Matin Bells and Scarlet and Gold :: :: University of Virginia Library

I lost my hopeless idle hold at length from little care,
For pride had made me over-bold and slew me unaware;
While, as I fell, a funeral-bell
Bade me for death prepare.
Earth swam before my swooning eyes, Time seemed itself to pass
With all the pageants of the skies like pictures in a glass;
A burning scroll, my very soul
Shrank up as shrivelled grass.

Sin's gloomy garment wrapt me round, as deeper still I went
Beyond the plummet's utmost bound, in its gray cerement;
With friends most dear, in ghastly fear
Dragged low by my descent.
For when I dropt in coward dread, to save myself I threw
These arms in selfish haste outspread on lives that blameless grew;
And I the love, that bloomed above,
To one grim ruin drew.

But in the horror of my fall, unconscious, yet I prayed
With penitence that even through all my darkest deeds had stayed;
A broken cry of agony,
That would not be delayed.
A call for mercy and of grief shot heavenward as a dart,
Which in mere utterance was relief and more than human art;
A simple sigh, that mounted high,
Torn from my bleeding heart.

And in a moment then I found I was not sinking fast,
But risen and to a purer ground beyond the stormy blast;

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And the blue sky laughed pleasantly,
Which had been overcast.
For when I dashed the golden cup of poison from my grip,
I was forgiven and falling up that I might never slip;
While, swift to greet me, Mercy sweet
Laid kisses on my lip.