 | The Poetical Works of Robert Montgomery |  |
560
A VISION OF HEAVEN.
A FRAGMENT.
—1829.
“The heavens were opened, and I saw visions.”
Ezekiel i. 1.
“Juvat, quandoque in animo, tanquam in tabula,
majoris et melioris mundi imaginem contemplari:
ne mens assuefacta hodiernæ vitæ minutiis se
contrahat nimis, et tota subsidat in pusillas cogitationes.”
—T. Burnet.
One summer-evening, from the molten sky
When radiance came to beautify the world,
By Fancy led, along a noiseless vale
I roam'd, and trod the earth with deep delight,
Felt in the soul, and in the eye reveal'd.
'Twas one of those immortal hours, when man
Unheedful of the jarring world, feels thoughts
Within him too sublime for words; a sense
Of that divinity o'er all which breathes,
Making creation one vast temple seem,
Where shadows of His glory are enshrined.
When radiance came to beautify the world,
By Fancy led, along a noiseless vale
I roam'd, and trod the earth with deep delight,
Felt in the soul, and in the eye reveal'd.
'Twas one of those immortal hours, when man
Unheedful of the jarring world, feels thoughts
Within him too sublime for words; a sense
Of that divinity o'er all which breathes,
Making creation one vast temple seem,
Where shadows of His glory are enshrined.
Thus felt I at this balmy hour: Above
Magnificently hung the dome of heaven;
Along the concave floated fairy isles;
And where the sun stood burning on the brim
Of ocean, the horizon wound its curve
Festoon'd with clouds of beauty, fresh and white
As sea-foam in the sun.
Magnificently hung the dome of heaven;
Along the concave floated fairy isles;
And where the sun stood burning on the brim
Of ocean, the horizon wound its curve
Festoon'd with clouds of beauty, fresh and white
As sea-foam in the sun.
Beneath the span
Of heaven, the Earth lay languishing in light;
Her streamlets with a bee-like murmur ran,
And while the trees, like living creatures waved
Their plumage on the wind, the bird and breeze
Together hymn'd, and harmonised the air.
Of heaven, the Earth lay languishing in light;
Her streamlets with a bee-like murmur ran,
And while the trees, like living creatures waved
Their plumage on the wind, the bird and breeze
Together hymn'd, and harmonised the air.
Pensive, awhile along the placid vale
I roam'd, then sat delighted on a mound
Green-tress'd, and glittering in the dizzy rays
Of eve, and heavenward turn'd my musing eye.
Who ever gazed on heaven, nor dream'd of God,
Of human destiny, and things divine?
Oh that mine eye could pierce yon azure cope!—
Thus stirr'd the daring thought; and while it warm'd
Within, a trance like heavenly music stole
Round my hush'd spirit, weaning earthly sense,
Till in a vision up the airy deep
It darted, as a sky-bird to the clouds!
I roam'd, then sat delighted on a mound
Green-tress'd, and glittering in the dizzy rays
Of eve, and heavenward turn'd my musing eye.
Who ever gazed on heaven, nor dream'd of God,
Of human destiny, and things divine?
Oh that mine eye could pierce yon azure cope!—
Thus stirr'd the daring thought; and while it warm'd
Within, a trance like heavenly music stole
Round my hush'd spirit, weaning earthly sense,
Till in a vision up the airy deep
It darted, as a sky-bird to the clouds!
Thus disembodied, through the air it rose
Till earth beneath me in a glassy depth
Lay twinkling, like a star; but all around
Those burning mysteries which mortals view
With wonder, floating o'er the face of night,
Not gems of fire, but full and perfect orbs
In congregations vast, as glorious,—beam'd.
Aloft! aloft! still soared my spirit on
Through hosts of worlds, self-balanced and secure,
Till the bright atmosphere appear'd to bloom
With rich suffusion, like a topaz-glow;
And here, enchanted by a spell divine
My Spirit paused, became all eye and ear,
And Heaven, the palace of the mighty God,
Expanded into view:—Unbodied soul!
With o'erawed feeling enter where He dwells.
