n the scribes of heaven. And
the painter looked upon the face of the Virgin, the strange lights, the
forms of Cherubim and Seraphim, and the twelve gates and the golden
streets of that city; 'which needeth not sun or moon to shine in it, for
the glory of God hath enlightened it; and the Lamb is the light
thereof.'
Who can imagine that region of supernal splendor, 'whose glories eye
hath not seen, ear hath not heard, neither hath it entered into the
heart of man to conceive'?
The strings of Angelo's heaven harp quivered as though stirred by the
breath of God.
Then did he first truly discern the _soul_ of that divine language whose
_form_ he had made known on earth.
Then arose 'as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice
of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying:
Alleluia! for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.'
Loud rang the heaven harps: 'Holy--Holy--Holy! To Him that sitteth on
the Throne, and to the Lamb, Benediction, and Honor, and Glory, and
Power, forever and ever!'
UNUTTERED.
Said a poet, sighing lowly,
As his life ebbed slowly, slowly,
And upon his pallid features shone the sun's last rosy light,
Shedding there a radiance tender,
Softened from the dazzling splendor
Of the burning clouds of sunset, gleaming in the west so bright,
Glancing redly, ere forever lost within the gloom of night:
'Gold and crimson clouds of even,
Kindling the blue vault of heaven,
Ye are types of airy fancies that within my spirit glow!
Thou, O Night, so darkly glooming,
And those brilliant tints entombing
In thy black and heavy shadows, thou art like this life of woe,
Prisoning all the glorious visions that still beat their wings to go!
'Oh, what brilliancy and glory
Had illumed my life's dull story,
Could those thoughts have found expression as within my soul they shone!
But though there like jewels gleaming,
And with golden splendor streaming,
Cold and dim their lustre faded, tarnished, like the sparkling stone
That, from out the blue waves taken, looks a pebble dull alone.
'For within my heart forever
Was a never-dying river,
Was a spring of deathless music welling from my deepest soul!
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