upon the earth.
The seventh angel lifted high his trump,
And sounded; when from heaven a voice was heard--
The kingdoms of this world they are become 230
The kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ:
For ever and for ever, he shall reign,
For ever and for ever.
Now the ark
Of God appeared; and round about the ark
There was a rainbow stealing through the rain,
The ark of the new covenant: and, lo!
A shining company stood with the Lamb
Upon Mount Zion, and a song was heard
Of harpers, harping a new song--the song 240
Of life and immortality. And John
Then heard a voice--a voice from heaven, which said,
Write, write, From henceforth blessed are the dead
Which in the Lord shall die, for they shall rest
From all their labours! Blessed are the dead!
The shadows are departed; horse and trump
Are seen and heard no more; the trumpet's clang
Dies far away: the Apostle turned and prayed,
With eyes upraised; and now, for pealing trumps, 249
Heard in the wind the lessening sound of harps,
Still lessening, and still lessening, till the cave
Was silent; and the stirring winds without
Alone were heard, like sweet, sad melodies,
Remembered in old times; whilst he who stood
Beside him watched; and after, as the day
Slowly declined, they two conversing sat,
Conversing of God's judgment--of the voice
Which said to man the sinner, Dust thou art,
And unto dust thou shalt return--of death,
And immortality through Christ restored; 260
So they deceived the time, till John, oppressed
With sights and sounds so terrible, lay down,
And sank to sleep, not to awake till dawn.

PART FOURTH.

Morning--Roman Commander--Vision--Babylon--New
Jerusalem--Evening--Night Scene--Stars--Temptation--Dream.

John woke from slumber, when the early trump
Rang from the Roman camp below, at break
Of the gray dawn; and when the sun arose,
After his orisons to Heaven, he sat
On the rude stone before his cave, and marked
His staff and form shadowed against the rock,
Watching the fitful gleams that, here and there,
Chequered the pale AEgean, far away;
While he, who never left his side, appeared
Now more majestic, as the beams of day 10
Shone on his waving tress