Till earth beneath me in a glassy depth
Lay twinkling, like a star; but all around
Those burning mysteries which mortals view
With wonder, floating o'er the face of night,
Not gems of fire, but full and perfect orbs
In congregations vast, as glorious,—beam'd.
Aloft! aloft! still soared my spirit on
Through hosts of worlds, self-balanced and secure,
Till the bright atmosphere appear'd to bloom
With rich suffusion, like a topaz-glow;
And here, enchanted by a spell divine
My Spirit paused, became all eye and ear,
And Heaven, the palace of the mighty God,
Expanded into view:—Unbodied soul!
With o'erawed feeling enter where He dwells.
An arch'd immensity of crystal sheen
Rich with the glory of all glories rare
Before me lay: beneath this dazzling vault
Splendour beyond the dreamings of the heart
To vision, round interminably blazed:
I felt, but cannot paint the magic there!
Rich with the glory of all glories rare
Before me lay: beneath this dazzling vault
Splendour beyond the dreamings of the heart
To vision, round interminably blazed:
I felt, but cannot paint the magic there!
While, with permitted glance, the scene I mark'd,
A thrilling tide of rich-toned music roll'd,
Waking delicious echoes as it wound
From Melody's divinest fount. All Heaven
In glorious fascination heard, and drank
The tones elysian:—Silence breathed again;
And where I gazed, a Throne of awful Fire
Flamed ceaselessly: before it Thunders roll'd
And veiling Darkness round about it hung.
And here alone, in uncreated Bliss
And Glory, reigns The One Eternal Power,
Creator, Lord, and Life of All. Again
Stillness ethereal reign'd; and forth appear'd
Ecstatic Creatures, clad in robes of light,
Together flocking from celestial haunts
And mansions of purpureal mould; the Host
Of heaven assembled, to adore with harp
And hymn the First and Last, The Living God:
They knelt,—an immaterial Choir, and glow'd
More beauteous, while they breathed the chant divine;
And Hallelujah! Hallelujah! peal'd,
And thrill'd the concave with harmonious joy.
A thrilling tide of rich-toned music roll'd,
Waking delicious echoes as it wound
From Melody's divinest fount. All Heaven
In glorious fascination heard, and drank
The tones elysian:—Silence breathed again;
And where I gazed, a Throne of awful Fire
Flamed ceaselessly: before it Thunders roll'd
And veiling Darkness round about it hung.
And here alone, in uncreated Bliss
And Glory, reigns The One Eternal Power,
561
Stillness ethereal reign'd; and forth appear'd
Ecstatic Creatures, clad in robes of light,
Together flocking from celestial haunts
And mansions of purpureal mould; the Host
Of heaven assembled, to adore with harp
And hymn the First and Last, The Living God:
They knelt,—an immaterial Choir, and glow'd
More beauteous, while they breathed the chant divine;
And Hallelujah! Hallelujah! peal'd,
And thrill'd the concave with harmonious joy.
The melody was hush'd; and I beheld
Cherubic Forms of unimagined grace
And beauty walk o'er amaranthine meads,
And soar on shining pinions: as they rose,
A radiance quiver'd forth, and from each plume
Soft as the breeze and silky as a cloud,
A gleam play'd liquidly around their path.
Cherubic Forms of unimagined grace
And beauty walk o'er amaranthine meads,
And soar on shining pinions: as they rose,
A radiance quiver'd forth, and from each plume
Soft as the breeze and silky as a cloud,
A gleam play'd liquidly around their path.
Of archangelic mien, upon the wing
Two Shapes I watch'd, careering to the bound
Of vision; lighting there, they welcomed in
Three happy Spirits, by The Lamb redeem'd:
And Heaven they enter'd with triumphal shout;
Transfigured, into glory grew, and were
Beatified for ever!
Two Shapes I watch'd, careering to the bound
Of vision; lighting there, they welcomed in
Three happy Spirits, by The Lamb redeem'd:
And Heaven they enter'd with triumphal shout;
Transfigured, into glory grew, and were
Beatified for ever!
