her tale in gentleness. Her quiet hands
Clasped on her bosom, and her aspect bent;
In meekness and in modesty she stands:
The while the Stranger listens all attent.
"A MAID of regal David's sacred line,
Whom God appointed to be Israel's King,
Psalmist and prophet, of whose seed divine
MESSIAH was to come-the holy Thing-
The blessed Branch of Jesse's hallowed Stem-
Who should Redemption to all nations bring-
I, little weening, O Jerusalem!
That of my womb the Saviour of mankind,
Of bard and seer the Promise and the Theme, Should be conceived and born, with humble mind, Espoused a righteous, just and aged man,
By pure affection piously inclined
His state though lowly, Joseph's lineage ran
Direct from David's royal house. Not yet
Our festal rite of marriage had began,
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