The Judgement of the Flood :: :: University of Virginia Library

Thus Noah's work was done. Wearied with toil,
At the down-going of the seventh eve,
Deep sleep fell upon Noah, as he lay
Within a tent, preserving duteous watch
About the appointed Ark. Even as grew
The Prophet's frame insentient, all the more
His inner sight was opened, and his soul
Had vision of high heaven. 'Twas noon of night;
The Sun was absent, but the Moon shone out
And ay the world of Stars. From orb to orb,
Was singing heard in answering echo-hymns.
One to another, in his hearing, called
The Watchers, to make ready; for the Thrones
Were planted, and their witness in the court
Was summoned, to be rendered when the Judge,
Antient of Days, should sit. Straightway the floor
Divided in the midst, and Noah's eye
Pierced upward; or his liberated soul
Soared thither. Up he soared, and soared until
He saw celestial palace opened wide,
Both walled, and paved with crystal stones, on ground

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Of crystal, and the roof flashed sparkling down;
And, in a sky of water, floated there
Seraphic ardours, and about the walls
Burned flame, and blazed its portal all with fire:
Alternate heat of fire, and cold of ice
Amazed with fear who entered. On, and on,
Trembling with terrour, the winged Patriarch sped,
And to more spacious habitation still
Arrived; with tongues of fire surrounded; each
Vocal, like storms so loud, with words of zeal,
In praise, and prayer: a glorious place, and vast,
Majestic, and magnificent, and bright,
Excelling all report of magnitude
And splendour: fiery floor, and wall, and roof;
Lightning, and star-light interpenetrant,
With ceiling, and with pavement all ablaze.
—He dazzled looked, and saw a great white Throne,
And Him who sat thereon; Antient of Days,
In garment white as snow, and of his head
The hair was purest white. So was his Throne,
The fiery flame white in its purity;
A living throne by Cherubim up-borne,
Wheeling self-moved in orbs of burning fire:
And from before him issued fiery streams,
And from beneath the effulgent Throne of Life,
Rivers of flame impetuous gushed, and foamed,
And from too near approach warned off, and kept,
With voice of hymn, and anthem, song, and psalm,
The thousand thousands ministering to him.
Yea, myriads of myriads stood there,
In the full presence of his Majesty,
With veils upon their faces, for the light
More mighty than the sun, more white than snow.

And Noah saw two Books—two sealèd Books,
And they were opened; and another Book—

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The Book of Life. The Dead, both small and great,
In terrour watched their opening; for the Sea
Gave up her dead; and Death, and Hades both
Delivered up their dead—and all were there.

So sate the Judge, for grand assize prepared:
And, at his side, was One to minister,
Whom, but for the great glory of his face,
That dazzled even prophetic dreamer's eye,
Noah had deemed Elihu's very self;
But now in doubt, for even the Lord of Doom,
Antient of Days, himself like semblance cast
From the bright radiance; but it came in rays,
And those so keen, no sight could scrutiny
Aspect of person whence such emanate,
And bring report of likeness sure. Nought sure
Was there and then, but that great Doom approached,
Nay, was then sitting; and the midst One was
The Angel of the Judgement. On his left,
Stood the strong form of Death, a seraph armed,
With brow severe—the form of Death, and Time;
Not like the Spectre on the Pale Horse, seen
By Japhet in his vision, but more like
The Archangel who foretold the coming Doom
To Noah, from the rainbow, standing on
The earth, and on the sea. He gazed again,
And even from him Elihu's countenance,
Only less gracious, sterner, and in frowns,
Looked out. In front of the mysterious Three,
(Like those who once partook of Noah's board,
Travellers, and guests, yet glorious now as gods,)
The Accusers—Satan, and Azaziel—stood.