In a bower
Remote, whose em'rald leaves with liquid drops
Of light were gemm'd, two Angels next I mark'd,
In sympathetic converse sat. Amid
Life's wilderness below, they had o'erwatch'd
The errant beings just arrived: through dark
And light, through sin and toil, their guardian power
Presided, until Mercy came to crown
Their doom, and they were saved and seal'd for Heaven.
Seraphic sweetness from their lips exhaled
As, rapt with angel love, th' immortal pair
Their tale of heavenly triumph told. Oh, joy!
Dream'd I, around us viewless Spirits dwell;
Our minds to tune, or consecrate our thoughts,
And guard, relieve, and hallow souls for God.
Remote, whose em'rald leaves with liquid drops
Of light were gemm'd, two Angels next I mark'd,
In sympathetic converse sat. Amid
Life's wilderness below, they had o'erwatch'd
The errant beings just arrived: through dark
And light, through sin and toil, their guardian power
Presided, until Mercy came to crown
Their doom, and they were saved and seal'd for Heaven.
Seraphic sweetness from their lips exhaled
As, rapt with angel love, th' immortal pair
Their tale of heavenly triumph told. Oh, joy!
Dream'd I, around us viewless Spirits dwell;
Our minds to tune, or consecrate our thoughts,
And guard, relieve, and hallow souls for God.
From these I turn'd, and saw a sumless host
Of Cherubim, and bright pavilions rank'd
In endless files; and then, Remembrance warm'd
Within me; heavenly Intuition woke,
And myriads who on earth erewhile had run
The grand career of Life, were all reveal'd.
Of Cherubim, and bright pavilions rank'd
In endless files; and then, Remembrance warm'd
Within me; heavenly Intuition woke,
And myriads who on earth erewhile had run
The grand career of Life, were all reveal'd.
I saw the Sages, whose immortal words
Are truthful Oracles to man and mind;
I saw the pure, the patriotic bands:
Of Heroes, whose avenging swords had cut
The fetters from their Land and bade the brave
Be free! the renovated forms I saw
Of Martyrs, robed with glory, on their heads
Inwreathèd crowns of life; and they of old
Whose names more eloquent than thunder sound
On young Ambition's ear,—the good and great
Of every cast and clime, were now reveal'd;
The Past was in the Present born again.
Are truthful Oracles to man and mind;
I saw the pure, the patriotic bands:
Of Heroes, whose avenging swords had cut
The fetters from their Land and bade the brave
Be free! the renovated forms I saw
Of Martyrs, robed with glory, on their heads
Inwreathèd crowns of life; and they of old
Whose names more eloquent than thunder sound
On young Ambition's ear,—the good and great
Of every cast and clime, were now reveal'd;
The Past was in the Present born again.
For sainted Bards of earth I look'd; a breath
Of hymnèd music through the mellow air
Came wafted, from beside a crystal fount
That glitter'd like a living gush of light,—
There sat our own Mæonides! Around
A throng of listening Angels stood, and glow'd
Till rapture trembled o'er their sunny wings,
While from his lyre the epic minstrel struck
Pure inspiration,—sounds replete with soul!
Of hymnèd music through the mellow air
Came wafted, from beside a crystal fount
That glitter'd like a living gush of light,—
There sat our own Mæonides! Around
A throng of listening Angels stood, and glow'd
Till rapture trembled o'er their sunny wings,
While from his lyre the epic minstrel struck
Pure inspiration,—sounds replete with soul!
Among the myriads of celestial Shapes
Which mused and wander'd by the springs of Life,
I mark'd the humble, the dejected sons
Of Want and Wo, apparell'd bright as morn.
On earth deem'd vile, their trampled hearts had bled
With sorrows, never told; their joyless eyes
With tears had melted dim; at wintry night
They roam'd, and shiver'd in the bleak-wing'd wind,
And often writhed beneath the glance of scorn,
Yet fainted not: and now, unfading joys
Beatitude and thrones in Heaven, were theirs!
Which mused and wander'd by the springs of Life,
I mark'd the humble, the dejected sons
Of Want and Wo, apparell'd bright as morn.
On earth deem'd vile, their trampled hearts had bled
With sorrows, never told; their joyless eyes
With tears had melted dim; at wintry night
They roam'd, and shiver'd in the bleak-wing'd wind,
And often writhed beneath the glance of scorn,
Yet fainted not: and now, unfading joys
Beatitude and thrones in Heaven, were theirs!
Fairest of all fair Visions seen above,
Remember'd Thrones and unforgotten Friends
Were recognised again! Along a mead
Of bright immensity I saw them stray;
Not anguish-worn, nor rack'd with inward fears,
But shining in the beauty of the blest.—
Oh! ye in life so loved, in death so mourn'd,
How oft Affection through the desert-world
Delights to track ye, where your feet have trod,
Through fav'rite walks or fancy-haunted bowers!
Blend your calm voices with the twilight breeze
In fairy music, fraught with infant years?
Are echoes woven from your hymns above?
In solemn days and melancholy hours
Of you we think! Love shrines ye in the stars,
And recreates ye in celestial robes.
But while at eve's poetic hour we watch
The golden isles that glitter from the west,
In lovelier climes ye live, and chaster skies;
By choral streams and aromatic walks
Ye roam, rememb'ring heaven-like bowers on earth,
And friends, whose mansions ye survey above.
Remember'd Thrones and unforgotten Friends
Were recognised again! Along a mead
Of bright immensity I saw them stray;
Not anguish-worn, nor rack'd with inward fears,
But shining in the beauty of the blest.—
Oh! ye in life so loved, in death so mourn'd,
How oft Affection through the desert-world
Delights to track ye, where your feet have trod,
Through fav'rite walks or fancy-haunted bowers!
Blend your calm voices with the twilight breeze
In fairy music, fraught with infant years?
Are echoes woven from your hymns above?
In solemn days and melancholy hours
Of you we think! Love shrines ye in the stars,
And recreates ye in celestial robes.
But while at eve's poetic hour we watch
The golden isles that glitter from the west,
562
By choral streams and aromatic walks
Ye roam, rememb'ring heaven-like bowers on earth,
And friends, whose mansions ye survey above.
And such was Fancy's vision-moulded heaven
Around me miniatured. Here God, enthroned
In measureless perfection, truth, and power,
His unimaginable Glory wields:
And thus Eternal Love, from Him the fount
Of Love, enlightens, lives, and flows through All.
No tears, no trials, and no perils known,
No sin-worn hearts, and shatter'd feelings here,
But calm fruition of unfailing bliss:
All which the beauty of creative Thought
Hath pictured to Devotion's eye, is felt
Ineffably more beauteous by the Blest:
Wisdom and Virtue breathe their native air
And Pleasures smiling on their steps attend.
Around me miniatured. Here God, enthroned
In measureless perfection, truth, and power,
His unimaginable Glory wields:
And thus Eternal Love, from Him the fount
Of Love, enlightens, lives, and flows through All.
No tears, no trials, and no perils known,
No sin-worn hearts, and shatter'd feelings here,
But calm fruition of unfailing bliss:
All which the beauty of creative Thought
Hath pictured to Devotion's eye, is felt
Ineffably more beauteous by the Blest:
Wisdom and Virtue breathe their native air
And Pleasures smiling on their steps attend.
Nor is the vanish'd World forgot; for oft
In bowers of everlasting bloom retired,
The Ransom'd, by the blood of Jesu bought,
Think of the Fight their spirits fought below,
Or sweetly muse o'er some terrestrial hour,
While heart to heart with holy truth responds;
Still Sages feed on ever-fruitful thought;
And Poets sing and raptured Knowledge mounts,
From step to step for ever climbing up
Yet never on the radiant summit throned!
Here, bliss and love Eternity embrace,
And perfect Mind its perfect God adores.
In bowers of everlasting bloom retired,
The Ransom'd, by the blood of Jesu bought,
Think of the Fight their spirits fought below,
Or sweetly muse o'er some terrestrial hour,
While heart to heart with holy truth responds;
Still Sages feed on ever-fruitful thought;
And Poets sing and raptured Knowledge mounts,
From step to step for ever climbing up
Yet never on the radiant summit throned!
Here, bliss and love Eternity embrace,
And perfect Mind its perfect God adores.
| The Poetical Works of Robert Montgomery | |